TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ghana

  • Ghana reopens land and sea borders, lifts COVID-19 restrictions

    Ghana reopens land and sea borders, lifts COVID-19 restrictions

    Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday announced the re-opening of land and sea borders, and the lifting of most of the COVID-19 restrictions.

    In his 28th nationwide COVID-19 address, the president said the decision was made after reviewing the raft of measures put in place to help win the fight against the virus, against the background of rapidly declining infections, and the relative success of the vaccination campaign by the Ghana Health Service.

    “From Monday, the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory.

    “I encourage all of you to continue to maintain enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded gatherings.

    “All in-person activities, including religious gatherings, conferences, workshops, and funerals, may resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and participants are fully vaccinated, but hand washing and hand sanitizing points should be made available.

    “Fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result from the country of origin.

    “It has been a difficult two years, and we see light at the end of a very long tunnel. I appeal to all of us to live responsibly, protect ourselves, and do everything we can to stay safe as we lift these restrictions,” Akufo-Addo said.

  • World Cup play-off: Ex-Super Eagles coach hails Super Eagles performance against Ghana

    World Cup play-off: Ex-Super Eagles coach hails Super Eagles performance against Ghana

    Former Super Eagles Coach, Christian (Chairman) Chukwu, has hailed the Super Eagles for an outstanding performance against the Black Stars of Ghana at the first leg of their Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off.

    The Super Eagles and Black Stars clash ended a goalless draw at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana on Friday.

    Chukwu, a defence marshal during his days as defunct Green Eagles player, said in Enugu on Saturday that the Super Eagles played with a high sense of confidence “notwithstanding that we did not win the match out rightly.

    “I am happy with Super Eagles’ show of resilience and the draw they got last night against the Black Stars of Ghana. The Super Eagles took hold of the game from the start.

    “They also took the game to the Black Stars’ quarters, pressured the Ghanaian side and made sure they remained in the defensive most times in the game.

    “As a former coach and player, I know how hard it is to win a team on its home turf or even outplay a home team with an intimidating crowd of home supporters.

    “I am proud of them as far as the match is concerned judging from the experience I have gathered over the years in football”.

    He also lauded the coaching crew of the national team for evolving with credible technical and tactical play during the game.

    Chukwu, who was once the captain of the Green Eagles, urged the Super Eagles players and technical crew to return home and fine-tune the team and complete the task ahead.

    “We needed to be at the World Cup by the grace of God. This should be at the back of the mind of every member of the Super Eagles squad,’’ Chukwu stressed.

    The return leg of the play-off between the two national teams will hold on Tuesday, March 29, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

  • Qatar 2022 playoffs: Ghana cage Super Eagles of Nigeria in goalless draw

    Qatar 2022 playoffs: Ghana cage Super Eagles of Nigeria in goalless draw

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday in Kumasi held the Black Stars of Ghana to a goaless draw in the first leg of their 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off.

    The titanic clash played at the Baba Yara Stadium saw Ghana dominate proceedings roared on by a raucous home crowd.

    The Black Stars started the first half on the front foot as they piled pressure on the Nigerian defence marshalled by captain William Trost-Ekong.

    The best chance of the half fell to Ghana’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku whose shot from just outside the penalty box was saved by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, while the resulting corner kick was wasted by the Stars.

    Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Joe Aribo had opportunity to open the scoring late in the half forcing Joojo Wollacott into action while Aribo’s strike went over the crossbar.

    Nigeria grew into the game and enjoyed a bright spell just before the break when Kelechi Iheanacho very nearly got on the end of a cross at the back post, before Victor Osimhen sent a tame volley at goal that was saved.

    Ghana had much of the possession but were also not clinical in front of goal.

    On resumption of the second half, the rampaging stars started with more aggression but were repelled by the Nigerian defence as Leon Balogun stood tall.

    In spite of several attempts, Ghana failed to find the back of the net with a Mohammed Kudus strike being pushed away by the Nigerian shot-stopper.

    Nigeria’s best chance of the game came in the 55th minute when Simon Moses was put through on goal, but with the goalkeeper at his mercy, the Nantes man lacked the composure in front of goal.

    Moses who was later substituted with 18 minutes left to play, shot straight at the goalkeeper, who saved with his foot.

    In the 76th minute of the game, Nigeria felt they had a clear chance to go ahead after they were awarded a penalty with Baba Iddrisu’s hand ball spotted by the centre referee.

    However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came to the rescue of Ghana, spotting a foul on the Ghanaian defensive midfielder.

    Coach Augustine Eguavoen ringed the changes in the midfield and forward line but the Eagles still could not cage their bitter rivals in the “jollof derby”.

    Leicester City’s Ademola Lookman was introduced for his Nigeria debut after completing his switch from England but it was too little too late.

    The Eagles will have it all to play for in the return leg on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium for a place at the 2022 World Cup.

  • Why Ghana must not defeat Super Eagles – Erigga

    Why Ghana must not defeat Super Eagles – Erigga

    Nigerian rapper, Erigga has charged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to defeat Ghana ahead of Qatar 2022 World Cup playoffs.

    Nigeria will face the Black Stars of Ghana in Kumasi on Friday.

    Erigga on Twitter said: “Super Eagles please for our mental health sake on Twitter no let these people win una Abeg.

    “ I no get power for Ghana people dragging .”

    TheNewsGuru reports that the president of Nigeria community in the Asante region which includes Kumasi, Okafor Chukwudi says Nigerians based in Ghana are fully charged to support their own in the much-desired game against Ghana.

    “We are fully mobilised. We have been working in tandem with the Nigeria High Commission and we will storm the stadium in great numbers,” Okafor said, while receiving the Eagles on arrival in Kumasi on Thursday.

  • Qatar 2022 Play-off: Super Eagles depart for Ghana clash

    Qatar 2022 Play-off: Super Eagles depart for Ghana clash

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday morning departed Abuja for Kumasi for the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    The Eagles who had been training in Abuja for the crucial clash departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.

    All 25 players in camp, the technical crew led by Augustine Eguavoen and some other officials were on board.

    Captain of the team, Ahmed Musa told NAN that the team would do its best to make Nigeria proud and ultimately secure the vital World Cup ticket.

    The Super Eagles will face the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, in the first leg of the World Cup play-off, with the return leg slated for Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    The winners over the two legs will advance to the World Cup billed for Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.

  • Nigeria vs Ghana: What is most important for us – Eguavoen

    Nigeria vs Ghana: What is most important for us – Eguavoen

    Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has said the most important for the Nigerian national football team at the moment is to get the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Eguavoen made this known as the Super Eagles depart for Kumasi aboard a chartered Air Peace flight to face the Black Stars of Ghana in the World Cup qualifier.

    For Super Eagles players, nothing, not even home support, can stop Nigeria from beating Ghana on Friday to make the second leg a mere formality.

    At a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, who will be facing Ghana for the third time in his coaching career, described the Black Stars as familiar foes, who are not so easy to beat, especially at home.

    The Ghanaians played a mind game with the Eagles and did not release their squad list until Monday, but Eguavoen said it has no effect on his team.

    Eguavoen said the Black Stars chose to hold on to their squad list for reasons best known to them, adding that it did not change the way the Eagles prepared for the game.

    On the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, he said, “We wish him quick recovery because he is an important player for us, but his absence will not change anything. We have a couple of players who can play in that position.

    “The philosophy will not change, the style of play will not change. What will change is only the personnel. I am not going to tell you who will take over that position until match day.”

    He said a lot is at stake in the game, adding that the most important thing is to get the World Cup ticket and be in Qatar when the competition kicks off. “We are on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup. We have a lot of quality players to pick from for the game,” he said.

    Eguavoen added: “We are privileged to be representing Nigeria out of more than 200 million people. We are grateful for that and we want to show that we deserve that honour.

    “The squad, the officials and the federation are all working to ensure we qualify for the World Cup.

    “With due respect to Ghana, they are no pushovers. We know they have a strong team, but we are hungrier about the ticket. We will go out there to fight and ensure that we do the job right.”

    The Super Eagles will leave for Kumasi this morning aboard a chartered Air Peace flight, and return with the same aircraft immediately after the match.

  • Qatar 2022: Super Eagles will overrun Black Stars to qualify – Chukwu

    Qatar 2022: Super Eagles will overrun Black Stars to qualify – Chukwu

    A former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, says he is optimistic about the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after their playoff fixture with Ghana’s Black Stars.

    Chukwu told the NAN in Enugu on Wednesday that he was “highly hopeful” of victory for the Super Eagles at the end of the two-leg encounter.

    NAN reports that the fixture begins with Friday’s game at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, while it will end on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

    “I am optimistic of the national team’s victory. I am already praying and mobilising local support for their victory,” the now retired coach, who was with the team as an assistant coach in 1994 when it made its World Cup debut, said.

    He stated that while he was concerned that the full complement of the Nigerian squad was not around for the match he was however still full of hopes.

    “I am of the belief that those around for the game will deliver for Nigeria.

    “But in a situation where some invited players do not make it, we must know that this is a sign that there is the need to groom and get home-based Super Eagles players ready to replace anybody in the squad.”

    Chukwu, who captained the team when it was the Green Eagles, said such a situation was an indication that the Super Eagles’ handlers should never neglect the home-based players.

    “There should be a development plan, as they (home-based players) may be so useful in times like these,” he said.

    Chukwu however challenged the team’s coaching crew to deploy superior technical and tactical pattern of play as the Black Stars would definitely try to pull some surprises against the Super Eagles.

    He also said he was sure Nigerians would rise in full support of the team, as “they have been supporting the Super Eagles all along and they will do same this time”.

    The former defender however urged the players to reciprocate the support by putting their best into the game so as to do the nation proud.

    “Our players should fight for it and be resilient, because playing at the World Cup remains the most important dream and prayer of any outstanding footballer.

    “The World Cup is the show-piece and zenith of football.

    “It has great potentials of selling both the individual player and his country of origin to the rest of the world,” the former Super Eagles coach said.

    The winners over two legs between Nigeria and Ghana will qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals billed for Nov. 21 and Dec. 18 in Qatar.

  • Reno Omokri taunts Buhari ahead of Nigeria vs Ghana WCQ

    Reno Omokri taunts Buhari ahead of Nigeria vs Ghana WCQ

    Reno Omokri has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to call the Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead of their FIFA World Cup play-off against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Omokri stated this on Tuesday in reference to the call of Buhari to the Super Eagles prior to their knock out encounter in the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Tunisia.

    “Dear General Buhari, the only appeal I make to you as Nigeria is set to face Ghana in a World Cup qualifier is please do NOT call the Super Eagles. If you want to call, I can get you the number of the Black Stars. You may call them to ‘inspire them’. Thank you,” Omokri tweeted.

     

    Recall that Buhari called the Super Eagles to charge them up as they played Tunisia in the second round of the 2021 AFCON. They eventually crashed out of the tournament after the call.

    Many Nigerians blamed Buhari’s call as the reason the Super Eagles crashed out of the 2021 AFCON.

    TNG reports the Super Eagles of Nigeria will play the Black Stars of Ghana in a two-legged encounter in Ghana on Friday and in Abuja next week.

  • BREAKING: Maduka Okoye out of Nigeria vs Ghana WCQ clash

    BREAKING: Maduka Okoye out of Nigeria vs Ghana WCQ clash

    Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has been ruled out of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier clash with the Black Stars of Ghana.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okoye, who plays for Sparta Rotterdam, was ruled out of the encounter due to illness.

    Although no official statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the development yet, Okoye may miss the two-legged qualifiers against the Black Stars.

    With the illness, Okoye joins the Leicester City duo of Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi on the ‘uncertain/unavailable list’. Lookman was absent at the weekend over fitness issues when the Foxes beat Brentford in the Premier League.

    Meanwhile, TNG gathers the Sparta Rotterdam goalie has been replaced by Enyimba FC goalkeeper, John Noble. Noble is being expected in camp by Wednesday.

    TNG reports the two-legged affair of Nigeria vs Ghana Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Ghana this Friday and the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria next week Tuesday.

  • Early arrivals: 6 players hit Super Eagles camp ahead of Ghana vs Nigeria’s WCQ

    Early arrivals: 6 players hit Super Eagles camp ahead of Ghana vs Nigeria’s WCQ

    Six (6) players have arrived in the Super Eagles camp ahead of Nigeria’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier encounter against eternal rivals, Black Stars of Ghana.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the six early arrivals are William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka and Odion Ighalo.

    The six players are the ones to hit camp earlier ahead of 25 players invited for the encounter, with Ademola Lookman making his first call up for Nigeria.

    The goalkeepers invited for the encounter are Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi.

    The defenders are Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Balogun, Aina, Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi and Shehu Abdullahi.

    The midfielders are Innocent Bonke used to replace Wilfred Ndidi, who got injured, Joe Aribo, Onyeka, Oghenekaro Etebo and Akinkunmi Amoo.

    The forwards invited are Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Ighalo, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho, Emmanuel Dennis and Lookman.

    Meanwhile, on standby are Chidozie Awaziem, Jamilu Collins, Chidera Ejuke, Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka and Ogenyi Onazi.

    TNG reports Nigeria and Ghana face off in a two-leg fixture for one of Africa’s five slots at Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, first in Cape Coast on March 25 and then in Abuja on March 29.