Three young Ghanaian swimmers will be competing in the World Aquatic Championships in Doha, Qatar. They are 2020 Olympians Abeiku Jackson and Unilez Takyi as well as new sensation, Christian Nortey are the swimmers who will fly the flag of Ghana at the top level competition from 2-18 Feb,2024.

Ghana’s contingent will include Coach Jackson, an officiating official, Charles Mensah also Team Leader and the President of the Ghana Swimming Association (GSA) Mrs. Delphina Quaye, an executive board member of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

According to Mrs. Quaye, she believes the three will do well from the experiences they have gone through.

She urged Ghanaians to pray for them to excel in their respective events.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

CAF has noted the escalating unbecoming and unprofessional behaviour of some “media practitioners” in working spaces at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

Today, CAF met with Local Organising Committee (“COCAN”) and Police to discuss the situation and find workable solutions.  CAF has engaged a number of Organisations representing Journalists and raised the serious concerns on the behaviour of some “journalists” in media tribunes, media centres and mixed zones.

While we understand that we are all Football fans and are passionate about our National Teams, Journalists are expected to observe professional standards.

Fans must not be in the Media Tribune – there are plenty of seats at the Stadium for this.

Please note the following:

Going forward any media practitioner who is involved in wild celebrations and abuses other media colleagues will be immediately removed by Security and his/her Accreditation will be withdrawn.

Any media representative who is involved in a fight in media areas or physical scuffle will have his/her Accreditation withdrawn.

Any journalist (Non-Rights Holder) who films at in the Media Tribune will be removed and his/her Accreditation withdrawn.

Any media practitioner who uses vulgar in media areas either against Coaches, Players or his/her peers will have the Accreditation withdrawn.

Any journalists who is live streaming in the Mixed Zone will have his/her Accreditation withdrawn.

Use of Drones is strictly prohibited.

Media cannot film inside the stadium (Only media centre, press conference room).

CAF | Communication Department

The next big fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena is the upcoming bout between Moses Adjei Selvi of James Town Boxing Gym and Daniel Gosh, the Ghana National Champion on March 5, 2024 which has been named ‘Clash of the Titans’ by boxing bookmakers in Accra.

And true the label fits the bout because the two young boxers are great and good to watch in the ring.

While Gosh, a pride of the Bronx Boxing Gym is still undefeated and training harder under coach Carl Lokko to earn more lucrative ventures in the game and possibly win more titles or advance to the higher stages of boxing, stylish Selvi of the James Town Boxing Gym has been a bit complesent which caused him to lose his last bout.

As the two pugilists get set for battle for the vacant UBO Super Bantamweight Title on March 5, 2024, it would be one of the most talked about and patronized bouts as both have massive followers and fans.

Box Office Promotions have once again proved that they are the best in marching the best boxers.

According to CEO of Box Office, Mr. Alex Ntiamoah Boakye, this fight will propel one of them into the world ranks and exposure.

“We always have opportunity for our boxers and we will work hard to take them to their dream destinations as young Ghanaian boxers” he told Yours Truly.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Kwab Asamoah is a super talented creative Ghanaian Sports Fashion Designer. He is involved seriously in combat sports, especially Judo and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

He loves to see Ghanaian sllek and sexy sports men and women dress well.

Check out some of these wears which were exhibited at the Accra Fashion Week.

He said this show is to herald the Africa Games happening in Ghana and welcome all guests and sports lovers attending the 13^th African Games dubbed ‘Accra 2023’.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Former Ghanaian boxer and a renowned Boxing trainer, the technical leader of the Ghana boxing youth team (Black Rockets) Mr. Charles Quartey who doubles as the owner of the Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation is vying to lead the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana as the president of the fraternity.

Charles Quartey who has contributed a lot to the boxing world in Ghana and beyond, Last season his Foundation won the Ghana Professional Boxing League and was the favorite to second edition also before it was halt

His ambition to lead the Ghana United Boxing Coaches Association is to raise the standard of where Ghana coaches get treated unfairly sometimes without getting backup or the association not stepping in for them. He wants every coach to have a say in decision taken and shouldn't be on one sided because the Association said so

Lastly his main ambition is to workout with the young coaches because together he can build up the Association with them and help raise Ghana boxing high to a level that will unite all Coaches on board and bring back the love for all says Charles Quartey whiles on phone with your only Augustus Dodoo on phone

Story Augustus Dodoo

Bayern Munich Sporting Director, Christoph Freund hails 16 year old Jonah Kusi-Asare’s potential

Christoph Freund, the Sporting Director of Bayern Munich has expressed admiration for 16-year-old Jonah Kusi-Asare, emphasizing the player's significant potential.

The young talent who is the club's recent acquisition was born in Sweden with Ghanaian heritage, made the move to the Bundesliga giants from AIK Solna for a reported transfer fee of €6.5 million.

During the unveiling ceremony of the budding striker, Freund commended Kusi-Asare's decision to join the German champions and reiterated his belief in the player's immense promise.

"Jonah Kusi-Asare is a youthful striker with tremendous potential. Despite receiving multiple offers, he deliberately chose FC Bayern because we successfully conveyed our commitment to nurturing and developing his skills within our setup. He possesses all the necessary attributes – technical prowess, speed, height, physical resilience even at a tender age, and an exceptional goal-scoring ability. We are delighted that he has chosen to be a part of FC Bayern's future," Freund stated.

Kusi-Asare is of Ghanaian descent and has the option to represent either Ghana or Sweden in international competitions.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

It was serious boxing business at the Bukom Square and Korle Wonko in Accra over the week end where the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) supported SM Boxing Foundation to organize a youth programme for the future boxing stars of the nation.

The event was very successful as the youth and elite boxing tournament exposed many talents.

President of the GBA, Mr. Ben Quartey commended SM Foundation and their concept as well as the coaches and boxers who took part.

Mr. Solomon Otoo, Second Vice President of the GBF said they hope to organize more youth bouts to keep young boxers in shape and focused as well as ready for local and international tournaments.

Mr. Dauda Fuseni, the First Vice President of the GBF expressed that their outfit need financial support from the government and private sources to motivate the boxers.

He noted that boxing is not an easy sport, but the boys love it and they must be inspired.

He said as Ghana plans to host the African Games people should know and feel it.

He urged the media to publicise more boxing news because he was very sure that boxing will give Ghana more medals.

The Black Bombers are training in Cape Coast, however the Black Rockets too are being prepared for future engagements.

Ace Photographer Nii Otto of 29 photo studios was there to bring you beautiful and exciting memorable pictures.

By Sammy Heywood Okine  

The International Sports Press Association Africa section (AIPS Africa) deplores the attitude of certain colleagues accredited for the coverage of the 34th edition of the 2023 African Cup of Nations which is taking place in Ivory Coast.

NOBLE PROFESSION Being a journalist means behaving properly, and above all, exercising restraint. Certain behaviours are simply unworthy of a profession as noble as journalism.

DISTRESSING SPECTACLE Between pitched battles, attacks, invectives, it is a distressing spectacle that certain colleagues have been delivering to the world since the start of CAN 2023. The media work spaces (Press gallery, Mixed zone, Conference room) have been transformed into a boxing ring, or even simply transformed into a dancefloor or performance zone hosted by media badge holders.

ETHICS Even if the journalist is not a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object), he cannot be considered a supporter. This is why AIPS Africa invites colleagues to be reasonable and to work in compliance with the rules of ethics and professional conduct.

TRAINING OF JOURNALISTS To this end, AIPS Africa encourages national member associations to work more in the training and capacity building of their members in the context of the coverage of sporting events.

Source AIPS

First, let’s deal with the small matter of the name of the current AFCON. This 34th AFCON is known as both AFCON 23 and AFCON 23. Officially it is AFCON 2023 because it was billed for last July but was postponed to early this year because of weather concerns in Ivory Coast in the Northern Hemisphere summer. Be that as it may, the tournament is taking place in 2024, and long after the reason for the switch is forgotten, the pedantic use of 23 to describe an event in 24 will confuse researchers, administrators, enthusiasts and all those who may have reasons to refer to this AFCON. It is for this reason that I stick to AFCON 2024 in my diaries.

Now, to the main issue. If I were a betting man, I would have lost badly because the two teams I tipped for the final are both out. I predicted a final between Senegal, the holders and Morocco, the World Cup quarter finalists. On current form, and especially in terms of confidence, I thought these two would emerge from the ranks to the top. Of course, it did not happen. Congratulations to South Africa for emerging winners  last night.

This AFCON has seen the early departure of most of the continents football grandmasters such as Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, and Morocco. Whether Ghana still belongs to the elite group is debatable, but that is not the point. Indeed, the point is that the old order has changed, yielding place to a new one in which there are no minnows.

Of course, South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast are part of the old elite and may well prove that there is no new order after all. However, given how this tournament has travelled, there is no denying the emergence of a new structure in the African game. Respect for past glory is now a risible concept, as has been shown by all three of Ghana’s group games and the performance of a team like Cape Verde.

My two teams for the final are out. I have learnt my lesson. No predictions now. It will take a major gambler to  stake all on a winner on February 11th. Better to hedge a bit because nothing is certain in African football.

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After a week of thrill and drama that saw hosts, Cote d’Ivoire stage one of the biggest comebacks in the competition, the stage is now set for the Quarter-final phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

The Quarter-Finals will be played between Friday, 02 February 2024 and Saturday, 03 February. 

All the eight remaining countries that will contest the Quarter-Finals have been confirmed with South Africa booking the last spot after eliminating FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco in a drama-filled match in San Pedro. 

The 34th edition of Africa’s biggest football spectacle has been nothing short of exceptional, thanks to the quality of football, unexpected twists and turns, and of course the passionate supporters of the African game that have come out in their large and colourful numbers across the five host cities in Cote d’Ivoire. 

Three-time champions, Nigeria face Angola in the first quarter-final fixture on Friday, 02 February at 17h00 before the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are in search of their third TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title, face a resilient Guinea in the late evening Kick off at 20h00. 

On Saturday, 03 February, hosts Cote d’Ivoire, still breaming with confidence, will come against a formidable Mali side  who have been dominant in the competition. 

At 20h00, Cape Verde, one of the sensations in this event, take on South Africa. 

TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Quarter-Finals Fixtures:

Friday, 02 February 

17h00 GMT | Nigeria v Angola 

20h00 GMT | DR Congo v Guinea 

Saturday, 03 February 

17h00 GMT | Mali v Cote d’Ivoire 

20h00 GMT | Cape Verde v South Africa

CAF | Communication Department