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.

Four goals from Priscilla Adubea, and a goal from Helena Obeng, has put the national U20 female in pole position to make it to the next stage of the qualifiers.

Helene Obeng gave Ghana the lead before Adubea’s double brace for Coach Yusuf Basigi’s side.

The Princesses will travel to Kenya in a fortnight for the return encounter as they aim at making it to the last stage of the qualifiers.

Ghana beat Algeria 10-0 on aggregate, to make it to this stage of the competition.

Ghana will play Cameroon in their final qualifying match to book a place in next year’s World Cup to be played in France.
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By: Ghanafa.org

The post Black Princesses thrash Kenya 5-0 in World Cup qualifier appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Interim manager Gareth Southgate said the decision was tactical and not a reflection of the forward’s form.

Rooney, who was booed by sections of the Wembley crowd during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Malta, has not started Manchester United’s past three matches.

The 30-year-old said there was “no embarrassment” in being on the bench.

Rooney will retain the captaincy but Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will be the on-field skipper on Tuesday.

England’s record scorer and most-capped male outfield player, with 53 goals in 117 appearances, Rooney has netted once in 12 games for club and country this season.

“My game now? Of course, I’m not denying it is in a difficult period. I’ve been on the bench the last few games for Manchester United but that’s part of football,” said Rooney.

“I have to work hard and, when I’m needed for both club and country, I’ll make sure I’m ready.”

Tottenham’s Eric Dier will replace Rooney in midfield against Slovenia.

Southgate added: “We have looked at the way Slovenia play and I knew in my mind the profile of the midfield I wanted to play in this game. In no way is it a reflection of Wayne’s performance on Saturday.

“He had a lot of the ball and played with great tactical discipline. It’s not an easy decision to take because of the respect I have for him as the captain of this team.”

Rooney said being dropped by England had not changed his plans to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Asked if he was surprised to be left out, he added: “No, I think it is football.

“I’ve played 13 years non-stop for England and given everything. A time comes when you’re not the first name on the team sheet, which I have been in the past.”

Rooney also praised Henderson, 26, who succeeded Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain.

“I think Jordan is a fantastic leader,” added Rooney. “He has taken a difficult job from Steven Gerrard and grown into the position.

“He has great leadership qualities and he deserves his chance. It will be an incredibly proud moment for him and his family.”

‘Rooney has acted with a lot of class’
Wayne Rooney has acted with a lot of class and it is not easy for him to take being dropped. He has taken it gracefully.

Southgate has made the right decision. There isn’t a place for Rooney in the current England team, it is as simple as that and we have to move on now.

You have to credit Southgate. The past two England managers didn’t have the gumption to drop him and he should have been dropped.
Settled position would help – Rooney

Rooney has mainly played in an advanced midfield role for United this season, but deeper for England.

Asked if his game would benefit from a settled position, he replied: “It would, of course. But that’s the managers’ decision where they want me to play.

“I am not naive in terms of thinking that I am still a 20-year-old who could do what I could do when I was 20.

“I am 30 years of age. I am not 35 or 36 where you are thinking, ‘can you get back from it?’ I feel fine.

“[Manchester United great] Ryan Giggs at 30 wasn’t the same player as at 18 – and he played till he was 40. Players re-evaluate and work out the best way to move forwards. I’m sure that will happen with me.

“After the summer it would have been easy for me to walk away and say: ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’ But that’s not me.”

We haven’t looked after Wayne – Southgate
Southgate said he did not like the idea of “satisfying” Rooney’s critics by dropping his captain, and said he was “more annoyed” than Rooney by the negative reaction.

“There is a thing of respect and unfortunately very often we don’t see it fully until players retire and they are finished. I know that is the case,” he said.

Southgate said he remembered former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson saying of a young Rooney: “Look after him, he’s your future.”

He added: “I’m not sure we’ve always done that.”

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Source: BBC

The post Dropped Rooney in a ‘difficult period’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Ghana will play the Cranes at the Tamale Sports Stadium in the opening group fixture of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Friday at 15:00 GMT.

The three players, who hail from northern Ghana, insist that they want to give the kids in the region a lifetime opportunity of watching a Black Stars game for the first time.

According to reports in Tamale, Ayew will arrive on Friday and has promised to purchase five thousand tickets while Wakaso and Baba Rahman will combine to buy another five thousand tickets.

The trio is from the Northern part of the country and their actions will be seen as a huge act of generosity.

On Thursday, fans of the Black Stars in Tamale were complaining over the high prices in tickets and this will come as a huge relief to them.

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By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Andre Ayew, Wakaso and Baba Rahman purchase tickets for Tamale fans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Stars arrived in the capital of the Northern Region on Wednesday for the match. However, Grant said that he was concerned by the heat but stated that both teams would have to face the same challenge on match day.

“It will be hot for both teams. It is not nice to play in this heat and it will be good if it were cooler but it will be the same weather for both teams so we do not want to talk a lot about it.”

The Israeli coach praised the receptiveness of the fans and urged them to turn up for the match.

“The welcome from the fans was very good and the players like to be here. The atmosphere and we are happy.”

Captain Asamoah Gyan shared similar sentiments to the media.

“Fans always play an  important role in football. They play about ten percent of the match and so, we are expecting more fans on Friday. They are a part of the team.When the team is playing, we talk about Ghana and we appeal to them to come to the stadium. There are no doubts because the last two matches we have played here have been watched by a lot of fans.”

The team will train again at 3pm on Thursday while the Ugandans will train at the Tamale Stadium at 4pm on Thursday.

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By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Avram Grant concerned about Tamale heat appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.