Swedish Division One League side, FC Trollhättan has completed the signing of Ghanaian striker Frederick Ofori Acheampong, Modernghana Sports can report.

The former Unistar Academy forward last played for Swedish Division 2 outfit Västra Frölunda where he scored a number of goals.

On the back of his outstanding displays, his services have been secured by FC Trollhättan for the upcoming 2021 football season.

“We are extremely happy to present the highly coveted striker Frederick Ofori Acheampong,” an official club statement said on Tuesday.

At FC Trollhättan, Frederick Ofori Acheampong has been signed on a two-year contract and will be expected to play a key role to help the team seek promotion to the Swedish top-flight league.

Frederick Ofori Acheampong, 24, is a younger brother to Tianjin TEDA captain Franck Acheampong.

He has in the past played for clubs including NK Sesvete and NK Dugopolje.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Former Ghana youth players Emmanuel Toku and Eric Ayiah will lead a star studded side against a flying Kakraba All Stars side on December 31 at the Kakraba Zion Park at 3:00pm.

Toku and Ayiah now ply their professional football careers in Denmark and France respectively and will like to use this game to unite the people of Kasoa and its environs, as well as call for peace in the whole country with the current happenings.

Kakraba All Stars will be parading stars like former Hearts of Oak players Mosses Andoh, Bawa Mumuni, newly formed Accra Five Star Football Club trio of Kojo Alhassan, Steven Abbii (Boateng) and Aikins from Panthere in Cameroon

According to the former U-20 captain, Toku as part of talents from Kasoa getting to the international scene they are here to encourage these young talents to also flourish in all endeavors.

The former Ghana U-17 captain Eric Ayiah who was nominated for the  CAF Youth Player of the Year 2018 said the fans must come and watch the future Black Stars.

Meanwhile, according to organizers, Kingsley Sports Agency headed  by Kingsley Attakorah, this match will be an annual event if the maiden edition becomes a success.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Ali Ajami, Marketing Director of Twellium Industrial Company Ltd has pledged his company’s support for Ghana Amateur Boxing and promised to refresh boxers, officials and guests at all events organized by the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF).

After refreshing patrons at the Special Fight Night in honour of the late former President J.J. Rawlings, Twellium were on hand again on Boxing Day, December 26 to support the Special Juvenile Tournament staged by Besesaka Boxing Projects.

Mr. Ali Ajami, who has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations youth in Ghana said Ghana Boxing is a great brand, and they are proud to be associated with Ghana Boxing and hope Ghana wins a medal at the Olympic Games.

Twellium has through its products, Run and Rush Energy Drinks sponsored professional boxing events.

Mr. George Lamptey, President of the GBF also expressed his joy for the Twellium support as they are able to refresh many people who love the game.

He said Twellium has been supportive and wonderful since they associated themselves with Amateur Boxing.

According to him, two boxers have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games, and they need motivation and inspiration to win medals for Ghana.

Samuel Takyi and Suleimana Tetteh have both promised to enter the medal zone and make themselves proud.

Meanwhile, Besesaka Boxing Projects has promised to award scholarships to some promising  juvenile boxers who were selected during their tournament.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey trains with Arsenal teammates after injury recovery

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has returned to training with Arsenal following his recovery from injury.

Partey has been unlucky with injuries since joining the Gunners in big money move from Atlético Madrid in the summer.

The Ghanaian pulled up with an injury in the 45th minute during the defeat against North London rivals Tottenham some weeks ago.

He has returned to training after making a recovery but it is however unknown if he would be selected for the game against Brighton on Tuesday.

Below are the pictures from his first training;

Dear colleagues, friends, members of National Federations and all boxing fans!

I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year!

The outgoing year has been challenging for the whole world, including our boxing community.

The pandemic has made adjustments to our plans, but we have passed all the tests with dignity.

Thank you for the trust you have shown me by electing me AIBA President. I am confident that together we will make AIBA great again - in the interests of athletes, coaches and, of course, boxing.

I know that all our problems will be knocked out and we will become absolute champions in the quality and effectiveness of the reforms.

We have a lot of work ahead of us, but, most importantly, we work together, and I feel your help and support. Our strength lies in unity and solidarity.

On the eve of this marvelous winter holiday, I want to wish you and your families health and peace.

May love and prosperity reign in your homes and every new day bring happiness.

Happy New Year!

Umar Nazarovich Kremlev

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaians and the family as well as friends and fans of the late Samuel Ataa Nyanyo Nmai have been pouring tributes to the late great personality.

The late Ataa Nmai aka "Uncle Sam", aka "The Fisherman", the founder of the Labadi Pleasure Beach will be 100 years in 2020 if he was alive.

Ataa Nmai aka "Uncle Sam"(1923 - 2007), is gone but never forgotten in Ghana Sports, Tourism, Arts & Culture and even Politics.

He was the founder of:

➤ The Labadi Pleasure Beach also known as "La Beach"

➤ The National Life Savers Association

He also initiated the Coastal Sea Defense Walls and loved to see people happy and having fun.

Most of his children taken to sports and now Europe based Lawrence Nyanyo Nmai is a world known fitness trainer and martial arts trainer. He is also a world kickboxing champion and president / founder of the Pro Fighting Factory.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

 Multiple sporting legends were lost in the year 2020. In Ghana, Africa and abroad, some of the most iconic figures in sports died and as the year winds down, we look at their legacies in individual and team sports.

The Corona Virus Pandemic (Covid-19) forced many sporting events to be cancelled or postponed, including the Olympic Games. However some precious lives were lost in Ghana like:

Opoku Afriyie

Ghana had to go through the pain of passing of two former greats of the Black Stars in a space of 48 hours, and it shocked the entire nation.

Opoku Afriyie passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020, and hardly had the football community come to terms with the death when it was announced that another legend Kwasi Owusu had died less than 24 hours later.

Afriyie was revered in Ghana for his brace that gave Ghana a historic third African Cup of Nation title in 1978. The former Asante Kotoko forward starred as Ghana beat Uganda 2-0 to lift the title in Accra.

He was also in the Black Stars team that won the 1982 AFCON title, and Ghana's fourth, in Libya.

Nicknamed ‘Bayie’, meaning wizard in his native Akan language, he was the leading marksman of his boyhood club, Asante Kotoko. He was crowned top scorer in the Ghanaian top-flight in 1979 and 1981.

Later in his career, he did the unthinkable at the time as he crossed over to eternal rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak becoming one of the first players to feature for Ghana’s two most successful clubs.

After retirement, he served as Team Manager of Asante Kotoko, and Welfare Officer of the Ghana senior national team, the Black Stars for some time.

Kwasi Owusu

One of the most lethal forwards in the history of Ghana football, Kwasi Owusu, passed away on Monday (30 March 2020) in Sunyani. He was 72.

Nicknamed ‘Powerhouse’, he captained the Black Stars at the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations, as Ghana lost 1-0 to host Sudan in the final, scoring three goals during the tournament.

He is fondly remembered for scoring nine goals in the 15-1 aggregate win over Niger in the qualifiers.

He also featured at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Owusu was Ghana’s top scorer at the international level with 36 goals, a record which was only broken by Asamoah Gyan a few years ago.

At club level, he featured for Tano Bofoakwa, currently in the second-tier of Ghana football, where he remains a legend.

Eight juvenile footballers die in ghastly accident

Ghana football was thrown into a state of mourning and sorrow when the news broke that eight juvenile footballers playing for a team named African Vision FC and based in Offinso had lost their lives in a gory accident on the Kumasi-Offinso road.

The accident occurred on Saturday, September 19, 2020, on the Offinso river when the bus carrying the Juvenile footballers was heading to Offinso from Afrancho after the juvenile footballers had undergone a registration for the District Juvenile League.

The accident happened after the driver lost control of his vehicle which then plunged into the Offinso River causing the death of the aspiring footballers. The lifeless bodies were recovered from the river as people in the nearby towns rushed to the scene to offer their help.

Alfred Kotey

Former bantamweight world titleholder Alfred Kotey died of an undisclosed illness in the Bronx, New York, in June 2020. He was 52.

Kotey, who was born in Bukom, Ghana, on June 3, 1968, represented his country in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and in 1994 became Ghana’s fifth world champion when he won a unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Rafael Del Valle to claim the WBO bantamweight world title at London’s famed York Hall.

John Commey

Ghanaian Amateur Star boxer, John Commey, has passed away sadly - The young boxer died on Saturday, August 22, 2020, after complaining of body pains. The 18 year old member of the Black Bombers from Bukom was preparing for an opportunity to feature at the Olympic Games.

Yakubu Moro

One of Ghana’s illustrious football administrators, Yakubu Moro died this year. The Berekum Arsenal owner passed away after suffering a stroke in October 2020. He died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 16, 2020  after he had been on admission for about a week. He led Berekum Arsenal to play in the premier league in 2000 and also participated in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2006.

Col. John Sharp

Col. John Sharp was reported dead on Thursday December 3, 2020.

Former GABA President Col. John Sharp was keen sports enthusiast who contributed massively to Ghana Boxing.

He was a member of AIBA, the international amateur boxing association, and also held position as president of the Ghana Kickboxing Association.

He encouraged many boxers in the amateur ranks, especially soldiers. He also tasked the the media to promote sports, especially boxing and kickboxing.

Kobe Bryant

In 26 January, 2020, Bryant died alongside his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles that also took the lives of seven other people. LA Lakers icon Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school.

He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012.

General Seyi Memene

General Seyi Memene, CAF Honorary Vice President was reported dead, in Lomé (Togo), on Friday 20 night to Saturday 21 November 2020, after a long illness.

Former President of the Togolese Football Federation and former CAF First Vice President, General Memene received CAF Golden Order of Merit upon his retirement in 2011, after years of dedication and commitment to African football.

Augustin Sidy Diallo

Ivory Coast FA President Sidy Diallo died of coronavirus

The Ivorian FA boss was confirmed dead on Saturday after contracting coronavirus.

The Confederation of African Football Caf) alongside other football federations across the continent have sent their condolences to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) following the death of its president Sidy Augustin Diallo.

Diallo was confirmed dead on Saturday, two weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Diallo has been a leader in Ivorian football since the early 1990s. He was first elected the vice-president of the FIF from 1991 to 1994, before he won the Ivorian FA presidency in 2011.

During his tenure, he helped Ivory Coast win their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015 amongst other achievements, which include their qualification for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany.

Papa Diop

Former Senegal, Fulham, and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop died on November 29, 2020. He was 42.

Diop made 129 appearances in the Premier League and also had spells in England with West Ham United and Birmingham City.

He played for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, scoring the winner in the tournament's opening game as his country beat France 1-0.

Diego Maradona

On November, 25, 2020, Maradona's death brought Argentina to a standstill and caused a wave of grief in his adopted home of Naples. He brought joy to the southern Italian city by leading unfashionable Napoli to two Serie A titles and the 1989 UEFA Cup.

The passing of Maradona, who dragged Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup where he scored the 'Goal of the Century' against England - as well as the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, led to three days of national mourning in his home country.

Compiled by Sammy Heywood Okine

Robert Lewandowski and Naomi Osaka are the AIPS Best Male and Female Athletes of 2020 (Photos: Getty Images)

LAUSANNE, December 29, 2020 – Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski have been named the AIPS Best Athletes of 2020. Bayern Munich won the AIPS Best Team of 2020 after breaking a plethora of records en route to winning five trophies. This is the result of a poll by the International Sport Press Association (AIPS), where a panel of 422 journalists from 116 countries voted for the Champions of 2020.

It is the first time that Lewandowski and Osaka are winning the prestigious accolade which attracts votes from a vast network of professionals across the world annually.

Bayern Munich goal machine Lewandowski garnered 620 points, enough to see off British seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton on 546 points and Spanish 20-time tennis Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal in third with 378 points.  

Three-time Grand Slam champion Osaka topped the AIPS poll for Best Female Athlete with 526 points ahead of Venezuelan triple jump world indoor record-holder Yulimar Rojas (331 points) and American tennis legend Serena Williams, who won her 73rd WTA title at the 2020 ASB Classic, in third with 327 points.  

Bayern Munich, six-time UEFA Champions League winners, were dominant in the Best Team poll, receiving a total of 1317 points, followed by reigning Premier League champions Liverpool with 753 points, while 2020 NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers had to settle for third place with 658 points.

AIPS decided not to present the unique award for the Best Press Facilities as there have been no major international or continental sporting events held under normal circumstances in 2020. We look forward to reintroducing the award in 2021.

BEST MALE ATHLETE 2020

Robert Lewandowski, 32-year-old, born in Warsaw, Poland, has been in blistering form over the last year, contributing a whopping 55 goals in 47 games to Bayern Munich’s exceptional 2019/20 treble triumph.

He won the German league and cup double as well as the Champions League with Bayern and finished as top scorer in all three competitions – top scorer for the third time in a row in the Bundesliga and fourth successive year in the DFB Cup. He won five trophies in total with Bayern Munich in 2020, including the UEFA Super Cup and the German Super Cup. 

On December 16, 2020, the prolific striker became the third player in Bundesliga history to score 250 goals and the first non-German to reach that milestone. He scored more competitive goals in the 2020 calendar year (47) than any other player in Europe's top leagues – breaking the 40-goal mark in all competitions for the fourth year in a row.

Lewandowski scooped the Bundesliga Player of the Season, UEFA Men's Player of the Year and The Best FIFA Men's Player awards. He was also named the “Player of the Year” at the Globe Soccer Awards and could have easily won the 2020 Ballon d’Or award if it had not been cancelled.

BEST MALE ATHLETE – TOP TEN

1 - Lewandowski Robert - Football 620 (16,32%)

2 - Hamilton Lewis - Formula1 - 546 (14,38%)

3 - Nadal Rafael – Tennis - 378 (9,95%)

4 - James LeBron - Basketball - 361 (9,51%)

5 - Duplantis Armand – Athletics - 347 (9,14%)

6 - Ronaldo Cristiano - Football - 300 (7,9%)

7 - Djokovic Novak - Tennis - 280 (7,37%)

8 - Cheptegei Joshua – Athletics - 181 (4,77%)

9 - Pogačar Tadej - Cycling - 179 (4,71%)

10 - Thiem Dominic - Tennis - 104 (2,74%)

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE 2020

Naomi Osaka, 23-year-old, born in Chūō-ku, Japan, to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, moved with her family to New York when she was three. She first grabbed the headlines in 2016 at the age of 19, when she won the Women’s Tour Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year award after reaching her first WTA final and rising to a career-high ranking of No. 40.

Her US Open championship victory surely qualifies as one of the highlights of the 2020 tennis season not just for her impressive athleticism but also for her extraordinary activism.

Osaka highlighted racial and social injustice throughout her run at the tournament, where she wore seven black masks bearing the names of different victims, one for each round.

The highest-paid and most tweeted about female athlete of 2020 came from a set down to beat Victoria Azarenka and win her second US Open title in three years – and the third major of her career.

Prior to the US Open, Osaka reached the Western & Southern Open final but pulled out because of a left hamstring injury. She also hogged global headlines during that tournament for her decision to boycott her semi-final match in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a move that resulted in the tournament pausing play for the day.

Osaka shot to international fame when she defeated her idol Serena Williams in a controversial US Open final in 2018 to become the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Then she clinched her second major soon after at the Australian Open in 2019.

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE – TOP TEN

1 - Osaka Naomi - Tennis - 526 (13,85%)

2 - Rojas Yulimar - Athletics - 331 (8,72%)

3 - Williams Serena - Tennis - 327 (8,61%)

4 - Świątek Iga - Tennis - 310 (8,16%)

5 - Brignone Federica - Alpine ski - 245 (6,45%)

6 - Miedema Vivianne – Football - 211 (5,56%)

7 - Gidey Letesenbet - Athletics - 200 (5,27%)

8 - Jepchirchir Peres – Athletics - 186 (4,9%)

9 - Hassan Sifan – Athletics - 182 (4,79%)

10 - Shiffrin Mikaela - Alpine ski - 162 (4,27%)

Bayern Munich are the AIPS Best Team of 2020. (Photo by Getty Images)

BEST TEAM OF 2020

Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich became only the second European club in history to achieve the continental treble twice after clinching the Bundesliga title for the eighth straight year, retaining the German Cup and lifting their sixth UEFA Champions League title in 2020.

The German giants became the first side to win every match in a UCL campaign and also the first team ever in Europe’s top five league to win 23 competitive matches in a row.

The 8-2 humiliation of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals is one of the most notable wins in Bayern’s record-breaking winning streak, which began against Cologne in February and ended with a defeat to Hoffenheim at the end of September.

They won a total of five trophies in 2020, including the UEFA Super Cup and the German Super Cup. 

Alongside Lewandowski, Flick and Bayern Munich were also honoured at the Globe Soccer Awards 2020 in recognition of the club’s outstanding year. Flick was also named the 2019/2020 UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year. 

BEST TEAM - TOP TEN

1 - FC Bayern Munich - Football - 1317 (34,68%)

2 - Liverpool F.C. - Football - 753 (19,83%)

3 - Los Angeles Lakers – Basketball - 658 (17,32%)

4 - Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team - Formula 1 - 436 (11,48%)

5 - Spanish National Handball Team – Handball - 140 (3,69%)

6 - Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic - Tennis - 129 (3,4%)

7 - Norway Biathlon Team (Female) – Biathlon - 107 (2,82%)

8 - Swiss Alpine Ski National Team - Alpine ski - 84 (2,21%)

9 - Norway Biathlon Team (Male) - Biathlon - 70 (1,84%)

10 - German Eight - Rowing - 48 (1,26%)

AIPS members from the following 116 nations participated in the Champions of 2020 poll:

Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Dr Congo, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Yemen

AIPS Media

Ghanaian duo Rahim Ibrahim and Joseph Amoah

Accra Lions FC has officially announced the transfer of midfielder Rahim Ibrahim and winger Joseph Amoah to Slovakian top-flight club AS Trencin.

Both players were instrumental in the scheme of things for Lions in their Division One League campaign last season.

"We continue to oxygenate our team, so to speak. The arrival of a pair of talented and motivated players is supposed to help," the general manager of the club, Róbert Rybníek expressed.

The 19-year-old duo becomes the 2nd and 3rd players to join Trencin from Lions after Ghana U23 star Osman Bukari.

"They came from the same environment as Bukari. We believe that his performance and path will follow. Osman is doing great advertising for us in Belgium today, and maybe in time it will be in an even higher-ranked league competition."

Bukari has since joined Belgian top-flight side KAA Gent after an excellent campaign last season in the Slovakian top division.

He scored 11 goals and provided 15 assists in 30 games in all competitions for Trencin.

Accra Lions FC is a popular football club in the capital of Ghana. They unearth, groom and market football players. They also expose and promote players on the international football market, by inviting scouts from all over the world to watch their talented rising stars.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

President of the Ghana Football Association Kurt E.S Okraku on Thursday, December 24, 2020 delivered a a touching Christmas message to members of the Association and the public at large. Read on for the full transcript:

Recounting 2020 as a challenging year

My dear colleagues in the football Industry. It is a privilege to come your way on this special occasion. On behalf of the Executive Council and the hardworking staff of the Ghana Football Association, I wish to thank you for your patience, loyalty and support in this challenging year of 2020. The year has presented us all with loads of challenges but I am particularly impressed by your show of solidarity, unity and sense of togetherness. To our stakeholders, I want to assure you that even though the year was full of problems and challenges. We started a big process of fixing the fundamentals of a sport as we journeyed to bringbackthelove. Indeed, we have made good gains in this desire and it is no doubt, 2021 will be a better one.

Message to Premier League clubs

To our Premier League clubs, I want to thank you for putting in your best in the ongoing Premier League campaign. What you have demonstrated in the six-week-old competition goes to confirm your dedication to the growth and development of Ghana football, and it’s worth commendation.

To Division One clubs, Women’s League clubs and Juvenile clubs

As the leader of this family, I also want to touch on the other competitions that are yet to start, i.e., the Division One League, Women’s Premier League, the Regional Leagues and Juvenile football. The Ghana Football Association is putting in measures to make the environment conducive so that together we can bringbackthelove and build structures for an unmovable and unshakable future.

Message to Hon. Isaac Asiamah and government

Our Sector Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah (Hon.), his Deputy, Hon. Perry Okudjato, staff of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the leadership and staff of the National Sports Authority, the leadership and staff of the Youth Employment Authority (YEA), we are more than happy to work with you and want to express our profound grateful to you for the unflinching support.

To supporters

To our supporters, both direct and indirect consumers of our products, I dearly hope that in 2021 the COVID-19 situation in our country will improve, so that stadiums will start to fill up again and that football, the game that unites us all, will continue to bring joy, hope, passion and emotions into our various homes.

To the 10 Regional Football Associations

It is worth mentioning that the Chairmen of our ten Regional Football Associations have been absolutely amazing in the discharge of their duties.  We would like to urge them to continue to work hard to push the industry.

To our stakeholders

To our stakeholders, the media, Security (Police, Military, Fire Service), referees, Schools and Colleges and the Professional Football Association of Ghana (PFAG), we say ‘ayekoo’ to you all. We will continue to count on you in 2021 and beyond.

To corporate Ghana and sponsors

Finally, I would like to thank corporate Ghana, especially our sponsors, MTN, Nasco, StarTimes, InterCity STC, Melcom, PUMA, Decathlon, ZAZ, Macron and Bethel Dental Clinic for being a driving force and a pillar behind us.

I wish you, your family and your loved ones Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous and healthy 2021, and I look forward to seeing you again in the New Year. May the Almighty God bless us all!!!.

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