Mustapha Ussif, Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, has condemned the alleged influence of Ghana FA officials in the selection of Black Stars players.
According to the Sport Minister, his Ministry examined and found no proof of football association influence.
“None of the coaches I have met in my time as Minister has told me anything about player selection interference from the Ghana FA.
“If there is no evidence then it makes things difficult but yes these are things that we hear about,” Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif said in an interview with Asempa FM.
Former Black Stars head coach CK Akonnor previously acknowledged in an interview that meddling from the Ghana FA is genuine.
Although the FA has consistently refuted such charges, many Ghanaians believe it exists because to some unexplainable national team call-ups that occur on occasion.
Former Hearts of Oak defender Robert Addo Sowah believes he is fortunate to have departed the Phobian Club without incident.
The Ghana Premier League stated last week that they had parted company with Robert Addo Sowah when his contract expired.
In an interview, Sowah admitted that if circumstances had been beyond his control, he would have stayed at the club until he retired since he felt at home there.
Responding to how he managed the many misunderstandings that ensued, he said: “It’s all in the mind. I psyched myself not to engage in any quarrel with any teammate, management member or supporter, and that helped me till today,” he told Graphic Sports.
“Of course, we are humans so definitely we shall disagree on issues and argue; but whenever it happened, I always remained calm and looked at what triggered that misunderstanding, and then tackle it from the roots.”
Reminiscing the past, Sowah, 29, said during the 2017/2018 league season, he felt unwanted and almost crushed into the deepest depths of self-pity and self-doubt, especially after he spent several months on the bench without kicking a ball.
However, when he finally got the chance to play, he said he proved his mettle and his efforts helped to solidify the leaking backline.
“During Coach Frank Nuttal’s time, I was on the bench for a whole season without kicking a ball, and I felt so bad that I wanted to leave the club,” he recalled.
“So, one day, when we were going to play Inter Allies in the MTN FA Cup, I told myself that if I don’t get selected, I would leave the club. Fortunately, when the list came my name was in the starting line-up.
“Surprisingly, that day, I scored a goal and gave an assist to Joseph Esso to score. The fans became so happy that they demanded I should be featured in more matches. That’s how I became a constant starter in the team,” he added.
From then onwards, Sowah offered versatility at the club, slotting into both left-back and centre-back roles to good effect due to his ability to read the game and effectively distribute the ball.
“Whenever we got a new coach, they underrated me, but when they give me the chance, they are always proud of me,” he narrated further.
Throughout his seven-year stint with the club, Sowah distinguished himself as a committed and dependable defender with a patient personality.
Sowah won the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League title and FA Cup, as well as the President’s Cup in 2022.
He joined Hearts from Division One side, Uncle T United, in 2016. However, his management is yet to secure a new contract for him after leaving Hearts.
Former Ghana international John Paintsil has recognized that Ghana would face a difficult encounter against Mali, but he believes the four-time African champions will prevail.
John Paintsil’s remarks follow the draw for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana is in Group I with Mali, Chad, Madagascar, Comoros, and the Central African Republic.
And, while the Eagles are typically a difficult nut to crack, the former Fulham and West Ham United right back is convinced the Black Stars will triumph.
“Mali is a difficult side; they are one of the football countries I was never comfortable playing against during my career,” Paintsil told Graphic Sports.
The 42-year-old described Mali as a difficult side which had often given the Black Stars a lot of difficulties. He believed the Eagles might have discovered the ways and means of beating the Black Stars.
He, however, touted the experience of the current Black Stars team, which he believed, could prove superior in any encounter between the Malians and Ghana.
Paintsil stated that if the Malians rely solely on young players, then the Black Stars would use their experience to beat them.
”Our boys are experienced enough; so, if Mali is going to use young players, then I think it will benefit us because in football, without experience you can’t make it.
“You need both young and experienced players to have a strong team,” he stressed.
The qualifiers have been scheduled to kick off in November later this year.
Having featured in four global showpieces, the Black Stars are aiming to secure their fifth Mundial appearance.
According to sources, Saudi Pro League team Al Hilal has made a formal bid to Paris Saint-Germain for £259 million [€300 million] for Kylian Mbappe. Fabrizio Romano maintains that no negotiations have taken place with the player as of yet.
Mbappe stated earlier this summer that he intends to stay at PSG for one more season before departing on a free transfer next summer, with reports claiming he has already signed terms with Real Madrid.
PSG, on the other hand, is eager to sell the World Cup champion this summer in order to avoid losing one of the world’s top players for free.
And so it is claimed he could move to Saudi Arabia and spend one season in the Saudi Pro League, before signing that deal with Real Madrid next year as expected.
However, £259m is a hell of a lot of money to spend to have Mbappe for just one just campaign.
After impressing his debut in a 3-2 preseason win over AC Milan in Los Angeles, manager Carlo Ancelotti stated Real Madrid are “lucky” to have the “fantastic” Jude Bellingham.
Another Englishman, Fikayo Tomori, scored for AC Milan, but two second-half goals from Federico Valverde and a superb winner from Vinicius Jr, who ran on to a sublime Luka Modric pass, sent the majority of the 70,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena home happy.
Bellingham’s 62-minute debut saw flashes of his natural talent and confidence, eliciting applause from the fans twice and compliments from his boss Ancelotti.
Bellingham embarked on a mad dash along the touchline in the early moments, leaving a handful of Milan defenders in his wake.
Then, as the first half came to a close, a superb first-time half-volleyed ball that combined precision and a sure touch in a packed penalty area almost put Brahim Diaz in on goal.
“It is rare to find player with this kind of quality,” Ancelotti said. “He is only 20, so he can improve. We are lucky to have him in our squad.
“He was fantastic. He has a lot of rhythm, moves well and has quality finding open spaces.”
Real paid Borussia Dortmund £88m to sign Bellingham on a six-year contract. They can already be assured the 20-year-old is the real deal.
Experienced trainer Maxwell Konadu has asked for the club’s supporters’ help in order to have a great season.
After leaving Legon Cities at the end of the season, the seasoned coach signed a two-year contract that would keep him at the club until 2025.
At his introduction, the former Asante Kotoko coach urged supporters to rally behind him as he seeks to make an impression at the club.
“I’m happy and proud to join the club but I will need your support, without the support I don’t think things will go as expected. We need the support of everybody” he said.
Konadu has extensive coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach for the Ghana senior national team from May 2012 to March 2019 and again from September 2021 to February 2022.
When the Black Meteors won the All African Games in 2011, he was the assistant coach for the former Ghana international and Kotoko player.
He has also managed Wa All Stars, Asante Kotoko, and Legon Cities.
Dr. Randy Abbey has denied rumors that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has banded together against Black Stars coach Chris Hughton.
The former Premier League has come under fire in recent days as a result of the Black Stars’ underwhelming performance.
Some Football Association Executive Council members have questioned the senior national team’s performance since Hughton took over for Otto Addo in February of this year.
In his first three games, the 64-year-old had a victory and two draws.
Despite the open criticism, Mr Abbey, a member of the GFA’s Executive Council, insists that the GFA has nothing against the former Brighton and Newcastle manager.
“There is an unwarranted impression that there is a gang up against Chris Hughton,” he told Accra-based Original FM.
“I have only watched one of Chris Hughton’s games, but from what I gather from commentary, everyone, including himself, agrees we need to improve.”
He further revealed that the Executive Council has not discussed the performance of Hughton.
“The Ghana Football Association Executive Council has not discussed Chris Hughton as an agenda.”
Chris Hughton has signed a 21-month deal following the resignation of Otto Addo after Ghana’s early exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Black Stars return to action in September for their final round qualifiers of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against the Central African Republic (CAR), a game the team must win to cement their place in AFCON that will be hosted in Ivory Coast next year.
Ernest Agyiri, a Ghanaian attacker, scored again for Estonian club FCI Levadia in their UEFA Conference League second-leg encounter against MSK Zilina.
However, Ernest Agyiri was insufficient for his team to avoid loss on their own field against their opponent. Matus Rusnak struck the back of the goal three minutes into the game to give the visitors an early lead. Seven minutes later, the home team equalized through the Ghanaian forward.
Andrej Stojchevski gave Zilina the lead again on the stroke of halftime, and the first half finished 2-1 in their favor.
Zilina cruised to win with no further goals, securing qualifying to the next round of qualifiers.
Prior to the second leg, Zilina defeated Levadia 2-1 at home. However, with a 2-1 away win in the second leg, they have qualified 4-2 on aggregate.
The talented forward has been in sensational form for Levadia, scoring 11 goals in 20 matches in the Estonaian topflight league in 2023.
Just hours before Auckland was set to host the first match of the Women’s World Cup, the city awoke to the news of a fatal shooting, casting a cloud over what was intended to be a day of celebration.
The event occurred in the heart of New Zealand’s largest city, near a fan park where hundreds of football fans were expected to congregate. Two people were killed and six others were injured.
Fifa said it had been advised that the incident was isolated and that the match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park on Thursday will go ahead as planned.
People have travelled to the city from across the globe for the start of the World Cup, which has been labelled the biggest women’s sports event ever to be staged.
Jacob Johnson, a reporter for 1 News in Auckland, told BBC Sport: “The fact it has happened on the day that was meant to be a huge celebration for New Zealand is just gobsmacking.
“The Women’s World Cup was supposed to be a huge win for women’s sport.
“In New Zealand, it is something we are really trying to push. It’s such a shame that something like this will probably dominate the headlines for days.
“The Women’s World Cup has been years in the making. I hope organisers are not going to completely let this overshadow the event. The Women’s World Cup is a really big deal for New Zealand.”
The shooting took place on a construction site in the central business district at 07:22 (20:22 BST). The gunman was declared dead after the attack, which is not being seen as an act of terrorism.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said all Fifa personnel and football teams were safe and had been accounted for.
Fifa released a statement saying it had been “in constant contact with the participating teams affected by this incident”.
It added: “Fifa extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following the incident which occurred this morning in Auckland, New Zealand, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident.”
A record 32 teams are taking part in the tournament in Australia and New Zealand over the next four weeks.
Auckland is hosting nine of the 64 games.
“It is the biggest sporting event New Zealand has ever hosted,” added Auckland-based reporter Johnson. “We had our breakfast crews down at the fan zone this morning.
“There were excited fans and children. It’s just across the road from where this horrible incident took place.”
Among those visiting the city for the tournament is Sonia Orvaz, who has travelled to Auckland from California to support four-time world champions the United States.
“It’s sad when this sort of thing happens,” she said. “This will obviously overshadow the start of the tournament which is very unfortunate.
“It just makes me a little bit sad for Auckland. They’ve waited years for this.”
A Canada fan, Cherry Andrews, had been on her way to the fan park when she was diverted because of the incident.
“We didn’t know what was going on,” she said.
“Hopefully it is not going to deter people enjoying the Women’s World Cup and why we are all here in the first place.”
