Sports
Adingra, Diakité – new Ivorian wave
Ouma Diakité
Carefree, innovative, ambitious and above all, full of talent. Simon Adingra and Ouma Diakité represent the next generation of Ivorian football.
Aged 22 and 20 respectively, the two young men experienced winding paths before being the protagonists of the Elephants’ qualification for the semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
Standing at 1.75 meters tall, Simon Adingra had a difficult journey before becoming a footballer.
“I’ve had some difficult times, and that has shaped my character. I remember the day an “agent” came to my house because he wanted to recruit me to go to an academy in Benin. With nine other boys, we went to this country except that the academy in question did not exist. The crook left with our money, and we found ourselves on the street. I had to take on odd jobs to meet my needs” he says.
“When I think of everything I have experienced, I must give the best of myself, for my country, my family, especially to honour my father who is no longer with us and who has always encouraged us to go this direction,” he explains.
Entering the game in the 86th minute against Mali, the right winger conditioned himself to be decisive and alert.
“I told myself that I was going to have an opportunity and that it was up to me to seize it. And yes I am lucky. I can tell you that it was, as an individual, one of my biggest emotions as a footballer. My heart was beating a thousand miles an hour,” admitted Adingra.
Another rising star is of course Oumar Diakité. Like Adingra, number 14 of the Elephants came into play during the second period of the match against the Eagles.
Active on the left flank, the native of Bingerville wasted no time in getting noticed. First by receiving a yellow card then by scoring the winning goal on a play initiated by Simon Adingra, before being unfortunately sent off.
“My joy was so great that I forgot that I had a yellow card, my mistake. I couldn’t play the half, but I don’t think it will hurt my team because we have the depth, and even if I’m not there, we’ll be able to do the job,” said Diakité.
To be the Cote d’Ivoire hero, Diakité imagined it for a long time and even dreamt of it.
“It’s an inexplicable feeling. During my training at ASEC, I began training as an engineer. Even though I was thriving in football, I needed to secure my life in a certain way because everything moves very quickly in this world.” — Cafonline.com
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.
