Sports
GFA makes appointments
Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, Frederick Acheampong, leads a list of officials who have been appointed to serve on various panels in the new refereeing structure of the association.
The CAF Match Coordinator has been appointed to chair the newly-created Referees Assessors and Classification Panel.
He is joined by retired FIFA referee Justice Yeboah and Emmanuella Aglago as members.
The trio will be responsible for evaluating and assessing the performance of referees by giving advice and constructive comments to help the development of the referees while also using a marking system. They will also analyse the performance of referees in the matches in their various categories under the auspices of the Ghana Football Association. They are also responsible for grading and classification of referees.
In a related development, Deputy Chairman of the Central Regional Football Association, Dr Francis Eyiah Bediako, will chair the Referees Match Review Panel, while experienced but retired referee R.K Atifu is part of a three-man Instructors team announced by the FA.
Other members of the Match Review Panel are Innocentia Agbavitor – Retired FIFA referee and Paul Ayamba – Chairman, Match Commissioners.
This panel will review incidents picked up by official League footage and make a decision to refer the incident to the tribunal based on the rules of the game as outlined on a report sheet. They shall operate independently of Referees Committee.
Members of the Instructors panel (Technical) are Christine Zigah, R.K Atiffu and Seidu Bomisson.
Their responsibilities include refereeing strategies, training referees on League specific rules, training referees on player misconduct handling, ethics in refereeing, training referees on refereeing positioning and training referees on psychology.
According to an FA statement, this list will be reviewed and improved continuously.
There shall also be a minimum of three technical Instructors in every region.
The Physical Instructors Panel includes Augustine Fugah, Tetteh Opae and Vivian Agor. They are expected to come up with a training theory for referees. They are also responsible for the fitness of referees and their training. This list will be reviewed and improved continuously.
There shall also be a minimum of three Physical Instructors in every region.
Sports
Benjamin Asare’s call-up inspires local players – Osei Asibey
Hearts of Oak defender, Osei Asibey, has acknowledged that the call-up of Benjamin Asare, the current number one goalkeeper of the Ghana Black Stars, has given confidence to many local players to work hard.
Asibey explained that playing for the senior national team is time-based, and at the right time, every local player will get their chance.
“The Black Stars belong to Ghanaians, and everybody will get the chance to play for the Black Stars when the time is right. Benjamin Asare is a local player, and he has gotten the chance. I’m sure when it is our time, the country would call us to serve,” he asserted
Osei Asibey added that Asare’s achievement shows that with hard work, local players can also receive Black Stars call-ups.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Sports
World Cup Qualifiers: Ghana beats Mali to boost qualification hopes
The Ghana Black Stars on Monday evening secured a vital 1–0 win over Mali in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a result that strengthens their chances of booking a ticket to the 2026 tournament.
The Match
The only goal of the game came in the 52nd minute when Alexander Djiku powered home a header to put Ghana ahead at the charged Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana dominated possession and created more chances, with Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus troubling the Malian defense.
Coach Otto Addo’s side managed the game well, with substitutes, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Iñaki Williams and Joseph Paintsil helping to protect the narrow lead.
Mali pushed for an equalizer but Ghana’s defense held firm until the final whistle.
What the win means
The victory takes Ghana to the top of their qualifying group, giving them a strong advantage in the race to secure a direct World Cup spot.
It also boosts team confidence as the Black Stars aim to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece.
Games Remaining and Qualification Path
Ghana now has two games left in the qualifiers. To qualify directly, they must finish first in their group.
If they end up second, they will have to compete in the CAF play-offs to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The next FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026, and run until July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, the tournament will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the usual 32.
It will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches spread across 16 cities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
