Al Ahly’s Mohamed Magdi scored a stunning goal four minutes from time as they beat bitter Cairo rivals Zamalek 2-1 to claim the 2019-20 CAF Champions League title and extend their record number of wins in Africa’s elite club competition to nine.

The teams were locked at 1-1 at the Cairo International Stadium when midfielder Magdi collected a loose ball 30 metres out, showed neat control under pressure and volleyed into the corner of the net.

It sparked wild scenes of celebration from the players, and might have been applauded by 100,000 fans in the stadium but instead was netted in front of empty stands due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The title win is a second for Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane after the South African led Mamelodi Sundowns to victory in 2016, when they also beat Zamalek in what was then a two-legged decider.

Friday’s match is the first time since the inaugural African Champions Cup final in 1965 that the final was a single game.

Ahly took an early lead when Amr Soleya headed an in-swinging corner into the net inside five minutes, reward for some early pressure as they made the brighter start.

But Zamalek grew more dominant as the half wore on and levelled thanks to a touch of magic from winger Shikabala.

He collected the ball out wide on the right, skipped past three defenders and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the goal from the edge of the box.

Zamalek continued to take the game to their rivals and were unlucky not to go ahead just past the hour when Ahmed Sayed’s thunderous 35-metre drive smashed into the post.

But Magdi settled the contest with his own moment of brilliance as Ahly won the title for the first time in seven years to make up for final defeats in 2017 and 2018.

Source: Reuters 

Only family members and close friends were permitted at Jardin Bella Vista cemetery for the burial of Diego Maradona next to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego; fans waving Argentine flags had gathered along roads as Maradona's funeral car drove by under heavy security.

Tens of thousands paid tribute to Diego Maradona as he was laid to rest

The football legend was buried on Thursday in a private ceremony attended by only two dozen people.

Maradona died Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he had been recovering from a brain operation.

Fans waved Argentine flags as they gathered along roads with Maradona's funeral car driving by under heavy security. Many tried to touch the vehicle whenever it was stopped by traffic.

The earlier viewing at the Argentine presidential mansion was halted shortly before 6pm, 12 hours after it started, as Maradona's family wished and the body of the Argentine icon was taken away for burial, frustrating many who were waiting to pay their respects and causing new tensions at the gates of the cemetery.

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Diego Maradona: The hand of God and the feet of gold

Fans, some draped in the national flag, sang football anthems as they formed a line that stretched more than 20 blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, where Argentines gathered to celebrate the Maradona-led triumph in the 1986 World Cup.

But with the time for viewing the coffin at the presidential palace drawing short, police moved to cut off the back end of the crowd, enraging fans who hurled rocks and other objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets.

The crowd overwhelmed organisers and the violence resulted in injuries and arrests, which led Maradona's family to end the public visitation. The casket was placed in a car that carried the former footballer's name on a paperboard by the window.

Desperate to say goodbye, Maradona's fans climbed on the fences of the presidential mansion as if they were in a football stadium, while firefighters worked to clear the ground.

Fans were desperate to say goodbye to Maradona

"Diego is not dead, Diego lives in the people," the crowd chanted as the coffin was taken to a cemetery outside Buenos Aires.

The motorcade, accompanied by police, was followed on a local highway by dozens of honking cars and motorcycles.

Hundreds of fans blocked entry to the cemetery before the arrival of Maradona's casket, dancing and chanting as police moved in to open a way. The crowd continued making noise after the final ceremony began.

Napoli win first match after Diego Maradona's death

Diego Maradona's time at Napoli remembered

Napoli will rename stadium after Diego Maradona

Napoli's Stadio San Paolo stadium was illuminated in Maradona's honour after the news of his death was announced

Napoli paid tribute to Maradona, their former player, before their 2-0 win over HNK Rijeka in the Europa League. Fans gathered outside the stadium to pay their respects to the Argentinian, with a number of them also laying flowers and memorabilia.

The Premier League has asked all clubs to hold a minute's applause and wear black armbands to honour Maradona at each of this weekend's fixtures.

By AP Sport

Many Ghanaian boxers, their trainers and fans are not happy with the current state of the sport in the nation.

The first post Covid-19 bill to be staged by Ace Power Promotions has been postponed by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) as they are not ready for the testing of participants of the promotion, including boxers, officials and media.

According to Prince Dornu – Leiku, Media Officer of Ace Power Promotions, they have been preparing feverishly for their maiden boxing night, only to be informed that testing of the 18 boxers on the bill will not be possible before Sunday, the fight day.

He said the GBA has suggested that the boxers should be tested next week, meaning the bout will not come on.

“We express our discontent to the GBA and hope to rectify things now and in the future. All plans remain same when ready. We shall communicate further information as our board meets to deliberate’ said Mr. Adae Amoako, CEO of Ace Power Promotions.

Alex Ntiamoah – Boakye of Box Office who is co staging the fight night with Ace Power said they are disappointed, because other countries like UK, USA, Tanzania and UAE are having professional bouts and their governments are helping to abide by the health and safety protocols.

“In as much as we want to prevent the spread of the Covid-19, so we should think what’s possible as the same time as well as to sustain the industry, and for that matter those whose livelihood depends on the sport of boxing to survive” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the GBA is inviting all promoters and stakeholders to an important meeting on Monday, November, 30, 2020 at its office at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra at 12.30pm to deliberate on the government directives.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Sports Personality of the year 2019, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe has called on Ghanaians to be peaceful before, during and after the 2020 General Elections.

He said there are many disabled people who have no where to go when there is pandemonium or any form of havoc, so the politicians should not cause any problems due to elections.

He expressed that the 2020 elections in Ghana should be smooth and peaceful as the nation has come a long way in practicing democracy.

“My message is no more disability during and after the elections 2020. Think about us, we persons living with disability before doing anything that will bring war, # we have only one Ghana” he said.

Botsyo who has qualified to the Tokyo Paralympic Games stressed that life is precious and no one must involve in any acts that will tarnish the reputation of Ghana as a great nation with highly respected great and reasonable people.

The captain of Team Ghana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia said he is preparing for the big games and appealed to the government to ensure order during the elections. He called on the government to invest much in sports as Ghana plans to host the African Games in 2023.

He appealed to the media to preach the message of peace.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The ever-lingering question of ‘Who Is A Ghanaian’, which over the years has refused to go away, has come back to the fore in recent times, especially following the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s inaugural address at his swearing-in in January 2017.

Even before this, I have been agitated in my spirit for a while about the issue and have been exploring the several ways a person could be pronounced a ‘Ghanaian’ – by the passport he bears, or by birth, or naturalisation, or from parentage, by law according to the Constitution of the Fourth Republic, or additionally we could have a special yardstick by which we could make a determination.

It is even more intriguing that the issue of DUAL - CITIZENSHIP could also cause many to question themselves as to who really is a Ghanaian. The instances in our recent past that Members of Parliament, who have won elections could be expelled from the House on the issue of dual-citizenship and others threatened with jail sentences, make the issue’s determination more critical now than ever before.

I was one of the many or the very few, who felt proud by the admission of Hon. Boakye Agyarko, Minister of Energy that for the 25 years he was in the USA as a political refugee he never sought any other citizenship; but then again I couldn’t have expected anything less of him for good reason.

I personally hold the strong conviction that CITIZENSHIP is not a free lunch, as it goes with rights and responsibilities, on the both the state and the individual; and for as long as one is negligent on the responsibilities then one cannot claim the full benefits of the rights; and believing that the seven litmus tests for citizenship, in my opinion, should be: (i) loyalty, (ii) patriotism, (iii) nationalism, (iv) character, (v) identity, (vi) culture, and (vii) allegiance.

For the purposes of clarity of appreciation of what the seven (7) litmus tests are as expanded, they include: loyalty – is the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations; faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, or cause; patriotism – is show and or commitment to devoted love, support, and defense of one’s country and or national loyalty; nationalism – is the spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation, devotion and loyalty to one’s own country; patriotism, the desire for national advancement or political independence, the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one’s own nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations; and character – is the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person, moral or ethical quality, qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity, reputation, the account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person; any trait, function, structure, or substance resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.

The others are: identity – the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions, the condition of being oneself and not another, the state or fact of being the same one as described, the condition or character as to who a person is; the qualities, beliefs or faith that distinguish or identify a person; culture – the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits; that which is excellent in the arts and manners; a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period; the beliefs and behaviours characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group; the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and  transmitted from one generation to another; and allegiance – the loyalty of a citizen to his or her government or of a subject to his or her sovereign; and the loyalty or devotion to some people, group, cause, or the like.

The rights of the people include the enabling environment the state has to provide for the citizenry; equal opportunities and access for all irrespective; equality before the law; level playing field for all; and no discrimination on basis of tribe, creed, ideology, identifiable political party or sex.

Thus, it is my belief every Ghanaian should be provided with the environment to secure for himself or herself a good education, profession, trade, calling and or vocation, possibly to the tertiary level but definitely for him or her, aspire to reach a level, at least equal to or an improvement on the levels reached by his or her father and or mother or the topmost levels of the generations before him or her.

That, this Ghanaian should never compromise on the acquisition of formal and or informal education at all levels but also not to be mechanical about studies – chew, pour and pass; but desire to be a critical thinker, diligent in questioning all the facts with their circumstances before venturing an opinion or decision.

And better still on education, this Ghanaian should always be more than inquisitive about everything to understand underlying principles, rational, values and to appreciate the whys, the what’s and the how’s; as well as recognising that all subjects have lessons to teach, principles and ethics to impart; and to appreciate for one’s latter life, including even history which is record of events. In fact, even the distorted history to undermine the truth is a lesson of life, especially to appreciate the dynamics of the society and factionalism.

That, this Ghanaian should accept that hardwork and honesty do not kill but are some of the core, one of the critical keys to success by any definition; recognising and appreciating that serving apprenticeship is essential to real success and appreciation of life. To my mind, apprenticeship should be a major consideration for all manner of persons desiring POLITICAL OFFICE, including aspiring ministers of state, members of parliament, MMDCEs, and heads of institutions that require changes every four years.

I am not in the least saying that anybody fresh from the university cannot aspire for any office of state: but let us face it politics of old was for people of matured disposition, and mostly retired or about retiring for good reason.

If you have worked for the number of years in question, your attitude to easily falling prey to corruption, entrapments of office as well as sensitivity to matters of the people, especially the voiceless and defenceless is different; even as you are more guarded in what you might think and say. Definitely, with apprenticeship, you dare not imagine or much more say that if you do not make one million dollars (US$1,000,000.00) or two within one year in office, you should be considered a failure.

Indeed, this Ghanaian should also endeavour to source for a MENTOR of unique character to assist him or her refine his or her every ambition, goal, vision and dream, including desiring a political office.

For me one cardinal quest for this Ghanaian ought to be questioning to appreciate why God gave him or her the particular parents who gave birth to him or her, to appreciate the siblings he or she has, understanding that they are to enhance each other’s strengths, skills and talents for the unique roles, individually they shall play for each other within the immediate and extended families; and even more why he or she came as a member of the descendants of the patriarch of the bigger family.

It is also imperative that this Ghanaian, whatever school he or she attends from the basic, through junior to senior high schools right to the tertiary, he or she will appreciate the values inherent in the traditions and heritage of each institution to have full benefits thereof for holistic mental, physical, spiritual development of the person, especially what drove the institutions’ founding fathers to set up the institution to appreciate what he or she takes from the institution in addition to the academic certificates.

And that, this Ghanaian cannot pretend to be insensitive to the conditions, politics and the ever-changing state of the different types of environments in which he or she finds himself or herself from the hamlet through the village to town and city to the national levels, especially as he or she relates to the people and their socio-political developmental needs.

In the days of old, a child did not belong exclusively to his or her parents but to the community; and why the people in the community could all contribute towards the education of that one child with the greatest ability and academic capacity to develop to his or her fullest potential, knowing he or she will always come back to give back to the community.

Sad that with all our advancement comes the selfishness of individual families that only their children should do well and come back to lord over the other children. Some advancement indeed!

Again, this type of Ghanaian shall not be over-opinionated but humble enough to appreciate that everybody has his or her own cross to carry, even if that cross is mentoring another to be much bigger than himself or herself to achieve a societal goal; recognizing and accepting the creed that serving APPRENTICESHIP in all fields of endeavour not only determines the legacies of the master but also how the apprentice-turned-master later shall endeavour to take unto himself or herself new and more apprentices to sustain the values and heritage of their calling or profession or trade or craft.

This new Ghanaian, no matter the calling should recognize that HUMILITY and TOLERANCE are the two greatest virtues that define a person’s real character; not the quest to be rich overtime, reaping where he or she has not sown and impoverishing in the people he or she has sworn an oath of office to protect and advance their cause rather.

It also means that this Ghanaian should not be full of all-self-righteousness, but be guarded in thought and speech, full of wisdom and slow to anger towards building a better future for all, including other people’s descendants and posterity; and he or she should appreciate that how prosperous he or she is, is really nothing unless it is for greater public good of all.

It is thus important in the context to understand and appreciate who really is a Ghanaian?

My interest isn't in the legal definitions for that’s the cheapest qualification for any person to belong to any state or nation.

I have been intrigued for the last decade or more, especially when I tried my hand at the article: MFANTSIPIM IS A BRAND and then needed to look at the ethos; the brand attributes and then I began to question myself as to whether I am more Ghanaian than a foreigner who has spent his or her entire life in service to Ghana against a native whose only prerequisite is to steal from his or her people and thus contribute towards impoverishing him or her.....?

If I try to define a GHANAIAN AS A BRAND, I should be able to define the parameters of the attributes, the ethos which if one possesses should qualify him or her as a Ghanaian; and not a native in a privileged position of governance who compromises the state Ghana by selling state secrets to a foreigner for personal profits and then cleans his lips as well as pretend he is suffering like the rest of us.

For me, Ghana is at a crossroads of national identity crisis: our leaders pretend to lead us, fighting for our rights and benefits but knowing they are only watching each other's back than us, whilst we also pretend to being lead and following. Mostly, we in fact do not qualify by deed and conduct to be diligent followers conscious of how we are led. The true lead-follower has responsibility as much as do the leader-followed.

Guess, that is why we get paid for exercising our civic rights during national elections for good reason; for we know and they also know that after elections we won't see them again till the next elections - who then really is a Ghanaian?

If you ask me – frankly, I think we are all TENANTS in Ghana, including our chiefs or better still some chiefs. Trust me, some have mortgaged the futures of generations yet-unborn to servant-hood in their own father's houses.

Admittedly, we are all tenants in our father's houses, not caring what goes on now as strangers are now the owners of our inheritances. Otherwise, how on earth could any foreigner or stranger come onto our father's house and land and take control to benefit exclusively; and worse have the people paid to protect us become rather their agents of subjugation over us? Thus, instead reverse the status with us to make us rather the 'strangers' in our own fathers’ houses?

Who really is a Ghanaian...?

IF we define who a Ghanaian is, then we would be better placed appreciate all possibilities, all hopes, all wishes, all imaginations, all visions, all prospects, all potentials, all futures, all promises and all expectations that lie before us as a people; and how these could be realized for any Ghanaian, given equal opportunities for education, training, vocation, apprenticeship, gifting, calling, hardwork, honesty, commitment, devotion, loyalty, dedication, perseverance, and ministry.

Wonder why we take some basic things for granted, such as WHY our Creator made us come to earth as sons and daughters of GHANA and that we are born as Ghanaians – so the issue of who a Ghanaian is isn’t a legal issue. Guess that is why when some of us are appointed into positions of trust and leadership, we are made to SWEAR OATHS OF ALLEGIANCES? Guess that is why in all jurisdictions, people of DUAL-NATIONALITY are trusted less and would not be allowed into certain positions as legislature and or executive arms of government.

NATIONALITY has been defined as membership of a particular nation or state, by origin, birth, naturalization, ownership, and allegiance or otherwise; whilst a National connotes ethnic and or cultural, character or identity.

Thus, being a Ghanaian reflects being one of a people sharing a common origin, culture and or language, and possibly constituting a nation-state.

In the global sense, nationality connotes a political existence, independence or unity as a national entity, requiring a high sense of patriotism.

It is imperative to state that in the context of membership of a nation or state, one would require a sense of affiliation, allegiance, ancestry, citizenship, descent, enfranchisement, ethnicity, national status, naturalization, origin, parentage, race, residence and status.

When one desires to consider a national character or identity, then we would be considering ancestry, colour, ethnicity, identity and origin; whilst for a people, we need to look at clan, confederation, cultural group, culture, denomination, ethnic group, ethnicity, faith, group, nation, people, persuasion, race, sect or tribe.

For a political existence as a national entity, we would need to look at autarchy, autonomy, freedom, independence, liberty, nationhood, self-determination, self-government, self-rule, separation and sovereignty; whilst for the idea of supporting one’s country, people or culture, we would consider patriotism or patriotic sentiment.

Within the myriad of all the definitions stated above, I repost my original question again: WHO IS A GHANAIAN?

What expectations, requirements, attributes, characteristics or ethos should be required of and or fulfilled by any person who styles himself or herself as a Ghanaian?

Once, we are clear in our minds as to the answers to the question and also understand the full import of why our Creator chooses to make us Ghanaians, not as our personal choices, then we will realize that being a Ghanaian is a divine assignment or calling for each person. Our ability to discover our individual divine assignment and or calling as a Ghanaian, would enable us to be better placed and prepared to fulfil our individual as well as collective Ghanaian dreams, quests and aspirations.

Ponder for a moment why you never were born an American, German, British, Ivorian, Liberian or of any other nationality than a Ghanaian: you have a divine assignment and calling for this nation: search for it, pray about it, find it and you will be amazed how much you will enjoy life here on earth.

*The writer is a sportbusiness consultant, land appraiser & economist and events architect & planner

By Magnus Rex Danquah

Ghana’s Senior National women’s team, Black Queens were in fine form defeating Morocco 3-1 in an international friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Moroccans had made the perfect start in the first-half inspired by a fifth minute goal converted by Chebbak Chizlane.

The Black Queens responded strongly with a Faustina Kyereme’s strike in the 18th minute and were at an adventurous attacking best before recess.

The second half was fiercely contested with both side searching for the lead but defense stalwart Linda Eshun gave Queens the edge with a powerful free kick.

Hardy Sounia was given the marching order in the 67th minute after a tussle with referee Theresa Bremansu.

Georgina Ayisha Aoyem sealed victory for the home side in 70th minute after Juliet Acheampong sent in a long drive which she neatly tapped home.

Both teams are scheduled for a repeat the fixture on Monday November 30.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

Ghana’s Black Princesses (female U-20), on Thursday, November 26, lost 1 nil to Morocco in an International friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Morocco striker Banouk Safa scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute to give the visitors victory over the Black Princesses.

After the opener, the Black Princesses put in effort in search of an equalizer but it proved futile.

Coach Yusif Basigi’s side threw more players forward in search of the equalizer but the Moroccans defended gallantly to protect their goal.

Ghana’s lead attacker Mukarama Abdulai did not have an effective game as she missed some decent chances that came her way. Boaduwa Evelyn, Kundock Peterson Patience, Suzzy Dede Teye and Azumah Bugri were given a stern opposition by the Moroccan midfield. Tayar Oumaima, Barchi Jihan and Banouk Safa, the goal scorer were a handful for the Ghanaian defence.

The Coaches reshuffled their teams by bringing in fresh legs but the Moroccans did very well to stop the Princesses from finding the back of the net as the game ended 1-0 in their favour.

The two teams are using the friendly games to prepare for the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup qualifiers in 2021.

The two sides will meet again on Monday, November 30 in another friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

MTN Group furthers financial inclusion

Driven to secure financial inclusion across its markets, MTN Group continues to grow the number of MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) users on its network, a trend that has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the end of September 2020, nearly 42 million people were regularly transacting on MTN MoMo across 16 markets. This compares to 38 million active users at the end of the first half of 2020, and 35 million at the end of 2019 – ten years after MTN launched MoMo.

Initially designed to facilitate the transfer of cash between mobile users, MTN’s MoMo offering is now much broader. The group works with numerous partners to offer services including loans, insurance, remittances and MoMo Pay, enabling customers to store money in their mobile wallets with which they can then pay for goods or services at registered merchants.

Mobile money services have grown faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world. In 2020, the trend has quickened, and the value of transactions has increased, partly supported by MTN’s reduction in MoMo transaction fees in many operations to assist customers battling the impacts of the pandemic.

In the first half of 2020, for example, the value of MTN MoMo transactions was US$61,2 billion, and the group processed 11 752 MoMo transactions a minute across its markets, up 28% from 9 193 transactions a minute in 2019.

In Ghana,  there has been a steady growth in driving  financial inclusion through MoMo.  MoMo subscribers grew to a total of 11.66m  (RGS 90 days) with 1.8bn  transactions by end of September 2020. MTN MoMo implemented some measures in  March 2020 as part of efforts to support Government’s intervention to control the spread of the COVID-19 and also  minimize the risk posed by cash handling.  Some of the measures included the waiver on  transaction charges for on-net and off net transactions as well as the  revision of  limits on daily transactions and wallet balances. The intervention has since been extended to December 31 2020 to allow more people to experience the benefits of mobile financial services.

The group remains committed to leveraging its technology to enable a cashless Africa.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses in Africa.

About financial inclusion

Financial inclusion means that people have access to affordable financial products and services that meet their needs and are delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. Not only does this facilitate daily life, help people plan, start businesses and expand them, it also helps people invest in education or health and manage risk, improving the overall quality of life.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Some fans clapped, others wept, as they filed past Maradona's coffin

Thousands of fans are paying their final respects to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

Three days of national mourning have begun in Argentina after the national hero died following a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 60.

Some wept, others blew kisses and said prayers as they filed past the coffin being displayed at the Casa Rosada.

A million people are expected to visit his casket.

Maradona's coffin - draped in Argentina's national flag and football shift, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back - is expected to be on public display at the presidential palace until Thursday afternoon.

There were tense scenes when the Casa Rosada opened its doors, as some fans pushed and shoved against the barriers, which were lined with security forces. His family and former teammates took part in a private ceremony earlier in the day.

One of the greatest football players of all time, Maradona had a troubled personal life marked by cocaine and alcohol addiction. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Local media said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed Maradona had suffered "acute heart failure". A spokesman told AFP news agency he would be laid to rest in a cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where his parents were also buried.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires. The last person to see Maradona alive was his nephew Johnny Esposito, according to statements gathered by officials.

Maradona is survived by five children and his former wife, 58-year-old Claudia Villafane, who he split with in 2004 after 20 years of marriage.

Maradona, who played for clubs including Barcelona and Napoli, was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.

To score the goal, Maradona used his hand to deflect the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, but the referee did not see it. It was one of the most controversial World Cup moments ever.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, said he was "a god" in Argentina, in Naples and all around the world.

Fans mourn 'eternal' giant

The death has triggered an outpouring of grief in Argentina and across the world. At 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) - an hour chosen to match the number on his shirt - stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.

Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears. One fan of the star's former club had tears in his eyes as he explained how much Maradona meant to him.

"Maradona for me is the greatest thing that happened to me in life. I love him as much as my father and it's like my old man died," Cristian Montelli, 22, told Reuters news agency.

"If I die young, hopefully upstairs I can play ball and watch a Boca game with him."

On Wednesday, officials rushed to install cordons and other measures to try to limit the spread of coronavirus, as big crowds gathered on the Argentine capital's Plaza de Mayo after news of the death emerged.

Late into the night, a sea of people in Argentina shirts thronged the streets across the country to mourn Maradona's death, and celebrate his life.

Thousands of miles away in Italy, fans also gathered outside Napoli's San Paolo stadium, which was lit up in tribute to the man who scored 81 goals in 188 appearances for the club.

Fireworks erupted in the sky as those below, clad in Maradona shirts and even Maradona face masks, chanted and wept.

A minute's silence took place before Wednesday's Champions League matches and the same will happen before all other European fixtures this week.

An icon whose influence transcended Argentina

Maradona was not just a sportsman for Argentines, he was an icon, a political player and of course, a loveable rogue. There is deep sadness as people pay their respects to their superstar footballer.

But his influence goes beyond Argentina - South Americans are proud of their footballing heritage so this news has resonated across the region.

In neighbouring Brazil, where their man Pelé vied for the title of world's best footballer, Maradona's death was headline news - much of the rivalry between the two countries can be put down to the two players, such is the passion for the beautiful game here.

But rivalry was put aside with Pelé paying tribute to Maradona as a dear friend. "One day, I hope, we will have a kick about together in heaven," he said.

The footballing world pays tribute

His former Argentina teammate Ardiles said today's football superstars "could not even dream" of being admired as much as Maradona was.

"He will be remembered as a genius in football," he told the BBC. "You can see the extraordinary amount of interest that he generates."

When the news of Maradona's death broke, Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi led tributes, writing on social media: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who was part of the England team beaten by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, said Maradona was "by some distance, the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time".

In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts."

By BBC

The MTN Ghana Foundation has commissioned a multi-purpose ICT library and robotics lab at Ebenezer Senior High School which will also serve the Dansoman community.

The Dansoman Community Library is the first Secondary School library in Ghana to have a modern integrated ICT Center and a Robotics lab. The robotics and ICT lab will be a learning resource center for training students and young people in robotics. The multipurpose facility was constructed at cost of GHC 770,000 and comprised of a 100-seater conventional library area, a 20-seater ICT center, a world class Robotics lab and washrooms.

Speaking at the commissioning, the CEO of MTN Ghana Selorm Adadevoh said “When the idea of a modern integrated ICT library and robotics lab in Dansoman was brought to us at MTN Foundation, I was personally very inspired by it.  We gladly accepted to embark on this project at the Ebenezer Senior High School because we understand the life changing opportunities such a facility would bring to the people of Dansoman”.

 “One of our core mandates is to improve the quality of life of people through appropriate and sustainable interventions in communities where MTN operates”, he added.

On his part, The MTN Foundation Board Chairman Prof. Franklyn Manu urged the management and beneficiaries to adopt good maintenance culture to preserve the facility. He said “Such a facility will require constant upkeep, maintenance, and replacement of to ensure its longevity”.

The special guest of honor Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency commended MTN Ghana Foundation for supporting the school and community with such a modern facility. She said “I am excited about this project: It is clear from all the success our young people have chalked that they do not lack talents and ability to succeed. What our young people need, are the tools and the platforms to showcase what they have. When given the right tools and the right skills, our young people can compete and be the best in the world.”

The ceremony was attended by Mr Samuel Koranteng, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Mrs Nabila Williams, a Board Member of MTN Ghana Foundation, Dr. Yaw Okraku-Yirenkyi, a Co-Founder of the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation (GRAF),  Hon. George Cyril Bray, MCE of Ablekuma West Constituency, Mr. Hayford Siaw , Director of Ghana Library Authority, District Director of Education and the Headmistress of Ebenezer Secondary School.

Since the inception of the MTN Ghana Foundation in 2007, the Foundation has implemented over 150 major projects in areas of health, education and economic empowerment at a total cost of USD 15million. These projects are estimated to have impacted over 4 million people.

From Sammy Heywood Okine