2024-12-23

Football

2023/24 Ghana Premier League: Week 21 Match Report – Great Olympics 0-0 Karela United

Great Olympics and Karela United shared the points in a goalless draw at the WAFA Park in Sogakope on Wednesday afternoon.

Olympics, who were coming off a 3-0 loss to Bibiani Gold Stars, dominated the match with 60% possession and created plenty of chances, but were unable to convert any of their eight goal attempts into goals.

Karela United, on the other hand, sat deep and absorbed the pressure, content to catch their opponents on the counter-attack.

Despite their dominant display, Olympics were forced to settle for a point, which leaves them in 9th place with 28 points.

Karela United, meanwhile, remain in 15th position, just four points above the relegation zone.

However, they could drop into the bottom three depending on the outcome of Thursday’s matches.

The match may have lacked goals, but it was certainly an exciting encounter, with both teams showing great determination and fight in their quest for vital points in the Ghana Premier League.

Ghana handed Kobbie Mainoo boost as England set to delay senior invite

The Ghana Football Association’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo could be handed a huge boost following reports that the Manchester United midfielder is set for promotion to the U21s rather than the English national team. 

The English-born Ghanaian has raised eyebrows with his eye-catching performances for the Red Devils this season, leading to interest from the Football Association.

Although Mainoo has represented England at the U17 and U18 levels, he remains eligible to play for the Black Stars of Ghana due to his parent’s origin.

The 18-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford, commanding a starting role in the starting eleven of Manchester United.

His splendid performances has seen him earn plaudits from legends such as Rio Ferdinand and Ian Wright, with the latter calling for his quick invite to the national team.

However, it seems manager Gareth Southgate prefers other players to the teen sensation.

Southgate will name his team for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this week, as the Euro 2020 finalist prepares for the international competition this summer.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association have the chance to continue the process of convincing the youngster to play for the Black Stars.

The four-time African champions, who are yet to name a new coach after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, will face Nigeria and Uganda during the international break.

We are going to kill a lot of clubs if we keep playing like this – LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil

Los Angeles Galaxy FC forward Joseph Paintsil is optimistic about the team’s prospects this season, expressing confidence that their hunger for success could potentially “kill a lot of clubs” if they maintain their current form.

Having played a key role in all three of LA Galaxy’s 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, Paintsil has already left his mark with a victory against San Jose Earthquakes and draws against Inter Miami and Nashville.

The former Genk star has contributed significantly, scoring a goal and providing an assist, showcasing his talent and versatility on the field.

In a recent interview with the LA Galaxy website, the Black Stars winger highlighted the team’s collective determination for success, emphasising their unity and strong performances as key factors that could pose a significant threat to other clubs.

“The players are really hungry for success,” Paintsil stated. “We did everything together, and if we keep playing like this, we are really going to kill a lot of clubs, trust me.”

Paintsil’s impact on the pitch has not gone unnoticed, and his impressive performances have put him in contention for a spot in the Ghana squad for the upcoming friendlies against Uganda and Nigeria in Morocco.

African Games 2023: We are competing because we want to win – Yusif Basigi

Head coach of Ghana’s U-20, Yusif Basigi, says the target of the team is to win the gold medal at the end of the women’s football competition at the African Games.

The Black Princesses’ dream is shaping up perfectly after two wins in their opening two games in Group A which sees them advance to the semifinal with a game to spare.

Basigi’s side beat Ethiopia in their first game before coming from behind to defeat Tanzania at the Cape Coast Stadium on Tuesday night to maintain the top spot in the group.

Despite their winning run, the Black Princesses have not enjoyed the best of spells. Basigi says the team is gradually finding their rhythm.

“We want to win; that is why we are competing,” said Basigi when quizzed about his target at the end of the game. “We are on course. You may see the team not stable but we are on course.”

“We have a little bit of challenges but we are managing and I know we will find our rhythm. That is why in the first half you saw we were a bit shaky because when you don’t have the complement of the team and you keep changing this is what happens.

“As and when we progress then you will see that then you see we are coming up. So yes, the mission is still on course.”

Ghana is looking to reclaim the gold medal it won during the last two editions of the Games in 2015, where they were represented by the Black Queens.

African Games 2023: Black Princesses beat Ethiopia to go top of Group A

Ghana’s Black Princesses began their campaign at the 2023 African Games with a win against Ethiopia on Saturday evening.

Comfort Owusu scored the only goal of the game at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium to ensure Ghana moved top of Group A.

Head coach Yusif Basigi named a strong starting lineup for the game which included Black Queens duo Maafia Nyame and Comfort Yeboah with Mukarama Abdulai leading the attack.

Ghana struggled to break down their opponents in the opening minutes of the game with a resilient defensive performance from Ethiopia.

Maafia Nyame should have put the Princesses in the lead earlier on but her little dink over the goalkeeper just went wide of the goalpost.

The first half was characterised by a light-out situation which halted the game for close to 10 minutes.

Both teams headed into the break with nothing separating them.

After the recess, Basigi introduced Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah, who replaced Maafia Nyame. Amponsah’s first involvement in the game almost set up Comfort Owusu for the first goal of the game.

However, there was no stopping Comfort Owusu in the 59th minute after a poor clearance from the Ethiopians with the Hasaacas Ladies’ midfielder scoring from a rebound after Beline Nyarko’s initial shot.

African Games 2023: We will still qualify – Black Satellites coach

Black Satellites coach Desmond Ofei remains unperturbed despite Ghana’s stuttering start in the men’s football competition of the Accra 2023 African Games.

The Satellites were held by Congo to a goalless draw on Friday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana went close on two occasions; first through Aziz Misibau’s long-range effort that cannoned off the crossbar with 15 minutes to go.

Ten minutes later, substitute Michael Epson’s tap-in was ruled out for offside.

When asked if he was worried about the result, Ofei expressed confidence in his team’s chances of progressing.

“I am not worried about the result. It does not change much for us. We played quite well and created enough chances to win,” Offei insisted.

“I know we have the quality in the squad and with different profiles. In the second half, we showed that and significantly improved. So I believe we will qualify” he concluded.

Ofei has been in charge of the Black Satellites since he was promoted from his role as assistant coach in September 2023.

He had previously served as assistant to Samuel Boadu for nine months at the Black Satellites.

Ghana’s next match is a clash with The Gamba on Wednesday, March 12, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

African Games 2023: Black Satellites draw against Congo in opening game

Ghana’s Black Satellites were held to a goalless draw in their opening game of the 2023 African Games on Friday, March 8.

The game at the Accra Sports Stadium saw Desmond Ofei’s side fail to take all three points in Group A against Congo.

The Satellites had a great start to the game and were presented with several decent chances but failed to convert them.

Ghana enjoyed the majority of ball possession and had their Congolese counterparts at bay in the entire game.

Both teams headed into the break with nothing separating them.

The return from recess saw Ghana continue from where they left off as they continued to press for the game’s opener.

They had a goal disallowed for offside minutes into the second period of the game but that was the closest the team would come to breaking the deadlock.

The opening fixture in Group A ended 0-0 with each team taking a point at the end of 90 minutes.

The Gambia will play Benin in the other group game with three points at stake.

Ghana’s next game is against Gambia on March

African Games 2023: I’m not under any pressure to deliver – Black Satellites coach 

Black Satellites head coach Desmond Ofei has hinted he is under no pressure heading into the 2023 African Games. 

Ofei was given the Ghana U-20 national team job in the latter part of September 2023 replacing Samuel Boadu. 

The 13th African Games will be the first assignment for the 35-year-old since his appointment to lead the Satellites. 

Ghana face Congo in the opening game in Group A on Friday, March 8. 

Ahead of the game, Ofei says his team is well-prepared for the competition. 

“No, there is no pressure,” he said when quizzed about the burden carrying the team into this tournament. 

“We are fully prepared. We have a good squad. Our boys are ready and hungry. We don’t feel any pressure; not at all.”

The Black Satellites will be looking to better their performance from the last edition in 2019 when they failed to make it out of the group stage. 

Players boycotted training over five months unpaid salaries; I’ve not been paid for nearly a year – RTU Coach

Real Tamale United (RTU) head coach, Abdul Mumin Abdulai, has revealed that his players boycotted Wednesday’s training session over five months unpaid salaries.

Abdul Mumin also disclosed that he has not been paid for nearly a year now and called for urgent help to salvage the situation of the club.

RTU are currently bottom of the Ghana Premier League after 19 matches into the season, winning just one of their last seven matches.

“The players boycotted yesterday’s training because they haven’t received their salaries in nearly five months, plus some unpaid,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.

“Me, as the coach, I have not been paid in nearly a year. Our situation is dire, and we require immediate help.”

The Northern Blues will next take on Heart of Lions on Sunday in match week 20 of the Ghana Premier League at the Kpando Sports Stadium.

It is unclear at the moment whether the players will honour the match if their salaries are not paid.

Onana says he will ‘shine’ after early struggles at Man Utd

The Cameroon international joined the club from Inter Milan in July in a £47.2 million ($60 million) deal but a string of costly errors put him under huge pressure.

Onana, 27, said it had been tough to adjust to life in Britain.

“It took me six months or seven months not to play good, just to feel good,” he said.

“It was a difficult time for me. Now I’m feeling a bit better because everything was new. It was difficult for me to feel at home because of so many reasons, a new country.

“But now I’m feeling good. I don’t want to talk about my performance because I know the goalkeeper I am and I have done much more than what I just did.

“So, for me, the most important thing is to be set, to be happy and I will shine.”

Onana spoke openly about his challenging start to life in Britain ahead of United’s match against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

The goalkeeper’s errors during United’s short-lived Champions League campaign were costly but his performances have since improved markedly and he believes he is now on an upward curve.

“I think I had a turning point, but not on the pitch because, like I said, more mental because everything was different,” he said.

“Of course, I moved last season from Amsterdam (Ajax) to Milan, but that adaptation was quite easy.

“But it took me seven, eight months here. It was just time to learn and just go game by game. I hope we will end on top.”

Onana said he had received support from his teammates as soon as he arrived at Old Trafford.

“They always believed in me, they told me from the beginning, ‘Andre, listen, the quality is there, it’s just a matter of time,’ he said.

“I am very happy, especially with the supporters, the fans. They were nice with me even in difficult periods and I’m very thankful. I can only thank them.

“I think everything is behind me. Now we have to move on and I think together a great time will come.”

GSN24LIVE NEWS

Yamal and Lewandowski help Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao

Fulham vs Leicester: Alex Iwobi’s winner helps Cottagers triumph over Ndidi’s Foxes

Arsenal survived their latest severe examination from bogey side Aston Villa to emerge with a statement victory after a thunderous encounter at Villa Park.

Roglic wins stage to close on Vuelta leader O’Connor

Baba Yara Stadium will be ready for Ghana vs. Angola AFCON qualifier, assures NSA chairman