Black Stars

Brighton unveil Ghana forward Ibrahim Osman

Ghana forward Ibrahim Osman has been unveiled by English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 19-year-old joined the Seagulls in the summer transfer window after agreeing terms with the club during in January.

Osman joined the Premier League side for the first time this week and took part in pre-season exercise at the club’s training complex.

He will be travelling with the team to Japan to continue preparations ahead of his debut campaign in the most popular league in the world.

“Obviously, I am happy to be here. It is a dream come true. As a young guy to be in a new country, in a new team, and a new environment> Basically there were a lot of teams who wanted me but when Brighton came, I was like this is the type of team I want to play for,” he said.

“The style of play, they play also younger players so it was a great development for me. I want to fully achieve my dreams. Playing every week and scoring goals,” he added.

The Right to Dream Academy graduate made the sensational switch from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.

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.

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).

Alexander Djiku getting along with Jose Mourinho in Fenerbahce training

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.

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:

All Regional Games: Gyan, Bawumia launch event at Baba Yara stadium

Former Ghana international, Asamoah Gyan, and his team officially launched the All Regional Games on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

The launch of the all-new competition which is aimed at unearthing and developing talent across most of the sporting disciplines was held at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The much-anticipated competition will feature athletes competing in events such football, athletics , volleyball , basketball , tennis, table tennis, boxing, Esports, and arm-wrestling.

The comes following weeks of several activities whipping up the traction from fans ahead of the launch.

The special guest at the Baba Yara Stadium was the Vice President of Ghana and the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

Others who graced the occasion were Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, Director General of the National Sports Authority, Numekevor Dodzie, as well as former team mates of Gyan.

Some entertainment celebrities were on stage to bring life to the event.

They were comedian, Ras Nene (now Dr Likee), musicians Fancy Gadam, Guru, and Wendy Shay.

Hundreds of fans also came out in their numbers to support the former Black Stars captain on his new project.

During the press launch of the competition in April, Gyan and his team revealed each region is expected to identify their top sportsmen and women through a trial.

Athletes selected, aged 18 to 23, are set to compete against their counterparts from other regions on a date yet to be announced.

Former Ghana Premier League top scorer Hans Kwofie dies in car accident

Medeama have announced the sudden demise of their former striker, Hans Kwofie, following a fatal accident on Friday, June 21, 2024.

The crash happened at Dadwen in the Ashanti Region when the 35-year-old was on his way to his hometown, Dompim Pepesa.

Kwofie was the Ghana Premier League goal king in the 2017/18 season after scoring 17 goals for AshantiGold.

The veteran striker started his career at Nsoatre Manchester United before playing for the likes of Heart of Lions, Bechem United, Legon Cities and Medeama in the Ghana league.

Black Stars defender Stephan Ambrosius joins Swiss side St. Gallen

Swiss Super League side, St. Gallen, have announced the signing of Ghanaian defender Stephan Ambrosius.

The Black Stars defender joins the Swiss outfit on a three-year deal which will keep him at the club until 2027.

Ambrosius joins St. Gallen as a free agent following the end of his contract with German side Hamburger SV.

The Ghanaian joined Hamburger in 2012 and played through all of the junior ranks before making it to the senior teams.

The central defender made 18 appearances for the club last season in Bundesliga 2 having returned from his loan spell at Karlsruher SC at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ambrosius has been capped twice for the Black Stars both coming in friendly games last year.

The Ghanaian will don jersey number 5 at his new club and share the same locker room with national teammates Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Musah Nuhu.

World Cup 2026Q: Ghana coach Otto Addo expects ‘difficult’ game against CAR

Ghana coach Otto Addo is expecting a ‘difficult’ encounter against the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Black Stars beat Mali 2-1 in Bamako and are hoping to replicate that result against CAR at the Baba Yara Stadium on Monday at 19:00 GMT.

However, Addo remains wary of the visitors.

“It’s going to be very difficult. For everyone who thinks we can just play them, I don’t think it will happen,” he said at the pre-match conference.

“They’re doing well, especially in the offensive transitions. They’re very dangerous; they showed that in the 1-1 draw against Mali.” The Black Stars sit third in Group I with six points, and a win will be a real shot in the arm in their quest to qualify for the global showpiece.

Fatawu Issahaku bags debut hat-trick in Leicester City win over Southampton

Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has officially bagged his first hat-trick as a professional footballer with the 20 year old recording the impressive mark in Leicester City’s big win over Southampton.

Leicester City smashed The Saints 5-0 in the Sky Bet English Championship with Issahaku scoring in the 25^th, 75^th and 81^st minute respectively. Rounding up his super performance, Issahaku assisted Jamie Vardy’s goal in the 79^th minute for Leicester City’s fourth goal. Issahaku’s first and third goals were assisted by Jamie Vardy.

The former Dreams FC player improved his tally in the 2023-2024 Championship season to six goals and 12 assists in 39 games as Leicester bid to return to the Premier League in its first attempt.

This latest outing highlights Issahaku’s impressive form in the wake of registering an assist in Leicester’s 2-1 over West Bromwich Albion. The Foxes hold a four point lead in the Championship.

After completing the hat-trick, the Sporting Lisbon loanee celebrated with a dance that was reminiscent of Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan who spent time in the English Premier League with Sunderland.

Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea: We did everything possible to beat them in every situation- Thomas Partey

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey believes his team did everything possible to beat Chelsea in every situation when the two faced off in the London derby.

He said this in a post game interview after Arsenal scored a big 5-0 win over Chelsea in the English Premier League to maintain its lead atop the standings.

Partey played 72 minutes in the contest as a starter for just the fifth time this season and starred in the game delivering nine passes into the final third and registered three interceptions (a team high) before getting replaced by Jorginho.

After getting praised by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his outstanding performance, Partey communicated the mindset of the Gunners heading into the game

Arsenal hold a four point lead over third ranked and defending league champions Manchester City though Man City have played two games fewer. Arsenal hold a four point lead over third ranked and defending league champions Manchester City though Man City have played two games fewer.