Guinea-Bissau Only Newcomer At AFCON 2017

Of the 16 teams for next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, the tiny West Africa nation of Guinea-Bissau will be the only newcomer at the competition.

The other 15 nations that have made it to the continents greatest football showpiece have all played at this competition before and have experience playing at this level.

Gabon qualified automatically as hosts for this biennial event that is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and features some of the best players in Africa.

Guinea-Bissau defied all odds to top a very strong Group E that included former winners of this competition Congo Republic and Zambia as well as Kenya who were all rated higher.

They won three drew one and lost two of the six games they played in qualifying and, will look to build on this when the tournament come around.

Other nations that have made it to the 31^st edition of the event are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Senegal was the only team to have won all six matches in qualifying as they topped Group K. Uganda, second in Group D and Togo, second in Group A qualified as the two best runners-up.

The draw for the competition will be held in Libreville, Gabon on October 19 with the 16 teams being divided into four groups of four teams each for the initial round-robin contest.

The winner of the event will qualify for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, a tournament that will feature the winners from each of the federations.

 

Guinea-Bissau Only Newcomer At AFCON 2017

Nyantakyi Eyes Afcon Glory

Ghana FA Boss Kwesi Nyantakyi is adamant the target for Ghana in the 2017 African Cup of Nations is to win gold.

The Black Stars have been narrowly defeated in two finals in the last five years of the continental competition.

This has prolonged Ghana’s wait for an AFCON title to 33 years but the FA boss believes they are focused on winning the title in 2017 in spite of all the pressure around the team.

“We thank God because since 2006 we have been able to participate in every AFCON tournament so we are grateful we have been able to gain another qualification,”he told Asempa Sports.

“We are looking forward to winning the trophy in Gabon. Even though there is pressure around but we have to get used to that and work around it.”

Ghana qualified for Gabon with a game to spare.

Nyantakyi Eyes Afcon Glory

Andre Happy For Afcon Qualification

Andre Ayew is delighted at helping Ghana to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations tournament following the Black Stars 2-0 win over Mauritius.

The 26-year-old Swansea City star was on target with the opening goal in 71 minutes as the Black Stars clinched victory in Port Louis.

Ayew, who captained Ghana with Asamoah Gyan injured, said: “It was a great victory for us and a big motivation to the Afcon tournament. We worked hard and won,” he told reporters after the game.

The Group H encounter was played at the Stade Anjalay in the Mauritian city of Belle Vue Maurel.

Ghana finished at the top of Group H with 13 points, while Mauritius remain third on the group standings with one game left.

Andre Happy For Afcon Qualification

Grant Praises Black Stars

Avram Grant has hailed the stupendous performance of the Black Stars for their 2-0 win over Mauritius on Sunday.

The four times Africa champions laboured for 70 minutes before finding their way through the back line courtesy of Andre Ayew and Christian Atsu to seal qualification to the continent’s flagship football competition scheduled for Gabon next year.

 And Avram Grant stated that he was happy with the performance of the Black Stars and hopes they would repeat it in subsequent games.

“It was a one sided game. We dominated play and created a lot of chances, so I am hoping we continue to play like this. I am happy for the results,” Avram Grant said after the game.

The Back Stars thrashed the Mauritians 7-1 in the first leg played in Accra last year.

Avram Grant has been tasked by the Ghana Football Association to win the 2017 African Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon in January, 2017.

Grant Praises Black Stars

Guinea Bissau Books Maiden Nations Cup Ticket

Guinea Bissau book a maiden ticket to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) next with a hard earned home win over Zambia in the penultimate round of matches.

The spirited host held their nerves to clinch a very late winner at home to the 2012 continental champions in a five goal thriller. Silva’s strike late into injury time won the game for the Foxes and a ticket to the 2017 continental showdown.

Zezinho opened the flood gate for the motivated Foxes at the Estadio Lino Correra in the opening 15 minutes of the game before Collins Mbesuma leveled for the much fancied visitors.

Experience centre forward Christopher Katongo then followed up with another equalizer for the Chipolopolo after Mendy’s stunner midway through the first half.

The hosts later confirmed the ticket to Gabon with a winner seven minutes into time added on to send the fully packed Estadio Lino into a frenzy mood as they ended a run of 22 years without continental football since joining the qualifiers in 1994.

Guinea Bissau surged top of the log with 10 points in the five games they have played in the group. Congo can join Guinea Bissau in Gabon next year if they can get the better of the Foxes on home soil in the last round of matches.

Story by Saani Abacha/Sportscrusader.com

Guinea Bissau Books Maiden Nations Cup Ticket

AFCON 2017 Qualifier: Mauritius Name 25-Man Squad to Face Ghana

Mauritius has named a 25-man squad to prepare for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2017) qualifier against Ghana on Sunday.

 

Coach Joe Tshupula named, Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Bru as the high profile player in the squad to face the Ghana Black Stars in the penultimate round of matches ahead of the tournament final in Gabon.

 

Mauritius nicknamed Club M and Les Dodos (The Dodos) are yet to lost a game at home in the qualifiers but have no chance progressing to the 2017 finals in Zambia as the Black Stars need just a point to seal qualification to Gabon.

Mauritius team to face Ghana:

Goalkeeper: Kevin Jean-Louis, Aboobakar Augustin

Defenders: Damien Balisson, Marco Dorza, Emmanuel Vincent, Cédric Permal, Francis Rasolofonirina, Brendon Citorah, Kylian Yrnard, Jovani Vincent

Midfielders: Cédric Théodore, Jonathan Aza, Jonathan Bru, Kevin Chan Yu Tin, Christopher L’Enclume, Colin Bell, Arassen Ragaven, Guiyano Chifonne, Kevin Bru, Adel Langue, Kevin Perticots,

Attackers: Adrien Botlar, Gianno Li Tien Kee, Gary Noël, Jesson Rungassamy

AFCON 2017 Qualifier: Mauritius Name 25-Man Squad to Face Ghana

We Are Ready To Pass Mauritius Test - Agyemang Badu

Ghana Black Stars combative midfielder, Agyemang Badu has promised Ghanaians nothing short of victory when they face Mauritius in CAF African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

The Black Stars will seal qualification to the next AFCON cup in Gabon should they avoid defeat against the Eastern Africa side on Sunday June 5.

Badu who will be making his fifth nations cup tournament appearance should Ghana qualify spoke to the media after training on day 1 at the Accra Sports Stadium of the mood in camp and the players readiness to do battle for the country.

Agyemang Badu (middle) trained with the rest of the team at the Accra Sports Stadium ahead of the AFCON Qualifier

“it is going to be a difficult game considering their home form (no defeat at home) and that stands them in a good position as favourites for this game but we have quality to beat them come Sunday.”

 

He added, “the training session was good today though was not a full house but the arrival of the rest of the players will make us even stronger and ready for battle.We are poised for action, we don’t need a draw but a win so that we can seal qualification to Gabon 2017 with a huge statement to the rest of Africa and make the nation proud.”

We Are Ready To Pass Mauritius Test - Agyemang Badu

Black Stars Open Camp

The Black Stars will open their training camp in Accra Monday evening for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Mauritius.

Coach Avram Grant has invited 23 players including home-based players Samuel Tetteh of WAFA, Mohammed Kadri of Ashgold and Wa All Stars goalkeeper Richard Ofori in the squad which began arriving in camp on Sunday.

With some of the players already in the country, the team is expecting some Europe-based players to arrive in camp before Monday’s training session which will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm.

The Black Stars are expected to travel to Mauritius on Wednesday for the game which will be played on Sunday.

Ghana is leading Group H with 10 points and a point in Mauritius will seal their place at next year’s AFCON in Gabon.

Source:

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GFA

Black Stars Open Camp

Grant Sets Sight on AFCON 2017

A draw in either of Ghana’s next AFCON 2017 qualifiers will ensure the country a place in Gabon, but Avram Grant already have sights in the host country.

Grant, was given a 217-month barely a month to the 2015 Africa Cup of nations. His employers gave the target to ‘do well’ in Equatorial Guinea and win the subsequent tournament.

The former Chelsea manager led the four -time Africa champions to the final, and is looking forward to achieving the target given to him by his employers in 2017.

“I’m thinking about this and thinking even more than this. I will make Ghana strong, strong and strong. I will have a meeting with the people in charge and we will talk about things we can do better because we need to show things in African Cup. I hope and am sure we will qualify,” Avram revealed in an interview with the Ghana FA Communications Division.

“So in this case, we want to show again the last time. Quality teams, strong team mentality and strong team physically for this. I think we showed that in the last time by pushing the button. It is a lot of work off the pitch. If we do the right thing, I think we can have a good tournament,” he added.

Ghana sit top of Group H with 10 points, and a draw against either Mauritius and Rwanda will book Ghana a ticket to the continent’s flagship football competition.

Grant Sets Sight on AFCON 2017

Wasteful Black Stars Draw Blank In Maputo

The Black Stars of Ghana drew blank in the second leg of their Africa Cup of nations qualifier against Mozambique.

Avram Grant made four changes to his side that drew the first of the double header in Accra last week Thursday, replacing Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Frank Acheampong and Majid Waris.

Ebenezer Assifuah started upfront ahead of Waris, Alfred Duncan and Agyemang Badu joined Afriyie Acquah in midfield, whilst the back five remained unchanged.

Ghana started on a bright note and had all the plethora of opportunities to beat the Mozambiqans.

Glorious goal scoring chances fell the way of former U-20 World Cup golden boot winner, Ebenezer Assifuah, but the Sion FC fluffed the chances.

The OS Mambas who were very confident all afternoon, looked to use the wings to their benefit, but Baba Rahman and Harrison Afful were too strong to be beaten.

Coach Abel Xavier went for penetration through the middle, but the Stsrs’ were compact and muffled all their threats, giving Razak Braimah in post a holiday in the first half.

The second department of the game was not different from the first. The Black Stars probed all the questions but were nemesis if themselves. Th goal begged for a ball, but Jordan, and Alfred Duncan all failed to make the chances count.

Avram Grant brought on Majid Waris to replace the Ebenezer Assifuah who limped off, but the FC Lorient striker was a pale shadow of himself. His movement into space for ball was zero just as having the ball at his feet.

Ghana huffed and puffed for the the break through, with Baba Rahman and Jordan Ayew all making poor decisions in the final third of the pitch.

Chelsea left back Baba Rahman chose a cut back when he could have powered the beyond the goalkeeper, whilst Jordan Ayew chose to set up Alfred Duncan, after dummying his opponent.

Duncan’s shot was well saved, after taking a deflection. At the other end of the pitch,  frustrated OS Mambas, challenges were were becoming hefty and the referee booked Simao Mate Junior for  a lunge on John Boye.

Ghana almost had the final say when a dinking corner fell to Jeffery Schlupp, but the Fox miscued his shot.

In the end, Ghana drop points, but the road to Gabon is still bright as the result gives the Stars 10 points in four qualifying matches.

Wasteful Black Stars Draw Blank In Maputo