Ghana Sports news

The Local Black Stars of Ghana on Wednesday beat Gambia 2-1 in a friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium today.

After a barren first half, the Stars took the lead in the 51st minute through Hearts of Oak left back Thomas Abbey. the lead was however cancelled  by Lamin Jallow in the 74th minute to make it one all.

WAFA goalkeeper Razak Abalora won the game for Ghana in the 77th minute after converting a spot kick resulting from a foul on Tema Youth midfielder Joseph Paintsil in the 18 yard box.

This is the second friendly game the team has played this year after drawing with Benin 1-1 last month.

**NOVAK DJOKOVIC ACCUSED OF "TANKING" IN FRENCH OPEN QUARTER-FINAL**

The Austrian reached the semi-final this time last year, too, but toppling Djokovic in just 2hr 15m was a sign that the 23-year-old no. 6 seed is really coming of age.

Even in the first set, Djokovic racket was spinning across the clay, thrown there this time after two double-faults and a poor backhand error spoiled the fact he had just broken himself.

Thiem still had to save two set points to take the first set to a tie-break, but having nosed ahead he was handed it on a plate when Djokovic slapped a backhand carelessly into the net.

The Serb’s tumble occurred in the second game of the second set as Djokovic tried to turn sharply to chase a ball played past him. The break was all that Thiem needed and with a cool head he steered the match into a third set without Djokovic being able to lay a glove on him.

RELIVE ALL THE ACTION AS DJOKOVIC CRASHES OUT OF FRENCH OPEN

Djokovic, a popular figure here, tried to get the Roland Garros crowd behind him but they were two busy enjoying his opponent’s aggressive shot-making and energy.

Thiem had three break points in the very first game of the third set and by now Djokovic was looking positively unsure of himself as he flapped the third into the net with a forehand.

The next Djokovic service game, Thiem broke him to love. Djokovic was clearly out of sorts and after hitting another regulation backhand wide for yet another break, trudged towards his chair at 5-0 down staring at the abyss.

It is over a year since Djokovic lost a set to love – against Thomaz Belluci in Rome, a match he went on to win.

But nothing seemed to be coming off his racket straight any more. Djokovic saved the first of three match points, a final act of defiance perhaps.

However, the cutest of backhands down the line and he could only acclaim Thiem a worthy winner.

Credit:Daily mail

President of the Ethiopian Football Federation Juneidi Basha has confirmed his team will touch down in Ghana on Thursday for their AFCON qualifying clash with the Black Stars of Ghana on Sunday.

The President in an interview with Kumasi based radio station Nhyira FM stated that the team is very confident of a positive results against the Black Stars.

"Their (Ethiopia) aim is to do their best because beating Ghana is their target but no special preparations towards the match."

The team will head straight to Kumasi where they will have the opportunity to train at the Baba Yara Stadium ahead of the game on Sunday.

Ethiopian coach Ashenafi Bekele is also confident of upsetting the Black Stars of Ghana in game where Ghana are tagged as favourite to win.

The last meeting between the two sides ended 0-1 to Ghana in Addis Ababa.

Real Madrid have rejected a £52.4m (€60m) offer for striker Alvaro Morata from Manchester United, Sky in Italy understand.

United goalkeeper David de Gea was not included in the offer, while Real Madrid are thought to want in the region of £78m for the forward.

The Spain international scored 20 goals in all competitions for Real last season, as the club clinched La Liga and the Champions League.

If Manchester United fail to agree a deal for Morata, it is understood they will try to sign Andrea Belotti from Torino, who has a €100m (£87.3m) release clause in his contract.

Born in Madrid, Morata progressed through the Real Madrid academy to make his first team debut in December 2010, before exiting for Juventus in the summer of 2014 for £17.5m.

In two seasons with Juventus, Morata won two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles and was part of a run to the 2015 Champions League final, scoring as Juve lost 3-1 to Barcelona.

In June 2016, Real Madrid exercised a buy-back clause to bring Morata back from Juventus for £26.2m, and the forward has emerged as a key member of Zinedine Zidane's squad.

Black Stars midfielder,Andre Ayew, has praised the attitude and performance of the locally based players who have been named in the Black Stars squad.

Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey has rejoined Norwegian side Valerenga, the club where he started his youth football, on a three-year deal,

The former Vålerenga Strømsgodset, Rosenborg and Portland Timbers goalkeeper has put pen to paper to stay at the club till 2020.

This latest move forced the goalkeeper to drop out of the Black Stars squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia on Sunday

Kwarasey will stay and begin training with the club in a bid to hit the ground running for next season.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper will be hoping for a fruitful adventure with his new club.

Ghanaian defender, Jerry Akaminko who plays for Eskisehirspor in Turkey, is looking forward to cementing his place in the Black Stars team after returning for the first time since 2014.

The Football Association has issued lifetime bans to England fans for the first time after two supporters' club members made Nazi gestures in Germany.

March's friendly against the world champions in Dortmund was marred by the behaviour of some fans.

Some booed the German national anthem and sang about World War Two.

Two fans received lifetime bans from the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), which means they are forbidden to attend away games.

One individual was spotted doing a Nazi salute in the away end, with another seen making an Adolf Hitler moustache and cut-throat gestures towards the German fans.

In all, 27 members have seen their ESTC membership suspended for varying lengths of time, with six handed written warnings and another case still pending.

Last month the FA said it was working with police to pursue possible football banning orders - which would cover the domestic game - for some individuals.

FA chairman Greg Clarke condemned the "inappropriate, disrespectful and disappointing" behaviour after the match, with the governing body understood to be concerned about a new generation of louts.

The ESTC is the only way to obtain tickets for the away end at England matches, with tickets required to be collected in the host city before the game.

England have an allocation of 4,761 for Saturday's trip to Hampden Park for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

Starting at that match, the FA is introducing new measures to try to curb anti-social behaviour, including getting stewards who are used to working at England games at Wembley to travel with fans to away matches.

Supporters have been warned about their behaviour before the match in Glasgow, where Scottish police will impose a ban on drinking in open spaces.

Concerns have been raised over the 17:00 BST kick-off, while the Scottish FA has announced a "wide range of measures will be implemented as part of an enhanced security operation" following the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.

Credit:BBC Sports

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says his move to Bournemouth is going ahead and he has had a medical with the Premier League side.

The senior national team the Black Stars will face Asokwa Deportivo this afternoon as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ethiopia on Sunday.

The University of Ghana Sports Stadium, would be used alongside the Accra Sports Stadium for the Africa Women Cup of Nations to be hosted in Ghana next year.

Southampton will report Liverpool to the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach for centre-back Virgil van Dijk, reports BBC Radio Solent.

The 25-year-old wants to move to Anfield if he leaves St Mary's.

The £50m-rated Netherlands defender signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined Southampton from Celtic for £13m in September 2015.

Liverpool are yet to formally approach Saints to ask for permission to speak to Van Dijk.

The Reds refused to comment on renewed speculation on Monday, while Southampton are adamant they do not need to sell the defender.

Saints are irritated by what they see as an attempt to unsettle Van Dijk and are ready to reject an official offer.

Chelsea and Manchester City have both been heavily linked with the Dutchman, but City's interest has cooled as they are not prepared to pay as high a fee as Liverpool.

Former club Celtic are also understood to have a 10% sell-on agreement.

Van Dijk missed the final five months of the season after sustaining an ankle injury following a challenge by Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in Southampton's 3-0 win at St Mary's on 22 January.

It forced him to miss Southampton's EFL Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley.

Credit:BBC Sports

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pious Enam Hadzie, has advised the parents and guardians of players in the Black Starlets to invest winning bonuses earned by their wards in their future.

The Captain of the senior national team, the Black Stars, says Coach Akwasi Appiah does not want to repeat the mistakes that got him fired from the position three years ago.

Technical coordinator of the Black Stars of Ghana, Stephen Appiah, has described Kumasi as a special place for the National team as they prepare to play Ethiopia on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer.

Chelsea have reached an agreement in principle to sign Romelu Lukaku, according to Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri.
Palmeri is a renowned transfer guru who has worked for a variety of media outlets.

Express Sport understands Lukaku is a genuine target for Chelsea, while Manchester United want him too.

But Palmeri, who has 142,000 Twitter followers on his verified account, has gone as far to say as the deal is already far down the line.

He tweeted this morning: “Chelsea have reached an agreement on principles with Lukaku. Still under negotiations the fee with Everton.”

Palmeri was subsequently asked if Chelsea would pay £100m to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge.

He replied: “Don't think so. Doesn't look like an easy negotiation. Lukaku though could force it.”

Lukaku joined Chelsea as an 18-year-old in 2011 after making the move from Anderlecht for £10m.

He is represented by Mino Raiola, the man who did a world-record deal to take Paul Pogba to United last summer.

The Belgian striker seems to have made a decision on his future - although he is yet to reveal it publicly.

"My agent knows what's going to happen," the 24-year-old told Sky Sports.

"I know what I want to do, and whenever something happens, you guys will know."

His agent Mino Raiola recently confirmed Everton will allow him to leave if they receive the right offer.

"Lukaku had a promise that if certain clubs came this summer that he could leave this summer," Raiola told talkSPORT.

"We are not in concrete talks with anybody at this moment, but hearing the market I think some clubs will contact Everton.

"If the price is right for Everton and the project is right for Lukaku then I think he will want to make another step, but we are not there yet."

Lukaku, who scored 26 goals in all competitions for Everton last season, is under contract with the Merseyside outfit until 2019.

Credit:Daily mail

1st assistant coach of the Black stars Ibrahim Tanko believes it will be a difficult task to qualify to the 2018 world cup.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has provided his supporters with a positive injury update from hospital after undergoing surgery on a fractured ankle. 

Captain of the senior national team, the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan has said he is fit to play in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia on Sunday, June 11.

Sky Sports News HQ understands Juventus have agreed a deal in principle to sign Wojciech Szczesny for €16m (around £14m) from Arsenal.

The Italian champions have reached agreement with the Poland international over a four-year contract worth £3.5m per season.

Szczesny has impressed the domestic double-winners during a two-season spell on loan at rivals Roma, who finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A this season.

However, the 27-year-old is likely to spend his first season as understudy to Gianluigi Buffon, 39, who is set to retire after the final year of his current contract in Turin.

Szczesny joined Arsenal's academy from Legia Warsaw in 2006 and made a total of 181 appearances for the Gunners' first team.

The 27-year-old signed a long-term deal in November 2013 to keep him at the Emirates until 2018.

Hopes of a treble for Juventus and Buffon's first Champions League triumph were wrecked by Real Madrid, 4-1 in Cardiff, on Saturday night.

Credit:Skysports

Yaya Sanogo has confirmed his 'adventure' with Arsenal has come to an end.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has reportedly been rushed to hospital following a training session.

And Chinese news outlet Sina claim the player has died.

Tiote joined Chinese Super League side Beijing Enterprises in February.

The Ivorian retired from international football in 2015.

Rumours circulating on Twitter suggested the player has passed away.

ChinaSuperLeague @CSL_infos
Hospital just confirmed that Tioté is dead. RIP Cheik https://twitter.com/CSL_infos/status/871739610916847616 …
2:47 PM - 5 Jun 2017

 

Credit:Daily mail

Britain's Andy Murray produced a clinical performance to see off Russian Karen Khachanov to reach a seventh French Open quarter-final.

The world number one came through 6-3 6-4 6-4 to claim his 650th Tour-level victory in two hours and four minutes.

The Scot, 30, goes on to face Japan's Kei Nishikori, the eighth seed, in the last eight.

After his win, Murray paid tribute to the victims of recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.
"It was a terrible tragedy in London and also in Manchester only a few weeks ago," he said.

"Paris has had some problems in the last few years and I'm sure everyone will join me in sharing the fact that our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this.

"It is something which has affected large parts of Europe and all over the world. I appreciate everyone still coming out to support us and I'm grateful I can perform in front of you."

Murray - beaten finalist last year - continued where he left off against Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday to beat the unseeded Russian with barely a scare.

The only British man to win the French Open is Fred Perry, in 1935.

Third seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland and seventh seed Marin Cilic are both in action later on Monday.
Murray tames Khachanov power-game

Murray followed up his impressive third-round win over Juan Martin del Potro with another display that suggests he is a real contender in Paris.

His struggles with form and fitness leading into Roland Garros had left him sticking to the 'one game at a time' mantra, with good reason.

However, the hugely powerful Khachanov, ranked 53rd, was dismissed by another Murray performance built around his trademark defensive skills allied with some solid serving.

The gap in experience was huge, with Murray trying to reach his 29th Grand Slam quarter-final and 21-year-old Khachanov his first.

It was quickly apparent that Khachanov's power would take some getting used to, as the Russian drew gasps from the crowd for both forehands and backhands.

Murray played the percentages beautifully, however, setting up the decisive break point of the opening set with a wonderful return and making just one unforced error in the entire set.

Khachanov would fall behind early in the second after a double-fault, an issue that dogged him throughout the match along with a poor first-serve percentage.

The first crack in the Murray game appeared just after the hour mark as two loose shots handed the break straight back, but another poor Khachanov service game made it three breaks in a row.

Murray would not relinquish this chance, easing through to a two-set lead and moving 2-0 up in the third.

There was a brief alarm when his first-serve deserted him and he was pegged back to 4-4, but again Murray hit straight back with his fifth break of the match and closed it out on serve.

Credit:BBC Sports

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has excluded three players from his squad ahead of the trip to Kumasi for Sunday's 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia.

The Black Stars have spent the past four days in non-residential training in Accra and will travel to Kumasi on Monday to continue with preparations for the game.

Coach Appiah named a 30-man squad for the qualifier against Ethiopia and the friendlies with Mexico and the United States.

With the match against the Ethiopians looming, Appiah must prune his squad ahead of Sunday's match which kicks off at 3:30pm.

Denmark-based goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey has been granted the permission to stay because of a family emergency in Norway.

Another Denmark-based player Godsway Donyoh has  been left out as he has not recovered from a recent injury he sustained.

Columbus Crew midfielder Mohammed Abu will join the team for the friendlies in the United States.

David Accam - who was not part of the original squad - has been handed a late call-up to join the team for the friendlies in the United States.

Seven foreign-based players who could not join the Black Stars non-residential training in Accra because of club commitments are expected in the country from Monday night.

The home-based players who were released to join their various club for the weekend's league matches will return to the team on Monday.

The AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia has been scheduled for Sunday June 11 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The team will travel to the United States two weeks later as the Black Stars will face Mexico in Houston, Texas on June 28 and the USA in Connecticut on July 1.

Below is the squad Kumasi trip:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Wa Allstars), Felix Annan (Kotoko), Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Lumor Agbenyenu (Munich 1860, Germany), Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars, Ghana), John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Rashid Sumalia (Al Gharafa, Qatar), Nicholas Opoku (B.Chelsea, Ghana), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA), Jerry Akaminko ( Eskiserhispor, Turkey), Samuel Sarfo (Liberty, Ghana)

Midfielders: Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Isaac Sackey (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Ebenezer Ofori (Stuttgart, Germany), Winful Cobbinah (Hearts of Oak), Yaw Yeboah (FC Twente, Holland), Andre Ayew (West Ham, England), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda, Holland), Kingsley Sarfo, (Sirius, Sweden)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Alhi, UAE), Jordan Ayew (Swansea City, England), Majeed Waris (Lorient FC, France), Raphael Dwamena (FC Zurich, Switzerland)

Credit:Ghanafa.org

The 4th of June 2017 will be a day ever to remembered in the history of Accra Hearts of oak as WAFA beat them 5-0, the biggest defeat in their Premier League history.

Head coach of the Phobians Frank Nuttal says his charges did not follow simple instructions going into the game.

" We had a very bad day at the office, too many players underperforming at the same time, WAFA played well and individual players did not follow instructions and that cost the team."

The Phobians who were riding high going into the game were given a shock of their lives as they were walloped by the academy side on a smooth astro turf pitch.

Goals from Majeed Ashimeru, Abdul Wahab Ibrahim, and Daniel Lomotey 2X and Abukari Sanda Ibrahim were enough to halt the fine form of the rainbow boys.

This loss means Hearts of Oak stays 3rd on the League log with 27 points, 8 points adrift of leaders WAFA.

 

Zambia's hopes of becoming only the second African nation to win the Under-20 World Cup are over after a 3-2 defeat to Italy on Monday.

A thrilling quarter-final tie in Suwon, South Korea, was settled in extra-time by a goal from Luca Vido.

The Zambians paid dearly for giving the Italian play-maker the freedom of the Zambian penalty area in the second period of extra-time.

The Zambians will also be kicking themselves for failing to take advantage of playing against 10 men following the expulsion of Giuseppe Pezzella just before half-time.

Pezzella received a straight red card for a professional foul on goal-bound Edward Chilufya.

Although the referee awarded Zambia a penalty before reversing his decision after consulting the video assistant referee, he still sent Pezzella off.

Zambia had got off to a dream start at the Suwon World Cup stadium when Patson Daka scored after just three minutes.

Daka found himself at the end of a glorious pass from Emmanuel Banda and beat Italian goalkeeper Andrea Zaccagno from close range.

Zambia could and should have doubled their advantage in the 14th minute when Emmanuel Banda's free-kick was blocked by Zaccagno but Chilufya and Fashion Sakala arrived late for the rebound.

But five minutes after the break, the Italians equalised when Riccardo Orsolini headed past Mangani Banda for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Six minutes from time Sakala's superb strike - his fourth goal of the campaign - looked to have won it for the reigning African champions.

But with a place in the semi-finals tantalisingly close, a brilliant free-kick by Federico Dimarco four minutes later sent the game into extra-time.

With penalties looming, Vido broke Zambian hearts when he put away one of the many chances that littered this thrilling contest.

Credit:BBC Sports

Black Stars midfielder Andre Dede Ayew says the team is focused on getting all the 3 points against Ethiopia in the Africa Cup of Nation qualifying game on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Registrar of the University of Ghana, Legon,Mercy Haizel- Ashia has pledged to pay the academic user fees of three female student athletes as part of efforts to encourage and develop sports on the campus.