{"id":273907,"date":"2025-01-01T18:40:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T18:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2025\/01\/01\/ghanas-2024-sporting-rollercoaster-asaase-radio\/"},"modified":"2025-01-01T18:40:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T18:40:32","slug":"ghanas-2024-sporting-rollercoaster-asaase-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2025\/01\/01\/ghanas-2024-sporting-rollercoaster-asaase-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghana\u2019s 2024 sporting rollercoaster – Asaase Radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The year 2024 was a tale of contrasts for Ghanaian sports\u2014a year of promise tempered by persistent challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On one hand, the country witnessed strides in infrastructure, with the Borteyman Sports Complex taking centre stage as a future hub for the University of Sports Development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the nation, new astroturf pitches emerged, offering a glimmer of hope for nurturing grassroots football talent in the nation\u2019s most beloved sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana also played host to some of Africa\u2019s biggest sporting events, drawing the continent\u2019s finest athletes to compete alongside local stars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These competitions not only entertained but also provided invaluable exposure and experience for homegrown talent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, it wasn\u2019t all celebratory. The Black Stars, Ghana\u2019s pride on the football pitch, flirted with the embarrassment of losing home ground advantage for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers due to the dire state of the country\u2019s stadiums.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their struggles mirrored a broader narrative of underwhelming performances in several continental and global tournaments.<\/span><\/p>\n

As 2025 dawns, it\u2019s the perfect time to reflect on the defining moments of a year that left Ghanaians both inspired and exasperated. Here\u2019s a look back at the sporting highs and lows of 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana hosts 13th African Games<\/b><\/h3>\n

The year\u2019s crowning achievement was undoubtedly Ghana\u2019s hosting of the African Games for the first time in its history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This monumental event brought the continent\u2019s biggest stars to Ghanaian soil, transforming the nation into a hub of sporting excellence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Central to the Games\u2019 legacy was the construction of the Borteyman Sports Complex, a US$145 million project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The county also constructed West Africa\u2019s first international-standard rugby stadium at the University of Ghana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This infrastructure boom symbolised Ghana\u2019s commitment to sports development, but the Games also delivered on the field, with Ghana achieving its highest-ever medal tally since 1973.<\/span><\/p>\n

The country claimed 69 medals in total\u201419 gold, 29 silver, and 21 bronze\u2014accounting for 6.3% of the 1,087 medals awarded across 25 disciplines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The armwrestling team led the charge, securing an astounding 41 medals (59.4% of Ghana\u2019s total).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These victories placed Ghana ninth on the all-time list of successful host nations, though still far behind 2019 host Morocco, which amassed 118 medals (10.6% of the total) at the 12th African Games.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the Games were not without their challenges. The South African hockey team withdrew, citing concerns over the state of the playing field, casting a shadow over the competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions also loomed over the US$245 million price tag of hosting the event, sparking debates about priorities in national spending.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana at 2024 Paris Olympic Games<\/b><\/h3>\n

If the African Games provided a high, Ghana\u2019s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics delivered a sobering low.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The country\u2019s contingent of eight athletes competed in athletics and swimming but failed to make a significant impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu offered glimmers of hope, both reaching the men\u2019s 100m semifinals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, they were ultimately outclassed by global heavyweights, with Azamati clocking 10.17 seconds to finish ninth in his group. Saminu, despite improving his time to 10.05 seconds, fell short of a final berth.<\/span><\/p>\n

The men\u2019s 4x100m relay team suffered a devastating d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu moment, disqualified in the heats for breaching the changeover zone rule\u2014a repeat of their fate at the Tokyo 2020 Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even without the disqualification, sloppy baton exchanges and inconsistent running would have kept them out of contention.<\/span><\/p>\n

High jumper Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah, a double gold medallist at the African Games and African Championships, struggled to replicate her form in Paris.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She failed to clear the automatic qualifying height of 1.97m, finishing 14th with a jump of 1.88m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Swimming offered little relief, as Joselle Mensah and Harry Stacey placed 36th and 52nd in their respective freestyle events, failing to progress past the first round.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Black Stars: A year to forget<\/b><\/h3>\n

For Ghana\u2019s beloved Black Stars, 2024 was nothing short of catastrophic. The team failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco\u2014their first absence since 2004.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier, the Stars had endured a disastrous outing at the 2023 AFCON in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, finishing third of a group that included Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The group-stage exit led to the sacking of head coach Chris Hughton, with Otto Addo returning to helm the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Addo\u2019s tenure started on a high with wins over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but it quickly unravelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

A series of poor performances in AFCON qualifiers saw Ghana falter in a group featuring Angola, Sudan, and Niger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Stars recorded just two wins across 14 matches in 2024, a dismal 14.3% win rate that underscored the team\u2019s fall from grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

13-year-old Joanita Borteye makes Africa\u2019s top 20 in table tennis<\/b><\/h3>\n

Amid the setbacks, a 13-year-old table tennis prodigy, Joanita Borteye, offered a glimmer of hope.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rising to 11th in the ITTF Women\u2019s Singles Africa rankings and 167th globally, she solidified her position as Ghana\u2019s top player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Borteye\u2019s standout performances at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Kigali and the West Africa Regional Championships showcased her immense potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

She defeated seasoned opponents from Senegal, Uganda, and Nigeria, advancing to the later stages of both tournaments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Though she fell short of the podium, her rise signals a bright future for Ghanaian table tennis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dreams FC\u2019s incredible CAF Confederation Cup journey<\/b><\/h3>\n

In football, Dreams FC provided a heartwarming underdog story. In their first-ever appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup, the club defied expectations, reaching the semifinals\u2014a feat no Ghanaian club had achieved in two decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

Led by 19-year-old sensation Abdul Aziz Issah, who netted four goals and provided two assists, Dreams FC captured the nation\u2019s imagination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their journey ended with a 3-0 loss to Egyptian giants Zamalek, but their spirited run left an indelible mark on Ghanaian football.<\/span><\/p>\n

FC Samartex 1996 crowned 2023\/2024 Ghana Premier League champions<\/b><\/h3>\n

FC Samartex 1996 crowned an incredible year by winning the 2023\/2024 Ghana Premier League.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Promoted just two seasons ago, the Timber Giants defied expectations, finishing their debut season in 10th place before claiming the league title in style.<\/span><\/p>\n

Led by coach Nurudeen Amadu, Samartex sealed the championship with a 2-0 victory over Accra Lions on the final day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Goals from Emmanuel Mammah and Ebenezer Ocran secured their first-ever league crown, cementing their place in Ghanaian football history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paralympic team scandal<\/b><\/h3>\n

The year wasn\u2019t without scandal. In April, an 11-member Ghanaian paralympic team absconded upon arrival in Norway for the Fjordkraft Bergen Marathon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reports later revealed that six athletes and five officials vanished to other Schengen states, sparking an international search.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ministry of National Security confirmed the disappearance, with only one athlete apprehended while attempting to cross into Sweden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The incident highlighted systemic issues within Ghana\u2019s sports administration and cast a shadow over the country\u2019s international reputation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana Athletics nominated for 2024 World Athletics Awards<\/b><\/h3>\n

Ghana Athletics was nominated for the prestigious World Athletics\u2019 2024 Member Federation of the Year Award, alongside global powerhouses like the USA and India.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the award ultimately went to USA Track & Field, Ghana\u2019s nomination is a testament to the progress in athletics, driven by athletes such as Benjamin Azamati, Rose Yeboah, and Joseph Paul Amoah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It also underscored the need for further investment and development to bring Ghana up to the level of global track and field giants.<\/span><\/p>\n

FC Barcelona unveil Ghanaian players Aziz Issah and David Oduro<\/b><\/h3>\n

In a thrilling development for Ghanaian football, FC Barcelona\u2019s junior team, Barca Atletic, unveiled two new signings: Ghanaian players Abdul Aziz Issah and David Oduro.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oduro, a standout fullback for Accra Lions, joined after the club\u2019s impressive second-place finish in the 2023\/2024 Ghana Premier League.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Issah, a key figure in Dreams FC\u2019s remarkable CAF Confederation Cup run, joined Barca Atletic after impressing in his two seasons with the club.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their moves to one of Europe\u2019s biggest clubs represent a significant milestone for Ghanaian football.<\/span><\/p>\n

As 2025 begins, Ghanaian sports are at a crossroads. The year 2024 was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments.<\/span><\/p>\n

But with renewed infrastructure, emerging talent, and the potential for growth, the future remains bright.<\/span><\/p>\n

The country\u2019s sporting story is far from over, and if 2024 is any indication, the best may yet be to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

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