Sports

28, May 2018

Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o not ready to retire ⁰

African legend Samuel Eto’o says he is not yet ready to call time on his illustrious career, but concedes that he does not miss playing in the UEFA Champions League.

It is rare for attacking players to continue playing beyond their 35th birthday, but Eto’o has defied the odds as he continues to strut his stuff on the pitch at the age of 37.

Currently on the books of Turkish Super Lig club Konyaspor, the former Cameroon international has recently been linked with a possible return to Italy, where he reportedly met with Lazio last week.

Without touching on the transfer speculation though, the former Barcelona star has stressed his desire to continue playing at the highest level.

“What drives me is that I am still fit, and my vision is still the same as when I started. I’ve enjoyed myself on the pitch so I just want to keep going,” said Eto’o at the Castle Africa 5’s finals in Lusaka, Zambia over the weekend.

While his desire for competitive football remains, Eto’o has admitted his appetite for arguably the biggest continental club competition in the world has long diminished.

“No,” he responded hastily when asked if he misses the Champions League, before laughing the question off. Asked for his reasons, he simply responded, “Because I’ve won it four times (Ed: three) and this is enough for me.”

Eto’o has won the continental club crown on three occasions – twice with Barca in 2008/09 and 2010/11, before bagging another with Inter Milan in 2011/12.

Source: Kickoff.com

27, May 2018

Champions League:Bale sinks Liverpool as Real Madrid make it three in a row ⁰

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale scored a jaw-dropping overhead kick and a long distance strike to give them a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday, May 26, delivering a remarkable third consecutive title for the Spaniards.

Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale with his winner’s medal and a Welsh flag on the pitch as Real Madrid players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine on May 26, 2018. (AFP)

Substitute Bale, who also scored in Real’s 2014 final win over Atletico Madrid, had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he rose to meet Marcelo’s cross in the air from outside the box, sending it flying into the net to restore Real’s lead in the 64th minute at the NSC Olympic Stadium.

French forward Karim Benzema had put Madrid ahead in the 51st minute by sticking out a leg as Liverpool’s German keeper Karius attempted to throw the ball to a team mate, sending it trickling over the line, but Sadio Mane levelled from close range in the 55th for Juergen Klopp’s side.

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the trophy after his team won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine on May 26, 2018. (AFP)

Bale then sealed Madrid’s record-extending 13th European Cup win and piled more misery on Karius with a long-range strike in the 83rd minute which went straight through the hands of the hapless goalkeeper.

Real become the first side since Bayern Munich in 1976 to win the trophy three years in a row and Zinedine Zidane the is the first coach to win three back-to-back titles.

Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale celebrates with Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine on May 26, 2018. (AFP)

Liverpool’s talismanic forward Mohamed Salah was forced off in the first half with a suspected dislocated shoulder after tangling with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, while Real defender Dani Carvajal also left the pitch in tears after getting injured before halftime.

Source: Presstv

26, May 2018

European paper round-up: Samuel Eto’o, Robert Lewandowski, Morata ⁰

The European season will come to a close this weekend with the Champions League final, yet teams across the continent have already got to work scouting out new players for next season. We asked our friends at Football Whispers to scour the European media to round-up the latest transfer news and big stories.

Germany

Manchester United have joined the race for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, but so too have Chelsea and PSG. The London club may be in the market for a replacement for Alvaro Morata, while new PSG coach Thomas Tuchel is well aware of the Pole’s abilities from his time in the Bundesliga. (Kicker)

Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed goalkeeper Bernd Leno will leave the club this summer, but the Arsenal target’s destination has yet to be confirmed. The player’s agent, Uli Ferber, has stated that he is fully focused on the World Cup and will make a decision later in the summer. (Kicker)

Despite being under contract until 2019, Arturo Vidal is on Manchester United’s radar and may opt to leave Bayern Munich this summer before new signing Leon Goretzka replaces him in the first team. (SportBild)

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Ante Rebic scored two goals to help his side beat Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final on Saturday and has already stated he wouldn’t be opposed to a move to Bavaria. The Croatian forward has turned his career around under former Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac and has stated that he would happily follow the coach to Munich. (Bild)

Italy

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has been linked with a move to AC Milan, but it seems as though representatives of the Spanish striker were in fact meeting Juventus’ delegates this week in Milan. The Italian champions are reportedly interested in initially loaning the striker before signing him permanently at the end of his loan agreement as they did with former Blues wideman Juan Cuadrado. (Calciomercato)

Representatives from Lazio had a four-hour meeting with Samuel Eto’o’s agent this week to discuss the possibility of signing the 37-year-old striker this summer. The Cameroon striker is close to leaving Turkish side Konyaspor and may be tempted back to Italy. (Tuttosport)

Spain

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu confirmed on Catalonian radio that the club will not be able to speak to Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann or begin negotiating for the player until July 1. (Mundo Deportivo)

Villarreal are closing in on Newcastle target Toko Ekambi and could sign the Angers striker for €18m. According to reports a fee has been agreed and the two clubs are now ironing out the finer details. (Marca)

France

Under the threat of UEFA’s financial fair play sanctions, PSG will look to push through the sale of forward Goncalo Guedes to Valencia, assuming the Spanish club are willing to pay the full €40m asking price. (L’Equipe)

Didier Deschamps has labelled Adrien Rabiot’s decision to remove himself from France’s list of reserves for the World Cup as a “huge mistake” before stating that he learned of the midfielder’s decision through an email from the player. (L’Equipe)

Culled from Sky Sports News

24, May 2018

Eto’o holds Lazio talks ⁰

There are reports Konyaspor striker Samuel Eto’o is in negotiations with Lazio for a return to Serie A after today’s four-hour meeting.

The Cameroon international is now 37 years old and only joined Konyaspor in January with a contract that runs to June 2019.

However, according to the Corriere dello Sport and Rai Sport, Eto’o met with Lazio director Igli Tare for four hours in Rome today.

It would be a return to Italy for the man who won the Treble at Inter in 2010, then had a brief spell at Sampdoria in 2015.

He then moved to Turkey, first for Antalyaspor and now Konyaspor. Eto’o would effectively replace Luis Nani, who struggled to make any impact at Lazio this season.

Nani arrived on loan with option to buy from Valencia, but scored only three goals with four assists in 25 competitive games, most of them off the bench. See the latest Serie A predictions and betting tips with Eurotips.co.uk

Source: Football Italia

21, May 2018

Indomitable Lions: Alexandre Belinga begins to shape new-look Cameroon ⁰

Alexandre Belinga may only be holding the reins of the Cameroon national side on an interim basis, but this wise old head of the national game appears keen to reshape the squad as the 2019 African Cup of Nations approaches.

The Central African nation are hosting the event and will also enter as holders after pipping Egypt to the continental crown in Gabon in 2017.

However, a disappointing Confederations Cup campaign, failure to reach the World Cup, and the dismissal of AFCON-winning coach Hugo Broos has plunged the nation into disarray, only a year from their hosting Africa’s footballing showpiece.

The 56-year-old Belinga, who represented Tonnerre Yaounde as a player and was part of the national team’s staff under both Volker Finke and Broos, was a sensible choice for interim coach considering his extensive experience with Cameroonian football,

However, the new man doesn’t appear happy just to keep the Lions ticking over.

Instead, even though FECAFOOT are actively seeking his replacement, he appears keen to reshape this Lions squad, at least if his squad list for their upcoming friendly against Burkina Faso is anything to go by.

For his first squad announcement, ahead of the friendly against Kuwait in March, Belinga sought to bring some of the players exiled during Broos’s tenure back into the fold.

Duly, Carlos Kameni, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Allan Nyom were all handed recalls, with Vincent Aboubakar and Christian Bassogog (twice) scoring in a 3-1 victory.

However, the Kuwait game wasn’t merely an opportunity to welcome some familiar old faces back to the fold.

Belinga also handed a debut to 25-year-old Strasbourg striker Stephane Bahoken – a former France U-20 international – with the striker arriving as the new figurehead of what looks set to be a significant recruitment drive ahead of the AFCON.

In the interim coach’s latest squad, ahead of the May 27 friendly against Burkina Faso in Paris, there are more returnees and a few new faces who have an ideal opportunity to make a big impression before next summer’s jamboree.

Edgar Salli is the most high-profile returnee.

He’s never been the most glamorous player, admired more for his shuttling runs and his energy rather than his flair or output in the final third, but his versatility and dynamism make him a valuable addition to the squad.

The diminutive wideman was part of the AFCON-winning squad, and also represented Cameroon at the 2014 World Cup, and he deserves his recall after a series of fine displays as Nurnberg secured Bundesliga promotion.

Ambroise Oyongo also makes his return and ought to slot straight back into the starting XI ahead of the challenges to come.

The full-back wasn’t discarded by Broos, but hasn’t featured for the national side since before the Confederations Cup, when he was laid out with a knee injury that saw him sidelined for the rest of 2017.

He nonetheless secured a January move to Montpellier, and has steadily continued his rehabilitation in France, making three Ligue 1 outings in May.

The 26-year-old has the potential to be one of Africa’s best lateral defenders, and his return represents a major boost for the Lions.

Should Belinga opt to move Oyongo over to the right, he would leave a place for Fabrice Gael Ngah, a revelation with CAF Champions League surprise package Difaa El Jadida, on the left.

The youngster was handed his first call-up to the senior squad by the interim boss against Kuwait, and appears primed for an AFCON berth.

Elsewhere, Bahoken has kept his spot, and joins an attacking unit that contains Karl Toko Ekambi, who received the Marc Vivien Foe Prix for the best African player in Ligue 1 last week.

While Toko Ekambi has been with the national side since 2015, and was an AFCON winner, there’s a sense that he hasn’t truly shown his best form for the Lions, averaging just over a goal every 10 games since making his debut!

He’s been a player transformed for Angers this season, however, contributing six assists and netting 17 goals (40% of the club’s total) as they steered clear of the dropzone.

Alongside Bassogog, Aboubakar, captain Benjamin Moukandjo and another familiar face, Fabrice Olinga, Toko Ekambi is part of an offensive unit that has the quality to fire Cameroon to another African title next year.

Finally, Belinga has opted to draft in another new face, introducing a player who has the talent to be a big asset in the heart of the park.

Pierre Kunde Malong has represented the Lions at U-18 and U-23 level, but only now, after an encouraging season on loan at Granada from Atletico Madrid, is he getting his opportunity with the senior side.

The 22-year-old has impressed in the Segunda Division during a testing campaign, scoring five in 36 outings including an outstanding double against Leonesa in April.

He particularly impressed with Extremadura during the 2016-17 campaign, with his aggression helping him thrive in a destructive midfield role before netting 11 after being pushed higher up the park and being allowed to express himself.

While Kunde may take time to adapt to the international arena, there’s a realistic hope that he could be the long-term successor to ageing captain Sebastien Siani (31) and represents further competition for Georges Mandjeck, Arnaud Djoum, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Frank Boya.

Belinga may not be around long enough to truly enjoy the fruits of this Indomitable Lions shakeup, but if Cameroon do go on to enjoy success and put their misery behind them next summer, then one suspects the new and returning faces being introduced now will play a big part in their title defence.

Source: ESPN

20, May 2018

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o paid a visit to the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt ⁰

The four-time African Player of the Year met with CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, where he commended the latter on the progressed attained by African football under his watch.

He also had discussions with CAF Deputy General Secretary, Anthony Baffoe, who later took him on a tour of the Secretariat including the recently commissioned state-of-the-art Match Command Centre, which amazed the Cameroonian star.

Eto’o, Africa Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon in 2000 and 2002, was accompanied by the president of the Normalisation Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation, Dieudonne Happi.

Still on the books of Turkish club, Konyaspor, Eto’o remains one of the most celebrated idols in the history of African football, winning over a century of caps with Cameroon.

Source: Ghanaweb

16, May 2018

Nelson Mandela Legacy: Barcelona in South Africa for friendly with Sundowns ⁰

A star-studded Barcelona side have arrived in South Africa where they are expected to play a friendly match against the Rainbow nation’s league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, on Wednesday night.

The Spanish and European giants arrived at the Oliver Tambo International Airport with a full squad that included the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and retiring Andres Iniesta.

Security was high at the airport as they were shepherded into their transport and headed for their hotel. They were received by top officials of Sundowns and scores of football fans who thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of their football idols.

The game which takes place at the FNB stadium (formerly the Soccer City Stadium) will form part of the commemoration of the centenary celebration of the life of the country’s first black president Nelson Mandela.

“FC Barcelona has always professed its admiration for Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, who after 27 years in prison went on to become the first democratically elected president of post-apartheid South Africa from 1994 to 1999,” the Spanish side said in a statement last week ahead of today’s fixture.

“Mandela represented the struggle for freedom and equality in the country, and played a huge role in unifying the racially divided society. It is precisely this kind of spirit with which FC Barcelona has always been identified,” the statement added.

Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 and died in December 2013. Leaders from across the world were in South Africa for his funeral.

The friendly comes after Barca’s painful La Liga loss to Levante over the weekend, which result denied them a record unbeaten run in the season. Their final game is at home to Real Sociedad on May 20.

Ernesto Valverde’s side clinched a 25th Liga title on April 29 and the King’s Cup on April 21 but failed to make history as the first team since 1933 to complete a Spanish top-flight season without losing a game.

Culled from Africa News

13, May 2018

Bayern Munich hand Cameroonian-born Franck Evina professional contract ⁰

The Cameroonian-born starlet has made huge strides, from playing with the reserves to clinching his first pro deal

Franck Evina has signed his first professional contract with Bayern Munich, in a deal that runs through till June 2021.

A fortnight after the 17-year-old forward made his senior debut in the Bavarians’ 4-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt, the teenager has committed his future to the German Bundesliga champions.

Evina, 17, born in Yaounde, Cameroon, joined Bayern U14 side from SV Neuperlach-München in the summer of 2013 and he rose through the ranks.

Source: Goal.com

6, May 2018

Shame on you, African football leaders ⁰

Instead of applauding and celebrating this week’s announcement that Fifa will give each of the five African representatives at this year’s World Cup in Russia an advance of $2 million (R25 million), African football leaders should hang their heads in shame.

The money, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad, is meant to help Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia “settle beforehand the question of bonuses”. This assistance stems from Ahmad’s initiative that saw CAF give each of the five countries a $2.5 million grant to help them with their preparations.

While the baby-faced Ahmed jumped up and down in unbridled jubilation like a child who has just received an expensive Christmas gift following the announcement this week, it is the reason for this advance that provoked my ire. “To help settle beforehand the question of bonuses,” Ahmad gleefully and glibly said.

Aha!

So following the theatrics that some African countries have performed just before World Cups, it has now become necessary for Fifa to take charge and prevent the shenanigans that have in the past badly affected the image of African football.

In a nutshell, Fifa’s decision means that African football bosses cannot be trusted to get their houses in order. They must be policed like a bunch of delinquent schoolboys, hence the five countries are the only ones of the 32 nations to get an advance.

All the other football federations will get their money at the end of the World Cup. Stories of the shenanigans of African players and officials around the World Cup are well-documented, dating as far back as the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Then top goalkeeper, Cameroonian Joseph-Antoine Bell – whose nickname was Mandela – was dropped for his then understudy Thomas N’Kono after raising the players’ bonus issue. However, on the field of play, The Indomitable Lions became the first African country to reach the quarter-finals at the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

In 1994, then Cameroon coach Henri Michel (may his soul rest in peace) was left pulling his hair out after he discovered on arriving in the USA that his Cameroonian team had less than 10 players. Reports were that some of the players were left in Cameroon as people heaved and shoved to get on to a plane, where it was first come, first served.

After the entire squad had finally assembled, they staged a strike about their bonuses. An official had to leave the west African country with a bag full of US dollars, as players would not accept cheques. It was only after receiving their qualification bonuses that the players started training.

Before even departing for the USA, the Cameroonian team’s planned trip to Asia for preparations was scuppered as players arrived at the airport to find that the plane had not been booked and that there were no $20 000 cheques waiting for them, as promised.

The players had demanded that they be paid this amount upfront to leave their families with some spending money during month-long absence from home. Michel had met Cameroon’s prime minister that week and a promise was made that the cheques would be delivered to the players at the airport, before their departure.

They never materialised and the players had to be crammed into a few small yellow taxis that ferried them back to their hotel. In 2014, Cameroon arrived late for the World Cup in Brazil due to pay disputes, Ghana’s government had to fly in $3 million in cash to avert a players’ strike, while Nigeria’s players cancelled a team practice, leading to fears that they might not honour their next game.

Ahmad was correct this week when he said: “Disputes over payments at previous tournaments led to situations that affected badly the image of African football, with a considerable impact on team performances.” However, what he might see as an achievement, I view as a serious indictment on African football leaders.

It shows a high level of irresponsibility and lends itself to the thought that the continent must always go cap in hand and be shown the way by Europeans. The African countries are the only ones receiving this advance and who can guarantee that it will indeed be spent on what it is intended for?

On a different note, as a South African, I cannot help but feel sad that Bafana Bafana are missing out on this event as the $2 million advance from Fifa, the $2.5 million from CAF, the $1.5 million that Fifa gives to all 32 football federations that will be at the World Cup for preparation, plus the $8 million prize money each country receives for participating, means the SA Football Association will lose out on a tidy $14 million (that’s a cool R175 million when converted).

And what about the whopping $38 million the winning nation will receive? Makes you ponder!

Source: Sports 24

26, April 2018

Malta’s National Football Coach Gets Fired After Applying For Position With Cameroon ⁰

Malta’s national football team coach, Tom Saintfiet, has been given the sack after he reportedly replied to a call for a position within the Cameroonian Football Federation.

The Malta Football Association has released a statement relating to his departure.

“Following a thorough analysis of the situation, a decision has been taken to relieve Mr Saintfiet of his duties as National Team Coach. To this end, the Malta Football Association communicates that the employment contract of Tom Saintfiet has been terminated with immediate effect,” the Association said.

Saying they sought “reassurances” from Mr Saintfelt about reports that he had not applied for the post of coach of another national team, they ended the meeting with his termination.

The 45-year-old Belgian has denied these reports, saying he never applied for a job in Cameroon, and saying that even the Cameroonian Football Federation themselves admit that many coaches do not know that someone applied in their name.

“There are agents who do it without informing the coaches. I had applied for the Cameroon job in 2012, 2014 and 2015, but this year I am very happy to be in Malta with my family and have a long-term commitment. I have no reason to apply anywhere else, and I never sent any application,” he told Maltatoday.

He’s since removed a public Facebook post where he had denied applying for the position. Mr Saintfiet was appointed to Malta’s national football team last October. He watched over an embarrassing 3 – 0 defeat against Estonia in his first match, and has only coached the team through two consequent matches, both of which were goalless losses for the Maltese side.

He has coached teams in many countries, including Malawi and Bangladesh. Since his departure, the Malta National Football Team’s Wikipedia page has been tampered with, and now displays famed Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger as the coach of the Maltese team.

Source: LovinMalta.com