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.
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.
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.
The Ghana Volleyball Association (GVA) has disassociated itself from comments made by Seidu Ajanako following Ghana’s defeat to Morocco in the ongoing African Games.
Ghana lost to Morocco in two straight sets in the quarterfinals of the men’s beach volleyball event on Wednesday morning resulting in their elimination from the competition.
Prior to the clash against the North Africans, Ghana had won their first four games of the event since the start of the competition.
Speaking to Joy Sports after the defeat, one of Ghana’s players, Ajanako, complained about the team not receiving protective socks for the games which have left them with blisters.
“All our toes are full of blisters because of the heat of the sand. That can also affect you,” he said.
“We didn’t get the sand socks to wear because they told us there’s a shipment coming and it has been delayed.”
However, GVA has denied the concerns raised by Ajanako.
In a rejoinder issued on Wednesday evening, the Association disassociates itself from the player’s comments claiming the team lost to an ‘equally good side’.
Read the full statement below:
Ghana currently boasts five medals from the games so far from weightlifting and swimming.
Team Ghana’s Harry Stacey is through to the finals of the Men’s 50m Freestyle event but talisman Abeku Jackson missed out of the Swimming event at the African Games.
Stacey finished the heat event in second with a time of 23.17s while Abeku ended in third, clocking in at 23.79s.
It will be Stacey’s third individual final in his maiden appearance for Ghana at the continental competition.
Abeku had already won silver and bronze medals for the country.
Elsewhere, Joselle Mensah and Unilez Takyi have also progressed to the finals of the finals of Women’s 50m Freestyle.
Team Ghana has also secured slot in the final of the Mixed 4×100 Freestyle Relay.
All final events are scheduled to take place at 17:00 GMT
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.
Abeku Jackson and Nubia Adjei have risen as leaders in Ghana’s bid for continued success, having qualified for their respective finals in swimming at the African Games 2023.
Abeku, who clinched a historic silver on Day 2, thereby ending the country’s medal drought in the competition, secured a first-place finish with a time of 54.17 in Heat 3 of the Men’s 100m Butterfly.
In the Women’s category, Nubia, making her debut at the African Games, also advanced to the finals, placing third in the 50m Backstroke Heat 1 with a time of 31.16.
The finals, scheduled for 17:00 GMT, have reignited hopes for additional medals for Ghana.
In other events, Christian Nii Nortey Duah placed 6th with a time of 5:47.85 in the Men’s 400m Freestyle – Heat 1, failing to progress to the finals.
Ankrah Hector Titus, Asampong Theodore, and Niklas Yeboah also faced challenges in their respective events, falling short of advancing.
Daniel Gorsh stops Moses Adjei Selvi to claim the UBO Africa Super Bantamweight Title
Back by a number of fans, Daniel Gorsh of the Bronx Boxing Gym displayed skill, stamina and strength as well as ring generalship and punching power to dominate and stop Moses Adjei Selvi of James Town Gym also called Terrible Terror to claim the UBO Africa Super Bantamweight Title in addition to his national belt,
His performance suggests that Ghana professional boxing has a future, because when given the opportunity Gorsh aka The Emperor can win a world title.
Selasi as he is also called has been a boxer since his childhood and knows much about the sweet science, although learning never stops, the relationship between him and Coach Carl Lokko is the father and son type.
He has lived in Bukom and Jamestown most part of his life and experienced the culture and chose to be calm at home and on the street but wild and brutal in the ropes.
In the event promoted by Box Office and its partners Platinum Punch, the Bukom Boxing Arena registered another good crowd and atmosphere for boxing for the “Independence Eve Rumble”.
The undercards were exciting with Michael Decardi Nelson also retaining his National Bantamweight belt,
Ghana’s national cycling team, the Golden Bikers, have struggled to compete at the ongoing African Games due to sub standard equipment, cyclists have said.
On Sunday, national champion Michael Naaba withdrew from the cycling competition due to a faulty bicycle.
Shortly after taking off, the tube connected to Naaba’s bike exploded.
With no spare bicycle available to the Ghanaian champion, he was left with no choice than to discontinue the race.
“It’s the same equipment I have been training with. I’ve been training on this highway. Every day after work. Before work too (at dawn),”
“But the issue was the tube. Its the same tube I’ve been using for training and I had to use it for the competition because I had no option” he concluded.
In June 2023, Michael Naaba won the 2023 National Cycling Championship in Ho, Volta region.
Although there are twenty cyclists – twelve men and eight ladies – in the team, Naaba’s performance at the tournament and the subsequent event – Tour du Burkina Faso, made him Ghana’s best bet for a medal in the men’s cycling event.
Naaba who rides for Accra-based FCG Cycling Club is not the only Ghanaian cyclist to have paid for their own bicycles and footwear.
Alberta Adobea is one of Ghana’s self-sponsored national cyclists.
“If you look at the approved bicycles for this competition, they’re all made with fibre. But ours are all aluminium bikes which are heavier and more difficult to ride.
“So that gives our competitors an advantage because the fibre made bikes are lighter and easier to handle,” she concluded.
Apart from using old, aluminium bicycles and paying for their own footwear, Ghana’s cyclists had to wear old outfits following the Federations inability to procure fresh ones.
“We paid for our own footwear, the outfits we’re wearing are all old stuff”
“This was tough because of the challenges with logistics. All the bicycles we used are personal bicycles. We bought them with our own monies” she concluded.
This is a new low for Ghana who have had problems with cycling equipment at major tournaments in the past.
In March 2018, a Queensland based local bike owner, Peter Spencer had to start a fundraiser to procure appropriate equipment for Ghana at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
He made the move after noticing that Ghana’s cyclists were using substandard equipment at the Commonwealth Games.
Then deputy director at the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah insisted the Ghanaian contingent had no challenges with equipment.
“Let us ignore the bad press about the team. The cyclists traveled with their cycles from the last edition of the Olympic Games and they are not totally damaged as is being reported.”
However, Mohammed Sahnoon, President of the Cycling Federation, knew better.
He, unlike Sarfo-Mensah, a political appointee, felt a sense of duty to his team. Not blind loyalty to whatever. Or whoever.
He knew the difference between what Ghana’s cyclists were using, and what their opponents would be riding.
He is quoted by Ghanaweb.com to have said: “The bicycles we brought to Australia for the Commonwealth Games are not broken. They may not be up to Australian standards but we brought bicycles.”
The team’s coach was also caught up in Brazil with other engagements.
“We came here with a coach but he is handling some classifications in Brazil. He will join us soon.” He concluded.
Thus far, neither the Sports Ministry nor the Cycling Federation have commented on the logistical challenges.
Ghana’s weightlifter Winnifred Ntumi claims the nation’s third medal at the 2023 African Games by clinching silver in the Women’s 49 kg snatch category.
Team Ghana currently sits on the tally table with three medals, one gold and two silver.
Competing with determination and skill, Ntumi showcased her prowess on the weightlifting stage, securing a well-deserved second-place finish in the snatch event.
The Women’s 49 kg snatch event witnessed intense competition, and Ntumi’s success underscores her commitment to excellence in her sporting endeavors. Winnifred Ntumi’s achievement not only adds a shining medal to Ghana’s tally but also exemplifies the dedication and hard work of the nation’s athletes on the continental stage.
The achievement not only adds to Ghana’s growing medal tally but also highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of the nation’s athletes.
