Sports File Ghana

Aug212017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Bale scores as Real Madrid begins season with a win

Gareth Bale scored one and assisted another as Real Madrid began their La Liga title defence with an easy victory at Deportivo La Coruna, although Sergio Ramos was sent off in injury time. With Cristiano Ronaldo suspended,Bale tapped in from Karim Benzema's scuffed shot to put Madrid ahead. Casemiro ended a move with 44 passes by converting Marcelo's cross, before Toni Kroos smashed in from Bale's pass. Keylor Navas then saved Florin Andone's penalty, before Ramos was dismissed. The Madrid defender picked up his second yellow card for a high elbow in an aerial challenge, having received his first for shoving Fabian Schar's face. Ramos has now been sent off 23 times in his Madrid career Depor centre-back Schar had pushed his head close to Ramos' in an angry confrontati...

Aug212017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Barcelona return to winning with 2-0 over Betis

International News

Barcelona made a winning start to their La Liga campaign by defeating Real Betis on an emotional night at the Nou Camp. The Spanish giants were playing for the first time since the terror attack in the city on Thursday and both teams paid their respects to the victims with a minute's silence before kick off. Barcelona took the lead in the game when Betis Alin Tosca deflected Gerard Deulofeu's cross into his own net. Sergi Roberto then swept in a second. It was a much-needed result for Barcelona after a difficult start to their season. Forward Neymar left the club to join Paris St-Germain in the summer before they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Lionel Messi, the focal point of the Barcelona forward line in the absence of Neymar an...

Aug152017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward suspended for five games

International News

Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for five games after he was sent off in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Sunday. He was given a one-match ban for being shown two yellow cards and a further four for pushing the referee in the back after he had been sent off. The bookings at the Nou Camp were for taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal to make it 2-1 and for a dive. He will miss Wednesday's second leg. Ronaldo, 32, will have 10 days to appeal. The Portugal international will be able to play in the Champions League but will not return to domestic action until 20 September against Real Betis. Madrid had already signalled their intent to appeal against Ronaldo's second yellow card shown for diving eight minutes from time whe...

Aug42017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Neymar: PSG sign Barcelona forward for record fee

International News

Paris St-Germain have signed Brazil forward Neymar for a world record fee of 222m euros (£200m) from Barcelona. The deal for the 25-year-old smashes the previous record set when Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United from Juventus for £89m in August 2016. He will earn 45m euros (£40.7m) a year - 865,000 euros (£782,000) a week - before tax from the initial five-year deal, a total outlay of £400m. Neymar said he has joined "one of the most ambitious clubs in Europe". "Paris St-Germain's ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings," he added. "I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new team-mates." The French side have arranged a news conference for 12:30 BST on Friday. Neymar will the

Aug32017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Razak Brimah of Ghana joins South Africa’s Sundowns

Local News

Ghana goalkeeper Razak Brimah has joined South African side Mamelodi Sundowns after his contract with Spanish side Cordoba was not renewed. Brimah joins two other international keepers at the club, which already has Uganda's Denis Onyango and Zambia's Kennedy Mweene on their books. The 30-year-old played just four times for the Spanish second division club last season. He was Ghana's first-choice keeper at this year's Africa Cup of Nations. However he missed the Black Stars' third place play-off game in Gabon as they lost to Burkina Faso and has not started an international game since. He caused controversy during the Nations Cup when responding to criticism with an expletive-laden rant on social media. The Ghana Football Association fined him $2,500 (£1,990) for the comm

Jul292017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Johannesburg stadium crush kills two

African Sports

Two people have been killed and 17 injured in a crush at South Africa's biggest stadium, in Johannesburg football officials say. It took place during the Soweto derby between football clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg. Orlando Pirates said the crush happened when people attempted to push their way through the gates into the 87,000-capacity FNB stadium. Authorities allowed the pre-season cup game to continue. Public safety official Michael Sun said on Twitter that all gates at the stadium had been opened to ensure crowd control and that the situation was later brought under control. Of the 17 injured, one is in a critical condition, the stadium managers said. Reuters said live television coverage of the match, which Kaizer Chiefs won 1-0, showed no ob...

Jul272017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Bernard Mensah joins Turkish side Kasimpasa on loan

Local News

Ghana international midfielder Bernard Mensah has joined Turkish side Kasimpasa on a season long loan from Spanish side Athletico Madrid. Mensah is yet to make an appearance for the Spanish Side since joining them in 2015 on a six-year-deal. This would be the third time he is sent on loan after playing last season with Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes. "It's my first time of playing outside Portugal and Spain, but I'm ready," Mensah told the Turkish club's website. Kasimpasa have the option to sign Mensah on a permanent deal when his loan expires next year. He also previously spent time on loan at Spanish La Liga side Getafe in the 2015/16 campaign. Mensah made his debut for Ghana in a match against Togo on 8 June 2015 and scored the only goal of the game. He has ...

Jun132017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

McCarthy takes over as Cape Town head coach

African Sports

Former South African striker Benni McCarthy has been appointed the new head coach of Premier Soccer League club, Cape Town City. South Africa's record goal-scorer with 32 goals signed a three-year deal to replace Eric Tinkler who joined SuperSport United last week. "It's my first job and Cape Town City is gambling on me," the 39-year-old said at his unveiling on Tuesday. "I know what I have to do to achieve and succeed and hopefully I'll prove that my appointment is a good one. " I've set targets for myself and the club. Cape Town City finishing third in the league last season was incredible but I hope that the players want to go a step better. "In my role as a coach, I have stolen a little bit from all coaches I've worked with. "But, in the end, I still want to be my...

Apr192017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Juventus Knock Barcelona out of champions league

International News

Juventus produced an exceptional defensive performance to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League after stopping Barcelona from scoring at the Nou Camp. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Barca peppered the Italian goal but failed to repeat their last-16 heroics when they overturned a first - leg 4-0 deficit to beat Paris St-Germain. Lionel Messi, who had earlier been denied by Gianluigi Buffon, fired wastefully over the bar while Luis Suarez and Neymar also spurned chances on a night Barca were restricted to one shot on target. Juve's Gonzalo Higuain fired tamely at Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Juan Cuadrado missed another chance but the final whistle was celebrated wildly by the champions of Italy. Juventus join Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Monaco in Friday's last-four d...

Mar282017 by Enoch Ntiamoah SiawNo Comments

Messi slapped with four matches ban

International News

FIFA have banned Lionel Messi for four games after he was found to have directed insulting words at the assistant referee during Argentina’s match against Chile on 23 March.“Footballer Lionel Messi has been found guilty of violating art. 57 of the FDC for having directed insulting words at an assistant referee,” read a statement on FIFA’s website.“As a result, Lionel Messi will be suspended for four official matches and sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10,000 (£8,110).“The first match for which the sanction will apply is the next fixture in the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia between Bolivia and Argentina, which will be played today, 28 March.“The remainder of the sanction will be served over Argentina’s subsequent FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.”As well as th