International Football
We are in Kumasi to make history, says Ahmed Musa
Ardent football followers in Ghana strongly believe that the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi is a slaughter ground for opposition teams.
Though it is surprising that the stadium was not their first choice for the crunchy encounter with the Super Eagles but were only forced by circumstances to leave their initial choice, the Cape Coast stadium.
They glowingly recall the 6-1 demolition of Egypt at the ground in 2013 as well as another 7-0 demolition of hapless Lesotho in 2012.
They easily forget that it was on that same ground that South Africa beat Ghana 1-0 to eliminate the Black Stars at the quarter-finals of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations. The same South African team was beaten by the Super Eagles in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Super Eagles are not even swayed in their determination as they promised to banish the so-called myth of Ghana’s invincibility in Kumasi.
Ahmed Musah has said that his men are confident of breaking the jinx at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi by beating Ghana in the first leg of the 2022 World Cup playoff.
Ghanasoccernet quoted the over a century capped player as saying that his players have in recent past beat home sides and that Ghana will not be an exemption.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Fatih Karagümrük forward stated the Super Eagles can repeat the victory against Benin in the AFCON qualifiers when they face Ghana at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
“We have been hearing a lot of things. How they have not lost in that stadium (Babayara).
“If you remember the 2021 AFCON qualifiers when we played in Benin Republic, they told us they have not lost there. We went there and won.
“I believe we will go there and make history by winning in Kumasi,” Musa said during Wednesday’s press conference in Abuja.
Nigeria have in the past beaten Ghana at home. First was in 1975 Ghana-Nigeria Sports Festival when goals from Ogidi Ibeabuchi and Emeka Onyeadika enabled Nigeria shock Ghana 2-1 at home.
At another time, Adegboye Onigbinde led the Nigerian side to beat Ghana 1-0 at home after a goalless outing in Kaduna in the qualifying series for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
It was in that 30 October 1983 match that the legendary Rashidi Yekini debuted for Nigeria. Chibuzor Ehilegbu and John Omughele scored Nigeria’s two goals in a famous 2-1 win.
RELATED STORY: https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2022/03/17/kumasi-feat-debunked-juju-not-black-stars-skills-beat-egypt-6-1%ef%bf%bc/
The famous 6-1 defeat of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium had been attributed to the employment of voodoo (Juju) by the Ghanaians.
Sports Village Square reliably had it that “behind the display of great football and tactical ingenuity by Kwesi Appiah, lies the untold story of a state-sponsored juju operation that aided the victory.”
It was gathered that a spokesperson of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) revealed that a Sport Minister at the time exhumed the body of a dead goat to help Ghana beat Egypt. The said Minister is Joseph Yamin who served as a deputy to Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
Yamin, in an interview with www.ghanaweb.com denied exhuming the goat himself but confirmed that the state, upon the advice of some spiritualists had to perform some rituals to help the Black Stars secure victory over the Egyptians.
The former Deputy Sports Minister confirmed to being part of delegation that visited two places in Kumasi to dig out some items which had been planted with the aim of causing the Black Stars to lose the game.
Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria Jumps Four Places in New FIFA Rankings; Stirs Optimism in Local Football Circles
Nigeria set to truncate another Benin Republic Dream After Super Eagles’ Triumph
Flamingos Set to Kick Off FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Campaign Against Canada
- U20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Flying Eagles Bank on ‘Magic of October 8’ to overcome Argentina
- World Cup1 week ago
CAF Rule Change May Boost Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification Hopes
- World Cup3 days ago
Victor Osimhen qualifies South Africa for World Cup as Super Eagles go for Play-Off
- World Cup7 days ago
BREAKING! Lookman Suspended for Crucial Benin Clash
- World Cup1 week ago
Logistics reduce Super Eagles 23-man squad
- World Cup6 days ago
Judgment Day Beckons in Group C: Only One Ticket, Three Contenders, Infinite Drama
- World Cup6 days ago
Super Eagles Stranded in Angola After Aircraft Suffers Cracked Windscreen
- World Cup6 days ago
Akor Adams Becomes Nigeria’s 61st Scoring Debutant