Reports from Paris indicate that Jamaican sprinter Sashalee Forbes will compete in the 100m dash when the track and field events commence at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Friday. Speculation about Forbes replacing Shericka Jackson has been confirmed by Jamaica’s Athletics Manager Ludlow Watts, who told Television Jamaica that Jackson has withdrawn from the 100m event.
Sportsmax.TV sources had confirmed on Tuesday that Forbes was informed by team management that she would be replacing Jackson in the blue-riband sprint.
On July 9, Jackson experienced what was described as ‘a cramp’ during the women’s 200m race at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial held at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár. The incident raised concerns about her fitness as the Olympics approached.
With no official updates from her MVP Track Club, rumors about Jackson’s health have intensified. In a recent interview with Jamaican media, Coach Stephen Francis provided limited information regarding Jackson’s condition. When asked about her health, Francis responded, “I think that is something you’re going to have to address to her medical personnel but as far as I know she appears to be okay to me.”
While Francis remained reticent about Jackson, he was more forthcoming about another athlete, Tia Clayton. He expressed confidence in Clayton’s potential to perform well in the 100m, with some local pundits predicting her success in the blue-ribbon sprint.
The confirmation from Watts brings clarity to the situation, affirming that Sashalee Forbes will indeed replace Shericka Jackson in the 100m dash.
Olympics triathletes dived into the Seine River on Wednesday after organizers declared the water in Paris safe for swimming following days of concerns about elevated bacteria levels caused by heavy rains last week.
The women jumped into the river near the majestic Pont Alexandre III around 8 a.m., with steady rain tapering off just as the athletes splashed into the water.
Some dunked their swim goggles in the Seine before putting them on and heading into the river with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The men followed just under three hours later.
The decision to go ahead with the swim for the triathlon competitions was a big deal for the city, Olympics organizers and the athletes. Officials undertook an ambitious plan, including 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in infrastructure improvements, to clean up the long-polluted Seine.
They had been steadfast in their insistence that the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events could safely be held in the river.
After days of uncertainty following rain on Friday and Saturday, organizers said early Wednesday that the latest tests of the water showed compliance with quality standards.
They couldn’t contain their delight that their gamble of holding Olympic events in the long-toxic river was paying off. “It’s magic,” said chief Paris Games organizer Tony Estanguet, speaking to French television. “It’s a very important legacy for Parisians to be able to swim from next year in the Seine.”
The infrastructure projects undertaken to better manage wastewater have paved the way for Paris’ ultimate goal: allowing Parisians to enjoy the waterway again after more than a century of it being off-limits, with plans to open public pools in its waters starting in 2025.
“Here we are!” French President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed on X. “Thanks to a massive investment … we have achieved in just 4 years what was impossible for 100 years: the Seine is now swimmable.”
As they swam, the triathletes stayed close to the barges and boats that line the banks of the river. Spectators watched and cheered from the stands set up along the side and from the bridges spanning the waterway. After swimming two laps in the Seine, a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) course, the athletes emerged from the water and ran up a set of stairs to jump on their bikes for a ride through the streets of Paris, including the iconic Champs-Elysees.
During the women’s race, the 40-kilometer (25-mile) biking portion saw numerous crashes and wipeouts along wet roads, but skies were blue when the triathletes began the final leg of the race, a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run.
By the time the men’s race started, the sun was beating down and temperatures were rising.
Cassandre Beaugrand of France won gold in the women’s event, while Julie Derron of Switzerland took silver and Beth Potter of Britain got the bronze medal.
Alex Yee of Britain won gold in the men’s race, with Hayden Wilde of New Zealand winning silver and Léo Bergère of France taking bronze.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who took a much-publicized dip in the Seine two weeks ago along with Estanguet and others to ease fears about water quality, congratulated Beaugrand for winning the first Olympic gold in the river.
“How special to see her swimming in the Seine, thank you for making us so proud!” Hidalgo said.
For her part, Beaugrand said she wasn’t very worried about swimming in the Seine “because we swam last year and no one was sick after that, so I was confident we could swim today and it would have been a shame if we didn’t.” Olympic triathletes participated in a test event in the river last August.
Yee, the men’s winner, said athletes just have to trust organizers when they say the conditions are safe.
“I’m sure we’ll find out in due time if that’s correct,” he said.
Elevated levels of bacteria in the river pushed the men’s race originally planned for Tuesday to Wednesday, when the women’s competition had been scheduled. Test events meant to allow the athletes to familiarize themselves with the course had already been canceled for the same reason on Sunday and Monday.
Paris experienced a downpour during Friday’s opening ceremony, and rain continued for most of the day Saturday, which directly affected the water quality in the Seine.
Former Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng has criticised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for missing out on key European-born talents, claiming that Spain’s intervention blocked the Black Stars from securing players like Nico Williams.
In an interview with Accra-based Kingdom FM, Boateng expressed frustration over Ghana’s inability to attract players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Jeremy Doku, Jeremie Frimpong, and Nico Williams. He lamented that the GFA should have acted sooner to court these talents.
“How can we lose players like Kobbie Mainoo, Jeremy Doku, Jeremie Frimpong, and Nico Williams?” Boateng asked, “Inaki Williams is playing for us, but why couldn’t we get Nico? Because he is good and talented, Spain blocked his chances of playing for Ghana.”
Boateng emphasised the importance of being proactive in engaging with Europe-based players early on. He warned that waiting until they are established players could be too late, as their parents might not be open to switching allegiance if Ghana was not involved from the start.
The 41-year-old, who had a distinguished international career with Ghana from 2001 to 2013, including a notable role in the Black Satellites’ runner-up finish at the 2001 U-20 FIFA World Cup, called for a more strategic approach in nurturing young talents.
Nico Williams, who has impressed with his performances for Spain, played a significant role in La Roja’s triumph in the 2024 European Championships. His success highlights the missed opportunities for Ghana to benefit from such emerging stars.
Ghana youth midfielder Fatawu Ganiwu is making waves at Chelsea FC after an impressive performance for the club’s U18 side.
The technical team has taken notice of his skills and has invited him to train and play for the U21 team, a significant step up in his development.
Ganiwu, who has been on trial at several European clubs including RC Lens and RB Salzburg since last year, was part of Laryea Kingston’s team that participated in the UEFA U16 invitational tournament last year.
His current stint at Chelsea is his latest opportunity to showcase his talent, and it seems he is making the most of it.
Ganiwu’s progression to the U21 team is a testament to his hard work and potential.
Chelsea’s interest in Ganiwu is a positive sign for Ghanaian football, as the country continues to produce talented young players who are catching the attention of top European clubs.
The youngster will be hoping to earn maximum trust from the technical team and hopefully ern a place as he continues his development as a promising footballer.
Black Stars defender Joseph Aidoo was visibly touched by the heartfelt support from his Celta Vigo teammates upon making his return to football after a nine-month injury layoff. The 28-year-old made a notable comeback during Celta Vigo’s 1-0 victory over Portuguese side Gil Vicente in a preseason match. Aidoo, who entered the game in the 74th minute as a substitute for Carl Starfelt, played 16 minutes, marking his first appearance since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon early in the 2023-2024 season. Following his return, Aidoo was greeted with warm embraces and congratulatory gestures from his teammates. Overwhelmed by the support, he was seen wiping away tears as he absorbed the moment, receiving applause from fans as he walked off the pitch. Aidoo’s injury had kept him sidelined for a significant portion of the previous season, where he missed the majority of Celta Vigo’s matches. Before his injury, Aidoo was a crucial player for the team, having featured in 32 and 35 La Liga games in consecutive seasons. The defender was also part of Ghana’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, highlighting his importance to both his club and national team. Aidoo’s return significantly boosts Celta Vigo as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus found the net for West Ham United in their 3-1 defeat to Wolves in a pre-season friendly.
The 23-year-old scored his first goal of the pre-season campaign, giving West Ham a brief equaliser before Wolves secured the victory with two second-half goals. Kudus played 63 minutes of the match.
The game, played in front of nearly 68,000 fans in Florida, provided valuable match practice for both teams ahead of the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Kudus insists he is battle-ready for the upcoming season in the English Premier League after magnificently announcing himself with excellent performances in his maiden campaign.
Kudus was outstanding for the Hammers last season, ending the season as Europe’s best dribbler. He also scored 14 goals.
His efforts have attracted interest from various clubs with Saudi giants Al Ittihad and Liverpool the sides heavily linked to the player.
However, Kudus is focused on his time with West Ham as preparations for the new season continue in the United States.
According to the 23-year-old, he is aware of the expectations and he is ready to give his best in the upcoming campaign.
“Definitely, the preparations has been smooth so far. We have a couple of games to get to the level we want to get to. Looking forward to tomorrow’s game but same thing like last season. Last season was good, first season to announce myself,” he told West Ham TV.
“I think now the expectation is even higher. The opponents are going to come stronger but so am I.
“So, just double my effort and the do my best to help the team finish in the best position as possible.”
Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus insists he is battle-ready for the upcoming season in the English Premier League after magnificently announcing himself with superlative performances in his maiden campaign.
The Black Stars attacking midfielder was outstanding for the Hammers last season, ending the season as Europe’s best dribbler. He also scored 14 goals, including sensational strikes against Freiburg and Manchester City, and added six assists to his goals contributions.
His efforts has seen him attract interest from various clubs with Saudi giants Al Ittihad and Liverpool the sides heavily linked to the player.
However, Kudus is focused on his time with West Ham as preparations for the new season continue in the United States.
According to the 23-year-old, he is aware of the expectations and he is ready to give his best in the upcoming campaign.
“Definitely, the preparations has been smooth so far. We have a couple of games to get to the level we want to get to. Looking forward to tomorrow’s game but same thing like last season. Last season was good, first season to announce myself,” he told West Ham TV.
“I think now the expectation is even higher. The opponents are going to come stronger but so am I.
“So, just double my effort and the do my best to help the team finish in the best position as possible.”
A member of Ghana’s 1982 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team, Opoku Nti, says the benefit the squad had for winning the tournament was boarding the presidential jet.
Speaking on Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai which will broad the on Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 pm on JoyNews, the former Black Stars forwarded recalled a stirring message from the late CK Gyamfi, the team’s coach, delivered on behalf of then-head of state Jerry John Rawlings, it was never fulfilled.
“Before the [AFCON 1982] final, we were there when the late CK Gyamfi came and said, ‘This is a message from our head of state [Jerry John Rawlings] and it reads like this: ‘If you win this Cup, we are going to honour you and this honour will benefit you and your children.’
Every step, whether eating, training, after lunch or supper, he would read this message to us,” Nti recounted.
It is believe that the message was meant to inspire the team to go all out and win when rumours in Ghana alleged that then Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi wanted Ghana to throw the match.
“We didn’t even know that in Ghana, there were rumours that [Muammar] Gaddafi wanted us to sell the match to him [for Libya to win the AFCON]. Lo and behold, we won the Cup.”
The team waited in Tripoli for several days before the presidential jet arrived to bring them home. Boarding the jet, Nti says, was the only honour they had. “Maybe, the benefit we had was being on the presidential jet,” he stated.
He added, “It took us from Tripoli, Libya and we were happy. We had to refuel when we got to Tamale, and when we got to Tema, we saw two jet planes.” The flight back to Ghana turned into a terrifying experience as the pilot performed risky manoeuvres. “While in the plane, something happened, and we were all crying in the plane.
“The pilot was flying dangerously: he would take high up and come down again… he did that a couple of times and we were all scared to death because we hadn’t seen anything like that before. We all thought we were going to die. Even those who were outside waiting for us to land were all shouting.
“If you want, go and look at the picture of our arrival carefully, no one was laughing. We couldn’t laugh because our hearts were gone.”
There was enough history for these players not to be so expectant: 1963, 1965, and 1978. Promises made to these winning teams were never fulfilled, but this group thought theirs was a different era despite a warning from some members of the 1978 group who were promised houses, but never got them.
“Some of the 1978 squad members told us there was a promise for them if they won the AFCON during Kutu Acheampong’s era. They were promised houses, but it never happened. So they told us we must ask for even cars because the state had seized so many cars at the port,” Nti explained.
They made no demands at the instruction of their technical team members, and their hopes were dashed when they finally met with Rawlings.
“The coaches, CK Gyamfi, Osam Duodu were like, ‘These boys, you are too troublesome, he [Rawlings] said he will honour us. When you’re given a car, is that honour?’ It was back and forth.
“They eventually took us from the airport to Konda Barracks and that was the first time we met [Daniel Alolga] Akata Pore . He told us the old man, he called Papa J [Jerry John Rawlings] old man, is sleeping but will join us soon.
“We were there for about 30 minutes before he came. He greeted us and spoke for a long time. It was from politics to many other things.
“He said what we blacks can do if we were given the same opportunities as the whites, we are better.
“In the end, he said Ghana has nothing to offer you, except to say ‘We salute you.’ To be honest with you, it pierced our hearts,” Nti recounted. The lack of promised rewards had a lasting impact on the players. Ghana has not win the AFCON since then and many attributes the country’s near misses to not honouring promises made to past winners.
“If Ghana is suffering… maybe some players cursed Ghana, I don’t know, but this thing got so many players to decide not to play for the nation again because the sacrifice was too much,” Nti reflected.
The disillusionment carried over into the next AFCON where Ghana, despite being defending champions had its worst outing to date. The team exited the group stage without a point.
“It’s all gone now, but you see, it didn’t augur well so from there defending the Cup at Bourke, we were eliminated because no one was willing to sacrifice again. Who wants to die again for the nation? They said a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for,” Nti concluded.
Prime Take airs every Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 11 am.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is confident the competition for places within the club’s midfield position could be a positive thing for them.
According to the 31-year-old, the quality of the players available at the disposal of Mikel Arteta in midfield could propel the club to greater heights.
Partey is determined to reclaim a spot in the team after another troubling season marred by injuries. He missed 29 games as the Gunners missed out on silverware at the end of the 2024/25 season.
However, he believes the availability of all midfielder options could be the turning point as he praised the quality of his teammates.
“We have a lot of players in that position. Jorginho is playing well, I am playing well. Dec (Rice) is there, Martin (Odegaard) too,” said Partey in an interview with Hayters TV.”We also have other players who can come in and make a difference. We have to compete against each other and at the end of the day it is the Mister (Arteta) who decides.
“With this kind of competition, we can get to the level that we want to be at. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who plays. I think the most important thing is the team achieves their objective.”
Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title by just two points last season and would be hoping their can end their drought at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
FIFA suspended Canada women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman for one year, deducted six points from the team’s Olympic group stage total and issued a fine on Saturday in response to Canada flying a drone over New Zealand’s training sessions before the start of the Games.
The user of the drone in the incident that kicked off a large-scale investigation into Canada Soccer, team analyst Joseph Lombardi, was suspended for one year, as was assistant coach Jasmine Mander. The chairman of the FIFA appeal committee issued the decision Saturday.
FIFA found violations of article 13 of its code of conduct and article 6.1 of the Olympic football tournament regulations, both related to fair play. FIFA also noted that the decision was made — very quickly — because of its impact on the outcome of the ongoing Olympic tournament. Canada, in Group A, won its opener against New Zealand 2-1.
