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Ghana drops four places down in latest FIFA rankings

Ghana have dropped four places down in the latest FIFA Rankings after failing to win any of their six games in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars have seen a huge drop as they have now moved from 73rd position in October to 77th position with 1320.2 points.

In September, Ghana dropped six places following a home defeat to Angola and a stalemate with Niger in Morocco and three places down in October after sharing goalless with Sudan in Accra and losing 2-0 in the reverse fixture.

Things have now become extremely difficult for Ghana under Otto Addo as they now find themselves in 77th position as compared to 61st position the Black Stars had exactly one year ago – November 2023.

In Ghana’s football history, the lowest ever ranking for the Black Stars was 89th position which means that they are only 12 points away from equaling that record.

Amid all these bad results and rankings, Ghana FA has decided to give beleaguered coach Otto Addo another opportunity to save his career as he prepares for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad in March of 2025.

“Moses Parker convinced my baby mama & prevented me from joining Enyimba,” Ofori Antwi talks about life in Tarkwa

Former Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi has shed light on how Medeama bankroller Moses Armah denied him an opportunity to play outside Ghana.

Alawa Stuba, as affectionately called by his peers, believes it was a golden opportunity for him to achieve financial freedom but despite having only four months left on his contract, Medeama did not sanction the deal which left him fuming.

“Moses Armah ‘Parker’ has been a stumbling block and at the same time blessing to my career. He has helped me in several ways but he also told my baby mama that I will ditch her if he allows me to join Enyimba FC in Nigeria,” Antwi told MoonLight FM in Sunyani.

“Parker will help you and at times hurt you badly. What I am saying is the truth and he knows I can say it in his face without any hesitation. That decision to make sure I don’t leave Medeama really affected my career because Enyimba wanted me badly when I was left with four months at the club .

“They offered $20,000 but Medeama were asking for $60,000 and after several discussions, the deal fell through. I eventually stayed in Tarkwa and signed contract extension but after five seasons in Tarkwa, I decided to leave and join Legon Cities.

“Maxwell Konadu called and told me he needed my services for his new project with a Legon and upon some consultations, I decided to sign for them two seasons. One of the main reasons why I opted to even leave Tarkwa was that I was tagged as a politician in team because I had spent many years there. I was not comfortable with some of the narrative and wanted to start afresh in Accra,” he added.

Antwi is currently without a club after he terminated his contract with Hearts a couple of months ago due to an injury concerns. He recently underwent surgery and hopes to return in a good form.

Jordan Ayew on target in Leicester’s defeat to Chelsea

Ghana captain Jordan Ayew returned from injury layoff to score a consolation goal for Leicester City in their 2-1 home defeat against Chelsea in Premier League’s Lunch Time kickoff on Saturday.

Chelsea scored a goal in each half of the game thanks to Nicholas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez respectively.

Ayew, who picked up a knock against Angola during the recent international break, was a second half substitute and instantly made his presence felt.

With Leicester down by two goals, Steve Cooper’s men won a late penalty after Bobby De Cordova-Reid was brought down by Roméo Lavia, and after a VAR check, the referee gave the hosts an opportunity to pull one back.

Ayew stepped up by the 95th minute and perfectly slotted the ball in although goalkeeper Sánchez getting a hand to it. Despite the late goal, Leicester could not find another opening to score the equaliser as the defeat makes it three losses in their last four league fixtures.

Ayew has set new record in Premier League as he becomes the first-ever Ghanaian to score 40 goals.

Interestingly, it could take another Ghanaian player ten years or more to beat his record as the next person following Ayew is former Leeds United striker Tony Yeboah who retired almost two decades ago.

  1. Jordan Ayew – 40 goals
  2. Tony Yeboah – 24 goals
  3. Jeffrey Schlupp – 22 goals
  4. Andre Ayew – 21 goals
  5. Michael Essien – 17 goals
  6. Antoine Semenyo – 13 goals
  7. Asamoah Gyan – 10 goals
    Mohammed Kudus – 10 goals

Ayew’s countryman Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was not named in the matchday squad since he has been ruled out of the season due to an interior cruciate ligament injury he picked up against Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Leicester City’s Fatawu Issahaku ruled out of action for nine months after surgery

Ghana and Leicester City midfielder Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has successfully undergone surgery on his right knee following an injury he picked up in the 1-1 stalemate against Angola in 2025 Afcon qualifiers in Luanda last week.

The 20-year-old landed awkwardly in the first half and was substituted after the break as he struggled to walk during half time.

Fatawu was subsequently ruled out of the game against Niger in Accra and was flown back to England for further assessment. He is expected to be ruled out of action between six to nine months depending on how he responds to treatment.

“All glory be to Almighty Allah. My surgery was successful,” Fatawu posted on Instagram.

“and I just want to tell you that I am okay and I am feeling good after the surgery. I want to thank everyone for your best wishes,” he added.

Ghana FA presents nine buses to Division One League clubs

Ghana FA will this morning make a presentation of buses to nine Division One League clubs following a declaration by Kurt Okraku last year after an Exco meeting.

Winners as well as first and second runners up of each of the three zones will be awarded with buses for their performances.

Via the GFA Foundation “The Exco has identified a big problem in our industry i.e. the lack of quality transportation and the inability of our clubs to purchase good transport for their clubs. Because of this, the GFA in the next three years, will embarking on a bus strategy that will allow the GFA to invest in 30 buses for our clubs. This will be part of the prize money but can only be won once,” a GFA statement read.

The first batch of clubs to benefit from this include Basake Holy Stars FC, Vision FC, Hohoe United FC and Victory Club Warriors FC, New Edubiase United FC, Okwawu United FC, Young Apostles FC, Techiman Heroes FC and Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs FC.

The initiative is expected to run for three seasons which means that some of the clubs could benefit two or three times depending on their performances and positions after each season.

Jerry Afriyie and two other local players earn late Ghana call up

Medeama SC right back Kamaradini Mamudu, Heart of Lions defender Ebenezer Abban and Thought FC‘s Jerry Afriyie have been called up for Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger.

The three players are expected to strengthen the squad following the unavailability of Alidu Seidu, Gideon Mensah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Captain Jordan Ayew.

Here are some stats about the new call-ups:

Kamaradini Mamudu: Has played 9 Ghana Premier League games (810 Minutes), scored 2 goals, and won one Man of the match award.

Ebenezer Abban: Has made 11 appearances (975 Minutes) in the ongoing Ghana Premier League campaign.

Jerry Afriyie: Gold medalist at the 2024 African Games and crowned best player and top scorer of the WAFU Zone B U-20 Cup of Nations in Togo.

The trio will train with the Black Stars on Sunday, vying for a spot in the team for Monday’s clash. Ghana is looking to end the qualifiers on a high note, having secured only three points from five qualifying games.

The game against Niger is scheduled for 4pm kick off at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, November 18, 2024.
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“We live to fight another day,” Razak Simpson consoles Ghanaians after Black Stars missed AFCON 2025 qualification

New Ghana defender Razak Simpson has thanked Ghanaians for their unflinching support and words of encouragement amid Black Stars’ failure to qualify for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old lasted the entire duration and caught the eye of Ghanaians with his splendid performance in defence. He was rated as the best Ghanaian on the night.

“We gave it our all buh couldn’t get the result we wanted, This is Ghana and we are Black Stars, we live to fight another day, another time,” Simpson wrote inn his social media profile.

“Really buzzing to have made ma debut and forever grateful for those who made it possible in believing in me,” he added.

Razak Simpson, who was playing his first game for the Black Stars was so solid that no Angola player was able to dribble past him and he was also the highest-rated Ghanaian with 7.2/10 in the game in Luanda.

Well, the 26-year-old had 50 touches of the ball within the 90 minutes and also made seven clearances, blocked three shots, had three interceptions and successfully made three tackles.

Simpson won four out of six ground duels and lost the only aerial duel he went in for but compensated that with 72 percent of successful passing accuracy since 18 out of the 25 passes he attempted reached the intended the player.

He lost possession eight times, committed one foul and won one foul as well.

That was a solid performance for a player marking his debut for a struggling nation team.

Ghana will play Niger in the final game of the qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday and the results will be a mere formality for them. However, a win for Niger could see them snatching qualification should Angola defeat Sudan in Morocco.

22 players arrive in Black Stars camp as Ghana prepare to face Angola & Niger

Twenty two (22) players including new captain Jordan Ayew have arrived in camp as at midday of Tuesday, November 12, to prepare for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Angola and Niger.

Three goalkeepers including Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Abdul Manaf and Joseph Wollacott are currently available to train later today after Wollacott became the only shot-stopper available on Monday.

Also, much-talked about centre back Terry Yegbe of Elfsborg has touched down as well as West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus.

The others include Isaac Afful, Nations FC defender Razak Simpson, Asante Kotoko midfielder Emmanuel Antwi, Nathaniel Adjei, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Alidu Seidu, Ernest Nuamah, Forson Amankwah and Francis Abu

Dunkwa Mfuom born defender Gideon Mensah alongside Elisha Owusu, Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdoffer, Kingsley Schindler, Ibrahim Sulemana and Michael Baidoo have all arrived in camp.

According to Ghana FA, Ebenezer Annan remains the only player yet to touch base but he is expected to arrive in Accra later today and join his teammates.

Ghana will travel to Luanda on Thursday to play Angola in the penultimate match on Friday evening, 7PM GMT, before they travel back to Accra on Saturday to prepare for the last round of matches against Niger on Monday afternoon.

The Black Stars will need a special luck to qualify for the AFCON which will staged in Morocco since Angola have already secured one of the automatic spot from Group E and Sudan also sit second with seven points, five points above Ghana.

Kudus, Wollacott & six others arrive as Black Stars open training camp in Accra

Eight players were present as Black Stars opened their camping to fine tune ahead of the penultimate and final matches in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola in Luanda and Niger in Accra.

Reassigned deputy captain Kudus Mohammed was present together with Gideon Mensah, goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott, Elisha Owusu among others.

New captain Jordan Pierre Ayew is expected to land in camp latest by Tuesday to start his new reign as Ghana are struggling to find players for the game since eight regular players have opted out of the games due to injury and personal reasons.

According to my sources, Wollacott will be the first choice goalkeeper in the games as the coach wants to give him the opportunity after he lost his place prior to 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to injury concerns.

Ghana coach sweating to get players to play Angola and Niger in 2025 AFCON qualifiers

Ghana coach Otto Addo is sweating to get players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger next week.

After dropping Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and stripping him of his captaincy role, several players have picked injuries during the week games in Europe while others have opted to decline the call up due to personal issues they are trying to figure out.

First and foremost, Joseph Paintsil is believed to have turned down the chance to play for Ghana due to personal concerns. Reports suggest that the winger isn’t happy with lack of playing time under Otto Addo as he has constantly showed that he fancies other players than him.

Also, Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo has asked to be excused from the games due to an injury he claims to to have picked up during the 3-2 defeat to Brentford in Premier League on Saturday.

Iñaki Williams missed Althletic Bilbao’s 1-1 stalemate with Real Valladolid in La Liga and his coach has confirmed that he can’t play for a couple of days if not weeks.

Also, Alexander Djiku came on for Söyuncu and played 76 minutes when Fenerbahce dismantled Sivasspor 4-0 in Turkish Super Lig on Sunday. The centre back claims an injury he picked up which forced Jose Mourinho to replace him with Rodrigo Becaô means that he can’t make it.

Meanwhile, Tariq Lamptey will also be out since he is yet to recover from his injury layoff and even missed Brighton and Hove Albion’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City last weekend.

Other players like Jerome Opoku who is suffering from chronic back pain, just like Adjetey Jonas and Ibrahim Osman, are also going to be out of the qualifiers.

Reports suggest that former Vision FC defender Terry Yegbe who plies his trade for Swedish side Elfsborg has been handed a late call up after his consistent performance in Swedish Allsvenkan and UEFA Europa League.

Many Ghanaians are hoping that several local players in Ghana Premier League will be called to fill the void and justify their inclusion to the coach as Black Stars have crucial games to play next year in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.