Sierra Leone Camping In Accra Ahead Of Ivory Coast Game

Sierra Leone have set up a training camp in Accra ahead of their 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast this weekend.

This move by the country’s Football Association, is to avoid pressure from home fans as they prepare for this final qualifier.

The Ivorians will host this Group I encounter in Bouake on Saturday, September 3 and Sierra Leone need to win to qualify for the tournament next year.

Should they achieve that, itwill be the first time they have made it to the finals in 20 years.

Ivory Coast need only a draw to secure the chance to defend their title in January’s finals in Gabon.

“We are taking the team to Accra to reduce the pressure and tension from the fans at home who would like to see the team succeed in the historical match,” Leone Stars Ghanaian born coach, Sellas Tetteh told the BBC.

“In the process we’ll create a conducive atmosphere for the boys to concentrate on the task ahead.

“This is a very important match for the country and for the team of young players who have never played in the Afcon finals.

“We are going to do our best and come out of the match with our heads raised up.

Sierra Leone provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Solomon Zombo Morris (Quevilly, France), Unisa Koroma (East End Lions), Alhaji Dauda Conteh (Diamond Stars FC)

Defenders: Mohamed L. Bangura (Ports Authority FC), Umaru Bangura (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Ibrahim A. Kamara (Mighty Blackpool), Abu Kanu (FC Johansen), David Simbo (Krumkachy Minsk Belarus), Mohamed Kamanor (Unattached), Gibril Sankoh (Meizhou Kejia, China), Yeami Dunia (FC Johansen), Abu Suma (FC Johansen), Kemson Fofanah (East End Lions)

Midfielders: Prince Barrie (Kallon FC), Kwamie Quee (FC Johansen), Ibrahim Kabba (FC Kallon), Hassan Sesay (FC Lahti, Finland), Mohamed Kamara (Kuwait FC, Kuwait), Khalifa Jabbie (FC Sheriff, Maldova), Alfred Sankoh (Denizlispor, Turkey), John Bankole Kamara (Riga Latvia), Julius Woobay (Olimpija, Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Forwards: Mohamed Bangura (Dalian Yifang, China), Abdul Sesay (OPS, Finland), Sheka Fofanah (Vejle BK, Denmark) George Davies (Greuther Fürth, Germany), Donald Wellington (East End Lions), Christian Moses (Lion Pride FC), Abu Bakarr Mansaray (Old Edwardians), Ibrahim Sorie Barrie (FC Johansen)

Sierra Leone Camping In Accra Ahead Of Ivory Coast Game

Ghana Through To AFCON 2017 After 2-0 Win In Mauritius

Ghana advanced to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament in Gabon next year after beating Mauritius 2-0 at the Anjalay Stadium in Mapou.

The Black Stars went into this game needing a point to secure qualification to the tournament, and, they duly delivered with victory over a very stubborn opposition.

Second half goals by Captain Andre Dede Ayew and Christian Atsu were enough to see Ghana join Senegal, Morocco, Egypt and Cameroon as well as the hosts for next year’s event.

The goals came within a two minute spell midway through the half with both being assisted by Baba Abdul Rahman of Chelsea fame.

Ghana dominated most periods of the game, but, found it difficult to break down the hosts for over an hour before the two goals blitz.

Goalkeeper  K. Jean-Louis was in inspired form for Mauritius throughout the game as he pulled off several important saves to deny the Ghanaians of a heavy win.

With qualification now secured, Coach Avram Grant will look to build on this as Ghana seeks a first title at the continental level for the first time since 1982.

The Black Stars will play their last Group H qualifier against Rwanda at home to complete the round of qualifying ties.

Ghana XI

Razak Braimah

Harrison Afful

Baba Rahman

Jonathan Mensah

John Boye

Afriyie Acquah/Emmanuel Agyemang Badu

Christian Atsu/Jeffrey Schlupp

Mubarak Wakasu

Andre Dede Ayew

Frank Acheampong/Thomas Teye Partey

Jordan Ayew

Ghana Through To AFCON 2017 After 2-0 Win In Mauritius

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER: MOZAMBIQUE vs GHANA

Welome to SpportsCrusader.com’s Live match coverage of the AFCOn qualifier game between Mozambique and Ghana Black Stars. This is the 2 round fixture after the first round game at Accra Sports Stadium where the Black Stars beat 3 goals to 1.

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER: MOZAMBIQUE vs GHANA

Benin Preparing For AFCON Qualifier Despite FIFA Ban

Benin have been preparing to host Equatorial Guinea in an 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday despite being banned from global football.

The West African Nation were suspended from global football after a court ruling in the country blocked upcoming elections of the Benin Football Federation (FBF).

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to make a decision on whether to cancel the Group C fixture or not as FIFA Council has been given the power to readmit Benin.

The suspension can be lifted when a new FBF Executive Committee has been installed.

But speaking in an interview, Benin’s minister of sport, Oswald Homeky said his outfit is in dialogue with all stakeholders to solve the crisis.

“We are still in discussions with the protagonists of the crisis in the football federation. We remain hopeful”, he said.

The Squirrels squad is currently in Cotonou training for the match while the already eliminated Equatorial Guinea cancelled a friendly against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Thursday, because of the qualifier.

If there is no word from FIFA then Benin will be disqualified from the Nations Cup campaign.

 

Benin Preparing For AFCON Qualifier Despite FIFA Ban

Ghana Won"t Underrate Mauritius

Black Stars defender, Jonathan Mensah, has said the team will not underrate Mauritius in Sunday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Ghana won the first leg tie 7-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium last June and are bent to record a double against the Dodos of Mauritius to qualify for 2017 Gabon.

The Anzhi Makhachkala defender this season saved the Russian side to survive the league by placing 13th with 26 points and says they will never underrate their opponents because a draw will see the team qualify.

“We know we are the better side if we give our 100 per cent. But we do not have to underrate Mauritius and do what we know how to do best, that is to go all out and play well. We just need your prayers for us to qualify for Gabon,’ he said

The Black Stars team is expected to leave Ghana on Thursday for the encounter on Sunday.

Ghana Won"t Underrate Mauritius

Gambia Sports Minister Slams CAF Officials

Gambia’s Minister of Youth and Sports , Alieu K. Jammeh has hit out at CAF match officials regarding their performance in the wake of his country’s 2-1 loss to Mauritania in their first leg clash in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Nouakchott on Friday March 25.

Minister Jammeh said “it is high time CAF began to take necessary actions against bad refereeing, adding that “bad refereeing is destroying our football in Africa”.

Minister Jammeh was speaking to journalists on Tuesday March 29 after The Gambia national team was held to a goalless draw by Mauritania in the second leg played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He stated that everybody agreed that it was as a result of bad refereeing that The Gambia lost to Mauritania in the first leg.

“The Gambia scored a clear goal that was wrongly disallowed and there was additional time given unnecessarily and that immediately Mauritania scored their second goal the match was declared ended by the referee,” he expressed concern.

He therefore called on CAF to take necessary action against the Liberian central referee Isaac T Z Montgomery that officiated the Mauritania-Gambia game in Nouakchott.

Mr Jammeh said the Liberian referee had done “disservice to Africa and African football and to himself as an African and should be ashamed of himself”.

“It is a disgrace that a referee of his level would make such poor decisions,” he further said, pondering why such an African could take such wrong decisions”.

Gambia Sports Minister Slams CAF Officials

My Team Will Expect More From Me - Evans Mensah

Inter Allies attacking left winger, Evans Mensah says his call up to the senior national team the Black Stars has given him added responsibility at club level.

The former Right to Dreams Academy graduate was invited to the Black Stars for the double header Africa Cup of nations qualifier against Mozambique last week.

Evans Mensah says the experience he acquired was priceless, but his team will expect more from him and he must continue to work hard to satisfy those demands.

“The experience was great but I have to go back and continue working hard. It is through my hard work in the matches that I got the opportunity to be here and I have to continue with what I was already doing,” Evans Mensah told TV3 Network.

He added that “When I go back I have to respect my colleagues and my coaches so that at the end of the day they will have good things to say about me”.

Evans Mensah also believes that the call up to the senior national team will give him added responsibility because his teammates and coaches will expect more from him at club level.

“From now onward, I need to know how to do things and work more harder because my teammates and coaches will be expecting me do more than what I was doing and I must work hard to help myself and my team.” he added.

My Team Will Expect More From Me - Evans Mensah

Back Stars Can Improve - Badu

Ghana Black Stars midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu says the senior national team can still improve to achieve their targets.

The four-time Africa champions were held to zero-all stalemate in Maputo on Sunday in a game they created the most glorious goal scoring chances.

The result keeps them in control of Group H to the upcoming Afcon in Gabon, but Agyemang Badu reckon they can improve.

He praised the OS Mambas approach to the gamend saying “They were very tactically disciplined. They didn’t give us the spaces to play our own game and they attacked a bit,” the Udinese midfielder noted in a post-match press conference.

“We got a couple of chances which we should have won the game, but we couldn’t. We got 1 point and we are keeping everything ahead of us.

“We have one game at home game and one away; if we can win the one, we will qualify to Afcon 2017. It is not bad, but there  is more room for improvement.” He said.

Back Stars Can Improve - Badu

GFA Prez And Veep Not With Black Stars In Maputo

The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi and his vice, George Afriyie did not travel with the Black Stars to Mozambique.

The senior national team left Ghana to Mozambique on Friday, but the fathers of  the country’s football, were not part of the contingent that travelled to Maputo.

For George Afriyie, sportscrusader.com reported earlier that the Black Stars Management Committee chairmans decision to stay away from the national team was conflicting.

And for the president of the association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, it is unclear why he didn’t travel with the team, and it is unclear whether he will join the contingent in Maputo for the upcoming Afcon qualifier later.

The president of the GFA and other members of the association bought tickets to watch the Black Stars against Mozambique at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday.

The FA also bought tickets for their sponsors before they had access to watch the game.

GFA Prez And Veep Not With Black Stars In Maputo

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER Live Update: GHANA BLACK STARS VS MOZAMBIQUE OS MAMBAS

The Ghana Black Stars host the OS Mambas of Mozambique in an African Cup of Nations qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Stars will look to bolster their grip on top of the table and also maintain their 100% win record whilst the Mambas will hope danger-man, Elias Pelembe will help secure a point at least if not a win.

AFCON 2017 QUALIFIER Live Update: GHANA BLACK STARS VS MOZAMBIQUE OS MAMBAS

We Must Take Our Chances Against Ghana - Mozambique

Head coach of OS Mambas of Mozambique, Abel Xavier has admitted his side will have to be clinical in front of goal, to have any chance of influencing the game against the Ghana Black Stars.

Ghana will host Mozambique on Thursday at the Accra Sports Stadium in an African Cup of Nations (AFCON), qualifier in Gabon 2017.

The OS Mambas of Mozambique train ahead of AFCON qualifier against Ghana

The Black Stars boast of a 100% record with two wins from two games and this Xavier believes indicates that his side cannot afford any lacklustre performance against their opponent.

Speaking to the media after his side trained at the match venue according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, the former Liverpool midfielder said, “we are talking about being productive, effective as we create more chances in front of goal against the Black Stars.”

“We can have control of the game and even 70% of ball possession but that won’t guarantee us victory. The way to win the game is how we break the defense and be in good positions to take our chances (score).

We Must Take Our Chances Against Ghana - Mozambique

Avram Grant To Return To Ghana Next Week

Ghana’s senior national team coach, Avram Grant will return to Ghana next week to name a squad for the upcoming Afcon 2017 qualifier against Mozambique, sportscrusader.com can confirm.

Avram Grant was given the Christmas period off and additional days after the new year to enable him participate in a League Managers Association conference in the United States.

The conference ended in mid-January and Avram Grant was expected to return to Ghana, but the Israeli has spent almost two months, contrary to the agreement signed with the FA.

Media reports emanated yesterday (Tuesday) that the football governing body has written to the former Chelsea manager to end his leave and return to the country.

And sportscrusader.com checks on when  Avram Grant will respond to the call has revealed that he will be in Ghana early next week to name a squad for the Black Stars Afcon 2017 qualifier against Mozambique later this month.

Sports crusader sources also added that the FA will ensure he stays in the country after the double header to monitor the national league which began two weeks ago.

Avram Grant was appointed on December 1, 2014 to succeed Kwesi Appiah who masterminded Ghana’sdismal performance in Brazil duringthe 2014 FIFA World Cup.

He led the Black Stars to Afcon 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, and finished second behind Cote d’Ivoire.

Avram Grant To Return To Ghana Next Week