Marked for Bernard Baba
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad26 Oct 2026
A row about effort at WAFA
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Emmanuel Adjei was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The terraces26 Oct 2026
WAFA supporters have found a favourite in Albert Djiku
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 23-year-old it feels ownership of. Albert Djiku has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Match24 Oct 2026
Three points for WAFA, 1‑0 the final word against Great Olympics in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Player ratings26 Oct 2026
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.07, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
The manager makes an example of Francis Acquah
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” David Asante kept it short after the 1‑0 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
Market26 Oct 2026
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Bernard Baba has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at WAFA.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
There is no complaint available here and everybody involved knows it, which does not make the walk to the bench any shorter. Form is the only currency in football that cannot be borrowed against.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
Kwame Addo asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad28 Sep 2026
Tempers go at WAFA
David Essien was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Kamaldeen Kudus, and the manager let it.
Squad28 Sep 2026
A row about effort at WAFA
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Bernard Baba was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Match26 Sep 2026
It needed Kwame Schlupp to find the net to bring anything home at all: 1‑1 against BA All Stars, and half the dressing room will call it a point won.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
Half-satisfied: David Asante on the draw
“There are things I liked and things we will be doing on Tuesday until they are right.” 1‑1, and a manager who had already decided what Tuesday looked like.
Squad28 Sep 2026
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and WAFA will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
Isaac Ayew runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 12. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Market28 Sep 2026
WAFA have let the market know Emmanuel Wakaso can be had. No price in the advert, but everyone in the trade knows roughly what it says.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Emmanuel Wakaso trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Market14 Sep 2026
Bernard Baba hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what WAFA can pretend not to have heard.
Player ratings14 Sep 2026
Successful dribbles: 24. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Squad14 Sep 2026
A row about effort at WAFA
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Emmanuel Adjei was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Match12 Sep 2026
Beaten 0‑2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
The dugout14 Sep 2026
Kwame Ayew gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Andrew Schlupp has improved at 26, which nobody expected
Careers are supposed to plateau and then decline, and the players who ignore that are always the ones who were listening on the training ground. 3 points of it, over months, at an age where the direction normally only goes one way.
The dugout14 Sep 2026
The view from the dugout
“We will look at it, we will learn from it, and we go again.” The three sentences every manager keeps for a 0‑2 defeat, delivered by David Asante to a room that had heard them before.
Squad14 Sep 2026
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Kwame Partey commits to WAFA for another 3 years.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Kwame Addo makes his debut at 19
At 19 years old, Kwame Addo became the latest name off the academy production line to be handed a senior shirt.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market31 Aug 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what WAFA can pretend not to have heard.
Market31 Aug 2026
“I listened, I thought about it, and I am staying. That is the whole story.” The clubs had agreed a fee. Patrick Asamoah had not agreed to go, which turned out to be the part that mattered.
Market31 Aug 2026
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Bechem United waiting with a shirt. Nobody at WAFA is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market17 Aug 2026
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Market17 Aug 2026
“I listened, I thought about it, and I am staying. That is the whole story.” The clubs had agreed a fee. Daniel Adjei had not agreed to go, which turned out to be the part that mattered.
Squad17 Aug 2026
A falling-out at WAFA
David Essien and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Abeiku Kyereh
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Bernard Baba falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Squad17 Aug 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Nana Wakaso and WAFA agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Somebody is after Andrew Gyan’s shirt
A new face in his position, and Andrew Gyan suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. WAFA have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
Market17 Aug 2026
WAFA have made Joseph Asamoah available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.