Ghana sports thread

[obeeme]

The appointment of a new Black Stars coach will be made within the next three weeks, Ghana FA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi has revealed.

The Ghana FA is head hunting for a replacement for Goran Stevanovic who parted ways following his inability to lead Ghana to Nations Cup triumph in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.

A lot of names have emerged as possible candidates for the coveted job with ex-France international Marcel Desailly most likely to be appointed.

Nyantakyi however says the Executive Committee will be meeting in the coming days to fashion out modalities for the Serb’s replacement.

He hinted a decision could be reached latest within three weeks to give the new man enough time to settle in before Ghana’s first 2014 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in June.

“There is no format for the selection of the Black Stars coach,” he said during the Ghana FA’s first monthly press briefings in Cape Coast as part of the federation’s tour of the Central Region.

"The only criteria is competence.

“The Executive Committee will be meeting very soon to kick start the process of appointing the next Black Stars coach.

“We are looking at taking the decision very early so whoever takes over gets at least six weeks to prepare the team for the qualifiers in June.”

The Black Stars are billed to take on reigning African champions, the same side they lost to in the semi-finals of the 2012 AFCON a week after battling Lesotho.

[obeeme]

Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck chose to play for England over Ghana because Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his disquiet over the possibility of losing him for six weeks during the African Nations Cup.

According to well-placed sources, the legendary manager is reported to have told Welbeck that if he wanted to play regularly for Manchester United, he had to choose England instead of Ghana in order to preserve availability.

Sources reveal that had officials of the Ghana Football Association approached Ferguson and offered not to use him during the African Nations Cup, he might have had a change of heart and advised Welbeck to choose Ghana.

Welbeck, whose full name is Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah, has scored 9 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season.

[obeeme]

Black Stars and Italian giants, AC Milan midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari was on Thursday reprimanded by the Italian Police for wrongfully parking his Dodge Challenger SRT in a prohibited zone at Via Della Spiga, one of the Italian city of Milan's most prestigious and upscale shopping centres.

The on-loan AC Milan midfielder drove into the "fashion quadrilateral" as it is literally known to get a few items for his wardrobe but found himself on the wrong side of the Italian Police after returning from the shopping centre to move his car.

The player had illegally parked his about $24,995 Chrysler-powered Dodge Challenger on the pavement of the fashion shop arena and the adamant Policeman on duty did not spare the new Milan star by placing a “Police fine sticker” on the windscreen of the car to notify the Ghanaian star before his return from shopping.

Muntari, for his part upon return to find the notice, merely took a glimpse of the contravention, accepted the fine without complain and immediately drove off the scene.

Muntari since moving from rivals Inter in the January transfer window has had an impressive run featuring in six games and scored on his debut for Milan.**

[obeeme]

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is open to a return to Sunderland, according to reports from the Wearside.

The 26-year-old has been a hit at UAE side Al-Ain since his shock loan move to the Gulf in September last year.

Al-Ain officials are keen to tying down the Ghana international to a permanent.

Last month, the English Premier League side announced that an unnamed Qatari side had made a bid for the former Rennes ace.

But reports from Sunderland say manager Martin O’Neil is keen on getting Gyan back at the Stadium of Light to help his new project at the club.

“There have been talks in the past few days with the player (Gyan) who is quite open about returning to the club,” a Sunderland insider told the Sunderland Echo.

“O’Neil is leaving his options open at the end of the season and both parties will sit down for further talks in the summer and Gyan is positive about it.”

Gyan scored a brace last Friday to become the UAE Etisalat Pro League top scorer with 15 goals.

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Ex-France captain Marcel Desailly claims he has been approached by the Ghana Football Association to take-over as Black Stars coach.

The 43-year-old has been heavily linked with the vacant national team coaching job following the dismissal of Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic last month.

Local media have reported the former Chelsea defender has held talks with the Ghana FA although the latter has dispelled that.

Desailly-who returned from London last week-told the Africa Sports Newspaper owned by ace journalist Kwabena Yeboah that talks are underway for him to become the new coach.

"There is a lot to discuss and the following days could be interesting. If I have to accept the job, it's only fair it should be on my terms," Desailly said in an interview with the Africa Sports newspaper.

"For example, I should determine who I'm going to work with, be well briefed about issues like whether Kevin-Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan are returning to the squad etc," he added.

Desailly was shortlisted two years ago when Ghana was on the market for a new coach but he surprisingly pulled out of the race

The Ghana FA has promised to name Stevanovic's successor in two weeks.

The Black Stars begin the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June against Lesotho at home and a trip to Zambia.

[obeeme]

Ghana football legend was on SuperSport Soccer Africa on Thursday, and he put his weight behind Marcel Desailly to get the Black Stars job. The ex-Bayern Munich defender identified a pairing with current caretaker boss, Kwasi Appiah, to be an excellent combo for the side.

Ghana are gunning for a slot in the 2013 African Cup of Nations as well as the 2014 World Cup, but are currently without a head coach following the sacking of Goran Stevanovic weeks ago.

In the interim, the country's football governing body is headhunting, with Desailly the frontrunner from all indications. Kuffour pushed for Desailly on the hugely popular Soccer Africa show, saying Marcel's experience as a player and his knowledge of Ghana is a potent force that the team had harness.

"You need somebody who can push for things to happen and I think Marcel is such a person. He knows the game, which is very important. He understands what it means to play for a national team who everybody is looking up to," Kuffour said on the show.

He continued: "For me if there is a possibility, I think Desailly should be given the job. It will be nice to see Kwasi Appiah assist him, because he has been in the system for a long time and will give Marcel vital information on the local side. If you combine Marcel's international exposure and Kwasi's local wisdom, it will very great.”

Kuffour identified that the problem Ghana has had in the past with its successful expat coaches has been a knowledge of the world game, but a lack of depth when it comes to harnessing local talent. But he believes this combination will make things happen.

"If you look like somebody like [Ghana's former Serbian boss] Milovan [Rajevac], he was very good. He took the time to get local talents from the under 20 team that won the World Cup as well, so he had a good mix. If Marcel should come in, he has lived in Ghana on-and-off for quite some time now. He knows how Ghanaians like to see local players in the local league do well. I think he will pay attention to that."

Kuffour also addressed the issue of egos in the national team, and if Marcel will not have issues with it. "How will that happen? Marcel has won almost everything, so when somebody like that is in front of you, what you do is listen. I know he doesn't have coaching experience, but in life everything is a risk."

"I think Marcel is a good risk. But if he is chosen, we must make sure he takes the words of Kwasi Appiah seriously, because Kwasi knows what he is about. Trust me on that."

Soccer Africa airs every Thursday on SuperSport, and is the channel's flagship African football show.

[obeeme]

Action in the GLO Premier League is set to continue with some thrilling match ups. World Sports Centre previews Matchday 22.

Leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be aiming to maintain their position atop the league table against New Edubiase despite the club’s current turmoil regarding a FIFA order to make compensation payments to former coach Hans Dieter Schmidt, to the tune of 99,000 Euros within the next 30-days or risk being relegated to Division Two or worse.

Kotoko per the ruling must also pay the 64-year old coach an additional 11,000 Swiss Francs (9,100 Euros) as legal charges accumulated over a seven-year period. To say the Porcupine warriors face an uphill task will be a huge understatement. Whether Maxwell Konadu’s boys will be able to focus on business on the pitch remains to be seen.

There’s no doubt that New Edubiase will capitalize on the slightest lapse in concentration on the part of Kotoko. A win for the Edubiase lads will move up within the top four on the league table. Ashgold have been impressive in the second round of the GLO Premier league and seem intent on keeping their unbeaten run intact as they come up against bottom placed Bechem United at the Len Clay stadium. The miners have been in red hot form with striker Yakubu Mohammed leading the charge.

The striker has been in rich form this season having found the back of the net eleven times already. The match is a must win for Bechem United who are in desperate need of points, and will undoubtedly go all out to secure maximum points, to lift them off the relegation zone.

Accra Hearts of Oak have been inconsistent in a season many expected them to produce the form that made them such a nightmare for opposing teams in seasons past. The Phobians now lie in fourth place and twelve points behind rivals Asante Kotoko.

Coach C.K. Akunnor will be hoping to earn his first win against Aduana Stars after losing on his debut to Liberty Professionals. Aduana occupy the third position on the log and will be no pushover at Dormaa Ahenkro.

The home team will be aiming to reclaim the second spot after being pushed to third by Ashgold and only a win can ensure that. Hearts will need to win to give themselves any chance of catching up with rivals Asante Kotoko and avoid slipping further below the league standings.

Wa All Stars and Wassaman United square off in another tricky duel at Bekwai. Wa All Stars will aiming to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive as they welcome the Tarkwa based club.

Wassaman will be hoping to clinch all three points to lift them off the drop zone. Indeed leaving Bekwai empty handed could prove detrimental to their hopes of staying in the premier league beyond this season.

After their giant killing feat against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, Berekum Chelsea is expected to run over Ebusua Dwarfs at the Golden City Park. Dwarfs who were beaten in their last game by Asante must avoid defeat to ensure they maintain their mid table position. A defeat can potentially see them closer to the relegation zone.

Berekum Chelsea will no doubt be buoyed by their performance in the CAF Champions league against one of the continent’s heavy weights. Striker Emmanuel Clottey who hit hat trick in that encounter will surely go into this match with his confidence sky high.

Other matches to complete week 22 of the GLO Premier league will see Liberty Professionals taking on Mighty Jets, Medeama against Arsenal while Tema youth play Kpando Hearts of Lions.

GLO Premier League Week 22 fixtures:

AshantiGold FC vs Bechem United Tema Youth vs Heart of Lions Medeama SC vs Arsenals Liberty vs Mighty Jets Aduana Stars vs Hearts of Oak Wa All Stars vs Wassaman United Asante Kotoko vs Edubiase FC Berekum Chelsea vs Dwarfs

[obeeme]

Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals maintained their winning ways by beating Accra Tudu Mighty Jets 2-1 in their week 22 Premier League encounter at the Sly Tetteh Stadium, Dansoman on Sunday.

All three goals came in the first half with Liberty, who ended the match with 10-men after Atta Kusi was sent off in the closing stages, scoring as early as the first minute through in-form striker Latif Salifu.

Salifu lobbed the ball over the Mighty Jets goalie, Frank Andoh, who had come off his line in a harmless situation.

On 17 minutes, Liberty scored the second goal through Ernest Baffour whose feeble shot surprisingly beat keeper Andoh, who appeared jittery in the goal posts.

Down by two goals, Mighty Jets lifted up their game, as they made inroads into the Liberty half with Benjamin Eli Agbeko and Tamimu Muntari leading raids upfront.

Three minutes on their efforts yielded dividends with Isaac Klevor blasting home from a free-kick which Liberty goalie Daniel Agyei had no answer to.

The visitors pushed upfront in search of the equaliser but the Liberty defence which evolved around captain David Addo, Richard Antwi and Tuffuor Frimpong remained resolute to ward off any danger.

Liberty made a surprise substitution in the second half by replacing experience goalkeeper Agyei with Akwasi Acheampong, which did not go down well with their teeming supporters.

The game remained balance with the visitors pressurizing their hosts in their quest to draw even.

Seven minutes from time, during one of the raids upfront by Mighty Jets, Kusi fouled Muntari with a foot-up tackle and referee Thomas Nunoo did not hesitate to give the player the marching off order.

Liberty held on to their lead despite their numerical disadvantage by thwarting the several challenges by their opponents to cruise to victory from their city rivals.**

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Mr Ato Ahwoi, Board Chairman of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has dared the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to parade a private outfit, West Head as brokers of the Corporation’s sponsorship for the Black Stars at their own risk.

West Head Company has claimed it brokered a lucrative sponsorship deal involving the GNPC for the GFA but the Board Chairman has poured scorn on the claim insisting “the decision to sponsor the Black Stars emanated from us and no such third party”.

Asked if West Head approached the GNPC to sponsor the senior national team, Mr. Ahwoi told GNA Sports “who are they? I have not even heard the name before. We met as an outfit and decided to support the Black Stars as part of our corporate social responsibility”.

“We did not deal with any third party. If they continue to parade any third party, they risk getting nothing from us (GNPC),” he added.

The sponsorship deal worth a reported $3 million annually, for three-years will see the state agency responsible for the exploration, licensing and distribution of petroleum related activities replacing mining firm, Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), as the headline sponsors of the senior national team.

The GGL partnership with the GFA is expected to run out anytime soon but the mining firm has already expressed their unwillingness to continue with the $1.5 million-a-year marriage with the Black Stars. GGL’s sponsorship with the Black Stars lasted a near seven years from an initial $1.2 million in 2005.

In a bizarre twist like the infamous Mid-Sea palaver that headlined the sponsorship deal of telecommunications outfit, Glo Mobile Ghana with the GFA; GNA Sports can confirm that West Head are claiming responsibility as brokers of the deal.

Mr Ahwoi expressed surprise at the claim by the private firm, whose shareholders surprisingly serve on some Standing Committees of the GFA.

He told GNA Sports “I have already told Kwesi Nyantakyi that they risk losing everything if they continue with this claim, which is untrue and he has totally agreed. I will not tolerate that. The next thing you will hear is that I supervised this for a kick-back when indeed our decision to sponsor the team emanated from us and no such third party called West Head”.

The Directors of West Head, according to information gathered by GNA Sports are Aloysius Denkabe (Chairman, Referees Committee), Joseph Yaw Appiah (Member, Black Queens Management Committee) and Owuahene Acheampong (Member, FA Cup Committee and Black Satellites Management Committee).

Like Mid Sea, West Head will be entitled to 25-percent of the sponsorship package; 15-percent agency fee and other 10-percent for administrative fee, totaling in excess of $2 million for the total duration of the contract.

With GNPC dismissing claims of the existence of a third-party regarding the deal, it is however not known the destination of the over $2 million when the deal is finalized.

When contacted, Dr Denkabe confirmed to GNA Sports his shareholder role in West Head Company as well as Acheampong and Appiah.

With his other portfolio as Chief Executive Officer, Dr Denkabe, who is also a lecturer at the University of Ghana confirmed of being the initiator of the sponsorship deal after preliminary discussions with his friend who works at the GNPC.

Dr Denkabe, however, rejected claims of a ‘conflict of interest’ regarding his involvement and that of his two colleagues, insisting they are not members of the GFA Congress which constitutes the highest decision making organ of the football governing body.

He was the immediate past representative of the Constituent Bodies on the GFA Executive Committee, Owuahene from Ashantigold whilst Appiah has been a long-time representative of Tano Bofoakwa and one-time Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).

This development further tarnishes the fading image of the GFA with several cobwebs marring the current administration.

Meanwhile, GNPC looks set to be named as the headline sponsors of the GFA in the ensuing days.

[obeeme]

Striker Asamoah Gyan is not in Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah's first squad, despite talks aimed at getting him to return for the national team.

Also missing from the provisional party are Michael Essien and the injured Andre 'Dede' Ayew.

John Paintsil and former captain John Mensah have both been dropped.

In all there are nine locally-based players in the party of 30 - including three from African Champions League contenders Berekum Chelsea.

Berekum's Emmanuel Clottey is the top scorer in the club competition so far this year, with his 6 goals helping his side reach the last eight.

Coach Appiah has named six new players for this provisional line-up - including Swiss-based midfielder Ishmael Yartey and Christian Atsu, who plays in Portugal.

Asamoah Gyan took a break from international football after being targeted by fans following the country's Africa Cup of Nations disappointment.

He has promised to come back at some stage, but Ghana had been hopeful of persuading him to come back in time for the June qualifiers.

Ayew had an operation recently and Essien has been concentrating on his club career at Chelsea.

Under-20 World Cup star Dominic Adiyiah, who missed out on selection for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, returns to the party.

Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Robert Dabuo (Wa All Stars), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Cheslea), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China), Daniel Addo (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine) Rashid Sumaila (Dwarfs), Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese ,Italy), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Richard Mpong (Medema) Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ishamel Yartey, (Servette, Switzerland), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Emmanuel Baffour (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea).

[obeeme]

Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew has said although he will relish playing with Olympique Marseille next season, he is still open to talks.

The 22-year-old is a target of a number of top European clubs with English giants Arsenal keen to hand him a deal.

The left-footed player told Accra-based Citi FM that he is in no rush to leave the Stade Velodrome.

“I’m very young and it’s true I have been in Marseille for a very long time and I have had the opportunity to play all the competitions in the world, but now I’m going to sit down with my family and make a decision,” the 2009 Under-20 World Cup winner said.

Speculation is rife in the French media that the Ligue 1 side could be tempted to sell the son of African football legend, Abedi Pele, due to the club’s present financial situation, but OM’s sporting director Jose Anigo insists Ayew will not be sold this summer.

The reigning BBC African Player of the Year said what is most important to him now is to get back onto the field after undergoing a successful shoulder surgery a few weeks ago.

“One day I’m going to move from Marseille, but when I don’t know yet. I’m very happy at the club and I’m not in a hurry to go. It’s true that next year we won’t play in the Champions League, but we have Europa to fight for. We the players are going to correct our mistakes to get better next season.

“My staying at Marseille will not kill me, me going will also be a very sad moment for me but at the moment I’m just planning on strengthening my shoulder, hoping that I’m not going to feel any pain and soon I will be back on the pitch,” Ayew said.
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[obeeme]

Berekum Chelsea scored a late goal to seal a 3-2 win against Zamalek in a Group D match in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

Emmanuel Clottey got his second hat trick in the competition to give Chelsea an opening win at the Accra Sports Stadium and extends his goal tally to nine after hitting six in the qualifying rounds.

In their first match since reaching this season's Champions League group stage, the Berekum side had to always rally from behind as the Egyptian side opened the scoring at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Abdoulaye Cissé put the former champions in front after 21 minutes but Clottey drew his side level eight minutes later.

Cissé found target again in the 34th minute as Zamalek held onto their lead into the break.

A minute after the interval, Clottey struck in the 46th minute to equalise for Chelsea.

Then in the 90th minute, the Ghana international completed his scoring form when he finally put Chelsea in the lead to cap a great afternoon of brilliance.

Chelsea will travel to Lubumbashi to face TP Mazembe next on July 21.

[obeeme]

Johannes Van der Pluijm head coach of Berekum Chelsea FC has lauded his team’s fighting spirit displayed during their CAF Champions League group phase opener against Zamalek of Egypt on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The 2010/2011 Premier League champions came from behind twice to snatch a 3-2 victory over the five-time winners and the Dutchman tells GNA Sports that his team's determination did the trick.

Striker Emmanuel Clottey scored a hat-trick including a last-gasp strike that sealed victory and ensured the visitors returned to their base empty handed.

Coach Van der Pluijm admitted that his side laboured in search of their feet in the opening half but recovered strongly to seal a famous victory over the Egyptian giants.

“In the beginning we made some mistakes, but we recovered in the second half. The mentality and determination of my players was positive.

“When you play against a team like Zamalek and you come back twice, then it’s a fantastic result. I have to give credit to my boys,” said Van der Pluijm.

The Dutchman said they are looking forward to their next match at the group phase of the competition.

The Ghanaian representatives will next play against TP Mazembe of DR Congo on July 22 in Lubumbashi.**

[obeeme]

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has announced that Asamoah Gyan has been appointed permanent captain of the Black Stars.

This follows the decision to elevate John Mensah to the role of a General captain of the senior national team.

“I have the pleasure of announcing that defender John Mensah has been elevated to the General Captain of the Black Stars,” Kwesi Appiah said in a statement.

“Subsequently, I have appointed Asamoah Gyan as the permanent captain of the Black Stars.

“John Mensah remains an integral member of the Black Stars.

“I urge all players to give the necessary support to Asamoah Gyan to help Ghana achieve success in our future challenges.”

Source: Ghana FA

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Cape Verde coach: Mourinho will help me vs. Ghana

Cape Verde coach Lucio Antunes has apparently learned a lot from friend and mentor Jose Mourinho, including how to engage in the occasional coaching mind game.

Antunes pretended to be on the phone with Mourinho on Friday after telling reporters the Real Madrid coach would help him with his tactics for the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals against Ghana on Saturday.

Antunes could have been joking and engaging in Mourinho-like mind games when he smiled widely when answering a question on whether Mourinho had also already helped him guide his underdog team to the last eight in South Africa.

Antunes said at the beginning of the African Cup that he and Mourinho never spoke about football. But he changed that position on the eve of Cape Verde's quarterfinal match against one of the title favorites and in response to the Ghanaian media's growing interest in his relationship with one of the world's top managers.

"Yes, it is true. Today we will be talking after I know what the composition of Ghana's team is," Antunes said, smiling. "So yes, we are talking and Jose Mourinho is giving me advice."

Antunes then held a cellphone to his head and said "Hello, Jose," as he left the news conference laughing.

What was clear was Antunes' opinion that Cape Verde wasn't as big an underdog as many thought against four-time African champion Ghana.

"We are now more confident," Antunes said after Cape Verde surprised to reach the second round in its first major tournament, eliminating Morocco and Angola on the way. "And we are confident that we are going down to the final."

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah also recognized the threat Antunes' team represented to his favored Ghana team, which was still expected to go through to the semifinals despite any possible help for Cape Verde from Mourinho.

"With Cape Verde, they have never even qualified for the quarterfinals before," Appiah said. "For them to be there is a big achievement. Certain teams have no pressure on them.

[obeeme]

Ghana coach demands an improved performance from his players for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Cape Verde as the Black Stars bid to reach the last four.

The Black Stars, four-time champions will be up against the Blue Sharks in Saturday's clash in Port Elizabeth.

Cape Verde, making their tournament debut, defied pre-tournament expectation to sail into the quarter-finals while the competition has bid goodbyes to the likes of defending champions, Zambia, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

“I have drawn their [players] attention to the fact that Cape Verde can be a threat and it is important that they all focus on them and take each game as it comes,” the Ghana coach, Kwesi Appiah said on Thursday in Port Elizabeth.

Ghana clinched first place in Group B but Appiah expects his players to put in more intensity and go the extra mile to secure a semi-final place.

The Black Stars after their opening 2-2 draw against DR Congo, beat Mali 1-0 and finished off the group campaign with a 3-0 victory against Niger.

“We need to do extra work and the players need to fight more than what they’ve done already,” he said.

The two sides last met in a friendly in November 2012, when a goal from Mubarak Wakaso handed Ghana a 1-0 win in Portugal.

However, things have changed since that day with the Blue Sharks showing much improvement.

“I have always said that even though we won 1-0 in Portugal in a friendly game and looking at the games they’ve played so far, I totally believe they are a strong side and it’s not going to be easy,” Appiah said.

[lolita31]

Originally Posted by obeeme

Cape Verde coach: Mourinho will help me vs. Ghana

He was obivously joking....I'm not sure why they even wrote an article about it.

[obeeme]

Four-time champions Ghana have hit form at the right time and should end the fairy tale run of Cape Verde when the teams clash Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
After struggling in their drawn opening group game against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Black Stars were a different class when easing past Niger 3-0 in one of their best displays in a long time.
However, coach Kwesi Appiah fired a warning shot to title rivals when he said his team are still far from their best.
"We stepped up against Niger but, with 11 debutants at this competition, we can do much better," said the former international defender.
"There were a few details I was not happy about in our last game, a few cases of tactical indiscipline, but we are about 70% toward our capability now."
Since 2004, both teams have clashed three times with Ghana posting a perfect record against the Blue Sharks.
Last November, Ghana beat Cape Verde 1-0 in Portugal in a friendly, but Appiah said he would not read too much into that result.
"It won't be an easy game against a physical, tactically disciplined side like Cape Verde, who have nothing to lose at this stage of the competition," said the handler.
Ghana will be a full-strength after three injury-hit stars -- Mubarak Wakaso, Anthony Annan and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom -- returned to training.
Wakaso was the match-winner against Mali and also scored the only goal against Cape Verde in Lisbon last year. He missed the Niger match because of a ban, and would have been sidelined anyway by a sore knee.
In his absence, Porto youngster Christian Atsu shone, and Appiah said he could line up both players against Cape Verde because they can operate in various positions.
Solidarity and the motivational skills of coach Lucio Antunes have combined to write one of the biggest success stories at this tournament.
Antunes, an air traffic controller on a sabbatical, had a six-day internship under Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho before the Cup of Nations and said his team will not be overwhelmed against Ghana.
"They are one of the best teams in Africa, but we will keep working hard and believe we can win," said the 46-year-old.
The Blue Sharks were not overawed on the opening day of the tournament against hosts South Africa in front of a 80,000 crowd at Soccer City in Soweto, having the better of a goalless draw.
Skipper Nando, Ryan Mendes and Platini have already carved a niche for themselves at Africa's showpiece football event, giving hope to all the less fancied teams.

[obeeme]

Ghana will seek to register a quadruple over Burkina Faso when both meet at the semifinal stage of the Africa Cup of Nations billed for the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday.
The Stars have won all three previous meetings against the Burkinabes who are entering a last four appearance for the first time since 1998 when they hosted the tournament and both lock horns at the Mbombela pitch that has come under several criticisms for its quality for a place in the grand finale.
While the Black Stars were semifinalists at the last competition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where they lost to eventual winners, Zambia, the Burkinabe’s exited at the first round, making their run thus far in the South Africa competition a fine one.
Both countries topped their respective groups and went ahead to book a place in the last four, and the Mbombela battle which will be involving a Ghana side that has scored the most goals in the tournament against an opposition that has conceded the least is expected to be testy by any measure.
Without that, both teams have the capability to attack in equal measure. Despite Burkina Faso depleted in quality without injured Alain Traore; Jonathan Pitriopa who’s last minute header separated them from Togo at the knockout stage has acted enough threated to any team.
While Burkina Faso has picked only a ball from their net in four games, Ghana has conceded twice, making the difference marginal enough to anticipate a grueling meeting fit for a last four pairing.
The Stallions until Traore’s injury had had been reliant on the creative player to bang in the goals. But in his absence, Pitriopa has proved a worthy partnership with Moumouni Dagano and Kwasi Appiah will do his charges a lot of good by willing his defence, built around consistent John Boye to stay alert.
Equally, the Stars must stay vigilant with the aerial balls, one area that has proved problematic for the defence and goalkeeper Fatua Dauda as well.
With Ghana registering as many as five different players on the scorers sheet in four games, the Black Stars are expected to be spoilt for choice interms of finishers, making them a shade ahead of their opponents.
It is expected that Appiah will likely gift three-goal hero, Mubarak Wakaso a starting place in the game Ghana must win to inject a deeper hope into their hope of ending their Nations Cup glory that spans over three decades.
The battle lines are clearly drawn for a thrilling duel that determines who walk into the final and the continent awaits who next annex the ‘Holy Grail’ to succeed Zambia.
Source: GNA

[obeeme]

Ghana will play Kenya in a friendly football game in Nairobi in June, the football association said April 26, 2013.
The match will be played in the Kenyan capital June 1, 2013, according to the GFA.
“We have reached an agreement to play Kenya in a friendly as part of our preparations for our World Cup qualifiers in June,” the FA statement quoted President Kwesi Nyantakyi as saying.
The Black Stars will be camping in Nairobi ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Lesotho.
Ghana will use the match as a dress rehearsal for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Sudan on June 8.