The paramount chief of the Asante kingdom has warned the leadership of the country’s football governing body to improve on officiating in league games
Asante Kingdom’s paramount chief, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has warned Ghana Football Association top hierarchy to help the standard of officiating in Ghana Premier League before things get out of hands.
The FA president Kurt Okraku and some members of the association’s executive council paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday.
There have been concerns raised about officiating especially from Asante Kotoko fans following their side’s painful defeat against city rivals King Faisal in the Kumasi derby.
“If you don’t make sure to protect the game from bad officiating, it will spoil the game,” Otumfuo warned the FA top hierarchy present at Manhyia.
“We also have to be trustful because if we don’t get a worthy winner for our league, they will easily fall off when it matters most [in Caf inter-club competitions].
“Thus, it is because the rules work perfectly at this highest level. The referees should be firm in their calls if it’s a penalty, they should take it and should hesitate to do same when it’s offside,” he added.
Ahead of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon, only one Ghanaian referee (Daniel Laryea) was selected among 64 others referees to officiate the games.
The Porcupine Warriors boss has rejected suggestions that his side’s defence has been leaking recently in the Premier League
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has insisted his defence are doing well in Ghana Premier League despite their recent poor performance.
Kotoko have failed to win any of their last three games and conceded five goals in the process which has raised concerns from the club’s supporters and pundits.
However, Ogum believes the problem isn’t about the defence but the strikers who has been poor upfront.
“Not so [there’s no deficiency in the team]. Andrew Appau isn’t well that is why he didn’t play part of the game,” Ogum said, as quoted by AshesGyamera.com.
“It is not because of non performance. He is injured that is why Maxwell Agyemang played against RTU. I think Maxwell Agyemang was able to justify his inclusion and was able to justify why I put him there.
“He played well, marked the opponents very well and was very confident on the ball. I think he did well so defensively, I think he didn’t lack anything,” he added.
Ogum further insisted that he was not disappointed with the stalemate against RTU.
“I’m not disappointed with the draw against RTU in the sense that we played well and created a lot of chances which we could have scored but we couldn’t take our chances,” Ogum said after the game.
“In terms of performance, I think we are playing well. if it is about the results then fine. However, I still believe that we are creating a lot of chances just that we are not taking them.
” I believe we should be winning all our last three games if we had taken out chances because we played well,” he added.
Kotoko, who are currently sitting third on the log with 14 points, will head to Accra this weekend to face Legon Cities in a must win game.
The Serbian has arrived at naming four local players among the 40-man squad to be unveiled by the end of the week
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has added four local players in his 40-man provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon next month.
The Black Stars have been paired with Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C and will play their first game against Morocco on January 10.
Asante Kotoko captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail has been selected despite initial reports in the local media suggested that he has been dropped. The defender was considered after Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu turned down the opportunity to represent Ghana at the Afcon.
Also, Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Richard Attah has made the grade together with two players from Dreams FC including Fatawu Issahaku and Philemon Baffuor.
According to Ghana FA, the Black Star will open camp in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 ahead of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.
The team will be in Doha for a period of three weeks to prepare for the Tournament scheduled for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
The Black Stars will play three International friendly matches in Qatar to give Coach Milovan Rajevac the opportunity to assess his squad for the Tournament.
Ghana are expected to play a yet to named club side on Tuesday, December 28, before taking on one of the Africa Cup of Nations qualified teams on Friday, January 1, 2022 in another friendly.
The team will wrap up their test matches against African Champions Algeria on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
The Black Stars will depart Doha for Yaoundé on Friday, January 7, 2022 to take on the rest of Africa at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
GHANA SCHEDULE IN DOHA – QATAR
Team open camp on December 22, 2021
First Friendly match against a club side – December 28, 2021
Second friendly match against AFCON bound country – January 1, 2022
Third friendly against Algeria – January 5, 2022
Departure to Cameroon – January 7, 2022
Submission of final squad – December 30, 2021,” the statement added.
Ghana last won the Afcon in 1982 but have been in final in 1992, 2010 and 2015.
The Porcupine Warriors boss has insisted that he is not disappointed with the results at home against RTU amid supporters agitations
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh says he was not left disappointed despite the 1-1 stalemate with Real Tamale United on matchday eight of Ghana Premier League at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
The Porcupine Warriors failed to record yet another victory as Mbella Frank Thierry’s goal for Kotoko was cancelled thanks to David Abagna Sangna’s late equaliser.
The results mean that Kotoko have gone three games without a win and have only picked two points in the process.
“I’m not disappointed with the draw against RTU in the sense that we played well and created a lot of chances which we could have scored but we couldn’t take our chances,” Ogum said as quoted by AshesGyamera.com.
“In terms of performance, I think we are playing well. if it is about the results then fine. However, I still believe that we are creating a lot of chances just that we are not taking them.
” I believe we should be winning all our last three games if we had taken out chances because we played well,” he added.
Kotoko currently sit third place with 14 points, three points behind joint leaders Aduana Stars and King Faisal.
They will travel to Accra to face Legon Cities next weekend.
The spiritual man has insisted that the Black Stars will be eliminated from the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations unless there is a spiritual cleansing
The founder and leader of Shinning Grace Chapel, Prophet Ogya Nyame, also known as Angel of Azuka, has insisted that Ghana will not go past the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon next month.
According to the Kumasi-based man of God, the Black Stars will struggle to impress and will be eliminated from the competition after three games unless the leadership seek spiritual guidance before the tournament starts.
Ghana, who are yet to lift a major trophy since 1982, have been paired with Morocco, Comoros and Gabon in Group C will open their account on January 10.
“In this upcoming AFCON, Black Stars need a serious spiritual direction from a powerful man of God and the direction will require a huge cow to reverse the bad luck,” he said during a church service in Kumasi.
Prophet Ogya Nyame it
“If they fail to do that, even in the group stages they will struggle to progress.
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac is expected to announce his 40-man provisional squad this week as the Black Stars prepare to hold a training session in Dubai.
The Black Stars of Ghana will open camp in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 ahead of the 33rd edition to the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations – Cameroon 2021.
The team will be in Doha for a period of three weeks to prepare for the Tournament scheduled for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
The Black Stars will play three International friendly matches in Qatar to give Coach Milovan Rajevac the opportunity to assess his squad for the Tournament.
Ghana are expected to play a yet to named club side on Tuesday, December 28, before taking on one of the Africa Cup of Nations qualified teams on Friday, January 1, 2022 in another friendly.
The team will wrap up their test matches against African Champions Algeria on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
The Black Stars will depart Doha for Yaoundé on Friday, January 7, 2022 to take on the rest of Africa at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
GHANA SCHEDULE IN DOHA – QATAR
Team open camp on December 22, 2021
First Friendly match against a club side – December 28, 2021
Second friendly match against AFCON bound country – January 1, 2022
Third friendly against Algeria – January 5, 2022
Departure to Cameroon – January 7, 2022
Submission of final squad – December 30, 2021.
Ghana last won the Afcon in 1982 but have been in final in 1992, 2010 and 2015.
The matchday eight of Ghana Premier League took place at all the nine centres across the country with interesting and shocking results
Aduana Stars moved to the top of the log after securing their fifth successive wins with a 1-0 victory over Ashanti Gold at the Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi, while King Faisal continued with their unbeaten run as they shared the spoils goalless against Accra Lions in Sogakope.
Hearts of Oak picked their first win of the season against Elmina Sharks thanks to a second half strike by new boy Gladson Awako.
The 31-year-old marked his debut for the Phobians as a second half substitute and capped his wonderful performance with a nice goal to move them from the foot of the log.
In Bechem, Augustine Okrah scored his fourth goal of the season from the penalty spot when Bechem pipped Eleven Wonders 1-0 to return to winning ways after going two games without a victory.
Kofi Owusu became the hero in Berekum when his two goals helped Chelsea to defeat WAFA 2-0 and further push the visitors to the foot of the log.
Meanwhile, RTU surprisingly picked up a point against Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium thanks to a David Abagna Sangna’s late equaliser as the two sides shared the spoils 1-1.
The results means Kotoko are yet to record a win after three games and have only picked two points from a possible nine.
SCORES AT A GLANCE:
KUMASI: Asante Kotoko 1-1 Real Tamale United
Scorers: Frank Etouga | | David Abagna
Man of the Match: Mohammed Sadat (RTU)
ELMINA: Elmina Sharks 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Scorer: Gladson Awako
Gladson Awako with the Match winner
Man of the Match: Frederick Ansah-Botchway (Hearts Of Oak)
DAWU: Dreams FC 3-1 Karela United
Scorers: Huzaf Ali (2x), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu | | Umar Basiru (pen)
Man of the Match: Ali Huzaif (Dreams FC)
BECHEM: Bechem United 1-0 Eleven Wonders
Scorer: Augustine Okrah
Augustine Okrah in the air
Man of the Match: Abdul Latif Anabila (Bechem United)
BEREKUM: Berekum Chelsea 2-0 WAFA
Scorer: Kofi Owusu(2x)(1pen)
Man of the Match: Adams Zakaria (Chelsea)
SOGAKOPE: Great Olympics 2-0 Gold Stars
Scorers: James Akaminko, Maxwell Nii Abbey Quaye
Man of the Match: Razak Kassim (Great Olympics)
TARKWA: Medeama SC 1-0 Legon Cities
Scorer: Joseph Tetteh Zutah
Man of the Match: Benjamin Abaidoo (Medeama SC)
OBUASI: AshantiGold 0-1 Aduana FC
Scorer: Sam Adams
Man of the Match: Sam Adams (Aduana Stars)
SOGAKOPE: Accra Lions 0-0 King Faisal
Man of the Match: Christopher Acheampong (Accra Lions)
BASIC STATS:
Games played – 9 Home wins – 5 Away Wins – 2 Draws – 2 Goals – 14 Goals scored by Home teams – 10 Goals scored by away teams – 4 Goal/game – 1.56 Home wins % – 55.56%
TOP SCORERS CHART
Maxwell Nii Abbey-Quaye (Great Olympics) –7 David Abagna (RTU) –7 Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC ) –6 Huzaf Ali (Dreams FC) –5 Zubeiru Ibrahim(King Faisal) –4 Augustine Okrah (Bechem) –4 Ibrahim Osman (King Faisal) –4 Bright Adjei (Aduana ) –4 Isaac Oppong (Asante Kotoko ) –3 Emmanuel Gyamfi(Aduana Stars) –3 Agyenim Boateng Mensah(Dreams FC)–3 Salifu Rauf (Accra Lions)–3 Emmanuel Avornyo (Bechem United)–3 Prince Owusu Kwabena (Gold Stars )–3 Umar Bashiru(Karela United) – 3 Kofi Kordzi ( Hearts Of Oak) – 2 Francis Twene (Bechem United) – 2 Samuel Boateng (Asante Kotoko) – 2 Jonah Attuquaye (Cities) – 2 Yahaya Mohammed (Aduana) – 2 Justice Torsutsey (WAFA) – 2 Obuaba Yaw Dasi (Bechem) – 2 Tetteh Nortey (Eleven Wonders) – 2 Georges Mfegue (Asante Kotoko) – 2 Justice Ato Mensah (Elmina Sharks) – 2 Abass Ganiu (Eleven Wonders) – 2 Kofi Ansu Patrick(Medeama) – 2 Kofi Owusu (Chelsea) – 2
The striker finally broke his duck against the Saints after going almost fifty goals without a goal
Ghana striker Jordan Ayew was on target for Crystal Palace against Southampton in Premier League at the Selhurst Park on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old has been in a poor run of form in front of goal throughout this season and has come under a lot of pressure from both the club’s technical team and supporters.
However, he finally found his name on the scoreboard on Wednesday as his goal brought Palace level after going behind.
Wilfred Zaha broke the deadlock for Palace after only two minutes when he connected a pass from Odsonne Edouard.
However, Ward-Prowse brought Southampton level from a free-kick by the 32nd minute before Armando Broja made it 2-1 for Southampton.
Ayew found himself in a perfect position to calmly tap in a shot from Edouard to pull even for Palace.
The midfielder powered the Phobians to their first win of the campaign as he marked his bow since joining them from city rivals
Hearts of Oak defeated Elmina Sharks 1-0 on matchday eight of Ghana Premier League at the Nduom Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
The Phobians returned to action in the local league for the first time in almost a month due to their participation in Caf Confederation Cup.
After a slow start to the game, Hearts exerted themselves on their hosts and began to cause problems.
However, they could not find a breach in their defence in an attempt to score the first goal of the game.
After the break, Awako replaced Asubonteng by the 66th minute and made his presence felt after just six minutes. The midfielder latched onto a pass from his teammate and sent in a powerful shot which took a deflection and went past the goalkeeper.
The goal marked Awako’s maiden effort for the Phobians since joining Hearts from city rivals Great Olympics four months ago.
Hearts pushed men forward very late in the game to kill it but they could not make the few half chances that came theor way count.
Reports emerged that Hearts coach Samuel Boadu was rushed to the hospital in Elmina after he complained of uneasiness in breathing.
His situation is currently under control according to the club.
The Hunters returned to winning ways after three games following narrow victory at home over their regional rivals
Bechem United defeated Techiman Eleven Wonders 1-0 on matchday eight of Ghana Premier League at the Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem on Wednesday.
After suffering a narrow defeat in the hands of Bibiani Gold Stars over the weekend, Bechem ringed changes in their set up as captain Kofi Agbesimah and Aaron Essel were suspended while Charles Mensah sit out due to injury.
However, Joseph Kinful was handed his maiden start of the season while Emmanuel Asante led the team as the captain
Augustine Okrah came close to opening the scoring after seventh minute when he latched onto a pass from Clinton Duodo but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Bechem were fortunate not to have gone behind by the 32nd minute after a defensive mixup.
After the break, Okrah shot Bechem ahead by the 51st minute from the penalty spot. The goal marked the forward’s fourth goal of the season after eight games.
Bechem have moved to third position with 13 points, four points behind leaders Aduana Stars who also picked an away victory over Ashanti Gold.
The Phobians boss has been rushed to the health centre after falling ill while his side faced Elmina Sharks in Premier League
Hearts of Oak head coach Samuel Boadu has been rushed to the hospital in Elmina during Ghana Premier League matchday eight fixture against Elmina Sharks at the Nduom Sports Stadium.
The manager was seen complaining of uneasiness while the game was ongoing and was taken into a standby ambulance which speed off to a nearby hospital to seek medical attention.
It is unclear what actually was wrong with Boadu as doctors are yet to release an official statement about his issue.
