The year 2017 will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Ghana sports, for good and bad reasons. It has been an eventful year, with relative success in some sporting disciplines. But in football- the passion of the nation- and the Black Stars in particular, it is a year that
Ghanaians will love to forget as quickly as possible.
So as the year winds down, Ghanaweb.com recounts some of the memorable sport stories and events that occurred in 2017.
2017 AFCON failure
Ghana’s quest to end a 39-year trophy drought ended with a 2-nill defeat to Cameroon in the semi-final stage of the 2017 AFCON.
Two second half goals from Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui and Christian Bassagog ensured that coach Avram Grant and his players were sent packing packing from the tournament.
The aftermath of the tournament saw the departure of Avram Grant following the expiration of his two year contract with the Ghana Football Association.
“The Ghana Football Association and Black Stars Head coach Abraham Grant have agreed that the two parties will mutually part ways after their contract ends on February 28,” a statement on the FA’s website read.
The return of Kwesi Appiah
Kwesi Appiah was given a second chance to handle the Black Stars following the exit of Israeli coach Avram.
The former Kotoko defender was handed a two-year contract with responsibilities to do “everything possible” to qualify Ghana to the 2018 World Cup as well as the the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon.
The disappointing qualification journey was rounded up with a draw against Egypt but Ghana is still on course to qualify for 2019 AFCON having amassed 6 points from the opening two games.
Kotoko Involved in Accident and FA Cup triumph
Kumasi Asante Kotoko got involved in a ghastly accident at Nkawkaw that claimed the life of Assistant Equipment Officer, Kofi Asare and left some players and officials severely injured.
The calamity befell the Porcupine Warriors when they were making a return to Kumasi after a mid-week match against Inter Allies.
But the Fabulous boys recovered from the unfortunate incident three months later to beat arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak to lift the 2017 MTN FA Cup.
2018 World Cup failure
Ghana failed to secure a ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup having failed to register to a single home win.
The Black Stars rounded up a disappointing campaign with a 1-1 draw against Egypt at Cape Coast stadium.
Ghana finished 3rd with 7 points behind eventual group winners, Egypt, and four points behind second placed Uganda.
WAFU Cup Success
Coach Maxwell Konadu made amends for his failure to qualify Ghana to the 2018 CHAN by leading a pack of locally-based players to win the 2017 edition of the WAFU Cup.
The local Black Stars thumped Nigeria 4-1 at the Cape Coast Stadium to defend the title they won 2 years prior.
That triumph went a long way to restore public faith in coach Maxwell Konadu who was gradually losing some favour among the populace.
Nyantakyi vs George Afriyie Fracas
In July 2017, Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi and his deputy, George Afriyie were reported to have fallen out to the point where Afriyie was considering quitting his position at the FA.
A report on HappyGhana.com, which broke the story, said the duo was involved in a public spat in the United States of America during Ghana’s friendly games with Mexico and the US men’s soccer team.
Afriyie was remoured to have sent a stinking text message to Kwesi Nyantakyi, which was later leaked into the media. Mr Afriyie who doubles as the chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee is among the favourites to replace Nyantakyi who has declared his intention to step down in 2019.
Ghana Olympic Committee Elections
One of the highlights of the year was the election of Ben Nunoo Mensah as the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee. He beat incumbent Professor
Francis Dodoo with five more votes.
Dodoo was seeking to extend his mandate but the highly fancied Nunoo Mensah claimed the victory after the elections were held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
Mensah polled 33 votes of the total count to unseat Dodoo(28), who has been in office for five years.
The elections was decided by delegates comprising two delegations each from the 23 Olympic sports federations, 15 from the non-Olympic sport and federations affiliated to the GOC, with two representatives of the Athletes Commission.
Aduana wins Ghana Premier League
An exciting 2017 Ghana Premier League season ended with Aduana Stars emerging Champions for the second time in their history.
The Dormaa-based club, bankrolled by the affluent Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II came mighty close the year before, but missed out on the title.
This time, they went all the way and by virtue of winning the league, Aduana will compete in the CAF Champions League. Their last appearance was in 2011, where they suffered a first round exit.
Bukom Banku vs Bastie Samir
Brimah Kamoko, better known as Bukom Banku suffered his first career defeat to Bastie Samir in a non-title cruiser-weight fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena in October.
The much anticipated fight between the two sworn-rivals lasted 7 rounds after Bastie twice floored the hitherto undefeated Bukom Banku.
Samir again delivered a combination of jabs and punches in unbelievable style to daze Banku in the 7th round. Roger Banor, the referee for the night, decided to end the misery of Banku who clearly looked out of sorts.
Despite the hard rock ridicule handed to the ‘African Mayweather’, Banku dared a rematch against Bastie in other to redeem his lost image. The two have agreed to fight in March 2018 but they are yet to pen any deal.
Death of Ghanaian Coaches
Former Ghana coach Sam Arday, Herbert Addo and President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF), Gideon Kwarte Quartey all passed away in 2017.
Coach Arday aged 71, was reported dead in Accra on Sunday February 12.
Coach Arday coached the Black Starlets, National U-20 team and Black Stars. He also coached Ghanaian clubs like Ashgold, Asante Kotoko, Feyenoord etc.
Until his demise he was the Technical Director of Ghana Premier League side West Africa Football Academy until his demise.
The man known as the ‘Multi System Man’ won the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Cup, African Under-17 Championship and Olympic Bronze Soccer Medal.
Coach Herbert Addo passed away at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after battling a short illness aged 65.
Herbert Addo won the league title with Asante Kotoko (1988), Goldfields S.C now Ashgold (1994/95 and 1995/96), Accra Hearts of Oak (2002), and Aduana Stars (2010).
The 65-year-old coached more than ten clubs in Ghana and the Black Stars in 1980.
President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF), Gideon Kwarte Quartey, was also reported dead on 15 March.
According to a family source, the boxing administrator died after complaining of heart pains.
The founder of the Dade Boxing Club Gym died on the day he was expected to cast his votes at the GOC congress. His demise came as a shock to the leadership of the sporting federation.
Quartey will be remembered for enhancing amateur boxing in the country, leading to the discovery of the likes of WBC Bantamweight Champion Duke Micah.
