Sports

Ghana Black Stars in disarray as 8 players withdraw from 2025 Afcon qualifiers

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2024

The chances of the Black Stars of Ghana qualifying for the 2025 AFCON seems slimmer by the day with the withdrawal of eight first team players from the squad as the team prepares for crucial qualifiers against against Angola on November 15 in Luanda and against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18.

The latest to pull out of the double headed qualifiers are Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo due to injuries, with the withdrawals forcing head coach Otto Addo, to scramble for last minute replacements to reshape his squad with little time to spare.

Other top stars who have withdrawn from the team are Thomas Partey, Tariq Lamptey and Jerome Opoku

Others are Jonas Adjetey, Alexander Djiku and Joseph Paintsil, all of whom have been sidelined due to injuries or personal reasons.

Ghana currently sits in third place in Group F with two points, trailing Angola, who leads with 12 points, and Sudan with seven points.

To stand any chance of qualifying, the Black Stars must win all their remaining matches and hope Sudan stumble in their final games.

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Sports

South Africa’s FA president Danny Jordaan arrested on fraud, theft allegations

Published

8 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The President of South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, has been arrested on allegations of fraud and theft.

Jordaan, who was pivotal to the country hosting the first-ever FIFA World Cup tournament in Africa in 2010, is being accused of using about R1.3 million ($72,372) of SAFA funds to hire a PR firm and a private security company for his personal benefit.

His arrest follows a raid carried out by the country’s Special Investigating Unit (SPU) at the offices of SAFA in March where it was alleged that an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation, thus leading to the arrest.

SA Police spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, who confirmed Jordaan’s arrest, told journalists that he was
arrested along with one other official and a businessman and are expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Sports

CAF celebrates Ademola Lookman’s AFCON goals ahead of AFY award

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ahead of the 2024 African Footballer of the Year (AFY) award scheduled to hold in Morocco next month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rolled out the drums to celebrate the goals scored by Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman, at the last AFCON.

After finishing in 14th position at the Ballon d’Or, many have tipped the Atalanta star as the clear favourite to win CAF’s African Footballer of the Year award for 2024 and the continent’s football governing body seems to align with the verdict by celebrating his goals at the AFCON and his iconic celebrations depicting those of late Green Eagles player, Samuel Okwaraji.

Lookman was a key member of the Nigerian Super Eagles at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to his hat trick in the Europa League final, where Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen to win the trophy.

This season, the striker has continued where he stopped, notching up two Champions League goals and six goals and four assists in eight league games is one of the best in the world right now.

The CAF awards will take place in Rabat on December 16 at the famous Mohammed VI Grand Theatre and if Lookman picks up the gong, will be taking over from Nigerian team mate, Victor Osimhen who won the 2023 edition.