Sports

24, January 2020

Premier League: Liverpool extends lead to 16 points ⁰

Liverpool have stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League standings to a colossal 16 points with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Wolves.

It was the Premier League leaders who struck first and it only took 8 minutes as Jordan Henderson arrived to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery from a corner. However, that lead was canceled out in the 58th minute when Raul Jimenez finished off a devastating counterattack with a powerful header.

Wolves seemed to be heading for a deserved point until the Merseyside Reds found a way through, as they somehow always do. Roberto Firmino secured the win for his team as he cut inside in the box before lashing the ball into the far corner with only six minutes to go.

Source: Presstv

22, January 2020

Liverpool defender Matip sends gift to Cameroon Sports Minister ⁰

The dad of the Reds centre-back met with the head of the sports ministry in Yaounde

Liverpool defender Joel Matip sent an autographed ball to Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi through his father, Jean.

Matip recently recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of action since October and was an unused substitute as Jurgen Klopp’s men stretched their lead in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.

The 28-year-old has not played for the Indomitable Lions since he snubbed an invite to the country’s victorious campaign at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and his last international outing dates back to the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

In response to the gesture, Kombi congratulated Matip on his success with Liverpool last year when they won the Uefa Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa World Club Cup.

“I received yesterday in audience, Mr. Jean Matip, father of international footballers Joel and Marvin Matip, who handed me a symbolic gift sent by his son Joel Matip, a ball autographed and signed by the player,” Kombi wrote on Facebook.

“In return, I addressed him my congratulations for his remarkable performances in his club, Liverpool FC with whom he became the 2019 European Champion.

“Finally, I also recalled him the love and hope all Cameroonians put on his son Joel Matip as an Indomitable Lion.”

Matip’s father, Jean was a former Cameroonian footballer and his elder brother Marvin also played for the Central African nation and made three international appearances despite playing for Germany’s youth teams in his early career.

As a reward for his fine defensive contributions, the Liverpool defender was named in the Caf Team of the Year for 2019 and Cameroon will be hoping he rescinds his retirement decision before hosting the continent for the 2021 Afcon, and as they battle Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Malawi in Group D of Africa’s qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Source: Goal.com

21, January 2020

Biya to stay away from African Cup of Nations Final ⁰

At the end of his visit last week to Yaoundé, Ahmad Ahmad, the president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) reassured the authorities that the 2021 African Cup of Nations will indeed take place in Cameroon. Unlike the previous edition which was staged from June to July 2019 in Egypt, the tournament in Cameroon will be held in January.

However, the issue of hosting the games is not what is troubling senior officials of the Biya regime but rather the venue where the final of this competition will take place.

Information filtered to Cameroon Concord News that, Ahmad Ahmad was very mindful of the delay in construction work at the Olembe stadium in Yaoundé and indicated that the final will be moved to Douala where the stadium built by the Turkish Yenigun is already completed.

Biya reportedly told Ahmad Ahmad that the proximity of the economic capital to the Southern Cameroons region headquartered in Buea makes it completely impossible for him to be at the final. Apart from security reasons, Paul Biya informed Ahmad Ahmad that he will not be participating in the final in Douala, a city noted for being hostile towards his government and it is serving as the capital of the Cameroonian opposition.

By Rita Akana

19, January 2020

Three things we learned from the Premier League ⁰

Liverpool’s march towards the Premier League title gathered pace with a 2-0 win over rivals Manchester United.

The battle for top four places was at a standstill after Chelsea, United and Leicester were beaten, while Tottenham and Arsenal had to settle for draws.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from the English top-flight this weekend:

Liverpool let loose

Not until Mohamed Salah sealed another three points in Liverpool’s relentless run towards the title against Manchester United with virtually the last kick of the game did the Kop strike up a chorus of “we’re going to win the league.”

After a 30-year wait to win the title, punctuated by collapses from promising positions, the fear it could slip away again has all but evaporated at Anfield as Liverpool streak further clear of the field.

The lead now stands at 16 points with a game in hand over second-placed Manchester City.

For a side that have taken 91 points from the last possible 93 in the Premier League, and won a Champions League in that time, that is an advantage that is almost certain to not be surrendered.

Lampard eyes reinforcements

Frustrated by Chelsea’s lack of killer instinct, Frank Lampard’s patience finally wore out after a damaging 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.

In a familiar story for Chelsea fans this season, they watched Lampard’s side dominate possession at St James’ Park, only to squander the few genuine chances they created before Isaac Hayden’s stoppage-time header won it for Newcastle.

Lampard had already bemoaned the paucity of Chelsea’s creative play against defensive opponents after several shock home defeats.

But now he made it clear his young team, featuring promising striker Tammy Abraham, need reinforcements if they are to hold onto a top four place.

“If we are looking for people to bring in to the areas to win games when you are controlling it, it is scoring goals,” Lampard said.

“We can’t work anymore in training on finishing. You need to have that killer instinct in front of goal.”

Spurs goal drought

Tottenham’s goals have dried up alarmingly as they contemplate missing out on the Champions League for the first time in five seasons.

Jose Mourinho’s men have failed to score in their past three league games, against Southampton, Liverpool and Watford, despite mustering a combined 41 shots.

They are still playing inventive football but are struggling to put their chances away in the absence of the injured Harry Kane and find themselves eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham squandered a number of opportunities in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Watford but Mourinho was largely positive afterwards, praising his side’s football, though admitting they had been light on forward power.

“It’s not easy,” he said. “Again it’s the kind of game where you have a goalscorer, where you have a guy who smells goals, probably you win it. That missing link is there.”

Mourinho admitted he would be interested in boosting his attacking options if the right player became available in the January transfer window.

Source: AFP

17, January 2020

Lions: Biya regime appoints former Tottenham Hotspur defender Atouba in coaching capacity ⁰

The ex-player will join up with the Indomitable Lions in Douala as they continue preparations for the forthcoming African Nations Championship

The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) have confirmed the return of former Cameroon international and Africa Cup of Nations winner Timothee Atouba as team manager for the home-based side.

The Central African nation are getting set to host the 2020 African Nations Championship starting in April, but haven’t had anyone occupy the role since the technical team of Clement Arroga was selected.

Arroga and the team are currently in Douala, where preparations are progressing for the competition to be held from April 4 to 25.

Atouba will get together with the squad in Douala as they intensify plans for the 16-nation tournament.

The towering defender had a fairly successful playing career with the national team, winning Afcon 2000 after the Indomitable Lions defeated Nigeria on penalties.

He was also a finalist in 2008, only for the side to fall short with a slender 1-0 loss at the hands of Egypt.

The left-back featured in the 2003 Confederations Cup in France, where Winfried Schafer’s troops made it to the final before losing to the host nation at the last hurdle.

Atouba played in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur for a year from 2004 to 2005, but his major success at club level came with Swiss side Basel.

He enjoyed a couple of feats with FCB with success in the Super League and Swiss Cup between 2002 and 2004.

Atouba played 44 times for Cameroon having represented the national team for nearly a decade from 1999 to 2008.

His last appearance for the Indomitable Lions was a World Cup Qualifier against Cape Verde which the Central Africans won 2-1.

Source: Goal.com

14, January 2020

Football: Barca sacks Valverde, appoints Setien ⁰

Spanish champions Barcelona has sacked its coach Ernesto Valverde and appointed Quique Setien, the club announced Monday.

The decision to remove Valverde was confirmed following a board meeting that last over 4 hours.

Barca top the La Liga, but have only won one of their last five matches. Valverde is the first coach the club has sacked mid-season since Louis van Gall in 2003.

Setien was presented at a press conference at Camp Nou on Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, the club said ‘‘Barcelona and Setien have reached an agreement for the latter to become first team coach until 30 June 2022’‘, it said.

‘‘Setien is one of the most experienced coaches in Spanish football. Throughout his career, he has been a proponent of possession based, attacking football that has been attractive to the fans”, it added.

Setien’s first game will be at home to Granada on Sunday.

Barcelona will play Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League next month and Real Madrid in the league at the start of March.

AFP

14, January 2020

CHAN 2020 and AFCON 2021: Ahmad Ahmad is in Yaounde ⁰

On January 13, Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), started a working visit in Cameroon, the country’s Minister of Sports Narcisse Mouelle Kombi indicated.

“During his stay, the African football boss and his delegation will hold important consultations and meetings with the authorities of the COCAN [Local Organizing Committee of the African Nations Championship and of the AFCON] 20-21, at the end of which important decisions on the organization of the CHAN [African Nations Championship] Total Cameroon 2020 and the AFCON in Cameroon will be taken,” the official said.

In addition, the minister revealed that, the visuals of the CHAN Total Cameroon 2020 will be revealed by January 15, 2020, during an evening show attended by CAF officials.

Ahmad Ahmad’s last official visit to Cameroon was on October 2, 2018. He was received by the Head of State, Paul Biya, as the country was preparing to organize the AFCON2019. Following this visit, the organisation of the African football high mass was withdrawn from Cameroon due to delays in the construction of sports infrastructure.

But, as compensation, CAF offered Cameroon to host the competition in 2021. The CHAN should be played in the country of the Indomitable Lions this year.

Source: Business in Cameroon

12, January 2020

Cameroonian Real Betis midfielder joins Almeria on loan ⁰

The Cameroon international made just five appearances for Rubi’s side in the first-half of the campaign

Real Betis have confirmed the temporary transfer of Cameroon international Wilfrid Kaptoum to Segunda Division side Almeria until June.

The midfielder, who played only five times in the first half of the season, signed an extension to his current deal first before departing for Betis’ city rivals.

Source: Goal.com

12, January 2020

Dakar Rally in mourning as Portuguese rider Goncalves dies in crash ⁰

Portuguese motorbike rider Paulo Goncalves has died after a crash in the Dakar Rally on Sunday, the 40-year-old becoming the gruelling motorsport marathon’s 25th fatality.

Goncalves suffered the fatal accident after 276 kilometres of the seventh stage from Riyadh to Wadi ad-Dawasir.

“The organisers received an alert at 10:08 (0708 GMT) and dispatched a medical helicopter that reached the biker at 10:16 and found him unconscious after going into cardiac arrest,” a statement on the rally’s official website reported.

“Following resuscitation efforts in situ, the competitor was taken by helicopter to Layla Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead,” it added.

Dakar director David Castera revealed it was Australian defending bike champion Toby Price who was the first to discover the stricken Goncalves lying on the sand.

Goncalves was competing in his 13th edition of the Dakar. He made his debut in 2006 when it was staged in Africa, and took second to Marc Coma in 2015 in South America.

“Paulo was someone who had been around for a long time, who we all knew, who was a feature of the rally,” Castera said.

“So this is a very difficult time.”

Ignacio Casale, leading the quad standings, said that “from the moment I saw the crash, I was unable to focus.

“I spent the rest of the stage thinking about it. The result doesn’t really matter today.”

The Indian-backed Hero Motosports rider only made it to this year’s first Dakar staged in Saudi Arabia after recovering from a ruptured spleen in a crash in his native Portugal in December.

Following surgery he said before the rally got underway: “It’s a victory for me to be here at the start.”

Goncalves was placed 46th in the overall bike standings after Friday’s sixth stage.

– ‘Knot in your stomach’ –

His death cast a pall over the seventh stage action won by Carlos Sainz in a Mini with Joan Barreda timing fastest in the bike category.

The last Dakar competitor to be killed was Polish rider Michal Hernik in 2015 in Argentina.

“The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his friends and family,” the organisers’ statement said.

With 20 of the 25 Dakar deaths since the inaugural edition in 1979 made up of bike riders Castera dwelt on the risks faced by riders.

“We know that bikes are dangerous.

“You set off in the morning, you have a knot in your stomach sometimes because you don’t have any protection, you have nothing.

“They all know that, these riders,” said Castera, a veteran of five Dakars on a motorbike.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in an official statement said Goncalves had died “attempting to accomplish the dream of winning one of the most dangerous and toughest rallies in the world”.

He described him as “a highly distinguished” sporting ambassador for Portugal while Portuguese MotoGP rider Miguel Oliveira paid tribute to Goncalves’ “courage and bravery”.

Castera said a tribute would be held for the fallen competitor on Sunday evening.

On a sombre day in the desert Sainz tightened his grip on the overall car standings with his third stage win of this year’s edition.

The 57-year-old Spaniard in a Mini completed the longest special between Riyadh and Wadi ad-Dawasir over two minutes clear of Toyota rival Nasser Al-Attiyah with his fellow Mini driver Stephane Peterhansel in third.

Sainz, a two-time former world rally champion, is in a strong position to add to his Dakar wins in 2010 and 2018.

With seven stages completed and five day’s racing to go he enjoys a comfortable 10 minute cushion over last year’s winner Al-Attiyah, with 13-time Dakar champion Peterhansel a further nine minutes adrift.

Joan Barreda came out on top in the bikes category with American Ricky Brabec retaining his overall lead finishing fourth on the day.

Source: AFP

10, January 2020

Internationl Olympic Committee: Infantino takes Blatter’s empty seat ⁰

Gianni Infantino was one of three newcomers elected on to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday and belatedly succeeded his predecessor as FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

David Haggerty, an American who is President of the International Tennis Federation, and Yasuhiro Yamashita, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and an Olympic judo champion in 1984 were also elected at the IOC session in Lausanne.

Infantino succeeded fellow Swiss Blatter when he became president of football’s global governing body in February 2016 and was re-elected for a second term last June.

Blatter was an IOC member from 1999 to 2015. He is suspended from football for making a payment to Michel Platini.

Infantino’s candidacy drew some resistance. Of the 79 IOC members entitled to vote, the 49-year-old received 63 votes. Thirteen members voted against and three abstained.

One name absent from the ballot was Englishman Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, which, like FIFA, traditionally has its president on the IOC.

IOC president Thomas Bach had already signalled because of “the risk of a conflict of interest,” Coe would not stand.

Coe is executive chairman of a sports marketing company, CSM Sport.

“The door remains open for Sebastian Coe to join the IOC in Tokyo,” Bach said. The IOC will meet again before the Olympics start in Japan in July.

Source: AFP