Kessben Sports Updates 21/01/26

Today’s Sports Updates

AFCON 2025 Fallout:

Young Moroccan striker Yasser Zabiri 🇲🇦 posted on his account:

“Africa doesn’t deserve Morocco.”

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AFCON 2025 Fallout:

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has rewarded the AFCON 2025 champions, The Teranga Lions, in style:

• $135,000 to each player
• $90,000 to each technical staff member
• Plots of land in high-end areas of Dakar for players and staff

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GPL UPDATE:

The Ghana Football Association met with GPL and Division One referees and club officials to address rising concerns over officiating in the 2025/26 season. The FA is worried about officiating issues in the season so far, amidst the huge investment.

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Build-up to 2026 World Cup:

Ghana is in talks with Austria for a pre-World Cup friendly ahead of Ghana-Germany clash.

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Build-up to 2026 World Cup:

Apply early for Visas – US Embassy

“We will ensure a smooth process for Ghanaian fans to travel around to areas where Ghana’s Black Stars would be playing.”

“We have received assurances from Washington and will have temporary support to boost our ability to process visa applications and facilitate interview appointments for Ghanaian fans who intend to attend the World Cup.”

“Many of the openings are available now. Continue to process non-immigrant visa applications”.

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KMA issues final warning to those encroaching on Baba Yara Sports Stadium property to vacate before 5th February, 2026, as it is earmarked for a project.

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UPDATE:

Ghana’s U20 AFCON bid:

CAF inspection team submits report to CAF, sources indicate report doesn’t look positive.

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UPDATE:

Ghana’s U20 AFCON Bid:

CAF inspection team submits report to CAF, sources indicate report doesn’t look positive.

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UPDATE:

Albert Amoah has yet to train with Asante Kotoko as he’s currently nursing a minor injury. The club’s medical team is working to get him back in action sooner.

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NEWS:

Despite the match ending in a stalemate, Asante Kotoko IMC has heaped praise on the team for resilience at Bibiani, and is willing to pay a winning bonus, as they deem the game won, save for officiating lapses.

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GPL Disciplinary Action:

Coach Zito has written to the GFA’s prosecutor about being charged with breaches of Article 12(1)(i) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, 2019, stating that he was never involved in any unsporting behaviour towards match officials in their match against Gold Stars.

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2025 AFCON Aftermath: Algerian social media influencer, Raouf Belkacemi faces three months in prison and a $136 fine for urinating in Rabat stadium

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🇸🇳🤝🇲🇦 Message of Gratitude from Senegal to Morocco

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has thanked Morocco for the successful hosting of AFCON 2025:

“I express my deepest thanks and great gratitude to the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Morocco for the tremendous efforts in organizing the Africa Cup of Nations.

On behalf of the Senegalese people, I extend sincere appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and to the Moroccan people for their warm reception, hospitality, and the great care given to our delegation and all participating teams.”

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FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto’o has confirmed that head coach David Pagou will remain in charge of the Cameroon national team.

Eto’o says the decision is driven by the need for stability and continuity, as the Indomitable Lions focus on rebuilding and long-term success.

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CAF president Patrice Motsepe on why Morocco continues to host major CAF competitions:

“Many people wonder why Morocco hosts most CAF events. What they don’t know is that when we ask countries to apply to host tournaments, no one steps forward because they are afraid of losing money.

Let me give you an example. I ask in CAF, we’ve got Futsal. I open a bid for six months and nobody submits an offer because they lose money.

I open a bid for the Women’s Champions League, nobody puts a bid because they lose money. And what happens? Morocco comes and says, ‘I’ll help you.’ And sometimes another country comes and says, ‘I will help you.

And what that leads to is that we’ve got lots of competitions where it’s often the same countries.

Partly it’s because the others don’t — the government say, ‘We don’t have the money, we don’t have the resources.

We have to move on and develop African football and encourage those others as well to build their infrastructure because we’ll get there.”

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Build-up to 2026 World Cup:

Black Stars are aiming to reach the quarterfinals – Henry Asante Twum:

“Our target for the World Cup is to qualify from the group stage and be competitive. We want to fight, we have the quality, and we believe we can match our quarter-final appearance and possibly go even further.” [Akoma FM]

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JUST IN:

Simba SC is deferring their interest in Samba O’Niel until the summer window, hoping to benefit from a free agent scenario. Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko is still exploring options to maximise gains from their captain’s inevitable departure.

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Michel Kuka, popularly known as Lumumba Vea, has been honored with a Jetour jeep by the Ministry of Sports and its partners. The gift recognizes his vibrant role during the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where his energy, commitment, and unifying presence made him a standout figure.

Hugely admired by fans, Lumumba Vea became a symbol of the national team’s campaign, and this gesture celebrates his contribution to promoting national football.

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I returned to Kotoko to finish what I started – Albert Amoah

“I was happy when the time came for me to choose the team I want to go on loan. I decided I wanted to come back to Kotoko so that I would finish everything that I started.

1. Winning the league is also part of my journey here. So I decided to come back so that we can work hard and claim it.”