Sports

Black Stars to assemble in Accra today …to commence training for Chad, Madagascar World Cup qualifiers

Published

1 month ago

March 17, 2025

Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, are expected to commence a four-day training session at the Accra Sports Stadium today ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.

Lying second in Group I with Comoros as leaders, the Black Stars will host Chad in Accra on Friday and travel afterwards to face Madagascar on March 24 in qualifiers for the showpiece to be hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada in 2026.

Today’s assembly is the next activity after Friday’s announcement of the squad for the two assignment by Head Coach, Otto Addo.

Otto Addo’s 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers would be captained by Jordan Ayew.

It has three home-based players in the persons of Accra Hearts of Oak’s Benjamin Asare, Kamaradini Mamudu of Medeama SC and Razak Simpson of Nations FC.

It also marks the return of midfielder Thomas Partey, who have been absent for a while, missing the last three African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers which Ghana failed to qualify.

Again, it offers fresh opportunities for players like Kamal Deen Sulemana of Southampton FC, Jerry Afriyie of CD Lugo, Belgium-based Christopher Bonsu Baah, who plays for Genk to establish places in the team.

The full list of players include goalkeepers-Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (FC ST. Gallen); Joseph Wollacott (Crawley Town); Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak).

Defenders: Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre); Ebenezer Annan (Red Star Belgrade); Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco); Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir); Alexander Djiku (Fernabahce); Jonas Adjetey (FC Basel); Razak Simpson 9Nations FC); Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor) and Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC).

Midfielders: Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre); Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge); Kudus Mohammed (West Ham United) and Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon).

Forwards: Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth); Kamal Deen Sulemana (Southampton); Jordan Ayew (Leicester City); Jerry Afriyie (CD Lugo); Inaki Williams (Atletic Bilbao) and Christopher Bonsu Baah (Genk).

According to a team’s schedule released by the FA regarding the team’s preparation for the double-header, today’s training session slated for 5pm at the Accra Sports Stadium will be opened to the public.

Tomorrow’s session will commence at 5:30pm and opened to the public but that of Wednesday would be held behind closed door.

On Thursday, there would be a pre-match press conference at 4:50pm to be followed by another training session at 5pm with the opening 15 minutes opened to the public.

Ghana are currently second in Group I with nine points from four matches with three wins and a loss. Comoros occupy the first spot with same number of points but with a goal difference.

Ghana’s qualifying campaign began with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, followed by a loss to Comoros. However, uninterrupted wins against Mali and the Central African Republic in June 2024 brought Ghana back at par with the leaders.

BY ANDREW NORTEY

Sports

GFA Talent Identification Programme a huge success in Central Region, Western region next

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2025

Net News Ghana

The GFA Talent Identification Programme has kicked off in the Central Region with resounding success.

The programme drew massive attendance from Colts Coaches and Physical Education Tutors in Cape Coast and Kasoa Districts, underscoring its popularity.

Participants expressed great enthusiasm for the initiative, praising the GFA for providing a unique opportunity for young talents to shine.

The highlight of the programme was a thrilling football festival featuring 720 students, who dazzled organizers with their skills and sportsmanship.

The event was electrifying, with spectators cheering on their favorite teams to victory. With its success in the Central Region, the programme is set to move to its next destination – the Western Region.

Sports

Black Starlets kick off talent hunt in Greater Accra on Tuesday, April 22

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2025

Net News Ghana

The Black Starlets’ technical team, led by Coach Stephen Frimpong Manso, will conclude their Southern sector player scouting exercise in the Greater Accra region next week.

This initiative aims to identify talented young players born after January 1, 2009, from across the region.

The Greater Accra scouting exercise, which has been divided into three segments, will kick off at the Tema Sports Stadium on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, before moving to Madina Astro Turf on Wednesday, April 23, and later to Carl Reindorf Park in Dansoman on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

The screening process involves a rigorous selection exercise, ultimately leading to the selection of top prospects for the U17 National team’s pool of players.

This scouting exercise is part of the Ghana Football Association’s efforts to develop the next generation of players for the Black Starlets.

The Southern sector screening exercise, which began in Cape Coast, has already made stops in Koforidua and Ho in the Eastern and Volta regions, respectively.

The Black Starlets coaching staff have been actively scouting talents across various regions. Recently, they conducted scouting exercises in Northern Ghana (covering Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions) and the middle belt (covering Ashanti, Western, and Western North regions).

Sports

Black Queens conclude Senegal Training Tour with defeat

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2025

Net News Ghana

The Black Queens of Ghana concluded their nine-day training tour in Senegal with a gritty yet disappointing 1-0 loss to the Teranga Lionesses in their second international friendly.

Despite a commendable display, the Queens came up short, unable to find the back of the net as Senegal seized on a defensive slip-up to snatch victory in Dakar.

The solitary goal in the second half served as a harsh reminder of the fine margins between success and failure, leaving the Black Queens with valuable lessons to absorb as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The two friendlies played during their training camp will undoubtedly prove beneficial as the team returns home to refine their strategies ahead of the tournament.

Although the defeat is a setback, the intense matches and training sessions in Senegal have provided the head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his technical team with crucial insights into the team’s match fitness and tactical awareness.

Ghana won the first game 1-0 after Evelyn Badu headed home a beautiful cross from Princess Marfo, despite being a player down following Anesthesia Achiaa’s red card in the 63rd minute.