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Ghana star Kamaldeen Sulemana rated second most in-form player in Europe, Liverpool sensation Salah tops form rankings

Ghanaian winger, Kamaldeen Sulemana is currently rated as the second most in-form player in Europe, according to Whoscored.com from the last six matches of players in plying their trade in the top five leagues of Europe.

The teenager has been impressive for Rennes in the French Ligue 1 since joining from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.

He has netted four goals in 11 appearances for the French side, clutching one assist so far. 

Having kept chipping away, Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah is ranked number one on the list, edging out Karim Benzema off top spot.

Starting from the bottom, here are the top 10 in-form players in Europe’s top five leagues based on WhoScored rating.

  1. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – 7.64

Bernardo Silva breaks into the top 10 form standings after another impressive showing for Manchester City, this time against Brighton. The Portuguese star provided the assist for Ilkay Gundogan’s opener at the AMEX, that his first of the season, while across his last six outings, Silva has scored twice to go with that assist. It means he sneaks into 10th with a WhoScored rating of 7.64.

  1. Raul De Tomas (Espanyol) – 7.69

Espanyol goal machine Raul De Tomas took a while to get going, but now he has gained a head of steam, there is no stopping the 27-year-old. A goal against Elche took him to five for the season, while an additional assist means he has had a direct hand in seven league goals this term. Of those, six have come in his last six La Liga outings as he comes in at ninth in the form rankings with a rating of 7.69.

  1. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) – 7.73

A non-mover at eigth in the leaderboard, Christopher Nkunku has been a ray of light in what has been a sub-par season for RB Leipzig so far. Nkunku has had a direct hand in six league goas in 2021/22, all of which have come in his last four appearances for the Bundesliga side. An assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s first in their 4-1 win over Greuther Fuerth over the weekend means the Frenchman is good value for a form rating of 7.73.

  1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 7.82

Trent Alexander-Arnold is in good form with his form rating and seasonal rating of 7.82 matching up. The right-back notched his third assist of the campaign in Liverpool’s resounding 5-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and with those three assists coming across his last six outings, it’s no surprise to see Alexander-Arnold rise five places to seventh in the standings.

  1. Konstantinos Mavropanos (VfB Stuttgart) – 7.85

Having been 10th in the form guide last week, a solid performance against Union Berlin saw VfB Stuttgart centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos soar to sixth in the form rankings after his man of the match display, which earned him a place in the Bundesliga team of the week. The on-loan centre-back has won the star man award in three of his last four league outings and his superb displays at the back have pushed his WhoScored form rating up to 7.85.

  1. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) – 7.90

Mateo Kovacic earned a WhoScored rating of 9.48 in Chelsea’s 7-0 win over Norwich, that marking his best Premier League performance of his career. The Croat made more key passes (6) than any other Premier League player in gameweek nine as Kovacic returned a brace of assists in the victory. The Chelsea star ranked 50th in the European form rankings last week, and his good showings of late have propelled him up the standings.

Teenage Rennes star continues to shine as Liverpool sensation tops form rankings

  1. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – 7.94

One of two to drop down the form standings is Bayern hitman Robert Lewandowski. The Pole bagged his 10th league goal of the campaign at the weekend, but that outing meant his 10-out-of-10 display against Hertha was pushed out of the reckoning. A two-game goal drought in his last six, something almost unheard of for Lewandowski, meant he fell to fourth in the form standings with a rating of 7.94.

  1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) – 8.08

A run of one goal in the last three league outings is sub-par for Karim Benzema, whose goal-shy performance in El Clasico saw him knocked off top spot in the form standings. Benzema’s rating of 8.08 over his last six appearances is still very impressive, but he’ll need to shine next time out to keep his place in the top three.

  1. Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes) – 8.14

One of the breakout stars in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season, Kamaldeen Sulemana has taken to the rigours of French football with ease. The teenage winger has been exceptional for Rennes this campaign and his superb form of late has yielded a fine rating of 8.14. Sulemana was unable to add to his goal or assist return against Strasbourg over the weekend, yet it wasn’t for want of trying as the Ghanaian made three key passes and managed one shot, all the while completing five dribbles, to rise to second as a new entry.

  1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 8.88

Was there going to be anyone else at the top of this leaderboard? Mohamed Salah has been exceptional for Liverpool this season and a perfect 10 showing against Manchester United on Sunday saw his form rating soar to 8.88. Salah has scored eight goals and provided three assists in his last six league appearances as he continues to play a starring role in Liverpool’s title push.

Teenage Rennes star continues to shine as Liverpool sensation tops form rankings

Carabao Cup: Chelsea beat Southampton on penalties, Arsenal defeat Leeds United to book quarterfinal spot

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Chelsea advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Southampton 4-3 on penalties.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw and was forced to go on penalties with Chelsea scoring four penalties as Mason Mount saw his effort saved. Soton missed two penalties as Will Smallbone and Theo Walcott could not hit the target.

The Blues had the first opportunity early as Barkley’s corner found the head of Saul. His effort seemed to be heading for the top corner but Forster stretched his entire frame all the way across to tip it over the bar.

Just before halftime, Chelsea took the lead through Kai Havertz. Ziyech whipped a corner right into the heart of the box and Havertz beat Lyanco in the air to head past Forster.

Soton drew level two minutes after the restart of the second-half through Che Adams. Walker-Pieters worked the ball on the wing before unleashing a shot. Kepa managed to stop it but it wriggled through him and it allowed Adams to capitalize on the line as he poked into an empty net.

In the other game, Arsenal also advanced to the quarter-finals following a 2-0 victory over Leeds United.

The two teams had a balanced start to the game but it was the hosts who had a clear chance of opening the scoring. Arsenal were carved wide open by a simple ball over the top for James. However, his first touch just allowed the ball to get away from him and he cannot make contact with an attempted shot as Leno comes off his line to gather the ball.

In the second half, there was injury concern for the Gunners as Ben White picked up a knock and was subbed for Calum Chambers. Chambers made an immediate start as he scored on his first touch. After a corner, Pepe headed the ball back into the danger area that was met by Chambers who headed the ball past Meslier.

Arsenal got their second through Eddie Nketiah who capitalized on two poor Leeds headers to flick the ball high over the onrushing Meslier. He had to just tap the ball into an empty net from close range – he could even walk it home – but he scuffed his shot and luckily it trickled into the far side of the net.

Sunderland also defeated Queens Park Rangers to book a place in the quarter-final.

The quarter-final draw will take place this Saturday.

2021/22 GFA: GFA to reward Referee of the season with a car

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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that the best referee of the 2021/22 Premier League season will take home a brand new car.

This according to the GFA will encourage referees to put in their best performance in the upcoming league season which kicks off on Friday, October 29, 2021.

‘’For the Ghana Premier League, the best referee for the year will take home a car at the end of the season. I am very sure that our referees will be happy’’ President Simeon Okraku said at the League launch on Tuesday.

‘’The whole idea is to encourage our referees to be competitive and deliver top notch performances over the course of the season’’ he added.

About 90 Referees and Assistants have been selected by the Referees Committee for the upcoming campaign. These Referees have undergone various training programmes to prepare them for the 2021/22 campaign.

2021/22 GPL: GFA reveals prize money for Premier League Winner and Runner up

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The winner of the 2021/22 Premier League will earn GHC 250,000 as prize money at the end of the season.

This was announced by President Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 during the launch of the football season at the GFA headquarters in Accra.

The League winner will take home a trophy and cash prize of GHC 250,000 and 40 gold medals whiles the 1st and 2nd Runner up receive GHC 150,000, 40 silver medals and GHC 80,000, 40 Bronze medals respectively.

In Division One, Winners of the various Zones (One, Two and Three) will also receive a brand new car and 40 medals as reward packages in the second tier competition while the second placed teams take home GHC 30,000 and 30 silver medals each.

For the Women’s League, the Winner will be rewarded with GHC 50,000 and 40 Gold medals while the Runner up receives GHC 30,000 and 40 Silver medals. Each of the 20 participating clubs will receive jersey team bags, movable mini goalpost, footballs, ball bags, cones and shin guards.

The 2021/22 Ghana Premier League is set to kick off on Friday, October 29, 2021 with newly promoted side Accra Lions set to square off with Elmina Sharks in the season’s opening blockbuster at the Accra Sports stadium.

This season’s league will also receive a major boost in the area of Television coverage as official broadcast right holder StarTimes are set to invest $1 million in production and promotion of the elite competition. Over 150 live games will be broadcast across the globe.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

GFA launches 2021-22 Ghana Premier League season

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The Ghana Football Association has launched the 2021/22 football season at its headquarters in Accra.

The event which was held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 brought together the leadership of the GFA led by President Edwin Simeon Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo (Esq.), the Premier League and Women’s Premier League Committee Members, Politicians, Investors, Regional Football Association Chairmen and the media.

Also in attendance were Alhaji Alhassan Haruna CEO of Procal Links Ghana Limited – local representatives of Macron Footballs and Tempo Footballs (Official Match Ball partner of the League) as well as Awudu Bashiru of Club Consult Africa – local representatives of ZAZ Produkts.

The GFA announced ZAZ Produkts as the official Referee kits partner of the League for the next three seasons. ZAZ Produkts are expected to provide referee uniforms to all officials who officiate in the Ghana Premier League, the Division One League and the Women’s Premier League.

Our Broadcast partner StarTimes was ably represented by Marketing Manager Mrs Akorfa Banson.

StarTimes have promised to broadcast live, at least One Hundred and Fifty matches (150) matches across competitions on Adepa Channel 247 and Max TV.

President of the GFA Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku who delivered the key note address, stressed on the need for the public to be expectant and positive ahead of the new campaign.

‘’Last season was super and I am sure this season will be extraordinary’’ President Simeon Okraku.

‘’We have come an long way in putting these products together and I would like to call on clubs, referees and all the major stakeholders to come on board for us to organize a successful League season’’ he added.

The League launch was attended by Madam Hilary Boaten – Chairperson of the Women’s League Board and Deputy Rosalind Amoah. Others include Hon. Babara Aisha Ayisi – Chairperson of the Women’s Super-Cup, Samuel Aboabire, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association and Wilson Arthur, Chairman of the MTN FA Cup Committee.

The Ghana League season include the Premier League, Division One League, Women’s Premier League, MTN FA Cup and the Women’s FA Cup.

-GFA

Stop paying CEOs more than players – Wydad AC Technical Director tells Ghana clubs

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Wydad Athletic Club Technical Director, Aboubakar Ouattara has launched a scathing attack on Ghana’s topflight clubs for paying poor salaries to their players.

The former Asante Kotoko and King Faisal, who watched his Moroccan side eliminate Hearts of Oak from the 2021/22 Caf Champions League, spoke to Happy FM on Monday evening.

Wydad thrashed the Phobians 6-1 in Casablanca after losing the first leg 1-0 in Accra.

For Ouattara, Ghanaian clubs must begin to pay players in line with their CEOs.

“Ghanaian clubs must stop pampering Chief Executives more than footballers. It’s totally disrespectful to the new trends of football.”

You can’t be paying players $300-500$ while CEO takes $5000-$10,000. When the player complains about salaries, then you say he’s indisciplined.

“Here nobody goes to training in a team bus. Players are well catered for and they all have their cars. Nobody even reports to the Club Chairman for their salaries.

Ouattara continued: “I find it shocking that Ghanaian top clubs are still practicing the 1970s strategies of football.

“Players still struggle while administrators with their nice suits enjoy all the money.”

Wydad Casablanca President Said Naciri awarded each player $3000 for their performance in the playoffs and the  Royal Morocco Football Federation awarded the club $110,000 for their performance.

Hearts of Oak will have now dropped to the Caf Confederation Cup playoffs and will need a win to qualify to the group stage.

But before that, the Rainbow boys must focus on the Ghana Premier League that kicks off on October 29.

-Footyghana

Caf CC: Hearts Of Oak face-off with Algerian side JS Saoura in playoffs to the group stage

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Hearts of Oak has been paired with Algerian topflight side Jeunesse Sportive de la Saoura, known simply as JS Saoura, in the playoffs to the group stage of the 2021/22 Caf Confederation Cup.

This was after a draw has been conducted at Caf headquarters in Cairo Tuesday morning.

The Phobians after they were eliminated by Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco who beat them 6-2 on aggregate joined 15 losing teams from the Champions League second preliminary round over the weekend.

The 2004 Confederation Cup winners will now battle out with Saoura, a club that was only founded in 2008.


Hearts will first host the green and yellows in Accra on Sunday, November 28 before travelling for the reverse leg the following weekend – December 5, 2021.

Here are the full playoffs pairings (First Leg: November 28 – Second Leg: December 5):

Zanaco (Zambia) – Binga (Mali)

Simba (Tanzania) – Red Arrows (Zambia)

TP MAzembe (DR Congo) – Marumo Gallants (South Africa)

ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) – GD Interclube (Angola)

Nouadhibou (Mauritania) – Coton Sport (Cameroon)

US Gendarmerie Nationale (Niger) – DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)

AS Otoho (Congo) – Gor Mahia (Kenya)

APR (Rwanda) – RS Berkane (Morocco)

Tusker (Kenya) – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Hearts of Oak (Ghana) – JS Saoura (Algeria)

Rivers United (Nigeria) – Al Masry (Egypt)

Stade Malien (Mali) – Ahly Tripoli (Libya) OR Biashara United (Tanzania)

Al Ittihad (Libya) – Enyimba (Nigeria)

AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) – Pyramids (Egypt)

LPRC Oilers (Liberia) – Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

Royal Leopards (Eswatini) – JS Kabylie (Algeria)

Tema Youth goalkeeper Christian Addai breaks silence on his injury

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Tema Youth captain Christian Addai who got injured recently in the Ghana Division One Super Cup has spoke after his successful surgery.

Christian,22, suffered a broken leg in the Ghana Division One Super Cup against Premier League debutants Bibiani GoldStars in the quarter-final game.

Speaking to Gyidie Original of your trusted source footy.ghpush.com/, he said ;

“I’m very grateful well when I sustained the injury.

“Many personalities called me to wish me speedy recovery including businessmen, journalists, coaches, businessmen and supporters. I can’t mention all.

“I promised them to come back stronger. I thank the Ghana football association and the entire Tema Youth team.

Recently Ghana football association delegates led by Vice president Mark Addo visited Christian at his hospital bed and donated items to him.

Christian was in Madina AstroTurf to support his team Tema Youth against Skyy FC in the game.

He was the best goalkeeper in the last season division one league with 23 appearances, 15 clean sheets, 5 penalty saves
2 MOTM, 14 goals conceded, 1 assist and a game lost.

-Gyidie Original
0549438709 For All Your Sports Stories To Be published.

Club Friendly: Asante Kotoko to host Asokwa Deportivo on Wednesday

Asante Kotoko will on Wednesday play Asokwa Deportivo at their training ground at Adako Jachie.

Asante Kotoko will play lower-tier side Asokwa Deportivo in a friendly on Wednesday as they step up preparations for the 2021-22 the Ghana premier league campaign.

The Porcupines are currently intensifying preparations ahead of the commencement of the new season having returned from Dubai few days ago.

In a bid to sharpen all rough edges in the squad to ensure they are able to properly compete, the Reds have agreed to honour a friendly match with the division one club on Wednesday morning at the Adako Jachie Training Ground.

The encounter is to give coach Prosper Narteh the opportunity to try out some different tactics while observing for departments that will need to be fixed before the local league starts this weekend.

The game will be Kotoko’s last preseason game and their first game since the team returned from the Dubai trip.

The Ghana Premier League will start on Friday and Kotoko will play their first game against Dreams on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Asante Kotoko will win 2021-22 GPL title – Abedi Sarfo predicts

Asante Kotoko have been predicted to win the 2021-22 Ghana Premier League this season.

The Porcupines last season challenged for the Premier League title but could not achieve the target to lift the title.

Kotoko after starting the season in dominant fashion saw their form decline. The team lost to rivals Hearts of Oak who were eventually crowned Champions at the end of the season.

However, former Kotoko striker Abedi Sarfo believes the team have the quality to win the upcoming Premier League title after their failure to live up to expectations last season.

“Asante Kotoko will win the league trophy next season,” he said in an interview with Light FM.

“They have allowed some players to leave but I think those that have come in are equally good. I know some of them and have watched their games too”

“Richard Boadu is a good player and he will add a lot of options to Kotoko’s midfield. The young players who have also arrived will be great additions with time.

“I will urge the supporters to have patience with the players. They will have tough times but with positive vibes, they will overcome every obstacle and win the league title at the end for them,” he added.

The Porcupines begin their season with an away trip to Accra to face Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.