On this week's round up we look at some of the action from the final round of games in the second phase of qualifying for the Nations Cup and World Cup, Wigan's Amr Zaki scores an anbsolute cracker against high-flying Liverpool, and Seb Blatter discusses South Africa's preperations for the World Cup
BLATTER ON SOUTH AFRICA 2010
President of FIFA, Seb Blatter, talks to CNN about South Africa's prepartions for the 2010 World Cup.
To say that Justin Fashanu was as enigmatic off the field as he was talented on it, is arguably one of the understatements of the century. In his short turbulent life he was a mirror of complexity riding the crest of success as the UK's first black player to earn a million pounds; to the low ignominy of being investigated as a possible paedophile in the US. Sandwiched in between these two extremes he always made us sit on the edge of our seats while sadly confusing us finally in death.
But we are getting ahead of ourselves here. Let us start at the very beginning.
The draws for the final stage of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations is out and the Black Stars of Ghana are in arguably the toughest group of the draws, and would have to stay strong to return to the World Cup finals after making their debut in Germany two years ago.
The Ghanaian team was pooled in group D of the pools along side fellow West African teams, the Squirrel of Benin and the Eagles of Mali. The Ghanaians would also have to make the tricky trip to Khartoum to face the Nile crocodiles of Sudan.
Number one ranked African team according to World Soccer governing body, FIFA, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are drawn in group A along with 2006 finalists the Hawks of Togo. The other teams in the group are the Atlas Lions of Morocco and Gabon.
Group B would see the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who finished the last round with a 100% record, hope to continue the impressive run when the final round kicks off. They would however have to contend against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, the Harambee stars of Kenya and Mozambique.
Reigning African Champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt are drawn in group C alongside the Chipolopolo of Zambia, the Wasps of Rwanda and the Desert Warrior of Algeria. The group looks relatively easy on paper for the Pharaohs, but on the field of play, it is entirely a different ball game entirely.
The Egyptians would be hoping to make their first appearance at the Mundial soccer fiesta, and this seems their easiest opportunity to achieve that.
The final group of the World Cup will see the Elephant of Cote d’Ivoire square up against the Syli Stars of Guinea, the Stallions of Burkina Faso and the Flames of Malawi in group E.
The final qualifying round for the world cup in Africa would begin in March 2009
Group Standings
Group A:
Togo
Cameroon
Morocco
Gabon
Group B:
Mozambique
Nigeria
Kenya
Tunisia
Group C:
Rwanda
Algeria
Egypt
Zambia
Group D:
Ghana
Benin
Sudan
Mali
Group E:
Guinea
Malawi
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
Reports indicate that the new coaching crew of the Angolan Senior National team, the Palancas Negras would be announced to the public next week. This was revealed by the Secretary-General of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) August Silva “Alvarito” in an interview with the Angolan Press Agency (ANGOP).
Alvarito disclosed that the Soccer Federation was seriously taking its time in carefully selecting a new coach for the Palancas Negras. He however refused to divulge any information on the candidates the Federation is speaking with at present.
The position of head coach in the team became vacant after the resignation of Oliveira Goncalves. Goncalves was responsible for making the team a force to reckon with on the continent after he took them to the 2006 World Cup in Germany at the expense of the much fancied Super Eagles of Nigeria. He however quit the team after failing to repeat the same feat this time around, crashing out in the second round of qualifiers.
Former Assistant team coach of the team, Mabi de Almeida is presently the caretaker coach of the team, and feelers from the soccer house in Luanda are that he could be reinstated as head coach of the team.
Angola are the host of the 2010 African Cup of Nations, and would also be in the qualifying race for the newly introduced African Nations Championship tournament.
Number one supporter of Enyimba FC and CAF ordained Pillar of Sports in Africa, Orji Uzor Kalu has charged the Aba team to “die” if they must in Cairo when they take on Egyptian League Champions Al Ahly in the crucial second leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal game. Orji Uzor Kalu was the greatest financier of the team when they won their first CAF Champions League trophy in 2003 against Ismaili.
Reports estimate hat about 18 people were injured in the chaotic environment, as the stadium was highly overpopulated. The maximum capacity for the stadium is suppose to be 20,000, but about 30,000 people found their way into the arena. Nyantakyi told BBCSports that the security personnel on ground were grossly inexperienced.
The seeding for the Third round of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying campaign is out and there are hardly any surprises in the seeding. The top five countries in the continent according to recent FIFA rankings are in listed as the top seeds. Spokesman for the Continent’s football soccer house CAF, Sherif Ahmed revealed that the basis for the stratification was solely based on the current FIFA rankings and nothing else. The draws for the third stage will see the top seeds each heading a group to be composed of four teams each. The winner of each group will qualify automatically for the 2010 World Cup, while the top three teams would head to the African Nations Cup in Angola.
A brace from Barcelona of Spain striker Samuel Eto'o Fils and another from Albert Meyong Ze saw the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon romp to a 5-0 victory over Mauritius in Yaounde. France based midfielder Jean Makoun scored the other goal in between Meyong Ze's brace. The Lions were already through to the next phase of the qualifying series, and seem set to be the lone qualifiers from the group as Cape Verde fell 1-3 to Tanzania at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam.
Arsenal of England striker, Sheyi Adebayor has rescinded his decision not to feature for the Hawks of Togo in this weekend’s crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying encounter against Swaziland in Accra Ghana.
John Mikel Obi, Nigerian international and player of Chelsea FC, has been voted the winner of the English Premier League’s African Player of the month for September 2008.
The vote was conducted amongst journalists around the world, particularly in Africa and England. Obi won the award for his solid defensive performances at the heart of the Chelsea midfield that have helped them rise to the top of the Barclay's English Premier League.
John Mikel Obi will be presented with his award at the Chelsea FC training ground.
The Premier League African Player of the Month award is a creation of the New African Soccer Group in celebration of the impact of African Players in the English Premier League. A winner will be awarded each month and it will be climaxed at the end of the season with a Player of the Year Awards event in London.
We look forward to your continued co-operation in the course of the season.
‘Tunde Adelakun Executive Vice President New African Soccer
Six players were on Wednesday dropped from the Ugandan Senior National team, the Cranes as they prepare for this weekend’s crucial 2010 World Cup/Nation’s Cup qualifying encounter against the already qualified Squirrels of Benin Republic.
Brazilian born manager of former English Premiership Champions Chelsea FC, Luis Felipe Scolari would pay a visit to Nigeria soon, according to head coach of the Nigerian Senior National soccer team, Amodu Shuaibu.
Head coach of the Senegalese Senior National team, Lamine Ndiaye has stated that he refused to pick French based duo of Mamadou Niang and Souleymane Diawara for the Teranga Lion's crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying game against the Scorpions of Gambia because he believes their inclusion would probably disorganize his team.
Club Brugge of Belgian midfielder, Nabil Dirar has opted to play for his North African country of birth rather than the much fancied Belgian National team. The player has accepted an invitation to play for the Atlas Lions in their crucial 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifying encounter against the Wasps of Rwanda.
South African international Quinton Fortune is close to signing a deal with Italian Serie B club side Brescia pending the result of a medical fitness test. Fortune was released by Premiership club side Bolton Wanderers last year after an unimpressive period with them. He also had a seven year stint with current League Champions Manchester United, leaving Old Trafford for the Reebok stadium in 2006.
Fortune has been a free agent since leaving the Reebok, and has had failed trials with some English club sides including Blackburn, Sunderland FC and also with Sheffield United .
According to reports monitored on the Italian club's official website, the 31 year old midfielder is expected to train with the club and seal a deal in a couple of days.
Beninoise born referee Coffie Codja was on Saturday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi given the fright of his life as fans of Ashante Kotoko threatened to inflict pain on him after seeing their side lose ground in the CAF Confederations Cup tournament.
Assistant coach of Egyptian league Champions, Al Ahly Hossam Al-Badri has warned his players to avoid complacency in the second leg encounter of the 2008 CAF Champions League semifinal clash against Enyimba FC of Nigeria in Cairo in a fortnight.
Al Ahly held the "People's Elephant" to a goalless draw at the Aba International Stadium, in the first leg of the encounter in Nigeria.
"We are yet to secure qualification, the game is still on, I think both teams have equal chances in the return leg in Cairo," Badri was quoted as saying on Al Ahly's official website.
"We were looking for a win on Sunday, but I think that the difficult conditions in Aba impeded us." he added.
The Al Ahly assistant coach also stated that the players would given extra bonuses if they overcome their Nigerian counterparts and scale through to the finals of the tournament.
It would be recalled that last year, Al Ahly travelled to the Tunisian city of Sousse and held Etoile du Sahel to a draw in the final of the competition, only to come back to the Cairo international stadium and lose 3-1.
Brian Baloyi of Mamelodi Sundowns has been called up to South African senior national team as replacement for Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Joseph Moeneebs who suffered an injury in a weekend clash for his club side.
Media officer for the South African team, Sifiso Cele revealed this information, while also disclosing that 17 of the 23 players invited for the clash against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo this weekend have already arrived in camp.
Baloyi has not featured for the South African side in almost two years, and is getting his first call-up under the new Brazilain tactician.
Head Coach of Nigerian club side Enyimba FC of Aba, Maurice Cooreman is optimistic that his side can go to Cairo and get the necessary result that would see them move to the finals of the 2008 CAF Champions League tournament.
After watching his side play out a drab goalless draw with the visiting "Red Army" at the highly sub-standard Aba International Stadium in the Eastern part of the country, Cooreman is still certain that his side can up their game and move to the finals at the expense of strong favorites, Al Ahly. "Zero zero is not a bad result. It is just that we did not take our chances when we go them. I am sure we will do better in Cairo," Cooreman told kickoffnigeria.com
Portuguese born coach of Al Ahly, Jose Manuel believes the ugly state of the pitch contributed to the poor display on parade at the Aba International Stadium.
"We have a better side but I must blame the pitch for the low quality of play." Manuel was quoted as saying by the website.
"All through the match there were only two chances at goal, when Abu Treka failed to score and Worgu's cross that was headed badly by Akueme and that is because the pitch did not let us play.
"In Cairo, we will have a better pitch and better football." he added.
John Mikel Obi, Nigerian international and player of Chelsea FC, has been voted the winner of the English Premier League’s African Player of the month for September 2008.
Assistant coach of Egyptian league Champions, Al Ahly Hossam Al-Badri has warned his players to avoid complacency in the second leg encounter of the 2008 CAF Champions League semifinal clash against Enyimba FC of Nigeria in Cairo in a fortnight.
Brian Baloyi of Mamelodi Sundowns has been called up to South African senior national team as replacement for Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Joseph Moeneebs who suffered an injury in a weekend clash for his club side.