On this day 28 January 1996 (Exactly 23 years ago) Ghana’s Nana Yaw Konadu became a two division boxing World Champion by capturing the WBA Bantamweight Title in a second round TKO victory over Veeraphol Sahaprom of Thailand at Municipal Stadium, Kanchanaburi ,Thailand.
On this day 28 January 1990 (Exactly 29 years ago) Modest Napunyi of Kenya beat Percy Oblitey Commey of Ghana for African Boxing Union (ABU) and Commonwealth (British Empire) Featherweight titles in Nairobi, Kenya.
On this day 28 January 2001(Exactly 18 years ago) Liberia snatched two late goals to comprehensively beat Ghana 3-1 in a 2002 FIFA World Cup Group B Qualifying match played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Although the Ghana Black Stars had never reached the quadrennial showcase of international football, they were expected to win comfortably against a Liberian Lone Stars side with a poor away record.
But the home team were in trouble after only 11 minutes when Frank Seator put Liberia ahead and even a second-half equaliser from Emmanuel Duah did not deter the underdogs.
Oliver Makor converted a penalty kick with four minutes left at the Accra Sports Stadium and Musa Shannon added a third .
The Liberian victory sparked street celebrations in the capital, Monrovia, after fans listened to a live commentary of the match and President Charles Taylor was first to hail the national team.
“We have demonstrated our unity today. The world must know now that we are serious contenders for a place at the 2002 World Cup finals,” Taylor told state radio.
Goals Scored:
Ghana – Emmanuel Duah 70
Liberia – Frank Setor 9, Oliver Makor 86pen, Musa Shannon 88
Ghana Line up: Kingston, Baidoo, Nettey, Sammy Kufuor, Sam Johnson, M. Edusei O. Addo (Preko), Appiah, Charles Amoah(E.O. Kuffour), C.K. Akonnor, Emmanuel Duah
Liberia Line up: Loius Crayton, George Gebro, Oliver Makor, Joe Nagbe, Kelvin Sibwe, George Weah, Prince Daje (Alex Brown), James Salinsa Debba, Vermah Kpoto, Kobula ‘Zizi’ Roberts), Frank Seator(Shannon Musa)
Referee: Mohamed Guzzaz-Morocco
On this day 28 January 2010 (Exactly 9 years ago) Ghana qualified to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Nigeria 1-0 in their semi-final clash in Luanda, Angola.
Striker Asamoah Gyan made a darting run to fire in a near-post header to put the Black Stars ahead after 21 minutes.
Solid performances from Ghana keeper Richard Kingson and his defence kept Nigeria from capitalising on some solid second-half pressure.
It was Ghana’s first Nations Cup final appearance since 1992.
Ghana Line- up : Kingson, Inkoom, Vorsah, Addy, Sarpei (Rahim Ayew 53), Andre Ayew, Agyemang-Badu, Annan, Asamoah, Gyan (Amoah 84), Opoku (Draman 35).
Nigeria Line-up : Enyeama, Mohammed (Odiah 80), Nwaneri, Shittu, Echiejile, Kaita, Mikel, Yussuf (Obinna 67), Odemwingie (Yakubu 70), Martins, Obasi.
Ref: Daniel Bennet (South Africa).
On this day 28 January 2012 (Exactly 7 years ago) Ghana beat Mali 2-0 in their Group D clash of the African Cup of Nations .
A thirteen minute blitz was all that Ghana needed to seal their place in the next round.
Asamoah Gyan put the Black Stars ahead in the second half and victory was sealed as Andre Ayew fired in a low grounder 13 minutes after the opener
Ghana had beaten Botswana in their opening match of the campaign.
Ghana Line- up : 16-Adam Kwarasey; 6-John Paintsil, 21-John Boye, 19-Jonathan Mensah, 14-Masawudu Alhassan; 6-Anthony Annan (9-Derek Boateng 90+5), 8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah (7-Samuel Inkoom 89); 11-Sulley Muntari (18-Charles Takyi 59), 3-Asamoah Gyan.
Mali Line -up : 16-Soumbeyla Diakite; 14-Drissa Diakite, 5-Cedric Kante, 4-Ousmane Berthe, 3-Adama Tamboura; 15-Bakaye Traore, 20-Samba Diakite, 7-Abdou Traore (18-Samba Sow 86), 12-Seydou Keita; 9-Cheick Tidiane Diabate (11-Garra Dembele 65), 10-Modibo Maiga (6-Mustapha Yatabare 77)
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
On this day 28 January 2013 (Exactly 6 years ago) Ghana outclassed Niger 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the African Nations Cup as Group B winners and set up a last eight clash with Cape Verde Islands.
Four-times winners Ghana, took the lead through Asamoah Gyan after six minutes and although Niger had a goal disallowed for an infringement four minutes later they rarely threatened again.
The Black Stars doubled their lead through Christian Atsu after 23 minutes and put the game beyond Niger’s grasp when John Boye pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda to make it 3-0 from a metre out four minutes into the second half.
Ghana Line-up ne up: Fatau Dauda, John Paintsil, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Isaac Vorsah, Rabiu Mohammed(72′ D Boateng), Albert Adomah(62′ S Asante), Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan(78′ E Clottey), Christian Atsu, Kwadwo Asamoah
Niger Line- up 16 Daouda 08 Kourouma 13 Chicoto Booked 18 Dan Kowa Booked 19 Koudize Booked (Issoufou – 61′ ) 21 Bachar (Amadou – 60′ ) 23 Soumaila Booked 03 Lancina 10 Talatou 02 Maazou 07 Sidibe (Issoufou – 79′ )
SELECTED AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINALS ON THIS DAY (Including Federer’s 10th and 20th Grand Slam)
On this day 28 January 1989 (Exactly 30 years ago) Steffi Graf of Germany beat Czech Helena Suková 6-4, 6-4 for her 6th career Grand Slam title and her 2nd Australian singles crown
On this day 28 January 1990 (Exactly 29 years ago) Ivan Lendl beat Stefan Edberg 4-6, 7-6, 5-2 ; Edberg retired injured
On this day 28 January 1996 (Exactly 23 years ago) Boris Becker beat Michael Chang to win his second Australian Open title. Becker blended his uncanny survival instincts with the diving volleys of his youth to win the Australian Open, more than a decade after the first of his six Grand Slam titles.
Facing a gritty comeback charge by Michael Chang, Becker changed his shoes, his rackets, his shirts, changed the pace and style of his game, did everything he had to do to secure a 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory.
On this day 28 January 2001 (Exactly 18 years ago) Andre Agassi claimed his seventh grand slam, beating Frenchman Arnaud Clement in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to win the Australian open. Agassi’s comfortable win made him the first man to retain the Australian title since Jim Courier in 1993.
On this day 28 January 2007 (Exactly 12 years ago) Roger Federer won his third Australian Open and 10th Grand Slam title with a 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-4 win over Fernando Gonzalez
On this day 28 January 2017 (Exactly 2 years ago) Serena Williams beat sister Venus in straight sets to win her seventh Australian Open and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
Serena, then 35, won 6-4 6-4 to pass Steffi Graf in the all-time list of major winners since the Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968.
Australia’s Margaret Court, with 24, is the only player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam singles titles.
On this day 28 January 2018 (Exactly a year ago) Roger Federer defeated Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to win the 2018 Australian Open title, his sixth in Melbourne and 20th Grand Slam of his career.
