Sports
Unveiling ‘AKWABA …AFCON 2023 Mascot
The Akwaba Mascot
The Organising Committee (COCAN) in collaboration with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and CAF, unveiled the official Mascot of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 in Abidjan a couple days ago.
The official Mascot, named “AKWABA”, was introduced to the Ivorian people during a launch event in Abidjan, signifying the commencement of the 190-day countdown to the kick-off of the event. The opening match of the competition will be played on January 13, 2023.
AKWABA, a word derived from a local Ivorian language meaning welcome, encapsulates essential values that make it a powerful symbol of the competition: hospitality, friendship, generosity, and team spirit.
The Mascot offers an authentic experience of Ivorian hospitality, connects with fans, players, and nations, and celebrates the spirit of teamwork by promoting cooperation, mutual respect, and fair play.
As the official image of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, representing the Ivorian identity and draws inspiration from the country’s iconic elephant, Akwaba is now the face of the competition.
The Journey of Selecting ‘Akwaba’
Just over a year ago, an open and inclusive competition was organised to allow all talented individuals to express themselves and create the mascot for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
The top three winners of the competition were: KOUADIO N’Guessan Raoul Frédéric (1st place), COULIBALY Kixa Pemanh Mamadou (2nd place), and BROU Blah (3rd place).
Sports
Ghana Premier League First Round Statistics
After the first round of the Ghana Premier League, Bibiani Gold Stars are the league leaders chasing their first Premier League title since joining the league in the 2021/22 season.
Reviewing the first-round table, only 5 teams (Nsoatreman FC, Medeama SC, Goldstars, Nations FC and Heart of Lions) went on top of the league in 17 matches.
Heart of Lions prior to their Week 17 fixture were the team leading the league table and Goldstars have taken the position for the 4th time in the first round.
League leaders, Goldstars have amassed 33 points and the second-best points since the League moved from 16 to 18 club league with Asante Kotoko having the most points accumulated (37) in the first round of the league.
Medeama SC received the highest number of penalties in the league first round (3), while, Karela United, Asante Kotoko, and Nsoatreman received 2 each.
The Statistics include, Top scorers, clean sheets, General stats, red card table, League table, most home wins, most away wins, most draws, most goals scored, most goals conceded, Fatau Dauda’s team of the first round and the Penalty table.
Sports
Premier League:Gold Stars FC storm to top; Kotoko smash Vison; Hearts of Lions shocked at home
Gold Stars FC stormed to the top of the Premier League with a sensational 3-0 win at Accra Lions on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The visitors were at their very best as they run riot against the struggling Premier League side to leapfrog Heart of Lions at the top of the table.
Samuel Attah Kumi bagged a remarkable hat-trick to hand the Miners their biggest away win of the season and their 9th in total so far this term. He scored in the 14th, 44th and 46th minute as the visitors recorded the heavy win at the WAF Park in Sogakope.
Kwame Opoku bagged a brace for Asante Kotoko as they thumped Vision FC 4-1 to move within touching distance of leaders Gold Stars FC.
Opoku opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute before Nana Akwesi Amoah pulled parity for the visitors in the 22nd minute.
Peter Amidu restored Kotoko’s lead with the second goal before Kwame Opoku added the third in the 37th minute. Saaka Dauda completed the rout with the fourth goal in the 44th minute.
Kotoko are now third with 31 points, just two adrift of leaders Bibiani Gold Stars FC. Vision FC lie 11th in the table with 19 points.
Defending champions FC Samartex 1996 drew goalless with Hearts of Oak at home on Sunday.
The two teams failed to break each other down as they shared the points at the Nsenkyire Arena.
Hearts have dropped to 5th while Samartex find themselves in mid-table.
Nations FC dented Heart of Lions’ Premier League title charge after recording a 1-0 win at the Kpando Stadium.
Di Boris Djangone scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute to separate the two teams. This is Lions’ first defeat at home this season as they are leapfrogged at the top by Gold Stars FC.
Heart of Lions have slipped to fourth while Nations jump to second in the Premier League table.
Eric Osei Bonsu scored from the spot to give Nsoatreman FC a vital 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
Osei Bonsu scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute to give Yaw Preko’s side a respite after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign.
Karela United have dropped into the bottom three while Nsoatreman have jumped to 12th in the league table.
Berekum Chelsea left it late to record a 2-1 win over Medeama SC in a dramatic Premier League game on Sunday.
Stephen Amankona opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Yussif Mubarik pulled parity for the visitors through the spot kick six minute into injury time.
However, captain Zackaria Fuseini stole the headlines when he scored the winner with the last kick of the ball.
Basake Holy Stars shared the spoils with Aduana FC in an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Fire Club went ahead in the first half before Bismark Teye pulled parity in the 86th minute at the Ampain AAK Arena.
Legon Cities thrashed Dreams FC 3-0 at home on Sunday to continue their push for survival.
Goals from Fredrick Akatuk, Frank Akoto and Kabu Agyemang Raymond condemned Dreams to their 7th defeat of the season.
The Royals remain in the bottom three while Dreams FC are just above the drop zone.
Bechem United continued their fine performances in the Premier League with a solid 0-0 stalemate at Young Apostles in the Bono derby on Sunday.
