Sports
Otto Addo: Selection to be based on performance in Brazil game

Head Coach of the senior national football team, the Black Stars Otto Addo has blamed the 3-0 defeat to Brazil on his poor player selection.
“I think I made mistakes.”
“I learned a lot more about my players and picking the next start eleven will depend on the performance in this game,” he stated at a post-match press conference.
The Black Stars suffered their fifth defeat against Brazil on Friday night after losing 3-0 at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France in a pre-World Cup friendly match.
Two goals from Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison and a goal from Marquinhos in the first half sealed a 5th successive victory for Brazil against the Black Stars.
Despite a much better performance in the second half, Ghana could not score even a consolation goal as the Samba boys of Brazil put up an impressive performance to humble Ghana.
The Samba boys made their intentions clear in the early stage of the game with serious pressure in the attack.
Paris Saint German defender Marquinhos grab an early goal in the ninth minute before Richarlison scored two goals after outwitting Ghana’s defence.
Brazil missed clear scoring opportunities coming through Raphina, and Neymar.
At the start of the second half, Coach Addo made substitutions and brought on Mohammed Salisu for Felix Afena-Gyan and Inaki Williams replaced Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The substitutions fueled an improved performance from the Black Stars.
In the 72nd minute, Elisha Owusu, Tariq Lamptey and Antoine Semenyo were introduced to replace Baba Idrissu, Denis Odoi and Dede Ayew respectively.
The friendly match forms part of preparations lined up ahead of the World in Qatar in November-December.
Ghana would play Nicaragua on Tuesday in Spain to fine-tune preparations for the biggest football spectacle in the world.
The Black Stars will later play Switzerland on November 17, 2022.
Ghana is in Group H with Uruguay and South Korea in the group stage, following the draw conducted in Doha on April 1.
The four teams selected into the group will play a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. Group standings are based on points from those three group-stage matches — three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss.
The top two teams from each group based on total points advance to the single-game knockouts.
If teams are tied on points, goal difference is the first tiebreaker followed by goals scored.
If teams are also tied in those categories another set of tiebreakers is applied.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Sports
Bawumia: Govt will support family to give Atsu a befitting burial

Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged government support to the Twasam family to give Christian Atsu a befitting burial.
Receiving the mortal remains of Atsu at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, he said “The State will be fully involved with the family in providing Atsu a befitting burial.
The casket of Atsu landed at Kotoka International Airport Sunday Night from Turkey where he lost his life as a result of the earthquake that has killed over 45,000 people and counting.
On behalf of Government, Dr Bawumia extended condolences to the Twasam family, Ghanaians and the footballing fraternity for the “deep loss”.
“We hoped against hope and prayed but when we found him, he was no more. He played for the Black Stars and was much loved. We will sorely miss him. It is a painful loss,” he said.
Also at the airport to receive the casket were Minister of Information;- Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Mr Evans Bobie Opoku-Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Prosper Harrison Addo-General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Many sympathisers also trooped to the airport to witness the arrival of the casket.
The Twasam family expressed gratitude to Government and Ghanaians for the support since the incident happened.
Shortly after the ceremony, the body was carried in a hearse and transported to the 37 Military Hospital morgue for preservation.
Tributes have been pouring in for the player and his family, following the confirmation of the recovery of his body in the wee-hours on Saturday.
The 31-year-old before suffering the tragic incident featured in their game against Kasimpasa SK on February 5, 2023, and scored the only goal in the game to give his side the win.
The sad event hit many Ghanaians due to the contribution and sacrifices Christian Atsu had made for his country both on and off the pitch.
He made 64 appearances for the Black Stars, netting ten goals and nine assists.
Atsu, known for his generosity towards the less privileged in society, left behind a wife and two children.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Sports
Ghanaians thank God as Christian Atsu is rescued alive

Mustafa Özat, Vice-President of Hatayspor, the football club Christian Atsu plays for has confirmed that the Ghanaian international has been rescued alive.
He said: “Christian Atsu was removed with injuries. Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble.”
The Ghanaian international is said to be having some breathing difficulties with some injuries and has been taken to the hospital to receive treatment.
He has been confirmed safe by the Turkish rescue team after a major earthquake hit the country Monday morning.
Confirmation of his rescue has sent Ghanaians from all walks of life happy expressing gratitude to Almighty God
The hashtag ” #GloryToGod” has been trending on social media with various social media users, who are relieved with the news of Atsu’s rescue after hours of conflicting reports.
A statement from Ghana Football Association (GFA) said: “We’ve received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and he is receiving treatment. Let’s continue to pray for Christian”.
The Hatayspor forward was also affected by the disaster as he was trapped in the rubble for about 24 hours in his residence in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
The earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, is said to be the worst to hit the country in a century. The last incident was in 1939.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle player joined the Turkish side in September last year and was on the scoresheet on Sunday when his side beat Kasimpasa 1-0.
Atsu made 65 appearances for the Black Stars of Ghana, scoring nine goals.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Sports
Christian Atsu’s team debunks claims he has been rescued

Hatayspor FC Vice-President Mustapha Ozat says efforts are still being made to contact Ghanaian international Christian Atsu and Sporting Director Taner Savut.
Atsu and Savut are among the thousands of people who remain under the rubble following an earthquake that struck many cities in Turkey in the early hours of Monday.
According to the Vice-President, most members of the Hatayspor playing body have been accounted for, except for Atsu and Savut, who remain under the rubble.
“Christain Atsu and Taner Savut are still under the rubble. We are trying to reach them,” Mr Ozat said.
Many Ghanaians from all walks of life are praying for the rescue of Christain Atsu, who scored his first goal for his team in their 1-0 win over Kasimpasa on Sunday.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Governments and peoples of Turkey and Syria on the devastation and the tragic loss of lives occasioned by Monday’s earthquake. “May their souls rest in perfect peace,” President Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound,” he wrote. Former President John Dramani Mahama wrote on Twitter: “Let’s continue to pray for our brother, Christian Atsu, and his club director. The city of Hayat is in the region affected by the earthquake. Let’s continue to pray that God spares their lives.”
In other related developments, the Ghana Paralympic Committee says all athletes living in the Turkey region are safe and sound.
A statement released by the GPC said it had made contact with athletes in affected areas, with no casualties yet.
Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 4,000 people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region.
Authorities feared the death toll from Monday’s pre-dawn earthquake and aftershocks would keep climbing as rescuers looked for survivors among tangles of metal and concrete spread across the region beset by Syria’s 12-year civil war and refugee crisis.
Survivors cried out for help from within mountains of debris as first responders contended with rain and snow. Seismic activity continued to rattle the region, including another jolt nearly as powerful as the initial quake. Workers carefully pulled away slabs of concrete and reached for bodies as desperate families waited for news of loved ones.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
-
News1 day ago
Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana
-
News6 days ago
HOGF offers Oduman free health screening, donates to polyclinic
-
Health3 days ago
Measles, Polio and other childhood vaccines dispatched to regions
-
News2 days ago
NIA to issue numbers to babies at 6 weeks to end age falsification
-
News5 days ago
288,800 apply for YouStart to create one million jobs in 3 years
-
News3 days ago
Education Minister to close down non-performing schools
-
News2 days ago
Police nab 6 in connection with killing of soldier in Ashaiman
-
Economy6 days ago
SONA 2023: Loans invested wisely to improve quality of life