http://www.espn.com/soccer/ghana/st...ootball-association-after-bribery-allegations Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah told KweséESPN that the dissolution means all football activity is on hold in the country. "This means all football activity is on hold," he began. "The league is suspended until further notice as well as all activities and all programs of the Ghana Football Association." Ghana would be banned from hosting and participating in the African Women's Cup and also banned the from participating in the U-17 & U-20 WWC. If they are to be replaced, I'd assume the best runner-up from qualifying would replace them. This would be Cameroon for the U-20 WC & Nigeria for the U-17 WC.
The latest. Ghana FA may change to Ghana FF. May take two to three years to change over. Still no wonder on Ghana participating in the Cup of Nations or the U-17 or U-20 WWC. https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/...nas-list-of-companies-official-liquidator.php
The full AFCON thread is here - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/africa-womens-championship-2018.2073228/ But it's a weird situation - the tournament is officially still Ghana's until it's announced otherwise. They're even getting the pitches and grass ready: - (July 5) https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/sports/168088/AWCON-2018-Renovation-works-begins-on-pitches - (July 13) https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomeP...in-re-grassing-of-Accra-Sports-Stadium-668517 On July 5 an official from the CAF arrived to inspect Ghana's preparations - with the final decision being in the CAF's hands. It's thought that South Africa is on standby to host the tournament. - (July 5) https://www.graphic.com.gh/graphics...fcon-caf-official-arrives-for-inspection.html (Archived) - (July 13) http://sportsworldghana.com/ghana-to-be-stripped-of-womens-afcon-hosting-rights/ (Archived) And the draw will be held in Accra, Ghana, later this month, which could be an awkward event... Accra Sports Stadium (pic: Ben Sutherland, cc-by)
the draw will likely take place some time in September. CAF would need to decide by then whether Ghana will still host the tournament and if they aren't, will they still be allowed to participate.
It sounds like Ghana's hosting bid is running out of time: - goal.com/en-gh/news/ghana-wants-venue-change-for-womens-afcon-after-delay-work/wkx62ovesyfi1tm84z4pufj4t (Archived) The sports minister suggests alternative venues Kumasi and Tamale, among others. The biggest stadium in Kumasi (Baba Yara) has also had maintenance problems recently. Baba Yara Sports Stadium and Tamale Stadium The Ghana U20 women's team will be in the World Cup in France starting next week, but they cancelled their plans for a pre-tournament training tour in Spain – apparently due to visa troubles: - http://dailyguideafrica.com/ghana-is-behind-you-dr-kofi-amoah/ (Archived)
Apparently they did that without asking the Ghana organizing committee: - http://www.goal.com/en/news/ghanas-...ifacaf-liaison-team/rbjqb2pd5y8g19id75nmvkfki (Archived) - http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/ghana-still-in-contention-to-host-2018-awcon/ (Archived) Probably unlikely to host it, but Kenya has offered. They lost a tournament of their own last year in similar circumstances, the men's CHAN. - http://www.soka25east.com/kenyas-in...women-cup-of-nations-being-considered-by-caf/ (Archived)
seems like the CAF is leaning towards changing hosts. If Kenya hosts, Ghana wouldn't participate. South Africa might take over hosting duties, but then does Ghana automatically qualify, or do they award the 8th spot to the best runner-up from qualifiers(Ivory Coast or Zimbabwe).
Well the future's bright (on the pitch). Unless you're the other team. - www.goal.com/en-au/news/ghana-1-0-new-zealand-black-princesses-bid-goodbye-to-womens-u20-/ishx3jabn32d1czoe0wsmizi5 (Archived) Today FIFA has warned the Ghanaian government: "Stop your legal process against the Ghana FA, or we will suspend the Ghana FA" Though it's written in Lawyerese. (Full statement is quoted in Evans Gyamera-Antwi's article) - http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/fifa...to-liquidate-ghana/1t0v83iqnvadz10ae11xin4qop (Archived)
So I guess Augustus 27 is the deadline set by the CAF. we should know by then if Ghana will still host the women's championship.
Ghanaian government will meet with FIFA: - https://starrfmonline.com/2018/08/15/govt-to-meet-fifa-on-friday-over-ban-threat/ (Archived)
FIFA is appointing a "Normalization Committee" to work towards a solution. Not sure how it'll differ from the existing "liaison officers" who FIFA appointed, Francis Oti Akenteng and Dr Kofi Amoah. - https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/Ghana-football-is-in-crisis-Sports-Minister-678547 (Archived) Isaac Asiamah yesterday: A lobby group wrote an open letter to the govt last week. They gave some details about what went down at the GFA on June 8: Well, it is a football association, lol Some conflicting reports about the Cup of Nations (from before the latest talks) - an unnamed 'source' said CAF was about to move the tournament to Kenya, while the Ghanaian organizers started putting the tournament logo on their vans, which we all know is the official sign that it's really happening - https://www.kahawatungu.com/2018/08/14/kenya-takeover-africa-women-cup-nations-hosting-rights/ (Archived)
More stories - CAF's president Ahmad confirms they're talking to other countries, CAF says no decision until September 28. - https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomeP...CON-Ghana-to-know-fate-on-September-28-680061 Who might replace Ghana? Not Kenya, and not Nigeria: This presumably also delays the draw until October? (First AWCON match is on 17 November.)
If that happens how would be chosen the eighth team to participate in the final tournament ? For its results in the second round Zimbabwe or Mali could take that position
Today's the big day - yes, the day when Ghana unveils the mascot, theme song and jingle. Ghana has formed its 15-person LOC committee, chaired by the MP Freda Prempeh. She says the venues will be Cape Coast and Accra: - https://footballmadeinghana.com/2018/09/05/ghana-committed-to-hosting-2018-awcon/ (Archived) A Ghanaian report said the CAF were meeting yesterday to decide the tournament host, but it may be wrong. (There's no announcement; CAF said Sep 28.) There's still no word on when the draw will be.
So, there's now: - an official website "AFCON Women's Championship – We Can Do It" http://afconwomenghana.com/ - a mascot... we don't know the name yet, but don't mess with it - official song is... yet to be written(?), but musicians are announced. Three female stars of Ghanaian music, Wiyaala, Grace Ashy and Akosua Agyapong. Wiyaala wrote this song for Ghana men's football team in 2014, it's a banger Deny them the tournament? CAF would have to have a heart of stone. Of stone! Anyway, in actual football news, the FA is accused of short-changing the Ghanaian team (nicknamed the Black Queens), and the team wants $12,000 in bonuses from the past 6 years. So, maybe the problems can't be denied. Even Freda Prempeh has said that the team is badly prepared for the Cup, mainly playing friendlies against clubs in Ghana.
It's as good as confirmed – Ghana will host the Women's Cup of Nations, after the CAF met in Egypt on Thursday (from a claimed source who's on the committee). - www.soka25east.com/caf-executive-committee-meeting-decides-not-to-strip-off-ghana-rights-to-host-awcon-instead-caf-to-give-normalisation-committee-support (Archived) But there was a warning that Ghana must "step up preparation", by the CAF's Anthony Baffoe. The Ghanaian ministry for sport has released photos of the Accra stadium, looking pretty good. And sunny! But we all know real estate agents' photos that show a house without mentioning its flaws. Thank goodness, the Ghana team (Black Queens) will have international friendlies before the tournament in November: Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia. Tournament organizer and MP Freda Prempeh has asked the media to promote women's football better. Whether the media will reduce their obsession with men's football, seems doubtful. But it raises a point: the AWCON will be one of the only domestic football events in Ghana this year, as the men's league is on hold. - https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomeP...n-football-Freda-Prempeh-charges-media-687470 (Archived) The picture is off the website now, ahead of today's mascot launch, but it's a kind of white-and-grey eagle with a football and boots, and s/he looks annoyed. Anyway, if it's not too premature, we can probably continue this topic in the main thread now: Africa Women's Championship 2018 - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/africa-womens-championship-2018.2073228/page-3
i thought the likelihood of Ghana losing the hosting rights were slim. But Ghana needs to put on a strong showing for their federation and hopefully qualify for the WWC.