Sports
Black Stars through to play-off stages of 2022 World Cup qualifiers
The Black Stars of Ghana have advanced to the play-off stages of the 2022 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers after beating South Africa by a lone goal at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
A 33rd-minute penalty converted by Captain Andre Ayew was the minimum requirement by Ghana to make the progress, as they topped the group with a superior goal difference, though they have tied 13 points apiece with South Africa.
It was a game South Africa needed just a draw to make progress whilst Ghana needed at least a lone goal victory to make progress, saw the two sides starting a very busy note announcing their intention to win the game.
Coach Milovan Rajevac made two changes to the set that played against Ethiopia last Thursday, by pairing Alexander Djiku with Daniel Amartey in the center of defence, ahead of Joseph Aidoo, and introduced Mubarak Wakaso in the midfield to partner Baba Iddrissu to provide enough cover to the defence.
Jordan Ayew reverted to his arrowhead role as the lead striker, taking over from Richmond Boakye Yiadom.
Percy Tau led South Africa were more possessive, and also came closer to the goal line of Ghana but Djiku and Amartey were resolute.
Ghana was however dealt with a big blow when Kudu Mohammed took an early shower due to injury and his position was taken by Daniel Kyere.
Both teams failed to create any clear-cut chance from open play apart from corner-kicks and free-kicks that came the way of the stars which were utilized especially in the first half.
But the Stars opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through a penalty converted by Andre Ayew, after Daniel Amartey was pushed in the vital area.
Ayew’s penalty took the stars into the dressing room with the needed one-goal advantage after 45 minutes.
On return from recess, both sides continue to create opportunities but failed, but the closest came on the way of Kamaldeen Suleyman in the 78th minute when he took on the defence of South Africa with goalkeeper Ronuwen Williams completely beaten but his kick missed the target narrowly.
South Africa recovered and threw in everything in search of the equalizer but the Ghanaian stood firm and maintained the lone goal lead.
Ghana would be among the ten countries that would slug it out in the play-offs.
Line Up: Jojo Wollacot, Andy Yiadom, Baba Rahman, Alexander Djiku, Daniel Amartey, Baba Iddrisu, Mubarak Wakaso, Andre Ayew, Kudu Mohamed/Daniel Kyere, Jordan Ayew, Kamaldeen Suleman/Richmond Boakye-Yiadom. -GNA
Captain of Ghana’s National U-15 Boys team, Abdul Aziz Issa, says the exposure gained at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan will be vital for the development of the squad.
Ghana finished 7th out of 189 countries after an impressive campaign, winning eight of ten matches.
“I think we played well, the exposure was good for our development, and we can’t thank FIFA and the GFA enough for this amazing platform,” Issa said.
“I’m so very happy to be part of this FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan. I want to thank my colleagues for how far we have brought Ghana in this tournament.”
The captain believes the experience will prepare the group for future challenges at U-17 and U-20 level.
Ghana enjoyed an outstanding tournament, scoring 44 goals and establishing themselves among the top seven teams.
Their dominant group stage saw them score 27 goals while conceding just three. Salifu Fatawu’s side opened with a commanding 4-1 win over Uzbekistan, thrashed Myanmar 7-1, recorded emphatic 7-0 wins over Guam and the Bahamas, before rounding off the group with a 2-1 triumph over Kazakhstan.
Their pursuit of a higher finish suffered a setback in the knockout phase after elimination by Paraguay in a dramatic encounter.
The team bounced back to finish 7th, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Colombia in their final game, despite suffering a 7-1 defeat to Brazil in the Tier A Ranking Play-Offs.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Spanish Police have opened an investigation into the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel following his on-field collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono.
The 30-year-old forward died on Tuesday, November 3, at age 30, after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest during a LaLiga 2 match at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Monday. f350
According to police sources cited by EFE, the case is under judicial supervision. The incident occurred in stoppage time when Owono rushed out of his penalty area to challenge for a long ball near midfield and collided heavily with De Miguel, striking him in the chest. The goalkeeper was shown a straight red card.
De Miguel was taken to Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria where he remained in intensive care until his death on Tuesday morning. CD Tenerife confirmed the passing in a statement: “Racked with pain… we communicate the tragic passing… of Jesús de Miguel Alameda”.
The National Police’s Homicide Group in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is leading the inquiry. Judicial authorities in the Canary Islands clarified that such an investigation is automatically opened whenever a death occurs from non-natural causes and does not by itself establish criminal responsibility.
While reports indicate police are examining possible involuntary manslaughter under Article 142 of Spain’s Penal Code, chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui believes it is highly unlikely that criminal proceedings will be brought because the collision occurred during normal play.
Authorities will review the referee’s match report, match footage, medical reports and the findings of the sports disciplinary committee to determine whether the challenge constituted dangerous play.
For now, no judicial ruling has established criminal responsibility on the part of the Andorra goalkeeper and the investigation remains open as Spanish football mourns De Miguel.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
