PHOTOS: Karim Alhassan joins Al Merreikh on loan

Liberty Professionals have loaned out former Hearts of Oak captain Karim Alhassan to Sudanese giants Al Merreikh. The centre-back recently returned to the Ghana Premier League and featured for the Scientific Soccer Lads during the 2014/15 season in an attempt to resuscitate his career after failed attempts abroad. In 2011, Karim unceremoniously left Hearts of Oak in a free agent move to join African giants Zamalek then under veteran coach Hassan Shehata but his expected five-year stay was short-lived due to limited playing time. The rugged defender left Egypt after a nightmarish experience where he went one full year without competitive action. Karim then immediately secured a deal with Turkish lower tier side Adana Demispor but only made 8 appearances for the side. He had a short stint with South Africa’s Black Leopards before jumping on another flight to Europe with Serbian side FK Radnički 1923. Now after quiet a number of impressive outings for Liberty last season, Alhassan has accepted a one-year loan offer to join newly crowned Sudani Premier League champions Al Merreikh. He joins compatriots Augustine Okrah and Francis Coffie at his new club. Below are pictures from Karim Alhassan's signing and unveiling on Monday:

PHOTOS: Donkor free kick hands Kotoko 2015 SWAG Cup

Eric Donkor scored a last gasp free kick to hand Asante Kotoko the 2015 edition of the SIC-Nyemitei SWAG Cup on Sunday. The match, at the Baba Yara Stadium, which had Asante king and life patron of Asante Kotoko, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, gracing the occasion as special guest of honour of the encounter between the porcupine warriors and league champions AshantiGold. The first half was all spiced up by an all-action battle but was just denied of a goal. Early in the second half, both coaches decided to tweak their sides with two substitutions each as they tried to vary tactics in search for that elusive opening goal. Coach David Duncan who handed debut starts to four of his new signings decided to give respite to new boy Stephen Nyarko by replacing him with Bennett Ofori who is also a new signing. Striker Kwame Boateng who also arrived at Kotoko during the week also replaced Dauda Mohammed. For AshGold, coach Bashir Hayford chose to replace Osei Baffour and Amos Addai with new signing Dauda Mohammed and youngster Paul Abeka respectively. Both sides continued to fluff as many chances they created but as the game wore down, the Miners were forced into making a late substitution due to an injury to goalkeeper Robert Dabuo. He was subsequently replaced by Nana Bonsu. But Bonsu, a known penalty save expert was denied his hopes of putting up a show of his dexterity as he conceded a goal from a free kick in the dying seconds of referee Prince Amoah’s 3 minutes additional time. Fast-rising wing-back Eric Donkor beautifully planted in his free kick to hand Kotoko a 1-0 victory which secured the side their 14th win of the SWAG Cup – a feat which also sees head coach David Duncan going into the records as leading either clubs to winning the SWAG Cup twice. The last time Duncan won, he led AshGold to beat his current club.

Line-ups Kotoko XI: Eric Ofori Antwi - Amos Frimpong, Edwin Tuffuor, Ahmed Adams, Richard Agyemang - Theophilus Nyame, Owusu Jackson, Stephen Nyarko/Bennett Ofori, Eric Donkor - Obed Owusu, Dauda Mohammed/Kwame Boateng Unused subs: Felix Annan, Samuel Kyere, Evans Quao, Stephen Oduro, Michael Yeboah AshantiGold XI: Robert Dabuo/Nana Bonsu - Augustine Sefa, Tijani Joshua, Kadri Mohammed, Awudu Nafiu - Eric Opoku, Alhassan Nuhu, Emmanuel Osei, Amos Addai/Paul Abrka - Emmanuel Osei Baffour/Dauda Mohammed, Fuseini Nuhu Unused subs: Francis Adjei, Desmond Agbekpornu, Anthony Yerful, Isaac Afoakwa More photos...

PICTURES: Abeiku Ainooson signs 1 + 2-year deal with Al Hilal

Asante Kotoko defender has been officially unveiled as a new player of Sudanese side Al Hilal. Footy-Ghana.com can authoritatively confirm that after several counter negotiations, the porcupine warriors finally accepted a beat-down final offer of $30,000 for a one-year loan with an option for extension on Wednesday which paved the way for the centre-back who had arrived in the past weekend and already passed his medical to sign his loan agreement. According to our sources, Ainooson could earn as much as $50,000 in salaries and $40,000 for bonuses for the one-year deal with the Blue Crescent.

Per tradition, Hilal on Thursday, officially unveiled the former New Edubiase United player to the media and fans at the club’s headquarters.

Ainooson since his switch to Kotoko has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Ghana Premier League having swept two envious awards in the league and FA Cup in his first season with the dethroned Ghanaian champions. He however had quite an indifferent season just this past season due to recurring injuries. Ainooson recently showed signs of his old form while with the local national team during their failed CHAN qualifying preparations and is tipped to continue his new found form at Hilal whose new season begins early next year. Below are some other pictures from Abeiku Ainooson’s public introduction

PICTURES: Al Hilal finally sign Ashia for two years

Ghana midfielder Kennedy Ashia has finally been unveiled as a player of Sudanese side Al Hilal. The 20-year-old joins the side in a free agent move after completing his contract with Liberty Professionals. He has now signed a two-year deal with the Omdurman-based club. Hilal delayed the confirmation of the young Ghana international’s signing for almost ten days despite passing his medicals and it has emerged that it was because of an interest in Ivorian playmaker Cheikh Moukoro. Apparently, the Sudanese giants also invited Moukoro for medicals in Khartoum before choosing Ashia who scored 11 goals in the 2014/15 Ghana Premier League over him. He is expected to be joined by compatriot and Asante Kotoko defender Abeiku Ainooson who has already arrived in Sudan and passed his medicals. Below are some pictures from the contract signing:

Business-minded Black Stars arrive and train in Moroni (PICTURES)

The Black Stars look all set for their 2018 World Cup second round qualifying first leg away to Comoros on Friday. Coach Avram Grant and his men arrived in the Island’s capital Moroni early Thursday and checked in at the ItSandra Hotel before holding a mandatory training session at the match venue – the 3.000 capacity Stade International Saïd Mohamed Cheikh later in the afternoon.

All 23 members of the Ghana squad trained with no signs of discomfort ahead of the Friday, November 13 encounter. “We have no injuries which is a good thing for us. We trained well in Ghana and are hopeful of a win on Friday,” says midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.

The match comes off on an artificial turf but the Black Stars, during their preparations in Accra, failed to use an artificial playing field but the Udinese kingpin believes they can overcome the challenges that they may face with the pitch on the match day. “The (astroturf) field may affect us but we have no excuse. That’s what they have. We have also watched some of their clips and they are no bad side. The game has changed so we can’t underrate them. We have to be vigilant and concentrate and I hope that with our quality, we can ensure a good results. The Comoros-Ghana has been set for 12pm GMT kick-off time. Probable Ghana XI v Comoros: Razak Braimah - Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah - Afriyie Acquah, Mubarak Wakaso, Solomon Asante, Andre Ayew - Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan