Sports
Champions, Europa leagues to end in ‘final eight’ format
This season’s Champions League and Europa League competitions will be completed in August with ‘final eight’ tournaments in Lisbon, Portugal and in cities across Germany.
The Women’s Champions League will also be a knockout tournament, in northern Spain between August 21-30.
Competitions were suspended in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
UEFA also confirmed that all 12 original host cities will stage matches in the delayed Euro 2020 finals.
That competition will now start on June 11, 2021. The outstanding play-off matches will be staged during the international windows starting on October 8 and November 12, respectively.
The Champions League will resume with the second-leg of the remaining last 16 games played on August 7and 8- Manchester City have yet to play their home leg against Real Madrid, Chelsea are away at Bayern Munich, Juventus are home to Lyon and Napoli are at Barcelona. UEFA said it has yet to decide whether to host the matches at the home grounds or at a neutral venue.
The subsequent knockout rounds will be single-leg affairs and will be hosted in Lisbon on August 12-23. The final has been scheduled for August 23 in the Portuguese capital.
Istanbul, originally appointed to stage the 2020 final, will now host the 2021 final.
The Europa League will resume from August 10. The remaining last 16 games will be played on August 5 and 6.
UEFA said: “A decision will be made in due course on whether these matches for which the first leg has already been played will be staged at the home team’s venue or in Germany.
“Inter Milan v Getafe and Sevilla v Roma, whose first leg was also postponed, will be played as a single leg at a venue to be confirmed.”
The Women’s Champions League, where Arsenal and Glasgow City have already reached the last eight, will be held in Bilbao and San Sebastian between August 21 and 30. The final will be in San Sebastian on August 30. –BBC
The TnA Stadium in Tarkwa will come live tomorrow with a top of the table clash as title-chasing Medeama SC welcome defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, in a Match day 31 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Medeama has declared it “Operation Paint Tarkwa Yellow and Mauve” as they gear up for what connoisseurs see as a make or break fixture for both sides.
A win for the home side will stretch their lead on the log to five points and hand them a huge boost in their title aspirations, but a defeat will play into the hands of the visitors.
Both teams head into this fixture with two points separating them on the league log with Medeama SC leading with 53 points.
The first round tie at the Dun’s Park in Bibiani ended goalless, leaving all to be played for in this game.
Third placed side, Hearts of Oak, will trek to the Kwame Kyel Sports Complex to test their might against Nations FC.
Both have faced each other five times since 2023 with the Phobians winning twice, drawing same and losing once.
This season, the Phobians defeat Nation FC 1-0 in the first round game at home and will look to do a double over the Abrankese lads, a plot coach Frimpong Manso and his charges are scheming against.
Hearts have drawn thrice, won once and lost same in their last five games and are heading into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss on the road to Vision FC.
Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has charged his boys to put that defeat behind them and go for victory.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, fourth placed Aduana FC will be chasing their 13th win of the season when they welcome Heart of Lions in their penultimate home game.
The “Ogya Boys” will be seeking a double over the visitors after inflicting a 1-0 win over the Kpando lads at their own backyard last December.
Karela United will look to exact revenge on Young Apostles FC when they host them at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
Fifth-placed side, Samartex FC, will stay put at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to host Basake Holy Stars.
Dreams FC will hope to worsen the plight of Asante Kotoko when they host them at the Tuba Astro Turf.
Vision FC will lock horns with Swedru All Blacks at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema today.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Fierce competition for slots for the 2027 Africa Games continues today at the Borteyman Sports facility in Accra where over 300 athletes from 21 countries have converged to compete in the 15th Africa Armwrestling Championship.
The championship started yesterday with thrilling performances. The fireworks will continue today which happens to be the final day with eyes fixed on medals and ranking points to secure continental glory, and most importantly, a qualification to the 2027 African Games.
It has attracted tough competitors from traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and host nation, Ghana.
They are known for their long-standing dominance in the sport, and are expected to provide stiff competition for the Ghana national Armwrestling team, The Golden Arms.
Also expected to stage a strong contest are the new forces in the Armwrestling arena.
Benin, Mauritius, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Kenya, Eswatini, Burundi, Niger, Senegal, Cote D’viore and Togo are all in town, ready to combat the ‘big guns’ despite their underdog status.
The arrival of South Africa and Benin in particular, adds a fresh competitive edge to the southern and West Africa representation of the tournament.
This edition is under the theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together,’ emphasising the role of sports in fostering regional integration and unity among member states.
Speaking ahead of the competition, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairperson, Maame Efua Houadjeto, explained that the event provides a platform to bridge cultural gaps and strengthen the bond between African nations through fair play.
Maame Efua, who doubles as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), also indicated the readiness of the LOC and the country to stage a very impressive championship.
“We are fully prepared to host a world-class championship that reflects the hospitality of Ghana. By bringing the continent to Accra, including our brothers and sisters from Egypt, Nigeria, and the rising stars from Benin and Mauritius, we have demonstrated that Africa is stronger when we lock hands.”
She continued that: “The theme: ‘Pulling Africa Together’ is a call for continental development and peace. We are ready to show that Ghana remains the heartbeat of African sports and the best in hospitality.”
Contributing, Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of Ghana and Africa Armwrestling, commended various partners, especially the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Authority, National Petroleum Authority, National Health Insurance Authority, Bethel Logistics, Verna Water, Kofikrom Pharmacy Limited, Stanbic Bank, Kofata Motors, Royal Dach Pharmacy, IMAH Hospital, Event Factory, Awards Center, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ghana Tourism Authority for the unflinching support for the championship.
On his part, Mr Kenneth Odeng Adade, the Chief Operations Officer for the championship, indicated that Borteyman complex has been fitted with international-standard Armwrestling tables and electronic systems to ensure a seamless experience..
As the competition officially ends today, the ‘Golden Arms’ of Ghana will be looking to leverage home-court advantage against the technical prowess of the Egyptians and the raw power of the Nigerians.
