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Ghana coach Chris Hughton explains omission of local players in recent Black Stars call-ups

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Chris Hughton, the coach of the Ghana national team, the Black Stars, has provided an explanation for his decision to exclude local players in his recent call-ups.

Despite attending matches in the Ghana Premier League, Hughton has not included any local players in the two squads he has named for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This has raised questions, especially considering the absence of some key players due to injuries.

In a video interview on BKB TV’s YouTube channel, Hughton addressed the issue and emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced and consistent approach within the current squad. He stated that he is open to considering local players in the future but highlighted the need to assess the overall picture rather than focusing solely on individual players.

Hughton explained that during his time in Ghana, he has made an effort to observe most of the teams and gain a comprehensive understanding of the level of the league and the standout players. He believes it is crucial to have a broader perspective and consider the entire league rather than just specific individuals.

“At this stage, it’s about getting a feel for the league, the level of the league, the better players, and trying to get the whole picture as opposed to just some individuals. When we come up with the individual players, the balance is always what I have,” Hughton stated.

The coach also acknowledged the importance of finding the right balance in the squad, considering the consistency and the presence of many players based in Europe, some of whom have not been playing regularly. He aims to strike the right balance while taking into account various factors at play.

“At this moment, we’re trying to find the right balance of keeping the consistency of what we’ve had. We, of course, have a lot of players playing in Europe, and there are also a lot of players in Europe who haven’t played. So, it’s just for me to try and get this balance,” Hughton stated.

Hughton’s decision to exclude local players in recent call-ups has drawn attention, particularly with the upcoming match against Madagascar on June 18, 2023. This match holds great significance for the Black Stars as they seek qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

The performance of the team in this crucial match will be closely watched by fans and stakeholders.

WATCH LIVE: Manchester City vs Inter Milan – UCL Final

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Click on any of the links below to watch the game. Kickoff is 7pm.

https://hesgoal-tv.io/live/11186/1027909/manchester-city-vs-inter/

https://cutt.ly/XwepWigY

https://www.plstreams.org/2023/06/ucl5.html?m=1

Lineups:

Manchester City XI : Ederson ; Akanji, Stones, Ruben Dias, Ake; Rodrigo, Gundogan(c); De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Grealish; Haaland

Inter Milan XI : Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic(c), Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez

CAF CL Preview: Wydad AC battle Al Ahly for supremacy

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Al Ahly will be aiming to add another chapter to their illustrious CAF Champions League history as they head into the second leg of the final against Wydad Casablanca, scheduled to take place at Stade Mohamed V on the evening of Sunday, June 11, 2023.

In the first leg at Cairo International Stadium, Al Ahly emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. Goals from Percy Tau and Mahmoud Kahraba gave the Red Devils a commanding position in the tie, but a late away goal from Saifeddine Bouhra revived Wydad Casablanca’s hopes.

The away goal has provided Wydad with a glimmer of hope, as they now require just a 1-0 win to secure victory on the away goals rule. Stade Mohamed V holds mixed memories for Al Ahly, as they celebrated their CAFCL triumph in the 2020-21 season but were also defeated 2-0 by Wydad in the subsequent season’s title match.

Wydad coach Sven Vandenbroeck recognizes the significance of the away goal and believes it can be a major advantage in the upcoming clash. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and emphasized their unity, hoping to be rewarded with the title.

For Wydad Casablanca, winning back-to-back CAFCL titles would be a historic achievement, while Al Ahly is chasing their 11th continental crown and a third title in four seasons. Coach Marcel Koller is confident that his team can nullify Wydad’s away goal and emerge as champions. He expressed delight with their victory in the first leg, acknowledging the challenge of facing the continent’s top teams and trusting in his players’ ability to secure the title.

The match in Casablanca will be officiated by Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.

Hearts of Oak defender Samuel Inkoom target win over Berekum Chelsea on GPL final day

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Samuel Inkoom, the defender for Hearts of Oak, has emphasized the importance of unity and determination as they prepare to face Berekum Chelsea in their final game of the BetPawa Premier League. The match will take place at the Golden City Park on Sunday, June 11 at 3:00pm.

Inkoom expressed his commitment to giving his best in the game, highlighting the significance of the match for the team and their fans. He stressed that they should approach the game as a final and leave no room for complacency.

The defender showed confidence in his teammates, believing that they can achieve something remarkable together. He acknowledged the challenges they may face but emphasized their collective goal of securing a victory.

Inkoom also acknowledged the dedication of the coaching staff and the players, emphasizing that no one wants to experience defeat. He assured the fans that the team is determined to win and urged them to support and stand by the team.

“Now we have one important game which we have to do everything for the fans but we have to work towards it.

“We are not going to take this game lightly. We have to play this game like a final game.

“And I can also say that I have full confidence in my playing mate that we can do something that nobody can imagine.

“You can see my eyes, this is the kind of job I do to feed to feed my family, I don’t have any other job.

“I don’t want to disgrace myself and none of the players wants to disgrace himself so we have to do everything possible to win that game.

“I know it’s not going to be easy but nobody wants defeat so we are going there to win.

“The coach himself doesn’t want defeat, the coach wants to do something, the players want to do something.

“No matter what is happening we are all together.

“We have one important game, I know the fans are not happy, I keep on begging them, this team is for them, and they have to be there for this team.” Samuel Inkoom said.

With Hearts of Oak currently in 11th place on the league table with 45 points, they understand the importance of securing a win in order to maintain their position in the top flight.

“Hearts of Oak will ‘NEVER’ be relegated” – Ex-club coach Stephen Abugri insists

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Stephen Abugri, the former assistant coach of Hearts of Oak, has expressed concerns about the current state of the Ghanaian giants.

In recent weeks, the form of the Phobians has declined as they approach the final weekend of the 2022/23 league campaign.

With a winless streak in their last five matches, Hearts of Oak could face relegation on Sunday if they lose to Berekum Chelsea and other results do not work in their favor.

During an interview with Asempa FM, Coach Stephen Abugri expressed confidence in the team’s chances of avoiding relegation.

“I’m not God, but I can tell you for a fact that Hearts of Oak will never be relegated,” said the former Hearts of Oak coach.

He urged Hearts of Oak to come together as a united front in the final weekend of the league season to secure the necessary result and avoid the drop.

“Unity is the key to success; pride, arrogance, and bossiness will never bring benefits to mankind,” Coach Stephen Abugri emphasized.

The match between Berekum Chelsea and Hearts of Oak is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

“Great Olympics will remain in the league” – Oluboi Commodore insists

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“Great Olympics will remain in the league” – Oluboi Commodore insists

Oluboi Commodore, the Chief Executive Officer of Great Olympics, has displayed unwavering confidence in the team as they brace themselves for a crucial final league fixture against Nsoatreman at the WAFA Park in Sogakope.

With their Premier League future hanging in the balance, Great Olympics must secure a victory in this must-win encounter.

As they approach the last game of the season, Great Olympics finds themselves in a precarious situation, desperately needing a win to secure a spot in the Ghana Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

Failure to clinch a victory would result in their relegation from the Ghanaian top flight.

During an interview on Max FM, Oluboi Commodore expressed his optimism about the team’s mindset and preparation for the pivotal match against Nsoatreman.

“The team’s spirit is high. We are preparing very well for our game against Nsoatreman,” he affirmed. Commodore further asserted, “We are going to win the game, and Great Olympics will remain in the league.”

The upcoming encounter between Great Olympics and Nsoatreman is an absolute “win or get relegated” situation for the former.

Kasim Nuhu replaces Alexander Djiku for Ghana’s Afcon qualifier against Madagascar

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Kasim Nuhu Adams has been called up to replace Alexander Djiku for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.

The FC Basel defender who had a great campaign in the just ended season comes in with loads of experience having made 11 appearances for Ghana following a debut on November 12, 2017.

The 27-year old will now fill the void created by RC Strasbourg defender Alexander Djiku who injured his ankle in a French Ligue 1 game against Troyes on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, June 12 to prepare for the crucial qualifier scheduled for Antananarivo on Sunday, July 18, 2023.

Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku set for Lille move

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Alexander Djiku, the Ghanaian international, is attracting attention from Lille, a French Ligue 1 club, as his contract with Strasbourg nears its end.

Djiku played a crucial role in helping Strasbourg avoid relegation in the recently concluded season, finishing 15th in the league, two places above the relegation zone.

According to sources close to Sportsworldghana, Djiku’s performances have caught the eye of Lille, who see him as a potential replacement for Portuguese defender Jose Fonte, set to leave the club this summer.

Lille has reportedly initiated contact with Djiku’s representative to explore the possibility of a transfer during the current window.

Besiktas representatives also met with Djiku last month during their visit to France to discuss a potential move. However, there is interest from other clubs, including Trabzonspor and TSG Hoffenheim, although no formal negotiations have taken place yet.

Sevilla’s attempt to sign Djiku for La Liga fell through in the final stages of negotiations as the Spanish club could not meet the center-back’s asking price, resulting in the deal collapsing.

Since joining Strasbourg in July 2019, Djiku has contributed four goals and three assists to the team.

“It strengthened me” – Joseph Paintsil on losing his father days after 2022 World Cup snub

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Joseph Paintsil, the Ghanaian winger, has shared how being left out of the Black Stars’ final squad for the 2022 World Cup served as motivation for him to excel on the field, resulting in significant success.

Before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Paintsil had been one of Ghana’s most prolific forwards, scoring six goals and providing five assists in 13 appearances, surpassing any other Ghanaian attacker at that time. However, then-head coach Otto Addo decided not to include him in the squad, citing a lack of sufficient exposure to the player as the reason.

To compound his disappointment, Paintsil lost his father in the same week that he was excluded from the World Cup squad.

In an interview with 3FM, he explained that despite the challenges he faced during that period, he was determined to give his best whenever he stepped onto the pitch.

“Missing out on the World Cup squad really motivated me, and I think the same week my father passed away. May his soul rest in peace. Normally, if it were someone else, it would have dampened their spirits, but it only strengthened me, and I know my father would be happy,” he said.

“I stayed focused and fought hard. Although the World Cup selection was a bit sad initially, I advised myself to concentrate on my football career, give my all for the club, and things started working out well for me.”

However, he emphasized that despite his disappointment, he holds no grudges against any coach because he believes their decisions should be respected.

“I felt a bit disappointed in the past, but you never know; every coach has their own decisions, and I need to respect that and move on as a professional footballer with a positive mindset, doing what I need to do on the field when given the opportunity.”

Despite missing out on the Belgian Pro League, Paintsil still managed to achieve an impressive tally of 18 goals and 14 assists, earning recognition as one of the top African players in Belgium.

He has since made a comeback to the Black Stars squad and provided an assist in Ghana’s match against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON).

Paintsil will also be involved in Ghana’s upcoming match against Madagascar as they aim to secure a spot in next year’s AFCON to be held in Ivory Coast.

“I am deeply saddened by the current state of Hearts of Oak” – Coach Stephen Abugri

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Former Hearts of Oak assistant coach, Stephen Abugri, has expressed his concern about the current state of the club as they struggle in the Ghanaian top-flight league this season.

In an interview with Hearts of Oak on Thursday night, Coach Stephen Abugri expressed his unhappiness with the club’s current situation.

“”I am deeply saddened by the current state of Hearts of Oak”,” coach Stephen Abugri lamented.

After playing 33 matches in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season, Hearts of Oak have amassed 45 points.

The team has only managed one win in their last five matches, suffering consecutive defeats in the past four games.

Hearts of Oak’s final game of the season will be against Berekum Chelsea. The outcome of this match will be crucial, as a victory is necessary to secure their position or else they could face the possibility of relegation depending on the results of other games.

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