Ghanaian actor and comedian Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly adressed in the entertainment industry as Lilwin, has currently been subjected to harsh treatment.
Lilwin was shooting a biographical movie on Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, Ibrahim Traoré, when some masked men raided the movie set, which he said cost him GH¢15,000 a day a day to rent.
“Everything was on track—until a group of about ten young men on motorbikes stormed the set and demanded that filming be stopped. When Lilwin’s team tried to reason with them, things quickly escalated.
“They damaged our equipment and caused chaos,” he recalled. “The place was rented—it was someone’s property, and we were paying GHC15,000 every day to use it”, Lilwin recounted the incident via a social media post.
Consequently, the owner of the property (movie set), out of fear and left with no choice, ordered Lilwin and his crew off the set.
“He didn’t want any trouble, so we had no choice but to leave,” Lilwin said.
The disruption of the shoot comes just days after an initial warning from an unidentified foreigner, who offered $20,000 to halt production of the biopic, The Last African Hero, based on the life of Burkina Faso’s leader.
Despite the warning, Lilwin proceeded with the shooting of the movie, citing the Burkina leaders’ courage as an inspiration to the youth in Africa, an epitome of an African man’s power and integrity.
“People see him as the new Sankara,” Lilwin said in a past interview. “His courage and leadership are inspiring, especially for the youth. That’s why I wanted to tell his story.”
The setback, which appears to have affected Lilwin both financially and emotionally, he said, wouldn’t prevent him from completing and releasing the movie as most of the key scenes have already been shot and he is certain he will find a way to release the movie to honour the young ‘extraordinary’ leader.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré became the interim President of Burkina Faso on October 6, 2022, after leading a military coup that ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. At 37 years old, he is currently the second-youngest head of state in the world.
Since taking power, he has expelled French troops and diplomats, nationalised key industries, including gold mining, ensuring that Burkina Faso benefits from its resources and the last move that earned him the admiration of many worldwide was the donation of his entire salary to widows.
Traore appears to be loved by many on the global level, as unlike other military rulers who have, over the years, taken over power, he stands different as he prioritises the development and economic growth of his country over military dominance and display of power.
Popular Ghanaian vlogger, Wode Maya, has sent a wake-up call to all Africans, suggesting a regional collaboration for the continent’s growth over what he describes as our over-reliance on foreigners.
In a video shared on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on May 30, the YouTuber warned Africans over their growing trust and partnership with countries like China, Russia and Europe.
He said, “Africa can only be built by Africans. Don’t let anyone lie to you! China is not your friend, and Russia is not your friend. Europeans are not your friends.”
He recommended an intra-continental trade, setting aside all politricks and differences in culture, to Africa’s development and would set a tone for the continent’s emancipation
“It’s about time for you to start trading with each other. It’s about time for us to put our differences and tribal stuff aside. We should put our political affiliation aside, come together, and build Africa,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wode Maya’s comments have been welcomed by many netizens. Some have backed his African Unity calls, with one user saying, “This is it right here. When the colonialists divided Africa, they didn’t consult us.
They drew their lines in Europe without considering families, tribes, and suddenly we found ourselves in different countries. We are siblings. Mend our differences and build our continent together ”
The family of the late highlife singer, Dada Kweku Duah—popularly known as Dada K.D—has met with the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to finalize preparations for a befitting one-week celebration in his honour.
The memorial event is scheduled for June 21 at the East Legon Executive Club.
Nana Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, former Vice President of MUSIGA, who led the delegation, has noted that all the necessary preparations needed for the event are going well.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to MUSIGA for their unwavering support during this difficult time.
“We are grateful to MUSIGA for their unwavering support during this difficult time. Their commitment to honouring Dada K.D’s legacy means a lot to us”, he said, urging the public to respect the family while they mourn the death of their brother and relative.
“As we mourn, we urge the public to refrain from sensationalising the circumstances surrounding his passing. Let’s ensure he receives a dignified and befitting burial.”
MUSIGA President Bessa Simons reflected on his personal relationship with Dada K.D, which began in the early 2000s after they met in Germany. “Dada K.D was a fine gentleman—affable, humble, and immensely talented.
He will be sorely missed,” he said. President Simons reassured the family of MUSIGA’s full support in honoring the late artist’s legacy. Dada K.D’s repertoire included hits like Fathia Fata Nkrumah, My Heart Goes Boom and Odo Mu Anigye.
The family delegation included Kojo Brefo (brother), Michelle Sarfoah Dwomoh (niece), Kwame Kenyase (brother), Henrietta Akosua Dwomoh-Mantey (sister), John Juran Oduro (nephew), and Daniel Oduro (brother). The MUSIGA team was represented by S.K. Agyemang (General Secretary), Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Director of Special Projects and Communications), and Brenda Badawiisi Zulfata Issah, P.A to the MUSIGA President.
About his death
Dada KD passed away on May 16, 2025, at the age of 56 aftera seem a short illness (seeming mild malaria symptoms) things took a turn so quickly that he couldn’t survive upon arrival at the hospital.
What exactly caused his demise is yet to be confirmed by his family, but his manager, Clarence Kenneth Ekow Peterson, known in showbiz circles as King Pee, suggests that Dada KD could have survived if he hadn’t been turned away by three health facilities due to absent doctors.
Dada KD’s untimely death comes just days before his scheduled trip to the UK to perform at the ‘Celebrating Hiplife & Highlife Legends’ event on May 25, at the Dominion Centre in London
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo says his fielding of debutants in the squad for Ghana’s clash with Nigeria has given him some answers about players.
He made these remarks during a post-match interview on May 29, following Ghana’s 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the Unity Cup semifinal at the GTech Community Stadium in London.
The former talent coach of Borussia Dortmund fielded debutants like Aaron Essel, Mohammed Fuseini, Christopher Bonsu Baah, and Caleb Yirenkyi, with the latter two impressing with their energetic displays.
He excluded key players such as Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, West Ham’s Kudus, among other key Ghanaian players, during Ghana’s clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
While the move was met with mixed reactions, with many questioning his decision, he explained that it was an opportunity to monitor the performance of some new players who have been on their radar for some time now.
Though Ghana lost, some debutants, such as Brandon Thomas-Asante, who stirred Ghana’s energy, stretched Nigeria’s defence when the Black Stars were trailing 0-2 during the second half.
His pressing paid off later in the 77th minute when his breakthrough came in the 70th minute, when he connected with a low cross from Ebenezer Annan to score his debut goal for the Black Stars.
“We got some answers about players. Some young players did really well. We’re still learning and trying to improve. We’ve gotten a lot of answers from our coaching staff, and we need to keep working,” he said.
Ghana’s 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the 2025 Unity Cup has provided valuable lessons, particularly regarding the team’s recruits.
Ghana would now compete for the third position, while Nigeria will face Jamaica in the final on Saturday, May 31.
Ghana will take on Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place playoff.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, after their narrow victory over their archrivals, set up a fierce showdown against Jamaica.
AC Milan have officially announced Massimiliano Allegri as the new head coach.
Allegri is taking over from Sergio Conceicao, whose departure was announced yesterday by the club in a statement.
Sergio spent only six months with the club after signing an 18-month deal with the Serie A club.
In a club statement shared on their website today, May 30, it declared that “AC Milan announces that it has entrusted the technical management of the men’s First Team to Massimiliano Allegri”.
The ended by wishing Allegri a successful term with the club.
“The Club wishes Massimiliano and his collaborators a warm good luck” he said.
The current contract with AC Milan marks Allegri’s second stint with the club.
He coached 178 games (91 victories, 49 draws, 38 defeats, 303 goals scored and 178 conceded) from 2010 to 2014, winning their last Serie A title in 2010–11, along with the Italian Super Cup in 2011.
However, he was let go after subsequent struggles.
Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly signed a two-year contract worth €5.5 million per season, with additional bonuses tied to performance with AC Milan.
He has an option to extend for a third year if he performs well, including winning a Serie A title.
Allegri has six Scudetti (Serie A titles) on his personal honours board – one with Milan and five with Juventus – plus three Supercoppa Italiani (one with Rossoneri, two in Turin) and holds the record for Coppa Italia wins: five, all with Bianconeri.
He joins a Milan that must be reborn after a failed season, without any European football to think about and a project to launch. To mark a new era, the Diavolo felt they needed a coach like him: an experienced, winning coach with personality.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has settled all salary arrears owed to both current and former coaches of the Black Stars.
The government settled all arrears, including those owed to coaches dating back as far as 2020.
In a statement shared on Friday, May 30, all coaches owed by the government have been settled following a detailed audit and inter-agency coordination to ensure fairness and transparency.
“The Government of Ghana has fulfilled its commitment to fairness and accountability by settling all outstanding salary arrears owed to both current and former coaches of the Black Stars,” parts of the statement read.
The statement continued that the recent payment affirms the government’s commitment to ensuring timely payment and remuneration for coaches and their staff.
“This initiative is a demonstration of respect for national service and a step toward building a more accountable and professional sports framework.”
“We recognise the dedication of these professionals and remain committed to ensuring timely remuneration for all national team staff moving forward,” the statement added.
Among the former coaches and their assistants, it is reported that CK Akonnor, who led the team from January 2020 to September 2021, received the biggest payout, taking home $120,000. His assistant, David Duncan, was also paid $40,000.
Chris Hughton, who was sacked after Ghana’s poor run at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, in January 2024, received $68,904 in owed salaries and sign-on fees, while his assistants, George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, received $20,833 and $12,500 as owed sign-on fees.
The current coaching staff, led by Otto Addo, who have been in charge since March 2024, had also not been paid salaries since October 2024 (the last 8 months).
They have also now been paid up to March 2025 (6 months), with Addo, now in his second stint as Ghana coach, receiving in excess of $420,000 for that period.
Other members of his backroom staff, including assistants Joseph Laumann ($75,000), John Painstil ($64,864), goalkeepers trainer Fatau Dauda ($19,459), and Team Coordinator Francis Bugri Tampuli ($33,000), have all been paid for the same period.
The current coaching staff are still owed salaries for April and May 2025.
Also, Milovan Rajevac’s assistant, Maxwell Konadu, received $30,000 in outstanding payments.
Even though the Ghana Football Association (GFA) formally hired the coaches, the responsibility for paying them ultimately lay with the government — a duty that, in several cases, has gone unfulfilled until now.
Ghana has a long history of delaying salaries of coaches, which is reported as a contributory factor that causes frustration and instability in the coaching setup.
Ghanaian media personality Andy Dosty has advised rapper Kenny Ice to stop the persistent complaining about unfair treatment in the music industry.
Andy’s advice comes amid the young artist’s consistent advocacy for fairness and recognition for his hard work, but the music industry and its players have often fallen short.
During an interview on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty on May 29, Kenny Ice said he has to work ten times harder to get noticed, even though industry people are aware of his contributions.
In response to Keeny’s complaints, the host of the show advised him to limit the complaints, as too many of them will make his work unpopular.
“A musician, everyone knew that he was a smell fungus. He would talk and talk and complain about everything. Don’t become one. I’m only advising you. The more you complain, the less your work become,” Andy Dosty said.
He further went on to advise him to concentrate on hard work.
“Please, work harder, make sure you keep your focus, make sure you target at your goal and score,” he added.
Growth and success take time, Andy said, admonishing Keeny to focus on his goals to achieve them, citing the feats achieved by football legends Lionel Messi and the legendary Argentine footballer Diego Maradona
“Messi or Maradona didn’t just wake up or didn’t move from wearing diapers to scoring goals. It was a process,” he stated.
The veteran media personality also pointed out that sometimes, the challenges artistes face might come from within. He suggested that Kenny Ice take a closer look at his own efforts and approach.
“What’s the problem? It could be from you. It could be that you are not doing enough legwork. It could be that you think you are so big that every door you get to, it must open. But sometimes you need to break it open,” he said.
Who is Keeny Ice
Keeny Ice born Amu Barnabas, is a Ghanaian hip-hop and hiplife artist from Aflao in the Volta Region. He is known for his energetic performances and unique blend of Ewe and English in his music.
He claims that “When you get to the Volta Region, top three, I’m there, and this is someone pulling close to 10,000 to 12,000 crowds. I started putting up my shows in 2015.”
AC Milan have dismissed head coach Sergio Conceicao after just six months of leading the Serie A club.
In a club statement released on Thursday, May 29, they announced the termination of their contract with the Portuguese manager.
“AC Milan and Sérgio Conceição will not continue their journey together next season.”
“The AC Milan family parts with the coach who won the 50th trophy in the Club’s history, wishing him the best for the future,” parts of the statement read.
The club went on to express their gratitude for the coach’s contribution to the Serie A club.
Milan said, “The club would like to thank Sergio and his staff for their commitment, professionalism, and dedication in leading the team in recent months.
“The Rossoneri family bids farewell to the coach who contributed to the conquest of the 50th trophy in Milan’s history, wishing him the best for his future,” it added.
This comes after the performance of the club kept declining despite Sergio’s promising start with a win of the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter Milan.
Milan lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna, suffering an early elimination from the Champions League.
Inter also missed out on European qualification for the 2025-26 season after finishing eighth in Serie A.
Conceição originally replaced Paulo Fonseca after signing an 18-month deal in December 2024, when Milan was struggling in eighth place in Serie A.
Allegri led Milan to their first league title in seven years, finishing ahead of rivals Inter.
Ghanaian playwright, author, and motivational speaker, Uncle Ebo Whyte, has advised bachelors and bachelorettes not to allow themselves to be forced into marriage to satisfy societal, family, or peer pressure, emphasizing that marriage is not a requirement in life.
“Marriage is not given to everybody. Not everybody needs to marry. Not everybody will marry. Marriage is not a magic wand. It may not deliver half of what you expect.
So if you do choose to marry, do so because you’ve found someone with whom you genuinely want to build a life, not because society says you must,” he noted.
Taking to his social media (Instagram) yesterday, the playwright in a video boldly challenged the longstanding norm, which asserts the need for everyone to marry, citing evolution and the growth surrounding the purpose of marriage.
“There was a time when everybody needed to marry. That time has changed. There was a time when there was a purpose of marriage. That time has changed. There was a time when we needed to marry. That time has changed. It’s not now,” he said.
He affirmed his stance, drawing biblical references to the teachings of Apostle Paul, which admonished that “He who marries does well. He who does not marry does even better.”
In Ghanaian society and beyond, procreation is often emphasised to ‘pressure’ people into marriage, but Uncle Ebo Whyte argues that population control, coupled with family planning, has shifted that cultural expectation.
“Because now we are saying there are too many people. Let’s control the population, citing his 42-year-old marriage as companionship as well. Then there’s the issue of companionship. I’ve been married for 42 years. Companionship,” he said.
He also warned against entirely romanticising marriage, saying that it’s a commitment that requires “hard work, patience, humility, and respect,” not just love.
Uncle Ebo reminded his audience that people can live happy lives without being married and that marital status does not define one’s values.
“You are complete with or without marriage. Some of the most fulfilled people I know never married, and that’s perfectly okay,” he said.
The government yesterday, May 29, officially commissioned the Make Fashion Inclusive Training Centre after following its launch on September 16, 2024.
The centre, located in Kumasi, is designed to empower and equip persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing skills training, business development support, and others.
The initiative, led by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in partnership with the German Development Corporation, under the broader vision of Invest for Ghana, aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for PWDs in Ghana’s fashion industry.
Invest for Ghana is an initiative aimed at attracting foreign and local investments to boost Ghana’s economy. It focuses on job creation, industrial growth, and infrastructure development, particularly in sectors like agriculture, energy, digital innovation, and manufacturing.
Speaking during the commissioning, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, highlighted the government’s commitment towards disability inclusion for national development. Basintale revealed that the hub would not only be trained in fashion designing but other crafts as well.
He said, “The YEA is proud to be part of this journey that is your journey. As we open the doors of this hub today, we are opening the doors to independence, creativity, and economic opportunity for at least 100 persons living with disabilities to be trained not only in fashion design. But also be trained in embroidery, beading, and millinery works, and they will also be equipped with tools to build your businesses to employ others and to transform your community.”
The government would also launch another programme that will train about three hundred PWDs in catfish farming, equipped with over 400 fingerlings to begin a trade.
“And just to confess, in the next two to three weeks, a new project will be launched from tailoring jobs held, where we would train about 300 persons with disabilities, equipping them with 500 fingerlings of catfish and setting them in the backyard of their houses to sell…” he added.
The launch saw the presence of Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo; GIZ; and other partners of the initiative, as well as local fashion entrepreneurs and PWD beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Mahama-led government, since assuming office, has implemented several programs to help reduce unemployment in the country and empower the youth as well.
Recently, YEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Fire Service to recruit 5,000 young Ghanaians as fire assistants across the country.
Also, the government launched the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), which is aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with practical, employable skills. It is expected to train 100,000 youth annually across all 261 districts in Ghana. The government has allocated GH¢300 million to cover training costs and monthly stipends for participants.
The Consumer Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CAMC) has sounded an alarm over the persistent sale of banned and substandard baby diapers on the Ghanaian market, warning of their potential to hurt or pose huge risks to the health of infants nationwide.
CAMC’s first alarm came around June 2024, following numerous complaints from parents about the usage of the diapers on their infants.
Following the organisation’s alarm, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) seized and destroyed over one million pieces of contaminated diapers across various parts of the country on May 27.
During a media appearance on Wednesday, May 28, the Executive Director of CAMC, Mr Nana Prempeh Okogyeabour Aduhene, disclosed that the diapers in question, mostly imported from China, Indonesia, and Turkey, have been flagged as unhealthy and subpar in these countries.
However, some crooked importers repackaged them, even picking some from dumping sites, and have fed them to the Ghanaian market.
“These diapers are rejected products meant for disposal. But because of greed, some importers collect them from refuse dumps, wrap them in plain polythene bags, and sell them in our markets. When we tested samples from Accra, Kasoa, and other locations, we found high levels of microbial contamination,” Mr Aduhene said.
He clarified that their inspections and public warnings about the dangers of substandard diapers are not an attempt to take over the FDA’s role, but rather a collaborative effort aimed at safeguarding public health
“Our work is not to replace what the FDA does. But when we found the evidence, we did not keep it to ourselves. The FDA acted on it and shut down the places where these products were being handled,” Mr Aduhene continued.
Similarly, the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) also sounded caution over the safety of the diapers, following similar tests conducted in Greater Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani, and Sefwi Wiawso.
The CPA confirmed that many of the substandard diapers had been smuggled into Ghana after being rejected abroad. Most lacked labels, batch numbers, or country-of-origin markings, making them nearly impossible to trace or recall.
He quizzed, “Are the over five million babies and toddlers in Ghana not deserving of clean and safe diapers? Must our children suffer because some importers put profit ahead of their health?”.
He also noted that although these diapers are unsafe, they are often sold at very low prices, sometimes two or three times cheaper than approved brands, making them attractive to unsuspecting parents. Hence, he warned parents to prioritize their children’s health and desist from purchasing these diapers.
In a related matter, Mr Aduhene revealed that his outfit has received reports of an alleged sale of unlabelled paint products tagged as “American paint.”
Citing a case involving the death of an asthmatic child, he disclosed that the youngster died after sleeping in a freshly painted room that contained dangerously high levels of lead.
The government, through the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, has approved the procurement of 200 new transformers for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to strengthen power transmission and distribution to major cities across the country.
The sector minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, made information public on May 28, during the opening session of the 18th West Africa Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPEX) at the Grand Arena and Accra International Convention Centre (AICC) in Accra.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) made a formal request for 200 new transformers in April 2025, and after barely a month, the government has given the green light for the deployment of the transformers.
“Despite the challenges we inherited, recent reports show that power generation has been very stable” What we need to do is improve the transmission and distribution network. In this regard, I have granted approval to ECG as a matter of urgency to inject about 200 transformers in our major capital cities in order to ensure that we not only generate power but we can distribute power to (sic) consumers effectively and efficiently,” Mr Jinapor said.
Minister Jinapor noted that initial challenges with power generation have been stabilized, and Ghana is now exporting electricity to neighboring countries. The current focus is on improving power transmission and distribution systems.
WAMPEX, the largest forum for mining and power industries in West Africa, attracted over 240 exhibitors from 30 countries and more than 5,000 visitors this year. The event provides a platform for industry professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss challenges, innovations, and future opportunities.
The conference was jointly opened by the Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor.
About Ghana’s energy crisis
Ghana is currently facing a severe energy crisis, evident in the frequent power outages, financial struggles, and fuel shortages. The government is urgently seeking GH₵1.1 billion for fuel procurement.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on the other hand, is facing a monthly deficit of GH₵2 billion due to poor revenue collection, making it difficult to pay independent power producers, who have threatened to suspend operations.
Government’s efforts to deal with the energy sector crisis
Last week, the Ministry of Energy confirmed the arrival of 450,000 barrels of fuel to support power generation at a time stakeholders project imminent power outages.
Head of Communications at the Energy Ministry, Richmond Rockson, who engaged the media in an interview noted that the challenge before his outfit is financing to procure more barrels of fuel.
“The only challenge is financing because when you look at the tariff structure, fuels are not part of the tariff structure, so every now and then, we have to fall on the Ministry of Finance to make provisions for funding,” he said.
Per reports, the barrels of fuel recently purchased are likely to last no more than 16 days. That sets June 4, as the next critical date by which new fuel must arrive, or the country might experience electricity generation shortfall.
Also, the government is working on constructing a second gas processing plant to augment the shortfall and increase supply security.
The Implementation Committee for Ghana’s Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP II) has been inaugurated and has been issued a 4-week timeline to finalise their implementation plan.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson asserts that the project, which is “long overdue” will enable the country to save “nearly $500 million and create over 1,000 jobs for our people.”
The Black Stars lost in their Unity Cup opener with Nigeria yesterday at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Head coach Otto Addo has explained some of the reasons behind his side’s 2-1 defeat in the 2025 Unity Cup semifinal to the Super Eagles.
Speaking during his post-match press conference today at the GTech Community Stadium in London on May 28, 2025, the Black Stars coach mentioned that his side competed with a more superior and experienced team.
“We had problems getting into the duels to press well and defend well,” Addo said. “I think Nigeria had a more mature team that could adapt faster,” he noted.
Otto Addo fielded a more experimental team, leaving out some experienced players such as Kudus, Partey, and Sulemana, among others, and featured about four debutants in his squad that faced the Super Eagles.
However, despite the defeat, Otto Addo expressed optimism in the form and display of some of the young players who made their debut, saying they “did really well.”
“The young players did really well,” he said. “They are still learning, trying to improve. We’ve gotten a whole lot of answers from our coaching staff.”
With Nigeria advancing to face Jamaica, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in the first semifinal, Ghana will now focus on the third-place playoff against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, May 31.
The Unity Cup is a four-nation tournament that features Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago. It is being hosted in the United Kingdom from May 28-30.
Ghana’s starting lineup for their 2025 Unity Cup semifinal against Nigeria on May 28, included:
Starting XI Benjamin Asare (GK)
Gideon Mensah
Stephan Ambrosius
Aaron Essel
Kamaradini Mamudu
Razak Simpson
Abdul Samed Salis
Majeed Ashimeru
Christopher Bonsu Baah
Jordan Ayew (C)
Kwame Opoku
Substitutes Used Ebenezer Annan (replaced Essel in the 29th minute)
Ghana’s hopes of reaching the final of the 2025 Unity Cup have been thwarted following their 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Nigeria at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday, May 28.
The Black Stars appeared to be struggling in the first half of the opener against Nigeria.
Head coach Otto Addo expressed frustration over the team’s lack of compatibility in its defense, allowing Nigeria to leverage on that to notch their first goal in barely 20 minutes into the match.
Otto Addo chose an experimental squad, leaving out key players such as Kudus, Partey, among others, and the unfamiliar squad struggled to find their rhythm early on.
Consequently, Nigeria’s Cyriel Dessers was quick to notch a goal in the 14th minute into the goal following a defensive mishap from Razak Simpson, who slipped while attempting to clear a cross.
Nigeria affirmed their lead with a second goal (own goal) from Razak again, whose header deflected, beating goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and found its way to the back of the net.
St Johnstone’s Aaron Essel, a debutant, had to be substituted following an injury. Ebenezer Annan came on in his place, as the Black Stars trailed 2-0 at the break.
Christopher Bonsu Baah nearly marked his debut with an assist, around the 70th minute, but Jordan Ayew failed to connect with the Genk winger’s cross.
Addo brought in Caleb Yirenkyi and Thomas-Asante at the beginning of the second half, which brought renewed energy to Ghana’s attack.
Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Annan made an incisive run down the left and delivered a precise ball to Thomas-Asante, who slotted home to reduce the deficit.
Amid all the renewed energy and efforts by the Black Stars, the Super Eagles maintained their lead until the referee blew the closing whistle.
Ghana would now compete for the third position while Nigeria will face Jamaica in the final on Saturday, May 31.
Ghana will take on Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place playoff.
Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has charged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and other security agencies involved in the arrest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) Ashanti Regional Minister, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to uphold his constitutional rights.
Wontumi was arrested and detained on Tuesday, May 27, while he was returning from the CID office in response to an invitation for interrogations on allegations of his company’s illegal mining activities, which he has blatantly denied.
Reacting to this, the former vice president and flagbearer of the NPP in the 2024 elections, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 28 expressed worry about the continued detention of Chairman Wontumi, without clear charges confirming information regarding his whereabouts.
He acknowledged the rule of law, however, emphasizing the need to respect individual rights despite political affiliation, colour or status.
“In a democratic environment as ours, no individual is above the law. Equally, no Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation or status—should ever be denied their constitutional rights. Justice and due process are not optional; they are the foundation of our democracy,” Dr Bawumia wrote.
His comments come amid growing public interest in the circumstances surrounding Chairman Wontumi’s arrest and the legal processes being followed.
He continued that he is closely keeping an eye on the happenings linked to Chairman Wontumi, by keeping in contact with Mr Wontumi’s legal team to ensure that all legal avenues are being pursued to safeguard and protect the rights of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman.
“I commend them for their professionalism and vigilance,” he added.
Dr Bawumia further went on to caution government against any attempts to abuse Wontumi’s rights or act contrary to the dictates of the law would erode public trust in Ghana’s justice system.
“Ghana must always remain a nation governed by law—not by arbitrary power. Our Republic is strongest when our institutions are both firm and fair,” he asserted, reinforcing his call for EOCO and all related bodies to operate within constitutional limits.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman voluntarily made an appearance at the CID headquarters on Monday alongside his legal team, including former Attorney General Godfred Dame, after an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He was cautioned on the following allegations: undertaking mining operations without a license, entering a forest reserve without authorization, and pollution of water bodies.
However, according to sources, Chairman Wontumi denied these claims during his interrogation, presenting documents to authenticate his claims.
He insists he was not involved in any illegal mining activities or operating in any forest reserve.
Following the interrogations, the CID granted him bail with two sureties, though the exact amount has not yet been disclosed.
This follows a failed attempt by a joint team of national security operatives and police officers to arrest him at his residence on May 23. After the failed search attempt, Mr. Boasiako expressed his displeasure over the search.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has announced his departure from his punditry role at TNT Sports after Saturday’s Champions League final.
He confirmed in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) platform today, Wednesday, May 28.
He is set to focus on his “other business interests,” including his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, where he conducts exclusive interviews with football legends, discusses trending topics, and shares match analysis, among others.
“Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching BT Sport and TNT Sports,”
“As I turn the page to the next chapter, I carry with me countless memories. I am excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests,” he noted.
Statement: After ten incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to step away from @tntsports after the Champions League Final…. pic.twitter.com/71A9EJPBye
He went on to express his appreciation to the backroom staff at TNT, saying, “I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
Rio left a message for all his fans as well, which read, “I hope to stay connected with you all in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything!”
Rio announced his retirement from football in May 2015, and shortly after, he joined BT (now TNT Sport), where he started his punditry role.
His sharp insights and analysis over the years have cemented his reputation as a leading pundit, bringing on board his experience as a former Man Utd and England defender.
Rio Ferdinand Presents, which presently has 1.32 million subscribers, is also available on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts.
Rio invites his fans to sit back in their homes and commute to enjoy his football treble, Rio Presents, Rio Meets, and Rio Reacts.
The Asante Kotoko Interim Management Committee (IMC) has confirmed Karim Zito as the club’s permanent manager after an impressive stint in charge for the past weeks since joining as an interim manager.
Karim’s leadership has led the Porcupine Warriors to an unbeaten run, securing a place in the MTN FA Cup final.
In a statement shared on their website and social media platforms, the club confirmed that they are impressed with Mr Zito, hence their decision to retain him.
Karim Zito joined Asante Kotoko as interim head coach halfway through the second half of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season.
He replaced Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, who was sacked for his poor performance.
Before his dismissal, Kotoko sat 4th on the GPL table with 51 points. Given the club’s history as one of the most dominant, their finishing outside the first three meant they have missed out on continental football, as only the league winner and FA Cup champion qualify for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
Since taking over, the ex-Dreams FC boss has awakened the energy in the Porcupine Warriors.
Under his leadership, Kotoko has seen no defeats in all the eight games they have played so far.
The club has played six matches in the Ghana Premier League and two matches in the MTN FA Cup and has lost none, securing five wins and three draws, including a massive 4-1 victory over Dreams FC.
Impressed by his performance, the IMC, chaired by Nana Apinkrah Akwasi Awuah, has opted to retain Zito beyond this season, hoping his leadership will usher in a new era of success.
Having led his former club to the semifinals of the Confederation Cup in their debut campaign, the club’s hierarchy is hopeful that Karim will work to secure either the league title or the FA Cup.
Zito’s immediate task is to extend his unbeaten run when Asante Kotoko face Medeama SC on Matchday 33 at the Baba Yara Stadium this Sunday.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has backed some fans who believe the club should have won a trophy under Mikel Arteta following the team’s growing form and performance.
However, he insists that he is not disappointed with the club’s growth in recent years.
He acknowledged the challenges a new manager encounters in his early days until he has “time” to implement all his plans.
“I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but, normally, people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,” Henry told the Stick to Football podcast.
“It takes time, and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do. For the last three years, Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought home one cup or [reached] a final,” Henry said.
Referring to ‘struggling’ Man Utd, he drew some comparisons between the two teams, saying that despite their performances over the years, which Arsenal have been better, they have still managed to reach and win multiple finals in recent years
“Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final. “So I do understand when people ask the question, ‘Surely you should compete for a trophy?’” he quizzed.
For three consecutive seasons, Arsenal have finished as runner-up in the Premier League for three straight seasons, even when they won 89 points in 2023-24 — a fact that Arteta has been eager to point out when asked about the club’s lack of silverware.
In addition, they also reached the semifinals of the Carabao Cup and Champions League this season — their deepest run in the European competition since 2009 — only to be knocked out of both.
These ‘disappointing’ runs have stirred mixed reactions from fans, with many expressing frustration over and questioning why the team has not secured a trophy during this period.
In a related development, Mikel Arteta congratulated Tottenham Hotspur for winning the Europa League but emphasised that success is not solely defined by trophies.
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has commended the club for allowing coach Ruben Amorim to lead the team despite his disappointing results this season.
Mourinho made his comments about Manchester United supporting Ruben Amorim on May 27, during an interview with Sky Sports.
This comes after Man Utd ended 15th in the Premier League, their worst-ever finish. This cost Amorim’s side a place in the Champions League next season.
United’s failure to secure a spot in Europe’s elite competition marks only the second time in the last 35 years, with a similar outcome occurring in 1990. Amorim ended his first season at Old Trafford without a trophy.
Despite all these, the club hierarchy has decided to continue with him, saying he is the right man for the job, and Jose Mourinho sides with them.
“From what I read, the impact [of losing the Europa League final] on Man United, of course, is huge in the sense of how many years Man Utd has not been involved in any European competition,”
“But at the same time, it looks like they are supporting Ruben. They are giving him time and conditions to go forward,” Mourinho said.
Following United’s damaging performance, Amorim, in one interview, mentioned that his side’s failure to make it to the Champions League gives them ample time for a good comeback.
Mourinho, who currently leads Fenerbahce, agrees with the 40-year-old Portuguese.
“I’ve read some quotes from him [Amorim] saying that he is happy that he came and has already these six months,” Mourinho said. Mourinho, in charge of Fenerbahce since last summer, says he can relate to what Amorim is going through.
“When I went to Porto, the same happened to me”. “I went in January [2002], and I had a difficult six months.
We were struggling even to qualify for the UEFA Cup, and then it happened, what happened,” he added.
Amorim, who left Sporting CP in November to guide United, apologised to the fans after the team’s worst-ever Premier League finish.
Manchester United has had a damaging season in the Premier League.
Their form has been poor, with 10 wins, 9 draws, and 18 losses across 37 matches.
They have struggled to score, managing only 42 goals while conceding 54.
Plans are already in place to strengthen the squad in the summer.
However, given the club’s current financial status, which also already informed some major cost-cutting initiatives, such as scrapping the sponsorship of more than two player relatives’ family tickets.
It also embarked on major job cuts; missing out on a potential £100 million ($134m) in Champions League revenue is set to affect the club’s flexibility in the transfer window.
One of the three judges overseeing the trial of Diego Maradona’s medical staff has stepped down after accusations of being involved in a documentary about the case.
Judge Makintach said she had “no choice” but to recuse herself from the case.
The documentary titled “Divine Justice” focuses on the trial of Diego Maradona’s medical staff, who are currently facing trial. A footage from the documentary was played in court, showing Judge Julieta Makintach as one of its lead characters.
Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari, following the showing of the footage, accused Makintach of behaving “like an actress and not a judge”, arguing that her involvement compromised the integrity of the trial.
Consequently, Julieta has recused herself from the case. According to reports, the trial was supposed to end in 4 months; however, the recusal of Julieta has left the court in limbo on whether to proceed or start it all over again.
About the case
Seven members of the legendary Brazilian footballer’s medical team are currently facing prosecution following accusations of negligent homicide leading to the death of the footballer in 2020.
However, they have denied these allegations. But if they are found guilty, they are likely to face between eight and 25 years in prison.
Maradona underwent surgery after he was diagnosed with a brain blood clot (subdural hematoma) at Olivos Clinic in Buenos Aires on November 3, 2020.
He was discharged just seven days after the surgery despite instructions from his doctor to stay at the health care facility.
The decision to discharge him was influenced by neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who proposed that his care continue at a private residence instead of a medical facility.
While recovering at a private residence, he died on November 25, 2020, exactly 14 days later, of a heart attack, aged 60.
Prosecutors allege his death could have been avoided and describe the care given as “reckless, deficient and unprecedented”.
They claim the football star refused further treatment and should have stayed at the hospital for longer after his operation.
Judge Julieta Makintach had denied authorising filming inside the Buenos Aires court, but her credibility was questioned after footage from a trailer emerged.
Lamine Yamal has extended his contract with Barcelona.
This was announced by the club in a statement shared on their website and social media platform on Wednesday, May 27.
Barca said Yamal signed the new contract on Tuesday in the presence of club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco at Barcelona’s offices.
“Yamal’s renewal is a demonstration of the solidity of Barca’s project. His emergence onto the world football scene is like few others,”
“The lad from Mataro near Barcelona has exploded onto the stage that is world football with performances that are already part of Barcelona history”, parts of the statement read.
He signed a new six-year contract following his stellar performance, which aided the Catalan giants in the 2024/2025 season to win a local treble.
Additionally, reports suggest that Yamal’s new contract includes a €1 billion release clause,
The 17-year-old Spain winger signed a three-year deal with the club in 2023 when he was just 15 years and some months. The contract was due for expiry next month; however, his role in the club currently has earned him a ‘long’ stay until 2031.
The club for the past few months have been working towards extending the youngster’s contract as he turns 18 on July 13.
He scored 18 goals and made 25 assists in 55 appearances as Barca won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in Hansi Flick’s first season as manager.
He is also the youngest player to reach 100 appearances for Barca evolving from the club’s famed La Masia academy.
He has also earned 19 caps for Spain and was part of the side that won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in the final in Berlin.
Barca have also extended the contracts of their manager Flick and Brazil forward Raphinha in recent weeks, given their contributions in the club’s three trophy wins.
Yamal’s contract extension cements his role in the club’s long-term plans to make him one of the leaders of the club, and also a piece of good news for the club’s president, Joan Laporta, as sources suggest he has always been fond of the prodigy.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, during an interview with TV3 on May 19, the club announced plans to give the young prodigy a “special treatment” in the club’s contract talks with him.
Infrastructure deficit and congestion – challenges associated with the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy are set to be resolved as the government announces plans to roll out the programme to private schools.
This was confirmed in a media briefing yesterday, May 27, by Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak during the launch of new guidelines for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school selection process.
“As part of our campaign promise, we have been working diligently to bring on board private senior high schools in the delivery of the Free SHS programme. Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence we expect from our side…” he noted
Dr Clement Apaak said the move was part of the government’s long-term strategy to ease pressure on public schools and ultimately terminate the double-track system.
The double-track system was introduced in 2018 by the erstwhile government to accommodate the surge in student enrollment due to the Free SHS policy, addressing overcrowding in public schools.
Under this system, students were divided into two groups—Green Track and Gold Track—attending school in shifts, with one track in session while the other was on break.
The anticipated extension of the Free SHS policy, according to the education minister, is a fulfilment of the government’s manifesto promise, adding that it is a step to ensure eligible students gain admission without delays.
“We believe strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end to the double-track system,” the deputy minister said.
According to him, the Education Ministry has received encouraging feedback from private schools, many of which have expressed readiness to meet the standards and requirements of the Free SHS framework.
“… and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools will deliver in their participation,” he assured.
He added that this collaboration would not only help expand capacity but also ensure a more equitable distribution of educational opportunities across the country.
About the Free SHS policy
The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy was introduced in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo-led government to make secondary education accessible to all eligible students without financial barriers.
The policy was aimed at helping students who struggled to pay tuition, boarding, and other school-related expenses.
However, the policy came with its challenges, such as overcrowding and congestion in schools, pressure on infrastructure and facilities, and increased pressure on teachers.
This increased the number of enrollments in the senior high schools that were listed under the Free SHS policy. About 3.5 million students have benefited from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program since its launch.
The immediate-past government revealed that it had spent over GH¢12 billion on the implementation of the Free SHS policy since its inception.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has referred President John Mahama’s seven Supreme Court judge nominees to the Appointments Committee for vetting and subsequent approval.
This is in accordance with Article 144(2) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which mandates that Supreme Court nominees undergo parliamentary scrutiny before their appointments are confirmed.
The nominees – Justices Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Senyo Dzamefe, Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, and Janapare Bartels-Kodwo—were nominated by the president in April in a letter signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Following Parliament’s return from recess yesterday, May 27, the Speaker read a letter from the President requesting the approval of his seven nominees to the Supreme Court. He urged Parliament to expedite the process to enable the Justices to assume office as soon as practicable.
According to the Judicial Service, the Judicial Council will consider the nominations “in preparation towards the successive processes.”
The president’s nomination has been lauded by political risk analyst and economist Dr. Acheampong, who noted that the nominees bring with them a wealth of experience, having risen through the ranks of the judiciary, including the Court of Appeal.
Minority’s reaction to Mahama’s appointment of new Justices
Following President Mahama’s nomination, the Minority in a press conference launched an attack on the president, accusing him of scheming to secure a third term in office through strategic judicial appointments.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday, May 1, Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin claimed the appointments were not routine but part of a larger, calculated political manoeuvre.
“This is not a routine judicial appointment. What we are witnessing is a strategic and deliberate effort to pack the Supreme Court with loyalists.”
However, Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, blatantly refuted the Minority Leader’s claims, noting that he is the one who is putting the idea in the minds of Ghanaians.
About the nominees
Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei – A Court of Appeal judge since 2010, he was elected to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2022 for a six-year term. He has served as Director of the Judicial Training Institute and Dean of the Faculty of Law at GIMPA. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at multiple universities.
Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh – Appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2010, he previously served as the Supervising High Court Judge in the Eastern Region and is known for his expertise in constitutional and administrative law and represents Court of Appeal judges on Ghana’s Judicial Council.
Justice Senyo Dzamefe – A Court of Appeal judge since 2010, he chaired the Dzamefe Commission, which investigated Ghana’s performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was elected President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in 2018.
Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackah-Boafo – A Court of Appeal judge, has emphasised the need for legal education reforms and has advocated for the integration of artificial intelligence into Ghana’s legal system to enhance efficiency and transparency.
Justice Philip Bright Mensah – Known for his contributions to appellate jurisprudence, he recently presided over a Court of Appeal panel that directed the Accra High Court to adopt proceedings from a previous trial in the Republic vs. Stephen Kwabena Opuni case.
Justice Janpere Bartels-Kodwo – A Court of Appeal judge, he has been nominated to strengthen the Supreme Court’s capacity amid increasing demands on Ghana’s judiciary.
Justice Hafisata Ameleboba – A Court of Appeal judge, she has been involved in key judicial decisions and reforms. Her nomination is expected to bring diversity and expertise to the Supreme Court.
Talks to finalise Lamine Yamal’s contract extension at Barcelona until 2031 ended on a high note after a meeting between club president Joan Laporta and the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, on Monday was successful, according to sources.
The 17-year-old prodigy joined the Catalan giants on a three-year deal when he was just 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old in April 2023.
Due to his age, he could not sign a long-term deal until he was 18.
The current deal is due to expire in 2026, and the club for the past few months have been working towards extending the youngster’s contract as he turns 18 on July 13.
Consequently, his agent is reported to have met with Yamal in Barcelona last week and returned to the city on Monday to thrash out the final details of the agreement with the club.
Meanwhile, Yamal, on several occasions, has publicly declared his desire to remain at Barça, where he has already made over 100 first-team appearances.
In the same development, Barcelona president Joan Laporta, during an interview with TV3 on May 19, announced the club’s plans to give young prodigy a “special treatment” as talks are underway for a long-term contract with the 17-year-old forward.
“It’s been discussed, but it’s not signed. Lamine’s a great player, an extraordinary person, and is already very mature.
“He’s grown up here, he’s Catalan, and he’s a Barça fan. He’s happy in Barcelona and is destined to be the best player in the world,” he declared.
Laporta has said Yamal will get “special treatment” and his new terms will not only extend his stay with the LaLiga champions, but will hand him a significant salary bump in line with his status in coach Hansi Flick’s team.
As part of the ‘special treatment’ package for Yamal, sources assert that not only would he see a salary increase, but he would also enjoy a series of individual incentives and bonuses that will allow him to earn more.
It is a model of contract which has always been favoured by Laporta — both in his first spell as president, between 2003 and 2010, and since he was re-elected in 2021.
Among those bonuses will be one for winning the Ballon d’Or, with Yamal already considered among the candidates to win the most coveted individual prize in football.
Lamine has been pivotal in Barcelona’s achievements in the just ended 2024?2025 season where they rounded off with a treble.
His displays helped Barça win a domestic treble — LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa — in Flick’s first season in charge.
In 55 appearances, he notched 18 goals and provided 25 assists.
As a result, he has already won some of the biggest prizes for young players in the game, including the Kopa Trophy, the Golden Boy award and the breakthrough of the year award at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards.
Currently, the club’s hierarchy view Yamal as one of the leaders of the club in the near future with other players who have all signed new contracts in recent months, including Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí and Raphinha.
The immediate past coach of Real Madrid and Brazil’s new coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has released his first squad for the Ecuador clash on June 5, and the club’s talisman, Neymar, is missing from the list.
The Italian coach has recalled Manchester United’s Casemiro, Richarlison and Real Betis’ Antony, whose last appearances for the national team were in October 2023, after which they were omitted from subsequent call-ups.
However, the trio have been included for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Neymar’s snub from the squad has stirred mixed reactions; however, Ancelotti has clarified that Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar, is currently not in good form.
He felt it was too early for the Santos forward to make an appearance at the national level, since his return from injury has been barely two months.
“I tried to select players who are in good shape,” Ancelotti said on Monday. “Neymar had an injury recently. Everyone knows that Neymar is a very important player; he always has been and always will be,” he said.
Neymar last played for Brazil on October 17, 2023, in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious ACL and meniscus injury during the match, which kept him out of action for over a year.
Brazil’s clash with Ecuador is scheduled for June 5 before hosting Paraguay on June 10.
In response to questions about Man Utd’s midfielder Casemiro’s quality, the Italian manager lauded his former player for his “charisma, personality, and talent.”
“In my opinion, he is a great player. I was lucky to be with him, I think the national team needs this type of player. Brazil has always had a lot of talent.
“In modern soccer, you have to add attitude, commitment, sacrifice, and Casemiro has that. And many of those who have been called up have that.”
Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior has been picked. And Carlo said this about him.
“It’s hard to say, because Vini hasn’t shown his best side yet,” he said. “If that hasn’t happened, it will, because he’s an extraordinary player, hard-working and a fighter.”
“The truth is that Brazilian players are very fond of their national team, and this may affect their natural thinking, in the sense that sometimes they feel a lot of pressure to perform well. This may prevent them from performing well. I am totally convinced that Vini will show his true colors with his national team.”
Brazil has yet to qualify for next year’s World Cup and is fourth in the South American group, having lost five of 14 games.
Brazil squad: Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians).
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has released the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi on bail.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman voluntarily made an appearance at the CID headquarters yesterday alongside his legal team including former Attorney General, Godfred Dame after an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
This follows a failed attempt by a joint team of National Security operatives and police officers to arrest him at his residence on May 23, 2025 on allegations of his company, Akonta Mining’s involvement in illegal mining activities.
However, according to sources, Chairman Wontumi denied these claims during his interrogation presenting documents to authenticate his claims.
He insists he was not involved in any illegal mining activities or operating in any forest reserve.
Following the interrogations, the CID granted him bail with two sureties, though the exact amount has not yet been disclosed.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako better known as Chairman Wontumi has arrived at the CID headquarters, following an invitation by the police.
In addition to this, after the failed search attempt by the Police and National Security operatives, Mr Boasiako expressed his displeasure over a search that was orchestrated by national security operatives at his residence.
A search warrant was provided for a search, but the reason for the search is not yet known to the public.
The search comes after Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Buah, ordered the immediate revocation of Akonta Mining’s licenses, citing allegations of illegal mining and other violations.
During the press briefing, he accused the company of being involved in galamsey operations and breaching mining regulations.
Buah also claimed that Akonta Mining was illegally selling mining concessions within the Aboi Forest to unauthorized miners, charging up to GH₵300,000 per concession, with some payments reportedly made in gold royalties.
Akonta Mining Company Limited, owned by Chairman Wontumi, has taken legal action against the Minerals Commission and the Minister of Lands, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, claiming GH₵20 million in damages.
The company alleges that during a press conference on April 22, Minister Buah made defamatory remarks, accusing Akonta Mining of illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The company has strongly denied these accusations, asserting that its mining leases, which were granted in 2021, cover areas outside of the protected reserve.
The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court on April 24, 2025, argues that the minister’s statements were false and damaging to its reputation.
President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has revealed that efforts are underway to clinch a new headline sponsor and broadcast partner for the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
The top professional football league has been without a main sponsor for the past year and a half since betting company betPawa abruptly ended its agreement with the GFA.
BetPawa on November 7, 2023, ended the three-year deal just one year and three months into the contract.
Speaking during a live interview on GHOne TV on Sunday, May 25, the GFA president, who also doubles as the 2nd vice president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), hinted that the football governing body will soon secure new partnerships, which would be announced soon.
“The Ghana Football Association has been working around the clock to get sponsors for the league, and it will come soon.”
He is confident of the league’s quality, arguing that it would make it attractive for TV partners.
“Our Premier League is interesting enough to attract TV partners, and we will announce a new partner soon.”
He went on to reiterate the termination of the contract with StarTimes following the two parties’ failure to reach an agreement on a contract extension after the 2024/2025 season following negotiations in March 2025.
He revealed that “We have ended our partnership with StarTimes. They owe the GFA $950,000.”
In the same vein, there have been strong rumors that SuperSport is in line to replace StarTimes as the official broadcast partner for the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Reports indicate that SuperSport is leading negotiations with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and is likely to secure the deal for the 2025/26 season
In the meantime, several local TV stations — including Adom TV, Net2 TV, Metro TV, Original TV, and Globe TV — have stepped in to broadcast GPL and FA Cup matches.
The GFA remains optimistic that the upcoming sponsorship and broadcast deals will revitalize the league and restore stakeholder confidence.
Kylian Mbappe has won the European Golden Shoe award after his brace in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win against Real Sociedad on Saturday, May 24.
Mbappe is now the third Real player to win the award, after Hugo Sanchez (1989-90) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2010-11, 2013-14 and 2014-15).
The European Golden Shoe is awarded to the top goalscorer in Europe’s domestic leagues each season.
Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres (39 goals) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (29 goals) contested against Kylian (31 goals), but the French prodigy bagged it, despite Gyokeres leading by 8 goals.
The Madridistas beat the Sportinguista after his brace in the last game.
Winning the European Golden Shoe takes more than just scoring goals, but also due to the weighted system, which ensures that goals scored in stronger leagues carry more weight than those in weaker leagues.
Goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1) are multiplied by 2.
Goals scored in leagues ranked 6 to 22 (such as Portugal’s Primeira Liga) are multiplied by 1.5.
Goals scored in leagues ranked below 22 are multiplied by 1.
Hence, Mbappe’s 31 goals earned him 62 points, which made him a forerunner over Gyokeres.
Gyokeres—who has been heavily linked with a summer move to Arsenal—had no chance of catching Mbappe because Sporting’s league campaign ended the previous weekend.
After scoring in his side’s 3-1 defeat of Lisbon rivals Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final on Sunday, the Sweden international finished the season with 53 goals in 51 games in all competitions.
This system is mostly slammed by some fans that it prevents players from weaker leagues from winning the award.
Liverpool’s Egyptian King, on the other hand, needed a hat trick in Liverpool’s final Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday in order to share the prize with Mbappe. However, he scored only once in a 1-1 draw.
The top five in the rankings were as follows: Mbappe (62 points), Gyokeres (58.5), Salah (58), Robert Lewandowski (54), and Harry Kane (52).
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has explained the reason behind the inclusion of five debutants in the 23-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Unity Cup tournament in London.
The national team head coach announced his squad on Monday, May 26.
However, there have been mixed reactions following the announcement, as some key players, such as West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, among others, have been excluded.
In response, Otto Addo has clarified the inclusion of these new faces. He says this move is to help closely assess these players that have been in focus for the past few months now.
“These two matches are extremely important for the team, just like the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. I believe this is the perfect time to closely observe the players we’ve been monitoring over the last few months,” Otto Addo said.
He stressed that building a strong, cohesive team requires more than just talent—it demands time, opportunity, and the right environment for growth.
“Team building is a process that takes time, and it’s not something that happens overnight. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to give some of our young players a chance to prove themselves.
Our aim is to create competition within the team, which can only be achieved by providing an equal platform for all our talents to showcase their skills,” he added.
Addo also emphasized focusing on team cohesion over individual stars. “We’re looking beyond individuals and focusing on building a strong team. That’s why I’ve decided to give many of these young players a chance to play and prove themselves, with the aim of making them a key part of my team going forward.”
Meanwhile, not only did Otto Addo announce debutants but also welcomed some old faces like Felix Afena-Gyan who’s last call up was in 2022, when he featured in a friendly against Nicaragua, as well as Abdul Samed Salis who was last called up in June 2024, before an injury sidelined him.
“The Unity Cup comes at a crucial time for us, and we want to make the most of it. We’re excited to welcome back players who have been absent for months due to various reasons, as well as integrate new players into the team,” he noted.
Five players will make their debut for Ghana: Joseph Tetteh Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic, Ireland), Abdul Aziz Issah (Barcelona B), Aaron Essel (North Texas SC), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjælland, Denmark), and Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini (Union St. Gilloise, Belgium).
Notable absences from the squad include Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah, and Antoine Semenyo. However, Abdul Salis Samed, Kwame Opoku, and Felix Afena-Gyan have returned.
Ghana will face Nigeria at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London on Wednesday, May 28.
The winner of that encounter will qualify for the final slated for May 31, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off, to take on either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.
The Unity Cup fixtures serve as a key part of Ghana’s preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars will resume qualifiers in September with games against Chad and Mali before wrapping up with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic in October.
Ghanaian international winger Inaki Williams has won the SPORTY LaLiga Most Valuable Player award again, marking the second time in a row.
Iñaki bagged the award after beating his contenders, Villarreal’s Pape Gueye and Osasuna’s Enzo Boyomo, in a two-fold voting process.
The first part involved an expert jury of 25 top sports journalists from across Africa, while the second part was based on fan votes collected through the MiLiga Fan Zone.
The winner, Iñaki Williams, secured 32% of the total votes, outperforming Pape Gueye (12%) and Enzo Boyomo (10%).
Inaki won this due to his stellar performances this season for his club, where he played more minutes than any other player on his team and contributed 14 goals and assists throughout the season.
His performance for the Athletic Club helped them qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in ten years.
In the just-ended season, Iñaki contributed 6 goals and 8 assists in 35 league appearances for Athletic Bilbao this term.
The 30-year-old has spent his entire professional career with Bilbao and switched his nationality to feature for Ghana in 2022.
The forward has found the back of the net twice in 22 appearances.
However, the Ghana international missed out in Ghana’s 23-man squad for the 2025 Unity Cup in London, England, as head coach Otto Addo intends to use the four-nation tournament to assess new players.
Other absentees also include, Thomas Partey, West Ham’s Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Meanwhile, few new faces have joined the squad, among them Barcelona youngster Abdul Aziz Issah.
Some returnees also include Abdul Salis Samed, who has recovered from injury; Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku, who receives his first call-up since 2021; and Felix Afena-Gyan, returning for the first time since 2022.
However, Captain Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Mohammed Salisu, and Benjamin Asare have all retained their spots from the previous call-up.
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been named the new coach for German club Bayer Leverkusen in a two-year contract.
The club announced this in an official statement on Monday, May 26.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said, “With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch.
“With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.”
“And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times,” he noted.
Erik ten Hag will officially start his new role on 1 July this year. In an acceptance speech, he stated that Leverkusen are “one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe.”
“I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team,” he said.
Ten Hag is taking over from Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, who is set to replace Real Madrid’s long-standing coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Alonso was confirmed as the new boss of Spanish giants Real Madrid on Sunday, May 24.
This contract marks the Dutchman’s first managerial role since his dismissal by Manchester United in October last year after a disappointing start to the season.
Despite winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his two-year stint at Old Trafford, United struggled in the Premier League.
Sitting 14th on the Premier League table, Ten Hag was sacked after United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham, which left the club with just four wins from their opening 14 matches.
Before his appointment as United’s head coach, the 55-year-old enjoyed a successful stint with Ajax in 2022.
Under former Liverpool midfielder Alonso, Leverkusen won a league and cup double in 2023-24.
They finished second in the Bundesliga this season, 13 points behind champions Bayern Munich.
Two notable players in the Black Stars are missing from Otto Addo’s squad list, which has been released to feature in the upcoming 2025 Unity Cup, set to take place in London, England.
Arsenal midfielder and West Ham’s ‘goal machine,’ Mohammed Kudus, is both anticipated to miss the four-nation tournament, which is set to kick off in the next two days and three days right after the end of the Premier League.
Though the reasons behind their absenteeism remain unknown, this is a major blow for Ghana given the two players’ performances so far both in the just-ended Premier League and in the last few matches they featured in for Ghana.
In Ghana’s last two matches, both players were instrumental. Partey controlled the midfield in Ghana’s 2-1 win against Mali, making crucial interceptions and distributing the ball effectively.
Kudus, meanwhile, was the standout performer in Ghana’s 3-0 victory over the Central African Republic, scoring a brace and assisting another goal.
Other absentees also include Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Inaki Williams.
Meanwhile, few new faces have joined the squad, among them Barcelona youngster Abdul Aziz Issah.
Some returnees also include Abdul Salis Samed, who has recovered from injury; Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku, who receives his first call-up since 2021; and Felix Afena-Gyan, returning for the first time since 2022.
However, Captain Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Mohammed Salisu, and Benjamin Asare have all retained their spots from the previous call-up.
Full squad below:
The senior national team is scheduled to participate in a four-nation tournament that features Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago in the United Kingdom later this month.
The four-day tournament is set to begin from the 28th to the 30th of this month, with Ghana set to face long-time West African rivals Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the semifinal.
The tournament would be played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, with kickoff at 19:00 GMT.
The winner of that encounter will qualify for the final slated for May 31, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off, to take on either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.
The Unity Cup fixtures serve as a key part of Ghana’s preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars will resume qualifiers in September with games against Chad and Mali, before wrapping up with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic in October.
The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has warned residents of Weija and its surrounding communities of a looming “disaster” if they fail to evacuate.
The company has begun a controlled spillage of excess water from the Weija Dam, and to avert any crisis, it has warned residents of communities likely to be affected to move immediately.
A statement from the water supply company issued on Friday, 23 May, revealed that water levels at the dam have reached 45 feet, just two feet shy of its maximum operating level, due to the onset of the rainy season.
“To safeguard the structural integrity of the dam and avert any potential disaster, minimal spillage has begun,” the statement said.
“The Management of GWL is, by this release, sounding a word of caution to inhabitants downstream to evacuate the area to forestall any eventuality.”
Communities named to be affected by the imminent spillage include Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Adakope, and surrounding areas.
Consequently, GWL has directed all residents in the flagged zone to move to higher grounds and strictly adhere to safety instructions issued by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relevant agencies.
The key directives include immediate evacuation to higher ground, avoiding low-lying areas, and staying away from flooded roads and bridges to prevent accidents.
NADMO has also advised residents to secure valuables and turn off electrical appliances.
The company has also called on the Ga West Municipal Assembly to ensure that all the estuary is desilted and all refuse is cleared along the river course to ensure the free flow of water into the sea and minimize flooding risks.
“We kindly request that all affected residents remain cooperative and adhere to any safety instructions issued by the Municipal Assembly to ensure their safety and prevent any untoward incidents,” the statement added.
GWL stressed that public cooperation is crucial to prevent a repeat of past flood disasters caused by dam overflows.
Several spillages of water from the dam in the past led to flooding of homes and destruction of properties.
Legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his excitement after learning about his physiological age, citing that, he is certain he can continue playing football for the next 10 year.
This comes after the Whoop platform, a wearable fitness and health tracking platform designed to help users monitor and improve their performance, recovery, and overall well-being, analyzed Ronaldo and discovered that his physiological age is 28.9 years old.
In reaction to the results from Whoop, the Al-Nassr forward has expressed satisfaction, suggesting that he could play for the next decade.
“I can’t believe it is so good. This means I will play for another ten years. When you’re young, you think you will live forever, that you will always be strong, that you’re unbreakable,” he told Whoop.
He, however, acknowledges the effect aging has on the body, particularly as a footballer.
In order to keep his form and shape for optimal performance on the pitch, he shared how he “prioritizes recovery and sleep much more than before.
.”…at 25, it is not the same as when you’re 30, especially in football. I still feel good.”
Ronaldo stated that his ability to remain strong physically at 40 years old is a remarkable feat, and he hopes to continue in the same form to play football for a longer period than expected.
The former Real Madrid legend is taunted for his fitness and form even at age 40 as Ronaldo continues to be one of the most prolific goal scorers for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, having scored 24 goals in 29 appearances.
He continues to captain the Portuguese team and score vital goals for the side.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the ‘greatest’ footballers in history.
With over a two-decade career, he has won 33 major trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles, seven league titles across England, Spain, and Italy, and the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal.
He also holds the record for most goals in UEFA Champions League history (140) and is the all-time top scorer in international football with 136 goals for Portugal.
His total senior career goals stand at an astounding 935.
He has also won 5 Ballon d’Ors, 4 European Golden Boots, and multiple accolades, including FIFA Best Men’s Player and UEFA Best Player in Europe awards.
The Ghana national team will begin preparations for the upcoming Unity Cup on Sunday, May 25, the Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, Dr. Randy Abbey, has confirmed.
Speaking during an appearance on 3Sports on May 23, Dr Randy Abbey shared key details about the team’s schedule.
He said “We had a meeting with the management committee, and the team will assemble in London on the 25th,” he said.
“They would have three training sessions before the first game on the 28th against Nigeria”.
Despite the ongoing seasons for many Ghanaian players across Europe’s top leagues, Dr. Abbey shared key details about the team’s schedule during an interview with 3Sports.
He also spoke on the challenges with the squad’s availability, citing clubs’ unwillingness to release some players due to their schedules and also issues of player injury.
“There are quite a number of players who are injured. There are a few players who are also engaged in qualifying games for Europe, and so their clubs won’t release them. Mind you, this period is outside the FIFA free period.
“And so, for those whose leagues will still be in session, and they are still in contention, they might not be available, plus the injured players,” he added.
The senior national team is scheduled to participate in a four-nation tournament that features Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago in the United Kingdom later this month.
The four-day tournament is set to begin from the 28th to the 30th of this month, with Ghana set to face long-time West African rivals Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the semifinal.
The tournament would be played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, with kickoff at 19:00 GMT.
The winner of that encounter will qualify for the final slated for May 31, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off, to take on either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.
The Unity Cup fixtures serve as a key part of Ghana’s preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars will resume qualifiers in September with games against Chad and Mali, before wrapping up with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic in October.
Real Madrid captain Luka Modric has announced that he will go his separate ways with the Catalan giants after the Club World Cup, which runs from June 18 to July 13.
Modric will play his final match at Real’s Bernabeu home when they welcome Real Sociedad on Saturday in their final La Liga game of the season.
Taking to his Instagram page, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner shared a warm message recounting the ‘impossible moments’ turned possible with the help of every teammate, fan, and club management.
“The time has come. The moment I never wanted to come, but that’s football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end… On Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Leaving with a full heart. Filled with pride, gratitude, and unforgettable memories. And even though, after the Club World Cup, I’m no longer going to wear this shirt on the field, I’ll always be a Madrid fan.
Throughout these years I’ve experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations and magical nights at the Bernabéu… We won it all, and I was very happy. Very, very happy.
We’ll see each other again. Real Madrid will always be my home for a lifetime,” he posted.
Real Madrid, he said, has impacted his life as a football player and as a person.
He continued by extending his gratitude to the club president, Florentino Pérez, and all the coaches, staff, and fans as well for their support during his 12-year stint at Santiago Bernabéu.
“I am proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history.”
I want to thank the club from the bottom of my heart, especially the president, Florentino Perez, my teammates, coaches, and all the people who have helped me during all this time.
The Croat has won 28 trophies, including six Champions Leagues and four domestic titles, since joining Real from Spurs in 2012.
“I arrived in 2012 with the hope of wearing the jersey of the best team in the world and the ambition to do great things, but I couldn’t have imagined what came next,” he said.
“Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a footballer and as a person.
“I’m proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history.”
Luka’s contract would have expired last year; however, he signed for an extension that expires at the end of the season this year.
Luka Modrić joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012. Since his joining Real Madrid, he has made 590 appearances for the club and scored 43 goals.
Hailed as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, Modrić has won 28 major titles with Real Madrid. He has won 6 UEFA Champions League titles, 6 FIFA Club World Cups, 5 UEFA Super Cups, 5 Spanish Super Cups, 4 La Liga titles, and 2 Copa del Rey titles.
His outstanding performance earned him the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has reacted to Modric’s Instagram post. “🤍 THANK YOU. | GRACIAS 🤍,” the post read.
His former teammate and Al-Nassr star, Cristiano Ronaldo, also reacted, saying, “Thank you for everything, Luka! ❤️ It’s been an honor to share so many moments with you at the club. Much success in what’s to come!
CR 7 reacts to Luka Modric’s departure message
In the same development, Real Madrid’s current coach, Ancelotti, is also set to depart after the season ends.
Real Madrid have officially confirmed the departure of Carlo Ancelotti by the season’s end.
The Italian coach is set to bid farewell to fans and the club after their last game of the season against Real Sociedad on Saturday, May 24.
In a statement from the club shared on Friday, the Spanish giants expressed their gratitude to the coach, hailing him as one of the greatest the club has had in the over-a-century-old club.
“Real Madrid C. F. and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to end his time as Real Madrid coach. Our club would like to express its gratitude and affection to one of the great legends of Real Madrid and world football.
“Carlo Ancelotti has led our team through one of the most successful periods in our 123 years of existence and has become the coach with the most titles in our history: Three European Cups, three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, two leagues, two Copa del Reys, and two Spanish Super Cups. In total, 15 titles during the six seasons in which he has belonged to our club,” parts of the statement read.
The club’s president, Florentino Perez, added, “Carlo Ancelotti will forever be part of the great Madridista family.
“We feel incredibly honoured to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.”
Reacting to the club’s official announcement, Ancelotti thanked all members of the club, highlighting the hard work and memories created together at Bernabeu, labeling it as now a part of “football history.
He, however, acknowledged that though a new journey begins, his “bond with Real Madrid is eternal. See you soon, Madridistas.”
He wrote in a social media post, “Today we part ways again. Once again I take in my heart every moment lived in this wonderful second spell as Real Madrid coach
“They have been unforgettable years, an incredible journey full of emotions, titles, and, above all, the pride of representing this badge.
“Thanks to the president, Florentino Perez, to the club, to my players, to my staff, and, above all, to this unique fan base that has always made me feel like one of them.
“What we have achieved together will remain forever in the memory of Real Madrid fans, not only for the triumphs, but for the way we achieved them. The magical nights of the Bernabeu are now football history.
“Now a new adventure begins, but my bond with Real Madrid is eternal. See you soon, Madridistas.”
Ancelotti’s current deal with Real was set to expire in June 2026; however, he is set to depart Madrid soon.
He leaves the Santiago Bernabéu as one of Real Madrid’s most successful managers, leading the team to secure 15 trophies during his two stints as head coach of the club.
Last season Real Madrid, under the coaching of Ancelotti, won both the Champions League and the Spanish La Liga title.
However, amid his successful stint with the club, Sunday’s El Clasico defeat left Real seven points behind leaders Barcelona with three games remaining.
This suggests that Real will end the season without a trophy for the first time in four years.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that it has officially ended negotiations with Chinese broadcaster StarTimes in relation to the renewal of its media broadcast rights agreement.
This comes after GFA and StarTimes failed to reach an agreement on contract extension after the 2024/2025 season following negotiations in March 2025.
In a statement dated May 23, the football governing body confirmed that talks to renew the contract with the broadcaster.
Consequently, the GFA has formally requested StarTimes to reimburse it an outstanding amount of USD 842,173.36, which it says is due under the previous agreement.
The association has engaged legal counsel and initiated formal procedures to recover the debt.
“The Association remains committed to securing a transparent, fair, and mutually beneficial media partnership that aligns with the interests of our clubs, the Association, and our stakeholders,” the GFA stated.
The termination of talks with StarTimes marks a significant development in the GFA’s ongoing efforts to establish new broadcast arrangements for Ghanaian football.
It would be recalled that in February this year, Majority Leader in Parliament Mahama Ayariga revealed that Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams is set to initiate discussions with SuperSport regarding potential broadcasting rights for the Ghana Premier League.
StarTimes has been GFA’s partner for the past seven years (since 2017).
StarTimes is a Chinese electronics and media company that operates in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company provides digital terrestrial television (DTT) and satellite television services to consumers. It also helps countries and broadcasters transition from analog to digital television.
StarTimes expanded into Africa in 2002 and has since established operations in over 30 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa. As of 2020, the company had 13 million DVB subscribers and 20 million OTT users.
In addition to broadcasting, StarTimes has developed StarTimes ON, a video streaming service, and StarTimes GO, an interactive online shopping platform. The company has also been involved in digital migration projects across Africa, working with governments to improve access to digital TV
Legal counsel for suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has rejected calls for the proceedings related to the counsel’s removal to be held in camera.
The immediate-past Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has requested a public hearing, insisting that all matters related to his client’s suspension have already been made public, subjecting her to intense public scrutiny.
Mr Godfred Dame, who spoke in an interview yesterday, Thursday, May 22, citing transparency and fairness, said, “It cannot be a secret. There ought to be light on the proceeding because she has already been damaged in the public domain. There is nothing that threatens public harm, public order, or public safety in this proceeding such as to warrant that it should be in the dark or in camera.”
“On the contrary, the conduct of the government so far, together with what has been witnessed in the whole of proceedings, will rather require that it ought to be in the public,” he said.
He made these remarks in response to calls by some individuals, such as Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim, who has defended the in-camera hearing decision, citing Article 146 (10) of the Constitution, which mandates confidentiality in such hearings.
Shamima Muslim insists that this provision is not optional but a legal requirement meant to protect the judiciary, petitioners, and the integrity of the process.
Presently, there are ongoing legal disputes surrounding Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s suspension.
Background
A series of petitions have been filed against Chief Justice Torkornoo, beginning with one from a group known as Shining Stars of Ghana.
The group alleges she violated Article 144 of the Constitution by personally recommending judges for promotion to the Supreme Court and further claims she ruled on a case involving the Speaker of Parliament without granting him a hearing, despite his refusal to respond to the suit.
Another petition from a police officer who is also a lawyer accuses the Chief Justice of manipulating evidence and abusing her authority following an incident during a Supreme Court session where he was reportedly reprimanded, arrested, and detained. However, court records suggest the lawyer’s conduct during proceedings prompted a unanimous caution from the bench, not just from the Chief Justice.
A third petition, submitted by a private individual, lists 21 alleged misconducts and four claims of incompetence. Among the accusations is the misuse of public funds—specifically, that she spent over GH¢261,000 and $30,000 on a family trip abroad in 2023 and misused an additional GH¢75,580 and $14,000 during another foreign assignment without proper accountability.
Subsequent reports indicate two more petitions have been added to the list, intensifying pressure on the judiciary.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in her written response to President Mahama, strongly denied allegations of misconduct and abuse of office brought against her by a senior police officer, describing them as baseless and lacking grounds for her removal from office.
A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The committee is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang and includes Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Associate Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana.
Legal matters arising
Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Ekow Vincent Assafuah, has moved to challenge the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, filing an application at the Supreme Court to injunct the presidential decision.
The notice of motion, dated April 24, is a direct response to President John Dramani Mahama’s April 22 suspension of the Chief Justice, which was carried out in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution after consultations with the Council of State and a determination that a prima facie case existed.
According to Mr Assafuah, the process that led to the Chief Justice’s suspension violated constitutional provisions, as she was not informed of the petitions nor given an opportunity to respond before the President engaged the Council of State.
He further described the actions taken thus far, including the formation of an investigative committee, as “a farce and the product of a preconceived orchestration to unconstitutionally remove the Chief Justice from office.”
Ekow Vincent Assafuah filed an injunction application to halt the process for the removal of the Chief Justice; however, this application was also dismissed by the Supreme Court on May 6.
The second interlocutory injunction application challenging the process for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office has been thrown out by the apex court.
The Supreme Court, by a 4 to 1 majority decision, deemed the application by a private citizen, Theodore Kofi Atta-Quartey, unmeritorious on Wednesday, May 21.
The five-member panel comprised Justices Paul Baffoe-Bonnie (Presiding), Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Yonny Kulendi, Henry Anthony Kwofie, and Yaw Asare Darko. Justice Yaw Asare Darko was the only one who disagreed with the majority’s opinion.
Justice Torkornoo heads to court
Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has headed to the Supreme Court to prevent the committee set up by President John Mahama to probe the petitions seeking her removal from office.
She is also requesting the apex court to halt her suspension issued by the President under Article 146(10) of the Constitution until a final determination is made on the matter.
On Wednesday, May 21, her legal team at Dame and Partners filed an interlocutory injunction application.
The defendants per the writ, are Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Daniel Yao Domelovo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah.
The plaintiff has prayed the apex court to restrain the committee from proceeding with any further inquiry as well as prevent Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, the acting Chief Justice, from participating in the process.
Experts react to Torkornoo’s suit
A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, believes that Justice Torkornoo should have first sought counsel from the Judicial Council before heading to the apex court.
“The Judicial Council has been established to aid successive Chief Justices to behave themselves. So if an incumbent Chief Justice has a problem, her first port of call should be to seek counsel. I don’t think that has been done,” he said.
Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, described the suspended Chief Justice’s move as interesting.
“I’m happy that the suspended Chief Justice is going to have the benefit of how the justice system works. Just like any one of us, her leadership may need the benefits of the very justice she, together with others, over the years, delivered to people,” he said while engaging the media in an interview.
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to review disciplinary measures in schools to nip in the bud the rising levels of indiscipline and violence.
Their request follows growing indiscipline among students, especially in Senior High Schools (SHSs).
A very recent case is the busting of a student of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) found in possession of a locally manufactured pistol on May 14, 2025.
In light of this, the group, in a statement, has suggested some rules for the GES to approve and announce their enforcement to help regulate the conduct of students nationwide.
GES, according to NAGRAT, has until May 31 of this year to do so accordingly or risk dealing with the “series of actions that will ensure that teachers are protected in our schools” by June 1.
They suggested the following:
Public announcement by the Director-General of GES empowering school authorities to immediately dismiss any student who attacks or causes physical injury of any kind to a teacher or any member of staff.
Any student found in possession of any weapon of any kind or shape should be immediately dismissed.
School authorities must be given the power to repeat students who have performed below the academic threshold without recourse to higher authority. The National Council of NAGRAT calls on the Director-General of GES to make these pronouncements public by the 31st of May, 2025. If by the 1st of June, 2025, the GES fails to make these pronouncements, Council mandates the leadership of the Union to start a series of actions that will ensure that teachers are protected in our schools.
NAGRAT continued that schools are gradually becoming unsafe for both students and teachers, likewise with the alarming presence of weapons such as guns and machetes.
Citing examples, NAGRAT mentioned Mr. Walter Yesotor Adanunyo of Christian Methodist High School, who was attacked for preventing students from cheating during exams, and Mr. Ebenezer Kateya of Accra High School, who was assaulted for enforcing dress code rules.
The group also referenced a student at OKESS who was recently caught with a firearm.
NAGRAT attributed the rise in violence to several key issues:
Admission of students who failed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)
Political interference in school disciplinary processes
The inability of school authorities to repeat underperforming students
Bureaucratic challenges in removing disruptive students
“The situation is deteriorating fast. If not addressed, we fear we will soon hear of deaths, rape, and extreme violence in our schools,” the statement warned.
To combat the crisis, NAGRAT’s National Council is demanding the implementation of the following measures:
A public directive from the GES Director-General empowering school authorities to immediately dismiss any student who assaults a teacher or staff member.
Automatic dismissal of any student found in possession of a weapon.
Authority for school heads to repeat students who fail to meet academic standards, without needing approval from higher authorities.
It would be recalled that the Ghana Education Service (GES) officially banned corporal punishment in schools in 2017 under the Akufo-Addo-led government and the education minister, Dr Yaw Adutwum, citing that the move was part of efforts to promote a safe and protective learning environment for students.
GES, after two years, ordered that a Positive Discipline Toolkit, which provides alternatives to corporal punishment, be adopted by all teachers.
However, some critics have argued that the ban lacks legislative backing, as Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) still allows reasonable force for correction.
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) conducted a study on indiscipline in Ghanaian senior high schools, published in November 2024. The research found that indiscipline had increased following the ban on corporal punishment.
They cited limited disciplinary options, overcrowding, and inadequate facilities coupled with their effects of reduced teacher authority and potential long-term consequences.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has congratulated Tottenham Hotspur for winning the Europa League on Wednesday, May 21.
He highlighted that a team winning a trophy should not be a yardstick to measure or judge its success in a season.
His comments come after 17th-placed Spurs ended the season on a high note as they won the European trophy.
However, Arteta’s side, who are second in the Premier League behind champions Liverpool, will finish without any silverware this term.
“They are [Europa League] champions, and when you get to that, you have to do a lot of things right. I think they’re going through a season with a lot of obstacles and difficulties. And they have, at the end… A beautiful moment,” Arteta said.
In response to a question regarding the best performance among the two clubs (Arsenal and Spurs), Arteta snubbed a direct answer, noting his responsibility to analyze his side rather than compare it with other teams’ performances.
“I don’t like to compare with other teams. I need to analyze my team; that’s my job,” Arteta, who led Arsenal to the Champions League semifinals, said.
Arteta added that a team should not be judged solely on their trophy count in a season, citing the example of his own side, who have never won the Champions League and have not lifted the Premier League trophy since 2003-04.
“Where is the joy then? Because then if I have to analyse ourselves … We have failed the last 20 years in the Premier League, and we have failed in all our history in the Champions League,” Arteta said.
“Who are we then? Where is our brand? where is our club? Where is our value, our way of playing? Where are the moments that we lived together with our people?”
Arteta said Arsenal, who have conceded only 33 league goals so far this season, seven fewer than Liverpool, were motivated to finish with the best defensive record in the top flight as they end their campaign at relegated Southampton on Sunday.
“We want to have as many points as possible. We still want to achieve the best defensive record … Finish the season on a high,” he added.
Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim is expected to keep his job, as the club management has decided to retain him as coach.
According to sources, he is expected to lead the club despite defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final and a poor run of form in his debut season.
Man Utd lost to ‘struggling’ Spurs in a 0-1 clash in Bilbao on Wednesday.
The defeat has cost Amorim’s side a place in the Champions League next season, also denying the Portuguese coach a trophy in his first season.
United’s failure to secure a spot in Europe’s elite competition marks only the second time in the last 35 years, with a similar outcome occurring in 1990.
Also, sources have it that the security of Amorim’s job was not dependent on the outcome at Estadio de San Mamés.
The club management insists the 40-year-old is the right man for the job, despite his disastrous performance this season.
Manchester United has had a damaging season in the Premier League, currently sitting in 16th place with 39 points.
Their form has been poor, with 10 wins, 9 draws, and 18 losses across 37 matches.
They have struggled to score, managing only 42 goals, while conceding 54
Plans are already in place to strengthen the squad in the summer.
However, given the club’s current financial status, which also already informed some major cost-cutting initiatives, such as scrapping the sponsorship of more than two player relatives’ family tickets.
It also embarked on major job cuts; missing out on a potential £100 million ($134m) in Champions League revenue is set to affect the club’s flexibility in the transfer window.
This is something Amorim expressed worry about during his post-match news conference following the defeat to Tottenham.
“We have two plans for the market, and we have to understand it is tough for a club like ours not to be in the Champions League,” Amorim said.
“But we have to use the other side. We have more time to work during the week on the Premier League, and that will be our focus.”
Following the disappointment at Bilbao, Amorim is ready to quit voluntarily without compensation if the board decides to change managers.
The United boss, according to sources, expects fans to support the Portuguese coach and the club as they prepare for their final game of the season against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ghana international Tariq Lamptey is likely to leave Brighton & Hove Albion this summer, as his contract nears expiration and no extension talks are currently underway.
He is again anticipated to miss their final game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday due to an injury.
Since joining the Seagulls, Tariq has suffered several injuries.
Tariq joined the Seagulls in 2020 on a four-year contract and has become a key figure for the side, but he has had limited play time due to injury setbacks.
Just months after joining the club, he recorded his first injury (hamstring) at Brighton in a match against Everton on October 4, 2020, an injury in October 2020.
This sidelined him for 14 days, causing him to miss five matches.
The Ghanaian full-back has endured an injury-hit season, making just 15 appearances in the 2024/2025 Premier League season, where he scored two goals and provided two assists.
He has made 20 appearances so far across all competitions, notching 5 goals for the Seagulls.
In January, Lamptey came close to joining Dutch giants Ajax, but the proposed move ultimately collapsed.
With his contract nearing its end and no renewal in sight, the 23-year-old could be on the move when the transfer window opens in June.
About Tariq Lamptey
Born on September 30, 2000, in Hillingdon, England, Tariq Lamptey started his football journey at Chelsea’s academy, where he developed and shaped his skills.
Rising through the ranks, he secured a place with Chelsea, where he made his Premier League debut in December 2019.
However, in January 2020, he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Brighton.
Data from the central bank of Ghana has confirmed former Vice President Dr. Bawumia’s claims that the Mahama-led government hasn’t added even a single tonne of gold to the country’s reserves since it began its tenure.
He made these claims during a recent address to the Young Executive Forum in London on Monday, 19 May.
“Sixty-five years after independence, we had only 8.7 tonnes of gold reserves. But in just two years, we increased that to 30 tonnes—a significant buffer for our currency. Since the NDC took over, they haven’t added even one tonne.”
An analysis of data from the Bank of Ghana corroborates this claim.
However, some political figures and analysts challenged the broader narrative surrounding Ghana’s gold reserves and economic policies.
Ghana’s gold reserves stood at 8.78 tonnes as of the end of May 2023.
However, the reserve saw a sharp rise in December 2024 with an increase of over 21.75 tonnes.
Since the NDC assumed office in January 2025, growth in gold reserves has been modest.
By end-April 2025, reserves had inched up to 31.37 tonnes, marking a net addition of 0.84 tonnes—below the one-tonne threshold cited by Dr. Bawumia.
The Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), the Technical University Administrators Association (FUSSAG), and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association (FUSSAG) have announced an indefinite industrial action.
The strike took effect on Wednesday, May 21. Addressing the media yesterday was National Chairman of the Senior Staff Association George Ansong.
“The Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUWAG) and the Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSAG) announce, with deep regret but unwavering resolve, our decision to embark on an indefinite strike action,” he stated.
The move stems from the failure of both the former and current governments to honor a six-month-old agreement aimed at improving their conditions of service.
Mr George Ansong continued to fume over the lack of government response following countless engagements, citing that until the government responds to their demands and takes action, the unions will remain on strike.
“The government has continuously reneged on its commitment, thereby undermining the trust and cooperation that should exist between both parties,” he added.
The erstwhile government led by Akufo-Addo reached an agreement with the SSA-UoG on November 12, 2024, after negotiations that began on April 9, 2024.
The agreement was meant to improve their conditions of service, and the government was expected to fulfill its commitments within six months, meaning by May 2025.
However, the incumbent government failed to meet the deadline, leading to the industrial action.
This is not the first time the Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has gone on strike for similar reasons.
The last time they took such action was in January 2024, during the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
That strike was triggered by poor working conditions and the government’s failure to pay certain allowances and arrears.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has announced the club’s plans to give young prodigy Lamine Yamal “special treatment” as talks are underway for a long-term contract with the 17-year-old forward.
Joan Laporta made these comments in an interview with TV3 on Monday, 19 May.
“It’s been discussed, but it’s not signed. Lamine’s a great player, an extraordinary person, and is already very mature,” Laporta told TV3 when asked for an update on negotiations to prolong the forward’s contract.
“He’s grown up here, he’s Catalan, and he’s a Barça fan. He’s happy in Barcelona and is destined to be the best player in the world,” he added.
Yamal’s current deal with Barça would expire in 2026, with the club anticipating penning a long-term contract with him when he turns 18 in July.
Discussions between both parties, according to Laporta, look promising so far emphasizing that “There are good feelings with his representatives and with his family. His agent, [Jorge] Mendes, advises him well. It will end well.”
ESPN previously reported the Catalan club wants to tie Lamine Yamal down to longer terms when he turns 18 in July.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal has played a critical role in the final months of the season, helping the Spanish giants win a treble—LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercopa.
He scored 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions.
Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham will be out for the first 6 weeks of next season as he is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery.
The English midfielder has faced persistent shoulder issues for the past two years, causing him to wear a brace when playing for both clubs and the national team.
He picked up the shoulder injury during a clash against Rayo Vallecano in 2023, which cost him two games for both Madrid and England at the end of 2023.
Consequently, Real Madrid have scheduled a surgery for Bellingham after the Club World Cup, which is expected to take place in the United States, is over.
The expanded 32-team Club World Cup takes place in the United States between 15 June and 13 July.
Due to the surgery, Jude is anticipated to miss the whole of the preseason, which would also mean being absent for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.
Meanwhile, on Friday, England boss Thomas Tuchel will name his England squad for June’s qualifier against Andorra and friendly against Senegal, with questions remaining about whether or not players due to play in the Club World Cup will be selected.
About Jude Bellingham and his evolution in football
At age 16, Jude made his senior debut, becoming the club’s youngest-ever first-team player at Birmingham City in 2019–2020.
He later moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, where he spent 3 years rising to the status of one of Europe’s best midfielders, winning the DFB-Pokal and earning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in 2022–23.
In June 2023, Jude moved to Real Madrid. Bellingham has continued to shine, helping the club win La Liga and the Champions League in his debut season, where he scored 23 goals in 43 appearances.
This season, though, he has scored just 14 in 52, with Madrid losing the title to Barcelona and being knocked out of Europe in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.
Interim head coach of Dreams FC, Winfred Dormon, says his future at the club lies in the hands of the management.
Speaking after his side’s 4-1 defeat to Kotoko on Sunday, May 18, he noted that he is committed to the task at hand but uncertain about his long-term future.
“I must manage the rest of the games and make sure I keep preparing my team. That decision is up to management to make, not me,” he said.
Dreams FC have three more matches to go for then—against Berekum Chelsea, Accra Lions, and Legon Cities.
Dormon admitted that all three fixtures will be challenging, given the stakes for each team.
Berekum Chelsea is slated for Saturday, 25 May, followed by Accra Lions on Sunday, 1 June, and finally Legon Cities on Sunday, 8 June.
“We have three remaining games to play—Berekum Chelsea, who are very difficult to play; Accra Lions, who are also battling with relegation; and we also have Legon Cities.
So, we need to look forward and focus on those games. So that decision is in the bosom of the management,” he added.
Dreams FC currently sit 9th on the Ghana Premier League table with 43 points from 31 games.
They will host Berekum Chelsea in their Matchday 32 fixture this weekend at the Tuba Astro Turf.
Dormon was appointed to step in after Abdul Karim Zito left by choice to take on the new challenge at Kotoko in April to take over from Prosper Narteh Ogum.
Dormon was first appointed a head coach for Dreams FC in June 2019. However, following some club restructuring, he was later reduced to being an assistant to Finnish trainer Juha Pasoja.
He also was an assistant to Karim Zito, Vladislav Viric, and Ignatius Osei-Fosu.
Since stepping in for Zito, Dormon has supervised two matches—a 2-1 away victory against Karela United and the weekend’s loss to Kotoko.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled a list of players in the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2025 Unity Cup, slated for the last week of this month.
The list features several key players like Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, midfield stalwarts Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka and an attack side led by Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, and Moses Simon.
Surprisingly, some big names such as Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, and Calvin Bassey, and Ademola Lookman of Atalanta have been left out of the lineup.
The Super Eagles will face their long-standing rivals, Ghana, in the semifinals of the tournament.
The much-anticipated encounter will take place on Tuesday, May 28, at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to participate in a four-nation tournament that features Ghana, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago in the United Kingdom later this month.
The four-day tournament is set to begin from the 28th to the 30th of this month, with Ghana set to face long-time West African rivals Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the semifinal.
The winner of that encounter will qualify for the final slated for May 31, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off, to take on either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, is expected to release his final squad for the tournament in the coming days.
Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, made this known during an interview on Akoma FM on Saturday, May 17.
He added that preparations are already underway, with new players joining the squad, and encouraged Ghanaians to expect the changes without surprise.
Former Spain and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has announced his retirement from football.
The 42-year-old Spaniard, during an interview with Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus+ on May 20, said he will retire at the end of the season.
Reina said he made this decision following discussions with his wife.
“A very beautiful career is coming to an end, a very full life. I feel very fortunate for what I’ve experienced,”
“Didn’t expect it, but I think the time has come, and I feel like bringing it to a close here,” he said.
His farewell match is scheduled for May 23, when his current club, Como, faces Inter Milan in the last round of the Serie A season.
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he spent eight seasons at Liverpool, where he won the FA Cup and League Cup.
He also earned the Premier League Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in his first three seasons with the club, from the 2005/06 to 2007/08 season.
He later rose through the ranks to sign for Bayern Munich, Napoli, and AC Milan.
In July 2024, he joined his current club, Como, in July last year, making 11 appearances in the current Serie A season.
He made 36 appearances for Spain and was part of the squad that won the World Cup in 2010 as well as the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
Meanwhile, Reina is not bowing out of football completely; he intends to move into coaching.
