Ignatius Osei-Fosu, the assistant coach of the Sudanese national team, has downplayed suggestions that he disrespected ace Ghanaian journalist Collins Atta Poku during the post-match press conference of the Ghana versus Sudan match in Accra on October 10, 2024.<\/p>\n Osei-Fosu explained that he shares a strong relationship with Atta Poku, whom he describes as a brother, and assures Ghanaians that the video of their exchanges was just friendly banter.<\/p>\n He noted that under no circumstances would he deliberately disrespect journalists and that Atta Poku took no offence at his actions.<\/p>\n \u201cAtta Poku was at one point perching with me. He is like a small sibling to me. When we finished, it was me, him, and one other journalist who walked to the bus. People don\u2019t understand, but he is a friend.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople should understand that before I became a coach, I was a journalist, and these guys were my friends, so they shouldn\u2019t take these things to heart. I have a very good relationship with him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A video of Osei-Fosu and Atta Poku exchanging words during the presser went viral on social media, with some Ghanaians questioning the posture of the Sudanese coach.<\/p>\n While those with knowledge of their relationship tried to explain the situation, some Ghanaians who were unaware of the context condemned Osei-Fosu for being condescending and disrespectful to the journalist.<\/p>\n In their two Group F games against the Black Stars in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Sudan picked up four points from Ghana, drawing in Accra and beating Ghana 2-0 in Libya.<\/p>\n The result and subsequent defeat to Niger in the November international break meant that the Black Stars will not be playing in the AFCON for the first time since 2004.<\/p>\n The Black Stars finished bottom of the group with three points, having drawn three and lost three of the six matches played.<\/p>\n Sudan qualified for the tournament alongside table toppers Angola. Niger, who finished third, could not qualify.<\/p>\n Watch the latest edition of Sports Debate below: <\/b><\/p>\n![\"Ignatius](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/267\/26730185.295.jpg\" "\\"Ignatius")
Ignatius Osei-Fosu, the assistant coach of the Sudanese national team<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n