South Africa have not conceded since losing their opening match
South Africa have advanced into the final four of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after they defeated Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties – following a 0-0 draw after extra time – at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Saturday night.
Both teams had chances to find the back of the net throughout an evenly-contested 120 minutes, but goalkeepers Ronwen Williams and Vozinha each made some critical saves to keep the score line blank and send the game to a shootout.
And Williams then firmly established himself as the hero of the day, turning away four of the Blue Sharks’ penalties to see his side advance into the semifinals.
Cape Verde had the better chances in the regulation 90 and should have snatched victory two minutes into injury time when substitute Gilson Tavares went free in the penalty area, but his powerful effort was tipped onto the woodwork by Williams to send the game to an extra half hour. Cape Verde started and ended the half as the stronger of the two teams, with promising opportunities for Kevin Pina, Kenny Rocha Santos and Ryan Mendes which they failed to take full advantage of.
South Africa suffered a notable injury blow when potential penalty taker Maseko pulled up with a hamstring issue and was replaced by Terrence Mashego.
Yet the shootout was dominated by the brilliant Williams, who kept out kicks from Bebe, Semedo, Duarte and Andrade to see his side claim a 2-1 win and advance into the final four of an Afcon for the first time since 2000.
Ivory Coast score late in both normal time and extra time
Host nation Ivory Coast produced another amazing Africa Cup of Nations escape act as Oumar Diakite’s 122nd-minute winner sent the 10-man Elephants into the semi-finals at heartbroken Mali’s expense.
The hosts played the majority of the game at a numerical disadvantage after Odilon Kossounou’s dismissal for two first-half fouls on Lassine Sinayoko and they fell behind to Nene Dorgeles’ classy curler.
But the Elephants equalised right on 90 minutes through Simon Adingra’s opportunistic finish – and won it with virtually the last kick of extra time when Diakite diverted home Seko Fofana’s shot.
Diakite left the field with mixed emotions, however, as a second yellow card received for removing his shirt in celebration means he will be banned for Wednesday’s semi-final against DR Congo (20:00 GMT).
The final whistle yielded unsavoury scenes as several Mali players surrounded referee Mohamed Adel, remonstrating with the official, and Hamari Traore was shown a red card for taking his protests too far.
It was difficult to see what the Eagles were complaining about, as there appeared little wrong with the goal that sparked wild scenes of celebration at the orange-bathed Stade de la Paix.
A free-kick broke to Fofana on the edge of the area and, as his shot flew through a crowded goalmouth, Diakite, with his back to goal, instinctively stuck out a foot to flick the ball past Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
The quick thinking by the forward for French club Reims keeps the hosts’ hopes of a third Afcon title alive after a barely-believable route through the competition that has seen them on the brink of elimination on several occasions.
Barcelona's Lewandowski scored his first La Liga goal since December
Barcelona moved up in La Liga with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Deportivo Alaves on Saturday evening.
La Blaugrana have been rocked by news that Xavi will leave at the end of the season but the first-team managed to put off-field turmoil to one side to secure three valuable points in the Basque country.
Barca held on to claim victory despite the questionable sending off of January signing Vitor Roque, who received two booking in quick succession and was sent for an early shower.
After a frustrating first half to the opening 45, Barcelona went ahead through Robert Lewandowski. Just after the break, Barcelona doubled their lead. A floated cross from Pedri found Gundogan, who volleyed past Antonio Sivera to add Barca’s second.
But almost straight from kick-off, Alaves pulled one back.
With almost his first touch after coming on as a substitute, Vitor Roque scored to restore Barcelona’s two-goal cushion.
Giroud nodded home a cross from Rafael Leão to give Milan the lead in the 17th minute, butit took only seven minutes for the hosts to level from the penalty spot through midfielder Soule after a penalty was awarded for handball by Leao.
Frosinone captain Mazzitelli surprised the local crowd as he put the hosts in front with a low shot inside the far post in the 65th minute.
But their hopes of beating Milan for the first time in the Italian top flight were cut short when defender Matteo Gabbia equalised with a header.
Substitute Jovic sealed the win for Milan nine minutes from time, firing in a loose ball in the box, one minute after coming on for Christian Pulisic.
Milan remained unbeaten in 2024, having won four games and drawn one.
Harry Kane scored his 24th Bundesliga goal to help Bayern Munich beat Borussia Monchengladbach and keep pace with leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Kane headed Bayern in front in the 70th minute after Aleksandar Pavlovic had cancelled out Nico Elvedi’s opener for Gladbach.
Matthijs de Ligt added a third for the German champions who remained two points behind Leverkusen.
England captain Kane continues to eclipse expectations in Germany.
Kane’s headed finish after a poor clearance from Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas helped the 30-year-old equal the record for the most goals after 20 matches of a Bundesliga season – his total of 24 bringing him level with two former Bayern strikers – Gerd Muller in 1969-70 and Robert Lewandowski in 2020-21.
Although winning a first major trophy of his career will be Kane’s primary objective this campaign, he is still on course to break a number of long-standing individual records.
Substitute Harvey Barnes marked his return from a long injury with a goal to rescue a point for Newcastle in an extraordinary eight-goal thriller against Luton.
In a breathless encounter, Sean Longstaff swept the hosts into the lead only for defender Gabriel Osho to head an equaliser off the underside of the bar.
The Hatters, however, were on level terms for just two minutes as Longstaff restored Newcastle’s advantage after Thomas Kaminski parried Anthony Gordon’s attempt into his path.
But Luton were far from done and equalised a second time before half-time, Ross Barkley firing home from five yards after the ball dropped invitingly at his feet following Martin Dubravka’s save to keep out Alfie Doughty.
The visitors went ahead for the first time when skipper Carlton Morris scored from a retaken penalty after a review by the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled Dan Burn had fouled the impressive Chiedozie Ogbene.
It looked all over when Elijah Adebayo made it 4-2 less than two minutes later, but Kieran Trippier’s first goal since August 2022 gave the Magpies hope before Barnes, in his first appearance since 24 September, drilled home to make it 4-4.
The Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has re-introduced his 2020 promise to legalise motorcycle business, popularly known as Okada.
According to the former President, it was wise to register and regulate that business, considering the number of youth it employs.
In his view, no government can ban the Okada business, thus the need to regularise their operation and to ensure they follow laid down regulations.
He indicated that his pledge on legitimising Okada business remained unchanged and if voted for as the next president, he would implement a comprehensive system that includes registering, licensing and regulating the riders.
Okada riders
“I want to encourage you that my mind has not changed about the Okada riders. When we (NDC) come we will license and regulate okada because no government can collapse okada business. So, we have to register all of them to see that these people are into Okada business and then teach them how to do their work. I think that is a sensible thing to do. So, when we come, we will regulate and approve Okada to be able to do their business and work,” he said.
Mr. Mahama was addressing a gathering last Tuesday, at the Agormanya Saint Martin’s Parish Hall, as part of his Building Ghana tour in the Eastern Region.
In his address, the NDC presidential candidate touched on several issues, mostly raised by the groups, which gathered to listen to him.
On farmers, Mr. Mahama emphasised the significant impact his upcoming administration will have on local farmers in the Krobo enclave.
He said a farmer’s cooperative would be established to tackle the difficulties faced by farmers when buying agricultural supplies like fertiliser and seeds.
“To support farmers, each district will be equipped with a farmer service centre. These centres will offer a range of essential equipment such as planters, ploughs, tractors, harrows and more, ensuring that farmers receive the necessary support,” he said.
Beyond helping address the current economic crisis, Mahama was optimism that these measures would help revamp the lost agricultural sector of the country.
The GNA reports that the flagbearer of the NDC embarked on a two-day building Ghana campaign tour of the Eastern Region from January 30th to 31st.
His started with a rendezvous at the Peduase Resort in the Akuapem South Constituency, where the former president, who is staging a comeback for Ghana’s highest office, engaged with the Regional Executive Committee and other important stakeholders.
He also visited Anum Palace and paid a courtesy call on the Koforidua Zongo Chiefs, and attended a durbar with transport unions and traders in Agormenya.
In addition, he addressed a town hall meeting in the New Juaben South Constituency and visited the Asokore SDA Training College in the New Juaben North Constituency, during which both professionals and students presented their concerns about the economy.
The NDC flagbearer attended several events on Wednesday, beginning with a breakfast meeting with the Clergy at the Koforidua Eastern Premier Hotel and concluded by paying respect to the Kukurantumi Chief.
Mr. Mahama also connected with local farmers at Ahumanhumasu Pentecost Church and had an engagement with the people at Nsutam Community Centre.
He ended his tour with a rally and roundtable discussion with party executives, demonstrating a strong dedication to grassroots perspectives and party unity.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor in a meeting with the Dollar Power Community
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called on the investor community to partner Government to establish a large scale mining operation at Dollar Power, in the Bole District of the Savannah Region.
He said available geological data shows that the Dollar Power enclave is highly mineralised, with huge deposits of gold that make it viable for the establishment of large scale mining operations.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor
Dollar Power, formerly known as Sindi Community, is a community along the Ghana–Ivory Coast International Boundary Line in the Savannah Region and lies about 20km from the District Capital, Bole.
Inhabitants of this area were raided by slave traders sometime in 1897, leaving the place uninhabited.
However, in 1928, the colonial Governments of the then Gold Coast and Ivory Coast established an International Boundary Line between the two countries, with the erection of Boundary Pillars at mutually agreed positions.
This Boundary Line was reaffirmed by the two countries in 1973 with the planting of teak trees along the border.
The large deposits of gold in the area, however, attracted people from across both countries, which activities has led to the destruction of Boundary Pillars and the teak trees.
In 2005, a small group of Ghanaians began moving to the area to take advantage of the gold deposits and prevent Ivorians from exploiting the mineral resources.
Currently, there are about three thousand (3,000) inhabitants in the area, mainly involved in small scale mining.
The gold deposits in the area have made the people to name parts of the community Dollar Power Obuasi.
Since 2021, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, through the Ghana Boundary Commission, has been working with their counterparts in Ivory Coast to reaffirm the Boundary Lines.
The Ministry has also been working with the Chiefs and people of the area to regularise their small scale mining activities.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor in a meeting with the Dollar Power Community
On Wednesday, 31st January, 2024 the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources led a team from the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources and Roads and Highways to inspect progress of work on the road and other infrastructure at Dollar Power.
At a durbar with the Chiefs and people of the community, Mr. Jinapor said geological data from the Ghana Geological Survey Authority indicates huge deposits of gold in the area that makes it commercially viable for large scale mining.
He said the traditional notion that gold was found only in the south no longer holds, as large scale mining operations are currently taking place in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. According to the Minister, Dollar Power is even more mineralised than some of these areas, and with the right investment, large scale mining operations can be established to exploit the huge deposits of gold.
Mr. Jinapor said to attract the needed investment into the community, which is currently only assessable by water, Government is constructing a 24km feeder road from Ntereso in the Bole District to Dollar Power, and another 25km feeder road from Sapelliga in the Upper East Region to Dollar Power.
He said these constructions being undertaken by the 48 Engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces are far advanced and would be completed by the middle of this year.
In addition to the construction of the roads, Mr. Jinapor said Government is also committed to bringing community mining to the area, to regularise activities of small scale miners.
He directed the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to expedite action on the establishment of a community mining scheme.
The Minister called on the people to support Government to regularise their mining operations and serve as watchdog to fish out people in the community engaged in illegal mining, particularly on river bodies.
The Chief of Dollar Power, Sindiwura Mahama Awudu Abott, speaking through his Secretary, thanked Government for the road construction which will link the community to other parts of the country.
He said the construction has also enhanced economic and social activities in the area and will ensure effective border control when completed.
The Chief also thanked Government for the commitment to establish a community mining scheme in the area, as well as bring large scale mining operations to the community.
He said most of the community members are miners and are willing to work with Government to regularise their activities or work in an established large scale mine.
He pleaded with Government to construct a bridge over the Black Volta to aid transportation and trade, as well as enhance safety of community members.
He also called on Government to restore the destroyed Boundary Pillars and teak trees to secure the safety of the border and prevent encroachment.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Affairs Minister
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, will deliver a public lecture on the topic, “A Vision for a New Commonwealth in a Fast-evolving World” on Friday, February 2.
The lecture, which is being organised as part of activities to mark the 5th Anniversary Council on Foreign Relations – Ghana (CFR-Gh), will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
CFR-Gh is an independent and non-partisan think tank, with Ambassador D.K Osei, one of Ghana’s most astute diplomats, as its President.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who is Ghana’s top diplomat, is a lawyer, communications professional and politician.
She has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration since January 2017. She is also a member of the National Security Council.
Ms Botchwey’s extensive experience in diplomacy dates back to the second term of President John Kufuor, when she served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from 2006 to 2009.
She had previously served as Deputy Minister for Information, and for Trade and Industry.
As Foreign Minister, Ms Botchwey also chaired the Council of Ministers of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for two successive terms from 2020 to 2022.
As a politician, she served as the Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) between 2009 and 2013, while the Party was in opposition.
During the same period, she held the position of Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and subsequently, the Appointments, Defence and Interior Committees of Parliament.
A four-term legislator, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, represented the most populous constituency in the country, Weija, in the Greater Accra Region, for two terms (2004-2012) until it was re-demarcated. She subsequently represented the Anyaa/Sowutuom constituency for two terms (2012-2020).
In the immediate past Parliament (2017 – 2021), the Foreign Minister sat on the Communications Committee, as well as the Gender and Children Committees of Parliament.
She was also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament from 2013 – 2017 and served as Vice-Chair on the NEPAD & African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Committees.
CFR-Gh has hosted many global personalities as part of its prestigious distinguished lecture series, including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed and Ms Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces of Ecuador, when serving as President of the UN General Assembly.
The retired Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama has called for a continuous collaboration between the Forces and other sister security services.
He said this during a farewell parade, pull-out and transfer ceremony held in his honour at the Burma Camp in Accra yesterday.
Vice Admiral (rtd) Amoama was touched by the grand support he has received from the other security services’ heads.
He, therefore, called on Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah, who has taken over the baton to continue with this relationship.
The former CDS also urged staff and personnel of GAF to continue to work hard and be professional in all their endeavours, saying “professionalism requires that we continue to work hard and train all year round.”
He also charged the officers of the Army to show leadership and be committed to leadership while the junior ranks, soldiers, air staff and sailors put themselves out to learning, working and training hard.
“Leadership isn’t about the rank you hold; it’s about the lives you touch and the legacy you leave. In service, we find purpose; in leadership we inspire greatness.
“As I retire, I’m humbled by the privilege to serve alongside extraordinary men and women,” he stressed.
Vice Admiral Amoama (rtd) urged personnel and staff to endeavour to show same loyalty to his successor. He thanked his immediate and extended families, President Akufo-Addo, officers, staff and personnel of the forces for their support. Vice Admiral Amoama (rtd) was presented with pictures and gifts from the various units of GAF and sister Security services.
