Sports

18, December 2018

Nigerian FA Chairman Defends CAF’s Decision Against Cameroon ⁰

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has defended the decision of Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Cameroon of hosting right for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Pinnick said in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng that it was not a case of victimization, but one in which the continental body wants to promote high standards for hosting major championship.

Pinnick, whop is also CAF first vice-president and chairman of the body’s AFCON committee, admitted that Cameroon had put in exceptional efforts towards hosting the showpiece but insists they were not ready.

He stressed that hosting the continent goes beyond extra effort and sweet talk, as evidence on ground at the various earmarked venues showed that Cameroon were not just ready to receive the continent.

Pinnick stated further in the interview with sports247.ng at the weekend: “We have a level playing field for all countries.

“Cameroon showed good intention to host, they have an exceptional record of efforts in African football, but they are not ready for AFCON.

“That is why they were stripped off the hosting right, and it has now been thrown open to any other willing country.

“Whichever country CAF decides to hand the hosting rights to, I can assure you such country will seen to be ready, not just to plug and play. “Such country will have already available facilities and ready to host the rest of Africa at short notice.”

Source: Sports 247.ng

18, December 2018

UEFA Champions League draw: Liverpool vs Bayern, Man United vs PSG ⁰

Football fans all over the world are relishing the mouth watering ties served up for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, including a match between last season’s finalists Liverpool and German champions Bayern Munich.

The round of 16 draw, held on Monday paired defending champions Real Madrid, who are chasing a fourth successive title, and Dutch side Ajax. Juventus, who have the services of Portuguese talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, will take on Spain’s Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo won four titles with Real Madrid.

Struggling Manchester United have been handed a seemingly herculean task of stopping Neymar and Mbappe’s Paris Saint Germain.

The other round of 16 fixtures includes Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund, Lyon vs Barcelona and AS Roma vs FC Porto. The first legs will be played on February 12-13 and February 19-20, while the return legs will be played on March 5-6 and March 12-13. Fans are now sharing their predictions and thoughts on several social media polls.

Source: Africa News

15, December 2018

Liberia: Biography of President Weah’s Soccer Days Expected Soon ⁰

President George Weah is indeed one of the most successful soccer players to come from Africa, but there are not enough pieces of information out there about his playing days in Liberia.

A situation veteran sports journalist Omari Jackson, who is now an editor at the Daily Observer newspaper is trying to solve in his upcoming biography of the president, titled the “Untold Story of President Weah.”

The book, which is expected to be out early next year revealed that the first semi-professional contract President signed in the 1980s, with Tonnerre Klara Club of Yaounde of Cameroon was intended for James Salinsa Debbah, but the Liberian all-time high goalscorer turned down the opportunity on three different occasions before it went to George Oppong Weah which he gladly accepted.

Jackson writes that Mohammad Konneh, a Liberian with a Cameroonian mother was disappointed that Debbah had turned down the offer, which was apparently because of the love and acceptance that Liberian soccer fans had for him, including President Samuel Doe.

“I have tried for at least three times to get the boy to agree to play in Cameroon without success. I want you to help me find a quality striker,” Konneh was reported to have pleaded.

“Mr. Konneh,” Mr. Jackson said with some warmth, “since from your experience it does not seem that Salinsa is interested in these series of invitations, could you give it to Oppong (George Weah)? After all, he is the next upcoming player with a future.”

Fortunately, Jackson was able to meet President Weah between the corner of Carey and Gurley Street and told him about the opportunity which he gladly accepted.

“Hello, Oppong.”

“Hello Jackson,” Weah said.

“We have a friend who has just returned from Cameroon with an invitation for you to play a semi-professional soccer career in Cameroon. My man, you are already our wizard dribbler and that you can make it in Cameroon,” Jackson writes in the forthcoming book.

Responding to Jackson’s appeal, Oppong (now president) said: “I am ready to play in Cameroon.”

The positive response from President Weah was enough to motivate Jackson who used his influence and had the Liberia Football Association to invite Tonnerre Klara Club of Yaounde to form part of its 50th-anniversary celebration since the club had interest in the president.

After the 50th-anniversary soccer game, Jackson discloses that President Weah was able to seal the deal with the Cameroon giant, making him the first Liberian player to sign a semi-professional contract.

Complication

Upon his return to Liberia to finalize his trip to Cameroon, Jackson in the book, “Untold Story of President Weah” unveiled a situation that almost destroyed the president’s emerging soccer career.

The problem was a result of strong interest from Simplice Zenzou, an Ivorian soccer lover who was then the owner of the Africa Sports FC who offered President Weah a much better contract to play for his club.

“Weah’s brief meeting with Zenzou created a problem. He had signed a contract in Cameroon for three years, and all of a sudden, the Zenzous boys’ offer came, something which he could not refuse,” Jackson writes.

Fully aware of the consequence of what could have happened if President Weah failed to fulfill his contract with the Cameroonian club, Jackson and journalists (Mozart Dennis and Bana Sackey), took upon themselves to intervene in the situation through Josiah N. Johnson and Sam Burnette Jr., invincible Eleven’s godfather back then.

From that meeting, Johnson and Burnette Jr., went on to convince President Weah to turn down the deal from Africa Sports and keep his bargain with TKC, which he gladly did, Jackson writes.

Debbah and Weah rivalry

The two first cousins have been an internal rivalry from day one of their playing days for IE and Mighty Barrolle respectively in Liberia.

Such rivalry, according to Jackson gained momentum during a particular tournament, style Who Owns the Land where Debbah scored two last-minute goals to help his team Barrolle to defeat President Weah team IE 3-2.

Debbah’s performance from that game earned him the title “The Miracle Man,” a name that Jackson says came as a result of the striker’s exceptional ability to score crucial goals when they were needed.

The helpers who are unknown

President Weah during his playing days in Liberia was supported by lots of people financially and morally some of whom are unknown to the public.

Some of these people, Jackson revealed were Tonia Klay, Lydia Jones, S. Izetta Wesley, D. Sheba Brown and Kadiattu Diara (later Mrs. Findley) who once served as president of Invincible Eleven Majestic Sports Association.

Other strong supporters of President Weah, according to Jackson were Archibald Bernard, former President of IE, now legal adviser to the President and Burnette Jr.

Jackson writes that both men, unlike their Mighty Barrolle counterparts, were willing to let their star player seek greener pasture abroad despite fans protest.

Jackson’s forthcoming book, the “Untold Story of President Weah” provides an in-depth account of the president’s football days in Liberia and shined lights on the role many people supported his effort to get him where he is today. This book answers my questions about President Weah’s playing days in Liberia since the author carefully observed the events that surrounded him and the journey he took from Liberia.

There are other interesting issues that have never appeared anywhere else that Jackson reveals that demonstrates that President Weah’s story is an inspiration any young footballer can peruse for their own progress.

“I’m expecting this book to be out very soon. Hopefully by February of next year, but that will depend on the kind of publishing deal I get,” says Jackson.

Source: Daily Observer

15, December 2018

Salah wins 2018 BBC African footballer award ⁰

Liverpool and Egypt striker Mohamed Salah has capped a sparkling 2018 for club and country by winning the prestigious BBC African Footballer of the Year Award for the second time in a row. “It’s a great feeling to win again. I’m happy and I would like to win it also next year!” said Salah.

The 26-year-old, who beat Medhi Benatia, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and Thomas Partey to the award, is just the second player after Jay-Jay Okocha to win it two years running. Yaya Toure is the only other player to have twice won the award in its current form while Nwankwo Kanu won it twice when it was a broader African Sports Personality award.

Salah scored 44 goals in 52 games for Liverpool last season, his first on Merseyside after joining them from Roma, and helped them to reach the Champions League final.

His club form has continued this season with his winner against Napoli on Tuesday that saw the Reds into the Champions League last 16 taking his tally to 13.

“There have been many good moments in 2018,” he added. “I’m scoring goals and helping the team to get the points to be top of the league. That’s always a great feeling.”

Salah also scored twice for Egypt at the World Cup in Russia. Earlier in 2018, Salah won the English double — the Players’ Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Player of the Year.

Salah also won the 2017 CAF Player of the Year and is one of 10 nominees for the 2018 award which will be announced in January. Salah becomes the first player since Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha to win the award in consecutive years.

AGENCIES

14, December 2018

South Africa officially bid to replace Cameroon as Afcon 2019 hosts ⁰

The country’s FA has confirmed that all the documents have been submitted to Caf to consider South Africa as Cameroon’s replacement. South Africa has finally submitted their bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

This was confirmed by the South African Football Association (Safa) through its communications manager Dominic Chimhavi. Initially, SA Sports Minister Thokozile Xasa said the country will not bid to replace Cameroon, saying that they would wait for Caf to approach Safa.

“We have submitted our bid documents. It is now up to CAF to decide,” Chimhavi told AFP. The latest developments simply mean that the South African government has agreed to help Safa stage the tournament after the association made it public that there were not enough funds to host the continental showpiece.

South Africa needs at least R140 million to host the 24-team tournament next year. Cameroon was stripped of the rights to host the games after it emerged that the stadia would not be ready come June 2019.

Morocco has since pulled out of the running to host the tournament, but it was confirmed on Thursday that Egypt is also keen on replacing Cameroon. This means the race is between South Africa and Egypt, although the decision rests solely with Caf.

The deadline for the submissions of bids is on Friday, while the new hosts will be announced in Senegal on January 9, 2019. South Africa has previously hosted the tournament on two separate occasions – in 1996 and 2013.

Egypt on the other hand, last hosted the competition in 2006. Both South Africa and Egypt have eight Afcon titles between them, but the Southern African country last laid their hands on the trophy 22 years ago on home soil.

Source: Goal.com

13, December 2018

FECAFOOT elects new president ⁰

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) on Wednesday elected a new president to manage affairs of the football governing body for a period of four years, putting an end to the mandate of FIFA Normalization Committee.

Seidou Mbombo Njoya, a former director of FIFA’s Central African sub regional office was elected president of FECAFOOT by 46 votes ahead of his close rival, former Cameroon national football team goalkeeper, Joseph Antoine Bell with 17 votes according to results released by FECAFOOT.

“Mbombo Njoya will now have to work hard to clean the image of Cameroonian football which just lost the 2019 African Cup of the Nations (AFCON) hosting rights,” Jean Michel Wakam, a football analyst who witnessed the election said.

“He will also have to work in collaboration with the government and Federation of African Football (CAF) to ensure that Cameroon hosts the championship in 2021 as suggested by CAF. This is his main assignment,” Wakam said.

Other executive members will be elected by FECAFOOT General Assembly to work closely with Njoya. FECAFOOT, which has been in crisis for several years, was led by a Normalization Committee appointed in August 2017 by FIFA.

Source: Xinhuanet

13, December 2018

Ivorian International Serge Aurier says – Offering Cameroon The 2021 AFCON Hosting Rights ‘Stupid’ ⁰

Tottenham Hotspur and Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier has termed “stupid” a decision to offer the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosting rights to Cameroon.

After taking away the 2019 AFCON from Cameroon for unpreparedness, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) offered them the 2021 hosting rights which were initially awarded to Ivory Coast.

A leaked confidential letter from CAF boss Ahmad to Cameroon’s Head of State Paul Biya indicated that “the CAF Executive Committee will be honored to see Cameroon hosting the 2021 edition.”

“It will allow Cameroon to complete in comfort all its projects and security issues.”

In interview with French TV channel Canal +, Ivory Coast skipper Serge Aurier called the decision stupid and political.

“I’m shocked, I do not understand this decision.

For me, it’s a disaster, a matter of politicians. It’s a shame, it’s a stupid decision. As a player, we want this AFCON in 2021 in our country,” said Aurier.

A member of the CAF Executive Committee, Musa Bility, of Liberia reportedly contradicted the Ahmad’s position saying the 2021 and 2023 AFCON editions will stay in Ivory Coast and Guinea respectively.

“Our position today is very clear: the host country for 2021 is Ivory Coast and Guinea for 2013,” Musa was quoted by AllezLesLions.

Both countries are said to belagging behind is getting ready to stage a 24-team tournament down from 16 whenthey won the rights.

Source: Kahawatunga.com

10, December 2018

2019 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria, SA, Cameroon in tough groups ⁰

The draw has been held for next years’ FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in France.

Africa’s representatives: the Super Falcons of Nigeria, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have been drawn in groups considered to be tough.

The Super Falcons who earlier were crowned African champions were drawn in Group A along side host country, France, South Korea and Norway.

Africa’s second-best Banyana Banyana are drawn in group B with two times winner, Germany. China and Spain complete the teams in the group.

On the part of the Indomitable Lionesses, they have to deal with Canada, Netherlands and New Zealand in group E.

Analysts hold that across the board it is a pretty mouthwatering draw which would make for interesting display when the games kick off in Paris and other French cities.

A total of 52 matches will be played to determine the winner. Africa has usually struggled at previous tournaments.

Earlier this year, Africa’s representatives at the main World Cup in Russia, failed to achieve qualification past the group stages. Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal were all kicked out in the group stages.

France went on to win thecompetition beating Croatia in the final. The composition of the French team,gave Africa something to celebrate, given that it was dominated by players withAfrica roots.

Source:Africa News

9, December 2018

Comoros approach CAF seeking Cameroon’s disqualification from Afcon 2019 ⁰

Comoros have turned to Caf Statutes seeking Cameroon’s expulsion from the 2019 Afcon qualification after the Central Africans lost hosting rights. Comoros have written to Caf asking for the disqualification of Cameroon from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals after the Central Africans lost rights to host next year’s edition.

The stripping of Cameroon’s 2019 Afcon hosting rights could lead to a legal wrangle as Comoros seek to evoke Caf statutes for the Indomitable Lions to be expelled from the tournament. Caf found Cameroon ill-prepared to stage the tournament and withdrew mandate which would be handed to another country before the end of this year.

According to Article 92 of Caf regulations: “If a country having been entrusted with the organisation of the final tournament of the Africa Cup of Nations is desisting or the tournament is being withdrawn from it, it shall be subject, in addition to further disciplinary sanctions, to a fine fixed according to the following scale:

“92.3. Withdrawal notified within one year before the date of the final tournament: a fine of five hundred thousand (500,000) U.S. dollars and a suspension of the next edition of Afcon of it’s A national team, without considering the concerned edition.”

Strengthening their case, Comoros have cited the case study of Morocco being expelled from the 2015 Afcon finals after withdrawing their hosting responsibility.

Also cited were Kenya who had the 2018 African Nations Championships (Chan) taken away from them and expelled from the tournament for not being ready to host.

The Madagascar national Under-17 team were also booted out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Under-17 finals after they had hosting rights withdrawn from them for ill-preparedness.

Comoros General manager Saadi Ben Amir confirmed that they had raised issues with Caf. “I was with my president this morning and he sent a letter to Caf asking for clarification,” Ben Amir was quoted as saying by Afrik Foot.

“We are asking for the application of the regulation, and more specifically Article 92, which states that a country which is withdrawn from the organisation of Afcon does not participate in the edition in question.”

Interestingly, Cameroon host Comoros meet in the final Afcon qualifier and if the latter wins, they would book a place at the finals for the first time ever in their history. The two teams are separated by three pints in Group B which has Morocco as leaders.

Source: Goal.com

8, December 2018

Financial Fair Play: PSG ‘vehemently deny’ plan to sell Mbappe, Neymar ⁰

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have quashed reports the club could be forced to sell either Kylian Mbappe or Neymar in a bid to circumvent eventual Financial Fair Play(FFP) sanctions.

Qatar-owned PSG are one of a number of clubs under scrutiny from UEFA’s FFP regulations after splashing a combined total of more than 400 million euros in 2017 for Brazil star Neymar and World Cup winner Mbappe.

Rival clubs and even the president of Spain’s La Liga championship, Javier Tebas, bemoan the lack of sanctions for PSG, who according to recent leaked documents have violated the strict financial regulations put in place by European football’s ruling body.

UEFA still have their eye on PSG and their finances and daily sports newspaper L’Equipe claimed late on Friday that any future sanctions could see the club sell one of their most coveted stars.

But PSG were quick to shoot down the report. “In an article published on their website on Friday night, L’Equipe dared to say that ‘PSG is ready to lose Kylian Mbappe or Neymar Jr to avoid (FFP) sanctions’,” said a statement issued by the club.

PSG “vehemently denies these totally false and ridiculous allegations, which serve only to recreate a climate of tension between the club and this media outlet.”

The front page of L’Equipe on Saturday carried pictures of both Mbappe, the 19-year-old who struck in a 4-2 World Cup final win over Croatia last summer, and Brazil star Neymar while page two claimed the club are “ready to lose a star”.

UEFA’s FFP rules mean clubs are forbidden from spending more money than they generate. UEFA’s auditors opened an investigation into PSG in September 2017 following the purchase of Neymar from Barcelona and Mbappe from Monaco earlier that summer.

The case was shelved in June 2018, before being reopened in September 2018. PSG reacted by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), claiming it has met UEFA’s FFP demands. A UEFA spokesman said last month: “We will have to wait for CAS’s decision on PSG’s appeal before looking at this issue.”

AFP