Partey increased Arsenal’s lead 10 minutes later to seal a triumph that will taste particularly sweet after Villa inflicted damage on their title charge last season by completing a league double.Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta will have seen this visit to Villa Park as an early chance to demonstrate that they mean business once more in the title race as they faced the side who proved such a thorn in their side last season.

In a pursuit full of fine margins, Villa’s two league wins over Arsenal, particularly the 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium in mid-April, were hugely damaging as they lost the title to Manchester City by just two points.

And they will see this win, full of grit and with the occasional sprinkling of good fortune, as one of huge significance as they finally try to bridge the gap and turn themselves into champions.

As expected, Villa provided a stern test and Arsenal were grateful for the misfiring finishing of Watkins but most of all to the brilliance of goalkeeper Raya, who sprung to his left as the home supporters got ready to celebrate to pull off a magnificent save with the score 0-0 and this tight encounter on a knife-edge.

It proved to be the turning point.

Arsenal cashed in on that moment, Trossard once again proving how valuable he is with a clinical finish to break the deadlock. The Gunners were on their way.

Partey’s second eased any potential late nerves as Villa ran out of ideas, the celebrations between Arsenal’s players and fans after the final whistle demonstrating the importance of these three points, even coming so early in this campaign.

Ghanaian midfielder Joshua Tenkorang joins FC Lumezzane on loan

Ghanaian midfielder Joshua Tenkorang has completed a loan move to Italian Serie C side FC Lumezzane from US Cremonese, GHANAsoccernet.com can confirm

The loan deal will keep Tenkorang at Lumezzane until June 2025.

Tenkorang, who has previously played for Calcio Lecco, expressed his excitement about joining Lumezzane and contributing to the team’s success.

He made six appearances for Lecco in the Serie B before joining Calcio Foggia for the remainder of last season, making 9 appearances.

He praised the club’s positive atmosphere and the ambitious project that was presented to him.

Lumezzane’s sporting director, Simone Pesce, highlighted Tenkorang’s physical attributes, dynamism, and ability to contribute offensively.

He also emphasized Tenkorang’s experience playing in Serie C and his strong desire to join the club.

Tenkorang’s loan move to Lumezzane comes as he continues to develop his career and potentially seek international recognition for Ghana.

With his Ghanaian parentage, the 24-year-old is eligible to represent the Black Stars internationally internationally.

There We Land – How to take part as Victor Boniface celebrates Super Cup win with N2m giveaway

Nigeria’s Victor Boniface is celebrating his Super Cup win with Bayer Leverkusen in a big way with Nigerians.

Nigerian football sensation Victor Boniface is sharing his joy with fans back home after helping Bayer Leverkusen clinch the German Super Cup.

In a generous gesture, Boniface has announced a giveaway of 2 million naira (approximately $2,600 USD) to celebrate the victory.Bayer Leverkusen secured the Super Cup title with a win over Stuttgart after a 4-3 win via penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw in regulation time, adding another feather to their cap and giving Boniface, one of the team’s key players, a reason to celebrate in grand style.

Taking to his Twitter account, Boniface shared the news of his giveaway in Nigerian Pidgin English, demonstrating his connection to his roots.

His tweet read: “If you no get stew money as today na Sunday I give small 2m giveaway ……make una meet channel 11 @_AsiwajuLerry”

Translated, the message essentially says: “If you don’t have money for food today, being Sunday, I’m doing a small 2 million naira giveaway. Please contact @_AsiwajuLerry.”

his act of generosity has sparked excitement among Nigerian football fans, many of whom are celebrating not just Boniface’s success on the field but also his willingness to give back to his community.

The Super Eagles forward, 23, played a key role as he opened the scoring at the BayArena to get off the mark for the season before Xabi Alonso took him off after 41 minutes after Leverkusen were reduced to 10 men.

Boniface’s gesture highlights the ongoing connection between the talented player and his fans who fondly refer to him as ‘banger boy’. It also showcases how social media platforms are being used by athletes to directly engage with and support their fans.

As Bayer Leverkusen basks in their Super Cup glory, Boniface’s celebration extends beyond the pitch, touching the lives of his supporters back in Nigeria.

2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Dates for Ghana versus Angola and Niger clash announced

The dates for Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and venues against Angola and Niger have been confirmed.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium will host Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola in September.

The Black Stars will host the Sable Antelopes on Thursday, September 5, 2024, before traveling to Niger for their second Group F game on Monday, September 9, 2024.

Otto Addo’s men are unbeaten in their last two competitive games following impressive wins over Mali and Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The game against Angola is scheduled for 16:00Hrs Kick Off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Ghana are in Group F alongside Sudan, Angola and Niger.

The top two teams from the group will qualify for the 35^th 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.

Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum prepares for tough season

Asante Kotoko head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has issued a rallying cry to his players ahead of the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.

The experienced coach has emphasised the need for the team to be prepared for any challenge, regardless of the opponent or location.

Kotoko have bolstered their squad with 12 new signings as they aim to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish.

With the league set to kick off on September 6, the Porcupine Warriors will begin their campaign with an away match against Karela United.

Dr Ogum has stressed the importance of a strong start, particularly against a tough opponent like Karela.

“We have to be ready to play any of these teams at any time, anywhere, we should be able to play them and get the results,” he told the club’s media.

Before the league commences, Kotoko will have a friendly match against Medeama SC to officially open the newly built TNA Stadium in Tarkwa on August 16.

As the club gears up for the new season, the coach’s focus is on ensuring his team is ready to compete at the highest level.

Ghana defender Alexander Djiku confident over victory over Lille in UCL qualifiers

Ghana defender Alexander Djiku believes Fenerbahce’s dream of reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League under Jose Mourinho remains on course.

The Turkish giants travel to France for the third round of qualifiers against LOSC Lille with hopes of progressing to the next stage.

“Last year, we thought we could face Lille in the Conference League semi-finals, but we were eliminated by Olympiacos on penalties in the quarter-finals (Lille were also eliminated by Aston Villa). It could have happened earlier,” Djiku told L’Equipe.

Lille could have Canadian striker Jonathan David back for the tie following his participation in the Copa America.

However, Djiku is unbothered by the presence of Lille’s keyman.

“Jonathan David is a very talented player and a great mover on the pitch. He is also very effective in deep runs. Lille with Jonathan David and Lille without him are two different teams. However, we did not have a special preference for the opponent, whether it was Lille or another team. The road will be difficult but we are confident,” he added.

Olympics triathletes swim in Seine River after days of concerns about water quality

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.

“They will come strong but so am I”- Mohammed Kudus declares readiness for upcoming season

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.”

Midfield competition can take Arsenal to Premier League title – Thomas Partey

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.

Paris Olympics: Fanzone celebrates African cultures and athletes

Africa Station is the place to be to celebrate African athletes and cultures during the Paris Olympics.

The fan zone is located in the north of the French capital and will host locals and tourists.

In addition to keeping up with the competition, visitors will enjoy African music, food and art and discover works by African craftsmen and women.

All 54 African countries have sent delegations this 33rd Olympiad.

Ivorian participant Okeleye akin Yao hopes many African athletes will win medals: “In the Olympic Games we know that Africa has a special particularity with lots of trophies and medals and Ihope we’ll have more medals like European and American countries and others. This is our wish.”

The Stade Robert Cesar has been transformed into an African village. Stalls shine a light on dozens of countries from the continent including the DRC, Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco.

The initiative is championed by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the city of Ile-Saint-Denis.

“We are here to share with visitors the Algerian heritage and culture which are of abundance. We want to show our “kaada” (traditional evenings) where all our families gather,” Khoudri Hakima said.

According to ANOCA, it is estimated that Africa Station will welcome more than 1,300 visitors daily.

All entertainment will be free of charge, although some concerts will be ticketed.

The Africa station will host shows, exhibitions, and meetings with athletes throughout the Olympics. Special events will also be held during the Paralympic will also be held.