Author: LEGON CNN

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SPORTS

Popular Hearts of Oak supporter Paa Kofi Sumsum is dead, Ghanasoccernet.com can confirm.

Post author By LEGON CNN
Post date August 3, 2021
No Comments on Popular Hearts of Oak supporter Paa Kofi Sumsum is dead, Ghanasoccernet.com can confirm.

Sumsum died on Monday afternoon as he was unable to recover from a brief illness.

This comes less than 24 hours after Hearts of Oak booked their place in the MTN FA Cup final with an impressive 3-0 victory over Medeama.

Sumsum’s last post on social media was on July 10. He posted a picture of himself celebrating Hearts of Oak’s success in the Ghana Premier League.

The Phobians ended their 12-year wait for the league crown on July 11 when they drew 1-1 with Liberty Professionals in Accra.

Hearts can secure a domestic double on Sunday, August 8 when they face AshantiGold in the FA Cup final.

But should they win, their staunch supporter Sumsum won’t celebrate with them.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Serie A side Genoa CFC have reached an agreement with Turkish Superlig side Trabzonspor for the services of Black Stars forward Caleb Ekuban.

Genoa have already agreed personal terms with Ekuban and will join them on a three-year contract after passing medical.

The 27-year-old is expected to undergo his medical examination this week and complete his move to Italy subsequently.

Ekuban’s transfer from Trabzonspor to Genoa will cost around 2.2 million Euros.

The former Leeds United player had an instrumental campaign in the Turkish top-flight last term where he scored 10 goals in 32 appearances.

Ekuban began his career in Italian at Mantova Youth before moving to Chievo Verona where he spent at 7 years at the youth and senior levels.

He enjoyed loan spells at FC Suditrol, FC Lumezzane, AC Renate all in Italy and also FK Partizani in Albania.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Hasaacas Ladies beat Burkinabe side Union Sportive des Forces Armees 2-0 on Monday, 2 August 2021, to reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament.

The Ghanaian champions have managed to cover from their opening match defeat to reach the final of the WAFU Zone B tournament in Abidjan.

Yusif Bassigi’s side shot into the lead on the nick of half time when Veronica Appiah jumped to head in a cross from the left on 44 minutes.

Before that though, Hasaacas had struck the bar twice.

The first was in the 25th when Evelyn Badu free-kick from 30 yards smashed the crossbar but the connection on the rebound was cleared out.

Another free-kick from the left side from Perpetual Agyekum also struck the side post on rolled on the goal line before being cleared out.

Before the half hour, Doris Boaduwaa shot from inside the box after receiving a wall-pass from Appiah for the second goal.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

The venue for this season’s MTN FA Cup final has been revealed with Accra Sports Stadium hosting the clash between Hearts of Oak and AshantiGold on Sunday 8 August.

Hearts of Oak – who holds the record as the most successful club in the history of the FA Cup with 10 titles will come up against 1993 champions AshantiGold SC from Obuasi.

The two teams booked their spots in the final after earning impressive wins on Sunday in Cape Coast.

After AshantiGold needed extra time to claim a 4-1 win against Berekum Chelsea, league champions Hearts of Oak thumped Medeaama 3-0.

The FA Cup final is returning to the capital for the first time in seven years following the decision of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to rotate the venues for the final matches.

The last final that was held at the Accra Sports stadium was in 2014 when Asante Kotoko beat Inter Allies 2-1 to win a record eighth FA Cup title.

The match between Accra Hearts of Oak and AshantiGold SC, scheduled for 5 pm will be broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa 247.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag is annoyed that his trusted midfielder Mohammed Kudus may not be available for the club’s first match of the season due to injury.

Kudus is nursing an ankle injury and has been ruled out of the Johan Cruijff Shield this weekend against PSV.

And his availability is unknown as Ajax get their campaign underway next week with a home meeting against NEC Nijmegen.

Injury disrupted Kudus’ fine form in pre-season, and that has left Erik ten Hag irritated.

“Very annoying. I expect his walker to come off this week. Then we can look further,” the Ajax head coach has said in an interview.

Erik ten Hag added, “We have no indication. The past taught me that I have to be careful. NEC will be a difficult story.”

Although he ended his first season with two trophies, Kudus sat out of action for four months with a meniscal injury.

He will hope to return to action soon and stay fit throughout the season

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Ghanaian sports journalist, Rahman Osman has joined English media outlet JPIMedia as a specialist football writer for its national news website NationalWorld.

The former GHANASoccernet writer will be writing for titles including The Scotsman, Yorkshire Evening Post, the Sunderland Echo and other regional title.

Rahman Osman left Ghana for England some few years ago and has since expanded his territory, writing for media giants such as the Mirror, the Daily Star, the Independent and the BBC.

He holds a masters in International and multi media journalism from the University of Westminster.

Before leaving the shores of the West African country, the affable journo had also worked as a radio and TV presenter with Accra based media houses Citi FM and ETV Ghana.

He broke the news of his new move on Twitter with the post: “Since it’s transfer season, I can confirm I have joined JPIMedia as a specialist football writer. I’ll be inking about football on NationalWorld, The Scotsman, YEP, Sunderland Echo among other nationals and regionals across the UK.”

The intelligent journalist impressed JPIMedia’s national sports editor Ross Gregory, who was delighted by the capture of the Ghanaian.

“I’m delighted Rahman has joined our NationalWorld team of football writers. He will focus his coverage around the London teams ahead of the new season,” he told HTFP.

“He was a great candidate, one of the most impressive I’ve interviewed. Since he moved to the country from Ghana just a few years ago he has shown great dedication, imagination and ambition to become a football writer and we’re delighted to offer him this opportunity.

“The audience on NationalWorld is younger than other titles in our portfolio. We believe Rahman, and other new football writers we have recruited like Molly Burke, Ben Ramsdale and Michael Plant fit perfectly into the company’s strategy of giving opportunities to a diverse group of journalists who previously may not have been given a voice.

“There is a lot of young talent out there from a mixture of backgrounds, reflective of the diversity in communities around the UK, and we want to tap into that.”

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

EDUCATION SPORTS

HEADLINES ██████████████

📌📌Harry Kane determined to join Manchester City

📌📌‘Xhaka is staying at Arsenal’ – Arteta confirms Roma move is off

📌📌Real Madrid’s Odriozola tests positive for coronavirus

📌📌Leeds interested in Traore deal as Wolves place £30m pricetag on winger

📌📌Nagelsmann ‘confident’ Goretzka will extend Bayern Munich contract

📌📌Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Moukoko reveals he wanted to quit football

📌📌Germany will not repeat Hummels & Muller saga, insists Flick

📌📌Aston Villa confirm Leon Bailey transfer agreement

📌📌Barcelona ‘fed up’ with Ilaix Moriba contract demands

📌📌Saul Niguez’s representatives to fly to England to negotiate Man Utd move

📌📌Gary Cahill confirms departure from Crystal Palace

█████████████████

RESULTS AND FIXTURES

█████████████████

📌📌 WEEKEND’S RESULTS

🌏🌏Olympics Men – Quarter-finals
FT Spain 5 – 2 Côte d’Ivoire

FT Japan 0 – 0 New Zealand (PK 4-2)

FT Brazil 1 – 0 Egypt

FT Korea Republic 3 – 6 Mexico

🌏🌏Concacaf – Gold Cup Final
FT United States 1 – 0 Mexico

NB: USA win Gold Cup for the 7th time

🇫🇷🇫🇷France – Trophée des Champions
FT Lille 1 – 0 PSG

🌏🌏Pre-season friendly Matches
FT Stuttgart 0-3 Barcelona

FT Manchester City 4-0 Barnsley

FT Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

FT Coventry City 1-2 Wolves

FT Monza 1-2 Juventus

FT Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Bologna

FT Sevilla 0-0 AS Roma 0-0

FT Nice 1-1 AC Milan

FT Bayern Munich 0-3 Napoli

FT Atletico Madrid 2-1 Wolfsburg

════════════════

🚩🚩FIXTURES TODAY
📆📆2ND AUGUST 2021
⏰⏰TIME IN GMT

🌍🌍Olympics – Women Semi-finals
United States 08 : 00 Canada

Australia 11 : 00 Sweden

██████████████ *SPANISH PAPERS*

✍️✍️Lionel Messi was expected to reports at Barcelona training on 2nd August but according to Mundo Deportivo, Messi isn’t expected to join training on August 2nd. The Argentine forward won’t reappear at the Ciutat Esportiva before he signs a new deal.

✍️✍️Barcelona star Gerard Pique is confident Lionel Messi will agree a new contract at the Camp Nou this summer.

✍️✍️Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman is delighted by the preseason form of key pair Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay after their 3-0 victory over Stuttgart.

✍️✍️Joan Laporta greeted the Barcelona squad at the team hotel in Germany following their 3-0 victory at Stuttgart on Sunday.

✍️✍️Real Madrid are looking to extend Karim Benzema’s contract and are set to offer the French international an extension until June 2023.

✍️✍️Real Madrid outcast Luka Jovic has failed to convince Carlo Ancelotti, and the club is pushing hard to offload him in the next few weeks.

✍️✍️Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho are likely to stay at Barça this season. Koeman counts on both players. After Leo Messi, they are the highest paid players in the squad.

✍️✍️The entourage of Miralem Pjanić has contacted Juventus to try and accelerate his possible signing. The Italian side must now decide what to do with this message.

✍️✍️Real Madrid confirm that defender Álvaro Odriozola has tested positive for Covid-19.

✍️✍️Samuel Umtiti has agreed to leave Barcelona on loan, but only to a club that either plays in the Champions League or has the chance of winning a title.

✍️✍️Real Madrid could revisit their previous interest in Villarreal defender Pau Torres ahead of the 2021/22 La Liga season.

✍️✍️Sevilla could swoop for Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez if Jules Kounde moves on this month.

✍️✍️Lille want to sign Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Ivo Grbić, according to Matteo Moretto. *FRENCH PAPERS*

✍️✍️Mauricio Pochettino has lost 8 of his 35 matches as PSG manager – a 22.9% loss rate – the worst for a coach in the QSI era.

✍️✍️According to French outlet L’Equipe, Lille have named a price tag of €35 million for Liverpool target Renato Sanches.

✍️✍️Hugo Lloris had taken exception to not being made aware of Karim Benzema’s return to the French team in advance, and is due a discussion with Didier Deschamps in the next international break.

✍️✍️Lyon have made an enquiry for Euro 2020 winner and Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri, according to Foot Mercato. *GERMAN PAPERS*

✍️✍️Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller have undergone their performance tests at Säbener Straße yesterday. The trio will join the rest of the team in training today.

✍️✍️New Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is ‘confident’ that Leon Goretzka will sign a new contract despite interest from Manchester United.

✍️✍️Negotiations between Bayern and Anderlecht for Joshua Zirkzee have picked up speed today. A loan deal without option to buy is realistic and could be closed this week.

✍️✍️Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement for the transfer of Leon Bailey, subject to finalising personal terms & passing a medical. *ITALIAN PAPERS*

✍️✍️Luciano Spalletti feels Napoli are ‘on the right track’ after their remarkable 3-0 pre-season friendly win away to Bayern Munich.

✍️✍️Former AC Milan star Andriy Shevchenko has left his position as the head coach of Ukraine, just weeks after guiding his country to the quarter finals of Euro 2020.

✍️✍️Nice coach Christophe Galtier praised AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud’s strength in the air after the France international scored in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

✍️✍️Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta rules out Granit Xhaka’s move to Roma: ‘He is going to stay with us.’

✍️✍️Cristian Romero will reportedly inform Atalanta today that he want’s to join Tottenham this summer as he feels its ‘an opportunity he can’t miss’.

✍️✍️Bologna have officially announced Marko Arnautovic’s arrival from Shanghai Port after anticipating the news with a funny video.

✍️✍️Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has reportedly entered talks with Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic.

✍️✍️Inter Milan expect to have the full squad back in training today and Christian Eriksen will arrive in Milan in the middle of this week.

✍️✍️TottenhamHotspur and Juventus are reportedly interested in Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic, who could move away from the Artemio Franchi this summer.

✍️✍️Fabrizio Romano confirms that Juventus are now set to sign Kaio Jorge, who can indeed arrive in Italy this week.

✍️✍️Inter have made their demand very clear for Lautaro Martinez and have rejected Arsenal’s offer of an Alexandre Lacazette swap deal, report La Gazzetta dello Sport.

✍️✍️Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Josip Ilicic has asked to leave the club and he’s already on the lookout for a new team for next season.

███████████████

BRITISH EXPRESS

███████████████ *MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS*

✒️✒️Manchester City will end their pursuit of Tottenham striker Harry Kane, if they sign England team-mate Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.

✒️✒️Manchester City ‘want Jack Grealish to tell Aston Villa that he wants to leave this summer’ when he returns to pre-season training Today.

✒️✒️Manchester United have already started putting plans in place to replace Paul Pogba if he leaves Old Trafford this summer with Saul Niguez at the top of a three-man list of possibilities.

✒️✒️Representatives of Atletico Madrid and Spain midfielder Saul Niguez will fly to England on Monday to discuss a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Liverpool leading the chase for the 26-year-old.

✒️✒️Manchester United are to open talks over a new contract for defender Luke Shaw. The 26-year-old’s deal runs out in 2023 and United want to reward his upturn in form which saw him star for England at Euro 2020.

✒️✒️Manchester City’s £200m pursuit of Harry Kane and Jack Grealish has coincided with talks over Raheem Sterling’s new contract failing to progress.

✒️✒️Harry Kane will hold talks with Tottenham next week and insist he wants to join Jack Grealish by signing for Manchester City. *LONDON EVENING STANDARD*

✒️✒️Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira is going back to Arsenal with a bid for winger Reiss Nelson.

✒️✒️Aston Villa will consider moving for Norwich City’s attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell if Jack Grealish departs for Manchester City.

✒️✒️Crystal Palace want to sign English forward Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig on loan, but will likely face competition from Burnley and Watford for the 23-year-old. *BRITISH MIRROR*

✒️✒️Atletico Madrid have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign Inter Milan’s 23-year-old Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, who is valued at around 90m euros (£76.8m).

✒️✒️Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez, has been told he does not feature in manager Rafael Benitez’s plans at Everton and is free to leave if the club receives a suitable offer.

✒️✒️Wolves have expressed an interest in signing Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey from Juventus, although the 30-year-old is not convinced by a move to Molineux. *LIVERPOOL ECHO*

✒️✒️Jamie Carragher has warned that Virgil van Dijk’s return doesn’t mean Liverpool will “automatically win the league again” *BRITISH MAIL*

✒️✒️Tottenham have had a £43m bid for 23-year-old Argentina defender Cristian Romero accepted by Atalanta.

✒️✒️Leeds are interested in signing Spain winger Adama Troare from Wolves, with the 25-year-old valued at about £30m.

✒️✒️Tottenham, managed by former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, are also considering a move for Traore. *LONDON FOOTBALL*

✒️✒️Arsenal have been dealt a blow ahead of the new season with Mikel Arteta admitting that the injury Thomas Partey sustained against Chelsea ‘does not look good’. Midfielder Partey sustained an ankle injury in the first half against of Sunday’s 2-1 friendly defeat to the Blues following a collision with Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

✒️✒️Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists Ruben Loftus-Cheek can ‘decide his own future’. Loftus-Cheek spent last season on loan at Fulham as they were relegated from the Premier League.

✒️✒️Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed midfielder Granit Xhaka will not be leaving the club this summer.

✒️✒️West Ham remain in talks with Chelsea over 26-year-old France defender Kurt Zouma but are struggling to reach an agreement, with Fiorentina’s Serbia international Nikola Milenkovic an alternative option.

✒️✒️The agent of Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez has held talks with Sevilla, with the 25-year-old Colombian seen as a potential replacement for France international Jules Kounde who has been linked with Chelsea.

SPORTS

Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew reveals Patrick Vieira’s desire to take more control of games

Post author By LEGON CNN
Post date August 2, 2021
No Comments on Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew reveals Patrick Vieira’s desire to take more control of games

Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew has revealed manager Patrick Vieira likes his team to have control of the game irrespective of the opponent.

Ayew was speaking after helping Palace secure their third pre-season friendly win after beating Championship Reading FC 3-1.

The Ghanaian forward scored the second goal for Palace, who played majority of the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Cheikhou Kouyate in the 30th minute.

“It’s different, because the gaffer came in and had a different style of play and wanted me to have more control of the game, and asked to create a lot of chances.

“He’s trying to keep me high up the pitch, so I have lots of energy. Obviously me, Wilf [Zaha], Christian [Benteke], JP [Mateta] and [Jeff] Schluppy are just trying to put in the best conditions for us to make the difference up front.

“It was a good one for the team because the second-half was not easy. We defended well. There is a lot of positives – the young guys are performing and everything is going to plan.”

Ayew is so far getting along well with Vieira who surprisingly has been appointed as Roy Hodgson’s successor.

The French legend must prove he merits the job, which means Ayew and co must be at their best when the new season gets underway in the second weekend of August.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Black Stars defender Lumor Agbenyenu has lost his four-year-old son just few days after completing a move to Aris Thessaloniki FC in Greece.

The 24-year-old left back sealed the move to the Greek Super League side last Friday.

Agbenyenu received the news of the passing of his son few hours after completing his transfer to Aris.

The cause of his son’s death is unknown at the moment.

Agbenyenu joined FC Porto from Ghanaian side Wassaman United FC when he was 18 in 2014.

In Porto II and Portimonense he made excellent appearances, making his name known in European football.

After passing through Munich 1860 in Germany, Sporting Lisbon signed him in January 2018 where the Ghanaian international recorded 25 appearances in the Portuguese league.

After two loan spells at Turkish side Goztepe and Spanish La Liga outfit Real Mallorca, he has moved to Greece to continue his career.

Agbenyenu has 13 caps for Ghana since making his debut in June 2017.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

SPORTS

Ghana and Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman was again instrumental as Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Mind Series preseason games.

Post author By LEGON CNN
Post date August 2, 2021
No Comments on Ghana and Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman was again instrumental as Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Mind Series preseason games.

The 27-year-old looks to be back in favour at Chelsea and made the team that travelled to the Emirates ahead of Marcos Alonso, who was left out entirely.

German forward Kai Havertz gave the European Champions the lead before want-away Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka headed home an equalizer in the second half.

Rahman who had made a mess of an earlier chance redeemed himself when he pressed Hector Bellerin into a mistake that fell kindly into the waiting feet of Tammy Abraham to restore Chelsea’s lead.

The Ghanaian then showed his strength by shoving off Nicolas Pepe, moments after the goal in what is evidence of his growing upper body strength and confidence even though the referee called it to be an infringement on the part of the Ghanaian.

This was Rahman’s second game in five days, following on from his impressive cameo against Bournemouth where he produced a beautiful assist for Chelsea’s first goal of the game.

There is still no guarantee that the former Asante Kotoko man will remain at the club when the season starts but he is not short of suitors with Augsburg, Olympiacos and Torino all waiting in the wings for his signature.

Rahman was signed by Chelsea in 2015 and even though he made 13 league starts in his first season, he’s failed to progress in East London, spending most of his time out on loan in Germany, Spain, France and recently Greece.

There has been talks of a potential permanent move away from Stanford Bridge this summer as there is a feeling that this will be in the best interest of both parties with the player having failed to establish himself in the first team, but that will largely depend on if Chelsea decides to keep both Marcos Alonso and European winner Emerson Palmieri.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com