Sports

27, September 2022

Football: Son’s header lifts South Korea past Indomitable Lions ⁰

Son Heung-min scored for the second straight match on Tuesday to lead South Korea to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in their latest World Cup tune-up.

The star striker headed the ball home after an initial shot from Kim Jin-su was deflected by goalkeeper Andre Onana in the 35th minute, and South Korea then hung on for the win in front of 59,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

On Friday Son had netted a free kick in a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica.

South Korea and Cameroon, who are both Qatar-bound for the World Cup, had few serious chances at goal prior to Son’s header.

Lee Jae-sung’s diving attempt in the fifth minute forced a tough save from Onana, while Cameroon’s Moumi Ngamaleu fired a right-footed shot over the net in the 26th.

Cameroon nearly levelled the score in the 43rd minute when Bryan Mbeumo’s effort ricocheted off the body of defender Kwon Kyung-won and struck the crossbar.

South Korea had a chance to double their lead two minutes into the second half but Jeong Woo-yeong’s header sailed over the net.

The Cameroonians’ push for an equaliser proved futile, with Olivier Ntcham sending his left-footed shot right of the net in the 51st minute.

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu helped the Koreans keep Cameroon at bay, proving up to the task when Martin Hongla tested him with a right-footed shot in the 70th.

Son came close to grabbing a brace with an 87th-minute free kick but the shot landed on top of the goal netting.

Source: AFP

26, September 2022

English Football: Championship side Watford appoint Bilic as manager after Edwards sacking ⁰

Championship club Watford on Monday appointed former West Ham and West Brom manager Slaven Bilic as their new coach after sacking Rob Edwards.

The club announced the arrival of Bilic minutes after reporting that Edwards had been fired after just 11 games in charge in all competitions.

The team, relegated from the Premier League last season, is 10th in the Championship, the second tier of the English game, with three wins from 10 league games.

“As with all decisions taken by the board, I believe this change to be in the best interests of the club,” said Hornets owner Gino Pozzo.

“We felt Rob had enough time to show us the identity of his team. However, performances haven’t reflected our hopes and ambitions.

“Now we must move forward, and, in Slaven Bilic, we have secured the services of an experienced coach who has recent experience of promotion to the Premier League.”

Former Croatia international and national team coach, Bilic, 54, guided West Brom to promotion in the 2019/20 season and has since managed in China.

Source: AFP

21, September 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has no plans to retire any time soon ⁰

Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on reaching Euro 2024 and the Portugal and Manchester United forward says he has no plans to retire any time soon.

“My journey is not over yet, you’re going to have to put up with ‘Cris’ for a while longer,” said Ronaldo on Tuesday, after receiving a trophy at the Portuguese football federation’s (FPF) Quinas de Ouro awards in Lisbon for being the top national team goalscorer of all time.

“I want to be part of the World Cup and the Euros … I feel very motivated. My ambition is great,” the 37-year-old said.

Ronaldo has scored 117 goals in 189 Portugal appearances and is expecting to play in his 10th major international tournament for his country at Qatar 2022.

The forward’s brace against the Republic of Ireland in September 2021 allowed him to overtake Iranian great Ali Daei’s haul of 109 goals as the record international scorer.

Ronaldo eventually stayed at Manchester United this summer despite speculation he would switch clubs, and despite being benched for Premier League matches he scored in the team’s last outing at Moldovan minnows FC Sheriff in the Europa League.

Source: AFP

20, September 2022

Irish Football: Under-17s Head Coach Colin O’Brien names squad for Dutch test ⁰

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17s Head Coach Colin O’Brien has named a 20-man squad for a double-header of friendlies against The Netherlands this week.

Ireland have travelled to North Brabant and will play The Dutch tomorrow and Friday.

The games will form part of the preparation for the first round of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers in Norway next month. Ireland are drawn in Group 10 with Armenia, Belarus and Norway.

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17 Squad

Goalkeepers: Joe Collins (Bray Wanderers), Jason Healy (Waterford)

Defenders: Daniel Babb (UCD), Jake Grante (Crystal Palace), Sean Mackey (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Adam O’Halloran (Galway United), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers)

Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Waterford), Anthony Dodd (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Luke Kehir (St. Patrick’s Athletic),Danny McGrath (Bohemians), Gabriel Gartside-Kelly (Manchester City), John O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Freddie Turley (Shamrock Rovers)

Forwards: Trent Kone-Doherty (Liverpool), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Nickson Okosun (Bohemians), Ike Orazi (Shamrock Rovers), Naj Razi (Shamrock Rovers), Shaun Wade (Chelsea)

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17s Fixtures

Wednesday, September 21 | The Netherlands MU17 v Republic of Ireland MU17, Kranenhof, Velp, The Netherlands, KO 6pm (Irish time)

Friday, September 23 | The Netherlands MU17 v Republic of Ireland MU17, Kranenhof, Velp, The Netherlands, KO 6pm (Irish time)

Culled from the FAI

20, September 2022

French football to review players’ image rights after Mbappé boycott ⁰

The French Football Federation said it will review its agreement on players’ image rights following media reports that striker Kylian Mbappe had refused to take part in sponsor activities.

ESPN reported Mbappe refused to participate in a team photo and sponsor activities scheduled for Tuesday because he does not want to endorse some brands, including fast food chains and betting companies, that are under contract with the national team.

“I have decided to not take part in the photo shoot after the French federation’s refusal to change the image rights agreement with the players,” Mbappe said in a statement, according to ESPN.

The French federation said on Twitter on Monday that it held discussions with the team’s executives, the president, the coach and a marketing manager.

“… The French Football Federation undertakes to review, as soon as possible, the image rights agreement between it and its selected players,” the statement added.

“The FFF is looking forward to working on the outlines of a new agreement that will allow it to secure its interests while taking into account the legitimate concerns and convictions unanimously expressed by its players.”

France host Austria in the Nations League on Thursday and play at Denmark three days later.

Source: REUTERS

14, September 2022

Indomitable Lions: Bryan Mbeumo has been called up to Rigobert Song’s squad ⁰

Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo has been called up to the Cameroon squad for their two upcoming friendlies.

Bryan switched his international allegiance from France to Cameroon in August and has now received his first call-up to Rigobert Song’s squad.

The 23-year-old has played a key part in our good start to the season, having scored in wins over Manchester United and Leeds.

Cameroon will play against Uzbekistan in Goyang, South Korea on Friday 23 September, before facing South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday 27 September.

Those two friendlies are in preparation for Cameroon’s World Cup campaign later this year, after they qualified for the tournament in Qatar in dramatic circumstances in March.

Karl Toko Ekambi scored a 124th-minute winner against Algeria in their World Cup play-off tie, which saw them go through on away goals following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

It sealed an eighth World Cup finals appearance for the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon have been drawn in Group G with Switzerland, Serbia and five-time world champions Brazil at the World Cup, and will kick off their campaign against Switzerland on Thursday 24 November.

Source: BrentfordFCnews

13, September 2022

Indomitable Lions: Rigobert Song names 26-man squad for pre-World Cup friendlies ⁰

Cameroon’s national football team head coach Rigobert Song named on Monday his 26-man squad for friendlies against South Korea and Uzbekistan.

Vincent Aboubakar will captain the team, which also includes Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, who switched his international allegiance from France to Cameroon in August. Mbeumo will be making his first appearance for the Indomitable Lions.

“We need players with experience. Georges Mandjeck and Nicolas Nkoulou are very dynamic. They will help the new generation of players grow,” Song told a press conference. “They are a plus to the team, and they are passionate and ready to serve the nation.”

Cameroon will play against Uzbekistan in Goyang, a northern city of South Korea on September 23 before facing South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 27.

“South Korea also qualified for the World Cup. The game will be a plus for both teams. There is quality in both teams and the friendly game in the days ahead will be an opportunity for the South Koreans and Cameroonians to work on their adjustments ahead of the World Cup,” Song added.

Cameroon has been drawn in Group G with Switzerland, Serbia and five-time world champions Brazil at the FIFA World Cup and will kick off their campaign against Switzerland on November 24.

Source: Xinhuanet

13, September 2022

Samuel Eto’o says Africans must defend continent and Nations Cup timing ⁰

Former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o says it is the duty of Africans to defend the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2021 tournament was held in Cameroon in January and February this year, in the middle of the European season, to avoid the rainy season in the Central African nation.

The timing of the Nations Cup has led to repeated disputes with clubs who have been forced to release players, and the issue will persist after the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast were moved to early 2024 because of weather concerns.

Napoli owner and President Aurelio de Laurentiis said the Italian club would avoid signing any more Africans unless they agree not to play in the biennial tournament – with Senegal coach Aliou Cisse hitting back that international football should never play second fiddle to club commitments.

Eto’o, who had spells at Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan and won the Nations Cup twice with the Indomitable Lions, has backed Cisse’s stance.

“We are Africans – nobody else can defend our continent better than ourselves,” Eto’o, who is now president of Cameroon’s football federation (Fecafoot), told BBC Sport Africa.

“Before the Nations Cup in Cameroon, I said that it’s important to play in January-February, something that obviously didn’t please some other people.

“But this is a fact in Africa. We have the rainy season in June, July, August, even early September in our continent. It’s just a matter of getting on the same page with others and explaining things.”

“I am rather happy to see children of this continent being aware that nobody else will defend our continent for us.”

However, Eto’o says that staging this year’s World Cup in the middle of the European season shows that concessions can be made by clubs.

Players must be released for the finals in Qatar on 14 November, with the first match six days later and the final on 18 December.

England’s Premier League will have its last pre-World Cup fixtures on the weekend of 12-13 November, and then resume on 26 December.

“We can notice for the first time in history that the World Cup will be played in November and December,” Eto’o, 41, said.

“It’s possible to make it happen.”

Culled from the BBC

10, September 2022

Biya’s Anglophone Secretary receives FIFA World Cup trophy ⁰

The FIFA World Cup trophy was presented to one of President Paul Biya’s Anglophone secretaries passing for a Prime Minister and Head of Government Joseph Dion Ngute.

The FIFA delegation which presented the trophy on Thursday September 8, 2022 in Yaoundé was led by former French footballer David Trezeguet and Patrice Bila; vice President of the of The Coca-cola company for West and Central Africa, official sponsors of the trophy tour.

The Former French international and 1998 World Cup winner; David Trezeguet reportedly saluted Cameroon’s passion for football and the legendary achievements of the Indomitable Lions.

By Isong Asu with files from Rita Akana

9, September 2022

Premier League: Fixtures postponed following Queen Elizabeth II’s death ⁰

All Premier League matches this weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, it was announced on Friday.

English top flight clubs took the decision despite guidance from the British government that cancelling sporting events was not compulsory during a period of national mourning.

“At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the Premier League said in a statement.

“To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game.”

All games in the English Football League, Women’s Super League and Scottish professional leagues have also been postponed.

Other sporting action in Britain scheduled for Friday, including Test cricket and European golf’s PGA Championship, has been cancelled as a mark of respect.

Those events could restart over the weekend.

However, sporting chiefs have been advised to avoid any clash with a state funeral, the date of which has yet to be announced.

“There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the national mourning period,” the government said in a guidance statement.

“This is at the discretion of individual organisations. As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the state funeral.”

Fixture crunch

With fixtures next weekend potentially impacted by the policing operation in London for the funeral, football authorities face the headache of a fixture pile-up in a season already congested by a mid-season World Cup.

Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and West Ham’s game against FCSB in the Europa Conference League at the London Stadium went ahead on Thursday with pre-match tributes.

The British Horseracing Authority said there would be no races on Saturday — extending cancellations into a third day.

King’s Lynn, the only horse owned by the queen entered to run this weekend, will not run at the Curragh on Sunday.

Racing will return on that day, with the programme featuring the St Leger, one of Britain’s five Classic races, which the queen won in 1977 with her filly Dunfermline.

A decision is yet to be made on any rescheduling of the third Test between England and South Africa at the Oval. Thursday’s first day was a washout.

England captain Ben Stokes said he would be “honoured” to play in the queen’s memory with the possibility the match could be extended into Tuesday to make up for lost time.

“She loved sport, be honoured to play in her memory,” Stokes tweeted in response to a question on whether sporting events should go ahead.

Organisers of the PGA Championship said they were “hopeful” of resuming play over the weekend at Wentworth, near London.

Play in the opening round was suspended on Thursday and postponed on Friday.

The final three stages of Cycling’s Tour of Britain were cancelled on Thursday, with Spain’s Gonzalo Serrano declared the winner.

Tributes poured in from sports stars in Britain and across the globe after the queen’s death was announced on Thursday.

Roger Federer hailed Queen Elizabeth II for her “elegance” and “grace” while Brazilian football great Pele said her “legacy will last forever”.

England football captain Harry Kane wrote on Twitter: “The queen was an amazing inspiration and will be remembered for her incredible years of service to this country. Rest in peace, Your Majesty.”

Source: AFP