Manchester City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, has expressed optimism about his team securing a spot in the Premier League top five.
Speaking during a news conference on Monday, May 19, ahead of City’s clash with Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 20, the Spanish coach said that he was “absolutely” confident of his side’s capability to qualify for Champions League football for next season.
“If we are not there [Champions League], then we don’t deserve it and will be in the Europa League. It is what it is.
“I am thinking we are going to qualify. My thoughts and the way I think — I think that. We need four points. That is the main target. I am absolutely confident of qualifying,” Guardiola told reporters.
Pep’s assertion comes on the back of his side’s current position on the Premier League table. With 65 points, City sits 6th with just a point lower than Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, who each have 66 points.
Importantly, City has a game in hand over these rivals, providing them with a crucial opportunity to climb the standings.
Speaking on his side’s defeat to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s clash, Pep noted that:
“We played a really good final, but not enough to win it. And we have the last two games; we need four points next year to be in the Champions League. This is enough, and everyone has to be aware of that,” Guardiola said.
“Newcastle won the Carabao Cup, Liverpool won the Premier League, and City won the Community Shield. The other teams didn’t win anything,” the Spaniard added.
Manchester City’s match against Bournemouth will be their last home game of the season.
After that, they will travel to play Fulham, who are in 10th place, for their final Premier League game on Sunday.
Pep is bent on winning the match, as it would mark Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne’s last home game for City, as the 33-year-old midfielder is expected to part ways with the club after ten years of play.
He said, “This is what Kevin wants. Kevin will get what he deserves, and what he deserves is the best moment and the best compliment for his incredible trajectory.”
“We want to win the game so we can qualify for the Champions League next season; it couldn’t be otherwise.”
“I am going to decide what is best for us to win the game against Bournemouth, that is for sure,” Pep added.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is uncertain about his participation in the upcoming Club World Cup over fears of sustaining an injury.
The attacking midfielder, whose contract is set to expire by the end of the season, would leave as a free agent.
Speaking in an interview during a discussion about his potential participation in the Club World Cup, Kevin said:
“I think in a way I have to take care of myself because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what am I going to do?”
“Nobody’s going to take care of me at that point. So there’s a big chance probably I won’t play it, but I don’t know, maybe yes.”
With two games left to go this season, he said he had to consider what is best for his own career as he prepares for his next move.
“I have to take care of my family. I’ve got three kids and my wife; it’s not an easy process at this time,” he said.
However, his uncertainty about missing the Club World Cup has left a slim chance of his participation.
Many believe he could sign a short-term extension that would allow him to play in the newly expanded tournament in June and July.
The timing of the Club World Cup, which has been expanded from seven teams to 32, has led to FIFA introducing a short-term transfer window to enable players whose contracts expire on June 30 to move to clubs participating in the tournament.
It also allows players like De Bruyne to sign short-term deals purely to take part before moving on as free agents.
But that brings with it the risk of him suffering a serious injury that would jeopardize a future transfer.
Kevin De Bruyne has had an outstanding career at Manchester City, distinguishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.
He joined the club in 2015, and since then he has won 6 Premier League titles, a Champions League, and multiple domestic trophies.
Following his injury return in the 2024/25 season, De Bruyne made a total of 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring 6 goals and providing 8 assists.
He also scored 4 goals in the Premier League and assisted 7. However, he scored no goals in the Champions League after 7 matches.
In the FA Cup, he played four games and scored two goals.
After fourteen years with Man City, the 33-year-old is now considering his options but says there has been uncertainty over whether City wants him to be part of its squad for the Club World Cup in the United States.
Meanwhile, City hasn’t had the best season by far, as they gave up their Premier League title this season after four consecutive wins. De Bruyne said, though,
“This year has just not gone the way we wanted it to. You have to accept it. You have to move on and work hard and go again,” De Bruyne said.
“It’s alright. This doesn’t change anything that’s happened in the past 10 years.” De Bruyne said he has yet to decide on his next move and whether he would look to join another Premier League team”.
The eldest son of Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., scored his first brace during a clash against Croatia to help Portugal U-15 clinch the 2025 Vlatko Markovic tournament title.
Coming off the bench in his first games and this time starting in a clash against Croatia, Ronaldo Jr. delivered a stunning performance, scoring his first-ever goal for the junior national team with a brilliant left-footed strike from a tight angle that the Croatian goalkeeper couldn’t save.
He scored his first goal barely 15 minutes into the game and replicated his father’s iconic “SIUU” celebration.
Croatia quickly equalized in the 27th minute. However, Cristiano Ronaldo rose again to secure Portugal’s lead in the 43rd minute, meeting a cross and nodding home a precise header.
Croatia responded quickly, leveling the score at 2-2 in the 60th minute, but Portugal secured the win with a late goal in the 78th minute by Rafael Cabral.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. currently plays on the junior team of Al-Nassr, where his father plays professionally.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. trained and played in the youth teams of Manchester United and Juventus. This helped develop and sharpen his football skills while growing up.
He also grew up under the influence of his famous father, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the best footballers in history.
Former English footballer Jamie Carragher has blamed West Ham’s struggles in the 2024/2025 season on Ghanaian forward Mohammed Kudus’ form slump.
According to him, the Ghanaian player’s stellar performance in the 2023/2024 campaign—scoring many goals in both the Premier League and the Europa League and providing several assists—aided his club in securing a good position compared to his current lackluster performance in this campaign.
The Sky Sports pundit stated that Kudus’ dip in form this season has played a pivotal role in West Ham’s poor campaign in the Premier League, which is worrying.
“Well, I see there’s no doubt he’s a quality player who should be playing for a team closer to the top of the table, not near the bottom. But probably one of the reasons why West Ham are where they are this season is because he hasn’t shown the form that he showed last season.
“Last season, he looked fantastic; he just hasn’t looked the same player this season,” he said while speaking on Sky Sports on May 18, 2025.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise if West Ham sells the player in the next transfer window, Carragher added, emphasizing that “West Ham need the money.”
According to Carragher, the 24-year-old star is on the radar of several top clubs, and his current form may be the opportunity for these clubs to make a swoop.
Top clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool have been reported to have interest in the Ghanaian striker.
“So, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a change there in some way, because, as you said, West Ham needs the money. But other clubs might think this is an off-season for him.
“Last season was the real cue to say you can get that type of player; maybe it’s a good sign. So it might be the type of situation that maybe works for the two clubs,” he added.
The 24-year-old made a promising start to life in the Premier League following his switch from Ajax in 2023, contributing 14 goals and assists in his debut season.
However, his performances have dipped this campaign, with only four goals and two assists in 29 league appearances.
West Ham has had quite a challenging season, with 40 points from 37 matches. Currently they sit at 15th position on the Premier League table. Their record includes 10 wins, 10 draws, and 17 losses, with a goal difference of -18.
Recent performances have been inconsistent, with a mix of draws, losses, and a crucial win against Manchester United. Their struggles have been attributed to weak defense. They have conceded 61 goals in all while scoring 43.
The team in their last campaign finished 9th in the Premier League with stellar performance from Kudus who scored nine goals and provided six assists however, there has been a decline in form on the part of both club and player, which has seen them struggle in this season.
Ghanaian media personality and entertainment pundit Sally Mann has cautioned Afrobeat singer and 2024/2025 TGMA artiste of the Year, King Promise, to desist from picking up any “silent fight” with reggae and dancehall artist Stonebwoy or prepare himself for the collapse of his career.
She advised King Promise to “know his lane and stay there” and ignore the advice of people trying to influence his “loverboy” personality to a ‘street one’, warning that any attempt to disrespect the ‘street king’, Stonebwoy, could cause the premature end of his career.
“King Promise, you are young. We saw you come up with your Mr. Loverboy vibes—licking your lips, playing with your flap, saying you like sexy girls—while our ladies drooled over you. But now, it seems the people around you, your entourage, are beginning to influence you, shifting you from being the darling boy to stepping out into the streets.
Those around you, the ones influencing you to disrespect Stonebwoy by telling you that you’re a superstar and he’s not—take this advice from me, Sally Mann, Mamaga with the four eyes: your career will soon see its end if you try Bhim,” she warned.
She issued this caution during her Showtym show on Adom TV on Saturday, May 17, following King Promise’s failure to respond to Stonebwoy’s congratulatory message on X (formerly Twitter), which many interpreted as a sign of disrespect.
King Promise also refused to comment on it when he was asked about it during an appearance on Hitz FM.
She went on to advise King Promise to stay true to his brand, emphasizing the dominance and superiority of Stonebwoy’s brand over his and the need for him to respect that.
She said, “Bortey! I’m calling your name. With a name like that, it’s expected that you should have some sense. Don’t let anyone push you to believe you are in the same league with Stonebwoy because he has won an award that you craved for and lobbied to win.
“You are not a bigger superstar than Stonebwoy. So stay in your Loverboy lane and let Stonebwoy reign in the streets. You have no business competing in the reggae and dancehall genre—it has nothing to do with you as an Afrobeats singer,” she added.
Sally Mann’s word of caution has stirred up reactions, with netizens slamming and questioning her.
Adom TV's ShowTym host, MamaGa, issues a warning to King Promise following his TGMA victory over Stonebwoy. pic.twitter.com/Nu13ssZ6Ql
Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has once again flaunted his wealth as he revealed that the diamonds encrusted on his teeth are worth millions of dollars.
In a video making trends online, the ‘Assurance’ hitmaker is captured casually displaying a diamond tooth embellishment and a diamond necklace, which he claims are worth $500,000 and $2 million, respectively.
This display of luxury and extravagance has garnered mixed reactions online. While some gushed over his wealth, others have also slammed him, questioning the essence of his luxurious lifestyle and such extravagant purchases. But for Davido, this is nothing new.
Davido is widely known for his extravagant lifestyle and frequent displays of wealth. He has consistently showcased his luxury possessions, including high-end cars, private jets, and customized jewelry made from both gold and diamonds.
He not only showers himself with luxury gifts and accessories but also does the same for his wife, Chioma Rolands Adeleke.
During his wife’s 30th birthday, Davido gifted Chioma a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon AMG G63 worth about $300,000.
In addition to the car, Davido also gifted Chioma an iced-out diamond bracelet, which he placed on her wrist during the party. The bracelet is also reported to be worth £52,000.
The singer, currently enjoying success with his latest release, 5ive, has never been one to shy away from the finer things in life.
The manager of Ghanaian highlife icon Dada Kweku Duah, affectionately known as Dada KD, has shed light on the painful circumstances leading to the death of the legend.
News of Dada KD’s passing came on Friday, May 16, with reports of his suffering a short illness that claimed his life.
However, further revelations from his manager, Clarence Kenneth Ekow Peterson, known in showbiz circles as King Pee, suggest that Dada KD could have survived if he hadn’t been turned away by three health facilities due to absent doctors.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM morning news, King Pee mentioned that the facility in which Dada KD lost his life was the fourth after attempts to seek medical care from the first three failed.
Although King Pee did not mention these hospitals, he noted that Dada KD was eventually admitted to a facility in Gbawe.
Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead shortly after a doctor attended to him upon arrival.
Asked whether the late musician suffered any sickness, King Pee noted that he complained of mild malaria symptoms earlier in the day but remained relatively stable.
His condition, however, worsened unexpectedly, prompting an urgent rush to nearby hospitals.
“We did everything we could. He was strong in the morning, but things changed so quickly. Sadly, he couldn’t survive,” King Pee told Baffour Owiredu Amoh.
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.
The veteran musician is best known for timeless hits like Fatia Fata, Dada Tekyere Ma, Ene Menye, Wosuro a Wondi, and Honey Love. His legacy as a Highlife icon continues to inspire generations.
He is said to have died around 4:00 PM on Friday, May 16,while on oxygen support. He was 56.
Meanwhile, the exact cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed by medical authorities.
Tributes have already begun pouring in from across the creative industry, with fans and fellow musicians expressing shock and grief over the sudden loss.
Head of Public Events and Communications at Charterhouse Productions Ltd., Robert Klah, has apologised to Ghanaian content creator and TV show host at Onua TV, Felicia Osei, over the ticketing issues she encountered during the just-ended 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
“So, sorry to her for whatever embarrassment she may have faced,” he said during a media appearance.
His apology comes after Felicia took to social media to complain about being denied entry into the auditorium because her ticket had been flagged as already used.
During his interview with Daybreak Hitz’s DJ Slimon Robert, he explained that Felicia wasn’t the only one who suffered such a fate, but several other attendees encountered the same challenge.
He noted that there are about three reasons behind the mishap, including system errors among other things; however, he assured that his outfit would address it to avoid future occurrences.
“..it’s one of three things. For us, there is a need to investigate and understand what it is so that we are clear on how to move forward without having an issue. So, apologies to her if she felt any embarrassment, but these are the realities on the ground—it could be any of the three things I’ve mentioned.”
“That’s why I’m giving you the various scenarios, because there were people who came and were giving out their tickets,” he stated.
He added that whenever a ticket is scanned, a face is captured next to it. So, anyone else trying to use the same ticket will not be allowed into the venue.
Robert Klah concluded by apologizing to Felicia Osei for the bad experience she went through and promised the organizers would meet with their vendors to determine what exactly went wrong.
The company is committed to investigating the matter and improving its processes to prevent similar issues in the future.
Among other attendees who faced ticketing issues was gospel artist Joe Mettle, whose ticket was flagged as already used; hence, he was denied entry upon his first attempt.
However, after attempts to resolve it, the event staff admitted that it was due to a network error. His manager had to pick up his two awards for him due to the late entry.
FIFA held a mournful minute of silence in honour of two prominent figures in Ghanaian football during the 75th FIFA Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, on May 15.
Among these distinguished figures are legendary footballer Wilberforce Mfum and avid supporter Francis Yaw Frimpong, widely known as Nana Pooley.
Who is Wilberforce Mfum?
Wilberforce Mfum was a renowned Ghanaian footballer who made his mark in football history.
He died on May 11 at 88. The celebrated Ghanaian striker played a key role in the Black Stars’ historic 1963 Africa Cup of Nations triumph. Born on August 28, 1936, Mfum scored crucial goals in that tournament, including in the final.
He scored 20 goals in 26 appearances for the national team and represented Ghana at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. And on the club level, he played for both Asante Kotoko and Swedru All Blacks, as well as American sides Baltimore Bays and New York Cosmos.
About Nana Pooley
Nana Pooley was an ardent supporter of Asante Kotoko and was a member of the club’s Supporters’ Communication Team. He was stabbed to death on February 2, 2025, during a Ghana Premier League match against Nsoatreman FC at Nana Kronmansah Park in Nsoatre.
His death awakened calls for the urgent need to crack down on vandalism and violence in Ghanaian football.
Their dedication and service to Ghanaian football were recognised on the global stage as FIFA delegates observed a moment of silence in their memory.
Ghanaian gospel musician Joe Mettle has revealed plans to pull out from future nominations for the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs).
His decision stems from the demands of the awards process, which he believes sometimes an artist may not be ready for due to other equally important engagements.
“I think I do [have intentions to retire from the awards]. There are things the awards require that sometimes you’re not able to do. Because once you’re nominated, you need to push it, and sometimes a lot is going on. Sometimes it gets to a point where so much is happening around you that you can’t fully commit to the requirements,” he stated.
Joe Mettle added that thoughts of stepping back from the award scheme have been lingering for the past 3-4 years. However, he clarified that his decision is not coming from a place of pride or arrogance, as many would assume.
“For the past three or four years, I’ve wanted to take a step back from the awards. And it’s not because I think I’ve outgrown them, no, it’s not that,” he said.
He continued that, on most occasions, artists who don’t actively promote their nominations are not arrogant; that is often a misunderstanding.
In the media, they might think you’re acting ‘big,’ but it’s not the case. Most of those are assumptions,” he explained.
The “Onwanwani” singer further shared that an artist’s career goes through different seasons, and there are times when one’s focus naturally shifts, making full participation in award-related activities challenging.
“There are seasons. A time comes when you realize you can’t commit to the awards like you used to. But it’s not because you’ve outgrown them,” he added.
Despite his reflections on stepping back, Joe Mettle had a successful night at the 2025 TGMAs, taking home two awards: Best Gospel Artiste of the Year and Best Male Vocal Performance for his song “Obo Awan Oba.”
He was unable to show up for his two awards due to issues he encountered with his ticketing.
Upon his arrival at the event’s grounds, he was prevented from entry as organisers cited that his ticket had already been used; however, after attempts to resolve it, the event staff confirmed it was a network error, hence granting him entry.
Joe mettle is a celeberated Ghanaian gospel singer and songwriter known for his worship music that has tourched many lifes across Africa and beyond.
He has gained widespread recognition with hit songs like “My Everything,” “Onwanwani,” and Bo Noo Ni” which have become staples in many church worship sessions.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged a team of young Ghanaian creatives to return to the country after their cultural exchange tour in Poland.
Speaking during a courtesy call at the Ministry in Accra on May 15, the minister applauded Ghana’s Photographic Tourism Ambassador, Thomas Fynn for opening doors for young creatives, particularly photographers.
She, however, cautioned them to return following their program as their refusal to do so would jeopardise other creatives’ chances.
“I hope this opens more doors. Travel well, represent Ghana with pride, and return to share your experiences. If you don’t come back, you block the opportunity for others,” she said.
“Mr Fynn has always been committed to supporting the next generation. When he approached the ministry about this project, I saw it as a way to highlight photography, which doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.
The team’s departure marks the start of the Ghana-Poland Photographic Collaboration — a cultural project led by Polish photographer Mr. Wojciech Zaremba in partnership with Fynn.
The project will feature photo exhibitions and cultural activities in Poland, using photography to tell stories and promote cultural exchange.
Three young Ghanaian photographers are part of the team: Mary Ama Odurowaa Sarkodie, Theophilus Seth Opoku, and Ernestina Fynn.
Their involvement shows Ghana’s commitment to supporting young people and building global partnerships in the arts.
The project is being organized by The Kownketsia Foundation and FYNNexhibits Limited, with support from the Ministry.
Popular Ghanaian highlife musician Nana Kwaku Duah, popularly known as Dada KD, has passed away.
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.
Circumstances leading to his death are yet to be made public; however, his close friend, Accra FM’s mid-morning show host Nana Romeo, mentioned that a day before his passing, he had accompanied Dada KD to the UK embassy to start his visa process, after which the legend was very excited.
However, on the morning of May 16, the day set for the finalisation, of his UK visa process, Dada KD’s manager walked in on him, and he was struggling to speak.
He was quickly rushed to Gbawe Government Hospital, but after a few hours under medical care, doctors pronounced him dead.
His death has come as a huge blow to Ghanaians and many others beyond the region.
On social media, fans and fellow musicians have begun pouring in tributes. Gospel singer Empress Gifty posted, “Dada KD,” in a heartfelt tribute.
Dada KD’s most memorable songs include Fatia Fata Nkrumah, Tekyere Ma, Ene Menye, Wosuro a Wondi, and Honey Love. His legacy as a Highlife icon continues to inspire generations.
President John Mahama has announced the return of Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to Ghana by the end of next week.
This comes after the vice president took ill and had to travel abroad to seek further medical care.
Speaking during his ‘Thank You Tour’ at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, May 16, President Mahama revealed that Professor Jane has fully recovered and will return to her duties next week.
“I’m happy to state that I spoke to her yesterday morning, and she will be back in the country before the end of next week. By God’s grace, she is fully recovered, and she’s going to come and go back to her duties,” he said.
President John Mahama visited Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang abroad on May 12, during her medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
His visit coincided with Mother’s Day, where he shared a tribute reassuring Ghanaians of her recovery.
Why did Naana travel abroad?
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was reported to have suffered a sudden illness on Friday, March 28, 2025, and sought medical attention at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) the following day.
She was advised to take rest, after which she took a three-week medical leave on April 7, 2025. The presidency later announced that she had travelled abroad for further treatment as a precautionary measure to ensure a full recovery.
Though she was expected to spend 21 days off duty, she has been away for the past 49 days since she fell ill. Her return would be a major boost for the presidency.
On the other hand, during the president’s travel abroad to visit Naana during her treatment, the Minority caucus in Parliament made calls for the selection of a leader, citing Article 60 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that the Speaker of Parliament be sworn in as Acting President when both the President and Vice President are absent.
Speaker Alban Bagbin was also reported to be out of the country, leaving Ghana without a formal head — a situation the Minority insists breaches the Constitution.
Liverpool are ready to settle the release clause of Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, which is approximately 35 million euros (£29.5 million), as they close in on their first summer signing.
Talks regarding his move to Liverpool have already progressed as Arne Slot is reportedly interested in the German lad who plays across the right-hand side, for next season’s campaign.
If Arne Slot’s side can pull off a successful swoop, the 24-year-old Dutchman would help mitigate the blow of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid next season as he joins the Spanish giants on a free transfer.
Jeremie who started of at Man City’s youth academy where he gained impressive skills which landed him a four year contract with Celtic.
His performances, including a goal against Aberdeen and a key role in Celtic’s Scottish League Cup Final victory, attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
He has made 53 appearances in all competitions for club and country this season, with 5 goals to his name and played a pivotal role in helping Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2024.
Frimpong’s former club Celtic would be due a portion of any transfer fee Leverkusen receive, with some reports suggesting the sell-on fee negotiated when he left the club in 2021 could be as high as 30%.
Chelsea’s star Cole Palmer has tipped Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal as the best player in football at the moment, citing his current form and performance.
He said Yamal’s confidence and exceptional dribbling skills make him exciting to watch. For him, he does it way better than some mature players who may be labelled as the best in the game.
With the Spanish prodigy’s current performance and skills, Palmer believes that the 17-year-old is the world’s best currently.
“I think he’s the best player in the world, to be honest. I feel like everything they do goes through him. When you watch him, he’s incredible.
“You can tell from the way he’s confident, he’s got no fear, and I love watching him,” he said.
Many would say the 2024/2025 season has been Yamal’s best yet, as he has delivered brilliant performances.
He has scored 8 goals in 33 games with 13 assists. In the UEFA Champions League, he played 13 games, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
His stellar performance helped his team win the 2024/2025 La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup, although they were unfortunately eliminated in the semi-final stage of the Champions League.
Some pundits and former footballers believe he is a potential contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) has once again emerged as the highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year, according to Forbes’ recent ranking.
NBA star Stephen Curry has taken Lionel Messi’s position as the second highest paid, falling four places behind his rival.
Curry, the Golden State Warriors guard who became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March, recorded $156 million (approximately £117 million) in income.
Forbes says Ronaldo has been on the list five times in his career and has since increased his estimated total earnings by $15 million, reaching $275 million (about £206 million).
Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings have increased following his juicy contract with Al-Nassr and partnerships with Nike, Binance, and Clear, as well as his brand and huge social media following.
The only sportsman that has surpassed the Al-Nassr star is former world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $300 million in 2015 (then £194 million) and $275 million in 2018 (then £205 million).
Tyson Fury moved to third place on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list, replacing Dak Prescott, the American football quarterback. Prescott, who was previously ranked third, has now dropped to fourth place, earning $137 million in 2025.
Fury was the beneficiary of a Netflix reality television show and a partnership with Maltese tourism.
A car crash during the derby match between Espanyol and Barcelona has left thirteen people injured.
A crowd of fans had gathered outside the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà on Thursday, May 15, when a car ran into them while they stood cheering and waiting for the arrival of their team’s buses.
Ten ambulances were sent to the scene. The most severe injury reported was a broken leg.
According to the police in Barcelona, no fatalities were recorded, but four people who needed medical attention were taken to the hospital.
Fortunately, none of the affected people who were sent to the hospital, according to the police, are in a serious condition.
The crash delayed the match for several minutes in the initial stages of the game while the referee was being informed by the police.
The police revealed that the incident did not present any danger to the crowd inside the stadium.
The driver of the car was arrested on charges of suspicion of dangerous driving and causing injury.
Per videos making waves on social media, the car had stopped between some bins outside the stadium and was surrounded by fans until it later sped into the crowd.
“It was an accident, some people were injured, but not seriously. There are no major incidents to report,” Salvador Illa, the president of the Government of Catalonia, who was present at the match, told Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus.
UEFA delegates, led by President Aleksander Ceferin staged a walkout in protest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s late arrival for the world governing body’s congress in Paraguay.
Mr Gianni Infantino joined President of the United States Donald Trump on his 4-day tour of the Middle East, which started on May 12, and lasted four days, concluding on May 15.
Gianni Infantino went with Trump to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on May 12 and May 14, respectively.
In Qatar, they both attended a state dinner at Lusail Palace hosted by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where the FIFA president joined in discussions about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Consequently, he was two hours and 17 minutes late for the FIFA event which was scheduled to start at 10:30 (14:30 BST).
In reaction to this, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, in a statement, slammed Infantino for prioritising “private political interests” over what he describes as “one of the most important meetings in world football”.
“The Fifa congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world’s game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world,” said European football’s governing body.
“To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.
We are all in post to serve football, from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the Fifa council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Aleksander Ceferin, alongside European FIFA Council members such as Razvan Burleanu, Pascal Van Damme, Bernd Neuendorf, Debbie Hewitt, Sandor Csanyi, Dejan Savicevic, and Georgios Koumas, walked out during a break.
It meant there were empty seats at the Conmebol Convention Centre in Luque, on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion, when the meeting resumed.
Uefa said in a statement the “last-minute changes” to the timings were “deeply regrettable” but “a point” had to be made.
Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness added: “The annual congress is the single most important body to ensure good governance of international football.”
“The situation is concerning. Member associations have travelled from all over the world to participate at this congress here in Paraguay, expecting professional leadership and dialogue at the highest level.”
A number of delegates from Concacaf – the North America, Central America and Caribbean confederation – also decided to leave the congress early.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom tried to defuse the tensions and said: “FIFA has an excellent relationship with UEFA and also with the European members.”
“The president explained the reasons why he was delayed. He had important matters to deal with, and we have had a great congress here.”
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has volunteered to pay for the tickets of thirty(30)of his backroom staff to take their families to next week’s Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain.
This comes after the club management informed him that his coaches, physios, and support team would have to pay for their tickets.
Amorim informed the club hierarchy that he would cover the cost himself to help his backroom staff travel with at least two friends or family members to the game.
“It’s complicated for the club to stop giving (tickets) to all the members of staff, it’s a hard position, then that situation was explained and in that moment, my reaction was to help. Because it’s not going to…I’m not a good guy, and it’s not going to change my life.(sic) And I had to help the staff to be comfortable and be better staff at the final,” he said.
The reaction of the players, according to Amorim, was no different from his; they were just not happy about the new directive on staff ticketing and travel expenses. Players have been allotted only two tickets each, with family and friends expected to cover their travel costs.
“Then they talked to the players, and the players had the same reaction. All the players had the same reaction at the same moment. Everybody has the staff there and same as their families. But it’s hard to manage things in our club, so it’s simple,” he said.
However, sources claim that United have taken the stand in order to ensure that supporters are able to purchase as many tickets as possible from the club’s 15,000 allocation for the game at Estadio San Mamés.
Manchester United is set to play against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on May 21, and the winning team will not only earn a trophy but also secure their spot in the Champions League next season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s part ownership of the club has followed several budget alterations, including 250 job cuts last year in February and the cancellation of the club’s Christmas party, as well as the cancellation of free staff meals and free meals during training sessions.
The board is also considering more axing, as about 200 people risk losing their jobs at Old Trafford this summer, and has made two tickets for Bilbao available for staff to purchase rather than fund a complimentary trip to the final.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on the other announced that it would have 600 staff sponsored to attend their game against Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
Households and businesses are at risk of a relatively significant intermittent power outage in the coming days, as the country has less than three days’ worth of fuel to keep its power plants running.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, announced a looming power crisis while revealing Karpowership’s plant shutdown within the next 48 hours owing to debt o,wed by the government.
“As I sit here, my next headache is how to get the next parcel of liquid fuel. The fuel we have would take us 2.6 days. We’ve placed an order for fuel, but it has to be paid. We’ve procured some fuel on credit and we are working with the Minister of Finance to pay, but the truth is that the Ministry of Finance also has its limit, and so we would be going to Cabinet to discuss how we can improve on the sector…” he said during a press engagement yesterday, May 15.
In light of this, Mr Jinapor reiterated calls for private sector participation to help stabilise Ghana’s struggling energy sector, though acknowledging that “ it doesn’t entirely solve the problem.”
“..it takes us to another level because if the collections are reduced from 40% to say, 5%, it means they will be collecting more.”
Ghana will this year spend over $1 billion on expensive liquid fuels to power the plants — a burden on the economy and on ordinary citizens, according to the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
The Energy Minister and Finance Minister on Thursday met with key sector leaders from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Volta River Authority (VRA), the Energy Commission, GRIDCo, and other stakeholders yesterday to deliberate on effective and sustainable solutions to strengthen Ghana’s power sector.
Following the meeting, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been directed by the sector minister to make provisions in their budget to cover their electricity bills.
This forms part of the government’s efforts to ease the sole financial burden on the government and promote efficient and accountable power consumption at the local government level.
“The Cabinet has also adopted a position, and we will brief you, chairman, that all MMDAS are supposed to pay for their electricity bills. They have to budget for it.”
However, critical sectors and institutions such as the health and education sectors, as well as security agencies and the presidency, will have their consumption settled by the government.
The sector minister, however, noted that “if you take the health sector, it’s the theatres, laboratories, the wards that would be exempted. If you take the educational institutions, dorms aren’t part, restaurants aren’t part. Only lecture theaters, so we have classified that, and the cabinet is granting approval and will publish that.”
Thursday’s meeting concluded with a strong, collective commitment to take decisive and coordinated action to stabilise the sector, enhance operational efficiency, and support ongoing reforms under the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP). Key among these actions is the prioritisation of sustainable financial strategies and policy interventions to ensure a reliable, affordable electricity supply while safeguarding the broader economy.
Ghana and Kapowership deal
This is not the first time Karpowership has warned the government of a shutdown over its debt. In January this year, the company warned of a shutdown over a $270 million debt owed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Additionally, in March, Karpowership issued another warning over a $379 million debt, raising concerns about a potential power crisis.
This prompted an urgent meeting between Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and Karpowership officials to negotiate a resolution; however, it appears the discussions ended without a definitive agreement.
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 energy sector crisis
In March this year, Mr Jinapor announced the government’s plans to construct a second gas processing plant to augment the shortfall and increase supply security.
Minister for Energy & Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor and Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on Monday afternoon, inaugurated the Implementation Committee for Ghana’s Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP II).
The finance minister noted 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.”
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has issued a 4-week timeline to the Implementation Committee for Ghana’s Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP II) to finalise their implementation plan.
The government is set to borrow GH¢6.68 billion through the issuance of 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day Treasury bills tomorrow, May 16, 2025.
The money is said to be used to cover a growing debt of GH¢6.44 billion.
Despite the cedi’s impressive performance against the dollar in the past days, the government has failed to meet its treasury bills target for two consecutive weeks.
The Bank of Ghana reported that the Treasury recorded a marginal undersubscription in the T-bills auction held on May 9 due to declining investor interest and falling interest rates.
The 91-day and 182-day bills eased 7.0 basis points each to 15.16% and 15.70%, respectively, while the 364-day fell 15 basis points to 16.80% week-on-week.
Analysts believe the Treasury’s full acceptance of bids reflects alignment with market appetite rather than heightened borrowing urgency.
As of May 2025, Ghana’s total public debt stands at GH₵620 billion, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 82%, reflecting the country’s heavy borrowing burden, which has necessitated the government’s reliance on treasury bills (T-bills) to meet short-term financing needs.
Health authorities have confirmed two new cases of Mpox in the Accra Metropolitan Area of the Greater Accra Region.
As a result, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has ordered all regional health directors to reactivate their public health emergency operations centres.
GHS also urged health directors to enhance surveillance, risk communication, and case management efforts nationwide.
According to health officials, the two cases are unrelated and were both identified at a health facility.
The last case of Mpox was recorded in November 2024, with no cases reported in the past four months until the two new cases were confirmed yesterday.
Meanwhile, the patients are being watched closely. And to prevent further spread, contact tracing has already begun.
Mpox in Ghana
Ghana recorded the first Mpox case in June 2022, with five cases and by November 2023, health authorities had confirmed a total of 34 cases.
Despite the increase in cases, Ghana has not recorded any Mpox-related deaths.
In response to this, the Director-General of GHS in a secular called for a fresh response to the threat to prevent it from worsening.
Mpox is a viral illness similar to smallpox. It typically causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash. The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person’s skin or bodily fluids, including through sexual contact. Symptoms may include fever, rash or lesions, tiredness, headaches, muscle and back pain, and swollen glands.
Across Africa, the disease remains a major concern. As of March 2025, more than 24,200 cases and around 260 deaths have been recorded in 22 countries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been hardest hit, accounting for a large share of both the cases and the fatalities.
Chelsea has confirmed that Enzo Maresca will continue leading the team into next season despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s qualification for the Champions League.
According to sources, the club’s management team, led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have decided to keep Maresca till summer next season to make a judgment on his future.
They do not want to make a decision based on his performance this season.
Chelsea currently ranks fifth on the Premier League table, with just two rounds left in the Champions League but they are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, with matches at home to Manchester United and away at seventh-placed Nottingham Forest to come.
The qualification of the club for the Champions League would depend on the team’s performance in the upcoming match in the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis on May 28 and their remaining Premier League matches.
The top five from the top flight will qualify for the Champions League, with the Premier League benefiting from an extra place because of its teams’ strong performances in Europe.
Meanwhile, though the club’s finishing hasn’t been the best, there have been several chances they have created under Maresca’s leadership.
He joined the club on a five-year contract in July last year. Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea’s head coach.
Though the club showed promising sings in the early stages of his arrival, they later saw a ditch in form in December recording just a win in seven matches at a point.
A 9-year-old girl is in a serious condition after a tree fell on her and two others in a residence at Buduburam in the Central Region.
They are currently receiving treatment at St. Gregory Hospital.
The youngster suffered from the fall together with a pregnant woman and two other who were sitting under the tree and getting some air within their compound.
Apart from the 9-year-old who is currently in a critical condition, the exopectant mother and the other two victims, are reported to be in a stable condition at the same hospital.
Giving a detailed account of the situation, a co-tenant Francisca Mawuko recounted that they were all seated under the tree when it unexpectedly came crashing down. While most of the residents managed to flee, the pregnant woman and the two children were unable to escape in time.
“All of them are currently receiving treatment at St. Gregory Hospital,” Mawuko confirmed.
The Assembly Member for Gomoa Buduburam Electoral Area, Emmanuel Dogbey, revealed that due to the severity of the 9-year-old girl’s condition, arrangements are being made to transfer her to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital for further care.
The presidency has announced today May 15 as the set date for the five-member committee established by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate three petitions filed against Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to begin its hearings.
This was communicated in a statement signed by Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu .
According to him, the committee Chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, was formed in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution after a prima facie case was determined and also in consultation with the Council of State.
the committee will sit three times a week and will submit its findings and recommendations to the President upon completing its work.
The outcome of the hearings is expected to play a crucial role in determining the future of the Chief Justice amid growing public and institutional interest in the case.
Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has revealed that the establishment of Sports Fund is almost complete.
This fund is expected to deal with last-minute financial interventions by government and create a sustainable funding model for sports development.
“The Ministry has engaged with many of you on the matter of a sports fund, and we are inching closer to getting that really done,” Kofi said.
Kofi Adams made the revelation during a meeting with members of the Ghana Olympic Committee on Tuesday, May 13 at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation headquarters in Accra.
He emphasized that the initiative would help move beyond symbolic encouragement to provide tangible financial assistance.
“When it is done, it will reduce situations where we only offer spiritual backing without the necessary financial support.”
“[With the Sports Fund] We back you spiritually, and we back you with what it takes to participate,” he added.
On several occassions some sports federations in Ghana have faced major setbacks such as withdrawing from key international competitions due to funding challenges.
He acknowledged these challenges but and expressed optimism in the potency of the fund to address them all.
The Sports Fund was first publicly mentioned by Kofi Adams, Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, during his vetting process on February 11, 2025.
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been put in an induced after suffering a severe injury to his abdomen.
He collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday, May 12, as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.
Awoniyi’s collision with the post ruptured his intestine which required urgent surgery.
To expedite healing and prevent post surgery complications the player has been put into a coma. This approach helps restrict movement, regulate heart rate, and reduce stress on the body, allowing for a smoother healing process.
He has already gone through the first phase of surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital, awaiting a second surgery set for Wednesday.
However, the club on Tuesday, May 14 announced in a statementthat Awoniyi was “recovering well” following the operation.
Parts of the statement also acknowledged the hazards associated with the game.
“…a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first”.
Awoniyi, a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare on Sunday, received lengthy treatment on the pitch.
Elanga was in an offside position when he collected the ball but the assistant referee did not raise their flag until after Awoniyi’s collision.
When an immediate goalscoring opportunity is likely to occur, assistant referees are told to keep their flag down until the passage of play is complete.
If a goal is scored, the incident can then be reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Although this allows goals to be scored, critics say the protocol needlessly endangers players.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis took to the field after the game to express his concern to manager Nuno Espirito Santo over how Awoniyi’s injury was handled.
Marinakis is being kept updated on the forward’s condition.
Former Ghana striker Augustine Ahinful has made recommendations to deal with the decay and corruption that have eaten into the fabric of Ghana football.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Ahinful urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to scrap the practice of appointing club coaches to manage national teams simultaneously.
He believes that coaches playing this couple are likely to be distracted and often face a conflict of interest, particularly during the scouting of players for the national teams.
“National team coaches must not be allowed to coach club sides. If we allow that, I am sorry to say that corruption will rise in our game
If a coach is handling a club side and he is tasked to announce a squad, how will he be able to go around and scout for the right players?”
To deal with this, the former striker called on the government and the GFA to employ coaches who manage only one team—either at the national or club level.
“This system will not work, and so the government and the GFA must work on this to solve the situation. The GFA must be able to employ coaches and pay them every month as they work for the various national teams, but the system where a coach is coaching a club and will have to leave his team and come to a national team camp is not the best,” Ahinful added.
Meanwhile, corruption in Ghana football has been a long-standing issue with allegations of bribery, match fixing, embezzlement of funds and several other mismanagement affecting the sport.
Nations FC striker Emmanuel Annor has openly condemned the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over a GHS500 fine for displaying a religious message during a Ghana Premier League match against Asante Kotoko on Sunday, April 20, at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese.
To celebrate his goal, he removed his jersey to reveal an inscription boldly written on his undershirt, which read: “I belong to Jesus.”
The move attracted disciplinary action from the GFA who ruled that the player’s action was a breach of football laws which bar the display of religious or political messages during matches.
In reaction to this, Annor took to social media to question why homosexuality is openly celebrated in football while players are not allowed to proclaim their religion.
“Why can football players celebrate LGBTQ+ sexuality but not their love for Christ?” he questioned.
He quoted Romans 14:8 in his post: “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Annor ended his post with a bold affirmation of his faith: “It’s the Kingdom’s work on the pitch!”
GFA has, however, warned that stricter punishment awaits him if he repeats the offence.
The GFA’s decision aligns with Law 4 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which states that players must not reveal undergarments with political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images.
This rule is enforced globally to maintain neutrality and professionalism in football.
Annor’s display of his inscription comes exactly 7 days after Cody Gakpo faced an FA reprimand after copying Kaka’s iconic ‘I belong to Jesus’ celebration during Liverpool’s win over Tottenham.
Ghanaian forwards Inaki Williams and Abdul Mumin have bagged nominations for the 2024/25 La Liga African Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Williams’ nomination this year, along with Abdul’s nomination, raises questions about the player’s ability to defend the award he won last season, following his stellar performance for Bilbao.
He scored twelve goals for his team last season. This season, he has played a pivotal role in the club’s position and pursuit of UEFA Champions League qualification. Bilbao currently ranks fourth on the league table with 64 points.
He has also scored six goals and given six assists in La Liga, playing a crucial role in Bilbao’s push for a Champions League spot.
He also played a key role in helping the team reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Central defender Mumin on the other hand, had an outstanding season with his club Rayo Vallecano before a knee injury sidelined him.
Mumin scored two goals in 24 league appearances, provided one assist, and contributed to six clean sheets which earned him the player of the Month award earlier in the season.
Inaki and Mumin make up 20 nominees from 13 African countries who are selected by fan voting from Sub-Saharan Africa and assessed by a panel of 25 African sports journalists.
Other contenders for the award include Reinildo Mandava and Flavien Enzo Boyomo. Voting closes on 14 May, with the winner set to be announced on 25 May, Africa Day.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has rebuffed claims of having trouble with Real Madrid.
He set the record straight at a press conference today, May 14, as Madrid gear up for the game against Mallorca later in the evening.
According to him, his exit from Madrid is nothing to make a big deal of, as everything in life has a day it ends, and his case with the club is no different.
He said, “I never had problems with Real and never will have problems with Real. It’s a club that lives dearly in my heart, but everything in life has a date to end.”
“I couldn’t be Madrid’s coach for the rest of my life. It comes to an end for many reasons. The club may need a new impetus. I’m not making a big deal out of it.”
Ancelotti added: “I’ve had a great time. We’ve won a lot and it will be a memory for life. The day I arrived [for the second time], if they told me I’d win 11 titles in four years, I’d sign it with my own blood. It’s been an unforgettable time.”
He expressed gratitude to the club for their support and added that he would always be a Madridista.
“A thousand thanks to this club. And we’ll carry on. I’ll always be a Madrid fan. It’s the end of an era. Spectacular. I never thought I’d coach Madrid for six years, and now it’s happened.”
On Madrid not issuing a statement, he added: “Madrid will release a statement whenever it wants. There is no problem whatsoever and they’ll do it when they deem it appropriate.”
During two spells with Real Madrid, Ancelotti has won 15 trophies, including three Champions League titles.
Last season, he led the club to a Champions League and La Liga double, but is set to finish this campaign without silverware.
Real Madrid exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals, lost the final of the Copa del Rey to Barcelona, and sit seven points behind Hansi Flick’s side in the league with three matches remaining.
Bayer Leverkusen manager and former Spain and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is set to take over at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his exit from the Spanish club.
He made this known at a news conference held ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Mallorca on May 14th.
The confirmation comes a few days after the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement announcing his appointment by the end of the season.
Ancelotti said, “If I didn’t have the press conference today, it would be fantastic. There are things I can’t explain right now because I’m in Madrid and I want to respect the shirt.”
“From 26 May onwards, I’ll be Brazil’s coach. It’s a very important challenge, but I want to finish the final stretch of this fantastic adventure here well”.
When asked if he has ever faced any issues with Real Madrid that led him to consider leaving, he clarified that he has never encountered and will never encounter any problems with the club, adding that the club may need fresh inspiration and drive.
He said that he cannot be the club’s coach for life.
“I never had problems with Real and never will have problems with Real. It’s a club that lives dearly in my heart, but everything in life has a date to end.
I couldn’t be Madrid’s coach for the rest of my life. It comes to an end for many reasons. The club may need a new impetus. I’m not making a big deal out of it,” he said.
He also clarified that the club would issue a statement on his departure at their own time, emphasising “There is no problem whatsoever and they’ll do it when they deem it appropriate.”
Ancelotti ended by expressing his gratitude to the club. “A thousand thanks to this club. And we’ll carry on. I’ll always be a Madrid fan. It’s the end of an era. Spectacular. I never thought I’d coach Madrid for six years, and now it’s happened.”
Reflecting on his time at Madrid, he said, “I always kept in mind that one day it ends. I’ve had a great time, and I think everyone has, but there comes a time when it ends. Football is like life; something begins and ends.”
“I’ve had a great time. We’ve won a lot, and it will be a memory for life. The day I arrived [for the second time], if they told me I’d win 11 titles in four years, I’d sign it with my blood. It’s been an unforgettable time.”
During two spells with Real Madrid, Ancelotti has won 15 trophies, including three Champions League titles.
Last season, he led them to a Champions League and La Liga double, but is set to finish this campaign without silverware.
Real Madrid exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals, lost the final of the Copa del Rey to Barcelona, and sit seven points behind Hansi Flick’s side in the league with three matches remaining.
The Railway Workers Union has commenced an industrial action over a 7-month unpaid arrears of 900 staff members if the Ghana Railway Company Limited fails to pay.
This comes after the group issued a statement on Monday May 12, giving authorities until close of Tuesday on May 13 to pay them or explain the reason for the delay in payment of their salaries.
During a media engagement, the Branch Secretary of the Accra division, Franklin Cobbinah, explained that the move has been necessitated as all efforts to engage government have proven futile citing that “…we learnt our management together with the union have been there but what comes out at the meeting we are told anything”.
Responding to concerns of issuing a short notice of their action to the government, Mr Cobbinah insisted that; “For us, it’s not short because we have waited for quite a long ; 7 months so when should we tell them to bring us our salary again? The time is now. That is why we gave them by the close of yesterday.”
“We started demanding this salary somewhere last year and we were told we are to wait till we get a sector minister so we continue from there. We are told there was no sector minister to talk about the Railway Ministry. We learnt our management together with the union and have been there but what comes out at the meeting we are told anything,” he added.
The Ministry of Railway Development, according to the Branch Secretary of the Accra division, visited for a headcount promising to settle their salaries right after May Day however no news of their settlement for the past twelve days.
“…the Ministry came to take particulars of ours and we were told just after May day we would receive our salaries and today is 13th (sic) we haven’t heard anything, nobody is telling us what is going on. So the only decision we the workers can take is to sit down and wait for the management to come and tell us why we haven’t been paid,” he added.
In response to the union’s strike, Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has issued a statement distancing itself from the industrial action by workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL). They said they have no connection to it and does not affect its operations.
“We wish to assure the public that the GRDA remains fully operational and has not initiated or endorsed any form of public demonstration on any issue,” the statement said.
President John Mahama has noted that there is a greater chance of Ghana discovering more oil and gas in the coming days.
The president made this information known during a speech at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme Oil and Renewable Energy – A Dual Bet for Ghana’s Future; a major platform for business leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss Africa’s economic future.
His comments come on the back of the decline in Ghana oil and gas production which he blames on the toxic environment created by the previous government leading to disinvestment and efficient production in Ghana’s energy sector.
But President Mahama has assured that his government is committed to restoring investor confidence, adding that revitalization works have already started as Eni, an Italian multinational energy company which had a long-running dispute with the government, has started drilling again.
He said; “Investor confidence has returned. New commitments are being made to produce more gas and oil. Eni are back and drilling again. Early signs indicate we may discover substantial quantities of oil and gas.”
President Mahama also added that other energy companies that cut ties with Ghana such Talos Energy Inc. (TALO) due to tax disputes with the previous government are currently being engaged to restore the company’s operations in Ghana.
He believes this could have been resolved amicably without legal tussles. The president said: “I think the environment got a bit toxic. I don’t know for what reason. The government didn’t seem to prioritise the sector,” he noted. “So there was a lot of disinvestment. They had constant squabbles with the oil investors. For instance, with Talos, there was a dispute over taxes. It was something they could have resolved. TALO went to arbitration and won before we came into office. We are now engaging with TALO to resolve the remaining issues. And that’s how it should be done.”
Former government’s dispute with oil company Eni and other energy companies
The erstwhile government had several disputes with investors and companies in the oil sector, primarily particularly due to contract disagreements, tax disputes and unsettled unitisation directives.
A case in point is the government’s seemingly forced merging of ENI Ghana and Springfield Exploration & Production Ltd in 2020. The move led to the battles and arbitration proceedings in 2024 leading to the company’s relocation of its expatriate management to Côte d’Ivoire.
Another termination of contract occurred in 2018 when government ended an agreement with Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC) following findings from a committee set up then and recommendations by the then Attorney General that suggested risk of government incurring a loss of about $115.48 million over the contract period.
About Ghana’s oil decline
Ghana’s crude oil production has declined for the fifth consecutive year, dropping to 48.25 million barrels in 2024 from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019, according to the latest annual report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
The report shows an average annual decline of 7.4% over the five years. Beyond declining production, PIAC’s 2024 report highlights major issues with petroleum revenue management.
It revealed that GNPC Explorco failed to pay US$145.68 million in oil lifting proceeds into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) in 2024. This brings the total unpaid revenues by JOHL and GNPC Explorco to US$488.79 million by the end of the year.
Despite GNPC’s insistence that these proceeds do not qualify as PHF payments, PIAC maintains they represent indirect State participation and must be paid into the fund.
Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) has issued a statement distancing itself from the industrial action by workers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL). They said they have no connection to it and does not affect its operations.
“We wish to assure the public that the GRDA remains fully operational and has not initiated or endorsed any form of public demonstration on any issue,” the statement said.
This comes after the Railway Workers Union announced an industrial action over a 7-month unpaid arrears of 900 staff members following Ghana Railway Company Limited’s failure to pay them.
According to GRDA’s statement dated Tuesday, May 13, 2025, it stated that they are independent of GRCL’s activities with distinct legal mandates.
“The GRDA and the GRCL are separate entities with distinct legal mandates. The GRDA was established under the Railways Act, 2008 (Act 779) to own, develop, maintain and regulate railway infrastructure in Ghana.
Since the coming into force of Act 779, the GRCL, a state-owned limited liability company, has focused mainly on operating railway services, including passenger and freight transport” parts of the statement noted.
Consequently, the Authority assured the public of its commitment to continue operations while focusing on key projects including the completion and “operationalisation of the newly constructed 97-kilometre Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line, supported by two new trains government has procured”.
The statement concluded by reiterating that, the activities of GRCL doesn’t affect assuring their staff’s dedication to advance “key projects and delivering efficient railway infrastructure for national development”.
President John Mahama has blamed the decline in Ghana’s oil production on the previous government’s ‘toxic’ policies.
He made these remarks during a panel discussion at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Côte d’Ivoire under the theme Oil and Renewable Energy – A Dual Bet for Ghana’s Future; a major platform for business leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss Africa’s economic future.
His comments come on the back of the decline in Ghana’s oil and gas production which he blames on the toxic environment created by the previous government leading to disinvestment and efficient production in Ghana’s energy sector.
He said “I think the environment got a bit toxic. I don’t know for what reason. The government didn’t seem to prioritise the sector,” he noted. “So there was a lot of disinvestment. They had constant squabbles with the oil investors. For instance, with Talos, there was a dispute over taxes. It was something they could have resolved. TALO went to arbitration and won before we came into office. We are now engaging with TALO to resolve the remaining issues. And that’s how it should be done.”
But President Mahama has assured that his government is committed to restoring investor confidence, adding that revitalization works have already started as Eni, an Italian multinational energy company which had a long-running dispute with the government, has started drilling again.
He said; “Investor confidence has returned. New commitments are being made to produce more gas and oil. Eni are back and drilling again. Early signs indicate we may discover substantial quantities of oil and gas.”
President Mahama also added that other energy companies that cut ties with Ghana such Talos Energy Inc. (TALO) due to tax disputes with the previous government are currently being engaged to restore the company’s operations in Ghana.
He believes this could have been resolved amicably without legal tussles. The president said: “I think the environment got a bit toxic. I don’t know for what reason. The government didn’t seem to prioritise the sector,” he noted. “So there was a lot of disinvestment. They had constant squabbles with the oil investors. For instance, with Talos, there was a dispute over taxes. It was something they could have resolved. TALO went to arbitration and won before we came into office. We are now engaging with TALO to resolve the remaining issues. And that’s how it should be done.”
Former government’s dispute with oil company Eni and other energy companies
The erstwhile government had several disputes with investors and companies in the oil sector, primarily particularly due to contract disagreements, tax disputes and unsettled unitisation directives.
A case in point is the government’s seemingly forced merging of ENI Ghana and Springfield Exploration & Production Ltd in 2020. The move led to the battles and arbitration proceedings in 2024 leading to the company’s relocation of its expatriate management to Côte d’Ivoire.
Another termination of contract occurred in 2018 when government ended an agreement with Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC) following findings from a committee set up then and recommendations by the then Attorney General that suggested risk of government incurring a loss of about $115.48 million over the contract period.
About Ghana’s oil decline
Ghana’s crude oil production has declined for the fifth consecutive year, dropping to 48.25 million barrels in 2024 from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019, according to the latest annual report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
The report shows an average annual decline of 7.4% over the five years. Beyond declining production, PIAC’s 2024 report highlights major issues with petroleum revenue management.
It revealed that GNPC Explorco failed to pay US$145.68 million in oil lifting proceeds into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) in 2024. This brings the total unpaid revenues by JOHL and GNPC Explorco to US$488.79 million by the end of the year.
Despite GNPC’s insistence that these proceeds do not qualify as PHF payments, PIAC maintains they represent indirect State participation and must be paid into the fund.
FIFA has unveiled the official emblem for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, marking a significant step as the tournament gears up for its first-ever 48-team participation.
The emblem cleverly features the iconic trophy silhouette carved into the “U” of “U-17”, symbolising a spotlight shining on the next generation of global football stars.
Slated for November 3 to 27, 2025, the tournament will feature 104 matches and promises to showcase young talents from around the world.
The design’s vibrant layers of colour represent unity, dynamism, and the global reach of football, with a brand identity that reflects both heritage and a bold vision for the future.
“This emblem captures the spirit of youth football and the promise of tomorrow’s stars. Qatar’s world-class infrastructure will offer a perfect stage for these players to shine,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström.
Qatar’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, expressed confidence in the country’s readiness to deliver.
“This is a proud next step in our continued investment in youth sport. We look forward to hosting the world once again,” he said during the event that was streamed on FIFA+ on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Germany, the reigning champions, will look to defend their title as the tournament prepares to welcome emerging stars who may follow in the footsteps of legends like Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Neymar.
The tournament draw takes place on May 25, 2025, in Doha and will be streamed live on FIFA+.
Ghana Winger Hakim Sulemana has expressed regret over the Black Satellites’ failure to qualify for the U-20 AFCON.
Sulemana, who was named Man of the Match for the second time in the tournament, acknowledged that the elimination was painful, especially since they had come back from a two-goal deficit.
“I think we came all out. It’s always hard when you are 2-0 down and then coming up. We gave all our hearts, and that’s where we wanted to get the win, but unfortunately, we didn’t have luck on our side. We tried our best, that’s what matters,” Sulemana said.
He added that the team’s primary goal was to qualify for the World Cup and ultimately challenge for the AFCON title.
“The aim was to qualify for the World Cup, and after qualifying, we get to win the trophy, but unfortunately, of course, we are not happy. We are out at the quarterfinals. We are not happy at all.”
On Monday, May 12, Ghana was eliminated following a 5-4 penalty shoot out loss to Egypt in the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The penalties follow a 2-2 score by both teams even after extra time. The North Africans emerged victorious after the shootout.
Ghana had been aiming to return to the U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2015. The next edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place later this year in Chile.
Founder and Head Pastor of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie, has prophesied that Ghana Black Stars will qualify for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and also reach the final of the tournament.
The clergyman, known for his controversial prophecies on national issues, in a Facebook post on May 12, stated that the Black Stars will triumph in a 2-0 clash against their first opponent in the tournament.
He insists that this was a divine revelation and not a personal opinion, emphasizing that the vision of the predicted victory came to him in the place of prayer.
“National prophecy… Black Stars of Ghana will qualify for the World Cup and play at the finals, prophetically! So shall it be, and nothing will or can change it. It is locked. I have been monitoring it spiritually; it is a done deal now,” he shared on his social media platform.
The performance of the players, he said, had no potency to alter their ‘already’ carved in stone’ victory.
“They can choose to play anyhow; it is locked; they will qualify. Screenshot it… Our first game at the World Cup, Ghana will win by two goals ahead of its opponent. My name is Nigel Gaisie; I am gifted to see ahead of time. Hate me or love me… I see, and I am extremely confident about that. Go Black Stars of Ghana.”
Currently, the Black Stars stand strong with 15 points from six matches as they rank first in their qualifying campaign.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo and his squad will play against Chad and Mali on matchdays 7 and 8, respectively, in September before concluding the qualifiers against the Central African Republic.
Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has explained that he has resigned as chairman of Ghana Beach Soccer, but hasn’t severed ties with them.
The move he said is to avoid conflict of interest.
“I have not stopped Ghana Beach Soccer, but I am not the chairman again because I cannot be the NSA boss at the same time. It’s to prevent conflict of interest,” he stated during an appearance on Accra FM’s Sports Nite Show,
Under Ankrah’s leadership beach soccer saw an andvancement as Ghana’s team, the Black Sharks, secured their AFCON qualification with a 5-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the second leg of their playoff in July 2024.
This win cemented a 10-5 aggregate score, ensuring their place in the 2024 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations held in Egypt.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) launched the Beach Soccer Premier League in April 2023, aiming to expand the sport’s reach.
The league had 14 clubs participating from regions including Greater Accra, Central, Volta, and Eastern.
Each particpating club was handed GH₵10,000 to aid preparations, with the league winner receiving GH₵15,000.
Private investigative firm Tiger Eye P.I. has responded to a new ruling regarding his its defamation case against former Assin-North MP Kennedy Agyapong.
The firm in a statement clarified that their legal tussle with the former MP was not for money but for vindication.
This comes after a U.S court ruling slashed the $18 million damages awarded Tiger Eye P.I by a jury to just $500, after labelling the initial amout as excessive.
However, upholding that Mr Agyapong had defamed the investigative firm.
“Today, the trial judge granted Kennedy Agyapong’s motion for remittitur and reduced the initial award to $500. This means that, while the judge held that Kennedy Agyapong had defamed me, in his reasoning, the award against Kennedy Agyapong by the jury was excessive” Tiger Eye P.I noted in parts of their statement.
Speaking in reaction to this, leader of the firm Anas Aremeya Anas emphasised that the goal of the suit was not the monetary outcome but for justice, truth and a vindication of their reputation.
“Many avenues of redemption accrue to me. But it is important to state, as I previously did, that this fight has not been about the money, but rather a fight for truth and justice.”
The group also pointed out that Mr Agyapong, despite being given full opportunity in court, failed to prove any of the claims he had made against them.
“I am happy that not a single allegation was proven against me in court when Kennedy Agyapong was given full opportunity to substantiate,” the statement read.
Ghanaians who plan to move to the UK on care worker visas are set to suffer a major setback as the UK announces a new immigration policy.
In a statement by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Sunday, May 11, she announced the government’s policy to crack down on the migration of low-skilled roles into their country.
The elimination of this visa category, she said, aligns with the government’s efforts to curb migration numbers.
The move will significantly impact thousands of foreign workers, particularly from Ghana and Nigeria, who currently use this route to secure jobs in the UK’s health and social care sector.
She told the BBC that these changes aim to cut annual migrant arrivals by approximately 50,000, though she refrained from setting a specific net migration target.
Net UK migration climbed to a record 906,000 in June 2023, and last year it stood at 728,000.
The UK’s net migration reached 906,000 in June 2023, with Ghanaian migrants making up a portion of this figure.
Since 2022, over 470 care providers have had their licence to sponsor international staff suspended, affecting thousands of Ghanaian workers
The Home Office has not yet officially confirmed what will be in its immigration White Paper, due early next week.
Per the BBC, applications for UK Health and Care Worker visas peaked at 18,300 in August 2023, then collapsed to 1,700 by April this year following the ban on bringing dependents.
And on 9 April, an additional restriction was added requiring care firms that want to recruit a new worker from overseas to prove they attempted to recruit a worker from within England first.
But the new rules will require care companies to recruit from domestic workers or a pool of over 10,000 care workers brought to the UK on visas for jobs that never materialized.
Member of Parliament for Walewale and a member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Kabiru Tia-Mahama, says the least punishment President Mahama can give acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi.
His comments follows the Gold Board boss’ feature in a viral video where he was captured gifting $2000 to dollar notes to controversial fetish priestess-turned-preacher, Nana Agradaa.
Given the current government’s position on discipline and good conduct on the part of government appointees, suspending Sammy Gyamfi would be a weak response from the Mahama led government.
“I think that’s the least that can happen to him,” he stated. “I think it’s the least, considering the gravity of what he has done.”
Meanwhile, the footage has sparked wide public outrage both within and outside the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with some party members such as Member of Parliament for Kumbungu callingh for disciplinary action against Sammy Gyamfi.
The Minority on the other hand have strongly slammed the CEO’s gesture as a violation of the Code of Conduct, the Forex Exchange Act, and the Currency Act.
They insist that Sammy Gyamfi cannot pretend to be ignorant of the law and the repurcussions of his actions; suggesting a full investigation into the source of the money in the video.
Sammy Gyamfi has apologised for his action stating that his intention was purely charitable citing he regrets the circulation of the video.
The NDC is yet to release an official statement on the matter.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to go his separate ways with the Spanish club at the end of the season to head Brazil’s national team.
His exit was confirmed in a statement on Monday, May 12, 2025, by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), noting that Ancelotti will take charge of the Seleção starting May 26.
“This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons — the only five-time Fifa World Cup champions, and a coach with an unmatched record across Europe’s elite competitions
The CBF warmly welcomes Mr Ancelotti and looks forward to a new era of success under his leadership”, the CBF said in the statement.
They also went ahead to thank Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, for “facilitating the coach’s release during his contract term.”
Ancelotti’s current deal with Real was set to expire in June 2026.
Ancelotti 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.
A football injury expert Ben Dinnery has cautioned Manchester City against forcing Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, back to the pitch as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
His warning follows Pep’s announcement of Rodri’s return to training though not vividly disclosing his comback before close of season despite being ruled out for the whole season. Rodri picked up a knee injury in Septemenber during clash with Arsenal.
He told Casino Apps: “We’ve seen Rodri working on the training pitch. Sometimes we have to take what Pep Guardiola says with a pinch of salt. He can be very elusive when responding about a player’s recovery, but if we look at the facts, is a return this season without risk?
Ben Dinnery is not in favour of Rodri’s seeming rush return warning of recuring injury.He said though Pep hasn’t stated the time for the 28-year-old player, he is wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodri return this season.
On his part the player is likely to pick up another injury if he is not allowed to recover fully.
He quizzed”What are Manchester City pushing for? “We’ve seen Rodri working on the training pitch. Sometimes we have to take what Pep Guardiola says with a pinch of salt. He can be very elusive when responding about a player’s recovery, but if we look at the facts, is a return this season without risk?
Data would tell you there is a possibility of reinjury and further setbacks when returning within the nine-month period thereafter; that said, players have returned in those timelines and been fine. You have to look at the risk and reward of the situation”.
The City talisman picked injury just 16 minutes into the game after a collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey. After the collision, he tried to continue playing however after some minutes he signaled the bench for a subsitution that he couldn’t carry on any longer.
Though the injury expect ruled out the possibility of the midfielder starting any remaining league games he could be listed for the FA Cup Final squad if Man City secure a top-four finish early.
“If they secure that top-four position with games to go, you can probably forget about him returning in them. You certainly cannot rule out his return to the matchday squad for the FA Cup Final, but do I see him starting? Probably not. The current City squad have gained a bit of form, the pressure for Pep to take a chance on Rodri has decreased, so it’s difficult to say. There’s a handful of games left, but could he be involved? Absolutely.”
Manchester United’s head coach Ruben Amorim has hinted of partying ways with the club if there’s no improvement in the team’s form from the end of this season into the next campaign.
His ‘cries’ follow the team’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham United at Old Trafford on Friday May 10, 2025.
“I’m talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to change that.It’s a decisive moment in the history of the club.
We need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave because we will not have a next season like this. If we start like this, if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different people” he fumed.
The just ended clash marks Man Utd’s ninth winless home league, equaling their worst-ever home record from the 1930–31 relegation campaign.
Amorim’s side have only beaten relegated duo Ipswich and Leicester in the league since 26 January and are on their joint worst winless run in the Premier League of seven games.
Consequently,he has expressed frustration at the team’s lack of urgency and the need to see there’s something wrong with losing a game at home.
If United no longer see themselves as a big club that should never lose at home, Amorim warned, that mindset is a “dangerous one”.
“If we are not scared of losing a game as Manchester United and don’t have that fear anymore, it is the most dangerous thing a big club can have.”
Amorim wants the club to embrak on a deeper reflection urging them to focus on other “big things” noting that
“Everybody here has to think seriously about a lot of things,” said Amorim. Everybody is thinking about the [Europa League] final. The final is not the issue. We have bigger things to think about”.
Man Utd currently sits 16th in the table with39 points with only Europa League final opponents Tottenham and the three relegated teams below them.
A position Amorim is embarrassing for him. The Portuguese knows regardless of whether United win or lose in Bilbao on 21 May, there has to be major surgery of the kind Ralf Rangnick spoke about during his spell as interim boss following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021, otherwise, he will be out of a job.
2025 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year, Mohamed Salah has admitted that there was “tension” between himself and Sadio Mane during the Senegalese stint at Liverpool.
Amid the tension, ‘the Egyptian King’ noted that they, however, “always respected each other”.
“Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” Salah said in an interview with France Football, via L’Equipe.
Addressing rumours of his relationship with the Al-Nassr forward, Salah revealed that, they weren’t very close, but they both delivered well to not affect the team.
“Mind you, we were professional until the end, I don’t think it affected the team. It’s human to want more, I understand that, he’s a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other,” he added.
He refuted rumours of being selfish on the pitch as far as Sadio was concerned, making reference to the record of his assists to the Senegalese forward.
“People can think what they want, it’s their right,” Salah said. “But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mané with the most assists is me (18). We can look at the facts, but it’s obviously easier to throw out phrases like that; it makes the headlines, I know how it works.
“As long as it remains within the limits of respect, that’s fine with me. But that doesn’t mean that this opinion is true. At the end of the day, I know what I did, and my conscience is clear.”
Questions about their relationship surfaced after Mane got upset and reacted angrily, slamming Salah’s decision to shoot instead of squaring the ball to him during Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Burnley in 2019.
Shortly after Mane’s display, he was substituted and was calmed by the other teammates and staff on the bench.
Liverpool signed Sadio Mane in 2016, with Salah joining a year later. They often played on either wing until Mane’s six-year stint, after which he left for Bayern Munich in 2022. Sadio scored 120 goals during his spell in Merseyside.
The duo’s pairing during Mane’s stay at Liverpool was a major source of ‘The Reds’ goals , often appearing in a front three alongside Roberto Firmino. Salah scored 19 goals and assisted 10 when Liverpool won the Premier League in 2020, while Mane scored 18 and assisted seven.
Also, the state of their relationship is partly blamed on the fact that they play for rival African nations. The most notable of their international clashes against one another came in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final, in which Mane’s Senegal triumphed 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
In Salah said during the 2017-18 season he and Mane were “very close,” adding, “we’re friends, we talk a lot to each other.”
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year.
Salah has enjoyed a stellar individual season, registering 33 goals and 23 assists in all competitions and playing a major role in Liverpool’s Premier League title win.
The Egypt international has started every league game for Arne Slot’s side this term and recently ended months of speculation over his future by signing a two-year contract extension at Anfield.
FWA Footballer of the Year top four Mohamed Salah won by the biggest margin this century, landing almost 90 per cent of all votes cast.
PLAYERs & their respective clubs
Mohamed Salah Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool
Alexander Isak Newcastle
Declan Rice Arsenal This is the third time Salah has won the award — which is voted for by hundreds of journalists across England — having previously been crowned Player of the Year in 2017-18 and 2021-22.
The 32-year-old saw off competition from teammates Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch, as well as the likes of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, to clinch this year’s prize.
About Salah
Mohamed Salah, born on June 15, 1992, in Nagrig, Egypt, is a professional footballer renowned for his speed, skill, and goal-scoring prowess. He plays as a forward for Liverpool FC and serves as the captain of the Egyptian national team.
Salah began his professional career with El Mokawloon in Egypt before moving to Europe, where he played for Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma. His move to Liverpool in 2017 marked a turning point, as he quickly became one of the Premier League’s most prolific scorers.
He has consistently been among the top scorers in the league, with standout seasons such as 2017–18, where he scored 32 goals, setting a new Premier League record for a 38-game season. In the 2024–25 season, he continued his exceptional form, scoring 28 goals and providing 18 assists, leading Liverpool to another Premier League title.
His performances earned him the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Men’s Player of the Year award for the third time, a feat only matched by Thierry Henry.
Salah’s commitment to Liverpool was reaffirmed in April 2025 when he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2027. This decision came amid interest from other clubs, highlighting his dedication to Liverpool and its fans.
SuperSport has confirmed that football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will be able to watch all 63 matches of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 live on DStv, GOtv, and Showmax.
This comes after the broadcaster secured exclusive rights to show the tournament, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
This year’s competition marks the first time the Club World Cup will follow a new, expanded format. A total of 32 top clubs from around the world will compete, including some of Europe’s biggest teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG, Inter Milan, and Porto.
Africa will also be well represented. South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who claimed the CAF Champions League in 2016, will join Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) in the tournament.
Wydad is currently coached by Rhulani Mokwena, who previously led Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
The Managing Director of MultiChoice Ghana, Alex Okyere said, “As Africa’s biggest sports broadcaster, we are proud to be able to bring fans the best in sporting action; to bring them the biggest names in the game and, of course, the biggest clubs coming up against each other.
We are especially honoured to partner with FIFA to bring the new format of the FIFA Club World Cup 25 to Sub-Saharan Africa viewers.
“As we’ve seen with some innovations on the European continent with the new UEFA club competition format, fans are primed for fresher approaches to long-standing traditional tournaments. We see the FIFA Club World Cup 25’s evolution from seven participating teams to the staggering 32 teams as a move that will pique the football interest of passionate fans.
SuperSport cannot wait to be at the forefront of this historic transformation and to give the viewer a front-row seat to the global spectacle.”
FIFA Club World Cup 25: Everything you need to know
The best football clubs from around the world are set to compete in the United States during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The U.S., which will also host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will welcome top teams from Brazil like Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo, along with famous Argentine rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors.
Inter Miami CF, the American club led by Lionel Messi, will represent the host nation. They’ve been placed in the same group as African champions Al Ahly, Brazilian side Palmeiras, and Portuguese club FC Porto.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will compete in Group F against Fluminense from Brazil, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and Ulsan HD from South Korea.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s Wydad AC is in Group G with Manchester City (England), Al Ain FC (UAE), and Juventus FC (Italy).
SuperSport says more details on match broadcasts will be shared as the tournament approaches.
A young Ghanaian man named Justice Plo Prempeh is preparing to take on a major challenge—he plans to break the Guinness World Record for the longest solo singing marathon.
Justice, a 2025 graduate of Takoradi Technical University, revealed on TikTok that his application to attempt the record has been approved by Guinness World Records.
He posted a screenshot of the confirmation email and shared a poster with more details about the upcoming event.
The sing-a-thon is set to begin at exactly midnight on December 19, 2025. Justice hopes to sing continuously for 120 hours—five full days.
The attempt will follow strict GWR rules and is expected to attract a lot of public attention.
His bold move comes as more Ghanaians are stepping up to pursue world records, a trend that gained popularity after Afua Asantewaa Aduonum’s high-profile singing marathon in December 2023.
Justice’s effort is already generating excitement and shows just how far Ghanaian talent is reaching on the global stage.
After failing her first attempt, which was conducted in December 2023 in Accra, Afua Asantewaa is awaiting the results of her second attempt, which took place on December 21, 2024, in Kumasi.
