Milan Welcomes Adiyiah

Quick, inventive and with a superb first touch, Adiyiah is starting to hit the headlines in Europe almost as frequently as his goals came in Cairo. With Ronaldinho in blistering form, Pato in his elite standards and Pirlo, showing glimpses of his old self, the emerging chap can only learn in his time at Milan. Earning the Golden Boot and Best Player awards at the Under-20 tournaments was an extra conviction that he is set for a promising start in the Italian Serie A. Wish him all the best!

When Dominic Adiyiah arrived at the U-20 World Cup in Egypt, he was supposed to play second fiddle to proven youth striker Ransford Osei. And why not? Osei described by Fifa.com as an "opportunistic goal machine" had already won the golden boot at the African U-17, silver boot at the world U-17, and golden boot at the African U-20 championships. Adiyiah though, was no slouch coming into Egypt. He had been voted the MVP of the Ghana Premier League in 2007, and the Most Exciting Player in 2008. He also had a few games for the Black Satellites under his belt and a decent goal scoring record. But both had been at the African Youth Championship in Rwanda in January 2009 and Osei had outscored Adiyiah by 7 goals to 1.

The combination of these two bright talents proved too much for the defences in Egypt to handle. Between them they scored 12 goals. This time Adiyiah came out on top with 8 of the goals, a tally that won him the tournament's golden shoe. His scintillating performances also won him the golden boot, and it was inevitable that the big clubs would come calling. In the end Adiyiah penned for Italian giants AC Milan.

The 21-year old had his contract ratified in the January transfer window, but could not join the Rossoneri because of national team commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Now his work permit has been approved by the Italian embassy in Accra, and Adiyiah has arrived in Milan. He is expected to begin training with the 7-time European champions today.

"This is a new journey for me and I am going out there to do my very best for AC Milan," Adiyiah told Ghanasoccernet.com. "I know this will have a bearing on my national team prospects and I know the only solution is hard work. "I am going to work in forceful and full determination to be successful. I am confident I will succeed." In Italy he will come up against Ghanaian opposition - Sulley Muntari in Inter Milan, Stephen Appiah in Bologna, Jonathan Mensah and Kwadwo Asamoah in Udinese.

Africa waits.

Togo's Horrid Punishment Is An Outrage!

Staggering decision -insensitive at best, inhumane at worst. CAF in crisis. Its just absurd! The reason CAF gave for banning Togo was frivolous to say the least. This CAF stomach politicians masquerading as football administrators are Clowns of the highest order. These Clowns failed Togo by first of all awarding the right to Angola, a war torn country to host the AFCON.

That Cabinda, an enclave separated from mainland Angola shouldn't even have been enlisted as one of the cities to host the AFCON, but for cash, the mafias in CAF chose that jungle. They chose money over the welfare and interest of four nations (Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina) and subsequently hosted them in that jungle ignoring all the security risks. Of course what was Togo government to do? Sit idle in Togo and let his citizens be slaughtered in Cabinda? The government of Togo are responsible for the welfare of its citizens so should they have left them in the incapable hands of the mafias in CAF? Did I even hear the also ined them? What a joke! Togo should REFUSE to pay that penalty and big African countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Sud Africa, and the rest should also boycott the next 2 AFCONS!


Issa Hayatou’s actions/decisions to ban Togo is not just spiteful and shameful it is an insult to the Togolese officials who lost their lives in this tragic event. Infact, CAF’s action is the height of insult to the dignity of African life. To wit, the Togolese died for nothring! The timing of the announcement of the ban, at a time the competition has not ended betrays a lack of thoughtful and moral leadership at the secretariat and insensitivity towards families that are still in shock and are mourning their loved ones who lost their lives in the line of duty for their country.

Additionally, CAF is sending a very bad message to foreign-based African footballers. The organization’s actions portray some sincere lack of concern about the welfare African fottballers,at a time many foreign-based professionals reluctantly show up for national duty and those who show up are aware of the possibility of injury and loss first-team positions in their clubs.

For other African nations, in future, I won’t be surprised if some countries pull out off CAF competitions to be staged in some war-patched country unless CAF and the host can inequivocally guarantee the security and safety of foreign personnel.

Idiots running CAF!

Rajevac Finds Peace With Muntari

That Rajevac dumped Muntari was hot, but not unexpected news for die-hard Ghanaian soccer fans. The big breaktime topic in Ghana today is most definitely going to be about the consequences of the boy's exclusion if he doesn't make the SA bandwagon. Muntari may not have been a regular starter in Inter Milan this season, but sure is considered a key part of the formidable Black Stars midfield. Kwadwo Asamoah has stepped up to the plate and made good in Muntari's absence but the beleagured chap's experience is invaluable. I am of the opinion that no player is indispensable to the national team but you just cant debunk the role some players play in the team. It could cause a big stir if he is left out of the South Africa squad but looks like his found that humble pie with Rajevac.


Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has resolved his recent rift with Sulley Muntari as he plots the way forward ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Inter Milan midfielder Muntari was axed from last month's CAF Africa Cup of Nations squad due to disciplinary reasons. His absence was barely felt as the Black Stars, who were without several of their other star names through injury, finished runners-up behind Egypt.

However, a lack of experience in Angola was cited by Rajevac as one of the main reason's for the 1-0 loss in the final. And Serbian Rajevac has explained that Muntari's axing may have come about through a miscommunication.

"I was in Milan for two days and I called and sent him messages but he was not responding," Rajevac said. "He didn't get back to me and the decision to leave him out was taken. I spoke to the other players - Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan - who missed the Angola friendly game and asked them if they wanted to play in the Nations Cup and they all said yes.
I was in Milan for two days and I called and sent him messages but he was not responding. He didn't get back to me and the decision to leave him out was taken.
Milovan Rajevic on Sulley Muntari

"That was all I wanted to discuss with Muntari. Maybe there was a miscommunication. After that he called to apologise and we have sorted everything out. He's an option that we have and that's good for the team."

Rajevac also admitted he was especially interested in the discussion with Muntari to see whether the 25-year-old could help to convince Inter team-mate Mario Balotelli to represent the west African country. The striker was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, but has declined several call-ups by the Black Stars, outlining instead his intentions to play for Italy, who he has already represented at U-21 level.

Rajevac said: "I was in Milan for two days to talk to Muntari and also Balotelli. I also needed him (Muntari) to help with Balotelli because they are in the same side."

Looking ahead to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside Germany, Serbia and Australia, the coach pointed out that it will be key to have their best players available. Rajevac added: "We would need all players for the World Cup.

"For such a competition, you need players with experience and we can find that in John Mensah, John Pantsil, [Laryea] Kingston, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari. There are others too. They are very important players for the World Cup but it depends on them. I also require players who are willing to give of their best for Ghana."

Ghana to relaunch Balotelli Bid

The beleaguered chap is not a regular player at Inter Milan and considering the racism that plagues Italy, any chances are slim. He can try to buy their faces but he has less success in the Italian national team. Quick feet, a free-kick specialist, filled with tenacious shots and great aerial prowess but has less than 40% chances of representing the Italians at 2010 World Cup in South Africa and even beyond that time. The sure way to have a to step onto one of any of the pitches lies on the front of Ghana...


Ghana boss Miroslav Rajevac could soon travel to Italy to have talks with Inter star striker Mario Balotelli and enquire after his availability to play with the African side at this summer's World Cup finals, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

Balotelli was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and has already featured for the Nazionale at Under-21 level.

But Fifa rules would not prevent him from defecting to another national side at senior level and Ghana international midfielder Sulley Muntari and Rajevac's Serbian compatriot Dejan Stankovic are reportedly trying to convince their team-mate to seize this chance.

"He is a great talent and can become one of the best strikers in the world," said Rajevac, who had already revealed his desire to include Balotelli in his squad last December.

"Ghana are offering him a nice opportunity. He is of Ghanaian origins and he would find plenty of lads like him in our squad.

"Mario has the chance to take part in the World Cup with one of the most interesting teams and his arrival would be welcomed with enthusiasm. It's up to him: we'd be happy to have him at our disposal."

David Addy Joins FC Porto

A talented chap, a left foot thats full of surging runs down the right flanks and with insightful cross-ins, Addy should be a revelation in the Liga Sagres in Portugal. His emminent task would be to work his socks dirty to be the heir to Hans Adu Sarpie for the World Cup mundial in South Africa 2010.


Ghana starlet David Addy has joined Portuguese giants FC Porto from Danish side Randers FC in a deal reported to be in the region of 800,000 euros.

The 19-year-old, a member of Ghana's Fifa Under-20 World Cup winning squad, agreed a three- and-a-half year contract on Monday.

The left-back began his career back home with International Allies before joining Premier League side Wa All Stars where he played for one season.

Addy's performance with the Portuguese side could earn him a place in Ghana's World Cup squad as head coach Milovan Rajevac searches for a natural left-back.

Ghana ready for Egyptian Test

A passionate, tactical to the latter, relentless and resilient when the chips seem falling Ghanaian team against a very obstinate side at the back, nippy on the counter-attack and such splendor to watch in full elements Egyptian side. We all have seen Egypt's matches in the past 6 years and frankly, they are dominating the continent due to their stylish playing style and some outstanding key players like legendary Ahmed Hassan, Mohammed Zidan and Mohamed Aboutrika who is not present in Angola-2010 due to injury. It's a query they are unlucky in World Cup appearences. The Egyptian team has received some flake as they consistently builds up the fans' hopes by overcoming crazy odds, only to break down in the last match. It happened in the last Confederations Cup in Egyptand again in the World Cup Qualifiers against Algeria in Omdurman, Sudan.

This is no time to get another hands on the trophy. Lets go, Ghana!


If there is an inspirational story to come out of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, it has to be the emergence of a youthful and tenacious Ghana side, whose performances in Angola have won hearts and sent warnings through the continent that the Black Satellites have become fully fledged Black Stars.

Riddled by injury in the run-up to the tournament, coach Milovan Rajevac and his team have since had to deal with losing inspirational midfielder Michael Essien after he made a brief appearance at the biennial event. As a solution, the Serb-born coach has turned to a nucleus of players from the Satellites that made history by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt three months ago. Though they still have their highest mountain to climb on Sunday when they meet clinical and enterprising continental champions Egypt in the final, Ghana have already achieved more than anyone expected.

Holding their nerve
While nobody is too surprised that the Egyptians are playing for their third consecutive CAN, the young Ghanaians started the tournament as outsiders compared to the likes of Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. They had a shaky start - the Ivorians brushed them aside 3-1 in their opener - but the team showed remarkable confidence in winning their next three matches by the score of 1-0. And all were impressive.

Shrugging off the defeat to the Elephants, they beat Burkina Faso to advance from Group B when a draw would have seen them eliminated. And their two knockout wins, over Angola in front of a demanding home crowd and against their more experienced regional rivals Nigeria, proved them to be remarkably solid at the back and determined all around. Irrespective of the results at the 11 November Stadium in Luanda on Sunday, Ghana will have achieved much in reaching their eighth Cup of Nations final, though clearly the Black Stars have proven that they are capable of grinding out a result.
We have been enjoying ourselves and our football. I think we have done very well in this tournament. Most of the guys are hungry. They were presented with an opportunity and they grabbed it.
Ghana's Andre Ayew

They're playing with a level of confidence that the players are clearly enjoying. It has been apparent in the play of both veterans like Asamoah Gyan, scorer of three of Ghana’s four goals, and goalkeeping stalwart Richard Kingson, as well as the younger players like Andre Ayew, Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and Agyemang Opoku.

Ayew, the son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele (who was part of Ghana's last Nations Cup-winning squad in 1982), was one of the success stories at the U-20 World Cup, and he scored the winning goal against Burkina Faso. He says the team spirit couldn’t be higher. “We have been enjoying ourselves and our football. I think we have done very well in this tournament. Most of the guys are hungry. They were presented with an opportunity and they grabbed it,” he explained to FIFA.com.

Making Ghana proud
After losing players like Essien, John Mensah, Laryea Kingston, Stephen Appiah and others, Rajevac plugged the holes in his backline with Inkoom, Addy and 21-year-old Issac Vorsah, and they have been mostly cool under pressure. The rapid maturation of the youngsters has repaid the faith of the coach, and in return the boss will have a more mature squad when they are called to duty at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa this summer.

“One must give credit to these boys, they have done well,” said the coach after the 1-0 semi-final win over Nigeria. “They have exceeded all expectations. This is a young team. They were at this tournament to learn, and I think most of them have emerged better players. This has given them priceless exposure to international football and the demands of competing in big tournaments.”

Black Stars keeper, 31-year-old Richard Kingson, is one of the senior members of the team, and he also heaped praise on his young team-mates. “When the tournament started, most of the guys were a bit nervous, and that is expected when you have a young team. But they have adjusted and adapted well. From time to time, I have to shout some instructions because they are young and nerves might have the better of them. But they have made Ghana proud.”

They will try make Ghana even happier against an equally confident Egyptian team fresh off a 4-0 beating of Algeria in the semi-finals. The North Africans are trying to extend their 18-match unbeaten streak in the Cup of Nations and also win their seventh continental trophy.

FIFA

Ghana vs Nigeria- Angola 2010 Preview

Luanda, Thursday, 4pm. The Black Stars face perennial rivals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Forget history! It's a clash of teams who like to rip into each other, which means current form is likely to be the discriminator. Ghana presents an exciting young squad orchestrated by a crafty Serbian. Nigeria has not been pretty, but they have been productive. The Super Eagles are more about experience than youth, but they have good experience. The Nigerian team barely did just enough to scrap pass the Zambian side and such was the case for Ghana against Angola. It was a surpise that unfancied Zambia held Nigeria to a draw. Nigeria is certainly under-achieving. That said, both teams are excellent and would be extremely cautious and score few goals in between them. It would come down to who's calmer, makes less mistakes and who's got the most experience. My verdict- patriotism and self-interest put on hold- Ghana wins!

How do you think this derby will go?


Ghana face neighbours Nigeria in a charged west African derby here Thursday with the prize a ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations final. The semi-finalists who face off at Luanda's 11 November stadium made it through in wildly contrasting fashions. While four-time winners Ghana impressed in their 1-0 quarter-final win over hosts Angola, Nigeria laboured to a goalless extra-time draw with Zambia, only prevailing on penalties, with Israeli-based goalkeeper Victor Enyeama converting the decisive spot kick for a 5-4 win.

Despite their far from impressive performance Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac is too wily a coach to take Nigeria's form in Benguela at face value. "If you just look at Nigeria's quarter-final performance it can create a false impression," warned the Serb, speaking as ever with the help of his trusty translator.

"Yesterday (Tuesday) they showed they were an experienced team who knew what they wanted. "You can't draw any conclusions from that game, you have to look at the bigger picture. "Take for example Ivory Coast. They didn't play very well against Burkina Faso, then showed they could play a lot better in their next matches." Rajevac has worked wonders to get Ghana this far given the injury crisis he has had to contend with, Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien among a host of key players out injured.

Yet he said he wasn't surprised at Ghana's progress to the semi-finals. "When you consider we have eight younger players from Ghana's Under-20 World Cup winning team combined with some experienced players it's an excellent mix. "My team has proved its quality, they know how to compete, they are tough, and there is an excellent atmosphere and spirit in the squad." Rajevac is due to welcome back Norwegian-based midfielder Anthony Annan, who has missed all of Ghana's matches in Angola up to now. "Anthony is recovering well and we can use him for the semi-final," Rajevac confirmed.

However, he will be without Agyemang Opuku, who is suspended. Rajevac, meanwhile, may be a 'blow in' from Serbia but he doesn't need reminding of the importance Ghanaians attach to beating Nigeria. "There is a definite rivalry between the two countries. On top of that this is a semi-final in the Africa Cup of Nations, with a place in the final up for grabs." Recent history is on Ghana's side, after they knocked out Nigeria in the quarter-finals at the 2008 competition on home soil.

Asamoah Gyan scored the decisive goal in Ghana's quarter-final win over the hosts in Luanda on Sunday and the Rennes striker is relishing facing Nigeria again. Gyan said: "Every Ghanaian knows how important it is to play Nigeria. We are ready for them and prepared and we will stick to the game plan that the coach has mapped out for us. "We beat Nigeria two years ago. We have a lot of young guys in the team but we are concentrated and we will do everything possible to win."

Ghana are four time winners of the competition but their last title dates back to 1982. Nigeria, meanwhile, champions in 1980 and 1994, have yet to catch fire in Angola, and will have to put in a more convincing display than they did against Zambia to see off Ghana. Nigeria's under-fire coach Shaibu Amodu said after edging Zambia: "I was worried for the reputation of Nigeria, not for my job. It wouldn't have been good to once again be knocked out in the quarter-finals. "We've said from day one that we have a team that can win this tournament. I know that I have the players to win it. "We didn't play very well against Zambia but we showed how to play as a team. "We're not at our best at the moment but we are improving all the time, and in five months (at the World Cup) we'll be a lot better."