MVP Adams - elated yet eyeing more successes

Ghana goalkeeper, Azume Adams was a stalwart in post as they earned a hard fought victory against powerhouse Germany in Costa Rica in the group B encounter. A fine header from Gladys Amfobea in the first half, was enough to ensure Ghana qualified to the quarter finals of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women World Cup with a game pending. Adams had an exceptional game with series of top drawer saves that denied the Europeans an equalizer and also tamed top forward Shüller. Azume was awarded Most Valuable Player of the game by FIFA's technical committee. Elated Adams, speaking after the game said "I am not surprised. I knew that by the grace of God, I would win something more than this". The juggernaut in post for Ghana, further added "We planned and I know we can do something more than that. I am happy about it". Adams now joins Sandra Owusu Ansah who earned the MVP in Ghana's game against Korea [Ghana won 2-0 v Korea] as the two MVPs from Ghana so far. "We want to have goals so we need to score more goals [against Canada]. We need to take this Cup to Ghana", the agile goalie concluded.

Two up, one down - Ghana's position in latest FIFA rankings

Ghana have moved two places up on the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, March 13. The Black Stars, amidst losing 0-1 to Montenegro in a friendly recently are now 35th on the overall ranking log, two places better than the previous 37th. Ghana's point build up, previously at 733 is now 729 points. However the African giants, have slipped one place below her previous 4th spot on the continent. Ghana now trails Ivory Coast, Algeria, Egypt and Cape Verde chronologically. Costa Rica on 34th position, lead Ghana by 3 points whiles Honduras on 36th are only 4 points apart whereas Spain maintained the top spot with Belgium ousting Netherlands for the 10th position.

Ghana's striking conundrum - Ayew to miss out on World Cup?

Ghana and on-loan Marseille forward, Jordan Ayew is set to miss out on the plane to next summer's World Cup slated for Brazil this year, following a persistent decrease in form for both club and country. The 22-year old forward switched fortunes in January to Sochaux, a French first tier division club, but has since made an infinitesimal impact adding to the club's exacerbation on the league log. The younger brother of André Ayew also of Marseille, has since found the back of the net on one occasion but subsequently marred it with a sending-off in lastweek's league game against Monaco. A replica of such misfiring state has been exhibited in Ghana colours aplenty - scoring just two goals in as many games - with the latest of the series - an unconvincing display against Montenegro during the International Friendlies in midweek. The young forward has come under heavy chastisement from all and sundry over his abysmal display ahead of the Mundial. None other but the coach of Black Stars, Akwesi Appiah is said to be contemplating on dropping the forward for in-formed Seidu Bancey of local side Asante Kotoko. Bancey leads the goalking race on the local front with an average of 0.77 goals per game though he has played 7 games less. The lethal forward has scored 10 goals in 13 games for the Porcupine Warriors and has contributed half of his side's 30 league goals this campaign (assists inclusive). The former Dwarfs FC forward is said to be in line for a surprise ticket to Brazil by Coach Appiah, although, he is yet to receive a debut for the side. However, he has a handful of caps with the local Black Stars - the CHAN side and has propelled his club side to the apex of the league log with a whooping 12 points gap between the second placed team - Hearts of Oak. His speculated inclusion in the side sooner than later, could dim the chances of Jordan Ayew - perhaps earning the final berth in the attacking trio for World Cup - with captain Asamoah Gyan and Majid Warris already in the good books of the coach.

Ghanaian referee dies after massive assault by fans

21-year old referee, Kyei Andoh, met his untimely death few days after he was brutally assaulted in a second division league match in a suburb of Western Region. The young referee, also a teacher by profession was the subject of massive beatings and physical assault whiles refereeing a third tier match between Bordie-based Gold Stars and Naajoe United in the Western part of Ghana. The fans of the home-side, Gold Stars - obviously livid - launched attack on the referee for his 'unfair' officiating expressed through series of horrible slaps and dagger withdrawals - all aimed at the young referee amidst his other colleague referees (linesmen) on the day, running helter-skelter. Some onlookers came to his aide though, he could not swerve all the harassment from the apoplectic fans. He later went to hospital for treatment, but mild medications could only keep him alive for four days. Kyei Andoh's demise took place last Friday after vomiting blood believed to have accumulated via the assault on that infamous day - Sunday. His funeral is slated for next week whiles a post mortem will reveal the genuine cause of his death. Nonetheless, the police in conjunction with the Football Association(GFA) have put measures in place to bring to fore the perpetrators of this horrendous act for deserving sanctions.

Adams in, as Dauda is axed ahead of Montenegro game

Ghana and Montenegro will square off next month in a friendly match, as part of preparations prior to her third successive World Cup slated for Brazil. Aduana Stars goalkeeper, Stephen Adams has been included in the squad announced by coach Kwesi Appiah on Monday for the friendly with the Brave Falcons on 5 March after a scintillating display put up by the goalie with the Local Black Stars, in the just ended CHAN tournament, where he conceded a single goal in the entire campaign through to the grande finale. Elsewhere, Stade Rennes defender, John Boye returns to the side after sitting out in previous games due to injury. Meanwhile, the first choice goalie, Fatau Dauda of Orlando Pirates, failed to earn a berth in the side, after series of failing to keep the post for his club over months now. The game will be played at the Stadium Pod Goricum in Podgorica.The match will kick-off at 18:00GMT local time ahead of the Mundial tournament in June. FULL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromgodset, Norway), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars) Defenders: Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Samuel Inkoom (Platanias, Greece), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), David Addy (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor, Turkey), John Boye (Rennes, France), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France) Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan, Italy), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke, Germany), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, England), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem, Holland), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France) Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes, Italy), Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France)

Chelsea, Dwarfs and Medeama progress as Kotoko exit

The quartet of Ghana clubs represented in the ongoing CAF Champions League and Confederation's Cup - across the African continent produced a collectively perfect performance but for one. Berekum Chelsea qualified past FC Atlabara of South Sundan after a drawn aggregate of two goals apiece over the two legs. The Ghana club defeated the Sudanese counterparts by two unanswered goals, a week back in Ghana whiles the same result was reversed by the Sudanese in the return encounter. Iddrisu Danjumah, Chelsea's goalie was the hero of the day, saving three penalties as his side progressed to the next round to square off with Al-Ahly Benghazi from Libya in the next phase of the CAF Champions League qualifiers. Ebusua Dwarfs also held ASC Jaraaf to a goalless drawn game at the Stade Demba Diop stadium in Dakar, Senegal as the Cape-Coast based-side, sailed through with a one goal aggregate earned in Ghana, a week back. The club advances to the next round of the CAF Confederation's Cup with a spirited display over the two encounters. Medeama SC, brushed aside their Equatorial Guinea counterparts with 4-1 aggregate. FC Panthers lost 2-1 in Guinea and were mesmerized in the return leg as the Ghana side handed them, double punches after seeing their player sent off. Debutants Medeama SC, advances to the next round of the Confederations' Cup. Another debutants, Barrack Young Controllers handed Ghana League Champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko a shocker after edging them out of the CAF Champions league preliminaries with a late goal in Liberia. Kotoko won the first leg in Ghana by 2-1 but lost the return leg by a lone goal, wholly a an unpardonable blunder committed by their Burkinabe goalie - Soulama Abdulaye. Kotoko failed to progress to the next round of the CAF Champions League, for a successive numerous times in as many years.

New Ghana league sponsors to be unveiled on Tuesday - GFA

Following what appeared to be a marred relationship between the former sponsors of Ghana League, GLO Telecommunications and the Ghana Football Association, rumours have been on the rife with regard to who takes over the mantle as new headline sponsors of the nation's first-tier league. Speculations regarding the new title sponsors have escalated after some FA officials confirmed in recent weeks that, negotiations were in the pipeline to bring out the new sponsors. It seem as though, it would not take too long a time before the veil is taken off especially, after the official twitter handle of the FA confirmed the date to unveil the new sponsors, rumored to be either Vodafone Telecom or First Class Bank. "@ghanafaofficial : @ghanafaofficial will unveil new title sponsors of the #GHPL on Tuesday" - GFA official Twitter handle reads. Indeed Tuesday is not far from now. Soon, the league, needless to say though, dominated by Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will have a new sponsor according to the FA on Tuesday.

Swansea City set to sign Ghana youngster, Jeffrey Schlupp

A bid worth £2.5million is said to have been tabled by English first-tier division club, Swansea City who hope to bolster their attacking front in the absence of injured talisman, Michu for Ghana's Jeffrey Schlupp according to Sky sources. Jeffrey is said to have been courted by the Swans and could be crossing carpet from Championship side, Leicester City to South Wales to enjoy the breeze of English Premier League before the transfer window is closed later today. The 21-year-old earned his solo cap on 15th November 2011 against Gabon coming on as late substitute for Prince Tagoe. Schlupp who represented Germany at U19 level was once rumoured to be interested by Manchester United, but an unsuccessful trials denied him a dream move. The 2010/2011 Leicester City Academy Best Player could not have made a better move than now - bar any unsuccessful negotiations - in light of the World Cup beckoning.

No longer coy over transfer saga - Michael Essien

Following what appeared to be an unclear state of how things had turned around, in lieu of a certain Michael Essien's protracted transfer from Stamford Bridge to San Siro, a clarification from 'the Bison' could not have come any time better. Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien has yet to complete a transfer though on a free, from Chelsea to AC Milan subject to passing of medical already undertaken. The results of the medical appeared to be marred by some media outlets in both Italy and Ghana after propagated stories of 'failed medical test'. The situation was unclear and any official news affirming the negative stories would have seen, the former Lyon man, return to England again. However, the initial rumours of failed test, turned out to be false after the Bison took to his Twitter account to clarify the issue in the absence coyness. Essien wrote: "Haters will broadcast your failure but whisper your success. Medicals done,looking forward to start my new life with AC MIlan. #jahbless" Indeed, it seem as though, all is set for Essien to start a new career with AC Milan on a speculated 18 months contract subject to official confirmations from all parties involved.

Seydou Bancey - Suárez's Mimicker

INTRODUCTION Reigning and record Ghana league champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko sit comfortably atop of the league log, after the first half of the season came to an end recently. The second and third placed sides trail the Porcupine Warriors by 7 clear points thanks to players like Seydou Bancey. The club's leadsman. WHO'S SEYDOU BANCEY Seydou Bancey is a striker who few thought would not have come thus far given his wasteful and abysmal display some season(s) back. However, though not the dearest player in the 'Reds' family, he has established himself as the lynchpin of the side this year. Bancey opened his goal scoring campaign with a brace in the Super Cup match against Medeama SC. The former Dwarfs FC forward scored in the opening two games of the season with a thunderous strike against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak. However his free scoring season was brought to halt courtesy injury which sidelined him for months. DICHOTOMY : BANCEY AND SUAREZ. Seydou Bancey watched close to half of this year's campaign from sidelines just like Luis Suarez who also saw some fraction of the English League from the stands due to suspension. Suarez's story, everybody knows what happened when he returned, scoring 20 goals in as 'many' games and leads the goal- king race in England. Continuing Bancey's story, few anticipated, a striker of such misfiring status for sometime now could only be surviving on a nine-day wonder and surely the post-injury performance will indicate what he's known best for - inconsistency. However, these critique perhaps gingered Bancey to do what few predicted thus 5 goals in his last 6 games making a total of 7 goals in 8 games and leading the race for goal-king in a country where strikers are hard to come by. Bancey just like Suarez is brimmed with exuberance and sheer determination. What the two goal-machines share in common is their abilities to provide assists for other players to score. Bancey has provided not less than 3+ assists, similar to Suarez's performance though they featured less. Another trait these two share in common is their footworks. SEYDOU 'SUAREZ' BANCEY In as much as these two nimble-footed players have proven pivotal in this year's campaign for their clubs. It will be outrageous to compare the two players given they are in different leagues and standards and also Luis Suarez has more than enough national team experience with Uruguay whereas Seydou Bancey has yet to earn a call-up though got a recent late inclusion in the Local Black Stars team for the pre-CHAN tournament squad of Ghana. It is however very fair to say Bancey is clearly mimicking Suarez's performance. Therefore he's got every right to be dubbed Seydou 'Suarez' Bancey for the fun of the game and the beauty of its nature. Many accolades from the Kotoko family has emanated over the years, but expect Suarez Bancey to soar higher, all things being equal.