Sports
Manuel Neuer retires from German National team
One of the world’s finest safe pair of hands, Manuel Neuer has hanged up his gloves.
Neuer has today confirmed his retirement from the German national team.In a touching message, he said, “Anyone who knows me knows that this decision wasn’t easy for me.”
“When I look back, it fills me with pride and also with a lot of gratitude to have
been on the pitch with all my teammates and also to have been
captain of Germany for over seven years,” he added.
He concluded, “Personally, I loved wearing the German
national team jersey. Thank you very much for that.”
The 38-year-old made his debut in 2009 against the United Arab Emirates and had some amazing moments in his 15-year career with the German national team.
The goalkeeper who helped his side to win 2014 World Cup is calling time on his Germany career after earning 124 caps for the national team.
He follows Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos in retiring from international duty after this summer’s tournament.
Germany made it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 before being knocked out by eventual winners Spain.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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