Sport - Ghana Education News

Ghana Spent $3 Million At The Afcon Despite Exiting Early

February 24, 2024February 14, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

Mustapha Ussif, Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, has disclosed that approximately $3 million was spent at the AFCON 2023 tournament, despite the premature exit of the Black Stars from the competition.

The initial budget allocated for the tournament amounted to $8.5 million, with $5 million being disbursed by the Finance Ministry to cover various expenses including per diems, flight arrangements, medical provisions, equipment procurement, logistical requirements, and hospitality services.

However, owing to the underperformance of the national team, which resulted in their elimination at the group stage, a surplus of $2 million remained unutilized.

Ussif elucidated further during his address to Parliament, stating, “Our estimated budget for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament was $8,506,450.00, encompassing the team’s pre-tournament preparations and the subsequent tournament phases.” Out of this amount, $5,071,840.36 was released by the Ministry of Finance, of which $3,070,067.81 was expended on various aforementioned necessities.

The surplus of $2,001,772.55, as Ussif clarified, arose post the team’s elimination from the competition.

Moreover, the ministry also received a supplementary contribution of $400,000 from MTN Ghana, which bolstered the government’s financial outlay for the tournament.

Addressing speculations surrounding purported payments of $30,000 to each Black Stars player before their final Group B fixture against Mozambique, Ussif debunked such claims, affirming that no such disbursements were made due to the team’s failure to progress to the subsequent round. This strategic decision aimed to incentivize improved performance from the players, while ensuring prudent management of the country’s resources.

Regrettably, the Black Stars’ campaign in Ivory Coast concluded without a single victory, with defeats against Cape Verde (1-2) and a draw with both Egypt and Mozambique (2-2 each). Their third-place finish with two points proved insufficient to secure advancement in the tournament.

The disclosure sheds light on the financial intricacies and management strategies employed during Ghana’s participation in AFCON 2023, underscoring the challenges and decisions faced amidst sporting endeavors of national significance.

Save Ghana Football Demonstration Begins Today

February 24, 2024February 14, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

On the 14th of February, traditionally celebrated as Saint Valentine’s Day. However, there will be demonstration dubbed ‘Save Ghana Football’.

Usually, on 14th February, people worldwide express their affection for their loved ones through various romantic gestures. This includes activities such as watching romantic movies, attending gigs, and listening to love-themed songs. Some popular romantic tunes mentioned include ‘Heaven’ by Bryan Adams, ‘When A Man Loves a Woman’ by Michael Bolton, ‘Telephone Nkomo’ by Mike Gyamfi, and ‘Tena Me Nkyen’ by Papa Yankson featuring Paulina.

However, in Accra, Ghana, the mood is different as sports journalists take to the streets to voice their discontent with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Sports Ministry. They believe these institutions have failed in their responsibility to develop sports in the country. Despite Valentine’s Day being a day of love, these journalists are prioritizing the need for accountability and improvement in Ghana’s sports sector.

Among the concerns raised are the poor performance of Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, in recent African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments. Additionally, there’s distress over the decline of juvenile football, with teams representing Ghana in age-specific categories like U-17, U-20, and U-23 not making significant appearances on the international stage.

Furthermore, there’s frustration over the lack of suitable venues in Ghana to host international competitions, as per the standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA. This deficiency reflects poorly on the country’s ability to host and organize major sporting events.

Another pressing issue is the alleged bribery and corruption within the management of the Black Stars. Reports suggest that some members received substantial sums of money during the 2023 AFCON tournament, raising concerns about financial mismanagement and unethical conduct within the football association.

The protests aim to draw attention to these issues and demand a change in the prevailing attitudes towards nepotism, bribery, corruption, and undue interference in sports administration. Despite the challenges ahead, there is optimism that the collective efforts of Ghanaian citizens, including journalists and sports enthusiasts, will pave the way for the revival and rejuvenation of Ghanaian football.

List Of Records Broken At The 2023 Afcon

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)in Cote d’Ivoire witnessed numerous record-breaking moments. They include the following;

1. Youssef Msakni (Tunisia) and André Ayew (Ghana) made their 8th appearances, tying with Rigobert Song (Cameroon) and Ahmed Hassan (Egypt).

2. André Ayew (Ghana) equaled Rigobert Song’s record for the most matches played in the Africa Cup of Nations – 36.

3. Oumar Diakité (Ivory Coast) joined Brighton Sinyangwe (Zambia) and Jaouad Zairri (Morocco) for the latest goal scored, netting in the 120th minute against Mali.

4. Ivory Coast ended the streak of host countries not winning the Africa Cup of Nations since 2006, with Egypt being the last hosting nation to win.

5. Nigeria, after securing 2nd place, extended its record for the most medals won (gold, silver, and bronze), tallying 16 in total. Egypt (13 medals) and Ghana (10 medals) followed.

6. Nigeria also tied Ghana for the most silver medals, securing their 5th.

7. Egypt extended its record for the most overall appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, marking their 26th participation.

8. Tunisia extended its streak for most consecutive appearances, making their 16th consecutive appearance in the tournament.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, abbreviated as the 2023 AFCON or CAN 2023 and officially known as the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to sponsorship, marked the 34th installment of the biennial African football championship organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ivory Coast had the honor of hosting the tournament, marking its second time hosting after the 1984 edition.

Originally scheduled to be the third edition held during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer since 2019, with the aim of reducing scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions, the event underwent a significant alteration. On July 3, 2022, CAF decided to postpone the tournament to January 13 – February 11, 2024, due to concerns regarding the summer weather conditions in Ivory Coast. Despite the shift in timing, the tournament retained its original name for sponsorship reasons. This decision mirrored the move made for the 2021 edition in Cameroon, which was also shifted to the Northern Hemisphere’s winter season due to similar concerns, compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the CAF calendar.

Senegal entered the tournament as defending champions; however, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by the host nation, Ivory Coast. Subsequently, Ivory Coast emerged victorious, clinching the championship by defeating Nigeria 2–1 in the final match played on home soil, securing their third Africa Cup of Nations title.

AFCON 2023: List Of Players That Won Individual Prizes

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Mr. No-Body

On Sunday night, the 2023 African Cup of Nations was concluded with a thrilling come-from-behind victory for home nation Ivory Coast over Nigeria, 2-1. William Troost-Ekong scored the first goal. Sebastien Haller scored the winning goal to give Ivory Coast the trophy after Franck Kessie tied the game. The complete roster of players who received individual awards due to Nwabali’s elimination is as follows.

Best AFCON Player

After an outstanding performance that saw him conclude the tournament with three goals—the most ever scored by a defender—Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong was awarded the tournament’s best player. The specialists in the field of football agreed that it was justified.

Best AFCON Goalkeeper

After a sensational performance in the penalty shootout in both the quarterfinals and the battle for third place, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams beat off Nigerian Stanley Nwabali to earn the title of best goalkeeper.

Also read

https://ghanaeducation.org/footballers-stunned-after-player-is-struck-by-lightning-and-killed-in-the-middle-of-a-match/

AFCON Boot of Gold

Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea was named the tournament’s top scorer and the recipient of the Puma Golden Boot award. What he accomplished will bring him joy.

Social media reaction

Congrats to them all especially our own Troost Ekong. For a defender to win the best player of afcon or any football tournament is not an easy achievement. Well done Troost and more wins in future.

thank God we done, we can now face the fulani trying to wipe out Benue populace. now shettima doesn’t need to remove his clothes. just move straight to the villages in Benue.

Imagine Nsue, in his 30s playing for a national division in Spain edging our a list strickers to clinch d golden boot. What a shame

some player need rest in that match,you need to change some player in that match

I wonder how south African keeper became d best keeper,this CAF is corrupt. But truth be told.

When is the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations? Date, Teams And Host Nation

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

When is the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations? This question has been answered in this article. We will also find out the teams and host nation for the tournament.

The upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for 2025, will be hosted by Morocco, marking the country’s second time staging the finals. Morocco previously served as the host nation for the AFCON in 1988. Originally slated to host again in 2015, Morocco relinquished its hosting duties due to concerns surrounding the Ebola virus outbreak, leading to the relocation of the tournament to Equatorial Guinea.

In contrast to previous editions, the 2025 finals are expected to take place during June and July, coinciding with the summer months in the northern hemisphere. This scheduling shift is intended to avoid complications with the rainy season, as was experienced during the 2023 event held in the Ivory Coast. The 2023 tournament was rescheduled to early 2024 to circumvent weather-related issues. However, hosting the AFCON in June and July is generally preferred as it minimizes conflicts with major club competitions in Europe.

Initially, Guinea was selected as the host nation for the 2025 AFCON. However, due to concerns regarding their preparations for the tournament, Guinea was stripped of its hosting rights. Following a new vote in September 2023, Morocco was chosen as the replacement host for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The bids for the 2025 finals came from Algeria, Morocco, Zambia, and a joint bid by Benin and Nigeria. Meanwhile, the 2027 AFCON bids included Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, and a collaborative effort from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. CAF conducted comprehensive evaluations, including on-site inspections by assessment teams and an independent assessor, but the ultimate choice rests with the CAF Executive Committee.

Over the past decade, the history of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations has seen various challenges and changes. South Africa replaced war-torn Libya in 2013, Cameroon’s readiness was questioned in 2019 leading to Egypt’s hosting, and Cameroon successfully hosted the delayed 2021 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, Cote d’Ivoire’s 2023 Afcon was postponed by six months due to concerns about the rainy season in West Africa.

Footballers Stunned After Player Is Struck By Lightning And Killed In The Middle Of A Match

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Mr. No-Body

Tragically, a lightning bolt struck and killed a footballer in Indonesia on Saturday afternoon while he was playing the game. Upon the 34-year-old male victim’s fall at Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung, West Java, horrifying footage caught the precise moment. While playing with 2 FLO FC Bandung, he was in a friendly match against FBI Subang. Details are provided by regional news outlets. The man was brought to a nearby hospital after the incident and was still alive, according to PRFM News, but he passed away shortly after. Football fans and players have taken to social media to express their sorrow over the horrific video clip, which has gone viral.

RIP to the player,’ remarked one X user. What I dream about most is this. According to another writer, “I lived through the San Francisco ‘Quake of ’89” that ended game 3 of the Baseball World Series. No, that’s terrible. My deepest sympathies,’ said a third. I believe it says in the FIFA handbook that referees should always keep an eye on the weather. Because of this same reason, I’m not sure whether that was even feasible or if there was a reference for it. Throughout the world, FIFA and referee associations will see this video. This unfortunate tragedy is the second occurrence of a lightning strike on an Indonesian footballer in the past twelve months.

During the 2023 Soeratin U-13 Cup, a lightning strike injured a young football player from Bojonegoro, East Java. The footballer was quickly removed from the field and transported to Bojonegoro’s Ibnu Sina Hospital for treatment after suffering a heart arrest. The child was brought back to consciousness after about 20 minutes of medical intervention. Lightning also struck a Brazilian player in 2023, this one aged 21. The incident occurred on the field in Brazil. During a cup game for his Uniao Jaiirense team in the southern state of Parana, Caio Henrique de Lima Goncalves, 21, was startled by a lightning strike. He passed away from his injuries after being taken to the hospital in a hurry following his collapse on the field. The lightning bolt also injured six other players, who had to spend time in the hospital following the incident.

Check out the video below

https://twitter.com/githii/status/1756606815033282759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1756606815033282759%7Ctwgr%5Ede5f23a52322edaf5e6a112cb13d29bda963fb02%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-af.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2Fb93581897166eb30558de89808001569

Africa Cup Of Nations Winners

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

Ivory Coast beats Nigeria 2-1 to win 2023 AFCON

Ivory Coast became Africa Cup of Nations champions for the third time as they won the 2023 tournament. Here is the list of all winners since the tournament’s inception

Africa Cup of Nations
year	winner	runner-up
2023 – Winner – Cote D’Ivoire Runner Up – Nigeria

1957	Egypt	Ethiopia
1959	Egypt	Sudan
1962	Ethiopia	Egypt
1963	Ghana	Sudan
1965	Ghana	Tunisia
1968	Congo (Kinshasa)	Ghana
1970	Sudan	Ghana
1972	Congo (Brazzaville)	Mali
1974	Zaire	Zambia
1976	Morocco	Guinea
1978	Ghana	Uganda
1980	Nigeria	Algeria
1982	Ghana	Libya
1984	Cameroon	Nigeria
1986	Egypt	Cameroon
1988	Cameroon	Nigeria
1990	Algeria	Nigeria
1992	Côte d’Ivoire	Ghana
1994	Nigeria	Zambia
1996	South Africa	Tunisia
1998	Egypt	South Africa
2000	Cameroon	Nigeria
2002	Cameroon	Senegal
2004	Tunisia	Morocco
2006	Egypt	Côte d’Ivoire
2008	Egypt	Cameroon
2010	Egypt	Ghana
2012	Zambia	Côte d’Ivoire
2013*	Nigeria	Burkina Faso
2015	Côte d’Ivoire	Ghana
2017	Cameroon	Egypt
2019	Algeria	Senegal
2021	Senegal	Egypt

Ivory Coast became Africa Cup of Nations champions for the third time as they won a remarkable tournament on home soil in February 2024.

The Elephants fought from a goal down in the final in Abidjan to defeat Nigeria 2-1, Sebastien Haller scoring the winning goal less than two years on from a diagnosis of testicular cancer that put his professional career under threat.

Egypt have been the dominant nation in Africa Cup of Nations history with The Pharaohs winning seven titles including the first edition of the competition back in 1957.

Six other nations have won the trophy more than once with an overall total of 15 winners of the tournament.

Rank	Nation	AFCON titles	Years won
1.	Egypt	7	1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
2.	Cameroon	5	1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
3.	Ghana	4	1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
4.	Ivory Coast	3	1992, 2015, 2023
=	Nigeria	3	1980, 1994, 2013
=	Algeria	2	1990, 2019
=	DR Congo	2	1968, 1974
8.	Zambia	1	2012
=	Tunisia	1	2004
=	Sudan	1	1970
=	Senegal	1	2021
=	Ethiopia	1	1962
=	Morocco	1	1976
=	South Africa	1	1996
=	Congo	1	1972

In the first tournament in 1957, there were only three participating nations: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. South Africa was originally scheduled to join, but was disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power.[4] Since then, the tournament has expanded greatly, making it necessary to hold a qualifying tournament. The number of participants in the final tournament reached 16 in 1998 (16 teams were to compete in 1996, but Nigeria withdrew, reducing the field to 15, and the same happened with Togo’s withdrawal in 2010), and until 2017, the format had been unchanged, with the 16 teams being drawn into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams of each group advancing to a “knock-out” stage. On 20 July 2017, the Africa Cup of Nations was moved from January to June and expanded from 16 to 24 teams

AFCON 2023 Full List Of Award Winners

February 24, 2024February 12, 2024 by Rexford Dede Baah-Nyarkoh

The 2023 African Cup of Nations came to an end on Sunday, 11th February, 2024 after Cote D’Ivoire beats Nigeria 2:1. After the tournament, awards were presented to some key players for their extraordinary performance. Here is the list of award winners.

Ecobank Best Goalkeeper

Ronwen Williams – South Africa

Air Côte d’Ivoire Fair Play Team award

South Africa

Puma Golden Boot winner

Emilio Nsue – Equatorial Guinea (5 goals)

Puma Silver Boot winner

Gelson Dala – Angola (4 goals)

Puma Bronze boot winner

Mostafa Mohamed – Egypt (4 goals)

TotalEnergies Man of the competition

William Troost-EkongWilliam Troost-Ekong – Nigeria

Best Young Player award

Simon Adingra – Ivory CoastB

Best Coach award

Emerse Faé – Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast beats Nigeria 2-1 to win 2023 AFCON

February 24, 2024February 11, 2024 by Ghana Education News Editorial Team

Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 to win the 2023 AFCON in a dramatic final and win their third AFCON trophy. Ivory Coast went a goal down in the 38th minute but came back strongly to score two goals to beat the most-fancied Nigeria 2-1.

The Elephants of La Côte d’Ivoire have won the 34th edition of the coveted African Cup of Nations by beating the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the finals.

Ivory Coast made it to the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament after they lost their second and third group games at the group stage.

How Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 to win 2023 AFCON

Despite Nigeria taking the lead in the 38th minute of the game, Ivory Coast equalised in the 62nd minute before adding the winning goal in the 81st minute of regular time.

Ivory Coast has joined other nations that hosted and won the tournament, such as South Africa. This is the first time Ivory Coast has won the AFCON trophy in open play; their first and second wins in the 1992 and 2015 finals against Ghana were after penalties.

Nigeria took the lead in the 38th minute. Nigeria’s goal came through William Troost-Ekong, while Ivory Coast scored through Franck Kessie and Sebastian Haller.

When Ivory Coast came back on level pegging in the 62nd minute, they proved their character; they have always come from a goal down in their last two matches to win. They stung Nigeria in the 81st minute with the winning goal from Hallar.

In the end, Nigeria’s dreams of winning their fourth AFCON were dashed by the Ivorians, who won their third AFCON in a 2-1 thriller in front of their home fans.

The match on Sunday, February 11, 2024, concluded the 2023 AFCON tournament, which commenced on January 10, 2024.

Ancelotti Suggests Real Madrid Doesn’t Need Kylian Mbappe

February 24, 2024February 11, 2024 by Sheriff Willy

Ancelotti Suggests Real Madrid Doesn't Need Mbappe

Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that Real Madrid may not need to sign Kylian Mbappe, amid intense speculation about the Paris Saint-Germain superstar.
Carlo Ancelotti suggests that Real Madrid does not require Kylian Mbappe because they already have ‘the greatest six players in the world’.

Ancelotti plays down links with PSG ace
Real linked with blockbuster free transfer
Mbappe already a world icon

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Ancelotti plays down links with PSG ace

WHAT HAPPENED?

After seeing his side beat second-placed Girona 4-0 on Saturday, Ancelotti was quizzed on the prospect of Mbappe moving to the Bernabeu at the end of the season in a blockbuster free transfer. Real have consistently been linked with the World Cup winner and reports have previously suggested that Mbappe has already decided to make the move to Spain.

READ: Free SHS is expensive – Parents bemoan as over 137,000 students fail to report to school due to lack of funds

Real linked with blockbuster free transfer

What Ancelotti said
Ancelotti stated in a press conference, “You keep asking about a player who plays for another team.”

He continued, “We already have the world’s top players here. Vini Jr. came in first, followed by Bellingham and Rodrygo. Then Kroos, Valverde, and Camavinga…

Mbappe already a world icon

Mbappe has been in incredible form this season, scoring 30 goals and providing seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. Such figures would not be out of place at the Bernabeu.

The saga is unlikely to end anytime soon. Mbappe will almost definitely continue to dominate back-page headlines in both Spain and France; it remains to be seen when things will come to a head.