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National Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, Sammi Awuku has stressed that Asante Kotoko will receive support from the government for the team’s campaign in Africa.

Having finished the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season as champions, the reds will have the chance to represent the country in the CAF Champions League next season.

Speaking to Akoma FM, Sammi Awuku has heaped praise on Asante Kotoko for their success this season.

While urging the team to improve on its attack, the NLA Director-General further assured that the team will receive support for the Africa campaign.

“I believe that in terms of tactical discipline, it’s been good, their scoring ability is what they (Kotoko) should work on.

“You cannot waste such opportunities in Africa. But their overall game plan looks very fantastic.

“Government will do its part, same as the NLA and also the Ministry of Youth and Sports to raise funds for Kotoko to do well in Africa,” Sammi Awuku said.

Asante Kotoko on Sunday, June 12, were officially crowned the champions of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.

The coronation ceremony was held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium after the 3-0 win against Elmina Sharks.

-Footballghana

Head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo has revealed that the team will know which foreign-born Ghanaian players will join them for the World Cup in Qatar next week.

Players like Hudson Odoi and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Stephan Ambrosius have availed themselves to play for the Senior National Football team of Ghana but would have to complete the process of the FIFA nationality switch.

The Inaki brothers’ Inaki Williams and Nico Williams who recently also are reported to have now fully availed themselves for Ghana will have to go through the same process after having some stints with the junior sides of the Spanish national teams.

The President of the Ghana Football Association [GFA], Kurt Okraku has held talks with these players following the country’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

According to Addo, he hopes those nationality switches can be made before the September international break.

“It’s an open secret that we have talked to a lot of players and I think at the latest by next week, we would know who would like to join us,” the 46-year-old Borussia Dortmund gaffer said as reported by Citi Sports.

“Surely, we would have to be very fast now because we have set a limit, if someone wants to join us he must be ready for the September window, and for that, we will need answers now.

“Hopefully we will know more by next week and we will see if we can get one or two players to try out during the September international break,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have defeated Chile 3-1 on a penalty shootout in the 2022 Kirin Cup in Japan on Tuesday morning.

Agent of Cameroonian forward Frank Mbella Etouga, Amadou Fontem Tigana, has touched down in Accra ahead of his client’s potential move abroad.

The Asante Kotoko striker has been in blistering form since joining the club and currently leads the goal king race with 21 goals.

His outstanding displays in the Ghanaian topflight has seen him attracts interests from clubs in Europe and South Africa.

Mbella is on the radar of Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and has also been identified by Premier Soccer League clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Tigana is in Ghana to hold talks with Asante Kotoko as demand for his player intensifies in the transfer window.

Despite the growing interest, Amadou Tigana of Royal Soccer Scout Management Group has stated in the past they are weighing their options.

“We want the best for Mbella, he is a very talented young player who is hungry for success. And as an agent who always seek the best interest of my players, I will make sure he makes the best move if he has to leave Kotoko,” he told GHANASoccernet.

Mbella is also on the radar of Elche, St Etienne, Marseille and Sevilla.

Ghana and Chile will face off against each other for a third-place spot in the Kirin Cup Soccer tournament at the Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka on Tuesday.

Ghana are participating in the Kirin Cup Soccer friendly international competition, which resumed this month after a six-year hiatus. The Black Stars were handed a 4-1 drubbing in their opening match against host team Japan. That result meant their elimination, with a third-place slot the only thing at stake.

They will face Chile, who succumbed to the other African representative, Tunisia. Ghana will hope to take something home from the tournament by getting the best out of the South Americans.

Chile were one of the favorites for the tournament, however, their disastrous opener against Tunisia raised questions about their preparedness and ambitions. La Roja are the only South American team in the ongoing Kirin Cup and will likely honor that reputation in their last game.

Ghana will not be putty in their hands though. The likes of the Ayew brothers, Daniel Amartey and Mubarak Wakaso will ensure the West Africans avoid another humiliation in Osaka.

The third-place match will be a tough fight as neither team will want to bow out abashed.

Team News

Ghana

All players are available for selection, according to team management. Jordan Ayew, who scored a goal against Japan, will likely start against Chile as well. His brother Andre will likely keep his place. Coach Otto Addo will need more firepower on the go up-field to make a resounding statement against Chile.

Chile

Jeyson Rojas will likely start from the bench following his many mistakes against Tunisia, which culminated in a yellow card. Captain Gary Medel was pulled off during the game against Tunisia. It is unclear whether it was a technical substitution or due to fatigue. He might not start against the Black Stars due to the importance of the meeting.

Predicted Lineups

Ghana (4-3-3): Lawrence Ati-Zigi (GK), Andy Yiadom, Daniel Amartey, Dennis Nkrumah-Korsah, Alidu Seidu, Mubarak Wakaso, Mohammed Kudus, Edmund Addo, André Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Christopher Antwi-Adjei

Chile (4-4-2): Zacarias Lopez (GK), Gary Medel, Eugenio Mena, Paulo Diaz, Francisco Sierralta, Jeyson Rojas, Pablo Galdames, Felipe Mendez, Ronnie Fernandez, Joaquin Montecinos, Ben Brereton Diaz

TV Coverage 

The game will be live in Ghana with GTV Sports Plus expected to show the game on Tuesday morning.

Channels

• GTV Sports +
• GFA football app
• BeING Sports

Charles Taylor, an Asante Kotoko and Hearts Of Oak star, has slammed his old comrade Bernard Don Bortey for joining Kotoko’s celebrations last Sunday when they celebrated their 25th league title.

After thrashing bottom-placed Elmina Sharks 3-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium in week33, the Porcupine Warriors were declared winners of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.

The news that dominated the indigenous media space this morning, however, was photographs of their bitterest rivals, Hearts of Oak great, Don Bortey, joining Kotoko’s legends in the festivities and even raising their flag to the crowd.

Charles Taylor, a former player for both teams, remarked on Angel TV/FM that what Bortey did was uncalled for and that his move from Hearts to Kotoko was preferable because the latter benefited significantly from it.

“I can do that cos I played for both teams but not Don Bortey. He can go to the stadium and watch them but not to lift a their flag and join their celebrations.

“Hearts and Kotoko are rivals so seeing one legend celebrating with the other is totally disrespectful. I was invited to the game officially with money sent to me but I couldn’t because of the legends game we played.” 

“I agree with Amankwah Mireku. What he did is a disrespect to Hearts. You can commend Kotoko for winning the league but joining their celebrations wasn’t the best.”

“If you do something bad and you apologise, mostly people sometimes listen but I don’t think Hearts of Oak fans will forgive him. My move to Kotoko isn’t like this cos at least Hearts benefitted from my move. There was no sense in celebrating with Kotoko.” He concluded