Mali registered a narrow victory against Burkina Faso in the second game of the CHAN 2020 tournament in Cameroon, thanks to a Siaka Bagayoko superb goal.

Watch Highlights:

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Ghana Black Stars coach believes lack of organization was the main reason for their embarrassing defeat against Mali in Friday game in Turkey.

Mali registered a 3-0 win against Ghana in CK Akonnor’s first game as the Black Stars coach.

Ghanaians used social media to voice out their displeasure and question the mentality and quality of the coach and the entire squad ahead of their competitive game next month.

CK Akonnor, however, believes Mali were not as good as people think and blamed their loss to lack of organization and not being prepared enough for the encounter.

“I won’t blame the players for the defeat but the key thing which resulted our loss to Mali was that the team was not organized,” Akonnor told Adom TV.

“The players didn’t know themselves because most of them were debutants and even the first time they’re playing together.”

“We trained for only two days and there was lack of understanding as well. These are the few things which affected us during the game”

“Mali didn’t play anything extraordinary but they were an organized side which handed them the victory”

The post Lack of organization caused our defeat – CK Akonnor first appeared on Sahara Football.

Thomas Teye-Partey is buzzing with confidence going into this weekend’s International friendlies against Mali and Qatar. The 28-year-old new Arsenal recruit joined the rest of the Ghana team on Wednesday to train at the Emir Sports complex in Antalya, ahead of Friday’s friendly match against West African neighbours Mali.



Ghana will take on Qatar three days later. Thomas was on hand to speak with ghanafa.org. We asked him about how it feels to work under C.K Akonnor, the quality of players in the Ghana squad and competition for places in the team.

Read on for a full transcript:

On training with national team mates ahead of training 

I feel good, I am so happy to be here again with the Black Stars. About the guys, I think they are doing well, today I can see everyone is trying to do their best, trying you win the heart of the new Coach and I think it’s good, we have a great competition and I think it’s better for the Black Stars.

On C.K Akonnor

Today is not the first day of working with him, you know we already played with him and I think he is doing all he can so that we will be comfortable and you know we won our last game and we will see what will happen against Mali and Qatar.



Competition for places in the team

We are having a good competition in the team; all the guys are training well. I think this will help the team to improve, everyone will be on their feet trying to win the heart of the Coach and also give more pressure on those that think that they are comfortable, it will energise them to be on their toes to fight to maintain their place in the team

On quality of players in the team

I am very happy; we have a lot of quality players in the team. There are so many Ghanaian players out there who are good but not all of us can be here.  Fortunately, we are here because we won the heart of the Coach. And I think it’s a good place to show what we have.

On keeping momentum to win back the love

We have to do our best, make sure we win all our matches like we did previously against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe and with this we will win back the hearts of many Ghanaians also.



source: Ghana FA

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Ghana Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Lomotey says he is excited to play for Ghana Black Stars, he adds that the opportunity presented to him by the coach is a dream come true.

Full interview with Ghana FA:

On build up and how team is working

I am very excited and honoured to join the Black Stars team. Two days training with the team has been great. I am working hard towards the two matches. I am very excited and very ready.

On training for two days and positives

I think we are doing very well in training, good news is that most of the guys are in now the team is ready for the two games. That is the positive signs and we are ready for the game.

On chemistry with team mates

I am really enjoying myself here for the first time with the big guys. I am very excited to be here, I am enjoying myself and looking forward to the games

On being given an opportunity by the Coach

I am very glad to be given the opportunity to join the Black Stars is a dream come true. Every player’s dream is to play for the Blacks Stars so I am very excited to join the team. Being given the opportunity, I just have to take the opportunity in good faith and make good use of it.

Message to Ghanaians

I want to tell Ghanaians to pray for the team, we are going to deliver.

The post Lomotey ready to seize opportunity and deliver for Black Stars first appeared on Sahara Football.

The Black Stars will take on Mali on Friday, October 09, before they battle Qatar three days later in Antalya, Turkey.

The two games form part of Ghana’s preparations ahead of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualification games in November against Sudan.

The post Photos: Ghana first training session in Turkey ahead of Mali, Qatar friendlies first appeared on Sahara Football.

Midfielder Thomas Teye Partey has arrived in the Black Stars camp at the Xanthe Resort and spa in Antalya, Turkey.

The 27-year-old who joined Arsenal from Spanish club Atlético Madrid on transfer deadline day has joined his colleagues in camp ahead of Ghana’s International friendlies against Mali and Qatar.

Also joining the team in camp are Kassim Nuhu, Alexander Djiku, Bernard Mensah, Joseph Aidoo, and Tarique Fosu who was handed a late call up by Coach C.K Akonnor. Their arrivals increase the number of players to nineteen. Coach C.K Akonnor on Tuesday, October 06, 2020 held his first training session with the squad at the Emir Sports complex in Antalya, Turkey.

The players in camp are as follows:

Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Razak Abalora, Benson Annag, Kamaldeen Suleyman, Captain Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Nicholas Opoku, Emmanuel Lomotey, Eugene Ansah, Baba Iddrisu, Gideon Mensah, Thomas Teye- Partey, Samuel Owusu, Yakubu Mohammed, Bernard Mensah, Kassim Nuhu, Tarique Fosu, Alexander Djiku and Joseph Aidoo.

The team will hold another training on Wednesday as preparations continue for Friday’s game against the Eagles of Mali.

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Ghana Blackstars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor has named his 23-man squad, which is billed to take on Mali in an international friendly encounter.



Ghana’s double-header Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier with Sudan was halted as a result of the impact of the novel, COVID-19, which decimated lives globally and brought major worldwide economies down to it’s knees.

Akonnor will have the chance to oversee his first match in charge of the national team since his appointment in Javuary, 2020 against Mali in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, October 9.

The 23 man squad :

Goalkeepers

Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United – South Africa)

Razak Abalora (Unattached)

Richard Ati Zigi (St. Gallen – Switzerland)

Defenders

Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg – France)

Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting Club – Portugal)

Nicholas Opoku (Amiens – France)

Benson Anang (MSK Zilina – Slovenia)

Yakubu Mohammed (Azam FC – Tanzania)

Kasim Nuhu (Fortuna Düsseldorf  – Germany)

Joseph Aidoo (Celta de Vigo – Spain)

Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes)

Midfielders

Baba Iddrisu (RCD Mallorca – Spain)

Thomas Partey (Atlético Madrid – Spain)

Kudus Mohammed (Ajax – Netherlands)

Bernard Mensah (Besikstas – Turkey)

Emmanuel Lomotey  (Amiens – France)

Forwards

Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha FC – Saudi Arabia)

Andre Ayew (Swansea City – England)

John Antwi  (Pyramid FC – Egypt)

Eugene Ansah (Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Israel)

Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace – England)

Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace – England)

Kamal Deen (FC Nordsjælland)

The post CK Akonnor names 23-man Black Stars squad to face Mali first appeared on Sahara Football.

Mali head coach Mohamed Magassouba has named a 31-man squad for their international friendly against Ghana next month.

The Malien Eagles will tackle the Black Stars on 9 October 2020 in Antalya, Turkey.

Magassouba handed debut call-ups to Everton FC’s midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traoré.

Stade Malien’s goalkeeper Djigui Diarra is the only home-based player listed in the squad.

Teenager El Bilal Touré who plays for French Ligue 1 side Stade Reims has also named in the squad.

Below is the squad list:

GOALKEEPERS: Djigui Diarra – Stade Malien Ibrahim Mounkoro – TP Mazembe Mamadou Samassa – Sivasspor Adama Keita – Djoliba AC

DEFENDERS: Hamari Traoré – Stade Rennes Falaye Sacko – Vitoria Guimarães Massadio Haidara – RC Lens Charles Traoré – FC Nantes Molla Wague – Amiens SC Mamadou Fofana – FC Metz Aboubacar Kouyate – FC Metz Sikou Niakate – EA Guingamp



MIDFIELDERS: Diadie Samassekou – TSG Hoffenheim Cheick Doucoure – RC Lens Amadou Haidara – RB Leipzig Lassana Coulibaly – Angers FC Mohammed Camara – Red Bull Salzburg Adama Noss Traoré – Hatayspor Yves Bissouma – Brighton and Hove Albion Abdoulaye Doucoure – Everton FC

ATTACKERS: Moussa Djenepo – Southampton FC Adama Malouda Traoré – Al-Adalah Moussa Doumbia – Stade Reims Abdoulaye Diaby – Sporting Lisbon Kalifa Coulibaly – FC Nantes Sekou Koita – Red Bull Salzburg El Bilal Touré – Stade Reims Moussa Marega – FC Porto Adama Traoré – Wolverhampton Wanderers Hadi Sacko – Denizlispor Kevin Zohi – Racing Strasbourg

The post Mali announce squad for friendly against Ghana Black Stars first appeared on Sahara Football.

The Ghana Football Association have announced that the Black Stars will be involved in an international friendly game with two African nations Mali and Equitorial Guinea next month.

Below is the official statement from the Ghana FA:

Ghana will take on Mali and Equatorial Guinea in two separate friendly games in Antalya, Turkey.

The Black Stars will play Mali on Friday, October 9, before taking on Equatorial Guinea on Monday, October 12, 2020. Both games will be played behind closed doors and under strict COVID-19 protocols.

The two games will help Coach C.K Akonnor to prepare his side for November’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan.

The two friendlies will come in handy for C.K Akonnor who is yet to play his first game since he was appointed new Coach of the Black Stars in February this year.

Ghana top Group F with 6 points following victories against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in November 2019.

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WATCH: AFCON 2019: Tunisia 1-1 Mali | Goals and Highlights

Wahbi Khazri’s stunning freekick in the 70th minute earned Tunisia a point against Mali as they came from a goal down to grab a 1-1 draw with Les Aigles in their second Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 Group E clash in Suez on Friday evening.

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