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Yacouba’s absence won’t affect Kotoko’s gameplan against Hearts in Super Clash – supporters chief

The Porcupine Warriors supporters chief believes missing their out of favour striker will not affect their game plan against the Phobians this weekend

Ashanti Regional Circles chairman of Asante Kotoko, Obeng Sekyere, has insisted that they will defeat Hearts of Oak this weekend in Ghana Premier  League matchday six despite concerns about the availability of striker Songne Yacouba.

The Burkina Faso international is likely to be dropped from the squad that will travel to Accra by Maxwell Konadu following controversies surrounding his future. Yacouba is reported to have refused to come to terms with the club’s top hierarchy.

The 29-year-old is demanding a $150,000 before signing a contract extension which has led to Kotoko’s decision to allow him to leave as a free agent.

In effect, the club has signed William Opoku as a back up and the budding talent is expected to be named among the three strikers in the matchday squad alongside Richard Arthur and Naby Keita.

“Yacouba has made up his mind not to sign a contract extension with Kotoko so psychologically he is not sound and needs to be replaced by an equally good player for the game against Hearts of Oak on Sunday,” Sekyere told Otec FM.

“We the supporters have no problem even if he decides to rest for the number of days left on his contract. Kotoko lost games which he was part so his exclusion on Sunday will not have any negative effect on the team,” he added.

According to AshesGyamera.com’s sources, Yacouba who is yet to score a goal for Kotoko since June 2019, has barely two months left on his contract and could be heading to Egypt to sign for FC Smouha.

Ghana Premier League clubs to observe a minute silence this weekend for a legend

The football association has appealed to clubs to spend a minute in silence to honour the former referee who passed on this week

Ghana Football Association has announced that there will be a minute silence at the nine league centres this weekend following the demise of former Ghana Referees Association chairman L.O Laryea.

The former Fifa referee passed on in Accra Monday after battling a short-term  sickness .

Referee L.O LARYEA conducting a refresher course for Ghanaian referees

“The Ghana Football Association has learnt with sadness the passing of former Fifa Refereee Mr. L. O. Laryea,” a GFA statement read.

“Mr. Laryea was an outstanding professional and without doubt, one of the finest referees on the African continent.

“After his remarkable career, referee Laryea continued to serve the game as a CAF and FIFA Referees Instructor. He also served as WAFU Zone B Referees Chairman, Referees Association of Ghana Chairman, as well as the Refereees Manager of the GFA until 2018.”

The statement added: “Mr. Laryea was an inspiring figure to many young referees in the country and his loss is a huge loss to Ghana football.

“To honour his memory, the GFA has directed a minute’s silence at all Premier League, Divisione One, Women’s Premier League and FA Cup matches this weekend. Also, all teams are to wear black/red armbands in his memory.

“The Ghana Football Association, on behalf of the football fraternity, extends sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the late L.O. Laryea.”

Ghana to face South Africa, Zimbabwe & Ethiopia in 2022 World Cup qualifiers

The Black Stars need to top the group to stand a realistic chance of making it back to the global football tournament

Ghana have been handed Group G of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and will battle South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia for a place in the last phase (knockout).

Although, it looks a little manageable for new Black Stars coach C.K Akonnor, South Africa could prove to be the main threat as they will be seeking for a revenge since Ghana denied them an opportunity to be at the tournament in 2006 thanks to a Michael Essien masterpiece.

Winners of all the ten groups will be paired into five games. The winners after two legs in the final stage will then represent Africa in Qatar.

Group G:

●Ghana
●South Africa
●Zimbabwe
●Ethiopia

More to follow…

Adu Kwabena scores 90th goal of 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season plus other stats

Bechem United defeated Techiman Eleven Wonders 1-0 in Ghana Premier  League matchday five fixture and it was youngster Adu Kwabena’s only strike that secured three points for the Hunters in the Ahafo & Bono East derby at Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem on Monday.

Prior to this game, 89 league goals had been scored after 44 games and Adu’s calm finish makes it just ten goals short of hitting 100 goals.

Interestingly, the youngster now has five goals to his credit after netting once against Elmina Sharks on opening day before his solo effort against Great Olympics on matchday three won the day for Bechem. Adu also scored a brace against King Faisal away from home on matchday four.

Meanwhile, Yahaya Mohammed leads the topscorer’s chart with six goals in five games. However, he has been a predator at home as all his goals have been at the NAB Park but once Aduana are the top scoring side with nine goals, Yahaya has contributed 66.6 per cent of the total goals and deserves all the plaudits.

One club that have been making waves are Berekum Chelsea. The former champions have defied the difficult fixtures handed them and have won all their three away games on the bounce.

The Blues have silenced Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold in the process in front of their vociferous supporters and aside their solid defensive setup led by centre-backs Ahmed Adams and Zakaria Fusienu, young goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim has been amazing.

The 17-year-old is yet to concede a goal after 450 minutes and holds the record as the only show-stopper to achieve that feat so far. Kofi Owusu, on the other hand, has been solid in away games. The former goal king has netted twice (against Kotoko and Ashanti Gold) and every single goal of his has won three points for Chelsea.

While Great Olympics and King Faisal have had an improved campaign since they had zero point after matchday three as compared to four and two points respectively after week five, Ebusua Dwarfs are yet to record a single point.

Wafa also seem like a side that is losing their mojo as they are without a win in their last three games having secured six points in the opening two games of the season but of course, one may argue that two of their three games have been away from home and all ended in a stalemate so they are good to go.

With matchday six coming on next weekend, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko will obviously be the top-line since there is rivalry and bragging rights at stake.

GUSA GAMES 2020: UCC wins the Overall best with sixty-four medals.

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University of Cape Coast have been crown champions in the just university games in Legon, Accra.

UCC are the champions of the 26th Ghana Universities Sports Association games which was held in Legon, Accra having banged Sixty-four medals.

The defending champions of the Main GUSA tourney won medal (s) in every discipline accumulating to their sixty-four accolades.

The 64 medals comprise of 28 gold, 23 silver and 13 bronze medals.

UCC won the Main GUSA tourney in Winneba in 2016, Tamale in 2018 and Accra in 2020 and the Mini GUSA tourney in Kumasi in 2017 and Cape Coast in 2019 when they hosted and won hence, they are the Back-to-back-to-back champions in the Main GUSA and fives times champions in university games within the scope of four years.

University of Education, Winneba were the runners up after the teacher school attained 43 medals comprising of 15 gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze medals.

University for Development Studies, University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology were adjudged third, fourth and fifth after they won 39, 52 and 6 medals respectively.

University of Energy and Natural Resources had one Bronze medal whilst University of Professional Studies, University of Mines and Technology, University Health and Align Science, Ghana Institute of Journalism and Ghana Institute of Management Professional Adminstration attained no medal.

KNUST will host the next Main GUSA games in 2022.

By: Fareed Mohammed Awal

Asante Kotoko not ready to meet Yacouba’s ‘outrageous’ demands; player certain to leave as free agent

The Porcupine Warriors chief has confirmed that their talisman will certainly leave the club when his contract expires

Asante Kotoko executive chairman Kwame Kyei has revealed the club’s readiness to let go their want away striker Songne Yacouba following his outrageous demands.

The 28-year-old has barely four months left on his contract with Kotoko and despite several negotiations between his counsel and the club, both parties have failed to agree on his future.

Yacouba is demanding $150,000 before he will put pen to paper but Kotoko is reported to have offered him half of the amount which he has declined to accept.

The development means Yacouba can start negotiations with other suitors in February due to the ‘Bossman ruling.’

“We met him [Songne Yacouba] and his representatives to discuss about his contract extension but their demands can’t be fulfilled by Kotoko,” Kyei told reporters

“Before God and man, we can’t pay $150,000 which Yacouba and his agent have been demanding since we started the negotiations. Kotoko can’t pay such an amount of money for his contract renewal.

“Therefore, his contract will end soon and he will certainly leave the club because he is not ready to agree to our terms,” he added.

Yacouba has seen a dip in form this season as he is yet to break his duck after five games in 2019-20 Ghana Premier League.

GHPL Wrap: Kotoko return to winning ways as Hearts continue impressive run under Odoom

The Porcupine Warriors left it late but were able to secure a victory after suffering from two defeats on a row

Asante Kotoko dashed Ebusua Dwarfs’ hope of recording their first point of the season after defeating them 2-0 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Two second half goals from substitutes Mathew Anim Cudjoe and Richard Arthur stole the day for underfire coach Maxwell Konadu despite Songne Yacouba missing a penalty in the first half.

In Dansoman, Hearts of Oak came from a goal down to defeat Liberty Professionals 2-1 with goals from Bernard Arthur and Kofi Kordzi, while Dreams FC ended Medeama’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 win in Dawu.

In Dormaa Ahenkro, Yahaya Mohammed’s sixth goal of the season coupled with a Noah Martey’s strike gave Aduana Stars a 2-0 win over Legon Cities FC while King Faisal picked their first away point in a 1-1 draw with Karela United in Tarkwa.

Berekum Chelsea continued their giant slaying as they picked their third away win on the bounce when they pipped Ashanti Gold 1-0 at the Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi on Saturday. It was a Kofi Owusu’s strike that did the magic for the Bono side.

Ghana Premier League Full-time scores:

Asante Kotoko 2-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
[ Anim Cudjoe, Richard Arthur]

Liberty Professionals 1-2 Hearts of Oak [Michael Sefah; Bernard Arthur, Kofi Kordzi]

Dreams FC 1-0 Medeama
[Abdulai Issa Ibrahim]

Karela United 1-1 King Faisal
[Kwame Boateng; Mustapha Mohammed]

Elmina Sharks 1-1 Great Olympics
[Benjamin Boateng; Sulley Ibrahim]

Inter Allies 1-1 WAFA
[Richard Acquah (OG); Ernest Adu]

Aduana Stars 1-0 Legon Cities
[Yahaya Mohammed]

Sat: Ashanti Gold 0-1 Berekum Chelsea
[Kofi Owusu]

Monday: Bechem United vs Techiman Eleven Wonders

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I’m one of the ‘luckiest’ local coaches to handle Ghana, says Kwesi Appiah

The former Black Stars gaffer says he has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to lead the national team on two occasions

Former Ghana coach James Kwasi Appiah has admitted that he is one of the few former players to have had the opportunity to handle the country’s senior national team.

The 58-year-old has managed the Black Stars on two occasions between 2012 and 2014 as well as 2017 and 2019, becoming the only indigenous coach to qualify Ghana to Fifa World Cup in 2014.

Although, Appiah’s contract was not renewed by the new Ghana FA and his former assistant C.K Akonnor has taken over the mantle, he believes he had the best of support from Ghanaians.

“I always keep saying that I’m not even the best coach in Ghana. There maybe other coaches who also good but have not gotten the opportunities I have had. I must also admit that I was very lucky to coach the Black Stars. I say this because I started playing football with many people but I’m the only person to have this opportunity,” Appiah told Otec FM ahead of the launch of his book ‘Leaders don’t have to yell.’

“I was given enough support to succeed and I believe few coaches had this kind of situation so obviously it is not out of order to say I was lucky. The players gave me their respect and support even though some of them were super rich with millions of dollars in their accounts.

“I believe that it is a good beginning and every local coach needs the support of Ghanaians just like I had so that as a country, we can achieve success with our national teams,” he added.

AshesGyamera.com understands that Appiah has opened talks with Sudan and Libya to become the head coach of their national team.

Wakaso agrees to join Chinese club Jiansu Suning

The box-to-box midfielder is on his way to China after agreeing personal terms with the Super League club

Deportivo Alaves have confirmed that Ghana midfielder Wakaso Mubarak will sign for Chinese Super League side Jiansu Suning if he passes the Asian club’s medical.

The Nanjing-based club is expected to undertake a mandatory medical examination on the Ghanaian either on Sunday or Monday before making the deal official.

Wakaso, 29, joined Alaves in a three-year contract from Panathinaikos in 2017 and has gone on to make over 50 La Liga appearances scoring one goal.

Wakaso has become the second Ghanaian player to recently join Jiansu after Richmond Boakye Yiadom signed for them in 2018 from Red Star Belgrade before returning to Serbia six months later.

Qadri out, Arthur in; Ghana FA makes last-minute change of referee for Dreams vs Medeama

The referee initially billed to man the game in Dawu has been changed

The Referees Appointment Committee has replaced Latif Qadri with Philip Arthur for the game between Dreams FC and Medeama in Ghana Premier League matchday five on Sunday.

According to reports, Qadri is not fully fit and will have to make way for Arthur to take charge in a game which could see Medeama topping the log with a win although Berekum Chelsea stunned Ashanti Gold to temporarily sit at the summit of the log.