Asante Kotoko has officially ended its contract with forward Abdul Fatawu Safiu due to health-related reasons.
The termination comes after the club conducted a pre-competition medical assessment, as mandated by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and identified underlying health issues during further tests.
The club entered into an employment agreement with Safiu three weeks ago, meeting registration deadlines set by the GFA.
However, subsequent medical evaluations by the club's medical team revealed conditions that could potentially sideline the player for an extended period.
In light of this information, Asante Kotoko, after considering the welfare of both the club and the player, concluded that continuing the employment contract would not be in the best interest of either party.
The specific details of Safiu's medical condition have been communicated to the player.
Additionally, the GFA has rejected Fatawu's registration, further influencing the club's decision to terminate the relationship.
Asante Kotoko wishes Abdul Fatawu Safiu the best for the future, emphasizing that he remains part of the club family and is welcome to contribute in any capacity in the future.
The Ghanaian endured a bitter evening at Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium, as he was given the marching order after a bad challenge.
Former President of Ghana and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has offered a pathway to revive the country's football following the Black Stars' abysmal display at AFCON 2023.
According to the ex-president, his next government will join forces with the Ghana Football Association to build a team that will have a core from the domestic league.
He also mentioned the desire to nurture homegrown players and offer them to the right local clubs to ensure they have the right exposure before travelling abroad.
"We just came from the Africa Cup of Nations and we performed abysmally and disastrously," he said.
"We performed abysmally because we are not growing our football and so we are going to work with the Ghana Football Association to start catching them young so that we can train them and give them to local teams to gain experience before if they want to travel abroad they can travel," he added.
John Mahama believes the right balance between homegrown players and foreign-based players will help build a strong national team.
"We will build the new Black Stars based on homegrown players. Domestic players who have trained together for a long time and work as a team and then we will bring the foreign players to come and blend with them," he continued.
"If you bring only foreign players, they don't play together and play in their individual teams and then when it's time for competition and tell them to come and play, it won't work. The core of the Black Stars must be made of domestic players.
"We are going to overhaul Ghana football in collaboration with the Football Association."
Ghanaian international, Michael Baidoo was on fire for Elfsborg having netted a brace in their 4-5 defeat to FC Copenhagen at the Estadio Algarve over the weekend.
Amir Abdou, the head coach of the Mauritanian National Men’s Football Team, has emerged as a prospective candidate to fill the vacancy left by Chris Hughton as the head coach of the Black Stars, according to reports from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Mauritania football expert Lassana Camara revealed that Abdou's impressive performance with Mauritania at the 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire has garnered attention beyond Ghana.
Under Abdou's guidance, Mauritania secured their first-ever AFCON win and advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in the nation's history.
Abdou's coaching prowess has not gone unnoticed, with Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Cote D’Ivoire also expressing interest in securing his services.
This isn't Abdou's first success on the continental stage, as he previously guided Comoros to the round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON, marking a historic achievement for the island country. Notably, Comoros secured a memorable 3-2 victory over Ghana during the group stage of that tournament.
Ghana's recent disappointment at the 2023 AFCON, where they failed to secure a victory against Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Egypt, has prompted a coaching change.
Chris Hughton was relieved of his duties, leading to the establishment of a five-man committee tasked with appointing a new head coach for the Black Stars within 21 days.
Ghanaian youngster Henry Addo is on the verge of completing a transfer from MSK Zilina to Maccabi Tel Aviv in a deal valued at around €900k.
The promising winger, also adept as a centre-forward, has garnered attention from Maccabi Tel Aviv scouts, who recognize his potential as a valuable asset for their team.
Henry Addo's stellar season with the Slovakian club has been a key factor in attracting interest, marked by consistent and impressive performances. In 20 appearances, primarily as a substitute, the 17-year-old contributed seven goals and five assists, showcasing his prowess on the field.
His football journey began at Zilina Africa, a project initiated by the Slovakian club known for nurturing talented players from Ghana. The success at MSK Zilina has set the stage for Addo's significant move to Maccabi Tel Aviv, known for their commitment to developing young talent.
Maccabi Tel Aviv's reputation for cultivating emerging players suggests that Addo will benefit from the club's resources and expertise.
With his combination of speed, skill, and determination, the Ghanaian teenager holds the potential to not only contribute to the team's success but also emerge as a standout player in the future.
