by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | africa, football clubs, ghana, soccer, sports
By Simon Asare
Accra, March 24, GNA – Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, won against Madagascar with a score of 3-0 in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match held at the Al Hoceima Grand Stadium in Morocco.
Thomas Partey netted two goals and Mohammed Kudus contributed one as the Black Stars secured a dominant win over Madagascar.
In Group I, Ghana tops the standings with 15 points, followed closely by Madagascar with 10 points. Mali and Comoros share the third position with nine points apiece.
The Central African Republic ranks fifth with five points, whereas Chad sits at the bottom of the group without any points.
The Ghana coach, Otto Addo, introduced some alterations by beginning with Jerome Opoku and Abu Francis in the lineup while leaving out Ernest Nuamah and Inaki Williams as substitutes.
The Black Stars began the match strongly, putting pressure on Madagascar’s defense, with Salisu Mohammed nearly scoring in the fifth minute.
In the 11th minute, Partey gave the BlackStars the lead with a strong header off Jordan Ayew’s exquisite cross at the edge of the penalty area.
The Ghanaian team’s defensive setup was remarkably solid during the initial thirty minutes, effectively curbing their adversaries’ offensive efforts.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, appearing for the second time with the Black Stars, enjoyed a relatively calm first half as Madagascar struggled to get their shots on target within the penalty area.
Ghana maintained their single-goal advantage of 1-0 as the match reached halftime.
Ghana’s Black Stars began the second half strongly and added a buffer with a goal from Thomas Partey, who directed his header into the net following a fine delivery from Jordan Ayew.
In the 59th minute, Kudus Mohamed extended the Black Stars’ lead with his third goal, assisted by Jordan Ayew.
Ghana’s captain Ayew pulled off an assist hat-trick in a magnificent performance, leading his team to an easy win.
Madagascar tried hard to cut down the deficit, yet Ghana remained firm in their defense and managed to keep a shutout throughout the full 90 minutes.
Ghana will proceed with their bid for qualification during the upcoming rounds in September, featuring matches against Chad and Mali.
GNA
KOA
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | africa, coaching, football clubs, soccer, sports
The assistant coach of Amavubi, Eric Nshimiyimana, stated that his team learned valuable lessons from their recent 2-0 loss to Nigeria and aims to utilize these insights effectively before facing the Lesotho Crocodiles on Tuesday at Amahoro Stadium. This match remains crucial for keeping their aspirations for qualifying for the World Cup 2026 intact.
Rwanda slipped down to third position within Group C following this setback against Nigeria; however, Nshimiyimana believes they gained constructive elements during the encounter which could aid them towards securing victory over Lesotho. Following the defeat to Nigeria, acceptance was necessary. Football involves continuous learning and improvement—we must address certain errors swiftly since our next contest looms closer than expected. Some positive aspects emerged from the previous match, offering us opportunities to enhance performance moving forward. The upcoming fixture versus Lesotho requires an altered strategy compared to prior engagements, according to remarks made by Nshimiyimana during a preparatory media briefing held Monday.
It is imperative now more than ever that every player gives everything they’ve got when confronting Lesotho, aiming solely for maximum point accumulation. Fortunately, all squad members remain physically ready leading up to Wednesday’s showdown. Despite being sidelined owing to amassed cautionary warnings, team leader Djihad Bizimana shall not participate in subsequent play; nonetheless, Coach Nshimiyimana expressed confidence in available alternatives capable of filling the leadership void left behind. Instead, Thierry Manzi steps into command duties as designated captain going forth. Achieving triumph through such efforts places Amavubi firmly in second slot standings with ten total credits accrued thus far.
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | chelsea f.c., football clubs, investing, soccer, sports
Todd Boehly, who is a co-owner of Chelsea, has stated that decisions regarding the club’s stadium will be essential in shaping the future ownership framework of the team.
On Monday, The Telegraph reported that Boehly, who holds 38.5 percent of Chelsea along with Clearlake Capital founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, stated that the matter of building a new stadium might unite the ownership group or cause them to part ways.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Boehly said, “It’s essential for us to consider the future and our objectives. There is a significant chance related to developing stadiums that needs exploration. This project will likely determine whether we stay on the same path or choose separate directions.”
The Stamford Bridge redevelopment has been a contentious issue, with Chelsea exploring the possibility of building a new stadium on the current site or moving to a different location.
Approval from the Chelsea Pitch Owners organization would be necessary for any relocation decisions. The club president and chief operating officer, Jason Gannon, has been tasked with managing the stadium project, with anticipated advancements coming during the summer season.
Boehly and Clearlake, who took over Chelsea nearly three years ago for £2.5 billion, have reportedly faced internal tensions over the club’s direction. It was revealed earlier this season that both parties have considered buying each other out.
According to sources, Boehly feels that the collaborative partnership with Clearlake is nearing a critical juncture; however, Clearlake insists on maintaining its position of retaining its 61.5 percent controlling share without plans to divest.
Boehly holds a 38.5% stake alongside Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter, each owning an equal portion. It’s unlikely that Boehly will offload his share separately. If Clearlake were to acquire control, they would have to purchase both Wyss’ and Walter’s stakes too, which could total over £1.5 billion.
Boehly likewise suggested the potential for building a stadium capable of hosting various sports events, such as basketball games. “Developing stadiums is certainly a priority,” he stated. “We will witness the NBA expanding into Europe, where new venues and arenas will be necessary.”
Recognizing the intricacies involved in constructing a stadium in London, Boehly stated, “We have 16 to 20 years to sort this out. Building inside London is incredibly complicated. It’s different from erecting structures in remote areas. There are numerous groups whose interests must be taken into account; undoubtedly, the Chelsea supporters form an important part of these considerations. In the long run, I believe we will develop a new solution for this.”
Even though Chelsea has faced difficulties on the field during the present ownership, failing to secure any titles or qualify for the Champions League since they took over, Boehly still holds a positive outlook regarding the team’s financial and athletic prospects. He feels confident that Chelsea’s value exceeds the £2.5 billion he and Clearlake invested in acquiring the club.
It isn’t simply because they didn’t win last year or failed to win this year,” he clarified. “This club has just commemorated its 120th anniversary. So, I’d answer ‘yes,’ it’s more valuable than our initial investment.
Boehly also pointed out Chelsea’s extensive global fan base as a crucial factor for sustained expansion.
The potential to expand our audience globally is immense because, unlike American sports, we can develop internationally and create new income streams from this global following,” he stated. “I believe the possibilities are vast, and the Premier League is well-positioned for this.
He also recognized the rising competitiveness of English football, saying, “As the owner of Chelsea, one of the challenging aspects is how competitive the Premier League has become. However, one of the exciting parts of participating in the Premier League is precisely this heightened competition.”
Currently, Chelsea holds a position in the upper middle section of the Premier League standings, and Boehly continues to express confidence in the club’s ongoing initiative.
“If you examine the development of the squad, we’ve been consistent in our objectives and vision for building the team. This roster is youthful with lengthy contract commitments. The foundation remains stable over time, reflecting a sustained strategy, and I believe we’re implementing a plan that will ensure Chelsea reaches its rightful place,” he stated.
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | european football, football clubs, football players, italy, sports
Should Italy fail to secure a spot in the World Cup for the third time in a row, a disappointing goal could go down in history as part of yet another significant disappointment.
When goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the whole Italian defensive lineup were objecting to the referee, Joshua Kimmich executed a brief corner kick which found Jamal Musiala. Musiala then capitalized on the open net to extend Germany’s advantage to 2-0 against Italy during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal match held in Dortmund.
Germany took an early lead with a score of 3-0 at halftime before Italy mounted a comeback to secure a 3-3 tie. However, the home team still progressed with a total aggregate score of 5-4 on Sunday.
The second goal cost us dearly,” stated Italy’s coach Luciano Spalletti. “That was something we could have easily prevented. Nonetheless, they are my players, and I’ll stand behind them at all times, although some critique might be warranted.
This outcome indicates that Italy will be part of a five-team World Cup qualification group with Erling Haaland’s Norway rather than being in a four-team group where the top-ranked country is Slovakia.
Securing first place in the group guarantees automatic advancement to next year’s tournament in North America. The team finishing second enters the playoff round—the phase wherein Italy failed after losing to Sweden and North Macedonia, thus missing out on the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Italian team has won the World Cup four times, with their sole absence occurring during the 1958 tournament.
Norway started the qualifiers impressively with a 5-0 victory away against Moldova on Saturday. In the same group as Italy, Israel also began strong with a 2-1 win over Estonia.
On Tuesday, Norway will return to the field against Israel, who will host their “home” match in Debrecen, Hungary.
Italy will begin their qualification process in June, starting with a match against Norway and concluding their group stage encounters against the team spearheaded by Manchester City’s prolific forward, Erling Haaland.
“We cannot afford to fail,” stated Italy’s defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Spalletti mentioned he mocked his team during halftime.
The coach mentioned that they managed to assemble a strong second half.
Nevertheless, Italy seemed bewildered for much of both matches. They allowed two header goals resulting in a 2-1 defeat in the initial encounter, and Spalletti admitted that he made an error with his starting formation for the second leg.
There isn’t much more space left for errors now.
Donnarumma has also committed mistakes while playing for PSG.
Donnarumma has also committed several significant mistakes during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.
During a Champions League quarter-final match against Barcelona in the previous season, Donnarumma did not rush out to claim a corner kick, allowing central defender Andreas Christensen to score with a header.
Donnarumma’s uncertainty was mirrored in the semifinal second leg against Borussia Dortmund when defender Mats Hummels jumped uncontested to direct Julian Brandt’s corner kick from the left into the net — identical to how Christensen scored.
Has also faced criticism this season in the Champions League due to some errors — despite saving two penalties in a penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool earlier this month.
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by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | controversies, football clubs, politics, soccer, sports
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Activist and academic Fred Ogola has responded to claims that he orchestrated the anti-Ruto protests during the Kenya versus Gabon game.
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Previously, in another video, Ogola encouraged Kenyan supporters to organize a collective demonstration during the match.
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In an interview with LIFEHACK.co.ke, he insists the focus should be on addressing Kenyans’ economic grievances rather than identifying organisers of the protests
The LIFEHACK.co.ke correspondent Ivan Mboto boasts more than three years of expertise in covering political and contemporary issues within Kenya.
Fred Ogala, an esteemed scholar and advocate, has addressed allegations that he was behind the anti-Ruto protests that shook Nyayo Stadium during the Harambee Stars versus Gabon game on Sunday, March 23rd.
A popular video prior to the match showed Ogola encouraging soccer supporters to participate in a symbolic demonstration. He can be seen directing them to begin their chant at the 6th minute and 25th second of the encounter.
He pointed out that this particular timing held great significance, representing what he called the erosion of Kenya’s newfound independence for those advocating for an inclusive administration following the discussions led by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
“When it reaches the sixth minute, 25th second, start shouting until the stadium gets wild. Why? Because that is the day that our independence after impeaching Parliament was taken by the broad-based government proponents,” he was heard saying.
In comparing it to Spain, Ogola mentioned the custom where Catalans demonstrate their opposition to the Spanish government during El Clásico matches.
He shared that during his five-year stay in Barcelona, every time Real Madrid played against Barcelona, at exactly 17 minutes and 14 seconds into the game, supporters would create a commotion to mark the year 1714 when Catalans lost their autonomy to Spain.
Was Fred Ogola responsible for the anti-Ruto slogans at Nyayo Stadium?
Speaking to
LIFEHACK.co.ke
Ogola refuted assertions that he alone was accountable for the chants, asserting that millions of Kenyans hold comparable views regarding President William Ruto’s leadership.
Regarding the claims that I was one of the organizers behind the chants, allow me to state that numerous individuals, possibly as high as 53 million Kenyans, share this viewpoint. Thus, whether or not I organized them doesn’t really matter. What truly matters is that people believe the president ought to step down,” he stated.
He explained that his purpose was solely to demonstrate how these demonstrations can occur during games, based on his five-year residency in Barcelona.
“I saw people using social forums to express their feelings, and I am happy Kenyans came out in large numbers to do so,” he added.
Ogola likewise downplayed efforts aimed at pinpointing the organizers, encouraging people instead to tackle the urgent economic issues confronting Kenyan citizens.
If they claim it’s about me, then who organized the event in Naivasha?” he questioned. “Instead of focusing on who the organizers are, they should address the core issues at hand. Kenyans face severe economic challenges such as unemployment, excessive taxation, high living costs, and insufficient employment opportunities, yet the president is providing purely political solutions to these problems.
He encouraged Ruto to carefully consider the underlying causes of increasing dissatisfaction among Kenyans.
“If solving the issue isn’t possible, the cries of ‘Ruto must leave’ will persist, regardless of whether I was involved or not. Instead of searching for who did what and who organized what, he should address these concerns,” he stated.
LIFEHACK.co.ke
.
Supporters burst into Nyayo Stadium to watch the Kenya versus Gabon game.
As reported elsewhere, enthusiastic supporters rushed into Nyayo National Stadium, causing damage to one of the entrances before the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier between Kenya and Gabon. Despite drawing large crowds due to its significance, all the tickets were snapped up by Saturday night.
Due to the restricted number of seats, numerous fans who didn’t have tickets tried to enter, leading to pandemonium at the venue. Footage uploaded by reporter Seth Olale depicted throngs pushing their way into the stands.
The match that concluded with a 2-1 loss for the home side was Harambee Stars’ inaugural competitive home game since they beat Rwanda in 2021.
by admin | Mar 24, 2025 | africa, football clubs, politics, soccer, sports
Senegal, a dominant force in African football, will face Sudan on Saturday evening in a clash to determine the top spot in Group B during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Sudan leads the group with 10 points from three victories and one draw. In third place is Senegal, the 2021 African champions, trailing by two points following the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 1-0 victory against South Sudan on Friday evening.
“Morale is high,” stated Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw. “We’re discussing securing a spot in theصند
World Cup.
Every game feels like a finale for us. We’ve consecutively won two World Cups, and we aim to secure a hat-trick this time around. We will pull out all the stops to emerge victorious.”
Senegal
encounter Togo on Tuesday evening, whereas Sudan play against South Sudan and DRC go up against Mauritania.
Thiaw, who became the head coach in December after succeeding Aliou Cisse, who had been in charge for nine years, stated, “Nothing at all will be simple.”
However, we are ready. The athletes comprehend the significance of what is on the line for our sport, for our nation, and for their own careers.
On Friday evening, the African champions Côte d’Ivoire seized control of Group F following their 1-0 victory against Burundi. Evann Guessand found the back of the net in the 16th minute, which placed Émerveil Pambey’s team at 13 points, just one point above Gabon.
In Group I, Ghana dominated last-place Chad with a score of 5-0. Antoine Semenyo gave the home team an ideal beginning in Accra when he scored just two minutes into the match.
Inaki Williams extended their lead just before halftime, and Jordan Ayew scored from the spot six minutes thereafter to assert dominance over the match.
Following the break, Mohammed Salisu and Ernest Nuamah provided the finishing touch.
Launch
In Group C, Nigeria revived their campaign with a 2-0 victory against leaders Rwanda.
Star striker
Victor Osimhen
scored both goals in the opening half at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, thus kicking off Eric Chelle’s tenure as head coach successfully.
This marked Nigeria’s inaugural victory in the qualifiers, propelling them to fourth place with six points—four points adrift of the newly crowned group leaders, South Africa, who secured a 2-0 triumph over Lesotho.
Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams found the back of the net in the middle of the second half, securing the victory.
Coach
Hugo Broos
mentioned that his players demonstrated they had absorbed the lessons from the upsurge
the bronze
medal at the 2023 African Nations Cup.
The development in a match like this can be observed,” stated the 71-year-old Belgian. “When beauty is lacking, one must fight, and that’s exactly what we did; securing those three points was our ultimate objective.
We lead the pack within our group. That’s a favorable position to be in.
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