Ghanaian athletes abroad over the weekend delivered outstanding performances during week 3 of the 2024 indoor season, breaking national, meet, and school records in and around the USA.
Some athletes who have moved beyond the collegiate system also made impressive season openers. Here’s a summary of the noteworthy achievements:
High Jump:
Rose Yeboah, the Ghana national high jump outdoor and indoor records holder, shattered her own indoor national record and her school’s 25-year record, leaping to an impressive height of 1.88m.
In the men’s high jump, Cadman Evans Yemoah, who holds both indoor and outdoor national records, cleared 2.18m, setting a new meet record.
Long Jump and Triple Jump:
Abraham Seaneke opened his season in the long jump with a jump of 7.60m, his best season opener. Sakina Omar achieved a jump of 5.68m in the long jump. Rasford Nti recorded a triple jump distance of 13.32m.
Men’s 60m:
Benjamin Azamati started the season strongly, running 6.57 in the heat and 6.61 in the final. Joesph Manu ran 6.71 in the heat and matched his personal record with a time of 6.65 in the final.
Rasheed Saminu opened his season with a time of 6.72 in the heat and an impressive 6.67 in the final,breaking his school record. Brock Appiah ran 6.79 in the heat and improved to 6.72 in the final. He later clocked 21.40 in the 200m with Solomon Hammond and Wallace Aflamah competed in the 200m, running times of 21.57 and 21.73, respectively.
Women’s 60m:
Hor Halutie achieved personal bests throughout the day, running 7.57 in the heat, 7.55 in the semifinal, and an impressive 7.53 in the final. She also ran 24.64 in the 200m. Anita Afrifa recorded a time of 7.76 in the 60m.
Rafiatu Nuhu transitioned from her comfort zone of the 400m to test her speed in the 60m, achieving an impressive time of 7.76. She later ran 1:37.52 in the 600m. Grace Kombetto delivered a superb performance, running 1:36.89 in the 600m.
Benedicta Kwartemaa excelled in all three rounds of the 60m, running 7.57 in the heat, 7.52 in the semifinal, and 7.59 in the final. She also clocked 25.34 in the 200m.
Women’s 400m:
Fast-rising Ghanaian sprinter Pearl Awanya opened her 400m season impressively, running 54.61 seconds to break the facility record, her second facility record this season. Ethel Amissah ran 56.44 in the 400m and returned to run 24.67 in the 200m.
Women’s Throws: Rejoice Agbawodie achieved a distance of 12.70m in the shot put and 14.95m in the weight throw.
Distance Races:
William Amponsah set Personal best, running 8:09.84 in the 3000m. Ishmeal Acheampong ran 2:36.08 in the 1000m. Aziz Mohammed competed in the 800m, crossing the line in a time of 1:52.37. Sarah Koomson ran a personal best of 9:55.79 in the women’s distance event. Vanee Anchike set an NJCAA best in the 1000m, breaking away with a time of 2:57.62
Burkina Faso are looking for a new coach after choosing not to renew the contract of coach Hubert Velud following their last-16 exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Stallions were beaten 2-1 by Mali in a tense knockout tie on 30 January, days after finishing second in Group D behind Angola but ahead of 2019 champions Algeria.
Runners-up in 2013, the Burkinabe – who have never lifted the Nations Cup trophy – had reached the semi-finals in 2017 and at the 2021 edition of the tournament two years ago.
In a statement, the country’s football federation (FBF) said its executive committee “noted that results fell short of the expectations of the Burkinabe people” and reassured fans of its “desire to continue to ensure that the national flag is raised at the highest level in future events”.
“To do this, it is undeniable that the management [of the Stallions], observed during this Nations Cup is out of phase with the ambitions of the executive committee,,” the FBF statement added.
At this year’s Nations Cup in Ivory Coast, Frenchman Velud – who signed a two-year contract in April 2022 – finally took charge of a game after qualifying with a third different country for the tournament.
He was unable to lead Togo in 2010 after the team withdrew on the eve of the finals following the gun attack by separatists in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, during which he was shot in the arm and his assistant, Amalete Abalo, and the team’s media officer, Stanislas Ocloo, lost their lives.
The 64-year-old then helped Sudan reach the 2021 Nations Cup, which was delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, only to be sacked weeks before the finals in Cameroon following a bad performance in the Arab Cup.
The FBF said it is already planning for both the 2025 Nations Cup and 2026 World Cup, with the latter’s next qualifiers taking place in June.
The West Africans have four points after their first two World Cup qualifiers, and are two points behind Group A leaders Egypt.
Velud is the eighth coach to have left his position since the beginning of this year’s Nations Cup, which climaxes on Sunday when hosts Ivory Coast meet Nigeria in the final.
He joins Jean-Louis Gasset (Ivory Coast), Chris Hughton (Ghana), Djamel Belmadi (Algeria), Jalel Kadri (Tunisia), Tom Saintfiet (Gambia), Rui Vitoria (Egypt) and Baciro Cande (Guinea-Bissau) as having departed their roles.
Ghana is set to host the rest of the continent in the 2023 African Games from March 8 to March 24, 2024.
A total of 49 countries have confirmed their participation in the 13th edition of the Olympic-style event which will take place in Accra.
Five countries, namely Cape Verde, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, and South Sudan, are yet to confirm their presence at the prestigious sporting event.
The African Games, formally known as the All-Africa Games or the Pan African Games, are a continental multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the African Union with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Association of African Sports Confederations.
Here are all the 49 countries that will converge in Accra and compete:
Van Niekerk, the king of South African athletics, will make his first appearance in his pet 400m event at the national championships since 2016. The Olympic champion and world record holder will be looking to win his fifth national title in the one-lap sprint event when he steps onto the track at the McArthur Stadium.
Van Niekerk can expect a hostile reception when he lines up against two Young Turks – Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay – eager to take down the double world champion.
Chief among the challengers is two-time defending 400m championNene, the top local athlete in the one-lap event over the last two seasons. The 24-year-old Nene enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022 when he became only the seventh South African to dip below 45 seconds in the 400m. He has since done it on two more occasions, including a personal best of 44.74 seconds which ranks him the fifth South African of all time.
While Pillay is yet to run a sub-45 second time, he has demonstrated a temperament for big events after winning gold in the men’s 400m final at last year’s World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. Pillay clocked a personal best of 45.28s to claim his maiden global title.
Van Niekerk will use the championships as a launching pad for the rest of his season, which may include a shot at reclaiming his world title in Budapest in August.
“I want to be back on the podium and get back to winning gold medals and challenging world records,” Van Niekerk told Gsn24 live .
“That has always been my goal, that has always been what I am looking forward to, and with that comes competition and challenges from various competitors. To get myself to the top, I have to start winning, which is a key focus for my upcoming competitions.
“I’ve experienced gold medals, and I have experienced a world record; I’ve experienced winning races, so that is where you want to be.”
In a significant stride towards the much-anticipated 13th African Games, the Technical Committee for the African Games (TCAG) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) recently paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Mustapha Ussif, the Minister for Youth & Sports. This meeting, the fourth and final of its kind, aimed to put the finishing touches on the preparations as Ghana eagerly prepares to host the prestigious sporting event.Welcoming the committee to the host city of Accra, Hon. Mustapha Ussif expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to deliver a remarkable African Games.
He highlighted the nearing completion of facilities at Borteyman and the University of Ghana, underlining the commitment to ensuring top-notch infrastructure for the event. The minister took a moment to extend gratitude to H.E. Nana Akuffo Addo, the President of the Republic, for unwavering support and dedication to the success of the Games.During the meeting, Minister Ussif provided insights into the progress of various aspects of the Games, including the Games management system, the registration portal, and catering arrangements. These developments showcased Ghana’s commitment to creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for participants and spectators alike.
Chairperson for the TCAG and head of the African Union delegation, H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, conveyed her appreciation for the warm reception received by committee members. She took the opportunity to congratulate President Nana Akuffo Addo and Hon. Mustapha Ussif for their tireless efforts in ensuring the success of the upcoming Games.Ambassador Cessouma urged all stakeholders to join forces and support the preparations, emphasizing that the time for action is now as the Games draw near. As the host nation, Ghana is poised to set new standards for the African Games, promising an event that will not only celebrate sporting excellence but also foster unity and collaboration across the continent.
The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th minute when Haller’s volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, while he also missed a chance to double the lead when sending a lob narrowly wide.
DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury time.
Ivory Coast had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss before scraping through the group stage, and had needed late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.
But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the Elephants to a third continental title, adding to triumphs in 1992 and 2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday (20:00 GMT).
The match was the first time the tournament hosts had returned to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium since suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea which had left the West Africans on the brink of exiting the finals after just three games.
Fae made four changes to the side which grabbed a 90th-minute equaliser and a 122nd-minute winner against Mali, with captain Serge Aurier, centre-back Odilon Kossounou and forward Christian Kouame all suspended.
Meanwhile, the DR Congo squad staged a protest during the anthems with players and coach Sebastien Desabre covering their mouths and pointing to the side of their heads to call for peace in the eastern part of the country.
The Leopards threatened from first-half corners, with Haller forced into a diving header to clear one at the near post before Elephants keeper Yahia Fofana flapped at the next delivery.
Cedric Bakambu headed in the loose ball and wheeled away in celebration but referee Ibrahim Mutaz had already blown his whistle, ruling that Elia had kicked the ball out of Fofana’s hands.
Meanwhile the delivery of Ivorian right-back Wilfried Singo was causing problems at the other end, with Simon Adingra planting a header wide of goal before Haller missed a glorious chance five minutes before half-time when he mis-timed his effort wide from eight yards out.
There was still time before the break for Elephants midfielder Franck Kessie to strike the left-hand post with a fierce strike.
Haller strike puts hosts through
hree minutes after the restart, Theo Bongonda almost put DR Congo ahead but the half-time substitute could only fire into the side-netting after bursting into the area and thrillingly wriggling past two defenders.
Mpasi parried away another powerful shot from Kessi but the Leopards stopper was unfortunate with what proved to be the winner.
Haller dropped back to meet Max-Alain Gradel’s cross from the right with a first-time volley from about 13 yards out, and the bounce of the ball caught out Mpasi as it dipped just under his crossbar.
Sending a flicked header from a corner over the bar, the involved Haller was then narrowly off target with his lobbed attempt from outside the box after a poor defensive header gifted him the chance to wrap up the tie.
Two-time champions themselves, but not since 1974, DR Congo had drawn their first four games at the finals but could not find a way back into the match after coming from behind to beat Guinea in the quarter-finals.
Ivory Coast become the first hosts to reach an Afcon final since Egypt in 2006 – with the Pharaohs also the most recent side to lift the trophy on home soil that year.
After a tournament of underdog success and surprise results, Ivory Coast fans can now look forward to a heavyweight clash with Nigeria following a path through the finals which has already involved several dramatic twists and turns.
It could also cap a remarkable journey for Fae, the 40-year-old former Nantes, Reading and Nice midfielder, who could win Africa’s most prestigious trophy in just his fourth game in charge of his country.
The game in Bouake finished 1-1 following a remarkable end to normal time which involved the referee going to his video monitor to disallow a Victor Osimhen strike which would have put Nigeria 2-0 up – and instead awarding a penalty to South Africa.
Teboho Mokoena converted from the spot in the 90th minute to send the game into a goalless period of extra time where Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana was sent off late on.
But Mokoena was one of two South African players to see their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as the Super Eagles triumphed to reach Sunday’s final, where they will play Ivory Coast after the hosts beat DR Congo.
William Troost-Ekong had opened the scoring for the West Africans with a penalty midway through the second half, and will now be looking to captain Nigeria to their fourth continental title – and a first since 2013.
Super Eagles overcome South Africa again
Nigeria went into the game with a perfect Nations Cup record against South Africa, having beaten Bafana Bafana in all three of their previous meetings in the competition including a semi-final meeting in 2000 in Lagos.
But despite being urged on by the cacophonous horn section carried by the supporters in green and white, Jose Peseiro’s side failed to live up their billing as favourites in a ponderous first half which South Africa largely bossed.
Forward Percy Tau had their best chance, scuffing his shot straight at Nwabali when unmarked inside the penalty area.
Nigeria’s lack of potency was reflected in the statistics, with African Footballer of the Year Osimhen only managing nine touches in the half, including a header which went wide just before the break.
But things then livened up notably as Nigeria came out with greater intent in the second half.
Osimhen put one of several presentable headed opportunities over the bar before Frank Onyeka blazed wastefully wide.
The Super Eagles finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute when Osimhen’s driving run was abruptly ended inside the penalty area by a poor challenge from defender Mothobi Mvala.
And the former Watford defender sent his effort down the middle and under the legs of Ronwen Williams, the shootout hero for South Africa in the quarter-final win over Cape Verde, as the goalkeeper dived to his left.
After Evidence Makgopa had fizzed a skimming effort just wide for South Africa, Ademola Lookman should have won it for Nigeria but hesitated when trying to round Williams, allowing the keeper to dive at his feet and gather the ball.
Late VAR drama denies Osimhen
With just five minutes of normal time remaining, Osimhen thought he had clinched victory, turning home Bright Osayi-Samuel’s low cross following a swift counter-attack and sprinting towards the Nigeria fans for a celebration that was short-lived.
South Africa’s players were already protesting before referee Amin Omar was advised to go to the monitor by the video assistant referee, with the Egyptian quickly ruling out Osimhen’s strike and, in yet another late twist at this remarkable tournament, pointing to the spot at the other end for an earlier foul on Tau by Alhassan Yusuf.
Mokoena kept his calm to convert the penalty and deny Nigeria five consecutive clean sheets – and South Africa should have won it in the six minutes of added time when Khuliso Mudau only succeeded in blazing over after Nwabali parried Mokoena’s free-kick into his path.
Williams saved efforts from Lookman and Osimhen early in extra time but the best opening came when Terem Moffi latched on to a through ball and ran powerfully towards the South Africa goal.
But Kekana stopped the substitute’s run with a trip and, following a VAR review, was shown a straight red card and Nigeria were awarded a free-kick just outside the area.
Iheanacho drew a save from Williams from the set piece but decided the shootout after Nwabali had saved from Mokoena and Makgopa, with the Bafana Bafana captain unable to repeat his heroics from the last eight.
Ivory Coast kept their Nations Cup hopes alive with a last-minute equaliser against Mali in the quarter-finals, a match the tournament hosts won deep in extra time
After drama aplenty in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, including a 122nd-minute winner and a goalkeeper saving four penalties in a shoot-out, Wednesday’s semi-finals in Ivory Coast have much to live up to.
Three-time champions Nigeria face a South Africa side aiming to win their second title – but a first away from home following their 1996 triumph in Johannesburg – in the first last-four tie (17:00 GMT).
Hosts Ivory Coast have never won the title on home soil – triumphing in Senegal in 1992 and Equatorial Guinea in 2015 – but must overcome unbeaten DR Congo (20:00 GMT) if they are to reach Sunday’s final in Abidjan.
“It’s been a top-level Nations Cup – now let’s hope the semi-finals and final finish it off in style,” Tom Saintfiet, who led The Gambia in the group stage, told BBC Sport Africa.
Both semi-final ties will be broadcast live in the UK, with the first game on BBC Two and the second on BBC Three, while the BBC World Service will provide radio commentary in Africa.
Elephants keen to march on
Ivory Coast have certainly been on a rollercoaster since kicking off the tournament.
After the deep lows of the group stage, when the Elephants squeezed into the knockout rounds as a best third-placed side, can the hosts maintain the extraordinary highs of their knock-out matches since?
According to midfielder Franck Kessie “a ghost cannot be afraid”, and the near-dead Ivorians have shown unbelievable spirit when scoring late equalisers against Senegal and Mali in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
All three Ivorian goals in the knock-outs have come from substitutes.
“We won’t be this lucky all the time, but it’s important to know that those on the bench can also contribute,” said interim coach Emerse Fae, ahead of the Elephants’ return to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium for the first time since their 4-0 mauling by Equatorial Guinea in their final group game.
“During the last games, the motivation from the fans has helped – we hope they will stay with us.”
Fae will be without suspended pair Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite, who were both sent off against Mali – the former after a torrid defensive display, the latter for taking off his shirt following his dramatic 122nd-minute winner.
Brentford forward Yoane Wissa help DR Congo come from behind and beat Guinea 3-1 in the quarter-finals
As two-time champions DR Congo contest their second Nations Cup semi-final this century and a first since losing to the Ivorians in 2015, the Leopards plan to wear black armbands for those recently affected by conflict in the nation.
On the pitch, a clear issue is the concession of penalties in both knockout games so far, against Egypt and Guinea, but the Central Africans can point to their own dead-ball prowess after a hat-trick of set-piece goals against Guinea – netting from a corner, penalty and free-kick.
“Our first victory came at the right time because we’re gaining momentum,” said coach Sebastien Desabre, who has moulded this latest generation of Congolese into a compact unit.
“We may have only won once but remember we have not lost yet.”
Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is the leading scorer for the Leopards in Ivory Coast with two goals, while former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba and ex-West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku have also found the back of the net.
Can Super Eagles keep soaring?
Ademola Lookman, with three goals and one assist, has been a key man alongside Moses Simon, who created the Atalanta forward’s winner against Angola
Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in a repeat of the 2000 Nations Cup semi-final, with the Super Eagles beating Bafana Bafana as the countries met for the first time at the tournament.
The West Africans have the upper hand in meetings at Afcon, winning all three encounters – with the most recent of those a quarter-final tie in 2019.
Playing in a record-extending 15th Afcon semi-final, Nigeria have impressed both in attack and in defence, where they have won their past four games without conceding a goal – their best run at a Nations Cup.
With Frank Onyeka winning over his critics to provide a solid platform in central midfield, the likes of Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon have been liberated – with the latter creating the only goal of the quarter-final against Angola for the former, who has scored half of Nigeria’s six goals.
“We’ve got a lot of faith in our defensive structure and in the final third we’re frightening,” defender Semi Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.
Coach Jose Peseiro has repeatedly said a clean sheet will guarantee a win for his side given their prowess up front, where reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen has impressed with his non-stop running and pressing despite only scoring once.
Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has praised Osimhen’s ‘leadership and hunger’,, external with the latter a key word for a team that – unlike previous Super Eagles sides – looks fully focused.
Will Broos mastermind upset for Bafana Bafana?
While many expected Nigeria to go far, few thought the same about South Africa who have benefitted from the guile of Hugo Broos, who led Cameroon to their unexpected 2017 triumph.
The oldest coach at the tournament, the 71-year-old has relied on the core of South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to take Bafana Bafana into the last four for the first time in 24 years.
Eight players from the Pretoria-based club that won last year’s inaugural African Football League, while also reaching the African Champions League semi-finals, started their quarter-final against Cape Verde.
Ronwen Williams’ penalty heroics against Cape Verde came after he had made a superb save during second-half added time of normal time
“He has taken Sundowns players because he understands those players have experience against different opponents from across the continent – and he realised the synergy and teamwork are important,” former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena told the BBC.
Broos said their performance against Cape Verde was their worst at the finals so far and, although Bafana Bafana have also achieved four straight clean sheets, he was indebted to captain Ronwen Williams for a crucial last save before keeping out four penalties in the shootout.
In midfield Teboho Mokoena, another Sundowns man, has provided dynamism while Nigeria will need to be wary of experienced forward Themba Zwane who scored twice in the group-stage win against Namibia.
With Broos having fielded an unchanged since the second game, a major concern will be fatigue, with former South Africa midfielder Dean Furman pointing out the “heavy legs” against Cape Verde on Saturday.
