Home Blog Page 448

Kirin Cup: Otto Addo reacts to Black Stars’ 4-1 defeat to Japan

D O
-
0
Kirin Cup: Otto Addo reacts to Black Stars’ 4-1 defeat to Japan

Ghana coach Otto Addo has responded to his team’s 4-1 loss to Japan in the Kirin competition earlier today.

Miki Yamane, Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo, and Daizen Maeda scored the goals for the Japanese, with Jordan Ayew scoring the game’s consolation goal for Ghana.

Otto Addo stated after the game that Japan was the superior team on the day.

“A team that deserves to win. I admit that Japan was stronger.

“At the end of the first half, we also made a chance and scored a tie goal. However, it was unfortunate that we got a second goal just before the end. Even in the second half, we were fighting solid. However, after that, a third goal was scored and the momentum was lost. Japan was a very fast team with a good combination.

” If we press and steal the ball, we can score. I thought. I think I was able to prove it after 20 minutes in the first half. Still, we couldn’t cover the back space. We had a pocket stabbed. The final phase of one-on-one. I couldn’t stop the other party, “he said.

The defeat means Ghana will have to compete for bronze with Chile. The South Americans earlier lost 2-0 to Tunisia in the first semi-final clash.

The match will be played on the same day as the final on Tuesday, June 14.

The final will be between Japan and Tunisia.

Ex-Kotoko skipper Felix Annan picks his Kotoko best player of the 2021/22 season

D O
-
0
Ex-Kotoko skipper Felix Annan picks his Kotoko best player of the 2021/22 season

Former Asante Kotoko captain, Felix Annan has has picked striker Franck Mbella Etouga as the player who has impressed him most in the ongoing season.

The Cameroonian forward has been exceptional for the Porcupine Warriors in his first season with the club.

He is both the club and the league’s top scorer so far with 21 goals with two games to end the season.

Speaking in an interview with Akoma FM, Annan urged the management of the club to keep the 21-year-old red-hot attacker in order to do well in their African campaign.

“I will give it to Frank Mbella. I pray management are able to keep him and other important players who played a major role this season.

“Playing in Africa doesn’t come easy, competition is really high and this is the time Kotoko needs their supporters.”

Asante Kotoko will officially be crowned as champions of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League on Sunday when they take on bottom-placed Elmina Sharks.

HIGHLIGHTS: Japan 4-1 Ghana

foot hg
-
0
HIGHLIGHTS: Japan 4-1 Ghana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DCx1Rg8BXg

Ghana suffer heavy defeat against Japan in Kirin Cup tournament

D O
-
0
Ghana suffer heavy defeat against Japan in Kirin Cup tournament

The Black Stars of Ghana suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Samurai Blue of Japan in the opener of the Kirin tournament today.

The game played at the Misaki Park Stadium in Japan saw both start with intensity.

Ghana team - Ghana suffer heavy defeat to Japan in Kirin Cup as they face Chile next for 3rd place

 

The Japanese team dominated proceedings and got the opener in the 29th minute.

Defender Miki Yamane powered the Samurai to a 1-0 lead.

Ghana fought hard to get the equalizer and found it in the 44th minute when Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew made it 1-1.

Japan had the final say in the first half as midfielder Kaoru Mitoma scored in added time of first half to give them a 2-1 lead at the break.

After the recess, Ghana head coach Otto Addo brought on Felix Afena-Gyan of AS Roma and Fatawu Issahaku but that proved futile as Japan got the third goal.

Real Mallorca forward Takefusa Kubo made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute before Daizen Maeda of Celtic put the icing on the cake in the 83rd minute to seal a 4-1 win for Japan.

The results means Japan will face Tunisia who beat Chile in the final then Ghana takes on Chile in a 3rd place game.

-442gh

Benjamin Afutu’s manager denies Eastern Company SC’s contract termination reports

foot hg
-
0
Benjamin Afutu’s manager denies Eastern Company SC’s contract termination reports

Daniel Tackie, manager for former Hearts of Oak midfielder Benjamin Afutu Kotey has refuted reports of his clients contract being terminated by Egyptian side Eastern Company SC.

Reports were rife in the local media on Wednesday that Afutu’s deal with the North African side have been abrogated after just nine months of joining.

Afutu joined Eastern Company in September 2021 on a three-year deal after helping Hearts of Oak win the Ghana Premier League and MTN FA Cup, but has found life difficult in the north African country.

Afutu has struggled for playing time, appearing in only eight games — totaling 426 minutes — for the club in the ongoing Egypt Premier League season.

‘Eastern Company SC has not terminated Benjamin Afutu’s contract and he’s not in Ghana to play for any local club’ – Daniel Tackie clarifies in an interview with Angel FM in Accra.

“No sensible football club will terminate their best player’s contract, Afutu is here for a valid reason and by next week everybody will know about it.”

“And Afutu is not in Ghana to play for any local club” – He added.

The explosive midfielder was instrumental in Hearts of Oak’s double success last season. He played 29 games and scored five goals.

Hearts of Oak were keen to keep Afutu but could not meet his demands, allowing the player to leave on a free transfer.

He spent three years at Hearts of Oak, having joined them from Karela United in 2018.

Algeria legend Rabah Madjer jailed

D O
-
0
Algeria legend Rabah Madjer jailed

An Algerian court sentenced Algerian football star and ex-Porto striker Rabah Madjer to six months in jail on Thursday for making “false declarations”, local media reported.

Madjer, who owned two newspapers, was found to have continued to bank cheques from a public advertising agency for a year after the papers were closed.

He told AFP he had solicitor’s documents proving he had nothing to do with the case, and added that he would appeal.

“All I want to say is that I have nothing whatsoever to do with this business. I’m innocent,” he said by phone.

Charges of forgery and fraud were dropped.

But the 63-year-old and a co-defendant named as Brahim M. were jailed and ordered to pay 500 000 dinars ($3 435 or 3 200 euros) to the national publishing and advertising agency (ANEP).

The Algerian famously scored for Porto against Bayern Munich in the 1987 European Cup final with an audacious back-heel — a move later named after him.

He also scored a crucial goal in a 2-1 victory against West Germany in the 1982 World Cup.

He later went on to coach Algeria’s national football team, but after eight months in the job, he was sacked in June 2018 after a string of defeats.

Source: AFP

“I see myself as a Ghanaian” – Kotoko’s Georges Mfegue

D O
-
0
“I see myself as a Ghanaian” – Kotoko’s Georges Mfegue

Asante Kotoko’s Cameroonian striker Georges Mfegue Rodriguez has disclosed in an interview that he feels more like a Ghanaian.

The hardworking Cameroonian import joined the Porcupine Warriors before the start of the current season and has been very impressive so far.

He has netted six goals and provided some assists, which has helped Kotoko to win their first league title since 2014. 

Speaking to Fox FM as part of the club’s media tour ahead of their Coronation match on Sunday against Elmina Sharks, the striker expressed his excitement with regard to how he had been received by the Kotoko supporters. 

“I see myself as a Ghanaian because of how the people received me, I have no problem with the club, the supporters love me and that’s why after every match I spend time with them.

“I didn’t know the Ghanaian league. I knew kotoko before coming to Ghana because Kotoko played coton sports in Cameroon. Asante kotoko played like Barcelona so my former team President in Cameroon told us to play like Kotoko. Asante kotoko was like Barcelona.

“When I first saw Kotoko players in Dubai I was frighten if I will get a position in the team because of how the players were playing.

“ I have a good season. The beginning was difficult but the players and the Coach encourage us. Before I got injured I was on form but after the injury my form has deplete.I thank God we have won the league.

“ We were worried when we lost against Berekum Chelsea. After the defeat we told ourselves to work hard and that led to the victory over Medeama.

“ I don’t want to talk about my transfer from my previous club to Kotoko due to the issues around it.

“ I am very happy for Mbella. I always tell him to work hard. The team will help him win the Goal king. I will also give him the passes to score.

“ The Cameroonian fans are waiting for us to come home. They watch us on tv. They are happy for us.

“ Jollof is my favorite food. I also like Kotodwe , fufu ,but I dislike Banku.The team is ready for Africa. We have what it takes to go to Africa. We will work towards it after the season.

“Yaw Annor is a good player. If Yaw Annor win the goal king it by God but Mbella will emerge as the winner.

“ We are begging the fans to come and watch us on Sunday to celebrate the trophy triumph together. They should fill the stadium to it fullest capacity.

“ I see myself as a Ghanaian because the people received me, I have no problem with the club, the supporters love me and that’s why after every match I spend time with them.”

Italian side Parma shows interest in signing Ghanaian forward Dauda Mohammed

D O
-
0
Italian side Parma shows interest in signing Ghanaian forward Dauda Mohammed

Parma in Italy is reportedly interested in signing Dauda Mohammed, a Ghanaian attacker.

Mohammed played last season on loan in Spain, scoring nine goals in the second division for Cartagena.

Parma, who kept a close eye on him, were impressed by his performances and intend to make formal contact with Anderlecht.

Parma prefers a loan with a purchase option or a long-term agreement.

They hope the 24-year-old can help them gain promotion to the top-flight next season.

Mohammed’s contract with Anderlecht will expire in June 2023.

Since he joined Anderlecht in 2017, he has been loaned out three times with Cartagena being the third club.

According to transfermarkt, Dauda’s current market value is 800,000 euros. Anderlecht could ask for a similar amount after having splashed 234,000 euros to sign him from Kotoko.

Check out the18-man Black Stars squad for 2022 Kirin Cup tournament

D O
-
0
Check out the18-man Black Stars squad for 2022 Kirin Cup tournament

Ghana presented an 18-man squad for the 21st edition of the Kirin Cup Soccer invitational tournament in Japan.

The Black Stars arrived in Osaka via Ethiopian Airlines from Luanda on Tuesday.

Coach Otto Addo has been forced to deal with a couple of withdrawals and injuries after completing their June batch of games in the qualifiers to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) last Sunday.

Players like Jojo Wollacott, Jonathan Mensah, Gideon Mensah, Osman Bukari, Denis Odoi, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Joseph Paintsil, Elisha Owusu and Kamaldeen Sulemana – who were involved in both games against Madagascar and the Central African Republic last week – are out of the Japan games.

Ghana Premier League duo Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko) and Augustine Okrah (Bechem United) could not honour late invites handed them after they were initially dropped last week.

However, Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has been able to connect with the squad after travelling from Accra alone.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have held their first training session in Kobe, the city to host their first match.

Kirin Cup Soccer 2022

The tournament is expected to give the Black Stars technical team the platform to test their strength ahead of the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup later in November.

Ghana joins hosts Japan who will be represented by the Samurai Blue, Chile and fellow Africans in Tunisia.

The Kirin Cup Soccer is a two-round tournament that will have four games played on two separate days on Friday, June 10 in Kobe and Tuesday the 14th in Osaka.

Hosts Japan will host Ghana at Noevir Stadium in Kobe on June 10.

The second game for the Black Stars comes off four days later at the Panasonic Stadium in Osaka against either Chile or Tunisia.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to play in Japan. The two matches in the Kirin Cup are very important for us, so we will do our best to produce a positive result in front of our fans in Japan,” coach Otto Addo told JFA media.

Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers (2):

12　Lawrence ATI ZIGI (FC St. Gallen/Switzerland)
1　 Abdul MANAF NURUDEEN (KAS Eupen/Belgium)

Defenders (5):
2　 Andrew KYERE-YIADOM (Reading FC/England)
17.   Abdul RAHMAN BABA (Reading FC/England)
18   Daniel AMARTEY (Leicester City/England)
5　 Dennis NKRUMAH-KORSAH (Hearts of Oak)
3　 Alidu SEIDU (Clermont Foot 63/France)

Midfielders (6):
10　Andre MORGAN RAMI AYEW (Al-Sadd SC/Qatar)
6 　Edmund ADDO (FC Sheriff/Moldova)

11　Mubarak WAKASO (Shenzhen FC/China PR)
7　 Abdul FATAWU ISSAHAKU (Sporting Lissabon/Portugal)
20   Kudus MOHAMMED (Ajax Amsterdam/Netherlands)
15　Christopher ANTWI ADJEI (SC Paderbon/Germany)

Forwards (5):
9　 Jordan PIERRE AYEW (Crystal Palace/England)
23　Kwasi OKYERE WREIDT (Holstein Kiel/Germany)
19　Benjamin TETTEH (Yeni Malatyaspor/Turkey)
14　Daniel AFRIYIE BARNIEH (Hearts of Oak)
13　Felix OHENE AFENA-GYAN (AS Roma/Italy)

Schedule:

Friday, June 10 – Noevir Stadium, Kobe

• Chile vs Tunisia – 6:15 am

• Japan vs Ghana – 9:55 am

Tuesday, June 14 – Panasonic Stadium, Osaka

• Chile or Tunisia vs Ghana – 6:15 am

• Japan vs Chile or Tunisia – 9:55 am

By Stephen Amos

Match Report: Eleven Wonders beat Hearts Of Oak to boost survival hopes

D O
-
0
Match Report: Eleven Wonders beat Hearts Of Oak to boost survival hopes

With a late win over Hearts of Oak on Wednesday at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman, Eleven Wonders have risen out of the relegation zone.

In front of their fans, Moro Sumaila scored in the 96th minute to give Wonders three points and strengthen their survival prospects.

Due to a swine-flu outbreak in the Hearts of Oak camp, the game was rescheduled until Wednesday, June 7, 2022.

Hearts of Oak got off to a better start, with Kojo Obeng Junior scoring in the 12th minute.

Mohammed Nortey Tetteh’s late penalty goal tied the game 1-1 before halftime for the Wonders.

Wonders pushed for the winner after the break and were rewarded in extra time when Sumaila scored to send the fans into a frenzy.

With two games remaining, Wonders are now in 15th place, two points ahead of Real Tamale United who have dropped to the relegation zone.

1...447448449...928Page 448 of 928