Record medal haul for Ghana at 2023 African Games
Ghana is set to record her highest medal haul at any international sports meeting following an impressive showing so far at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.
As of press time yesterday, Ghana had climbed the competition’s medal table, occupying a respectable sixth position with a total of 46 medals.
That consists of nine gold, 22 silver and 15 bronze medals.
That feat was made possible by the arm-wrestling team that won 41 medals over the weekend to add to earlier medals won by Abeiku Jackson in swimming and Winnifred Ntumi in women weightlifting.
Ghana is expected to add on as athletes put up impressive showings in boxing, tennis and football,and with high hopes in taekwondo and athletics which kick start today at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and Ga
Mashie Hall at the Trust Emporium, respectively.
Egypt, however, lead the table with 90 gold, 35 silver and 29 bronze, totaling 154 followed by Nigeria with 76 medals consisting of 27 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals and South Africa in third with 25 gold, 29 silver and 38 bronze medals, totaling 92 medals.
Meanwhile, the Head Coach of Ghana’s national men’s U-20 football team, the Black Satellites, Desmond Ofei, isunhappy about the state of the University of Ghana Stadium’s football pitch.
Speaking to the press after securing qualification to the semifinals after a 1-0 win over Benin, Coach Ofei stated emphatically that the pitch made it difficult for his charges to control the game.
“It was very difficult to establish our rhythm, against a tactically disciplined Beninois side. The pitch looked smaller as we lacked the spaces to take them on as they go man-marking. We managed to create one good chance and we scored; that’s what matters to me.”
“I think we’ve done well enough. It was a very difficult game not just with play but the pitch. Very difficult circumstance but we have qualification now. The real competition starts from here,” he said.
Jerry Afriyie scored the only goal of the game to book a semifinal ticket.
BY ANDREW NORTEY