by FSL News | 8 Jun, 2018 | African News
Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has been banned from all football-related activities for 90 days by the Fifa’s independent Ethics Committee.
Nyantakyi, who is also the vice president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF is now under football investigation sword as the sanctioned comes into force immediately.
The chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee has provisionally banned the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and FIFA Council member, Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, for a duration of 90 days.
The duration of the ban may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days. During this time, Mr Nyantakyi is banned from all football activities at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other).
The decision was taken upon the request of the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee carrying out the formal investigation proceedings into Mr Nyantakyi, pursuant to art. 83 par. 1 and art. 84 par. 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
This comes following an investigative piece from Ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ on corruption in Ghana Football.
The Fifa Ethics Committee document
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by FSL News | 8 Jun, 2018 | African News
Ghana has dissolved its national football association after its president was filmed apparently accepting a “cash gift”.
Kwesi Nyantakyi was pictured taking $65,000 (£48,000) from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman keen to invest in Ghanaian football.
He has not commented on the allegations.
Sports Minister Isaac Asiama said the association had been “dissolved with immediate effect”, GhanaWeb reported.
Correspondents say the undercover investigation by controversial journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas has raised questions about the nature of football in Africa.
His documentary, entitled When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm, was handed to authorities last month and publicly screened for the first time on Wednesday.
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Ghana’s information minister, said the government had “decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA (Ghana Football Association) dissolved”, citing the “widespread nature of the apparent rot”.
He said interim measures to govern Ghanaian football would be announced soon, pending the formation of a new association.
The GFA said in a statement that it would co-operate with any investigation.
Mr Nyantakyi is vice president of the Confederation of African Football and also a member of the Fifa Council, effectively the board that runs world football.
Since taking charge of the GFA, he has made anti-corruption a major part of his message.
However, the undercover film shows him apparently placing the $65,000 “shopping money” into a black plastic bag.
BBC Africa’s new investigations unit, Africa Eye, has had exclusive access to the footage.
An undercover reporter was pretending to be a businessman from a Middle Eastern company wanting to invest in Ghanaian football.
The filmmaker’s team had invited Mr Nyantakyi to a luxury hotel in the Middle East with the promise of a meeting with a wealthy businessman interested in a sponsorship deal with the GFA.
Mr Nyantakyi went on to both negotiate and write up the sponsorship deal on behalf of the GFA, which could have allowed a cut to go to a company he owned.
Correspondents say that had the fictitious deal gone ahead, he could potentially have made $4.5m from the diversion of funds.
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by FSL News | 4 Jun, 2018 | African News
The Pharaohs of Egypt Argentinian coach, Héctor Cúper on Monday named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, a key figure was named in Egypt’s World Cup squad despite being injured in the Champions League final.
Salah, 25, will join the rest of the squad June 9 as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury, his national team said.
Egypt’s opening World Cup fixture is against Uruguay on 15 June.
They meet hosts Russia on 19 June and conclude their campaign in Group A against Saudi Arabia on 25 June.
Egypt squad
Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly).
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Saad Samir, Ayman Ashraf (all Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fateh), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC).
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, (Zamalek), Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdallah Said (Al Ahli), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos Athens).
Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
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by FSL News | 1 Jun, 2018 | African News
Super Eagles German manager, Gernot Rohr, believes his side lack of goals will be resolved before the start of the World Cup in Russia.
Former Burkina Faso and Niger coach have put his faith in youth and hoping that his vibrant side can reach the knockouts.
The Eagles are in Group D with Croatia, Argentina and Iceland.
They have only scored twice in recent friendlies against Poland, Serbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I am not worried that the Super Eagles have not scored much in recent games because I know we have what it takes to score goals and I believe my players will score plenty of goals at the World Cup in Russia,” Rohr told Complete Sports.
“We are working very hard to get our attackers scoring goals again. It is not as if we can’t score goals, it is just that we were trying out new formations and trying out new players in different roles. Now that we have pruned the team to a manageable size, it is time to perfect our strategy for the World Cup
“Nigerians should believe in this team to deliver at the World Cup. By the time we finished playing England and the Czech Republic and go into our final camping for the World Cup, all the flaws will be corrected and we are ready to go.”
Nigeria are one of the most consistent sides from Africa and have only missed out in 2006 since they made their bow on the biggest stage in 1994.
Nigeria will engage England in another thrilling Russia 2018 preparatory game for both teams at the Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, June 2nd.
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by FSL News | 31 May, 2018 | African News
The Black Stars of Ghana, leaders of Group F in the race to 2019 AFCON in Cameroon beat Japan 2-0 on Wednesday in Yokohama.
The match was a warm-up for Japanese ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be staged in Russia where they will face African side Senegal in the Group H.
Stand in captain Thomas Partey got the opener in Ghana’s 2-0 over Japan in an international friendly played in the Nissan stadium.
Emmanuel Boateng scored his Black Stars debut goal when he converted from the spot in the 51st minute to increase the tally for Black Stars.
Coach Kwesi Appiah also used the game to test his team’s preparedness for their upcoming AFCON 2019 qualifying matches later this year, after missing out on next month’s World Cup.
German-based Akwasi Okyere, Nana Ampomah and Isaac Sackey all got their debut for the Black Stars in the match against the Blue Samurai.
The Black Stars will now face World Cup-bound Iceland on June 7 in another friendly.
Meanwhile, Ghana will play Sierra Leone twice later this year as both nations targeting a place in Cameroon next year.
AFCON 2019 Group F table
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by FSL News | 27 May, 2018 | African News
The Egyptian Football Association is “optimistic” Mohamed Salah will be able to play in the World Cup in Russia.
The distraught winger left the Olympic Stadium in Kiev in a sling after being brought down by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the Champions League Final on Saturday.
Salah is expected to be out for about two weeks, according to the Egyptian government’s minister of state for youth and sports, Khaled Abd Elaziz.
“Diagnosis detailed shoulder-ligaments and the expected duration of treatment God willing is two weeks,” Minister of state for youth and sports, Khaled Abd Elaziz wrote on Facebook.
Salah still likely to be named in the team’s final squad, which will be announced June 4.
Egypt begins the World Cup against Uruguay on June 15 before facing hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia in Group A. 2018 FIFA World Cup Groups & Schedule
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp said at the time: “He would have played on if anything was possible. He has gone for an X-Ray but it doesn’t look good.”
Salah, 25, immediately underwent scans and the Reds’ medical staff were left optimistic over his condition, according to Egypt’s national team doctor.
Adam Lallana replaced Salah just 30 minutes in following a challenge with Ramos.
The Real captain dragged him to the ground moments earlier and Salah landed awkwardly on his shoulder.
He tried to play on but quickly realised his night was over, falling to the ground and crying.
Fans who believe he intentionally set out to injure Liverpool’s key man have blasted Spain star Ramos, 32.
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