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Are we serious about World Cup play-off …against Nigeria?
A Ghana v Nigeria game is a mammoth engagement any time, any day. There is no shred of doubt about this assertion.
It could be a mere friendly, yet, you can trust any Black Stars-Super Eagles game to be contested with all the verve and venom they can muster and spit out at each other.
Indeed, there have been several battles between the two Gullivers of the continental game, and each time, it was fought with unfathomable energy and passion. It does not really matter what was at stake. And, such games have attracted the cynosure of all eyes, too.
Ghana has managed to establish a stranglehold on Nigeria. In the 56 times that they have met, the Stars beamed away with 25 wins as compared to Nigeria’s 12.
That sounds great, right. However, with the current form of Nigeria – per what they advertised at the just-ended Cameroon AFCON, it would take something extraordinary to crack them in our next meeting. While the Super Eagles lost to Tunisia at the last-16 stage, Ghana were shock first-round casualties, finishing rock-bottom of Group C with just a point, after a stunning 3-2 loss to minnows Comoros.
The Eagles are seeking to qualify for the World Cup a seventh time and, since 1994, have missed only one of seven editions. The last of three appearances by Ghana was in Brazil 2014.
Indeed, the Super Eagles have been itching to punish the Stars in a manner that the four-time African champions and World Cup quarter-finalists would never forget. It is not about enacting revenge; it is about getting the bragging rights over a country that has been a thorn in their flesh since the mid-50s till now. You remember the ego-shattering 7-0 white-washing the Eagles suffered at the ‘sadistic’ hands of the Stars in 1955?
Aside the bragging rights, next month’s World Cup play-off has a lot at stake as the Super Eagles are eager to make the cut to Qatar in order to placate livid Nigerians whose dream of a fourth Nations Cup coronation ended at the round of 16 stage in the just-ended Cameroon AFCON. To secure that berth, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former national star Emmanuel Amunike as chief coach of the Eagles and charged together with the Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup, which is expected to roar off in November.
Clearly, Nigeria seems to be approaching the Ghana game with some level of seriousness and urgency as compared to their Ghanaian counterparts, having put together their technical team earlier. They are not taking anything for granted at all, in spite of their relatively bravura performance in the Cameroon AFCON.
Qualifying for a mammoth tournament as the World Cup involves a lot of strategic planning and focus. That is what we expect from Ghana, especially with regard to putting together a formidable Technical Team to surmount the Himalayan task ahead.
Well, as of press time (Wednesday), a whispering from a bird pointed to advanced arrangement by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to settle on former Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton – an idol of the government, as permanent coach of the Black Stars. For now, he would act in Technical Director capacity, whilst FA favourite and Borussia Dortmund’s Assistant Coach Otto Addo, assume temporary charge of the team for the World Cup play-off with Nigeria.
It is said whatever the upshot of the play-off, the 63-year-old Hughton, an Irish with a Ghanaian mum, would become the substantive trainer of the Stars. Smart move! Clearly, if he was appointed the head coach now and failed in his bid to qualify the Stars to Qatar, Ghanaians would descend on him call for his head – and that could affect his future with the senior national team.
Let us pray for the Black Stars and hope the authorities get it right this time around. We have got to be serious and work with ruthless intensity towards the Nigerian game – especially as regards the call-ups we make ahead of that ferocious adventure.
By John Vigah
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
