It is what one would typically call -- in clichéd sporting parlance -- a 'do-or-die' few days for Ghana's football team as they take on Congo in two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Between Friday and next Tuesday, Ghana's dream of a fourth straight World Cup appearance could receive a significant boost, or their road to Russia could be dead at the halfway stage.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will officially open the National Sports Festival at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi tomorrow.
The momentum for the games, being held for the first time in six years, began gathering yesterday with over 2,500 athletes warming up to compete for honours in 12 disciplines.
Black Stars B coach, Maxwell Konadu, has reshuffled his squad with the announcement of 25 players to prepare for the upcoming WAFU Tournament to be hosted by Ghana from September 9-24.
The new-look team, featuring a blend of old and new players, began camping in Takoradi yesterday ahead of the kick-off of the sub-continental tournament next weekend.
The Black Stars of Ghana will seek to maintain their dominance over their Congolese counterpart in today’s Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Per the head-to-head record between the two countries since 1965, Ghana has won 10 out of 12 games as against one by the Congolese (in a friendly in Brazzaville on March 31, 1967), and one draw, making the the Stars the overwhelming favourites in the game which kicks off at 3.30p.m.
The Black Stars have taken their destiny into their own hands, vowing to go all out to ensure qualification to the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup following Uganda’s 1-0 win over Egypt in Kampala yesterday.
The vital home win by the Cranes of Uganda shot them to the top of Group E and threw the race for the single slot wide open, reviving the Stars’ hopes of a possible qualification to their fourth successive Mundial despite the poor start.
The National Sports Authority (NSA), organisers of the revived National Sports Festival, has received donations from three corporate entities to ensure a successful organisation of this year's games which start tomorrow in Kumasi.
Representatives of Shalina Healthcare Ghana Limited, Goil Energy and Elsayus Cleaning Services presented various items towards the event at a short ceremony held at the Media Centre of the Accra Sports Stadium.
Accra Hearts of Oak skipper, Thomas Abbey, is livid about Referee Prince Amoah’s indecision which denied the Phobians an obvious penalty in their Week 26 league top liner against Aduana Stars which ended 3-3 at the Accra Stadium last Wednesday.
According to him, the beautiful game is gradually losing its value due to poor officiating. He, therefore, appealed to the organisers of the league to put the necessary measures in place, especially in the refereeing department, to avert any unfortunate incident in the future.
At age 21, Ghanaian left back Lumor Agbenyenu could be handed his fourth cap for the national team against Congo today after he was discovered by Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah.
The talented defender started his career from the Kasoa-based Unistar Academy before leaving for Europe in 2014 to join Portuguese giants FC Porto where he helped the junior side to win the junior league.
Accra Hearts of Oak fought from behind to share honours with league leaders, Aduana Stars, in a six-goal thriller that ended in multiple drama at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 3-3 draw ensured Aduana kept their position on top of the log after title chasers WAFA were held to a scoreless draw by Accra Great Olympics at Sogakope, with Hearts remaining in third position. But it was poor officiating by referee Prince Amoah that became the major talking point as he had to leave the pitch under heavy security escort to escape the fury of Hearts fans who felt undone by some decisions by the referee.
Lorient striker Waris Majeed is currently in London for talks with West Ham over a move to the London Stadium before tomorrow’s transfer deadline.
With Diafra Sakho on the verge of joining Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, West Ham are considering a number of options to replace the outgoing striker at the club.
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal after turning down a move to Chelsea this week in favour of joining Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The fee is understood to be £40m and Oxlade-Chamberlain will undergo a medical at St Georges’ Park where he is currently on international duty with England.
The 2014 winner of the Man Ghana Championship, John Anum alias Agogo has confirmed that he will make a return to the 2017 edition of the nation's flagship bodybuilding competition slated for September 23 at the Osu Presby Hall in Accra.
According to Agogo, he is excited to return to the country from his base in Canada to test his skills against the finest bodybuilders on the local scene.
Accra Hearts of Oak striker, Cosmos Dauda, has described today's Premier League clash with Aduana Stars in Accra as the determiner for their title challenge.
Dauda, who has endured a quiet campaign with Hearts this term, said the Phobians were keen on beating the league leaders today to throw the race for the title wide open, with just four games to end the season.
Ghana’s Black Stars were hit by a blow yesterday when young enterprising striker, Raphael Dwamena, was ruled out of Friday’s crucial FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier against Congo at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
The gangling striker, who crowned an impressive debut with a goal against Ethiopia last June, was key in Coach Kwasi Appiah’s plans till fate closed his chapter for the double-header against Congo this Friday and next Wednesday in Brazzaville.
