Sports
Every word from Otto Addo’s post-Sudan press conference
After seeing us draw 0-0 with Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday, Otto Addo spoke to the press.
He was asked about the positives from the game, the team’s performance, the brilliance of Alidu Seidu, Ibrahim Sulemana, conversion of chances and much more.
Here is everything he had to say:
On analysis of the match
I think everybody saw that we played well. It’s just really, really bad luck. And their goalkeeper did really, really well. Big, big complement to our defence. From the goalkeeper, starting from Ati-zigi, with the defensive line, Alidu Seidu, Alexander Djiku, Gideon Mensah for not allowing the opponents too many counter-attacks, and not allowing them to have too many chances. And those chances they had, they defended well. Also a big, big complement to our defensive midfielders, who really played well. Elisha was exceptional for me, but also Alidu Seidu was exceptional. And then also, Ibrahim Sulemana, in his first game from the beginning, we controlled everything. The only thing which was missing was the goals, and surely we have to work on this. We have a few days to analyse it, how we can score better. The chances were there, a lot of chances, but this is football. This is football, sometimes very, very hard, difficult for us. So now it pains even more. The Niger game pains even more. Bit I think today, we did well.
And there’s nothing much I can say, that’s the result. This is the most important thing in football.
On positives
I think we deserved to win, but we didn’t. And we will stay positive, and we will beat them away. With the same performance, the same passion, the same creativity up front, we will beat them away.
On whether the spirit and commitment was lacking
No
On taking chances
Surely, we will try to train on finishing and give them confidence, that’s all. This was the only thing which was missing. The spirit was good, the passion was there, the defensive discipline was there, they’re just about to finish the action, that’s all. Sudan was very lucky today. Next time we see them in Libya, they won’t be lucky, then we will, that’s all.
On plans for the next game
Look, I’m not interested in any records or whatsoever. I want to win the next game, and then the world looks different, that’s all. All these statistics and this and that, it’s like that. What can I do? We can only look forward and look for the next match and try to score, that’s all. We will try as much as we did today, and then it will be rewarded. That’s all I can say.
On assuring fans of win next week
Look, this assurance that everybody’s talking about, why? For what? This is football. I cannot even assure, maybe God will take me tomorrow and I’m dead. What can I assure? We will try our best. And I know that at the end we’ll be rewarded. And the positive thing is, what I want to tell you, all of you, it’s still in our own hands. We have to win the next game, that’s all. And then still, we are not qualified yet. Then it’s still a long way. It’s going to be very, very tough to the last match, I think. But we will do it. With this performance, again, we will do it in Libya, against Sudan.
On Sudan
Every team is a threat. And they did well in defending today. Especially their goalkeeper did well. But like I said, if we were a little bit more clever in using our chances,we would have won today. And this is what we need to work on. I think we were better. I’m looking at my team and I think we were good. The goalkeeper defended well. But we created so many chances. I can’t say they had a good performance. The only good thing they had is the point they took. And there we have to work on it. As I said before, we have to work on winning games. We have to win the next game to stay in the race.
On team mentality going into the next game
This is one of the things that every team is trying to do. The players do everything they can to help us. It’s one of the main things we need to do. They show on international level that they can score and I believe in them that they will score in the next game.
Sports
Bukari, Forson Amankwah, Schindler, others join Black Stars for upcoming qualifiers
Osman Bukari (Austin FC), Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer (Hamburger SV), Forson Amankwah (Norwich City), Terry Yegbe (IF Elfsborg), Ebenezer Annan (OFK Beograd) and Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor) will join the Black Stars ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
These players replace Joseph Paintsil, Antoine Semenyo, Ibrahim Osman, Tariq Lamptey, Jerome Opoku, and Inaki Williams, who are unavailable. Ghana faces Angola on Friday, November 15 and host Niger on Monday, November 18, 2024.
The team trains at Accra Sports Stadium, starting Monday, November 11, at 5 p.m.
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Premier League: Gold Stars FC maintain unbeaten start; Nations FC smash Nsoatreman; Kotoko fall to Bechem United
Gold Stars FC maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a remarkable draw at Young Apostles FC, Nations FC crashed Nsoatreman FC while Asante Kotoko are without a win in their last three Premier League matches.
Young Apostles 0-0 Gold Stars FC
Gold Stars FC maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier League as they shared a goalless draw with Young Apostles FC at the Wenchi Stadium on Sunday.
Frimpong Manso’s side have now gone 10 matches without a defeat but have seen their three-point lead at the top of the table cut to just one following the stalemate.
The home side dominated possession as expected, but were tested by the visitors on several occasions at the Nana Abrefa Nketiah VII Stadium in Wenchi as the two teams shared the spoils.
The Bibiani-based side are top of the table with 20 points from 10 games, while Young Apostles have slipped to 14th in the table.
Bechem United 1-0 Asante Kotoko SC
Asante Kotoko are without a win in three matches after losing 1-0 at Bechem United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Kofi Tompuo’s spectacular volley in the 27th minute separated the two teams at the Nana Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
The Porcupine Warriors have dropped out of the top four as they now lie 6th in the table with United placed in mid-table.
Nations FC 3-0 Nsoatreman
Nations FC made light work of Nsoatreman FC after hammering the visitors 3-0 in Sunday’s match day 10 fixture in the Premier League.
In-form wideman Faisal Charwetey continued his fine form with a brace after Bi Boris had opened the scoring for the home side.
Boris scored first in the 7th minute before Charwetey added further goals in the 10th and 18th minute to complete the rout at the Dr.Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
Charwetey, who has now scored seven goals in 10 matches, is the leading top scorer in the 2024-25 Premier League so far.
Nations are just a point behind leaders Gold Stars FC in second place with 19 points.
Aduana FC 1-0 Karela United
Aduana FC continued their resurgence with a solitary 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
Gideon Boateng scored the only goal of the match to separate the two teams at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.
The Fire Club has now moved up to 11th in the table with 11 points while United are just a point above the bottom three.
Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Accra Lions
Basake Holy Stars rallied from behind to beat Accra Lions 2-1 at the Crosby Awuah Memorial (C.A.M) Park on Sunday.
Holy Stars goalkeeper Dubi Kassi Tayi guided the ball into his own net in the 33rd minute before Prince Tweneboah grabbed a sensational brace in the 63rd and 91st minute.
The match appeared to be heading to a 1-1 draw until Tweneboah stepped up with the decisive goal in added time.
The Aiyinase-based side lie 10th in the table with 12 points while Accra Lions lie in the bottom three.
Heart of Lions 1-0 Berekum Chelsea
Heart of Lions recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea at home on Sunday to jump into the top four.
Christian Agyenim Boateng’s second half strike was all that Lions needed to wrap up a win at the Kpando Stadium.
Lions have now jumped to third in the table with 17 points, just three behind leaders Gold Stars FC while Chelsea have slipped to 8th in the table.
FC Samartex 1996 1-0 Legon Cities
Seidu Abubakar scored in stoppage time for FC Samartex 1996 in their 1-0 win over Legon Cities at home on Sunday.
The visitors will feel heartbroken after holding the defending champions until the 90th minute when Abubakar slotted home the decisive goal to down the Royals at the Nsenkyire Arena.
Samartex have jumped to 4th in the table with 17 points while Legon Cities remain in the bottom three.