World Cup 2022: Ghana held to goalless draw by visiting Nigeria
Intense West African rivals Ghana and Nigeria could not be separated as they played out a stalemate in the first leg of their 2022 World Cup play-off in Kumasi. Hyped up beforehand, the contest in front of a capacity crowd in the Ghanaian city featured few chances but was played at a rare pace in an electric atmosphere. Nigeria thought they had won a penalty fifteen minutes from time, only for Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed to overturn his decision after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee, being used in an African World Cup play-off for the first time. Bidding to reach their seventh World Cup, Nigeria host three-time qualifiers Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday in another likely feverish affair. The Baba Yara Stadium was desperate for a home goal but instead saw both goalkeepers pull off fine stops in a closely-matched contest between two sides who exited this year’s Africa Cup of Nations early on. Visiting goalkeeper Francis Uzoho twice denied Ghana debutant Felix Afena Ohene-Gyan before thwarting lively duo Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and, with a stunning stop, Mohammed Kudus. At the other end, Nigeria forward Moses Simon was rebuffed twice by Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott as the teams met in a World Cup clash for the first time since 2001. Early on, the main threats were coming from Ghana coach Otto Addo’s side with Gideon Mensah missing the target before Kudus’ rasping shot was pushed away. Nigeria’s first effort came from Simon as he thumped in a low drive blocked by Wollacott, while Uzoho smothered Jordan Ayew’s effort after the forward’s pace had stretched the defence. With the game finely poised, Nigeria had two chances in quick succession as Joe Aribo spurned a fine opening before hotshot Napoli striker Victor Osimhen also fluffed his lines. In the 75th minute, Nigeria thought they had earned a penalty given after Idrissu Baba handled the ball in the box but the referee overturned his initial verdict. Asked to check his decision by VAR on the pitchside monitor, Jiyed instead ruled that Idrissu had been fouled in the build-up. Nigeria will be the happier of the two sides ahead of Tuesday’s second leg but with the away goals rule in place, Ghana know any score draw – at the Abuja Stadium where Nigeria have not played a home match in over a decade – will take them to their fourth finals. Another goalless draw would see the tie go to extra time and if there are still no goals after 120 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will decide which of the rivals goes to Qatar. Source: BBC
Akufo-Addo to complete agenda 111 hospitals before 2025
Addressing the congregation at the 60th-anniversary of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) on Friday, 25 March 2022, President Akufo-Addo said, he will complete all agenda 111 hospitals before leaving office. “A great deal of the preparatory work for the execution of this ambitious project has been completed and it is my determination that the entire project will be completed before I leave office on 6th January 2025”. The President also noted that the “government is looking forward to also improve its accreditation seals for hospitals in the country and possibly acquire international accreditation seals such as Joint Commission International.” However, the President also appealed to doctors to take up posts in deprived areas. “The news of doctors refusing posting to these areas is distressing. I encourage all medical practitioners to follow the worthy example of your great forebears who readily accepted postings in the early years, at a time when the national infrastructure was even more harrowing than it is today”. “I am therefore appealing to you, as passionately as I can, to accept postings to accredited regional and district hospitals, where your services are needed most,”. “our medical schools have got a good reputation and have been training good doctors and dentists who find work with some ease, in all parts of the world, the doctor-dentist population ratio in our country still remains unsatisfactory after 65 years of nationhood. “We currently do not have the right numbers of doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals with the right niche of skills and expertise in our regions, districts and deprived communities, especially for the newly-created regions and districts,” he said. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093