Ghana Sports news

Struggling West Ham, will host second placed Tottenham Hotspurs tonight in the English Premier League clash, ahead of other exciting mouthwatering encounters for the weekend.

Manchester United on Thursday beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi final clash in Spain.

Manchester United will travel to face Celta Vigo in Spain hoping for a win to join Ajax in the final of the Europa league.

Monaco have placed a world record £110million price tag on their teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe.

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has suggested he is ready for "peace" with his Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho, having had a fractious relationship with his managerial rival over the years.

Wenger is still waiting for a first league win over team managed by Mourinho and the pair have been involved in numerous spats, including a touchline bust-up during the Portuguese's days at Chelsea in 2014.

Speaking ahead of their next meeting at the Emirates on Sunday, Wenger suggested that he believes a more respectful relationship can develop.

Wenger noted his relationship with one of Mourinho's predecessors, Sir Alex Ferguson, "mellowed" over time and thinks the same process may be occurring.

"We have respect," Wenger said of his relationship with Mourinho. "I do not want to make a case of any person, it's important I focus on my own team.

"I'm open always in life for everything, for peace, but what is important when you are a competitor is that you give everything to win the next game."

Wenger is yet to reveal his future as Arsenal manager, but says he does not foresee the club going into decline whenever his lengthy tenure does come to an end.

"No, it can go better when I leave one day," said the Frenchman.

"When you're such a long time at the club, like I am, like Fergie, it's like children, you want them to be happy, even when you are not there any more.

"I am not in a position to judge what happened to United.

"I'm sure they will come back and fight for the title, they are in a rebuilding phase."

Credit:Skysports

The Black Stars of Ghana remained 45th in the world and 8th place on the African continent in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Egypt remained Africa No.1 country as they moved up one place to 35th on the table; followed by Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, DR Congo and Tunisia.

Ghanaians will be hoping for a quick return to the summit of African football. The Black Stars ranked as high as 2nd after the 2010 World Cup.

Pairings for the round of 32 games of the MTN FA Cup was carried out yesterday at an event held at the FA headquarters.

Hearts of Oak will play host to second division side Kotoku Royals, and Kotoko will travel to Sekondi to face Proud United.

Full draw

ZONE 1

Nea Salamina vs Techiman XI Wonders

Wa All Stars vs Bolga All Stars

Berekum Chelsea vs BA United

Bechem United vs Guan United

Steadfast FC vs Power SC

ZONE 2

Proud United vs Asante Kotoko

King Faisal FC vs Wassaman United

Gold Stars vs Elmina Sharks

Samatex 1996 FC vs Asokwa Deportivo

Medeama SC vs New Edubiase FC

ZONE 3

Hearts of Oak vs Kotoku Royals

Unistar Academy vs WAFA

Liberty Professionals vs Uncle T Stars

Danbort FC vs Heart of Lions

Young Wise vs Okyeman Planners

Emmanuel FC vs Amidaus Professionals

The matches are scheduled to be played between 18-22nd of May.

WAFA Coach Klaavs Rasmussen and Chelsea player Stephen Sarfo have been named by the Premier League Board as NASCO coach and player of the month for April respectively.

Coach Rasmussen swept the NASCO coach of the month award ahead of his contenders following a remarkable run in April, in which he led WAFA to win all their five matches.

The other nominees for coach of the month were Yusif Abubakar of Aduana Stars and Frank Eliot Nuttal of Accra Hearts of Oak.

For the NASCO player of the month, Stephen Sarfo won it following a tight competition from WAFA's Daniel Lomotey and Hearts of Oak's Winful Cobbina.

Sarfo however pipped his opponents to the award, following his sensational form in April in which he scored four goals in five appearances and was adjudged man of the match three times.

The award winners will be presented with a Nasco Elite Q6 mobile phone by by NASCO Electronics.

Credit:Ghana fa.org

Pro-Vost of Regional Maritime University, Engineer Augustus Addey Lamptey has stressed the need to engage in regular fitness exercises to the body healthy.

Coach of the Black Stars,Kwesi Appiah has said he will be including some players of the national U-17 team,the Black Starlets into the senior national team.

Italian giants, Juventus have all but booked their place in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League Final after they defeated AS Monaco 2-0 at the Stade de Louis in France.

Everton winger Aaron Lennon has been detained under the Mental Health Act by police over concerns for his welfare.

The 30-year-old was taken to hospital "for assessment" after police were called to Salford on Sunday.

Lennon is now "receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness", his club has said.
The England international, who joined Everton from Tottenham in 2015, has not played for the first team since February.

Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called at around 4.35pm to reports of a concern for the welfare of a man on Eccles Old Road.

"Officers attended and a 30-year-old man was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital for assessment."

News of Lennon's admission has led to an outpouring of support on social media from those involved in the game, as well as fans of his current and former clubs.

Everton tweeted on Wednesday: "Thank you for all the kind messages for Aaron. We are supporting him through this and his family has appealed for privacy at this time."

Lennon's representative, Base Soccer Agency, tweeted: "Everyone at Base Soccer sends their support to @AaronLennon12 - get well soon and stay strong."

Credit:BBC Sports

President of the Ghana Tennis Federation, Isaac Aboagye Duah says poor investment in Ghanaian Tennis players is a major cause of the Country’s inability to win the McDan West African Open for the past two years.

He is of the view that “If we continue to not  invest in our players and give them the exposure, we would host and others would come and take it away, We hope that come next year, [we] would be able to get our players ready and win it."

Togo’s Thomas Setodji and Nigerian Sarah Adegoke won the 2017 Mcdan Open West Africa Championship men and womens' singles events which ended last Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

No Ghanaian has won the coveted trophy since the inception of the tournament , a situation that worries Ghanaian tennis enthusiasts.

Former Hearts of Oak striker Mohammed Polo says he believes Hearts of Oak will get back to their glory days after seeing his former side dismantle Kokoto 3-1 at the Accra sports stadium.

The Phobians have taken a giant step towards winning the Ghana at 60 anniversary match with the two goal advantage.

“ If these our youngsters were able to beat Kotoko 3-1 when the Head of State himself was present then I believe things will turn around for the better in the future”.

Hearts of Oak have not won any major trophy since their last league title in 2008.

The second leg of this fixture will come off on the 28th of May at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Real Madrid are cruising to the finals of the Champions League after Cristiano Ronaldo scores yet another hattrick in the campaign to give his side a 3-0 advantage over Atletico Madrid.

Italian authorities have confirmed  Sulley Muntari would serve a ban for walking off the pitch to protest racial abuse by fans.

Footballers and fans alike will be hoping for champagne football after adidas released their latest, limited-edition boots.

Hearts of Oak striker Patrick Razak has hailed the determination and dedication of his team mates after beating  sworn rival Kumasi Asante Kotoko 3-1 in the first leg of the Ghana at 60 match at the Accra sports stadium yesterday.

The Phobians showed their never say die attitude with two late goals to take a huge advantage going into the second leg.

“Everyone knows that games between Kotoko and Hearts is a different ball game together, but with our dedication, determination and hardwork  we have won the game.”

The former Tamale Utrecht striker was on target as he scored the 3rd goal for Accra Hearts of Oak.

The second leg is scheduled for 28th of May at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and it promises to be a cagey encounter.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has undergone successful surgery on the knee injury that ended his season.

The forward sustained "significant knee ligament damage" during Manchester United's 2-1 Europa League win over Anderlecht in April and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Mino Raiola, Ibrahimovic's agent, also revealed in a statement detailing the surgery that the 35-year-old had not suffered a "career-ending injury."

Ibrahimovic, whose present deal at United expires in the summer, underwent surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and has already begun his rehabilitation programme in the United States.

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic has undergone successful knee surgery. He will make a full recovery and has not suffered a career-ending injury," a statement from Raiola read.

"The procedure was performed by Freddie Fu, M.D, and Volker Musahl, M.D, of the UPMC Sports Medicine program in Pittsburgh.

"Zlatan has started rehabilitation at UPMC and will remain under the care of Dr. Fu and Dr. Musahl throughout his recovery.

"Zlatan and the medical team are not available for interviews at this time. Additional updates will follow at a later date."

Ibrahimovic vowed to come back stronger from the injury and insisted that "giving up is not an option", despite manager Jose Mourinho voicing his fears that the Swede's recovery will be "really, really hard" given his age.

The former Barcelona and AC Milan player joined United last summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and scored 28 goals in 46 appearances during his debut season in England.

Credit:Skysports

Accra Hearts of Oak have taken a giant step towards winning this year’s Ghana at 60 anniversary game, beating rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko 3-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium in the first leg.

Hearts of Oak took the lead in the 66th minute of the game through substitute Kwame Kizito after robbing Kotoko goalkeeper Felix Annan of the ball while he attempted to dribble the striker.

He only had the task of slotting the ball in an empty net to give Hearts the lead. The joy was short lived when Awal Mohammed leveled the game for Kotoko with a powerful header two minutes later.

Hearts took the lead again in the 88th minute as captain Thomas Abbey fired a low shot into the net inside the eighteen yard box.

Striker Patrick Razak then put the icing on the cake for Heart by making it 3-1 in the 90th minute after turning in a low cross from the right .

This is the second win for Hearts against Kotoko this year after claiming a 1-0 win over them in the Ghana Premier League.

The second leg of this fixture will be played on the 28th of May at the Baba Yara Stadium

Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko will face off today in the Ghana@60 on celebration match at the Accra Sports Stadium. 

Tottenham Hotspurs have not given up on the English Premier League title as they continue to trail Chelsea at the top of the league table.

Anthony Joshua has challenged former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to step up to fight him.

He came, saw and conquered. Togolese topseed, Thomas Setordji has emerged winner of this year's McDan Open West Africa Championship which ended at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

Anthony Joshua has knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round to emerge the new boxing heavyweight champion.

Christian Atsu has continued with his superb form for Newcastle after scoring in their Friday night game against Cardiff City.

The grand finale of the McDan Open West Africa Tennis Championship will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium today(April 29).

The Premier League Board (PLB) has named a six-man shortlist for the maiden NASCO Player and Coach of the Month for April.

In the Player of the Month category, WAFA's Daniel Lomotey Agbloe, Berekum Chelsea's Stephen Sarfo and Accra Hearts of Oak's Winful Kwaku Cobbina have been shortlisted.

WAFA's Klas Rasmussen has made the shortlist alongside Yusif Abubakar of Aduana Stars and Frank Elliot Nuttal of Accra Hearts of Oak are in the Coach of the Month category.

The winners will be announced by the PLB next week. They will be presented with prizes from Nasco Electronics, sponsors of the award.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) earlier this week announced a partnership agreement with Nasco Electronics as its electronic partner for the Premier League, sponsoring the innovative Man of the Match, Player of the Month and Coach of the Month awards for the Ghana Premier League

Source: Ghana Fa.org