President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Ben Nunoo Mensah, in a media engagement expressed his agreement with the viewpoint that all of Ghana’s national teams, including football, athletics, and tennis, should be treated equally.
Despite acknowledging that football and the senior national team hold significant financial importance and should receive preferential treatment, Mensah believes that differentiation should not occur among the national teams.
The host of the show, Kwabena Agyapong, emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all national teams.
However, the sports editor argued against treating the teams equally.
Andrews Kwabena, aka K-GEE, supported his claims, but Mr. Nunoo Mensah, who was listening at the time, called in, saying that all of our teams must be treated equally.
He said that in the light of saying the senior team is our cash cow and so they should give some level of treatment, I agree with them, but in the light that they should not be treated equally, I disagree with them.
“Our national football team is not the only one we have. There are numerous other national teams. We have a national Judo team, a national swimming team, and a national weightlifting team.
That is why I agree with your [Kwabena] argument. Why should our national Judo team, which recently won gold in a tournament, travel by bus? The other national teams travel by bus, while the senior national team, the Black Stars, travels by plane.”
“That is not ideal, and it is for this reason that I have argued that all of our teams must be treated equally,” he said.
As a result, he has urged journalists and policymakers to use accurate facts when making such claims.
“If those who can influence policy decisions and journalists get their facts wrong, or if we don’t present our case well, the disparity in treatment of our national teams will persist. That is why I called to inform you that it is not just about the Black Stars.
Yes, we know football is our passion.The Black Stars have also given us some popularity, so whatever they want, let us give it to them so that they can maintain that pedigree for the nation.”
However, when the Black Stars require a million, the maidens or Meteos may require only a thousand, or the Judo team or the weight lighting teams may require only twenty thousand, yet they do not receive the required amount when the Black Stars receive what they require,” he added.
“We need all of our facts so that when policymakers are listening, they will structure their policies so that every Ghanaian youth with talent is nurtured so that they can achieve greater rewards for themselves and the nation,” he said.
In most cases, the per diem for the other national teams is difficult to come by, let alone their winning bonuses. We must address these issues so that our children who participate in boxing, judo, and other sports receive the necessary support. They are just as important as the players for the Black Stars.”
It is expected thatGhanaian football star Mohammed Kudus would command a significant transfer fee if he were to move during the upcoming summer transfer window, according to Dutch journalist Mike Verweij.
Verweij mentioned during the Kick Off podcast that while Kudus’s price tag would be substantial, it wouldn’t reach the same magnitude as the fee Ajax received for selling Antony to Manchester United last summer.
“Brighton are the most serious. But if Manchester United become serious about Kudus, then Erik ten Hag can do great things for his former club again just like when he bought Antony for €100m (£86.5m).
Kudus won’t go for the same price but his price would surely go up,” Mike Vermeij said.
During the 2022/23 football season, Mohammed Kudus starred for Ajax although he had issues with injuries.
He finished the season with 18 goals after making 42 appearances in all competitions.
He also provided seven assists.
This summer,Mohammed Kudus is wanted by several clubs including Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Accra Great Olympics’ Communications Director, Emmanuel Saint Osei, has raised serious concerns about Ghana’s national teams following the Black Meteors’ elimination from the 2023 U23 AFCON.
The team’s failure to advance in the tournament, with a disappointing draw against Guinea and a crushing defeat to Morocco, has dashed hopes of Ghanaian fans for Olympic participation in 2024.
“We always create the impression that all is well with our national teams, but all is not well,” he told Citi Sports.
“What i have studied in the past is that, we do not pay attention to details, including our coaches when it comes to tournaments.
“When we won our first match against Congo, for me it wasn’t the time for our Coaches to go and sleep, because Congo was a tough side, in fact all the teams we faced are better sides.
“So I was expecting that till the last whistle is blown, then we will have the opportunity to celebrate and do something else.
“Now every nation is playing football, not like in the past where we were running past nations with ease, so i think it is about time our technical handlers give details to football and ensure that every department of the game has the necessary attention applied.
“Look at the goals we conceded against Morocco, it is not something that should have happened.”
Former Ghanaian international andBlack Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah had a meeting with Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace on Tuesday, July 4 according to a report by Nhyira FM, a radio station based in Kumasi.
The purpose of the visit has not been officially disclosed, but there are speculations that Appiah could be appointed as the next coach of Asante Kotoko on a long-term contract.
On Monday, June 3, the Patron of the club dissolved the entire management and board after the expiration of their contract.
The current board, led by Dr. Kwame Kyei and Chief Executive Officer Nana Yaw Amponsah, has been summoned to the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, July 5, to give an account of their term in office.
Following this recent development, a new board for Asante Kotoko will be announced by the Manhyia Palace before the start of the 2023/24 season.
Kwesi Appiah previously had a coaching stint with Kotoko between 1992 and 1995 as an assistant coach, later becoming the head coach from 1995 to 1996.
He also served as Ghana’s assistant coach from 2007 to 2012 under Claude le Roy and Milovan Rajevac.
His most recent coaching roles include managing Kenpong Football Academy from 2021 to 2023, as well as Sudanese side Al Khartoum.
The chairman of theBlack Meteors’ management committee, Frederick Acheampong, has clarified that the team’s coach, Ibrahim Tanko, does not receive a monthly salary as is commonly believed.
Contrary to the misconception, Tanko, like the national team footballers, receives allowances and bonuses rather than a fixed monthly payment.
Acheampong made this clarification to dispel the misunderstanding surrounding Tanko’s compensation structure.
Tanko, who led the team in 2019 when they failed to qualify for the Olympic Games, was given another opportunity to perform better in the ongoing AFCON.
However, the team’s elimination in the group stage has raised concerns about their commitment and integrity.
Acheampong clarified in an interview with 3Sports on Sports Ultras, a show on 3FM, that Tanko is in a similar situation as national team footballers who are not paid salaries but instead receive allowances and bonuses.
This dispels the misconception that the coach receives a monthly salary.
“No [Ibrahim Tanko doesn’t receive a salary for coaching the Black Meteors]. Because he works for his club so just like the footballers who play for the national team they work for their clubs so they only earn per diem based on the number of days they have been in camp and are also only paid winning bonuses when they win a match,” he said.
He, however, refuted claims suggesting the coach could get influenced due to the absence of monthly salaries.
“I’ve known Tanko for a number of years and I’ve known his integrity. He is someone I can trust and will not be influenced by any money despite not being paid monthly,” he added.
Ghana’s failure to make it to the next Olympic Games due to their early exit from the AFCON means their wait will be prolonged to at least 24 years having last participated at the quadrennial event in 2004.
Respected Ghanaian commentator, Joe Lartey, has provided insight into the motivations behind Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s decision to invite the renowned European football powerhouse, Real Madrid, to play against the Black Stars in 1962.
According to Lartey, Ghana was rapidly establishing itself as a football force in Africa during the 1960s, and Dr. Nkrumah, the country’s first president, sought to showcase the immense talent and potential of the Black Stars to the global stage.
Lartey further disclosed that while working closely with Ohene Gyan, the Sports Director at the time, it was Dr. Nkrumah himself who personally extended the invitation to Real Madrid, surprising many with his direct involvement in the matter.
This decision sparked a passionate debate regarding the significance of Ghana facing such a formidable opponent, considering the growing strength of the Black Stars at the time.
In an interview with Kafui Dey, Lartey explained Nkrumah’s perspective, saying, “Kwame Nkrumah discovered the importance of unity especially in politics. He attended school at Achimota and did a bit of sports and he realized that football in particular had a strong unifying force.”
He further added that, “After appointing Ohene Gyan as Director of Sports for Ghana. He sometimes planned with him some of the sports activities organized. Nkrumah worked solo in inviting Real Madrid to play with the Black Stars team. The idea was to show how far we’ve developed in football.”
“We were then just beginning to show our strength in football. There was a big debate whether it was proper for the Black Stars to play against a world-famous club side like Real Madrid because they were champions in Europe and dreaded by opponents,” Joe Lartey stated.
The veteran Ghanaian commentator emphasized that Ghana was only starting to demonstrate its football strength at that time and playing against a world-famous club like Real Madrid was a subject of intense debate.
This historic match against one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs became a significant moment in Ghanaian football history and helped raise the profile of the Black Stars on the international stage.
Former midfielder for the Black Stars, Emmanuel Agyemang, has expressed his concerns about the current state of Ghanaian football, particularly in light of the Ghana U23 team’s early exit from the AFCON U-23 tournament in Morocco.
Unfortunately, their elimination at the group stage means that they will not qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
This marks the third occasion in a little over a year that a Ghanaian national team has been unable to advance past the initial round of an international competition.
Agyemang’s lamentations highlight the disappointing performances and challenges faced by Ghanaian football on the international stage.
“When I talk, I don’t get anything from it, but I’m talking because the sport that gave me something is about to die and I can’t just look on,” he told Joy Sports.
“The GFA needs to organize an emergency meeting tomorrow and take stock of what’s happening. Where our football is heading is dangerous.
“Ghana football is in dangerous times. If care isn’t taken, in a couple of years, qualification to major competitions may become problematic.”
The Black Meteors arrived in Ghana on Monday morning after an abysmal showing in Morocco, as reported by Ghanafa.org.
Derek Boateng blasts GFA
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former Ghana midfielder, Derek Boateng has accused the Ghana Football Association of influencing player selection in the various national teams.
His comment comes after the Black Meteors’ disastrous showing at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, where Ghana were eliminated from the group stage.
Retired and former Asamoah Gyan, captain of the Black Stars, has expressed his displeasure towards the Black Meteors team for their performance at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Gyan stated that the players lacked a sense of urgency throughout the tournament, and this was evident from the second group game onwards.
In that game, Ghana suffered a 1-5 defeat against Morocco, following a victory against Congo in their tournament opener.
Despite scoring first in their last game against Guinea, Ghana only managed a 1-1 draw and subsequently exited the competition.
Gyan promptly shared his disappointment in a social media post and further elaborated on his thoughts in an interview with Asempa FM.
He emphasized the lack of urgency displayed by the players and voiced his concerns about their overall performance at the tournament.
What I saw in this Black meteors team is some players think they are bigger than the whole team. Small hype and fame ? SHM. Modern football is not about only what you do with the ball. It’s about what you do without the ball. I see players thinking the can play alone. It’s about…
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) June 30, 2023 “Everyone understood what I tweeted [after the game]. I didn’t watch the full first two games but when you look at the things that happened against Morocco, you could see them break on the counterattack and you will see just a few defenders [of the Black Meteors] while the others are left behind jogging,” he said.
“It was as if they didn’t have any sense of urgency. That is where I realised [there were issues].
“When I watched the game [vs Guinea], you could see individuals even struggle to put together 2-3 passes and when we lose the ball, we are not aggressive enough to win it back.
“We have the players but how to approach the game is what we lack.
“How do we expect to win a game like this?” he quizzed.
Gyan, who recently announced his decision to retire from professional football, also refused to mention the names of the players he was talking about in his tweet.
“I won’t mention any names but we all watched the game and you could see. I have no personal issues with anyone,” he noted.
“They know themselves.”
The Black Meteors’ exit from the U-23 AFCON also means they miss out on a place at next year’s Olympic Games to be staged in Paris.
Former captain of theBlack Stars, Stephen Appiah, has disclosed that the late Sam Arday, coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team that won the 1995 U-17 World Cup in Ecuador, prophesied that he would become one of the best players in Ghana.
Appiah revealed this during an interview on JoySports Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai.
Despite playing only one match during the entire tournament, Appiah stated that Arday had the foresight to predict his future success in football.
“In Ecuador [during the U-17 World Cup], I had the chance to play one game. I’m not going to say only [one game] because I have to be true to myself that the players who were there were better, they had the experience; players like Joe Ansah, Baba Sulley, David Amoako, Abu Iddrisu, Emmanuel Bentil, Awudu Issaka and the rest, I mean they were ahead of me,” he noted.
“So when we played our first and second games, we won the two games so by the third game we had qualified already so I was given the opportunity to play the last game. I played so well, Charles Allortey scored the only goal, we beat them 1-0.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to play again, we won the trophy we came back, and when we came back, we took the trophy on a tour.
When we got to the Accra sports stadium, there were a lot of fans to welcome us.
“When Sam Arday was giving his speech, he said that he was thanking the fans and the players and everybody who supported them to win, but one thing [he added was that] there’s a young player in our team who didn’t get the chance to play but one day he will be one of the best in this country and it happened,” he stated.
He added that; “he [Arday] knew the quality I had. Sam Arday was a great man.
He was one of those coaches who could look at a player and predict that he will be good in the future and most of the time, it happens.”
Stephen Appiah would go on to lead the Black Stars to its maiden appearance in the World Cup in 2006, before repeating the feat in 2010 where Ghana reached the quarterfinal of the tournament when it was staged in Africa for the first time.
Former captain of theBlack Stars, Stephen Appiah, has teased that his forthcoming memoir will contain intriguing surprises and reveal hidden secrets from his days as a professional football player.
Appiah expressed that there is much unknown about his humble beginnings in Chorkor, the slum where he grew up, and the remarkable journey that led him to lead Ghana to the World Cup against all odds.
He emphasized that while people are familiar with his national team career and his time abroad, they are unaware of the challenges he faced during his difficult childhood.
During an interview with Joy Sports, the ex-Juventus player disclosed his intention to document his experiences in a book, which will uncover the deep secrets he has carried with him.
“People saw me playing for Accra Hearts of Oak, U-17, U-20 and move to Europe. So they know about my career but there are some deep details that people don’t know”.
He added, “I have to keep it to myself because definitely one day I will write my book and I will put them in. It should be a surprise but I have certain deep details.”
“When I mention that I come from Chorkor, you have to know that I have really come a long way,” Appiah said.
Ghanaian left-back Patrick Kpozo has completed a move to Czech Republic club Banik Ostrava on a two-year contract from Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspor.
Kpozo, aged 25, had a brief spell of 18 months with Sheriff Tiraspor after joining them from Swedish club Östersund in January 2022.
His impressive performances during this period earned him a call-up to the Ghana national team.
During his time with Sheriff Tiraspor, Kpozo made 15 league appearances, contributing to their eighth consecutive league title win and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
He also featured in eight matches in the UEFA Europa League and made two appearances in the Moldovan Cup.
In March, Kpozo was initially invited byBlack Stars coach Chris Hughton to join the Ghana national team for their doubleheader against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
He had to wait until the following match against Madagascar, where he made his debut and won the admiration of many due to the previous left-back players’ lacklustre performances, Baba Rahman and Gideon Mensah.
As his new team Banik Ostrava struggled defensively last season, Patrick Kpozo is expected to strengthen their defence under his leadership.
They avoided being demoted after the playoffs by placing 12th in the regular season.
Ghana has climbed up in themost recent FIFA rankings, securing the 59th position among the world’s best-performing countries.
However, their placement within the CAF category remains unchanged, as they continue to occupy the 11th position.
During the recent international break in June, the Black Stars faced a draw against Madagascar, adding to their 2023 record of one win and two draws in three matches.
Ghana have now gone over a year without entering the top 10 in Africa. Their last feature dates back to October 2021, when they were ranked 7th.
Morocco retained first place despite a draw and a defeat to Cape Verde and South Africa in the international break, which included a victory over Brazil.
Senegal, who beat Brazil and drew with Benin sits second followed by Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso on the top 10 list.
The world’s top ten list of countries also stays constant. However, England and Croatia have each risen one spot.
England, who were ranked fifth in the previous ranking, is now fourth, while Croatia has surpassed the Netherlands to reach seventh place.
The celebration by the lawmakers acknowledged his significant contributions to Ghanaian football and the development of sports in the country.
Gyan officially announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, June 20.
Gyan who paid a working visit to the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annor-Dompreh, on Monday (26 June) told the media that, “as a Ghanaian and for all that I have done for this country now I will say my heart is at peace.”
Annor-Dompreh praised Gyan and asked for a national monument in his honour.
Humbled with gesture
Baby Jet, as he is affectionately called, said he was humbled by the recognition of Annor-Dompreh.
“Honestly, I was very honoured to hear what went on in Parliament. For me honestly, I haven’t witnessed something like this before. I didn’t expect it and I felt some way.
“Since childhood till now, I have never seen Parliament discuss a player before so I feel very honoured and appreciative,”the former Black Stars forward said.
The 37-year-old former Sunderland arrow head said he has been disrespected on several occasions despite his dedication to mother Ghana.
“There was a lot of disrespect. Sometimes I go on social media and a lot of disrespect and I feel like I am one of those guys who put Ghana on the map.
“The masses can also confirm. But seeing what went on in Parliament, I’m now beginning to understand and feel appreciated,” Gyan said.
Celebrating more heroes
Annor-Dompreh added that there is the need to celebrate heroes like Gyan who have contributed to Ghana’s feats.
He said: “I feel we can do better, whatever we do to him or for him will set the tone and going into the future, what we should do to our heroes as a nation.
And as the saying goes, ‘a nation that doesn’t celebrate its heroes is not worth dying for.’ I am particularly elated that we set the tone and we got almost the entire house agreeing to what I suggested.”
“If you go to England, the way theycelebrate David Beckham, you will be amazed. So, I think not just the personality of Asamoah Gyan but our traits and the tendency for us to also celebrate people who have sacrificed for our country.”
Ghanaian midfielder and player for Ajax,Mohammed Kudus, has been awarded the title of Footballer of the Year at the fifth edition of the Ghana Football Awards.
The ceremony was held on June 25, 2023, at the Accra International Conference Centre. Kudus outshined his fellow Black Stars teammates Joseph Paintsil and Salis Abdul Samed to secure this prestigious recognition.
This achievement follows in the footsteps of last year’s recipient, Alexander Djiku.
Blessing Shine Agbomdzi, who plays for ASFAR in Morocco, was named the Women’s Footballer of the Year.
In the Odartey Lamptey Future Star category, FC Nordsjaelland forward Ernest Nuamah emerged as the winner, surpassing Black Princesses’ captain Stella Nyamaekye and Princess Owusua.
Napoli’s Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, was honoured as the Best African International Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.
Medeama Sporting Club, the champions of the Ghana Premier League, dominated the awards ceremony. Head coach Evans Adotey and CEO Moses Armah led the way, with the team also winning the Male Team of the Year category.
The Ghana U-23 is tipped as one of the favourites to win the 2023 U-23 Africa Youth Championship.
The team is filled with familiar and highly rated talents who are expected to turn up in Ghana’s opening game against Congo on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
Ghana are aiming to better their fourth-place finish during their debut appearance in the tournament in 2019, which will also secure the nation a desired qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The West African side has gone almost two decades without qualifying for the Olympics as the responsibility rests on the current group to break the jinx.
Therefore, a win against Congo will be a huge boost in the players’ confidence in their attempt to achieve the feat.
Here are five players to watch in the game against Congo
Danlad Ibrahim
The Asante Kotoko goalie has played for Ghana at all levels bar the Senior National team where he is yet to make his debut.
He burst onto the scene after his exceptional performance for Ghana U-17 in the AFCON and the U-17 World Cup in 2017.
Ernest Nuamah
Ernest Nuamah is currently one of the best U-23 players in Africa. The Nordsjaelland forward is on the radar of several top European clubs after his astonishing campaign in the Denmark top flight.
He has been nominated for the 2023 Golden Boy Award, ranked 26th with a 74.6 rating.
Emmanuel Essiam
The FC Basel midfielder was a member of the Ghana U-20 team that won the AFCON in 2021.
He is tipped to become one of Ghana’s greatest holding midfielders. During his first season for FC Basel, he played 15 games in all competitions including Europa Conference League.
Fatawu Issahaku
Sporting CP winger, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku is one of the most exciting players in the Black Meteors squad.
He won the best player award at the 2017 U-20 AFCON, which led to his lucrative transfer to Sporting CP.
At age 20, he has already made 14 appearances for the Black Stars, scoring one goal.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh
FC Zurich forward, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh is the skipper of the side. He captained the U-20 side to win the AFCON in 2021, in which he scored a brace in the final.
He already has 7 titles to his credit in his early career including two national team trophies.
Asamoah Gyan is without a doubt one of African football’s most colorful characters. He has had crazy hairstyles, shed a few World Cup tears, won music awards, and scored a lot of goals.
The Ghana legend blew the full-time whistle on his playing career on Tuesday following a journey that took him around the world and spanned two decades.
The 37-year-old striker played at three World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations (Afcons), captaining the Black Stars on many occasions, but somehow always ended up as the nearly man.
BBC Sport Africa looks at some of the numbers and events that defined his career on and off the pitch.
1. Ghana’s number one for goals
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 51 times in 109 games. Only Andre Ayew has played more times for the Black Stars.
His international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Somalia in November 2003 was a sign of things to come as he scored five minutes after coming on as a 77th-minute substitute. Three days shy of his 18th birthday, that strike made him Ghana’s youngest ever scorer.
Former international team-mate John Paintsil can still recall his first encounter with a young Gyan when both were playing for Ghanaian side Liberty Professionals.
“One day, the youth side was beating the seniors. There was this striker who was so fast on the ball, very skilful, dribbled left and right, very good in the air and battling with our defenders.
“I went for the tackle, Gyan does some skills, he twists me and I find the ball back of the net again. I said ‘Wow, I believe this boy will become one of the best strikers Ghana’s ever produced’. It came to pass.”
Gyan also scored eight Afcon goals for his country, losing two finals in 2010 and 2015. His record of 31 appearances spread across seven tournaments leaves him joint-second on the all-time list, again behind compatriot Ayew (34), while Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan is the only person to have played at eight Afcons.
Painstil told BBC Sport Africa, “Gyan is one of the best strikers that Africa and Ghana has produced.”
https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.49.3/iframe.htmlWorld Cup moments: Suarez handball
2. World Cup success…and that penalty
Gyan is also Africa’s all-time leading scorer at World Cups, with six goals spread across three tournaments (2006, 2010 and 2014).
Having helped his nation qualify for a maiden World Cup, he scored just 68 seconds into Ghana second group game against the Czech Republic at the 2006 tournament in Germany. The Black Stars went on to make the second round before losing to Brazil.
But the 2010 BBC African Footballer of the Year is perhaps best known for a sliding doors moment at the following World Cup in South Africa, the first held on African soil.
WATCH: Match classic – Ghana v Uruguay at 2010 World Cup
‘The supporters are talking about revenge’ – Painstil on Ghana v Uruguay’
WATCH: Was Suarez handball cheating or selfless?
Having scored two penalties to help Ghana narrowly qualify from a group containing Germany, Australia and Serbia, he then struck a 93rd-minute winner in the last 16 against the USA, setting up a quarter-final against Uruguay.
What happened next has become part of World Cup folklore.
With the game tied at 1-1 heading into the final minute of extra-time, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was sent off for handling the ball on the goalline, clearly denying Ghana a winning goal.
But with the world watching on, this time Gyan couldn’t convert, seeing his penalty clip the bar and go over.
Gyan spent the night crying in his hotel room after missing the penalty against Uruguay, according to team-mate John Paintsil
He showed courage to step up and score from the spot just minutes later, but Ghana lost the shootout 4-2.
“We all had to go to Gyan’s [hotel] room,” Paintsil revealed.
“We did all we could but he was crying throughout the night. I will tell you, Gyan still feels that pain.”
The forward recovered to captain his country at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, scoring two more goals against Portugal and Germany, but there was no fairytale redemption story as the Black Stars finished bottom of their group.
Gyan wore the number three shirt after a suggestion from his brother, fellow Ghana international Baffour Gyan
3. Three is the magic number
Gyan baffled World Cup commentators by wearing the number three shirt.
That choice, which he carried throughout his career, was inspired by his brother and his Christian faith.
Baffour Gyan played 25 times for the national team and, like his younger sibling, was a striker. When Asamoah became part of the Ghana set-up, Baffour suggested the number because it represented the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
“It is like DNA. Both brothers were very energetic and fighters,” said Paintsil, who describes the number three as Gyan’s “symbol”.
“The number three leaves with him everywhere he goes.”
4. Hair-raising controversy
Indeed, Gyan certainly carried the number with him once he had it shaved and dyed into the side of his head, a style he adopted after his 2010 World Cup heartbreak.
Having sported various different looks over the years, his mohawk landed him in hot water in 2016 after a loan move to Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of more than 40 players sent a warning letter about “unethical hair”.
Gyan agreed to trim his locks to avoid causing offence, but brought the mohawk back for the 2017 Afcon. The number three on the side of his head also made a reappearance in Gabon but Ghana still lost the third-place play-off 1-0 to Burkina Faso.
Asamoah Gyan had to re-think his hair style choices while playing in the UAE
5. Baby Jet scores a hit
What some football fans across the world might not know is that Gyan also had a successful music career.
Using the stage name Baby Jet, he recorded three albums with hiplife musician Castro (hiplife being a famous musical style synonymous with Ghana).
The single African Girls was released in August 2010 and won the best hiplife single of the year at the Ghana Music Awards, although Paintsil has his own favourite, Do the Dance.
“It was one of the songs that travelled all over the world, not only Africa, not only Ghana.
“A lot of Ghanaians danced to it, sometimes the dressing room would dance to it.”
Gyan and Castro, a fellow Ghanaian, met in Italy in 2005 when Gyan was spotted in the crowd at a show and invited on stage. They became friends before Castro disappeared while jet skiing on holiday. Gyan was even forced to deny being involved in his friend’s ritual sacrifice.
Paintsil believes Baby Jet’s music “impacted a lot of people’s lives” and even more success could have followed.
“It’s great to see one person having so much talent. I believe that even if you give him movie scripts, Baby Jet can perform very well. He’s blessed.
“These things come to people who have a good, clean heart and he’s one of them.”
Asamoah Gyan celebrates after scoring a late equaliser for Sunderland against Newcastle
6. Sunderland cult hero
Gyan played for 11 clubs in eight countries during his career, with spells in Italy, France, Turkey, China and India.
Perhaps his most high-profile move came in August 2010 when he joined Premier League Sunderland after his exploits at the World Cup in South Africa.
Then aged 24, he arrived on Wearside for what was then a club record $20 million, scoring on his Premier League debut as a sub before then also finding the net on his full debut.
His outgoing personality, part-time career as a rap superstar and celebration dance moves won over fans but his cult status was secured when he scored a 94th-minute equaliser against rivals Newcastle United.
He scored 11 goals in 37 appearances for the Black Cats with many supporters disappointed that he only spent one season at the Stadium of Light before heading to the UAE on a loan move that “baffled” then manager Steve Bruce.
Paintsil understands why his former national team skipper inspires adoration, both abroad and at home in Ghana.
“Gyan is a great character. He has a sense of humour. We had so much fun.
“He is very unique and nobody can predict him. He’s always happy.
“He is doing so much for the nation and people. He has given hope and also freedom to the youngsters. I’m so proud of him.”
Baby Jet might now be too old to play football but he has certainly led a hip life up to this point.
Goalkeeper with theBlack Stars, Jojo Wollacott, has joined Hibernian FC of the Scottish Premier League during the summer transfer period.
The Ghanaian international agreed to a three-year contract to transfer from Charlton Athletic of English League One to Hibs.
Wollacott, who was born in England of Ghanaian parents, played football for Bristol City, Swindon Town, and Charlton for the majority of his career.
He teams up with Lee Johnson, his previous boss, after moving to Scotland.
“We’re delighted to bring Jojo to the club and I’m looking forward to working with him again,” said the manager, as quoted by the club’s official website.
Johnson talked about knowing Wollacott for some time and his pleasure at seeing him start to fulfill his potential.
“He now has over 100 games under his belt and has played on the international stage with Ghana. He’s an athletic, brave, andconfident goalkeeper, and with big competitions coming up, it’s important we’re strong in the goalkeeping department.”
The keeper shared his excitement after completing the move to Hibernian and is looking forward to working with Johnson again.
“Obviously, he was the first team manager at Bristol City, which is where I was a few years ago, so him signing me is a statement in itself, because it shows his trust and belief in me,” Wollacott stated. “He played a massive part in my development at Bristol, so I want to repay that.”
The 26-year-old was also part of the Black Stars team that travelled to Antananarivo for the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar, as reported by Ghanaweb.
Since making his debut in 2021, Wollacott has made 11 appearances for the national team.
Wollacott reveals football role model Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Ghana’s safest pair of hands, Wollacott revealing his biggest inspiration while growing up – Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart.
Impressing for both club and country, Jojo was shortlisted for Swindon Town’s Player of the Season award, in what is a testament to his purple patch this campaign.
Wollacott bounced back from a dismal performance at the 2021 AFCON to help Ghana qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming a cult hero for his country.
Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri constituency, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has put forward a proposal to include former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan as a subject of study in schools, aiming to inspire the younger generation.
Annoh-Dompreh’s suggestion arises following the outpouring of tributes for the Ghanaian football icon, who recently announced his retirement.
While acknowledging the abundant praise and recognition received by Gyan from football federations, fans, and stakeholders, Annoh-Dompreh believes that mere commendations are inadequate.
He argues that making Gyan a focal point of educational studies would not only pay homage to him but also serve as an inspiration to young people.
“A man with such great ability and talents both on and off the pitch deserves more, I strongly believe this personality and vision should be studied in schools to inspire the next generation,” he said on the floor of parliament.
“Again, a monument should be erected in his name to show our appreciation for the diverse contribution he has made to Ghana and the world at large.
“He is an iconic figure whose brand should be promoted to inspire other rich and endowed footballers to act likewise in the manner in which he contributed to the socio-economic development of our country.
“Speaker, he may [have] missed the golden opportunity of not qualifying Ghana to the semi-final in the 2010 World Cup.
“Nonetheless, he never missed the opportunity for restoring joy into the heart of Ghanaians with music, dance, and economic opportunities that he has offered the youth.”
Gyan, who also holds the record for being Africa’s top scorer in the World Cup with six goals, has hinted at a potential return to the game through coaching and scouting, among others.
Sports broadcaster Patrick Osei Agyemang, also known as Countryman Songo, has strongly criticized Black Stars coach Chris Hughton, accusing him of failing to establish a clear playing style for the national team.
With only one victory and two draws in recent matches since Hughton’s appointment, concerns have been raised by fans who desire to see the team achieve more wins.
Countryman Songo, a vocal critic of the Black Stars, expressed his disappointment with the team’s recent performance against Madagascar.
According to him, Chris Hughton has not been able to coin a playing style for the Black Stars and this has been evident in the poor performance of the team.
“We have to be able to tell the formation and tactics that the Black Stars are playing. What is the system that this coach is playing, he doesn’t have one. We haven’t developed the Black Stars.
“Let’s pay attention to our Black Stars and criticise them because their style of play is not nice currently,” Songo said.
He added that the Black Stars already have a playing style which is known by many football fans and all the coach has to do is to build on it to be able to be successful.
“Football has developed to the extent that everyone is playing European football but still when you go to South America there are teams that have still maintained their DNA and added a little of European football,” he said.
Adding, “Those days in the Black Stars the midfielders spread the ball to the wings and were sending in the crosses from left and right. Now we don’t see that but that is the DNA of Ghana football.”
Former player for the Black Stars, Thomas Duah, has expressed his belief that no individual, including the current expatriate coach Chris Hughton, possesses the capability to improve the national team.
This statement follows Ghana’s inability to secure AFCON 2023 qualification after a draw against Madagascar in Antananarivo.
According to Duah, the current performance of the team has brought the system of player selection for national representation under scrutiny.
Thomas Duah responded to the question of whether Chris Hughton is building the Black Stars in the right direction:
“Nobody can build the Black Stars; anyone who claims otherwise is a liar. We’re only practising ‘trying your luck’ and nothing else. Listen, the system for inviting players is flawed, and it is causing our national teams to fail,” he said.
“How do you build a team by bringing in different players for different games, and how do you find cohesion and understanding?” We don’t put together teams like that.
Look, there are five or four Bayern Munich club players in the German national team, and there are more than five Barcelona players in the Spanish national team, so there is always telepathy.”
“Ours isn’t like that. The local players have been left out; gone are the days when the Black Stars insisted on only local players, and that was what won us the trophy,” he added.
Felix Afena-Gyan, a young player in the Black Stars, expressed his reaction to Asamoah Gyan’s retirement on Twitter.
The forward, who currently plays for US Cremonese, referred to the renowned goal scorer as his source of inspiration and idol
“My inspiration. My Idol. Thank you for making us dream Asamoah Gyan,” Felix Afena-Gyan shared in a post on Twitter.
Ghana great, Asamoah Gyanon Tuesday, announced his retirement, indicating that it’s time to hang his boots.
“Mr. President, Ministers of State, members of the board, fellow Speakers, nananom, niim3, naam3, I want to take this great opportunity, a stage that is difficult in every footballer’s career, a moment all footballers do not wish, but when nature dawns, that thin voice will keep echoing into the ears … IT IS TIME … that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, IT IS TIME,” Asamoah Gyan said.
The former Sunderland forward continued, “IT IS TIME TO HANG THE JERSEY AND BOOTS IN GLORY as I retire officially from active football, … but then again, I am minded by views shared by great businesses men and sporting gurus, “YOU DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LOVE.”
After announcing his retirement from professional football, Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan has received celebratory messages from both former and current Black Stars players.
In an emotional press statement shared online, the former captain of the Black Stars concluded his successful football journey.
Ghanaians, along with fellow players, have expressed their admiration for Asamoah Gyan’s accomplished career.
Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp in the comment section of Gyan’s post on Instagram dubbed the former Sunderland man as ‘Real Legend’.
Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Fatawu Dauda also commented “Legendary” under Gyan’s Instagram.
Former Black Stars player Anthony Baffoe via a post on Twitter hailed Gyan for his career and personality.
“What a career what a player what a personality in and off the pitch -you deserve all the respect Capitan…there is only 1 Asamoah Gyan…thank you thank you thank you.”
Meanwhile, Cremonese forward Felix Afena Gyan described the Black Stars’ all-time top scorer as his idol.
“My inspiration. My Idol. Thank you for making us dream Asamoah Gyan,” Felix Afena-Gyan shared in a post on Twitter.
Former Black Stars striker, David Accam reacting to Gyan’s post on Twitter wrote: Congrats on a great career. It was nice to share the pitch with you.
Asamoah Gyan enjoyed a fruitful career that started at Liberty Professional in 2003 and ended at Legon Cities in 2021 when he last played active football.
He played for 11 different clubs, including Liberty, Udinese, Modena F.C, Stade Rennais, Sunderland, Al Ain FC, Shanghai Port F.C, Shabab Al Ahli Club, Kayserispor, NorthEast United FC, and Legon Cities.
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 109 games during his international career.
He is one of Africa’s revered strikers, holding the record as Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup with 6 goals.
He scored Ghana’s first-ever goal at theWorld Cup in 2006 and scored the precious goal that sent the country to the quarter-final in 2010, becoming the third African nation to achieve the feat until Morocco bettered the record in the 2022 World Cup.
He played at seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including two finals. Unfortunately, he lost both. He is Ghana’s second-top scorer at the AFCON with 8 goals.
The prolific striker holds the record as Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, having found the net 51 times in 109 appearances for the national team.
His club career commenced in 2003 with Ghana’s premier team, Liberty Professionals. He subsequently ventured to Europe, where he showcased his skills in prominent leagues such as Italy’s Serie A with Udinese, France’s Ligue 1 with Rennes, and England’s Premier League with Sunderland, where he broke the club’s transfer record.
An interlude in the United Arab Emirates saw him don the jersey of Al Ain, contributing to the team’s triumph in securing the UAE Pro-League title while claiming the accolade of the league’s top scorer with an impressive tally of 28 goals in 32 matches. He also made appearances for Shanghai SIPG, Kayserispor, and North East United.
On the international stage, he was a prominent figure for Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, representing them in three FIFA World Cups held in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Remarkably, he holds the distinction of being Africa’s leading goal-scorer in World Cup history, having found the back of the net six times in total.
Additionally, he graced the field in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, contributing to Ghana’s third-place finish in 2008 and their runner-up positions in 2010 and 2015.
In the twilight of his football career, Gyan returned to his homeland, Ghana, and played for Legon Cities FC. He also shared his remarkable journey and life experiences in a memoir titled “LeGYANdry.”
The Black Stars players have reported for their training camp in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
Pictures shared on social media by the official Black Stars handle depict the players arriving at the team hotel, dressed in casual attire.
As of now, the Ghana Football Association has not confirmed the exact number of players who have arrived out of the 24-man squad that was announced for the national team.
However, from the images posted on social media, skipper Andre Ayew, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Salis Samed, Kasim Nuhu, Majeed Ashimeru, Osman Buakri, Hafiz Konkoni, and Joseph Aidoo, Gideon Mensah, Joseph Paintsil have all arrived.
The team is currently lodging at the Alisa Hotel and will train at the Accra Sports Stadium before they departGhana for Madagascar.
The game is scheduled for June 18, 2023.
Players in photos:
Black Stars Capt.Andre Dede Ayew arrives at campAte Zigi is here Jordan Ayew steps out of carSaliz abdul Samed Joseph PaintsilHafiz Konkoni
The only member of Chris Hughton’s 24-man squad who hasnot yet reported to the Black Stars camp as they get ready for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar is Arsenal star and deputy captain Thomas Teye Partey.
With the exception of Partey, who is anticipated to arrive on Tuesday, June 13, following a fantastic season with the Gunners, all players who were invited have dutifully reported to the team’s camp at the Alisa Hotel in Accra as of Monday, June 12.
The former Tema Youth player played an integral role for Mikel Arteta’s side in the just-ended 2022–23 English Premier League. He made a total of 39 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals.
The team led by skipper Andre Ayew will open their first training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium later on Monday, June 11, and will continue for the next four days before they jet off to Madagascar.
The match will take place on Sunday, June 18, at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.
The Black Stars lead Group E with eight points, having won two and drawn two.
The Black Stars’ head coach, Chris Hughton, has expressed his admiration for the caliber of players competing in the regional leagues.
After watching a number of Ghana Premier League games in the last few months, the gaffer says he is determined to continue monitoring players to select the ones that can play for the Black Stars.
“It is my role to access and find out those who can have the opportunity. That opportunity might come because it’s a starting opportunity or maybe that opportunity will come because somebody who is starting is not available,” the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager said in an interview with Asempa FM.
He continued, “I will continue to pay attention to the league here and yes there are quality players here. This is for sure.”
Coach Chris Hughton will on Monday, June 12, start training with the Black Stars as part of preparations for the clash against Madagascar in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
In preparation for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar, Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has made a substitution in the squad due to an injury.
Kasim Adams has been called up to replace Alexander Djiku, who had initially been named in the Ghana squad but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
The Hoffenheim center-back, who had a great campaign on loan at Swiss side, FC Basel, in the just-ended season comes in with loads of experience.
The 27-year-old has 11 appearances for Ghana since his debut in 2017.
Adams has featured 28 times for Basel in the Swiss Super League, scoring a goal and provided one assist.
He has also played 11 times in the UEFA Europa Conference League, scoring an extra-time winner against Nice that sent them to the semifinal. Overall, he has 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, with one assist.
The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, June 12 to commence preparations for the Madagascar qualifier scheduled to be played in Antananarivo on Sunday, July 18, 2023.
On October 17, 2023, the national teams of Ghana, Black Stars and the United States of America (USA) are set to compete in an international friendly match.
As part of their preparations for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches, the U.S. Men’s National Team has organized two notable friendly encounters.
First, they will face the four-time World champions, Germany, on Saturday, October 14, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Following that, just three days later, the USA will welcome the Black Stars of Ghana to GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
The match will be televised by TNT and Universo, with streaming available on Max and Peacock, starting at 8 p.m. ET. The kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Ghana to face off USA in friendlies
Ghana has twice knocked the United States out of World Cups (2006, 2010) and will be seeking their first win on U.S. soil in the all-time series.
“We have always been looking for these kinds of opportunities to continue our team-building exercise so playing against the United States of America has come in handy” President Simeon-Okraku told ghanafa.
‘’We have two more matches to end the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and would need matches of this nature to prepare for future assignments i.e. the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“The game presents to us a very good platform to test our strength against one of the best teams in the World,’’ Simeon-Okraku added.
The imminent task ahead for the Black Stars is the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar next month.
Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, will be led by head coach Chris Hughton in their upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Madagascar.
Hughton has announced a 24-man squad comprising 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 5 midfielders, 4 wingers, and 4 strikers.
The squad sees the return of defender Alidu Seidu and forward Kwasi Okyere Wreidt, while Ernest Nuamah has received his first-ever call-up to the national team, marking his debut in the squad.
Injured players, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Salisu, Tariq Lamptey and Daniel Kofi Kyereh were left out of the squad.
No local player was named in the squad by coach Chris Hughton.
Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton and Ghanaian player, Edmund Addo
The Black Stars of Ghana will take on Madagascar on June 18, 2023, at 17:00 GMT. The game will take place at the Stade Kianja Barea in Antananarivo.
Below is the squad list;
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen)
Defenders: Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC),Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)
Wingers: Joseph Painstil (Genk), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), KamalDeen Sulemana (Southampton), Ernest Nuamah (FC Nordsjaelland)
Attackers: Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Holstein Kiel).
The former Chelsea player was asked by Nigerian journalist Lolade Adewuyi whether he would consider coaching the Black Stars in the future, but he declined.
Adewuyi said in a tweet that he spoke with Essien during a layover in Denmark.
Essien, a holder of two UEFA coaching certifications, is now the head coach of FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga.
“On my way to Naples, had a long layover in Denmark where I met a legend of the game, Michael Essien.
He’s now a coach at FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga. He recently got his UEFA A and UEFA Elite Youth Coach licenses.
Future Black Stars coach? He said not interested,” Adewuyi’s tweet accompanied by a photo of himself and Essien read.
Essien belongs to a Golden Generation of Black Stars players that qualified Ghana to her first World Cup in 2006 in Germany.
One of his contemporaries Laryea Kingston is into coaching (currently with the U-17) along with his big brother Richard who is currently a goalkeeper’s trainer for the Black Stars.
The skipper during Essien’s time with the team, Stephen Appiah recently commented on former players having to aspire to management of the sports.
Danny Welbeck, a graduate of the Manchester United academy, made his Three Lions debut in a friendly match against the Black Stars in March 2011. The Ghana Football Association began pursuing Welbeck when he was 18 years old, but they were unsuccessful.
According to Dan Kwaku Yeboah, Danny Welbeck had agreed to play for the Black Stars after he was convinced by the legendary Asamoah Gyan who at the time was playing in the Premier League for Sunderland.
However, the move was blocked after former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Fergusson threatened Danny Welbeck who was a teenager at the time.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah alleged that Sir Alex Fergusson told Welbeck that switching allegiance to play for Ghana will end his Manchester United career.
“Look, Asamoah Gyan singlehandedly was able to convince Danny Welbeck to come and play for Ghana. Danny Welbeck agreed to play for Ghana.”
“Asamoah said a day beforethe boy decided officially, Sir Alex Fergusson heard about it and threatened him not to play for Ghana because that would be the end of his Manchester United career,” Dan Kwaku Yeboah said while discussing how the GFA can use legends to attract Ghanaian players born abroad.
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck in December 2022 said there was no official proposal from the Ghana Football Association for him to switch nationality to play for the Black Stars.
“There wasn’t like an official approach from Ghana to come and play for them or anything like that, so it wasn’t as hard as a decision like people would have thought,” Welbeck said in an interview with UK-based Ghanaian musician, Michael Dapaah.
George Afriyie, president of Susubiribi Sporting Club, is reluctant to disclose any plans of a comeback in the contest for theGhana Football Association presidency.
In the 2019 elections, the previous FA vice president ran but was defeated by Mr. Kurt Okraku.
Numerous football administrators are anticipated to run for president since Mr. Okraku’s term ends in October of this year.
When asked if he would run for president of the GFA in the upcoming elections, Mr. Afriyie declined to say yes or no.
“As to whether I will contest or not, I cannot confirm but I know that our league is ongoing, the Black Queens are also preparing for their qualifiers and by June, the football season will end,” the former Black Stars Management Committee chairman told Kumasi based Sompa FM.
“By October 2023, Kurt Okraku must hand over power to himself or to somebody and that is what is in our status.
“Definitely, there would be timelines for elections but as we speak, there is none and as to whether I am preparing or not,time will tell,” he added.
Former captain of Asante Kotoko, Yussif Chibsah, has requested an apology from Nana Oduro Sarfo, a member of the Ghana Football Association‘s Executive Council, for denigrating Stephen Appiah, a former captain of the Black Stars.
In response to Stephen Appiah’s statement that past players are frequently overlooked by the GFA, Nana Oduro Sarfo urged the former Black Stars captain to get formal education before pursuing a position of prominence in Ghanaian football.
Yussif Chibsah responded to this statement by asking Oduro Sarfo to apologise to the renowned Stephen Appiah, feeling that he had disrespected the man.
“I don’t know the qualifications of Nana Oduro Sarfo even though I know he started this football business a long time ago.”
“But he needs to come out and tell his qualifications since he is making his arguments on someone going to educate himself in football administration.”
“Oduro Sarfo needs to apologize to Stephen Appiah because some of his colleagues including my own Alhaji Grusah, have no academic qualifications but they serve on the GFA Executive Council,” Chibsah said on Angel TV.
Stephen Appiah led Ghana to two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2006 and 2010 as the captain of the Black Stars.
The former Black Stars captain contends that, unlike club football, where coaches train with their players frequently, it takes national team coaches a significant amount of time to get to know their players.
He claimed that giving coaches one- or two-year contracts puts pressure on the management to produce results quickly.
“It (a short-term contract) brings pressure on the coaches. Some coaches get one year, not even up to a year. Sometimes they get two years…When a coach is employed, he needs to get used to the players and study them.
It is not like club football where you get to train with them every day. You get to play probably every six months, so it is true.
The Ghana Football Association, in February 2023, appointed Chris Hughton as the new Black Stars manager, taking over from Otto Addo who was in charge for less than a year.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager penned an 18 months contract with GFA.
Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, says he has confidence in the crop of players that comprise the senior national football team.
Speaking to SuperSport, the 64-year-old stated that he believes in the potential of his players, and therefore certain of getting good results.
“Getting results is about believing in the players and with what we have, I believe we have a talented group of players.”
“It is also about getting the right dynamics in the team and ultimately, it is about choosing the right materials to get the results,” he added.
Chris Hughton also spoke about the relevance of preparation. According to him, a “good team spirit, good team organization, togetherness and desire from the team to win a football match” are also needed.
“At the international level, I have learned that you would need real desire from the players because they represent the team,” he added.
Hughton will wrap up the qualifying game against Madagascar and the Central African Republic in June later this year.
The former Premier League will be hoping to lead the Black Stars to end the country’s 41 years trophy drought in Ivory Coast next in the 2024 Afcon.
Chris Hughton signed a 21-month deal as the head coach of the Black Stars, replacing Otto Addo.
Chris Hughton, the coach of the Black Stars, is amazed by the extraordinary talent of Ghanaian players and thinks it would help the squad significantly in reaching its targets.
In the 2023Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifications, Chris Hughton, who was chosen to succeed Otto Addo in March, has presided over two games against Angola.
In a four-person technical staff that guided the team to the 2022 World Cup prior to his appointment, he was the Technical Advisor.
Hughton says his presence with the team has allowed him to spot great talents which he believes will be a key factor in the team’s success.
“Getting results is about believing in the players. I think we have a talented group of players and a talented squad,” he said,” he told SuperSports
“It is trying to get that we get the right dynamics in the team and of course ultimately picking the right team to get results.
“You have to rely on good team spirits, good team organisation, togetherness, and desire from the team to win a football match.”
The Black Stars will be back in action in June to play in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. They currently lead Group E with eight points after four matches and will need just one more win to secure a place in Ivory Coast for next year’s AFCON tournament.
The 2022–23 English Premier League season forCrystal Palace has been discussed openly by Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew.
He claimed that the club’s circumstances have been extremely difficult.
The Eagles’ situation will improve, according to Jordan Ayew, who is optimistic about the team’s growing confidence under manager Roy Hodgson.
“It’s not been easy – we’ve been struggling [earlier this season] – but since the manager came in, he’s done a good job giving us back the confidence to express ourselves, and that’s what we’re doing,” the Black Stars forward told Crystal Palace TV.
He continued, “I’m pleased with our performance. We stuck to our game plan. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but this is the Premier League: you’re playing against good sides and sometimes it’s going to be difficult. You just need to get through it and when you have your moments, you punish them.”
Following the return of Roy Hodgson,Crystal Palace have won two games on the bounce.
Over the weekend when the team beat Leeds United 5-1, Jordan Ayew starred and scored two goals.
Eight countries will compete in the quadrennial football competition for players under the age of 23, including Ghana, Morocco, the host country, and defending champion Egypt.
For the group stage draw, Ghana and Mali have been confirmed to be in Pot 1, while Gabon, Congo, Guinea, and Niger will be in Pot 2.
Ghana will be placed in a group with two of Gabon, Congo, Guinea, and Niger, one of Morocco, and Egypt, according to the draw.
The Black Meteors secured their place at the competition after beating Mozambique 4-1 on aggregate in the second round of qualifiers and Algeria 2-1 in the third and final round.
This will be Ghana’s second appearance at the tournament, and they will be looking to make an impact on the continental stage and qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In an interview with Sompa Sports, Appiah admitted that at one point, he had to cover the players’ plane tickets since they didn’t find the Black Stars to be thrilling.
The former Juventus player, who is anxious to help the Black Stars restore their competitive status but has been hesitant for unidentified reasons, mentioned that he once gave winning bonuses to players after games.
“One thing that is painful is that, some of us we are very humble. But when you know your value, you don’t want to do certain things or mingle with certain people. We all want to help because we have helped before even if it wasn’t enough,” he said
“There was a time everybody(players) had no interest in playing for Black Stars. There was a time I had to pay for players’ plane tickets to Ghana and there was a time I paid winning bonuses,” he added.
The 42-year-old, who is not impressed with how the team is run currently, implied that he regrets spending his money on the team, but hopes things will get better.
“So today if I see how things are been done, I ask myself why did I waste my money? But we hope that one day it will be well.”
Stephen Appiah led Ghana to their first World Cup in 2006. The Black Stars finished the tournament as the only African country to advance from their group.
After missing two Africa Cup of Nations, Appiah returned to the team for the 2010 World Cup and helped them make history by reaching the quarter-finals, becoming the third African team to do so.
He announced his retirement after the tournament.
Ghana is now ranked eleventh in Africa and fifty-third in the world, having previously been ranked second in Africa and twenty-third in the world before Stephen Appiah’s retirement.
The Black Stars have failed to advance from the group stage in both of their last two World Cup appearances, and their best finish in the last two AFCON tournaments was a round-16 finish in 2019.
Veteran actor and broadcaster, Mikki Osei Berko, popularly known as Master Richard, has claimed that he holds a UEFA B coaching licence.
According to him, he also learned about coaching under the English Football Association and is, therefore, qualified to manage the Black Stars.
Master Richard made his name through acting before branching into the media industry, where he currently hosts programmes on television and radio.
“I had the opportunity to do some football coaching, and I can proudly say that I am a UEFA B Licence holder in football coaching,” he said on Accra-based Asaase Radio.
“And I know there’s a coach who has come to coach the Black Stars who has the same certification. And I am a member of the English Football Association.”
“I am more than qualified to coach any team, even the Black Stars. For our football to transform we need to get back to our grassroots, that is why our football is failing.”
Hughton has signed a 21-month deal as the head coach of the Black Stars, replacing Otto Addo.
The former Newcastle United and Brighton boss has since been unbeaten in his opening two matches in charge of the Black Stars.
Ghana defeated Angola 1-0 in Kumasi before drawing with the Black Antelopes in Luanda in a double-header 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The Black Stars captaincy transition from Andre Ayew to the next player should be managed carefully to prevent a dispute, according to sports broadcaster Dan Kwaku Yeboah.
Kwaku Yeboah gave advise based on earlier Black Stars skipper changes that went poorly and caused player breakdown and the emergence of factions.
He cautioned that if the changeover of the present Black Stars captaincy is not handled properly, it could cause a significant breach on Peace FM.
“Let’s be careful so that Dede’s captaincy transition doesn’t bring us problems,” he said.
While giving historical background to Black Stars captaincy issues he narrated: “Since 1992, every Black Stars transition brings problems. From Kwesi Appiah to Abedi Pele to CK Akonnor because Sammy Kuffour said he doesn’t like it.
“From him, we came to Stephen Appiah from there it came to John Mensah to Asamoah Gyan and it became a whole issue. From Asamoah Gyan to Dede was another controversy.”
His obvious successor is current deputy skipper, Thomas Partey who led the team to their 1-0 win over Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Kumasi.
Dede Ayew who was exempted from the matchday squad for the Angola game surprisingly joined the team for warm-up and was an unused substitute.
He later pulled out from the squad ahead of the second leg due to an injury. The Ghana Football Association confirmed that Ayew hurt his knee after the Angola game following a slip down the tunnel.
Ayew, however, took part in the team’s recovery session a day after the win before pulling out of the squad ahead of the trip to Angola for the second leg.
As Ajax overcame Feyenoord in the Dutch Cup semifinals to win a spot in the finals, the 22-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the middle of the previous week.
In the eagerly anticipated match on Wednesday, the former FC Nordjaelland star had to be replaced.
He will miss the games against Fortuna Sittard, FC Emmen and PSV Eindhoven in the league but could return before the Cup final against PSV Eindhoven on April 30, 2023.
The Black Stars midfielder absence will be huge blow for Ajax who are keen to defend the league title. Feyenoord lead the champions with eight points.
Kudus has been in a rich vein of form for the Dutch giants this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 5 assists in all competitions.
He has become a subject of interest for several clubs including,Manchester United, Real Madrid and others.
A forward with a promising future, Antoine Semenyo, has voiced his appreciation for renowned Ghanaian attacker Asamoah Gyan.
Semenyo, a forward for Bournemouth in the English Premier League, talked about his desire to emulate Gyan and succeed as a football player.
His remarks clarified the significance of having motivating role models to look up to as well as the effect role models may have on young football players.
“I used to watch him when he came to AFCON competitions and the World Cup. He was such a big player and I dream to be exactly like him,” he told GhanaWeb.
Antoine Semenyo scored Ghana’s only goal against Angola in the first leg of the Afcon 2023 qualifiers doubleheader last month at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Born in England, Semenyo is of Ghanaian descent. He debuted with the Ghana national team in a 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win over Madagascar on 1 June 2022.
TheBlack Stars of Ghana have fallen to 60th on the most recent FIFA Ranking despite defeating Angola 1-0 on March 23, 2023.
In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the team started the year off on a victorious note with a late 1-0 triumph over Angola.
The Black Stars pulled off a spirited 1-1 draw with Angola in Luanda four days after their dramatic victory at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The team moved backwards in the FIFA rankings, therefore the win and draw had minimal effect on their position.
The Black Stars used to lie 59th in the World but have now slumped to 60 in the global rankings.
In Africa, Ghana maintained its 11th position while Morocco continue as the number one footballing nation on the continent.
In the world, Morocco are 11th, with Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria placing 28th, 34th, 35th, and 40th respectively as the top five African countries.
Inaki Williams, a Ghanaian international, has expressed his joy at scoring after a goalless streak of more than five months.
When his Athletic Bilbao team played Osasuna on Tuesday night in the Spanish Copa del Rey, the Black Stars forward striker finally scored.
Prior to the match against Osasuna, Williams had not scored in 23 games for club or country, with his most recent goal coming against Villarreal in October 2022.
However, the Ghanaian striker seized an opportunity during the game against Osasuna. Taking advantage of a loose ball after a corner kick, Williams managed to score and give Bilbao a crucial lead in the first leg of the semi-final clash, which was played at home.
The first leg had ended in a 1-0 defeat for Bilbao, making Williams’ goal all the more crucial.
Despite Williams’ efforts, fate was not on Bilbao’s side as Osasuna managed to score in extra-time, emerging victorious and securing their spot in this season’s Copa del Rey final.
After the game, the former Spain international has taken to social media to express his excitement after ending his goal drought.
“Never forget that we are living what one day we dream of. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU MADE US LIVE 🙏🏿♥️” he tweeted.
A member of the 2006 Black Stars squad that helped Ghana become the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup, Derek Boateng, has issued a warning against interfering with Chris Hughton’s coaching duties.
As the nation hopes to end a 42-year wait for the AFCON title, Boateng is rallying support for the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager.
Hughton signed a 21 month contract to be coach of the Black Stars and supervised his first two games against Angola during the international break.
After an impressive two-legged game, where Ghana picked four points, Boateng believes Hughton has showed signs of succeeding as the Black Stars gaffer.
“He needs support because he is not too experienced on the African terrain. He needs support from the media, and the GFA should not interfere with his job.
He should be left to work independently and be allowed to call his choice of players because you can see that he is a very genuine coach so he needs to get that freedom to work so we can see how it goes,” Boateng told Asempa FM, as quoted by footballghana.com. “Chris Hughton has coached in the Premier League on several occasions, and we are all aware of his capabilities.
His profile is really good, but since this is his first national team job, he needs our support,” he added.
Boateng enjoyed a stellar career, playing for several clubs including Fulham in the English Premier League and Getafe in La Liga.
Ajax head coach, John Heitinga, has described Mohammed Kudus as a player that will always have fans paying to watch him play.
The Ghana international has been instrumental for club and country this season and overcame an early season struggle for game time to become one of Ajax’s first names on the team sheet.
In the 2022/23 season, the 22-year-old has been directly involved in 25 goals across all competitions for club and country, scoring 20 times and providing five assists.
Since returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Kudus has scored seven goals under Heitinga, who believes the player is one that everyone enjoys watching.
“Mohammed Kudus is a player that fans buy a ticket for.
He is the player who entertains the fans. He is a proud human being and someone that wants to get the most out of his career,” he told the Ajax media team.
Kudus failed to add to his tally during the international break where he featured in the Black Stars’ doubleheader against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, with the club football returning this weekend, the attacking midfielder will be seeking a return to the scoresheet.
According to reports in the media space, Samuel Osei-Kuffuor has resigned from the Black Stars management committee.
On February 20, 2022, the former Ghanaian international was named to the senior national team’s management committee.
But, the 46-year-old has reportedly submitted to the Ghana Football Association [GFA] his letter of resignation.
The reason for the said resignation is also unknown.
Following the unveiling of Chris Hughton as the new head coach of the Black Stars in Kumasi last week, Kuffour was not found at the SG Mall and was not in attendance at the Baba Yara Stadium when the Black Stars defeat Angola in the first leg of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers.
The former Bayern Munich centre-back was a member of the Black Stars squad that featured at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Sammy Osei-Kuffuor was a Ghana international for 13 years and won his first cap as a 17-year-old in a game against Sierra Leone on 28 November 1993.
He had previously been part of every national team – junior, youth and Olympic level – and became the full squad’s captain at the age of 23.
Andre Dede Ayew’s refusal to accompany the Black Stars to Angola, according to former Ghanaian international Charles Taylor, was not due to an injury.
On March 25, 2023, the Ghana Football Association announced that four players would be unable to accompany the team to Luanda for the second leg of the ongoing 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Angola.
Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, Dennis Odoi, and Dede Ayew were the players mentioned, along with Andre Ayew, who was mentioned among the injured players, raising concerns about the captain’s unexpected injury.
Charles Taylor has joined the people who believe that there is more to Andre Ayew’s story as he claimed that the Nottingham Forest player was upset for not playing in the first leg at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium hence his decision not to travel for the second leg.
“The injured players who have left the team is good but not entirely because we know what they can do for the team but I’m struggling to believe the excuse for Dede that he is injured because he didn’t even play the game.
I believe there is something there and is not that he is injured.”
“Maybe he was an angle that they didn’t allow him to play the first leg and that is why he has dropped out of the squad.
The medical team has said he is injured but I don’t believe that.
He is angry that he didn’t play and that is why he is not going to Angola,” Charles Taylor said on Angel TV.
He added thatAndre Dede Ayew was added to the list of injured players because the technical handlers of the Black Stars wanted to manage the situation.
“Yes, the medical team have said that he is injured but we are in Ghana. They said that because they didn’t want him to receive the backlash from the public.”
Following his absence from Ghana’s match against Angola, Thomas Partey‘s fitness is a question heading into Arsenal’s return to Premier League action the following weekend.
The 29-year-old was fully involved in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over the same opponents in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, but he was not needed for Monday’s 1-1 draw in Talatona.
Partey missed two Arsenal games in February due to a back injury; Ghana head coach Chris Hughton later explained that Partey was not risked because of a minor issue.
“Thomas has some small issues,” Hughton said at his post-match press conference. “We felt it was too big of a risk to start him.”
Partey, who was accompanied on Ghana duty by Arsenal physio Simon Murphy, has played in 30 of the Gunners’ 39 games this season.
Premier League leaders Arsenal are back in action on Saturday with a home match against Leeds United, before travelling to Liverpool eight days later.
⌚️ FULL-TIME: It's all over at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
