His Excellency Sheikh Tahiru B. Damba has urged the Black Stars to defeat Saudi Arabia inTuesday'sinternational friendly in Jeddah to appease the fans after their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Ghana's ambassador to Saudi Arabia made these points when he visited the Black Stars at their team hotelon Tuesdayafternoon to boost their confidence ahead of the game. Ghana's deputy sports minister Pius Enam Hadzide and Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi met Sheikh Damba on

Astana striker Patrick Twumasi has been handed a rare Ghana start ahead of the international friendly against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The 23-year-old replaced Sweden-based Kingsley Sarfo during the side's 0-0 draw against Uganda in a penultimate 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday. Twumasi, who has impressed for the Kazakh giants gets an opportunity to start for the Black Stars ahead of the friendly against the Green Falcons. Coach Kwesi Appiah is using the friendly to test his new

Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey will captain Ghana for the second time when they face Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Tuesday in Jeddah. The centre back was superb last Saturday in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uganda in Kampala. Amartey showed leadership on the pitch and led a spirited second-string side to put up an impressive showcase in the 0-0 draw- a match they controversially split points. His performance at the Nelson Mandela Stadium matched his status. He is

FC Zurich striker Raphael Dwamena has been named in Ghana's starting XI ahead of the international friendly against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The 22-year-old is returning to the starting line-up after a heart condition foiled his move English side Brighton in the summer. The Ghanaian was diagnosed with a heart condition which forced Brighton to pull out of signing the lethal striker. Dwamena scored a legitimate last-gasp goal against Uganda in a 2018 World Cup qualifier last Saturday

Istanbul Basaksehir ace Joseph Attamah has been handed a starting role in midfield for Ghana in Tuesday's friendly against Saudi Arabia. Attamah will be making his third appearance since getting his debut call-up last month for the double-header against Congo in the World Cup qualifier. He had a nightmarish debut last month in Kumasi against the Red Devils when he played in a makeshift right back role and got hooked at half-time. The 23-year-old made a cameo last Saturday in the 0-0

Young Boys defender Kassim Adams Nuhu gets to earn his first international cap after being named in Ghana's squad for Tuesday's friendly against Saudi Arabia. The 22-year-old earned a debut call-up after impressing for his side in Europe and in the Swiss Super League where he has scored two goals in nine appearances. Nuhu has been knocking on the door for an opportunity and has got the chance to justify his inclusion. He is expected to partner Club Africain's Nicholas Opoku in

Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi has been handed his Ghana debut in Tuesday's international friendly against Saudi Arabia. The FC Sochaux player has been touted for greatness after impressing for the Black Satellites at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand. Ati-Zigi was named in the provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations but failed to make the final cut. The former Red Bull Salzburg (FC Liefering) player has been regarded second-choice since Kwesi Appiah returned as Ghana

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has made five changes to his team including debuts for goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Kassim Nuhu to play Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night in Jeddah. Ati-Zgi, who plays for French Ligue 2 side Sochaux, has replaced Richard Ofori and has been handed an opportunity to seal a permanent place in the team. Defender Kassim Nuhu of Swiss side Young Boys has been named in the starting line up after impressing in this season's UEFA Europa League Group stage. FC Astana

The Accra Technical University will seek to record their first win of the season when they clash with Marshalls University College while the University of Ghana battle fast-rising All Nations University College as 2017 Tertiary Football League continues unabated on Friday. The Tudu-based University are keen to rebound after drawing 2-2 with city rivals University of Ghana two weeks ago. The stakes are extremely high for the side who should be recharged after enjoying a one-week break. The

Former FIFA Under-20 winning coach Sellas Tetteh has attributed the Black Starlets unflattering campaign at the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup to the absence of a play-maker. The Liberty Professionals technical director says the Ghanaian lack the man capable of creating chances for the team. The two-time world champions succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to the Unites States on Monday to throw group A wide open. "Unfortunately, we don't have a match-maker, a game-changer we don't have, the

Former Ghana Under-17 star Nii Odartey Lamptey says USA deserved their 1-0 win over Ghana at the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in India. The young Yankees needed a 75th minute strike fro Ayo Akinola to separate the two sides. And the former Aston Villa star has intimated the Americans were the better side. "The USA deserved to win the game, they were the better side," Lamptey who made his name as a youngster at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship said in an interview on Kwese Sports.

Ghanaian forward Kwame Thomas has returned to Coventry City following a disappointing one-month loan spell at non-league side Sutton United. The English-born player was farmed out on loan by manager Mark Robins for playing opportunities. But the 22--year-old could only manage just two first starts and one substitute appearance during his spell at at the club. He is back in the City fold after completing his loan spell last Saturday. He will be available for the first team trip to Accrington

By Mark Lessdad Id reached the point where I was beginning to question why I was putting myself through this. I was out running and feeling a few aches and pains and thinking Why am I doing this? Is it really worth it? So said much-travelled striker Patrick Agyemang whose many clubs included a stay at Bristol City when we got talking about his career and that moment in time many footballers reach just before deciding its time for a life outside of football. On the books at Wimbledon in

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has rubbished reports that the country's Chief of Staff has failed to release the $100k President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promised the Black Stars B following their historic win of the 2017 WAFU Nations Cup. Various media reports have lashed the country's Chief of Staff for not releasing the cash to the team after the President promised to reward the players for their tremendous show in the tournament. But the PRO

Ghana's High Commissioner to India Mike Ocquaye Jr has entreated that Black Starlets to avoid complacency in their subsequent matches in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Despite creating plethora of gilt-edged chances, the Black Starlets were stunned by a 75th minute solo strike by substitute striker Ayo Akinola at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday. And Mike Ocquaye Jr believes the loss was as a result of complacency on the team's part hence should let it be a wake up

The agent of Italian born Ghanaian defender Claud Adjapong has revealed the budding talent was proposed to Napoli before joining Sassuolo. Born and raised in Modena and the Sassuolo youth academy, he has become a regular first team starter this season, earning rave reviews for his impressive displays. Claud is improving and doing really well with Sassuolo, agent Beppe Galli told Radio CRC. There are several clubs following his progress. I offered him to Napoli along with Giuseppe Pezzella

Youngster John Otu will replace injured Abdul Razak Yussif in Ghana's squad for the final group match against hosts India on Thursday. Otu, who plays for promoted Premier League side Dreams FC, is an option for coach Paa Kwesi Fabin ahead of the must-win game against the Asians. Ghana will be without the centre-back who collapsed during the side's 1-0 defeat to the United States after a nasty head collision with American captain Josh Sargeant. He is stable and conscioustheFortis

FIFA.com looks at five factors that proved critical to Egypts successful qualification for Russia 2018. 1. Coaching stability When the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the appointment of Hector Cuper in March 2015, hopes were high despite his having just one previous stint as a national team coach with Georgia. And while on that occasion he registered just a single win during a year or so at the helm, he wasted little time in bringing successes to the Pharaohs. The 61-year-old led

No Black Stars player was named in CAF 's Best XI after the weekend penultimate round of matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Morocco dominate the list with three players including hat-trick hero Khalid Boutib, Mbark Boussoufa and Achraf Hakimi. Egypt, who beat Congo 2-1 in Alexandria on Sunday, have brace hero Mohammed Salah and defender Ahmed Hegazy on the list. Youssef Msakni who scored a hat-trick in Tunisia 4-1 win over Guinea has been named in the four-man midfield including

Ghanaian striker Dauda Mohammed grabbed a sensational hattrick for Anderlecht Under-21 in their 5-2 win overSporting Charleroi in the Belgian Cup on Monday night....