African football giant Ghana has placed third in the ongoing Women’s African Cup of Nations after defeating South Africa in the third place match.
Ghana would be happy with the consolation despite the slim margin victory over South Africa in the game played on Friday. Coach Yussif Basigi started goalkeeper Patricia Mantey, midfielder Mary Essiful, and forward Florence Dadson for the first time in the tournament. His South African counterpart named goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Germaine Seoposenwe, and Refiloe Jane in his starting squad as they hoped for a bronze medal after losing to Nigeria in the semi finals.
Ghana’s struggles under manager Avram Grant is threatening to destroy the World Cup 2018 hopes.
After a 0-0 draw against Uganda in the opening match, the national team is under severe pressure to get a victory in the upcoming match against Egypt. It will be one of the difficulties for Ghana, who are already in a tough group that includes the likes of Congo. Ghana will be entering into the game against Egypt as the underdogs due to their recent form. Grant has failed to get a victory in the last four games – a run that also includes a loss against Russia in a friendly.
Ghana's national team, the Black Stars who would be facing Uganda in their opening World Cup Qualifiers today being Friday, arrived in Tamale on Wednesday morning so as to settle in fully before the match
The Coach Abram Grant's led squad on arrival at the airport, were welcomed by local football fans who had arrived the airport in order to welcome the team. So far, the members of the squad have a clean bill of health with no injuries ahead of their match with Uganda.
Ghana coach Avram Grant has been criticised as being a lazy person by none other than a former chairman of the Ghana Football Association, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe.
The scathing attack from the former chairman comes at a time when the national team has been going through a terrible run of form. After having won against Mauritius in the African cup of Nations qualification back in June, the national team has gone through four matches without a victory. The running includes a narrow loss against Russia with the remaining three ending as a disappointing draw.
Salomon Kalou of Ivory Coast is not going to represent Ivory Coast in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations against Sierra Leone which is scheduled to take place on September 3 and Ivory Coast will need to claim at least a draw in this match in order for them to qualify for the next rounds of the competition.
The main reason of why Kalou is not going to be able to perform in this match is due to recent family losses that the 31 year old player has experienced.
Ghana will be coming up against the likes of Congo, Uganda, and Egypt in the qualification round for the World Cup 2018.
Coach Avram Grant claims that it will be extremely difficult for the Black Stars to qualify for the tournament. This negative claim is unlikely to sit down well with the Ghana FA, who have seen the team perform well under the regime of Grant. The team qualified for the 2017 African Cup of Nations quite comfortably after finishing top of their group. Included in a group containing the likes of Mauritius, Mozambique, and Rwanda, Ghana finished the campaign unbeaten from the five games.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper said that his team does not fear Ghana and that his team is ready to face them.
Both teams have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup qualifiers. Congo Brazzaville and Uganda are the other teams in the group.
Egypt was thrashed by Ghana 6-1 in the 2014 World Cup qualifying playoff, and some pundits believe that this can affect the Egyptian team psychologically.
Unity oil Company Limited is set to become the new sponsors of the Ghanae Premier League following the withdrawal of First Capital plus Bank from the deal they had with the Ghana Football Association.
The corporate affairs Manager of the company, Alfred Frimpong made the revelation to the public.
Avram Grant’s spell as the head coach of the Ghanaian national football team might be reaching it’s end on February 5 of 2017 which is the date when the upcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finalizes.
