Tag: AFCON

The Ghana FA have hit goalkeeper Razak Brimah with a US$2500 fine in response to his foul-mouthed rant on Facebook.

The shot-stopper took to social media to post a curse-ridden video in which he hit back at the critics of his performances at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

In response, the GFA issued a statement condemning his conduct and revealed that the player will lose half of his win bonus (the money will be donated to charity upon Ghana’s return from the AFCON) and write a formal apology.

According to the statement, the punishment is due to a breach of the code of conduct of the Black Stars, which states in Article 6(1)& (2):

1 – During the periods of camping all members of the Delegation, particularly players are forbidden to engage in any discussions, and/or any form of communication with player agents, scouts, journalists and all other unauthorized personnel except with the express permission of the Head Coach or Leader of Delegation.

2 – Any player who violates Clause 1 of this article shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 In pursuance thereof, the GFA has decided to impose a fine of $2,500 on Brimah which will be donated to a charity in Ghana.

Brimah and Ghana will hope this action puts the issue to bed and allows the player to focus on preparing for Thursday evening’s semifinal against Cameroon.

Togo’s veteran centre forward and all-time top goalscorer Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted that he will not be retiring from international anytime soon.

The 2008 African Footballer of the Year was part of the Sparrow Hawks squad that was eliminated from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals earlier this month.

Adebayor, who has been playing for Togo since 2000, stated that he will only quit international football when the time is right.

“This Togo belongs to me and I belong to them,” Adebayor told the media.

“So I can’t see myself going out now because going out now is like coming out of the boat. And I’m the captain of the boat.

“Even if I have to come out I have to come out at the right time and I don’t think it’s the right time.”

Adebayor, who will turn 33 next month, played at the 2017 AFCON finals as a free-agent and he has confirmed interest from English Premier League clubs.

SUNDAY’S Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal between Egypt and Morocco is set to be a classic battle of managerial minds, bringing together a two-time winner of the trophy in Herve Renard and wily Hector Cuper.

While Frenchman Renard has become a fixture on the African scene, and a successful one at that, the 61-year-old Argentine Cuper is sampling a major international tournament for the first time.

Appointed in 2015, Cuper was charged with the daunting task of making the record seven-time African champions a force again.

A first appearance at the World Cup since 1990 is, he has admitted, the “big objective.”

But returning to the Cup of Nations for the first time since they won a third consecutive trophy in 2010 came first.

Cuper did that and he has steered them through to the knockout phase by making the Pharaohs the kind of side that nobody likes playing against.

Egypt did not concede a goal in the group stage in Gabon, following a 0-0 draw with Mali by winning 1-0 against Uganda and Ghana, both times thanks to flashes of inspiration from star man Mohamed Salah.

“Now modern football is always like attacking football, full-backs always high, but he is a bit different, a bit old-school,” Egypt’s Ahmed Elmohamady, of Premier League Hull City, told AFP.