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Tag: Ghana

  • 13th African Games: Hosts Ghana defeat Falconets 2-1 to emerge champions

    13th African Games: Hosts Ghana defeat Falconets 2-1 to emerge champions

    The Black Princesses of Ghana on Thursday night dethroned the Falconets of Nigeria to emerge champions of the female event of the ongoing 13th  African Games.

    Ghana defeated the Nigeria  2-1 to emerge champions after a thrilling encounter  at the packed Cape Coast Stadium.

    The Nigerian ladies had gone ahead in the game when Loveth Edeh profited from a goalkeeper’s blunder in the 23rd minute to take the lead.

    However, Ghana Black Princesses drew level in the 78th minute through Tracy Twum to make up for her numerous misses.

    Mukarama Abdullai powered home the winner in the 99th minute of the encounter to put scores at 2-1 for the host.

    It was a wonderful effort and a  superb goal as she fired home from the edge of the box beyond the Nigerian goalkeeper to the delight of the home fans.

    The result meant that the host is the new African Games female champions after reclaiming the title they last won in 2015.

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will today take on their Ghanaian counterpart in an International friendly slated for  Marakech, Morocco.

     

  • Our objective is to get good results against Ghana and Mali – Finidi George

    Our objective is to get good results against Ghana and Mali – Finidi George

    Coach Finidi George has told thenff.com that the principal objective of African vice champions Nigeria is to earn good results in the upcoming friendly games against Ghana and Mali’s senior teams, scheduled for the city of Marrakech in Morocco.

    Looking ahead to Friday’s clash with four-time African champions Ghana, the two-time World Cup star reiterated that the Super Eagles are presently in high station in African football, having finished as runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, and everything must be done to maintain that status and even exceed it.

    “We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while. Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

    “They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana. I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory.”

    Finidi George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, and won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments. His first AFCON encounter against Ghana was on 23rd January 1992, in a semi-final encounter that the Black Stars won 2-1.

    Afterwards, the pacy winger was involved when both teams played out a barren draw in a friendly in Lagos in March 1994; a 0-0 draw in Accra in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier; a 3-0 win for Nigeria in Port Harcourt that sent Nigeria through to Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup and; a 1-0 win for Nigeria in an AFCON quarter-final match in Bamako in 2002.

    “We will be missing four players who have pulled out due to injury but I have confidence in the team that we have here that they will wear the green-white-green with pride and with patriotic fervour.”

    As of Wednesday morning, only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was being expected in the Adam Park Hotel of the Eagles in Marrakech, with 21 players having settled in.

    Ghana will also be led by a renowned former international, Otto Addo, who has just been recalled for a second stint in charge of the Black Stars.

    Friday’s match will be the 60th encounter between both countries, since a Jalco Cup match on 20th October 1951 ended 5-0 in favour of Nigeria. Twenty of the previous 59 duels have ended in draws, including their last two encounters (2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches) in March 2022.

    Their last friendly match, in London on 11th October 2011, ended scoreless.

    NIGERIA, GHANA IN HISTORY

     

    20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5 Ghana 0

    11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7 Nigeria 0

    27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 3

    25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 2

    10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

    26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5 Nigeria 2

    28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 3

    29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1

    8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2 Nigeria 2

    17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): Ghana 5 Nigeria 1

    10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5 Nigeria 0

    30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 4

    7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

    23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

    22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

    18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

    8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4 Ghana 2

    10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 – abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana

    25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    11 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 1 Ghana 0

    17 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 0 Ghana 1

    24 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    30 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

    4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

    8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

    21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    27 July 1986 (Friendly): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

    2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    30 May 2003 (LG Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

    23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    25 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    29 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1

  • Int’l Break: Finidi set to lead Super Eagles against Ghana, Mali, meets with team officials

    Int’l Break: Finidi set to lead Super Eagles against Ghana, Mali, meets with team officials

    The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has confirmed that Finidi George will coach the Super Eagles of Nigeria  against the Black stars of Ghana and the Eagles of Mali in the forthcoming  international break.

    It would be recalled that the Super Eagles have been without a head coach ever since Jose Peseiro announced his departure few weeks ago.

    The Portuguese gaffer couldn’t reach an agreement with NFF over contract renewal hence he left the team.

    The NFF then put on a notice asking for applications for the vacant role.

    According to a post on the Super Eagles X platform, coach Finidi met with the Super Eagles team  officials ahead of the two international friendly games this weekend.

    “Coach George Finidi has held a meeting with Super Eagles team officials as he leads the Super Eagles in international friendlies against Ghana and Mali #SoarSuperEagles.” The post reads

  • African Games: Falconets to battle Ghana in Final

    African Games: Falconets to battle Ghana in Final

    Nigeria’s Under -20 female  football  team, the Falconets, will take on Ghana on Thursday in the final of the women’s football event at the 13th African Games in Ghana.

    Falconets booked their place in the finals, after defeating Uganda 2-0 in the match played at the Cape Coast Stadium on Monday in the first semi-final.

    Ghana also defeated the  Teranga Lionesses of Senegal 3-1 to book a place in the final.

    The final between Nigeria and hosts Ghana will hold at the Cape Coast Stadium on Thursday by 8pm.

    Meanwhile, Uganda will face Senegal  to fight for the bronze medal in the event which will hold at Cape Coast Stadium on the same day (Thursday ) by 5pm .

    NAN reports that Falconets won the gold medal in the event at the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019.

    The 13th African Games, which started March 8, will end  on March 23. The ongoing games are being held across three cities of  Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.

  • SAD! Ghana’s High Commissioner Bawa dies in Nigeria

    SAD! Ghana’s High Commissioner Bawa dies in Nigeria

    Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rawhide Bawa, is dead.

    The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rawhide Bawa, has sadly passed away in Abuja.

    The Nation gathered that Bawa, aged 65, breathed his last on Thursday.

    Following his demise, the remains of the late envoy have been transported back to Ghana for burial, adhering to Islamic rites.

    While there is yet to be an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reliable source confirmed that the ministry has been informed of Ambassador Bawa’s death.

    The loss of Ambassador Bawa is mourned not only by the diplomatic community but also by friends, colleagues, and the people of Ghana and Nigeria.

    His contributions to diplomatic relations between the two nations will be remembered and cherished.

    May his soul rest in peace.

  • Rita Dominic reveals amount of money recieved for her first movie role

    Rita Dominic reveals amount of money recieved for her first movie role

    Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic has said she recieved N10,000 for her inaugural movie role.

    She revealed this detail during a recent interview with Joy 99.7 FM in Ghana.

    The thespian said when she started acting, Nollywood wasn’t lucrative but she was driven by her passion.

    “I just wanted to be an actor. And to be honest, there was no money in Nollywood back then. We were just doing it for passion. We have the passion for the art which was what fuelled us.

    “It was very challenging. But we just kept doing it until the industry got bigger and bigger. And obviously, the pay became much better.”

    Asked about the lowest amount she has ever received for a movie role, she said: “The first film I did, the filmmaker paid me N35,000. But he owed me N25,000 for how many months. In fact, he didn’t even pay me the balance. He paid me only N10,000.”

  • NFF names two new players for Ghana, Mali friendlies [See full list]

    NFF names two new players for Ghana, Mali friendlies [See full list]

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has named two new players in the Super Eagles squad ahead of two scheduled friendly matches in March.

    England-based defender Gabriel Osho and Tanzania-based Benjamin Tianimu are teaming up with the group for the first time.

    Nigeria will take on Ghana’s Black Stars and Les Aigles of Mali in two top-grade friendly matches in the Moroccan city of Marrakech later this month.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications said both matches have been put together by NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport.

    The clash with Ghana’s Black Stars, which comes up on March 22, is bound to resurrect vintage memories of a 73-year rivalry involving the West African giants, dating back to October 1951 when Nigeria walloped then Gold Coast 5-0 in a Jalco Cup encounter in Lagos.

    Most recently, the two teams clashed in March 2022 in a two-legged play-off for a place at that year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar, with the Black Stars edging the fixture on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate.

    Nigeria and Mali, both teams incidentally nicknamed ‘Eagles’, last clashed in a friendly match in Rouen, France in the summer of 2016, an encounter which ended goalless.

    The Malian Eagles had, three years earlier, lost 1-4 to eventual winners Super Eagles in Durban in the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    While Nigeria and Ghana will resume their rivalry at the Grand Stade de Marrakech as from 4 p.m. Morocco time on March 22.

    The encounter between Nigeria and Mali will commence at the same venue as from 9 p.m. on March 26.

    Olajire said that Nigeria retained the bulk of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    He, however, said that England-based defender Jamilu Collins, as well as Empoli FC of Italy’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Glasgow Rangers’ forward Cyriel Dessers have been recalled.

    “Midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the continental houseparty in Cote d’Ivoire returns from injury.

    “While Bayer Leverkusen of Germany’s Nathan Tella and Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have fresh opportunities to stake claims to permanent shirts,” he said.

    Full list of invited players:
    Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus) and Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

    Defenders: Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales) and Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England) and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

    Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England) and Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

  • GTB, First bank in hot soup as Ghana apex bank suspends their forex licenses

    GTB, First bank in hot soup as Ghana apex bank suspends their forex licenses

    … maybe restored after investigation

    The Bank of Ghana has suspended the Foreign Exchange Trading Licences of two Nigerian-owned banks, Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana Limited and FBNBank Ghana Limited.

    The suspension takes effect from March 18, 2024, for one month.

    The suspension was announced in a statement, on Monday, by the Ghanaian apex bank.

    suspension comes in response to various breaches of foreign exchange market regulations which include incidents of fraudulent documentation within their foreign exchange operations.

    “Bank of Ghana has suspended the Foreign Exchange Trading Licences of Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana Limited (GTB) and FBNBank Ghana Limited (FBN), effective 18th March 2024, for a period of one month, in accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, (Act 723).

    “This is as a result of various breaches of the foreign exchange market regulations, including fraudulent documentation in their foreign exchange operations which which have come to the attention of the Bank of Ghana.

    The licence will be restored at the end of the one-month suspension period once the Bank of Ghana is satisfied that they have put in place effective controls to ensure strict adherence to regulations to the foreign exchange market.” the statement read in part.

    The Ghanaian apex bank said the development “is in strict accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, (Act 723), underscoring the Bank of Ghana’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and stability of the foreign exchange market.

    “The suspension serves as a direct consequence of the banks’ failure to comply with established regulations, highlighting the central bank’s zero-tolerance policy towards regulatory non-compliance,” the bank said.

  • Bank Of Ghana suspends foreign exchange  Licences of GTB, First Bank over fraudulent documentation

    Bank Of Ghana suspends foreign exchange  Licences of GTB, First Bank over fraudulent documentation

    The Bank of Ghana has suspended the foreign exchange trading licences of two Nigerian-owned banks operating in the country.

    The Banks affected are: Guaranty Trust Bank and First Bank

    In a statement on Monday, the Ghanaian regulator said the suspension will become effective from March 18, 2024, for a period of one month.

    The statement reads: “Bank of Ghana has suspended the Foreign Exchange Trading Licences of Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana Limited (GTB) and FBNBank Ghana Limited (FBN), effective 18th March 2024, for a period of one (1) month, in accordance with section 11 (2) of the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, (Act 723).

    “This is as a result of various breaches of the foreign exchange market regulations, including fraudulent documentation in their foreign exchange operations which have come to the attention of Bank of Ghana.

    “The licence will be restored at the end of the one-month suspension period once the Bank of Ghana is satisfied that they have put in place effective controls to ensure strict adherence to the foreign exchange market regulations.”

    The regulator cautioned foreign exchange market players to adhere strictly to the applicable forex market regulations and guidelines.

    Last Friday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureaux De Change Operators, accusing the affected institutions of failing to observe regulatory provisions.

     

     

     

  • All African Games: Scrabble event moved to Alisa Hotel

    All African Games: Scrabble event moved to Alisa Hotel

    The Scrabble event of the 13th African Games scheduled to hold in three Ghanaian cities, Accra Cape Coast and Kumasi from the 8th to 23rd of March 2024 has been moved from Hillview Guest Center to Alisa Hotel Accra.
    This piece of information was made public by the President of Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, in a telephone chat FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG your authoritative Scrabble News Channel.
    “The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) hereby announces that the African Games Scrabble event will now take place at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra, Ghana. The championship is scheduled to be held between March 15th – 17th, 2024. The country disciplines and side events will both take place at the Alisa Hotel.
    Adegbesan stated that the change in venue will not affect any previous plan for the scrabble event and all the participants.
    “We are pleased to inform you that the Alisa Hotel offers upgraded facilities and amenities compared to the initial venue. We believe this change will enhance the overall experience for all participants and guests.” The PANASA President said.
    Alisa Hotel – North Ridge has continually enhanced its services and facilities and is now proud to offer a total of 264 guest rooms and 14 conference rooms in addition to a fully equipped gymnasium, tennis court, swimming pool and salon spa.
    The Scrabble event as well as the African Games Open, a side event during the Games will hold simultaneously between the 15th and 17th of March.
    “We want to assure all teams and players who had previously reached out to PANASA regarding accommodation arrangements that their requests are being addressed. The price for accommodation will remain unchanged, and we are finalizing arrangements to ensure your comfort during your stay.”
    About 150 players and officials from 12 countries are expected to compete in the main Scrabble event of the Games and the African Games Open the side event.
    Over 2,500 dollars has been set aside as prize money for the African Games Open side event with registration pegged at 50 dollars per player.
    A host of scrabble lions, tigers and bulls across the continent have entered for the African Games side event