FULL LIST OF CAF AWARDS 2016

photo: Caf online

 It was a historical moment for Riyad Mahrez on Thursday, 5 January 2017 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja as the Algerian crowned Africa best footballer of the year.

African footballer of the year

1. Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City) – 361 votes

2. Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund) – 313 votes

3. Sadio MANE (Senegal & Liverpool) – 186 votes

Riyad Mahrez Wins 2016 African Player of The Year Award

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa

1. Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns) – 252 votes

2. Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns) – 228 votes

3. Rainford KALABA (Zambia & T Mazembe) – 206 votes

Women’s player of the Year

Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria & Arsen Ladies)

Most Promising Talent

Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City)

Youth Player of the Year

Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)

Coach of the Year

Pitso MOSIMANE (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Club of the Year

 Mamelodi Sundowns

National Team of the Year

Uganda

Women’s National Team of the Year

 Nigeria

Referee of the Year

Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)

Football Leader of the Year

Manuel LOPES NASCIMENTO, President of Guinea Bissau Footba Federation

Legend Award

Laurent POKOU – Former player of Cote d’Ivoire

Emilienne MBANGO – Former play of Cameroon

Platinum Award

His Excellency Muhammadu Buhar President of the Federal Republic Nigeria

Africa Finest XI – Glo-CAF 2016 Award

Africa Finest XI

Goalkeeper: Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint-Germain), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric BAILLY (Cote d’Ivoi & Manchester United), Joyce LOMALISA (DR Congo & AS Vita)

Midfielders: Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns Rainford KALABA (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Keegan DOLLY (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns),

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio MANE (Senegal Liverpool), Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria Leicester City)

Substitutes

Aymen MATHLOUTHI (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Kalidou KOULIBAL (Senegal & Napoli), Salif COULIBAL (Mali & TP Mazembe), Islam SLIMANI (Algeria & Leicester City), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City), Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal).

GHANA DROPPED TO 53RD IN FIFA RANKINGS

Ghana suffered set back in the FIFA World ranking. The Black Stars slipped to the 53rd position in the world ranking and also fall to ninth in Africa.

Ghana defeat to Egypt in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers is the main outlay of the Black Stars fall in the FIFA ranking for the month of November.

Ghana is down eight places in the world ranking to 53rd position and went down 4^th places to ninth in the Africa due to the recent defeat to Egypt in the world cup qualifier at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria losing grounds in Group E.

Egypt moved ten places to the 36^th position FIFA ranking and 4^th in CAF. Senegal remains the continent's number one ranked nation and 33rd in the world followed by Cote d'Ivoire and Tunisia, who are tied in the 34^th position and south Africa on 60^th position in FIFA.

Ghana can revive with few wins in the friendly matches before the African Cup of Nations in January 2017. Also, with impressive results at the Africa Cup of Nations will help Ghana to gain grounds.

Argentina is FIFA number one followed by the Brazilians.

Top 10 in the FIFA rankings:

1. Argentina

2. Brazil

3. Germany

4. Chile

5. Belgium

6. Colombia

7. France

8. Portugal

9. Uruguay

10. Spain

Top 10 in CAF rankings:

1. Senegal

2. Cote d'Ivoire

3. Tunisia

4. Egypt

5. Algeria

6. Congo DR

7. Burkina Faso

8. Nigeria

9. Ghana

10. Morocco

Black Queens Squad For 2016 African Women Championship

Photo: GFA

Thirty four players who have been invited to the black Queens camp ahead of preparation towards Africa Women Nations cup Cameroon 2016.

The players are to report at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence- Prampram Tuesday 27th September 2016 at 4pm.

The Black Queens have drawn rivals defending champions Nigeria, Kenya and Mali in Group B for this year’s African Women’s Championship.

The 2016 African Women’s Championship will be played from 19 November to 03 December in Yaounde and Limbe.

GOALKEEPERS:

Nana Ama Asantewa -Police ladies
Fafali Dumehisi -Police ladies
Patricia Mantey – Immigration ladies
Beatrice Ntiwa -Hasaacas ladies

DEFENDERS:
Hillia- Kobblah – Hasaacas ladies

Cynthia Adobea -Prisons.
 Rosemary Ampem -Immigration
Agnes Quaye – Immigration
Regina Antwi -Hasaacas ladies
Fauzia Mustapha -Faith ladies
Mabel Baffoe Eshun -Hasaacas ladies
Cynthia Adjei – Police ladies.

MIDFIELDERS:

 Safia Abdul Rahman -Lipo

 Alice Kusi -Fabulous

 Mary Essiful -Intellectuals

 Grace Asare -Prisons

Priscilla Saahene -Fabulous
Ruth Appiah -Ashtown

ATTACKERS:
Deborah Afriyie- Police

Alberta Asante -Police

 Faiza Ibrahim -Police
Ruth Anima -Ashtown

Rita Otchere -Prisons
Akyiaa Asante -Ampem Dakoa.

FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS WILL JOIN NEXT MONTH.

 Janet Egyir
 Samira Sule man
Linda Eshun(ICELAND )

 Portia Boakye
Juliet Acheampong
Elizabeth Addo(SWEDEN)

Priscilla Otchere (SERBIA)

Mercy Mylse (CANADA)

Eunice Beckmann (BAYERN MUNICH  )
Grace Adams(USA)

Ghana bid to host 2018 Africa Women's Championship

photo. Ghana FA website 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected Ghana to host the 2018 Africa Women’s Championship.

Ghana was granted permission to host the competition for the first time after emerging as the only country to bid for the tournament.

The country’s experience of successfully hosting previous CAF tournaments in recent times, The 2009 African Youth Championship and the 2000 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations was the main key.

The 2018 Africa Women’s Championship will also serve as qualifier to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

TIMES FLY

PHOTO CREDIT: GOOGLE

Somehow, in recent times I have developed an extra liking for the gospel musician bernice offei's song "Life is short". Apart from the impact of the lyrics on me. I find the words so apt. In a very simple way, she reminds us and emphasis the shortness or transcience of life- from birth, through adolescence to adulthood, old age and inevitably death. Probably that accounts for my recent near addiction to the song on my phone.

The deaths of Muhammad Ali in U.S as well as the death of Stephen keshi brought back memories of my dear father and friend. My father (Nana Sanja Gyankware) my friend and daughter (Sarah Ofori). It also reminded me of the words of Bernice Offei's song “Life is short" which says.....

It was but yesterday you were a baby,

But so soon you’re growing, too,

And before you know it you’ve become a lady,

Or a man with children, too.

Then your health and strength begin to fail you,

And you say “Now, what shall I do?”

Because the days and years you may have wasted

May be memories haunting you.

Refrain

So you see, my brother, that life is so short.

It passes so quickly and soon it’s gone.

You just have one life to live on earth,

So remember your Creator while you have breath

(Repeat)

You part with a loved one and say “See you tomorrow!”.

Tomorrow comes, but he may be gone.

They tell you your friend has left you in sorrow,

And your world comes crashing down.

Life is just like a little flower:

Today it’s here tomorrow it’s gone.

So don’t just chase after riches and power,

‘Cause they’ll fail you when time is gone.

So you see my brother, that life is so short. It passes so quickly and soon its gone. You just have one life to live on earth. So remember your creator while you have strength.

Life is short

Life is indeed really short

You only have one life to live on earth;

Before you know it it’s come and gone.

So make the most of it while you can

And remember your Creator while you have breath.

— Bernice Offei

May God almighty forgive us our sins and show his mercy upon us whenever make excuse to go a place worship. Life is short dear friends. You only have one life to live on earth.        

GHANA WOMEN'S FA CUP GETS SPONSORSHIP

Sanford World Clinic has announced a GH 1.1 million cedis sponsorship for the Women’s FA Cup in Ghana.

President of health facility, Dr Kojo Benjamin Taylor announced this at a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the Ghana FA secretariat.

This is the first time the women’s game will be sponsored in the country.

The Women’s FA Cup competition which was recently introduced into Ghana women’s football calendar is currently in the round of 16 stage and the announcement of the deal with Sanford World Clinic brought a huge relief to participating teams.

At a press conference held at GFA secretariat to make the announcement, the President of Sanford World Clinic, Dr. Kojo Benjamin Taylor revealed that their decision to partner with GFA and support women’s football in particular means more to them than just a social responsibility.

According to Dr. Taylor, about 70 percent of their patients and visitors are women so they deemed it very necessary to contribute to the development of women football and invest in the lives of young girls who are passionate about playing football as their dream career.

Dr. Taylor said, “I have seen a women’s football match and its quite motivating. The first time I saw them play I was amazed at the display of talent shown by the young girls. I must admit I didn’t expect that.”

GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi, who signed the deal on behalf of the Association, thanked Sanford World Clinic for expressing interest in the development of girl-talents in the country.

“It’s my hope that this will go a long way to ameliorate the burden on those who manage women football clubs so that they can continue to develop women football in the country,” said Nyantakyi.

The GFA was handed a cheque worth GH¢ 200,000.00 being the first part of the sponsorship package with another two parts to be paid within the next four years.

HEARTS OF OAK ON TOP OF THE LEAGUE

PHOTO: MARTIN SKYBA

 Hearts of Oak made another impressive display to win 3-1 against Bechem United on match week 4 making on top of the Ghana Premier league table.

The Phobians begun the game brightly but Bechem held on till the 37^th minute when striker Samuel Yeboah rose highest to open the scoring with a well timed finish. The goal brought the best response out of Bechem Unted who looked for an immediate response but the ever impressive Soulama Abdoulaye in post for the Phobians ensured their lead was in one piece.

With Bechem on the dominance and in search of an equalizer time caught them out and Referee whistled for the end of the first half.

Hearts of Oak clearly with their fans behind them took advantage of some loose marking in the half of Bechem to score the second goal of the game and it was the midfielder Mustapha Esuman who found the back of the net.

 A well worked goal between Samuel Yeboah and Cosmos Dauda brought in Isaac Mensah who made no mistake from six yards to make it three nil.

With Hearts of Oak turning on the style John Nyamekye pulled one back what turned out to be a consolation for the Bechem United and coincidentally the first goal the Phobians had conceded.

Foovi Aguidi who came on late to replace Cosmos Dauda had an opportunity to score the fourth goal of the season but his shot went wide. The Phobians held on to win 3-1 and go top of the league table.

Also the blackstars coach, Avram Grant was at the Accra Sports Stadium the following day watching Hearts of Oak as they won a 3-1 against Bechem United.

There was intense excitement and good spirit at the stadium as the Phobians sold an interesting match with some players on both sides also giving the Ghana coach some thoughts.

The blackstars coach sat next to Hearts owner Togbe Afede to watch the game as they shared some exciting moments during the league. There have been concerns that Grant has not monitored the local league enough which forced him to go round and watch the league games.

In all, it was fun watching Heart of Oak win in their home with Martin Skyba and Tomas Repasky marketing manager and director of wellbeing natural products (GH) Limited respectively. 

PHOTO: MARTIN SKYBA
from left to right Tomas Repasky, Nana Akua Abigail Opoku and Martin Skyba

PHOTO: MARTIN SKYBA

PHOTO: MARTIN SKYBA