Sports
African Games 2023 close with festive atmosphere
The Accra 2023 African Games in Ghana came to a successful close last Saturday. Egypt were the biggest winners with 191 medals, 102 of them gold, but Ghana’s performance in the team sports was also very impressive.
The 13th African Games in the land of Ghana ended with a resounding victory for Egypt, who won 102 gold medals (191 total), twice as many as their nearest rivals, Nigeria, who settled for second place with 47 gold medals (121 total). South Africa secured third place with 106 medals, 32 of which were gold.
The African Games Accra 2023 also saw remarkable team performances from the host nation.
Ghana’s U-20 men’s national football team and their women, the Black Princesses won gold in the football event in Cape Coast and Accra.
In a nail-biting showdown at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium, Ghana’s national women’s hockey team, the Black Sticks, secured their first field hockey gold medal at the African Games. The dramatic victory came when they defeated fierce rivals Nigeria 4-3 in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out.
Ghana’s best performance prior to today’s gold medal was a fourth place finished at the Abuja Games in 2003. Kenya, who finished last in the group stage, improved in the closing stages to take bronze.
In the men’s competition, Egypt overcame Ghana after a 2-2 draw in which the hosts staged a historic comeback from 2-0 down. The penalty shootout ended 3-1 in favour of the Egyptians, leaving a sour taste in the hosts’ mouths as they failed to complete a ‘double in hockey.’
Algeria overcame a 6-9 halftime deficit to win gold in the men’s 3×3 basketball competition with a 16-11 final victory. Uganda finished third with a 17-11 victory.
In the women’s competition, Mali defeated Nigeria 21-11 in a West African derby, while the Democratic Republic of Congo beat Benin to finish third.
In handball, Egypt claimed one of its 102 gold medals with a narrow 33-32 victory over the Republic of Congo, while Nigeria completed the podium with a 38-20 win over Benin.
In the women’s competition, Angola won the gold medal unbeaten and convincingly, beating Burkina Faso 47-13, Ghana 35-13, Algeria 38-18 in the group stage and the Republic of Congo 33-15. Meanwhile, Cameroon beat Algeria 29-21 in the play-off for third place to claim bronze.
Zimbabwe was the inaugural champions of the women’s T20 cricket tournament, winning the gold medal after a thrilling super-over win over South Africa in the final.
In the men’s competition, Zimbabwe also claimed glory in the final.
The Accra 2023 tournament will go down in history as the debut of rugby as a competitive sport. South Africa, the reigning world champions, did not take part in the event, leaving the field open for others.
–Insidethegames.biz
The Black Queens will on Wednesday, April 29, learn their opponents for the African qualifying phase of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament.
The draw, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo and will be streamed live on CAF TV from 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Ghana is among 35 national teams participating in the qualification campaign, which will determine the two African representatives for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, scheduled for July 11 to 29, 2028.
The qualification series will be played over five rounds, with each nation aiming to secure one of the two available slots for Africa at the global event in Los Angeles.
Having recently climbed to 59th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings and currently ranked third in Africa, the draw marks the beginning of another major international mission, the quest to seek a return to Olympic football.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially awarded the nation the rights to host the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
CAF covered the decision in a letter addressed to the General Secretary, Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq.
The decision underscores CAF’s strong confidence in the Ghana Football Association’s ability to organize and deliver a tournament that meets the highest standards of youth football on the continent.
Ghana last hosted the competition in 1999 – when the Black Satellites lifted the trophy on home soil amid scenes of national celebration.
Coincidentally, 2027 will mark the 70th Independence anniversary and the competition could be a great part of the celebrations.
CAF says it will work closely with the Football Association and a soon-to-be-established Local Organising Committee (LOC) to ensure the successful planning and execution of the tournament.
This collaboration is expected to focus on infrastructure readiness, logistics, security, and overall fan experience, all aimed at delivering a world-class event worthy of Africa’s growing football stature.
Beyond the excitement of hosting, the tournament represents a broader endorsement of Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s premier football hubs.
Over the years, the country has consistently demonstrated its capability to stage high-profile competitions, backed by passionate supporters, improving facilities and a rich football culture.
The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations holds particular importance in the global football ecosystem. Widely regarded as a breeding ground for future stars, the competition has historically served as a launching pad for some of Africa’s most celebrated players. Many participants have gone on to achieve remarkable success at top European clubs and on the international stage, making the tournament a key showcase of emerging talent.
With history, passion and proven capability on its side, Ghana now stands poised to deliver a memorable and impactful U-20 AFCON tournament, one that could shape the future of African football once again.
