EURO 2016: Turkey Names Final Squad

Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan leads Fatih Terim’s final 23-man squad for Euro 2016, with Nuri Sahin also making the cut despite an injury-plagued season.

Borussia Dortmund’s Sahin had to wait until February 18 to make his first start of the campaign after a persistent tendon problem, managing just six subsequent starts in the Bundesliga.

However, the playmaker makes Fatih Terim’s final selection, along with Bayer Leverkusen ace Hakan Calhanoglu and surprise inclusion Emre Mor, who made his full international debut in last Sunday’s friendly against Montenegro after impressing for Nordsjaelland.

Eight players, included Gokhan Tore of Besiktas and Galatasaray’s Yasin Oztekin have been cut from Terim’s initial party.

Turkey start their Euro 2016 campaign against Croatia on June 12, before meeting Spain five days later and Czech Republic in their final Group D game on June 21.

 

Turkey’s Final 23-man Squad:

Goalkeepers: Volkan Babacan (Medipol Basaksehir), Onur Recep Kivrak (Trabzonspor), Harun Tekin (Bursaspor)

Defenders: Gokhan Gonul (Fenerbahce), Sener Ozbayrakli (Bursaspor), Semih Kaya (Galatasaray), Ahmet Calik (Genclerbirligi), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray), Caner Erkin (Fenerbahce), Ismail Koybasi (Besiktas)

Midfielders: Mehmet Topal (Fenerbahce), Selcuk Inan (Galatasaray), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahce), Oguzhan Ozyakup (Besiktas), Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund), Arda Turan (Barcelona), Olcay Sahan (Besiktas), Volkan Sen (Fenerbahce), Emre Mor (Nordsjaelland)

Strikers: Burak Yilmaz (Beijing Guoan), Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Yunus Malli (Mainz)

 

EURO 2016: Turkey Names Final Squad

In-Form Samuel Inkoom Steers Antalaya To Heavy Win In Turkey

Award winning Samuel Inkoom extended his fine run of form in the Turkish Super League to aid Antalayaspor to a 7-0 win over Trabzonspor.

The winter arrival from Boavista continues to showcase his class for his Super League side as they kept their slim European hopes alive.

A treble from Oumar Sismanough highlighted a honeymoon for the red hot Antalaya at home to the clueless Trabzon.

Samuel Inkoom, who joined the ambitious Turkish at the start of the January transfer window, has been an ever present fixture for the expensively assembled side.

The much travelled Ghanaian endured a nightmare six month spell in Portugal with Boavista before been offered an escaped out of his ordeal in the winter transfer window.

Antalayaspor moved into the eighth slot on the standing eight points adrift of a UEFA Europa league spot.

The Ghanaian import was recently voted the best defender in the Super eLague despite arriving in the January transfer window.

In-Form Samuel Inkoom Steers Antalaya To Heavy Win In Turkey

Joseph Attamah Stars As Demirispor Nears Promotion In Turkey

Ghana youth international Joseph Attamah extended his fine run of form in Turkey as Demirispor draws ever close to Super league football.

The 22 year old defender impressed at the back for his promotion chasing side in a 5-2 thumping of Altmordu to put their promotion hopes alive.

Adana Demirispor remains 3 points adrift of second placed Alanyaspor with one game to end the season in the Turkish second tier.

Joseph has since featured in 32 of the 33 league appearances for the high flying Demispor.

The former Black Satellites defender is reportedly link to a number of Turkish Super league after his fine run of form in the second tier league.

Adana Demirispor could seal their place in the Super league with a vital away at Samlunfa next weekends.

Joseph Attamah Stars As Demirispor Nears Promotion In Turkey

Nuru Sulley Powers Alanya To League Summit In Turkey

Ghanaian defender Nuru Sulley continues his impressive performances for Alanya as they earned vital three points away to 1846 Trabzonspor in the Turkish Ligue one.

The 24 year old robust centre back lasted the full duration of the game as Alanya draws ever closer to Super League football next season.

The vital away triumph puts Alanya within three points of league leaders Adana and one adrift of second place Karabuk in the second tier league.

Nuru again formed a human pillar at the heart of defence for the in form Alanya as they continued their match up the top of the log.

Galip Guzil followed up an earlier strike from Tayfur Bingel to end the clash at 1-2 for Alanya away to Tranzon in the second tier league.

Sulley has since pocketed 14 other previous appearances to his name in a hugely successful season in Turkey.

Nuru Sulley Powers Alanya To League Summit In Turkey

Samuel Inkoom Presented With Branded Nike Boots

Global Sports kit manufacturing giants, Nike has presented Samuel Inkoom with newly branded pair of boots in the Turkish Super league.

The normadic Ghanaian wingback resorted to social media to showcase the brand new Mercurial Vapour X branded light boots ahead of their clash with Akhisar after the international break.

The Antalayaspor full back returned to his side after his expulsion away to Kasimpasa, which forced him to miss one game for the mid table side.

Inkoom endured a torrid time in Portugal with Boavista after joining the Premera Liga side in the summer before heading to Antalayaspor in the January transfer window.

The Ghanaian international, who has so far featured nine times for Antalayaspor, posted the multicoloured pair of boots on his social media handles ahead of the return of league football after the international break.

Inkoom graced the local scene with Kumasi Asante Kotoko before joining the exodus train six years ago.

The flying full back has since featured for a number of European clubs including Dnipro, FC  Basel, Boavista before settling at Turkey with Antalayaspor.

Samuel Inkoom Presented With Branded Nike Boots

Inkoom"s Red Card Costly For Antalyspor

Ghanaian defender Samuel Inkoom was sent off for his Turkish Super League side Antalayaspor in a slim 2-1 defeat to Kasimpasa.

The 26 year old added to his early caution on the 75th minute after a late tackle on his opponent and was duly shown the exit door to end his promising start to the game.

The much travelled full back headed to Turkey after a dreadful stint with Boavista in Portugal in the winter transfer window that saw him sent off twice in a space of four weeks.

The former Kumasi Asante Kotoko full back registered his name on the referee’s note book with 8 minutes to recess for a rush tackle and doubled his cautions on the 75th minute for another late tackle to reduce his visiting side at kasimpasa.

Turkish forward Hackan Aslan then feasted on the numerical disadvantage of Antalayaspor to score twice in 8 minutes before the rampant Sismanglu got a consolation for the visitors in an eventual 2-1 defeat on Sunday night.

Inkoom’s current sending offs in recent times looks alarming after his expulsions for Boavista on two occasions in a space of six matches.

The Black Stars full back made a promising start to life in Turkey and has earned the nickname wind due to his pace on the wings.

Inkoom"s Red Card Costly For Antalyspor

Boye"s Relegation Fears Compounded

Ghanaian defender John Boye has seen his relegation fears at the end of the season compounded by a slim 1-0 defeat at Mersin on Friday night.

The robust centre back lasted the full 90 minutes but could not halt the poor run of results for Sivaspor as they extended their downward spiral down the log.

Brazilian attacker Willington Soares pocketed a second half strike to push Sivas further down the log with just 18 points from the opening 23 matches in the super league.

Sivas has now suffered six defeats in the last ten matches and has managed a paltry three wins in the whole season.

Boye has since managed an impressive 4 goals in his truncated 16 matches for the relegation struggling Sivaspor despite playing as a centre back.

The 28 year old Black Stars centre back incidentally occupies the second slot on the scoring chart for the basement club in the Turkish super League with four goals, one behind Aatif Chahechouhe.

Sivaspor has endured a torrid start to the 2015/16 season that has seen them lose 12 of the opening 24 matches and five points adrift of safety.

Boye"s Relegation Fears Compounded

Inspirational Inkoom Steers Antalayaspor To Vital Home Win In Turkey

Nomadic Black Stars full back Samuel Inkoom proved crucial for his Turkish side Antalayaspor in a vital home win over Rize on Saturday.

The former Kumasi Asante Kotoko wing back lasted the full throttle in a thrilling 2-1 win for his side in the Super League.

Inkoom ended his nightmare with Portuguese side Boavista in the winter transfer window and has since managed an impressive seven appearances for Antalaya since his his arrival in January.

The 27 year old versatile wing back came close to opening his season’s account when put though on goal but skied his shot high to the utmost surprise of their glaring fans.

The former Dnipo defender however atone for that with an integral role in the build up to both goals as the home side shook off late threat from Rize.

Goals from Danilo and Oumar Sismanoglu nullified Ousman Viera’s beauty for the visiotrs as Antalayaspor moved into the top half in Turkey.

Samuel Inkoom rose to prominence after the 2009 Under 20 FIFA world Youth Championship in Egypt where he earned a dream move to Swiss side FC Basel before truncating his promising career with regular moves almost every two seasons.

Inspirational Inkoom Steers Antalayaspor To Vital Home Win In Turkey

GFA Veep Want Ghanaians Consider What Happened To Akaminko When Players Bonuses Arise

 

The Ghana Football Association vice president, George Afriyie wants Ghanaians to consider what happened to Jerry Akaminko during the Black Stars friendly against Holland.

The former Heart of Lions defender got injured during an international friendly prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and he has since struggled to stay on his feet play competitive for either club or country.

A fortnight ago, Jerry Akaminko’s contract with Turkish side Eskişehirspor was cancelled.

And George Afriyie is worried because of $ 5000 winning bonus for playing for Ghana, his career has hit rocks.

“Jerry Akaminko played just one match for the Black Stars and he has lost a fortune. He has lost almost two – three of what is going to be his life savings,” the Liberty Professionals chairman told sportscrusader.com

“That’s why sometimes when we are talking about players remunerations and winning bonuses, we need to be a bit careful. One match of $ 5000 appearance fee, his career is over. How is he going to survive?

“Probably he might not have any serious education background.if he is not able to play football again, what will he do?

“These are some of the things we need to take into consideration when we’re making those pronouncements.” George Afriyie who was very passionate answering the question added.

Jerry Akaminko made his international debut in 2012 at the Kumasi Sports Stadium when the Black Stars annihilated Lesotho 7-0 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

GFA Veep Want Ghanaians Consider What Happened To Akaminko When Players Bonuses Arise

EXCLUSIVE: Turkish club in advanced talks to sign free-agent Harrison Afful

Ghana defender Harrison Afful is in advanced talks over a move to Turkish club Antalyaspor, Sportscrusader.com is reliably informed.

The 29-year-old had reportedly opened talks over a move to Mersin Idmanyurdu instead but discussions between the two parties seems to have broken down.

Antalyaspor have already reached an agreement to sign fellow Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom but are looking to conclude talks to also sign Harrison Afful who is currently in Ghana on holidays.

Antalyaspor new coach Samuel Eto’o is a big fan of Afful who excelled in his debut season in the MLS with Columbus Crew.

The short-term contract of Afful at Crew has however expired, meaning he will be eligible to move on a free transfer.

Afful, who won the CAF Champions League trophy with Tunisian club Esperance insists he is desirous of renewing his expired contract at Columbus Crew.

But a humungous offer being prepared by Antalyaspor could tempt the pores of the Black Stars left-back into deciding to move to Turkey instead.

EXCLUSIVE: Turkish club in advanced talks to sign free-agent Harrison Afful

John Boye rallies Sivasspor teammates into securing famous win over Fenerbahce

Ghana defender John Boye has called on his teammates at Sivasspor to rally together in an audacious attempt to secure a famous win over Fernerbahce on Monday.

The Yigidos are just a point above the relegation zone as they travel to face the Turkish giants in a top flight game three days after Christmas.

John Boye is unable to join the rest of his Black Stars teammates who have traveled to Ghana for the Christmas festivities as the Turkish league remains in session.

Boye has charged his teammates to pull together in getting a famous win over Fenerbahce to help their own course of avoiding relegation.

“We are going all out for the win over Fenerbahce,” he said.

“Now we must act as a team, all players have to support each other.

“This will hopefully help us to get a good win.”

John Boye has been a regular for Sivasspor since arriving from Kayseri Erciyesspor in the summer.

He is one of the top performers at the club and has scored four goals already despite being a central defender.

John Boye rallies Sivasspor teammates into securing famous win over Fenerbahce