Sports

Wake up, slumbering Ghana football!

• Kurt Okraku – GFA boss

Ghana football continues to become the butt of public ridicule day-by-day and this should be a matter of grave concern to the managers of our game.

For decades now, our national teams and clubs have played second fiddle to the rest of the continental game and we seem to be fine with the repulsive decomposition and disintegration.

It is sad!

Our talented local players continue to leave the scene in droves to other African countries in search of greener pastures; others to even neighbouring Togo, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Some, too, have found their future in countries that recovering or have just recovered from the ravages of war because of despicable remunerations.

Count the number of our players campaigning in the Sudan, Ethiopia and even Niger. Is it not pathetic?

We pay our players peanuts and they are all-too ready to jump onto the next bandwagon when the chance presents itself, leaving the domestic leagues poorer.

You cannot blame them. They deserve better!

Evidently, most of our stadia have had ‘ugly’ empty stands starring deep in the faces of the thinly-scattered fans around, because of the scarcity of quality players. Fans, naturally, will go to the stadia to watch quality football – and when they do not find what they want, they might turn attention to the lures of quality European football.

The Gullivers of Ghana football – Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak, have for a long time now struggled in Africa simply because they lacked the quality and capacity to rub shoulders with their more endowed competitors.

How can it be said that the last time Kotoko (once rated best) clinched an African glory (African Clubs Championships Cup) – the equivalent of the CAF Champions League, was in 1983 – 40 years ago? And, what of Hearts who last enjoyed continental glory (Confederation Cup) some 19 years ago, having won the CAF Champions League in 2000?

Again, how comfortable would you feel telling a young, dyed-in-the-wool follower of the Black Stars that the last time the senior national team conquered Africa was in Libya, 1982 – 41 years back? The slump is frustratingly unacceptable!

After all these years of disappointments and awfulness, stakeholders should be thinking of organising an emergency meeting to brainstorm on the way-forward of our football. Fact is that our football is almost in a comatose.

And, it is the reason hundreds of Ghanaians took to social media and condemned proposals by some unidentified group of people calling for an extension of the tenure of the GFA president Kurt Okraku, whose first term of office ends this year. The FA boss is eligible to run fora a second term. If he wins, he stays.

However, that should never dominate our conversation now. We must redirect our energies to the resurgence of our ailing game, and nothing else! The standards are flaking off with a flight, and it is a worry!

To think that we are not even considered among the Top 10 best leagues in Africa, should be disquieting enough to spark a serious revolution in our football.

As it is done in other countries, we must woo the government to make direct investment in the football leagues, with the FA ensuring the clubs are suitably structured in full compliance with the regulations on accountability and transparency.

Indeed, there are a lot of things we are not doing right and one hopes the recent chain of reverses would blow out that sense of entitlement we have erroneously flaunted around all this while.

We have slumbered for far too long and we got no option than to wake up now or never!

Sports

Football fraternity commiserate with family of late Wilberforce Mfum

The Ghana Football Association wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families of late Ghana legend Wilberforce Mfum.

The GFA received with shock the news of the demise of the former Swedru All Blacks, Asante Kotoko, and Black Stars player on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Affectionately called ‘the Bulldozer’ due to his immense strength and clinical finishing during his days at Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars, Mfum was a household name during his playing days, and his legacies in Ghana Football will forever be written in gold.

He was a member of the 1963 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, scoring Ghana’s first goal in the tournament and netting twice in the final to help Ghana win their first continental title.

Noted for his scintillating goal-scoring prowess, he scored 20 goals in 26 appearances for Ghana and shone in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Wilberforce Mfum was a standout performer for Swedru All Blacks and Asante Kotoko before taking his talent overseas to play for Baltimore Bays, Ukrainian SC, Ukrainian Nationals, and New York Cosmos in the United States of America.

He leaves behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazer and a respected figure in the history of Ghana Football.

The thoughts and prayers of the GFA and the entire football fraternity are with his family at this difficult time. May his soul Rest In Perfect Peace.

Sports

Ghana vs Egypt – Quarterfinal Thriller at the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

In a pulsating quarterfinal clash between Ghana and Egypt at the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, the young Pharaohs edged the gallant Black Satellites 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time.

Ghana controlled the early exchanges, nearly capitalizing on a second-minute chance. Egypt responded with a wasted freekick in the 6th minute, setting the tone for a tightly contested opening.

Both teams showed flashes of attacking threat, but the first 15 minutes remained cagey, with Egypt committing multiple fouls to disrupt Ghana’s rhythm.

Ghana’s Phenyin-Denis Marfo received a yellow card in the 15th minute, followed by Egypt picking up their own caution three minutes later.

A costly error by the Satellites’ defence in the 19th minute gifted Egypt the opener, scored by Mohammed Sherif after a lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal. Just eight minutes later, a defensive mix-up allowed Sherif to double Egypt’s lead.

Despite the setback, Ghana pressed forward, with Aziz Issah firing over the bar from a 36th-minute freekick and a header from a goalmouth scramble cleared off the line in the 43rd minute. Their persistence paid off when Issah rifled in a long-range strike in the first minute of first half added time to halve the deficit.

The Satellites began the second half with renewed energy. A series of chances followed — DaCosta and Denis both coming close — and Egypt had to make several defensive adjustments through substitutions. Jerry Afriyie missed two promising headers, and Aziz Issah continued to test the Egyptian goalkeeper.

As Ghana mounted pressure, tempers flared; an Egyptian official was red carded in the 77th minute.

The Satellites appealed for a penalty in the 85th minute, but VAR ruled against them. Lord Afrifa, in midfield, and Joseph Opoku, on the left flank, were very influential throughout the 90 minutes of regulation time.

Ghana’s resilience paid off in stoppage time: after a long VAR check, the Satellites were awarded a penalty and Hakim converted the spot kick to level the match at 2-2.

Ghana dominated extra time, despite going a man down when Essel was red carded in the 2nd minute of the second period. Aseako made a crucial save from the resulting freekick, and the team battled on bravely. Aidoo and Aziz Issah had chances, while Musibau headed over in the dying moments of the first period.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Ghana still created chances but could not find the winner. Egypt replaced their goalkeeper just before the end of extra time, perhaps anticipating the shootout.

In the shootout, Ghana scored through Aziz, Denis, Opoku, and Musibau — but DaCosta’s miss proved decisive. Egypt converted all five of their kicks, sealing a dramatic victory and booking their place in the semifinals.

Final Score: Egypt 2 (5) – 2 (4) Ghana (after penalties)

A valiant fightback by the Satellites ended in an undesired outcome, but their spirit and determination shone throughout, and they exit the tournament with heads held high.

Hakim Abdul Sulemana won the Player of the match award.