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Ghanaian players performance in UEFA Europa & Conference League

A lot of Ghanaian players featured in Thursday across Europe as clubs hope to qualify to the knockout stages of the continental competitions.


Ghana defender Baba Abdul Rahman played 90 minutes as Manchester United defeated POAK 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Two second half goals from Amad Diallo did the magic for interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

In-form Prince Adu Kwabena scored the first goal as Viktoria Plzen pipped La Liga side Real Sociedad 2-1 at
Doosan Arena Plzen. The former Bechem United striker has now scored three goals in the Europa League.

Also, Emmanuel Addai was superb for Qarabag when they went away to pip Bodoe/Glimit at Aspmyra Stadion. Algerian midfielder Yassine Benzia replaced him in the second half.

Inaki Williams was on target for Athletic Club Bilbao in their 2-1 away victory over Ludogorets Razgrad at Huvepharma Arena.

Henry Addo was a second half substitute for Maccabi Tel Aviv in their 5-0 humiliating away defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam.

Michael Baidoo lasted 75 minutes as Elfsborg drew 1-1 at home with SC Braga. Baidoo was replaced with Denmark striker Emil Holten.

Elsewhere, Dutch-born Goalkeeper of Ghanaian descent Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro played full throttle as AZ Alkmaar shocked Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 at home. Jayden Addai, another Dutch player with Ghanaian descent was substituted in the second half as he came out for K. Smith on 64th minute.

Meanwhile, deputy Black Stars captain Alexander Djiku was not part of the Fenerbahce squad.

Former Real Tamale United forward David Abagna Sandan was on target as Appel Nicosia shocked Fiorentina 2-1 in the UEFA Conference League.

Red card: Kudus Mohammed handed two additional match ban; fined £60,000

The Ghanaian will now be serving five games on the touch line after the FA handed him two additional match ban on Wednesday

Kudus Mohammed has been slapped with two additional game ban following his altercation during the 4-1 defeat to Tottenham last month.

The 24-year-old was automatically given a three-match ban and was further charged by the FA which could have seen him serving an additional three-game ban if convicted of the further charge. However, after West Ham appealed against his FA
misconduct rap, he got only two more game ban.

However, Kudus was fined additional £60,000 for losing his head in the derby.

This means that Kudus will be serving five games ban in total after he was initially handed three games suspension.

“West Ham United has today (Wednesday) been notified by the Football Association of charges relating to our Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 19 October 2024,” a club statement read.

“The outcome of the hearing of The FA’s Independent Panel is as follows:

  1. Mohammed Kudus – additional two-match suspension; fine of £60,000.
  2. Club – fine of £30,000.
    Whilst the Club is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the process that has been undertaken,” the statement added.

Kudus have already missed the games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. He is now expected to miss this weekend’s Premier League home game against Everton.

After the international break, Kudus will miss the away game against Newcastle United and home fixture against Arsenal.

Balotelli marks Genoa debut with yellow card in five minutes

Mario Balotelli was shown yellow card barely five minutes after he made his Genoa debut when they pipped Parma 1-0 on Monday night in Serie A.

The former Manchester City and AC Milan goal poacher was introduced into the game on 86th minute to replace 17-year-old Italian striker Jeff Ekhator Osayuki, who is of Nigerian descent.

Balotelli brought down Emmanuel Valeri and was shown the yellow card as the away fans cheered him on.

Genoa have now won their second game of the season and currently out of the drop zone with nine points after 11 games. They will host Cesc Fabregas’ Como next weekend before the international break.

Highlights: Medeama 0-2 Hearts: Phobians silence Mauves in Tarkwa

The Phobians recovered from their home defeat last weekend to stun Medeama in Tarkwa

Hearts of Oak defeated Medeama 2-0 in matchday nine of Ghana Premier League at the T&A Park in Tarkwa on Friday night.

The Phobians came into the game on the back of a home defeat to Gold Stars last weekend and pressure were pilling on head coach Abubakar Ouatarra.

After an end to end first against Medeama, Hearts took the lead on 64th minute through Kwabena Boateng. Hamzah Issah latched on to a long pass from goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and he beat two defenders before sending it on target and Boateng then tapped it into an empty net.

Medeama pushed men upfront in search of the equaliser and Mawuli Wayo capitalised on a defensive blunder to score to score the match winner for the Phobians.

Hearts have now moved up to 12th position with nine points after eight games. They will host Vision FC in their next game at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.

Manchester United appoint Amorim as new coach until 2027

The young manager replaces Erik Ten Hag was sacked earlier this week following series of uninspiring results

Manchester United have confirmed on Friday the appointment of Ruben Amorim as the club’s new manager on a contract until 2027, with the option of an additional year.

The Portuguese coach joins the Red Devils from from Sporting CP to fill the vacant position after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday, October 29.

Despite United officially making Amorim’s appointment official, he is expected start work on Monday, November 11 while interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy guide the club in the games ahead.

Amorim has had an enviable success in Portugal where he won two league titles, including their first in almost two decades as his side lost just one game in his first full season.

Sporting also claimed two consecutive Portuguese League Cups under his tutelage.

Breaking News: Manchester United sack Erik Ten Hag

Manchester United have sacked Erik Ten Hag as expected. The former Ajax manager has been struggling since he took over despite winning few domestic trophies.

Ten Hag has been sacked following a poor start to the season, winning just once in his last eight games in all competitions.

The last blow that led to the Dutchman’s sacking was the 2-1 away defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.

Hag spent only over two years with United and won both the EFL and FA Cups.

According to reports, Ruud van Nisterooy has been asked to take in on the interim until a new coach is confirmed.

Summerville explains his celebration with Kudus in Manchester United victory

West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville has shed light on why he ran towards the bench to celebrate with suspended Mohammed Kudus after scoring against Manchester United in Premier League on Sunday.

The summer signing from Leeds United opened the scoring in the second half after coming on as a substitute for Carlos Soler as Jarrod Bowen as scored a late controversial penalty to pile more pressure on Manchester United beleaguered manager Erik Ten Hag.

Although, Casemiro scored what would later become a consolation goal for United as they pushed men forward in search for a draw, West Ham stayed resolute in defence and did not allow any breach.

Kudus missed the game as he is currently serving a three-game suspension after losing his head in the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham in the East London derby a fortnight ago.

Alexander Adjei wins Goal King at 2024 Beach Soccer AFCON

Ghana striker Alexander Adjei has been crowned as the Goal King of 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.

The 30-year-old scored 11 goals and provided three assists in four games as the Black Sharks of Ghana finished the tournament in fifth place, two places above their last participation.

Interestingly, Adjei becomes the only Ghanaian to win two Goal King awards at the tournament as he also won the prize in the 2015 edition staged in Seychelles with 16 goals.

Adjei has attracted interests from many foreign clubs and he could at least play one season outside the shores of Ghana before he finally hang his boots.

Red card: Kudus Mohammed brought his frustration from Ghana – Lopetegui talks about Mo’s recent behaviour

The Hammers boss has said that his star player is suffering from frustrations due to poor results during the international break

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has insisted that Mohammed Kudus needs to cool down on his temper and character in general after he was sent off for violent conduct in the East London derby against Tottenham last weekend.

The Ghanaian is automatically facing a three-match ban and has further been charged by the FA which could see him serving an extended six-game ban if convicted of the further charge but West Ham have appealed against his FA
misconduct rap.

However, amid Kudus losing his head in the derby, others believe the moment of madness was a public display of persistent frustrations including the one between himself and Lopetegui. The Ghanaian was seen kicking a seat in the dugout when he was substituted following a bust-up with his coach in the dressing room at half-time in the 1-1 against Brentford as Lopetegui accused him of not playing for the team.

Amid all these allegations, the Spaniard manager insists Kudus came back from the international break with lots of frustrations since Ghana lost to Sudan with Kudus acting as the new captain and now the West African country is on the verge of missing Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in over two decades.

“He brings his frustration with his national team, too, because they [Ghana] didn’t win both their two matches,” Lopetegui said as quoted by AshesGyamera.com.

“I talked with him about frustration. It can never be an excuse to lose your head. You have to use this frustration to better, to overcome, bad Woments.

“But not to do this. He knows that. When you come back from international break, each player has a different experience – some positive, some negative.
We talk about this.

“We try to talk in this case with him: ‘OK, you have to put your focus on the league and forget this until the next break. This frustration can happen inside you. That’s why you have to learn to handle this frustration, in sport, in life.”

“Unfortunately Kudus is going to be out for three matches because his behaviour was not good and he knows that.

“He knows he has to improve because this can’t happen. I hope it’s the last time this happens. I’m sure it is not going to happen [again].

“I talked with him and sometimes you don’t have to talk a lot about this kind of situation because he knows it was a mistake. I say, for sure, that he will learn about this incident and his behaviour will handle this better in the future,” he concluded.

Kudus will be in the stands when West Ham face Manchester United on Saturday.

Andre Ayew features in Le Havre’s defeat to Rennes

The Black Stars captain saw full action but could not help his side to avoid defeat in Ligue 1

Ghana captain Andre Ayew played 90 minutes when Le Havre lost 1-0 to Alidu Seidu’s Stade Rennes in French Ligue 1 on Friday night.

Ayew, 34, rejoined Le Havre last month in a one-year deal after several months without a club.
He had a relatively good game against Rennes as he touched the ball 30 times, had one shot off target and completed 82 percent passing accuracy (14/17 passes).

Also, he made two clearances, won two ground duels out of three and won one aerial duels out of three.

He, however, lost possession seven times but compensated that with one interception and won two fouls.

Meanwhile, Ayew’s countryman Alidu Seidu had the best laugh as he also lasted the entire match for Rennes.

Seidu displayed an impressive performance as the fullback was rated 7.7 after making 72 touches of the ball within regulation time. He had 90 per cent passing accuracy (38/42 passes) and 10 ground duels out of 13 that he went in for.

Also, he was fouled four times and committed two fouls as well as losing possession 12 times. He made five tackles and one interception.