Click on any of the links below to watch the game.
Kickoff is at 15:00 GMT [3pm]
Stream Link
Lineups:
?? Morocco XI: Bono; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Saïss, Hakimi; Amrabat, Amallah, Ounahi; Boufal, En-Nesyri, Ziyech
?? Spain XI: Unai Simón; Marcos Llorente, Rodri, Laporte, Jordi Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Ferran Torres, Asensio, Dani Olmo
Abiba Azu, the hairstylist of the Black Stars who has been falsely accused by the deposed ‘chief drummer’ of the Black Stars, Joseph Langabel of bringing bad luck to the Black Stars has rejected the claims amidst tears.
Abiba Azu, in a viral video, broke down in tears and asked for God’s ‘blessings’ for Langabel and the persons she reckons he schemed with.
A teary Abiba Azu would not say negative things about Langabel but rather thanked him for bringing her into the spotlight.
She however beseeched Heaven to bless and push the careers of the players who patronize her services to another level.
She singled out Southampton defender, Mohammed Salisu for standing up for her amid the backlash and attacks.
“Langabell, God bless you. God has used you to expose me to the world. God bless you but all the calls I’m receiving have shaken me. I’m crying because it is not true. You can’t tarnish the image of the players because of a platform you want. Whatever you planned against me, ayekoo.
“By the grace of God, the players will continue to rise. God should turn my tears into blessings for the players. Salisu, God will lift you up to an unimaginable level. May God open doors for you,” she said.
Abiba Azu also opened up on how she went from a chop bar operator to a hairstylist of international repute.
She credits God for her success and vowed to continue hustling and inspiring others with her story.
“We don’t know how to steal but we know how to hustle. I have taken up a number of jobs including chop bars because I felt it was going to give me money. This is how I managed to raise funds to learn a trade. God picked me from the street and made me who I am today.
“People think it’s because of my beauty but it’s by the grace of God. I’m grateful to God. People rejected but I remained faithful to God and He raised me up to the current level. My father left my mom when were young so I didn’t know my mom until few years ago. My madam, Auntie Alice is the one who held my hand and thought me everything. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me”, she said.
Meanwhile, Joseph Langabel has offered a regretful apology to Abiba Azu and the Black Stars players for the claims he made.
He stated that, unlike previous tournaments where he was in the team’s camp, this time around he was based in a different hotel and was unaware of the happenings in the team’s camp.
Watch her rreaction in the video below;
©Ghana Web
Portugal takes on Switzerland in their round of sixteen clash on Tuesday night and they will be hoping to book their place in the quarter-finals with a win.
Fernando Santos’ men are coming into this game on the back of a narrow defeat against Korea Republic in their last group game and they will be hoping to bounce back strongly in their next game.
Cristiano Ronaldo and co. will be the favourite heading into this game but they cannot afford to underestimate a buoyant Switzerland side.
Meanwhile, the Swiss have lost just once in the group stages against Brazil and they managed to beat the likes of Cameroon and Serbia.
Switzerland did put on an impressive show against Brazil as well and they will look to give Portugal a run for their money.
Despite their wins in the first two games, Portugal have not been at their best in the tournament and they will need to buck up in order to get through to the next round.
Team News and Tactics
Portugal
Despite their wins in the first two games, Portugal have not been at their best in the tournament and they will need to buck up in order to get through to the next round.
Team News and Tactics
Portugal
Nuno Mendes and Danilo are the only injury worries for Portugal ahead of this game. Santos will be able to pick his first-choice line-up against Switzerland.
Diogo Costa is set to start in goal behind a back four of Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Ruben Neves and Raphael Guerreiro. The two full-backs will be crucial to Portugal’s chance creation.
The Portuguese are expected to set up in a 4-3-1-2 with the midfield three being Ruben Neves, William Carvalho and Bernardo Silva. The Manchester City star will be expected to add creativity and drive the team forward.
Bruno Fernandes will start in the hole, behind a front two of Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Costa; Cancelo, Pepe. Neves, Guerreiro; Silva, Carvalho, Neves; Fernandes; Felix, Ronaldo
Switzerland
Switzerland do not have any notable injury concerns ahead of this game. Yann Sommer and Nico Elvedi have returned from illness.
The Swiss are expected to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 with Yann Sommer in goal.
Silvan Widmer will start as the right back with Ricardo Rodriguez as the left back. Manuel Akanji will partner Nico Elvedi at the heart of Switzerland’s defence.
Remo Freuler will partner Granit Xhaka in the midfield pivot. Xhaka will be expected to initiate counters with his long passing and drive the team forward. Freuler will sit back and break the play up.
Xherdan Shaqiri and Ruben Vargas will start out wide and Djibril Sow will lineup as the attacking midfielder.
In the attack, Breel Embolo will lead the line for his side
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
Key Stats
There have been 25 meetings between the two nations. Portugal have won nine while Switzerland have won 11. The other five matches have ended in draws.
Portugal have now made it to the last 16 of the World Cup for the third time in their last four appearances.
Portugal have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last 3 home matches against Switzerland in all competitions.
Portugal have won their last 3 home matches against Switzerland in all competitions.
Portugal have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 home matches against Switzerland in all competitions.
Education City plays host to a tremendous last-16 clash as Morocco pits its wits against a fluid Spanish side.
Morocco took full advantage of the shortcomings of the teams that were thought of as favourites before the group stages began. A faltering Belgium side and a tepid Croatian outfit could not stop the Africans from stealing a march and topping the group.
While the Moroccans remain jubilant after a string of fantastic results, it’s time to refocus on the big task at hand against Spain. Walid Regragui’s side have a huge challenge in front of them and knows the importance of maintaining composure. This Moroccan side are on an 8-game unbeaten run in all competitions and conceded only 2 goals in that period.
They have only played at this stage of the tournament once before back in 1986, and Regragui will aim for the quarters at least. Morocco could make continental history with a victory over Spain. They can match Cameroon’s long-standing 5 games unbeaten run between 1982 and 1990.
Spanish hearts stopped for a brief 75 seconds period during their clash with Japan when Costa Rica went ahead against Germany. La Roja were effectively staring at an early exit from the tournament, but have Germany to thank for defeating the Africans.
While Spain couldn’t return the favour to Germany, they will remain grateful for seeing through what was the most surprising group result of this World Cup. Japan, incredibly topped the group and defeated both top teams in Germany and Spain. Luis Enrique will have been furious with his charges for the lapses in performances seen in the last two games.
After the huge victory over Costa Rica on matchday, Spain have barely made their chances count as their fluidity have all been in vain. They should be under no illusion their style can take them through, but this team has the right mix of experience and youth to make things dazzle.
Enrique will certainly hope this forthcoming clash has no repeat performance from their game against Morocco at the 2018 World Cup, which finished 2-2. However, a similar contest could transpire at Education City as the two nations look to make their mark in Qatar.
Team News & Tactics
Morocco
Regragui could name an unchanged side against Spain despite few fitness concerns with his usual starters. Achraf Hakimi is nursing an ankle problem and sat out of full training on Saturday. The right-back is likely to pass fit for the Spanish encounter.
The manager will relish having Yassine Bounou, who came unscathed against Canada and seems to have put the earlier problem behind him. Many regulars like Hakim Ziyech, Sofiane Boufal, and Sofyan Amrabat afforded some much-needed rest and should be fit for the game.
Romain Saiss and Nayef Agued will once again form the central defensive partnership. Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui as full-backs. Amrabat will hold the midfield together with Abdelhamid Sabiri and Azzedine Ounahi on either side.
Ziyech will once more lead the attacking lineup, with Youssef En-Nesyri starting in the central role. Boufal will take his spot on the left side of the front three, as Morocco will look to cause Spain plenty of problems with their movements in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3) – Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Spain
Enrique is not expected to make any huge or surprising changes to his lineup, although there could be a few tweaks. For instance, Ferran Torres and Jordi Alba could come in for Nico Williams and Alejandro Balde. Cesar Azpilicueta could also drop down to the bench in favour of Dani Carvajal.
The manager will also keep a firm eye on the fitness of a few stars such as Dani Olmo, David Raya and Azpilicueta were all away from practice on Friday. While the latter two are not expected to start, Olmo certainly will have a place in Enrique’s attacking setup.
Enrique could also bring Aymeric Laporte back into central defence in place of Pau Torres, as Rodri will keep his place at the back. Alvaro Morata will lead the line, with Olmo and Torres on either side.
Enrique is unlikely to tinker things with his midfield, as Sergio Busquets will remain in the holding position, with electric youngsters Pedri and Gavi on either side. This is a team that can be prolific on its day but can show vulnerabilities, something the manager will look to avoid.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3) – Simon; Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Torres, Morata, Olmo
Key Stats
Spain have never suffered back-to-back World Cup exits at the round-of-16 stages in their history.
Spain have the joint-most amount of goals (9) alongside England in this World Cup.
Morocco are on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions, conceding only twice during this period.
Morocco are unbeaten in 4-World Cup games.
Morocco have never gone past the round-of-16 stages, last reaching there in 1986.
Brazil have beaten South Korea 4-1 and will play Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the game when he fired home from inside the penalty area. Neymar then added the second from the penalty spot, before Richarlison scored one of the goals of the tournament to make it three.
Lucas Paqueta got in on the act before the half-time break, volleying in Vinicius Jr’s lobbed assist. Paik Seung-ho pulled one back for South Korea late on.
With his goal from the penalty spot in the 13th-minute, Neymar became just the third Brazilian to score in at least three editions of the World Cup (2014, 2018, 2022), joining Pele (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) and Ronaldo (1998, 2002, 2006).
The forward has been involved in 15 goals in his last 11 appearances for Brazil in all competitions (8 goals, 7 assists), though each of his last six goals for the team came from the penalty spot.
The Ghana Premier League will restart a day after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final game. The World Cup break is the second time the league has been put on short term hold after the first emanating from suspension from Ash Gold’s court injunction.
With Ghana Premier League clubs waiting for date for the resumption of the league, they have finally been given assurance where clubs will now come back to the pitch on 19th December.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the date for the resumption of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season.
The league went on break the weekend the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament commenced in Qatar.
Following Ghana’s exit from the tournament, the Ghana FA has confirmed that the league will resume on Thursday, December 19.
Below is a statement from the Ghana FA announcing the resumption date:
“The 2022/23 betPawa Premier League season will resume on Monday, December 19 to Thursday 22, 2022 across League centres.
“The elite club competition is on a one month break due to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finals currently ongoing on in the Arab country of Qatar.
“The betPawa Premier League went on break after eight round of matches that saw two-time champions Aduana FC lead the table with 16 points – one point richer than Accra Lions who are in second place with 15 points.
Defending Champions Asante Kotoko are in third place with 14 points – same as Accra Great Olympics who are in fourth while Accra Hearts of Oak occupies the 5th spot with 13 points.
Dreams FC, Tamale City FC and Akyem Oda Kotoku Royals occupy the 16th, 17th and 18th positions respectively.
Asante Kotoko won the title last season but before that Hearts of Oak lifted it last two seasons.
Click on any of the links below to watch the game.
Kickoff is 19:00 GMT [7pm]
Stream Link
Lineups:
Brazil XI: Allison, Danilo, Silva, Marquinhos, Militao, Casemiro, Paqueta, Vinicius Jr., Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison
South Korea XI: Seung-Gyu, Jin-Su, Kim Min-Jae, Woo-Young, Moon-Hwan, Young-Gwon, Hwang, Jae-Sung, Hwang Hee-Chan, Cho Gue-Sung, Son
Coach Otto Addo has paid glowing tribute to Mubarak Wakaso, Jonathan Mensah, Andy Yiadom and others for playing a key role in Ghana’s qualification Ghana to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finals.
The Borussia Dortmund talent coach who signed a short-term contract with the Ghana Football Association will leave his post at the end of December having coached the team at the football fiesta in Doha.
Ghana failed to progress past the group stage after suffering two defeats against Portugal and Uruguay and picking one win against South Korea in group H.
‘’I would like to use this opportunity to thank players who brought us here. We always try to have the best possible squad, but some got injured, some couldn’t make it into the squad because others were also doing good’’ he told the media in Doha.
‘’I would like to thank, first of all, Mubarak Wakaso. I think all of you watched the match against South Africa when he sacrificed his health and I was very, very sad when he received a lot of insults. He sacrificed his health for the nation in that game, this can happen in football, and afterwards he was insulted’’.
‘’The people forgot what happened. We wouldn’t be here if those warriors fighting against South Africa to win 1-0 in Cape Coast with Rajevac as Coach. We should never forget where we came from. So Wakaso, then surely, guys like Jonathan Mensah always ready to help, always supporting the team from behind. And we have matured older players like Essien, like Muntari showing up to support the team, giving them very, very good advice, and giving me good advice’’.
‘’And also, Andy Yiadom, for example, also regular helping the team to qualify for the World Cup and last but not the least Felix Afena Gyan, very young talented guy, very good in his work ethic. Really, really helped us and for me, for all what happened, these were the most difficult decisions to make. To leave out players who had very, very good character, and were always ready to give it all for the team’’.
‘’Then also, those who got injured, like Benjamin Tetteh Joseph Wollacott, Richard Ofori and Baba Idrissu, excellent player, just unlucky. So, we should never forget’’.
‘’With all the criticism or whatever, things went wrong, may be in your eyes, for me I am very, very proud, especially, those who were not here and those who didn’t play but were there supporting the team even though they didn’t play and for me, first is character. Character comes first, this is where every truth stands out’’ he added.
Croatia beat Japan on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw in their last-16 clash on Monday.
Daizen Maeda gave Japan a half-time lead and Ivan Perisic headed home an equaliser for the 2018 runners-up before goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three of four penalties as Croatia won the shoot-out 3-1.
Japan’s clash with Croatia went to a penalty shoot-out after the two sides finished extra-time deadlocked at 1-1.
Daizen Maeda fired Japan ahead on 43 minutes before 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia levelled through Ivan Perisic in the 55th minute.
Japan, trying to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, aimed to claim another big European scalp after beating Germany and Spain in the group stage in Qatar.
Croatia will now play either Brazil or South Korea in the last eight.
Otto Addo says the current crop of Black Stars players is talented and would need the support of all Ghanaians to thrive in future tournaments.
The Borussia Dortmund talent coach who guided Ghana to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finals, will leave his post at the end of December having coached the team at the football fiesta in Doha.
Ghana failed to progress past the group stage after suffering two defeats against Portugal and Uruguay and picking one win against South Korea in group H. But the three points was not enough to take Ghana to the next round of the competition.
Speaking at a media briefing in Doha on Saturday, the former Ghana midfielder said the team needs the support of everyone, even in bad times.
‘’I am very, very thankful to have worked with such a good group of players which is ready to learn to improve themselves. Thank you to the players, thank you to the staff, thank you to the technical team and the Board Members who always supported us’’ Otto Addo said.
‘’And like I said, this is football, it’s the ugly side of football. But if it’s not where we wanted to go, its definitely not the end. If we are not yet at where we wanted to go and we wanted more, even though we made it and we wanted more, it’s not the end’’.
‘’We have a young and talented group which needs the support of every one of us, even in bad times. I can just underline that this group of players is very, very good and would need the support of all Ghanaians’’ he said.