Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif has backed the Black Stars to beat the Bafana Bafana in South Africa to boost their chances of qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Ghana and South Africa will lock horns in a tough encounter later this week in a game that would give the winner the advantage of finishing Group C of the AFCON qualifiers as winners.

Speaking to the Black Stars players after their final training session in Accra on Tuesday, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif says he is confident Ghana will triumph over the opponent on the matchday.

“After coming to watch the last 30 minutes of your training I have no doubt at all that in South Africa we are going to quality for AFCON not in Ghana but in South Africa. I know you will go with that spirit,” the Sports Minister told players.

Hon. Mustapha Ussif added, “Even though the President of the GFA said we have two matches but to me, we have only one match and that one match is in South Africa for us to go and qualify so that when we come here we can just take that match as a preparation towards taking the AFCON Cup because the dream of the country and the dream of the President is to win the 2022 AFCON.”

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have this evening departed Ghana for South Africa for the clash against the Bafana Bafana on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

modernghana

Accra based Togolese journalist Foussena Djagba has been reported died after taking the Coronavirus Vaccine.

Anani Sossou, a brother of Foussena who is the Public Relations Officer of Togolese star Emmanuel Adebayor confirmed on his Facebook page that his sister passed away on Monday, just some days after being vaccinated.

“She was vaccinated against Covid-19 just like her mother on Tuesday, March 11, 2021. “It was with AstraZeneca. The next day she told her mother that she was not feeling well, that she had headaches and that she felt tired. On Thursday her health deteriorated and in hospital she fell into a coma. Doctors found that she was suffering from thrombosis, blood clotting following the vaccination. They had also detected early stomach cancer. Following this complication, Foussena Djagba died on Monday March 22 in Accra ” Sossou wrote.

Foussena was one of the highly respected media women on the African continent having being the PRO of Adebayor since Metz.

Source - sportsworldghana

The Black Stars of Ghana have arrived in Johannesburg for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa Bafana Bafana.

The contingent, led by GFA Vice President Mark Addo arrived at the OR Tambo Airport at 2am on Wednesday, March 23, 2021.

Other officials included Black Stars Management Committee chairman George Amoako, Deputy General Secretary, Alex Asante, Fred Pappoe, Black Stars management committee member, Ralph Gyambrah, Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Regional Football Association and Samuel Osei Kuffuor, Management Committee Member.

Ghana will play South Africa on Thursday, March 2021 with a ticket to Cameroon 2022 being the ultimate target.

Both Ghana and South Africa have 9 points in Group C with the Ghanaians having a superior goal advantage.

The game is scheduled for 6pm kick (4pm Ghana Time) on Thursday, March 24, at the FNB stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Ghana Squad:

Goalkeepers: Razak Abalora, Eric Ofori Antwi, Danlad Ibrahim

Defenders: Benson Annang, Baba Abdul Rahman, Ibrahim Moro, Nicholas Opoku, Ismail Ganiyu, Yussif Mubarik, Philemon Baffuor, Joseph Agyei

Midfielders: Justice Blay, Gladson Awako, Afriyie Acquah, Mubarak Wakaso, Kudus Mohammed, Adubofuor Kwame Opoku, Emmanuel Lomotey.

Strikers: Emmanuel Boateng, Akwasi Okyere Wreidt, Caleb Ekuban, Joseph Esso, Osman Bukari, John Antwi, Kwame Opoku, Emmanuel Gyasi.

The Executive of the Women’s Commission of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), have sent a message to congratulate the President of the GOC, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah for his re-election to lead the Olympic Movement in Ghana for another four years.

The Commission also congratulates all the members elected to serve on the board of the GOC.

“It is gratifying to note that President Nunoo Mensah has gained the confidence and trust of the Olympic Family in Ghana to lead for another four years.

“It is our hope that the next four years will give birth to a rejuvenated sports laying the foundation for real progress at the grassroots and success at the international front.

“While we congratulate all the members elected to serve, the Women’s Commission is disappointed that of the number, only one out of the two women who vied for positions was elected to serve, a very unfortunate ratio.

“The Commission is, however, hopeful that with the opportunity presented, President Nunoo Mensah, under whose first term the Women’s Commission was formed, would lead an effort to get the federations who make up the Olympic Movement in Ghana, to appoint more women who are qualified, have the experience and competence to play roles and help in the effort to get more females into the sports family, not on as participants, but also part of the decision-makers.

“At a time when the Olympics will have an equal gender participation, we think the GOC can do more by encouraging and assisting women especially retired professional athletes to take up leadership roles in their various federations and at large the GOC.

“While pledging the total support for Madam Delphina Quaye, the Commission would encourage her to work hard so as to pave way for other women in sports to walk in her path so that come the next GOC elections, more women would put themselves up to vie for roles” said the statement issued by the Women’s Commission.

Madam Elizabeth Safoa King, Vice President of Ghana Hockey is the chairman of the Women’s Commission, which includes Madam Gloria Commodore President of WISA, Rosalind Amoh of Graphic Communications (both SWAG members) and others.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt E.S Okraku has inspired the Black Stars players ahead of the 2022 AFCON qualifier with South Africa and Sao Tome.

The President of the FA who was with the Sports Minister, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, during their final training in Accra, gave the players motivation who will be departing Ghana tonight for South Africa.

The Black Stars will take on the Bafana Bafana on Friday in the penultimate group clash and return home to welcome Sao Tome and Principé in the ultimate game in the qualifiers.

Kurt believes that the 2022 AFCON can’t be played without Ghana, who are a powerhouse in Africa, hence inspiring the players to pick a ticket for the tournament next year.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Council assigns FIFA Women’s World Cup™ hosting decision to FIFA Congress; also approves financial statements for 2020 and budget for 2022, published on FIFA.com

Meeting by videoconference, today the FIFA Council conferred to the FIFA Congress the decision to award FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (https://fifa.fans/3vGb89k) hosting rights.

Until now, the decision has been taken by the FIFA Council, most recently in June 2020 when the hosting rights for the 2023 edition were awarded to Australia and New Zealand. As FIFA seeks to raise the profile of the women’s game, this represents a significant step to bring the FIFA Women’s World Cup in line with the flagship men’s competition, the FIFA World Cup™ (https://fifa.fans/38qjc3Z).

The proposal will be put forward for a final decision by the 71st FIFA Congress, which will meet virtually (for the second time) on 21 May.

The FIFA Council received a report on the international football situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council had extended to April 2021 the temporary amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players regarding the release of players for international duty, and FIFA, the confederations, and FIFA’s member associations remain in dialogue with national authorities about exemptions from quarantine rules for national team players.

The FIFA Council recognised that the highest priority in football is the health of the players, and therefore the discussion around the release of players for international duty must maintain this perspective, especially as the public health situation develops around the world.

FIFA4 - FIFA Congress to decide on hosts for future editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™

The FIFA Council also approved the organisation’s Annual Report, which contains the financial statements for 2020 and the budget for 2022.

The FIFA Annual Report 2020 focuses on the role played by world football’s governing body in the fight against COVID-19, primarily through the unprecedented FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, which has made available USD 1.5 billion to support FIFA’s 211 member associations and the confederations through times of financial uncertainty.

The FIFA Annual Report 2020 (http://fifa.fans/2NCvWgQ) is available on FIFA.com.

The Council approved the competition regulations for the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, confirming the match schedule and draw procedure for the competition taking place in Qatar from 1 to 18 December this year.

Chief Seidu Adamu

The MTN first invitational golf tournament for 2021 comes off this Saturday March 27 at the Achimota Golf course.

Over 100 golfers comprising professional and amateurs from all very the country are expected to participate for honours.

The Competition is over 18 holes, and under the Theme : The Year of the Customer : The Digital Experience.

Organisers of the competition have put at stake very attractive prizes for all winners.

There will be strict enforcement of the Covid 19 protocols, and every participant is expected to comply.

The event serves as a platform for MTN to educate the golf and sports community about their products and services while promoting golf and giving golfers in the country another avenue to play and win goodies from the network.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

DRC hosted the 1st edition of the International Roll Ball Federation Anniversary Cup in Ghana at Lashibi on last Saturday. The competition brought together twelve (12) clubs battling for honors.

Litz RBC on Saturday beat Welts RBC 5-2 in an exciting and thrilling game at the Deon Recreational Center at Lashibi in Accra to claim the 18th Roll Ball Anniversary Cup. They also took home 2,000ghc and the bragging rights.

Ezekiel Annan of K2 RBC was declared the *CAB HOLDING LTD BEST PLAYER* of the tournament.

GHALCA Chairman, Kudjoe Fianoo who watched all the matches advised the players to train hard and push the game to become popular so that they would be recognized as stars and super stars.

Yours Truly also urged them to ensure that the sport is supported by the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Olympic Committee so that they represent and compete at the 2023 African Games.

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah in a message to the Roll Ball players supported the initiative of saying no to drugs and saying yes to sports. He urged them to be positive Ambassadors of sports.

Mr. Gameli Kportufe, President of the Roll Ball Federation of Ghana appealed to companies and individuals who love sports to develop the youth to sponsor and support the game. This year's event was supported by DRC, THE TIMES OF AFRICA, ATEP CONSULT, K.I SYSTEMS and CAB HOLDINGS LTD.

He said the discipline is in all the regions in Ghana and the Ashanti region promised to join in the next competition.

The Deon Recreational Center at Lashibi is also a facility with very fantastic and cool place for leisure, entertainment and sports. They have swimming, basketball, Go-kart racing, football, volleyball and other facilities for sports.

Our First thanks to God Almighty for granting us the grace to do all that we do and are still doing.

Secondly, thanks to all the dignitaries, Sammy Heywood Okine of GOC and GHALCA Chairman, Kudjoe Fianoo who were present to support the game, also to the  officials, team mates, coaches and team managers for their timeless effort and trainings to make this a huge success,last but not the least  to all executives members of RBFG for their support behind the scenes. Finally to the management of Deon Recreational Centre for their full support and promoting roll ball in so many other way. God bless us all.

Source Roll Ball Federation

Emmanuel Tagoe aka ‘Game Boy’ was in Parliament on Monday to present his IBO title and other belts as well as seek advice from the Speaker of Parliament and his long term mentor, Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin.

Tagoe is scheduled for a world championship elimination fight in the US in May later this year.

The Speaker was very proud of Tagoe’s recent achievements in the boxing field and wish all the best in the near future.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Cahaya Lounge at Adjirigano in Accra will be the hot spot for boxing lovers as they host the ‘Night of Championship’ on Saturday 27th March, 2021.

UK boxer Prince Patel will face Julius Kisarawe from Tanzania in the main bout with the WBO Global, WBO Africa, WBA Intercontinental, IBF Continenta and Commonwealth titles at stake .

At the press conference on Tuesday to launch the international promotion by SOAQ Empire Boxing Promotions, former GBA President and current WBO Africa boss Samir Captan commended the government for supporting Ghana Boxing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and promised that all safety protocols shall be put in place.

He said seven title belts will be up for grabs in the cracker, and prayed that the best boxers will win. He announced that there will be no gate fees, as the event is strictly by invitation.

D.K. owner of the Cahaya Lounge said it is about time boxing is commercialized and monetized for the stakeholders to benefit

On the bill is the Super Flyweight Championship between Prince Patel and Julius Thomas Kisarawe for the WBO Africa Super Flyweight, WBO Global Super Flyweight and IBF Continenta Africa Flyweight titles.

Confident  28 years old Patel  with 26 fights, one defeat, two draws and 23 wins will face Tanzanian Julius Kisarawe who has 40 fights with 32 victories against seven loses and one draw

"Kisarawe is another challenge and winning will give me the edge for a shot at the world title" Patel told Yours Truly.

The humble Tanzanian said fans should expect a great boxing night.

London based Swedish and former female IBO lightweight champion, Lucy Wildheart will clash with Flora Machela also from Tanzania in an international featherweight contest.

Both boxer looked poised for a great meeting and fans will have much to cheer about.

In other supporting championship bouts Ebenezer Tetteh will face Osmanu Haruna in a 12 rounder co-main event of the night and battle for the WBA Pan Africa heavyweight belt.

Former Ghanaian middleweight champion Issah Samir will take on Frank Dodzie in a 10 round contest on the bill.

Michael Anyetei Patterson, match maker turned boxing consultant said there will be other exciting supporting bouts which will be announced at the weigh in on Friday at the Cahaya Lounge Adjiringanor, Accra.

By Sammy Heywood Okine and Elizabeth Alhassan