Anouma's previous effort to run for Caf president fell down amidst controversial rule changes

Ivory Coast's Jacques Anouma is to run for the Confederation of African Football (Caf) presidency next March - seven years after his first attempt - after receiving the nomination of his federation for the role.

Anouma, 68, is the second person to be publicly announced for the role ahead of Thursday's deadline, with reigning Caf President Ahmad having done so late last month.

Ivory Coast's Football Federation (FIF) announced its support for Anouma, a former member of Fifa's executive board, on Saturday evening.

"FIF has decided to give its backing to Mr Jacques Anouma for the Caf presidential election of March 2021," the body said in a statement.

"FIF wishes Mr Anouma full success in this election."

Barring

Candidates wishing to contest March's election in Morocco must be nominated by their federation by Thursday when two-month registration period comes to a close.

Anouma is an honorary president of the Ivorian federation, which he ran between 2002 and 2011, and was a member of Fifa's Executive Committee, now the Fifa Council, between 2007 and 2015.

This is the second time he has declared his presidential ambitions, with his previous bid having ended before it began.

Anouma's previous roles have included managing Fifa's Confederations Cup

Anouma's intentions were thwarted after Caf changed it statutes six months before the March 2013 elections, so effectively barring the Ivorian - who called the decision "scandalous" - from running.

At the time, Anouma's presence as one of Africa's representatives on the Fifa executive committee made him sit on Caf's Executive Committee as a non-voting member.

In September 2012, Caf's congress adopted a new statute which meant only voting members of its Executive Committee could contest presidential elections.

Anouma, who blamed the statute change on "all kinds of manoeuvres" by then Caf president Issa Hayatou, appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, only for the legal body to uphold Caf's decision just days before the 2013 election took place.

That rule has since changed, whereby not only executive committee members but any African administrators who can show they have worked in football for the past five years can run for the job.

Although Ahmad has formally submitted his candidacy, BBC Sport Africa understands that the Malagasy is facing a possible ban from football which could rule him out of March's elections.

The 60-year-old, who has previously strenuously denied any wrongdoing, is believed to have breached various codes of Fifa's Ethics, with a public verdict expected later this month.

By BBC

Mr. Emmanuel Olla Williams has called upon Legon Cities and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to handle Asamoah Gyan in a special way for him to stay long in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and encourage other foreign based professional to come home and feature for local clubs.

He said the pedigree of Asamoah Gyan can entice more companies to sponsor the GPL and attract more patronage.

According to Olla Williams who is CEO of Dreamland Sports Plus and One - On - Foundation, the top striker has chosen the best club that will not give him pressure from the fans, and more also Legon Cities is a club associated with musician, which Asamoah Gyan is one.

The former Black Stars captain signed for his new club as a free agent after a stint in India came to an end earlier this year.

“Somebody might say ‘he is about to retire or something’, but I am not listening to that and I am just focusing on my playing career and then I will see what happens,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

The 34-year-old, who has signed a renewable one-year deal that could last for four years, refused to rule out another stint playing overseas or forcing his way back into the national team.

His last match for Ghana was as a substitute in the loss to Tunisia at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

“It depends on how everything goes. I am a new player with Legon Cities and I have to focus on my game,” he said in response to whether the deal is a short-term move.

“Right now I need to get fit and start scoring goals and then we will see where my future lies with the national team. The boys are doing well, it is a new generation right now and I am also focusing on my personal thing and on my playing career.

“I have to do well in the league first, and that is what matters to me. I have to start playing and enjoy my football and it will happen naturally if it is meant to be. Everything depends on me.”

He would not elaborate on any other offers he had received, insisting that Legon Cities was the best club for him.

“Sometimes people forget that the Ghanaian league is also a professional league,” he said.

“I got the offer and everything was right – as a professional you have to evaluate everything. I am very proud to be in the Ghanaian league.

“The most important thing is that they were serious about the contract. I am a very serious guy, despite people seeing me as a funny guy as well, but when it comes to work, it is work. Everything is about seriousness."

“I am in Ghana and I am home. I signed for this club because they have a huge project they want to change Ghana football. I came here for a reason so while I am enjoying football, we are also doing things behind the scenes to benefit Ghana football.”

Gyan, the top goalscorer in Black Stars’ history with 51 goals, confirmed that coaching was something that he intends to pursue when he does eventually retire.

“Coaching is part of the plan,” he said. “As people know I am also a businessman but people advised me never to go out of football.

“I have to be in the game because I have done a lot in the game so it would be a bit shocking if I abandon it."

“I need to get my coaching licence which is very, very important. Some of my old colleagues have started doing a great job in coaching, so I think it is a good thing."

“I think I can be a very good coach. I don’t want to praise myself but the time will come,” he added.

Asamoah Gyan says his return to Ghana to sign for local side Legon Cities does not mean he is planning to retire.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Asante Kotoko defender, Christopher Nettey has reacted to his invitation to the Black Stars by head coach Charles Akonnor.

Christopher Nettey was handed a late Black Stars call-up to replace injured Harrison Afful who has been ruled out of the Sudan games.

He was the second local player after Ashantigold’s Kwadwo Amoako to have been invited by Coach Charles Akonnor for the Sudan games.

Christopher Nettey in an interview with Myfabulousonline after his invitation stated that he is going to prove his worth to the technical handlers.

“It’s a dream come true, I am so excited for my call-up.”

“I have come this far as a result of hard work and dedication and I am going there to do same to cement a place in the team, I am ready to learn from my seniors and implement on the field when given the nod.”

“I will continue to work hard to make everyone who has been supporting me since the beginning of my career proud.”

Myfabulousonline

Hon. Abubakar Boniface, Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency has endorsed the Ghana League initiative created by young sports journalist, Elizabeth Alhassan.

He said the project is good and should be supported by the Ghana Football Association, the GHALCA, football fans and sponsors.

The second edition of the Ghana League Walk 2020 took place last Saturday from the Accra Shopping Mall and ended at the Madina Zongo Astro Turf.

Many football fans who joined the Walk have hailed the event as a good initiative and should be organized in the major league centers.

The Ghana League Walk is a concept to draw awareness and patronage for the local football competition. It is the brainchild of Miss Elizabeth Alhassan, a young female sports journalist.

She said that is her quota of support for Ghana Football and appealed to sponsors to come on board in the third edition.

She thanked Hon. Abubakar Boniface for his wonderful presence, support and influence.

Mrs. Joyce Mahama, President of WOSPAG said the laudable idea should be supported by the clubs, supporters groups. She commended the originator.

63 year old Madam Gloria Commodore, Executive Director of Women In Sports Association (WISA) who started and ended the Walk said women must support women’s initiatives, and commended the young lady who is also Public Relations Officer / Deputy Communications Director of WISA.

She promised to honor female footballers and other personalities who excel during the year.

She appealed to corporate Ghana and partners of the GFA to support the Ghana League Walk.

Madam Elizabeth King, Chairperson of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Women’s Commission also congratulated participants especially women and girls who joined in the Walk and the Fun Match.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

A select side of Ex- footballers from the Greater Accra Region defeated their contemporaries from the Central and Western Region 4-3 in the Battle of the Stars match played at the Nduom Sports Complex in Elmina on Sunday.

The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) members engaged each other in an exhibition clash as part of an initiative of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the GFA and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), with support from GTV Sports+, to promote domestic and international tourism through football.

Ex- Ghana international Felix Aboagye shot  the Central& Western PFAG team in the lead with a quick brace before the Accra-team pulled one back.

Augustine Arhinful then scored for the Central& Western side but after some substitutions in the second half, the Accra-based side fought back to secure a hard earned win with.

Godfred Aduobi who scored a hat-trick for the Accra-based side and emerged as the best player for the match.

The players who featured in the game include former Ghana & Bayern Munich star Samuel Osei Kuffour, former Getafe and Ghana midfielder Derick Boateng, Yaw Preko, Abukari Damba, Felix Aboagye, Godwin Attram, Laryea Kingston, Odartey Lamptey and Peter Ofori Quaye.

Others include, former Ghana right back John Paintsil, Godwin Ablordey, Jerry Akaminko, Thomas Duah, Afo Dodoo, Ablade Kumah, Yaw Acheampong, Godfred Aduobi and Razak Ibrahim.

The western based side also featured the likes of Kofi Nimo, Stephen Baidoo, Kweku Essien, Felix Aboagye, Augustine Arhinful, Joe Hendricks, Odartey Lamptey, Linda Eshun etc.

The game was attended by top football officials including GFA President Kurt ES Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority Akwasi Agyeman and the Omanhene of Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI.

FootballmadeinGhana

Yeni Malatyaspor midfielder, Afriyie Acquah has said that he is "extremely happy" to be recalled into the senior national team.

The 28-year-old who is in top form for the Turkish Super Lig side is returning to the Black Stars team for the first time since the 2019 Nations Cup.

“Anytime that I am invited to play for the national team I am always happy," he told Sportsworldghana.com.

"The feeling is always great and I know that many Ghanaians appreciate my inclusion in the Black Stars because I always try to give my best to help the team. I am extremely happy to be back."

Afriyie Acquah added: “I always try to do my best for the team. I am going to do the same job I have been doing for the team. To play well and help the team win the game."

"I want to help the team to qualify for the AFCON as we try to win the tournament this time around. We reached the finals in 2015 and have made a couple of semifinals appearances and now the most important thing for us is to try to win the AFCON for our country. This is what I am looking forward to achieving with the team.”

Sportsworldghana.com

Ghana could miss the services of midfield dynamo, Thomas Partey in the AFCON qualifiers against Sudan on Thursday at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

The highly-rated midfielder limped off in Arsenal game last Sunday against Aston Villa where the Gunners were hammered 3:0.

Partey will be undergoing a scan on Monday to know the extent of the injury.

But speaking after the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responding to a question on Partey’s injury said, “We don’t know [the extent] of it,” Mikel Arteta revealed. “We have to scan him tomorrow or the day after and see what he felt straight away. Let’s wait and see what the magnitude of the injury is.

“I don’t know [if he will go away with Ghana now]. As I said, the doctor will have to have a look at him and probably scan him. Then we will decide what to do with him.”

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Due to medical reasons, Coach of the Black Stars C. K Akonnor has made seven additions to his squad ahead of Ghana’s doubleheader against Sudan.

The players include Andrew Kyere Yiadom (Reading FC), Majeed Ashimeru (Red Bull Salzburg), Joseph Attamah Larweh (Keyserispor), Afriyie Acquah (Yeni Malatyaspor) and Clifford Aboagye (Tijuana FC).

The rest are; Kwadwo Amoako (AshantiGold SC) and Christopher Nettey (Asante Kotoko SC)

The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, November 09, ahead of the game on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

Ghana will face Sudan at the Cape Coast stadium on Thursday, November 12, before travelling to Khartoum three days later for the reverse tie.

GFA

Mensah has announced that he is taking a temporary break from international football

Turkey-based midfielder Bernard Mensah has announced that he is taking a temporary break from international football after a chequered stint.

This comes days after the Besiktas star was excluded from a 24-man squad to face Sudan in a double-header of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mensah, 26, claims he wants to concentrate on club football.

A statement on his Twitter account read: ''I have decided to take a break from the national team until further notice .. I want to concentrate on my career for now .. thanks to all Ghanaians for their support.''

From Elizabeth Alhassan

Mr. Kudjoe Fianoo, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has commended organizer of the Ghana League Walk for her bold initiative to promote Ghana Football.

Speaking to the media after the programme, he praised the laudable idea of Miss Elizabeth Alhassan and appealed to other stakeholders to support the concept.

He said starting a good thing is often not easy, but prayed that as the years go by, the Walk will receive bigger attention and patronage.

“Like every new event, it came with teething challenges, but it wasn’t that bad” he stated.

He expressed that since the Ghana Premier League was doing quite well until the coronavirus pandemic broke, everything should be made to sustain the enthusiasm and passion.

Mr. Fianoo who started the Walk at the Accra Shopping Mall and completed at the Madina Zongo Astro Turf hailed the media, spearheaded by the Sports Writers Association (SWAG) for promoting the league.

The Walk attracted the MP for Madina, Hon Abubakar Boniface, Madam Gloria Commodore, Executive Director of WISA and Mrs. Joyce Mahama, President of WOSPAG.

By Sammy Heywood Okine