Sports
Decathlon Ghana reaffirms commitment to enhancing Ghana’s sporting industry
Global sports retailer brand Decathlon Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the Ghana’s sporting industry at both grassroots and national levels.
Since its entry into the Ghanaian market in 2017, Decathlon Ghana has partnered with a wide range of organisations across various sporting fields and industries, aimed at giving Ghanaians the opportunity to love their sports more than ever before.
Speaking at the media launch of the company’s 8th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday at the Decathlon store in Accra Mall, Events and Brands Manager at Decathlon Ghana, Thompson Agbodo, stated that Ghana is a rich sporting nation with diverse talents that, when harnessed and given the right attention and support, can showcase the country to the rest of the world.
Sports organizations such as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and its clubs, the Ghana Basketball Association and its clubs, the Rugby League Federation Ghana (RLFG), as well as various keep-fit clubs, have felt the impact of the company’s eight-year presence in Ghana.
While elaborating on how Decathlon’s involvement in Ghanaian football has evolved, shifting from retail to direct partnerships with key events and federations, he revealed their recent involvement in the Women’s Premier League and FA Cup finals at the University of Ghana Stadium, where they recognised standout players with awards.
“We have come a long way; beyond just supplying gear, we now stand shoulder to shoulder with Ghanaian athletes, offering not only products but also visibility, encouragement, and technical support,” he said.
On his part, the Business-to-Business and Reseller Leader at Decathlon Ghana, Mr. Mawuli Kofi Agato, noted that while football remains a focal point, Decathlon’s support extends to less mainstream sports as well.
They are committed to assisting clubs and associations in these areas through affordability initiatives.
“Many football clubs struggle to purchase equipment in bulk. We have significantly reduced costs to help them operate more efficiently. Our aim is to ensure that every sport beyond just football has the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
Ms. Francisca Arhin, Decathlon’s E-commerce Manager, emphasised the use of technology to enhance accessibility and inclusivity, stating that their platforms make it easier for everyday Ghanaians to access quality sportswear and equipment without facing barriers.
To celebrate the anniversary, Decathlon launched a 10-day sports themed event from May 21 to June 1, featuring activities designed for families and sports enthusiasts.
These activities include free equipment servicing and customization, discounts of up to 50% on Adidas products, weekend family games, and free delivery of products purchased within Accra.
She stressed that these activities are part of a broader initiative to cultivate a sporting culture at the community level.
Sports
‘Black Stars not there yet’
After seeing Mali undone by Alexander Djiku’s second half strike to give Ghana a 1-0 victory over Mali on Monday in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Accra, Otto Addo gave his thoughts in the post-match press conference.
Below are excerpts.
On the game against Mali
You could see that we have a young squad and players who haven’t been playing often for the national team so far; that made them nervous. I think we got a good game.
We increased the pressure early in the second half, and managed to score out of a set piece. And then it was pure fight afterwards, especially the period after the goal.
On decision-making in the final third
I think if you have played before, you know that sometimes there’s a little bounce from the ball or the position is close and you think too much, I told them actually, but as a footballer, it’s normal that you try to look for a perfect solution.
Semenyo’s performance
He did really well, you know, it’s difficult to compare games from the Premier League with games in Africa and Ghana. It’s very, very difficult and then all games have their own nature and surely you can say that he stands more out in the Premier League, but for me today he was excellent, he fought until he couldn’t run anymore.
On Gideon Mensah
Well, I think sometimes he’s a little bit too confident and we had, especially after the Chad game, had some talks and for everyone who has played football on a higher level.
If he does it in La Liga, it’s fine because in La Liga, if you lose the ball to your opponent, he will counter-press you. He needs to simplify his game sometimes. Didn’t look too complicated, but it’s difficult sometimes if you’re coming from a different environment to switch your thinking.
On Kwasi Sibo’s performance
First of all, big congrats for him. I think he really did well. It’s not easy to come from a different environment to fit into the squad, but yeah, he knows a lot of players already in the team and he connected well. He’s very, very confident and I think he did extremely well, especially when you see that this was his first match. .
On Ghanaians being overly expectant
No, I think the expectations are normal. We are Ghana. For me, if everybody is talking before the Chad game that we already won and we are already taking the three points, it’s dangerous because if this gets to the heads of the fans, it’s a problem for me.
I’m warning everybody who think we have already gone to the World Cup to take things easy. It’s not like that. We have to give the same effort as today to beat Central African Republic. If we don’t do this, it’s a big problem. We have a lot of work to do. A lot of work. It’s going to be very, very difficult.
On goal scoring
You know, the last window, we scored eight goals. I think it was ok, but we can’t expect it all the time. So I hope that the players who missed the chances would score the next time. But it’s all about learning, improving and adapting always to the circumstances.
And I think in each situation, they could have taken one, two, three steps more or more time to look for the partner to have a better overview to give the right pass.
Sports
Black Queens Set to Face England Lionesses in International Friendly
The Black Queens will face the Lionesses of England in a high-profile international friendly on December 2,2025 per agreement between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the England Football Association.
After reaching the semi-finals at the 2024 WAFCON, the Black Queens are determined to build on that performance and establish themselves among the elite teams on the continent.
This match comes off as part of Ghana’s preparations for all international assignments, including the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The fixture against England, one of the world’s top-ranked sides and reigning European champions, is expected to provide the Queens with a tough test that will sharpen the squad.
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren will also seize the golden opportunity to measure the team’s progress, expose the players to world-class opposition, and correct areas that need improvement.
The Black Queens will head into the encounter motivated to put up a strong performance, not only to test their readiness but also to showcase the strides Ghana continues to make in women’s football on the international stage.
