Connect with us

News

Foden, Palmer, Alexander-Arnold to miss World Cup ‎

Details
Published: May 22 2026
Published at: 10:14Am
Source BBC Sports


‎Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not been included in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup.

‎Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has also been left out, with the 33-year-old saying he is “shocked and gutted” at the decision.

‎Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is included – after helping his side win the Europa League on Wednesday – alongside Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who has scored 32 goals in 32 games in the Saudi Arabian league this season.

‎Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has missed out, despite being the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season, alongside Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on 14 goals.

‎Manchester City’s Foden and Chelsea’s Palmer – both attacking midfielders who can also play as forwards – have had inconsistent seasons.

‎In a post on Instagram, Maguire confirmed: “I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.”

‎Maguire’s mother Zoe posted on social media to express her disappointment, saying she was “disgusted” by the decision.

‎Maguire’s Manchester United team-mate Luke Shaw has also been omitted despite his impressive season.

‎Shaw was named in Tuchel’s 55-man provisional squad and there had been a clamour for his inclusion.

‎But, with Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly being called up, Shaw is expected to miss out.

‎Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori are out, though Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has made the cut.

‎He joins his Premier League-winning team-mates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze, who is rewarded for his excellent form with a place in the 26.

‎Tottenham defender Djed Spence has also made Tuchel’s squad, meaning there is no place for Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly or Everton’s James Garner.

‎Spence, 25, suffered a broken jaw in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday but is expected to wear a protective mask if he plays against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

‎The omissions of Maguire, Tomori and Colwill mean Manchester City defender John Stones has been included, despite his injury-disrupted campaign.

‎Tuchel views Stones as a key player but has been concerned about the departing Manchester City man’s fitness.

‎Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is another to miss out, but Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo keeps his place in the squad after earning a recall for the previous friendlies.

‎Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has been a mainstay under Tuchel, keeps his place.

‎The World Cup, which takes place across the US, Mexico and Canada, starts on 11 June.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

UDS Corporate Affairs Director Criticises Asiedu Nketiah Over Remarks On Interior Minister Muntaka

Details
Published: May 22 2026
Published at:9:47Pm
Story by Saibu Terry

‎The Corporate Affairs Director of University for Development Studies, Abdul Hayi Moomin, has reacted to comments made by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, during his recent tour of the Northern Region.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Moomin described the Chairman’s reference to the Interior Minister as “the other guy” as dismissive and disrespectful.

‎According to him, language plays a crucial role in political communication, and such expressions can easily be interpreted as an attempt to belittle a public official rather than engage constructively on the matter at hand.

He further criticised the public claim by Asiedu Nketiah that he advised the President to appoint both Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and the Interior Minister, arguing that the comment appeared to elevate personal importance while diminishing others.

Moomin stated that leadership and political appointments are matters of national responsibility and should not be used as platforms for self-promotion or the creation of perceived hierarchies among colleagues.

‎He concluded with a local proverb, saying: “The hunter who starts chasing too early returns home tired before sunset.”

Continue Reading

News

Asiedu NKETIAH Defends NDC Leadership Shake-Up, Says Strategy Fueled 2024 Election Victory

Details
Published: May 22 2026
Published at: 5:06PM
Story by Saibu Terry



‎Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has revealed that the party’s controversial parliamentary leadership reshuffle ahead of the 2024 general elections was a calculated strategy aimed at securing electoral victory.

‎Speaking in Tamale, Mr. Nketiah explained that the NDC faced changing political dynamics before the elections and needed what he described as a stronger “forward line” in Parliament to remain competitive.

‎According to him, the decision to replace the Minority leadership in 2023 was not personal but purely strategic.

‎“We had to make changes in Parliament because new realities were emerging. Without those changes, winning the election would have been difficult,” he stated.

‎The restructuring, announced in January 2023, saw Cassiel Ato Forson replace Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah was named Deputy Minority Leader, while Kwame Governs Agbodza became Minority Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah were appointed First and Second Deputy Whips respectively.

‎Mr. Nketiah disclosed that although the decision initially generated resistance and public speculation about internal divisions, he remained convinced the move was necessary to strengthen the party ahead of the polls.

‎He noted that even John Dramani Mahama had reservations at the beginning, but he insisted on implementing the changes in his role as party chairman and chief strategist for the election campaign.

‎“There was a lot of misunderstanding at the time, and some people thought I had personal issues with certain individuals. But the decision was purely about positioning the party to win power,” he explained.

‎Following the NDC’s victory in the 2024 elections, Mr. Nketiah said he advised President Mahama to include experienced party figures such as Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak in government appointments to maintain unity within the party.

‎He stressed that the appointments reflected the NDC’s commitment to inclusiveness and cohesion despite earlier disagreements.

‎Describing the election outcome as one of the most significant victories in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, the NDC Chairman urged party supporters to avoid factional politics.

‎He cautioned members against forming camps around individual leaders, insisting that unity would remain critical to the party’s future success.

‎“The NDC must remain one family. Differences are normal in politics, but division will only weaken us,” he stated.

Continue Reading

News

Tamale Set for 2026 Damba Table Tennis Championship

Details
Published: May 22 2026
Published at : 2:27PM
Story by Fuseini Sham-uun Nbangba

The city of Tamale is set to host another exciting edition of the Damba Table Tennis Championship on May 30, 2026, at the Tamale Senior High School Old Assembly Hall.

The championship, which continues to gain popularity, is expected to attract some of Ghana’s top table tennis players in both the men’s and women’s categories for what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.

Organisers have announced attractive prize packages for participants, with winners in both the men’s and women’s singles events set to receive GHS10,000 each.

Runners-up in both categories will take home GHS5,000, while joint third-place finishers will receive GHS3,000 each.

In a move aimed at promoting player welfare and ensuring a memorable experience, organisers will provide free accommodation for players and officials throughout the competition. Participants will also enjoy free breakfast, lunch and dinner during the tournament.

One of the major highlights of this year’s championship is a special safari experience at Mole National Park for the top 16 players, adding a tourism and cultural dimension to the event.

The Damba Table Tennis Championship has grown into one of the notable tournaments on Ghana’s local table tennis calendar following two successful editions.

In the maiden edition, Emmanuel Ofori defeated Reginald Addo Ankamah of Table Tennis Hawks to win the men’s title, while Eva Adom-Amankwaa overcame Cecelia Fremah to clinch the women’s trophy.

The second edition saw James Marfo capture the men’s crown, while Augustina Baidoo emerged victorious in the women’s category.

With its growing reputation for quality organisation, hospitality and competitive matches, this year’s championship is expected to further promote the development of table tennis in Northern Ghana while giving players a platform to showcase their talent.

The tournament is also expected to strengthen sports tourism in the region by blending competitive table tennis with the rich cultural atmosphere of Tamale and the unique experience of visiting Mole National Park.

As anticipation builds ahead of the May 30 showdown, players and fans alike will be looking forward to another memorable edition of the Damba Table Tennis Championship.

Continue Reading