AFCON 2019: Full list of teams that have qualified

All the spots for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations have been filled, with South Africa taking the final spot on Sunday evening. 

While Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania created history by qualifying for their first-ever AFCON, 2012 champions Zambia had a heartbreak by failing to secure a spot in Egypt. Also failing to qualify are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon, Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo and 2013 finalist Burkina Faso.  

GHANA – The Black Stars will be hoping to end their 37-year-wait for the title in Egypt after they qualified for their eighth straight tournament. 

MADAGASCAR – Madagascar secured qualification following a 1-0 home victory over Equatorial Guinea in early October. 

BURUNDI – Burundi qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals for the first time after a 1-1 draw with Gabon on Saturday.

TUNISIA –  Tunisia qualified after they finished top of Group J, two points above Egypt. 

EGYPT –  The host nation took part in the qualifiers and secured their spot after finishing second behind Tunisia. 

SENEGAL –  Senegal secured an early qualification with 1-0 victory over Sudan in Khartoum in October. 

MAURITANIA  –  Mauritania secured their first ever qualification with a 2-1 win over Botswana in November. 

ANGOLA –  Angola clinched a place in Egypt with a 1-0 win over hosts Botswana on Friday to finish top of Group I.

CAMEROON – Defending champions Cameroon sealed qualification on the final matchday after beating Comoros 3-0 in Yaounde on Saturday. 

IVORY COAST – Ivory Coast qualified after sharing the spoils with Guinea in Conakry in November. 

NIGERIA – Nigeria needed a last-minute Moses Simon goal to seal a 3-1 home win over Seychelles in a to qualify as leaders of Group E.

UGANDA – The Cranes sealed qualification with a 1-0 win over Cape Verde in November. 

MALI – Mali completed their campaign unbeaten.

GUINEA – Guinea finished top of Group H, one point above Ivory Coast. 

DR CONGO –  China-based Cedric Bakambu's goal on Sunday ensured DR Congo made it to Egypt instead of Liberia. 

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe seal their place with a 2-0 win over Congo to finish top of Group G ahead of DR Congo.  

TANZANIA – Tanzania beat rivals Uganda 3-0 in Dar es Salaam on Sunday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1980.

KENYA – The Harambee Stars finished second behind Ghana in the qualifiers. 

NAMIBIA – Namibia, despite being thrashed 4-1 by Zambia in Lusaka, qualified in second place in Group K ahead of Mozambique on the head to head results between the two countries.

BENIN – Benin battled past a Togo side led by former Real Madrid and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor to qualify for the first time since 2010. 

SOUTH AFRICA – Bafana Bafana secured the last spot in Egypt following a 2-1 win over Libya in Tunisia on Sunday. 

GUINEA-BISSAU – A dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Frederic Mendy secured Guinea-Bissau top place in Group K after a 2-2 draw at home to Mozambique.

ALGERIA  – Algeria topped Group D with 11 points to qualify for the finals. 

MOROCCO – Herve Renard’s side booked their spot in the Afcon following 2-0 win over Cameroon in Casablanca in November. 

Ibrahim Tanko explains Jeffrey Schlupp snub

Schlupp was excluded from the Black Stars squad against Kenya

Deputy coach of the Black Stars Ibrahim Tanko has lifted the lid on why in-form Crystal Palace attacker Jeffrey Schlupp was left out of the 18-man squad for the forthcoming 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya.

Schlupp, who has been in scintillating form for Crystal Palace in the ongoing Premier League, was excluded from the Black Stars squad that will engage the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Match Day 2 of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers - which is set to come off on September 8 at the MISC Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

Several pundits have expressed shock over Schlupp's exclusion following his explosive start to the campaign for the Eagles.

“Jeffery Schlupp is playing more offensive for Crystal Palace now but we felt we had enough wingers or wingbacks now so yes he is playing well but we will consider him for the future,” he said.

Below is the list of defenders who made the list:

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus, USA) Daniel Opare (Antwerp, Belgium) Kassim Nuhu (1899 Hoffenheim, Germany) John Boye (FC Metz, France) Daniel Amartey ( Leicester City, England) Andy Yiadom (Reading Football Club, England)

Courtesy of GHANAsoccernet.com - Ghana's leading football news website.

Deputy Attorney General Joseph Kpemka explains new decision on Ghana FA

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino with Ghana President, Akufo-Addo

The Deputy Attorney General of Ghana Joseph Kpemka has explained government's new agreement with the world governing body FIFA to discontinue its planned liquidation of the Ghana Football Association.

The authorities were given an ultimatum by the world football's governing body to withdraw an attorney general's petition to an Accra High Court seeking to dissolve the FA after an investigative documentary exposed corrupt and match-fixing activities of top officials and referees.

The government had initially stated its stance not to "bow" to any contrary international order but further considerations after Fifa issued an August 27 deadline saw the liquidation plan rescinded after a delegation held a successful meeting with Fifa in Switzerland.

"We are living not as an island, but we live by a comity of nations and our membership of international organizations are predicated on principles, on rules, on regulations, and on law," Kpemka said on 3 FM.

“And so far as you subscribe to an international organization, then you must again agree with the principles, rules, and regulations governing that international organization.

"That’s a basic fact, so fundamental to any agreement that anybody can actually reach.”

He also spoke on government's decision to liquidate the FA after the scandal rocked the country in June.

"We invoked the appropriate sections of law which is the legal system in our country.

"We decided that by the official Liquidations Act, we could actually invoke certain sections of it to say that the company formed was being used for a purpose either than what it was intended for, and so we then petitioned the court to order a dissolution," he added.
Source: footballghana.com

Kotoko management to finally compensate accident victims

The newly formed management of Asante Kotoko has decided to compensate the accident victims that petitioned the club’s Secretariat and Manhyia Palace to seek what’s due them.

The previous management of the club contacted a consultancy firm called Synergy to do an investigation on the accident before paying the compensation fee.

“From afar we have realized the massive public interest in this case so management has decided to pay them so we can concentrate on our various jobs but unfortunately I can’t disclose the amount” He told Oyerepa fm in Kumasi.

“We are sorry for any inconveniences caused, but we promise to redeem our promise to them”

Footballmadeinghana.com investigations has shown that the management has decided to give ¢40000 to the victims to share. This will be done after the Kotoko vs Hearts friendly match on Sunday.
Source: Footballmadeinghana.com

Kingsley Fobi signs for Spanish side UD Ibiza

Ghana defender Kingsley Fobi

Spanish lower tier side Unión Deportiva Ibiza have acquired Ghana defender Kingsley Fobi on loan.

The 19-year-old spent the past season at fellow Segunda División B outfit SD Formentera where he played 23 matches.

And the Watford FC player has accepted to continue his development in the third level of the Spanish football league system with the famous Ibiza Town-based club for the entire 2018/19 season.

Fobi was reported to have joined SD Ejea last month but has now been announced to have settled with UD Ibiza who play at Estadi Municipal de Can Misses as home grounds.

The former Ghana U-20 skipper will be hoping to make his debut when manager Antonio Mendez’s side travel to face Sevilla II in the opening match of the season on Sunday,

 Source: starrsportsgh.com

Atsu to start for Newcastle against Chelsea

Atsu is likely to start against his former club on Sunday

Newcastle manager, Rafa Benitez, could be forced to start Ghanaian winger, Christian Atsu, in their game against Chelsea on Sunday.

The decision to introduced Atsu has become necessary because playing his regular player and Chelsea loanee, Kenedy, against his parent club would violate the rules of the English Premier League.

Per the rules of the game, players who are on loan cannot play against their parent club which means the Newcastle boss must fill the void that would be created by Kenedy’s ineligibility.


Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu are his other options but Benitez is likely to favour the former Chelsea and Ghanaian international because he is a natural left-footed player.

During their first game against Tottenham, the 26-year-old Ghanaian was given the nod ahead of Murphy but had to sit on the bench for the former Norwich winger during their game against Cardiff at the weekend.

Last season, Benitez used the services of Murphy a number of times on the left-hand side including their last game against Chelsea which they won 3-0.

When Atsu gets the nod, he would be playing against the club that transferred him to the St James’ Park and would hope to impress to ensure he captures the left-wing position.

Christian Atsu joined Newcastle United in August 2016 on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy clause in the contract and in May 2017, Newcastle United confirmed that it had permanently signed the winger on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

For more news go to: www.graphic.com.gh

Playing for Hearts comes with more pressure than Kotoko - Amankwa Mireku

Hearts of Oak legend Yaw Amankwah Mireku

Former Hearts of Oak captain Amankwah Mireku says there is more pressure on players who play for Hearts than their rivals Kotoko.

The former defender in an interview on Asempa FM's sports show insisted that players at Hearts are mostly under pressure to perform, unlike Kotoko.

"There is more pressure on players who play for Hearts of Oak than Kotoko"

"Supporters at Hearts do not pamper players and will always put you on your toes unlike the Kotoko supporters who have patience for their players"

The ex-player, however, added that Kotoko pay more attention to their former players and normally give them administrative roles in the club as compared to Hearts of Oak.

Amankwah Mireku played for Hearts of Oak from 1997 to 2007.
 Source: primenewsghana.com