Sports
Relegated Amiens join Lyon to take Ligue 1 appeal to top court
Relegated Amiens on Tuesday joined Lyon in telling AFP that they will challenge the decision to end the Ligue 1 season early before the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court.
The club oppose the April 30 decision by the French Football League (LFP) to end the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, after the government said sports leagues could not resume until September at the earliest.
Amiens were relegated from Ligue 1 as the second-bottom team after the final table was decided based on points per game, with 10 scheduled rounds of matches remaining.
“Amiens are still fighting against this decision which we find unfair, incoherent and unfounded,” Amiens president Bernard Joannin told AFP.
“The LFP board of directors has pronounced an arbitrary relegation of our club.”
Lyon, who missed out on qualification for the Europa League after finishing seventh, said on Monday that they would also appeal at the Council of State.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas also wrote a letter on Monday to France’s prime minister and sports minister urging them to reconsider the decision to end the season, with the government expected to announce next week a further easing of the lockdown.
On Tuesday, six Senators for the opposition Republican party tabled an amendment to Emmanuel Macron’s government’s latest emergency bill which would allow French sports leagues to resume their seasons if passed. – AFP
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)
