The BBC has apologised for an “inappropriate” question one of its reporters asked the captain of the Morocco women’s national team.

At a media conference ahead of Morocco’s Women’s World Cup opener against Germany, a reporter from the British news organization’s World Service asked Ghizlane Chebbak: “In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”

The press conference moderator interjected, saying: “Sorry, this is a very political question, so we’ll just stick to questions relating to football.”

“No, it’s not political,” the journalist replied. “It’s about people, it’s got nothing to do with politics. Please let her answer the question.”

A BBC spokesperson told CNN: “We recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.”

There was then one more question before the press conference was ended.

According to Human Rights Watch, “Moroccan law also criminalizes what it refers to as acts of ‘sexual deviancy’ between members of the same sex. Article 489 of the penal code punishes same-sex relations with prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to 1,000 dirhams ($91).”

The Athletic’s Steph Yang, who was in the room, said that “some members of the Moroccan media were audibly dismayed by the question.”

Shireen Ahmed, a reporter for CBC Sports who was also in the room, wrote that the reporter was “completely out of line.”

“Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary,” she added.

“Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line. The captain cannot out players nor comment on policy bc [because] it could be dangerous for them, too,” Ahmed wrote.

“If reporting harms someone, it is not only unethical but dangerous.”

CNN has learned that a FIFA representative addressed the BBC journalist on site immediately after the press conference had ended.

The Moroccan Football Federation did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Morocco began its 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign with a heavy 6-0 defeat by Germany on Monday.

World soccer governing body FIFA is allowing a variety of different armbands that highlight “a range of social causes” to be worn at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

During the tournament, team captains are each allowed to wear an armband chosen from eight different social causes, including gender equality, inclusion and peace.

There is no explicit mention of LGBTQ rights in Women’s World Cup armbands, beyond the themes of “gender equality” and “inclusion.”

Source: CNN

The curtains for this year's MTN Ashantifest Football Fiesta will be drawn on Sunday at Dechemso Otumfuo Park.

The competition has been interesting and produced some great talents, so the organisers will not have it easy to select the best player.

However the goal king will be determined from strikers like Emmanuel Owusu Boakye of Kwadaso with seven goals, Richmond Antwi of Atonso with six goals and Ramos of Dechemso with three goals.

Others in the race are Alhassan Chibsah of A with two goals,, Tahiru Awudu of Ejisu with two goals and Lizarazu of Dechemso also with two goals.

The rest are George Kwame Agyemang - 2 (Kwadaso), Charles Camara Gyamfi - 2 (Santasi), and Albert Yeboah 'Dybala' - 2 (Dechemso)

The third place will be Kwadaso versus Dechemso, to be a curtain raiser for the grand final between Santasi and Ejisu.

The competition has attracted numerous football fans including club owner and ace actor, Dabo who recently toured some clubs in Europe.

MTN Ghana, the sponsors have put at stake handsome prizes for the finalists and eventual winners.

All participating teams were given 3,000ghs each for preparation, and winning prizes are 1st. 20,000ghs, 2nd. gets10,000ghs and 3rd.collects 5,000ghs.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Grand-Final of the exciting 2023 MTN Ashantifest Football Fiesta will be between Ejisu and Santasi on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

The interesting Semi-Finals drew a large crowd, sweats, tears and joy from players and fans on Friday, 21st July 2023 at Dechemso Otumfuo Park where the first game between Ejisu and Kwadaso ended in a 1-1 draw. Ejisu won 5-4 penalties at the decisive shoot out.

The second Semi-Final, also ended in 3-3 drawn game between Dechemso and Santasi. The amazing and sweet goals came from Albert Yeboah 'Dybala', Fabio (own goal), Ramos // Elvis Opoku, Charles Camara Gyamfi and Bernard Asare 'Wofa'

Santasi were lucky on the day and got the victory on a 4-3 penalties score-line.

The third Place Play-off and Grand-Final has been fixed for Sunday,  30th July 2023 and it is going to be massive in everything at the Dechemso Otumfuo Park.

The third place will be Kwadaso versus Dechemso, to be a curtain raiser for the grand final. The sponsors, MTN Ghana have put at stake handsome prizes for the finalists.

The overall top scorers of the MTN Ashantifest Football Fiesta 2023 are:

1. Emmanuel Owusu Boakye - 7 (Kwadaso)
2. Richmond Antwi - 6 (Atonso)
3. Ramos - 3 (Dechemso)
4. Alhassan Chibsah - 2 (Santasi)
5. Tahiru Awudu - 2 (Ejisu)
6. Lizarazu - 2 (Dechemso)
7. George Kwame Agyemang - 2 (Kwadaso)
8. Charles Camara Gyamfi - 2 (Santasi)
9. Albert Yeboah 'Dybala' - 2 (Dechemso)

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Accra Hearts of Oak and their arch-rivals, Great Olympics, will face off in the 2023 Gbese Mantse Homowo Charity Cup at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The much-anticipated game has been scheduled to kick off on August 20, 2023, according to a statement released by the office of His Royal Majesty, Nii Dr Ayi Bonte II.

The Gbese Mantse Homowo Charity Cup promises to deliver a thrilling encounter as these two football powerhouses go head-to-head in the Mantse Derby.

The match has been duly sanctioned by the Ghana Football Association, ensuring a fair and competitive contest.

In addition to the main event between Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics, the Organizing Committee has announced that there will be an exciting curtain raiser before the kick-off.

The teams involved in the curtain raiser will be unveiled in the days leading up to the event, adding an element of suspense to the day’s festivities.

Olympics beat Hearts 1-0 in their last meeting in the Ghana Premier League, back in March 2023.

The game will also serve as a preparation for both clubs are they gear up for the upcoming 2023/24 Ghana Premier League campaign.

footballghana

… Entries Open For 2023 All Ghana Open National Championships

Admissions for the 2023 All Ghana Open Championship have been officially opened for interested participants to register and compete in the tournament scheduled at the Trust Sports Emporium from August 04-06, 2023.

With over 200 mammoth entries expected, this is an individual and club's open championship event with men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles events.

The age categories for the corporate teams, Juniors, Seniors, and Masters, are U15, U19, U30, 30-39,40-49, 50-59,60-69, and 70-79.

The Ghana Badminton Tournament Director, Delawoe Nyanyo, shared, "We have recently revamped our High-performance Programme with increasing global results and participation, enabling us to prioritize selected players capable of achieving national glory experience and challenge world-level opposition as part of their development in line with our Performance Programmes aiming to win Africa, Commonwealth, World, Paralympic and Olympic glory.

"The 2023 National Championship is the most essential selection event organized this year. Amateur and professional athletes from the various Badminton Clubs and shared interest groups in Ghana will perform at a top level and make an unforgettable show which will contribute to the growing popularization of the sport in our country."

According to the Tournament Director, entries will be closing in 14-days, and they would be looking forward to registrations from every member of the badminton community in Ghana saying, "We cannot wait to be 'unstoppable,' to release and burn out some stress, network and engage in the Olympic sport of Badminton."

There will be a direct qualification and elimination draw process, so everyone can get enough to play–for this year's event.

During this 2023 All Ghana Open National Championships, our plan towards the National Team is to allow for further networking, competition, and opportunity to be selected into the national squad and gain educational scholarships. Corporate Masters' players, both local and international residents' players from across the nook and cranny, will attend the 2023 All Ghana Open National Championships to make staff play Badminton together, promote staff friendship, build business verticals, and strengthen company cohesion and support communication and interactive platform, whilst learning from each other and improving their badminton skills.

The winner of each category is awarded a national gold medal and crowned National Veterans Champion in their age category. The runner-up gets a silver medal, while the third-place winner receives a bronze medal. We invite clubs and affiliate Associations to enter a maximum of six male players and six female players and three pairs in each of the five events in each age category.

The 2023 All Ghana Open National Championships is a Grade 1 National Tournament with the highest-ranking points under the National Ranking System. To know more about this, Click here.

That said, we would want to cordially invite all individuals living in Ghana with a passion for competing for the glory of business, fun and networking to register for the upcoming Event; click here for Masters Registration and Juniors & Seniors Registration for the Application Information Package and details.

The Event also attracts sponsors, government, corporate and media personalities in a non-scoring open day trial on Saturday, August 5, and finals on Sunday, 6, 2023.

Source Ghana Badminton

The Return of "Gyatabi" Wasiru at Wembley, Shukura on August 19

Former WBO Africa and WBO Global Super Bantamweight Champion Mohammed "Gyatabi" Wasiru returns to the ring at Lord Commey's Wembley Park Shukura in Accra on Silver Black Promotions debut pro event on August 19th.

He fight as an undercard on the main bill involving Emmanuel "Junior Wonder" Ardey versus Faisal "Poncho Power" Bakari.

 All roads will lead to Shukura on August 19 as there would be other interesting supporting bouts.

For Wasiru Mohammed, he has to fight well like when people knew him to bring back his fans and admirers.

Reports have it that his new trainer is Paul Dogboe, father of Isaac Dogboe.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Patrick Allotey is now 42-5, 32 Kos after he failed to end the first of the ten rounds schedule against World Boxing Council #3 Ranked Super Welterweight Serhii "El Flaco" Bohachuk (22-1, 22 KOs), of Vinitza, Ukraine.

Allotey aka Darling Boy Arrow was the challenger for the WBC Continental Americas Championship last Saturday, July 22, at the lovely Chumash Casino Resort, but he could not march the swift punch power of the title holder, and had to retire very early. He fell down and was counted out by the referee.

Allotey is managed by Cabic Promotions. The management were not enthused with his performance as they felt it was a chance for him to prove himself and win the title. This is the second time he has missed a title,

"It's disappointing that he lost in round but it happens in boxing. We wish him well in his future endeavours. This one too shall pass and the darling boy arrow will bounce back stronger and better" said Jingles who is Events and Marketing Manager at Cabic Management and Promotions as well as the Idrowhyte Events Center.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana international, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh started for FC Zurich on Sunday when the team kicked off their campaign in the 2023/24 football season.

The young forward played in the attack and helped his team to post a delightful 2-0 win over Yverdon-Sport.

In the opening weekend of the Swiss Super League campaign, FC Zurich dominated the game today as Jonathan Okita scored the opening goal in the 27th minute.

Later in the 54th minute of the second half, Nikola Katić also found the back of the net to double the lead for the home team.

In the game that ended with FC Zurich bagging all three points, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh put up a fantastic performance as he played 69 minutes of the contest.

This was the first time he has started a Swiss Super League game for FC Zurich since joining the team from Ghana Premier League outfit Hearts of Oak.

He has worked hard in pre-season and is hoping to cement a place in the starting eleven to play regularly for his team this season.

footballghana

Tokyo2020 Ghanaian Olympic Boxing Medalist Samuel Takyi paid a visit to the leadership of National Sports Authority, Ghana to announce his decision to compete at the forthcoming Summer #Paris2024 Olympic Games. He aims at grabbing a gold medal this time round after helping to end Ghana's 30 year Olympic medal drought. The Director General, Prof Peter Twumasi welcomed the good news and assured him of NSA and government's support to enable him shine brighter at the next Olympic Games.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Salom Darku, winner of the African Open Kickboxing Competition held on 15 July at the Korean Sports Complex at Tema, Community 3 in Accra, Ghana and Jonathan Lamptey who also won the MMA Championship will be invited to participate in the WKUworld Championship in Canada in October.

According to Klaus Nonnemacher, WKU world President, winners of the Kickboxing and MMA will get the opportunity to represent Ghana at the next World Championship in Canada.

Speaking to Yours Truly, he said there are many chances that African fighters must use to make name for themselves and their countries.

Jonathan Lamptey won the MMA fight while Salom Darko took the ultimate in the exciting Kickboxing event.

Both fighters say they will never fail if they get the opportunity to travel outside to fight for Ghana.

"I can't wait" said Darko who added that he wants more challenge to use as an opportunity to tell his story coming from a humble background, but loves combat sports.

The two Accra based fighters will be ranked in the WKU world ranking and they would be invited if they qualify.

By Sammy Heywood Okine