Avram Grant names final 23; Dwamena, Attamah, Waris dropped

Ghana coach Avram has submitted his final squad for the .African Cup of Nations after dropping three players from his provisional 26 man squad after his third training session.

Former Ghana youth international, Joseph Attamah Laweh, Strikers Majeed Waris and Raphael Dwamena failed to make the final cut.

The final list therefore sees goalkeeper Richard Ofori, defender Andy Yiadom, midfielders Thomas Partey, Samuel Tetteh and Ebenezer Ofori as well strikers Bernard Tekpetey and Ebenezer Assifuah in line for their AFCON bow.

Dwamena and Attamah who have been in great form for their clubs will have to wait futher for their Black Stars debut while Majeed Waris misses the Cup of Nations yet again after failing to make the squad due to injury two years ago. The Lori\ent striker has represented Ghana at the World Cup but is yet to represent Ghana at the Cup of Nations.

READ ALSO: Sports minister peeved - I wasn't informed about Akufo-Addo, Black Stars meeting

The squad sees 16 out of 23 players who represented Ghana two years maintaining their places hoping to go one better to win gold.

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba, Spain), Fatau Dauda (Enyimba) Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Andy Yiadom (Barnsley, England), Baba Rahman (Schalke, Germany), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Anzhi, Russia), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos, Greece), Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England), Ebenezer Ofori (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), Samuel Tetteh (Leifering, Austria) Andre Ayew (West Ham, England),

READ ASO: Ghana beach soccer can rule Africa
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ahli, UAE) Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England), Ebenezer Assifuah (Sion, Switzerland), Bernard Tekpetey (Schalke, Germany).

Photo credit: Senyuiedzorm Awusi Adadevoh

Sports minister peeved: I wasn't informed about Akufo-Addo, Black Stars meeting

Outgoing Sports Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuye says he was disrespected when the Black Stars team met a delegation sent by President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo without his knowledge.

He says it was "appropriate" for his office to have been informed about the meeting because the team belongs to the State and it is under the care of outgoing President, John Dramani Mahama who in turn has mandated his minister to take charge.

In an interview with Mamavi Aboagye, host of AM Show on the JOYNEWS channel on MultiTV Monday, the Minister said he deserved some respect since "I am going round looking for the budget for the team to go to Gabon."

Spokesperson of the President-elect, Mustapha Hamid led a delegation from the incoming government to meet the Black Stars at Alisa Hotel in Accra Sunday.
He conveyed to the team the wish of Nana Akufo-Addo which was for the Black Stars to win the 2017 Africa Cup for the country.

READ ALSO: Owusu Bempah's 17 prophecies for 2017 

Stand-in Black Stars captain, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu who spoke on behalf of his colleagues assured the incoming President that they would end Ghana's long wait for a major title.

The Udinese star said the "team is poised for action when the tournament starts on January 14," adding the team had started the preparation towards the game.
''With the quality in camp, the cohesion and team spirit, I think Nana will be proud of us by the time the tournament ends,'' he said.

Mr Vanderpuye who has had issues with the management team of the Black Stars since he was made the Sports Minister said the behavior of the team was in bad taste.

"The Minister of Youth and Sports on behalf of the President and Ghanaians should be informed," he said.
He said the Black Stars has every right to congratulate the incoming President, but "if the team is going to be involved in anything it is appropriate to inform me."

READ ALSO: Ghana beach soccer can rule Africa

Mr Vanderpuye's claim did not sit well with Spokesperson of the Ghana Football Association, Ibrahim Sani Daara who argued to the contrary.

"In fact he was informed by the Director of Protocol of the GFA," he said, urging Ghanaians to disregard the Minister's claim.

He said the team belongs to Ghanaians and it should not be subject to segmentation by anyone in the country. "It is the avenue where Ghanaians unite."

Ghana beach soccer can rule Africa

The national Beach Soccer team BLACK SHARKS has returned home from the 2016 Beach Soccer AFCON  in Lagos, Nigeria. Although we could not qualify to the World Cup in Bahamas, the boys gave their all. Could they have done better?

Well there is always room for improvement but as long as they gave 100% I have no complaints. I want to resist the temptation of the "blame game" syndrome. Injuries, officiating, motivation, tactical and technical deficiency, poor management structure,  medical team challenges, recovery after a game, lack of strength in depth etc are all part of the game.

The most important thing now is to have a calm, matured and thorough post mortem of the  2016 Beach Soccer AFCON with necessary input from all stakeholders; indeed, including the media.  Losing 4-5 to Egypt and 3-4 hosts Nigeria, there were signs of improvement from our previous tournaments in Seychelles two years ago.

Ghana lacks adequate beach soccer infrastructure even though we have amazing high grade sand quality for pitches/arenas.

Apart from infrastructure which largely should be spearheaded by state, the next surest way and best way forward is to pursue corporate Ghana and then ask government to top up. Finally and perhaps most significantly, the establishment of a regional body to champion the promotion of the sport, has been set in motion.

Sam Allardyce appointed Crystal Palace manager on two-and-a-half-year deal

Former England boss Sam Allardyce has been appointed Crystal Palace manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Palace, who are fourth from bottom in the table, sacked Alan Pardew on Thursday after a dismal run of results.

Allardyce left his role with England by mutual consent after just one game earlier this year in the wake of a newspaper investigation which featured a video of him offering advice on how to "get around" FA rules on player transfers.

Chairman Steve Parish told the club's website: "We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam’s calibre and experience was available”.

The 62-year-old will take training on Saturday and be in charge for the league game at fellow London club Watford on Monday.

After one win in their last 11 league matches, Palace are seeking more solidity from a specialist in relegation firefighting. Their poor form has left them one place and one point above the drop zone.

Palace assistant manager Keith Millen said earlier on Friday: "Certainly for players, he (Allardyce) is an experienced Premier League manager.

"He did a great job keeping Sunderland up (last season). If it is Sam, Palace are getting an experienced manager.

"I don't know if Sam Allardyce has got a point to prove with his career in league football because he has been very successful. The England job is very different."

Of Pardew, Millen added: "We have exchanged text messages. He is upset, disappointed but proud of what he has done here. Unfortunately, the results have not been good enough."

Black Queens picket over unpaid bonuses

Ghana’s female Senior National Team, Black Queens are currently picketing at the Ministry of Youth and Sports over their $25,000 outstanding bonuses per player for participating in various international tournaments.

The girls who were told by the FA secretariat to wait for the Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye who will be at post around 2:pm have vowed to collect their monies before they will disperse to their various homes.

They have threatened to walk straight to the Flagstaff house to meet the outgoing President John Dramani Mahama if the Minister fails to show up in his office.

Speaking with Ghone Tv’s Dennis Murpuri, some of them threatened to stop playing for the nation if the country continues to discriminate against them.

The aggrieved girls clad in their red jerseys were spotted carrying placards with the inscription ‘ honour your heroes, stop discrimination, we need our money’ among others.