Sports
Ghana to host Guinea in Olympics qualifier today
Ghana’s Black Queens will host their Guinean counterparts in the 2nd leg of the 1st round qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Ghana goes into the game with their noses in front having won the 1st leg 3-0 in Conakry on Friday.
Coach Nora Hauptle spoke highly of her side after the win and rued their missed chances ‘‘saying that the team could have scored more if they took their chances’’.
The Swiss Coach expects her players to make the second leg easier especially as the team plays in front of the home fans Tuesday afternoon.
Vivian Adjei Konadu, Doris Boaduwaa and Evelyn Badu got on target when the two sides clashed in the 1st leg in Conakry. Ghana scored two first half goals through Adjei Konadu and Boaduwaa before reigning CAF Young Player of the year and Inter-Club Player of the year Evelyn Badu put the game to bed in the second half.
The Black Queens have rediscovered their form under new manager Nora Hauptle following four successive victories since February this year.
Nora was off to a flying start against Benin in an International friendly in Cotonou where they won 3-0 with Princella Adubea, Sandra Owusu Ansah and Evelyn Badu hitting the back of the net.
The Queens later engaged Senegal in back to back friendlies at the Accra Sports stadium and won 4-0 over the two legs.
A Gifty Assifuah brace and a goal from Grace Asantewaa gave Ghana a 3-0 win in the first game before the team coasted to a narrow win in the reverse fixture courtesy a late Evelyn Badu strike.
The team is looking to restore public confidence as they journey on for a place in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
A win on Tuesday will send Ghana to the next of the qualifiers where the Black Queen will play the winner of the match between Rwanda and Uganda in the second round qualifiers.
The game against Guinea is scheduled for 4pm kick off at the Accra Sports stadium on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
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Sports
Otto Addo names 23-man squad for Chad and Madagascar 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
The team, led by captain Jordan Ayew includes three home-based players: Benjamin Asare of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kamaradini Mamudu of Medeama SC and Razak Simpson of Nations FC.
Deputy captain and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey returns to the squad after missing four of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last year. With over 50 appearances for Ghana since his debut in June 2016, Partey brings valuable experience to the team.
Other notable inclusions are Kamal Deen Sulemana of Southampton FC and Jerry Afriyie of CD Lugo. Sulemana has regained full fitness after a lengthy injury layoff, while Afriyie retains his spot after impressing in the match against Niger in November last year.
Belgium-based Christopher Bonsu Baah, who plays for Genk, has also received an invitation. The left-footed right-winger, capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, began his career with Accra Shooting Stars before joining Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08 and later Genk in July 2023.
The team will assemble on Monday, March 17, 2025, and train for four days before hosting Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, 2025. The Black Stars will then travel to Morocco to face Madagascar in another Group I match on Monday, March 24, 2025.
Ghana are currently second in Group I with nine points from four matches after securing three wins and one defeat, leveling them with Comoros.
Ghana’s qualifying campaign began with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, followed by a loss to Comoros. They bounced back with consecutive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in June last year to keep their chances of qualification intact.
Below is the full Squad:
Sports
Twelve players left out of Black Stars squad due to injury
Twelve players could not make the Black Stars squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injuries.
They include Alidu Seidu, Tariq Lamptey, Brandon Thomas Asante, Abdul Mumin, Joseph Aidoo, Abdul Manaf Nuruudeen, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Baba Idrissu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Majeed Ashimeru, and Joseph Painstil.
The injury details are as follows:
Alidu Seidu (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – Rehab), Tariq Lamptey (Ankle Ligament Injury), Brandon Thomas Asante (Muscle Tear), Abdul Mumin (Anterior Crucial Ligament), Joseph Aidoo (Muscle), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Ankle), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – Recovering), Baba Idrissu (Recovering), Ibrahim Sulemana (Adductor Tendonitis), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (Knee), Majeed Ashimeru (Rebuilding from injury – Needs time to fully recover), Joseph Painstil (Quadriceps)
