Real Madrid’s rising star, Jude Bellingham, has commended Black Stars head coach Otto Addo for his influential role in nurturing young players during their time together at Borussia Dortmund.
Players from the senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, have started arriving as they prepare for next week’s international friendly against Japan. Head coach Nora Hauptle has named a squad of 33 players for the match, scheduled to take place on July 13 at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium in Tokyo.
Among the early arrivals are England-based players Freda Ayisi, Princella Adubea, and Bridget Adu, who have joined their teammates for the training camp. The team will train in Ghana for a few days before traveling to Japan for the friendly.
This upcoming match serves as preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, following the Black Queens' successful qualification for the tournament in Morocco. The friendly also provides a valuable opportunity for the team to sharpen their skills ahead of the competition.
Japan is also in the midst of preparations for the Olympic Games, a spot Ghana narrowly missed after losing to Zambia in the qualifiers. The match marks Ghana’s return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a six-year absence.
Ghanaian legend Asamoah Gyan has acknowledged that moving to the Chinese Super League was a challenging decision. After a stellar period with Al Ain in the UAE, Gyan joined Shanghai SIPG in July 2015 on a two-year deal, earning a weekly salary of £227,000.
In an interview with Wontumi Radio, the 39-year-old revealed the difficulty of the move but shared that consulting with his family led to a collective decision that it was the right career step. "It was a difficult decision for me, but I spoke to everyone around me, and we decided it was the best move for me," he said.
"Luckily, it turned out well for me, and we have managed to establish companies that are employing Ghanaians," he added. Gyan, who also played for Liberty Professionals, Stade Rennes, Udinese, and Sunderland, went on to play for Kayserispor, North East United, and Legon Cities before retiring in June 2023.
He remains Ghana's all-time leading goalscorer with 51 goals and holds the record as Africa's highest goalscorer in World Cup history.
The Black Stars of Ghana will learn their group opponents for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The 35th edition of the tournament will be hosted by Morocco, taking place between December 2025 and January 2026.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the draw will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The qualifying series, set to begin in September 2024, will determine the top 24 nations from the 48 teams competing for Africa’s premier football event.
Ghana will be aiming for a favorable draw to secure their place in the tournament in the North African country. The Black Stars are eager to improve their recent performance, having suffered back-to-back exits in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
With a rich history in the tournament, Ghana has won the AFCON trophy four times, with their last victory in 1982 in Libya. The team and its supporters are hopeful for a strong showing in the upcoming qualifiers and a successful campaign in Morocco.
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has spoken out about the decline in form of goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad, who was once hailed as one of the best in the Ghana Premier League.
Danlad's experience at the 2022 World Cup seemed to have a detrimental effect on his performance, both at the club and national team levels.
Despite his promising start, Danlad struggled to maintain his position as the first-choice goalkeeper for Asante Kotoko over the past two seasons, eventually losing his spot to Frederick Asare. This downturn in form culminated in his departure from the club, bringing an end to an eight-year association with the Porcupine Warriors.
Gyan, reflecting on Danlad's journey, remains optimistic about the 21-year-old's future. He believes Danlad has the potential to replicate the success that earned him national team call-ups, including a spot in the Black Stars squad for the 2022 World Cup. In an interview with Wontumi Radio, Gyan offered words of encouragement to the young goalkeeper.
"It's clear to everyone that your form declined since you returned from the World Cup," Gyan said. "Remember all the things that helped you to be successful during your loan spells and becoming the number one at Asante Kotoko. You are still young, and you can achieve more than you have over the years. The sky is your limit."
Former Ghana international, Baffour Gyan, has advised former Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Danlad Ibrahim, to focus on securing a move abroad after leaving the Porcupine Warriors.
