Category: Athletic

Ghana legend, Augustine Arhinful has backed Chris Hughton for the vacant Black Stars coaching job following Otto Addo’s departure.

Addo has left his role following the Black Stars’ elimination from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 2-0 defeat against Uruguay.

After defeating South Korea in their second group game, the Black Stars needed a draw or win against Uruguay to advance to the last 16 stage but failed.

In an interview, the former Ghana international asserted it will not be out of place if the Ghana FA appoints Chris Hughton to lead the national team.

“He [Chris Hughton] was part of the technical team for the World Cup and I believe whatever he has learned he has learned,” he told Vision 1 FM.

“The challenges he has encountered and others, I am sure if given the job he can be his own man because I am people have whispered into his ears and he knows what he can do when given the job.

“It will not be out of place if he is given the job,” he added.

Chris Hughton, who is a former Newcastle United and Brighton boss served as the technical advisor for the Black Stars.

Meanwhile, the vice president of the Ghana Football Association [GFA], Mark Addo has hinted that there is a plan to replace Otto Addo.

Source: Modern Ghana

Croatia are ready to challenge “terrifying favourites” Brazil in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday, says manager Zlatko Dalic.

Dalic’s side came through extra time three times in the knockout rounds at the 2018 World Cup before losing 4-2 to France in the final.

Croatia beat Japan in the last 16 on Monday on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

“Brazil is the favourite, let’s face it,” Dalic said.

“Brazil is the most powerful and the best national team at the World Cup. What I’ve seen so far, when you take a look at their selection of players, their quality, skills and value, then it is indeed terrifying.

“I think we have a great exam ahead of us, a tough task against the team which plays great soccer with so many good quality and fast players.”

Dalic added that Croatia, ranked 12th in the world, winning the knock-out match would not be a huge upset.

“I think we have nothing to fear,” Dalic said. “We need to enter the match with much faith, self-confidence and looking for our chances, enjoy the occasion of playing Brazil, that’s it. [It’s] too early, if only it were the final.

“It is a great team, but I believe that we can challenge them, we need to be smart … The match is not 50-50, but we are also not outsiders.”

Croatia would face Argentina or the Netherlands in the semi-finals if they beat Brazil

Source: Modern Ghana

A former Deputy Information Minister under the erstwhile Mahama administration Felix Kwakye Ofosu has slammed the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government over the debt restructuring program.

The government, according to Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, is useless for defaulting on its debt obligations.

In a post on social media, the former deputy minister described the current administration as the worst ever in the country.

“Ghana has officially defaulted on its debt and has announced a debt restructuring program,” his post began.

“This officially makes the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government the very worst in the history of the fourth republic if not in our entire history. What a useless government!” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu yelled in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, has officially launched a debt restructuring programme that aims to restore Ghana’s economy overwhelmed by unmanageable and unsustainable debt.

In his speech, Mr. Ofori-Atta claimed that there will be no haircut on investments.

“The Government of Ghana has been working hard to minimise the impact of the domestic debt exchange on investors holding government bonds, particularly small investors, individuals, and other vulnerable groups.”

In line with this, government has announced that Treasury Bills are completely exempted, and all holders will be paid the full value of their investments on maturity.

“There will be no haircut on the principal of bonds. Individual holders of bonds will not be affected,” the minister emphasised.

Source: Modern Ghana

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku has said they are not ready at the moment to announce Otto Addo’s successor.

Following Ghana’s elimination from the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Otto Addo, who steered the team’s qualification to the Mundial has resigned from his role.

Addo has resumed his role as a talent coach for Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

However, Mr. Okraku speaking to Graphic Sports hinted that the country’s football governing body would take its time to consider the options available to engage the key stakeholders, including the government, before arriving at the best candidate for the job.

He also hinted that such an important announcement would not be made before the end of the year, especially as the senior national team would not have any immediate engagement before their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola next March in Luanda.

Earlier, the FA Vice-President, Mark Addo, told the media that the FA would first wait for the technical report from Otto Addo to be laid before the FA’s decision-making Executive Council for deliberation before initiating the process of appointing the next national team coach.

“We knew that Coach (Otto Addo) will be leaving in six months, so we do have a succession plan,” Mr Addo told a media briefing in Doha last Saturday.

“We’re just going through the process, it’s a process and you know the GFA works with different stakeholders in this decision-making process.

“Like I said, the first thing is to. get our report in quickly, have a meeting with our stakeholders, including the President, the Executive Council and Government and once that is done, we will make a decision on his successor. So yes, we have a plan,” the FA vice-president stated.

Ghana exited the tournament with three points after recording two defeats and one win.

Source: Modern Ghana

Portugal could start their last-16 game against Switzerland on Tuesday night with Cristiano Ronaldo stripped of the captain’s armband or not even in the starting line-up following his angry reaction to being replaced midway through the second-half of the final pool game against South Korea.

“I didn’t like it, not at all,” said Portugal boss Fernando Santos on the eve of Portugal’s clash at the Lusail Stadium.

“I really didn’t like it but we fixed that in-house and that’s it.

“I only decide who’s going to be the captain when I reach the stadium.”

Portugal are attempting to reach the quarter-final for the first time since 2006.

Feat

Ronaldo played in that campaign in Germany where they eventually finished fourth.

When he scored in the opening Group H game against Ghana on 23 November, Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cup tournaments.

But he has not hit the target since that 3-1 victory over the Africans

Bruno Fernandes claimed both in the 2-0 win over Uruguay and Ricardo Horta scored the opener in the 2-1 loss to South Korea on 2 December when Ronaldo threw his tantrum.

A poll in Portugal suggested fans no longer want the 37-year-old in the national team.

Challenge

Questions over Ronaldo’s status are unlikely to ruffle the Swiss who have not reached the last eight since 1954.

“It is a big opportunity for us to make history for Switzerland,” said coach Murat Yakin.

“We have seen how euphoric the Swiss people are about being at this stage of the competition.”

Portugal and Switzerland met in the Uefa Nations League in June. Switlzerland lost 4-0 in Lisbon but won 1-0 in Geneva.

“We would love to give our fans at least one more game to enjoy, added Yakin. “We’ve proven that we’re able to beat Portugal.”

Stage

The winner will play either Morocco or Spain on Saturday evening at the Al Thumama Stadium. They clash at the Education City Stadium.

Morocco, who topped Group F with a draw against Croatia, followed by wins over Belgium and Canada, have never advanced to the last eight.

“Everyone wants to come to Doha,” said Morocco boss Hoalid Regragui. “We could fill two stadiums with our fans.

“We’re going to give it our all and we don’t want to leave the competition with any regrets.”

Fortunes

Spain launched their campaign with a 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica. That was followed by a 1-1 draw with Germany.

During their 2-1 loss to Japan in the final game of Group E on 1 December, they were out of the competition for around five minutes after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead over Germany.

The Germans fought back to win 4-2 and restore Spain.

“Luckily, that defeat has been resolved and we are clear about what we have to do,” said Spain midfielder Gavi.

“We are in the round of 16 and there are some very good teams that haven’t been able to do it. That’s why we have to really think that this pressure is a privilege.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Former Ghana coach, Otto Addo has advised the Black Stars to pick valuable lessons from the defeat to Uruguay last Friday.

The four-time African champions suffered a 2-0 defeat against the South American side in their final Group H game at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Speaking to the media after the defeat, the 47-year-old challenged the players to believe in themselves and be ready for anything.

He explained that while the Uruguayans were quick to defend the rebound from the penalty, the Black Stars players were nowhere near the box.

“There are some small things we can learn from the Uruguayans, and that includes mentality.

“If you take the penalty for instance, and if you watched it closely, you’d realize about six or seven Uruguay players came to defend the second ball (rebound), but with us, nobody was there to take the chance (after goalkeeper Sergio Rochet saved the ball and spilled it back into play).

“First, we’ve got to believe in ourselves and be ready for anything. This is what the young players must learn. And with all the talents available, we have to build our mindset,” said the coach.

The Black Stars exited the tournament with three points after three games. Ghana recorded two defeats and one win.

Meanwhile, Otto Addo has resigned from his role as the head coach of the team following the elimination.

Source: Modern Ghana

Goncalo Ramos scored a stunning hat trick as a slick Portugal thrashed Switzerland, 6-1, on Tuesday to storm into the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos made the brave call to bench Cristiano Ronaldo and was rewarded with an artful display from his side as they set up a last-eight clash with Morocco, who stunned Spain in a penalty shootout earlier on Tuesday.

Ramos, making his first start at the World Cup, gave Portugal the lead in the 17th minute after latching onto Joao Felix’s pass and smashing the ball past Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer at his near post from an acute angle.

The 21-year-old Benfica striker scored his second, and Portugal’s third, six minutes after the break by getting onto the end of Diogo Dalot’s low cross and he completed his hat trick in the 67th with a delicate dinked finish.

Pepe had doubled Portugal’s lead with a powerful header from a Bruno Fernandes corner after 33 minutes and Raphael Guerreiro rifled in their fourth in the 55th before Rafael Leao completed the rout in added time with a curled finish.

Manuel Akanji scored a consolation goal for the Swiss from a corner just before the hour.

Morocco 3, Spain 0

Achraf Hakimi calmly converted a penalty to send Morocco through to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 3-0 shootout win over former champions Spain after a cagey last-16 clash ended goalless on Tuesday.

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved spot-kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets after Pablo Sarabia had hit the post and Spanish-born Hakimi held his nerve to earn his team a quarter-final against either Portugal or Switzerland.

Morocco became only the fourth African nation to reach the last eight of the tournaments, 12 years after Ghana did so in South Africa.

After a scrappy match finished deadlocked at 0-0 after extra time with few shots on target, Morocco fed off the raucous support of their red-clad supporters in the shootout as Spain crumbled.

Spain enjoyed more than 75% of possession and completed almost 800 passes but Morocco caused problems for them on the counterattack and goalkeeper Unai Simon made some good saves.

It was the fourth time Spain have been knocked out of the World Cup on penalties and the second in a row.

Source: Voice of America

The Minority in Parliament have expressed disappointment in the governing New Patriotic Party MPs for abandoning the 2023 budget debate for Qatar to watch the ongoing World Cup.

According to the Minority, the action of the cabinet ministers who double as MPs is a show of disrespect to Ghanaians.

During the budget debate, MPs like Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh were spotted in Qatar enjoying the World Cup.

Majority of the NPP MPs were also missing on the floor of the house leaving the budget debate for the Minority MPs.

Reacting to this, the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, at a press conference in Accra on Monday, 6 December 2022, said despite the fact that the 2023 budget statement was completely devoid of any convincing plan to get the country out of the economic mess and turmoil “we have been utterly shocked at the show of disrespect and disinterest in the budget process by the very government that presented it.”

Mr Iddrisu said the Minority has “been left dumbfounded as Cabinet Ministers who double as MPs and who form part of the government that has superintended over the greatest economic crisis of our time abandoned the important budget debate and approval process only to be seen in Qatar making merry and taking selfies during the world cup.”

“Never in our history has a government exhibited such poor judgement and they have by this singular act placed beyond any doubt, that they have no respect for the people of Ghana, or the mandate bestowed on them to govern,” he added.

Mr Iddrisu noted that the Minority was particularly stunned that President Akufo-Addo allowed this to happen.

Source: Modern Ghana