Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top Back To Top | | | | | Ahly's night of shame |  Al Ahly fans love to preach to anyone who will listen about their passion and knowledge of the game.
Well, some of them must hold their heads in collective shame in the wake of the disgraceful scenes that marred Friday's Champions League showdown against Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.
Enraged and humiliated by their team's stunning 3-1 defeat, the fans pelted Etoile's celebrating players with all kinds of objects in the moments following the final whistle.
And as they went up to the VIP enclosure to receive their medals and the trophy, Etoile players and officials dodged and weaved as bottles, cups and debris rained down on them.
The new African champions were also forced to run for cover as they left the safety of the VIP section after receiving their medals from President Hosni Mubarak.
Most of the bottles were plastic, but many were filled with water, making them dangerous weapons.
It should have been a great finale to what has been a thrilling competition all year round but, sadly, the night will now be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
"We feared for our lives," Etoile midfielder Muri Ola Ogunbiyi told BBC Sport as he savoured a third Champions League title, after winning previously with Nigeria's Enyimba in 2003 and 2004.
"It was like dodging bullets," he added, no doubt relieved that although some of his colleagues were hit, nobody was seriously hurt.
Granted, football matches involving Egyptian and Tunisian teams are always a flammable mix, and there was always a chance that defeat for Al Ahly in their own backyard would see an ugly end to the game.
But to see some Egyptian journalists who were sitting in the press area with the rest of us also hurling objects at Etoile players was particularly disgraceful.
What was even more shocking was that a thick line of stewards and police officers just stood by watching, doing absolutely nothing to stop the wave of flying objects.
Worse still, bottled drinks are officially banned from the stadium but they were clearly in abundance as Al Ahly's quest for a sixth Champions League title dissolved into a night of utter shame.
It all made a mockery of the airport-like security scanners fans faced before being allowed into the stadium.
This is why the Confederation of African Football must allay deep suspicions about its willingness to punish a club of Ahly's exalted status and throw the book at the Cairo giants.
Throwing objects at your opponents is not a display of football passion - it is sheer hooliganism.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Etoile stun Ahly to conquer Africa |  Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia upset Al Ahly with a 3-1 away win to earn their first Champions League title in Cairo on Friday.
No one outside Tunisia gave Etoile a chance at the Cairo International Stadium after they were held 0-0 two weeks ago in the first leg of the final.
Victory was particularly sweet for the men from the Mediterranean resort of Sousse as they were crushed 3-0 by Ahly at the same ground in the 2005 Champions League decider.
Lifting the trophy completed a clean sweep of Caf titles for Etoile who had won the Cup Winners Cup and Caf Cup twice and the Super Cup and Confederation Cup once.
Ahly were seeking two records - a third consecutive title and sixth overall - but the early second-half dismissal of defender Emad al-Nahas turned a match the Egyptians were poised to win.
Etoile took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Afouene Gharbi only for Al-Nahas to equalise five minutes into the second half of a thrilling final watched by a capacity 50,000 crowd.
Needing to score again under the away-goal rule, Ahly laid siege to the Etoile goal until Al-Nahas was shown a red card by outstanding Moroccan referee Abderrahim al-Arjoun.
Ahly never regained their momentum with 10 men and survived a few scares before Amine Chermiti put Etoile ahead for the second time two minutes into stoppage time and Moussa Narry added a late third.
The home team's coach Manuel Jose was pelted with objects by angry home fans as he received a losers' medal at the end of the game.
Etoile will play the winner of the Confederation Cup final between CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Al Merreikh.
CS Sfaxien have a 4-2 lead over the Sudanese club.
The new African champions will go on to represent the continent at the Club World Cup in Japan next month.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Portsmouth build African army |  Premier League clubs have many fans in Africa though they normally support one of four teams: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
However, there is one club, which despite its low profile on the continent, has more African players in their squad than any other top-flight team.
Portsmouth now have seven of Africa's finest among their ranks.
Having recently captured Senegal's Papa Bouba Diop, manager Harry Redknapp has signed up an array of the continent's talent.
Fratton Park is now home to the all-Nigerian strike force of Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka, Ghana's midfield maestro Sulley Muntari, Mali defender Djimi Traore, Cameroon's Lauren and Zimbabwe forward Benjani Mwaruwari.
Despite this assistant manager Joe Jordan denies the existence of an 'Africa specific' transfer policy.
"The players we have brought to the club are there because they are the best we could find for their respective positions.
"As long as the players who come into the club apply themselves we are glad to welcome them," Jordon added.
John Utaka could safely be described as a player applying himself to the Portsmouth cause.
Since moving from French side Rennes in the pre-season, Utaka has become a fan's favourite , scoring in the club's opening two matches of the season.
"It has been made easier for me to settle in because of all our African players.
"Especially with Kanu, who was a major reason behind me joining the club - I enjoy playing with him in the team."
Benjani Mwaruwari agrees there is a palpable effect of African contingent in the team.
"If you play with good players it reduces the pressure on yourself as an individual, I think the Africans we have here help us to perform."
CULLED FROM: BBC Sport | | Guinea qualify for Nations Cup |  Guinea booked their place at the Nations Cup as they swept to a 4-0 victory over the Cape Verde Islands in their Group Eight qualifier on Sunday.
Guinea finished three points ahead of Algeria and Gambia to become the 12th team to reach the tournament being held in Ghana next year.
Pascal Feinduono opened the score with a 19th minute penalty after Fode Mansare had been brought down.
Mohamed Cisse made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute and five minutes later defender Ibrahima Camara added the third after a mazy dribble through the opposing defence.
The fourth goal came on the stroke of half-time from Ismael Bangoura.
The Cape Verdians squandered a penalty in the 62nd minute when Mario Soares missed.
Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the last African Nations Cup in Egypt in 2006.
In Sunday's other Group Eight game, Assan Jatta scored twice in the last 15 minutes to give 10-man Gambia a 2-1 win over Algeria.
The defeat means the former African champions miss out on a second consecutive edition of the African Nations Cup.
Jatta equalised in the 75th minute, after Rafik Saifi had scored the opening goal for Algeria in the 56th minute, and netted the winner four minutes from the end.
Gambia had defender Ousmane Jallow sent off for the last 14 minutes and also saw Algeria goalkeeper Lounes Gaououi save a penalty they were awarded in the 70th minute.
Gambia and Algeria both finished on eight points, three behind Group Eight winners Guinea, who beat the Cape Verde.
Algeria's defeat allowed South Africa the security of qualifying for the 2008 finals in Ghana as one of the three best second-placed finishers from the preliminaries.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | CAF postpone qualifiers | The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the postponement of two African Nations Cup qualifiers because of the weekend's general election in Sierra Leone.
CAF said it was postponing until Oct. 14 the decisive games in Group Nine after being told security could not be guaranteed for the match between Sierra Leone and Benin in Freetown.
CAF had already ordered the game be played at the same time as the other decisive encounter in the group between joint leaders Togo and Mali in Lome. Both matches will now kick off simultaneously.
Benin are one point behind Togo and Mali in the standings while Sierra Leone have no chance of qualifying with one point from their five qualifiers to date.
A total of 19 Nations Cup qualifiers will now be played at the weekend.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Blatter's sorrow |  Fifa president Sepp Blatter has joined Zambia in mourning the death of striker Chaswe Nsofwa.
The 27 year-old died in an Israeli hospital on Wednesday, minutes after collapsing during a training session with his second division side Hapoel Beersheba.
The Israeli football association has since instituted an inquiry into the death.
"It pains me to see how suddenly the future of a player like Chaswe Nsofwa can come to an end," Blatter said in a letter of condolences to the Football Association of Zambia (Faz).
"In the last few days, Fifa has been shocked and deeply distressed by the news of the sudden and premature death of a total of three young players on football pitches.
"We truly mourn the passing of a man with potential and a clear love of the beautiful game and what it offers to the world."
Meanwhile, the Israeli football association has established a committee to investigate the death.
In a letter to Faz, Israeli FA president Avi Luzon has offered any form of assistance required following Nsofwa's death.
"In addition, we have ordered that a minute of silence is observed at all domestic matches this weekend," he said.
In last year's Cosafa Cup final, Nsofwa scored Zambia's opener and created the second in Chipolopolo's 2-0 win over Angola.
He was also part of the Zambia squad at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Kanoute’s hat-trick wins Sevilla Super-Cup |  Spain
A hat-trick by Mali striker Frederic Kanoute on Sunday carried Sevilla to a thrilling Spanish Super Cup victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Kanoute's exceptional display was the highlight of another weekend of impressive performances by African stars, demonstrating pace, power and skill, in Europe.
Sevilla led the traditional Spanish season curtain-raiser 1-0 from the first leg and Kanoute's stunning treble carried them to a 6-3 aggregate victory.
Then Kanoute, a scorer in each of Sevilla's previous four trophy victories, netted a cool penalty that put his side 3-1 up in the 38th minute.
Real clawed level with 12 minutes left, but Kanoute settled the match four minutes later, stealing in to take advantage of a mix-up in the Madrid defence and prodding home.
The Malian completed his hat-trick in a stoppage time breakaway with an accomplished finish.
Kanoute will now go into the league campaign full of confidence and looking to build on last season when his 21 league goals carried Sevilla to third place.
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England
Egyptian striker Mido capped his Middlesbrough debut with a goal as Gareth Southgate's team won 2-1 at Fulham.
Mido only joined Middlesbrough on Thursday and Southgate was delighted with the muscular contribution of his US$12m new boy.
Mido's tame shot after 55 minutes was not deserving of a goal, but Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner somehow shovelled the ball into the net.
Elsewhere, Nigerian strikers John Utaka and Nwankwo Kanu were in deadly form as Portsmouth brushed aside a tepid Bolton Wanderers team on Saturday, winning 3-1.
Bolton took the lead early at Fratton Park after Senegal winger El-Hadji Diouf set up Frenchman Nicholas Anelka.
But it was all Portsmouth thereafter with Utaka, a club record US$16m purchase from French Club Rennes, in particularly scintillating form.
First he knocked down a deep Gary O'Neill cross into the path of his countryman Kanu, who made no mistake from close range.
Then Utaka raced from the halfway line and rounded the goalkeeper expertly to give Pompey the lead.
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France
Rennes managed to rescue a point in French Ligue 1 at Nice after Ivory Coast striker Bakary Kone had deservedly put the home side in front after 26 minutes.
On Sunday, Moroccan forward Youssouf Hadji scored a late equaliser to earn AS Nancy a point in front of over 55,000 fans at Olympique Marseille.
Senegal striker Mamadou Niang gave Marseille a 22nd minute lead and France's Djibril Cisse doubled the advantage early in the second half.
Benjamin Gavanon started the Nancy comeback with a penalty after Hadji was fouled.
Then Hadji coolly converted a deep cross to earn Nancy a point that surprisingly put them joint top of Ligue 1, albeit with only four games played.
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Germany
Promising Nigerian striker Soloman Okoronkwo scored in the last 10 minutes to cap a roaring comeback from Hertha Berlin, who beat struggling champions VfB Stuttgart 3-1.
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Belgium
Holders Anderlecht were held 2-2 by newly-promoted Denden despite taking a two goal lead through their North African pair.
Egyptian Ahmed Hassan put Anderlecht ahead before Moroccan Mbark Boussoufa doubled in the 17th minute.
A first-half rally by Denden saw them equalise before the interval.
Rwanda striker Henri Munyaneza equalised for Denden in the 41st minute.
Nigerian Joseph Akpala scored the lone goal winner for Charleroi in the last minute to beat Mechelen.
Dieumerci Mbokani Bezua scored twice as Standard Liege trounced Cercle Bruges 4-1.
The Congo-Kinshasa striker scored both goals in the first-half.
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Portugal
The main headline after the opening weekend was the surprise 1-1 draw between promoted Leixoes and Benfica.
And the player who attracted all the attention was Nigerian Udochukwu Nwoko who equalised in the fourth minute of added time after Benfica had scored what looked like the winner in the 89th minute.
Sporting Lisbon, Maritimo and Porto are joint top.
They were the only teams with victories at the weekend.
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Scotland
Gabon's Daniel Cousin is becoming a hit with Rangers fans after he scored twice in his side's 7-2 thrashing of Falkirk.
The weekend's two goals add to the previous week's double he scored in his debut. Rangers are top with maximum nine points after three games.
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Turkey
Guinean defender Oumar Kalabane scored what turned out to be the winner for Manisaspor who beat Ankaraspor 2-1.
And Senegalese Mahamadou Diallo scored in the last minute to give Sivasspor a 2-1 win over Istanbul.
SOURCE: BBC Sports | | African goals in Europe: 04-05 August |  France
There just two African goal scorers on a quiet opening weekend in the French Ligue 1.
Morocco striker Youssef Hadji scored for Nancy as they beat Rennes 2-0, he flicked the ball over the approaching Rennes goalkeeper in the 41st minute to seal the win.
Guinea's Pascal Feindouno salvaged a point for St Etienne, scoring from the penalty spot in the 47th minute as his side drew 1-1 with Monaco.
But it was a bad start to the season for Mali midfielder Sidi Keita of Lens as he was sent-off for a brutal challenge in the last minute of his side's 1-0 loss at Bordeaux.
Reigning Champions Lyon, who are looking for a seventh straight title, started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Auxerre 2-0 on Sunday.
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Belgium
There were also just two African scorers on the opening weekend in Belgium.
Ivorian striker Francois Zoko was on target for Mons Bergen, but it wasn't enough as his side lost 2-1 to Club Bruges.
The only other goal was by Paito Tambwe from Congo-Brazzaville the striker scored the opening goal for his side Lokeren in their 2-1 victory over St Truiden.
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Friendlies
Many other clubs from around Europe are still playing pre-season friendlies and several Africans were on target in those too.
English premiership side Portsmouth beat Leicester City from a division below 3-1 with the DR Congo striker Lomana LuaLua on the score sheet.
Nigeria's Yakubu Ayegbeni scored the second for another Premiership side Middlesbrough who beat Ducth side AZ Alkmaar 2-0.
Fellow Nigerian Ikechukwu Uche gave his Spanish side Getafe an 11th minute lead as they trounced Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam 6-1.
FC Porto won the Rotterdam Cup after beating Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua 3-0 with Moroccan striker Tarik Sektioui scoring the opener for the Portuguese champions. The win was sufficient for them to finish ahead of Liverpool and hosts Feyenoord, who drew 1-1 in Sunday's other game.
Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie scored for Lokomotiv Moscow, who were beaten 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out by Italy's European Champions AC Milan, in the Russian Railways tournament.
Odemwingie had scored the third for Lokomotiv as his side led 3-1 before Milan fought back with two goals in the last three minutes to make the final score 3-3.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Esperance fans to face charges |  Several Tunisian fans are facing charges in Egypt for their part in rioting during last week's Champions League match between Ahly and Esperance in Cairo.
15 Tunisian fans were detained by Egyptian authorities after Ahly's 3-0 win on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium.
Following the release of five fans on Wednesday, the remaining nine are expected to face charges for provoking the riots.
The Tunisian fans started the trouble after their favourites conceded their heaviest ever defeat in African club competition.
Angry supporters reacted to the display by breaking seats, throwing both stones and fireworks - directing them towards the Ahly bench, Egyptian fans and security officials.
A few Egyptian supporters were injured while a security officer was transferred to hospital following the clashes.
"These are extreme elements in a football crowd who could endanger other fans," a police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Ahly have informed Caf of the list of damages caused by the Esperance followers.
"The cost of the damage made by the Tunisians is worth more then US$12,000," Ahly's club manager, Moharem El Ragheb, told BBC Sport.
"We expect Caf to take serious action and compensate us for these losses."
Group B leaders Ahly, needing just a win to reach the semi-finals, travel to Tunis to face Esperance on 4 August.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | African leagues round-up: 19-20 May
Cameroon |  Champions Ahly suffered only their second defeat in three seasons, beaten 2-0 on Monday by Zamalek in the Cairo derby.
But Ahly went into the match without 10 regulars, rested on the orders of coach Manuel Jose after a long and dominant season, rendering the usually intense clash between the long-standing rivals into a watered-down contest.
Tamer Abdelhamid netted four minutes before halftime and a Gamal Hamza header doubled the score in the 62nd minute.
Zamalek cut the gap behind Ahly to eight points with just one more round of matches remaining.
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South Africa
Silver Stars edged Moroka Swallows on goal difference for second place in the premier league and a spot in next year's Champions League.
Stars beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 with a Simphiwe Mkhonza own goal condemning Chiefs to ninth place in the standings - only the second time the country's most popular club have ended the season outside the top eight.
Swallows drew 0-0 against SuperSport United to finish third.
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Morocco
FAR Rabat remained one point ahead of Moghreb Tetouan in the race for a Champions League place next year after the penultimate round of league matches.
Moroccan international Jaouad Ouaddouch converted a penalty to condemn ASS Sale to the second division next season as the soldiers won 1-0.
Tetouan, third in the standings, beat Raja Casablanca 2-1.
Olympique Khouribga, who were crowned champions last weekend, celebrated as Samir Fallah and Hamza Boudial scored in their 2-0 home win over Omnisport Meknes.
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Ivory Coast
Idrissu Abdul Nafiu scored the winner as Asec Abidjan came from behind to beat Reveil Daloa to keep up a three point lead at the head of Ligue 1.
Asec were forced to scramble back after Bamba Sinali had handed the visitors a 13th minute lead.
Asec, seeking an eight successive league title, are ahead of arch rivals Africa Sports, who won 1-0 at bottom placed Lagoke FC.
AS Denguele were the only other away winners at the weekend as they beat Stade Abidjan 2-0.
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Angola
Champions Primeiro Agosto opened up a five-point lead after Namibian import Levis Swartbooi scored twice in the last nine minutes to ensure a 2-0 win over Sagrada Esperanca.
The army club's position was also helped by draws for Benfica Lubango and Petro Atletico.
Second placed Benfica Lubango were held to a 0-0 draw at Petro Huambo while Petro had an embarrassing setback at bottom placed Juventude Atletico Moxico.
The goalless draw was only the third point collected by the newly promoted Moxico in 11 matches.
They have scored just twice this season.
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Cameroon
Mount Cameroon and Union Douala took advantage of Coton Sport's participation in the Confederation Cup at the weekend to leap above the champions into the top two spots.
Mount Cameroon hammered AS CETEF Douala 5-0 to go ahead on goal difference from Union Douala, who beat Aigle Royal Menoua.
Franck Essomba and Samuel Inogue scored in the last 20 minutes to see Union home to their eighth win of the season.
Coton Sport were eliminated from continental competition by Tunisia's CS Sfaxien.
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Senegal
Stade Mbour beat ASC Yakaar 3-1 to take over at the head of Group B.
They move to 21 points, two ahead of Casa Sports, who were held to a 1-1 draw by US Goree.
The standings in Group A of the championship remained unchanged after AS Douanes and US Ouakam both played out goalless draws, leaving AS Douanes with a three point lead.
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Zimbabwe
Ralph Matema's ninth goal of the season and an effort from Obadiah Tarumbwa ensured champions Highlanders stretched their premier league lead to five points.
Highlanders beat CAPS FC 2-1 as closest challengers CAPS United had the weekend off and Dynamos suffered a surprise 3-1 home defeat to army club Black Rhinos.
It allowed Lancashire Steel to go second, despite a goalless draw away at Eastern Lions.
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Zambia
ZESCO United opened up a five-point lead at the head of the premier league after beating defending champions and closest challengers ZANACO 3-2 in a dramatic turn about.
Jonas Sakuwaha scored the winner two minutes from time after ZESCO United had come from 2-1 down with just eight minutes remaining.
Lusaka Dynamos stayed third, one point further back after drawing 0-0 away in Chingola at Nchanga Rangers.
SOURCE: BBC Sport
| African goals in Europe: 19-20 May
England |  Didier Drogba got the 33rd goal of his season
Ivory Coast captain and African Player of the Year Didier Drogba supplied a decisive match-winning strike in the English FA Cup final.
Striker Drogba, always a threat in a tense and closely-contested match, hit the only goal as Chelsea beat their great rivals and newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester United 1-0 in the first final to be played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
Drogba, the leading goal-scorer in English football this season, claimed his 33rd goal after a clever one-two combination with England midfielder Frank Lampard, deftly steering his shot past Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.
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Spain
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute kept Sevilla's hopes of a first Primera Liga title in 60 years alive with a late match-winning goal at Deportiva Coruna.
Sevilla fell a goal behind in the 72nd minute, but produced a late surge to claim victory.
Brazilian midfielder Renato headed in a free-kick and then Kanoute, running on to an astute pass from Jesus Navas, steered the ball into the net with six minutes remaining.
The goal was the Malian's 20th of the season.
Barcelona, responding to the loss of top spot in defence of their title, kept their challenge alive by demolishing Atletico Madrid 6-0 on their own ground - the heaviest home defeat ever suffered by Atletico.
Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o was on the score-sheet as he poked home the third goal after Madrid goalkeeper Cuellar had fumbled a cross by Eto'o's team-mate Deco.
The result kept Barca in second place in the standings, trailing Real Madrid only because Real have a superior record in their head to head encounters this season.
Real appeared to be cruising to victory at Recreativo Huelva when Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy converted a second-half penalty to make it 2-0.
However the introduction of Nigerian substitute Ikechukwu Uche in the last quarter of the game sparked a comeback by the home side.
Firstly, he was brought down in the box and Jesus Vazquez converted a penalty.
Then, Uche grabbed the equaliser four minutes from time when he headed in a corner.
But there was still time for Brazilian Roberto Carlos to snatch a late winner for Real with an injury-time finish.
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Italy
Asamoah Gyan scored the opening goal for Udinese as they beat their hosts AC Milan 3-2.
The Ghana striker has now scored eight goals in Serie A this season and helped Udinese climbed to 10th in Serie A.
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France
It was not such a good weekend for African goal-scorers as five different players ended up on the losing side.
Ivorian Abdul Kader Keita scored an equalising goal in Lille's match away to Auxerre, but Ireneusz Jelen hit the winner 11 minutes from time to deny Keita's side a precious point.
Marseille secured their place in next season's most highly-prized European competition with a 2-1 win over St Etienne.
Guinean Pascal Feindouna grabbing St Etienne's goal, his ninth of the season. Defeat meant the 1976 European Cup finalists will not play in European competition next season.
Burkina Faso's Moumouni Dagano grabbed an injury-time consolation strike as Sochaux were humbled 5-2 away at AS Nancy and Congo's Oscar Ewolo was also on the receiving end of a heavy loss despite a goal as his FC Lorient side lost 4-1 at Stade Rennes.
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Germany
Mainz, with four Africans in their squad have been relegated to the second tier of German football after finishing third from bottom.
Their slim chances of surviving the drop were ended as they lost 5-2 to Bayern Munich.
Algeria's Chadli Amri scored one of the consolation goals for Mainz.
The other Africans to be relegated with Mainz are Ghana's Otto Addo, Moroccan Moimoun Azaouagh and the club's top scorer Mohamed Zidan with 14 goals.
The Egyptian is now a subject of speculation for moves to newly crowned champions Stuttgart, Hamburg and Hannover.
Stuttgart sealed the championship after beating Energie Cottbus 2-1 to finish two points ahead of Schalke 04.
Ivory Coast defender Arthur Boka was unable to play against Cottbus as he served the final game of a five-game suspension.
He is now available to to play in Saturday's German Cup final against Nuremberg.
SOURCE: BBC Sport
| | ASEC and Esperance near landmark |  Weekend wins have left ASEC Abidjan of Côte d'Ivoire and Tunisia's Esperance on the cusp of qualifying for a record eighth appearance in the group phase of the African Champions League.
Since the current format was introduced in 1997, the Ivorian and Tunisian champions have made it to the league phase seven out of the last ten years, and victories in the final knockout round have left the duo well placed to make it eight out of 11.
Their record of participation in the last eight, in which clubs share in a handsome pot of earnings from marketing and television rights, sets ASEC and Esperance apart, although it remains a source of frustration that they can only boast one Champions League title between them, won by the Ivorians in 1998.
On Sunday, ASEC left it late to seal a 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca, one of seven former continental champions still in this year's field, in the first leg of their third round tie at Abidjan's Felix Houphouet Boigny stadium. The club's recent Ghanaian signing Idrissu Abdul Nafiu opened the scoring after 27 minutes and then showed some quick thinking to convert a stoppage time free-kick at to double his, and his team's, tally for the day.
Patrick Liewig will now take his side to Morocco for the return leg in a fortnight confident of defending this commanding two-goal advantage.
Esperance, meanwhile, began the weekend's round of matches with an emphatic 3-0 home triumph over Young Africans, a source of some consolation for the same supporters who watched their side's hopes of retaining their domestic title crumble the weekend before. Amine Ltfii netted his fifth goal of this year's Champions League campaign with a second half strike that was sandwiched in between goals from Kamel Zaiem and Walid Tayeb, his first in continental competition.
Ibarra makes his mark
While ASEC and Esperance might represent the old and dependable, fresh new faces are also guaranteed in the league phase, with Congo's Etoile du Congo and Nigeria's Nasarawa United staking strong claims in their respective ties on Sunday.
Etoile du Congo took a step closer towards a debut performance in the group phase after beating Libya's Al Ittihad 3-1 in Brazzaville on Sunday. History will be made regardless of the outcome in the second leg as no side from Congo no Libya has ever made it to the last eight.
A penalty from Francel Ibarra had Etoile du Congo on their way in the first half and Okilo Ockakas doubled their lead just before the break. Ibarra, who was the hero of Congo's U-20 team's triumph at the CAF African Youth Championship earlier this year, is set for a move at the end of the knockout phase to Sochaux in France's Ligue 1.
Eber Lebally claimed the third to raise his personal tally in this year's Champions League to three, while Al Ittihad's consolation goal came from defender Naji Shushan, which leaves the Libyan side chasing a 2-0 triumph in Tripoli to progress on the away goals rule.
Elsewhere, Nasarawa United beat Al Hilal 3-0 in Lafia Township to put one foot in the draw and leave their Sudanese opponents facing another year of Champions League frustration. The Nigerian victors, playing in Africa's top club competition for the first time, led 1-0 at half-time through Shehu Dauda's opener and added two more from Segun Falogan and captain Stephen Savior late in the game.
As for the holders, Al Ahly, they came in for a dressing down from Portuguese coach Manuel Jose after squandering a two-goal lead in Pretoria against hosts Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday night. Nevertheless, the 2-2 draw still leaves the Cairo giants favourites to progress, and Ahly were further boosted by goals from Mohamed Barakat, who made a dream return from injury, and a long-range drive from Angolan striker Flavio.
Sundowns fought their way back into the game with goals in the final quarter-hour from Oscar Ntwagae and Venezuelan import Jose Torrealba - much to the chagrin of Jose, who said his side had gone to sleep in the closing stages of an absorbing match.
Fellow heavyweights Royal Armed Forces of Morocco and Algeria's JS Kabylie lost away in their third round, first leg ties but only by a single goal, and from the penalty spot at that. Francis Litsingi converted his kick as Coton Sport of Cameroon beat JS Kabylie in Garoua, while Alain Kaluyituka scored the only goal from the spot in Kinshasa as TP Mazembe Englebert just edged out the Moroccan soldiers
Elsewhere, Etoile Sahel of Tunisia look well placed to progress after forcing a goalless draw away at Maranatha Fiokpo in Wome, a town some 100km north of the Togolese capital Lome.
SOURCE: FIFA.com | | Sundowns hoping to stop Ahly |  Coaches Manuel Jose and Gordon Igesund formed a mutual appreciation society of sorts in Pretoria on Wednesday with congratulatory remarks, declarations of respect and guarded predictions.
It was a rare pre-match press conference ahead of potentially the most exciting game in African club football so far this year. Defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt are in South Africa for the CAF Champions League third round, first leg tie against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Saturday sees the first leg of the a meeting between two of Africa's form sides, which is going to cost one of them a place in the lucrative last eight of Africa's showcase club competition. Both clubs are on the verge of retaining their domestic titles in rampant fashion and have high hopes for success at a higher level.
"We are desperate to prove ourselves in African football," said Sundowns' coach Igesund. "To win the Champions League three times in a row is a record we want to achieve," retorted Jose, the former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon coach.
Sundowns host the all-conquering Cairo outfit in the first leg at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, one the eight third round ties at the weekend.
Al Ahly's Jose has commented that his club are in for one of their toughest assignments to date in trying to get past the South African side, who have won their last ten league matches in a row and are now just three points away from retaining their domestic premier league title.
"I have great respect for Sundowns and for their coach, but I've told my players we are coming here to win the match," said Jose, chasing his fourth Champions League title after past successes in 2001, 2005 and 2006.
"Our idea since I've been coach of this club is that we attack as much away from home as we do in front of our own supporters. Previously Egyptian clubs were happy to play defensively and try to force a draw or just lose 1-0 away and then look to play on the front foot when at home.
"I have changed this mentality - we're looking to win all of our games. It might sound arrogant but this is the way we do things at Al Ahly. But we know it is not going to be an easy two games," Jose added.
Igesund retorted: "Things have gone well for us in the domestic league but we all have a dream of conquering Africa. We know that to do that we have to play and beat teams like Al Ahly. We are not going to sit back and hope it happens. We have earned a right to be here (at this stage) and everything that Al Ahly have achieved over the years is history now. It's an opportunity for us to show Africa that there are new kids on the block. We are very desperate to do well and this is a great opportunity for us."
Seven more matches
This clash of the titans overshadows the other seven matches, but there are match-ups between former African champions and other games that also promise to provide new faces for the league phase of the competition.
Either Etoile du Congo or Libyan club Al Ittihad will become the first side from their respective countries to reach the last eight since the group format was introduced in 1997. The first leg of their tie is set for Brazzaville on Sunday.
Morocco's Royal Armed Forces are among past winners left in this year's field. They take on TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who won back-to-back titles in the late 1960s. The first leg is in Kinshasa on Sunday with Mazembe forced to move the match because their home stadium in the southern city of Lubumbashi unavailable for use.
ASEC Abidjan from Cote d'Ivoire and Morocco's Wydad Casablanca are also two former African champions pitted against each other.
The opening third round match is in Tunis on Friday when Esperance host Young Africans of Tanzania at the El Menzah stadium.
'Yanga' can expect a severe backlash from the 1994 champions, whose chances of retaining their Tunisian league title went out the window last weekend when they lost 3-1 at arch rivals Etoile Sahel, who are also still in this year's Champions League field.
CAF Champions League
Round of 16
Mamelodi Sundowns - Al-Ahly
Nasarawa United - Al-Hilal
Maranatha - Etoile Sahel
Etoile du Congo - Al Ittihad
ASEC Mimosas - Wydad Casablanca
Esperance - Young Africans FC
TP Mazembe - FAR Rabat
Cotonsport Garoua - JS Kabylie
SOURCE: FIFA.com | | | | | | Drogba set for continental domination? | African football has never been in a more impressive state. With Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Togo showing well at the World Cup, and the likes of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o setting their respective divisions alight, the future of football on the world's second largest continent looks promising.
For the past few years it has been Cameroon and Barcelona marksman Eto'o who has been the outstanding performer, and he has won the coveted African Player of the Year award three times in the last three years. This season however, due largely to a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, Eto'o has been outshone by Chelsea's Ivorian international Drogba.
It was clear from last year's voting that these two were the dominant forces in African football. Eto'o pipped Drogba by just two votes in 2005, and only five separated them this time around, with the Chelsea striker denying Eto'o a record breaking fourth successive title.
While Eto'o's season has been blighted by in-fighting with his Barcelona brethren and a five month recovery after rupturing the meniscus in his right knee, Drogba's has gone from strength to strength.
Expected by many to fail at the beginning of the season, after a year of criticism, the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko actually galvanised the powerful striker into action and he hasn't looked back since. Currently leading the Premiership with 17 goals, Drogba has netted 28 times in all competitions, and won the Carling Cup on his own against an inexperienced Arsenal side.
Arguably the best striker in the league so far this season, he will surely be up against Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of the season in the running for the Premiership Player of the Year; but even as early as January, Drogba showed signs that he would get the better of Eto'o this year.
The African Nations Cup was the showcase, and in a thrilling 12-11 penalty shoot-out between Eto'o's Cameroon and Drogba's Ivory Coast, the Ivorian would net the winning penalty, after Eto'o had missed. Although Eto'o left the tournament as the leading scorer, it was Drogba who left with the accolades.
A World Cup without Cameroon or Eto'o gave Drogba the chance to impress, although the Ivory Coast were not able to rival Ghana's achievement of making it to the knockout stages and the striker left with only one goal.
Upon his return to Chelsea, Drogba's position was put under threat by the arrival of Shevchenko for £30.1million. However, Drogba capitalised on his new team-mate's slow start, and his transformation was completed when he scored a stunning goal to beat an Eto'o-less Barcelona in the group stages of the Champions League.
While Eto'o can claim to have helped Barcelona win the 2005/06 competition in May, as well as finishing top scorer of La Liga, his off-pitch actions and speculation over his future at the club in the latter part of the year let him down and Drogba was rightly the firm favourite once the voting got underway.
The duo, who could be playing in the same league next season if reports in Spain are to be believed, led the line in this respect but there are plenty of other Africans plying their trade in Europe with a great deal of success, who could feature heavily in the future.
Ghana's Michael Essien, on the back of a £24million move from Lyon to Chelsea, has proven himself to be one of the best players in the Premiership. The combative midfielder came third in the voting for this year's award, but has every chance of picking it up in the future if he can continue the kind of form he has shown this season.
Senegal's El-Hadji Diouf has won the award twice, and has a great deal of criticism to overcome before he has a chance of winning it again. Now at Bolton after an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool, the controversial striker has become a fans' favourite under Sam Allardyce and is a consistent performer in the Premiership, when he doesn't let his temperament get the better of him.
Obafemi Martins is another proving his worth in the Premiership, and the initials signs are good. A £10.1million signing for Newcastle from Inter Milan, the Nigerian has shown his pace and power, notching up ten goals already this season and is considered one of the best prospects to have come out of Africa.
Despite their misdemeanours in the Carling Cup, Arsenal's Ivorian duo of Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue are sure to have big futures in the game, while Abdoulayes Meite and Faye have been important in Bolton's rise up the table, although you have to go a long way back to find a defender who last won the award.
Elsewhere in Europe there are a number of stars making their names at their respective sides. Mali boast the leading scorer in Spain's La Liga, ex-Spurs and West Ham striker Freddie Kanoute and Mahamadou Diarra, who cost Real Madrid £17million from Lyon but has yet to adapt fully to conditions in Spain.
Stephen Appiah, after a great World Cup partnership with Essien for Ghana, attracted a great deal of attention but chose to move from Juventus to the relative obscurity of the Turkish league with Fenerbache and will suffer from being out of the spotlight. Lens' Aruna Dindane has set the French Ligue 1 alight and Arouna Kone has impressed in the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven, and both can take solace in the fact that Diouf won the 2001 award while still playing in French league. They also both have youth on their side.
Marseille's Taye Taiwo picked up this year's Young Player of the Year award for his impressive performances for Nigeria and the French club, and has been linked with a summer move to Inter; although he will do well to break the striking monopoly and overcome the pressure of being at the same club as African legend Abedi Pelé.
Pelé won the award for three successive years in the early 90's and indeed only two players had won the award in the recent five year's previous to Drogba's success. Previous history suggests that it could take a lot for Chelsea's marksman not to win it again next year.
That said, with a conveyor belt of talent finding its way into Europe from Africa, it may not be long before the award has a less predictable outcome.
SOURCE: soccernet.com | | Rovers seal Samba deal |  Blackburn have completed the signing of Hertha Berlin defender Christopher Samba.
The 22-year-old DR Congo international has signed a three-and-a-half year deal which will bind him to Ewood Park until 2010.
Rovers boss Mark Hughes has moved quickly to fill the void left by Lucas Neill's departure to West Ham and having observed Samba last week, is confident he has captured a player of considerable promise.
"Chris came in last week (on a five day trial)," Hughes told the club's official website.
"Obviously we always try to bring players into the club and look at them first-hand, I think you get a better idea of what they are about, and he impressed us.
"He's a big guy to say the least, he is upwards of 6ft 5ins and a big powerful guy.
"We think he is a good addition to the squad."
Samba has spoken of his delight at having earned a move to England and in particular the Premiership, a league in which he is confident his physical attributes will flourish.
"It is a dream for me to play in England in this league, and at a great club like Blackburn, it is perfect for me.
"It was a good experience (in Germany), I think of all the leagues it is the one that is most similar to the English league. It is a very strong league but in England it is more intensive and stronger."
SOURCE: skysports.com | | | | Ghana hammer Nigerians in London | Ghana will believe they conclusively proved that they are Africa's strongest football nation after hammering Nigeria 4-1 in their international friendly in west London on Tuesday.
The Black Stars had not beaten their west African neighbours in 15 years, but this, their biggest win over Nigeria since 1960, was as emphatic as they come.
Level at half-time, Ghana took control in the early minutes of the second half.
With 50 minutes played, Stephen Appiah laid in Asamoah Gyan, drawing a smart save from Vincent Enyeama.
The ball, though, was never fully cleared, and when it fell to Laryea Kingston, he advanced two paces, and smashed a low drive from 22 yards into the bottom corner.
For the winger, recently signed by Hearts, it was a moment of catharsis. Suspended from the FIFA World Cup after CAF took action following a minor spat with Senegal's Habib Beye during the African Nations Cup a year ago, he had seemed noticeably keen to make his mark.
Involved in most of Ghana's most enterprising play in the first half, his heavenward glance after scoring spoke volumes of his emotion at setting Ghana on their way to a win that will reverberate through the annals of the region's football history.
Three minutes later it got even better for Ghana, as Sulley Muntari, finding space on the left side of the box, worked the ball onto his right foot before lashing it into the top corner of the net. And by the hour, it was three, Junior Agogo deftly converting a right-wing cross from Gyan.
A 64th-minute Taye Taiwo penalty, smacked home after John Utaka had been tripped, gave Nigeria some hope, but that was dashed with 13 minutes remaining.
Asamoah Frimpong had been on the field only a minute when he seized on the loose ball as Michael Essien bundled into the box, and stroked a low shot into the corner.
Nigeria, in truth, were comprehensively outplayed, far from their billing as the highest-ranked African team according to the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking.
From start to finish Ghana looked the better organised. It helped, to start with, that they turned up on time, left waiting 30 minutes for Nigeria, who do little to avert the sense that they teeter forever on a precipice of their own making.
Not that they were the only ones whose organisational ability was called into question on Wednesday night.
Long queues formed outside the ground, with ticket staff apparently over-run, and the stewarding was utterly ineffectual in the face of repeated pitch invasions.
They were, it should be stressed, borne of glee and not in the least bit threatening, but in the context of recent events across Europe, security is not a matter to be taken lightly.
For Nigeria, there was the question of who would turn up. Newcastle forward Obafemi Martins did not, obeying manager Glenn Roeder's wishes to stay with his club.
Julius Aghahowa, recently signed by Wigan Athletic, did, despite expectations, and so too did Mikel Jon Obi, apparently defying the wishes of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Austin Eguavoen, who will step aside as Nigeria manager to be replaced by former German handler Berti Vogts later this week had criticised Mourinho for his efforts to keep Mikel out of the game, and he brooked no compromise, keeping the midfielder on the field until the final whistle.
Even Mikel, though, could not prevent Eguavoen's reign ending in the ignominy of a crushing defeat.
CULLED from FIFA.com | | Favorites meet with mixed fortunes |  The winter break may be a good deal milder south of the Mediterranean, but the leading championships of north Africa remain every bit as intense as their European counterparts. With the teams now focused on the latter half of the season, FIFA.com brings you up to date on how things stand in Egypt and the Maghreb. Egypt: Minor setback for Al Ahly
Last year ended in superb fashion for reigning champions Al Ahly, with the Red Devils picking up third place at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006. However, that was soon forgotten at the start of 2007. Pitted against second-placed Ismaily SC in a top-of-the-table showdown, Manuel Jose's men slumped to their first loss on African soil in more than two years. Al Ahly had not tasted defeat since July 2004, when they lost the Egyptian Cup Final 2-1 at the hands of Arab Contractors. In league terms, their form had been even more daunting, with the Cairo side unbeaten in 31 months. That said, they looked anything but invincible at home to Ismaily, when a 3-0 reverse brought the African champions down to earth with a resounding thud. It was a result that showed the rest of the continent that Al Ahly can be bested, but Mohamed Aboutrika and Co have since bounced back in fine fashion by stringing together four wins. Nine points clear of the field with 11 matches left to play, the 32-time domestic champions still appear well-placed to defend their title, although they will have to do it without international goalkeeper Nader El Sayed. Relegated to the bench after some inspiring displays from Essam El Hadary, the 34-year-old elected to join rivals ENPPI, runners-up in 2005 and currently 12th in the league. Elsewhere, Egypt's other powerhouse club Zamalek have entrusted coaching duties to the experienced French tactician Henri Michel, after showing Portuguese trainer Manuel Cajuda the door in December. The former Côte d'Ivoire coach is expected to restore the five-time CAF Champions League winners to their former glory, bringing them back out from the shadow cast on both the local and continental scenes by their great rivals. Having kicked off with three wins and a draw in the league, plus a victory in the Champions League, Michel is certainly heading in the right direction so far. As a side note, the country's most popular player is currently plying his trade away from the big two, although he has sported both their colours in the past. Voted the third best African footballer of the last 50 years by the CAF, the evergreen Hossam Hassan is instead lending his talents to Tersana at the grand old age of 40. Morocco: New names at the top
They will have to be wary of surprise challengers Moghreb Athletic Tetouan though, as the similarly unsung club are enjoying a spectacular 2006-07 campaign. Just four points back, the northern outfit have dreams of adding another trophy to their cabinet, which for the moment boasts just two second division titles, including one from the Spanish league back in 1951. Meanwhile, the traditional giants of the Moroccan game have experienced differing fortunes. Champions Wydad Casablanca still look competitive in third spot, but FAR Rabat ended 2006 in disastrous form. Beaten in the CAF Cup final and too far back in fourth to dream of challenging for the league, the club recently elected to part company with former Marseille and Sedan trainer Henri Stambouli. His replacement, erstwhile national youth coach Jawad Milani, will be hoping he can do a better job. However, as complicated as things are at FAR Rabat, the situation pales in comparison with the crisis unfolding at Raja Casablanca. After winning seven championships in the last ten seasons, the country's most successful club are floundering in 13th position and seem to pile on the agony with every passing week. Tunisia: familiar faces to the fore
By way of contrast, the top of the Tunisian championship reads like a list of the nation's highest achievers, with the five most-titled clubs all present in the first six. Only US Monastir have managed to muscle their way in among that select crowd, where frontrunners Club Africain hold a one-point lead over Etoile du Sahel. Led by Frenchman Bertrand Marchand, Club Africain have risen to the summit with a young and ambitious team, backed up by experienced Cameroonian stopper Pierre Njanka (32) and veteran international goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel (41), two members of the tightest defence in the division. Ten points back, last year's CAF Champions League finalists CS Sfaxien appear to be out of the running for honours this season and have also had to bid farewell to two key players. Defender Wissem Abdi left for Zamalek, while midfielder Anis Boujelbene signed with Al Ahly. In an attempt to turn things around, the club recalled former coach Michel Decastel of Switzerland in place of Mrad Mahjoub. On the pitch, CSS have put their faith in youth by replacing their departed Carthage Eagles duo with 18-year-old Ivorian Solimano Ogdwe and 19-year-old Tunisian Nader Ghabi. For their part, Esperance de Tunis (20 titles) and Etoile du Sahel (7 titles) are still very much in the hunt for yet another crown, with 11 fixtures remaining on the calendar. With just six points separating the four teams at the top, the race for this year's championship promises to be a thrilling affair. Algeria: New boys put favourites in the shade
With their attentions divided between domestic duties and chasing continental glory, favourites JS Kabylie and MC Alger found the going difficult in the first half of the season. Despite carving up the last five titles between them, the two heavyweights share fifth place at the halfway point, but it has not been the busy fixture list alone that has taken its toll. In truth, the clubs ahead of them have earned their success based on excellent results. That was certainly the case at the start of the campaign for ES Setif, who put together a string of five straight away wins to make the early running. Much of that was due to the exceptional form of striker Isaad Bourahli, combined with some remarkable goalkeeping from Samir Hadjaoui. The Black Eagles lost their momentum as winter set in however, and saw their lead gradually melt away. The main beneficiaries of that downturn in fortunes have been JSM Bejaia, currently reaping the rewards of some astute transfer dealing. Former MC Alger striker Karim Braham-Chaouch has clicked well with ex-JS Kabylie marksman Hamid Berguiga and, having plundered seven and six goals respectively, have been powering the Red and Greens onwards. Back-to-back victories over MC Alger and JSK in the Kabyle derby meant they entered the winter break in style. JSM Bejaia picked up where they left off too, earning a vital win over ES Setif in a top-of-the-table contest soon after the resumption. As a result, the new boys are currently top of the pile, and the ongoing tussle between an ambitious leader vying for a first title and the big guns still hoping to restore the natural order ought to make for fascinating viewing.CULLED from FIFA.com | | Drogba, Essien, Eto'o vie for Player of the Year honours | Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon) feature, prominently, on the 30-man shortlist for FIFA's World Player of the Year award.
The trio are among the elite list of players in contention for the top prize, which will be awarded in Zurich on December 18.
In last year's awards, Lampard came second behind Ronaldinho, but this year's competition is expected to come down to a contest between Fabio Cannavaro, captain of World Cup winners Italy, and Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry, a losing finalist in both the Champions League and the World Cup.
The head coaches and captains of all national teams will now vote for their best players from the shortlist.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's striker Kelly Smith is the only England player on the shortlist for the women's player of the year award.
FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist:
Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon),Adriano (Inter Milan, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Luis Figo (Inter Milan, Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany), Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Marseille, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea, Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan, France), Zinedine Zidane (retired, France).
SOURCE: soccernet.com |
| CAF African Youth Championship
African contenders take their places |  The list of competitors for next year's CAF African Youth Championship was finalised at the weekend, with a clutch of the continent's big guns now set to compete against each other in Congo DR at the start of next year.
However, there was one major casualty in the shape of former winners Ghana, who crashed out in a penalty shootout to Burkina Faso, ending their hopes of a return to a world stage a year on from the Ghanaian senior team's impressive debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup™ finals. The Burkinabe, meanwhile, are joined by Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, the Gambia, Nigeria and Zambia and hosts Congo in the eight-team tournament which kicks off in January.
Burkina Faso's penalty triumph came away in Sunyani, where they had gone to defend a 1-0 lead from the first leg against a highly-fancied Ghana side. As it transpired, it took the Black Stars until 10 minutes from time to level the tie on aggregate through Kojo Asamoah and when the Ghanaians missed two of their kicks in the shoot-out, the underdogs were able to hold their nerve to edge through 5-4.
Elsewhere, Côte d'Ivoire's successful year at international level continued as the Elephants beat Tunisia 2-0 in Abidjan. A 14th-minute goal from Haroun Naili set the talented young Ivorians, coached by Frenchman Michel Tronin, on their way to a victory secured by the same player a minute before the hour-mark.
Also taking their place at the African championships will be Zambia, who won 2-0 at home against a wasteful South Africa outfit in Lusaka on Sunday to overcome an aggregate deficit. Coach George Lwandamina said that good preparation had led to the South Africans' downfall, with goals from Fwayo Tembo and captain Sebastien Mwansa punishing the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts for their profligacy in front of goal.
Cameroon and Nigeria stroll
Nigeria coasted through with a comfortable 6-0 aggregate triumph over Rwanda, rounded off routinely in Kigali on Sunday with a 1-0 win secured courtesy of a goal from Ezekiel Bala. The majority of the work had, of course, already been done a fortnight earlier with a 5-0 first leg triumph in Abeotuka
In Lilongwe, visitors Cameroon won 2-0 against Malawi to complete a 4-0 aggregate defeat of their central African opponents. Leony Kwekeu and substitute Benjamin Bile Moukandjo got the goals after a scoreless first half as Malawi's coach John Kaputa blamed defensive errors, poor passing and a failure to deal with Cameroon's direct approach for his side's demise
Gambia, meanwhile, squeezed past Mali 3-2 on aggregate and go to the tournament boasting the bulk of the side who won the CAF African U-17 championship in 2005 and subsequently participated at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Peru. Completing the line-up are Egypt, who triumped 2-0 at home against Burundi after also winning the first leg 1-0 away in Bujumbura.
The CAF African Youth Championship will be from 20 January to 4 February, with the top three teams going on to represent Africa at the 2007 FIFA World Youth Cup in Canada. The draw for the tournament takes place on 29 October.
SOURCE: FIFA.com
| | Caf to choose best from 50 years |  The Confederation of African Football (Caf) is organising a poll to nominate the best African player of the last 50 years.
Followers of African football will be able to vote through Caf?s website ahead of the confederation?s fiftieth anniversary next year.
Caf has picked 200 players who have made an impact on the continent since its founding in 1957, with the selection based on performances at national and international level.
Fans can either pick a player from the list or nominate one of their own choice.
After the initial voting period expires on 15 November, Caf will reopen the debate in December but with only the top 50 nominees to choose from.
This poll will be open until 8 February, which is the date in 1957 when African football?s ruling body was founded.
The Confederation is planning several events to commemorate the date, including a youth tournament involving Caf's four founder members - Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sudan.
For a full list of the players and how to regiser your vote, visit the Caf website - www.cafonline.com.
| | Bright start for Ivorians, and others, in Nations Cup | A hat trick by Dutch-based Arouna Kone steered Côte d'Ivoire to a winning start to their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over Gabon in Abidjan on Sunday.
The weekend's round of qualifying matches also brought wins for heavyweight contenders Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia. There were rare triumphs for some of the continent's smallest nations, including the Seychelles and the Cape Verde Islands.
But the biggest impact was achieved in Lusaka where South Africa ended a long run of poor form with a 1-0 away win over Zambia to put back on track their hopes of qualification for the 2008 finals in Ghana.
Captain Aaron Mokoena headed home a 28th minute winner for 2010 World Cup hosts in their Group 11 qualifier.
Kone's hat-trick for the Ivorians was preceded by a rare goal for Arsenal's Kolo Toure. Aruna Dindane scored the other in a successful debut for the Ivorians new coach Uli Stielike.
Mohamadaou Idrissou, replacing the injured Samuel Eto'o, made a winning return to the national team for the first time in two years to score twice as Cameroon beat Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in Yaounde.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni's 50th minute goal gave Nigeria a hard-earned 1-0 win in rainy conditions as they beat Lesotho away in Maseru.
Tunisia had to rely on an own goal to overcome a resilient Sudan in Tunis with Justin Lado netting into his goal off an 80th minute corner.
Wilnus Brutus scored both goals for Africa's smallest country, the Seychelles, as they beat island neighbours Mauritius s 2-1 at home in their Group Four game.
Portuguese-based midfielder Lito got the winner early in the second half as the Cape Verde Islands overcame Guinea 1-0 in Praia and then missed a penalty later on in a chance to double the winning margin.
Defending champions Egypt were held to a surprise 0-0 draw by hosts Botswana in their Group Two qualifier in Gaborone on Saturday, failing to break through a stout home defence.
Egypt created few chances despite having Tottenham Hotspur's Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam back in attack.
Senegal had defender Pape Malickou Diakite sent off and conceded a penalty as Burkina Faso beat them 1-0 in Ouagadougou. Narcisse Yameogo converted the spot kick to ensure the win.
But top of their group has Tanzania in an unlikely leading role after a goalless draw at Mozambique in Maputo on Sunday.
FIFA World Cup finalists Angola beat Kenya 3-1 in Luanda with two goals from Flavio to win a second successive qualifier.
Algeria, Benin, Malawi, Namibia and Liberia also won their first games of the qualifying campaign.
SOURCE: FIFA.com | | England FA ask UEFA for Wisla racism investigation | The England Football Association have asked UEFA to investigate allegations of racism made by Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy.
The 28-year-old South African claimed he had been abused by Wisla Krakow's Serbian defender Nikola Mijailovic in last night's UEFA Cup match.
Blackburn have called for strong action to be taken, and the FA confirmed: 'We have written to UEFA, asking them to investigate allegations of racism made against Benni McCarthy by Nikola Mijailovic.'
Blackburn confirmed that a statement from McCarthy and another player who witnessed the alleged abuse had been forwarded to UEFA and the FA.
The club are backing striker McCarthy to the hilt and manager Mark Hughes said: 'The issue regarding Benni overshadowed our performance - but we must try to take this kind of thing out of football.
'If you ignore it and accept it, it will continue to be in the game.
'We have done great work in this country with the `Kick It Out' campaign.
'Maybe other countries are lagging behind us in that respect.
'There is no place for abuse like this in sport or in life.
'There is banter and sledging but this was a lot stronger than that.
'It is important to make a stand, not just from the game's point of view but the relationship with our players.
'Obviously Benni feels very strongly about the situation as we do as club.'
Hughes said that the South African international approached Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson at half-time - but still the taunts continued.
The Blackburn boss continued: 'I think people can make up their own mind as to what these comments were - and they will probably be correct.
'Benni to his credit did not react to them. He highlighted the issue to a number of Krakow players and the referee at half-time.
'The situation still developed and there were more comments at the end of the game.'
Kick It Out spokesman Piara Powar wants action taken against the culprits.
He explained: 'It is as important as taking action against crowds, the system is set up more to deal with crowds at the moment.
'We hope Blackburn pursue this or we will see it happen time and time again and end up talking about the same things in five or six years' time.
'The fact remains that a football pitch is a closed environment where it is very difficult for an objective view aside from the referee.
'Footballers are as savvy as anyone else and can say things which are not in earshot of the referee.
'If they do this and it is not reported then it leads to a stalemate.'
Meanwhile Blackburn will monitor the fitness of Robbie Savage (back) and David Bentley (hamstring) ahead of the derby against Bolton on Sunday.
Hughes has seen his side stretch their unbeaten record to eight games and he said: 'The confidence is so high, we are looking to win every game now.
'But Bolton are doing exceptionally well and we have to guard against conceding an early goal as they are hard to break down.'
SOURCE: soccernet.com | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
Kick-off in Cape Town: South Africa 2010 on track |  There may be almost four years until the curtain comes up on the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, but already there is a great deal of work taking place behind the scenes to ensure that a stage is provided befitting of the world's greatest single sports event. Working together towards that aim are FIFA, the Organising Committee (SAOC), South Africa's local and national government, Host Cities and FIFA Partners, all of whom are currently represented in Cape Town for a kick-off workshop.
The workshop was opened by a high level delegation which included FIFA's new Executive Committee member, Dr Amos Adamu, who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Federation's President, Joseph S. Blatter. He reaffirmed FIFA's "full and continued support of the President and the Executive Committee and football family around the world."
There was also positive news on the scale and speed of the progress being made, with FIFA's representatives, SAOC Chief Executive Danny Jordaan and SAOC Chairman Irvin Khoza all in agreement that all the preparatory work was on track and, crucially, on time.
For his part, the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, delivered a speech reiterating South Africa's commitment to working with FIFA to "win in Africa, with Africa" in 2010.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his deputy and many other South African cabinet ministers at the opening plenary session, Mbeki said: "The high-level Government participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off workshop reflects not only the seriousness of the tasks that lie ahead of us, but also the Government's passion and unequivocal commitment to make the 2010 World Cup an eminently successful tournament."
'Safety and security'
The plenary session included presentations by the minister of transport, Jeff Radebe, the minister of safety and security, Charles Nqakula and the deputy-minister of finance, Jabu Moleketi, who combined to comprehensively demonstrate the South African government's unflinching commitment to delivering a magnificent and memorable FIFA World Cup.
Nqakula reassured the delegation that: "We (South Africa) have the capacity and ability to protect the 2010 World Cup and to create necessary conditions for safety and security for the entire FIFA family."
FIFA and its partners had been welcomed by the mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille, the day before at a beachside cocktail function, and the conference continues tomorrow with an upbeat mood having already been established.
It is only a few months since Joseph S. Blatter predicted that the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ would take place to "the sound of African drums", and the FIFA President's words certainly rang true as an the kick-off workshop began with music. Though the workshop has a practical basis, one of its central themes is that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be one that inspires hope and dreams, using football as its platform.
Helping government and FIFA representatives in illustrating this was one of South Africa's most celebrated poets and playwrights, Malika Ndlovu, who delivered a poem entitled 'Decade of Dreams', which was specially commissioned for the workshop. She stepped onto the stage shaking a rain-stick, declaring:
"With you,
We begin,
Reeling in a new vision,
On the horizon four years ahead,
Guided by our aspirations."
For all concerned with South Africa 2010, those aspirations and dreams are now slowly becoming a reality.
SOURCE: FIFA.com
| | Friendships forged in Namibia |  The Namibia national team have helped to raise the awareness of the Special Olympics by a groundbreaking partnership with athletes suffering with disabilities. Through the Special Olympics' partnership with the local Namibia Football Association (NFA), Special Olympics Namibia held a training session with the 'Brave Warriors' in August. The event was part of the Special Olympics-FIFA's Development Project.
Players on the national team paired up with Special Olympics athletes in a one-on-one skills drill which was "'life-changing,; according to Henrico Botes, the captain of the Brave Warriors, who forged great friendships with the Special Olympics athletes. The Namibia footballers received a FIFA captain's armband, a FIFA ball and a FIFA pennant as gifts from the Special Olympics team.
The athletes also gained additional exposure and experience when the Brave Warriors played in friendly international match against South Africa. Prior to the game, held in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, the athletes paraded into the stadium, hand in hand with both national teams, displaying friendship and unity. The moment was captured for the entire Africa region, as the match was televised live on the South Africa and Namibian sports channels.
Special Olympics Namibia athletes shared the pitch with members of the Namibian and South African national football teams before a friendly match in Windhoek, Namibia.
A pledge to help
The Special Olympics-FIFA Development Project, launched earlier this year in Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana, aims to contribute to the visibility, acceptance and well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Africa through participation in the sport of football.
The goal of the one-year project, which focuses on recruitment and training of coaches and athletes, is to recruit 500 new Special Olympics football athletes in three pilot programmes in Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana and to use the project to support family education and basic health screening.
The National Football Associations of the three countries signed a Protocol Agreement pledging their full support of footballers with intellectual disabilities, on and off the field.
The project continues until December 2006 and FIFA will look at expanding this project in 2007 to benefit more Special Olympics programmes in Africa.
CULLED from FIFA.com
| | Etoile Sahel's winning streak threatened | TANZANIA, ERITREA PULL OFF UPSETS IN CAN 2008 QUALIFIERS 
Tanzania got their qualifying campaign for the 2008 Cup of Nations off to the best possible start thanks to Mizal Khalfan's 65th-minute winner. The Taifa Stars, who have not qualified for the finals since 1980, went ahead in the Group Seven tie in the 23rd minute when Burkina Faso's Paul Coulibaly turned the ball into his own net. Burkina Faso struck back just before half-time, Abdoulaye Cisse finding the net in the 39th minute.
But Khalfan put the home side back in front midway through the second half, and his team were able to hold on. Despite the win, Tanzania coach Brazilian Marcio Maximo warned fans not to expect too much, with the group also containing Senegal and Mozambique.
Kenya 1-2 Eritrea
A flurry of goals midway through the second half saw Eritrea take an unexpected win against Kenya in Nairobi in the opening game of Group Six of the African Nations Cup qualifiers.
After an uneventful first half, the game burst into life in the 60th minute, when a buildup of Eritrean pressure resulted in Kenyan goalkeeper Arnold Origi turning the ball into his own net.
But five minutes later Kenya were back on level terms as experienced midfielder Robert Mambo pounced to make it 1-1.
Parity was maintained for only three minutes, however, before Eritrea's Yednekatchew Shimangus put the visitors back in front.
They then held on for the remaining 22 minutes to go top of the group - at least until Swaziland play Angola on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Johannesburg, South Africa limped to a goalless draw with Congo in the opening round of Group Eleven of the qualifying matches for the 2008 African Nations Cup.
Bafana Bafana, clearly missing striker Benni McCarthy, struggled to create chances against a solid and well-marshalled Congo defence.
The best effort fell to Surprise Moriri in the 25th minute, when he got on the end of Bradley Carnell's cross, but he hit just over the bar.
But there was little else for South Africa's fans to cheer, with Congo packing the defence and rarely venturing forward themselves.
Congo coach Noel Tosi described it was a "great result."
But South Africa caretaker coach Pitso Mosimane said his team "played well" but were simply unable to score.
The match was South Africa's first since it was announced that Brazilian legend Carlos Alberto Parreira will take over as coach in February in order to help prepare them for the 2010 World Cup, which the country will host.
SOURCE: BBC Sport |
| | | African goals in Europe: 01-02 Sept.
England |  Emmanuel Adebayor put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot as they beat Portsmouth 3-1 on Sunday.
Ex-Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria pulled one back for the visitors.
South African Benni McCarthy scored the only goal in Blackburn's 1-0 win over Manchester City, while Fulham's Diomansy Kamara scored a looping overhead kick in the 90th minute to earn his side a 3-3 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ayegbeni Yakubu scored on his Everton debut in their 2-1 win at struggling Bolton Wanderers.
______________________________
France
Ivorian forward Bakari Kone scored the only goal of the game for Nice as they beat Racing Lens at home on Sunday.
Benin striker Stephane Sessagnon scored twice but was still on the losing side as his Le Mans side went down 3-2 at Champions Olympique Lyon.
Senegalese midfielder Guirane N'Daw scored for Sochaux as they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Caen and Moussa Sissoko scored Toulouse's second as they beat Auxerre 2-0.
___________________________
Spain
Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure scored a controversial first goal for Barcelona as the Catalans brushed aside Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
There was, however, some confusion as to whether his 73rd minute goal did actually cross the line.
With the score at 2-1, Toure struck a powerful rising shot from the edge of the area, the ball hit the crossbar and appeared to bounce down onto the line and then back into play.
Television replays showed the ball had not crossed the line but the referee deemed it had.
Toure had his goal and Barca got their three points.
____________________________
Germany
Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan helped Hamburg end Bayern Munich's winning start to the Bundesliga season, pouncing with the equaliser in the 87th minute.
Nigerian Solomon Okoronkwo left it even later to score the winner for Hertha Berlin against VfL Wolfsburg, the 20-year-old striker turning sharply to unleash a stunning left-footed strike.
His compatriot Manasseh Ishiaku continues to dazzle in the Bundesliga, scoring twice in the second-half for Duisburg in his side's 3-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld.
Ivorian forward Boubacar Sanogo scored the opener as Werder Bremen recorded a 2-1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
__________________________
Belgium
Abdelmajid Oulmers put Charleroi in the lead in the 23rd minute as they outclassed Mons 3-1 on Saturday.
It was the Moroccan midfielder's first goal this season as his club are fourth on the table after five games.
Senegal's Mbaye Leye gave Zulte Waregem a 14th minute lead as his side defeated Germinal Beerschot 3-1.
It was Leye's second goal of the season.
Also with two goals this season is Zimbabwean Honour Gambami, who put Cercle Bruges in the lead in their 4-1 thrashing of Gent.
Congo-Brazzaville striker Patiyo Tambwe has three goals to his account this season after sealing victory for Lokeren who dismissed Malines 3-1.
Defender Hassan El Mouataz from Morocco had earlier put Lokeren ahead in the 11th minute with a header before Cameroonian Aloys Nong pulled one back for Malines in the 53rd minute.
DR Congo striker Dieumerci Bezua was on target for the second successive weekend.
Bezua beat his marker to score the winner for Standard liege who won 2-1 over FC Bruges in the biggest game of the weekend.
His four goal so far this season has helped Standard to stay top of the league with 15 points.
__________________________
Holland
Ghanaian striker Matthew Amoah scored twice in the last 10 minutes to cap a 4-1 win for NAC Breda over Heracles Almelo.
Moroccan Nordin Amrabat scored for newly promoted VVV Venlo but could not stop his team going down 5-3 to Roda JC Kerkrade.
______________________
Portugal
Sembegou Bangoura equalised for Boavista with seven minutes remaining as his side drew with Pacos Ferreira.
Although it looked like the Guinean striker was in an offside position when he latched unto a poor clearance, his first goal in the league was allowed to stand.
Tarik Sektioui scored his second for title holders Porto who defeated Uniao Leiria 3-0.
The Moroccan striker scored the first goal in the game in the 37th minute.
The defending champions are second with a 100 percent record after three games.
Maritimo are on equal terms but lead with a better goal difference.
________________________
Greece
It was the opening games of the new season and South Africa defender Pierre Issa was on target for Crete who triumphed 3-2 over Apollon Kalamaria.
But it was the Nigerian striker Joseph Nwafor who ensured that Crete got all three points with a strike in the 89th minute.
____________________________
Ukraine
Africans were not left out of the scorers of the Premier League which has seen eight rounds of matches this season.
Nigerian Lucky Idahor scored the second goal for Tavria with a beautiful header inside the box as his side took a 2-1 lead in the 37th minute.
However, Tavria lost a 3-1 lead as they ended up drawing 3-3.
Idahor has scored three goals so far in the season.
Ismael Bangoura was also on target after dummying the goalkeeper to give Dynamo Kyiv the lead in the 2-0 victory over Kharkiv.
The Guinean has five goals to his account this season.
There was a second goal in the league for another Nigerian Onyekachi Nwoha who scored his side last goal in the 2-0 win against Chernomorets Odessa.
____________________________
Russia
Nigeria's Osaze Odemwingie scored for mid-table Lokomotiv Moscow, putting his side in the lead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute.
Lokomotiv defeated Rostov 2-0.
SOURCE: BBC Sport
| Caf slaps one-year ban on Zubya |  The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has slapped a one-year ban on defender Mohamed Zubya of Libyan side Al Ittihad.
Zubya was handed the ban after he tried to punch assistant referee Peter Edibe during a Champions League clash against FAR Rabat of Morocco two weeks ago.
Several players and officials Al Ittihad were also involved in the incident after a controversial injury time winner secured victory for the home side in Rabat.
Al Ittihad's Serbian coach Branko Melnitch and two other officials from the club were given a one-match ban each for bringing the game into disrepute.
The trio will miss this weekend's return leg of the Champions League encounter in Tripoli.
Caf also fined Al Ittihad US$3,000 for the incident.
The win revived FAR Rabat 's hopes of reaching the semi finals as it was their first win of the group campaign.
The Libyan side, who are second in Group A, are still favourites to advance as they are three points adrift of leaders Tunisian side Etoile, who have seven points.
FAR are bottom of the group with three points, same as JS Kabylie of Algeria.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | Mozambique's main airport gets World Cup facelift | A Chinese firm has began a $75 million renovation of Mozambique's main airport in Maputo to prepare it for an expected surge in tourists ahead of the 2010 soccer World Cup in neighbouring South Africa.
China's Anhui Forgen Economic Construction Company has pledged to finish construction of new passenger and cargo terminals, a control tower and other facilities at Maputo International Airport within 20 months, according to ADM, Mozambique's publicly-owned airport company.
"We want to increase our passenger handling from the current 300,000 to 900,000 per year in 2009, and in 10 years we are targeting to handle up to 3 million passengers a year," Diodino Cambaza, chief executive of ADM, said at a groundbreaking ceremony at the airport.
Cambaza added that 16 airports, including those in Beira, Quelimane, Pemba and Tete, also would get a facelift in the coming years as part of a government strategy to make the country more accessible to foreign visitors.
"The total rehabilitation of national airports is necessary as the country is becoming increasingly sought after by international investors and tourists," he said, adding that the company had secured funding from international partners.
Mozambique is among a handful of southern African nations that are eager to share in the economic windfall expected from South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup.
The former Portuguese colony, whose capital Maputo is about a five-hour drive from Johannesburg, South Africa's economic hub, has floated the idea of hosting a training camp for one of the international teams that qualify for the tournament.
It is also ramping up its overseas marketing in the hope of luring World Cup tourists to its famed beaches and investors to its capital.
Equipping Mozambique's airports with modern terminals and new runways and towers is key to that objective, Mozambique President Armando Guebuza said at the ceremony.
SOURCE: The Guardian | | African league round-up | Round-up of league action from around Africa at the weekend and on Monday:
ALGERIA
Second-half goals from Cheikh Omar Dabo and Nabil Hemani helped champions JS Kabylie move second in the first division standings with a 2-0 win at ASM Oran on Monday. JSK are now four points behind Entente Setif, who did not play because of an Arab Champions League match later this week, after moving above ASO Chlef who lost 1-0 at Chabab Belouizdad.
SOUTH AFRICA
Mamelodi Sundowns won a ninth successive premier league match in beating Santos to edge closer to retaining their title. The 2-1 win over the Cape Town club left Sundowns 11 points ahead of second-placed Jomo Cosmos and needing just eight points more to be crowned champions again. Cosmos overcame bottom club Maritzburg United 2-1 while Moroka Swallows moved third with a 2-0 win at Wits University.
Kaizer Motaung, son of the club's owner, scored a hat-trick as Kaizer Chiefs beat Bloemfontein Celtic 4-0 in the first match since they sacked German coach Ernst Middendorp.
MOROCCO
Olympique Khouribga's hopes of winning the championship received a boost without playing as their two closest rivals both lost. Royal Armed Forces stayed second, 10 points behind the leaders, after a 2-1 defeat at Mouloudia Oudja. Champions Wydad Casablanca dropped to fourth place, replaced by Moghreb Tetouan who beat them 4-2 in a dramatic game. It was the first time in 14 years Wydad had conceded four goals.
IVORY COAST
New imports Mutiu Adegoke of Nigeria and Ghana's Idrissu Nafiu both scored as champions ASEC Abidjan won a third successive league match, 3-0 at Lagoke in Daloa, to lead the championship by a point. Second-placed Africa Sports, who have a game in hand, kept their 100 percent record in a 3-1 home win over Jeunesse Club Abidjan with Nigerian striker Enyiaku Okechukwu among their scorers.
NIGERIA
Blessing Okardi returned from injuries suffered in a car accident to score as champions Ocean Boys beat Kwara United 2-1 in the premier league. Ocean Boys needed a late penalty from Michael Ebiede to secure their win but both clubs remained mired in the bottom half of the Group A standings. Akwa United and Lobi Stars both won to stay top of Group B with 20 points each, just one ahead of former African champions Enyimba.
CAMEROON
Fovu Baham won 1-0 at CPSA Abong Bang to move within one point of leaders Tonnerre Yaounde, who have 11 points. Champions Coton Sport played out a third successive draw, tying 1-1 at Union Douala to remain mid-table.
ZAMBIA
Striker Ignatius Lwipa scored after just 15 seconds as champions ZANACO made a winning start to the season at National Assembly. The 1-0 win marked a belated start to the campaign for ZANACO, who missed the opening weekend because of their African Champions League tie against Esperance. City of Lusaka won 4-1 away at Nakambala Leopard.
ZIMBABWE
Champions Highlanders had their coach ejected and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their second game of the new season at Masvingo United. Shadreck Malunga got a late equaliser for the hosts after Highlanders had taken the lead 12 minutes from time.
Motor Action have an early lead in the standings after beating newly promoted Lengthens 3-1 with goals from Salim Milanzi, Dabwiso Nkhoma and Edward Yongwe.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Fifa refutes Ahly doping claims |  Football's world governing body Fifa has clarified comments made by president Sepp Blatter that two Ahly players failed dope tests during their Champions League triumph.
Fifa has made a statement which says there is no evidence of doping by two Egyptian players last year.
"Fifa ... (is) keen to dispel the rumour currently circulating that two players from Ahly failed doping tests after the 2006 Champions League final," the statement read.
"As soon as this allegation was reported to Fifa in early January 2007, word football's governing body took appropriate measures to verify its authenticity."
Fifa checked with its Sports Medical Committee, where no evidence of the doping was found.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) was then asked for information and the African ruling body informed Fifa 'that all the doping tests carried out after each leg of the 2006 Champions League final ... had been negative'.
There were twelve tests in total, with three players at each club providing samples after both legs of the final.
Officials at Ahly, whose team won its fifth African crown when beating Tunisia's CS Sfaxien, have been infuriated by comments attributed to Fifa chief Blatter in Paris last week.
"This is rubbish," said Ahly football manager Hossam El Badri.
"We are shocked that such statements could come from the highest power of football world without any justification."
On Friday, Blatter allegedly told reporters at the new headquarters of the French football federation that information had come to light about two positive tests in the Ahly camp after a Champions League tie.
"We requested immediate information about this subject. We must intervene," followed up the Fifa boss.
Ahly won their second straight African Champions League title when beating Sfaxien 2-1 on aggregate in November.
In an earlier round, Ahly's Amr Samaka was suspended after testing positive for using a prohibited substance in the Champions League tie against Algeria's JS Kabylie.
The Fifa president's comments triggered widespread reactions at Sfaxien, who alleged that two Ahly players tested positive for drugs after the second leg of the final in Rades.
In a statement on their official website, the Sfax-based club said they discovered the incidents one week after the final but could not reveal them for lack of evidence.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Benin name Notheaux as coach |  Benin Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Frenchman Didier Notheaux as their new national team coach.
The 59-year-old takes over from local coach Edme Codjo, who resigned last month.
Notheaux's appointment comes just days before friendly against Guinea in Angers.
It is the second spell at the helm of an African national team for the former Racing Lens striker, who took charge of Burkina Faso at the 2000 African Nations Cup finals.
Notheaux was also previously was in charge of Rennes, Le Havre, Sochaux and Valence in France.
Benin are currently preparing for their 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier against Mali on 25 March.
The Group Nine game will take place in Bamako.
The Squirrels are second in the group that includes Togo and Sierra Leone.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Wigan close in on Bouba Diop, Aghahowa |  Wigan are hoping to seal the signings of Nigeria striker Julius Aghahowa and Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop.
Diop, 29, is expected to decide whether he wants to leave Fulham for the JJB Stadium later on Monday.
Aghahowa, 24, is set to join from Shakhtar Donetsk for an undisclosed fee, provided he is awarded a work permit at a hearing on Tuesday.
On Diop, manager Paul Jewell said: "These things do take time. We had meetings again in London yesterday."
Jewell added: "We really want the player to come. We just have to give him as much of a chance to sort things out with Fulham.
"If it doesn't happen then it will be disappointing, but that's the way it is."
With regard to Aghahowa, Jewell said: "I hope we'll get the decision, but it's not set in stone.
"Everything else has been agreed - the fee with Shakhtar Donetsk, the player's terms - so now it's down to getting the work permit.
"I'm quite excited about him coming here. If we sign him he'll give us more competition up front.
"He has a good pedigree and is someone we've been watching for quite a while. I tried to buy him a couple of years ago, but Shakhtar Donetsk are a very wealthy club and they wouldn't sell him then.
"Even though his contract runs out in October, we've still had to pay quite a hefty price for him now."
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said: "He wants to play in England and we decided to grant him his wish.
"Aghahowa has been with us for seven years and it's now time for him to move elsewhere," Lucescu added.
Aghahowa was bought by the Donetsk side from Tunisia's Esperance for nearly US$4m in 2000.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | FIFA President to attend African Union summit | FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has been invited to attend the 8th African Union (AU) Summit, which will bring together African heads of state and government, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 29-30 January.
Mali’s Alpha Oumar Konare, the chairman of the African Union Commission, has requested the FIFA President’s presence for two main reasons.
First of all, 2007 promises to be an excellent year for African football as it will see the launch of the “international year of African football”. This AU initiative is just one of many activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Secondly, the FIFA President’s visit will tie in with South Africa’s hosting of the next FIFA World Cup™ in 2010.
“It is an immense honour for me to be able to address all of the African heads of state,” said the President of world football’s governing body. “It will be an excellent opportunity to remind the entire African continent that holding the FIFA World Cup on African soil will be an exceptional way to pay homage to football across Africa and to show the world the true depth of its potential.”
On 29 January, Joseph S. Blatter, accompanied by South African President Thabo Mbeki as well as CAF President and FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou, will address the heads of state attending the summit. He will focus on the 'Win in Africa with Africa' project, a FIFA initiative designed to help the entire continent to benefit from the dynamics created by the first ever FIFA World Cup™ in an African country.
SOURCE: FIFA.com | | Drogba, Obi score in Chelsea rout |  Chelsea cruised to victory over League One side Nottingham Forest to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round.
The Blues opened the scoring when Andriy Shevchenko's close-range volley deflected off Forest's John Curtis.
Didier Drogba added another goal with a curling 25-yard free-kick and Mikel Jon Obi then poked the ball home just before half-time.
Forest's best chance came courtesy of Junior Agogo, who fired his shot across goal from 12 yards out.
Some say the FA Cup is a leveller but that was not the case at Stamford Bridge.
Forest, who are third in League One, never got going and failed to put the Blues under much pressure.
Before they could find their feet, the visitors found themselves a goal down when Shevchenko followed up his midweek brace against Wycombe to fire in from five yards, thanks to a massive deflection off Curtis.
Chelsea, who rarely stepped up into third gear, went two up when the influential Drogba curled in his 22nd goal of the season from a 25-yard free-kick.
Unlike League Two outfit Wycombe, who lost to Chelsea in a Carling Cup semi-final, Forest did not compensate for their individual inferiority with much-needed collective bite.
Consequently Lassana Diarra was allowed to control matters in the middle, which enabled Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Obi to roam.
And roam they did. Wright-Phillips saw his snatched shot inside the area go fractionally wide, while Lampard had two efforts from the edge of the box blocked by the Forest defence.
However, the third member of the trio, Obi, did get some reward when he poked in the third goal after Lampard's corner deflected off Forest defender Julian Bennett and keeper Smith.
Whatever gameplan Forest boss Colin Calderwood conjured up before the match had to be changed at the break.
The Scot introduced Sammy Clingan for Grant Holt and the tweak seemed to have some positive effect, with the famous Nottingham side enjoying a good spell at the start of the half.
Their best chance of the game came when Agogo eluded his marker at the edge of the area to fire his shot across the face of the Chelsea goal.
But after that bright moment, Chelsea came out of their brief slumber.
Lampard had a shot saved by Smith's leg, Shevchenko rifled two shots wide from inside the area, while Michael Essien had his powerful header saved on the line by Curtis.
By this time the contest was over, allowing Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho the luxury of giving 16-year-old substitute Michael Woods a late run-out in the famous Chelsea colours.
• Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:
"We killed off the game in the first half and by the second half the game was over.
"I brought on the kids towards the end because of our good position."
• Forest manager Colin Calderwood:
"It was a dream tie and we played in a dream - we were ineffective.
"We didn't show any of our ability in the first half.
"If you get through the opening period that's OK, but to come here and play below par wasn't good."
Chelsea: Cech, Geremi, Essien, Carvalho, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Morais 81), Diarra, Lampard (Woods 78), Mikel, Drogba (Kalou 61), Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ashley Cole.
Goals: Shevchenko 9, Drogba 18, Mikel 45.
Nottm Forest: Smith, Curtis, Breckin, Morgan, Bennett, Southall, Gary Holt, Perch (Dobie 72), Grant Holt (Clingan 46), Tyson, Agogo (Lester 72).
Subs Not Used: Redmond, McGugan.
Booked: Clingan, Lester.
Att: 41,516
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
SOURCE: BBC Sport | Zaalani gets six-match ban
for obscene gestures |  Chokri Zaalani, of Tunisia's Club Africain, has been banned for six domestic matches for making obscene gestures at opposing supporters on Sunday.
The Tunisia Football Federation (FTF) were unhappy with the way the Club Africain right-back celebrated the 1-0 derby win over Tunis arch-rivals Esperance.
Thanks to an 88th-minute goal, Club Africain defeated Esperance for the first time since 1997.
Zaalani rowed with both players and fans from Esperance after the final whistle and although the referee missed his actions, his supervisor did not.
The FTF also fined Zaalani for his gestures after a win which maintained Club Africain's lead at the top of the championship.
Club Africain appealed the decision on Thursday, with the club president expected to meet FTF officials on Friday.
The Tunisian league leaders are unhappy that Zaalani was picked out when many players reacted badly.
They have also questioned the fact that that the referee's supervisor is not a former referee himself, as he should be according to Tunisian football regulations.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Hayatou to seek re-election in 2009 |  President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Issa Hayatou, has confirmed that he will seek re-election when his tenure expires in 2009.
He wants to be part of the first ever World Cup in Africa that is being hosted by South Africa in 2010.
"Yes, I am contesting again for one reason and that is because I worked hard from 1998 to bring the World Cup to Africa," he said.
"My third term in office ends in 2009 while the World Cup is coming to Africa in 2010.
"It is therefore not fair for me to bow out of Caf with just seven months to the World Cup.
"It is only for this reason that I will re-contest and if it were not for the 2010 World Cup, I wouldn't have contested because running CAF is not an easy job.
"I hope that with the World Cup coming to Africa in 2010, we will achieve that unity and I am working very hard to ensure that.
"It is therefore necessary that I remain as Caf President during the World Cup to achieve this goal."
Cameroon-born Hayatou, 59, became Caf boss in 1988 following the death of Ethiopian Ydnekatchew Tessema.
In 1998 he managed to secure a bigger representation for the continent at the football finals, from two teams in 1990 to five in 1998.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Football's aid to Africa | | England's Football Association (FA) has been one of the strongest supporters of the UEFA-CAF Meridian Project over the last decade, and former internationals Paul Gascoigne and Ray Clemence were part of a recent FA trip to Botswana that summed up what the Euro-African assistance scheme is trying to achieve. Meridian project
The Meridian agreement was signed in 1997 to promote the exchange of cultures between European and African football. This has included not only the biennial UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup tournament, but also the twinning of European national associations with their African counterparts. The FA themselves aid a large number of federations in the continent, and in the Meridian Project they are partnered with Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi, focusing primarily on providing assistance in the fields of referee instruction, technical development and football administration as well as donations of kit and equipment. FA assistance
This visit to Botswana, however, was to promote the FA's international outreach programme and specifically its work in football to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. And it proved a success. Gascoigne explained: "I really enjoyed it. It was good to be out there, playing football, seeing kids enjoying themselves and getting the message across about HIV because a lot of the population have died or been affected and a lot of kids left homeless. I've learned a hell of a lot more than I knew before about HIV. Football is the biggest sport in the world and if we can keep these kids interested in playing football and learning about HIV at the same time and things like using condoms then Botswana will get better." Emotional stop
First stop was the Tlokweng SOS Children's Village near the Botswanan capital Gaborone. SOS Children's Villages is the FA's international charity partner and Tlokweng provides homes for around 200 abandoned or orphaned children of all ages. The delegation were welcomed by a musical performance from the children on home-made instruments, toured the facilities meeting the staff and youngsters, and took part in a football match. Gascoigne’s comment
"It was heart-warming really," Gascoigne said. "Some of the stories we heard about the children being abandoned or orphaned were very sad but the work of the FA and with the likes of Ray and myself being here, it really seemed to help. They got lots of kit from the FA and they were over the moon. It was amazing to see them all happy and cheerful, there didn't seem to be one sad face which was incredible. It put a different perspective on things in my mind, but you can see all the good work and what they are trying to achieve here." Hospital visit
Day two of the trip included a visit to Gaborone Hospital where doctors explained the extensive work that is being done to combat the AIDS pandemic which has stricken the country. Botswana is among the countries hardest hit by AIDS. In 2005 there were an estimated 270,000 people living with HIV - around a quarter of the population. Life expectancy is less than 40 years and an estimated 120,000 children have lost at least one parent to the epidemic. AIDS awareness
Botswana was the first African country to aim to provide antiretroviral therapy to all its citizens. Clemence, now goalkeeping coach for England's national team, said: "I was able to meet a local man who has HIV and has been campaigning for many years to raise awareness and fight against the stigma attached to AIDS. He was an incredibly inspiring man who has had to fight against many prejudices. It was a very humbling experience to meet him and to talk to the medical staff and patients, especially the little ones." Training session
The tour concluded with a training session for Botswana's most promising young footballers at the National Stadium. Gascoigne and Clemence joined in a variety of games, all designed to raise awareness of the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. Gascoigne, who twice reached major tournament semi-finals with England, declared: "The talent they've got is unbelievable. They've all got tricks and skills and they were very quick as well. The messages that were being put across in the games were fantastic and to see them all really enjoying themselves was an incredible experience." Commitment
With trips such as this, the FA's International Relations Strategy aims to use the power of football to build a better future. "Football is truly a global sport," said FA chairman Geoff Thompson. "The FA is committed to playing a role, extending a helping hand and building solid links around the world." The Meridian Project reflects the commitment of UEFA's members to that goal. The next UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup in Barcelona next February, which for the first time will feature two challenge games between select Under-18 teams representing Europe and Africa, will underline that further. |
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