The versatile player has put in stellar performances for the Bianconeri in the past couple of weeks and recently recorded his 150th cap for the side in their goalless draw against SPAL 2013.

However, he last pulled on the national colours during Ghana’s participation in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, where he featured largely as a left wing-back.

George Afriyie who also doubles as Chairman of the Black Stars management committee believes there should be no pressure from third parties on the matter.

“It is true that at a point he indicated that he was willing to call off his absence from the national team.

“I don’t know what went wrong.

“Let us still give the coach the chance and if he is in his plans he will definitely be called up.

“Since this falls directly under the jurisdiction of the coach let us allow him to take that decision,”he told Citi Sports.

Kwadwo Asamoah’s reason for staying away from the national team remains unclear, as he has put the spate of injuries behind him.

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By: Benjamin Nketsia/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kwesi Appiah has final say on Asamoah’s return – George Afriyie appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Black Stars had occupied the 50th position in the January ranking but lost 68 points to drop out of the top 50.

The Black Stars, however, still remain the 8th ranked team in Africa, behind Tunisia, Senegal, DR Congo, Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria who occupy the top 7 spots.

Burkina Faso and Algeria make up the top 10 on the continent, ranked 9th and 10th respectively.

Globally, Germany remain the top-ranked team, followed by Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium who make up the top 5.

The next world rankings will be released on March 15.

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By: Fentuo Tahiru/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana drops to 54th in February FIFA Ranking appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He made mention of this at the launch of the 2017 Professional Golfers’ Tournament, which was held at the Goldfields Ghana office in Accra on Monday.

Baku also explained the reason why Goldfields Ghana pulled out as the headline sponsors of Black Stars.

He said, “We spent over $15 million on the Black Stars in a period of six years as headline sponsors of the team. Our sponsorship enabled the Black Stars to qualify to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and South Africa 2010.

“Ghana Football Association were knocking on our doors to allow other sponsors to come on board, so we decided to step aside.

“We stepped aside not because we had run out of cash but wanted others to come on board and support the Black Stars. We are still supporting the Black Stars and we will continue to support them”, he added.

Goldfields Ghana Limited are currently sponsoring Tarkwa-based Premier League side Medeama.
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By: The Finder/Ghana

The post Goldfields spent $15m on Black Stars in 6-years appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Karim Abdul Razak, Mohammed Gargo, Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah are some of the most notable names which come to mind when you think of prominent Ghanaian midfielders, and one name will soon be fit to be considered in this elusive company.

Thomas Teye Partey has fast become one of Europe’s most talked about midfielders after his blistering form in 2017 for both club and country. The Atletico Madrid midfielder who after a slow start to his Atletico career has slowly worked his way into the plans of manager Diego Simeone, and is now just one start away from equaling his total tally from the previous two seasons combined. Partey is the embodiment of your typical African central midfielder, possessing immense physical attributes in addition to his exceptional technique. Standing tall at a height of 1.82m, Partey is also very imposing figure on the pitch with the added bonus of having in the aerial advantage over opponents.

Partey joined the 2014 La Liga Champions in 2011 as an 18-year-old from Ghanaian side Odometah FC but only made his first senior appearance for the side three years later in a home win against Espanyol after spending 2 years on loan at Mallorca and Almeria. Partey, in the last two seasons, has largely been used off the bench getting very limited time on the pitch. He made 9 starts in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 seasons combined, but there was no doubt about Partey’s potential as he continuously showed glimpses of his abilities in the limited time he was given on the pitch.

Partey’s decision to accept a 5 year contract renewal from Atletico in the summer of 2017 came as a surprise to many who thought a move away from the club would’ve provided him more opportunities to shine. But fast forward to 2017/2018 and the Ghana international is almost the first name on the Atletico team sheet.

Partey has started all but 3 of Atletico’s league games this season scoring twice and producing two Man of the Match performances. His 90th-minute winner against Deportivo this season summed up the sort of influence he’s had on the Madrid club this season. He has however been quick to praise his club manager Diego Simeone for his transformation this season. Simeone gave Partey his debut at the club and was the main reason why the Ghana international signed the contract extension with the club.

“Simeone allowing me time to develop was important and I had to wait for my chances. The manager spoke to me many times in the past to keep me involved and now I am playing more.

“He is great at motivating the players and makes it clear to us how he wants us to play and how we can continue to improve,” Partey said.

Partey’s remarkable evolution has also been seen in his performances with the Black Stars. The midfielder who made his debut for the side in June last year under former Head Coach Avram Grant, has grown to become arguably the most important player for the Black Stars. He showed glimpses of his true potential at the AFCON this year where he was one of the standout players in the Black Stars team which lost in the semifinals to eventual champions Cameroon. He scored his first goal for the team in September in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Congo at the Baba Yara Stadium grabbing a late equalizer for the team in a 1-1 draw. Partey then went on to cement his status as one of the Africa’s leading midfielders when his hat-trick against Congo days after, in the return leg of the qualifier helped Ghana to an impressive 5-1 win in Brazzaville.

Partey is made up of the power of Essien and the attacking mind and drive of Yaya Toure. His tactical discipline and ability to read the game is what sets him apart from the rest. The central midfielder’s versatility has also come to light in recent weeks in his performances for the Madrid based side. As evidenced by the heat maps above, Partey has exhibited a tremendous versatile ability, akin to what Essien had in his prime days. In the game against Deportivo, he spent his 90 minutes powering up and down the right side of midfield; and in the game against Chelsea, he excelled playing centrally – a testament to his overall prowess as a midfield general. It seems that Simeone has finally found a way to fit his Ghanaian gem in his side, and this new role is working to perfection.

The story of Partey is one of sheer will and determination to succeed; the young man who left the shores of Ghana as a teenager, and had to adapt to a completely different culture and way of life, while having to focus on his football. From struggling to make the bench to becoming a fan favourite, Partey has arrived and the world is taking notice!

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By: Daniel Koranteng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post From Odumase to Madrid: Partey has arrived [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Gyan has captained the Black Stars since 2012 when he was given the role by Kwesi Appiah during his first stint with the national team.

Gyan has since gone on to captain the team at four AFCON tournaments and one World Cup, as well as becoming the country’s all time leading goal scorer during that period.

Many questions have been raised over the 31-year old’s ability to continue to carry out the task as team leader as his fitness has been a huge problem in recent times, but Kwesi Appiah, said he is still keeping faith with the former Udinese man.

“Asamoah is the captain now, and until I say he is not he will remain so. Everybody plays a captain’s role in my team.”

“Defenders talk and control the midfielders, and midfielders control the attackers. So everybody is a captain in my team, and the players are aware of this,” he told Accra based Metro TV.

Gyan earlier this week revealed that he plans to retire after the 2019 AFCON tournament.

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By: Daniel Koranteng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gyan will captain Black Stars until… – Kwesi Appiah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

On Sunday, Ghana scored only once against Egypt despite creating chances on the day.

In addition, Ghana only scored twice at home during the World Cup qualifiers leading to major concerns on the part of observers.

Tanko, himself a former Black Stars forward, tells Citi Sports that the challenge will be looked at.

“I think we have good strikers in the team but Raphael Dwamena has not been himself since he failed his medical with Brighton.

We think he needs more playing time and he will be fine. We created chances against Egypt but we did not take them. We brought on Waris to help and he moved about very well.

However, we will work on putting our chances away and I am sure that we will improve and start scoring again.”

Ghana beat Ethiopia 5-0 in the first AFCON 2019 qualifier and fans of the team will hope that the scoring trend will improve when the series resumes next year.

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By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ibrahim Tanko assures fixing blunt Stars attack appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The result may have been a draw but coach Kwesi Appiah can walk away a happy man knowing that his rebuilding job is on the right track.

The gaffer has stated his intentions to rework this team and give it a facelift so that he and the players will have a great chance at winning the African Nations Cup in 2019 and getting to the 2022 World Cup.

And he will not have a better time than qualifiers for the 2018 Word Cup and the 2019 AFCON.

But if he needed any reminders that all his plans were gradually coming together, the draw with Egypt was a very good indicator of some progress made since May.

The last time the team played at home, it was against Congo Brazzaville and in Kumasi and it was a performance that enraged the masses and gave Appiah’s image and reputation a rather justified massive jolt that could have short-circuited everything.

He was seen as a man who had not learned anything and his weaknesses and flaws were put on the stage for all to see.

The timidity was there. The fear of risking a lot for the needed win was palpable. He looked jittery and it was as though the boldness to make the obvious calls had deserted the man.

I gave him a very low rating that day and there were only a few people who disagreed with me.

His captain, Asamoah Gyan, said the showing lacked hunger and desire.

Fast forward to the draw in Cape Coast and the team looked fresher and livelier. The pace was apparent and there was life to what we all saw.

The biggest points of improvement?

The first one was the tactical change to go for a win by bringing on Majeed Waris for Godfred Donsah.

Appiah was not afraid to go for victory and so, he doubled his central striking options. Dwamena and Waris had to find goals for the team and that was just too huge to ignore.

The old Kwesi Appiah may have either walked away from that call or he would have delayed in giving himself a chance to pluck victory.

But not this one. At least, against Egypt in Cape Coast.

The second point of improvement was the team’s sense of industry and urgency.

For this, Appiah and the players must share the praise.

Coaches can tell players to up the ante and yet, the status quo goes unchanged. At times, players may want to go for broke but the coach is afraid.

Against the Pharaohs, there was nothing to lose and so, the players went for it and the gaffer gave the guidelines from the side. They reflected his mindset and even his look.

The denim and white shirt he wore made him look young and smart. His players on the Cape Coast Stadium pitch looked the same and at times, better.

Edwin Gyasi’s deflected equaliser embodied the new Black Stars- eager to make something happen and having the guts to make an attempt.

Of course, the road towards Nirvana is very long and there will be sterner tests when they travel to Kenya and Ethiopia in the 2019 AFCON Qualifiers for instance.

A raucous atmosphere in Nairobi and the altitude in Addis Ababa will pose huge challenges.

The players will be tested greatly and the gaffer will have to work hard to find the answers to those quizzes.

One major challenge is finding a captain who will always be available to guide his mates properly on the pitch but that will come with time.

The other bother is goal scoring especially at home. Ghana only scored two goals in the three matches played in Ghana during the World Cup qualifiers and that must be resolved.

Of course, the 5-0 win over Ethiopia in Kumasi will be pointed to as a sign that things can get better and Appiah will have to try and get the goals flowing at home. Playing on the road seems not be a bother for the team.

However, as he continues to rebuild, Kwesi Appiah needs to take a good look at his rebuilding process and be happy at the progress.

They showed deadly precision on the break against Congo Brazzaville and Saudi Arabia and they were very bold against Egypt.

He must commend the team for working together and he must persist with decisions that will make some players realise that they could be cast away if they do not show themselves worthy of the jersey.

The ship is in motion and in Cape Coast, they sailed some distance in a good direction.

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Follow Nathan Quao on Twitter @nathan_quao

The post QUAO: Appiah taking good, solid baby steps appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ghana dominated the early stages of the game and went close from distance on a couple of occasions through Mubarak Wakaso and debutant Nana Opoku Ampomah.

Both teams were dealt first-half injury blows as Nana Opoku Ampomah for Ghana and Pharoah’s defender Ramy Rabia were stretchered off.

Ghana had a strong penalty shout on the 20th-minute mark when Raphael Dwamenna seemed to have been tripped by Egypt goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy, but the referee waved away the appeals.

The Black Stars continued to push and were denied twice on the stroke of half-time by Ekramy.

Egypt begun the second half stronger and went close straight after the restart through Shikabala, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Richard Ofori.

Ofori was called upon again a minute later to deny Ali Gabr from close range.

Raphael Dwamena then had a golden opportunity to give Ghana the lead, but he shot wide from 6 yards from a Lumor Agbenyenu cross.

The Egyptians soon punished Ghana’s wastefulness when Shikabala fired home from inside the box after a wonderful cross from Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ on the 60th-minute mark.

The goal seemed to wake the sleeping Black Stars who responded almost immediately through Edwin Gyasi after his shot from outside the box was deflected in off Egypt’s Ali Gabr.

The Black Stars had some good opportunities to grab the winning goal first, through Patrick Twumasi, who headed over the bar from point-blank range, and from substitute Richmond Boakye Yiadom, whose shot on the turn was saved brilliantly by Ekramy.

The result means the Black Stars failed to register a home win throughout the qualification campaign and finished 3rd with 7 points behind eventual group winners, Egypt, and Uganda.

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By: Daniel Koranteng/citifmonline.com/ Ghana

The post Ghana held 1-1 by Egypt in final World Cup qualifier appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The team received a rapturous welcome from the Cape Coast crowd upon arrival with fans bearing high hopes of finishing the disappointing campaign on a high.

Ghana have lost their last three competitive games against the Pharoahs and will be hoping to put an end to that poor run of form this afternoon.

The game kicks off at 3:30pm.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Photos: Black Stars arrive at Cape Coast Stadium appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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By: CitiSports

Photos By:  Joseph Ackon Mensah

The post 2018 WCQ: Black Stars hold training session in Cape Coast [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.