Seven members of the Ghana U20 and U17 female national teams have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report carried by 442gh.com.
Close to 70 officials and players of the two national teams were involved in the testing and 7 have tested positive for the virus.
Pandemonium has rocked the separate camps with plans thrown in disarray as management is forced to isolate the affected players from the rest of the squad and officials while awaiting a second test on the entire contingent in Cape Coast.
The Ghana COVID-19 team carried out the test on the players in Cape Coast before the squad arrived in their camping base last week after receiving clearance from government officials.
However almost everybody within the teams’ camp is nervous as they are eager to find out their status after the second round of testing.
The Ghana COVID-19 Team officers communicated the results of the testing to officials on Monday and have provided directions on how the situation should be handled.
Nana Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian President, gave clearance to the Ghana Football Association to camp the ladies ahead of their international assignment when international football resumes. But, the latest development is expected to rock plans of the FA and put their fighting readiness to test.
ROMELU LUKAKU showed Manchester United how to finish as his double fired Inter Milan to the Europa League final.
Lukaku and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez both scored twice in a 5-0 semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk to set up a showdown against Sevilla on Friday.
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez both scored twice as Inter Milan beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Inter have now reached their first European final since winning the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
And Antonio Conte is now just one match away from delivering sliverware in his first season at the San Siro having finished just a point behind champions Juventus in Serie A.
Inter started with their usual 5-3-2 system in Germany, with ex-Manchester United stars Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young both in the XI.
The pair would have been desperate to face their old side in the final along with Inter teammate Alexis Sanchez, who was on the bench.
Martinez opened the scoring as Inter set up a Europa League final against SevillaCredit: AP:Associated Press
But it is Europa League experts Sevilla they will take on after the Spaniards came back to beat United 2-1 last night.
Inter started well as their no-nonsense defence and midfield stifled Shakhtar’s Brazilian stars.
And their first goal came just 18 minutes in when Martinez met Nicolo Barella’s brilliant cross after a poor clearance from the Ukrainians for his 20th strike of the season.
Martinez should have had a second nearly ten minutes later but could only find the side netting before the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Lukaku scored the best goal of the game with a brilliant run and right-footed finishCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Shakhtar felt they should have been awarded a penalty early in the second half when the ball appeared to strike Roberto Gagliardini’s arm.
And moments later the score was almost 2-0 when Martinez launched a delightful chip over Andriy Pyatov, only for the goalie to recover and tip it over the bar.
Junior Moraes had a glorious chance to level for Shakhtar in the 61st minute when he headed the ball point blank at Samir Handanovic, who reacted quickly to palm away the sitter.
And the goalie’s sharp thinking showed why Inter have now kept six clean sheets in their last seven matches in all competitions.
Antonio Conte is on the verge of delivering silverware in his first season at InterCredit: Reuters
Inter then scored a second moments later when right wing-back Danilo D’Ambrosio scored a header from a corner to put his side in total control.
It was Inter’s 108th goal of the campaign – a new club record.
And it was enough to take the fight out of Shakhtar, who almost conceded a third ten minutes later when Lukaku found himself through on goal before firing his shot straight into the arms of Pyatov.
However, Martinez bagged his second of the night just moments later with a well-placed shot from outside the box.
The goal seemed to spur Lukaku on and it took just a few minutes before he too found the back of the net for his 32nd goal of the season.
The Belgian then scored an incredible goal demonstrating his new-found fitness and speed as he raced past Shakhtar’s defence to fire in a right-footer from out wide.
Sebastiano Esposito almost made it six just seconds after coming off the bench when he turned Pyatov, but his shot hit the side-netting before the offside flag went up.
Inter will now prepare for their showdown against Sevilla on Friday and not many will bet against Conte’s men on the back of this dominant performance.
Report reaching footy.ghpush.com/ indicates that Hearts Of Oak are in advance talks with Airline company, Africa World for a partnership ahead of the upcoming season.
Kumasi-based OYEREPA FM reported on Monday afternoon that, the Phobians are close to securing a deal with Africa World Airline. When the agreement is finalised, the airline company will be the headline sponsor of the Ghanaian Giants.
Africa World Airlines owned by Chinese-based Conglomerate HNA Group founded by Togbe Afede XIV in 2010. It is a joint venture between Hainan Airlines, China-Africa Development Fund, SSNIT and SAS Finance Group commenced operations in 2012.
Hearts of Oak already have GOIL and StarLife Assurance as their fuel and insurance partners and UK-based Umbro as their official kit manufacturers.
The 2000 CAF Champions League winners also have partnerships with GTV Sports Plus, Financial Technology firm Cloud Africa, SAS Finance Group, Koflex Gym and Software and Firmware developers Bitsweaver Limited
Soccer legend and former Asante Kotoko playmaker, Reverend Osei Kofi, has thrown his weight behind newly appointed Kotoko CEO, Nana Yaw Amponsah, to succeed during his three-year tenure.
However, the former Black Stars schemer warned stakeholders of the club to give Mr Amponsah the free hand to run the club to perfection.
“If only he will be given the freedom and right to make his own decisions, then he can make Kotoko the greatest club in Africa,” he stated.
Rev. Osei Kofi told Graphic Sports that he barely knew Mr Amponsah but watching him from afar and having read a book he authored about the development of football in Ghana, he believed he was the right man for Kotoko.
“I don’t know much about him but the little I have heard and seen of him makes me admire his zeal and passion to help football grow in Ghana and Kotoko as a club,” he told Graphic Sports in an interview in Accra last Friday.
He maintained that “Kotoko is a club in need of a visionary and similar to the dwindling fortunes of most clubs in the country, Kotoko’s woes have bedevilled Ghana football.”
“Football is not doing well in Ghana; it’s getting to four decades now and we don’t have an African trophy. Why should this be so? We need transformational leaders in all aspects of our football,” he noted.
He condemned a recent comment by a former official of the club which urged the new CEO to consult the gods to help improve the fortunes of the club, adding that such a thinking was only an attribute of a backward club.
Rev. Osei Kofi also dismissed the petition being considered by some clubs to implore President Akufo-Addo to pardon former GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, over his prosecution by the state,
He noted that the issue of Nyantakyi was beyond the President and Ghanaians as a whole as he had been banned by FIFA. He questioned the motive of the petitioners and challenged them to speak to their conscience.
Ghana international, Frank Acheampong, is looking forward to uniting his Tianjin Teda teammates to make significant impact in the ongoing Chinese Super League.
Acheampong, who was announced as the new skipper of Tianjin Teda, feels honoured to lead the club and said he was ready to help turn around the fortunes of the team.
He became the first Ghanaian to be named a captain in China after Teda decided to give him the opportunity to lead them. Speaking in an interview, Acheampong thanked Coach Uli Stielike for having faith in his capabilities to lead the team in this season’s campaign.
“I’m particularly honoured to be made captain of this great club,” Acheampong said. “It has come at a very challenging time where the team is struggling very early in the season.
“I hope that with a collective effort we can turn around our season,” he added. The 26-year-old will begin his new role as captain of the side when Teda play Hebei CFFC on Monday, August 17 in the Chinese Super League.
The club has made its worst start to a season since Acheampong joined. Teda has 3 loses and a draw from their opening four matches of the season, with just a point from a possible 12.
Acheampong, who joined the Teda in July 2017 on a six month loan spell, has scored 26 goals in 56 appearances for the club and is looking forward to an impressive season.
Former Burnley and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to join Tottenham on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old left Burnley when his contract expired on 30 June.
Hart, then England keeper, fell from favour after Pep Guardiola arrived at City in 2016, with loans to Torino and West Ham before a 2018 move to Burnley.
But he lost his place to Tom Heaton midway through the first season of a two-year contract and then spent the 2019-20 on the bench behind Nick Pope.
He is due to have a medical and will compete with Paulo Gazzaniga to be Hugo Lloris’ deputy at Spurs.
Ghanaian U-23 star Emmanuel Lomotey has completed a four-year deal with Fench side Amiens SC.
Lomotey is expected to stay with the French outfit until 2024.
A club stated indicated that, ”Amiens SC is very happy to announce the signing of Emmanuel Lomotey!,” the club announced.
“The 22-year-old Ghanaian U23 defensive and the international midfielder is linked with the club until 2024,”
Reports indicate that the Ligue 2 side paid a whooping € 500,000 for the services of the utility player who was keen on leaving Spanin after his Extremadura was relegated in the Segunda Division.
Board member of Asante Kotoko, Alhaji Abu Lamine has disclosed that the club is yet to decide on participating in the CAF Champions League.
The Porcupine Warriors were given the nod to represent Ghana at next season’s CAF Champions League after the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League was annulled by the Ghana Football Association.
It would be recalled that the league was cancelled without a winner, and after an Executive Council meeting, the Ghana FA settled on the Reds to represent the West African country in Africa’s elite inter-club competition.
Reports were that the Kotoko board had taken a decision to participate in Africa but according to the director of the club, a firm decision is yet to be taken.
“We are yet to decide whether the current crop of players can take us to Africa and make an impact,” Asempa FM’s ultimate sports show.
“In three weeks time, I believe Nana Yaw Amponsah will come to the board and brief us on the state of Kumasi Asante Kotoko,” he added.
Ghana’s season was first suspended in mid-March before it was finally truncated in June due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the playing body has not been active.
The club as part of its restructuring has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer. – Nana Yaw Amponsah, who is yet to make the decision on the club’s participation in Africa.
Due to travel restrictions across parts of Africa as a result of COVID-19, the qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica/Panama 2020 scheduled for September 2020 has been postponed.
The First Round first leg was fixed for 3-5 September 2020 with the return leg from 10-12 September 2020.
The revised fixtures for the qualifiers will be announced in due course after consultation with the various stakeholders.
Two teams will qualify to represent Africa at the final tournament from 20 January – 6 February 2021 in Costa Rica and Panama.
Meanwhile, CAF is monitoring the situation closely and working with the relevant authorities with regards to hosting of the matches, and will make pronouncements accordingly in the event of developments that will affect playing a match at the designated venue.
Ghana international Bernard Mensah has officially joined Besiktas JK in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Besiktas JK reached an agreement with Kayserispor over his possible switch on a season-long loan deal with an option to make the deal permanent after the season.
The 25-year-old was a long-term target of the Black and White lads following his explosive performance in the Turkish Super Lig for the past three seasons as Fenerbahce, Kasimpasa and Galatasaray were all in the running for his signature.
The report indicates that Besiktas will be paying €4.5m to his parent club, Kayserispor FK to capture him on a permanent basis.
The loan deal worth €500,000 is expected to be announced in the coming hours. Mensah’s contract with Kayserispor will expire in June 2022.
The former Atletico Madrid star dazzled in the Turkish Super Lig last campaign with five goals and eight assists in 25 appearances for Kayserispor FK.
