Ghana missed out on a ticket to next year’s Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) tournament slated for Rwanda after the local Black Stars lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the return leg of their last qualifying tie last Friday. They crashed out on the away goal’s rule.

The Stars went into the return leg in Abidjan with a 2-1 advantage but paid for allowing their Ivorian opponents to score in the first leg in Kumasi, as Maxwell Konadu’s charges exited the qualifying competition after a 2-2 aggregate which saw the Elephants advance to the final tonourmant on the away goal’s rule.

It is the first time Ghana would be missing out in the competition after losing out in the grand finale to DR Congo in the maiden edition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.

Midfielder Eric Opoku last Friday put the icing on Ashantigold’s dominance at the 10th PLB Awards by lifting the flagship

Footballer of the Season award, prompting a $1,000 offer from Mr Ernest Thompson who chaired the function.
Opoku, who led Ashantigold to their fourth league title this season, beat off strong opposition from Wa All Stars goalkeeper

Richard Ofori and Kofi Owusu who won the Best Goalkeeper and Goal King awards respectively.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has confirmed the return of the annual SWAG/H.P. Nyemitei Cup this month after its headline sponsor, SIC Insurance Company, fulfilled its pledge to ensure the revival of the prestigious competition.

Last Friday, SIC Insurance and SWAG signed a sponsorship agreement at a ceremony at the company’s head office (Nyemitei House) in Accra at which the acting Managing Director of SIC Insurance, Kwei Mensah Ashidam, announced that his outfit was determined to ensure not only a revival of the Nyemitei-SWAG Cup match to honour the late Henry Plange Nyemitei, but also use it as an opportunity to deepen its partnership with SWAG to help revive local football.

Ashantigold midfielder, Eric Opoku, was the unsung hero at the 2014/15 PLB Awards after being crowned the Footballer of the Season to complete the Miners’ haul at the impressive ceremony at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel last Friday.

The combative Opoku defied stiff competition from the Goalkeeper of the Season, Richard Ofori of Wa All Stars, and Goal King Kofi Owusu of Berekum Chelsea fame, to grab the enviable prize and a $1,000 top-up from the chairman of the occasion, Mr Ernest Thompson.

It was an emotional spectacle to behold when the overwhelmed Opoku mounted the stage to be decorated by the Guest of Honour, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman-Badu II, Mr Thompson, PLB chairman Welbeck Abra-Appiah and GFA Executive Committee member, George Afriyie.

Footballers are noted for their luxurious lifestyle and Nigerian star, Mikel Obi, is one of such players who could be described as living his dreams to the fullest.

From a well-manicured lawn outside the building to the interior of the mansion awashed with state-of-the-art gadgets, living in that house will make one feel like a royal.

The Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman-Badu II, has tasked the Ministry of Youth and Sports to address the remuneration of athletes and sporting officials with dispatch to end the rampant bonus rows in recent times.

He also urged the Ministry to re-orient Ghanaian athletes to appreciate the significance of wearing the national colours at international competitions. “There is an urgent need to address the remuneration and bonus of our athletes and sporting personnel.

Ghana missed out on a ticket to next year’s Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN)  tournament slated for Rwanda after the local Black Stars lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the return leg of their last qualifying tie last Friday to crash out on the away goal’s rule.

The Stars went into the return leg in Abidjan with a 2-1 advantage but paid for allowing their Ivorian opponents to score in the first leg in Kumasi, as Maxwell Konadu’s charges exited the qualifying competition after a 2-2 aggregate, which saw the Elephants advance to the final tonourmant on the away goal’s rule.

The CIMG Telecommunication Company of the Year, Vodafone Ghana, yesterday marked the Global Wellbeing Month with fun games for its staff members at the Burma Camp Leisure Centre in Accra .

According to the  Director of Human Resource at Vodafone Ghana, Mrs Stella Agyenim-Boateng, the games, dubbed “Business Fusion”, were intended  to motivate and improve bonding among staff members.

Members of Ghana's victorious 1965 (Africa Cup of Nations) AFCON squad yesterday paid a courtesy call on former President John Agyekum Kufuor to formally invite him to their Golden Jubilee celebration.

The delegation, which called on the former President at his residence in Accra, comprised Reverend Osei Kofi, Reverend Kofi Pare, Wilberforce Mfum, John Bortey Naawu, Dodoo Ankrah, as well as officials of the Despite Group of Companies.

FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, is appealing against his 90-day ban from football's world governing body.  The 79-year-old Swiss has been suspended from all duties while FIFA's ethics committee investigates corruption claims against its leader.

He was suspended last Thursday along with secretary general, Jerome Valcke and vice-president, Michel Platini.

The Ghana midfielder looks set to leave Schalke and move back to Serie A, it's a move that could suit all involved

Reports in Italy on Tuesday indicate that Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the brink of ending his miserable stay at Schalke 04 and securing a return to former club AC Milan.

Aston Villa will pay what is necessary to bring Remi Garde and his backroom team to the club, according to caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald.
Former Olympique Lyonnais boss Garde is the bookies' favourite tosucceed Tim Sherwood who was sacked on Sunday.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza beat twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 4-6 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Muguruza, 22, topped her group with a 100% record to set up a last-four tie with Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.

The under-siege Chelsea manager has a poor record against Saturday's opponent as he looks to salvage a disastrous start to the season for the defending Premier League champions.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has dismissed criticism by former player Paul Scholes of his team's style of play, saying "sticks and stones will break my bones, names won't hurt me".
Ex-midfielder Scholes, who played 718 games for United, said he "would not enjoy" playing for Van Gaal and there was "a lack of creativity and risk".