SPORTS WORLD
Africa Cup of Nations second round fixtures
Saturday 27 January
SR1: Angola vs 3rd Place Group E/F, Bouake (17:00)
SR2: Nigeria vs Cameroon, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (20:00)
Sunday 28 January
SR3: Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (17:00)
SR4: Egypt vs Group F Second Place, San Pedro (20:00)
Monday 29 January
SR5: Cape Verde vs Mauritania, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (17:00)
SR6: Senegal vs 3rd Place Group A/F, Yamoussoukro (20:00)
Tuesday 30 January
SR7: Group E Winner vs Burkina Faso, Korhogo (17:00)
SR8: Group F Winner vs Group E Second Place, San Pedro (20:00)
Quarter-finals
Friday 2 February
QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner RS1, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (17:00)
QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (20:00)
Saturday 3 February
QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner RS6, Bouake (17:00)
QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8, Yamoussoukro (20:00)
BBC to show two quarter-finals – broadcast details to be announced.
Semi-finals
Wednesday 7 February
SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4, Bouake (17:00, live on BBC)
SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (20:00, live on BBC)
Third place play-off
Saturday 10 February
SF1 vs SF2 losers, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (20:00)
Final
Sunday 11 February
SF1 vs SF2 winners, Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (20:00, live on BBC)
Story by BBC sports
Afcon 2023: TV coverage, fixtures, schedule, format, groups and kick-off times
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is reaching the end of a group stage that has produced shock results and dramatic finales aplenty.
Yet hosts Ivory Coast are in danger of leaving their own party early, joining other continental heavyweights in falling by the wayside at a tournament that has seen thrills, spills and some unexpected twists.
Four-time winners Ghana and 2019 champions Algeria have already made shock early exits and the Elephants – who are staging the finals for the second time and finished third in their group – face a nervous wait to see if they will follow them.
Holders Senegal have eased through, but it has been a tournament for the underdogs with Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde unexpectedly topping tough groups and several other minnows taking points off the established order.
The BBC is showing 10 games live in the UK during the finals, with BBC Three broadcasting the Group F clash between Zambia and Morocco on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), while the World Football at Afcon will publish round-up podcasts after every matchday.
But when are the other remaining group fixtures? What is the format of the tournament? Where are matches being played and when do they kick off?
BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 34th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event.
What are the groups?
The 24 teams were split into six groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.
Four places in the knock-out stages are set to be decided on Wednesday, with Mali and Morocco already through before their final games.
Morocco, who became the first side from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022, are the highest African nation in the world rankings (13th) – but have not won a Nations Cup since 1976.
Ivory Coast could go through on three points, but need results in the final round of matches in Groups E and F to go their way.
Group A final standings: Equatorial Guinea (Q), Nigeria (Q), Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau.
Group B final standings: Cape Verde (Q), Egypt (Q), Ghana, Mozambique.
Group C final standings: Senegal (Q), Cameroon (Q), Guinea (Q), The Gambia.
Group D final standings: Angola (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Mauritania (Q), Algeria.
Group E: Mali (Q), South Africa, Namibia, Tunisia.
Group F: Morocco (Q), DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania.
Story by bbc sports
Mauritania pull off historic upset against Algeria at AFCON 2023
Minnows Mauritania pulled off a historic upset against two-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners Algeria, claiming a 1-0 victory that sends them through to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Centre-back Yali Dellahi scored the winning goal late in the first half, leaving Algeria stunned and eliminated from the competition.
Mauritania’s victory marks their first-ever win at the AFCON finals, and they will now face surprise Group B winners Cape Verde in the last 16 at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday.
Algeria, on the other hand, joins fellow former champions Ghana in being eliminated from the tournament, after results earlier on Tuesday confirmed that the Black Stars cannot qualify as one of the top four third-placed sides.
The Lions of Chinguetti had to withstand intense pressure from Algeria in the closing stages of the match, surviving more than 11 minutes of stoppage time as the Desert Foxes searched for a levelling goal that would have sent them through at Mauritania’s expense.
However, the underdogs held firm, defending resolutely to secure a famous victory that sends them into the knockout phases alongside second-placed Burkina Faso and Angola, who sealed the top spot in the group by defeating the Burkinabe 2-0.
Mauritania’s historic win over Algeria has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable knockout stage at AFCON 2023.
story by ghanasoccernet
GFA announces roadmap for Black Stars’ future following AFCON 2023 exit
GFA announces roadmap for Black Stars’ future following AFCON 2023 exit
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Chris Hughton and his entire technical team have been dismissed from their roles as coaches of the senior national team, the Black Stars, following the team’s dismal performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision comes after Ghana failed to win their final group game against Mozambique, drawing 2-2 and consequently crashing out of the tournament in the first round.
Hughton, who was appointed as head coach in February 2023, had a win-loss-draw ratio of 30.77%, 30.77%, and 38.46% in all competitions during his nearly one-year tenure. The team scored 13 goals under his leadership, averaging one goal per match while conceding 16 times.
Assistant coaches George Boateng and Didi Dramani, goalkeepers’ coach Richard Kingston, and other members of the technical team are also leaving their positions. The GFA has stated that it will provide a roadmap for the future direction of the Black Stars in the coming days.
Ghana’s poor performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has sparked criticism and concerns about the team’s ability to compete at the highest level. The GFA’s decision to dissolve the technical team is seen as a move to address these issues and restore the team’s credibility.
The Black Stars have struggled in recent years, failing to replicate their successes of the past. The team’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has prompted calls for change and a renewed focus on developing young talent.
The GFA is expected to appoint a new head coach and technical team in the near future, with speculation already surrounding potential candidates.
Fans and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the association’s roadmap for the Black Stars, hoping that it will signal a fresh start for the team and a return to glory.
West Ham close in on the signing of Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Osman
West Ham United are in advance stages of negotiations with FC Nordsjaelland over the signing of Ghanaian teen Ibrahim Osman.
The Hammers and the Danish outfit are reportedly closing in on an 18 million Euros transfer of the Right to Dream Academy to the English Premier League.
Osman, who has been on the radar of several clubs, including Crystal Palace and Fulham could join former FC Nordsjaelland midfielder Mohammed Kudus at the London Olympic Stadium.
The winger is currently with his Nordsjaelland teammates in the United States preparing for the upcoming Danish
Andre Ayew sets up fund to support Ghanaian students in several cities
Ghanaian football star Andre Ayew has once again demonstrated his commitment to supporting education in his home country by setting up a fund to look after Ghanaian students in every city he live in.
The fund, which has been established in cities such as Marseille, Swansea, Istanbul, Doha, and now Nottingham, provides financial assistance to Ghanaian students who are studying in these cities.
Ayew, who is currently playing for Nottingham Forest in the English Championship, has always been passionate about education and has previously set up similar funds in other cities where he has played.
The funds have provided a lifeline for many Ghanaian students who would have otherwise struggled to make ends meet while studying abroad.
Ayew’s generosity has been praised by many in Ghana, with some calling on other successful Ghanaians to follow his example and support education in the country.
The 33-year-old is Ghana’s most-capped player and is the current captain of the national team which he has been playing since 2007.
Ghana forward Jordan Ayew reveals he wanted to quit Olympique Marseille academy just after four months
The striker joined Marseille as an academy player at age 13, before going on to make 111 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants – scoring a total of 14 goals.
The 31-year-old who graduated from the academy to play for the senior team before moving to England revealed it was difficult leaving family behind at that tender age.
According to the Ghana international he made the decision with the blessing of his dad before joining the academy even though his mum was not in support.
After spending some days at the academy, he decided to quit and come home.
Ayew was sharing his journey with the club’s website from France to the Premier League.
“My mum didn’t want me to stay there because she felt I was not ready, but my dad said: ‘Listen, just let him go for one or two years.’ She was not happy, because she wanted me to come back home. I went when I was 14 – and didn’t come back until I was 23!” Ayew remembers.
“It was a massive change. I was sad – honestly, after four months I called my mum and said: ‘I want to come home, I cannot do it.’ My dad said: ‘You are not coming home. You made a decision and you need to honour that decision.’”
Hearts of Oak show interest in Bibiani Gold Stars trio ahead of second transfer window
Hearts of Oak is interested in signing Gold Stars trio Ibrahim Laar, Augustine Randolf and Michael Ampadu according to a report by Asempa FM.
The Phobians are in search of new forward to replace Daniel Afriyie-Barnieh who is yet to pen a new deal with the club.
Laar has been identified as a suitable replacement by the scouting team.
The center-forward has scored four goals in eight matches in the Ghana Premier League this season.
His inclusion will be a big boost to the team as Hearts of Oak are short of attackers upfront.
Ibrahim Laar is contracted to Bibiani Gold Stars until 2024.
Augustine Randolf is also seen as a replacement for former captain Fatawu Mohammed.
Hearts of Oak have parted ways with Fatawu Mohammed and are looking to sign a replacement when the transfer window opens.
Randolf will be a priority signing for the Ghanaian giants if they are able to agree with Bibiani Gold Stars.
Randolf, a former Bechem United defender, joined Karela in September 2020 and is heading to the final year of his contract with the club.
Legon Cities’ right-back Michael Ampadu is another option for the Phobians are considering in case they miss out on Randolf who also has multiple suitors.
2022/23 Ghana Premier League Week 9: Match Preview – Nsoatreman FC vs Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak will look to pick up where they left off when they play Nsoatreman FC in their first match following the World Cup break.
The arrival of Serbian Slavko Matic as coach provided a breath of fresh air to the club, resulting in a five-game unbeaten streak before the league was halted to allow Ghanaians to focus on the 2022 World Cup.
The World Cup is over, and attention has returned to domestic football, with Hearts of Oak looking for a win away from home that could propel them into the top four.
The Phobians won three of their last five games before the break and are fully confident of defeating Nsoatreman, who lost 3-0 to Bechem United in their last match.
That defeat could have an impact on their season, and a strong performance against Hearts of Oak would help to erase the negative experience in Bechem.
The newcomers have outperformed expectations, currently in the top half of the table after eight games, but the job is far from done with a long season ahead of them.
It’s critical that they maintain their focus and play their hearts out, as they have done in previous games, as they have four wins, one less than surprise league leaders Bibiani Gold Stars.
Nsoatreman could go top of the league on Tuesday if they defeat Hearts of Oak at Nana Kronmansah Park in Nsoatre.
