Sports
Lepowura Jawula will be missed!
• Lepowura Jawula – A fallen colossus
Precisely a week ago, one of the nation’s and undeniably Africa’s finest football administrators – Lepowura Alhaji MND Jawula, passed on to eternity and was laid to rest 24 hours later in line with Islamic traditions.
The former Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss (1997-2001) gave up the ghost in the United States where he had gone to seek further medical care, having battled a bout of ailment for a while in Ghana.
His expiration came as a huge shock to Ghanaians, especially when he even granted interviews after the Black Stars’ star-crossed campaign at the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament that ended just last month.
For many, the iconic football figure – and prince of the Gonjaland, would not only be remembered for the rotund voice bottled up in his frame, but for his ability to quickly think outside the box to proffer practical solutions.
It was the chief reason the Confederation of African Football (CAF), especially during the reign of Issa Hayatou (1988 and 2017), would always put him on a committee or two, expecting him to use his vast experience to put things right.
The charismatic Lepowura Jawula is regarded as one of the marquee names in football administration, having chaired the Black Starlets team that won gold at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Ecuador ‘95.
His rule as GFA boss saw the Starlets also finish second and third at the Egypt ‘97 and New Zealand ‘99 World Cup tournaments respectively.
Aside a sundry of positions he once occupied in the game, the 74-year-old Jawula was the chairman of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) Management Committee, and board member of Real Tamale United (RTU) – a club’s whose return to elite football in 2001 he spearheaded – after eight years in the doldrums.
Indeed, even before his passing, Lepowura was a member of the CAF Inter Club Committee – having served as a CAF match commissioner and many other portfolios for several years.
In other aspects of life, those who have walked close to him would tell you how deeply they drank from his reservoir of experience, wealth of knowledge and free-flowing philanthropic nature.
Incontestably, he was the kind who would always advise you to sprint beyond the normal distance, challenge yourself and dash for the jugular whenever the opportunity presents itself.
On two occasions (2008 and 2020), he was at this writer’s book launch as chairman, an invitation he accepted with no strings attached – encouraging him to publish more of such literatures “because tomorrow is not for us.”
Though extremely jovial, he was not the kind of man you could take for granted – as he would stoically hold his ground once he knew he was on the right track.
Today, the tender remains of Jawula – the Lepowura of the Kujolobito Gate of Lepo-Kpembe in the Kpembi Traditional Area in Gonjaland, Northern Region, lie in the bowels of Nashville, in United States of America.
You will be sorely missed, Lepowura. Rest well, King Lepo!
By John Vigah
Ghana will face Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The draw was held on Tuesday in Cairo, where African nations learned their routes to the continental tournament.
Two teams will qualify from each of the 12 groups of four for the finals. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — the first East African co-hosting arrangement in the competition’s history.
Ghana head into the qualifiers targeting one of the two slots from Group C after missing out on the previous edition in Morocco.
Qualifying schedule:
Matchdays 1 & 2: September 21 – October 6, 2026
Matchdays 3 & 4: November 9 – 17, 2026
Matchdays 5 & 6: March 22 – 30, 2027
Black Stars assistant coach Roger De Sá says joining Carlos Queiroz’s technical team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a no-brainer.
Speaking on Beyond The Whistle, the South African revealed Queiroz’s call was no surprise given their long-standing relationship and shared ambition.
“The call from Carlos did not surprise me. We have similar dreams and I always want to see him succeed,” De Sá said.
For the experienced coach, Ghana’s pedigree made the decision easy.
“Being called to assist Carlos was not difficult. This is Ghana and it’s the World Cup we are talking about,” he stated.
De Sá recalled the moment Queiroz rang: “It was an exciting 3am call. I told my wife first and, as custom, she said, ‘We are leaving.’ I replied, ‘Let’s go!’”
He praised Queiroz’s collaborative style: “Carlos listens. He doesn’t have to take every opinion, but he welcomes different views.”
Back in Africa, De Sá said the feeling was special. “It’s great to be back. Africa is not a place, it’s a feeling.”
The former Bafana Bafana assistant was full of praise for Ghana’s talent pool.
“There is so much natural talent in Ghana despite limited resources. As an African football lover, the talent here is unbelievable. You guys don’t know what you have with limited facilities and infrastructure,” he said.
Comparing both nations, De Sá noted: “We in South Africa have talent too, but a different kind with all the facilities. Yet we don’t go forward with our talent.”
Ahead of the World Cup, he believes the Black Stars only need unity.
“We are not going to teach them how to play. We have the players. We only have to put them in the right position, with the right frame of mind, and when they put on the jersey, they should perform.”
De Sá assured Ghanaians of the technical team’s commitment.
“We are here to do our best and make Ghanaians happy. If Carlos does his job, there is none better than him,” he said.
“We will pick our targets as they come. If our players play to their abilities, we have a realistic chance to progress,” he concluded.
News1 week agoGhana’s Chris Koney participates in high-level dialogue at Africa Forward Summit 2026
- Features1 week ago
Fix It Fast or Lose Them Forever: The Ever-Rising Importance of Service Recovery in Competitive Industries
News1 week agoPolice arrest suspects in child exploitation, murder and trafficking cases- CID boss confirms
