Sports
German Winfried Schafer named as Black Stars Technical Advisor and GFA Director of Football
Seasoned and vastly experienced German manager, Winfried Anton Schafer, has been appointed as Technical Advisor of the Black Stars of Ghana and Director of Football for the Ghana Football Association.
The German tactician, who won the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002, will be expected to work closely with Head Coach Otto Addo to build a winsome Black Stars team.
Winfried Schafer assumes the role having excelled in a managerial career spanning a little over 40 years working with a number of National teams (Cameroon, Thailand and Jamaica) as well as European clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Berlin.
One of Schafer’s most notable achievements is winning the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002.
Schafer has also coached in the United Arab Emirates, working with top clubs namely Al Ain, Al-Ahli Dubai, Baniyas and Al-Khor. His last coaching role was with Al Khor.
In his new role, Schafer will not only provide technical guidance but also oversee the development of football in Ghana as the Director of Football.
This role will also require Schafer to, in conjunction with the Technical Directorate of the GFA, develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the Association, provide technical guidance in line with Ghana’s football philosophy, provide general leadership for youth development and ensure consistent high performance by teams.
His experience coaching at both club and national team level will undoubtedly be valuable in this position.
Winfried Schafer enjoyed a successful playing career spending seventeen seasons in the German League system playing a total of 438 matches and scoring 62 goals.
He played for Borussia Monchengladbach, Kickers Offenbach and Karlsruher SC.
It is anticipated that Schafer’s rich and diverse experience will bring great value to the Black Stars and the FA as the nation looks to seeing the resurgence of the team.
GFA Communications
Sports
CAF releases draw procedure for TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cote D’Ivoire 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the draw procedure for the 2025 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana will join 12 other countries for the biennial youth tournament, scheduled to take place in Cote D’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18, 2025.
The participating teams include Egypt and Morocco from North Africa, holders Senegal and Sierra Leone from WAFU A, Nigeria, Ghana, and host Cote d’Ivoire from WAFU B, Tanzania and Kenya from CECAFA, South Africa and Zambia from COSAFA, and DR Congo from Central Africa.
The 13 teams will be distributed into three groups: one group of five teams (A) and two groups of four teams (B and C).
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stages, along with the two best third-placed teams.
The ranking of the third-placed teams will be determined after removing the results of the team ranked fifth in Group A.
The knockout stages will consist of the quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and final.
RANKING:
Senegal – Winner in 2023
Nigeria – Third place in 2023
Congo – Second in group stage
Egypt – Third in group stage
Zambia – Fourth in group stage
Note: The remaining teams did not qualify.
Cote d’Ivoire, the host, will occupy position A1.
Senegal, the holder of the title from the 2023 edition, will occupy position C1, while Nigeria, the third-placed team in 2023, will occupy position B1.
Congo, Egypt, and Zambia, the next best-ranked teams from the 2023 edition, will be in level 2.
DRAW PROCEDURES:
In level 1, Cote d’Ivoire will occupy position A1, Nigeria will occupy position B1, and Senegal will occupy position C1.
Five pots will be used for the draw:
Pot 1: The teams in level 2 (Congo, Egypt, and Zambia)
Pot 2: The remaining seven teams (Ghana, RD Congo, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania)
Pot 3: Positions A2, B2, and C2
Pot 4: Positions A3, B3, and C3
Pot 5: Positions A4, B4, and C4
The teams in level 2 will be drawn into positions A2, B2, and C2. The remaining teams will be drawn into positions A3, B3, C3, A4, B4, and C4. The remaining team will automatically occupy position A5.
Ghana last won the title in 2021, defeating Uganda 2-0 in the final in
Sports
Hohoe United stage massive comeback in 3-2 win against Akatsi All Stars in Zone Three
League leaders Hohoe United came from behind to defeat Akatsi All Stars in a scintillating 3-2 victory at the Hohoe Sports Stadium on Sunday.
John Ocansey netted a brace in the 11th and 39th minute for Akatsi All Stars but Faruk Mohammed pulled one back from the spot in the 42nd minute for Hohoe United by halftime.
Djanfarou Mumuni made it 2-2 for Hohoe United in the 68th minute before William Oduro scored the winning goal for the home side in stoppage time. William Oduro of Hohoe United was named player of the match.
Kings Palaces 1-1 Great Olympics
Former Premier League side Great Olympics were held to a 1-1 draw at Kings Palaces on Sunday. Isaac Mensah scored first for Great Olympics in the third minute, while Atadana Edward Kwame leveled matters for Kings Palaces in the 49th minute. Great Olympics currently occupy the second position in the table with 32 points.
Home Stars 1-0 Okwawu United
Home Stars secured their third home victory this season, defeating former Premier League side Okwawu United 1-0 at the Ho Sports Stadium. Ronald Numenya’s early goal in the 7th minute sealed the win for Home Stars.
Results in Zone Three:
