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We are charged up for the Afcon – Barnieh

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Team captain Daniel Afriyie Barnieh says the atmosphere in the Black Meteors are fired up for the 2023 TotalEnergies U23 African Cup of Nations.

The tournament began on Saturday with hosts Morocco beating Guinea 2-1 in the opening game.

Ghana will face Congo in the other Group A match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium at 4pm(3pm GMT) on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the game, skipper Afriyie Barnieh  was emphatic that the Black Meteors are ready for their opening match of the tournament.

“It’s a good atmosphere in our camp. On and off the pitch the morale is really high in our camp”

“Everything is quite good and our objective for this competition is to qualify for the Olympic Games and also to win the trophy”, Barnieh said at the pre-match press conference.

Barnieh further revealed that he is looking forward to play at the Olympic Games if the team achieves its targets.

“It means a lot to me to participate in the Olympic Games because it is one of the biggest competitions in the world.”

“Its a competition that has seen alot of stars participate in  over the years”, Barnieh stated.

The winner and runner ups of the tournament will qualify to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games Soccer competition in Paris.

King Faisal owner Alhaji Grusah accuses GFA of Corruption, calls for Kurt Okraku’s head

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Alhaji Karim Grusah, the owner and bankroller of King Faisal, has launched a scathing attack on the Ghana Football Association (GFA), labeling it as corrupt and demanding the resignation of its president, Kurt Okraku.

His strong comments come in the wake of the dismissal of King Faisal’s case against Tamale City by the Appeals Committee, as announced by the Football Association. This verdict confirms King Faisal’s relegation to the Division One League.

Despite the setback, Alhaji Grunzah has expressed his intention to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to continue his fight.

In an interview with Kumasi-based LUV FM, Alhaji Grusah alleged that Kurt Okraku had called him to his office and promised to assist him despite previously claiming that he had no valid case. Alhaji Grunzah emphasized his belief that the GFA, under Kurt Okraku’s leadership, is corrupt, and therefore, both the President and the General Secretary should step down from their positions.

He questioned Kurt Okraku’s contributions to Ghana football and called for a complete overhaul of the association. Alhaji Grusah expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs within the GFA, accusing it of running like a family association and asserting his knowledge of the activities taking place.

Alhaji Grusah’s comments reflect his frustration and disappointment with the GFA’s handling of the case and his belief that a change in leadership is necessary to address the alleged corruption within the association.

“What has he [Kurt] done for Ghana football?” Alhaji Grusah, who a member of the the Black Stars management committee said.

“I want to tell Kurt Okraku, he should resign from the GFA, and his General Secretary too.

“He called me to his office and told me, I have no case but he wants to help me. You can call him and ask him.

“I was with him at his office together with Mohammed Jiji.

“This corrupt GFA under [Kurt Okraku]? Running family association, we know everything he is doing,” Alhaji fumed.

2023 U-23 AFCON: Kamaldeen Sulemana, Kwadwo Opoku ‘Mahala’ named in Black Meteors final squad

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Kamaldeen Sulemana, the Southampton winger, has successfully secured his position in the final squad of the Black Meteors for the highly anticipated 2023 Afcon U-23 tournament.

Initially, Kamaldeen Sulemana withdrew from the squad, but to everyone’s surprise, his name, along with Kwadwo Opoku from the MLS, has been added to the final team.

During the Afcon 2023 qualifiers, the former FC Nordsjaelland winger featured in the Black Stars’ uneventful goalless draw against Madagascar on June 18, 2023.

Joining Kamaldeen Sulemana in the final squad are notable players such as Danlad Ibrahim, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Zubairu Ibrahim, and Emmanuel Essiam.

Ghana’s opening match will take place on Sunday against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Ghana will face the tournament hosts, Morocco, in their second group stage encounter at the same venue. The final group match will be against Guinea at the Grand Stade de Tanger.

2023 U23 AFCON: Chris Hughton lands in Morocco to offer technical support to Black Meteors

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Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has arrived in Rabat for the 2023 TotalEnergies U23 African Cup of Nations. The tournament is being held in Morocco from June 24 to July 8, 2023.

Coach Hughton is present in Morocco to provide support to the technical team of the Black Meteors, who are starting their camp in pursuit of securing a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games Men’s Soccer competition in Paris.

Arriving in Rabat on Friday, Coach Hughton expressed his pleasure in being there and stated that his role is to assist the players, the head coach, and the technical staff.

He acknowledged the significance of being present at the competition, recognizing that many talented teams did not make it. The first measure of success, therefore, is the achievement of being there.

Coach Hughton emphasized the importance of making the nation proud and expressed confidence in the players’ commitment. He encouraged them to give their all and assured them that the technical staff only asks for their best efforts.

He acknowledged that the upcoming matches would require tactical efficiency, goal scoring, and a bit of luck. He urged the players to work hard and emphasized the necessity of teamwork.

Coach Hughton reminded the team that they are not only there for the experience but also to win as many games as possible. He emphasized their responsibility to make themselves, the head coach, the technical team, and the country proud.

In a brief meeting with the technical team and players, the Black Stars Head Coach conveyed his best wishes to them.

“It’s a pleasure to be here. My role and responsibility here is to support the players, the head Coach and the technical staff”.

“First and foremost, The success in being here because there are a lot of good teams that are not here at this competition. So the first mark of success is to be here”.

“Second is to make the nation proud. I am sure you will give everything and this is all the technical staff can ask for from you”.

“The games will be decided by quality tactical efficiency by scoring goals and some luck. I am sure you will work as hard as you can to make sure these things go in your favour”.

“None of these matches will be easy and you need team work. You are here for the experience and you are here to win as many games as you can.”

“You are here to make your selves , the head coach, technical team and importantly the country proud and I wish you all the best”, the Black Stars Head Coach said in  a brief meeting with the Technical team and players.

Ghana’s U23 AFCON campaign will commence on Sunday, with the Black Meteors facing Congo in the second Group A match. Subsequently, Ghana will compete against Morocco and Guinea in the remaining group matches.

The top two teams from Group A and Group B will advance to the semi-finals, and the winners and runners-up will automatically qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games Men’s Soccer competition in Paris.

Chelsea interested in Ghanaian midfielder Kudus Mohammed

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Chelsea interested in Ghanaian midfielder Kudus Mohammed

Chelsea have set their sights on Kudus Mohammed, the talented midfielder from Ghana and Ajax, as they look to fill the number 10 position following the expected departures of Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, and others.

However, Dortmund, known for their ability to buy low and sell high, are also rumored to be interested in acquiring the mercurial Ghanaian player.

Jennifer Mendelewitsch, Kudus Mohammed’s agent, officially announced that the 22-year-old footballer will be leaving Ajax, the Dutch Eredivisie giants, during the upcoming summer transfer window. His exceptional performances this season have attracted significant attention from several top European clubs.

Mendelewitsch confirmed in a recent interview that Kudus has turned down Ajax’s offer of a contract extension, indicating his desire to pursue a fresh challenge elsewhere. She stated, “After the World Cup and this season, there is a lot of interest in Kudus. I believe it is in the best interest of both Ajax and Mohammed that he makes a transfer now.”

With his contract expiring in the summer of 2025, Kudus Mohammed is currently valued at €40 million in the market.

The talented midfielder has captured the interest of various Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Liverpool, who are all reportedly vying for his signature.

Kudus Mohammed has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, netting 18 goals and providing 7 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. His remarkable performances have firmly established him as a rising star in European football.

As the summer transfer window draws near, Kudus Mohammed is on the verge of bidding farewell to Ajax, eagerly seeking new opportunities and challenges to further advance his career.

“It was a challenging season for me” – Afena Gyan opens up on his first season with Cremonese

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Ghanaian striker Felix Afena-Gyan has openly acknowledged that his recent season with Cremonese was particularly challenging for him.

After a successful debut season with AS Roma, where he won the Europa Conference League, Afena-Gyan secured a transfer to Cremonese.

The club reportedly invested 6 million euros in the promising attacker, but unfortunately, he struggled to make a significant impact, leaving fans disappointed.

During an interview with Sports Obama TV, Afena-Gyan honestly shared his evaluation of the difficulties he faced throughout the campaign.

“It was a very tough season for me because I couldn’t meet my target,” he admitted, his tone reflective.

“How I planned to fix it, I couldn’t get it that way so yeah, it was a very tough one. “Everyone has his goals for the season and mine was to be part of the top scorers in the team, to get some number of goals but unfortunately, it couldn’t happen that way so it was very tough for me”

Despite the hardships encountered, the 20-year-old striker views this season as a test of character and does not attribute his struggles solely to the transfer from AS Roma.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that (moving from Roma) though, but you know in life, things happen like this, so I guess it’s one of them.”

In the past season, Afena-Gyan made 28 appearances across various competitions and managed to score two goals. Unfortunately, his inconsistent form resulted in him missing out on a place in Ghana’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar.

However, Afena-Gyan remains determined to learn from this challenging experience and bounce back stronger in the future. He recognizes the need to reflect on his performances, work on his weaknesses, and regain his confidence.

Justice-seeking King Faisal owner Alhaji Grusah to drag GFA to CAS after losing appeal to Tamale City

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Following the dismissal of their protest against Tamale City, Alhaji Grusah, the veteran football administrator and bankroller of relegated King Faisal, has confirmed their intention to take the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

King Faisal had filed a protest against Tamale City, alleging the use of an unqualified player, Isaac Mensah, who they claim has another registration in the system under the name Jireh Kojo Nissi. However, the protest related to their Ghana Premier League (GPL) Matchday 30 clash on May 6 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium was dismissed for the second time by the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee.

Alhaji Grusah expressed his surprise at the ruling and stated his determination to seek justice for what he believes is a case of double identity involving a player.

He referred to a previous case involving Parma, who had appealed against Dreams FC and won at CAS after their protest was initially dismissed by the GFA.

By resorting to CAS, Alhaji Grusah aims to pursue a resolution that he perceives as just in the matter concerning the alleged double identity of the player.

“They have informed us that they have dismissed our protest. This happened to Parma when he appealed against Dreams FC. His case was dismissed by the GFA but he won at CAS,” he stated.

“Double registrations are not allowed, and we are all aware of it. I will prepare with my legal team and take them to CAS for a fair ruling,” he told Peace FM.

U23 AFCON: Young sensation Ernest Nuamah arrives in Black Meteors camp in Rabat ahead of Congo game

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Ernest Nuamah, the winger for Nordsjaelland, has joined his fellow teammates at the Black Meteors Camp in Rabat.

Following his call-up to the senior national team, Nuamah made an appearance as a substitute in the recent AFCON Qualifying match against Madagascar, which ended in a goalless draw on June 18, 2023.

Now, he has arrived at the U23 camp as the team prepares for their first match of the 2023 TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations against Congo on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Nuamah’s speed and skill were instrumental in Ghana’s qualification for the U23 AFCON during the final qualifiers against Algeria.

His presence in the camp will undoubtedly boost the team’s morale as they get ready for their opening game on Sunday.

The Black Meteors are determined to progress through the group stage and reach the semifinals as they aim for one of the three slots to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Ghana’s last participation in the Olympic Games Men’s Soccer event was in 2004 in Athens.

George Afriyie to contest 2023 GFA Presidential Elections

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George Afriyie to contest 2023 GFA Presidential Elections

Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) George Afriyie, will be contesting in the upcoming 2023 GFA presidential elections.

Afriyie, who plans to make an official announcement regarding his intentions on Sunday, June 25, is determined to secure the coveted position.

Having previously vied for the presidency but conceded defeat to the incumbent Kurt Okraku, Afriyie is now prepared for another shot at the top role.

Okraku is expected to stand for re-election, setting the stage for an exciting contest between the two candidates.

Afriyie’s extensive experience in Ghana football is seen as a significant advantage in his bid for the presidency. He has held influential positions in various clubs, including a notable tenure as chairman of the Black Stars management committee.

Additionally, his involvement with Liberty Professionals has further solidified his reputation and understanding of the local football landscape.

During his previous tenure as GFA Vice President from 2015 to 2018, Afriyie demonstrated his commitment to the development and advancement of Ghanaian football.

©3news

Ex-Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan reacts to Thomas Partey’s $200 million offer from Saudi

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Former Black Star captain Asamoah Gyan has reacted to a reported $200 million
offer from a Saudi Arabian club to lure Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.

Gyan tweeted a zipped mouth emoji in reaction to a tweet that asked whether Partey, considering his age, should accept the offer or reject the offer and aim at staying in Europe.

Gyan, during his career, made a surprise move from Sunderland to the United Arab Emirates after just a season in England.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, he explained that UEA club Al Ain made him an offer ‘he could not resist’.

“I was enjoying my football, but Al Ain offered me wages that instantly made me the best-paid footballer in Africa. I couldn’t resist,” he said.

According to the Saudi offer for Partey, he would receive an annual salary of $100 million, tax free in a two-year deal.

“Arsenal star Thomas Partey has been offered $200 million in wages by a club in Saudi Arabia. Partey will earn an annual, tax-free salary of $100 million if he signs the two-year deal. The Saudi clubs keen on Partey are Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Khaleej,” former Ghana Football Association spokesperson Saanie Daara reported in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey, 30, has attracted interest from Italian side Juventus, which offered him a three-year contract.

Thomas Partey, who joined Arsenal in the summer of 2020, has two years left on his current contract.

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