Ghana Sports news

Former Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos has been dragged into a doping controversy after a German documentary alleged he was one of at least two Brazilian international footballers who took banned performance enhancing drugs around the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, a tournament Brazil won.

All is set for the Black Stars of Ghana to take on Ethiopia in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Baba Yaya Stadium today.

Ten schools have qualified to represent each of the regions in the national finals of the Milo U-13 Champions League scheduled for Elmina in the Central region from June 20 to 24.

Manchester United target Alvaro Morata hopes to have his future sealed in the next fortnight.

The Black Stars of Ghana will face Ethiopia tomorrow(Sunday) in their first Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifiers at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Six matches were played today in the Ghana Premier league as Hearts of Oak were able to put smiles back on the faces of their fans by beating bottom placed team Bolga All Stars 4-0.

A double from striker Kwame Kizito and defender Vincent Atinga ensured the Phobians recovered well from last weeks humiliation at WAFA.

Current league champions WA All Stars also made light meal of Berekum Chelsea as they beat them 3-0 at the WA Park.

C.K Akunnor's Ashanti Gold picked up their second win in quick succession after difying all odds to beat Medeama 0-1 at the Tarkwa T&A Park.

Great Olympics will play Tema Youth on Saturday and Aduana Stars will engage Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Monday at the Dormaa Park.

Full results

Ebusua1 - 0 Bechem United

Hearts of Oak 4 - 0 Bolga AllStars

Inter Allies 2 - 0 Elmina Sharks

Liberty 0 - 0 WAFA

Medeama 0 - 1 Ashanti Gold

Wa All Stars 3 - 0 Berekum Chelsea

Ethiopia Coach Ashnefi Bekele says his side have full respect for the Black Stars of Ghana because the team has so many quality players and have performed well at the top level.

Manchester United have confirmed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be released on June 30, ending his one-year spell with the club.

United have declined a mutual option to extend the Swedish striker's stay at Old Trafford for a further 12 months, with Ibrahimovic expected to be out until 2018 after undergoing surgery to repair his damaged cruciate ligament last month.

Ibrahimovic was an instant success after joining United as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 28 goals in 41 appearances.

The 35-year-old's agent, Mino Raiola, claimed last month Ibrahimovic was keen to extend his stay at United but the club have decided to move on and have identified Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata as the man they want to lead the line next season.

United remain in talks to sign Morata and are increasingly confident a deal can be agreed.

Contrary to reports, United cannot talk to Morata and discuss personal terms until a fee has been agreed between the clubs.

Real value Morata at up to €90m (£78m) and have already rejected a £52.4m (€60m) from United. The Spanish club bought him back from Juventus last summer using a €30m option.

Meanwhile, Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin have launched a cheeky bid on Twitter to sign Ibrahimovic but it sounds like he may have to take a pay cut from the reported £19m he earned at United last season.

Credit:Skysports

The National Women's League continues to be intense and interesting every week.

Match Day 6 of the league will go down this weekend with some fierce clashes as Northern Zone Leaders, Ampem Darkoa play host to 2nd placed team Kumasi Sports Academy.

Ampem Darkoa have had a 100% win record in the league so far and only lead their opponent by 2 points.

In the Southern Zone an old rivalry will be resurrected this weekend as Police Ladies face maiden league champions Hasaacas Ladies.

Police Ladies picked up their first win of the season last week after beating Holy Royals 3-0.

Hasaacas are 5th on the league table in the Southern Zone and Police lie 6th with only a point separating the two.

NORTHERN SECTOR

Real Upper vs Prisons Ladies (Sat) Wa SHS park

Lepo Ladies vs Fabulous Ladies (Sat)BATCO park

Ampem Darkoa vs Kumasi Sports Academy (Sat)Ohene Ameyaw park

Ashtown Ladies vs Northern Ladies (Sun)Police park, Patasi

SOUTHERN SECTOR

Police Ladies vs Hasaacas Ladies (Sat)MATS Park

Sea Lions vs Samaria (Sat)Nduom Stadium

Soccer Intellectuals vs Holy Royals ( Sun)Ajumako park

Immigration Ladies vs Lady Strikers (Sat)Carl Reindorf park

Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in a international friendly in Melbourne courtesy of a goal from Gabriel Mercado.

Argentina kept up their impressive recent record against bitter rivals Brazil with a 1-0 victory at a near capacity MCG.
Gabriel Mercado tapped home on the brink of half time after Nicolas Otamendi’s header bounced into his path off the post to give Argentina a deserved half time advantage.

Brazil were much improved after the break and only Gabriel Jesus will know how he failed to equalise, hitting the post instead of the back of an empty net after rounding Sergio Romero, Willian also clattering the woodwork on the follow up.

Many of the 95,569 packed into Melbourne’s famous old cricket ground had undoubtedly turned up with the hope of watching the mercurial Lionel Messi put on a show but the little magician was, for the most part kept quiet by disciplined Argentine defending.

And the match ended in worrying for Manchester City fans, Jesus stretchered off ion the closing moments.

Victory for Argentina means they have lost only one of their past five meetings against their great rivals dating back to 2012.

Former Sunderland manager David Moyes has been fined £30,000 by the FA after telling BBC reporter Vicki Sparks she might "get a slap" in March.

Moyes' comments came following the Black Cats' home draw against Burnley in the Premier League.

The Scot was asked by Sparks if the presence of Sunderland's owner Ellis Short had put extra pressure on him.

Moyes, who resigned as Sunderland boss in May, subsequently expressed "deep regret" for his comment.

What happened?

Moyes responded to Sparks' question about Short's presence by saying "no", but after the interview added she "might get a slap even though you're a woman" and told her to be "careful" next time she visited.

Both Moyes and Sparks were laughing during the exchange and the former Everton and Manchester United manager later apologised to Sparks, who did not make a complaint.

Speaking at a news conference on 3 April after the incident came to light, he said: "It was in the heat of the moment. I deeply regret the comments I made.

"That's certainly not the person I am. I've accepted the mistake. I spoke to the BBC reporter, who accepted my apology."

Credit:BBC Sports

Assistant coach of the Black stars Ibrahim Tanko says he cannot blame any young footballer who would want to seek greener pastures outside the country, as conditions here do not favor their stay.

He was speaking in relations to several clubs seeking the services of the current Black Starlets players who won silver at the just ended Africa U17 Championship.

"It is difficult to tell a 17 or 20 year old player to stay in Ghana if an offer comes for them, because we all know the situation here,so you can't blame them for moving out of the Country to play, but i would advice them to move to a good club because we all know the story of Dominic Adiyaih".

Ghanaian striker Dominic Adiyiah who won the best player during the 2009 U20 World Cup earned a move to Italian giants AC Milan but his career has hit a low. He has since been loaned out to several clubs and is currently at Nakhon Ratchasima in the Thai League.

Black Starlets players like Emmanuel Toku and Eric Ayiah have all been linked with clubs in Europe.

Manchester United are not expected to offer striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a new contract when his current deal expires on 30 June.

The 35-year-old agreed a one-year contract, with an option for second season, last summer.

But the extension had not been triggered by the time the Swede suffered his season-ending knee ligament injury in April.

The Premier League's retained list will be released on Friday (16:00 BST).

Former England defender John Terry will be among the high-profile free agents available this summer, following his exit from Chelsea, while Manchester City have already confirmed goalkeeper Willy Caballero, winger Jesus Navas and full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna are to be released.

Midfielder Joey Barton is also looking for a new club after his release from Burnley, although he is serving an 18-month ban for betting offences.

Ibrahimovic made 46 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 28 goals, and helped Jose Mourinho's team lift the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League trophy.

Credit:BBC Sports

Trying to win tournaments I've never won before is a huge motivation, but I'm not trying to compete with Stan Wawrinka in terms of the numbers.

Lionel Messi is set to extend his Barcelona contract until 2021, with his release clause rising to a massive £350million.

Floyd Mayweather's illustrious career in the ring was laid bare on Thursday when he showed off 19 of his world championship belts ahead of a trip to Ghana.

Kaizer Chiefs have parted ways with former Black Stars defender John Paintsil with both parties agreeing to terminate his contract as the assistant coach of the Club with effect from 6 June 2017.

Both parties have signed a separation agreement, the terms of which are confidential.

The Club released a statement and thanked John Paintsil for his contribution and wished him well. His contract was due to expire in June 2018.

The 35-year-old was appointed as Steve Komphela's assistant in June last year but has been told to look elsewhere after just a season.

The club's unconvincing display in the recently concluded South African Premier Soccer League, has cost him his job - in what appears an imminent reshuffle at the club.

Painstil , capped 89 by Ghana, has never been in short of controversy since he joined South African side Santos four years ago.

Public Relations officer of the Ghana Boxing Authority, Naa Darkuah Dodoo, has confirmed to Primenewsghana that her outfit has not been officially informed about the visit of legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather.

"We have not been officially informed about his visit even though we have an idea, if you ask Azumah Nelson about the visit he would tell you no, ideally it would have been prudent if the organizers had told us."

The PRO was also quick to add that since Mayweather's visit is not purely for boxing reasons, the Organizers who are Upscale Entertainment and EIB network are not obliged to inform the Ghana Boxing Authority.

Mayweather is expected in Ghana on June 15 with an 18-man contingent.

This visit will be the second time in three years that the American former boxer is coming to Africa. He visited South Africa in 2014.

He would pay a courtesy calll on the President and the Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu when in the country.

Mayweather is also expected to attend a fundraising event as well as a boxing bout at the Bukom Boxing Square between IBO lightweight Champion Emmanuel Tagoe and George Ashie.

Match day 18 of the Ghana Premier League will come off on Friday,Saturday and Monday. 

No match will be played on Sunday to make way for the AFCON qualifier between the Black Stars and the Walias of Ethiopia.

On Friday Hearts of Oak will be in action against bottom placed team Bolga All Stars and will have the opportunity of wiping last weeks pain inflicted on them by WAFA.

The Phobians were walloped 5-0 by the academy lads and a win against All Stars will be a huge lift for them.

Kotoko perhaps face the most difficult test in match day 18 on Monday as they travel to Dormaa to face Aduana Stars.

The Porcupines drew their last game against Olympics in Kumsai and will be counting on new recruit Saddick Adams to spark their resurrection in a difficult grounds at Aduana.

Kotoko are 5th on the league table and are confident of turning their bad form around in the 2nd round of the league.
League Leaders WAFA will be in Accra to face 13th place team Liberty Professionals.

The Sogakope based club were superb last week against Hearts of Oak and will be in high spirit against Liberty.

Fixtures for match day 18

Friday

Liberty Professionals vs WAFA , Carl Reindorf park, Dansoman

Accra Hearts of Oak vs Bolga AllStars, Accra Stadium

Inter Allies vs Elmina Sharks, El Wak Stadium

Medeama vs AshantiGold, Tarkwa T & A park

Ebusua Dwarfs vs Bechem United, Cape Coast Stadium

Wa All Stars vs Berekum Chelse, Wa

Saturday

Great Olympics vs Tema Youth, Accra Sports Stadium

Monday

Aduana Stars vs Asante Kotoko, Agyemang Badu Park

All matches will begin at 3:00 pm

Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi says he would like to remain with the club for the remainder of his career.

"It's what I always dreamed and what I always wanted," he said.

The 29-year-old Argentina international joined Barcelona aged 13, made his first-team debut at 17 and has scored more than 500 goals for the club.

He has won La Liga eight times with Barca, the Champions League four times and Ballon d'Or world player of the year title five times.

Last season under coach Luis Enrique, Barcelona were second in La Liga, three points behind champions Real Madrid and lost 3-0 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals to eventual beaten finalists Juventus.

Enrique announced in March that he would leave the club in the summer after three years in charge and his final match saw Barca capture the Copa del Rey trophy.

Messi scored the opening goal as they beat Alaves 3-0 to win the competition for a third successive season.

Messi, who was runner-up to Real's Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or, told the Barcelona website his goal is "to try to improve each season in regards to the last, and that is the aim for next season".

Credit:BBC Sports

England reached the final of the Under-20 World Cup for the first time by coming from behind to beat Italy.

Paul Simpson's side dominated the second half with new Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke scoring twice through a calm equaliser and a long-range strike.

Everton's Ademola Lookman netted the second, tucking home a finish from six yards out on 77 minutes.

England will play Venezuela, who beat Uruguay, in Sunday's final in South Korea (kick-off 11:00 BST).

Italy had taken the lead within the first two minutes when Juventus winger Riccardo Orsolini slotted home from inside the area.

But England created chance after chance in the second half to become the nation's first men's team to reach any World Cup final since the senior side in 1966.

England finished top of their group, which included a thumping 3-0 win over six-time champions Argentina.

Manager Simpson had told BBC Sport before the match that reaching the final would be "massive" and their approach and style of play is "changing everyone's perception of English football".

The scoreline could have been even more emphatic but Solanke flicked a header wide and forced Italy goalkeeper Andrea Zaccagno into a fine save, while Shinji Ojo struck the outside of the post with a curled effort.

More to follow.

Teams:

Italy U20: Zaccagno, Scarlera, Dimarco, Romagna, Coppolaro, Orsolini, Mandragora, Pessina, Vitale, Panico, Favilli.

Substitutes: Plizzari, Perisan, Barella, Vido, Sernicola, Pezzella, Cassata, Marchizza, Bifulco.

England U20: Woodman (Newcastle), Clarke-Salter (Chelsea), Tomori (Chelsea), Walker-Peters (Tottenham), Kenny (Everton), Cook (Bournemouth), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Solanke (Chelsea, joining Liverpool on 1 July), Lookman (Everton), Dowell (Everton).

Substitutes: Henderson (Manchester United), Southwood (Reading), Connolly (Everton), Onomah (Tottenham), Armstrong (Newcastle), Konsa (Charlton), Fry (Middlesbrough), Chapman (Middlesbrough), Ojo (Liverpool), Ejaria (Liverpool).

Credit:BBC Sports

The Ethiopia national team, nicknamed the Walias, are expected to arrive in the country today, to face the Black Stars of Ghana in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday.

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Ederson Moraes for £35m from Benfica.

The 28-year-old scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League games to help the Blues win the title but now appears set to leave Stamford Bridge.

"I'm a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there," Costa said.

"Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that's it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season."

Speaking after Spain's 2-2 draw with Colombia on Wednesday, Costa added: "My relationship with the coach has been bad this season. It's a shame, I've already forwarded the message to Chelsea people to decide.

"You have to find a team."

Brazil-born Spain international Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid for a reported £32m in 2014.

He spent four seasons at Atleti and suggested he might be open to a return, despite the La Liga club being banned from signing players until the January transfer window

"Being five months without playing? I do not know, it's complicated, but people know that I love Atletico a lot and that I love to live in Madrid," Costa said.

"It would be nice to go back, but it's difficult to be four or five months without playing. It's a World Cup year and there are many things to think about. I need to play, just that."

In January, Costa was left out of the Chelsea side for an away match at Leicester after he was involved in a dispute with a fitness coach.

It followed reports of an offer from China that would have been worth £30m a year in salary. At the time, Chelsea said they had no intention of selling him.

Later in January, Tianjin Quanjian's owner said a bid to sign Costa had been scuppered by new rules over foreign players in the Chinese Super League.

From next season, Chinese clubs will only be able to field three foreign players per game, instead of four as previously allowed.

Credit:BBC Sports

Ghanaian footballer, Sulley Muntari has called the Spokesperson of the Ghana Football Association(GFA), a 'liar' who does not know anything about football.

Liverpool have confirmed they have ended their interest in Virgil van Dijk and apologised to Southampton for their conduct in pursuit of the defender.

Sky sources reported on Tuesday that Saints had reported the Reds to the Premier League and asked them to investigate an alleged illegal approach for the Netherlands international centre-back.

The Premier League subsequently confirmed it was looking into the matter, but Sky sources understand that, as far as the league is concerned, the apology is the end of the matter and they are unlikely to take any further action.

Liverpool, whose manager Jurgen Klopp has been taking a central role in summer recruitment, said on Wednesday: "Liverpool would like to put on record our regret over recent media speculation regarding Southampton Football Club and player transfers between the two clubs.

"We apologise to the owner, board of directors and fans of Southampton for any misunderstanding regarding Virgil van Dijk. We respect Southampton's position and can confirm we have ended any interest in the player."

Van Dijk has been of significant interest to Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, and was understood to have favoured a move to Anfield after being impressed with Klopp's personal involvement in their efforts to sign him.\

But Sky sources are adamant that Southampton have always considered the player not for sale and that reports of any transfer fees - allegedly up to £60m with £200k-a-week wages on the table - are fantasy.

Liverpool have been bullish in the transfer market already, with the window not even open until June 15, and they have signed Dominic Solanke from Chelsea for a fee to be set by tribunal, as well as seen a bid rejected for Roma winger Mo Salah.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sky Sports News HQ reported that Liverpool had turned their attentions to Sporting Lisbon's Gelson Martins after reaching a stalemate with Roma for Salah, and are in talks for the Portugal youngster.

Credit:Skysports

The Black Stars on Wednesday beat division one side Asokwa Deportivo 6-1 in a warm up game at the Baba Yara Stadium ahead of their AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia on Sunday.

The game which was mainly a fitness test for the players, saw Coach Kwesi Appiah use two different teams for each half.

The first team had returnees Jery Akaminko and Rashid Sumaila starting with Aduana goalkeeper Joseph Addo in post. It took 23 minutes for the Stars to open the scoring after striker Jordan Ayew headed in a Samuel Sarfo cross.

Anderlecht winger Frank Acheampong made sure the Stars went into the break with a 2-0 lead after tapping in a Winful Cobbinah pass.

The 2nd half begun with a different set of eleven players for the Black Stars. It included Zurich striker Raphael Dwamena and West Ham United forward Andre Ayew.

Deportivo immediately pulled one back in the 47th minute but their hopes of returning into the game was dented by a strike from Majeed Warris to make it 3-1 for the Stars in the 51st minute.

Striker Dwamena got his debut goal in the 65th minute before Warris got his second goal of the day in the 69th minute to make it 5-1.

Raphael Dwamena matched the feet set by Warris, scoring his second in the dying embers of the game to make the final score 6-1 to the Black Stars .

The Black Stars will face Ethiopia on Sunday in an AFCON 2019 qualifier at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

 

 

George Ashie and Emmanuel Tagoe will face off at the Bukom Boxing Arena on June 16 as part of activities to mark undefeated World Champion, Floyd Mayweather's visit to Ghana.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with earnings of £71.8m, retains the top spot of Forbes' highest-paid athletes list.

The top 100 earned a total of £2.40bn over the last 12 months, a slight decrease from last year's earnings of £2.43bn. Endorsement income also experienced a bit of a decline, down 4% to £685mil this year.

Before Ronaldo, the best-paid sports star was Tiger Woods or Floyd Mayweather for 15 straight years.

Woods ranks No 17 this year, while Floyd Mayweather did not make the cut, having had no fights over the last 12 months.

"Massive TV contracts are fuelling bigger salaries across team sports, pushing the entry level to qualify for the top 100 athletes higher than ever, but the retirement of several prolific endorsers like Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant dented sponsorship income this year," said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor, Forbes Media.

The list of elite athletes consists of players from 11 different sports. Basketball dominates the list with a record 32 NBA players among the top 100, up from 18 in 2016, followed by baseball with 22 players, american football with 15 and football with nine.

There are 21 countries represented this year with Americans (63) the most prevalent thanks to sky-high salaries in basketball, american football and baseball. Six Brits landed in the top-100, led by golfer Rory McIlroy at No 6 with £39 million.

Forbes Rich List 2017

Athlete                  Sport                        Salary+endorsements (£mill)
Cristiano Ronaldo  Football                     71.8
LeBron James       Basketball                 66.6
Lionel Messi          Football                    61.8
Roger Federer       Tennis                      49.4
Kevin Durant         Basketball               46.8
Rory McIlroy         Golf                         38.6
Andrew Luck         American Football    38.6
Stephen Curry      Basketball               36.5
James Harden      Basketball               36.0
Lewis Hamilton    Motor Racing           35.5

Credit:Skysports

The round of 16 draw for the Women FA Cup draw was held on Wednesday at the Ghana Football Association headquarters . 

In attendance were officials of Sanford Clinic sponsors of the competition.

The draw was mainly prescided over by the vice chiar of the women's league board Rosalind Amoh.

Both the draw for the Northern and the Sothern Zone were held.

Full draw for round of 16

Northern zone

Prison ladies vrs Northern ladies

Afia Kobi Ampem ladies vrs Bolga Sharp Arrows

Ampem Darkoa Ladies vrs Lepo ladies

Real Upper ladies vrs Ashtown ladies

 

Southern Zone

Police ladies vrs Holy Royal Ladies

Faith Ladies vrs Army ladies

Imigration Ladies vrs Samaria ladies

Ladies strikers vrs sea lions

Games are scheduled to be played on the 17th and 18th June 2017