Category: Sports News

  • WALES QUALIFIES FOR EURO AFTER HUNGARY DEFEAT

    WALES QUALIFIES FOR EURO AFTER HUNGARY DEFEAT

    Aaron Ramsey was Wales’ hero as Ryan Giggs’ side secured qualification for Euro 2020 with a 2-0 home win over Hungary.

    One of the stand-out performers in his country’s surprise run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Ramsey was making his first start of the current campaign following persistent fitness problems.

    But the Juventus midfielder re-announced himself in style at a fervent Cardiff City Stadium, scoring a goal in each half as Wales deservedly claimed the win they needed to leapfrog Hungary and take the second automatic qualifying spot in Group E.

    Gareth Bale, Daniel James, and the goal scorer buzzed effectively behind imposing target man Kieffer Moore throughout, although Giggs was also indebted to some first-half heroics from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

  • POCHETTINO SACKED BY TOTTENHAM

    POCHETTINO SACKED BY TOTTENHAM

    POCHETTINO SACKED BY TOTTENHAM.

    Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked from his role as Tottenham coach, it has been confirmed. Pochettino joined Spurs in 2014 and took the team to new heights when he guided them to a second-place finish in the Premier League in 2016-17.

    They became a regular Champions League fixture on his watch and were beaten finalists in Europe’s top competition last season, losing 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

    But the Argentine came under pressure amid his side’s underwhelming start to the current season.

    They sit 14th in the Premier League table and 20 points behind leaders Liverpool and are 11 points adrift of the top four after 12 games.

    The London outfit has failed to win any of their last five games in the English top-flight.

    Three-time Premier League winner Jose Mourinho is in talks with Tottenham about becoming their next manager, following the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday.

    SEE ALSO: Ghana Receives £160M for Development Projects

    Pre. Nana Ado

    A source close to the situation confirmed that the former Manchester United and Chelsea coach is a very strong possibility to be Spurs’ next manager. Talks between Tottenham and Mourinho are ongoing with a deal yet to be struck, but the two sides on the right path to an agreement.

    An announcement could come as soon as Wednesday morning but that will all depend on how negotiations go between the two parties.

    Mourinho’s last stint as a manager came at Old Trafford, where he was sacked in December 2018 following a poor run of results. The 56-year-old isn’t short of Premier League experience and won the title three times while at Chelsea.

    Tottenham currently sits 14th in the Premier League after a rocky start to their campaign which has seen them win just three of their first 12 games in the domestic competition.

    Story by Theresah Mensah // Shop @Torsaa

  • CR7 HITS OUT AT LUXEMBOURG’S ‘POTATO FIELD

    CR7 HITS OUT AT LUXEMBOURG’S ‘POTATO FIELD

    CR7 HITS OUT AT LUXEMBOURG’S ‘POTATO FIELD

    Cr7
    Cr7

    Championships which will be the evergreen forward’s fifth.

    The Juventus forward scored his 99th international goal when he tapped home Portugal’s second and final goal against Luxembourg, a result which ensured that they would be able to defend their title as Europe’s elite international side.

    Although he was happy with the result, the 34-year-old was scathing of the surface at the Stade Josy Barthel.

    It is always important and a proud occasion to represent the national team, and scoring goals that helped us qualify, he said after the game.

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    Agric: CSIR – SRI Launched its Web base Application Platform

    We had two games we had to win. I am very happy that we won, and qualified for my fifth European Championships.

    It’s difficult to play on these types of fields, a potato field. I don’t know how it’s possible for teams at this level to play on fields of this quality.

    The performance wasn’t beautiful, but we did our job. It was the pitch we had to play and, and we won 2-0, which was our priority.

    Story by Theresah Mensah // Shop @Torsaa

  • AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS: BLACK STARS QUASH SOUTH AFRICA IN CAPE COAST

    AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS: BLACK STARS QUASH SOUTH AFRICA IN CAPE COAST

    Black Stars have begun their AFCON 2021 qualifying campaign in a flyer after seeing off South Africa at the Cape Coast Stadium.

    Goals from Thomas Partey and Kudus Mohammed handed Black Stars a 2-0 win against Bafana Bafana. In a cagey opening first half at the Cape Coast, it had to take a Thomas Partey goal at the stroke of halftime to give Ghana the lead.

    The South African’s came in strong the second half searching for the equalizer but the Ghana defense stayed resolute as they blocked any attacks from them.

    Substitute Kudus Mohammed put the icing on the cake as he scored in the 83rd minute to double Ghana’s lead.

    Elsewhere, Ghana’s group opponents, Sudan recorded a 4-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe. Sudan and Ghana now lead Group A with 3 points apiece, followed by South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe with zero each.

    The Black Stars will next travel to play Sao Tome and Principe in matchday of the AFCON 2021 qualifiers on November 18.

    Story by: Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • 2020 BUDGET: SPORTS MINISTRY QUOTA SHRINKED

    2020 BUDGET: SPORTS MINISTRY QUOTA SHRINKED

    The Budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Youth and Sports has seen a reduction from GH¢43,795,046 in 2019 to GH? 40, 161, 682.

    The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday announced on the floor of Parliament that GH? 40, 161, 682 will be used to run the activities of the Sports Ministry for next year.

    Per the Finance Minister, the Sports Ministry will help with the following national football team assignments:

    Qualification to the 2021 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Cameroon

    The 2022 World Cup Tournament in Qatar

    The qualification of the U-20 Football Team to the 2021 U-20 AFCON in Mauritania

    Qualification of the Black Starlets to the 2021 U-17 AFCON in Morocco.

    Participation of the Black Princesses as well as the Black Maidens in their respective 2020 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.

    The allocation is supposed to be used to run the activities of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as develop other youth programs and projects in the country.

    Story by : Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • GHANA INTERNATIONAL KWADWO ASAMOAH RECOVERING FROM KNEE INJURY

    GHANA INTERNATIONAL KWADWO ASAMOAH RECOVERING FROM KNEE INJURY

    GHANA INTERNATIONAL KWADWO ASAMOAH RECOVERING FROM KNEE INJURY

    Kwadwo Asamoah is working his way to recovery from injury, with the ongoing international break offering the ideal window to do so.

    The Ghana international has been nursing a knee problem which has forced him to miss the Nerazzurri’s last three competitive matches. According to Corriere dello Sport, he has been to Barcelona for treatment with a specialist and is progressing very well.

    Asamoah alongside his teammates Danilo D’Ambrosio, Roberto Gagliardini and Stefano Sensi could, therefore, be back in time for Inter’s next league clash away to Torino on November 23.

    Antonio Conte’s side occupies second spot on the Serie A log, one point behind Juventus.

    Asamoah’s injury meant he could not be called up to the Ghana national team who face South Africa as well as Sao Tome and Principe in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    Story by: Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • RONALDO AVOIDS FINE DESPITE JUVENTUS STAR’S ANGER AT SUBSTITUTION

    RONALDO AVOIDS FINE DESPITE JUVENTUS STAR’S ANGER AT SUBSTITUTION

    RONALDO AVOIDS FINE DESPITE JUVENTUS STAR’S ANGER AT SUBSTITUTION

    Cristiano Ronaldo will escape both a fine and any further punishment for his angered reaction following his substitution during Juventus’ Serie A win over Milan on Sunday.

    The Portuguese star was switched out 10 minutes into the second half following a subdued performance with the scores locked at 0-0, to be replaced by Paulo Dybala.

    The latter netted the only goal of the match with just under a quarter-hour to go, to ensure that Maurizio Sarri’s side remain perched at the top of the table, a point ahead of nearest rivals Inter.

    However, Ronaldo’s reaction indicated a strong displeasure after he was taken from the field, with reports suggesting that the 34-year-old did not even remain for the rest of the match after he headed down the tunnel.

    The forward has since taken to social media to break his silence, with a simple picture on Instagram captioned: “Difficult game, important victory.”

    The Bianconeri have now confirmed that they will take no action against Ronaldo for his response to being pulled by Sarri.

    Story filed by Theresah Mensah.

  • STERLING: GOMEZ AND I ARE GOOD.

    STERLING: GOMEZ AND I ARE GOOD.

    Raheem Sterling admitted emotions got the better of him in a bust-up with Joe Gomez, but the England star is moving on after being dropped.

    The Manhcester City winger was reportedly involved in a physical confrontation with Gomez at England’s training base on Monday and has been dropped for Thursday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro.

    The FA announced on Monday that Sterling was dropped as a result of a “disturbance in a private team area at St. George’s Park”, ruling him out for the Montenegro match while leaving the door open for a return against Kosovo.

    Sterling and Gomez were also involved in an altercation during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over the Premier League champions on Sunday.

    That win kept Liverpool unbeaten in the Premier League while opening up a nine-point gap between the two sides, with Leicester and Chelsea sandwiched in between in second and third place, respectively.

    In a post on Instagram, Sterling said it was time to move on, but admitted he had let his emotions get the better of him during the incident.

    First and foremost everyone knows what that game means to me!  he wrote on his official Instagram account.

    Everyone knows that I am not that way inclined and more to the point … both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and move on.

    Story filed by Theresah Mensah.

  • BUKOM BANKU BANNED FROM PROFESSIONAL BOXING FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

    BUKOM BANKU BANNED FROM PROFESSIONAL BOXING FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

    The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has revoked the professional licence of Ghanaian boxer Braimah Isaac Kamoko, for breach of contract. The revocation of his licence by the GBA disciplinary committee on November 7 was necessitated by the boxer’s withdrawal from a rematch with Bastie Samir.

    With this decision, the boxer-cum-comedian popularly known as Bukom Banku, has been banned from fighting until the licence is restored.

    A well-publicized cruiserweight bout saw Bastie forcing Braimah, popularly known as Bukom Banku, taste his first defeat in a seventh-round technical knockout at the Bukom boxing arena on October 21, 2017.

    Until then, the former African light heavyweight champion had an undefeated record of 28-0-0.

    Bukom Banku later after his defeat, signed a rematch contract with Bastie on June 20, 2018.

    He took 17,000 cedis from the chief executive of Box Office Promotions, Alex Ntiamoah, as part of training and purse allowance.

    Bukom Banko, however, failed to honour the contract with Box Office Promotions and has also failed to refund the money, pushing the organisers to lodge a complaint with the GBA.

    After several hearings, the GBA disciplinary committee decided to revoke Banku’s professional licence.

    It has also ordered the boxer to pay refund the 17,000 cedis he received as part of the contract with Box Office Promotions.

    Meanwhile, Alex Ntiamoah has been granted a special privilege to seek relief from the courts if the boxer fails to refund the full amount.

    Currently, the Box Office Promotion is engaged in negotiations with Banku’s new managers for a possible settlement plan.

    Mr Ntiamoah told dikoder.com in a telephone interview that a proposal of two-third down payment is being proposed by the UK-based promoters who are currently in the country to allow Banku engage in a bout on November 30 in Accra.

    By; Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • NZEMA KOTOKO’S PRESIDENT WINS GFA VICE PRESIDENCY

    NZEMA KOTOKO’S PRESIDENT WINS GFA VICE PRESIDENCY

    The Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council has chosen President of Nzema Kotoko Football Club, Mark Addo, to be the association’s new Vice-President.

    The decision was taken on Tuesday at the maiden meeting of the council after the October 25 elections in Accra.

    Per the new GFA statutes, the Vice-President of the association had to be chosen via an election from the new Executive Council which was a departure from the previous practice of appointing someone to assist the association’s President.

    During the election, Addo got 6 votes while Randy Abbey picked up 4 with Medeama board chairman, Dr. Tony Aubynn getting 1 vote.

    Story by: Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • San Pedro eliminates Asante Kotoko after 2-0 win: CAF Confed Cup

    San Pedro eliminates Asante Kotoko after 2-0 win: CAF Confed Cup

    Asante Kotoko failed to reach the Group stage of the 2019/20 CAF Confederation for the second successive year after a 2-0 defeat to Ivorian side FC San Pedro.

    The Porcupine Warriors crashed out 2-1 on aggregate to see their Africa campaign end miserable.

    Kotoko had to finish the game with ten men after defender Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu got sent off with two yellow cards.

    Chieck Soumaro gave the hosts the lead in the opening minute to see them tie on aggregate and that unsettled the two-time African champions.

    Three minutes to regulation time, San Pedro found the back of the net to nail Kotoko’s coffin.

    Before the final, Badu got himself sent off with another yellow card.

  • Down pour compel Kotoko’s CAF Confederations Cup clash with FC San Pedro to be pulled back

    Down pour compel Kotoko’s CAF Confederations Cup clash with FC San Pedro to be pulled back

    The crucial first leg tie between Asante Kotoko and FC San Pedro in the final playoff round in the CAF Confederations Cup has been ditched following heavy rainfall in Kumasi.

    The rain picked up from the first half but both sides played through until the end of the first half which ended goalless at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

    The rains picked up at closure and made the pitch soaked up and not friendly for a competitive football game.

    Following tests by the match officials, they took the decision to call off the match after they had consulted with the match commissioner for the day as well as both captains for the respective clubs.

    It is understood that Kotoko will host the replay at the same venue on Monday, October 27, 2019, at 15:00GMT.

    They will be gunning for a good results against FC San Pedro to ensure the second leg which will be played in Cote d’Ivoire becomes easier.

    Story by: Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • 2020 CHAN Qualifier: Burkina Faso defeats Ghana

    2020 CHAN Qualifier: Burkina Faso defeats Ghana

    The Black Stars B have failed to qualify to the CHAN Championship for the third consecutive time after drawing goalless with Burkina Faso in the second leg of the qualifier.

    After losing the first leg at home by a 0-1, Maxwell Konadu and his charges were hoping to overturn the results in Ouagadougou but a goalless draw means the local Stallions qualifies on (1-0) aggregate.

    Maxwell Konadu made two changes to the team that lost the final of the WAFU Championship against Senegal a week ago.

    Starting Felix Annan and Benjamin Afutu ahead of Eric Ofori Antwi and the injured James Akaminko.

    The Cracker between the two sides got incepted with much anticipation of greatness and brightness.

    Burkina Faso were the better side in the early stages as they looked to unsettle Ghana.

    But a solid defensive display and energetic midfield saw the first half the game end 0-0.

    Ghana raised their tempo after the recess as they went all out in search of the opener, but couldnt break the resolute Burkina Faso defense.

    Despite creating a lot of chances, Ghana couldn’t find the back of net.

    Felix Annan on the other hand produced some good some decent saves to denied the home side.

    None of the sides was able to find the back of the net as the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game.

    Burkina Faso qualifies 1-0 on aggregate, whilst Ghana miss out at the CHAN tournament for the third consecutive times.

    Filed by: Pearl Abaidoo-Abbam

  • MARTIAL IN LINE FOR MAN UTD RETURN 🆚 LIVERPOOL

    MARTIAL IN LINE FOR MAN UTD RETURN 🆚 LIVERPOOL

    Anthony Martial is expected to return to first-team training this week and has a chance of playing a part in Manchester United’s match against rivals Liverpool.

    The France striker has been out since August with a thigh injury and United have struggled to score goals in his absence, registering just five in an eight-game run of two wins, four draws and two defeats.

    But he could hand Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a major boost for the visit of the Premier League leaders, as one of a number of players the Norwegian hopes to see a return from recent injuries at Old Trafford.

    Paul Pogba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw are all set to be in contention while Jesse Lingard and Mason Greenwood could also feature.

    Just as with Martial, United have been without Shaw, the England left-back, since the August home defeat against Crystal Palace. The former Southampton defender suffered a hamstring problem.

    BY: Theresah Mensah

  • Bulgaria Coach : I Did Not Hear Racist Abuses

    Bulgaria Coach : I Did Not Hear Racist Abuses

    Bulgaria head coach Krasimir Balakov claimed not to have heard racist chanting during his team’s 6-0 loss to England in Sofia and accused the traveling supporters of ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.

    “I personally did not hear the chanting that you are most probably referring to. I saw that the referee stopped the game,” he stated.

    Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling each hit braces as Gareth Southgate’s men bounced back from defeat to the Czech Republic in style, bringing qualification for Euro 2020 within touching distance.

    But the contest was sullied by abuse directed towards some of the traveling players, which was reported to the match officials and resulted in two delays to the action before half-time.

    Before the match, Balakov accused England of having a bigger problem with racism in football than his own country, and he once again sought to share the blame after the widely condemned scenes that stained Monday’s match.

    “But I also have to say that the unacceptable behaviour was not only on behalf of the Bulgaria fans but also the English fans, who were whistling and shouting during the Bulgarian national anthem. During the second half, they used words against our fans, which I find unacceptable.

    BY: Theresah Mensah