Dansoman Liberty Sports Academy forward Yussif Saani has been invited to join the Ghana U20 national team as part of the latest screening phase for next year’s WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship.

The 17-year-old made a strong impression in the maiden MTN Elite U19 Championship and will report to the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Monday, November 24, 2025, where the second batch of selected players is expected to assemble.

Saani’s rise has been quick and well earned. His calm finishing, creativity, and technical strength made him one of the standout players in the Elite U19 Championship. He continued that form at the recent SBE Tournament in Accra, where he reaffirmed his growing reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in Ghana.

Head Coach Maxwell Konadu and his technical team are currently assessing different groups of emerging players as they work to build a competitive squad for the challenges ahead. The screening process is designed to give both established youth players and newly discovered talents a fair chance to compete for a place in the final U20 team.

Source: GFA 

Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the 2025 African Footballer of the Year, marking a major milestone in his career and a proud moment for Morocco. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back picked up the award after an outstanding season that saw him shine for both club and country.

This is Hakimi’s first time winning the top continental prize. He was chosen by a panel of experts and leading African football journalists, many of whom considered him the clear favourite going into the ceremony.

Hakimi’s season with PSG was nothing short of remarkable. He played a key role in the club’s historic run, helping them secure four major trophies: Ligue 1, the UEFA Champions League, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions. His overall performance also earned him sixth place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.

Throughout the season, he was a constant presence on the pitch, clocking more than 3,400 minutes in all competitions. In Ligue 1, he delivered 6 goals and 4 assists, and in the Champions League, he added 5 goals and 4 assists. His defensive contributions were just as impressive, helping PSG finish with 10 clean sheets.

His consistency earned him spots in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, the Ligue 1 Team of the Season, and the CAF Team of the Year.

Hakimi, now 27, edged out Egyptian star Mohamed Salah and Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen to claim this year’s top honour.

Ghana’s Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Japan in the 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi. The international friendly, part of Ghana’s build up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saw coach Otto Addo adjust his starting lineup, handing Joseph Anang his first senior appearance in goal and giving Antoine Semenyo the captaincy for the first time.

Anang made an early save in the 5th minute to keep out a soft effort from the hosts, but Japan broke through in the 16th minute after Semenyo lost the ball in midfield. The turnover opened space for the Japanese attack, and Takumi Minamino, the home side’s captain and former Liverpool midfielder, finished calmly after receiving a well placed pass.

Ghana pushed back with efforts of their own. Brandon Thomas-Asante’s volley was deflected for a corner, and Derrick Kohn sent a low drive just wide. Kohn later produced a strong block to stop what looked like a certain second goal for Japan.

Around the hour mark, however, Ritsu Doan got his chance and tucked in a sharp finish at the near post to extend Japan’s lead.

The game took a worrying turn early in the second half when midfielder Abu Francis sustained a serious injury while attempting a tackle.

Japan created more openings but were wasteful in front of goal. With the loss behind them, the Black Stars now turn their attention to their next friendly against South Korea on November 18.