Sports

19, July 2017

Decision to revamp Africa Cup of Nations within the next 48 hours ⁰

The Africa Cup of Nations could be revamped – handing European clubs a boost in the process. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have proposed moving the tournament to the summer, outside of the regular European leagues season, as well as expanding their biannual tournament to 24 teams.

The competition, which currently takes place during January and February, denied Everton of Idrissa Gueye last season, with the midfielder representing Senegal.

With new signing Henry Onyekuru recently capped by Nigeria, as well as Yannick Bolasie a full international for DR Congo, any rule change would help the Blues and many other English clubs in the 2018/19 season. The next tournament is set to run between January 12 and February 3 in 2019, taking place in Cameroon.

“From a sporting perspective, it will allow more opportunity for footballers across the continent,” said Nigerian Football Federation president Amaju Pinnock, who is also a CAF executive committee member.

“It will increase revenue for CAF and we can triple our income. It will also force more infrastructure development.” A decision could be made within the next 48 hours.

Source: Liverpoolecho

19, July 2017

Rabat: Format and timing of the Africa Cup of Nations up for discussion ⁰

The format and timing of the Africa Cup of Nations is up for discussion as a two-day symposium on the future of the continental game has got under way in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

“That is the first thing to talk about – we can’t get away from it,” said Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Ahmad in his opening address. The Nations Cup’s timing in January and February has long been a source of conflict for clubs in Europe, where many Africans play.

European clubs have long been angered by losing players during a crucial stage of the season to the Nations Cup, which sparks a club v country row every two years. Compounding the clubs’ concerns is the fact that their players often come back fatigued from Africa’s flagship sporting event.

Ahead of this year’s Nations Cup in Gabon, an unprecedented number of players turned down call-ups to stay with their clubs. This included seven Cameroonians who refused to turn out for the team that eventually won the title.

The finals could also be boosted from 16 teams to 24 – while a less likely switch is for the tournament to take place every four, rather than two, years.

Source: BBC

19, July 2017

Biya Olembe Stadium: A new job for the Italian ambassador ⁰

The Italian Company, Piccini that won the contract for the construction of the sixty thousand-seat capacity Stadium in Olembe-Yaounde has reassured authorities that the football infrastructure will be ready by October 2018. The officials of the Italian Company, Piccini and the Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, made the declaration on Monday 17th July 2017 during a press briefing at the Italian Embassy in Yaoundé.

The Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, Samuela Isopi and the Architect of the structure, Eloy Suarez elaborately detailed how the company intends to proceed. In the three hour briefing, Her Excellency Samuela Isopi dispelled rumors and reports that the company charged with the construction of the football facility were not competent to do the job.

The Italian Ambassador undertook to organize a regular briefing to update the press on the progress of work. The Architect, Eloy Suarez stated emphatically that the structure will be delivered in eighteen months. Mr. Suarez said most of the work in the site will consist of assembling the pre-cast equipment; over 60 per cent of parts of the building will be produced in Italy and transported to Cameroon through the Kribi port in order to gain time.

He explained that the facility will be constructed using the latest technology and state of art equipment in conformity with FIFA standards. The Project Director, Marc Debandt for his part stated that work will accelerate in the days ahead with the complete arrival of material from Italy.

The Chargé de Mission, Gabriel Ngaha said the FCFA 160 billion allotted for the construction has been made available, there are consequently no issues relative to late payments as reported by some press organs and the social media. During the briefing, the press learnt more about the Italian company Piccini that has been entrusted with the Paul Biya Omnisport Staduim at Olembe.

It is a company with a thirty year experience that has realized outstanding projects including the construction of the Juventus Stadium in Italy, one of the best in the world, the construction of the Olympic Stadium in Anthens, the Olympic Stadium in Rome that was used for the 1990 World Cup and many more.

Source: CRTV

18, July 2017

Samuel Eto’o, Kalusha Bwalya, Okocha in Morocco to brighten up Africa Cup of Nations ⁰

African football legends have started a two-day symposium on the future of the beautiful game in the continent. The forum was summoned by the newly elected president of the African Football Confederation, Malagasy Ahmad four months after his electoral victory against Issa Hayatou.

Malagasy Ahmad whose campaign slogan was “Together for Change” invited prominent African football heroes and leaders of the 55 football associations that constitute the CAF body. The meeting started today Tuesday the 18th of July 2017 in Rabat, Morocco.

The continent’s biggest names in football participating in the conclave are Samuel Eto’o Fils, Bell Joseph Antoine, Abedi Pelé, Jay-Jay Okocha, Anthony Baffoe, Kalusha Bwalya and Herve Renard who has won the African nations cup with two different nations.

The participants are working in eight workshops on topics related to the organization of African Nations Cup, inter-club competitions, youth football, media, marketing and communication. Rumors had circulated in Yaoundé that CAF intended to strip Cameroon off the right to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

But we now understand the reforms that will emerge from this symposium will be proposed to the next General Assembly of CAF for adoption. The Rabat come together is not a decision-making body and has no statutory existence.

By Eyong Johnson with files from Cameroon Info.Net

16, July 2017

Clinton Njie: Tottenham’s Cameroon forward heading to Marseille ⁰

Tottenham forward Clinton Njie is to join French side Marseille on a permanent deal after the two clubs agreed a deal.

The Cameroon international, 23, was on loan to the Ligue 1 club last season, scoring four goals.

Njie joined Spurs from Lyon in 2015 for a reported £10m and made 14 appearances for the club, though he suffered a serious knee injury in December 2015.

“We wish Clinton all the best for the future,” Tottenham said.

Source: BBC

16, July 2017

Eight dead in Senegal soccer stadium crush ⁰

Eight people were killed during Senegal’s soccer league cup final in Dakar on Saturday, the sports minister told AFP, as a wall collapsed onto clashing supporters, triggering a panicked crush. Sports Minister Matar Ba said a young girl was among the dead, while around 60 injured fans had been taken to health facilities in Dakar.

He vowed “strong measures so that such an event will never be repeated in Senegal,” speaking to AFP by phone. A mass deployment of firefighters and ambulances remained at the scene late Saturday. An AFP journalist who attended the match described a stadium bursting with people for the long-awaited clash between local teams US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour.

At 2-1 during extra time, US Ouakam supporters began throwing stones at Stade de Mbour fans, causing spectators to begin vacating their seats in a rush, the journalist said. Part of a wall supporting bleachers seating fans from both sides then collapsed, while police had begun firing tear gas and panic spread in the stadium leading to a crush.

“All of a sudden when the wall fell… we knew exactly that some of our own had lost their lives because the wall fell directly onto people,” said Cheikh Maba Diop, a witness who helped evacuate victims from the stadium and lost a friend in the tragedy.

Also speaking at the scene, soccer fan Mara Die Diouf said policing at the stadium had been inadequate. Diouf described police retreating from an area separating the two teams’ supporters once projectiles began being thrown, triggering dangerous movements by spectators unable to defend themselves.

AFP journalists at the scene saw belongings covered in blood at the site, with a pair of glasses and clothing strewn among broken pieces of concrete. Campaigning for Senegal’s legislative elections due on July 30 would on Sunday be suspended in respect for the victims, said a spokesman for President Macky Sall.

Sall also wanted “punishments serving as a warning,” following the tragedy, spokesman El Hamidou Kasse said on TFM television. Senegal’s safety record at large gatherings has been heavily criticized this year after the death of dozens of people at a religious retreat in April, when a fire ripped through makeshift shelters.

(Source: AFP)

13, July 2017

Cameroon-Nigeria: NFF confirms Uyo as venue ⁰

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have laid to rest the controversy that preceded the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

There was a heated debate of whether the match will be played at the Nest of Champions International Stadium in Uyo or not after the Super Eagles lost 0-2 to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the stadium.

But the NFF who spoke through its Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire has confirmed the stadium as the venue for the encounter which will now be played on September 1.

Olajire told journalists yesterday in Abuja the issue of venue has been settled and that all the necessary stakeholders are being informed of the date and venue. He also assured that the federation is putting in place every necessary arrangement that will ensure that the Super Eagles who are leading their group with six maximum points will get the desired result when the defending African champions visit Nigeria.

“I want to confirm that the match against Cameroon will take place in Uyo on the September 1. Uyo has been a good ground for the Super Eagles irrespective of what happened in the last game against South Africa in the AFCON qualifier.

“Equally, I have to reassure all lovers of Nigerian football that the NFF is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that we defeat Cameroon because that will brighten our chances of qualifying for the World Cup” Olajire concluded.

Source: Vanguard

12, July 2017

Choupo-Moting and Schalke: No longer an item ⁰

Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor have contacted free agent Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting according to reports in Turkey.

The German-born Cameroonian and Schalke could not agree terms over a new deal and subsequently saw his three-year stay at the Gelsenkirchen side come to an end.

Moting’s relationship with Schalke began in the summer of 2014 after he arrived on a free transfer from Mainz. He would go on to become a regular and appear 106 times and score 22 goals.

But according to the Turkish Daily Hurriyet, Akrepler have recently been in contact with the attacker over a possible switch.

The report further suggests that negotiations are at an advanced stage and could result in a transfer within the next few days which will see the 28-year-old line up next to Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o who is a household name at the Antalya Arena side.

Source: Goal.com

11, July 2017

Russia 2018: Ex international says Eagles must beat the Indomitable Lions ⁰

Ex international, Moses Kpakor has charged the Super Eagles Technical crew to work tirelessly to ensure that the team picks the three points against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Super eagles Nigeria are top of Group B of their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with six points after beating Zambia 2-1 and Algeria 3-1.

However, the senior national team faces an uphill task against the current African champions, Cameroon on August 30 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo before the reverse fixture four days later in Yaounde.

Kpakor believes that the Super Eagles have no choice but to overcome their Cameroonian counter-parts in a bid to brighten their chances of picking the automatic slot for the World Cup. “We have to beat Cameroon because the two games are a huge step towards our qualification for the World Cup.

“Yes, we can qualify and so far we stand the best chance in our group with six points, four points ahead of our nearest opponents. The coach should ensure we have our very best players in the next games wherever they are.”

“We all need to assure the players that they can qualify us for the World Cup and we have confidence in them because I believe that will help them a lot.”

Source: Vanguard

8, July 2017

Russia 2018: How to beat Cameroon and Nigeria’s fear and faith ⁰

The high rating the Super Eagles enjoyed before their embarrassing defeat in the hands of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo last month has dropped. With the 2018 World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Cameroon approaching, the respect for the Indomitable Lions among Nigerian football fans is growing bigger. Cameroon’s performance at the just concluded FIFA Confederations Cup – albeit unimpressive – gives Nigerians enough reason to worry. The Lions showed promise and with a few changes, particularly in the attack, the team can stand their own anywhere in the world.

While Cameroon coach, Hugo Broos participated in the 2017 AFCON – which they won – and the recently concluded FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, Rohr has been engaged in friendly matches and played only one competitive match – the loss against South Africa, since the victory over Algeria in November last year. Can Nigeria handle Cameroon? The question was put to former Nigeria international and U-17 World Cup winning coach, Emmanuel Amuneke. His answer was in the affirmative. “Yes, we can handle Cameroon by remaining focussed and believing in our ability. You also have to accept that the opponent you are playing is better than you. With that in mind one can fight one’s opponent with respect and the motivation to do battle.”

Amuneke said, “in the game against South Africa, the opponents were better tactically, individually and collectively. They knew each other very well and knew they were playing Nigeria, a very strong team. “What we need do is to sit down, analyse the last game and seek solutions to where we went wrong before the Cameroon match. Cameroon too has a lot of pedigree and any match involving Nigeria and Cameroon is always tough. Our players must have that in mind.” Veteran coach, Tunde Disu believes the Eagles need a more aggressive midfield. “Most of our midfielders are defensive minded. Mikel, Onazi, Ndidi are all defensive midfielders. We need more aggression from the midfield so that the attack can be given more bite.”

He also believes that with the expected return of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Leon Balogun the Coach Rohr-tutored team could pose a better force than the one against the Bafana Bafana. Veteran journalist and chairman of Akwa United, Paul Bassey said, “I align with those who say we can beat Bafana Bafana in South Africa only if we use the right calibre of players and do the right thing tactically. When we face Cameroon, we need our best legs. The coach must go for players who can stand the aggressive and tough-playing Cameroonians; not school boys, because playing Cameroon is not a child’s play. I believe we can beat the Indomitable Lions if the right decisions are made by the coaching staff and the players.”

Amuneke advised Nigerians to show more support to the Super Eagles. The team need mass support from Nigerians to excel. Support can actually motivate them. Fans should know they have a very important role to play in the quest to beat Cameroon and go to Russia 2018.” He said Nigeria is blessed with a good coach in Gernot Rohr. “We have a very good coach who has been doing a wonderful job. We have to support him and show him love.”

Source: Vanguard