Mane says Salah feud is forgotten

Sadio Mane insists his feud with Mohamed Salah is forgotten after his furious outburst aimed at the Egyptian two weeks ago.

Liverpool forward Mane reacted angrily to Salah choosing to shoot rather than pass to him during the 3-0 victory over Burnley on August 31.

VIDEO: How Bukom Banku won his first fight outside Ghana

Braimah Kamoko alias Bukom Banku recorded the 24th KO of his professional career after he knocked out Hungarian Ferenc Albert on Saturday in the United Kingdom.

The bout held in Bradford was Banku's first professional fight outside Ghana but he was undaunted by the change of scenery as he added Albert to his list of victims in the third round.

AFCON U-23 Qualifier: Ghana held 1-1 at home to Algeria

Ghana’s U-23 team, the Black Meteors, were held to a 1-1 draw by their Algerian counterparts in a 2019 CAF U-23 AFCON last round qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Algeria took the lead in the first half through Dorgane Adam before Dauda Mohammed scored a second-half penalty to draw Ghana level.

Algeria started the better side, more organized and more purposeful, taking advantage of a lack of recognized defensive midfielder in the Ghana set up to counter with ease.

Ayew strikes as Crystal Palace break down 10-man Villa

Jordan Ayew's instinctive finish helped Crystal Palace secure back-to-back Premier League wins with victory over 10-man Aston Villa.

The hosts looked to be heading for another Selhurst Park blank despite Villa's Trezeguet seeing red for a second bookable offence, before Ghanaian Ayew fired beyond Tom Heaton with time running out.

It meant Ayew, who was part of the Villa side relegated from the top flight in 2016, scored for the second Premier League weekend in a row, having also struck in the win at Manchester United.

Top 10 richest African footballers in 2019; Essien, Gyan, Muntari make list

Football is a game liked all across the world but Africans have a special love for this game. Football was introduced to the continent about 100 years back by British, French, Belgian and Portuguese colonialists. What makes this game so popular in Africa is its accessibility.

Unlike other sports, it does not take much resources or money to play football. More than 50 years ago, football clubs began to form in Africa. They were mainly sponsored by big businesses and companies and sometimes government departments. The best players from these clubs were selected to form the national team.

Ghanacrusader.com brings you the 10 richest footballers in on the African continent in 2019.

Partey hat-trick inspires Ghana to 5-1 win in Congo

Thomas Partey has scored four goals in just two games against Congo

A hat-trick from Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey inspired Ghana to a 5-1 in Congo in Group E of World Cup qualifying.

The win was Ghana's first in the group - at the fourth time of asking - and came four days after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by the same opponents.

Partey, 24, scored his first international goal in that game.

Richmond Boakye grabbed a brace as Congo, whose Vladis Illoy Ayyet scored a consolation, suffered elimination.

The Red Devils have just one point from four games and can no longer qualify for Russia 2018.

The Black Stars, meanwhile, move up to five points - ahead of Egypt, who have six points, facing Uganda, who boast seven, in Alexandria later on Tuesday.

Congo had started the game in Brazzaville strongly but were overpowered after Ghana opened the scoring against the run of play after 23 minutes through Boakye, with Partey doubling that lead just three minutes later.

In a topsy-turvy spell just before half-time, Illoy Ayyet scored his first goal for Congo after 43 minutes only for Partey to spin cleverly and fire home Christian Atsu's pass from a tight angle in first-half stoppage time.

With 21 minutes left on the clock, Partey resembled a seasoned striker as he lashed into the top corner after 69 minutes to seal his hat-trick.

BBC

Syria fans Syria draw in Iran to claim World Cup play-off spot

Thousands of Syria fans watched the match on a big screen at the Al-Jalaa stadium in Damascus

Syria claimed a play-off spot in 2018 World Cup qualifying following a 2-2 draw against Iran in Tehran.

The visitors took a shock lead through Tamer Haj Mohamad's stooping header - the first goal Carlos Queiroz's Iran had conceded in 10 qualifying games.

But on the stroke of half-time, Sardar Azmoun headed Iran level before giving them a second-half lead.

2018 World Cup: Cape Verde top Group D after Durban win

Garry Rodrigues scored both goals as Cape Verde beat South Africa for the second time in five days

Cape Verde recorded back-to-back victories against South Africa when winning 2-1 in Durban to top Group D of African World Cup qualifying.
Galatasaray winger Garry Rodrigues scored both Cape Verde goals to lift his side to six points, having been bottom of the group before kick-off.

Rodrigues' first came from a free-kick while his second, after 67 minutes, was a bending strike from outside the box.

Black Stars stranded in Congo

The team was left stranded at airport for three hours

Reports from the camp of the senior national team, the Black Stars suggest that the players and management members were frustrated at the airport after arriving in Congo for the return fixture of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The team, according to reports, was left stranded at airport for three hours because their passports were in the custody of the Congolese immigration awaiting clearance before they depart to Brazaville where Ghana is set to play Congo.

Ibrahimovic included in Man Utd’s Champions League squad

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been included in Manchester United’s squad for the Champions League group stage.

The 35-year-old forward rejoined United in August having been released at the end of last season, but is still working his way back to fitness after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in April.

His inclusion means that he would be eligible to feature in the group stage if he returns to fitness in time.

Lions force Eagles to 1-1 draw in Yaounde

Super Eagles players celebrating after scoring their third goal against the Lions of Cameroon in the first leg played in Nigeria.

Cameroon fought back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on Monday night.

Having been thrashed 4-0 by the Super Eagles on the weekend, the stalemate provides at least some redemption for the Indomitable Lions, though their hopes of reaching Russia 2018 are all but gone.

The result does mean that Nigeria will have to wait until at least the next round of matches in October to confirm their place at the World Cup finals.

Pacquiao wants Horn rematch in the Philippines

Pacquiao wants Horn rematch in the Philippines

Manny Pacquiao said yesterday that he still wanted a rematch with Jeff Horn after the Filipino boxing hero pulled out of their scheduled bout in Australia later his year.

Queensland’s premier, whose state government was the financial backer of a 12 November fight, announced on Friday that Pacquiao “cannot return to the ring” due to other commitments.

Earnings from one boxing match may put McGregor ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in Forbes' lists of rich athletes

Conor McGregor’s dream of taking over Cristiano Ronaldo on the Forbes rich athlete list is about becoming a reality.

The Irish fighter had predicted to Ronaldo during the latter’s visit to observe his training in Las Vegas in 2016.

‘You were number one on the Forbes list, I was like number 35 or something. I’ll get up. Maybe next year I’ll get you.’

Ronaldo replied: ‘I don’t think so.’

Super Eagles lose goalkeeper Akpeyi to injury

Super Eagles goalkeeper Akpeyi 

Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will miss Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Cameroon in Uyo with injury, coach Gernot Rohr said yesterday.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa from Nigerian club FC Ifeanyi Ubah will now start the game, while Dele Ajiboye from Plateau United has been handed a late invitation to the squad in the absence of South-Africa based Akpeyi.

Buhari showers cash on victorious D’Tigress

President Muhammadu Buhari with the trophy won by D’Tigress at the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Tournament in Mali, when he hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday

It was naira rain yesterday for the victorious D’Tigress as President Muhammadu Buhari received the team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and rewarded them with a million naira each for winning the 2017 Afrobasket championship in Bamako Mali.

Last Sunday, the Coach Sam Vincent tutored team against all odds defeated arch-rivals Senegal 65-48 in the final match to with their third African title.

Ronaldo accused of €14.7m tax evasion

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo

A Spanish state prosecutor has accused Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo with defrauding Spain’s tax office of €14.7 million in unpaid taxes.

In a statement released yesterday, Madrid’s regional state prosecutor accused Ronaldo, 32, of four counts of tax fraud from 2011 to 2014.

5 things we learnt from Kwesi Appiah’s first game

Kwesi Appiah took charge of his first competitive game since his reappointment as Black Stars coach on Sunday, overseeing the 5-0 defeat of Ethiopia in Kumasi.

Playing some delightful football particularly in the first half, Kwesi Appiah’s side brushed aside their opponents emphatically, kicking off qualifying for the AFCON tournament in 2019 in style.

The first game of Appiah’s second stint saw a number of interesting details, and Citi Sports’ Daniel Koranteng picks out the best of the bunch.

Alli, Kane worth more than Messi

Dele Alli and Harry Kane 

Dele Alli and Harry Kane are both individually worth more than Lionel Messi, according to a new CIES Football Observatory report.

Barcelona forward Neymar tops Europe with a staggering £186m projected price tag, followed by Alli (£137m), Kane (£135m), Messi (£134m) and Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann (£132m).

New boys, Gyan help Ghana to perfect start

New boys, Gyan help Ghana to perfect start

Kwesi Appiah’s first game back in charge of Ghana ended in a perfect 5-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory against Ethiopia yesterday.

The scoreline told a story of dominance, but there was a lot more to it. The identity of the goalscorers told it’s own story as well. It told a story of how the old and the new could provide the springboard for Appiah.

The new boss put his seal on this squad by first leaving out established names like Agyemang Badu and Mubarak Wakasso, and his match line-up followed that theme. There was no place in the side for Jordan Ayew, Frank Acheampong, Afriyie Acquah or Majeed Warris.

Drogba scores, assists on debut for Phoenix Rising FC

Drogba scores, assists on debut for Phoenix Rising FC

Didier Drogba enjoyed a dream debut for United Soccer League side Phoenix Rising FC - the club he is also a part owner of - scoring and assisting as they beat Vancouver Whitecaps.

Drogba, making his first appearance for Phoenix since his arrival in April, netted the opener and set up the winner in the side’s 2-1 USL win over Vancouver on Saturday.