Sports
Ex Black Stars coach Renard hails Jordan Ayew’s progress
Two-time AFCON winner and former Black Stars trainer, Renard Herve, has described Ghana striker, Jordan Ayew as a promising striker capable of projecting the Black Stars and Africa on the global stage in future.
Renard, who managed the Crystal Palace striker at French club Sochaux in 2014 as a 22 year-old, hailed the player’s progress and described him as the future of the Black Stars.
“He is improving because it is not easy to play in the Premier League. He is working very hard. He is clever, doesn’t talk too much. Jordan is in my heart and I like his spirit. I am very sure from now till the end of his career; he will do a lot of great things.
He added that it was his wish to see Jordan and his senior brother Andre Ayew, win the AFCON before ending their careers because they deserved it.
Quizzed about taking charge of the Black Stars in the future, Renard who had a stint with the Stars as one of the assistants to Claude Le Roy in 2008 did not rule out that possibility.
“Coming to coach Ghana will be a fantastic challenge but no one knows tomorrow. Ghana was on top but now a little bit down. The potential, however, is still the same. One day it will be your management and government that have to decide if we want to bring this man”, stated the Frenchman.
Speaking to the local media, the former Black Stars trainer, Herve Renard, also welcomed a return to a coaching role on the continent, suggesting that he would relish an opportunity to coach in Africa again.
Renard, who won the 2012 and 2015 African Cup of Nations with Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire respectively, vacated his post in charge of Morocco’s Atlas Lions after a disappointing round of 16 exit to Benin at the 2019 AFCON.
But Renard who is now in charge of Saudi Arabia, welcomed another stint on the continent to which he has a longstanding attachment.
“I have a new challenge with Saudi Arabia and that is my focus. But of course I will come back to Africa one day to win something with a country, one that hasn’t won the AFCON for a very long time.
Sharing the formula for his AFCON success, Renard attributed his feat in African football to hard work and luck.
“I was a bit lucky but I also worked hard. It’s strange to have won the AFCON with two completely different teams.
“Luck plays a part in football but you have to provoke the luck. You build the luck. You have to build everything in football. If you don’t have good discipline, a good squad, a good bench, you can’t achieve that. For a tournament like the AFCON, it can be won from the bench because as a coach you sometimes have to understand things that players don’t.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Sports
WAFU B U20: Ghana’s Jerry Afriyie crowned MVP in semi-final win over Cote D’voire
Ghana U20 striker Jerry Afriyie was crowned Man of the Match in the side’s come back 2-1 win over Cote D’voire in the WAFU B U20 Semi-final on Sunday October 27, 2024 in Togo.
The talented striker, who is the leading top scorer with four goals, scored a magnificent spot kick to complete the comeback win for the Black Satellites at the Stade Municipal.
The Black Satellites will be making a return to the AFCON Championship next year after winning the title in 2021 under Abdul Karim Zito.
It was an incredible finish to an afternoon that began badly for Ghana as Konan Loukou gave the Ivorians an early lead before the Ghanaians pulled parity from a deflected corner kick to end the first half, before Jerry Afriyie sealed victory from the spot kick.
The win ensured the Black Satellites qualification to the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The WAFU B U20 Championship serves as the qualification for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with only the finalists going through.
This 2025 U20 AFCON will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, where the four semi-finalists will qualify automatically.
Sports
Ghana to face rivals Nigeria in epic 2024 WAFU B U20 Final
Ghana and Nigeria will face off in the WAFU B U20 Final after the two West African giants dispatched their respective semi-final opponents in Togo on Sunday October 27, 2024.
The Black Satellites produced a sensational comeback 2-1 win over Cote D’voire in the first semi-final at the Stade Municipal before Nigeria also rallied from behind to beat Niger 3-1 in the second semi-final match.
Ghana and Nigeria will renew their long-standing rivalry in Wednesday’s Final at the Stade de Kégué.
Desmond Ofei’s side will be hoping to go one step further by reclaiming the sub-regional title from defending champions Nigeria.
The WAFU B U20 Championship serves as the qualification for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with only Ghana and Nigeria going through.
This 2025 U20 AFCON will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, where the four semi-finalists will qualify automatically.