There is some explanation required of Khaled Ali. With regard to a recent social media post, the Mamelodi Sundowns travel logistics and liaison officer found himself in hot water.
According to The Citizen, Ali offered to provide Al Ahly SC fans with information on their upcomingCAF Champions League opponents, Al Hilal from Sudan, as a volunteer service.
Days earlier, on Saturday, the Brazilians had destroyed the Egyptians 5-2 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane.
In response to the controversial post, the club released a media statement:
“It has come to the attention of Mamelodi Sundowns that certain remarks that its employee, Khaled Ali may have made during a social media discussion relating to Al Ahly and Al Hilal may be contrary to the ethics, governance, and rules of Mamelodi Sundowns.”
The club said it viewed Ali’s alleged remarks and conduct very seriously. “[Sundows] is launching an immediate investigation to get exposed to the true facts. Khaled has been instructed to return from Sudan and report at the Sundowns offices at Chloorkop and make himself available for the investigation.”
Gomaa dodges embarrassing Mosimane question
In related coverage, as Sports Brief reported, Al Ahly has been struggling since Pitso Mosimane’s departure last June.
The latest setback without the South African at the helm is a humiliating 5-2 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane.
Sports Brief also reported on sections of Egyptian media accusing Mamelodi Sundowns of time-wasting, a tactic seen as more prevalent with North African teams.
The claims from the media followed in the wake of the Brazilians’ dramatic 2-2 draw with Al Ahly during a CAF Champions League group encounter in Cairo recently.
Ibrahim Sannie Daara, a former communications director for the Ghana Football Association, after the High Court’s decision in the Kennedy Agyapong v. Anas Aremeyaw Anas defamation case has said that “Evil and evildoers will not perpetuate their wrongdoing forever. There would be justice and that justice has been served today.
Today not anywhere but in the law court where now it has been confirmed, verified, and approved that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is corrupt and this is coming from the Court.”
On March 15, 2023, the Accra High Court dismissed Anas’ defamation lawsuit for 25 million cedis and ordered the investigative journalist to pay Kennedy Agyapong 50,000 cedis as damages.
The Accra High Court, did justice by exposing Anas Aremeyaw Anas as a dishonest and extortionate investigative journalist according to Saani Daara.
Saani Daara said he is pleased that Anas Aremeyaw Anas has been humiliated in front of Ghanaians because he believes that Anas’ method was to twist the facts rather than seek the truth.
“The Court of Ghana said that he is a blackmailer. Evil and evildoers will not perpetuate their wrongdoing forever. The truth has come out in a way that has humiliated this man (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) whose modus operandi is to twist things and not seek the truth,” Saani Daara said in an interview.
Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyapong stated that his win was dedicated to the former Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi who was humiliated in the documentary in 2018.
Kennedy Agyapong also turned down the ¢50,000 awarded by the court for him and cautioned Anas to be conscious of his actions.
When asked who he would prefer to see win the Premier League championship between Arsenal and Manchester City in an interview, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson responded bluntly.
With the Gunners holding a five-point lead after 27 rounds of games, Arsenal and City are engaged in a fierce two-horse race for the championship.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are on track to win their first championship since 2003/04, though a lot can still change between now and May.
In attendance at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, Fergie ran into an Itv interviewer who quizzed him about the championship race.
Asked to pick between Manchester City and Arsenal for the title, Ferguson, who won the Premier League 13 times with United, gave a wry smile and said: “Not interested”, as quoted on The Mirror.
His response will surely have delighted Manchester United fans, who last tasted Premier League title success in 2013, when Ferguson was managing in his final season with the club.
Arsenal have chance to establish distance
As far as the title race is concerned, Arsenal will have the chance to move eight points clear of Manchester City, who will not play in the Premier League this weekend.
The Gunners will come up against Crystal Palace on Sunday, while Manchester City will be in FA Cup action.
How many points do Arsenal need to win PL?
Sports Brief also reported on the number of points Arsenal needs in order to win the Premier League with 11 matches to go.
Historically, the most competitive title races have seen the winners accrue an impressive number of points, but 90 has always been the magic number.
According to Premier League’s official website, Arsenal currently have 66 points after 27 games and they need a maximum of 25 points out of a possible remaining 33 to ensure they are champions.
Baba Yara Sports Stadium is ready to host Ghana’s match against Angola on March 23, according to Peter Twumasi, Director General of the National Sports Authority.
The Black Stars will be back at the location for the first time in a year following their 2022 World Cup play-off match against Nigeria.
The Black Stars will play host to Palancras Negras on March 23 at the Baba Yara Sports stadium before travelling to Luanda for the rematch on March 27, 2023.
In an interview with Accra-based radio station Peace FM, the NSA boss discussed whether the venue was ready to host the senior national team.
“Yes by the grace of God…I left the place and got to Accra yesterday. I was also there throughout last week work went on smoothly and everything is ready. What we are looking forward to is God will grant us 23rd then we kick off,”
Ghana is joint top of the Group E table with 4 points from two games following a 3-0 win over Madagascar and a 1-1 draw withCentral African Republic in June last year.
The Ghana Football Association has reportedly given new Black Stars coach Chris Hughton a three-year contract, according to reports in the local media.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager replaced Coach Otto Addo, who resigned from the position after Ghana was eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the Group Stage.
The Black Stars have had Mr. Hughton as their technical advisor for the last 12 months.
Assistant coaches Mas-Ud Didi Dramani and George Boateng will help Chris Hughton.
The technical staff for the World Cup in Qatar included the three coaches.
According to the report, Ghana’s qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations competition has been given to Chris Hughton.
Chris Hughton will be unveiled in Kumasi ahead of Ghana’s game against Angola. His unveiling delayed due to the deathof Chris Hughton’s father.
At the FIFA Congress on Thursday, Gianni Infantino was unanimously elected to serve as the organization’s president again through the year 2027. As they did four years prior, delegates from the 211 member federations ushered in the 52-year-old Swiss lawyer, who succeeded the disgraced Sepp Blatter in 2016, for a third term by acclamation.
“I love you all,” Infantino told delegates in the Rwandan capital, where the voting system did not register the number of dissident voices. While FIFA statutes currently limit a president to a maximum of three four-year terms, Infantino has already prepared the ground to stay until 2031, declaring in December that his first three years at the helm did not count as a full term.
Infantino, who staunchly defended Qatar’s hosting of last year’s World Cup as the Gulf state’s treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community came under the spotlight, has overseen the expansion of the men’s and women’s World Cup and huge increases in FIFA revenues.
The men’s World Cup will increase from 32 teams to 48 for the next edition in North America in 2026, while the women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams for the first time in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Following a High Court decision on the defamation case involving renowned investigativejournalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association, is claiming vindication.
According to Kwesi Nyantakyi, who spoke to Oman FM, the court’s decision clears him of blame and supports his suspicion that Anas is dishonest.
As a result of the court decision, according to Nyantakyi, Anas has been revealed, but he is not surprised because he has known all along that the investigative journalist is a crook and not who he claims to be.
“The court has stripped him naked. He has been disgraced. He claims to be an angel but the court has shown that he is worse than the devil. I will take no further action but his story is everywhere. He is a bad person and now he has been exposed. A lot of people know him as a crook,” he said.
The Accra High Court on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 dismissed the ¢25 million defamation suit brought to him by Anas and asked the investigative journalist to compensate Kennedy Agyapong with ¢50,000.
Speaking after the court ruling, Kennedy Agyapong stated that his win was dedicated to the former GFA president who was humiliated in the documentary.
Kennedy Agyapong also turned down the ¢50,000 awarded by the court for him and cautioned Anas to be conscious of his actions.
“All I will say is the victory is especially for Kwesi Nyantakyi and this gentleman. What they have gone through in Anas’s humiliation in this country, nobody should go through that,” Kennedy Agyapong told the press.
He added, “I will tell you today, the ¢50,000 I don’t need it, I will give it to him but he should live with his conscience.”
Anas in 2018 sued the New Patriotic Party lawmaker for allegedly defaming him after the release of his famous Number 12 documentary which sort to uncover the rot in Ghana Football.
The popular investigative journalist asked the court to award ¢25 million to Kennedy Agyapong for defaming him in his ‘Who watches the watchman’ counter documentary.
However, ruling over the case in court on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, Justice Eric Baah stated that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove he was defamed by the lawmaker.
Prior to the second leg of the last-16, video on social media showed long lines of spectators waiting to enter Estadio do Dragao.
Porto had earlier in the day stated that Inter fans with tickets for the home end, even if they were obtained through the club, would be turned away.
However, Inter asserts that a deal was reached for their supporters to attend the game as long as they wore neutral tones.
The investigation into the situation was confirmed on Wednesday by the governing body of European football, UEFA.
“UEFA had been made aware that a large contingent of visiting supporters had procured tickets in home sectors of the stadium,” a spokesperson said.
“The UEFA regulations stipulate that five per cent of the stadium capacity must be provided to the visiting team in a segregated area for their supporters.
“The responsibility for the safe and secure management of spectators and the associated ticketing policy are determined by the match organiser and the relevant authorities.
“Mitigation measures were discussed between both clubs. UEFA is currently looking into the matter.”
Inter claimed a goalless draw to advance through to theChampions League quarter-finals as 1-0 aggregate winners.
The Italian club’s chief executive Beppe Marotta dedicated the result to those who were unable to get into the ground.
“We celebrate this passage that Inter had not achieved for 12 years, we give the credit to our coach, our players and the fans who were present,” he told Sky Italia.
“I also want to spare a thought for circa a thousand fans who were left outside the stadium even after regularly purchasing a ticket.
“I saw footage of families who were locked outside, children crying who had flown here from Italy.
“Football must represent unity and joy, so this is a bitter page in what was otherwise a wonderful evening.
“We had met with the local authorities this morning and they assured us the fans would be allowed in even beyond those limits of the away section. Instead, this did not happen.
“These were for the most part families with children, who certainly weren’t here to perpetrate acts of violence, but to support their team.
“I don’t believe the situation was so serious as to ban their entry.
“We realise UEFA are not to blame, but we feel that with a formal complaint we can prevent this sort of thing ever happening again.”
Kennedy Agyapong, the member of parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region, has honoured Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association, by dedicating his victory in the defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The Accra High Court ordered the investigative journalist to pay Kennedy Agyapong 50,000 as compensation instead of upholding Anas’ 25 million Ghana cedi defamation lawsuit.
Kennedy Agyapong said in a statement following the court’s decision that his victory was in honour of the former GFA president who was degraded in the documentary.
Kennedy Agyapong declined the 50,000 that had been given to him by the court and admonished Anas to be careful what he did.
“All I will say is the victory is especially for Kwesi Nyantakyi and this gentleman. What they have gone through in Anas’s humiliation in this country, nobody should go through that,” Kennedy Agyapong told the press.
He added, “I will tell you today, the ¢50,000 I don’t need it, I will give it to him but he should live with his conscience.”
Anas in 2018 sued the New Patriotic Party lawmaker for allegedly defaming him after the release of his famous Number 12 documentary which sort to uncover the rot in Ghana Football.
The popular investigative journalist asked the court to award ¢25 million toKennedy Agyapong for defaming him in his ‘Who watches the watchman’ counter documentary.
However, ruling over the case in court on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, Justice Eric Baah stated that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove he was defamed by the lawmaker.
Last Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in Accra, Ghana, to mourn with boxinglegend Azumah Nelson, including Goodwill Sports Ambassador Ray Quarcoo.
Giving the mother of the legendary boxer a dignified burial were dignitaries like the Haitian consul general and a former president of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation.
“There is no doubt about the fact that Azumah has paid his dues, and of course, it is right and proper that we honour the womb that carried such a personality trait and raised the flag of Ghana aloft. We are here to mourn with him and to pay our last respect to the late mom.”
The launch of the GREAT Scholarships 2023 has been announced as part of the Study UK campaign, which is being carried out by the British Council in collaboration with the Great Britain campaign of the UK government.
Beginning in the fall of 2023, the GREAT Scholarships give Ghanaian students the chance to pursue postgraduate taught studies in the UK.
Thirteen universities are offering thirteen scholarships as part of the programme in collaboration with the British Council and the GREAT Britain campaign of the UK government. These institutions are
Keele University
Bangor University
Ulster University
University of Bolton
University of East Anglia
University of St Andrews
University of Derby
University of Essex
University of Sussex
University of Westminster
University of York
University of Kent
University of Hull
The GREAT Scholarships aim to widen access to UK education in Ghana and celebrates the diverse range of institutions in the UK that offer a vast number of courses for students to choose from. With over 2,000 of Ghanaian students choosing to study in the UK each year, the GREAT Scholarships aim to build on the strong links between the UK and Ghana and continue to welcome all Ghanaianstudents to the UK.
Ghanaian international Andre Ayew claims that his Nottingham Forest team has struggled because they are up against teams that have been together for a long time.
Ayew signed a temporary contract to join the Premier League team in January.
In their most recent 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspurs on the road last Saturday, the Ghanaian international missed a stoppage time penalty.
“Everybody who wears a Forest shirt knows it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to keep believing in ourselves. If you were to say we’d be where we are after 26 games, a lot of people would be happy. That’s a fact.”
“The results will come. Our problem is we’re facing teams that have been together for four or five years, they have their own style of play and their own ideas, but it’s not time to panic.”
“It’s going to be difficult, but we don’t just have to look at the negatives. We know our away form isn’t good enough, but we’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep fighting until the end,” he said.
The 33-year-old joined Forest as a free agent in the January transfer window after leaving Qatari side Al Sadd. Ayew is determined to succeed once again in the English top flight and is pumped up for the game against Newcastle United.
Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and his teammates have been cautioned byNapoli coach Luciano Spalletti ahead of their Champions League matchup against Eintracht Frankfurt.
After defeating Germany 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal match, Napoli will play for pride in front of their home crowd.
Osimhen scored a goal for Napoli in the first match, and on March 15 at 8 p.m. local time, the Nigerian is expected to shine once more in Naples.
Spalletti reportedly said that his team should wait to celebrate until the second match, per the Complete Sports report.
Statement made by Spalletti “Seeing as it is practically a final, I want to see the attitude of a team that is starved and wants a result. I’ve seen them in training all term and they never let their heads drop. “Now the test is to forget what has happened in the past and focus on getting the job done now.
Don’t forget Eintracht got through a group that had Tottenham, Marseille and Sporting.
”Last year they won away to a Barcelona side that eliminated us, so we have total respect for the work Oliver Glasner is doing, we know it will be tough.”
Napoli's Victor Osimhen is recognized for being the best foreign athlete in Italy in 2022 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/dseJi67jZx
Osimhen flaunts diamond necklace Earlier, had reported how Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen flaunted a multimillion Naira diamond necklace as he stepped out in style amid links with Premier League clubs this summer.
The Super Eagles star is currently the man of the moment in the Italian Serie A, where he is leading the scoring chart with 19 goals.
Osimhen has won the hearts of many Napoli fans through his performances and they are hoping the Nigerian will remain in Naples after the current season ends.
The Nigerian was seen in joyous mood while showing off his expensive piece of jewellery.
By making it to their first-ever Champions League quarterfinals, Napoli will “become folklore,” according to Luciano Spalletti, who wants his team to do so.
The dominant Serie A team is on the verge of advancing to the round of eight of Europe’s top club competition after defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the first leg in Germany.
The Partenopei will undoubtedly fancy their chances of completing the task at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium given their commanding 18-point lead in Serie A and unbeaten streak of 11 home Champions League games.
However, they were ultimately eliminated from the competition on the one previous occasion they had won a knockout match, giving up a 3-1 lead before losing 5-4 on aggregate at this stage against Chelsea in the 2011-12 season.
Nevertheless, Spalletti knows what is at stake for the club, and issued a rallying cry to his players in his pre-match press conference.
“Great teams are made up of great players,” he said. “There’s history to be written in tomorrow’s game. Our city is replete with big stories and big personalities. We’re keen to become part of Naples’ history and become folklore in this city.
“You can compare it to the first final of the season. I don’t think that can put pressure on the side, because I’ve seen them deal with many positive and negative situations already this term.
“Seeing as it is practically a final, I want to see the attitude of a team that is starved and wants a result. I’ve seen them in training all term, and they never let their heads drop.
Great Britain, making their tournament debut in the fifth iteration, stood out in a tense match against Mexico, who shocked Pool C favourites USA in their previous game.
This was stated in a message at the presentation of the Sovereign with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
“This joint bid, which is unprecedented in football history, will bring together Africa and Europe, the northern and southern Mediterranean, and the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds,” said the Sovereign in this message read by the Minister of National Education, National Formation and Sport, Chakib Benmoussa.
King Mohammed VI further specified that this candidacy “will also bring out the best in all of us – in effect, a combination of genius, creativity, experience, and means.”
In Kigali, CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 was also awarded to King Mohammed VI.
This is “first and foremost, a tribute to the genius of Africa and its vibrant youth,” the Sovereign said on Tuesday.
The King stated that “it is still my firmly held belief, as I pointed out in my speech at the 29th African Union Summit in 2017, that “the future of Africa hinges on its youth”.
Only “a proactive, youth-oriented policy can channel energy for the achievement of development, therefore, the Award you are bestowing upon me today is, first and foremost, a tribute to the genius of Africa and its vibrant youth.”
Although Pep Guardiola feels he will always be a “failure” in the Champions League, his biggest regret is related to Julia Roberts, a famous Hollywood actress.
After defeating RB Leipzig 8-1 on the road, including five goals from Erling Haaland in the 7-0 second-leg victory, Guardiola’s Manchester City advanced to the quarterfinals of Europe’s premier club competition for the sixth consecutive year.
Despite not having won the Champions League yet (losing in the final in 2021), Tuesday’s performance reaffirmed City as a contender.
Guardiola explained how missing out on a visit from Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts puts this disappointment in perspective, despite failing to win the European Cup with either Bayern Munich or City. Guardiola’s last European championship came as the coach of Barcelona.
“I’m a failure in the Champions League, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going to explain a secret. Whatever happens this year in the Champions League, even if we win this Champions League or win three in a row, I will be a failure.
“I have three idols in my life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. For obvious reasons, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods deserve it, and Julia Roberts as well.
“Julia Roberts, years ago, came to Manchester. Not in the 1990s, when Alex Ferguson win titles, titles, titles and titles. She came in the period when we were better than United, these four or five years.
“And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. So, even if I win the Champions League, it cannot compare to the fact Julia Roberts came to Manchester and did not come to see us. My idol.
“That’s why no matter what happens, even if I win theChampions League, it will not make up for the disappointment I had.”
The absence of local players in the Black Stars lineup for the upcoming matches against Angola has been attributed by Annor Walker to the Black Galaxies’ dismal performance at the 2022 African Nations Championships (CHAN).
People are talking about the Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton’s decision to name a 25-man roster without any home-based players for the doubleheader against Angola later this month.
The Black Galaxies of Ghana competed in the CHAN tournament earlier this year in Algeria, where they lost to Niger 2-0 in the quarterfinal stage after needing just one win in the group stage to advance.
Speaking to Peace FM, Walker asserts that Hughton’s decision to omit any domestic player can be explained by the disappointing performance in Algeria.
“It could be so, if we had won the trophy, definitely he would have asked or would have contacted the technical team so we recommend one or two players to the senior national team,” he said.
“The coach did the call-ups, maybe he doesn’t know much about the locally-based players, especially with the CHAN team.”
The decision to also leave out the home-based players is a step back for the league as there were two players called up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana will host Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium on March 24 before travelling away for the return leg four days later.
Chelsea are prepared to put its interest inParis Saint-Germain star Neymar on hold in order to concentrate on signing Josko Gvardiol to the team in the summer.
The Premier League team has been linked with the Brazilian in recent months, but Sky Sports Germany reports that no talks have taken place and that a deal is currently unlikely.
Instead, Graham Potter has focused on Gvardiol, who was a member of the RB Leipzig team that conceded seven goals to Manchester City this past week in the Champions League.
The 21-year-old made an impression for Croatia during the World Cup in Qatar, and Thomas Tuchel reportedly tried to sign him to Stamford Bridge last summer but the German club reportedly blocked the move.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the West Londoners are well in the hunt when it comes to signing the defensive powerhouse but will face a battle with other top clubs including Manchester City and Liverpool.
Croatia’s 19-cap international is contracted to Leipzig until 2027, meaning there is a possibility of a bidding war that could exceed the £80million offer reportedly tabled by Chelsea last summer.
With Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly both over 30, Potter is keen to invest in a long-term solution for his backline.
On Monday morning, the news of the death of the former Super Falcons coach who led the team to the World Cup is announced to the nation’s football community.
Mabo reportedly fought a serious illness for weeks before passing away at the age of 80 and leaving behind children and grandchildren.
But later that evening in Jos, Plateau State, a large group of football officials gathered to bury the deceased grassroots football strategist.
According to the report on Punch, Buhari prayed that the soul of the departed one finds favour infront of his Creator. Statement from the Presidency “Mabo was also a legendary footballer in the domestic league, making his mark as a player and captain of Mighty Jets of Jos and also representing the country as a formidable central defender with the Green Eagles.
“As the head coach of the Nigeria women’s national team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics, the President believes that Mabo’s legacy will live on in the players and the coaches that came in contact with him during his career, as well as the young athletes that will draw inspiration from his managerial abilities in the years to come.
“The President prays that the memory of the departed will be a blessing to those who mourn.”
We remember our pioneer @NGSuper_Falcons coach Ismaila Mabo, who passed away today at the age of 80. He won the first official @CAFwomen's Afcon in 1998 and led Nigeria to a @FIFAWWC quarterfinal at USA 1999. Our condolences to his family and 🇳🇬women's football community. pic.twitter.com/oJp0CfzGxB
Vincent Enyeama named greatest goalie Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Nigerian legend Vincent Enyeama was named as the greatest African goalkeeper of all-time by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
There is no doubt about the fact that Enyeama was an excellent goalkeeper during his active playing days considering his achievement in the national team, Super Eagles.
Thomas Partey, a member of Ghana’s national team, is on pace to surpass his previous season high for appearances in theEnglish Premier League.
The highly regarded midfielder transferred from Spanish La Liga team Atletico Madrid to the Gunners during the summer transfer window of 2020.
Thomas Partey made 24 Premier League appearances in his first season, making two assists but not scoring.
The aggressive midfielder went on to match his first season’s total of 24 league appearances in his second season.
Thomas Partey made an impression for the Gunners over the course of the two seasons, but injuries plagued him and forced him to miss several games.
This season, although he has suffered injuries, he has been able to stay consistent and is now on the verge of surpassing his appearances from the last two seasons.
With 27 matches played this season and more than 10 matches before the season ends, fully fit Thomas Partey looks set to set a new personal record as an Arsenal player in terms of the number of appearances in the English Premier League per season.
The World Baseball Classic game between Great Britain and Mexico ended in a close 2-1 loss for Great Britain.
Despite the fact that the United States is a member of the Organization of American States, it is not a member of the Organization of American States.
With one victory and three losses from four games, they are at the bottom of Pool C.
However, if the USA defeats Colombia on Thursday, Great Britain will move up to fourth and qualify automatically for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (02:00 GMT).
Great Britain, making their tournament debut in the fifth iteration, stood out in a tense match against Mexico, who shocked Pool C favourites USA in their previous game.
After conceding a run in the bottom of the second inning, Britain levelled the score in the top of the sixth when a single from BJ Murray Jr allowed Chavez Young to scamper home from third base.
But Mexico, who will reach the quarter-finals with victory over Canada in their final group game, regained the lead in the next inning and held on toclaim a second win from their three matches.
Erling Haaland,a forward for Manchester City, has now scored more goals than any other player in a single season.
The Norwegian forward led his team (City) to an 8-1 aggregate victory over RB Leipzig on Tuesday by playing admirably and scoring five breathtaking goals, including a hat-trick in the first half. As a result, City advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League (UCL).
The 22-year-old is now the player with the fastest and youngest 30 goal streak in 25 UCL games.
30 goals in 25 Champions League total games in his career 👽🔵🏆 #MCFC
He is also the youngest player to score five times in a single Champions League match, joining Argentina star Lionel Messi and Brazil forward Luiz Adriano as the only players to do so.
After the game, the City footballing icon admitted to being worn out after every celebration but was realistic about goal scoring which inspires him to play impressively.
“My super strength is scoring goals,” Haaland told BT Sport.
“A lot of it is being quick in the mind and trying to put it where the goalkeeper is not. I was so tired after my celebrations.”
The Norwegian forward said he could have scored more goals, however, he missed a lot of chances.
“I could have scored more goals, I missed a lot of chances but the most important thing is to come to chances because when you come to chances, that’s what you want as a striker”, he told CBS Sports.
On Twitter, football fans across the globe have commended the 22-year-old old for his stunning performance and record.
Most comments say that the Club’s manager [Pep Guardiola] denied Haaland of becoming the first player to secure the most goals in a single match of the UCL competition.
Pep Guardiola subbing Erling Haaland off to preserve Messi’s historical record in the UCL of 5 goals in a single game 🫡
This man here blocked Erling Haaland chance of becoming the player with most UCL goals in a single match because of Messi. Pep Guardiola will never win the UCL again!!! 💔💔🥺 pic.twitter.com/L0TSvc8IPQ
Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola engaged in a sombre “argument” following his removal from the lineup during their decisive victory over RB Leipzig on March 14.
Haaland scored five of the seven goals Manchester City scored against their German opponents to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
After an hour had passed, Haaland was taken off the field to a standing ovation from the fans at Etihad Stadium and his manager, who congratulated him. He joined Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano as the only players in Champions League history to score five goals in a single match.
But as the Norwegian later revealed, he questioned Guardiola as to why he had denied him the opportunity to complete a double hat-trick. Haaland was of the idea that had he been accorded a few
However, Guardiola downplayed the incident, revealing his satisfaction with his striker who has now broken the record for most goals for Man City in a single season. “If he achieved this milestone at 22, 23 years old, it will be boring, his life. Now he has a target.
That’s why I make the substitution,” Guardiola said as quoted by the Independent. The Spanish manager also admitted he had no idea about Messi’s record when he took the Norwegian off.
Sports Brief also reported on football fans on social media being unable to understand Guardiola’s decision to sub Haaland in Man City’s 7-0 thrashing of Leipzig on Tuesday.
The Norwegian scored five goals with only 30 touches with his hat-trick being completed before half-time, but the 22-year-old was keen on more goals when he was hooked off.
Haaland missed out on the chance to achieve another special milestone after his manager,Guardiola substituted him in the 64th minute in an act of mercy towards the Germans.
Adam Larsen Kwarasey, a former goalkeeper for the Black Stars, may take on the role of senior national team goalkeeper’s trainer, according to reports,
The 35-year-old, who announced his retirement from professional football in 2020 after finishing a three-year stint with Vlerenga, is slated to succeed Richard Kingson as the next goalkeeper’s trainer.
The new Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton, is rumoured to have made a few changes to the technical staff, which could result in the hiring of a new goalkeepers’ trainer and video analyst, as reported by GhanaWeb on Monday, March 13, 2023.
An unnamed source claims that the new manager is open to hiring both a new video analyst and a goalkeeper’s trainer.
This could see Richard Kingson, the current goalkeepers’ trainer, and Awal Kamin, the video analyst, lose their jobs.
The Norwegian-based goalkeeper was Ghana’s first choice at the 2012 AFCON, as the Black Stars finished 4th in the tournament.
The goalkeepers were later chosen to be Ghana’s safest pair for the 2014 World Cup.
Kwarasey won two trophies each with Stromsgodset, Portland Timbers, and Rosenborg. He was awarded the Best Goalkeeper at Tippeligaen in 2013 and also earned the MLS Save of the Year in 2015.
Adam Larsen Kwarasey is currently the co-founder and sporting director of FC Oslo, a team based in Norway.
Harry Kane, in Teddy Sheringham’s words, will be “a very disappointed man” if he ends his career without a trophy.
Although the 203 goals he has scored for Tottenham and England place him third all-time in Premier League goals scored, the 29-year old’s -mantlepiece is still empty.
After Spurs were eliminated from the FA Cup and the Champions League within a matter of days earlier this month, Kane’s wait to win a trophy will likely extend into the following season at the earliest.
Kane has been open about his desire to compete for football’s top honours, and Sheringham implied there may be a hint of regret if he does not win the trophy.
The 56-year-old exclusively remarked to LiveScore at the London Football Awards that “winning stuff” is the core of football.
“If he goes throughout his career without winning stuff he’ll be a very disappointed man.
“It’s all well and good getting these accolades for personal reasons but he’s in a team game and he needs to win things as a team.”
As has often been the case in recent years, Kane’s future in North London is poised to be under the spotlight as he enters the final year of his contract this summer.
Manchester United, a place above Spurs in third, have been strongly linked with Tottenham’s No10 after recently ending their own six-year trophy drought with victory in the Carabao Cup.
Sheringham, who won three Premier League titles after leavingWhite Hart Lane for Old Trafford in 1997, admits he is unsure where Kane sees his immediate future.
He added: “I really don’t know. I’ve probably had this conversation for the last three or four years about what Harry should do.
“He’s at a club he loves but he wants to win things as well, so you’ll have to ask Harry.
“I keep getting in trouble every time I say what he should do!”
With Alan Shearer’s Premier League record in sight, Kane also became Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer last month with his 267th goal in all competitions for his boyhood club against Manchester City.
He has since taken his tally to 270 with three more strikes — including two in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Fellow club legend Gary Mabbutt was keen to stress how fondly the striker holds Spurs in his heart.
The former defender said: “Harry came out at the end of the game the other day. We beat Forest, we had a fantastic result.
“Harry was questioned after that. He loves being at Spurs. I’ve known him since he was a young lad, his family are all based around here, he loves London.
“So that’ll be down to Harry’s choice in the end. I see no reason he should leave a club like Spurs.”
Alejandro Garnacho, a teenage winger who is injured, has announced that he has pulled out of the Argentina team for two upcoming friendlies and will miss a number of crucial matches for Manchester United.
The 18-year-old was a substitute in United’s 0-0 draw with Southampton on Sunday and injured himself late in the game after being struck by Kyle Walker-Peters’ challenge.
In the penalty area, the Southampton defender won possession of the ball on the stretch, but Garnacho’s right ankle appeared to become wedged between Walker-Peters’ legs.
Walker-Peters and Garnacho have been friendly online since the incident, exchanging messages without any animosity, but United’s promising young player will miss some time due to injury.
“It is difficult to put into words how I’m feeling right now,” Garnacho wrote on Instagram.
“Unfortunately I will not be able to help my team and team-mates in the upcoming games in what is a very important part of the season for us at Manchester United.
“I am disappointed to also miss the opportunity to be with my team-mates of the Argentinian national team in what would have been a great and proud moment for me and my family.
“This is part of football and our profession, however, I am already focused in my recovery. God has taught me to never give up and I will make sure I am back stronger than ever!”
Garnacho left Old Trafford on crutches after the Southampton game and will miss the Europa League clash with Real Betis on Thursday,plus the FA Cup game against Fulham on Saturday.
He will also sit out Argentina’s friendlies against Panama and Curacao during the international window, missing a chance to team up with Lionel Messi and co after the Albiceleste’s World Cup triumph.
It remains to be seen whether he is fit in time for club duty by April 2, when domestic football resumes for the Red Devils with a trip to Newcastle United.
Just like to score the greats, Benjamin Pavard! In the round of 16, France defeatedArgentina with a rout thanks in large part to a goal from Pavard, who volleyed in from outside the box.
During Bayern Munich’s 5-3 thrashing of Augsburg to take the lead in the Bundesliga over the weekend, the French defender was back at it.
The defending Bundesliga champions’ goal came from Pavard, who had been rested for Bayern’s victory over PSG in the Champions League. Pavard was back in the starting lineup for this match.
In an exact replica of the Bundesliga logo, the 26-year-old defender volleyed in from the edge of the six-yard box to score Bayern Munich’s second goal of the game, astounded the crowd.
Pavard insisted that Bayern Munich is focused on the task ahead and will not get carried away with the result against Augsburg which comes after another huge win against PSG in midweek.
Pavard double sends Bayern three points clear Earlier, Sports Brief reported two goals from Benjamin Pavard and a first in Bayern Munich colours for Joao Cancelo saw the Bundesliga leaders romp to a 5-3 home victory over Augsburg.
Four of Bayern’s five goals came from defenders, calming fears the side may be toothless up front after the pre-game scratching of striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Augsburg hit the lead after just two minutes through Mergim Berisha, who scored the only goal in his team’s surprise 1-0 win over Bayern in September.
On Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks battled back from an early deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 133-124. He wouldn’t let his team lose.
Antetokounmpo started hot, scoring 15 points in the first quarter, after sitting out the previous three games due to a hand injury.
Despite his early heroics, the Kings still had a five-point advantage at the end of the first quarter, and they jumped out to a 49-33 lead after a 17-6 start to the second.
After that, the Bucks went on a 50-29 run to take control of the game. By the end of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo had amassed a gaudy stat line of 40 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.
A wildly entertaining fourth period saw the teams combine for 80 points, with Khris Middleton scoring 14 of his 31 in what was his best game of the season.
The three-time All-Star’s 31 points were a season-high, shooting nine-of-15 from the field and adding nine assists.
He was the perfect sidekick for Antetokounmpo, who ended up scoring 46 points on 19-of-28 shooting, with 12 rebounds and four assists. It was his sixth game this season with at least 45 points, while no other player has more than Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid’s four.
The win is the Bucks’ 20th from their past 22 outings, improving their league-leading record to 49-19, while the 40-27 Kings fell to third in the West, overtaken by the 41-26 Memphis Grizzlies.
Didi Dramani, Ghana’s assistant coach, has provided an explanation for the exclusion of local players from the Black Stars squad to face Angola in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
The following are the results of a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.
Didi Dramani claims that their choice has been based on consistency.
“I think it goes with consistency and closeness of games. It is very important not to overstate that he (Chris Hughton) releases his squad and then no local player is in there. I think when we start doing that then I think we are pre-emptying on the negativities and I think that we are paying much attention to the local league as you can see me coming out to watch lot of the games,” he said in an interview with Citi Sports.
“When you look at the team, It is made of a consistent squad and we want to remain consistent when the decision not to invite any local player.
“The Black Stars is a team in progress and so the team will continuously be consistent in their approach. The team is a work in progress and so what you find is actually what is needed at the shortest possible time. In the longest possible time, in this era, you need to look out for things that will give you immediate team structure, you don’t have time.
“The team is playing on Thursday and then on Monday so there’s no time for you to be thinking about processes where you need players to have the chance to have strong integration and then adaptation.
“This is the time to be thinking about who to bring and then immediately you are able to get what you need, there’s no time in this period. These periods are very short-lived so we need to acknowledge the importance of the timelines.”
The four-time African champions will play host to Angola on March 23 at theBaba Yara Stadium before the reverse fixture in Luanda on March 27.
The Black Stars lead Group E of the qualifiers with four points, followed by Angola who are also on four points before Central African Republic and Madagascar follow in that order.
The highly anticipated unification fight betweenTyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has encountered another difficulty. Usyk, the IBF, WBA, and WBO champion, and Fury, the WBA Heavyweight champion, are in negotiations to square off in April for the title.
Usyk isn’t happy with Fury and thinks The Gypsy King is trying to avoid a fight with him, so the anticipated blockbuster fight may no longer happen.
Usyk infuriation by Fury?
As the stakes for the fight increased after Fury released a video, a disagreement between the two developed.
The Gypsy King argued that Usyk’s team was trying to force for a rematch if they lost and requested a no-rematch clause for the fight.
Usyk then fired back at Fury, calling him Greedy Belly.Usyk’s response The Ukrainian fighter claimed that the rematch clause came from Fury’s side and urged Fury to ink the contract or vacate the belt.
He added that he was not there to play Fury’s games.
Usyk taunts Fury
The upcoming fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury promises to be a fight for the ages. The two boxers will clash in 2023 to unify the heavyweight titles. The trash talking between the two has since escalated, Sports Brief reported. Trash-talking between the two began after Fury beat Derek Chisora to defend his WBC heavyweight title.
Fury called Usyk into the ring and began calling him a little sausage.Fury’s ‘Little Sausage’ jibe Tyson Fury is known for getting under his opponent’s skin with some of his pre-match comments.
The WBC Heavyweight champion is not afraid to publicly call out opponents, often giving them hilarious nicknames.
When Ajax defeated Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie over the weekend,Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus was in fine form.
The gifted young player made his team’s Sunday debut and maintained his excellent form from earlier in the year as his squad easily defeated the opposition 4-2 at the Abe Lenstra Stadium.
After just 10 minutes of the eagerly anticipated match, the visitors took the lead through Mohammed Kudus.
After connecting off a Kudus assist, Edson lvarez doubled Ajax’s lead four minutes later.
Steven Bergwijn scored Ajax’s third goal of the match in the 19th minute, but Pelle van Amersfoort scored the final goal of the first half for the home team.
After the break, Kenneth Taylor scored to extend Ajax’s lead in the encounter but Sydney van Hooijdonk find the back of the net in the 79th minute for the home team to make it 4-2 at the end of the game.
The formof Mohammed Kudus is good for the Black Stars especially as Ghana will face off with Angola in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament next week.
This season, the forward has 18 goals in all competitions for Ajax and has also provided six assists.
The Black Stars players who represent their country in Europe and other parts of the world will not have the chance to say goodbye to their late teammate, Christian Atsu.
The burial and funeral service for Christian Atsu have been scheduled for Friday, March 17, 2023.
Due to the date, players who compete in European leagues will be unable to attend the ceremony because they will be engaged in club activities.
The last weekend before the international break is March 17; during this time, clubs will release any players Chris Hughton has called up.
This means that the likes of Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, and all members of the 25-man squad announced Chris Hughton will miss the chance to say a final goodbye to their fallen mate.
When asked about the development by Graphic Sports, the local manager of Christian Atsu, Abdul Haye Yartey disclosed that the decision on the date was taken by the family, in agreement with the government.
“The preparation for the funeral has not factored in a role by the Black Stars as it stands despite the GFA playing a significant role in the arrangement,” Mr Yartey told Graphic Sports.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage and I can tell you that the government is playing a major role with the family to ensure Atsu gets a befitting burial.”
Five days after the funeral, the Black Stars will take on Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
It is expected that the players and the Ghana Football Association will pay some form of respect to Christian Atsu before and during the game.
Henry Asante Twum of the FA is quoted to have said “we are in constant communication with the family of Atsu and the government in the preparation for the funeral to ensure we send him off in a befitting way.”
Referee O.B. Amoah had to flee after being pursued by rowdyManso FC players during a Division Two League match between Manso FC and Soccer for Souls FC.
According to a report by Asempa FM, Manso FC players who were dissatisfied with referee O.B. Amoah’s performance during a league game played over the weekend claimed the referee made biassed decisions.
Manso FC player is accused of picking up a broken bottle during the match and chasing the referee with the intent to hurt him.
The aforementioned player was backed by his teammates, who joined him in pursuing the referee.
The incident created chaos and brought the game to a halt as the security men present there we overpowered.
The report indicates that the police officers who were not more than ten had to call for reinforcement as they struggled to restore calm.
The police arrested five players from Manso FC but granted them police enquiry bail on Monday, March 14, 2023.
Rio Ferdinand, a former player for Manchester United, has noted that he wanted to bring Thomas Partey to Manchester United before the Ghanaian signed with Arsenal in the summer of 2020.
On the Vibe with FIVE podcast, the former English international acknowledged that Partey is a top player and that he holds the midfielder in high regard.
He referred to his earlier appearances on the show, in which he stated that he wanted Partey at Manchester United before Arsenal snatched him, in order to express how much he admires Partey.
“I rate Partey…I’ve done clips that before he went to Arsenal, I was saying Man United should buy Partey,” he said.
When the Partey-Casemiro debate popped up in the discussion, Ferdinand said the comparison is unfair to Partey.
“I genuinely believe he is a top player but if you keep mentioning Casemiro, I don’t think it will be fair on him.”
Thomas Partey has been in sublime form for Arsenal in the 2022/2023 season. He has been the masterstroke and held the Gunners down as they lead the English Premier League table.
Javier Tebas has stated his strong desire to see superstarKylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain play in the top division of Spain soon. Last summer, Kylian Mbappe was just about to sign with Real Madrid when he decided to make a stunning U-turn and sign a new contract with Les Parisiens.
The 24-year-old has broken PSG’s record for goals scored since deciding against joining Los Blancos, and the Spanish powerhouses have added another Champions League and league title to their collection of trophies.
But the head of La Liga believes that Mbappe and Real Madrid will soon work together.
“Real Madrid is the only La Liga team that could sign Mbappe. He should play in La Liga, please “Javier Tebas, the league’s president, has disclosed to Movistar as quoted by Tribuna.
This is not the first time, Tebas has suggested Mbappe join Madrid, having earlier made it clear that only the White Angels could land Kylian Mbappe and Man City goal-poacher Erling Haaland.
Perhaps, the 60-year-old administrator is sorely missing another big name in the Spanish top flight following the departures of superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Tebas eyes Mbappe-Madrid union La Liga president Javier Tebas hopes superstar forwards Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will someday play in Spain and already knows the team they could play for.
Mbappe and Haaland are two of the most valuable strikers in world football at the moment due to their current form for Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, respectively. According to Sportskeeda, Tebas believes if both stars were to switch to Spain in the future,only Real Madrid can sign both players.
Tebas slams EPL transfer spending Sports Brief earlier reported that Javier Tebas has aimed a swipe at the English Premier League, sensationally claiming it is not a financially sustainable model.
Tebas has cut a controversial figure in European football, continually criticising Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain for their funding.
The 60-year-old’s criticism of the Premier League stems from last summer’s spend by clubs from the most marketable league in the world.
The former Chelsea winger’s body will be taken to the State House’s Forecourt for final rites before burial.
The appropriate attire for the event is black, according to the family’s announcement.
The memorial service will take place at the State House’s Forecourt on the day of the burial.
On March 19, 2023, his family will gather to discuss other crucial issues pertaining to the Christian Atsu.
President Akufo-Addo and other leading government officials are expected to attend the funeral.
Background
Ghanaians were thrown into a state of mourning on Saturday, February 18 after confirmation came that a body retrieved at a rescue site in Hatay, Turkey was that of Christian Atsu.
The rescue team had been frantically looking for Christian Atsu after he went missing following an earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6.
His body was subsequently flown to Ghana where a short ceremony was performed to welcome him into the country.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who was the leading government official at the ceremony said the government was going to collaborate with the family to give Atsu a befitting funeral.
Gameweek 27 of the Premier League saw goals, red cards, and excitement as league leaders Arsenal kept a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top.
Away from the Champions League, Manchester United and Liverpool lost ground on Tottenham and Newcastle while Manchester United and Liverpool gained ground in the race for fourth.
Since Everton, Leeds, Southampton, Bournemouth, and West Ham all added to their total, Crystal Palace in 12th place and bottom-place Southampton are only separated by five points.
We select five standout players who shone the brightest for their clubs after a weekend filled with drama both on and off the pitch.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Arsenal showcased their title credentials once again in the 3-0 win over Fulham and Leandro Trossard is proving to be a smart purchase for Mikel Arteta.
The former Brighton winger recorded three first-half assists at Craven Cottage as the rampant Gunners maintained their gap over the current champions.
Belgium’s 24-cap international is the first player to have a hat-trick of goals and assists in the same season since Santi Cazorla in 2012-13 and the speedster has already tallied six goal contributions in an Arsenal shirt.
Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were the grateful recipients as Trossard became the first player to provide three goals for team-mates in the first half of a Premier League game.
The England skipper notched twice in the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday to take his league tally to 20 — eight behind the Norwegian.
His first was an excellent looping header from a Pedro Porro cross that sailed over Keylor Navas early on and the No10 later tapped home from the penalty spot to double Spurs’ lead.
Kane could have had a third but for a smart save from the Forest stopper, who kept the North London outfit from scoring five or six on the day.
It was a good response from Antonio Conte’s men, who were dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League in the space of a week and will now turn their attention to a strong finish in the remaining 11 games.
Neto (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth’s win over Liverpool was a huge step forward for the Cherries, who are looking to retain their Premier League status.
Although Neto did not get a hand on Mohamed Salah’s shocking penalty, the goalkeeper played his part in putting off the Egyptian finisher and was delighted when he watched the winger’s effort sail into the crowd behind him.
The 33-year-old made five saves and kept his fourth clean sheet of the season as Gary O’Neil’s side moved to within a point of safety.
In his first season with the team, Haaland has been in sensational form, scoring 34 goals in all of his appearances across all competitions.
The international player from Norway has only scored three goals in his last nine games, raising concerns about a decline in performance.
However, De Bruyne disagrees, saying that teams are better equipped to deal with him now than they were at the start of the season.
“I think it’s a bit of everything but I don’t feel like it’s different than in the beginning,” he told a press conference ahead of the Champions League clash against RB Leipzig.
“People are maybe more anticipating to his runs, there’s always the first part of the season and then the second part. In the second part, I feel teams are a lot more organised, they play for more from both sides of the table, so people are more prepared in every sense of the way.
“Maybe he was a little bit more prolific [before] when he got the chances but I don’t think we need to complain about Erling’s output. I think he’s fine.
“If we see the Crystal Palace game, he could have scored two, I don’t think there’s any issue but obviously people are always anticipating for him to score two or three goals but his average is a goal a game. It seems fine for me.
“It’s good to have different options. In the past few years, people would maybe say there wasn’t enough presence in the box and there wasn’t enough deep runs, now people are saying the opposite.
“It works in different ways. In the beginning of the season when everything was going in, we were winning a lot of games and nothing was going wrong, but then obviously when you lose a few points it’s different.
“I don’t think there’s an issue with anything going out from the team or with Erling. I know people will judge on how we play and maybe we sometimes play a better brand of football in different games or in other years but that happens.
“Crystal Palace at home for instance,he won us the game. I think the team is really happy with him, he’s really happy playing with us, so I think we’re fine.”
As the second legs of theChampions League last 16 continue on Tuesday, there will be two closely contested matches.
Romelu Lukaku’s late goal gave Inter a slim 1-0 lead over Porto at San Siro going into the rematch in Portugal.
The Serie A giants, however, did not exactly practise well, falling to Estoril Praia 3-2 on the same day that Sergio Conceicao’s team defeated lowly Spezia 3-2 in a hard-fought victory.
Erling Haaland’s penalty helped Manchester City defeat Crystal Palace 1-0, and RB Leipzig, a Bundesliga team, moved up to third in the standings after defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-0.
After their 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany, Pep Guardiola will be hoping that home advantage can keep the club’s dream alive of a first Champions League title.
We have picked out the standout Opta data to preview Tuesday’s games.
Having said that, Porto have lost four of their last six home matches in the knockout stages of the Champions League, conceding 13 goals across those four defeats.
They have, though, won each of their last four home matches in Europe against Italian clubs, beating Roma, Juventus, Milan and Lazio in succession. The last Italian side to defeat them away from home was Juventus in February 2017.
Inter have progressed from four of their five two-legged Champions League knockout ties when winning the first leg, only being eliminated from such a position in 2005-06 by Villarreal.
Porto have been eliminated from six of their seven two-legged Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg, only progressing in 2018-19 against Roma.
Lukaku’s winning goal in the first leg meant he has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Inter in the Champions League. His record of 111 minutes per goal is the best of any player to have scored five or more goals for the club in the European Cup/Champions League.
Manchester City v RB Leipzig
City are unbeaten across their last 23 home matches in the Champions League, winning 21. If they avoid defeat in this match, they will equal Arsenal’s record for the longest home unbeaten run by an English club in the competition (24 games between September 2004 and April 2009).
Leipzig are unbeaten in five matches in the Champions League (W4 D1), their longest unbeaten run in the competition since a seven-game stretch in 2019-20 when they reached the semi-final.
The last team to defeat City at the Etihad Stadium in a Champions League knockout stage match was Liverpool in the 2017-18 quarter-final second leg – visiting sides have avoided defeat just once in eight matches since.
Marco Rose has taken charge of three matches in the Champions League knockout stages, with all three coming against City, after his Monchengladbach side were eliminated by the club in the last 16 in 2020-21. The only previous instance of a head coach facing the same opponent in his first four Champions League knockout stage matches is Frank Rijkaard against Chelsea between 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Haaland has scored 17 goals in 11 home matches in the Champions League for Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City, scoring at least two goals in seven of those games. The Norwegian has scored a goal every 49 minutes on average in these matches.
Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has scored 10 goals across his last 12 starts in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against City at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021. Nkunku is one of two players to score a hat-trick against City in the competition, the other being Lionel Messi in October 2016.
Former Ghana international, Richard Kingson, could be fired from his position as the Black Stars’ goalkeepers’ trainer according to reports.
A new goalkeepers’ trainer and video analyst could be hired by Chris Hughton, the new Black Stars coach, as a result of some technical team changes.
Chris Hughton and the Ghana Football Association hierarchy reportedly met to finalise the changes that could result in Kingson and the video analyst Awal Kamin losing their jobs, according to an unnamed source.
The GFA source told Graphic Sports, “Maybe, having been with the team for almost a year as technical advisor, I suspect Chris Hughton may have analysed the technical team and, therefore, knows its inadequacies which may have informed his recommendations to strengthen the technical department as he takes over.”
The source also mentioned that Ameenu Shadow, General Manager of Dreams FC, is likely to replace Henry Mantey as the new Team Manager of the Black Stars.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum confirmed that Hughton has made recommendations but refused to comment further on the reported changes to the technical team.
Twum said, “I’m aware he has made some recommendations in his technical department but I can’t say anything until he is unveiled. I believe every concern would be addressed at his unveiling so I think we must wait for that day to know everything about the team.”
Chris Hughton is set to be unveiled on March 20 in Kumasi ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola.
Just two months after declaring that he was ill as a result of the death of his wife, Ismaila Mabo, the former head coach of the Nigerian women’s national team,Super Falcons, passed away at 78.
The captain of the Mighty Jets of Jos and former international passed away early on Monday morning at his home in Jos. He is scheduled to be buried soon after, in accordance with Islamic customs.
After guiding the Super Falcons to the quarterfinals of the 1999 tournament shortly after his appointment, Mabo is regarded as one of the most successful Nigerian coaches in women’s football.
It is Nigeria’s best performance at a Women’s World Cup to date, and he also led the team at the Australian Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.
He left the team in 2002 but returned two years later to leadSuper Falcons at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games in Greece.
In Pocatello, Idaho, there is a public research universitycalled Idaho State University (ISU). Idaho State, which was originally known as the Academy of Idaho, was established in 1901 and now has campuses in Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls in addition to its main campus in Pocatello. It is classed as belonging to the “R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity” group.
Idaho State enrols more than 12,000 students, with 57% of them being female and 43% male. At Idaho State, there are 13 students for every teacher, and 58 percent of students enroll.in full-time courses.
2. University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas, is a public research university located at Little Rock, USA. It was founded by the Little Rock School District in 1927, and in 1957 it changed its name to Little Rock University to reflect its status as a private, four-year institution.
3. California State University
California State University is located in Fresno, California. It belongs to the network of California State Universities. The university had 25,341 students enrolled for the fall of 2020.
4. Oregon State University, Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon is home to the public land-grant Oregon State University. OSU offers a wide range of graduate and doctoral degrees in addition to more than 200 undergraduate degree programmes.
5. University of Houston
University of Houston, located in Houston, USA was founded in 1927.It is the largest public research university in Houston and the third largest university in Texas.
6. University of Michigan
The university is the oldest in Michigan and was founded in 1817 as the Catholepistemiad, or the “School of Universal Knowledge,” 20 years before the territory became a state and it’s labelled as one of the best universities in the world is the University of Michigan.
7. University of Texasat San Antonio
In San Antonio, Texas, there is a public research university called the University of Texas at San Antonio.
UTSA is the largest university in San Antonio and the eighth-largest university in Texas by enrollment, housing more than 34,000 students across its four campuses, which span 758 acres.
Thegreatest African goalkeeper of all time, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), is former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
From 1987 to 2022, the IFFHS ranked goalkeepers from the continents of Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia.
Enyeama, a former captain of the Super Eagles, has received recognition for his valour while playing for club and country.
Enyeama, now 40, played for NPFL teams Ibom Stars and Enyimba FC, where his impressive performance attracted widespread attention.
He played for Enyimba FC for a century, making 10 penalty kick goals in that time.
He also won two CAF Champions League titles with the most successful Nigerian club.
While in Europe, Enyeama had spells with Hapoel Tel Aviv, an Israeli club where he netted 9 goals in 113 appearances.
The highlight of the 40-year-old’s club career was in the French Ligue 1 with Lille where he plied his trade from 2011 to 2018 making over 143 appearances.
At Lille, Enyeama chalked an astonishing feat of keeping 11 consecutive clean sheets by going 1,062 minutes of Ligue 1 football without conceding.
On the international level, he is the second most capped Super Eagles player with 101 caps only behind Ahmed Musa.
Thomas Partey has struggled to translate his strong club form to the international stage, according to George Afriyie, a former vice president of the Ghana Football Association.
When Partey plays for Arsenal compared to when he represents Ghana, there is a noticeable difference in his performance.
Due to criticism over his underwhelming World Cup performance, the 29-year-old was made the scapegoat for Ghana’s early exit.
George Afriyie mentioned to 3FMin a conversation that Partey might be experiencing the same issue that Michael Essien did at one point in his career.
He explained that Partey’s starting position in Ghana’s team could be a factor because the nation has yet to establish a position for him
“It’s a combination of factors. compare him to Michael Essien. What we saw him in the Chelsea jersey cannot be compared to what we saw in the Black Stars. Essien delivered when it mattered most. I remember we played Congo in Brazzaville and Partey was pushed up front in more of a No.8 or No.10 position and he scored 3 goals,” he stated.
“Against Nigeria in Abuja, he also scored a very important goal that qualified Ghana for the World Cup. So where it matters most, he delivers,” he said.
“It depends on how a coach wants to parade his players. It depends on the set of players he brings around him. It would be very difficult to compare Partey in Arsenal to Partey in Ghana because you need to consider the materials around him at Arsenal and compare that to Ghana. So for me, it is the way we position him and the roles we assign him. Partey has always had the desire and shown commitment that he wants to play for Ghana,” he added.
Partey is likely to be in the starting team when the Black Stars host Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium on March 23. The Arsenal man could be in action again when Ghana traveled to Angola, four days later.
In 43 appearances for Ghana, Thomas Partey has scored 13 goals including the one that sealed qualificationfor the 2022 World Cup.
The future of Jude Bellingham’s football career is still uncertain. The youngster from Borussia Dortmund has been linked with a transfer away from the German team, with Real Madrid and Liverpool the front-runners to sign him.
Bellingham should stay with the team for another season, according to a club legend, as Dortmund are also eager to hold onto their star player. Stefan Effenberg thinks the young star would be better off remaining with the Bundesliga team, as reported by BVB Buzz.
“I would advise Bellingham to stay in Dortmund; he is still young and can still sign three of four top contracts in the future,” he said.
Contrary to Haaland, he thinks Bellingham has a closer relationship with the club and enjoys their trust and support more.
Effenberg cited Jadon Sancho as an example for his recommendation to the star to remain in Germany. “I hope he decides to stay for the sake of his own growth.
There is also no assurance in other places. The prime example of this is Sancho.
Sancho was one of the many gifted young players for Dortmund who was expected to have a promising future.
According to Transfermarkt, he scored 50 goals in 137 games for the German team but just 10 in 61 games for the English team.
Effenberg is concerned that Bellingham might suffer the same fate as the Red Devils player, who fell short of expectations after moving.
Bellingham is unsure of the club’s future. According to a previous report from Sports Brief, Borussia Dortmund is eager to learn if Bellingham will be returning for another year.
According to news reports, the Bundesliga team wants to keep the player, but he is unsure of his position.
Bellingham has been linked with moves to clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid, though his current club still wants him.
No matter how many times his team wins thePremier League, Pep Guardiola acknowledges that the success in the Champions League will define his time as manager of Manchester City. Tuesday’s second leg of City’s Champions League last-16 tie against Bundesliga powerhouse Leipzig will be played with the goal of reaching the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Guardiola’s team is expected to advance in front of their home crowd at the Etihad Stadium.
The quest to end City’s wait to win the top club competition in Europe for the first time inspires and frustrates Guardiola at the same time.
The 52-year-old has won the Premier League four times, four League Cups, and FA Cup during his remarkably successful seven years in Manchester.
Yet for all his domestic glory with City, it is the Champions League that remains the holy grail. .
Guardiola won the Champions League twice as Barcelona boss, in 2009 and 2011, but failed to repeat that success in his three years with Bayern Munich.
City lost to Chelsea in the 2021 final but have also endured a series of agonising exits from the knockout stages, with last season’s astonishing late collapse against Real Madrid in the semi-finals an especially bitter blow.
Asked if his time at City would be judged solely on his European achievements, Guardiola told reporters: “Yes. It doesn’t mean I agree with that but absolutely we will be judged by this competition.” However, he believes City’s gradual progress from outsiders to established members of Europe’s elite under his leadership deserves more respect.
“Since day one when I arrived, sitting here for the first time, they (the media) asked me ‘Are you here to win the Champions League?’” he said. “I said ‘What? If you are manager of Real Madrid maybe I accept that.’
But I accept it here. It’s not going to change.” ‘Try again’ City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is adamant the Guardiola era should still be deemed a success despite the failure so far to land the Champions League title.
“Every year we have been close, quarters, semis, final. We just haven’t done the last bit. We are going to try again,” he said. “If you care about the noise then obviously it’s going to annoy you. I know we haven’t won it but we have done really well. “I know people only judge on if you win it, but there have been a lot of circumstances.
” With City trailing five points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, the Champions League is even more important for Guardiola’s team this season.
For City to win the Premier League or Champions League, they will needErling Haaland at his best. Haaland scored the penalty winner at Crystal Palace on Saturday to reach 34 goals in all competitions this season.
There are still critics of Haaland’s lack of involvement in City’s build-up play and Guardiola believes the Norway striker can improve that side of his game. “I don’t like one player just to be in the box to score goals. Of course that is important, it is the main thing, but it is not all we need of him,” Guardiola said.
“When we are away from the opponent’s box he cannot score a goal. We need him to be involved and to be active. “He has improved a little bit but on this he can do better.”
The 2023 award is in danger of being rocked by allegations of favouritism and daylight robbery because previous events like 2013 and 2010 are still being questioned.
Lionel Messi remains the front-runner to win a record eighth title when the ceremony goes down sometime in October this year. His World Cup heroics with Argentina have given him a perfect head start.
Second on the list is Kylian Mbappe, who nearly led France to a lone World Cup victory.
All of this occurred prior to Bayern Munich’s merciless elimination of Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League.
The World Cup dilemma
Even though the Ballon d’Or award is frequently decided by individual merit, the Champions League typically has a significant impact on the outcome.
In the case of a World Cup year, the once-in-four-years competition takes precedence over any other trophy – Luka Modric is a witness.
Questions have already started streaming in on how this year’s award will be determined by a ‘seven-game tournament.’
Ghanaian international Thomas Partey has explained that his parents have a significant influence on his life and career, much like a coach would.
Partey, who has been in excellent form this year, has made a significant contribution to Arsenal’s success in the Premier League season thus far.
Partey claims that his parents’ support, who serve as his coaches, is the key to his success.
He emphasised how important his parents have been in helping him analyse games and improve as a player on the pitch.
“Both of my parents are like a coach. They said if I have a chance to shoot, I have to shoot. They are like you have to chip this ball behind the goalkeeper. They are like a coach,” Partey told Super Sports.
The Arsenal player disclosed that he is in constant touch with his parents, thanks to technology. “They’ve learnt how to send me a lot of voice notesso I listen to them every time and I call them when I am free,” he said.
The appointment was questioned by Scott Geelan, who is well-known for sharing scouting data and information about Ghanaian athletes. He called the FA “shameless corrupt” and questioned the appointment.
“Surely not? On what basis was this appointment made? Apparently just another friend of Kurt Okraku given some bizarre role within the FA with no clear scope, no evidence of a competitive process & no track record of success. Shamelessly corrupt, if true.”
Ameenu Shadow responded to Scott Geelan’s tweet by attempting to expose him for attempting to once serve as the team’s scout.
“It is the so-called ‘shamelessly corrupt’ process that you wanted to benefit from when you begged me to put in a word for you to land a job with the national team. Why don’t you go begging people within the UK federations for work? Why are you so obsessed with Ghana?” he questioned.
But Geelan bounced back, displaying details of a conversation he had with Shadow who disclosed to have recommended him for an appointment as a Black Stars scout.
“Hilarious, someone tell @alooameenu to unblock me. This is a lie but not a surprise that he’d stoop to “go find a job in your country” & this rubbish. I was contacted first, had already worked on a project (free of charge) for the GFA (2021 AFCON U20) & NEVER asked for a job, he tweeted with a photo of the chat.
On March 23, 2023, the Black Stars’ match against Angola at the Kumasi Sports Stadium will serve as Shadow’s debut as team manager.
Later in March, the 2023 AFCON qualifying matches resume with a doubleheader between Ghana and Angola.
The Black Stars will play the Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) in their own backyard four days after the match in Kumasi.
For full transparency, Ameenu followed me & subsequently contacted me to discuss national team players for Ghana. We had a few calls, over Zoom, whilst he was at university & I said I was happy to talk to other people about the players. Never asked for a job – I had one.
