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The US Congress adopts a measure to avoid a government shutdown and sends it to Biden.

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The United States House of Representatives adopted a temporary package on Thursday to finance the federal government until early March and avoid a partial government shutdown, sending it to President Joe Biden for final approval.
The legislation passed 314-108, with 106 Republicans and two Democrats against.

Earlier on Thursday, the Senate comfortably cleared the bill, 77-18, ahead of the weekend deadline.

“We’ve got fantastic news for America. There will be no shutdown on Friday,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, stated on the Senate floor just before the chamber’s vote.
Some far-right House Republicans disagreed with that viewpoint.

“It’s a loss for the American people to join hands with Democrats, form a governing coalition to do what Schumer and the Senate want to do,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good told reporters after the vote.

Both chambers accelerated their votes because of a forecast for a snowstorm on Friday that could have snarled lawmakers’ departure for the weekend.

The Democratic-majority Senate and Republican-controlled House are far behind in carrying out their basic duty of funding the government for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, with lawmakers scrambling to keep the lights on to give them more time to pass a full-year bill.

Biden meets with Democratic and Republican leaders at the White House in Washington

[1/5]Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries speak to reporters outside the West Wing after Democratic and Republican leaders met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin… Acquire Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more

Schumer and his House Republican counterpart, Mike Johnson, early this month agreed to a $1.59 trillion discretionary spending level for the year that ends on Sept. 30. But in a sign of how bitterly the Congress is divided, the two parties now disagree on that number, with Democrats saying the actual amount agreed to is $1.66 trillion.

The intense jockeying between House Republicans seeking deep spending cuts and Democrats comes amid a $34.4 trillion national debt that is rapidly escalating and has prompted worries in part because of the heavy interest payments now being borne by the Treasury Department.

This third stopgap funding bill, known as a “continuing resolution” or “CR,” would simply extend last fiscal year’s spending levels until two deadlines of March 1 and March 8 for completing action of spending for various government agencies.

With the temporary funding bill now on its way to enactment, the focus shifts to the need to pass the 12 bills providing the full-year budget.

In the House, Johnson could face blowback from hardline members of his party who oppose such stopgap funding bills without deep spending cuts.

That displeasure led last fall to the toppling of Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.

So far, some of those hardliners were expressing tolerance toward Johnson, despite the dismal support from House Republicans.

“He’s just playing the cards he’s dealt,” said Representative Tim Burchett, referring to Johnson.

Burchett had voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership after a bipartisan stopgap vote in September. “It doesn’t really upset me anymore. It’s just reality,” he said. “Johnson didn’t create this problem.”

Gaza: Israeli tanks rush approach the largest hospital still operational

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Israeli soldiers take part in a ground operation, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in a location given as Gaza Strip, in this handout picture released on January 19, 2024. Israeli Army Handout/Handout via REUTERS

Israeli tanks advanced on Friday into southern Gaza’s major city, which is sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing Israeli shelling, once again approaching the enclave’s largest operational hospital.

People inside Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, which was compelled to accommodate both displaced Gazans and patients, reported hearing shellfire from tanks pushing into the city’s west, while residents reported severe gun engagements to the south.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that 142 Palestinians had been killed and 278 wounded in the preceding 24 hours.
Israeli officials have accused Hamas fighters of operating from Nasser Hospital, which the staff deny.

The Israeli bombardment and ground invasion launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on towns and villages around Gaza have largely emptied the northern two-thirds of the 46 km-long (29-mile) coastal strip.

Around 85% of the 2.3 million population have been driven to seek shelter in the south, according to the U.N. – the area that is now the focus of Israel’s campaign to eradicate the Hamas movement that governs Gaza.

People’s ability to monitor the latest threats, report attacks or check on relatives – along with the functioning of rescue services – has been severely curtailed by a near-total blackout on telecommunications that was now in its eighth day, the longest outage since the start of the war.

Twelve people were killed in Israeli strikes on a residential building near the largely non-functioning Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the north of the enclave, Palestinian health officials said.

Israeli forces have made limited withdrawals from northern Gaza this month, saying operations there were largely complete.

But Palestinians in the southern Gaza City suburb of Tel Al-Hawa said Israeli tanks pushed back into the neighbourhood, forcing people taking shelter in some schools there to evacuate and head south.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said it had fought with Israeli forces in the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza and in Khan Younis, while Hamas’s armed wing said its fighters had clashed with Israeli forces in several areas across Gaza overnight and on Friday morning.

The Israeli military said it was continuing operations in central and northern Gaza, seizing weapons and killing “several armed terrorists”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces had destroyed “16 or 17” out of 24 of Hamas’ organised combat regiments, but that clearing the territory of militants would take “many more months“.

NETANYAHU OPPOSED TO PALESTINIAN SOVEREIGNTY

Israel’s onslaught on Gaza was triggered on Oct. 7 by Hamas attacks on the surrounding area in which around 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, of whom around half are still in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Netanyahu also restated his opposition to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that Israel’s main ally, the United States, and many powers in and beyond the Middle East advocate as the only feasible long-term solution to the conflict.

“Israel must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River. That’s a necessary condition,” Netanyahu told a briefing in Tel Aviv. “It clashes with the principle of sovereignty, but what can you do?”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded at a news briefing that the establishment of a Palestinian state was the only way to provide lasting security to Israel along with reconstruction, governance and security for Gaza.

Washington has had scant success in persuading Israel to alleviate the plight of an increasingly desperate civilian population, deprived since October of most of the regular humanitarian supplies on which they had depended, let alone of adequate medical care for the more than 62,000 people who have been wounded, alongside almost 25,000 dead.

One doctor was forced a month ago to amputate his 18-year-old niece A’Hed’s leg below the knee, without anaesthetic, and using little more than a pair of scissors, gauze and sewing thread, after she said her family’s home in Gaza City was hit by Israeli tank fire.

The house is only 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from Al-Shifa hospital, usually a six-minute drive or a 25-minute walk away, but Hani Bseiso said intense Israeli fire made it too dangerous to try to get there.

“Could I get her to the hospital? Of course not,” Bseiso told Reuters in an interview, describing the area as “under siege”.

“The tanks were at the entrance of the house,” he said.

“The choice was that I either let the girl die or I try to the best of my abilities.”

Asked for comment, the Israeli military did not specifically respond to questions about the incident at A’Hed Bseiso’s home, but said Hamas used hospital complexes as cover, an allegation the militant group denies.

More than 1,000 children in Gaza had undergone leg amputations by the end of November, according to the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, amid poor hygiene and shortages of medicine.

Jurgen Klopp replies to’shock’ Mohamed Salah injury on Egypt AFCON duty, revealing future actions following late-night phone call.

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Jurgen Klopp says that the news of Mohamed Salah’s injury during AFCON duty came as a “shock” to those back at Liverpool.

The Egyptian forward is currently away with his country chasing down continental glory at the Africa Cup of Nations. He lasted less than 45 minutes in his latest outing at that event, with the 31-year-old winger limping off in a 2-2 draw with Ghana.

WHAT KLOPP SAID ABOUT SALAH

Egypt boss Rui Vitoria says the problem is not “dangerous”, but Salah is due to undergo medical tests. Klopp has told reporters of learning that a talismanic part of his plans at Anfeld is nursing a knock: “We don’t know anything about Mo. I spoke last night with him and (asked) how it is with his injuries. With these injuries they need further assessment, that’s what they are doing now and we will know more. In that moment (it happened), it was a shock. I couldn’t see it was like he was hit by something high intense and then go down. You can have these hamstring injuries in different ways, be he still felt it. We all know how rarely Mo goes off or needs to go off so it is definitely something, so we will see. There will be ultrasound and MRI and then we will see what Egypt plan. But it’s too early.”

Salah has missed Liverpool’s last two games, and could be absent for five in total. The Reds will not have any of their walking wounded back for a Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Sunday – despite seeing Trent Alexander-Arnold put his knee injury to the test during a visit to the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Milan – with Klopp adding: “Obviously he can walk on the catwalk! He is not ready but all are going in the right direction and getting closer. Some of them might be part of team training next week. I don’t expect anybody back before then. If nobody else is out before, after Bournemouth and maybe for Fulham, we will see how the boys do but they are all close. Trent is close, Dom (Szoboszlai) is close, Robbo (Andy Robertson) is close. All are going in the right direction.”

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Alexander-Arnold could be back for the second leg of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final showdown with Fulham next Wednesday, but the Reds will have to cope without Salah for some time yet as they look to remain in contention for major silverware on four fronts in 2024.

Supporters said, “Kudus is a million times better than Osimhen, Egypt looked better without Salah, Ghana should pack their bags.”

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Despite an exciting tie with the Pharaohs, the Black Stars are still in danger of being eliminated from the Afcon.

Ghana twice gave away the lead, allowing Egypt to battle back and force a 2-2 draw in an Africa Cup of Nations Group B encounter on Thursday.

The highlight of the show was Ghana attacker Mohammed Kudus, who scored twice in a game when Mohamed Salah was hurt.

GOAL explores the perspectives of the fans who responded to this match.

Kudos to Kudus

This was the football we were all thrilled to watch. That was entertaining, the kind of football that even the gods of the game will be delighted to watch. Kudos to Kudus, he showed his class, but his teammates let him down. Will Ghana still make it out of the group? – Nnabuikem 🤍⚔️

Calculators for Ghana

Is there hope for Ghana? What if Cape Verde wins tomorrow? So Ghana will have to beat Mozambique and pray Egypt drop points against Cape Verde 😳😳😳😳 – KOT OCS👮👮

Kudus way better than Osimhen

Kudus is 1 million times better than Osimhen – Kijana Ya Baba.

Home-bound Ghana

Ghana almost home – EXCELLENCE

Ghana should pack their bags – Oracle Oshare

Egypt better withour Salah

Egypt deserved the win without Salah and they looked the better side, Ghana is not ready for the next round. I see a group stage exit for the Black Stars – A. Notamro

Hughton is the problem

Everything shows that Kudus loves his country and he’s done his best while the coach himself doesn’t know the exact person for either position or to substitute – Agoeyevu Kwaku

What a game

What a game, we needed another 30 minutes from these teams, amazing 🤝 – Milandu Muntanga

Lady luck deserted Ghana

Williams fumbles, they substitute him, the substitute also fumbles, Ghana have no luck 😭🙆🏾‍♀️ – Crazy Isht

Best match of the tournament so far!

Best match of the tournament so far! 🔥🔥🔥 – Zahmah 🧸. Imagine .. Ghana without Kudus … We will be walking home by now .. Kudus keeping us in the Group! Star boy Mohammed Kudus stay blessed! – $¥D€ A ATTRAKTA💎

Ghana should be the best in Africa

Ghana should be the best in Africa but confidence is among the poorest and focus and will of steel is another minus. If you don’t know your weakness you will commit the same result over again – Faizal

We’ve turned the corner; Ghana’s economy is set for steady development. – John Kumah

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Deputy Finance Minister Dr. John Kumah has stated that Ghana’s economy has effectively surmounted recent obstacles, setting it for long-term growth that would benefit Ghanaians.

Dr. Kumah emphasised in a Facebook post on January 19 the unanimous approval of Ghana’s request for debt treatment under the G-20 Common Framework.

This, he says, is the foundation for his optimistic prognosis on the country’s economic direction.

Dr. Kumah expressed thanks to Ghanaians for their steadfast support of the government’s initiatives and programmes.

He notably appreciated their help in minimising the negative effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

With optimism, the Ejisu Member of Parliament anticipates a brighter future for the country.

He emphasised that the approved debt treatment sets the stage for sustained economic progress and ultimately benefits the citizens of Ghana.

“An essential prerequisite for the IMF Programme was a confirmation that Ghana’s public debt was on a sustainable trajectory.”

“Subsequently, Ghana embarked on the restructuring of both domestic and external debt. The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) launched on 5th December 2022 has successfully been completed with over 90 percent participation. The OCC’s approval of bilateral debt treatment is expected to provide the impetus for the ongoing commercial debt (Eurobonds) negotiations,” a portion of his Facebook post said.

Dr Kumah added that “the past week was marked by a significant development in the public debt trajectory following the unanimous approval of Ghana’s request for debt treatment under the G-20 Common Framework for Debt Treatment Beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (CF-DSSI).”

“The government has been combining both fiscal prudence and debt restructuring measures to contain growth in public debt with the view of bringing the debt levels to moderate debt level from high risk of debt distress. The Official Creditor Committee’s (OCC) decision to support the grand efforts of government is commendable, refreshing and worth celebrating. We, however, do so with caution given that more work needs to be done going forward.”

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has stated that Ghana’s economic policies under its programme are beginning to yield the desired outcomes.

She emphasised that the policy and reform commitments outlined in Ghana’s deal with the Bretton Woods Institution are in the best interest of the Ghanaian people.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 16, she expressed the satisfaction of the IMF board with the assurances received from Ghana’s external creditors.

“Wonderful to see President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta at #WEF24. The policy and reform commitments under Ghana’s economic program are starting to bear fruit,” she posted.

NPP primaries: Moses Abor requests IGP to stop Henry Quartey from cheating the Ayawaso Central election.

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Moses Abor, a candidate in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primary for Ayawaso Central, has accused Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey of organising preparations to rig the next election by deploying unauthorised security personnel.

In a written report made to the Inspector General of Police, Abor, the former NPP Greater Accra Youth Organiser, stated that Henry Quartey is preparing to deploy “illegal security personnel” to influence the election in his favour.

Abor reported that the Regional Minister intends to use both private security people and Ghana Police Service officers who purportedly support him.

The objective, as per Abor’s allegations, is to intimidate and harass delegates perceived as supporters of his candidacy on the voting day, scheduled for January 27.

Additionally, Abor alleged that Henry Quartey and his team have devised an elaborate scheme to tamper with the election results by unlawfully stuffing ballot boxes with pre-marked ballots.

Below is Moses Abor’s full statement.

I am Moses Abor, an aspiring Member of Parliament in the Ayawaso Central Constituency (hereinafter referred to as “Constituency”) and I refer to the above subject matter.

My attention has been drawn to the fact that the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament of the Ayawaso Central Constituency. Hon. Henry Quartey, who is also a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary primaries in the same constituency, intends to use illegal security personnel to disrupt the election process on the 27th of January, 2024 to his favour.

Amongst other things, the Greater Accra Regional Minister intends to employ private security personnel and personnel from the Ghana Police Service who owes allegiance to him to intimidate and harass delegates whom he perceives as my supporters on the said day. I also have information that during counting, he intends to unleash hooligans to snatch ballot papers and possibly burn them to halt the process if it goes otherwise.

Together with my team, we have intercepted a grand agenda by the Regional Minister to stuff the ballot boxes with his thumb printed ballot papers when voting is ongoing. As law abiding citizens, we do not intend to take the law into our own hands.

We therefore petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to take a special interest in the elections of Ayawaso Central and deploy professional police personnel to the venue on the voting day to avoid clashes and ensure the election is free and fair.

We await your prompt action.

Channel enough petroleum money to finish targeted projects – PIAC to government.

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The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has recommended the government to provide sufficient petroleum funds to fulfil designated projects.

This follows the committee’s inspection of various petroleum-funded projects in the Greater Accra and Central Regions, as part of its mission to undertake an impartial review of the management and use of petroleum resources to maximise effect.

In a statement published on Thursday, PIAC stated, “Delayed payments to contractors were seen across all projects reviewed. Contractors at the different locations emphasised the release of funding so that the projects could continue to develop unhindered.

PIAC believes that the co-mingling of petroleum revenues with other funds for projects that end up getting stalled for a long period does not reflect the prudent use of revenues for impact.”

“The Committee, therefore, urges the government to consider channelling adequate petroleum revenues to complete earmarked projects going forward.”

PIAC said the projects inspected in the Greater Accra Region were the rehabilitation of selected roads in Teshie Camp, Southern Command, and Mats (now Ghana Military Academy), the Construction of Teshie Link, and the Construction of a Flyover over the Tema Motorway from the Flowerpot roundabout.

“These three (3) projects, located in the Ledzokuku Municipality, are at different stages of progress and received funds from the ABFA between 2019 and 2022,” it added.

As part of its itinerary for the day, it said its team inspected the rehabilitation of selected roads in Teshie Camp, Southern Command, and Mats.

“The Team toured the rehabilitated roads, a car park, and a parade ground within the Southern Command in Teshie. Information available to PIAC showed that the contract for this project was awarded on 13th July 2020 and was supposed to have been completed within 24 months. At the time of PIAC’s visit, the project was 24% physically complete. Out of the total contract sum of GH¢145,821,272.91, petroleum revenue of GH¢7,394,185.51, representing 5.07 per cent, was disbursed to the project in 2022.”

“The second project inspected by the team was the construction of the 7.5-kilometre Teshie Link. It involved the construction of a new road and drainage structures, with earthworks and asphaltic concrete surfacing. Awarded on 18th October 2019, the project had an original contract duration of 18 months. Out of the original contract sum of GH¢87,883,590, petroleum revenue of GH¢29,738,282.92, representing 33.84 per cent, was disbursed to the project from 2019 to 2021,” PIAC noted.

It said its team was informed that the Teshie Link Road is a dual carriageway that commences in the South on the Accra-Tema coastal road, through the LEKMA Hospital, and terminates on the Spintex Road.

“At the time of PIAC’s visit, 95% of all drainage works had been completed, and asphaltic binder and wearing course laid on the road. The team was informed that the contractor had suspended work due to non-payment of funds. Outstanding works include the installation of traffic signals and road markings to show a controlled intersection. The absence of these had resulted in several vehicle crashes in the area,” it added.

PIAC said the third project was the construction of a flyover over the Tema Motorway, from the Flowerpot roundabout.

“Out of the revised contract sum of GH¢284,665,639.27, a total of GH¢141,093,766.84 representing 49.56 per cent, was disbursed from the ABFA in 2022. The project is located at the Flowerpot Roundabout, Spintex, and East Legon, and involves creating access from the Motorway to the Boundary Road roundabout and an exit into Cantonments from the Giffard Road Interchange. It consists of one mainline bridge, two ramp bridges, four auxiliary roads, and ancillary works. At the time of PIAC’s visit, the project had made physical progress of 70%,” it added.

PIAC said in the Central Region, the Team, led by Nana Kweku Dei, a member representing the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), inspected the Anomabo Fisheries College, a 90-bed Hostel Block at Saltpond, and an irrigation infrastructure at Mprumem.

“Accompanied by officials of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly, the team inspected the Anomabo Fisheries College Project, which had received an amount of GH¢9,507,111.52 from the ABFA from 2012 to 2022. The project comprises an 18-Unit Classroom Block, Hostel facility, Administration Block, and a Laboratory. Since the Committee’s last visit to the project in 2020, the construction of a teachers’ bungalow has started, and a road contract has been awarded.”

“The 4.6km road project, which starts within the campus and ends at the main Accra-Cape Coast highway, is currently at Phase 1 (Sub-base). The road contract, originally valued at GH¢8 million has been through three (3) variation orders and is currently valued at approximately GH¢27 million, primarily due to payment delays,” PIAC underscored.

It indicated that the Committee also noted that the hostel facility and the 18-unit classroom block had not been fitted with beds and study desks, respectively. Also, the laboratory, classroom block, and hostel facilities had developed structural defects at the time of its inspection.

“In line with the Committee’s policy of visiting projects that have received funding from the ABFA and have been completed, the team inspected a 90-bed Hostel Block for the Ghana Education Service Development Institute (GESDI) at Saltpond. The project had received an amount of GH¢1,456,960.92 from the ABFA in 2015. GESDI is a Ghana Education Service (GES) Centre for capacity building in education-related programmes and seminars. The project was commissioned in 2020 with a 90-bed capacity hostel block, four (4) washrooms, two conference halls and a 100-person capacity cafeteria. The Committee was satisfied with the overall quality of the project,” it stated.

Accompanied by the Central Regional Manager of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), PIAC said the team inspected a third project, which was the development of an irrigation infrastructure at Mprumem.

“The project received GH¢45,078,889.89 from the ABFA from 2017 to 2020. The irrigation project, which was started in 2015, overlaps the Gomoa Central and Gomoa West Districts. It comprises a reservoir area; which stores water from River Bushen for irrigation, and the developed area; which has 70 hectares of irrigable land. At the time of PIAC’s visit, the project (now known as the Mprumem Irrigation Scheme) had been completed and was in use by farmers in the vicinity for vegetable farming,” it said.

NDC postpones Odododiodio parliamentary election indefinitely due to lawsuit.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has postponed parliamentary primaries in the Odododiodio seat indefinitely owing to a court order obtained by a disqualified candidate.

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the party’s General Secretary, issued a statement on January 17, 2024, announcing a temporary halt to all primary operations in the constituency.

The disqualified candidate contested the decision to bar him from running in the primary, and the court granted an interlocutory injunction, preventing the NDC from holding the poll until the case was addressed.

The NDC indicated that the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) met on January 16, 2024 and resolved to postpone the election indefinitely.

The party also urged all branch and constituency executives to maintain peace and harmony until further notice.

The NDC has apologized for any inconvenience caused by the postponement and has promised members to communicate a new date for the conduct of the primaries when fixed.

Background 

The Functional Executive Committee of the NDC in November 2023 disqualified Michael Nii Yarboi Annan from contesting in the parliamentary election in the Odododiodioo Constituency.

The NDC, in a report issued last year, explained that findings made by the special committee established by the Functional Executive Committee of the party justified the disqualification of Mr. Annan from contesting the party’s parliamentary primary in the Odododiodoo Constituency.

According to the party, considering the evidence presented, the special committee was unable to endorse Mr. Annan’s qualification to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Odododiodoo constituency based on Article 41(8)(b) of the NDC Constitution, which stipulates that, “a member must be an active member of the party at the constituency level for the four years immediately preceding the date of filing nominations.”

Read full statement

“Two errors cost us victory” – Coach Hughton admits frustration.

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Black Stars Head Coach, Chris Hughton has said the team was denied victory by two costly errors in the course of the game against Egypt in the second round group game of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire.

Ghana led twice and bottled it all to allow Egypt pick a point from the game. Despite the disappointing result.

The visibly disappointed Coach told the media that he was not is not giving up adding that they would continue to fight till the end of the first round.

“We will continue to fight. It is true that at the moment there is a lot of frustration in the locker room. Our team deserved more, but football is like that. It’s frustrating.

“In a similar performance, we would surely have won. Two errors cost us the match. We didn’t take this opportunity to take the three points,” he said. 

Osman who was brought on in the second half was substituted again for Joseph Paintsil.

Hughton explained that the winger’s errors were worrying, and he had to take the decision of taking him off. 

“Firstly, I would like to say that we love Osmane. However, I had to take him out because his mistakes were starting to affect his performance,” he explained.

Hughton’s mind is now on Mozambique, the Black Stars’ next opponent. 

“There are no more small teams in Africa. We are preparing for a tough match against them. The calculations are already made, we need a victory to pursue our dream and I know we are capable of it,” he noted.

“Our strategy worked to perfection” – Egypt Coach

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Rui Vitoria Head Coach of Egypt national team has praised his player for their determination in the game against Ghana and playing to strict instructions.

The coach was speaking after his side twice came back from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against Ghana on Thursday, said though they were yet to secure a victory in the competition, he was not perturbed and was confident the team would come good against Cape Verde.

“I have full confidence in my team, I saw men this evening who fought to the end only victory eluded us. We showed great qualities this evening against a revitalized Ghana. The players applied our instructions perfectly. There was room to win the match”, said Vitoria.

On Mohamed Salah’s injury situation, the Portuguese said, “At the moment, I cannot comment on the seriousness of his injury. Of course, we are worried and we hope it is not too serious. We would have to keep the same state of mind for the next match against Cape Verde,” he stated.

Salah, who was substituted towards the end of the opening half due to a suspected hamstring injury.

Egypt are two points in the competition and would have a last game against Cape Verde on Monday to determine their fate in the competition.

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