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Dreams FC to face Rivers United and others in Caf Confederation Cup group stage

The FA Cup winners will be travelling to Nigeria and North Africa in their quest to make impact in continental football

Ghana FA Cup winners Dreams FC have been housed in Group C of Caf Confederation Cup following a draw held on Friday.

The Dawu-based club was paired with Nigerian side Rivers United as well as Club African from Tunisia AND APC Lobito from Angola.

Dreams will play all their home games at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium since their Theatre of Dreams home grounds in Dawu could not meet the standards required by CAF.

2023/24 CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP DRAW

Group A – USMA (ALG), Future FC (EGY), Supersport United (RSA), Al Hilal Benghazi (LBY)

Group B – Zamalek (EGY), Sagrada Esperança (ANG), Academie SOAR, Abu Salim (LBY)

Group C – Rivers United (NGR), Club Africain (TUN), Dreams FC (GHA) APC Lobito (ANG)

Group D – RS Berkane (MAR), Diables Noirs (CGO), Stade Malien (MLI), Sekukhune United (RSA)

Kwesi Appiah, Randy Abbey and others win GFA EXCO elections

The former Black Stars gaffer has been elected to serve on the highest decision making body in the country’s football organisation

Former Ghana’s senior national team coach Kwesi Appiah has been elected to serve on GFA’s Executive Council until 2027 following an election held in Tamale on Thursday, AshesGyamera can confirm.

The 60-year-old came third after the voting process after amassing 10 votes behind Randy Abbey and Frederick Acheampong who had 12 votes and 11 votes respectively.

Appiah, before this election, was rumoured to have sealed a deal to become the national team coach of Sudan and that nearly hindered his chances of winning one of the six slots available.

However, Asante Kotoko owner Otumfuo Osei Tutu is believed to have played a crucial role to make sure that Appiah won the election as he was vying on the club’s ticket.

Meanwhile, Oduro Sarfo and Bechem United chief executive officer Kingsley Osei Bonsu ‘Lord Zico’ also made it into the list.

Bonsu needed a second time run off to seal his place in a keenly contested election after tying up with Elony Amande on two occasions.

Meanwhile, Samuel Anim Addo as well as Samatex General Manager Edmund Ackah were unable to realised their dreams as they failed to make the cut.

The elected members will work with Kurt Okraku after he was overwhelmingly endorsed by members to serve a second term earlier today after going unopposed.

Their first mandate is to oversee Black Stars Friendly games which will take place in a fortnight.

The Black Stars will lock horns with Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on October 14 before facing USA three days later in Nashville, Tennessee.

Andre Ayew and others dropped as Partey and Lamptey return for USA & Mexico friendlies

The Black Stars skipper has been deservedly dropped from the squad that will face USA and Mexico next month

Ghana coach Chris Hughton has named a 23-man squad to face United States and Mexico in an international friendly games next month.

Notable names dropped are captain Andre Ayew who has been without club since the expiration of his contract with Premier League side Nottingham Forest as well as Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.

Also, former Chelsea defender Abdul Baba Rahman was dropped with reports suggesting that he is battling an injury.

Conspicuously missing in the squad is Medeama striker Jonathan Sowah who played excellently against Liberia in a friendly game at the Accra Sports Stadium last month but left back Abdul Fatawu Hamid made the list.

However, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Teye Partey and Brighton and Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey return to the team after missing previous games due to injury worries.

The Black Stars will lock horns with Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on October 14 before facing USA three days later in Nashville, Tennessee.

FT: Horoya 2-1 Medeama: Sowah’s goal sends Yellow and Mauve to first-ever group stage

The Yellow and Mauve have booked their place in the elite competition in Africa following a narrow defeat far away in Congo

Ghana Premier League champions Medeama have secured a group stage qualification in Caf Champions League with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline despite losing 2-1 against Horoya AC in Congo on Saturday.

The Tarkwa-based club knocked out Horoya thanks to an away goal advantage after putting everything in place to avoid a huge loss.

Jonathan Sowah opened the scoreline for Medeama in the first half through a penalty after he was brought down in Horoya’s goal area.

However, Ghanaian born midfielder Ocansey Mandela equalled the scores for the host from a rebound after Felix Kyei failed to deal with a shot from Mohammed.

After the break, Horoya pressed Medeama in their bid to take the lead and finally found an opening by the 78th minute.

Forward Keita Mohammed capitalized on a poor defending by Medeama to slot home another goal for Horoya and open the tie.

Although, Horoya made several tactical changes and moved more men upfront, Medeama were very resolute at the back and held on to avoid conceding another goal and booked their place in the group phase of the CAF Champions League for the first time.

Nsoatreman 2-0 Bechem: Maxwell Konadu starts new era with derby victory

There were joy and merry making as Nsoatreman finally picked their first ever win over their regional rivals

Nsoatreman defeated Bechem United 2-0 on opening day of Ghana Premier League in Nsoatre on Sunday.

New coach Maxwell Konadu joined the hosts ahead of the start of the season and had only one target prior to the game; a win and convincing one of course.

New signing Abdul Manaf Umar who joined Nsoatreman from Real Tamale United snatched the first goal for Nsoatreman with a wonderful goal.

Umar dribbled past two defenders before sending his effort into the top right corner by the 28th minute.

After the break, Nsoatreman fluffed several opportunities to double their lead and that gave Bechem the confidence to try warm themselves into the game.

Although, Bechem were pushing for an equalizer, Nsoatreman made it 2-0 on the stroke of full time from the penalty spot.

Eric Osei Bonsu converted from the spot after the hosts were awarded a penalty and he sent the visitors’ goalkeeper to the wrong direction.

Augustine Okrah had a chance to at least score a consolation goal for Bechem after coming from the bench but he failed to make his effort count.

Medeama 3-1 Horoya: Yellow and Mauve edge closer to Caf Champions League group stage

The Ghanaian champions have made a huge step towards their ambitions to make it to the group phase of the competition for the first time

Ghana Premier League champions Medeama defeated Horoya FC 3-1 in first leg of Caf Champions League qualifications at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday.

After a pulsating first half where chances were very scarce, Nana Kofi Babil drew first blood for Medeama by the 48th minute.

Nurudeen Abdulai made it 2-0 on 63rd minute after connecting a free-kick.

Six minutes later, Kofi Asmah scored a screamer from almost 20 metres away to make the score line 3-0 and send the home fans into wild jubilations.

The youngster latched onto a pass and fired a shot from the outside of Horoya’s box into the net after going past the goalkeeper.

Very late in the game, Abu Camara scored a consolation goal to silence the home fans who were hoping to secure a clear sheet.

Medeama will head to Congo in a fortnight to play the second leg with the hope of avoiding defeat and make history by qualifying to the group stage of the Caf Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

Kudus Mohammed meets West Ham supporter who travelled from UK to watch his game in Kumasi

The Black Stars midfielder has finally met the enthusiastic fan who travelled several kilometres just to watch his game last week

Ghana superstar Kudus Mohammed has met a West Ham United fan who made a shocking journey from United Kingdom to Ghana just to watch him in action.

Kudus recently joined West Ham from Ajax Amsterdam and made his debut in the victory over Brighton and Hove Albion as he came on very late on the game.

Since he could not have enough time in the game, a West Ham United fan opted to travel from London to Kumasi just to see the new player his boyhood club has signed.

Fortunately for him, he had a wonderful experience as Kudus scored a spectacular goal from free kick to level the scoreline for Ghana after they had conceded a goal in the first half.

Ghana went on to win the game 2-1 thanks to a late Nuamah’s goal and that sealed their qualification to participate in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cote d’Ivoire.

Kudus is expected to be in action at that Accra Sports Stadium when Ghana play Liberia in an international friendly on Tuesday before he heads back to join West Ham.

Thomas Partey & Wollocott dropped as Chris Hughton names Black Stars squad to face Central African Republic

Chris Hughton has named Medeama SC striker Jonathan Sowah in his 25-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic in Kumasi. The former Danbort FC forward who joined the champions in the second transfer window scored 12 goals to help them win the League title.

Also in the squad are Elisha Owusu and Baba Iddrisu who make a return to the squad after recovering from injuries. Baba Iddrisu missed the FIFA World Cup in Qatar while Elisha Owusu who picked up an injury in February, has yet to play for Ghana since the FIFA World Cup finals in November last year.

Another player who returns to the squad is South Africa based goalkeeper Richard Ofori who hasn’t played for Ghana since September 27, 2022 when Ghana beat Nicaragua 1-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly in Lorca, Spain.

Arsenal ace Thomas Partey is left out of the squad due to injury. According to his club, the player picked up an injury in training and could be on the sidelines for a while, however the Black Stars medical teams is monitoring the situation.

Ghana will host Central Africa Republic in their final Group E game at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

The squad:

Goalkeepers

Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Richard Ofori

Defenders

Alidu Seidu, Kingsley Schindler, Stephan Ambrosius, Joseph Aidoo, Alexander Djiku, Nicholas Opoku, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah

Midfielders

Abdul Samed Salis, Baba Iddissu, Andre Ayew, Elisha Owusu, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Ransford Koningsdorffer

Forwards

Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Joseph Painstil, Jonathan Sowah

West Ham beat Chelsea and Arsenal to sign Kudus Mohammed

The nimble footed forward has finally put pen to paper with the East London side despite interest from other rivals


Ghana midfielder Kudus Mohammed has joined West Ham in a five year deal from Ajax, the two clubs have officially confirmed.

The fee is reportedly a €45m package and the deal includes a sell-on clause for the Dutch club amid other interests from Chelsea and Arsenal.

Kudus, who touched down in London with his mother and two brothers, could not hide his joy and admitted that he has been dreaming to play in the Premier League since childhood.

“I’ve been dreaming to play in a league like this since I was a kid.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment and I’m so happy to be here. But it doesn’t stop here, I want to keep going.

“I try my best to entertain the fans as I think that’s what football is all about. I’m just here to do my best and help the team.

“I’m really happy to be here. I will fight for the badge. I can’t wait to get started.”

World’s fastest accountant Eugene Amo-Dadzie is a Ghanaian and flies in World Championship 100m

Eugene Amo-Dadzie has pledged to prove accountants aren’t boring after the world’s fastest number cruncher booked his place in the semi-finals of the 100metres at the World Athletics Championships.

Amo-Dadzie, a latecomer to the sport who has had to take annual leave from his job, was second in his heat while Zharnel Hughes won his and the third Brit in action, Reece Prescod, also made it through to the semis.

The 31-year-old Amo-Dadzie first learned he was speedy by running for the bus and has been swarmed by messages of congratulations from his fellow accountants, although no new job offers as yet.

“I’ve had a lot of support from all the different accountant bodies,” he said. “They’re like ‘yo, you’re putting accountants on the map’.

“We’re not just these boring stiff squares sat at the office typing away. We’ve got a bit of something about us you know. There’s probably accountants out there who are probably wrestlers, F1 drivers, who knows. I was sat in an office so who knows?”

Amo-Dadzie raised eyebrows when he became the latest British sprinter to run sub-10seconds this season and looked at ease in his heat as he eased up well before the line to clock a time of 10.10s.

He admitted he had aspirations to make the final on Sunday night but said: “Me being here is already a victory for me so anything that happens is kind of a bonus.”

The Rainham-born athlete has relished the tag bestowed upon him since emerging on the scene this season.

He added: “It was a nice touch for the world’s fastest accountant. You didn’t have to do that. But I’m on the world stage. I say to people who don’t really know track and field, I’m at the World Cup of athletics and they’re like ‘ok’.

“For me, that’s incredible because this is beyond a dream. I didn’t grow up dreaming to do this but, by the grace of God, I found myself doing this.”

Amo-Dadzie was born to Ghanaian parents in United Kingdom and began his career as an athlete at the age of 26.

-Thestandard