Ransford Yeboah Konigsdorffer's impressive start to life at Mainz 05 has suffered a minor setback after the forward was forced off with an injury during a pre-season friendly against Kaiserslautern.

The Ghanaian attacker took a painful blow to the face when he challenged for a high ball and was struck by the opposing goalkeeper’s arm. Initial signs suggested the impact was mainly around his nose, and after brief treatment the coaching staff decided not to risk him further.

Konigsdorffer watched the rest of the game from the stands, a detail that is being taken as a cautiously positive indication that the injury is not too serious.

Despite this setback, his early pre-season performances have already left a good impression. The first test matches hint that he fits Mainz’s style well and could develop into an important attacking option.

In a warm-up game against Sportfreunde Eisbachtal, he started alongside centre-forward Philipp Tietz in a two-man frontline, and the partnership clicked immediately.

The pair were involved in four of the first five goals in a 10–0 win, underlining how dangerous they can be when given space and support. Coach Urs Fischer and sporting director Niko Bungert are said to see clear value in continuing to explore that combination.

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Ghana Premier League side Karela United have officially begun preparations for the 2026/27 football season as the club looks to build on last campaign’s performances.

The team started its pre-season training programme at Nobisco Park on Wednesday, July 15, as the technical team begins reshaping the squad ahead of another competitive campaign.

Karela United are expected to use the pre-season period to improve fitness levels, assess players and prepare a stronger squad capable of competing across domestic competitions.

The team endured a mixed 2025/26 season, finishing ninth in the Ghana Premier League table.

Although the club managed to maintain its top-flight status, Karela United will be hoping for a better showing in the upcoming campaign as they aim to challenge higher positions on the league standings.

Their FA Cup journey also ended early last season after they were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Division One League side Tamale City FC.

With pre-season now underway, Karela United’s priority will be improving their performances in both the Ghana Premier League and the MTN FA Cup.

The club’s management and technical team will be working to strengthen the squad and ensure the team is better prepared for the challenges of the 2026/27 season.

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Ghana’s Black Queens will no longer face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a scheduled friendly match as part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed on Friday night that the highly anticipated West African encounter had been called off.

“The friendly match between Black Queens and Super Falcons has been called off. We continue to prep for WAFCON,” a statement by the GFA said on Friday night.

The friendly match between Black Queens and Super Falcons has been called off.

We continue to prep for WAFCON.#ShineBlackQueens? #MoreThanAble ????????

— Ghana Women National Teams ???????? (@GhanaWNT) July 17, 2026

The cancellation means head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren’s side will continue their preparations without the opportunity to test themselves against the record champions.

The Black Queens are currently in Morocco ahead of the tournament, which runs from July 25 to August 16.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali, with their opening match scheduled against Cape Verde on July 29 at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

The Black Queens had been using friendly matches to fine-tune their squad ahead of the continental competition, having already secured a 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast in an earlier warm-up fixture.

With the Nigeria match cancelled, Bjorkegren will now focus on completing his preparations and finalising his squad for Ghana’s WAFCON challenge.

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The winners of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will receive championship rings in addition to the trophy and gold medals, FIFA announced on Saturday, marking another sign of the governing body's efforts to Americanise its flagship tournament.

FIFA confirmed that 30 bespoke rings will be presented to the winning team following the final at New York New Jersey Stadium. The captain and head coach will initially receive temporary versions immediately after the match, with the rings later customised to reflect the identity of the winning team.

Championship rings are a long-standing tradition in major North American sports, including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and NHL, but have never previously been awarded at a FIFA competition.

One side of each ring will feature the World Cup trophy, while the other will carry details specific to the champions. The players' rings will form part of a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered pieces, with the remaining 1,996 made available for sale to fans worldwide as officially licensed products.

The introduction of rings caps a tournament in which FIFA has shown increasing willingness to reshape the presentation of soccer in the image of American sport. Sunday's final will also feature a major halftime entertainment show, a concept more readily associated with the Super Bowl than the World Cup.

Mandatory hydration breaks throughout the tournament have effectively divided matches into quarters, with three-minute pauses around the 22nd and 67th minutes applied regardless of conditions. FIFA has defended the policy on player-welfare grounds, citing the heat and humidity of the North American summer.

However, the blanket use of the breaks has drawn criticism from players, coaches, and fans who argue they disrupt the flow of matches and give coaches what amount to two extra tactical timeouts.

The breaks have also created mid-half commercial windows, though FIFA has rejected suggestions they were introduced with advertising in mind.

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Ghana Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has admitted that selecting his final squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be one of the toughest decisions of his tenure.

The coach named a 27-player provisional squad for the tournament in Morocco last week but will eventually have to remove three players before submitting his final list.

Bjorkegren says the competition for places has created a difficult situation because of the strong bond within the team.

“It’s pressure on me, it’s pressure on the players as well. They know we are a big family here. They are fighting for their sports, and in the end we have to cut three of them, which will be very painful for all of us," he told the GFA Media in an interview.

Ghana are currently finalising preparations for the continental tournament, where they will compete in Group D against Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali.

The Black Queens will begin their WAFCON campaign against Cape Verde on July 29 before facing Cameroon on August 2 and Mali on August 6.

All three group-stage matches will be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

With a provisional squad of 27 players competing for limited places, Bjorkegren faces the challenge of balancing team chemistry, player form and tactical requirements ahead of the tournament.

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious plan to reconstruct the Ho Sports Stadium into a modern, multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex, with a target completion date set for Ghana's 70th independence anniversary in 2027.

The president made the declaration during an inspection tour of the facility in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17, 2026.

The historic stadium, which was built in 1958, has suffered from years of neglect, including a deteriorated pitch, flooding issues, and ageing spectator stands. President Mahama emphasised that its strategic central location and ample surrounding land make it ideal for a world-class redevelopment.

The president tied the project's timeline directly to a significant national milestone.

"As we know, Ghana celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, and so we wonder whether by the time this stadium is also 70 years old, we would have reconstructed it into a very modern facility," he stated.

He later reaffirmed this commitment, saying, "By the time Ghana celebrates its 70th anniversary, we want the stadium constructed."

The upgraded stadium will feature a modern natural grass pitch with an automated irrigation system, improved spectator stands, and infrastructure meeting Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards for hosting international competitions.

President Mahama outlined the project's process, stating the government will allocate funds, complete architectural designs, and engage the public before construction begins. He has also revealed a long-term ambition to bring the Africa Cup of Nations back to Ghana for the first time since 2008.

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Former Vision FC head coach Nana Kwaku Agyemang is set to be appointed as the new head coach of FC Samartex, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal.

The highly rated tactician is expected to replace Christopher Ennin in the Samartex dugout ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Agyemang has emerged as a sought-after managerial candidate following his spell with Vision FC, where he earned recognition for his work in the Ghana Premier League.

FC Samartex officially confirmed the departure of Christopher Ennin after he stepped down from his position. The club announced the decision in a statement, bringing an end to Ennin's spell with the Samreboi-based side.

"The president of the club, on behalf of the Samartex family, has thanked him for his invaluable service to Samartex. We wish him well in his future endeavours," the club said.

Ennin took charge midway through the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season following the departure of Nurudeen Amadu, who had guided Samartex to their maiden league title. He was tasked with stabilising the team during a challenging campaign and also won the Ghana Premier League Coach of the Month award during his tenure.

Nana Kwaku Agyemang previously guided Vision FC through a challenging campaign in the Ghana Premier League. He holds a CAF A licence and is known for his tactical approach and experience in player development.

The 48-year-old coach has also served as an assistant coach for the Black Starlets, Ghana's U-17 national team, working alongside head coach Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum. His experience at both club and national team levels makes him a strong candidate to lead the Timber Giants into the new season.

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Ghana Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has indicated that his players are in better shape than a year ago ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament.

The team is already in Morocco, where the WAFCON 2026 will be hosted from July 25 to August 16.

Speaking on the sidelines of the team’s training on Thursday, Kim Lars Bjorkegren stressed that he is looking forward to the start of the tournament, while backing the Black Queens to perform well.

“We had a good first game against Ivory Coast, which ended 1-0. So we keep building from here.

“We have some new members on the staff. Overall, many of the players are in better shape this year. The team is also in a much better place if I compare with one year ago, so I’m really looking forward to the start of WAFCON,” the coach told the GFA Media Team.

Coach Kim Lars Bjorkegeren will have another chance to assess his team on Saturday, July 18, when the Black Queens face the Super Falcons of Nigeria in another friendly match.

That encounter is scheduled to kick off at 16:00GMT at Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca.

At this year’s WAFCON, Ghana are placed in Group D where they will face the likes of Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde.

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Medeama SC are pushing to secure the signature of free-agent forward Stephen Amankona as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Tarkwa-based club have identified the 26-year-old as a key transfer target and are working to bring him in on a free transfer. Amankona is currently a free agent after his contract situation became unclear following a stint in Egypt.

A proven goalscorer in the Ghana Premier League, Amankona won the top scorer award for two consecutive seasons with Berekum Chelsea, netting 37 goals in 58 appearances.

He previously played for Asante Kotoko, scoring seven goals in 15 appearances, before returning to Chelsea.

His move to Egyptian side Smouha SC did not go as planned, with the forward failing to secure a permanent starting spot, leading to discussions over a potential contract termination. That situation has now made him available on a free transfer, with Medeama looking to capitalise.

Medeama, who finished as Ghana Premier League runners-up last season, are keen to add firepower to their attack as they prepare for both domestic and continental competitions. Amankona's experience and proven goal-scoring record make him an attractive option for the Yellow and Mauve.

Talks between Medeama and the player's representatives are understood to be progressing, with the club hopeful of reaching an agreement soon.

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SV Babelsberg 03 have added further firepower to their squad with the signing of German-Ghanaian forward Jesaja Herrmann, just a week before the new season kicks off.

The 26-year-old attacker, who brings a blend of power, athleticism and experience, joins from FC Bocholt and has signed a contract running until 2028.

Herrmann arrives with a varied CV, having gained valuable minutes in the Belgian First Division and in Luxembourg, as well as spells in Germany’s 3. Liga with Waldhof Mannheim. Developed in the academy of VfL Wolfsburg, he also represented Germany at youth level, making 27 appearances for the junior national teams during his development years.

SVB chairman Paul Bachmeyer welcomed the new signing by highlighting the qualities Herrmann will add to the side, describing him as a powerful, physically strong player whose experience and skill set are expected to enrich the team’s attacking play.

Herrmann will now link up with his new teammates immediately as Babelsberg step up preparations for their upcoming pre-season fixtures, giving him the chance to integrate quickly and build on-field chemistry before competitive action begins.

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Former Berekum Chelsea striker Stephen Amankona has officially parted ways with Egyptian Premier League side Smouha SC, bringing an end to his underwhelming stint in North Africa.

The 26-year-old joined Smouha in the summer of 2025 on a three-year deal, arriving with high expectations after winning back-to-back Ghana Premier League Golden Boots. He scored 19 goals in the 2023/24 season and followed it up with 15 goals in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, the move did not go according to plan. He struggled for playing time due to stiff competition and inconsistent performances, making just a single appearance in the 2025/26 season.

Discussions regarding a mutual termination of his contract were underway, and the parties have now agreed to part ways.

The prolific striker has already attracted interest from three clubs, with Medeama SC currently leading the race and pushing hard to finalise a deal. Bibiani Gold Stars are also among the clubs keen on securing his signature.

Amankona previously played for Asante Kotoko before returning to Berekum Chelsea, where he rediscovered his goal-scoring form. He is now set to return to Ghana to revive his career.

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Swedru All Blacks have completed the permanent signing of talented winger Samuel Osei Kofi from Nsuopun Fidelity, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively confirm.

The deal is done, with the highly rated attacker set to begin a new chapter at Swedru All Blacks ahead of the upcoming season.

Osei Kofi has been a standout performer in the Access Bank Division One League, impressing with his pace, creativity, and attacking threat on the flank.

His exceptional campaign saw him score 13 goals in the league, finishing among the top five scorers in Zone Two. He has also been a consistent goal scorer, with reports from earlier in the season highlighting his reliability in front of goal.

His performances for Nsuopun Fidelity convinced Swedru All Blacks' technical team that he can add significant quality and depth to their attacking department. The former Ghana Premier League side had been in advanced negotiations to secure the winger's signature and have now successfully wrapped up the deal.

Osei Kofi will be looking to make an immediate impact as Swedru All Blacks prepare for their upcoming campaign.

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