Muftawu Nabila Abdulai's user profile page. Match highlights, posts and more on site!

JORDAN AYEW CREDITS BENIN FOR DRAW AGAINST GHANA

JOHNSON SMITH CLAIMS HEARTS OF OAK CAN'T BEAT KARELA FC

Karela United head coach Johnson Smith has described Hearts of Oak as a lucky side that won against his side with luck but his boys outplayed the Phobians. Hearts of Oak pipped the Ainyinase side at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday in the NC Special Competition through a Christopher Bonney spot kickm But Johnson Smith believes his side was the better side on Wednesday but the Phobians were just lucky. Speaking to the media after the game, Johnson Smith described the penalty awarded against his side as dubious, he also talked about the difficult condition that affected his team play. “Hearts of Oak were lucky. The referee awarded them a dubious penalty,” he said. “I know my boys were better. I liked the way my boys played, and I don’t think Hearts would contain us in perfect weather. The pitch was slippery,” he added. Karela United are four points behind Hearts of Oak and will be looking to win their remaining two games to join Hearts of Oak in the semi finals

EVERY GAME IS IMPORTANT FOR GHANA - ANDRE AYEW

Black Stars stand-in captain Andre Ayew says the team are fired up for revenge when they play Kenya’s Harambee Stars in an 2019 AFCON final qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. The Fenerbahce midfielder leads the team for the Group F qualifier in place of substantive captain Asamoah Gyan, who is not part of Kwasi Appiah’s squad that began training in Accra on Tuesday afternoon. He told the media after the workout that, despite already being guaranteed a place at the Nations Cup in Egypt, the Stars were aiming for a win to dislodge Kenya from the top spot of the group log, and also avenge the 0-1 loss the team suffered when they last met in Nairobi on September 18 last year. “We want to win and top the group. The Kenyans beat us and I think it’s time for us to beat them too.The national team jersey always comes with responsibility to play well. Not all players have the opportunity, so we have to make the best out of the opportunity,” said Ayew who is set to make his 76th appearance for Ghana. Andre Ayew in a chat with Deputy Sport Minister, Perry Okudzeto Combative midfielder, Mubarak Wakaso, told the press after training that he was elated to be back to play for the national team again after last featuring for the team in their 2-0 win away to Ethiopia in a group qualifier in Addis Ababa four months ago. “It always good to gather and play for the national team, I am very elated to see everyone, we would approach the game with all seriousness. Wearing the national jersey always gives me joy and demands i do my best,“asserted the Deportivo Alves star who looks set to make his 52nd international appearance for Ghana. Coach Kwasi Appiah had close to a full squad as 21 players showed up for the first training day, with Inter Milan midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah and the Colombus Crew defensive duo of Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah as the notable absentees on Tuesday afternoon. According to the national team handlers, the trio are expected to arrive in Accra from their respective bases on Tuesday night to join their teammates in camp. Belgium-based defender Daniel Opare will be the last player to join the team on Wednesday after being handed a late call-up to replaced injured Andy Yiadom who got injured while playing fir his English Championship side, Reading at the weekend. Coach Appiah told the media that he was excited by the positive attitude exhibited by players since regrouping in camp on Monday. “The demeanour of the players is very good, each and every one is comporting himself. As usual everyone is giving his best which makes the job very difficult me in terms of selection. “It’s important Ghana win every game we play, I believe Kenya has very strong team and that the game would not be easy.” The team will train at the Accra stadium on Wednesday evening under floodlights to get accustomed to Saturday’s late kickoff, and continue with preparation on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

Asante Kotoko departure to Zambia

Asante Kotoko left Ghana to Zambia for their last CAF Confederation Cup game against Zesco United slated for Sunday

interview with Kwame Bonsu of Asante Kotoko

AL HILAL ARRIVAL IN GHANA

Al Hilal have arrived in Kumasi ahead of Sunday's CAF Confederation Cup match against Asante Kotoko. The Group C leaders touch down at the Kotoko international airport and will fly out to Kumasi- venue for the match. Hilal came without two key players Idris Mbombo (serving a two-match ban) and Samawal Merghani Noureldin Elyas (injured). The Sudanese giants beat Kotoko 1-0 in Omdurman in the opening Group fixture last month. Kotoko are chasing a second straight win to enhance their chances of qualifying from the Group.

Martin Antwi's goal against Nkana FC

Asante Kotoko coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor hailed his side’s defensive work after their 3-0 demolition of Nkana FC in CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday. The Porcupine Warriors sealed the comfortable win thanks to first-half goals by Fatawu Shafiu, Emmanuel Gyamfi, and Martin Antwi to move up to second in the Cup Group C table, a point behind Al Hilal. The pre-match talk was dominated by how poor Kotoko had been defensively, conceding in all three games they had played in the group. This forced Akonnor to ring changes to his starting line up with Wahab Adams picked ahead of Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu in the heart of the defence and Martin Antwi taking the place of Maxwell Baakoh on the left flank. "We are trying our best. Today we have won 3-0 and it's important that we did so without conceding a goal," Akonnor said after the match. “I wasn't worried about how we would possess the ball, but about how we would defend. I was worried we were going to change the setup, but the new players came in and did a marvelous job.” Kotoko next match is at home against Al Hilal on Sunday, March 10. --

WE HAVE TO BE MENTALLY TOUGH IN KITWE AGAINST NKANA FC - KWAME BONSU