Sports
Gianni Infantino, Kurt Simeon-Okraku hold historic meeting in Paris
In a massive boost for Ghana Football, FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a historic meeting with President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku at the FIFA Offices in Paris, France.
This meeting was at the behest of the FIFA President who had invited President Simeon-Okraku to meet with him to discuss matters related to the development of the game both in Ghana and on the African continent.
The FIFA President gave President Simeon-Okraku a very warm welcome to the FIFA Offices in Paris, indicating how pleased he was to meet with the Ghana FA boss to share thoughts on how the game in Ghana was developing.
The meeting was held in a very positive spirit and the remarks shared by President Simeon-Okraku to reporters after the meeting pointed to the usefulness and progressive nature of the conversation he had with President Infantino.
President Simeon-Okraku, first thanked the FIFA President for the warm reception he had accorded him, going on to share a few key points on the synchronization of the vision of the FIFA President with that of the Ghana Football Association.
“First of all, I would want to say ‘thank you’ to the President [Gianni Infantino] for the invitation. We were here to speak about football on the global stage and, obviously, on the African continent, zooming in to Ghana. FIFA, led by the President, has been at the forefront of support for the development of football, especially in Africa,” he said.
He further added that, “And it was always important for us to engage and to know how far we are going, how well we are doing, and what we have to do to make it much, much, much better. I think that the President is very clear in what needs to be done. And as the President of a Federation, I’m also very clear on the vision of FIFA and, together, we are both sharing the same vision.”
President Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku then proceeded to paint a picture of the gains made by Ghana since he took over as President of the Ghana Football Association in 2019.
“I think that the Ghanaian game was at a low before 2019. Fast forward 2019, 2020 and now, and I think that we’ve made big inroads. Bringing all our competitions back. Bringing the desire and the passion of the people back. All our national teams are now competitive. We’ve gone ahead to also introduce more youth competitions, more youth national teams. Back to the (FIFA) World Cup in Qatar, after we lost out in 2018; our Black Queens, the female national team, are back in AFCON, after being away for a while. Our youth national teams are also on the rise again,” he noted.
According to him, “All our domestic competitions are back on track and are held in a timely manner. And so I think the outlook looks very good (for Ghana Football). What we have to do now, going forward, is to harness the potential and the positives that have come out of what we have done, and to make sure that we continue to improve on the work we are doing. But, at the moment, I would say we are on the rise again.”
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku in concluding his remarks, showered copious praise on FIFA for the awesome support that the world governing body for Football has given Ghana over the years, specifically acknowledging some key FIFA officials working out of the organization’s Senegal office.
He concluded, “First of all, I would say ‘thank you’ to FIFA the support via various schemes; through the FIFA Forward programme and the many other interventions that FIFA has introduced. Working with the office in Senegal with Gelson [Fernandes] and Solomon [Mudege] and the team, we are very clear on the support and necessary areas. I think that my Association has been very proactive in making sure that we continuously engage. I think that these levels of engagement, when they’re pushed a notch higher, will bring in more results. And this is what we are working on.”
This historic meeting is a shot in the arm for the President of the Ghana Football Association and for the entire Association as it provides fresh impetus for the work of President Simeon-Okraku and his Executive Council in their quest to lift Ghana Football to unprecedented heights.
Sports
World Cup Qualifiers: Ghana beats Mali to boost qualification hopes
The Ghana Black Stars on Monday evening secured a vital 1–0 win over Mali in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a result that strengthens their chances of booking a ticket to the 2026 tournament.
The Match
The only goal of the game came in the 52nd minute when Alexander Djiku powered home a header to put Ghana ahead at the charged Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana dominated possession and created more chances, with Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus troubling the Malian defense.
Coach Otto Addo’s side managed the game well, with substitutes, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Iñaki Williams and Joseph Paintsil helping to protect the narrow lead.
Mali pushed for an equalizer but Ghana’s defense held firm until the final whistle.
What the win means
The victory takes Ghana to the top of their qualifying group, giving them a strong advantage in the race to secure a direct World Cup spot.
It also boosts team confidence as the Black Stars aim to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece.
Games Remaining and Qualification Path
Ghana now has two games left in the qualifiers. To qualify directly, they must finish first in their group.
If they end up second, they will have to compete in the CAF play-offs to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The next FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026, and run until July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, the tournament will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the usual 32.
It will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches spread across 16 cities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Sports
Black Stars face Mali test in FIFA World Cup qualifier – Preview
With only two rounds left, the Black Stars lead the table but can’t afford slip-ups against a Mali side still firmly in contention for a top two finish.
Ghana entered the September window with momentum, but a late setback against Chad pegged the team back in N’Djamena.
The Black Stars looked in control for large parts of the match, with Jordan Ayew’s first-half strike seemingly setting the team on course for a routine win. However, missed opportunities left the door open for Chad, who snatched a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute.
The 1-1 draw cost Ghana the chance to extend their cushion at the top, though results elsewhere kept them three points clear of Madagascar and four above Mali.
For Mali, after a stop-start campaign that included too many draws, the Eagles reignited their qualification hopes with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Comoros last time out – putting them firmly in contention.
Dorgeles Nene, Kamory Doumbia, and Lassana Coulibaly all scored in a display that showcased both cutting-edge and balance, qualities Tom Saintfiet’s men have often lacked in recent games.
The visitors have proven difficult to beat, losing just once in seven outings, but their three draws have left them playing catch-up. Their defensive stability is impressive, with only four goals conceded so far, boasting one of the stingiest backlines in the group.
What Saintfiet now demands is greater ruthlessness in attack, where Doumbia and El Bilal Touré have often flattered to deceive despite flashes of brilliance.
With the gap to second-placed Madagascar now three points, Mali knows victory in Accra would put them firmly back in the race for automatic qualification. Otto Addo’s side are still well-placed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups, but sharper finishing and greater control in midfield will be needed to avoid more late frustrations.
Home form has been a strong foundation for Ghana’s campaign, with the Black Stars unbeaten in Accra so far in the qualifying series following wins against Madagascar, Central African Republic, and Chad.
Defensively, Ghana have conceded just six goals in seven games. With the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew supporting Antoine Semenyo and Iñaki Williams in attack, this Ghana side has plenty of quality to punish any opponent.
Both teams arrive with plenty to play for – Ghana aiming to consolidate their lead and Mali looking to force their way back into contention.
Ghana’s firepower, especially in Accra, makes them favorites, but Mali’s defensive organization and recent attacking revival mean this could be a far tighter contest than the standings suggest.
The match will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2025.
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