2025-04-03

SPORTS WORLD

AGF Sporting Director lauds signing of Ghanaian talent Richmond Gyamfi

The Sporting Director of Danish Superliga side Aarhus GF has revealed the rationale behind the signing of Ghanaian talent Richmond Gyamfi.

The move comes after Gyamfi starred in the First Division Promotion play-offs with fellow Danish side Hobro IK, bagging three goals and four assists in 10 games.

The 19-year-old penned a five-year deal with AGF which was made official on Wednesday, July 10.

Despite his performances not being enough to propel Hobro to the Danish top flight, the 19-year-old now becomes the most expensive sale in the club’s history after just five months and 13 appearances.

Stig Inge Bjørnebye, the sporting director of AGF, disclosed on their official website why the club pursued the signing of the budding forward.

“Richmond fits into our style of play. He is fast, has a good physical and is a skilled finisher. He gives us some x-factor and has a forward-thinking in his game that is unusual and impressive,” he said.

“We have followed him intensely in the spring and are very happy to be able to welcome him to AGF, where he can now continue his positive development in our framework and release his talent even more.”

Gyamfi is expected to join the club’s preseason training camp ahead of the new season.

Samartex insists Keyekeh is still their player despite midfielder’s debut for Tanzanian club

hana Premier League side FC Samartex has denied sanctioning the departure of midfielder Emmanuel Keyekeh despite the player reportedly joining Tanzanian top-flight side Singida Black Stars.

Keyekeh was reported to have signed for Singida over the weekend and made his debut for them earlier this week in their cup game against APR.

In a sensational twist, Samartex has claimed that there is still an existing contract with Keyekeh, who is currently in Tanzania.

Keyekeh was the skipper of a Samartex team that secured the Ghana Premier League title by 10 points last season. He made 32 appearances for the Samreboi-based club, scoring five goals and bagging a further two assists.

His incredible performances saw him win the Home-based Men’s Player of the Year award in the recently held Ghana Football Awards.

CAFCC 2024/25: Nsoatreman FC drawn against Chad’s Elect Sport in preliminary round

2023/24 MTN FA Cup champions, Nsoatreman FC, will face TP Elect Sport of Chad in the first preliminary round of next season’s CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC).

The Nsoatre-based club were put in Pot 1 ahead of the draw which took place on Thursday, July 11.

Making their debut in the continental club competition for the first time, the Ghana Premier League side will face the Chad outfit looking to go past the first round of the qualifying phase.

Nsoatreman will play the first leg of the encounter at home before travelling to Chad for the return fixture.

The Ghanaian club will face either Algeria’s CS Constantine or Police FC of Rwanda in the second round of the preliminary stage if they are able to go past the Elect Sport hurdle.

The first round of the prelims is set to be played between August 16 and August 25 while the second round is scheduled for September 13 and 22.

Nsoatreman booked their place in the competition after beating Bofoakwa Tano in the final of last season’s MTN FA Cup which was played last month.

Yaw Preko’s men will be hoping to replicate the success of Dreams FC who reached the semis of the Confederation Cup on their first attempt.

Breakdancing makes Olympic debut with Moroccan champion Bilal Mallakh

From humble beginnings to the global stage of the Olympics, Bilal Mallakh embodies determination and dreams realized. Now, as he represents Morocco and Africa, Mallakh aims to leave an indelible mark among the world’s elite breakdancers.

In a historic moment for the Olympic Games, breakdancing is set to make its debut, showcasing the talents of Bilal Mallakh from Morocco. Mallakh, a trailblazing figure in the world of breakdancing, becomes the first African and Arab athlete to qualify for this prestigious global event.

Ahead of his anticipated performance on the stages of Paris, Mallakh is intensifying his training regimen, focusing on mastering acrobatic floor maneuvers and dynamic poses. His goal: to represent not only Morocco but the entire African continent with skill and pride.

“For me, it’s a big thing,” Mallakh expressed. “I’m going to represent Morocco and Africa. It’s not easy, but I’ll give my best to represent them well. I’m focused and dedicated in my preparation, training diligently with my coach. We’re striving to excel at the Olympics. Regardless of the outcome, if I give my best, I’ll be satisfied.”

Breakdancing’s inclusion in the Olympics marks a significant milestone, ushering in a new era for the discipline globally. In Morocco, where the breakdancing community is steadily growing, Mallakh’s participation is viewed as a beacon of hope for aspiring dancers and enthusiasts.

“In our country, things are improving,” Mallakh noted. “Breakdancing being part of the Olympics is a positive step. It will change perceptions and hopefully elevate the sport. I see a small but passionate breakdancing community in Morocco, and I believe it will grow over time.”

Mallakh’s preparation extends beyond physical prowess; mental preparation plays a crucial role under the guidance of his coach, Rachid Rachid.

“We’re refining every detail to ensure a stellar performance,” Coach Rachid remarked. “Bilal has shown remarkable growth through dedication and rigorous training.”

From humble beginnings to the global stage of the Olympics, Bilal Mallakh embodies determination and dreams realized. Now, as he represents Morocco and Africa, Mallakh aims to leave an indelible mark among the world’s elite breakdancers.

Kishane Thompson convincingly defeats Tebogo and Simbine at Continental Tour in Hungary

World leader Kishane Thompson got another win in Hungary against a loaded field featuring Letsile Tebogo and Akani Simbine.

Jamaica’s new speed king Kishane Thompson will be a hard nut to crack in Paris following his impressive victory over Letsile Tebogo and Akani Simbine at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary.

The 22-year-old showed why he’s the fastest in the world this year, blazing to a convincing 9.91s (-0.6) despite easing up about 30m from the finish line and looking across the field to win the men’s 100m event.

Botswana’s youngster Tebogo was second in a Season’s Best (SB) of 9.99s, edging Simbine to third in 10.01s. Thompson’s rise to dominance after his incredible performance at the Jamaican Olympic trials, where he won in a world-leading time of 9.77s, was an eye-opener to being a major gold medal contender at the Paris Olympics.

With this smooth victory in Hungary, surely he has stamped his name as the one to beat in Paris, where he will be gunning to deliver another gold medal for his country in the event since the legendary Usain Bolt.

Paris 2024: D’Tigress to face Germany, Japan, and Serbia in warmup games

The reigning Afrobasket champions will face Germany, Japan, and Serbia to test their readiness for the Olympics.

Nigeria’s basketball women’s team, the D’Tigress, is gearing up for the Paris 2024 Olympics with a series of pre-tournament friendlies.

The D’Tigress recently arrived in Saarbrucken, Germany, to kick off their pre-Olympic training camp.

he training period will be crucial for the team to refine their skills and strategies before heading to the big stage.

Pre-Olympic friendlies with Germany, Japan, and Serbia

To truly assess their Olympic readiness, the D’Tigress will face off against strong opponents in a series of friendly matches.

On July 19th, Nigeria will battle Germany in their first test before facing another formidable team, Serbia on July 21st.

The final friendly will be against Japan on July 24th to wrap up their camp phase.

These matches against Germany, Serbia, and Japan will provide a valuable opportunity for the reigning Afrobasket champions to test their mettle, identify areas for improvement, and solidify their team chemistry.

AFCON 2025Q: Karim Zito backs Kwasi Appiah to stay as ExCo member despite Sudan drawing Black Stars

Dreams FC head coach Abdul Karim Zito has conveyed his absolute support to Sudan coach Kwasi Appiah amid calls for him to step down from his position as an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association due to potential conflict of interest concerns.

Ghana have been drawn with Sudan in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers with many worried about where the loyalty of Appiah would be when the two teams come up against each other.

However, in an interview with Graphic Sports, Zito cited Appiah’s professionalism, arguing that the former Black Stars head coach should be allowed to carry out his roles without undue interference.

The former Black Satellites coach stated that Appiah’s role as Sudan coach did not necessarily conflict with his position on the ExCo, as the FA does not financially compensate him.

He also mentioned the affiliation of other members of the ExCo to clubs.

“People are talking about Kwasi Appiah but I don’t see why they should be talking about him. Those in the ExCo are they not having clubs? Kwasi is a professional coach and the ExCo doesn’t pay him,” he said.

He also pointed out that the ExCo were aware of his coaching commitments before he contested for and won a seat at the Council.

“The ExCo knew Kwasi was still in coaching and yet they allowed him to stand election which he won before he had this opportunity.”

Zito expressed his acknowledgement that, no matter the match’s result, it should all come down to the competitive nature of the sport, and that Appiah should not be coerced to compromise either of his respective roles.

“For me, I am behind Kwasi 100 per cent; he should keep quiet and do his job, if he is able to beat us fine, and if we also beat him fine.”

Jose Mourinho’s bromance with Alexander Djiku in training warms Ghanaian hearts

Ghana defender Alexander Djiku appears to be striking a perfect relationship with new manager Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce.

While Mourinho started his pre-season camp a few weeks ago, Djiku was granted an extended break after featuring in Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).

However, the Ghanaian centre-back finally joined his club teammates in pre-season two weeks ago, and he appears to be getting along well with his new manager.

In photos from a recent Fenerbahce training session that have gone viral on social, Mourinho is seen with his arms around the neck of Djiku.

The said photos have been interpreted by some Ghanaians on social media as a sign of a good bond between the defender and Mourinho.

Djiku has been a key player at Fenerbahce since joining the club in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after parting ways with Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg.

He made 36 appearances in all competitions for the club last season, contributing three goals and two assists.

The former Bastia rearguard is expected to play a huge role under Mourinho next season as Fenerbahce aim to wrestle back the Turkish title from rivals Galatasaray.

Meanwhile, ex-Ghana captain Stephen Appiah believes, like Essien, Alexander Djiku could also take his game to the next level by working with Mourinho.

Mourinho previously worked with Essien at Chelsea and Real Madrid and also coached with Muntari at Inter Milan, winning multiple trophies with the Ghanaian duo.

Boks come out top against Ireland in first Castle Lager Test Series

The Springboks showed Ireland who is boss when they beat them 27 – 20 during their first Castle Lager Incoming Series Test at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

South Africa and their foes Ireland foes re-ignited their rivalry spectacularly as the best and second-best teams in world rugby deliver a spectacle for staunch rugby fans.

The Boks held a 13-8 lead at the break and apart from a dominating opening 30 minutes, it was not the smoothest win ever, but a seven-point margin over Ireland is not something to sniff at.

The second half started promising enough with a strong surge by the Springboks following an attacking lineout, but a handling error allowed the Irish to relieve pressure.

The Irish chanced their arm at the breakdown and when Luke Pearce had enough, Pollard stepped up, but again pushed it wide, much to the disbelief of the crowd.

There were times when the Boks were sublime, but they were also guilty of too many unforced errors, especially in the second half.

When they did it right though, the Boks were spectacular, like with their first try scored in the opening spell of the match, and what a delightful effort it was.

Both teams scored a try apiece, with the difference being the accurate kicking by Handre Pollard, who kicked two penalty goals and converted an early try by Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The two sides will now shift their focus to their second Test encounter next week in Durban, with the visors looking to overturn the 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Scorers:

Springboks 27 (13) – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Penalty try. Conversions: Handre Pollard (2). Penalty goals: Pollard (2).

Ireland 20 (8) – Tries: Jamie Osborne, Conor Murray, Ryan Baird. Conversion: Jack Crowley. Penalty goal: Crowley.

Ghana to host Angola on opening day of AFCON 2025 qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the dates for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON).

According to CAF, the qualifiers would take place from September to November this year to make way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers slated for 2025.

Ghana will open its campaign against Angola at home before making a trip to Niger for the second Group F match scheduled for between September 2-10, 2024.

The Black Stars will later face Sudan in a double header in October as they host the 1970 African champions in Kumasi before traveling for the reverse fixture –in the week of October 7-15, 2024.

The final round of qualifiers will take place in November when Ghana trek to Luanda as guests of Angola before they wrap things up against Niger at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The top two teams from the group will qualify for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year. Otto Addo’s men are in search of a ticket to the biggest football tournament on African soil having previously won the title in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.

The Group F Fixtures are attached below:

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