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2022 World Cup qualifiers: Tunisia earn a place in the play-off after beating Zambia

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Tunisia secured a 3-1 win at home over Zambia which was enough for them to progress to the play-offs.

Tunisia went to the last match day level on points with Equatorial Guinea and had to win to ensure they progress.

They got into the lead in the 18th minute through Aissa Laidouni who swing in a sweet volley after a cross from the right was headed to his path. They had a chance to double their lead in the 28th minute when Wahbi Khazri was fouled inside the area by the keeper.

The captain took responsibility but saw his spot kick saved.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier - Tunisia v Zambia..

His blushes were however wiped two minutes later when Mohamed Drager scored the second finishing off a sweet one two finish started off by Khazri at the edge of the box.

They got their third two minutes from halftime when Ali Maaloul brilliantly swept the ball home inside the box after the Zambian defense was caught flat out.

The visitors scored their consolation in the 80th minute when Fashion Sakala scored on the second bite of the cherry off the penalty spot after his initial effort was saved.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier - Mauritania v Equatorial Guinea

Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea could only finish second in the group with 11 points, two behind Tunisia after playing to a 1-1 draw with Mauritania.

Saul Basilio Coco-Bassey Oubina scored the equalizer for the Equatoguineans in the second half, cancelling out Aboubakar Kamara’s first half goal.

Mauritania finished bottom of the group after failing to clinch any victory.

2022 WCQ: Cameroon beat Côte d’Ivoire to secure play-offs qualification

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Cameroon pipped Ivory Coast to qualify for the play-off round for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after they picked victory in their final group match on Tuesday.

The Indomitable Lions edged out Côte d’Ivoire by a solitary goal in Yaounde to finish top of Group D.

Pressure was on the host side as they came into the final match day trailing the Ivorians in the group and needed to win at all costs to ensure they earned a place in the play-off.

2022 World Cup Qualifier - Cameroon v Cote d'Ivoire.

They started strongly pinning Côte d’Ivoire in their own half and pushed on by the home crowd. They eventually got the opener in the 21st minute when Karl Toko Ekambi smashed the ball into the roof of the net after being played through by Martin Hongla.

It was the exact start that Cameroon had yearned for and now turned the pressure tide on the visitors.

They almost drew level in the 31st minute but keeper Andre Onana made a brilliant save, showing superb reflex to turn behind Franck Kessie’s volley from close range off a Max Cornet cross.

2022 World Cup Qualifier - Cameroon v Cote d'Ivoire..

In the second half, Côte d’Ivoire piled the pressure and they came closest in the 70th minute when Sebastian Haller saw his header off a cross from the right clip the crossbar.

Substitutes Nicolas Pepe and Aboubacar Sangare also came close, Pepe’s low shot after cutting in from the right being deflected away while Sangare’s low shot went inches wide with Onana well beaten.

Despite the increased pressure, Cameroon held on to their nerves to see off the victory and secure the ticket.

-CAF

HIGHLIGHTS: Asante Kotoko 1-0 Asekem FC

Asante Kotoko on Tuesday afternoon defeated Asekem FC 1-0 in a friendly encounter staged at the Adako Jachie training ground.

As part of preparations for the next league match, coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his team engaged the lower-tier outfit.

At the end of the exercise, Franck Mbella’s goal handed Asante Kotoko a narrow 1-0 win.

Asante Kotoko Starting XI:

Danlad, Agyapong, Imoro, Ganiyu, C. Owusu, Keyekeh, Sheriff, Clinton (Afoakwa), Amankona, Mfegue, Mbella

Training for the Porcupine Warriors club will continue on Wednesday as part of the preparations for the clash against Techiman Eleven Wonders.

The game will be played on Friday, November 19, 2021, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Watch the highlights of the game below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeXPuZmJ_6E

Asante Kotoko to secure BIG sponsorship deal that will cater for salaries of players, staff

Asante Kotoko are close to securing a gargantuan deal with a company that will cater for players, management members and technical team members’ salaries, according to Oyerepa FM sports.

This same sponsor according to the report will bear the cost of the soon to arrive ultra-modern and state-of-the-art Volvo bus.

The sponsor in addition will also serve as a guarantor for the buses for the Fabu Transport- another way the Nana Yaw Amponsah led management want to generate revenue for the club.

Although the name of the firm has not been mentioned, it is understood that talks are far advanced and the deal could be finalized and announced before the close of the month.

FIFA reviews Ghana-South Africa World Cup qualifier after complaint

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FIFA in a statement in response to a query from Graphic Online said: “FIFA has received a complaint from the South African FA in relation to this matter and will review it. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage”.

It will be recalled that the Black Stars of Ghana defeated the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 1-0 last Sunday at the Cape Coast Stadium to qualify for the play-offs for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The goal which was scored by Ghana captain Andre Ayew came from the penalty spot after Ghana defender Daniel Amartey was fouled.

Replays of the incident show that South Africa defender Rushine de Reuck held the Leicester man after a corner was floated in his direction by Daniel Kyere.

Senegalese Referee Maguette Ndiaye awarded the penalty which was converted by Ayew.

Ghana had trailed South Africa by three points heading into the match and victory was the only result required to seal qualification to the third round of the qualifiers while the South Africans had only needed a draw.

Watch the foul below;

Complaint

In the aftermath of the match, South Africa Football Association CEO, Tebogo Motlanthe signalled their association’s intent to lodge a formal complaint into the conduct of the match officials.

“The association (SAFA) has decided to lodge a formal complaint so that the conduct of the match officials are closely investigated by both FIFA and CAF but we will be having a press conference to tell the nation what will be happening going forward,” Mr Motlanthe said in a tweet shared by the team’s Twitter account.

In 2016, South Africa had to replay a World Cup qualifier they won 2-1 against Senegal after Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was found guilty of unlawfully influencing a match result by FIFA.

Lamptey who wrongly awarded a penalty to the South Africans was handed a life ban while Senegal won the replay 2-0 and qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

-Graphic.com.gh

Mbella scores as Kotoko beat Asekem FC in friendly ahead of Wonders game

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The Porcupine Warriors continued with their fine form as they pipped aside the lower tier side in a training match on Tuesday

Asante Kotoko defeated lower division side Asekem FC 1-0 in a training match at the Adako Jachie training ground on Tuesday.

Kotoko used this game as a preparation for Ghana Premier League matchday four fixture against Techiman Eleven Wonders at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday.

Following Kotoko’s narrow win over Gold Stars in Bibiani last weekend, coach Prosper Ogum Narteh opted to field fringe players for this game and rested those that played part in the victory over Gold Stars.

Young goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim was handed a starting place ahead of Razak Abalora and Kwame Baah.

The back four was made of Augustine Agyapong, Charles Owusu, Abdul Ganiu Ismail who returned from international duties with Ghana as well as Imoro Ibrahim.

Also, Emmanuel Keyekeh started in midfield together with Sheriff Mohammed, Stephen Amankonah and Clinton Opoku while Cameroonian strikers Etuoga Mbella Frank Thierry and Mfegue George Rodrigues led the attack.

Kotoko had the first opportunity to take the lead by the 12th minute after Keyekeh combined beautifully to set up Mfegue but the striker’s effort narrowly missed the target.

However, his countryman Mbella showed him how to utilize half chances few minutes later.

The Cameroonian import latched on the ball after a mistake by the Asekem defenders and calmly sent in his last ditch effort beautifully.

Asekem were awarded a penalty to level the score after one of their strikers was clutched down in Kotoko’s penalty area. Unfortunately for them, the resulting kick was missed.

Mbella, according to AshesGyamera’s sources, could make his bow for Kotoko on Saturday following his consistent performance at training.

Kotoko lead Ghana Premier League log with nine points after defeating Dreams FC, Bechem United and Gold Stars.

They have scored six goals in the process and conceded just one.

-Ashesgyamera.com

Tema Youth switch to new home grounds ahead of 2021/22 Division One season

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Former Ghana Premier League outfit, Tema Youth FC have changed to a new home grounds ahead of the 2021/22 Division One League.  

The Tema-based club has moved from their traditional Tema Sports Stadium to the Mantse Sports Stadium, the club announced on Tuesday.

The Ghana Football Association Club Licensing Committee recently rejected the Tema Stadium which Tema Youth presented as their home venue.

“New season, new vision and most importantly a NEW HOME GROUNDS. Welcome to the Tema Mantse Sports Stadium,” wrote the club on Twitter.
 

The Habour Warriors will be hoping to make a return to the top-flight after coming close last season, only to be beaten to promotion by Accra Lions.

Tema Youth will battle it out in Zone III with the likes of Liberty Professionals and Inter Allies.

Hearts Of Oak failing to win league games due to luck – Spporters Chief

Hearts of Oak Supporters Chief, Elvis Herman Hesse has stated that the team has not been lucky in their opening games of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season hence their failure to win a single game after three rounds of matches.

The defending Ghana Premier League champions are without a win after three games. They have drawn all the games against Legon Cities, WAFA and Aduana Stars.

Currently, they are six points behind rivals Asante Kotoko on the league table.

And the club seen to be under pressure to perform.

Elvis Herman Hesse in an interview said Hearts of Oak are failing to win their games due to luck.

“We shouldn’t back down now and just encourage the team. We are waiting up to the next five matches and see if there is a problem. The performance is not bad it is just luck that has eluded the team now. Even against WAFA we scored first before they equalize.

“Every season and it outcome and we can always overtake them. As defending champions, they cannot disgrace us at all. We are looking forward to our game against AshantiGold SC”, he told  Happy FM.

“Now that Asante Kotoko is on top of the league table. It brings a lot of pressure but we are still working things out”, he added.

Hearts Of Oak will play as guests to AshantiGold on match-day 4.

Ghana meet South Africa again as Hasaacas Ladies clash with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in CAF Women’s Champions League final

Ghanaian champions Hasaacas Ladies will play South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns ladies in the final of the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Hasaacas Ladies earlier defeated Moroccan giants ASFAR Club 2-1 in the first semi-final clash on Monday afternoon courtesy goals from Doris Boaduwaa and Evelyn Badu.

In the other semi-final game, Sundowns also beat Malabo Kings 5-4 on penalty shootouts to set up grand finale clash with the Ghanaians.

The final will come off on Friday, November 19, 2021, in Egypt.

More to follow…

BREAKING NEWS: Ashantigold SACK head coach Ernest Thompson after King Faisal defeat

Ghana Premier League side Ashantigold SC have sacked their head coach Ernest Thompson Quartey after three matches into the 2021-22 season.

The CAF license A holder joined the Miners on a two-year deal and has become the first casualty in the 2021-22 Premier League season.

The former Ebusua Dwarfs gaffer picked four points out of a possible nine in the current season after three games and are lying on the ninth position.

OFFICIAL: Ashgold settle on Ernest Thompson as new head coach

The decision comes following the Miner’s painful 2-0 defeat to in-form King Faisal at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Technical Director, Ricardo Da Rocha was in charge of the team’s training recovery training session at Ofori Park on Monday morning, Pure FM reports.

More to follow…