Ghana’s Golden Shuttlers have received a warm reception from key sports stakeholders following their impressive five-medal return from competitions in Cairo, Egypt, with promises of support to sustain the growth of badminton.

The seven-member junior team who arrived back home last Friday and officials of the Ghana Badminton Association (BAG), led by President Evans Yeboah, paid courtesy calls on Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Kofi Akpokavie, Ghana Sports Fund Administrator Dr David Kofi Wuaku and Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) President Kwabena Yeboah.

The team won four medals at the All-Africa Under-19 Championships — one silver and three bronze — before securing the gold Team Cheers Award in the 2026 BWF World Junior Championships, becoming the first African country to win the accolade.

Mr Akpokavie congratulated the players and urged them to set their sights on senior-level success, while promising to explore opportunities for specialised training in badminton powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.

“This is only the U-19 stage, you must be aiming at senior level,” he advised, stressing that education and sport should complement each other in shaping their futures.

Dr Wuaku challenged BAG to translate the team’s promise into a sustainable development programme through practical, costed proposals covering junior development, equipment, coaching and international exposure.

“Talent alone does not win championships; it must be backed by investment, opportunity and the right structures,” he said, assuring the association that proposals would be considered within the Fund’s mandate and available resources.

SWAG chief Kwabena Yeboah praised the players for excelling despite limited support and pledged the sports media’s commitment to telling their stories.

“You made us proud with the little support you receive, you put smiles on our faces,” he said, urging the players to maintain their discipline, commitment and dedication.

BAG president Evans Yeboah expressed appreciation for the stakeholders’ recognition and support, highlighting the medals, international exposure and opportunities gained by the young players. He said the association would continue working to build a strong system capable of producing champions for generations.

He stressed that the courtesy calls mark the beginning of further engagements with stakeholders, scholarships, media partnerships, Asian training exposure and support for the association’s Mission 2032 ambitions among the priorities.

Semenyo sustained the problem in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Ipswich.

Maresca said the club had feared the injury could have been even worse.

The City boss said: “After the scan we feel much better because it’s not as bad as we expected.

“It could be eight weeks, so now the most important thing is for him to recover.”

Maresca delivered a more positive update on Erling Haaland after he left the field limping at the weekend following a blow to the foot.

“He can be available,” Maresca said ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against AEK Athens. “We have a session now and we’ll see.”

The Black Stars attacker made a substitute appearance as the Sky Blues secured a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the highly competitive clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Semenyo replaced Belgian-Ghanaian forward Jeremy Doku in the 77th minute.

However, the victory was overshadowed by injury concerns involving several key players, including Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic.

Speaking after the match, Maresca expressed hope that Semenyo’s injury was not a serious one.

“Hopefully they [Semenyo and Haaland] are good, but they are big players for us.

“Same for any team losing their best two players. It’s difficult for everyone, but we’ll see what’s happened and hopefully find a solution,” Maresca told Sky Sports after the game.

The former Chelsea manager provided further details on the players’ conditions while speaking to the club’s media.

“I asked all of them. Mateo said he was okay, Matheus said he was okay, Erling said he was also okay. Nico, it’s still his back. The only one we need to wait on was Antoine, and we will see,” he said.

The Ghana international has continued to make an impact for the Premier League giants this season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in nine appearances across competitions.

The historic change was announced at Tuesday’s preliminary-round draw at the GFA headquarters in Accra, where lower-division clubs learnt their opponents for the opening stage of the country’s premier knockout competition.

Under the new arrangement, the final will be played over two legs, with the first scheduled for June 5–7, 2027, and the return leg set for June 12–13.

Frank Nelson of the FA Cup Committee described the format as a pilot initiative intended to give both finalists the opportunity to stage a major cup match before their home supporters.

“The two-legged final is a pilot project; however, if it works, it goes on,” he said, urging communities to embrace the competition.

The preliminary draw divided participating teams into 10 zones, producing several intriguing match-ups. Victory Club Warriors will face Eleven Wonders, Real Tamale United meet Yapei United, while Okwawu United take on Kotoku Royals.

Other notable fixtures include Great Olympics against MSK Zilina Africa, Golden Kick SC versus Attram De Visser, Accra Lions against John Paintsil FC and Tamale City’s clash with Wa Power SC.

The preliminary round will determine which lower-division sides advance to the Round of 64, where Ghana Premier League clubs will enter the competition. The remaining stages comprise the Round of 32, quarter-finals and semi-finals before the two-legged finale.

This season’s campaign will run under the theme “My MTN FA Cup, My Community”, with organisers calling on traditional leaders and residents to support their local teams and promote peaceful competition.

Established in 1958, the FA Cup remains a pathway for clubs beyond the top flight to challenge established sides. MTN Ghana became the competition’s headline sponsor in the 2010/11 season, when Nania FC beat Asante Kotoko 1–0 in the final.

Nations FC begin their title defence after beating Dreams FC on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time last season. The winners will earn the opportunity to represent Ghana in the CAF Confederation Cup, subject to qualification requirements.

Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) President Dauda Fuseni says the Black Bombers will face a series of international tests as the national team intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers, beginning with Saturday’s 10-fight friendly against Metro Detroit Golden Gloves at the Bukom Boxing Arena.

Fuseni will miss the Accra contest because of working engagements in the United States, where he has over the past week been studying American excellence in combat sports and exploring opportunities to strengthen Ghana’s amateur boxing structures.

He held discussions with USA Boxing Executive Director and CEO Mike McAtee on a potential strategic partnership covering athlete development, coaching education, training exchanges, high-performance systems and international opportunities for Ghanaian boxers. He also met USA Boxing Elite National Team head coach Billy Walsh and toured the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre.

“My visit to the United States is about learning the American excellence in combat that cuts across all combat sports, including boxing, judo, MMA, Muay Thai and wrestling,” Fuseni told the Graphic Sports.

The GBF chief said his study visit also covered regulatory systems, safety standards, anti-doping measures and the business of sport, including its impact on youth development and opportunities.

On the Detroit encounter, Fuseni described it as the first in a series of competitive tests designed to expose Ghana’s boxers to different opposition, with the tough Olympic qualifiers in mind.

“We all know the strength of America when it comes to boxing, and engaging the Detroit Golden Gloves is a step in that direction,” he said.

The GBF president disclosed that the Black Bombers would also participate in the debut IBA President’s Cup in Instabul, Turkey, and face a French boxing side, both in December, as well as an English team in March 2027, keeping the squad active ahead of Olympic qualification events expected in the summer of 2027.

Ghana is also hoping to secure hosting rights for the continental Olympic qualification tournament, he disclosed.

The federation’s programme includes participation by Ghanaian teams – concurrently – at both the 2026 (International Boxing Association) IBA African Elite Men and Women’s Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo from October 19-November 1, and the inaugural World Boxing (WB) African Championships scheduled for October 15–28, 2026, at Nairobi’s Kasarani Indoor Arena, Kenya.

Fuseni’s strategy is to build a battle-tested team through sustained international competition, technical development and partnerships as Ghana pursues a stronger presence on the road to LA 2028.

Despite taking a 2-0 lead, Carlos Queiroz’s side collapsed in the second half to leave Ghana bottom of Group C with no points from two games.

Queiroz made three changes from the side that lost to Cote d’Ivoire, handing Benjamin Asare a start in goal, with Jonas Adjetey replacing the injured Alexander Djiku and Felix Afena-Gyan coming in for Christopher Bonsu Baah.

Ghana started on the front foot as expected and were rewarded in the 18th minute. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku’s corner kick from the right found Jerome Opoku, who was fouled in the box for a penalty.

Ernest Nuamah smashed home the opening goal in the 27th minute as he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to bring the stadium alive. Six minutes later, Felix Afena-Gyan drilled home a delightful low drive into the bottom corner to give Ghana a 2-0 lead.

The Gambia, who were without star man Yankuba Minteh, responded well and pulled one back from the spot through Mohammed Badamosi in the 37th minute. Ebrima Colley then found space in the box before planting the ball into the back of the net for the equaliser.

The Gambia came out transformed after the break, but it was Ghana who made two quick substitutions, with Benjamin Tetteh and Ibrahim Sulemana coming on for Brandon Thomas-Asante and Kwasi Sibo.

The turning point came in the 71st minute. A quick counter-attack caught Ghana’s defence out and Mohammed Badamosi slotted home to give the visitors a 3-2 lead, silencing the Accra crowd.

Queiroz introduced Augustine Boakye and Christopher Bonsu Baah for Kojo Peprah Oppong and Ernest Nuamah to add more attacking options, but Ghana struggled to create clear chances with The Gambia sitting deep.

The defeat was sealed in the 88th minute when Ebrima Colley delivered the decisive blow, scoring his second goal of the night to complete a memorable 4-2 victory for The Gambia.

The result leaves Ghana in a difficult position in Group C. The Gambia move to six points from two games.

Credit: Ghana FA

The two sides produced an entertaining opening spell, with both teams showing attacking intent. Ghana eventually broke the deadlock on the 24th minute when Hope Agbasi finished off a flawless cross from Yaw Acheampong to give the Black Starlets the lead.

Ghana continued to apply pressure after taking the lead and came close to doubling their advantage on two occasions. However, efforts from Alidu Issah and Yaw Acheampong were kept out by the Moroccan goalkeeper as the Starlets went into the break with a narrow advantage.

Few minutes into the second half, Yaw Acheampong took on his marker before being brought down inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Alidu Issah stepped up to confidently convert the resulting penalty, doubling Ghana’s lead.

The Black Starlets continued to search for more goals as substitute Gavi Robinho came close with a long-range effort, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar. Another substitute Nii Odoi Tawiah also had an opportunity from a rebound, only for his effort to be blocked by a Moroccan defender and diverted for a corner.

The victory gives Coach Kassim Mingle and his technical team a positive start to the two-match series as they continue preparations for the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Starlets and Morocco U17 side will meet again in the second friendly at the King Mohammed VI Football Complex on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Credit: Ghana FA

Carlos Queiroz’s side held a recovery and training session a day after arriving from Bouaké, where Ghana suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in the group opener on Thursday.

The team is now focused on bouncing back against the Scorpions. Training on Saturday involved recovery work for those who started in Bouaké, while the rest of the squad went through full tactical drills.

Ghana will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Black Stars will be desperate to get their qualification campaign back on track with a win in front of their home fans.

The team will continue preparations with a final training session on Monday before the matchday.

Our team photographer Emmanuel Osei was at the Accra Sports Stadium to capture these moments:

Credit: Ghana FA

Carlos Queiroz’s side began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, leaving Ghana without a point ahead of their first home assignment. Goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié condemned the Black Stars to a difficult start.

The result makes Tuesday’s encounter an important opportunity for Ghana to open their points account and regain momentum in Group C, which also includes Somalia.

Queiroz will again have to work with a reshaped squad after several established players became unavailable. Mohammed Kudus withdrew as he continues his recovery following a lengthy injury lay-off, while Antoine Semenyo and other players have also been affected by injuries.

The coach subsequently added nine players to his squad, including Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan.

Ghana will need to produce greater attacking efficiency after struggling to turn possession and opportunities into goals in Bouaké. Queiroz is expected to demand a more assertive display from his players, particularly in the final third, as they seek to make home advantage count.

The Gambia will also arrive in Accra with points in mind. The Scorpions are scheduled to begin their qualifying campaign against Somalia later this evening before travelling to Ghana, giving their clash with the Black Stars added significance.

The fixture also comes against the backdrop of continued corporate support for Ghana’s national teams. MTN Ghana is the headline sponsor of the Black Stars, Black Queens, Black Satellites and Black Starlets under a US$2 million, two-year partnership with the Ghana Football Association running until August 2027. The agreement is designed to support preparation and development across the four national teams.

With the campaign now underway, Ghana will be seeking to repay that support with a strong response on the pitch.

The Black Stars host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m. GMT.

The match at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake proved to be a revisit of the infamous debacle of the Black Stars in 1984 when they bowed out of the Afcon at the group stage as defending champions.

The Stars began well, matching the Elephants boot-for-boot in a pacey start to the Group C qualifiers.

It got a little heated at some point, leading to Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal flashing the yellow card to Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante.

With a minute to end the first half, Thomas-Asante’s Premier League mate Malick Junior Yalcouye, who was making his debut for the national team, caught the Ghanaian defence off-guard to send in a 20-yard strike to beat Lawrence Ati-Zigi at the near post and send the home fans into raptures.

Twelve minutes after the break, Yalcouye benefitted from a soft penalty after he was touched by another Premier League star Abdul-Fatawu Issahaku.

Referee Ghorbal may have made a mistake with the call but Ivorian captain Franck Kessie made no mistake as he doubled the lead for the Elephants.

Ghana came close to halving the score with Coventry City midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi hitting a free ball at goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.

Substitute Benjamin Tetteh also had his free header saved by the Turkey-based goalie.

It ended 2-0 as the Black Stars return home to prepare for their next qualifier against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.