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We must avoid mistakes against Mozambique- Denis Odoi
Black Stars defender Denis Odoi says the team is working on avoiding the defensive lapses that denied Ghana maximum points in previous games as they face off with Mozambique in the final Group B clash of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, he was optimistic that they would put up a better performance especially in defense to ensure that Ghana qualified to the next stage of the competition.
Ghana conceded four goals in their first two games in the competition, against Cape Verde and Egypt with all the goals coming from awkward defensive lapses.
“It is a very important game for us. If you look at the performance from the second game, it was better so we only have to look at the game again, analyze and see the things we could do better,” he stated.
“We can still improve and hopefully, we can just keep growing and put on a good performance in Monday’s game,” he stressed.
He said, they would be more compact against Mozambique and protect the backline to avoid conceding such goals.
However he said, they do not blame anyone for the mistakes but collectively as a team made wrong decisions which they must learn from and move on.
With the game is scheduled for Stade Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe at 8:00pm, Ghanaian supporters in Ivory Coast would be expected to troop to the venue to support the team.
Kind courtesy MTN, nearly 200 supporters are in Ivory Coast together with hundreds from the Ghana Supporters and other groups, to cheer the national team to victory.
The supporters have been looking forward to a win that would secure Ghana’s qualification to the next stage of the competition.
From Michael D. Abayateye, Abidjan
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
