Sports
Ashanti region’s Senior Women’s Cricket League underway
The first week of the Ashanti Region Senior Women’s T20 League produced a lot of fireworks at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Obuasi Campus Cricket Oval as clubs attempted to start their respective campaigns on winning notes.
On Saturday, Wawasi Elites started the competition on a blistering note, defeating Tutuka Queens before Pomposo Royals accounted for debutants Central Divas in their opener.
Tutuka queens had two players retiring with injuries and wrapped up the first innings in 7.5 overs with 42 runs for 8 wickets after they lost the toss to bat first.
Rashidatu Salia came tops in the bowling figures, taking 3 wickets and gave away 8 runs in 2 overs for the Elites.
It took Wawasi Elites 4.2 overs to score 43 runs for no wicket to win the game by 10 wickets with Captain of the side, Rashidatu Salia scoring 16 off 15 balls, while partner and Vice-Captain, Fati Grace scored 10 runs off 15 balls.
Rozabel Asumadu, Captain of Tutuka Queens attributed the defeat to the absence of some notable players.
In the second game, Pomposo Royals won the toss and took Central Divas all out for 56 runs in 17.1 overs in the first innings.
Rhyda Ofori Amanfo took 3 wickets of the 10, gave away 12 runs in 4 overs, while Grace Quainoo and Dorcas Yeboah took 2 each, gave away 16 and 8 runs in 4 and 2.1 overs, respectively.
Eva Afoakwah and Grace Quainoo were sacrificed earlier in the second innings, but Rhyda stood her grounds and with 29 runs off 28 balls, finished the game with Mary Ndzibah (12 runs off 12 ball), scoring 57 runs for 2 wickets in 6.5 overs and winning by 8 wickets.
Rhyda Ofori Amanfo, Captain of Pomposo Royals was elated after the game and commended the entire team for their hard work.
On Sunday, Ellen Otu Asante and her fellow White Hawks had a torrid time in the T20 League, as Emmanuella Nyaaba’s introduction as the 3rd batter dented their hopes of surpassing the 128 runs for 6 wickets made by Royal Batters in the first innings.
Ellen scored a boundary 4 from her second ball and was in for a change, while the team stood at 54 runs in 11.3 overs.
She, however, took 3 wickets, gave away 13 runs, in 4 overs in the first innings that saw Elizabeth Annor score 30 runs, off 57 balls, not out, while Cynthia Ankobea scored 29 runs, off 36 balls, not out for Royal Batters.
Emmanuella Nyaaba in the second innings took 4 wickets, gave away 11 runs in 4 overs, while Cynthia Ankobea and Grace Amankwa took 2 each, gave away 5 and 6 runs, in 4 and 3 overs accordingly.
Royal Batters won the game by 39 runs.
Wawasi Elites, Pomposo Royals and Royal Batters all have 2 points each, whereas Tutuka Queens, Central Divas and White Hawks would have to battle for their first 2 points on week 2.
The league continues with week two matches on July 22-23, 2023.
Defending Ghana Premier League champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, will chase revenge against Asante Kotoko when they lock horns in a top Match day 19 fixture at the Bibiani Dun’s Park today.
The hosts lost the first-round fixture 2-0; however, they currently sit second on the league table, with a point above the Porcupine Warriors, in fourth place.
Following a pulsating goalless draw with Berekum Chelsea at home last week, a result that sent shockwaves through the Reds’ camp and sparked rumours about the future of Head Coach, Karim Zito, today’s game will serve as a major test for the technical team.
In Tema, Vision FC will test the mettle of league leaders, Medeama SC, when they welcome them to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex.
Having opened a five-point gap at the summit of the log, Medeama is looking to extend their lead with a victory today.
Ibrahim Tanko acknowledges the challenge in Tema will be different, but trusts his ‘lieutenants’ to do a good job.
After playing out a goalless draw with Asante Kotoko last week, Coach Samuel Boadu’s Berekum Chelsea will return to their Golden City Park base to host Swedru All Blacks in what locals have dubbed a ‘must-win’ game.
Lying 16th on the league log with 19 points, fans of the ‘Bibires’ are hoping their resurgence begins as they fight to climb the table.
In other games, Karela United will remain at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium to host Samartex FC, while the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex host the clash between Nations FC and Aduana FC.
Bottom-placed Eleven Wonders will visit the Kpando Stadium as guests of eighth-placed Heart of Lions; Young Apostles would be at Wenchi Sports Stadium to play host to relegation-threatened Hohoe United, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Bechem United to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Despite the absence of Ghana at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, the country featured in conversations around the tournament from start to finish; or at least the semifinal stage.
Interestingly, not many of the countries that participated in the championship did enjoy that leverage.
Surfing either traditional, social or new media, Ghana’s name has featured prominently in several conversations, courtesy of an intense rivalry between Ghana and brothers, Nigeria.
This is because fans of the two countries have attempted to give reasons to support qualification or otherwise to AFCON.
Ghana’s failure to qualify for the AFCON was attributed to weakness, and the fact that the Black Stars have not been good enough.
Ghanaian fans, however, responded by placing bigger premium on the FIFA World Cup 2026 which Nigeria Super Eagles has failed to qualify.
So, for followers of the Black Stars, The World Cup is for the ‘big boys’, a category too strong for the Super Eagles.
This interesting ‘banter’ has dominated a few sports shows on both local and international networks with Ghanaians openly declaring support for opponents of the Super Eagles in the 2025 AFCON.
Personally, I asked a few for their reasons and the response was quite humorous. “If Nigeria wins the AFCON, Ghanaians would be dead on social media,” one said.
A Nigerian blogger also warned: “If Nigeria wins AFCON, Ghanaian soccer fans would run away from TikTok.”
At this point, one was forced to accept the social media war between soccer fans of Ghana and Naija.
A few Nigerian bloggers and content creators even reminded Ghanaian fans of their ‘brotherliness’ and the need to support each other as West Africans to keep the trophy in the face of the North African challenge.
Interestingly, the Ghana-Nigeria rivalry has transcended beyond sports and ventured into areas of hospitality where both countries are claiming to be better than the other as far as preparation of ‘jollof’ was concerned.
In an attempt to win over Ghanaian fans, a few bloggers posted videos admitting for the sake of peace, that Ghana ‘jollof’ was better.
But the protest by fans over the appointment of Ghana’s Daniel Laryea as the referee gave a new dimension to the relationship between the two sets of sporting rivals.
It started with concerns why a West African referee was appointed for such crucial tie between a West African nation and a North African opposition.
That subject changed to the assumption that since Ghanaian fans were against the Super Eagles, Referee Daniel Laryea could do their bidding by giving Nigeria a raw deal.
However, Daniel Laryea made the entire nation of Ghana proud with a solid performance in the match watched across the globe.
Many factors contributed to make the game a tensed one; host nation performing in front of thousands of home fans plus a hungry Nigerian side that was bent on causing the biggest upset of the competition.
Definitely, these circumstance could extend to affect the match officials. That notwithstanding, Daniel Laryea proved to the whole world he has what it takes to occupy the same office with some of the top referees in football.
He commanded discipline among the players; there was calm on both benches despite a few disagreement over decisions – but football is like that.
Every sincere fan that watched the game closely would admit that Daniel Laryea’s performance was one of the best in the competition and must be commended rather than condemned.
Clearly, Laryea settled the ‘jollof’ rivalry with a commanding display. What is left now is how the Black Stars keep the ‘jollof’ title delivered by Laryea in Ghana with a fine performance at the World Cup because the Nigerian fans would be following closer than they think.
By Andrew Nortey
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