The media accreditation application process for the TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2023 is now closed.

The accreditation window was opened until Thursday 01 June 2023. Media interested in covering the tournament should have applied via the CAF Media Channel.

The TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from 24 June to 8 July 2023 in the cities of Rabat and Tangier, Morocco.

Eight teams are participating in the tournament used as a qualifier for the Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024. In Group A, hosts Morocco are housed with Ghana, Congo and Guinea. Group B features holders Egypt, Mali, Gabon and Niger.

For more information on the 4th edition of TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations, please visit www.cafonline.com

The Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Ghana and Blackdery has organized a successful event dubbed ‘3P Ride-A-Thon’ to celebrate World Bicycle Day in Accra, Ghana on Saturday June 3.

The World Bicycle Day ended beautifully with 100 passionate riders selected by the Ghana Cycling Federation and officials to celebrate the day on the streets of Accra.

The Race started at Silver Star Tower to Spintex Palace Mall continued to Osu and to Accra Sports Stadium and ended at the Silver Star Tower.

The Ghana Cycling Federation officials educated people on the importance of riding bicycle, health benefits and most importantly to provide the Gift of light to school children in Mobia Sekyere Kumawu.

Madam Lilian Antwiwaa Asante Esq, President Elect of the Rotary Club Accra Kanda talked about the initiative of the fun ride to raise funds for a school in Mobia Sekyere kumawu.

She said “we want to provide a merry go round which generates power as kids play on it. The power charges rechargeable lanterns that kids take home. It helps with school work and improves attendance. improving home life quality.

She emphasized on the objective of the fun ride has being achieved and still waiting for corporate body’s to come on board to help promote cycling in Ghana especially the schools .

Mr Charles Dery, founder of Blackdery spoke about the fun ride initiative as to create awareness of cycling as a sports and the health benefits as well.

He added “I will like to thank the Federation and everyone who made the event successful on the cycling day. Despite everything that happened before and after, the main focus is cycling but nothing else, and I was happy to see the support from cyclists. I believe cycling has a future and we are all in this together. Gradually fun ride will get better and so will all aspects of cycling. We will keep supporting our passion that's who we are”.

Mr. Shaaban Mohammed, General Secretary of Ghana Cycling Federation praised the cyclists, Rotary Club Of Ghana and Blackdery for organizing fun ride to mark the World Bicycle Day in preparation of the World Championship which UCI has recognition the celebration as the best coming from Africa.

The World Bicycle Day was was supported by Empower Playgrounds Inc, Blackdery, Jibu and Silver Star Tower Limited.

By Elizabeth Alhassan

… Opponent Maricela Cornejo calls her 'GWOAT'

Shields showcased her "best" against Cornejo, winning by undisputed decision; Cornejo thanked Shields after fight for "creating movement in women's boxing"; rival Savannah Marshall bids to become undisputed super-middleweight champion vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn on July 1, live on Sky Sports

Claressa Shields put on a show in her home state of Michigan as the Flint native defended her belts

Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in Detroit.

Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) won with a score of 100-89 on one card and 100-90 on the other two.

"You saw the best of me tonight," she said. "The only thing I could have done better than I did tonight was get a knockout, and I think I would have knocked a lot of girls out with the punches I landed. Maricela is smart and she's tough."

Shields has won two Olympic gold medals and professional titles at super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight.

Cornejo (16-6) hasn't beaten an opponent with a winning record in more than four years. She opened her statement by thanking Shields.:

Shields was unable to land a knockout blow against Maricela Cornejo, but said that was all her performance lacked

"You've created a movement in women's boxing, and you really are the GWOAT [greatest woman of all time]," she said. "After fighting you, I'm ready to go back to 154 pounds or even 147."

Cornejo gave Shields some trouble in the early rounds with a solid jab and movement away from Shields' right hand. However, she couldn't generate enough power to keep the champion from coming forward.

Shields opened a cut over Cornejo's right eye in the fifth round and hurt her with a series of combinations in the seventh. A straight right sent Cornejo into the ropes, but the round ended before Shields could finish her.

Cornejo tired in the final rounds, but was able to fend the champion off to make it to the final bell.

Shields didn't rule out returning to MMA. She had two fights in 2021, winning one and losing the other.

"I have some decisions to make going forward," Shields said. "I tend to focus on boxing, because that's what I'm best at, but I don't have any problem doing MMA. I think if I give it two years, I can be the champion there, too."

Shields was originally scheduled to fight a rematch with Hanna Gabriels, who knocked her down in 2018 before losing a unanimous decision. However, Gabriels was taken off the card after testing positive for a banned substance.

"I want to thank Maricela and her team for taking this fight on 10 days' notice," Shields said. "She's not a last-minute replacement that I could just walk through. She got my attention with some of those right hands."

Earlier on the night, Joseph Hicks (7-0, 5 KOs) picked up the WBA Americas Silver middleweight title with a unanimous eight-round decision over Antonio Todd – and he also thanked Shields for the opportunty.

"It was a surreal moment for me - I've never fought in front of a crowd like this," Hicks said. "I want to thank Claressa for giving me a chance to experience this."

Shields and Savannah Marshall have created a rivalry, the likes of which women's boxing has never seen before

The attendance was announced as 11,784. The arena's lower bowl appeared more than half full while the upper bowl was curtained off.

"I think this has to end the myth that women don't have fans," Shields said. "People came from all over the world to see the GWOAT."

Marshall gunning for Shields rematch

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall go head to head at the O2

Shields says she would happily fight Savannah Marshall again and beat her, but believes Marshall's fight with Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed super-middleweight title is too soon

Savannah Marshall is convinced her fierce rivalry with Claressa Shields will lead them to fight once again.

Marshall lost a major undisputed middleweight clash to the American star in October.

The Briton is coming back from that reverse and stepping up to super-middleweight as she takes on the undisputed 168lb world champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn on July 1, live on Sky Sports.

Speaking before Shields' latest victory, Marshall said: "I've seen how my profile grew just from that one fight and I believe that it was down to the rivalry massively," Marshall told Sky Sports.

"Even now, all people are saying is: 'When's the rematch? When's the rematch?' That's what boxing's about. It's a business. If you haven't got a rival, it's not that you're going to struggle. But that's where it happens.

"They're the fights people want. Where there's a bit of needle."

Sky sports

GAF, Ghana Golden Arms promise good show at 12th Africa Armwrestling Championship in Accra

Accra, the capital city of Ghana, will host at least 20 African countries for the 12th Africa Armwrestling Championship (AAC) from June 23, 2023 to be held at the refurbished GNAT Teachers Hall.

Over 300 pullers from the continent will take part in the competition which is a dress rehearsal for the 13^th African Games also to be hosted in Accra, Ghana in 2024. Some countries that have confirmed participation in the AAC for the first are; Central African Republic, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and Somalia.

Mali, Egypt, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Somalia, Benin, Guinea, Nigeria, South Africa, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana are all taking part.

Ghana’s Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, his Deputy Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie and Director General of the National Sports Authority, Prof. Peter Twumasi have commended Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation and urged him to inspire his pullers to win medals for the nation.

Ghana last hosted the rest of the African continent in 2018 and the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF) is staging a high grade event as many developments have come up and the sport has improved.

During a Congress of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa (AFA) last year in Cairo, Egypt, Ghana received a massive endorsement to become the host for the 12th edition of the Africa Armwrestling Championship a qualifying event for the 2023 Africa Games and the World Combat Games going to Saudi Arabia.

Ghana is hosting the Championship once again after 5 years, and this time the Ghana Armwrestling Federation wants to put up a classic and memorable event.

Team Ghana aka the Golden Arms have been preparing and they recently took part in the 2023 National competition at Wesley Grammer School to pick pullers for the national team.

Observing the pullers of Ghana, one can confidently say they are ready to grab the medals.

Team Ghana would be picked from pullers like Rashida Abass from Tamale, Mariam Yussif and Mary-Ann Abagale of St. Louis SHS, Mariam Kadiri Moro, rising star Rachael Lankai, exciting Samuel Adjetey Sowah, Derek Adu Kwakye (AsokwaGH) the machoman, Isaac Antwi Bosiako the big man, Godwin Sackey, Wisdom Kofi Abromekyi, Desmond Mensah, David Bantang, hardworking Abdul Aziz Wahab and Thomas Otokunor Barnor. Ghana Police and Ghana Immigration have presentable pullers.

The pullers are very determined to make history for themselves and the nation so they are putting in every effort to be the best on the continent.

Some personalities supporting the hosting of the event are Major of Accra Hon. Elizabeth Sackey and former Major of Accra Mohammed Adjei Sowah who is the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

Hon. Adjei Sowah, would be assisted by Mr. Edwin Amankwah, Businessman as Vice Chairman with Pharm. Kofi Addo-Agyekum, DCOP Lydia Donkor of the Ghana Police Service, Nii Otoo Larkyne,Ghana Immigration Service, Mrs. W Gifty Oware-Aboagye of the National Service Secretariat as members.

The rest are Dr. Prince Pambo - Medical (Anti-Doping), Dr. Marc Dzradosi, Robert Appiah Ameyaw of KLM, Jonathan Lambert Awuletey of Qatar Airways, Richard Oppong Ansong, Businessman, Hubert Leo-Mensah from the National Sports Authority, and Rhodaline Owusu Ansong of the MoYS.

The competition has so far received sponsorship from Dzata Cement, Ghana Gas and Adamus Resources Company.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Black Stars' new boy Ernest Nuamah has received a silver medal after helping FC Nordjaelland to finish second in the Danish Super Liga.

The 2022/23 campaign came to an end at the weekend as Nuamah and his Nordjaella and side lost the ultimate prize to Copenhagen.

Nuamah was in action in the final game of the season when his side were held at home by Viborg.

After the game, the players were presented with their medals as they signed off the campaign in style.

The Ghanaian youngster enjoyed a descent campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in the top-flight.

His outstanding performance has earned him his first Black Stars call-up ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar on June 18.

He is also expected to join the Black Meteors for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations.

Nuamah's outstanding performance did not go unnoticed, having emerged as the Player of the Year in the Danish Super Liga.

Before winning the Player of the Year, he had already won the best player in the Spring.

This means the Ghanaian international will return home with two top awards.

footballghana

Versatile Ghanaian defender, Alidu Seidu has shared his excitement following Clermont Foot victory over Paris Saint Germain in the final French Ligue 1 games.

Alidu Seidu started and lasted the entire duration as Clermont Foot inflicted a 3-2 win over PSG at the Parc des Princes.

“Nice way to end the season with a great win against #PSG and a nice birthday gift for myself. Thank you all” he tweeted.

The host, PSG, took the lead in the 16th minute as Sergio Ramos headed them in front from a short corner routine.

In the 29th minute, Alidu Seidu fouled Achraf Hakimi in the box, leading to a penalty that was converted by Kylian Mbappe to extend PSG's lead to 2-0.

But Clermont Foot came from behind to secure the three maximum points against the Ligue 1 winners.

Goals from Johan Gastien, Mehdi Zeffane and French-born Ghanaian Grejohn Kyei propelled Clermont Foot to victory.

The Black Stars defender made 28 appearances in the French Ligue 1 this season for Clermont Foot.

footballghana

Ghanaian midfielder, Christopher Garvin Scott has won the Belgium league title with Royal Antwerp.

The German-born Ghanaian was instrumental for his side who clinched their first league title in 66 years.

Scott and his outfit won the title following a 2-2 away draw with KRC Genk on Sunday.

Genk came close to winning the title but a stoppage time strike from former Tottenham Hotspurs defender Toby Alderweireld changed the narrative.

Nigerian international Toluwalase Arokodare shot Genk into the lead at the stroke of first half as the host went to recess with a one goal advantage.

After the break, Royal Antwerp leveled the pegging through Netherland international Gyrano Kerk in the 58th minute.

Bryan Heynen scored in the 75th minute to restore Genk’s lead but Alderweireld late strike ensured Royal Antwerp shared the spoils to clinch their first title since 1957.

Scott replaced Kerk in the 90th minute of the dramatic encounter.

He made 22 appearances for the Belgium outfit in the 2022/23 league season.

Footballghana

Ghanaian international, Ernest Nuamah has been named the Best Footballer in Denmark for the 2022/23 football season.

Since earning his debut for FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga, the 20-year-old has never looked back.

He has been unstoppable in the Danish Superliga this season where he has attracted a lot of eyes with his outstanding performances.

Throughout the Danish Superliga season, he has been the main man for FC Nordsjaelland and almost won the league title for the side.

After making 29 appearances in the division this season, Ernest Nuamah has scored 12 goals and provided four assists.

Following his outstanding displays, players in Denmark have now voted Ernest Nuamah as the best footballer of the year.

Meanwhile, Ernest Nuamah has been named in Ghana's squad for the June Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Madagascar.

That game will be played on June 18.

FootballGhana

The Black Princesses of Ghana defeated Nigeria on penalties to clinch the maiden WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup on Saturday evening at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Nigeria passed the ball very well in the early stages of the game. Ghana fought for every ball and remained cautious.

Ghana's goalkeeper was alert to prevent the Nigerians from taking the lead.

In the 38th minute, captain Stella Nyamekye gave the Black Princesses the lead from the penalty spot. The Nigerians battled for every ball as halftime approached. The back four of Ghana still remained solid.

Ghana headed to the dressing room with a 1-0 score.

After the break Ghana pushed more forward to find a goal to extend their lead but the Nigeria stood firm to stop any ball from entering their area.

Stella Nyamekye came close to extending Ghana's lead in the 68th minute with a long drive toward the goal. Mary Amponsah replaced Faiza Seidu in the 80th minute.

Goalkeeper Afi Amenyaku committed an error in the 85th minute which allowed the Nigerian to equalize.

In added time Ghana nearly equalized but the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. Ghana could not bury the ball during a string of corners. The game ended 1-1 in regulation time.

Ghana won the penalty shootout 3-1 to clinch the maiden WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup.

footballghana

STRASBOURG, FRANCE - MARCH 19: Gideon Mensah of Auxerre in action during the Ligue 1 match between RC Strasbourg and AJ Auxerre at Stade de la Meinau on March 19, 2023 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Ghana international defender Gideon Mensah and his team AJ Auxerre have been relegated from the French Ligue 1 after a home defeat on Saturday night.

Auxerre saw their top flight spell come to an end when they lost 3-1 to RC Lens at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps in the last league match of the season.

Mensah lasted the entire duration of the match, making it his 26th appearance for Auxerre in the French Ligue 1 this campaign.

Forward Alexis Claude-Maurice scored the opening goal of the match in the 19th minute to give the visitors the lead.

Claude-Maurice scored again to double the advantage for Lens three minutes into the second half.

Senegalese forward Mbaye Niang pulled one back for Auxerre when he found the back of the net in the 71st minute.

Belgium forward Lois Openda scored a few moments later to seal the victory for Lens, who finished second behind champions PSG.

Auxerre finished 17th on the league standings with 35 points from 38 matches, which wasn't enough to secure Ligue 1 status for the next season.

Black Stars midfielder Salis Abdul Samed featured for Lens and played the entire minutes of the match.

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