Kamaldeen Sulemana, a Black Stars winger, has clinched Premier League qualifying with Southampton after defeating Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

Despite being an unused replacement, the winger will play in the top division next season.

Adam Armstrong scored the game-winning goal in the 24th minute, with help from William Smallbone.

Southampton joins Leicester City and Ipswich Town as Championship teams promoted to the English Premiership.

Kamaldeen’s success makes him the second Ghanaian player to enter the Premier League, following Abdul Fatawu Issahaku’s qualifying with Leicester.

This season, the 22-year-old forward appeared in 25 games for the Saints, contributing three assists.

Other Ghanaians projected to feature in the Premier League next season include Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal), and Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).

The other players are Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), Antoine Selorm Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth), and Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace).

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued a statement about recent happenings involving the U17 squad, the Black Starlets, and its coach, Laryea Kingston, who announced his resignation during a post-match conference.

According to the football governing body, it has accepted the resignation of the former Black Stars player, however, it condemned his decision to use inappropriate words and his failure to attempt the team’s management committee meeting.

He also got off the bus on a return to their base and has not returned to the team hotel.

As a result, Kingston will not lead the Black Starlets’ third-place playoff game against Nigeria on Tuesday.

Instead, the present assistant coaches, with the backing of the GFA’s technical director, will lead the squad.

The GFA emphasises its commitment to providing a professional and courteous workplace for all teams and employees.

Below is a full statement issued by the FA.

PRESS STATEMENT FROM GFA

RE: LARYEA KINGSTON

The Ghana Football Association has taken note of the decision of the Head Coach of the National U17 Team, the Black Starlets, Laryea Kingston, to leave the team following his behavior after the WAFU ZONE B U17 qualifier Semifinal match against Burkina Faso on 25th May, 2024.

Laryea Kingston’s decision has been supported by his subsequent actions.

Coach Kingston announced to the players and the coaching staff that he has resigned whilst using inappropriate language.

He subsequently said same in his post-match Press Conference.

Coach Kingston also got off the Team Bus whilst the team was on its way to the Team Hotel.

He failed to attend the Team’s evening meeting with the Management Committee and has since not reported at the Team Hotel.

For the 3rd place play off match between Ghana and Nigeria scheduled for Tuesday , 28th May, 2024 , the current Assistant Coaches will take charge with support and from the Technical Director of the GFA.

End.

Former Black Stars midfielder Laryea Kingston has announced his resignation as Ghana’s Under-17 coach.

This is effective following the U-17 WAFU Zone B competition.

The former Ghana international made the announcement on Saturday, following Ghana’s 2-1 semifinal loss in the WAFU B competition, which also prevented them from qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Kingston voiced his unhappiness at the post-match press conference and gave an impassioned statement announcing his departure.

He emphasised his commitment to the country, both as a player and a coach.

Kingston stated that he chose to retire during the team’s travel to Russia for the U-16 event.

“For the past six or seven months, I have given my everything. “I have done my part as a technician,” he stated.

“After we returned from Russia, I determined whether we won the tournament or not, and now I’m moving on. In this circumstance, I am retiring as a U-17 coach following the competition.

“I have made that decision already before the tournament started but the explanation will come out later,” he stated.

Watch the video below:

Kingston, who was named assistant coach in April, supervised a time in which the club exhibited some of Ghana’s greatest young football, scoring 54 goals in 18 games.

Despite their elimination, the Black Starlets will continue to battle for third place in the competition.