CAF President Mourns Dominic Frimpong as Football World Grieves Berekum Chelsea Tragedy
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has added his voice to the outpouring of grief following the death of Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong, extending his deepest condolences to the player’s family, teammates, and the wider Ghanaian football community. Frimpong, just 20 years old, lost his life following a reported armed robbery attack on the Berekum Chelsea team bus as it made its way back from a Ghana Premier League fixture, a senseless act of violence that has sent shockwaves through football circles across the continent. In a letter addressed to Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Motsepe did not mince words about the weight of the moment. “It is with profound sadness that I learned of the armed robbery attack on the bus of Berekum Chelsea, returning from a Ghana Premier League fixture, which claimed the life of a 20-year-old winger, Dominic Frimpong,” he wrote. Speaking on behalf of himself and the entire CAF body, Motsepe reached out to all those touched by the tragedy. “Please pass my personal and CAF’s deepest condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Dominic Frimpong and to the Ghana Football Association,” he said, before offering a message of spiritual comfort to those in mourning. “May God comfort and console his loved ones and the entire Ghanaian football community. CAF is with you during this sad and painful period.” On the ground in Ghana, the Ghana Football Association confirmed it is in active contact with the club and the Ghana Police Service as investigations into the attack continue. Authorities have been urged to spare no effort in bringing those responsible to justice. For a young man who had his entire career ahead of him, Dominic Frimpong’s death is a reminder of the fragility of life, and a loss that Ghana football will feel for a long time to come. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
GFA Completes Vehicle Rollout Across All Football Structures Under FIFA Forward Programme
Ghana’s football administration has taken another step toward building a stronger, more connected game at every level, as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) presented five vehicles to key operational units under the FIFA Forward Programme, completing a nationwide logistical rollout that now covers all regional structures and major technical and administrative bodies. The five vehicles have been allocated to two Regional Football Associations, the Technical Directorate, the GFA Headquarters, and the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, units that play a central role in the day-to-day running and long-term development of football across the country. The latest distribution builds on an earlier phase of the programme in which eight of Ghana’s ten administrative football regions received double-cabin pickup vehicles. At the time, the Association signalled that further vehicles would be made available to the remaining regions and key units, contingent on how responsibly the initial fleet was managed. With this latest presentation, the GFA has made good on that commitment, extending logistical support to every corner of its operational structure. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, GFA leadership made clear that the vehicles are not merely administrative assets; they are tools for driving football development on the ground. The fleet is expected to support match monitoring, programme organisation, and the growth of grassroots, juvenile, and women’s football across the country. At the Technical Directorate and the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, the vehicles are also expected to improve the efficiency of logistics and administrative operations. With the keys in hand, however, came a firm message from the Association. The GFA urged all beneficiary units to ensure the vehicles are used strictly for official purposes, properly maintained, and managed with a sense of responsibility, a reminder that the privilege of support comes with an obligation to account for it. The initiative forms part of the GFA’s broader drive to improve infrastructure and operational efficiency within Ghana football, and signals a renewed focus on ensuring that the structures supporting the beautiful game are as strong as the game itself. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Sacks Otto Addo as Black Stars Head Coach After Run of Poor Results
The Ghana Football Association has parted ways with Otto Addo as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars, bringing an end to his tenure following a series of dismal performances in recent international friendlies. The axe fell after a run of results that left little room for patience. Ghana suffered a humiliating 5–1 thrashing at the hands of Austria before falling 2–1 to Germany, extending the team’s losing streak to four consecutive matches. The back-to-back defeats not only dented confidence but sparked widespread concern about the team’s direction and readiness for the challenges ahead. The timing of Addo’s dismissal could hardly be more significant. Ghana is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the stakes could not be higher. The Black Stars have been drawn into a formidable group alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, making the need for an immediate turnaround in form all the more urgent. In a statement announcing the decision, the GFA acknowledged Addo’s service while making clear that the separation was effective immediately. “The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted ways with the Head Coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo, effective immediately. The Association wishes to thank Otto Addo sincerely for his contribution to the team and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours,” the statement read. The Association gave no immediate indication of who would take the reins, but assured the public that a new technical direction for the Black Stars would be announced in due course, as preparations press ahead toward upcoming international competitions. With the World Cup on the horizon and a tough group awaiting, the clock is ticking for Ghana to find the right man for the job. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Black Stars Robbed in Vienna: Police Launch Investigation as CCTV Cameras Found Non-Operational
Police in Vienna, Austria, have launched a formal investigation after Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, fell victim to a brazen robbery on the eve of their international friendly match scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s football circles, saw thieves make off with $2,250 in cash and two Rolex watches belonging to players of the national team, striking at the very hotel where the squad had been lodged ahead of the highly anticipated fixture. Adding a troubling layer to the case, Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams revealed that preliminary reports point to a significant security lapse at the hotel; the CCTV cameras were not operational at the time of the robbery. The revelation has raised urgent questions about the integrity of the hotel’s surveillance system and who bore responsibility for maintaining it. “The initial report we have is that the CCTV was not functioning, and the police are checking when it stopped working and who was responsible for the hotel’s surveillance system at that time,” Adams disclosed. The minister confirmed that Viennese authorities have taken the matter seriously and are conducting a thorough review, working to establish a precise timeline of when the cameras went offline and whether any foul play was involved in their failure. With the cameras down and the robbers having apparently exploited the security blind spot, investigators now face the challenge of piecing together the events of that night without the benefit of footage. Austrian police are said to be working diligently to unravel the circumstances surrounding the theft, examining all available leads. For the Black Stars, the incident cast a shadow over their preparations for the friendly, a match meant to be a moment of national pride on the international stage. Instead, the team found itself at the centre of a criminal investigation far from home, awaiting answers as Austrian authorities race to bring those responsible to justice. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Black Stars Targeted in Vienna Hotel Robbery Days Before Austria Friendly
Ghana’s Black Stars arrived in Vienna with football on their minds, but an unsettling incident off the pitch has cast a shadow over their preparations ahead of Friday’s international friendly against Austria. The national football team has been hit by a robbery at their hotel in the Austrian capital, with cash and luxury watches reported stolen from the rooms of players and management committee members. A source at the Ghana Football Association confirmed the incident, which has since drawn the attention of Austrian authorities. Gabby Ofei of the Citi Sport Desk, reporting live on Citi Prime News on Friday, March 27, 2026, was first to put numbers to the loss. According to his account, thieves made off with $2,250 in cash and two Rolex watches, the cash belonging to members of the management committee, and the watches to players. “The report that came in indicates that two valuables have been stolen, a $2,250 cash and two Rolex watches,” Ofei said. “The report indicated that cash belongs to management committee members, and the watches are for the players.” What has made the investigation particularly frustrating, however, is a glaring gap in the hotel’s security infrastructure. The CCTV cameras at the facility where the Black Stars are lodged were reportedly not functioning at the time of the incident, a revelation that has significantly hampered efforts to identify those responsible. “The hotel indicated that their CCTV cameras are not functioning, which has made it difficult for the FA to furnish the Austrian police with proper evidence,” Ofei added. Without usable footage, investigators are left piecing together the incident through other means, slowing what would otherwise have been a more straightforward process of identifying the culprits. Despite the unsettling turn of events, those close to the team say the mood in camp remains composed. Officials confirmed that players and technical staff are calm and focused, determined not to let the off-field disturbance derail their preparations for the scheduled match. The Ghana Football Association, for its part, says it is working closely with the relevant authorities in Austria to support the investigation and has pledged to provide further updates as the situation develops. For now, the Black Stars are pressing on, keeping their eyes on the game, even as the search for answers continues behind the scenes. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s Black Stars Fundraising Campaign Kicks Off With a Roaring $10 Million on Day One
It was a night charged with national pride and purpose. Ghana’s Black Stars fundraising campaign made a thunderous entrance, pulling in approximately $10 million on the very first day of its launch, a figure that has set the tone for what organisers hope will be a historic drive toward a $30 million goal. The announcement came from Deputy Finance Minister and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, who could barely conceal his excitement as he addressed the nation following the high-profile launch event. “The fundraising target is $30 million, and if you listen to the pledges and donations, on day one of the launch, we got about $10 million,” he said. “We are going to put together other events, and we believe that the contributions that are coming in from the short code as well.” The launch drew a constellation of Ghana’s most influential figures. President John Dramani Mahama graced the occasion alongside Sports Minister Kofi Adams and Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, signalling the weight of government and football administration behind the initiative. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as the sports, entertainment, and business sectors rallied behind the cause. Legends of Ghanaian football were also in the room. Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, ex-internationals Fatawu Dauda and Mohammed Polo stood shoulder to shoulder with music heavyweights Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, and Nacee, a powerful reminder that supporting the Black Stars is not just a sporting affair, but a deeply cultural one. The funds raised will go toward preparing the national team for upcoming international competitions, including four international friendly matches ahead of major tournaments. But beyond the logistics of football, the campaign carries a deeply personal message for ordinary Ghanaians. Nyarko Ampem revealed that part of the initiative is designed to give everyday citizens a direct stake in the team’s journey. “We are using some of this also to randomly select some Ghanaians to go and support the players,” he explained. “Ghanaians who are interested, the code is *899#. With just two or three steps, you stand a chance of representing Ghana to support the Black Stars at the World Cup.” It is a gesture that speaks to the soul of Ghanaian culture, a people who have always worn their national identity with fierce pride, from the rhythms of highlife and afrobeats echoing across the country to the passionate roar of fans who live and breathe football. The Black Stars are not merely a team; they are a symbol of unity, resilience, and collective ambition. With $20 million still to go, organisers are confident. Additional fundraising events are set to be rolled out in the coming weeks, and the momentum from day one suggests that Ghana is more than ready to answer the call. The story of the Black Stars’ next chapter is being written, and every Ghanaian has been handed a pen. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Senegal Fumes Over CAF’s Decision to Crown Morocco 2025 AFCON Champions
Senegal’s football federation has fired back at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the continental body stripped the West African nation of its Africa Cup of Nations title and handed it to Morocco. In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through African football, CAF’s Appeal Board on March 17, 2026, declared Morocco’s men’s national team the winners of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a title Senegal had claimed on the pitch after winning the tournament’s final match. The ruling stemmed from an appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which challenged Senegal’s victory because the Senegalese players had walked off the pitch for several minutes during the final. The CAF Appeal Board sided with Morocco, recording the result of the match as a 3–0 defeat for Senegal and officially crowning the Atlas Lions as champions. Senegal, however, was having none of it. In a strongly worded statement sighted by ApexNewsGh on X on March 17, 2026, the Senegalese Football Federation blasted CAF’s decision as unfair, unprecedented, and deeply damaging to the image of African football. The federation did not mince words, describing the ruling as an “insult” to the continent’s game. “The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football,” the statement read. But the federation made clear it would not stop there. Refusing to accept the outcome lying down, Senegal announced its intention to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, in a bid to reclaim what it believes is rightfully theirs. “To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,” the statement added. The controversy has cast a long shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment for African football, with the legitimacy of the 2025 AFCON title now set to be decided not on the pitch, but in a courtroom. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Otto Addo Holds the Key to André Dede Ayew’s Black Stars Future, Says GFA Communications Director
The question of whether André Dede Ayew has played his last game for the Black Stars remains unanswered, and according to the Ghana Football Association’s Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, only one man can provide that answer: head coach Otto Addo. Speaking to the media, Asante Twum made it clear that while the GFA holds deep respect and appreciation for the former Olympique Marseille forward, the association’s hands are tied when it comes to determining his fate in the national team setup. “At the end of the day, the coach makes the final decision. The FA can only make an input,” he said, drawing a firm line between the federation’s advisory role and the technical team’s authority. Asante Twum was full of praise for Ayew’s storied career with the Black Stars, acknowledging the immense legacy the veteran attacker has built over the years. From leading the team as captain to representing Ghana through the youth ranks, Ayew’s contributions, in the GFA’s eyes, are beyond question. “What he has contributed to the nation is enormous. His leadership qualities are absolutely amazing, from the youth teams to the Black Stars. He has played over 100 matches and is currently one of our top scorers in history,” Asante Twum said. The comments come amid a growing public debate over Ayew’s exclusion from the Black Stars squad named by Otto Addo for upcoming friendly matches against Austria and Germany. Many football fans have been vocal in their calls for the experienced forward’s recall, but Asante Twum acknowledged that passion while firmly redirecting it toward the man in the dugout. “So the records are many. You can point to different reasons why André must be called. But in the end, the power lies with one person. He calls the shots, he makes the decisions, and he settles on the players. And at this point, these are the players Otto wants to work with. Nobody knows what will happen,” he stated. Asante Twum also urged patience, noting that the football season still has considerable runway before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about World Cup squad selections. With the 2025/2026 season running through to the end of May, he noted that much can still change. “The season is still ongoing until the end of May. We’ve got all of April and the first two weeks of May to close the 2025/2026 season. So I cannot speak too much about the future. I can only talk about today,” he added. For now, Dede Ayew watches from the sidelines as his international future hangs in the balance. The provisional Black Stars FIFA World Cup squad is expected to be released in May, with the final squad to be submitted in June 2026, leaving the door neither firmly open nor completely shut for one of Ghana’s greatest footballers. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Morocco Crowned 2025 AFCON Champions After CAF Appeal Board Strips Senegal of Title
In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco the winners of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a title that had initially been claimed by Senegal on the pitch. The stunning reversal came on March 17, 2026, when the CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), upholding Morocco’s appeal that Senegal’s players had walked off the pitch for several minutes during the final match. Under Article 84 of the AFCON Regulations, that walkoff was deemed a forfeit, and the result of the match was officially recorded as 3–0 in Morocco’s favour. It was a ruling that rewrote history. Senegal had crossed the finish line first, celebrating what appeared to be their second AFCON crown. But Morocco refused to accept the outcome, lodging a formal appeal that challenged the legitimacy of Senegal’s victory. The CAF Appeal Board agreed. In its ruling, the board found that Senegal’s conduct during the final fell squarely within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, provisions that govern player conduct and the consequences of abandoning a match. The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was found to have infringed Article 82, and with that, Senegal’s triumph was wiped from the record books. “The CAF Appeal Board decided today that, in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match,” CAF’s official statement read. But the ruling did not stop there. While Morocco’s appeal was largely upheld, the board also turned its attention to a series of incidents involving the Moroccan side, and handed down its own set of verdicts. Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11) was found guilty of misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. His suspension was set at two official CAF matches, with one match suspended. However, in a partial win for Morocco, the USD 100,000 fine that had originally been imposed on Saibari was set aside entirely. The board also took up the matter of the ball boys incident during the match. The FRMF was confirmed to bear responsibility for the behaviour of the ball boys, but the fine was reduced from its original amount to USD 50,000. Similarly, a fine related to a laser incident was slashed to USD 10,000 following a partial upholding of Morocco’s appeal on that matter. Not everything went Morocco’s way, however. The appeal concerning interference around the OFR/VAR review area was dismissed outright, and the USD 100,000 fine imposed on the FRMF for that incident was confirmed in full. The CAF Disciplinary Board’s original decision was set aside in its entirety, replaced by the Appeal Board’s comprehensive ruling, one that has fundamentally changed the story of the 2025 AFCON. For Morocco, it is a championship won not on the final whistle, but in the boardroom. For Senegal, it is a heartbreaking end to what had been a triumphant campaign. And for African football, it is a moment that will be debated for years to come. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
U.S. Embassy in Ghana Releases 2,000+ New Visa Appointment Slots for B1/B2 Travelers
In a welcome development for Ghanaian travelers, the U.S. Embassy in Accra has announced the release of more than 2,000 additional visa appointment slots for B1/B2 applicants over the next two weeks. The newly available slots are designed for individuals traveling to the United States for business, family visits, tourism, or to attend the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup. The embassy announced on its official X account on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, building on a recent rollout of over 1,000 non-immigrant visa slots that enabled many travelers to book earlier interview dates. With demand for U.S. visas soaring ahead of major events, the embassy is encouraging applicants who already have appointments scheduled for later in the year to reschedule and take advantage of the increased availability. Interested travelers are advised to check the embassy’s official visa page for detailed instructions and to secure their slots promptly, as competition is expected to be stiff. The move reflects rising interest in travel that combines business, leisure, and global sporting opportunities, with the embassy working to accommodate the surge in applications from Ghana and the wider region. Source: Apexnewsgh.com