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Second batch of Black Satellites report for pre-selection camping

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The underlisted Black Satellites are to report to the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence at Prampram on Sunday, March 19, for a three day screening exercise.

Coach Samuel Boadu is embarking on this exercise to select top quality players to form the nucleus of the next Black Satellites.

While some of the players were selected from the last two Black Starlets squads, others came through a recent nationwide screening program.

The players are to report at 5pm on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Find the full squad in the attached file:

GFA

GFA vice president Mark Addo, Chris Hughton attend Akwasidae festival in Kumasi

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Vice President Mark Addo led a delegation from the Ghana Football Association for the Akwasidae festival at Manhyia Palace, on Sunday.

He was accompanied by Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton, Assistant Coach George Boateng and Chairman of the Division One League Board who also doubles as Vice Chairman of the Black Stars management committee Akwasi Agyemang.

The visit was to demonstrate their commitment to the people of Kumasi and the Ashanti Kingdom. Akwasidae which is a major event in the Ashanti region, was held at Manhyia Palace, and the delegation from the GFA was warmly received by the traditional authorities and well wishers.

The Akwasidae Festival is celebrated by the Ashanti people and chiefs in Ashanti as well as the Ashanti diaspora. The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks.

The Black Stars will be playing in Kumasi for the first time since, Friday, March 25, 2022 when they played out a 0-0 draw in the 1st leg of the FIFA World Cup play-off against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Chris Hughton will succeed Otto Addo following successful negotiations with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association.

He previously managed a number of top-tier teams in England, including, Tottenham Hortspur, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Black Stars coach Chris Hughton to be unveiled in Kumasi on Monday

Black Stars coach Chris Hughton will be unveiled in Kumasi on Monday, March 20, 2023.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United manager has been in charge of the team since February 2023, following successful negotiations with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association.

Chris Hughton replaces Otto Addo who left the role after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament that took place in November/December last year.

Details of his contract and other relevant information will be announced at the ceremony scheduled for the SG Mall at Ayigya, Kumasi at 10am.

The event will stream across GFA platforms on Facebook and YouTube (Ghana Football Association).

The media is hereby adviced to be seated by 10am.

WATCH LIVE: Barcelona vs Real Madrid

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Click on the link below to watch the game.

Kickoff is 8pm

Link

https://cutt.ly/R3oKlYz

Lineups:

Barcelona XI — Ter Stegen; Araujo, Koundé, Christensen, Balde; Frenkie De Jong, Busquets, Sergi Roberto; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi

Real Madrid XI — Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Fede Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius

Eonde starts, Salifu benched as David Ocloo names Hearts of Oak starting XI for Kotoku Royals test

The BetPawa Premier League matchday 22 will see Hearts of Oak face off against Kotoku Royals at the Accra Sports Stadium this afternoon, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 pm.

Assistant coach David Ocloo will field his strongest squad for the game, despite some important absentees such as Konadu Yiadom and Gladson Awako.

For the match against the struggling Royals, Ocloo has made two changes to his Hearts of Oak side from the previous game against Bibiani Gold Stars.

Eric Ofori Antwi will be replaced by Richmond Ayi in goal, while Zakaria Yakubu will join Caleb Amankwaa and Rashid Okine in defense, as Konadu Yiadom is unavailable due to yellow card accumulation.

In midfield, the coach has opted for the same setup of Glid Otanga, Linda Mtange, and Eric Esso, while Benjamin York, Albert Diego Dieudonne Eonde, and Kwadwo Obeng Junior will form the attack.

Hearts of Oak’s starting XI to face Kotoku Royals:

1 Richmond Ayi

2 Amankwah Baafi

3 Rashid Okine

4 Caleb Amankwah

5 Zakari Yakubu

6 Eric Esso

7 Otanga Jeordon

8 Benjamin York

9 Linda Mtenge

10 Obeng Junior

11 Albert Eonde

BENCH:

12 Eric Ofori

13 Samuel Inkoom

14 Salifu Ibrahim

15 Faisal Billy

16 Isaac Mensah

17 Enoch Asubonteng

18 Francis Adjetey

19 Victor Aidoo

20 Prince Damang

‘It is really a painful defeat to me’ – Samartex coach Annor Walker on Kotoko defeat

After FC Samartex 1996’s 2-1 home defeat to Asante Kotoko, head coach Annor Walker expressed his disappointment in a post-match interview at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi. Enock Morrison and Rocky Dwamena scored for Kotoko, while Ebenezer Acquah found the net for Samartex in the Week 22 league fixture.

As the head coach of the Black Galaxies of Ghana at the 2023 CHAN tournament in Algeria, Walker felt that his team should not have lost the game. He described the defeat as painful, stating that they had given away two cheap goals to Kotoko, which had cost them a lot.

“This is a painful defeat for me because If I am not telling lies this is not a match we should have lost. We gave away two cheap goals to Kotoko and this has cost me a lot. So it is really a painful defeat to me.”

When asked about the absence of striker Seidu Abubakar, Walker acknowledged that it was unfortunate, but pointed out that all 30 players on his team were Samartex players, so everyone needed to be ready to play. He didn’t want to use Abubakar’s absence as an excuse for the defeat.

Regarding Asante Kotoko’s performance, Walker acknowledged that they had come prepared and their game plan had worked for them. He noted that Kotoko needed an early goal, and had kept attacking to achieve that goal, which had resulted in Samartex conceding two cheap goals. However, he felt that his team had played well in the second half and could have drawn the game.

“Kotoko knew that coming here it is not going to be easy and so they were also prepared and I will say their game plan worked for them”

“They needed an early goal which I told my boys that if this game is to travel to the second half at goalless draw they can never score us so Kotoko knew and kept on attacking and we gave out those cheap goals. You can see that in the second half we played all the game and we could have drawn the game”

Check out Hearts of Oak’s 20-man squad for Kotoku Royals clash

Hearts Of Oak deputy trainer, David Ocloo has named a 20-man squad for their Ghana Premier League game against Kotoku Royals on Sunday afternoon.

Ocloo won’t have the services of his esteemed defender, Konadu Yiadom, who netted the solitary goal against Asante Kotoko, due to the accumulation of yellow cards.

Nonetheless, Caleb Amankwaa, Kwadwo Obeng Junior, Inkoom, Yaw Amankwaa Baafi, Glid Otanga, and Linda Mtange are all eligible for the selection process.

The match is scheduled to commence at 3:00 pm at the Accra Sports Stadium and will be telecasted live on StarTimes Adepa Channel 247.

The 20 man squad:

GOALKEEPERS

Richard Attah
Eric Ofori Antwi

DEFENDERS

Amankwaah Baafi
Zakaria Yakubu
Rashid Okine
Francis Adjetey-Okunko
Caleb Amankwaah
Samuel Inkoom

MIDFIELDERS

Linda Mtenge Don
Clinton Appiah
Glid Otanga Jeordon
Salifu Ibrahim
Eric Esso

FORWARDS

Victor Aidoo
Albert Dieudonne Eonde
Isaac Mensah
Enock Assubonteng
Benjamin Yorke
Kwadwo Obeng Jnr
Yassan Outching

Highlights: Samartex 1-2 Asante Kotoko

Asante Kotoko defeated Samartex at the Nana Nsenkyire Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Porcupines managed to escape Samraboi with a 2-1 win over the Timber lads. Goals from Enoch Morrison and Rocky Dwamena ensured the Reds leave Western Region with the maximum points.

Watch the highlights below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyUIuELhTeg

Match Report: Asante Kotoko cruise past Samartex

On Saturday, Asante Kotoko secured their second away win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Samartex at the Nsenkyire Sports complex.

The Porcupine Warriors exhibited strong determination and resilience to clinch all three points in the game. This season, Kotoko has now defeated Samartex in consecutive matches in the Ghana Premier League.

Enoch Morrison scored the first goal for Kotoko in the 18th minute with a fantastic team move, while Rocky Dwamena extended the lead before halftime.

Samartex had several chances from set pieces in the second half as they searched for an equalizer, but it was Aquach who eventually scored for them in the 69th minute.

Despite this, Kotoko held on to their lead, with goalkeeper Frederick Asare impressively keeping the opposition at bay. As a result of this victory, Asante Kotoko has risen to third place in the league table with 34 points, while Samartex has suffered their second defeat of the season.

Hoyssem Aouar switch nationality from France to Algeria

Lyon’s French-Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar, who has been capped once by France, said on Thursday he was switching allegiance and will now play for Algeria.

The 24-year-old said the idea “was buzzing in my head” for a long time but the clincher came with an invite from Djahid Zefizef, the head of the Algerian football federation.

Despite having one cap for Les Bleus, Aouar said in a video aired by the Algerian football federation he had chosen to play for the Desert Warriors as “a large part of me is Algerian because of my origins and also the manner in which I have been brought up”.

He said he initially rejected the idea for fear of being labelled an “opportunist” but then the Algerian coach and the head of Algerian football “extended a hand, which I saw as fate and a second chance so I seized it”.

Aouar played once for France in a 2020 friendly match against Ukraine and has not received a call-up since then.

Because it was not a competitive game, he could switch to playing for Algeria, from where his parents hail.

“This selection means a lot to me, to my family, to my parents,” he said, explaining that it was “a choice dictated by the heart”.

©AFP