2018 WCQ: Grant Hopeful Of Venue Change For Egypt Clash

Black Stars head coach, Avram Grant, is hopeful of venue change as his side faces the Pharoahs of Egypt in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, according to the Al Youm newspaper in the North African country.

According to the report, Grant hopes that the match will be moved to a neutral venue amidst security fears.

The Black Stars coach is worried about security in Egypt, with the teams set to meet in a Group E fixture on November 13 at the Borg El Arab Stadium outside of Alexandria.

Further reports also claim the Ghana FA is considering a formal request to FIFA to have the match moved.

Grant reportedly also refused to travel to Cairo for the draw for the group stage of the 2018 qualifiers, again, due to security concerns.

Egypt are on a revenge mission as they suffered a devastating 7-3 aggregate defeat in play-offs for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against the Black Stars.

More to follow …

2018 WCQ: Grant Hopeful Of Venue Change For Egypt Clash

Black Stars Held By Bafana Bafana In Friendly

The Black Stars of Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa  in an international friendly on Tuesday night.

The Black Stars threatened in the first few minutes as Atsu sliced through the South African defence with a pass that picked out Boye, but Brighton Mhlongo saved his shot.

Ghana enjoyed the majority of the possession early and created another opportunity in the 31st minute as Atsu beat Thabo Matlaba before crossing for Acheampong, but he couldn’t find the right contact and the chance slipped away.

Disaster struck for the hosts in the 38th minute when Isaac Nhlapo fouled Afful in the box, giving Wakaso the chance to convert a penalty for a 1-0 lead before the break.

Nhlapo was substituted shortly after giving away the penalty, making room for Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

Shakes Mashaba’s charges made the perfect start to the second half as they levelled matters in the 51st minute. Some good build-up play from Sibusiso Vilakazi gave Ayanda Patosi the chance to curl a shot into the back of the Ghanaian goal.

After equalising, South Africa inched their way back into the game after their visitors dominated the possession stakes for much of the tie.

Thulani Serero made an impact for the hosts after coming on around the hour mark as he had a big penalty shout turned down in the 71st minute when he was brought down in the Ghana area by Edwin Gyimah.

Eleazar Rodgers created a rare chance for Bafana in the last five minutes of the clash as he put Thamsanqa Gabuza in a position to strike, but he smashed his shot way over the bar as the sides played out a draw.

Black Stars Held By Bafana Bafana In Friendly

Djokovic Storms Through In Shanghai

World number one Novak Djokovic cruised into the Shanghai Masters third round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini on Tuesday, the Serbian’s first match since his loss to Stan Wawrinka in last month’s U.S. Open final.

The defending champion, who withdrew from last week’s China Open with an elbow problem, showed little sign of injury against his unseeded opponent, winning 83 percent of his first serve points in a match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes.

Djokovic started strongly, opening up a 3-0 lead to take control of the first set, but displayed signs of rust with 18 unforced errors.

He suffered a minor blip when he was broken in the first game of the second set, but held his nerve and hit back with two successive breaks to seal the win, helped by his opponent making 40 unforced errors.

Spaniard David Ferrer, the No. 10 seed, suffered a first-round upset loss to unseeded Feliciano Lopez who beat his compatriot 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(4).

Unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov served up another upset when he beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet, seeded 14th, 6-4 6-4, and 19-year-old Alexander Zverev’s produced another shock when he defeated eighth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia.

The German, who is the youngest player in the world’s top 50, battled back to see off the vastly more experienced Cilic 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the day’s final match.

Australian Nick Kyrgios, ranked 14th in the world, brushed off the challenge of American Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4 in under an hour, firing down 14 aces and not facing a break point.

Ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat unseeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-3 7-6(6) to reach the third round while his compatriot and sixth seed Gael Monfils beat South African Kevin Anderson 7-6(4) 6-3.

Source: ThePeninsulaQatar

Djokovic Storms Through In Shanghai

EPL : Liverpool Set To Miss Duo Ahead of Manchester United Clash

Liverpool could be without two key midfielders against Manchester United on Monday night after Georginio Wijnaldum became their latest injury victim.

Wijnaldum limped off with a hamstring problem in the second half of Holland’s World Cup qualifying defeat to France on Monday night.

The Dutchman joins Adam Lallana in the treatment room, with the Englishman still recovering from a groin injury sustained in the 2-1 win at Swansea at the start of this month.

The midfield duo have started every Premier League match alongside Jordan Henderson this season and have been a key part of the Reds’ rise to fourth, just two points behind leaders Manchester City.

A longer period of recovery gives Lallana the best chance of making the United match but Wijnaldum will be assessed on his return to the club’s Melwood training ground to discover the extent of his problem.

Jurgen Klopp does have Germany international Emre Can waiting in the wings to make his first league start of the campaign after injury in August’s EFL Cup trip to Burton set him back.

Source : Talksports

EPL : Liverpool Set To Miss Duo Ahead of Manchester United Clash

South Africa vs Ghana : Bafana Bafana Name Starting Line Up

Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has named the starting line up that will play Ghana tonight (Tuesday, 11 October 2016) in a friendly international at Moses Mabhida Stadium (Kick off 19h00).

 

Brighton Mhlongo will start in goals while the back four comprises of Abbubaker Mobara, Isaac Nhlapo, captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and Thabo Matlaba.

The midfield is made up of Ayanda Patosi, Oupa Manyisa, Dean Furman and May Mahlangu while gangling Eleazer Rodgers and Sibusiso Vilakazi will spearhead the strike force.

Bafana Bafana Starting 11 v Ghana: Brighton Mhlongo, Abbubaker Mobara, Isaac Nhlapo, Thulani Hlatshwayo (captain), Thabo Matlaba, Ayanda Patosi, Oupa Manyisa, Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Eleazer Rodgers, Sibusiso Vilakazi
Substitutes: Jackson Mabokgwane, Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Maphosa Modiba, Mpho Makola, Thulani Serero, Mncwango, Thamsanqa Gabuza

South Africa vs Ghana : Bafana Bafana Name Starting Line Up

GPL Transfer: Hearts Secure Soulama Replacement

Accra Hearts of Oak have secured a deal for New Edubiase United shot stopper, Benjamin Mensah, according to reports.

The reports suggest that Mensah will pen down a two-year deal, following Abdoulaye Soulama’s failure to secure a new contract with the club after his initial two-year contract expired.

New Edubiase, who are relegated, have offered Mensah to Hearts after reaching an agreement for the goalkeeper.

Mensah will have to battle it out with Samuel Akurugu who made a statement of reclaiming the number one spot for the Phobia club after featuring in some matches.

GPL Transfer: Hearts Secure Soulama Replacement

GPL Transfer: Kotoko Join Chase For Hearts Target

Kumasi Asante Kotoko are set to hijack Hearts move for Techiman City’s midfielder, Baba Mahama, according to reports.

Hearts in the past few days have inquired about Mahama’s availability but Kotoko has also join race to the young prodigy who was exceptional in the 2015/2016 having scored three league goals and one in the FA Cup.

 

With Techiman City relegated, a move for the the 19-year-old is most certain as the two rivals battle it out for the youngster

 

Further reports also indicate that newly promoted side Elmina Sharks could secure move for the player considering the financial prowess

GPL Transfer: Kotoko Join Chase For Hearts Target