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Nico, who emerged as one of Spain’s most promising talents following an impressive season, was strongly linked with a move to the Camp Nou. However, he rejected Barcelona’s advances and opted to extend his contract with Athletic Bilbao, committing to the club until 2025.

Speaking candidly about the transfer saga, Inaki Williams did not hold back in his criticism of Barcelona’s tactics.

“A lot of lies have been told. We all know how football works and the pressure they wanted to exert. Barça ran a media campaign they thought would work. That external noise caused a lot of damage and tainted the situation,” said Inaki, who has recently been named captain of Athletic Bilbao.

Both Williams brothers are expected to play key roles as Bilbao prepares for a busy 2025/26 campaign, which includes a return to European competition.

The team kicks off their La Liga season against Sevilla, with high expectations at San Mamés.

Source: Adomonline.com

The home kit, which prominently features the club’s iconic red and white colours, was designed and produced by The Hope Brand (THB), a Ghanaian-owned sportswear company headquartered in Germany.

In addition to the matchday kits, THB will supply Kotoko with a full range of apparel, including training wear, travel outfits, and fan merchandise.

The away strip, also revealed by THB, sports a bold yellow design, offering a vibrant contrast to the traditional home colours.

The Porcupine Warriors are intensifying preparations for the new Ghana Premier League season and their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

The team is scheduled to open camp on Wednesday, July 30, in Cape Coast, where they will gear up for participation in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament.

Kotoko recently added silverware to their cabinet after edging South African side Kaizer Chiefs in a penalty shootout to win the 2025 Toyota Cup.

His appointment forms part of a broader technical reshuffle by the GFA. Dr. Ogum, who previously managed Asante Kotoko and WAFA, takes over from Coach Frimpong Manso, who is stepping down from the national team role to focus on leading Bibiani Gold Stars in their maiden CAF Champions League campaign. Manso guided the club to its first-ever Ghana Premier League title last season.

In addition to his new role with the Black Starlets, Dr. Ogum has also been named Head of Coach Education at the GFA, replacing Desmond Ofei. Ofei will now concentrate fully on his duties as assistant coach of the Black Stars.

A statement issued by the GFA on Monday, July 28, confirmed the changes and expressed gratitude to the outgoing personnel.

“The Executive Council has appointed Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum as the new head coach of the Ghana U17 national team, the Black Starlets, ahead of the upcoming WAFU Zone B U17 Boys Championship in Nigeria and has also been handed the role of Head of Coach Education, replacing Desmond Ofei.

“Dr. Ogum takes over from Coach Frimpong Manso, who steps aside to fully concentrate on his club duties with Bibiani GoldStars as they prepare for their maiden campaign in the CAF Champions League. The GFA expresses its gratitude to Coach Manso for his dedication to youth football and congratulates him on leading GoldStars to a historic Ghana Premier League title,” the statement read.

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Hanson will work closely with newly appointed head coach Winfred Dormon as the ‘Still Believe’ lads gear up for what is expected to be a highly competitive campaign.

“Dreams Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Fiifi Parker Hanson as the new Assistant Coach ahead of the 2025/2026 Ghana Premier League season,” the club said in a statement on Monday.

The former Golden Kick FC head coach gained national attention after leading the lower-tier side to the final of the 2024/25 MTN FA Cup, where they narrowly lost to Asante Kotoko.

Despite the defeat, Hanson’s tactical discipline and leadership throughout the tournament earned him widespread recognition.

He was reportedly on the radar of several top-tier clubs, including Hearts of Oak, before sealing the move to Dreams FC.

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The Athletic reported on Sunday that the Saudi Pro League (SPL) side had agreed a deal worth €30million (£26.2m; $35.2m) upfront fee, with add-ons taking the total valuation to €50m.

The 25-year-old who was the subject of interest from one large club in Portugal and others from the SPL.

Felix established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young players while at Benfica before becoming one of the most expensive players in history with a move to Atletico Madrid in 2019.

The versatile forward joined Chelsea on loan in the second half of the 2022-23 and completed a permanent move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024, scoring seven goals across 20 appearances.

Felix spent the second half of 2024-25 on loan at AC Milan, said upon his departure he “would be willing to remain” at the Serie A side beyond the loan agreement, should there be an opportunity to do so.

Felix will linkup with Portugal international team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, as well as 22-time Portugal international Otavio.

The Super Falcons clinched a record-extending 10th WAFCON title on Saturday after coming from behind to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final.

Upon the team’s return to Nigeria, President Tinubu honoured all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew with national recognition, conferring on them the prestigious title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

In addition to the national honours, the President announced cash and housing rewards. Each player will receive a cash prize of $100,000 (in naira equivalent), while each member of the technical team will take home $50,000.

Furthermore, all 35 recipients will be allocated three-bedroom apartments under the government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.

“I hereby confer on the 24 players and the 11-man technical team the national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger. Additionally, I have directed the allocation of three-bedroom apartments under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.

“There is also the cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each player and $50,000 to each member of the technical crew,” President Tinubu announced.

Meanwhile, four standout players—Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Michelle Alozie, and Chiamaka Nnadozie—have been named in the official WAFCON Team of the Tournament, further underscoring Nigeria’s dominance at the continental showpiece.

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The tournament marked Ghana’s return to the continental stage for the first time since 2018, and the team secured the bronze medal after edging South Africa on penalties in the third-place playoff.

Speaking to the media upon the team’s arrival in Accra on Monday, Björkegren praised his players for their growth throughout the competition and believes the current squad has what it takes to go all the way in future tournaments.

“Tactically, we learnt from the first game and made some small changes,” the Swedish gaffer said.

“The future is really bright in Ghana, so we need to keep working hard. We can see how close we are… of course we know we can win it [the AFCON],” he added.

Ghana’s campaign began with a loss to South Africa, followed by a draw with Mali, before a crucial win over Tanzania secured a place in the knockout stage.

The Black Queens then defeated Algeria in the quarterfinals but narrowly lost to hosts Morocco in the semifinals.

Despite missing out on the final, the team demonstrated resilience and determination to bounce back and claim third place—offering renewed hope for the future of Ghanaian women’s football.

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Sulemana, who recently joined the Serie A club on a long-term deal from Southampton, made his debut in Atalanta colours during a friendly match against the club’s U-23 side as part of their pre-season preparations.

Speaking to local media after the game, Juric acknowledged the Ghanaian winger’s raw talent but stressed the need for further development.

“Today, he showed some good things—acceleration and shots. In my opinion, he is a guy who needs to be developed. He is not a finished player, but he really wants to grow,” Juric said.

The 22-year-old, formerly of Stade Rennes, is expected to play a key role in Atalanta’s upcoming campaign and is being considered a potential replacement for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Atalanta will begin their 2025/26 Serie A season on August 24 with an opening match against Pisa.

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There is an acceptance among United’s hierarchy that they need to start off-loading some of their unwanted players – which might not happen until nearer the 1 September deadline – in order to fund a new arrival.

Neither player would be straightforward to bring to Old Trafford.

Newcastle, who have missed out on a number of key targets this summer and also have uncertainty over their own star forward Alexander Isak, are known to be keen on Slovenian Sesko.

The 22-year-old scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season,

Villa have made it known they are not interested in selling England international Watkins.

However, United feel that stance might change nearer to the deadline, although they believe a suggested £60m price tag would be far too high for 29-year-old Watkins, whose contract at Villa Park runs to 2028.

At present, Rasmus Hojlund, who struggled last season scoring just 10 goals in 52 games, is Ruben Amorim’s first choice centre forward.

Amorim praised the Dane for his performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the £72m man did well to use his pace and power to create an opportunity for himself which struck the outside of a post.

However, he has yet to score in two pre-season appearances and one missed first-half chance in particular drew a frustrated reaction from his boss.

United have so far signed three players this summer, spending almost £130m on attacking duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who could also play as a central striker but are thought more likely to occupy Amorim’s preferred two number 10 slots, and teenage defender Diego Leon.

Amorim spoke on Friday about his current preference to sign players with knowledge of the Premier League.

Rashford joined Barcelona last week, while United’s other unwanted players Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrrell Malacia were left out of the team’s tour of the US.

Last week, Amorim said the club would not sell the players on the cheap and would welcome them back into the fold if necessary.

Joao Felix, who is set to join Al-Nassr from Chelsea, remains the third most expensive transfer ever – in terms of initial fee – having cost Atletico Madrid £113m from Benfica at the age of 19 in 2019.

The Portugal forward has since gone on to play for European giants Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea – yet, since leaving home, has never scored more than 10 goals in a season.

Now, aged 25, he is off to Saudi Arabia. As Lisbon-based journalist Marcus Alves puts it: “The feeling back home is that Felix has officially given up on being a truly top-level international player.”

So what happened?

“It doesn’t seem there is any turning point for him,” said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague.

“It drives coaches mad. They see the potential but he’ll never fulfil it. It’s a mental thing. It’s not that he’s not bothered – but he’s not listening.”

‘Pure art’ – the start at Benfica

Having come through the Benfica academy, Felix became the youngest player in Benfica B history when he made his debut in Portugal’s second tier aged 16.

He went on to make his first-team debut in August 2018 – and, put quite simply, he was brilliant, especially in the second half of the season.

Felix netted in the Lisbon derby against Sporting just a week after his introduction and became the youngest player to score a Europa League hat-trick in their quarter-final tie with Eintracht Frankfurt.

He ended the season with 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions, 15 of those coming in 26 league matches.

Benfica won the title and Felix was named young player of the year, named in the Portuguese league team of the season – and later that year won the Golden Boy award for the best player in Europe aged under 21.

“Those six months of him playing at Estadio da Luz regularly were by far the best I’ve witnessed from a player in almost a decade in Portugal,” said journalist Alves.

“It was pure art, a joy to watch. He seemed destined for the top.

“Back in mid-2019, when Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the Portugal camp for the Nations League finals, I remember seeing a headline on TV that said ‘Ronaldo joins Felix’. Felix, not the team.

“That was no joke – it was just how highly rated Felix was at that time.”

Then Atletico Madrid came calling to complete one of the biggest transfers in history.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Joao Felix impressed for Benfica in the 2016 Uefa Youth Champions League – a couple of years before his senior debut

Awards at Atletico – but not enough to justify the fee

The four most expensive transfers to this day, sorted by British pounds and not euros, were all made between 2017 and 2019.

The top two were Paris St-Germain’s signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Number three is Atletico Madrid’s £113m move for Felix to replace Antoine Griezmann, who they sold to Barcelona for £107.7m in the fourth biggest deal.

There he would link up with Atletico’s Argentine boss Diego Simeone, who is legendary for how hard he makes his teams work.

“We should have seen what was coming,” said Balague. “On one occasion earlier on in his time at Atletico, Simeone got really mad at him during a game, asked him to do certain things and you could see how Joao Felix was ignoring him.

“He basically ended up doing nothing like the stuff Simeone was asking him to do. From then on he started to come in and out of the side and we started to hear stories about his lack of defensive commitment. But I think it goes deeper.”

There were good times at Atletico, too, but not enough of them to justify that fee.

In three and a half seasons in (and out) of the Atletico team he scored 35 goals, as well as 16 assists, in 131 games.

In 2020-21 he was part of the Atleti squad who won their second La Liga title under Simeone.

But he only started 14 league games that season – and netted just three goals after Christmas in any competition.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Joao Felix won La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2020-21

The following campaign was worse for the team but better individually, as Atletico finished third but he was named the club’s player of the season, with 10 goals in all competitions coming before a season-ending injury in April.

“After two and a half years of flattering to deceive, Joao Felix is finally starting to look capable of becoming one of the best players in the world,” a BBC article at the time opened with.

But it was a false dawn.

“The cost to Atletico suggests there was a raw talent,” said Balague.

“I think he’s the last generation of players as kids who were told how brilliant they were, that do not appreciate the other side of it that you need – which is to work without the ball. Even with the ball he’s not consistent enough.”

Halfway through the next season, Felix wanted out.

“He is the biggest bet this club has taken in its history,” Atletico chief executive officer Gil Marin said in December 2022. “I personally think he’s a top talent, a world-class player.

“For reasons it isn’t worth getting into – the relationship between him and the boss [Simeone], the minutes played, his motivation right now – it makes you think that the reasonable thing is that if there’s an option that’s good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it.

“I’d love him to stay personally, but I don’t think that’s the player’s idea.”

Chelsea and Barcelona loans don’t change fortunes

Then came his first loan spell at Chelsea.

In January 2023 Graham Potter’s Blues signed him on a six-month deal for a loan fee of £9.7m. At the same time Atleti extended his contract for a year to 2027.

Arsenal and Manchester United had also been linked to him.

Felix looked quite good on his Chelsea debut in their derby match against Fulham… until he was sent off for a lunging tackle on Kenny Tete in a 2-1 defeat.

He would only start another 13 games for the club once his three-match ban was over, plus six more off the bench, scoring four goals.

And that summer new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who replaced Frank Lampard, who had in turn replaced Potter, decided he did not want Felix so no permanent deal was struck.

Felix subsequently returned to Atletico, but was reportedly seen arguing with sporting director Andrea Berta and made to train with the reserves.

Griezmann, the man he was signed to replace, was back at Atletico and even took his number seven shirt.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Joao Felix netted home and away against parent club Atletico Madrid in his season on loan at Barcelona

And then Felix angered the club and their fans by announcing he wanted to join Barcelona – and was booed on the opening day against Granada, a game he did not even play in.

He got the move to Barca, the team he said he supported as a boy, on a season-long loan on 1 September.

The Portuguese scored 10 goals for Barcelona, with two of those coming against his parent club.

He was the first player to score in both La Liga games against Atletico Madrid for any side since Lionel Messi four years earlier.

Barca did look into keeping Felix but signed Dani Olmo instead – and then came another unusual move.

Back to Chelsea (for some reason)

Considering how Felix did not set the world alight during his loan spell at Chelsea, it was somewhat of a surprise that they paid £45m to sign him a year later.

He agreed a seven-year deal – one he is now set to leave six years early.

The signing came under strange circumstances and was perhaps one for the accountants rather than the coaching staff.

Chelsea wanted to sell Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, a move that would help them meet profit and sustainability rules because the English midfielder was a youth product so would count as pure profit.

But Atletico could only afford to buy him if they sold someone.

The Blues tried to bring in Samu Omorodion but that move fell through – so they signed Felix instead, for £12m more than the Spanish club paid them for Gallagher.

He scored on the first game of his return, against Wolves, but that would prove to be his only Premier League goal as a permanent Chelsea player.

Felix netted seven times for the Blues last season, one goal every 135 minutes – which actually made it the best spell of his career in terms of goals since leaving Benfica.

But that included doubles against Panathinaikos, Noah and Morecambe as he featured mainly in cup games.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Chelsea played different teams in the league and cup in the first half of last season – with Felix featuring in the cup team (pictured scoring against FC Noah in the Europa Conference League)

Just 7% of the way through that contract he joined AC Milan on a six-month loan for a £5m fee.

His time in Italy yielded just three goals in 21 games – one every 339 minutes – and is best remembered for a viral incident with Kyle Walker.

“Pass the ball – nobody here is Messi,” Walker was filmed saying to Felix in the tunnel at half-time in a game against Napoli.

The England defender later said on his BBC podcast that they were discussing team tactics and it was not him criticising the Portuguese.

Much like Chelsea and Barcelona before, Milan did not make the loan permanent.

“Because of the potential he had there’s always the hope things will change but, to be honest, all the clubs he’s been at recently come out with the same conclusion – he’s not a modern forward in terms of work-rate,” said Balague.

“He doesn’t want to change what he offers to football and that takes you to a limit.”

Portugal-based reporter Alves added: “When he was unveiled as a Atletico player in 2019, there were six TV channels broadcasting the presentation live. Now nobody appears to care much anymore.

“He’s just become a five-minute segment within transfer market shows every window.”

Back to Benfica in a happy ending…? Nope

With Felix clearly not having a future at Chelsea, even being left out of their Fifa Club World Cup squad this summer, there was talk of him returning to Benfica.

A chance to go home and try to rediscover the magic from the start of his career. The romantic move.

“The whole world knows that Benfica is my favourite team. It’s my home. One day I will return. I don’t know if it’s now or in a few years, but if it were now I would be very happy. There are two options: either I stay in England or I return to Benfica,” he said earlier in July.

Benfica boss Bruno Lage warned publicly that Felix could have to take a pay cut to make the move happen.

And… instead, he is off to Saudi Arabia and Al-Nassr, where he will play under ex-Benfica boss Jorge Jesus and alongside Portugal legend Ronaldo.

“Regardless of how much effort his PR team does [about those Portuguese links] – that was certainly not where you pictured him going in those Benfica days,” said Alves.

“Earlier this month, he told local TV that he was inclined to return to the Lisbon giants. That made a lot of sense – he would be, after all, reunited with the manager that took the most out of him in his career so far, Bruno Lage. ”

Balague said: “We say [in Spain] head of a rat instead of tail of a lion.

“He’s not consistent enough, doesn’t work hard enough, doesn’t fit the new position in football that has become the predominant model of our times – because it requires responsibilities and obligations he’s not willing to do.”

Felix has won two Nations Leagues with Portugal and scored nine goals in 45 caps.

Alves added: “The feeling is those six months of incredible football at Benfica will be the best you’ve seen from him. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see him heading at 25 to Saudi football.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Joao Felix (centre right) – pictured with Chelsea team-mates Renato Veiga and Pedro Neto – won his second Nations League trophy with Portugal this summer, although did not get on the pitch

Get ready for an African football spectacle like no other! SuperSport, your home of sport on DStv and GOtv, is proud to bring you every thrilling moment of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) – live from 2 to 30 August 2025.

Hosted across the vibrant East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, this eighth edition of CHAN will feature 19 national teams made up exclusively of players competing in their home leagues. It’s a celebration of local talent, national pride, and the beautiful game – African style.

From rising stars to unforgettable goals, history is set to be made. Don’t miss a second of the action – It’s On only on SuperSport!

The history of CHAN

Launched in 2009 and contested every two years, the African Nations Championship (CHAN) features exclusively players active in their national domestic leagues, offering a platform for emerging local talent. The inaugural edition was won by DR Congo (beating Ghana 2-0), then Tunisia triumphed in 2011. Libya lifted the trophy in 2014 via penalties, followed by DR Congo again in 2016 to become the first two-time champion.

Morocco dominated back-to-back editions, winning in 2018 and 2020 and becoming the only nation to defend its CHAN title. In the seventh edition, held in Algeria in early 2023, Senegal claimed their first CHAN title by defeating hosts Algeria 5-4 on penalties after a goalless final. The upcoming eighth edition – postponed from early 2025 to 2–30 August 2025 due to infrastructure delays – marks the first time CHAN will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and the first-ever tri-nation staging, spotlighting East Africa as a footballing region on the rise.

Why the odd number (19) of teams?

The eighth edition of CHAN will feature 19 teams due to qualification quirks and withdrawals. Initially, CAF allocated 19 slots: three spots per regional zone plus one extra for the host-zone (CECAFA), bringing the total to 19. Uganda advanced through qualifying despite already qualifying automatically as co-host, pushing participant count to 19. Libya had initially qualified automatically from the UNAF zone, but withdrew in November 2024, citing fixture congestion and disruption to their domestic league schedule, reducing North African representation. Despite Libya’s exit, CAF retained all 19 spots by reallocating vacancies, so the total team count remains 19 going into the tournament.

A dress rehearsal for the AFCON

Hosting CHAN 2024 enables Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to test and fine-tune the infrastructure – renovated or newly built stadiums (Kasarani, Nyayo, Talanta in Kenya; Benjamin Mkapa and Arusha in Tanzania; Namboole, Hoima, Lira in Uganda) – ahead of 2027, when the countries will stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). CAF experts used CHAN to inspect facilities including training grounds, hotels, VAR systems and hospitals, assessing readiness for larger scale operations. The postponement from early 2025 to August 2025 gave hosts more time to ensure clarity in logistics, security planning, and fan experience protocols. CAF officials have described CHAN as a “precursor” or dry-run for AFCON to simulate tournament organisation, host fan engagement and operations in a three-nation format. The event is thus shaping East Africa’s football infrastructure and operational abilities ahead of the continent’s flagship tournament in 2027.

Who are the favourites?

Morocco remain the standout favourites. As back-to-back champions in 2018 and 2020, their domestic league, the Botola Pro, is among the strongest in Africa. Their technically gifted, tactically disciplined Atlas Lions boast deep experience and a winning culture.

Defending champions Senegal also offer a powerful case. Winners in 2023, they enter with momentum and a solid tactical setup, capable of handling pressure in Group D alongside Nigeria, Congo, and Sudan.

Nigeria, making a return after missing prior editions, brings physicality and attacking flair. Their decisive qualification win over Ghana has pundits and former players labelling them genuine title contenders.

DR Congo, two-time champions (2009 and 2016), combine tactical maturity with composure under pressure, while the trio of hosts – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda – may not lead the odds, but home advantage gives them potential to surprise.

This Season, IT’S ON – Only on SuperSport.

The state-of-the-art office at the Mohammed VI Complex aims to strengthen support for African federations in their development projects and further reflects FIFA’s desire to establish a lasting pres­ence on the continent.

The opening of the office fol­lows a signing of a Host Agree­ment last December in Marrakech between the key stakeholders: FIFA, the Kingdom of Morocco and Royal Moroccan Football Fed­eration (FRMF).

Rabat becomes the latest city to host a FIFA office after Paris, Miami and Jakarta, and reinforces FIFA’s engagement with all regions and affirms commitment to devel­oping football across the globe.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “Today is certainly a wonder­ful day, it’s a special day, a glorious day, a joyful day. We will write, in gold letters, the wonderful history of FIFA, of football in Africa, of football in Morocco, of football in the world.

“It’s an incredible and beautiful complex, and I want to start by thanking Morocco, thanking His Majesty King Mohammed VI, for making this possible

“It is witness to a country that is projected into the future, to a continent that is projected into the future, and to the work that all of us do for this incredible sport.”

The new office will coordinate with existing FIFA regional offices in Brazzaville, Dakar, Johannes­burg and Kigali, in directing and implementing key policies for the development of African football across all levels.

Also in attendance were FIFA General Secretary Mattias Graf­ström, CAF President Patrice Motsepe and his General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, FRMF President Fouzi Lekja, Moroccan government officials amongst others.

Morocco has made extraordinary progress in the last few years, both in performances on the field and in hosting events.

The North African country will become the second African country to host the FIFA World Cup staging the tournament jointly with Portu­gal and Spain in 2030. —FIFA

Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

The Queens, led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, arrived in Accra on Monday morning to a warm reception at the Kotoka International Airport following their third-place finish in Morocco.

Addressing the media upon their arrival, Mr Okraku called for a tangible show of appreciation for the team’s efforts.

“This is the time for us to reward them,” he said.
“Yes, they desired to bring the trophy home, but they have proven that they are on the right path.”

The 2024 tournament marks Ghana’s best WAFCON finish in nearly 20 years and a significant milestone in the Black Queens’ rebuilding journey.

After a shaky start with a 2-0 defeat to South Africa, the Queens bounced back to draw with Mali and secured a vital win over Tanzania to progress from the group stage.

They then edged Algeria in the quarter-finals before falling to eventual finalists Morocco in the semi-finals.

Ghana sealed third place with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over South Africa in the playoff.

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• Grace Asantewaa, Portia Boakye named in 2024 WAFCON Team of the Tournament

The Ghanaian FA Cup champions returned home fresh from a hard-fought victory at the 2025 Toyota Cup, where they edged South African giants Kaizer Chiefs on penalties at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Speaking to the media, Zito revealed that while players would be given a few days of rest, they would regroup midweek to kick off preparations for the new season.

“I shouldn’t go all out at the moment. We will start running very soon. Maybe on Wednesday we’ll begin the pre-season camp in Cape Coast,” the veteran gaffer said.

Following the Toyota Cup, Kotoko’s focus now shifts to the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament, scheduled for August 20–24 at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The tournament will serve as a crucial warm-up for the team’s domestic league campaign and CAF Confederation Cup aspirations for the 2025/26 season.

Speaking at the Kotoka International Airport after the team’s return from Morocco, the Swedish tactician expressed pride in the squad’s journey, noting their steady improvement throughout the tournament.

“Step by step, we saw that we have the potential to beat almost all the teams in this tournament. We made some tactical adjustments after the first game, but ultimately, the girls did the biggest job,” he said.

The Black Queens were warmly welcomed home with cheers and music—a testament to their renewed connection with the Ghanaian public after a six-year absence from WAFCON.

Reflecting on the team’s preparation, Björkegren underscored the importance of the pre-tournament training camp, which he described as crucial for building team chemistry and confidence.

“We started with only friendly games and had almost no training at all before the tournament. But the pre-camp we had for a couple of weeks gave me the time to work closely with the players. We also had video analysis sessions every day, and that really helped us build confidence and structure,” he noted.

Looking ahead, the former Linköpings FC boss emphasized the need for sustained effort, promising to continue scouting new talent both locally and internationally.

“We can expect a little bit of rest to start with, but then again, hard work. The future is bright in Ghana, and there are more girls out there. We will keep spending time both here in Ghana and abroad to identify more talent,” he added.

When asked about the team’s prospects at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, Björkegren was cautiously optimistic.

“We can see how close we are. We played against Morocco in front of 21,000 fans, and we were the better team. Of course, we know that we can win it, but we must continue to respect our opponents and keep improving,” he said.

The Black Queens capped off their impressive WAFCON return with a third-place finish, edging South Africa in a dramatic penalty shootout to clinch the bronze medal.

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After Sunday’s 3-2 defeat by Arsenal, Magpies manager Eddie Howe said “nothing had changed” with Isak’s situation and there was no chance of him flying out to join his team-mates during the trip to Asia.

“It’s business as usual for the players,” said Howe. “Naturally we’re going to miss a player of Alex’s quality. The group will feel that.

“I can’t sit here and claim they won’t but we have a very professional group of players. They’ve been brilliant in terms of managing the situation.

“It was a great opportunity for [William] Osula to get more minutes than he would have done if we had more players in that position.

“A chance to showcase what he’s about. He looked fitter and sharper through the work we’ve done. His attitude was good. He looked hungry.

“Every player in our squad has to be ready to play. We don’t have the biggest squad so everyone has to contribute. I’d have no hesitation [in starting Osula].”

The Newcastle boss also says they “are not deluded” and know they also need to “bring players in” before the start of the new season.

Reflecting on the game and transfer movement, Howe added: “It was a brilliant game for us. The type of challenge we will face in the Premier League and Champions League, so what better way to prepare for the season.

“They were easily avoidable goals and that’s a good thing for us because they’re quick fixes. If you add that to some of our good attacking play that’s a good sign.

“We’re not deluded. We know we need to bring players in. We’ve known that for a long time.

“It’s been a challenging transfer window. Let’s see what we can do.”

The young forward, who has been with the London-based side for a week, is reportedly impressing the team’s handlers.

Rasco rose to prominence last season with Bechem United, winning over fans with his consistent performances.

His impressive form earned him a call-up to Ghana’s U-17 team, the Black Starlets, for the WAFU Zone B Championship.

Brentford FC, renowned for its innovative training model and eye for identifying overlooked talent, provides a distinctive entry point into top-tier European football for Rasco.

“He’s ready for this moment,” said Roy Arthur, manager and mentor who has played a pivotal role in preparing the 18-year-old for this opportunity.

“This isn’t just a trial—it’s a statement of intent. Rasco represents a new wave of disciplined, technically gifted Ghanaian footballers who are ready for the global stage.

The Porcupine Warriors edged their hosts 3-2 on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban after a cagey 90 minutes ended in a stalemate.

Chiefs nearly grabbed a late winner with just eight minutes to go, but Inacio Miguel failed to convert a crucial chance.

Speaking to the media after the match, Zito admitted that his approach was deliberately conservative, acknowledging Kaizer Chiefs’ superior match fitness and team cohesion.

“We didn’t attack too much today, but we were ready defensively because we know they were ahead of us in terms of preparations and team cohesion,” he said.
“So I had to use my sense of judgement to go according to the players I have.”

Zito noted that Kotoko’s recent involvement in both the FA Cup and the President’s Cup had left the players physically drained.

“We played in the FA Cup and the President’s Cup before coming. We didn’t train for three days either. So I knew the players would feel that, which is why the plan was to sit back.”

The team returned to Ghana on Sunday night and is expected to take a brief break before regrouping for the GHALCA Top 4 tournament, scheduled for August 20–24 at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The tournament forms part of Kotoko’s pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season, as well as their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

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The Ghanaian side clinched the title after edging the Premier Soccer League outfit 3-2 on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, following a goalless draw in regulation time.

Speaking to the media post-match, Coach Zito praised his team’s discipline and tactical execution, especially in light of the recent additions to the squad.

“I am pleased with the result and also the performance of my players,” Zito said after the game.

“With the new players, I knew I was not going to get what I wanted, but I assigned them certain responsibilities, and I was looking at it,” he added.

The Porcupine Warriors returned to Ghana on Sunday night and are expected to take a short break before regrouping for the upcoming GHALCA Top 4 tournament, scheduled for August 20–24 at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The pre-season competition forms part of Kotoko’s preparations for the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season as well as their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

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The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year last season, registering a career-best 11 goals and five assists to help the Cherries secure a ninth-place finish.

Now, with a new season just weeks away, Semenyo is aiming to raise the bar.

“I want to take my game to the next level. And, I feel like this season, coming, I’ll be able to do that with the team that we have. So I’m looking forward to it,” Semenyo told the club’s media.

The Ghana international also commended Bournemouth’s preseason preparations, describing them as “good” and expressing confidence in the team’s readiness for the challenges ahead.

“Preparations have been good,” he said.

Semenyo, who recently committed his future to the club with a new deal running until 2030, played a key role in Bournemouth’s 3-0 win over Everton in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

He is expected to feature again when Bournemouth face Manchester United in their next preseason clash early Thursday morning.

Semenyo will be hoping to make a strong start to the campaign when Bournemouth travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in their Premier League opener on August 19.

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The 24-year-old enjoyed his most productive season yet, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists to help the Cherries finish ninth in the Premier League with 56 points — their best-ever top-flight finish.

Speaking to the club’s media team, Semenyo hinted at ambitious personal goals for the upcoming season.

“I feel like doing better than I did last year is the target for me, so I’m still going to keep my target close to my chest. But I’m hoping by the end of the season, I would have completed that,” Semenyo said.

The Ghanaian forward has continued his fine form into preseason, playing a key role in Bournemouth’s convincing 3-0 win over Everton in the ongoing Premier League Summer Series in the United States. The match took place at the MetLife Stadium over the weekend.

Semenyo is expected to feature again when Bournemouth face Manchester United on Thursday at 01:00 GMT.

In a further boost for the Cherries, the club recently confirmed that Semenyo has signed a contract extension, keeping him at the Vitality Stadium until 2030.

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The 19-year-old Arsenal forward played only 138 minutes of the competition in Switzerland and did not start a single match.

However, she was crucial to the Lionesses’ run to retaining their European title with a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel.

Agyemang had scored late equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the semis to keep Sarina Wiegman’s side in contention.

Meanwhile, Spain midfielder and Ballon d’Or holder Aitana Bonmati was named player of the tournament.

Bonmati came off the bench in the world champions’ opening two games, having been taken to hospital with viral meningitis shortly before the tournament.

However, the 27-year-old however grew in influence, scoring the winner against Germany in the semi-final.

Spain striker Esther Gonzalez finished top scorer at the tournament with four goals in six matches.

The Lionesses came back twice to reach the decider in Basel and book this revenge mission against the same side who beat them at the 2023 World Cup in Sydney.

And Mariona Caldentey ensured England would need another when she nodded in a 25th-minute opener, cancelled out by her Arsenal team-mate Alessia Russo with a header of her own from Kelly’s cross after the break to make it 1-1.

Hannah Hampton made two spectacular saves in the shootout before Kelly – who made the difference in extra time at Wembley three summers ago –  netted another dramatic winner after Salma Paralluelo’s miss.

Lauren James was deemed fit enough to start after coming off at half-time of England’s semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, while Jess Carter returned to the defence in place of Esme Morgan.

Lucy Bronze overtook Jill Scott to become the Lionesses’ all-time appearance leader in major tournaments, featuring – and starting – for a 36th time.

England had a chance to take an early lead when Russo, released on the right, forced Cata Coll into a save, and James could not connect when the rebound returned in her direction.

England keeper Hampton’s big block denied Esther Gonzalez, who directed a second effort off-target, before Spain nearly gifted England a huge chance just before the 20-minute mark.

Laia Aleixandri was caught sleeping on Coll’s pass, allowing Lauren Hemp to intercept and test the Spanish keeper, who stuck out a leg to let Aleixandri off the hook.

Spain’s patience deep in England’s half paid off when Caldentey finally found the back of the net, the opener initially facilitated by Aitana Bonmati winning her battle with Georgia Stanway near the touchline.

The back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner then found a composed Athenea del Castillo – earning a start in place of Claudia Pina – who her time before working it to Ona Batlle, whose pinpoint delivery allowed Caldentey to power her header into the top right.

Spain were in the driver’s seat by the 41st minute when James, who had taken a knock, was replaced by Kelly, who got herself involved immediately with a wide effort.

Hampton denied Bonmati, then Caldentey before Russo, sandwiched between two Spain centre-backs, drew the sides level, nodding home another sumptuous cross from Kelly in the 57th minute.

Kelly then nearly got herself on the scoresheet with just over 20 minutes remaining, forcing Coll into a low fingertip save.

Russo’s evening was over two minutes later, replaced by 19-year-old breakout star Michelle Agyemang, and it took a spectacular reaction from Hampton to deny Pina, two minutes after the Spanish substitute’s own 71st-minute introduction.

A big Carter block denied Paralluelo, who blazed over, and neither side was able to make the difference after 30 minutes.

Spain looked likelier to score, first through Pina’s curled effort, then Paralluelo came up short in her attempt to cleverly flick in a winner late in the first 15-minute period of extra time.

England resolutely defended against more waves of Spanish attack, but their own was found wanting as they looked to avoid another shootout, their hopes kept alive by two more Hampton saves before Vicky Lopez blazed over.

Coll picked out Kelly’s corner with just under five minutes remaining in extra time, there was another huge Carter intervention to deny Bonmati another chance, and four minutes of stoppage time passed without anyone finding the back of the net.

Bronze, who fired in the winning penalty in England’s semi-final comeback over Sweden, had been forced off in extra time.

Mead found the back of the net with England’s first attempt, but was forced to retake it after VAR determined it had been double-hit after the substitute slipped, and was denied by Coll on her second try.

Patri Guijarro and Alex Greenwood both converted before Hampton leapt to her left, refusing to let Caldentey beat her again, then kept out Bonmati’s effort after Niamh Charles had beaten Coll.

Coll kept out captain Leah Williamson’s attempt, but Paralluelo’s miss opened the door for Kelly – who netted the winner three summers ago.

And just like she did three summers ago at Wembley, Kelly stepped up and scored when it mattered most.

Liverpool rejected an initial bid of £58.6m from Bayern for the Colombia forward earlier this month.

Diaz, 28, was left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat by AC Milan in Hong Kong because of speculation surrounding his future.

He has been given permission by Liverpool to fly to Europe from Asia to complete a medical in the coming days.

Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are interested in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and has scored 41 goals in 148 appearances, including 13 as the Reds won the Premier League title last season.

His 17 goals in all competitions in 2024-25 was the most prolific season of his career.

Bayern won their 34th Bundesliga title last season and scored a league-high 99 goals, but only made it to the last 16 of the German Cup and exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals.

Diaz will provide an attacking option for the Bavarian side, who will be without forward Jamal Musiala for a “long period” after he suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle at the Club World Cup.

Why Bayern want Diaz

It is easy to see why Diaz is an attractive prospect for Bayern.

Diaz’s shot conversion rate of 18.3% in 24-25 comfortably ranked as his best in a Premier League season.

Many of his other attributes stood out statistically too.

Diaz sat just outside the top 10 in the Premier League for most combined goals and assists (18), shots on target (30), chances created (56) and dribbles completed (52).

His defensive attributes and work-rate are also evidenced by the fact he won possession in the final third on 22 occasions, more than any other Liverpool player relative to their time spent on the pitch.

The 25-year-old has been given permission to travel to Riyadh for his medical to complete the move.

Felix will link up with fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi Pro League side after they saw off interest from his former club Benfica.

Chelsea recoup the £45m they paid Atletico Madrid for Felix last summer, having also sent the attacker out on loan to AC Milan for six months in January for a £5m loan fee.

The Blues, who won the Club World Cup this month, have already sold goalkeepers Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga and winger Noni Madueke to balance the books this summer.

They have raised about £130m with further players like forward Raheem Sterling, left-back Ben Chilwell, midfielder Renato Veiga and striker Armando Broja currently up for sale.

Chelsea have spent £212m on signings like striker Liam Delap, winger Jamie Gittens and forward Joao Pedro with interest in midfielder Xavi Simons and defender Jorrel Hato ongoing.

However, they are also under pressure from Uefa to come out of the summer with a “positive transfer balance” after being initially fined £27m with conditions placed on the club to comply with rules, or risk not being able to register new signings for the Champions League this season.

The team, made up of players and technical staff, is expected to touch down at Kotoka International Airport at 5:00 a.m. via Royal Air Maroc.

Led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and captain Portia Boakye, the Black Queens put up a spirited performance throughout the tournament.

After an impressive run in the group stage, Ghana narrowly missed a spot in the final, losing on penalties to host nation Morocco in a dramatic semifinal clash.

The Queens, however, bounced back with grit and determination, defeating defending champions South Africa in another penalty shootout to claim third place.

This marks Ghana’s first WAFCON medal in over a decade, ending a long wait for continental silverware.

The team’s resilience and unity have drawn widespread praise, with a rousing welcome expected from fans and officials when they return to Accra.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/guardiola-and-xavi-applications-a-hoax-india-say/ Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:47:43 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2560201 Applications supposedly from Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez to manage India have both turned out to be hoaxes, the country’s football association says.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said emails claiming to be from the two coaches were not genuine.

Earlier this week, reports in the Indian and Spanish press claimed that India’s technical director, Subrata Paul, had admitted Xavi’s interest in the position.

However, on Saturday, the AIFF published a statement saying they had received hoax applications.

“AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine,” a statement read.

Earlier this month, Catalan coach Manolo Marquez resigned from his role as India manager so that he could focus on his club side, FC Goa.

The AIFF advertised the vacancy publicly, and said it received 170 applications.

Xavi has not coached since leaving Barcelona in May 2024, while Guardiola’s contract at Manchester City runs until June 2027.

India – who have never qualified for a World Cup and finished last at the 2023 Asian Cup – are 133rd in the Fifa men’s world rankings.

Recent managers include English coach Stephen Constantine and former Derby County and West Ham defender Igor Stimac.

The Bundesliga side had an initial £58.6m bid for the Colombia international turned down by the Premier League champions earlier this month.

But Bayern are determined to land Diaz and sources are indicating that the German title holders are hoping an agreement can be reached.

The offer – inclusive of add-ons – will likely be more than £60m.

Diaz was left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat by AC Milan in Hong Kong because of speculation surrounding his departure from the club.

“There are a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot.

“He’s training really well with us but we’ve decided for now not to play him yet.”

Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are interested in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and he was an integral part of the squad that won the 2024-25 Premier League title.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time in front of a partisan Moroccan crowd, the Super Falcons showed their pedigree and resilience, clawing their way back into the match with a display of clinical finishing and sheer determination to cement their status as queens of African football.

Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and a late winner by Joe Echegini overturned Morocco’s strong first-half lead, stunning the Atlas Lionesses who were hoping to clinch their first-ever continental title on home soil.

The final had all the ingredients of a classic: a host nation looking to crown a golden generation with history, and Africa’s most successful women’s side eager to reaffirm their dominance.

Morocco got off to a dream start. With just 12 minutes on the clock, captain Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from outside the box, curling the ball low past Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The home crowd erupted, sensing history in the making.

Things got even better for the Atlas Lionesses in the 24th minute when Sanaâ Mssoudy doubled Morocco’s lead.

A slick pass from Ibtissam Jraidi found Mssoudy in space, and the forward made no mistake with a composed finish into the bottom right corner.

Nigeria appeared stunned and went into the break trailing by two goals, facing an uphill battle. But coach Justin Madugu’s half-time talk sparked a spirited response from the Super Falcons.

The comeback began just after the hour mark when a VAR review handed Nigeria a lifeline.

A handball by Nouhaila Benzina resulted in a penalty, which was coolly dispatched by Okoronkwo to make it 2-1.

From that moment, momentum swung Nigeria’s way. In the 71st minute, Okoronkwo turned provider, slipping a neat ball into the path of Ijamilusi, who drilled a left-footed effort into the bottom corner to bring Nigeria level.

With the match heading towards extra time, Nigeria found the winner.

A well-worked set-piece situation saw Esther Okoronkwo once again involved, delivering a clever assist to Joe Echegini, who calmly slotted home in the 88th minute to seal a dramatic turnaround.

Despite late pressure and a flurry of Moroccan attacks, the Super Falcons held firm through a tense final few minutes of stoppage time.

It was a heartbreaking end for Jorge Vilda’s Morocco side, who had impressed throughout the tournament and were bidding to become only the second nation ever to lift the WAFCON trophy after Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

But the night belonged to the Super Falcons, whose experience, depth and never-say-die spirit propelled them to yet another African title — their 10th in 13 editions.

Nigeria’s triumph not only extended their unmatched legacy on the continent but also served as a resounding statement that, even in the face of rising challengers, they remain the team to beat in African women’s football.

The highly anticipated clash ended goalless in regulation time, but the Porcupine Warriors held their nerve in the shootout, with goalkeeper Mohammed Camara delivering a heroic performance by saving four penalties to seal the win, despite Kotoko themselves missing three spot kicks.

The match saw Kotoko field new signings Seth Kwadwo and Hilary Adabo in the starting lineup, offering fans a first glimpse of the duo in red.

The first real chance of the game came in the 14th minute when Kwame Opoku connected with a fine cross, only to head narrowly wide.

Despite a promising start, the first half failed to live up to expectations, with both sides unable to find a breakthrough in a largely uneventful opening 45 minutes.

Kotoko began the second half with renewed purpose, earning a free kick and corner in quick succession, but failed to capitalize.

The game remained finely balanced as both teams struggled to assert dominance, not helped by a bumpy playing surface.

Kaizer Chiefs had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock late in the match, but their captain, Inacio Miguel, missed from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, compounding a frustrating evening for the South African side.

As the match headed to penalties, it was Kotoko’s Camara who stole the show with a series of crucial saves, guiding the Porcupine Warriors to the title.

The Toyota Cup win forms a key part of Kotoko’s preseason preparations ahead of their 2025/26 Ghana Premier League and continental campaigns.

Next on the agenda for Kotoko is the GHALCA Top 4 tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on August 20.

The Gunners will pay the Portuguese club a £55m (€63m) guaranteed fee, plus £8.5m (€10m) in add-ons, with Gyokeres joining on a five-year deal.

Bringing in a striker has been a primary focus for Arsenal in this transfer window having explored conditions for several players, including RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Sky Sports News reported in June that Gyokeres was a Manchester United target after they made an initial approach for him through intermediaries.

Last month, Sporting president Frederico Varandas revealed Gyokeres would not be allowed to leave for less than £59m (€70m) this summer after disputing the existence of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the Swede’s agent that would allow him to leave for a fixed fee of £50.8m (€60m), plus £8.4m (€10m) in add ons.

After joining Sporting from Coventry City for around £20m in 2023, Gyokeres has scored an incredible 97 goals in just 102 matches during his two seasons in the Portuguese capital.

Gyokeres netted 54 goals in only 52 games in all competitions last campaign, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, as he helped Sporting win the league and the Portuguese Cup.

A move to Arsenal sees Gyokeres return to English football, having joined Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2018, before moving to Coventry after loan spells at St Pauli and Swansea City.

Gyokeres scored 43 goals for Coventry in his two and a half seasons with the Championship side.

Coventry will receive just over £4m due to a 10 per cent sell-on clause and Brighton are also due a small amount for the deal they agreed when selling him.

Coventry’s sell-on was originally 15 per cent but they sold five per cent of that back to Sporting last summer for an undisclosed amount.

Arteta: Gyokeres has so many qualities

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on signing Viktor Gyokeres:

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyokeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves.

“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels.

“He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.

“We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him. We welcome Viktor and his family to Arsenal.”

Berta: Gyokeres is the perfect fit – he will have major impact

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta on signing Viktor Gyokeres:

“We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyokeres to the club.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward.

“His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.

“We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room. Welcome, Viktor!”

For years, the football world called for Arsenal to sign a striker and the Gunners have finally responded.

The move is set to be a standout one for the Premier League – no player in Europe’s top eight divisions matched Gyokeres’ 39 league goals for Sporting last season and it could herald the arrival of another elite goalscorer for the division.

But it is even more significant for Arsenal, given their spending under Mikel Arteta.

The Premier League champions rejected an opening bid of £58m from Bayern Munich earlier this month for Diaz, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027.

While Slot said Darwin Nunez missed the game against Milan in Hong Kong with an injury, he confirmed Diaz was omitted “due to speculation on his future”.

“There are a lot of rumours around Luis lately and I cannot go into that,” said Slot.

“He’s training really well but we have decided for now not to play him.”

Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are in pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and he was an integral part of the squad that won the 2024-25 Premier League.

Liverpool’s record signing Wirtz made his first start for his new club against Milan at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium.

Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath of flowers before kick-off and the players had ‘Diogo J 20’ on their shirts in tribute to their former team-mate Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident as he and his brother Andre Silva drove through the Spanish province of Zamora earlier this month.

The Premier League champions dominated the opening 10 minutes but it was the Italian side who opened the scoring when a counter-attack ended with Rafael Leao smashing past Alisson Becker.

Dominik Szoboszlai equalised with a fine curling strike into the top corner of Mike Maignan’s goal from the edge of the box.

England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek restored Milan’s lead early in the second half as the Reds were again caught short at the back and Noah Okafor made it 3-1 with a brilliant finish beyond Liverpool’s new Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Cody Gakpo pulled one back in added time with a header from Ibrahima Konate’s pinpoint ball into the box but an awful mix-up between Mamardashvili and Kostas Tsimikas allowed Okafor to net his second.

Liverpool now travel to Japan and will play Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday.

Wirtz comfortable in unusual role

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Florian Wirtz was named the 2023-24 Bundesliga player of the season

Wirtz, a £116m signing from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, filled a unfamiliar false nine role against Milan with Nunez and Diaz missing and new signing Ekitike not ready to play.

The Germany playmaker had exciting 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha on his left and Mohamed Salah in his usual right wing position.

Slot is expected to use Wirtz either as an attacking midfielder behind the striker or a narrow left-sided forward, but in Hong Kong he showed he was capable of linking the forward line from an advanced central role.

His speed of thought and first touch kept him a step ahead of his opponents and opened up space for him to drive forward with the ball.

There was disappointment when he did not re-emerge for the second half, but fans got a look at Liverpool’s other new signings – right-back Jeremie Frimpong and left-back Milos Kerkez – as they were introduced at half-time.​​​​​​​

Liverpool look short at the back

News broke before kick-off that versatile defender Joe Gomez had flown back to England for work on an Achilles injury and that leaves Liverpool with just two fit senior centre-backs.

Liverpool looked exposed in defence in both halves, with Virgil van Dijk starting the first period and Konate taking the captain’s place in the second.

In the absence of Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch started alongside Van Dijk at the heart of the defence, meaning the usual midfield shield was missing.

Liverpool are already a central defender short after Jarell Quansah’s transfer to Bayer Leverkusen, with Andrew Robertson used as a centre-back in the pre-season win at Preston North End and now it was the turn of another left-back, Tsimikas, to fill in.

However Slot said: “I don’t think we have a concern at centre-back. Ryan showed he can play that position – he did it well, although we favour him as a number six.

“Wataru Endo can play there. So we have enough options but it is true that Jarell Quansah left and we haven’t replaced him yet.”

With 12 months left on his contract, Liverpool have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi this summer and Gomez’s injury could increase that interest.

The Black Queens edged the Banyana Banyana 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, securing their first WAFCON medal since 2016.

In her post-match remarks, Ellis acknowledged Ghana’s dominance after the break and admitted her side struggled to regain control.

“I think we started a bit slowly. Got into the game, got a goal, and we pressed,” she said.

“They came guns blazing in the second half, and the most of the second half, we couldn’t get the ball.

“They closed the game down, a few crosses came in, and they were better than us in the second half.”

Reflecting on the penalty shootout, Ellis added: “The game went to penalties. We knew we had a chance, but unfortunately, we didn’t win the penalty shootout this time around, so congratulations to Ghana,” the veteran South African gaffer added.

South Africa entered the tournament as defending champions, but their campaign ended without a medal following the loss in Abidjan.

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Ghana clinched the bronze medal on Friday night after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win over reigning champions South Africa, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Stade Larbi Zaouli.

Reflecting on the achievement, Bjorkegren expressed pride in the team’s progress, especially considering their challenging start to the tournament.

“It’s huge. It’s going in the right direction,” Bjorkegren said after the game.

“We are going to look at the local market, some of the young players. In this tournament, I think we had 20 of 24 players who played in their first AFCON. We need to give them time.”

“I’m really excited for the future, and I have to keep working hard with the coaching team.”

The bronze medal marks Ghana’s best finish at the continental tournament since 2016, offering renewed hope for the team’s resurgence on the African stage.

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The Queens edged South Africa 4-3 on penalties in Friday night’s third-place playoff at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, marking their first podium finish at the tournament since 2016.

Despite a slow start to the campaign, with a loss to South Africa and a draw against Mali, Ghana bounced back with a commanding victory over Tanzania to advance from the group stage.

They then edged past Algeria in the quarterfinals via penalties, but were eliminated by hosts Morocco in a dramatic shootout during the semifinals.

Reflecting on the team’s journey, Björkegren praised his players’ resilience and overall performance.

“I think overall we have made a great tournament,” the Swiss trainer said. “We have shown that we are one of the best teams in Africa,” he added.

In Friday’s bronze medal clash, Ghana held their nerve in the shootout despite Chantelle Boye-Hlorkqh missing her kick. South Africa faltered twice from the spot, handing the Queens a deserved third-place finish.

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Ghana edged past South Africa 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time during Friday’s third-place playoff.

South Africa, the reigning champions, opened the scoring late in the first half when Nonhlanhla Mthandi capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Cynthia Konlan.

But the Queens came out stronger in the second half and found the equalizer in the 68th minute, with Kusi calmly finishing off a cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.

“I’m happy we didn’t go home empty-handed. We couldn’t reach the final, but we’re going home with something,” said Kusi.

“I’m really excited to be the woman of the match,” she added.

The bronze marks Ghana’s first medal at the WAFCON since 2016, signaling a resurgence under head coach Kim Björkegren.

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The striker is considering his future at the club amid interest from Liverpool.

Isak did not travel with the squad to Singapore on Thursday, with Newcastle saying he had a thigh injury, but the Sweden international wants to look at a move.

A source has told BBC Sport that Liverpool are still interested in the 25-year-old, despite signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m.

Speaking before Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Arsenal, Howe said: “Of course there are things going on behind the scenes.

“He will be aware he is in the news every day and I’m sure that is not easy for anyone in that situation. Conversations that happen with Alex and the club, or Alex and myself, will stay private for obvious reasons.

“We do share a good relationship. He has been magnificent for us since he joined. He’s very popular in the dressing room.

“We would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Although, whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.”

Isak, signed from Real Sociedad in August 2022 for around £60m, has a contract until June 2028. He scored 27 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle last season.

Last Saturday, after Isak missed a 4-0 friendly defeat by Celtic, Howe said the player would “absolutely” be part of the squad for the games in Singapore and South Korea.

Howe says Isak is in Newcastle having his injury assessed, adding: “Hopefully he’ll be back soon and playing in the black and white shirt. That’s what we all want to see.”

He added: “He first mentioned his thigh before the Celtic game. We assumed it would be a very minimal injury, nothing too serious. I think on Monday after the Celtic game, he went in for training very early and he didn’t feel right.”

Howe said he has not yet had direct contact Newcastle’s board about Isak’s future, but added that any contract talks would take place “at a later date”.

Asked if Isak would stay, he added: “I said after the Celtic game I certainly hope he stays and I said I was confident he would stay.

“I don’t see anything that will change that opinion of mine at the moment – but it’s football and who knows what the future may bring?

“We are in a very strong position financially.

“We are determined to be successful, be ambitious. We have got a great season ahead of us and we need to add to the squad and continue to improve. The journey will continue in an upward trajectory and that’s what we all want.”

Both sides are unbeaten and the West Africans have only conceded one goal in five matches on their journey to the 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Runners-up in that same stadium in 2022, Morocco are looking for redemption.

Should the Atlas Lionesses lift the trophy for the first time it would offer some return on the vast investment the kingdom has poured into the women’s game in recent years.

Picking a favourite is not easy, with neither side making a compelling case in the semi-finals.

The North Africans, who have Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda in the dugout, needed penalty kicks to get past Ghana, while Nigeria, the continent’s top-ranked side, scored a stoppage-time winner to knock out defending champions South Africa.

Confidence, however, is high in the Super Falcons camp, with their campaign branded as ‘Mission X’.

“Mission X – that’s what this entire tournament was about,” defender Michelle Alozie told BBC Sport Africa.

“It’s going all the way to the final and winning it. We’re growing as a team and I think that shows every game.”

The winners will pick up $1m (£743,000) in prize money as well as the new-look Wafcon trophy.

Listeners to the BBC World Service in Africa can hear live radio commentary (kick-off 20:00 GMT), while the match will be streamed for viewers in the UK on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Atlas Lionesses one win from history

Image source: Confederation of African Football

Image caption: Morocco could become the first North African side to lift the Wafcon trophy

Morocco returned to Wafcon for the first time since 2000 when the country hosted the 2022 edition, but the hosts, who will also stage the 2026 finals in March, have now firmly established themselves as one of the continent’s elite sides.

However, their performances this month have not been as convincing as three years ago, given they fell behind twice against Zambia in the opening game and then trailed Ghana at half-time in the last four.

Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi has looked shaky on several occasions, 34-year-old star player and captain Ghizlane Chebbak has faded in the knockout stage and winger Sanaa Mssoudy has not displayed the level of trickery and impact which saw her named as the best player at last year’s Women’s African Champions League and in the 2024-25 Moroccan league campaign.

Yet Chebbak, the joint-top scorer in the tournament with four goals, is still capable of producing in crucial moments and striker Ibtissam Jraidi provides a cutting edge up front.

“I’ve seen a Moroccan team that doesn’t really give up even when they are trailing,” Desire Oparanozie, a four-time Wafcon winner with Nigeria, told BBC Sport Africa.

“They’ve been very impressive. They keep coming at you and that’s really a positive thing.”

Vilda’s appointment was controversial, given he left the Spain job amid the fallout from an incident at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final when then-federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault and fined, while Vilda was cleared of allegations of coercion.

Yet his presence in the Morocco dugout has divided supporters – even if he could create history by helping a North African side win Wafcon for the first time while also achieving a unique personal double.

“Morocco are going to need a coach to make them more than the sum of their parts to win this final,” Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi told the BBC World Service.

“I’ve even seen arguments to say that Morocco hiring Vilda, if he gets them to win the Wafcon, would be worth it because it’s going to do so much more for the women’s game – even if that is a little bit tainted with him being the coach.”

Can Super Falcons complete Mission X?

Image source: Backpage Pix

Image caption: Nigeria delivered the most complete team performance of Wafcon 2024 when Esther Okoronkwo helped the Super Falcons to a 5-0 quarter-final win over Zambia

Meanwhile, Nigeria, who have long been the dominant force in African women’s football, have not been shy in expressing their intentions of reclaiming the title they last won in 2018.

The country’s football federation announced Mission X before the finals and it has been a hot topic during media engagements with players.

Coach Justin Madugu has found a balance to his side which has displayed physicality at the back, dominance in midfield and a potent front three spearheaded by Esther Okoronkwo’s intelligent build-up play.

The Super Falcons’ threat from across the pitch is underlined by having nine different goalscorers, and the side ground out a victory against South Africa when right-back Alozie was the unlikely match-winner.

“We’re born with the zeal to fight and want to win every game,” forward Okoronkwo told BBC Sport Africa.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who has signed for Women’s Super League side Brighton, has rarely been tested and the only time she has been beaten thus far was from the penalty spot.

Oparanozie thinks the Super Falcons will be out for “revenge” after their semi-final exit at the hands of the Moroccans in 2022 – a game which saw them have two players sent off by the 72nd minute and eventually beaten on penalties.

Managing a partisan stadium

A capacity crowd is expected in the Moroccan capital yet Oparanozie does not anticipate that overwhelming support for the hosts will affect her compatriots.

“Nigeria is known for big moments like this,” the 31-year-old said.

“In 2016 we played against the host nation Cameroon [in the final]. The stadium was filled to 40,000 capacity and that didn’t stop Nigeria from winning.”

The 2024 tournament, delayed for a year because of scheduling issues, has seen the continent’s lowest ranked sides cause issues for those above them, but the final is still the one many predicted.

If Morocco can bridge a gap of 24 places in the world rankings – and hand Nigeria their first ever final defeat – it will put a new name on the Wafcon trophy.

Victory for the hosts could potentially tilt the balance of power in Africa, as well as putting pressure on Morocco’s men ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in the kingdom in December.

Paqueta has been under investigation since August 2023 and was charged by the FA in May 2024 for allegedly getting booked deliberately “for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market”.

BBC Sport understands that the player and club have now been informed of the governing body’s ruling in relation to those accusations, which related to matches during the 2022-23 and 23-24 Premier League seasons.

Paqueta’s hearing over the charges finished towards the end of April this year.

One source with knowledge of the situation has told BBC Sport that the final ruling is largely in Paqueta’s favour and that the Brazil international is effectively “in the clear”.

The FA has been seeking a lifetime ban for Paqueta but indications are that scenario has been avoided.

It remains to be seen, however, if there is any level of punishment for Paqueta.

BBC Sport has contacted West Ham, the FA and Paqueta’s legal team but all have declined to comment.

The four charges against him relate to a Premier League game against Leicester City on 12 November 2022, as well as 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.

He was also charged with two counts of failing to cooperate with the FA’s investigation after breaching “FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2”, which relates to providing information and documents.

The 27-year-old scored four goals in 33 Premier League appearances for West Ham during in 24-25.

He was in tears after being booked against Tottenham in May, with his wife Maria Fournier saying in an Instagram post the same evening that they had “been living this nightmare for two years”.

After being charged by the FA last year, Paqueta had said he was “extremely surprised and upset” by the charges.

“For nine months, I have co-operated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny all the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name,” he said.

Paqueta joined the Hammers from Lyon for an initial £36.5m in August 2022 and helped the club win the Europa Conference League during his debut season.

Since 2014, FA rules have stated that anyone associated with a club in the top eight tiers of English football cannot bet on any aspect of the sport worldwide.

​​​​​​​The games in question

West Ham 0-2 Leicester – 12 November 2022

Paqueta booked for a ‘lunge’ on Leicester midfielder Boubakary Soumare in the 60th minute.

He is booked at 1-0 and the match finishes 2-0 to Leicester.

West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa – 12 March 2023

Paqueta booked for what is described as a ‘lunging challenge’ on John McGinn in the 70th minute, with the score at 1-1.

West Ham 3-1 Leeds United – 21 May 2023

Paqueta is booked for pulling back Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville on the counter-attack in the 65th minute.

It happens at 1-1, with West Ham going on to win 3-1.

West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth – 12 August 2023

In the opening game of this season, Paqueta is booked for handball in the 94th minute, with the match finishing 1-1.

Both players missed Wednesday’s match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Stars.

“Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS said in a statement on Friday.

As a result, the duo will now miss Miami’s home league fixture against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said of Messi’s response to the ban: “He’s very upset, extremely upset, as expected.

“I’m hopeful it doesn’t have an impact long-term. Will it have an impact initially, in the players’ perception of how the league rules work? Absolutely no doubt.”

Mas said of Alba and Messi: “The reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don’t understand the decision, who don’t understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension.

“The rule is what it is, but they don’t understand it. I think that the punishment for the rule is frankly draconian.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber said suspending Messi was a “very difficult decision”.

He added: “I know Lionel Messi loves this league.

“I don’t think there’s a player – or anyone – who has done more for MLS than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.

“Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game and we had to enforce it.”

Argentina legend Messi, 38, has scored 18 goals in as many appearances for Javier Mascherano’s side in the MLS this season, while Alba, 36, has featured 19 times in the league.

The duo, who also played together at Barcelona from 2012 to 2021, were also part of the Miami side’s run to the quarter-finals of the Fifa Club World Cup.

Since their exit from the tournament at the hands of eventual finalists Paris St-Germain, Miami have played five matches this month with Messi scoring eight times.

Speaking to ESPN earlier in the day, Miami head coach Mascherano said the forward had “showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he’s been playing”, adding that “players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days”.

World Cup winner De Paul joins Messi at Inter

Argentina World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul, 31, has joined Inter from Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

The midfielder spent four years at Atletico, scoring 14 goals and registering 26 assists in 187 appearances.

He will join initially on loan for the 2025 season but the deal has an option to make the transfer permanent until 2029.

He has played 78 times for Argentina and has won two Copa America titles, a Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup with his national team.

Amorim exiled his so-called ‘bomb squad’ – Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrrell Malacia – at the start of pre-season.

While Rashford has now sealed a “dream” move to Barcelona, the other four remain at the club and have been told to train back at Carrington, having been left out of United’s squad for the three-game Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

Real Betis remain keen to bring Antony back after the Brazilian’s impressive spell on loan last season, while Juventus are interested in Sancho but need to offload players first, and Garnacho has been linked with numerous clubs.

But no deals are imminent and the feeling persists that suitors will wait to the latter days of the transfer window, which closes on 1 September, in the belief the price will drop.

Amorim warned that will not be the case, and if those players have to come back into the fold, they will.

“[Technical director] Jason [Wilcox], [chief executive] Omar Berrada and the club have a number for these players,” said Amorim.

“If they don’t reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that.

“Some players have to find a new place so we have more space in the team and other players clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams.

“We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide.

“I understand the clubs are waiting for the last minute but they can have a surprise. I’m ready to receive the players.”

New signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon have arrived at United this summer, but the club still want a striker and a holding midfield player to address clear weaknesses in Amorim’s squad.

While that might not happen, the former Sporting boss insists he would be happy if he has to face Arsenal in the opening game of the season with the current group of players he has at his disposal.

“At the moment, our club needs to be really careful when we sign a player,” he added.

“So if we have to start the season with this squad, I’m happy because all the players that are here want to be here – and that for me is the most important thing.”

United have spent almost £130m on forwards Cunha and Mbeumo, believing the pair can supply the goals to fire them up the Premier League table from the dismal 15th place they ended last season.

For both players, the move represents a risk.

Cunha had interest from Tottenham and Arsenal but, having harboured an ambition to play for United as a boy, snubbed the chance of Champions League football to become part of the sizeable Old Trafford rebuild.

He knows the likely reaction to a below-par start to the season, and given United’s opponents include Manchester City and Chelsea, in addition to Arsenal, in the first five games, the spotlight will be on immediately.

But Cunha doesn’t care about that as the Brazilian, 26, said: “I really think the pressure of this club is not really pressure, it’s a privilege.

“This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and when Ruben came to me and said he wanted me to help put the club in the perfect times again, it was a challenge I wanted.”

The victory marks Ghana’s first WAFCON medal since 2016 and rekindles memories of their last bronze-winning feat, which also came at the expense of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana nine years ago.

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren made just one change to the side that narrowly lost to Morocco in the semifinals, with Alice Kusi replacing Princess Marfo in the starting XI.

Ghana dominated early proceedings and came close to taking the lead inside 15 minutes, but forward Doris Boaduwaa failed to convert from close range, blasting her effort over the bar. Moments later, Kusi nearly found the breakthrough with a glancing header off Portia Boakye’s corner, narrowly missing the target.

The Black Queens continued to press, with Grace Asantewaa drawing the first real save of the game from South Africa goalkeeper Andile Dlamini. But just before the break, a costly error from Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan gifted Nonhlanhla Mthandi the opener, sending South Africa into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The Queens emerged from the break with renewed urgency, creating more opportunities in the attacking third. Substitute Evelyn Badu twice came close to equalising—first heading over the bar, then nodding wide from a teasing Princella Adubea delivery.

Ghana finally found the equaliser in the 68th minute when Kusi latched onto a cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah to slot home, making it 1-1.

The momentum remained with Ghana in the closing stages, and Badu came agonisingly close to winning it in regulation time, striking the crossbar with a fierce effort. With neither side able to find a winner, the match was decided by penalties.

Despite a miss from Boye-Hlorkah during the shootout, Ghana prevailed after two failed attempts from South Africa, sealing a hard-fought 4-3 shootout victory and claiming bronze.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday, July 26, with hosts Morocco facing record nine-time champions Nigeria in the final.

The Porcupine Warriors are set to face Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, July 26, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 GMT.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the highly anticipated encounter, Zito acknowledged fans’ expectations but urged them to view preseason matches in context.

“That is for them (fans) to adopt or for them to acquaint themselves with the situation of football. You can win today, you can lose tomorrow, and you can win the next day,” he said.

The experienced coach stressed that football is not only about results but also about growth and continuous improvement.

“What I like about football is that you always have the opportunity to make amendments or improve upon what you have done.”

Zito maintained that while the outcome matters, it is not his primary focus.

“To me, this is a preparation period for me. And yes, as much as it is important, the result matters, but it doesn’t matter most to me,” he added.

Saturday’s game will serve as a key test of Kotoko’s preseason progress, but for Zito, development outweighs the final scoreline.

Ghana’s senior women’s national team is set to face reigning champions Banyana Banyana tonight at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.

The Black Queens narrowly missed a place in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morocco, losing 4-2 after a hard-fought semifinal encounter.

Speaking at the launch of the second edition of the Democracy Cup on Thursday, July 24, Bagbin commended the team for their spirited performance throughout the tournament and expressed optimism about their chances against South Africa.

“I was really very happy. The Black Queens, I should say, performed the way they did. I didn’t expect that from them. So, Kurt, you are on the right course.

“You can’t always be lucky when you are taking penalties. So this time around, I think God did not smile in our direction, so we lost the penalties.

“If not, they performed very, very well. We were expecting to meet our brothers and sisters from Nigeria in the final, but it would have been only as usual, West African rivals. So God said, no, allow it to be North and West,” he added.

The Black Queens will now aim to cap off a strong tournament campaign with a win against South Africa to secure the bronze medal.

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The launch event, held at the D.F. Annan Auditorium in Parliament, drew high-profile attendees, including former Black Stars players, Members of Parliament, and Executive Council members of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

First introduced in 2024, the Democracy Cup is a parliamentary initiative that harnesses the unifying power of football to deepen democratic culture and foster peaceful coexistence across the country.

In his address, Speaker Bagbin reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to the initiative, describing it as a “permanent fixture” in Ghana’s democratic and sporting landscape.

“I want to affirm this laudable initiative and assure you that it is here to stay. It is here to make a lasting impact on our democracy,” he said.

He added, “The launch of this second edition is a powerful testament to what we can achieve as a nation.”

A standout feature of the 2025 edition is the investment of part of the event’s proceeds into professional, FIFA-certified training for physical education teachers — a move Speaker Bagbin described as “vital to the development of sports at the grassroots level.”

The 2025 Democracy Cup will climax with a much-anticipated clash between Accra giants Hearts of Oak and city rivals Great Olympics, scheduled for August 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The day will begin with a curtain-raiser match between a Parliament Select XI and a team of former Black Stars players — promising a celebration of football, camaraderie, and democratic ideals.

BBC Sport has previously reported a £63.5m deal was in the final stages, with the move only held up because of negotiations between the clubs over add-on payments.

The 27-year-old has been given permission to travel in order to complete his medical and is expected to sign a five-year contract and officially become an Arsenal player in the next couple of days.

The Arsenal squad is in Singapore on the first leg of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Speaking on Friday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he “cannot talk about a player who is not ours yet”, but suggested any new signing would join the tour as soon as possible.

“For sure. Obviously once we have finalised everything with a player we want to integrate him with the team as quickly as possible,” Arteta said.

“With Noni [Madueke] it was impossible because he needed some time [after playing in the Club World Cup]. I think he’s going to take a shorter vacation than he deserves because he wants to join us straight away, as soon as we’re back.

“I think immediately is better, so they can start to join the team, get to know each other and get the ideas we want to put in their minds.”

Gyokeres has been in demand during the summer transfer window after scoring 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting last season.

BBC Sport revealed earlier this month that Arsenal had turned their attention to him after hitting an impasse in their bid to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

The search for a striker has been a drawn-out process for Arteta, who has been desperate to add an elite centre-forward after his side scored 17 fewer goals than Liverpool as they finished 10 points behind the Premier League champions.

The Spanish boss increased his overall attacking options with the signing of England winger Madueke, 23, from Chelsea last week.

Former Brighton and Coventry striker Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal and helped Sporting lift back-to-back Primeira Liga titles.

During his time at Coventry, he was one of the most prolific strikers in the Championship.

He scored 43 goals in 116 appearances for the Sky Blues and was named in the Championship team of the year in 2022-23 as they reached the play-off final. That summer he signed for Sporting for about £20m.

He made his Sweden debut in 2019 against Finland and has 26 caps, scoring 15 goals.