Ex-Ghana Football Association Veep George Afriyie has accused the current leadership of bias in national team call-ups.
Osman Haqi, 18, who is on the books of Akim Old Tafo-based Planners FC was handed a late call up into the Black Satellites squad that clinched the just ended 2020 Wafu Cup championship held in Benin during their preparations, to beef up the attack, but he was turned away.
Afriyie alleges that the talented winger was sent home because he played for Okyeman Planners, which he owns.
According to the 2019 Ghana FA presidential aspirant, he told his administrator that the player would be sacked for political reasons but he did not heed the advise and told the player to travel to join the camp.
Ex-GFA Veep George Afriyie has accused the current leadership bias in national team call-ups.
The administrator alleges that a U-20 player was sent home because he played for Okyeman Planners, which Afriyie owns.#JoySportspic.twitter.com/gMDfmS4qdd
Qatar will host the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 from 1 to 11 February 2021, after it was postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Six continental confederations, as well as the host nation’s league champions, will compete in the tournament, which will be held across three FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums namely Ahmad Bin Ali, Khalifa International and Education City.
The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium which was unveiled just last week on 18 December, will stage the opening match between Qatari champions Al Duhail and Auckland City of New Zealand on 1 February 2021 and the final will be played at Education City Stadium on 11 February 2021.
The other participants are European champions and German side FC Bayern München, CONCACAF champions Tigres UANL from Mexico, Egyptian giants and African champions Al Ahly SC along with Asian Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea.
Ulsan recently played a match in a FIFA World Cup 2022 venue Al Janoub Stadium where they clinched the AFC Champions League title.
The winner of the CONMEBOL Libertadores will determine the South American representative, rounding off this edition’s participants.
The South American title winner will be determined by the end of January 2021.
The draw to finalise the detailed pairings in the tournament will take place in Zurich on 19 January 2021.
Inaugurated exactly two years before Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup final, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 seats and is a demonstration of Qatar’s commitment to sustainability, having been largely constructed from recycled and reused material from an older stadium that once stood on the same site.
Education City Stadium, nicknamed the ‘Diamond in the Desert’, has its design inspired by the rich history of Islamic architecture, blended with striking modernity.
The façade features triangles that form complex, diamond-like geometrical patterns which appear to change colour depending on the sun’s position.
The third stadium to be used during the FIFA Club World Cup will be Khalifa International Stadium.
Widely regarded as Qatar’s national stadium, the recently refurbished venue hosted the previous tournament’s final where English side Liverpool FC won the title for the first time in front of an audience of more than 45,000 fans.
Accra Great Olympics host Ebusua Dwarfs at the Accra Sports Stadium in the Ghana Premier League(GPL).
A win for Olympics would propel them to the top of the table temporarily as league leadrs Bechem United to play on Saturday. While three points for the away side sends them into the top four ahead of their opponent today.
The week four outstanding fixture will eventually come-off today after been shelved due to clash in kickoff time with Asante Kotoko and Nouadhibous’ rescheduled Caf Champions League tie.
The home side are in top form winning three of their last five games including a back to back win against Asante Kotoko and WAFA.
Two of the wins came at home and as such holds a hundred percent record ahead of their third home game.
However, the Crabs were victors in their last outing at the Accra Sports Stadium against struggling Legon Cities on Friday.
Dwarfs have won one and lost one of their two away matches this season but have two wins in total so far.
Form Guide
Both teams are yet to record a drawn game since matchday. Therefore their last four matches have ended in either a win or lose.
Great Olympics
5 Games- 3(W), D (1), L (1)
Ebusua Dwrafs
5 Games- 2(W), D(1), L(2)
KickKick-off : 3 PM live on Startimes
Players to watch
Accra Great Olympics- Gladson Awako
The starman has been brilliant in December winning two man of the match awards in his last three matches.
Ebusua Dwarfs- Benjamin Acquah
The forward is by a country mile the brightest spot in Dwarfs with two goals and two MVPs to his credit this season. Acquah got a brace to earn his side their maiden away win last week.
The CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup First Round 1st Leg ties were played across the continent on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A lot of Ghanaian players were involved with their various clubs in the two competitions.
We bring you up to speed of how the Ghanaian players fared on Tuesday and Wednesday with their clubs.
CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
Defender Nartey Polo lasted the entire duration for Burkina Faso side Salitas FC who recorded a vital 1-0 victory in Sudan against Alamal Atbara on Tuesday.
Daniel Adoko played all minutes for Napsa Stars of Zambia as they were held to a scoreless draw by Mozambican giants UD Songo on Tuesday.
Egyptian moneybags Pyramids FC began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Libyan side Al Ittihad Tripoli and it was striker John Antwi who netted the match winner in the 55th minute on Tuesday.
Former AshantiGold SC captain Shafiu Mumuniwas on target for Tunisian outfit US Monastir when they beat Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya 2-0 on Wednesday.
Shafiu Mumuni celebrating his goal for US Monastir.
Also on Wednesday, striker Stephen Sey scored the second goal when Tanzania’s Namungo SC saw off Al Hilal Obeid with a 2-0 victory.
Stephen Sey celebrates his goal for Namungo SC
Mohammed Saaba Gariba was the provider when Ivorian side FC San Pedro clinched a very essential 1-0 victory in Senegal against ASC Jaaraf on Wednesday.
Central defender Desmond Agbekpornu was at the heart of defence of Nigerian side Rivers United who beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in South Africa.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Daniel Darkwah and Farouk Mohammed saw 90 minutes of action when Nigerian giants Enyimba FC were handed a 3-0 defeat by Sudanese champions Al Merrikh SC on Wednesday.
Centre back Richard Ocran enjoyed full throttle for Zambian champions Nkana FC as they were held by Petro Atletico of Angola a 1-1 drawn game.
Former Hearts of Oak centre back Inusah Musah also played the entire duration of the game for Petro Atletico.
Inusah Musah making a tackle on Nkana FC player
Godfred Asante played 90 minutes for Guinean champions Horoya AC as they played out a 1-1 stalemate in Ivory Coast against Racing Club Abidjan.
Enock Atta Agyei started for Horoya but made way for captain Ocansey Mandela in the 71st minute of the match.
Brefo Mensah was an unused substitute for the Guinean giants.
Ghanaian coach Mohammed Bashar Ogba was in charge of Niger champions AS SONIDEP when they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to giants Al Ahly SC in Niamey on Wednesday.
Asante Kotoko suffered a slender 1-0 defeat to Sudan giants, Al-Hilal in the first-leg of the final preliminary round of the Caf Champiions League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Vinny Bongonga Kombe scored the only in the second half to hand the visitors the needed victory.
Former Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Abubakar Damba has questioned the quality in-depth of Asante Kotoko squad.
The Porcupine Warriors have been very poor in the ongoing Ghana Premier League which forced them to sack their head coach Maxwell Konadu.
The situation worsened following Kotoko’s 1-0 defeat to Sudanese side Al Hilal in the first leg of the final preliminary round of the Caf Champions League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
After the game, Damba raised concerns about the player quality at the club.
“Asante Kotoko are disappointing. They lack quality and no creativity,” he told GTV Sports Plus.
“I was surprised with the statistics at the end of the game but it is difficult to say but this Kotoko team has a long a way to go.
“They are disappointing and if they will continue like this, it will be a disaster.”
He however, admitted that Kotoko can win the second tie with hard work and commitment.
“They can go away and win there also but its very difficult at the moment.
“They will have to play with more hunger and commitment in Omdurman.
“It’s not an impossible task for Kotoko but they will have to work hard,” he added.
The second-leg tie will be staged in Omdurman, Sudan on January 6, 2021.
An unimpressive performance from Asante Kotoko has seen the team suffering a 1-0 defeat to Al Hilal Omdurman in the second round first leg encounter of the CAF Champions League.
The visitors had a bright start to the first half as they dominated play in the first few minutes. With the hosts failing to settle, the Sudanese club continues to grow in confidence and came close to scoring in the first ten minutes.
In the end, Asante Kotoko luckily stayed in the game at the end of the first half and with a chance to come in stronger in the second half.
Unfortunately for the Ghanaian giants, they just didn’t have the firepower to outplay Al Hilal. The away team continued to exert their superiority in the second half, threatening almost every five minutes.
After series of attacking plays, Al Hilal finally had the breakthrough in the 77th minute when Vinny Bongonga scored from close range after he was assisted by Mohammed Quatarra.
Courtesy of today’s defeat, Asante Kotoko has a difficult task ahead of the reverse fixture that will be played in Sudan.
Asante Kotoko interim coach, Johnson Smith has named his line-up for the first leg of the final preliminary round encounter with Al-Hilal of Sudan.
The Porcupine Warriors welcome the Sudanese champions at the Accra Sports Stadium this afternoon as they seek to secure CAF Champions League group stage spot.
Razak Abalora, who got the nod ahead of Kwame Baah in the Dreams FC win will start in the posts for the Ghanaian giants.
In midfield, Johnson Smith selected Adom Frimpong, Godfred Asiamah, Emmanuel Gyamfi and Latif Anabila.
At the back, Christopher Nettey and Imoro Ibrahim will operate from the laterals and Wahab Adams and Ganiyu in the middle.
Kotoko will rely on Kwame Poku and William Opoku Mensah in attack for goals in a game that is scheduled at 3 pm kick-off time.
Below is the full list:
Razak Abalora (GK) Christopher Nakai Nettey Abdul Ganiu Ismail Wahab Adams Imoro Ibrahim Kwame Adom Frimpong Abdul Latif Anabila Godfred Asiamah Emmanuel Gyamfi (C) William Opoku Mensah Kwame Opoku
Ghana U-20 and B.A United midfielder, Huda Issah has said that he will choose Asante Kotoko over rivals Accra Hearts of Oak on any day.
Issah was a member of the Black Satellites squad that clinched the just ended 2020 Wafu Zone B Championship held in Benin.
He also played for the Black Starlets during the qualifier for the 2017 Africa Youth Championship but failed to make the final squad for the tournament.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Sikka FM, Issah who has incredible strength on the ball, combined with pace and ability to channel accurate passes to his teammates across the field indicated that he will pick Kotoko ahead of Hearts Of Oak.
“Asante Kotoko is a very great club and I will choose them over Hearts Of Oak in the Ghana League, ” Black Satellites player Huda Issah told Sikka FM.
Issah, 18, won the Best Player in the 2019 Red & White Consult tournament branded Asanteman inter-community gala.
He has become the toast of fans in the Ashanti Region as many have already compared him to the likes of N’golo Kante, former Arsenal captain Fabregas and French midfielder Paul Pogba.
His father, Issah Abdul Aziz nicknamed, ‘Jaga Maradona’ played for King Faisal with the likes of Bashiru Gambo and Osei Kufuor.
![Great Olympics host Dwarfs in outstanding Ghana Premier League fixture today [Preview, Players to Watch, Kickoff]](https://footy.ghpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Ebusua-Dwarfs-vs-Great-Olympics-780x470-1-768x463.jpg "Great Olympics host Dwarfs in outstanding Ghana Premier League fixture today [Preview, Players to Watch, Kickoff]")
