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Tag: AFCON 2023

  • FIFA to establish a new football academy in Ghana – Arsene Wenger

    FIFA to establish a new football academy in Ghana – Arsene Wenger

    Arsene Wenger, Chief of Global Football Development at FIFA, has disclosed that the organisation responsible for overseeing football intends to establish an academy in Ghana.

    He claims that with the opening of academies, FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme will assist five African nations, including Ghana.

    FIFA plans to establish 75 academies worldwide by 2026; the other nations are Cameroon, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Zambia.

    “Over the next six months and one year, it’s to open more academies,” Wenger told Supersport in an interview.

    “We are now close to opening a new one in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana and Zambia and we want to develop five new academies there and, at the end of 2026, we’ll have 75 academies all over the world.

    “That means football education has moved forward and that’s what we’re focusing on at the moment. We want the game to be more competitive and of better quality and there is only one way to do it: it’s the quality of the education and quality of the competitions.”

    The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) are under intense pressure to make investments in the nation’s sporting facilities.

    Arsene Wenger
    The “Save Ghana Football” demonstration was a protest that took place last Wednesday with the goal of holding football authorities accountable.

    The conveners sent a petition to Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, outlining some of the most important reforms that must be implemented, such as creating a national football policy and forming a commission to look into the underwhelming performance of the different national teams.

    The dissolution of national team management committees and accountability for the distribution of funds from competitions such as the World Cup were also high on the agenda.

  • FIFA Rankings: Black Stars drop to 67th, now ranked 14th in Africa

    FIFA Rankings: Black Stars drop to 67th, now ranked 14th in Africa

    Ghana has fallen six spots in the most recent FIFA World Ranking following a pretty underwhelming performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The Black Stars are still outside the top 10 in Africa according to the world football governing body’s release from Thursday, February 15, 2024.

    Ghana is now ranked 67th in the world, and the Black Stars are now 14th on the continent, behind countries like Mali and South Africa.

    The team’s poor performance at the AFCON, where they were unable to advance out of a group that included Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, is the reason behind the drop.

    After the Black Stars lost to Cape Verde and drew with Egypt and Mozambique in their group stage matches, head coach Chris Hughton was fired.

    Even though they were eliminated from the AFCON in the round of 16, Morocco is still ranked highest in Africa.

    Senegal is ranked second, followed in order by Nigeria, Egypt, and the recently crowned AFCON champions, Ivory Coast.

    In the continental rankings, South Africa completes the top ten, followed by Algeria in seventh place, Mali in eighth place, and Tunisia in sixth place.

    Argentina, the world champions, are first in the global ranking. The top five also includes France, England, Belgium, and Brazil.

    The following lists the top 10 African teams according to FIFA’s most recent global rankings:

    1. Morocco 
    2. Senegal 
    3. Nigeria 
    4. Egypt
    5. Ivory Coast 
    6. Tunisia 
    7. Algeria 
    8. Mali 
    9. Cameroon 
    10. South Africa
  • Ivory Coast defeats Nigeria to win the AFCON championship

    Ivory Coast defeats Nigeria to win the AFCON championship

    A thrilling come-from-behind victory on home soil helped Ivory Coast defeat Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.

    With just nine minutes remaining, the team’s standout player, Sebastien Haller, scored the game-winning goal to seal the nation’s third continental crown.

    Simon Adingra’s cross was expertly flicked in by Haller, who had earlier scored the winner of the semi-final, using the tip of his boot. This goal brought the incredible comeback from the second half to a close and sent the home crowd into joyous celebrations.

    With a strong header from a corner kick by William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria had taken the lead in the first half.

    Franck Kessie, however, tied the score in the 62nd minute by nodding in Adingra’s corner unmarked after the Nigerian defence erred.

    Despite some impressive performances during the tournament, Nigeria failed to impose themselves throughout much of the match.

    Ivory Coast, on the other hand, dominated the game and deservedly won.

    With this accomplishment, Ivory Coast has now won three Nations Cups, having previously won in 1992 and 2015.

    Remarkably, they are the first host country to win since Egypt did so in 2006.

    The team’s remarkable wins over Senegal and Mali were largely attributed to interim coach Emerse Fae, who led the group through the knockout stages.

  • I want to win AFCON and the World Cup for Ghana – Kurt Okraku

    I want to win AFCON and the World Cup for Ghana – Kurt Okraku

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku, has revealed that his administration wants to bring home trophies for the nation.

    He expressed his hope that Ghana will be able to win both the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations before he steps down from office.

    Speaking to the media earlier yesterday in Kumasi, Mr. Okraku discussed the Black Stars’ dismal showing in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition.

    The senior national team, which had hoped to win their fifth continental championship, was eliminated in the group stage again after placing third with two points.

    Mr. Okraku declared that, in spite of the criticism, he is determined to see to it that the Black Stars, under his direction as the GFA president, win the Mundial and the AFCON.
    “I want to win the AFCON I want to win the World Cup I want to win every competition Ghana finds itself,” he said.

    “This is the collective belief and mindset of my fellow Executive Council members.

    “My goal is to establish the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence as a world-class institution and to position it extremely well,” he continued.

    Under Mr. Okraku’s leadership, the Black Stars have finished the last two AFCON tournaments in the group stage after losing all two of their games in Cameroon and Ivory Coast.

  • I didn’t authorize the closure of the Accra Sports Stadium – Sports Minister

    I didn’t authorize the closure of the Accra Sports Stadium – Sports Minister

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has disclaimed any responsibility for the National Sports Authority’s choice to lease the Accra Sports Stadium for musical performances.

    He said that he had not given the NSA permission to use the location for concerts in December of last year instead of football games.

    The Minister denied having any influence over the decision while testifying before the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, February 5.

    “Our sporting facilities are primarily for us to use for talent development and competitions, both national and international,” he stated.

    “No, I did not [give my approval for the sports stadium’s December closure]. I did call Peter Twumasi to inquire, and I am aware that the stadium was closed. I was really worried about the pitch.

    “My main concern is how much we are getting from these social events that we are giving these facilities to, even though the NSA is the authority having the powers to manage all the sporting facilities for us and to ensure they are in good shape once we have a major tournament coming up—the Africa Games—and the Premiership is still going on.”

    He claims that he requested that the stadium’s use for such events be discontinued in a conversation with Peter Twumasi.

    “I have discussed this with the Director General, and I think that going forward, this should not be done because, in the end, whatever you get from these social events might not be enough to sustain the pitch,” he continued.

    While the Ghana Premier League was still in play, the National Sports Authority closed the stadium for social events during the celebrations.

    Ghanaians took offence when Hearts of Oak, Accra Lions, and Great Olympics requested to relocate their home games from the stadium because it was unavailable.

  • Samuel Eto’o resigns as Cameroon FA prez, but Executive Committee rejects offer

    Samuel Eto’o resigns as Cameroon FA prez, but Executive Committee rejects offer

    Executive Committee Samuel Eto’o’s request to resign as the association’s president has been denied by the Cameroonian Football Association’s membership.

    Following Cameroon’s elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Eto’o submitted his resignation letter. In the round of 16, Nigeria defeated the Indomitable Lions.

    In December 2021, the former Cameroon international assumed the role of Fecafoot president.

    However, his reign has not been smooth sailing, with some controversial moments over the last two and a half years.

    Eto’o resigned after a disastrous AFCON competition, in which Rigobert Song’s team narrowly avoided elimination from the group stages following an exciting victory over Gambia, only to lose 2-0 to Nigeria in the final 16.

    Throughout the tournament, the former striker was clearly present. Eto’o even broke down in tears when Cameroon made it to the knockout stages, but his stress level escalated after they were eliminated.

    Fecafoot, however, stated in a statement released on Monday that Eto’o’s resignation had been turned down.

    On Monday, February 5, at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, the Cameroon Football Federation’s Executive Committee convened, according to the statement.

    “The primary objective of the agenda was to assess the senior men’s national team’s performance in the Ivory Coast during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations”

    “At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Mr Eto’o Fils Samuel, tendered his resignation to the members of the federal executive organ, inviting them to do likewise in good faith.

    “At the end of discussions and subsequent deliberations, the members of the Executive Committee decided to maintain their current mandates and thus unanimously rejected the President’s resignation.

    “Thereby renewing their confidence in him to continue with the same spirit of reconstruction and development of Cameroon football at all levels as envisaged in his plan adopted by the elective General Assembly of December 11, 2021.”

    Cameroon was unable to advance past the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was eliminated in the round of 16 of the AFCON 2023 while under Eto’o’s leadership.

  • German coach Jurgen Kohler applies for vacant Black Stars job

    German coach Jurgen Kohler applies for vacant Black Stars job

    Jurgen Kohler, a German coach, has applied to be considered for the coaching position of Black Stars.

    Jurgen Kohler, a German coach, applies for a position with the Black Stars.
    The 1990 FIFA World Cup winner reportedly applied for the position following discussions with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), according to Joy Sports.

    The GFA-established committee of five people is rumoured to have contacted Kohler in an attempt to find Ghana’s next head coach.

    The 58-year-old is rumoured to have applied after speaking with GFA vice president Mark Addo about the position.

    After their terrible AFCON 2023 campaign, Chris Hughton was fired, leaving the Black Stars without a coach at the moment.

    According to a GFA statement, the next Ghanaian coach needs to fulfil a number of requirements, such as having a winning track record and a philosophy of football that is in line with Ghanaian football culture.

    Jurgen Kohler, a German coach, applies for a position with the Black Stars.
    Along with having over 15 years of coaching experience, the highest football licence in the world, and a history of team rebuilding, organisation, and developing young talent are also requirements.

    Although Kohler has been coaching since the early 2000s, the majority of his managerial experience has been at the lower levels.

    In 2019, he took on the role of interim manager for German third-division team Viktoria Koln.

  • Be a leader who is concerned about his people, Saddick Adams to Akufo Addo

    Be a leader who is concerned about his people, Saddick Adams to Akufo Addo

    Saddick Adams, a celebrated sports journalist, is also referred to as Obama has requested that Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo give sports in the nation top priority and implement workable plans to boost athletics.

    The well-known sports journalist claims that, with proper management, sports represent one of the main tourist opportunities for the country to increase its revenue.

    Saddick Adams challenged Nana Addo to be a good leader who is concerned about Ghana’s development in a statement posted on his X account.

    “Act with dignity as a leader who is concerned about the nation’s reputation. He wrote, “One of the main tourist destinations is football.”

    Additionally, he urged the president to direct the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, to publicly apologise to the Ghanaian people for their appalling performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

    “Assign your minister of sports to direct the GFA to apologise to the fans and the entire country for the embarrassment,” he continued.

    The 2018 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) sports journalist of the year commented on the five-member committee that the GFA formed to find a new coach for the Black Stars, the Ghanaian national team, saying that the committee should be dissolved because it is pointless.

    He said Nana Addo ought to “be a leader! Do not reward ineptitude and promote mediocrity. The Ghanaian standard has never been that. The two most terrible AFCON campaigns in our history have followed under your rule. DISMISS that fraudulent committee before they have a chance to embark on their pointless journey.

    “With all due respect, disband the committee responsible for finding a new coach for the Black Stars.” Our taxes will be used to pay thousands of dollars to the next coach. According to Saddick Adams.

    Dear @NAkufoAddo

    With all due respect, dissolve the committee that is to search for a new Black Stars coach.

    The next coach will be paid thousands of dollars with our taxes.

    Respectfully ACT as a leader who cares about the image of the country.

    Football is one of the biggest tourism avenues. Instruct your minister of sports to instruct the GFA to issue an apology to the entire nation and fans for the embarrassment.

    Hold on with the search and get a caretaker manager for the team.

    Demand an emergency technical and management report and budget of the AFCON and get neutral experts to properly investigate and appreciate the ills of the campaign.

    Be a leader! Do not encourage mediocrity and be rewarding incompetence. That has never been the Ghanaian standard.

    Your reign has characterized two successive most disastrous AFCON campaigns in our entire history.

    DISSOLVE that sham of a committee before they even start the walk to no where.

  • Chris Hughton fired after Black Stars crash out of AFCON 2023

    Chris Hughton fired after Black Stars crash out of AFCON 2023

    Following the Black Stars’ disastrous exit from AFCON 2023, Chris Hughton was fired.

    The head coach of the Black Stars, Chris Hughton, has been relieved of his duties, according to an announcement made by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

    The choice was made after the Black Stars lost all three of their group matchups and were eliminated from AFCON 2023.

    Dissolution of the technical team was also mentioned in the GFA statement, which was released four hours after Ghana’s early elimination from the Ivory Coast tournament was confirmed.

    According to the FA, “a roadmap on the future of the Black Stars” will be provided in the upcoming days.

    After Otto Addo’s contract with the men’s senior national team expired following the 2022 World Cup, Hughton was appointed in February 2023.

    He was assigned to manage the start of the Stars’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as well as the remaining Ghanaian qualifiers for AFCON 2023, as well as travelling with the team to the competition in Ivory Coast.

    Hughton was named the Black Stars’ Technical Advisor prior to taking over as head coach. He held this position for the Qatar tournament and before the team’s two-leg playoff match against Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

    As Black Stars head coach, Hughton oversaw 13 games, going 4–5 in wins, 5–5 in draws, and 4–4 in losses.

    Hughton’s team recorded three victories, two defeats, and four draws in nine competitive games.

    In addition to the results, the Black Stars’ performances under the former manager of Brighton, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest have drawn criticism, leading to the team’s dismal performance at AFCON 2023.

    Fans and commentators have frequently questioned his decisions and handling of the games.

    Ghana was eliminated from the AFCON for the second consecutive year at the group stage after drawing with Egypt and Mozambique and losing to Cape Verde in the opening match.

    Hughton acknowledged that he was to blame for the Ivory Coast’s subpar performances.

    He told the media following Monday’s 2-2 draw with Mozambique, “I take responsibility for this performance and admit my results with the Black Stars have not been good enough.”

    With two international friendlies against world champions Argentina and China scheduled for March, the Black Stars will now need to regroup following their most recent setback.

    They will then return their focus to the World Cup qualifiers, where they will play matches against Central African Republic and Mali in June.

  • Video: Angry supporter ‘attacks’ Chris Hughton after Ghana’s defeat to Cape Verde

    Video: Angry supporter ‘attacks’ Chris Hughton after Ghana’s defeat to Cape Verde

    A furious fan ‘attacks’ Chris Hughton following Ghana’s loss to Cape Verde

    Following Ghana’s defeat in their opening 2023 AFCON match, an enraged fan reportedly confronted Chris Hughton at the Black Stars hotel.

    On Sunday at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Hughton’s team lost disappointingly, 2-1, to lowly-ranked Cape Verde.

    Ghana 1–2. Cape Verde: The 2023 Black Stars are off to a losing start. AFCON
    After Jamiro Monteiro’s rebound, the Black Stars fell behind after just 17 minutes due to a lacklustre performance.

    With a header from Alexandre Djiku in the second half, Ghana recovered, and for a brief while, it appeared as though the evening might be theirs.

    But late in the game, Cape Verde surprised them when Garry Rodrigues scored the game-winning goal by taking advantage of a defensive blunder.

    Hughton is alleged to have been confronted by an enraged Ghanaian fan at the team hotel following the game, where he was pelted with obscenities.

    According to Joy Sports journalist Muftawu Nabila, security had to restrain the supporter and escort him away from the Irish coach.

    “Security removed a supporter who was acting furiously and using profanity towards Chris Hughton; he has not been charged.” Actually, there was no communication with the coach,” the reporter stated on X (the former Twitter).

    Group B now has the Blue Sharks at the top, and Ghana at the bottom, behind Egypt and Mozambique, who drew 2-2 earlier in the day and now share a point apiece.

    The Black Stars’ next match is scheduled for Thursday, January 18. They will take on Egypt.