Tag: 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

“It will be difficult to defeat Ghana; They have great history in African football,” Morocco coach harbours fears

The Atlas Lions coach admits his side made struggle to defeat the Black Stars in the opening game of Group C at the Afcon

Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has admitted that it will be extremely difficult to beat Ghana in the opening game of Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Cameroon scheduled for Monday in Yaounde.

Although, the Black Stars have had several uninspiring results recently including a 3-0 defeat in the hands of Algeria last week, the Morocco boss still believes they a force to reckon with since they have rich history and pedigree in African football history

“Ghana is a team with great history in African football. They have won the cup four times, the match against the Black Stars will certainly be difficult.” Halilhodzic said at pre-match briefing.

“It is true that our history is not as rich as other teams, but this generation is motivated and determined to achieve a historic feat during this Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.

Ghana arrived in Cameroon on Friday night from their camping base in Doha, Qatar with 27 players including Stade Rennes midfielder Kamaldeen Sulemana who was quarantined because of COVID-19.

However, Ajax Amsterdam youngster Kudus Mohammed was not part of the team as reports suggest he is yet to recover from a minor injury he picked up while playing in the Dutch Eredivise.

Watch Black Stars arrival & COVID-19 test procedure in Cameroon; Ghana FA prez Okraku assures Ghanaians of good performance

The Black Stars touched down in Yaounde, Cameroon on Friday night and had to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 medical check up

Ghana national team arrived in Cameroon on Friday night ahead of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off on Sunday.

The Black Stars arrived with 27-man squad with the exception of Ajax Amsterdam youngster Kudus Mohammed who is still nursing an injury and need last minute clearance to possibly take part of the games in group stage since he will miss the game against Morocco on Monday.

The players were made to undergo the mandatory COVID-19 medical check up at the airport before they left to their hotel.

According to Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku, the Black Stars will put up a good show and make Ghanaians proud.

A group of journalists and supporters left Ghana on early Sunday morning to Cameroon to cover and support the Black Stars respectively.

Black Stars arrive in Cameroon in grand style

The Black Stars touched down in the West African country two days ahead of their first game in the Afcon

Ghana’s contingent arrived in Yaounde, Cameroon on Friday night ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Thomas Partey and Sammy Kuffour

The Black Stars camped in Doha, Qatar for two weeks to fine tune and played one international friendly against Algeria.

Although, the Black Stars lost the friendly game 3-0, head coach Milovan Rajevac believes it was a nice opportunity for him to access his team ahead of the tournament.

Ghana will play their first Group C game against Morocco on Monday before they lock horns with Gabon and later Comoros.

Not Kudus, Partey or Ayew brothers; C.K Akonnor reveals who will be Ghana’s best player at 2021 Afcon

The former Black Stars coach believes the highly rated youngster will take the Africa Cup of Nations by storm when given the opportunity

Former Ghana coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor has tipped youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku to be an instant hit at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.

The 17-year-old has been on top form in Ghana Premier League, scoring five goals and was adjudged the Player of the Month of November.

Fatawu shot to fame last year when he helped the Black Satellites to win 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

“If you get a chance as a youngster. You should be ready. What he did with the U-20 is graduation,” Akonnor told Happy FM.

“When he came to the Black Stars, I integrated him gradually. He stands a big chance to show his talent if he gets the opportunity and I believe he will be the best among the lot,” he added.

Ghana have arrived in Cameroon after holding a two-week training session in Doha, Qatar. They will play their first game of the tournament against Morocco on Monday before facing Gabon and Comoros.

“My time as Ghana coach was always about struggles,” says C.K Akonnor

The former Black Stars boss has revealed that he had a tough time getting players during international break to honour matches

Former Ghana coach C.K Akonnor has lamented on how difficult it was for him to get players to honour games during his time with the Black Stars.

Akonnor, who was sacked in September barely one year into his reign, believes he could have achieved more than he did with the Black Stars.

“You know my time, it was always a struggle when we were inviting players. All I wish most of the time was for us to get the full squad so if we have the full house then it’s good but my time I didn’t get the team as I wanted.” Akonnor told Happy FM.

Akonnor further stressed that it was wrong for AS Roma youngster Felix Afena-Gyan to turn down an opportunity to play for Ghana at the Afcon.

“It depends on what the boy has in mind and what he wants to achieve. But in all fairness, if you get the chance to play for the national team you need to take it in good faith” he said.

“I don’t think he is looking forward to playing for Italy,” he added.

Akonnor was replaced with Milovan Rajevac and the Serbian coach will be leading Ghana at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon next week.

The Black Stars have been handed Group C with North African giants Morocco, Gabon and Comoros.

Caf increases 2021 Afcon prize monies; check what Ghana can get if Black Stars win the title

The Black Stars could be smiling back home from Cameroon should they lift the trophy

Ghana can be $5 million rich should they win 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which will kick off this weekend in Cameroon following Confederation of African Football executive council’s decision to increase the prize monies following a meeting on Friday.

Tje eventual winner for the upcoming tournament will be $5 million rich after the prize money saw an increase of $500,000.

The runner-up will take home $275,000 after it was increased from 250,000 while each Semi-Finalists will receive $2.2 million after it was increased with $200,000.

Ghana, who are searching for their first trophy since 1982, have been paired with Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C.

The Black Stars are expected to land in Cameroon from their training camp in Doha, Qatar and will play their first game on Monday against Morocco

New prize monies:

  • Winner: $5 million (increase of $500K)
  • Runner-up: $2.75 million (an increase of $250K)
  • Semi-Finalists: $2.2 million (an increase of $200K)
  • Quarter-Finalists: $1.175 million (an increase of $175K)

“Ghana cannot win 2021 Afcon trophy,” former striker Tony Yeboah reveals why

The former striker claims the Black Stars will come home empty handed despite huge expectations by Ghanaians to end the trophyless run

Former Ghana striker Tony ‘Yegola’ Yeboah has insisted that the Black will fail in their attempt to win 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which will kick off this weekend in Cameroon.

According to Yeboah, the Black Stars lack quality to challenge the likes of Senegal who are coming to the tournament with stars including Liverpool’s Sadio Mane as well as defending champions Algeria who also have Sadio Mane in their ranks.

The Black Stars have been paired with Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C will play their first game on Monday against Morocco.

“It will be difficult for Ghana to win the AFCON but everything is possible in life, so we should pray behind the team. To me, we cannot win the trophy with this team but anything can happen in football,” Yeboah told Onua TV.

“Senegal and other countries have better players this time around and they are performing well in Europe. We’ve had several good players but we were unable to win the title. I believe if we are able to organize things well, anything can happen,” he added.


Ghana last won the Afcon trophy in 1982 and has since made it to the final of the competition on three occasions – 1992, 2010 and 2015 – but they were eliminated from 2019 edition in round of 16 stage by Tunisia.

Asamoah Gyan lands TV pundit role ahead of 2021 Afcon

The all-time Ghana topscorer will miss the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2008 but he will still appear on our screens as a pundit

Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has been selected as one of the television pundits for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.

The 34-year-old has been ever present at the tournament since bursting onto the scene in 2008.

However, he was not named in Ghana’s squad for the competition by Milovan Rajevac due to his lack of fitness and game time. Gyan failed to impress and was recently offloaded by Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities after just a season with them.

“Excited to be joining @SuperSportTV as a Pundit for their coverage of #AFCON2021 This has been in the works for some time and I am excited about the challenge,” Gyan tweeted.

“Looking forward to sharing my knowledge on Africa’s biggest football gathering together with other legends,” he added.

Supersport also confirmed that Gyan will be among the legends to analyse games for audience throughout the tournament.

Gyan holds the record of one of the three players to have scored at six consecutive Afcons alongside legendary Samuel Eto’o. He scored at 2008 edition, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Although, he was part of the Black Stars squad at the 2019 edition, he could not find his name on the score sheet.

Ghana, who are currently having their preparations in Doha, Qatar will play their first game of the competition against Morocco on Monday.

They will then face Gabon and Comoros respectively in the subsequent games.

Video: Jordan Ayew & Kofi Kyereh train alone as Black Stars learn new tactics after Algeria defeat

The Black Stars went back to training to fine tune ahead of the upcoming Afcon and the Serbian coach took them through new tactics and formations

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac took the Black Stars through new tactics and formations following the 3-0 drubbing by Algeria in the international friendly game on Wednesday.

With Ghana hoping to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon next week, Milovan stepped up his preparations with new tactics and formations which he believes will help the team to achieve their aims at the tournament.

The defeat to Algeria, although very painful, has given Milovan a fair idea of what he should expect against Morocco on Monday.

As a result, the Black Stars were taken through series of training to be able to match the North Africans in order to have a good start at the tournament.

However, Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew and St. Pauli midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh could not begin the training session with their teammates as they are reportedly having some injury concerns.

The duo went through a different training and they are expected to join their teammates on Friday at training when the Black Stars hold their final session in Doha, Qatar before they leave to Cameroon.

Dreams FC youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku who picked up an injury in the game against Algeria is responding to treatment and could be match ready for the game against Morocco.

https://youtu.be/jVBMkoqUy8Y

Milovan Rajevac reveals why Ghana may not win 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

The Serbian believes he did not have enough time to work on his preferred tactics and formations with the players

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has been fuming over the past few days following what he believes is a bad preparation due to FIFA’s new directives to allow players join their respective countries on seven days to 2021 Africa Cup of Nations kick off.

According to the Serbian, that decision has hindered his plans as he is now left with few days to go through the tactics and formations he intends to adopt at the tournament.

“Unfortunately this decision from FIFA to allow players to stay in their clubs in this period affected our plans for the preparation since most of the time we didn’t have many players to work with,” Milovan told GFA’s media.

“During many training sessions we had seven or eight players and three goalkeepers so it’s very difficult to do some tactical work to prepare the team the way we planned in the beginning.

“Even today we had like 13 players and 4 goalkeepers. Tonight few of them will arrive so definitely it affected but it affected the other teams as well. So this was not a usual preparation for a big competition because usual preparation you have two weeks to work with the full team.

“This was totally different. Let’s hope that everything will be okay at the tournament. We’re gathering, we have a good atmosphere so let’s hope everything will be okay,” he added.

Ghana, who are chasing their first major trophy since winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982, were humiliated 3-0 by Algeria in a friendly on Wednesday at the Education Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The Black Stars will play their first game of the Afcon on Monday against Morocco before they take on Gabon four days later.