Latest news with #GhanaFootballAssociation
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago to compete in soccer tournament in London
Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will compete in a men's football tournament in London later this year. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed on Wednesday that the four nations will play in the Unity Cup in late May, following the conclusion of the domestic European season. Advertisement The two Caribbean sides will compete in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 27 with the two west African teams playing each other a day later. The respective losers will then play a bronze medal match on Saturday, May 31 with the winners facing each other in the final later that day. All four nations have large diasporas within the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated in the 2021 census that 271,000 people in the UK identified as Nigerian, with 113,000 identifying as Ghanaian. In 2007, the Jamaica High Commission stated that there were 800,000 people in the UK who were born in Jamaica or of Jamaican descent. The ONS' 2013 census said there were 25,000 Trinidadians living in the UK. 'The Unity Cup is a tournament that really does evoke the often-used phrase 'an event that goes beyond sport',' said Andy Howes, co-director of competition organiser AfroSport. 'But with the array of elite stars and the profile of the teams involved, this event is not only important in terms of its cultural significance but also reflects the growing commercial importance of African and Caribbean football, as well as the growing demographic of black football fans within English football.' The tournament begins just a few days after the weekend on which the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A seasons conclude, while the Bundesliga campaign ends 10 days before the first semi-final. The Unity Cup previously took place in 2004, with Nigeria, Jamaica and Republic of Ireland taking part in a round-robin tournament. Nigeria were the champions after winning both of their games. All of the matches in the 2004 tournament took place at Charlton Athletic's The Valley. The GFA release did not specify where games will be played this year, only that they will be in London. Nigeria are the highest-ranked team of the quartet, placing 44 in the latest FIFA world rankings. Jamaica are next at 62, with Ghana at 77 and Trinidad & Tobago at 102. The games come just over a week before Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago compete in Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in early June. (Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ghana bring in Schafer as Black Stars technical advisor
The Ghana Football Association has brought in Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Winfried Schafer as part of a revamp of its coaching set-up. The 75-year-old German, who guided Cameroon to continental glory in 2002, has been appointed as director of football. He will also serve as technical advisor for the Black Stars alongside head coach Otto Addo as the West Africans bid to improve their fortunes. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and will miss the finals for the first time since 2004, while they sit second in their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying group. Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the tournament in North America next year. The Ghana FA has tasked Schafer with developing and implementing long-term strategic plans, leading youth development and ensuring "consistent high performances" by national sides. Meanwhile, Ghana Under-20 coach Desmond Ofei has become assistant coach of the Black Stars, Kris Perquy has been appointed as team psychologist and fellow Belgian Gregory de Grauwe will serve as chief video analyst.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ghana bring in Schafer as Black Stars technical advisor
The Ghana Football Association has brought in Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Winfried Schafer as part of a revamp of its coaching 75-year-old German, who guided Cameroon to continental glory in 2002, has been appointed as director of will also serve as technical advisor for the Black Stars alongside head coach Otto Addo as the West Africans bid to improve their failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and will miss the finals for the first time since 2004, while they sit second in their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying the group winners are guaranteed a place at the tournament in North America next Ghana FA has tasked Schafer with developing and implementing long-term strategic plans, leading youth development and ensuring "consistent high performances" by national Ghana Under-20 coach Desmond Ofei has become assistant coach of the Black Stars, Kris Perquy has been appointed as team psychologist and fellow Belgian Gregory de Grauwe will serve as chief video analyst.
Egypt Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Today
Veteran German coach Schafer appointed to help ailing Ghana
ACCRA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Ghana have appointed former Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Winfried Schafer as a technical adviser to their team after failing to qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco. The 75-year-old German-born Schafer led Cameroon to the African title in 2002 and also previously coached Jamaica and Thailand. He established his coaching credentials at Karlsruhe in the Bundesliga. Schafer will assist coach Otto Addo as Ghana revamped their technical team ahead of the resumption of World Cup qualification in March. Addo has been kept on despite Ghana missing out of the Cup of Nations finals for the first time in the last 11 editions after a disastrous qualifying campaign, where they failed to win any of their six matches and finished bottom of Group F behind Angola, Sudan and Niger. 'In his new role, Schafer will not only provide technical guidance but also oversee the development of football in Ghana as the Director of Football,' said a statement from the Ghana Football Association. 'This role will also require Schafer to develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the association, provide technical guidance in line with Ghana's football philosophy, provide general leadership for youth development and ensure consistent high performance by teams. His experience coaching at both club and national team level will undoubtedly be valuable in this position.' Ghana next meet Chad and Madagascar in World Cup qualifiers in March. They share top place in Group I with only the group winner advancing to the 2026 finals in North America.
Reuters
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Veteran German coach Schafer appointed to help ailing Ghana
ACCRA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Ghana have appointed former Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Winfried Schafer as a technical adviser to their team after failing to qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco. The 75-year-old German-born Schafer led Cameroon to the African title in 2002 and also previously coached Jamaica and Thailand. He established his coaching credentials at Karlsruhe in the Bundesliga. Schafer will assist coach Otto Addo as Ghana revamped their technical team ahead of the resumption of World Cup qualification in March. Addo has been kept on despite Ghana missing out of the Cup of Nations finals for the first time in the last 11 editions after a disastrous qualifying campaign, where they failed to win any of their six matches and finished bottom of Group F behind Angola, Sudan and Niger. 'In his new role, Schafer will not only provide technical guidance but also oversee the development of football in Ghana as the Director of Football,' said a statement from the Ghana Football Association. 'This role will also require Schafer to develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the association, provide technical guidance in line with Ghana's football philosophy, provide general leadership for youth development and ensure consistent high performance by teams. His experience coaching at both club and national team level will undoubtedly be valuable in this position.' Ghana next meet Chad and Madagascar in World Cup qualifiers in March. They share top place in Group I with only the group winner advancing to the 2026 finals in North America.
