The Bafana Bafana take on the Zimbabwes this evening at the Soccer City Sports Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A win is imminent for South Africa as that will enhance their chances of making it out of Group G as winners ahead of Ghana
South Africa will travel to Ghana on Sunday for the final game of the qualifiers at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars failed to win the all-important away game against the Walias Antelopes in South Africa on Thursday
Ghana shared the spoils 1-1 with Ethiopia in the penultimate game of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at the Orlando Sports Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday.
Milovan Rajevac maintained goalkeeper Jojo Wollacot in post but made two changes in the defence. Joseph Aidoo replaced suspended Alexander Djiku while Andy Yiadom was brought on board as Daniel Amartey switched to central defence role following Johnathan Mensah absence due to injury relay.
Also, captain Andre Ayew returned to the squad after being dropped to the substitute bench in the last game against Zimbabwe in Harare, while striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom who surprisingly had a call up after two years away led the attack for Ghana and was supported by Ayew. Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana started on the flanks.
Yiadom came close to break the deadlock after ten minutes but he couldn’t guide his effort on target.
The Black Stars finally found an opening to score the opening goal on the 20th minute, after Yiadom was brought down on the edge of Ethiopia’s penalty box. Andre Ayew curled the resulting free-kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
After the break, Ghana struggled to exert themselves on Ethiopia.
On the 72nd, Getaneh Kebede capitalised on a poor defence to equalise for Ethiopia to the surprise of the Ghanaians in the stadium.
The Black Stars will now hope that South Africa drop points against Zimbabwe later in the days as the two countries meet at the FNB Sports Stadium.
Ghana will host South Africa in the last round of matches on Sunday at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars take on the Walias Antelopes this afternoon at the Orlando Sports Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A win is imminent for Ghana as that will brighten their chances of making it out of Group G as winners.
After a pulsating opening ten minutes, Ghana improved and began to cause troubles in the Ethiopia box.
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Boakye Yiadom came close to opening the scoring by the 13th minute but his effort was saved. Seven minutes later, he was brought down on the edge of the box and Andre Ayew curled his resulting free-kick into the net.
The opening goal gave Ghana some breathing space but Ethiopia soon doubled their efforts in search of the equaliser.
On this day 11 November 1911 (Exactly 109 years ago today) Accra Hearts of Oak was born at Ussher Town 110 years ago today.
Football was introduced into Ghana at the turn of the 20th century. In 1910, the first football club was formed in Accra.
The name chosen was The Invincibles and the club comprised mainly young men from the James Town area.
The need for a rival club was soon evident and the response to this was the birth of what now stands as the oldest surviving club and still one of the most outstanding clubs in the country’s history, Accra Hearts of Oak.
Hearts of Oak actually began in the middle of 1910 when young men from Ussher Town started practicing with a tennis ball.
Towards the end of the year, a young man from Saltpond, where the game had been played earlier, came to Accra and took up the training of the players. His name was Akom Duncan. By 1911, Hearts of Oak, with Mr Akom Duncan as their captain, were ready to take on the Invincibles.
The most memorable date for Hearts of Oak, in this period, was November 11, 1911 which has become the anniversary of the formation of the club. This was the date on which Hearts of Oak out-doored with jerseys and formally bound themselves into the giant club it was to be.
The outdooring ceremony was conducted with tradition. All the players met at the home of a Captain Mark Nettey at Ussher Town. From there, they moved to the Korle Lagoon at the Old Fadama Railway Crossing, bathed in the Lagoon for some minutes and then put on the jerseys.
All dressed up in their jerseys, they marched to an open space nearby (where now the Royal Cinema stands) and put up two posts. Hearts not only had their jerseys but also a park on which to train and play.
No officers were elected for the club. All the members were players and they all accepted the leadership of Akom Duncan.
Some of the players were William A. Simeon-Okraku, C.B Nettey who was to become chairman of the Accra Football Association later, J.T.O Ankrah, father of the first West African Commonwealth boxing champion and later national amateur boxing coach, Roy Ankrah, J.A Aryee, Dodoo Annang, Darku Abbey, Mark Nettey, Amponsah Solomon, Kwashie Solomon, W.W. Bruce-Tagoe, T.F. Bruce-Tagoe, William Ocran, Yao Foli Wilson, J.D Kwaku Botwe, Peter Malm, Quarshie Coker, Adolf Simeon-Okraku, Alfred Simeon-Okraku and teacher F.D. Amoo.
Matches were played regularly between Hearts of Oak and the Invincibles, with each side winning in turns. The interest generated by these matches inspired the formation of several other clubs in the succeeding months.
Football was expanding in Accra and the competition had become all the keener. Hearts of Oak acquired a new park, at the spot where the headquarters of the Electricity Corporation of Ghana stands.
The club found a Patron in the late Hanson Sackey, an auctioneer who was the father figure of the club in the formative years.
In 1914, Capt. Nettey was appointed the first secretary. These appointments gave the club a functional structure which other clubs lacked.
In 1917, Hearts decided to change its colours. Mr T.F. Bruce-Tagoe, popularly known as Teacher Bruce-Tagoe, designed the new rainbow colours (red, yellow and blue) and, with the approval of the executive, placed an order for the jerseys from Manchester.
When the jersey arrived, a match was arranged with Invincibles, the first club formed in Accra. It was played at the London Park, which is the present site of the James Town Police Station. Hearts won, 1-0.
But what attracted the crowd was not so much the manner of play as the bright jerseys of Hearts. This drew both spectators and some players of Invincibles to the Hearts camp after the match and thereafter, several players from other clubs began streaming into the club in the hope of wearing the bright jerseys.
Hearts proceeded to elect their first chairman, the late S.Q. Nelson, an engineer, who had played football in Nigeria.
Shortly after the outdooring of the new jerseys, a match was arranged with Steadfast who were later to become the closest rival of Hearts in the city.
The excitement created by this match was great and on the eve of the match, word spread around that Standfast had obtained some miracle which would make any Hearts player attempting to score a goal go blind. Such stories were not to be taken lightly in those days and some Hearts players were evidently reluctant to shoot at goal.
The exception was a young boy who had returned from Nigeria and was attending the Government Boys School in Accra. This young school boy found his way into the team as a result of the reluctance of some senior players to risk going blind. As soon as the team entered the field, he walked to the goalkeeper and told him: “Now let’s see if I will see you in the goal or not.”
That schoolboy was Okoe Tetteh. He proceeded to score two goals – the only goals of the match – and Hearts won without having any blind men to care for.
Hearts of Oak marks 110th anniversary today: Find out how the club was formed
The former Reds midfielder has been announced as the new manager for the Violet and Clarets
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been appointed by Aston Villa as their new manager.
More to follow…
The Serbian has announced the starting line up of the Black Stars ahead of the penultimate game against the Walias Antelopes this afternoon
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has announced his starting team against Ethiopia in the Group G penultimate game against Ethiopia at the Orlando Sports Stadium in South Africa on Thursday afternoon.
The Black Stars need a win at all cost as that will give them a realistic chance to top the group.
Captain Andre Ayew has returned to the squad after being dropped to the substitute bench in the last game against Zimbabwe in Harare.
Also, striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom who surprisingly had a call up after two years away will lead the attack for Ghana.
Meanwhile, defender Alexander Djiku has been suspended for the game after picking two yellow cards. In his absence, Celta Vigo defender Joseph Aidoo will fill the void.
He will be supported by Andre Ayew with Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana start on the wings.
16 Jojo Wollacot
The Black Stars gaffer believes his charges must double their performance to achieve results against Walias Antelopes
Ghana will face Ethiopia in the penultimate Group G game of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa on Thursday.
The Black Stars need a win at all cost to brighten up their chances of qualifying from the group and as a result, head coach Milovan Rajevac has charged his players to do whatever they can to grind results.
“We have to do this properly in order to achieve our target so that we can make everything easier for the future,” Milovan Rajevac said ahead of the game.
“We all have to put our efforts to make this happen.”
“Everything is dependent on ourselves. I want you to feel each other, to work together.” he added.
Ghana sit second on the log with nine points, one point behind leaders South Africa who also play Zimbabwe in the other group game later on Thursday.
A win for both Ghana and South Africa will mean that the last game which will be played between them at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday will determine the winner of the group.
The Porcupine Warriors had their last training at the Adako Jachie on Wednesday afternoon with a full house and Prosper Narteh Ogum is expected to announce his final squad
Ghana Premier League table toppers Asante Kotoko will travel to Bibiani on Thursday afternoon for the much-anticipated fixture against Gold Stars, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
The top of the table fixture has been salted for Friday afternoon at the Dun’s Park in Bibiani before the other league games continue on Saturday and Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors held their last training session on Wednesday with a total number of 30 players including all the 20 players that were named for the game against Bechem United with the exception of skipper Abdul Ganiu Ismail who is currently on international duties with Ghana in South Africa.
Ganiu is expected to help the Black Stars secure a win against Ethiopia on Thursday and South Africa on Sunday and that means he will not be available for Kotoko’s game.
In his absence, Maxwell Agyemang who joined Kotoko from lower division side Wamanafo Mighty Royals in a three deal in September, will partner Yussif Mubarik.
It is also likely that coach Prosper Ogum Narteh may drop one of his offensive midfielders -Fabio Gama, Richmond Lamptey or Mudasiru Salifu- to make way for defensive midfielder Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ in order to bring stability in midfield and cut the supplies from Gold Stars.
Both Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Stephen Amankonah were on target during the training session while defender Christopher Nettey who picked a knock against Bechem did some recovery works.
Kotoko are expected to go into the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation unlike the 4-3-3 formation with variations that they have been using in their last two games. However, the players who will not make the trip to Bibiani will continue with training at the Adako Jachie on Thursday afternoon.
Gold Stars, who are coached by former Kotoko player and coach Michael Osei, are currently sitting fifth on the Ghana Premier League log. They will be hosting Kotoko for the first time in their history after having an incredible start to their maiden participation in the top-flight as they are yet to taste defeat in two games.
The Western North giants scored full marks on opening day as they pipped Berekum Chelsea 1-0 at home thanks to a Kingsford Boafo’s long range shot.
They then held Medeama to 1-1 stalemate on Tuesday with a late equaliser and would hope to do the unthinkable by handing Kotoko their first defeat of the season.
The midfielder has for the first time opened up on his issue with the Phobians as he is yet to play an official game for them
Ghana midfielder Gladson Awako has insisted that he doesn’t know where he belongs after being caught up in a dilemma.
The 30-year-old joined the Phobians in a three-year deal from Great Olympics in June but he is yet to play a single official game for them.
Initial reports suggested that Awako was facing spiritual problems and the former T.P Mazembe midfielder had suggested that he can’t play for the club any longer.
However, Great Olympics have issued a statement that they have cancelled the deal since Hearts failed to meet the payment plan given them.
Per the clause, Great Olympics insist the agreement signed has been automatically terminated as the Phobians failed to meet their financial obligation in the agreement.
“I’m ready to play but as it stands, I don’t know where I belong until the issue is resolved,” he told Asempa FM.
Hearts are yet to win a league game this season after sharing the spoils with Legon Cities and WAFA.
They will host Aduana Stars this weekend before facing J.S Souara in the playoffs of the Caf Confederation Cup on November 28.
The debutants are making giant strides in the league as they are yet to taste a defeat after two games and will welcome table toppers Asante Kotoko on Friday
Bibiani Gold Stars head coach Michael Osei believes he was a better footballer than Asante Kotoko new coach Prosper Ogum Narteh during their heydays.
Osei, who in the past made his name as a footballer in Kumasi with Kotoko, a club currently coached by Ogum, will welcome his former side to Dun’s Park in Bibiani for the top of the table clash in Ghana Premier League matchday three fixture.
Gold Stars are yet to taste a defeat in their maiden participation in Ghana Premier League as they pipped Berekum Chelsea at home and held Medeama to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa.
When Osei was quizzed who is the senior in coaching between himself and Ogum he replied that they are at level pegging but believes he was a better footballer.
“I think maybe Prosper Ogum Narteh and I are almost at the same level in coaching. He is a good coach just like myself. He has done well for Kotoko so far and you can see I’m also doing my bit with Gold Stars who are only playing in the league for the first time,” Osei told Zylofon FM.
“However, in terms of football, I think I was or I’m ahead of him. I was good footballer and everyone who watched me can attest to that fact,” He added.
Osei is also optimistic that his side will be a able to hand Kotoko their first defeat of the season on Friday.
“We’ve noticed that Kotoko have started very well this season. I had the opportunity to watch them last weekend alongside my technical team. We saw that they are very good side but we are also a strong side and our team is jelling very well,” he said.
“It will be an interesting game and very difficult game but I believe that [we will defeat them]. I don’t want to brag. Let’s wait for Friday and see what happens,” he concluded.