‘Underfire’ Prosper Ogum drops Ganiu, Amankona, Mfegue & others in Kotoko’s XI vs Medeama

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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‘Underfire’ Prosper Ogum drops Ganiu, Amankona, Mfegue & others in Kotoko’s XI vs Medeama

The Porcupine Warriors boss has made four changes in his squad to face Medeama in the top of the table clash

Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has made four changes in his squad to face Medeama in the Ghana Premier League matchday 31 at the T&A Park on Sunday.

Captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail who returned from a long injury lay off to feature in the 1-0 defeat to Berekum Chelsea last weekend has been dropped. In his place, coach Ogum has opted to start Maxwell Agyemang who will partner Andrew Appau in the center of defence.

Also, Cameroonian striker Georges Mfegue Rodrigues has been benched for Samuel Boateng while Richmond Lamptey comes in for Stephen Amankona.

Again, Evans Adomako is expected to take the place of Evans Adomako is expected to start in the Fabio Gama.

Kotoko are hoping to end their poor run of results in order to widen their advantage at the top of the Premier League log. They are yet to score more than a goal in their last nine games.

Kotoko XI vs Medeama:

Ibrahim Danlad (GK), Christopher Nettey, Maxwell Agyemang, Imoro Ibrahim, Andrews Apau, Mudasiru Salifu (C), Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’, Richmond Lamptey, Evans Adomako, Etouga Mbella, Samuel Boateng

End of the road? Augustine Okrah handed Thomas Partey’s #5 jersey at Black Stars camp

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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End of the road? Augustine Okrah handed Thomas Partey’s #5 jersey at Black Stars camp

The diminutive forward was given the iconic jersey previously worn by the Arsenal superstar ahead of the of Afcon qualifiers

Bechem United midfielder Augustine Okrah has been handed jersey number 5 after arriving at the Black Stars camp following his debut call up.

Ghana coach Otto Addo gave Okrah his first-ever call up to the senior national team after an explosive season with Bechem United where he has scored 13 Premier League goals and four FA Cup goals.

However, a section of Ghanaians believe the skillful midfielder may struggle to break into the first team ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar on Wednesday since locally-based players are mostly handed call ups just to add up to the numbers at the national team camp.

Interestingly, Okrah has been given jersey number 5 which until recently was worn by Arsenal midfielder and Ghana deputy captain Thomas Teye Partey.

The box-to-box midfielder was not selected for the game due to injury issues as he has missed Arsenal’s last five six games. Yet, many Ghanaians believe the road may be over for Okrah because of the technical team’s decision to give him Partey’s jersey which is a clear indication of no intention to retain him after the international break.

It will be recalled that during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Cameroon, Asamoah Gyan’s iconic jersey number 3 was given to Philimon Baffour who was then a local player plying his trade with Dreams FC

Baffour did not make a single appearance during the tournament and many Ghanaians argued that he was given that jersey number in order to preserve Gyan’s legacy as Ghana bowed out with a single point.

Meanwhile, many have also argued that the coaches handed Okrah Partey’s jersey because they know what he brings on board and want to motivate him in the long run.

Moreover, since 33 players were called for the qualifiers and four-nation tournament to be played in Japan, players like Benjamin Tetteh were even spotted without a jersey number because the players in camp are more than the jerseys available that have been numbered.

Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak youngster Daniel Afriyie Barnieh was given jersey number 23 which is notably used by Strasbourg defender Alexander Djiku who was not called due to some personal issues.

The Black Stars will leave Ghana on Thursday for the second game of the group against Central Africa Republic.

They will then travel to Japan for a four-nation tournament.

GFA boss Okraku welcomes Augustine Okrah to Black Stars camp

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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GFA boss Okraku welcomes Augustine Okrah to Black Stars camp

The in-form midfielder has arrived at the Black Stars camp in Accra ahead of the Afcon qualifiers

Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah was given a warm welcome to the Black Stars camp at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Saturday.

Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku and other executive committee members were present to welcome Okrah who had his maiden call up this week as other top players including captain Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew and Baba Rahman touched down as well.

Youngster Felix Afena-Gyan who became the youngest Ghanaian player to have won any Uefa competition when AS Roma pipped Feyenoord to lift the Uefa Conference League has also arrived at the team’s camp.

Okrah, who has scored 13 Premier League goals and four FA Cup goals this season for Bechem, is expected to at least make the matchday squad when Ghana play Madagascar.

Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak midfielder Afriyie Barnieh has also reported to the Black Stars camp but unlike Okrah, he is not new to the senior national team camp.

Check the full list of players at the camp

Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Manaf Nurudeen, Jojo Wollacot

Defenders:
Baba Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin Suleman, Joseph Aidoo

Midfielders:
Andre Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Osman Bukari Elisha Owusu, Edmund Addo, Augustine Okrah, Andre Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Kamaldeen Suleman, Joseph Paintsil, Iddrisu Baba, Kudus Mohammed

Strikers:
Jordan Ayew, Felix Afene-Gyan, Antoine Semenyo, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Kwasi Kyere, Benjamin Tetteh

Breaking News: Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan retires from international football at 29

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Breaking News: Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan retires from international football at 29

The box-to-box midfielder has opted to call it a quit after what he believes to be series of discrimination and agenda against him

The midfielder has fingered Ghana FA and national team coaches as the reasons for his early retirement, insisting that he has been unfairly treated and discriminated against.

Duncan, 29, who has been in a fine form this season, was snubbed as Otto Addo named Ghana’s squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Central Africa Republic next month.

“I have never been considered by Ghana,I have been humiliated, discriminated against and left aside for years.Unfortunately, I cannot continue to feel bad thinking about how I am being treated unfairly,” Duncan said.

It could be recalled that Duncan made a statement in January which was aimed at Ghana FA as he insisted that some people at the helm of the country’s football were bent on denting his image with fake stories.

Rigobert Song drops Asante Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga from Cameroon squad

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Rigobert Song drops Asante Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga from Cameroon squad

The Porcupine Warriors attacker could not make the final squad ahead of the Afcon qualifiers

Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga Frank Thierry has been dropped by Cameroon coach Rigobert Song ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.

The 20-year-old was initially named in Cameroon’s 35-man provisional squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya and Burundi but he has been dropped due to his recent average performance.

Although, Etouga has scored one goal in his last two games for Kotoko, he has also missed a lot of chances including two penalties.

Cameroon final squad

‘Magical’ Augustine Okrah handed debut Black Stars call up ahead of Afcon qualifiers

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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‘Magical’ Augustine Okrah handed debut Black Stars call up ahead of Afcon qualifiers

The in-form winger has been named as part of the Black Stars’ squad for the Afcon qualifiers

Bechem United midfielder Augustine Okrah has been named in Ghana’s squad to play in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next weekend.

The 28-year-old, who has been in a splendid form in Ghana Premier League and FA Cup was called by Black Stars coach Otto Addo alongside Hearts of Oak striker Daniel Afriyie Barnieh.

Okrah has scored 13 Premier League goals and provided six assists as well as netting four goals in the FA Cup as Bechem have made it to the final.

Returning to the squad is skipper Andre Ayew who missed the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Nigeria in March.

Also, Jonathan Mensah, Wakaso Mubarak and Kamaldeen Sulemana have also been given another chance to rejoin the team.

Ghana’s Afena-Gyan wins Uefa Conference League title with A.S Roma

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana’s Afena-Gyan wins Uefa Conference League title with A.S Roma

The youngster was part of the Roma squad that made history by becoming the first Ghanaian player to lift the trophy

Ghana young striker Felix Afena-Gyan became the first Ghanaian player to win Uefa Conference League title after A.S Roma defeated Feyenoord 1-0 in the final on Wednesday.

Afena-Gyan was named on the bench ahead of the game by Jose Mourinho as he paraded a strong starting line up against the tricky Dutch club.

After a pulsating half an hour into the game, Nicolo Zaniolo opened the scoring for Roma after connecting a pass from Mancini.

Although, Feyenoord came close on numerous occasions to find the equaliser, Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio made more than two breathtaking saves to deny them.

Ahead of the final, Jose Mourinho in an interview revealed that he gifted Afena-Gyan a new boot because he was mocked by his teammates for wearing a fake type.

“He was at AS Roma, he didn’t have a contract and he was coming with fake trainers and all the guys there were having fun with him,” Mourinho said.

“Now he signs a contract, he goes to Ghana national team and he has fun with the other guys because the other guys are not going to the World Cup,” he added.

Breaking News: Five Asante Kotoko players handed Black Stars B call up ahead of qualifiers

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Breaking News: Five Asante Kotoko players handed Black Stars B call up ahead of qualifiers

The Porcupine Warriors top performers have been handed a call up to join the Black Stars B for the upcoming qualifiers

Asante Kotoko have had five of their players handed call up to the locally-based Black Stars by head coach Annor Walker ahead of the 2022 Championship of African Nations Cup qualifiers.

According to reports, Kotoko captain and defender Abdul Ganiu Ismail leads the tall list of players to have been handed a call up.

The others include goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim, Imoro Ibrahim, Mudasiru Salifu and Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’.

 
Ghana has failed to make the CHAN competition in the last three editions under former coach Maxwell Konadu and they are hoping to make it this time around.
 

The 2022 CHAN will be played in Algeria from 8th January to 23rd January 2023.

Kotoko lead the Ghana Premier League log with 56 points, six points above Medeama who are in second position.

Division One League: Kotoku Royals set to qualify ahead of Liberty & Tema Youth in Zone 3 as Tamale City reclaim top spot in Zone 1

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Division One League: Kotoku Royals set to qualify ahead of Liberty & Tema Youth in Zone 3 as Tamale City reclaim top spot in Zone 1

With only three games left in the ongoing Division One League, the race for qualification is now hotter than before in Zone 1 and 3

Tamale City FC have reclaimed top spot in Zone 1 of Ghana Division One League following their 3-1 away win over Steadfast FC on Monday.

The Tamale-based club is now back to the summit of the log with superior goals scored despite having 62 points apiece with Nsoatreman FC.

In Zone Three, Oda Kotoku Royals have surprisingly gone top of the log and are now on the brink of qualification. Three weeks ago, the club was not in the race but a 3-2 away win over Akasti All Stars, coupled with three points awarded them from the board room have seen them now in first position.

Kotoku Royals were awarded three points and three goals and now have 56 points after Heart of Lions were found guilty of fielding an unqualified player against them.

Ghana FA’s ruling on Kotoku vs Hearts of Lions

This has resulted into six points deducted from Lions and their hopes of qualifying to the Premier League next season looks all over.

GFA’s ruling on Kotoku vs Heart of Lions

Meanwhile, Liberty Professionals are now third on the log after they surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Golden Kicks over the weekend while Tema Youth have also dropped to second the 1-0 away win over Kwaebibirim.

In the relegation battle, Nania FC have moved away from the relegation zone for the first time in several weeks after a 1-0 narrow win over Krystal Palace.

Nania, owned by Abedi Pele, are now sitting 13th on the log with 29 points and another win next weekend could take them three points above safety.

In Zone 2, Samatex have been declared champions after picking one point away against Swedru All Blacks. With Ebusua Dwarfs losing 1-0 away to Nzema Kotoko, Samatex have been crowned champions since they have a seven-point advantage as well as three points which could be added since Achiken failed to honour last weekend’s game.

Ghana FA reveals new date for Ashanti Gold vs Asante Kotoko

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana FA reveals new date for Ashanti Gold vs Asante Kotoko

The Porcupine Warriors will now clear their outstanding game against their rivals

Ashanti Gold will host Asante Kotoko in the outstanding game of Ghana Premier League at the Len Clay Sports Stadium on June 2.

The game which was initially scheduled to take place a fortnight ago was rescheduled due to security threats from Ashanti Gold supporters following the FA’s decision to demote their club to Division Two.

Ghana FA has further insisted that should the threat still exists.

“The Ghana Premier League Matchweek 29 outstanding match between Ashantigold SC and Asante Kotoko SC has been scheduled for Thursday, June 2, 2022,” a GFA statement read.

“The match is scheduled to be played at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi and will kick off at 3pm.

“Stakeholders are kindly informed to take note accordingly. It must be noted, however, that should the security risk and the advice from the Security Services remain unchanged by the next home match of Ashantigold SC, the Association reserves right shift the home matches of Ashantigold SC to be play at the club’s selected alternative match venue,” the statement added.

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