Ghana will hope to become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup as they plot revenge on the Uruguay side that controversially stopped them doing so back in 2010.
Twelve years ago, in a match that still haunts West Africa, Luis Suarez memorably handled Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound effort that would have sent Ghana through. Though Suarez was sent off, Asamoah Gyan smacked his penalty against the crossbar. La Celeste went on to win the match on penalties.
The Black Stars are coming off the back of a catastrophic performance at the Africa Cup of Nations 2021. The four-time champions failed to register a win at the group stage for the first time in their history, finishing bottom of the table.
But with Otto Addo now at the helm, their squad will likely look very different when they step out at Stadium 974 for their first match against Portugal on November 24.
Technical adviser Chris Hughton has already persuaded five foreign-born players with Ghanaian heritage to switch alliances for the 2022 World Cup, including Brighton fullback Tariq Lamptey, Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu and Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams.
Alongside brothers Jordan and Andre Ayew, part of the Ghanaian football dynasty, Arsenal’s Thomas Partey has emerged as a key man for the Africans. Still, the midfielder will have to overcome current injury woes if he is to help his side navigate the tournament group stages in Qatar.
Manager: Otto Addo
Star player: Thomas Partey
One to watch: Inaki Williams
World Cup finals: 2006, 2010
Fixtures: Nov 24 v Portugal; Nov 28 v South Korea; Dec 2 v Uruguay
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Brief scoreline:
Wolves 3
Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2
Arsenal 1
Papastathopoulos 80'
How Sputnik V works
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
