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Dan Kwaku Yeboah, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) overseeing the 2023 African Games, has announced a surprising decision to grant free access to spectators for the event, excluding VIP tickets. This initiative will come into effect starting Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The move aims to enhance spectator attendance and create a more inclusive environment for the 29 disciplines featured in the 2023 African Games. Yeboah shared during an interview with host Evans Mensah that all tickets, except for VIP passes, will be distributed for free from the specified date. Related To This: Gideon Fosu Named Chairman of WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations LOC for Accra 2024 In line with this announcement, Abdul Majeed Bawa, the Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority, had earlier disclosed that certain competitions within the games would also be free for spectators. The 2023 African Games in Ghana are expected to host 13,000 participants, including 5,000 athletes, from March 8 to ...

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially parted ways with head coach Jose Poseiro, as announced by the Portuguese coach on his personal social media page on Friday. Reflecting on his tenure, Poseiro expressed his gratitude and sentiments about coaching the Super Eagles, highlighting 22 months of profound dedication, sacrifice, emotional investment, and boundless enthusiasm. He conveyed a sense of accomplishment and pride in his service to the national team. Related To This: AFCON 2023: We Didn’t Show Our Level Against Cote d’Ivoire – Nigeria's Coach Jose Peseiro Acknowledging the support and collaboration during his coaching stint, Poseiro extended words of appreciation to key figures within the NFF, including former President Sir Amaju Pinnick, President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF staff, and most notably, the players, emphasizing the joy and privilege he experienced in working with the team. In his farewell message,...

Hearts of Oak has officially dissolved its board of directors, ending the 12-year reign of Togbui Afede XIV, according to a club statement. Important people like Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, Alhaji Moro Braimah (Akanbi), and Vincent Odotei Sowah have left the club after years of public scrutiny. Related To This: GFA Sacks Chris Hughton and Dissolves Black Stars Technical Team Frank Nelson Nwokolo, Togbui Afede XIV, Alhaji Alhassan Andani, Thomas Kwesi Esso, Alhaji Moro Adamu, Vincent Sowah-Odotei, and Dr. Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe are the board members who are leaving. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hearts of Oak, which was scheduled for February, has been rescheduled until March. According to reports, the ongoing process of identifying suitable individuals to replace the outgoing board members may be partly responsible for the delay. Notably, recent fan protests against the executive chairman Togbui Afede and the board of directors sparked worries about the caliber of the club's leadership...

The Ghana Football Association's Executive Council has appointed Gideon Fosu as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations, set to take place in Accra in 2024. Fosu, a member of the GFA's Executive Council and the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Division One League side Kings Palace FC, will lead the committee in organizing the prestigious tournament. Related To This: AFCON 2023: Local Organizing Committee for 13th African Games Donates To Black Stars Assisting Fosu will be Robert Duncan, the chairman of the Central Regional Football Association, along with Paul Ayamba, Business Development Officer of Premier League side FC Samartex, Leslie Kuuku Bartels, President of Division One League side Victory Club Warriors, and Nana Asante Bismark of Wamanafo Mighty Royals. The Committee's primary task is to develop comprehensive plans, programs, and a roadmap for the successful execution of the tournament scheduled to take place ...

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has unveiled another Ghanaian talent in the English Premier League, sparking excitement among Ghanaians. Youngster Omari Forson made his debut start for United against Fulham at Old Trafford last Saturday, drawing attention from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for potential national team involvement. Related to This: Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo To Choose England Over Ghana - Reports With fellow Ghanaian prospect Kobbie Mainoo also making strides in the United lineup, hopes are high among Ghanaians for the duo to represent Ghana in the future. GFA Executive Council member Randy Abbey has confirmed the organization's interest in monitoring and potentially recruiting such promising talents. Forson, a versatile attacking player, stepped up to fill in for the injured Rasmus Hojlund, showcasing his skills and potential. Born in England to Ghanaian parents, Forson is eligible to play for both England and Ghana. His inclusion in the st...

Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Africa Armwrestling Federation and Vice President of the World Armwrestling Federation, recently turned down an invitation extended by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to participate in the 2024 Campaign Manifesto Sub-committee on Youth and Sports. Related To This: Asamoah Gyan Appointed Lead of "Youth and Sports" Manifesto Sub-Committee by NPP While Dr. Bawumia had included Asibey in this committee, alongside Asamoah Gyan, for the upcoming election campaign, Asibey opted to maintain political neutrality and refrain from affiliating with any specific party. This decision led to his polite refusal of the offer. In a statement released on Sunday, February 25, 2024, Asibey clarified his position on declining the role within Dr. Bawumia's campaign initiatives. The statement highlighted Asibey's unwavering commitment to sports development and advocacy while underscoring his choice to stay away from political alignments. The statement reads, "...

Asamoah Gyan, a former Ghanaian international football player, has been named to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's Manifesto Committee. Bawumia is the New Patriotic Party's flagbearer for the 2024 election. Gyan, who holds the record for most goals scored in Ghana history, will serve as the head of the manifesto team's "Youth and Sports" subcommittee. Related To This: GFA Sacks Chris Hughton and Dissolves Black Stars Technical Team Gyan has joined a committee of twenty-three people whose job it is to thoroughly examine the NPP's 2016 and 2020 manifestos in order to create a pragmatic and forward-thinking strategy for the 2024 election. To make sure the manifesto is in line with the needs of the Ghanaian people, the committee intends to consult with sector ministers and involve a variety of stakeholders. Gyan's appointment follows his recent cryptic message on social media highlighting the importance of sports legends uniting to attract investment and positively impa...

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has made a much-anticipated comeback to training as the team prepares for their upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against FC Porto.  Partey had been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury back in October 2023. Related To This: Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus Nominated for CAF Men's Footballer of the Year Award Despite his initial recovery earlier this year, the deputy Black Stars captain faced another setback before regaining full match fitness. The setback prevented him from participating in Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Cote d'Ivoire, despite being named in the 55-man provisional squad for the tournament. Related To This: Thomas Partey Reveals Plans To Leave Arsenal in January 2024 Now, with his return to training, Partey is poised to make a significant impact for Mikel Arteta's squad in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Having yet to feature in any of Arsenal's Champions League matches ...

Accra, the vibrant capital of Ghana, is set to host the inaugural Black Star Marathon on July 27th this year. This prestigious international running event, organized by the Runathon Ghana Foundation, brings together professional athletes and recreational runners in a celebration of unity, inspiration, and sporting excellence. Related To This: We will build the Black Stars with homegrown players – Mahama Named in honor of the illustrious Pan-Africanist Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the Black Star Marathon draws inspiration from his vision of unity and greatness for Black people. Emphasizing the potential for achievement through collective effort and institution-building, the event embodies the spirit of empowerment and unity among participants. Replacing the initial Accra City Marathon, the Black Star Marathon anticipates an impressive turnout of over 10,000 runners, offering an exciting and unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators. The festival of running will feature a ra...

Roy Hodgson, at the age of 76, has made the decision to step down as the manager of Crystal Palace. The club has expressed the intention to expedite the process of appointing a new manager following Hodgson's departure, which comes amidst reports of his potential sacking.  Hodgson, who encountered health issues during training on Thursday, described his connection with the club as deeply meaningful, stating, "This club is very special and means so much to me." Related To This: Ivory Coast Sacks Manager Despite AFCON Round of 16 Possibility Crystal Palace, experiencing a string of setbacks with losses in 10 out of their last 16 Premier League games, currently holds the 16th position in the league table, just five points above the relegation zone. As Hodgson steps aside, his assistants Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington will helm the team for the upcoming match against Everton, who sit 18th in the league standings. Oliver Glasner, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager aged ...

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the schedule for the draw of the preliminary round of the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers, marking the transition from the recent TotalEnergies AFCON tournament to preparations for the upcoming edition. The preliminary draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is slated for Tuesday, 20 February 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, signifying the commencement of the qualifying phase for the next AFCON tournament. Related To This: AFCON 2023: CAF Announces Increased Prize Money for Winner The preliminary round of AFCON Morocco 2025 will involve the eight lowest-ranked teams based on the FIFA rankings: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia, and Eswatini. Scheduled during the FIFA Window of 18-26 March 2024, the matches will be contested on a home and away basis. The victors of the preliminary round, comprising four teams, will progress to the group stage alongside the 44 exempted teams. Ghana's national te...

Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has disclosed Ghana's expenditure at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing that the ministry spent slightly over $3 million.  Speaking in Parliament on February 14, 2024, Ussif confirmed that the ministry had budgeted $8,506,450.00 for the tournament hosted by Ivory Coast. Related To This: Budget for 2023 AFCON Will Be Revealed After The Tournament - Sports Ministry Of the budgeted amount, the Ministry of Finance released $5,071,840.36, out of which Ussif's office utilized $3,070,067.81 for expenses related to pre-AFCON camping and the group stage campaign. The Minister detailed that the funds were allocated for per diems, flights, medicals, equipment, logistics, and hospitality, leaving a balance of US$2,001,772.55. Related To This: Sammy Gyamfi Calls for Probe into 2023 AFCON Budget Ussif also highlighted that telecommunications network MTN contributed $400,000 to the team, significantly supporting the government's expenditure....

Ghana's FIFA World Ranking Takes a Hit After 2023 AFCON Disappointment. Ghana has slipped six places in the most recent FIFA World Rankings following their lackluster showing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars, who ended the year 2023 in 61st place, have now fallen to 67th globally and have also slid down the rankings in Africa. Related To This: 'Save Ghana Football' Protest Underway Ghana now sits in 14th place on the CAF rankings, with Cape Verde, South Africa, and DR Congo all surpassing the four-time AFCON champions. These changes come in the wake of the conclusion of the 2023 AFCON, which was held in Cote d'Ivoire and saw the Elephants secure a victory on home soil. Ghana was eliminated in the group stage after managing only two points from matches against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique. Among African teams, Côte d’Ivoire (39th, up 10) has benefited from their continental triumph, while Nigeria (28th, up 14) has made significant progress. Angola...

Advocating for changes to Ghana Football's governance, the 'Save Ghana Football' demonstration is presently taking place in Accra. At Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, people from many backgrounds joined the demonstration, which was led by sports journalists. Related To This: Your Outbursts Won't Stop us From Seeking Accountability - Okudzeto to GFA Saddick Adams, Veronica Commey, and Patrick Osei Agyemang—three prominent protestors—described their route, which will pass through Asylum Down, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and finally the Ghana Football Association headquarters, where they will present a petition. They then intend to move on to the Ghanaian Parliament before ending the demonstration at Independence Square. Participants in the demonstration voiced their concerns, with some emphasizing the need for football authorities to step down if they are unable to address the issues facing the Black Stars. The recent early exit of the Black Stars from...

During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria's head coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed disappointment with his team's performance as they suffered a 2-1 loss in Abidjan. Despite taking an early lead through William Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles faltered in the second half, conceding goals to Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller, ultimately missing out on a fourth AFCON title while granting the Elephants their third. Related To This: Ivory Coast Wins AFCON2023 as Host Nation Peseiro acknowledged the superior performance of the host nation, stating, "Our team had a fantastic tournament but today Cote d'Ivoire were better. They had a very good game. We didn't show our level." Highlighting the lack of individual quality in their performance compared to previous matches, Peseiro commended his players for their efforts throughout the tournament and their desire to win the trophy for Nigerians. Having last claimed the AFCON title...

Ivory Coast made history by becoming the first country since Egypt in 2006 to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the host nation, following their thrilling victory over Nigeria on Sunday night. Sebastien Haller emerged as the hero for the Elephants once again, scoring the winning goal with just nine minutes left on the clock. The Borussia Dortmund player, who had also netted the semi-final winner after overcoming testicular cancer, flicked in Simon Adingra's cross with a deft touch to complete a remarkable second-half comeback and ignite wild celebrations in Abidjan. Related To This: Ivory Coast Sacks Manager Despite AFCON Round of 16 Possibility Nigeria had taken the lead through William Troost-Ekong's powerful header just before halftime, but Ivory Coast fought back strongly in the second half. Franck Kessie equalized in the 62nd minute before Haller's late heroics secured the victory for the Ivorians. Despite a tumultuous journey to the final, which included their...

The Black Stars captain Andre Ayew is someone Ghanaian international Abdul Fatawu Issahaku said he looked up to growing up.  Sharing the field alongside his childhood hero, the Leicester City winger said, was an absolutely incredible experience. In a September 2021 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe, Issahaku made his debut for the national squad with a 3-1 victory. He was impressed by Ayew's love and commitment to the game, saying that he always wanted to be like his hero, in an interview with the official media of Leicester City Football Club. READ ALSO: We will build the Black Stars with homegrown players – Mahama Reflecting on the opportunity to play alongside Ayew, Issahaku said, "It was so amazing to be on a field with him. It was a great feeling to meet him. The most exciting part was when I went there, he guided me. He started to give me advice about the game and how to improve." Currently on loan at a Championship side from Sporting CP, the talented...

The National Sports Authority (NSA) has come under fire from Samuel Atta Mills, the vice chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who described the organization as badly run.  Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Professor Peter Twumasi, the Director General of the NSA, were called before the PAC on Monday, February 5. Related To This: PAC Orders Arrest of NSA Northern Regional Director Over Misuse of GH¢160K Atta Mills said, "There is a lot of rot over there," highlighting a number of problems within the NSA. He brought out examples of large amounts that were reportedly written off without authority by CCMI and Vodafone Ghana, two companies that owed the NSA GHS 2,250.00 and GHS 18,900.00, respectively, and which were not appropriately addressed. Related To This: GRA Boss’s Age Sparks Controversy at PAC Meeting The situation at the NSA has drawn further scrutiny, with Parliament issuing a directive for the arrest of the Northern Regional Director du...

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama , has unveiled his vision to rejuvenate the Ghanaian football scene by focusing on nurturing homegrown talent for the national team. This strategic plan is set to be implemented if he secures the presidency in the forthcoming 2024 elections. Following Ghana's disappointing performance in the recent African Cup of Nations, where the Black Stars bowed out at the group stage for the second consecutive time, Mahama highlighted the urgency to address the deficiencies in the country's football development system. He attributed the team's lackluster showing to the erosion of grassroots football programs, particularly the absence of colts football initiatives aimed at grooming young talents. Related To This: I Will Not Tax Church Earnings - John Mahama Path to Resurgence Mahama emphasized the significance of rekindling grassroots football structures, harking back to the era of colts competitions and school t...

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has remained resolute in his pursuit of accountability from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), asserting that the Association's vocal opposition will not deter him from seeking transparency.  Ablakwa pointed out that the GFA and its members have embarked on a spree of vocal objections subsequent to his public declaration regarding seeking accountability following Ghana’s AFCON challenges. Related To This: Sports Ministry Used $1.5m on Black Stars AFCON 2023 qualifiers – Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Ablakwa conveyed his steadfast determination, emphasizing that the GFA's responses will not dissuade him and his colleagues from posing essential inquiries regarding the Association's role in the setbacks encountered in Ghanaian football.  He underscored the critical importance of demanding answers and clarifications from an organization that he believes has fallen short in its responsibilities to Ghanaian football. In...