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Yaounde: Indomitable Lions light up Africa Cup of Nations to qualify for knockout stages

14, January 2022

Yaounde: Indomitable Lions light up Africa Cup of Nations to qualify for knockout stages 0

Hosts Cameroon became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday as captain Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko-Ekambi both scored twice in a 4-1 demolition of Ethiopia in Yaounde.

It was a game that brought the tournament to life after a goal-shy first round of group matches saw a meagre total of just 12 in 12 encounters, four of which were penalties.

Cameroon had been the only team out of 24 at the tournament to score more than a single goal in their first match when a brace of Aboubakar spot-kicks saw them beat Burkina Faso 2-1 on Sunday.

Back at the same Olembe Stadium in the capital Yaounde they ran riot, although only after Dawa Hotessa gave Ethiopia a shock lead.

Lyon forward Toko-Ekambi quickly headed in the equaliser and then Aboubakar added a brace early in the second half before Toko-Ekambi completed the victory.

“We played well going forward but we still need to improve defensively. Things are only going to get tougher,” said Cameroon’s Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao.

Toko-Ekambi, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Collins Fai all also hit the woodwork for the Indomitable Lions, and the five-time African champions are now well-placed to finish top of Group A.

They are three points clear of both Burkina Faso and Cape Verde, who met in Thursday’s late game in Yaounde with the Stallions of Burkina Faso winning 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Hassane Bande, who belongs to Ajax.

Ethiopia, the 1962 champions, are left still looking for their first point and their first win at any Cup of Nations since 1976. This is their third appearance at the finals since then but they have now gone 10 matches without a win at the tournament.

Source: AFP

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Another  General Manager in Kondengui

13, January 2022

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Another  General Manager in Kondengui 0

He is accused of financial misappropriation by the so-called Special Criminal Court. The French Cameroun political elite has been held in pre-trial detention since January 5 at the Kondengui  Maximum Security Prison.

This week in Yaounde, pro Biya state prosecutors questioned Jean Claude Atanga Bikoe the general manager of a CPDM creation known as Road Fund dedicated to the financing of road maintenance and direct payment to private companies for services provided under contracts awarded after competitive bidding.

Cameroon Intelligence Report correspondent covering the Special Criminal Court reported that Jean Claude Atanga Bikoe was arrested on the basis of several damning reports which is still to reveal the exact amount  stolen by the GM.

The pro Biya regime judges also accused the former GM of complicity in the misappropriation of public property, forgery and use of forgeries in public writing, in the context of the financial management of the Road Fund.

The presidential decree that created the Road Fund as a public administrative establishment in 1996 stipulates that its general manager ensures its daily management by collecting and transferring financial resources into the Fund’s bank accounts or public treasury. Hon. Jean Claude Atanga Bikoe was installed at the head of the Road Fund in 2012.

Jean Claude Atanga Bikoe’s arrest comes in the wake of the presidential speech at the end of the year. The 88-year old Paul Biya announced, among other things, the resumption of the fight against misappropriation of public funds.

Depicting the Special Criminal Court established to prosecute alleged corrupt government officials and the several Alibabas responsible for pilfering from the public treasury as President Biya’s court is no misnomer. Cameroon Concord News Group calls it the President’s court because it is one instrument of power through which Biya is reining in on perceived opponents from within his CPDM power conduit.

 An attribute of a genuine court is the fairness of the trial proceedings in cases which are brought before the court for trial. It is not the number of convictions entered against accused.  A court is legitimate and recognized as such because of its exercise of judicial, executive, legislative and administrative independence.  A court that is independent must be accessible to all citizens after all, is equality before the law, not a constitutionally protected value? The Special Criminal Court is lacking in these attributes of impartiality, judicial independence and accessibility.  It is perceived more as President Biya’s Court than a Court of Justice.

Establishing this court was President Biya’s way of saving himself the embarrassment of being humiliated during his perennial trips abroad as the President of the most corrupt country in the world.  This ranking of the country as the most corrupt or one of the most corrupt countries had a potential to hamper President Biya’s personal pecuniary interests far from the borders of Cameroon.  There was therefore a personal interest need to establish the court.  Another personal interest need was to avail himself of a legal tool under his direct control to consolidate absolute power, blackmail potential rebels and competitors within the system and to stifle any form of institutional opposition. He perceived the court as a tool with which to whitewash his more than thirty-eight years of corrupt governance and the rape of the economy.

With the war against Boko Haram and the war in Southern Cameroons, the fight against corruption using the Special Criminal Court has afforded Paul Biya justification contest in the next institutionally flawed elections in order to eternalize power purportedly to direct the war against so-called terror and the war against corruption.  True to the name the President’s Court, the President has exclusive preserve in referring cases to the Special Court and the power to terminate them. He decides who will be arrested, who will be investigated and who will serve time and who will not.

In one instance, he ordered a detained late Minister Bapes Bapes released from remand custody at Kondengui when a warrant was issued for his arrest without the presidential fiat.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Rita Akana

Tennis: Djokovic included in Australian Open draw despite visa saga uncertainty

13, January 2022

Tennis: Djokovic included in Australian Open draw despite visa saga uncertainty 0

Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic was included in the Australian Open official draw on Thursday, although uncertainty remained about whether the government will cancel the top seed’s visa for a second time.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is weighing exercising his discretionary power to revoke Djokovic’s visa over concern about the star’s medical exemption from Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The 34-year-old defending champion, who was out practicing at the Rod Laver Arena earlier on Thursday, drew unseeded fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic for his opening round match, expected to be played on Monday or Tuesday.

The controversy has assumed an importance that goes beyond tennis: it has intensified a global debate over the rights of the unvaccinated and become a tricky political issue for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he campaigns for re-election.

Australia is due to hold an election by May, and while Morrison’s government has won support at home for its tough stance on border security before and during the pandemic, it has not escaped criticism over the botched handling of Djokovic’s visa.

Morrison declined to comment on Djokovic’s visa on Thursday.

Organiser Tennis Australia had delayed the official draw for more than an hour, without saying why.

Djokovic, a vaccine sceptic, fuelled widespread anger in Australia last week when he announced he was heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open with a medical exemption from requirements for visitors to be inoculated against COVID-19.

On his arrival, Australian Border Force officials decided his exemption was invalid and he was held alongside asylum-seekers at an immigration detention hotel for several days.

A court on Monday allowed him to stay on the grounds that officials had been “unreasonable” in the way they handled his interview in a seven-hour process in the middle of the night.

The government, which has won support at home for its tough stance on border security before and during the pandemic, must now decide whether to let Djokovic remain and bid for a record 21st major title.

Mistakes Made

Djokovic’s cause was not helped by a mistake in his entry declaration, on which a box stating he had not travelled abroad in the two weeks prior to leaving for Australia was ticked.

In fact, he had gone to Spain from Serbia.

Djokovic, 34, attributed the error to his agent and acknowledged he also should have rescheduled an interview and photoshoot for a French newspaper on Dec. 18 while infected with COVID-19.

Fans, including many Serbian Australians, gave him noisy support when he was detained. Anti-vaxxers have hailed him as a hero and his family have portrayed him as a champion of individual rights.

But Djokovic may face hostility from the crowd if and when he walks out on court.

There is widespread anger over the saga among Australians, who have a 90% vaccination rate among adults after enduring some of the world’s longest lockdowns aimed at curbing the pandemic.

Crowds at the Open’s main arenas will be capped at 50% capacity and masks will be mandatory for all spectators under updated COVID-19 restrictions announced on Thursday as authorities battle a surge of cases caused by the Omicron variant.

“I don’t like his arrogance,” Teyhan Ismain, a Melbourne resident, said on Wednesday. “It does seem that he’s been telling a few fibs too. So I think he should just probably go back.”

There may also be resentment in the dressing room, where all but three of the top 100 men are inoculated.

Tennis great Martina Navratilova told Australian television Djokovic should “suck it up” and return home.

“The bottom line is, sometimes your personal beliefs have to be trumped by what’s good for the greater good, for those around you, for your peers,” she told Seven’s Sunrise programme. “You have two choices, get vaccinated or just don’t go play.”

Source: REUTERS

Africa Cup of Nations: Lethal Max Gradel gives Ivory Coast 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea

13, January 2022

Africa Cup of Nations: Lethal Max Gradel gives Ivory Coast 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea 0

Ivory Coast reminded everyone why they were favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday with a sterling Max Gradel goal in the sixth minute. Equatorial Guinea were hard to break down for the rest of the match, but Ivory Coast never looked in danger of throwing away their lead.

It was a brilliantly ruthless strike from Gradel that put Ivory Coast ahead – he reacted in a split-second when sloppy defending gave him the ball on the edge of the box, smashing a piledriver into the back of the net.

Ivory Coast didn’t look back. Equatorial Guinea were pertinacious – getting men back effectively and constantly attempting to counter-attack. But Ivory Coast kept pulling together beautiful strings of midfield passes and frequently converted them into attacking menace with darting runs towards the box.

They have long been one of the most impressive African national teams – boasting one of the continent’s greatest players of all time, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, and winning CAN in 1992 and 2015.

Drogba is long gone – as are most of the players who won that Africa Cup of Nations trophy six years ago, such as Yaya Touré and Kolo Touré. But fresh talent has poured in to the Ivory Coast ranks. In addition to Gradel, they have Sébastian Haller, the Champions League top scorer so far this season, and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, one of the Premier League’s best strikers.

Source: France 24

Africa Cup of Nations: Referee blows up 5 minutes early, gets VAR calls wrong, is escorted from the pitch in Limbe

13, January 2022

Africa Cup of Nations: Referee blows up 5 minutes early, gets VAR calls wrong, is escorted from the pitch in Limbe 0

The Africa Cup of Nations tournament descended into farce on Wednesday afternoon, thanks to an incredibly inefficient performance from the referee in the Group F match between Tunisia and Mali.

Zambian man-in-the-middle, Janny Sikazwe, had officiated reasonably okay until the match was in its final stages, and then all hell broke loose.

As ESPN journalist, Dale Johnson, noted on his Twitter account, a penalty was given (that was missed) after a VAR review and then Sikazwe blew for full time with only 85 minutes on the clock.

If that weren’t bad enough, play was eventually restarted and the official sent off a player whom VAR then advised shouldn’t have seen a red card.

After rejecting the VAR review for the sending off, he then blew again for full-time on 89 minutes and 40 seconds.

The farcical nature of Sikazwe’s officiating still hadn’t run its course. Video shows the officials after the game, perhaps realising the mistake, deciding what to do and then deciding that the final few minutes did indeed need to be played.

With supporters filing back into the stadium, Tunisia seemingly refused to come out and complete the game, so it was officially ended in their absence.

Source: One football

Africa Cup of Nations: In the face of empty stadiums, Minister Sadi urges residents to go and fill the stands

13, January 2022

Africa Cup of Nations: In the face of empty stadiums, Minister Sadi urges residents to go and fill the stands 0

It was announced that it is a popular meeting in Cameroon, the country of football, the final stage of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations is being played in hollow stadiums.

It started on January 09, 2022 at the Yaounde Olympic Stadium, and the first day will end on Wednesday January 12, 2022 at the Limbe Sports Stadium and at the Douala Jaboma Sports Stadium.

But stadiums with scattered fans are the first lesson that can already be learned three days after the grand celebration of African football kicked off.

Aside from an Olympic bunker where organizers recruited high school students and other supporters of President Paul Biya to rally, spectators did not turn out in droves for matches elsewhere. Why are the spectators waiting in the stadiums with the absence of the participants?

“There is first of all this famous requirement of compulsory vaccination. Vaccination does not go well with some conservative peoples; the time of some matches: two in the afternoon when everyone steps in and the referee completes his reports. It is difficult to muster them; the stadium is not in Bafoussam, but In Kouekong.More than 8 km from the city and getting there is not easy, as no taxi makes the line.Kouekong is not a populated area but an area on the Bafoussam – Foumbot road;The Zimbabwean and Senegalese communities in Bafoussam are not overcrowded.It will be the same with exceptions Few other games that do not include the indomitable lions. Even the Ahmadou Ahidjo omnisports stadium matches bear the same fate.” I tried to explain this the day after the Senegal-Zimbabwe match (1-0) Alan Roosevelt Tedjo, deputy and activist of the ruling political party.

No facilities were provided to allow Cameroonians to go to the stadium during the days of the CAN. For example, allowing employees of public and private departments to work daily until 12 noon; Establishment of public transportation (shuttle buses) to and from the city halls at low cost and strong communication on this (different points and times of departure and return); Increase the number of free tickets and invitations. These few measures can improve attendance at our stadiums during the CAN,” added Maurice Kimjang Fuse, President of the Littoral Regional Lawn-Tennis League.

Faced with this first popular failure, the Minister of Communication, the government’s spokesperson, urged residents to go in droves to the stands to experience the matches live.

“The government, with my voice, urges all Cameroonians to continue to do everything, while strictly adhering to the rules that have been enacted to attend the various meetings in a spirit of fair play, discipline and brotherhood,” wrote Rene Emmanuel Saadi.

Source: awanireview

Africa Cup: Mali suspends training, leaves Molyko stadium after a gun battle broke out between Amba fighters and Francophone soldiers

12, January 2022

Africa Cup: Mali suspends training, leaves Molyko stadium after a gun battle broke out between Amba fighters and Francophone soldiers 0

Armed fighters have stormed a town in south west Cameroon close to the training base used by the Mali and Gambia teams at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Mali team has suspended training prior to their match against Tunisia in nearby Limbe this afternoon, according to the Cameroon News Agency. Mali are due to play Tunisia in the opening game of Group F at the Afcon, this afternoon [Wednesday].

Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo both play for Mali and Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri, Arsenal’s Omar Rekik and Nottingham Forest’s Mohamed Drager are part of the Tunisia squad.

Two people are reported to have died following an exchange of gunfire between separatists and government forces at the central market in the town of Buea and five people have been injured, say local reports.

The west of Cameroon has been racked by an escalating conflict between the local English-speaking population and the government of the largely French-speaking country.

Sportsmail reported last month how the tournament mascot, Mola the Lion, was forced to wear a bullet proof vest and was escorted by heavily armed soldiers when he visited the region to promote the competition.

Armoured vehicles and heavily manned army checkpoints have been prominent in the town in recent weeks, with security checks on entry points to nearby Limbe.

‘The Malian team has suspended training and left the Molyko stadium,’ the Cameroon News Agency, reported today.

Separatists, who have objected to hosting games in the west of the country – an area they call Ambazonia – have threatened violence. They have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

One of the host cities, Limbe, is within the westernregion and just 13 miles from Buea.

‘Two civilians (men) have been found dead at the Buea Central market following exchanges of gunshots between Ambazonia and government forces,’ the local news agency added.

In a video posted online, armed men can be seen moving through the streets and there appears to be audible gunfire.

Source: DailyMail

Douala: Robbers attack, stab 3 journalists covering Africa Cup of Nations

12, January 2022

Douala: Robbers attack, stab 3 journalists covering Africa Cup of Nations 0

Three Algerian journalists covering the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (AFCON) have been robbed and stabbed by unknown assailants.

The journalists, moving together as a team with other colleagues, were attacked on Sunday night when they were leaving their hotel in Douala.

Items carted away included a bag containing money, a phone, and a computer.

According to an Algeria news outlet, one of the three journalists that sustained stab wound is a special envoy of Algeria Press Service (APS).

“CAF is aware of an alleged incident involving three Algerian journalists in Douala, Cameroon on Sunday night, 09 January 2022.

“CAF is liaising with local government authorities to understand the details of the incident as this is now a police investigation.

“We are also reaching out to the three journalists and wish them speedy recovery. For now, we will await a detailed report of what transpired.

“The safety of each and every individual attending the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is a priority for CAF and also our partners, the Cameroon government,” the medium stated.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Former Indomitable Lions coach Le Roy says FIFA boss Infantino should be ashamed to be in Yaoundé

12, January 2022

Former Indomitable Lions coach Le Roy says FIFA boss Infantino should be ashamed to be in Yaoundé 0

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Olembé Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon.

The 40-000-strong crowd was in a jovial mood while the dazzling on-field activities were displayed on a giant TV screen in the stadium. However, when the face of Infantino was projected it raised the ire of the crowd, and a loud chorus of boos rang out.

Infantino’s image also drew a sharp rebuke from Frenchman Claude Le Roy, who was commentating for the DStv Sub-Saharan African channel Canal + Africa. Le Roy has mentored several African national teams during his coaching career. He led Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 1998.

Although he is no longer coaching, he is still passionate about African football, and he openly criticized Infantino for his role in planting doubt in the minds of soccer followers about the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon.

“Is he not ashamed to come to Cameroon? He wanted to cancel this Africa Cup of Nations,” said Le Roy. “What is he doing here?”

Infantino was seated out further from Cameroon’s 88-year-old President Paul Biya in the VIP area than usual. As FIFA’s representative, he would usually have a position a seat or two away from the hosts’ president. Instead, that honour was accorded to Confederation of African Football (CAF) supremo Patrice Motsepe.

It was the second time during Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president that he was publicly booed. In July 2019 Infantino was booed at Stade de Lyon in France, as he made his way up to the podium to present the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy to the winners, the United States of America.

At the time, chants of equal pay rang out, as the crowd voiced its disapproval of discriminatory prize money for the Women’s World Cup.

Last year, Le Roy also criticized Infantino heavily after the event was postponed for the first time.

“Once again, FIFA is pathetic,” said Le Roy. “Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, makes incomprehensible decisions.

“He says he wants to advance African football but does just the opposite.”

This week, Infantino will be having discussions with a wide range of officials on football’s development and its significant role in society. He will also have meetings with Motsepe and CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba.

In addition, he will meet with representatives from CAF member associations, football legends, government officials and administrators.

The Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon ends on Sunday, 6 February.

Source: iol.co

President Kabore of Burkina Faso, Macky Sall of Senegal boycott Africa Cup of Nations opener for reasons unrelated to football

12, January 2022

President Kabore of Burkina Faso, Macky Sall of Senegal boycott Africa Cup of Nations opener for reasons unrelated to football 0

Of the five African heads of state invited by the 88-year old President Paul Biya for the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations, only Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros showed up. Francophone African leaders including President Roch Marc Kabore of Burkina Faso and Macky Sall of Senegal pressured by Paris to make the trip to Yaoundé were conspicuous by their absence from the gathering of world football leaders.

A highly placed Cameroon government official who spoke to our Yaoundé City reporter late on Tuesday on grounds that he should not be identified said everyone at the presidency of the republic regretted that President Kabore of Burkina Faso and Macky Sall of Senegal did not avail themselves of the opportunity to address football issues in Africa. He however added that Biya was indeed the problem “as he never visits other African countries”.  Yaoundé has also expressed disappointment at several African governments’ political decision to not attend the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that some of the African administrations have called on Etoudi to reconsider its Southern Cameroons war approach and commit in good faith to live up to its political-economic commitments towards the people of British Southern Cameroons.

By Rita Akana

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