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Antoine Semenyo named Bournemouth Player of the Month

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Antoine Semenyo

The August Player of the Month award goes to Antoine Semenyo, a Ghanaian striker for AFC Bournemouth.

The Black Stars forward, Antoine Semenyo won the prized award from Michael Matthews Jewellers after scoring twice and dishing out an assist in three games throughout the month.

The Ghanaian, who accomplished the same feat in the first month of the previous season, received a tonne of votes from the club’s supporters to win the honor again.

Antoine Semenyo

With two goals in the thrilling six-goal match against Liverpool and an assist in the 1-0 triumph over Wolves, Semenyo got off to a scorching start to the season. Additionally, he was crucial to the win over Tottenham Hotspurs.

He was nominated for both Goal of the Month and Premier League Player of the Month for the month.

Additionally, he maintained his great play in September, helping Antoni Iraola’s team defeat Brighton with a goal and an assist following the international break.

Numerous clubs in England and Europe are still interested in the 25-year-old, who recently signed a contract extension at Vitality Park.

On Sunday, Bournemouth will host Newcastle United in the Premier League at Vitality Park.

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Football World

Thomas Partey denies rape charges

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Thomas Partey denies rape charges

Thomas Partey, the former football player for Arsenal, has denied raping two women and sexually assaulting a third.

At Southwark Crown Court, the Ghanaian midfielder entered a not guilty plea to five rape charges and one sexual assault charge.

The 32-year-old played in the Premier League on a regular basis between 2021 and 2022, when the alleged offenses occurred. After his contract expired at the end of June, he left the north London club and was charged four days later.

Thomas Partey denies rape charges

Until his trial, which is scheduled to begin at the same court on November 2 of next year, Mr. Partey was given bail.

Before entering a not guilty plea to each of the allegations against him, he spoke to verify his identity.

The midfielder, who currently plays for Villareal of Spain, was in England on Tuesday when his new team took on Spurs in the Champions League. He entered as a substitute in what ended up being his team’s 1-0 defeat.

Mr. Partey is not prohibited from playing football under the terms of his bail; nevertheless, he is required to give police 24 hours’ notice before traveling abroad and to refrain from contacting the complainants.

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Black Stars

Villarreal boss Marcelino confident Thomas Partey will deliver against Tottenham

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Villarreal boss Marcelino confident Thomas Partey will deliver against Tottenham

Marcelino, the Villarreal manager, is confident against Tottenham, Thomas Partey will do well.

Prior to Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League matchup with Tottenham Hotspur in London, Villarreal head coach Marcelino García Toral has stated that he has complete faith in Thomas Partey.

When Villarreal visits the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, kickoff is set for 19:00 GMT, the 31-year-old Ghanaian midfielder, who formerly played for Arsenal for three seasons in north London, is anticipated to play a key part.

Villarreal boss Marcelino confident Thomas Partey will deliver against Tottenham

Marcelino praised Partey’s preparedness on and off the field with great vigor.

“I am totally convinced that he is mentally prepared and technically prepared to play tomorrow night. For sure he will be ready,” he said.

“We are thrilled that Thomas is here because of his football skills and his human presence.”

The Spanish manager also mentioned Partey’s extensive experience, having played at the highest levels for Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, as a crucial component of Villarreal’s European aspirations.

He has a plenty of expertise and is an excellent player. He has performed for numerous elite clubs. We are aware of his high level. He will return to his peak, in my opinion. “I’m thrilled he’s on the team,” Marcelino continued.

Partey’s return to London brings added intrigue to a tie in which Villarreal will look to impose themselves against a Tottenham side eager to stamp their authority early in the group stage.

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Ghana Sports

Ghanaian clubs set to benefit from record FIFA Club Benefits Programme for World Cup 2026

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Ghanaian clubs set to benefit from record FIFA Club Benefits Programme for World Cup 2026

For the 2026 World Cup, Ghanaian clubs will reap the benefits of the unprecedented FIFA Club Benefits Program.

FIFA announced that a record USD 355 million will be given to clubs globally for the release of players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the final tournament, and Ghanaian clubs will be among the recipients of the FIFA Club Benefits Programme (CBP).

A major change in the way solidarity payments are distributed will occur as clubs releasing players for the World Cup qualifiers will also directly profit for the first time in the program’s history.

READ ALSO: Black Stars on track for 2026 World Cup qualification – Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku

Ghanaian clubs set to benefit from record FIFA Club Benefits Programme for World Cup 2026

In the past, compensation was only given to clubs whose players participated in the final competition.

Due to this modification, Ghanaian Premier League teams that supply players to the Black Stars throughout the qualifying campaign, including Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Medeama SC, Dreams FC, Nations FC, and others, would receive cash compensation.

One of the many instances where Ghanaian clubs stand to gain even if their players do not make the final roster for the 2026 World Cup is Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who has recently earned Black Stars outings in the qualifiers.

The program acknowledges the importance of local clubs in developing talent for international competitions and offers a more equitable and inclusive allocation of resources across global club football.

Since the Ghana Premier League plays a significant role in the national team’s success, this development is a welcome boost that may result in much-needed funding for youth development, player welfare, and infrastructure.

USD 209 million was distributed among 440 teams globally in the previous edition (Qatar 2022), but the new extended model now guarantees that Ghana’s local clubs will gain even more for their support of the national team’s football.

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Black Stars

Ghanaian forward Bismark Charles scores first goal for SK Vllaznia

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Bismark Charles

Ghanaian forward Bismark Charles scored his first goal for SK Vllaznia on Saturday, leading them to a decisive 4-1 victory over Partizan Tirana at home in the Albanian Premier League.

After being taken down in the box, the 24-year-old won two penalties and was a continual threat for the visitors. Both of Vllaznia’s penalty kicks were crucial, as they helped them tie the score in the 36th minute and then take the lead in the 90th.

Charles completed the scoring with a well-taken shot into the roof of the net to round off his outstanding performance. He had a direct hand in all four of his team’s goals and helped Esin Hakaj score the third with a deft pass that went through two defenders.

read also: Latest On Mohammed Kudus To Arsenal

Bismark Charles

His movement and hold-up play created ongoing issues for the Partizan defense, highlighting his increasing impact since joining Vllaznia on loan from FK Skënderbeu this summer.

In order to have a significant influence in the Albanian Superliga this season, Charles has set his sights on improving on this performance.

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Black Stars

West Ham United hand back Mohammed Kudus’ iconic wooden elephant stool

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West Ham United hand back Mohammed Kudus’ iconic wooden elephant stool

West Ham United has given Mohammed Kudus back his wooden elephant seat, enabling the Ghanaian forward to continue his customary celebration after breaking his scoring drought for Tottenham Hotspur.

After a £55 million summer transfer, the 25-year-old made his first appearance at the London Stadium on Saturday, but Spurs won 3-0 and he left empty-handed in front of goal.

READ ALSO: Mohammed Kudus to leave West Ham

West Ham United hand back Mohammed Kudus’ iconic wooden elephant stool

Throughout the afternoon, Kudus faced a cold greeting from the home support. The winger, who joined the Hammers from Ajax in 2023 and scored 19 goals in 80 games, was jeered at every turn.

A ball boy in the Bobby Moore Stand once refused to give him the match ball before he took a corner kick, illustrating the tension.

Kudus played a significant role in Spurs’ assault even if he missed a late opportunity to score his first goal.

He took the opportunity to thank the non-playing West Ham employees near the family enclosure area after the final whistle, and he was given back his cherished stool.

Since Kudus revealed the wooden seat in a 1-1 tie with Brighton in 2023, it has come to represent his identity.

Like other players, he would first sit on the perimeter boards, but he quickly moved to the stool that the stewards and ball boys had borrowed.

“It’s a special stool, a stool from Ghana,” Kudus told West Ham’s media team. “Where I come from, the chiefs and the kings sit on stools … I thought it would be nice to share a little bit of life where I am from.”

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Football World

Antoine Semenyo brilliantly shines in Bournemouth’s win over Brighton.

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Antoine Semenyo brilliantly shines in Bournemouth's win over Brighton.

Bournemouth defeats Brighton thanks to Antoine Semenyo’s outstanding performance.

Bournemouth defeated Brighton 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium thanks to a memorable performance from Antoine Semenyo, who scored from the penalty spot and assisted Alex Scott.

In a difficult match against the South Coast, the Ghanaian striker was vivacious right from the start and displayed courage and poise. Scott’s incredible goal in the eighteenth minute sent the home crowd into raptures thanks to his deft handling and feed.

READ ALSO: Ilyas Ansah scores in Union Berlin’s defeat to Hoffenheim

Antoine Semenyo brilliantly shines in Bournemouth's win over Brighton.

After the interval, Brighton rallied, as Kaoru Mitoma equalized the score by headed home a cross from Yankuba Minteh. Bournemouth remained strong and looked good on the counter despite the visitors’ pressure for more.

The decisive moment came in the 61st minute. Semenyo, cool under pressure, calmly rolled his penalty down the middle as goalkeeper Petrovic dived to his right. It was his third Premier League goal of the season, underlining his growing importance to the Cherries.

Late in the game, Brighton tried to tie the score, but Bournemouth held fast. As the Cherries secured a significant victory at home, Semenyo received cheers from the crowd for his effort.

On September 21, Bournemouth will play Newcastle.

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Football World

Ilyas Ansah scores in Union Berlin’s defeat to Hoffenheim

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Ilyas Ansah, a German-Ghanaian striker, scores as Union Berlin loses to Hoffenheim.

Ilyas Ansah, a German-Ghanaian striker, scores as Union Berlin loses to Hoffenheim.

In a thrilling Bundesliga match on Saturday, Ilyas Ansah offered Union Berlin supporters cause for celebration, but his goal was insufficient to prevent Hoffenheim from winning all three points.

Ilyas Ansah, a German-Ghanaian striker, scores as Union Berlin loses to Hoffenheim.

In his 74 minutes on the field, Ilyas Ansah had a strong start and exuded enthusiasm. Ansah responded barely four minutes after the half ended, following a disappointing first half in which Hoffenheim led 2-0 thanks to headers from Fisnik Asllani and penalty kicks from Andrej Kramaric. His close-range goal in the 49th minute gave the home crowd hope.

READ ALSO: Black Stars on track for 2026 World Cup qualification – Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku

But in the 51st minute, Hoffenheim swiftly answered through Asllani once more, regaining their two-goal lead. With a brilliant effort in the 71st minute, Tom Rothe drew another back, but it cost him dearly to be sent off eleven minutes later. Tim Lemperle then scored a late penalty to make it 4-2, securing the victory for Hoffenheim.

Despite the loss, Union benefited from Ansah’s objective and tenacity. The team will now reassemble in preparation for their September 21 trip to play Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Ghana Sports

Kurt Okraku urges UK to continuously champion football as a lasting diplomatic Tool

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Kurt Okraku urges UK to continuously champion football as a lasting diplomatic Tool

Kurt Okraku, president of the Ghana Football Association, has urged the UK to keep using football as a strategic tool for development, especially in Africa.

During the opening of Arthur Wharton’s 160th anniversary festivities in Accra, Okraku urged Britain to see football’s potential as a social and economic force in addition to its entertainment appeal.

READ ALSO: Kurt Okraku welcomes Black Queens after WAFCON

Kurt Okraku urges UK to continuously champion football as a lasting diplomatic Tool

“In terms of football governance, culture, and passion, the United Kingdom has long been a global leader,” he stated.

“But I stand here today with a petition and a challenge: it is time for the UK to fully awaken to football as a genuine development tool, especially across Africa. In a world shaped by economic divides and shifting diplomatic priorities, sports diplomacy is not just a fringe soft power; it is a core strategy.”

He emphasized football’s ability to bridge cultural divides, educate young people, generate employment, and heal communities, and he called on Britain to collaborate with Ghana on projects ranging from corporate partnerships and strategic investments to technical exchanges and collaborative cultural projects.

Speaking about Ghana’s own initiatives, Kurt Okraku presented a comprehensive national plan for women’s football, youth football, and infrastructure development. She also mentioned how the GFA’s top-tier academies and Prampram training camps are setting the groundwork for future international competition.

“Let today not be the end of a celebration, but the beginning of deliberate dialogue,” he concluded.

“Let us use this commemoration as a springboard to establish a formal roadmap between the GFA and the English FA, supported by the British High Commission, the diaspora, and UK businesses. As we honour Arthur Wharton today, let us pioneer new models of UK–Ghana football collaboration.”

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Black Stars

I wanted to coach Black Stars to help Ghana succeed, not for money – Tom Saintfiet

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I wanted to coach Black Stars to help Ghana succeed, not for money - Tom Saintfiet

Tom Saintfiet, the head coach of Mali, has stated that his ambition to lead Ghana’s Black Stars was motivated more by a desire for achievement than by money.

Saintfiet, one of the candidates for the coaching position in Ghana at the beginning of 2024, acknowledged that he had a four-hour conversation with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) prior to Otto Addo’s appointment.

READ ALSO: John Dramani Mahama Plans To Build Six Modern Sports Stadia

I wanted to coach Black Stars to help Ghana succeed, not for money - Tom Saintfiet

Saintfiet told Adom TV, “I wanted to coach Black Stars, not for money, but to help Ghana achieve success in international competitions.”

The Belgian, who had led The Gambia to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations competitions, was not upset at being passed over; rather, he praised Otto Addo’s efforts and alluded to a potential future partnership.

He remarked, “I would be happy to work with Otto Addo in Black Stars’ coaching.”

Saintfiet recently faced Addo in the World Cup qualifiers, where Ghana edged Mali 1-0 in Accra, leaving Mali with the task of fighting through the remaining games to keep their qualification hopes alive.

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