Sports

13, August 2022

End of a football era: Lionel Messi absent from list of Ballon d’Or nominees for 2022 ⁰

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi paid a high price for an underwhelming first season with Paris Saint-Germain when he was left off the 30-strong list for this year’s coveted football award.

Lucy Bronze, who was runner-up in 2019, is one of three members of England’s Euro-winning squad to be short-listed for the women’s award.

Messi, who won the title last year, had been an ever-present amongst the nominations since 2006 and a regular feature in the top three since 2007 with the exception of 2018.

But Messi, 35, has missed out on the 2022 award following his switch from Barcelona to the French capital.

A change in the format has also worked against the Argentine superstar with the Ballon d’Or no longer acknowledging the best player over a calendar year.

Instead, it is based on a season’s record highlighting “the individual performances” and the “decisive and impressive character” of the nominees, according to the criteria.

After leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2021, Messi was unable to stamp his genius on a PSG team desperate for a Champions League title.

The French champions suffered a last-16 exit at the hands of eventual winners Real Madrid.

In total, Messi scored only 11 goals for PSG with his relatively indifferent club form failing to impress France Football magazine, the organisers of the Ballon d’Or which will be awarded in Paris on October 17.

PSG teammate Neymar also misses out after a season where he scored 13 goals in 28 matches.

The remainder of the list of nominees throws up few surprises.

French international striker Karim Benzema is the overwhelming favourite after being the architect of Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League title.

He finished the European campaign with 15 goals.

Benzema is likely to become the fifth French winner after Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991) and Zinedine Zidane (1998).

In the 2021/2022 season, Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 appearances for a Madrid side who also won the Liga title.

His goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the European Super Cup took the 34-year-old to 324 goals for the Spanish giants.

That edged him ahead of Raul in the club’s all-time list with only Cristiano Ronaldo in front of him with 450.

“He’s in line for the Ballon d’Or. Is there any doubt? For me, no,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester United’s Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, is nominated again this year.

Benzema is joined on the 30-man list by teammates Thibaut Courtois, Casemiro, 2018 winner Luka Modric, Vinicius and former Chelsea player Antonio Rudiger.

Beaten Champions League finalists Liverpool have seven players nominated, the most of any club.

They are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, since transferred to Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk.

There is a 20-strong list for the women’s Ballon d’Or including English stars Bronze, Millie Bright and Arsenal forward Beth Mead who won the Golden Boot at the women’s Euro.

France have four nominations — Selma Bacha, Kadidiatou Diani, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Wendie Renard.

Defending champion Alexia Putellas, who was ruled out of the Euros with a last minute injury, and Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg, the first winner of the prize in 2018, are also in the running.

The 20 female nominees:

Selma BACHA (FRA, Lyon)

Aitana BONMATI (ESP, FC Barcelone)

Millie BRIGHT (ANG, Chelsea)

Lucy BRONZE (ANG, Manchester City puis FC Barcelone)

Kadidiatou DIANI (FRA, PSG)

Christiane ENDLER (CHL, Lyon)

Ada HEGERBERG (NOR, Lyon)

Marie-Antoinette KATOTO (FRA, PSG)

Sam KERR (AUS, Chelsea)

Catarina MACARIO (USA, Lyon)

Beth MEAD (ANG, Arsenal)

Vivianne MIEDEMA (HOL, Arsenal)

Alex MORGAN (USA, Pride d’Orlando puis Wave de San Diego)

Lena OBERDORF (ALL, VfL Wolfsburg)

Asisat OSHOALA (NGA, FC Barcelone)

Alexandra POPP (ALL, VfL Wolfsburg)

Alexia PUTELLAS (ESP, FC Barcelone)

Wendie RENARD (FRA, Lyon)

Trinity RODMAN (USA, Spirit de Washington)

Fridolina ROLFÖ (SUE, FC Barcelone)

The 30 male nominees:

Trent ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (ANG, Liverpool)

Karim BENZEMA (FRA, Real Madrid)

Joao CANCELO (POR, Manchester City)

CASEMIRO (BRE, Real Madrid)

Thibaut COURTOIS (BEL, Real Madrid)

CRISTIANO RONALDO (POR, Manchester United)

Kevin DE BRUYNE (BEL, Manchester City)

Luis DIAZ (COL, FC Porto puis Liverpool)

FABINHO (BRE, Liverpool)

Phil FODEN (ANG, Manchester City)

Erling HAALAND (NOR, Borussia Dortmund puis Manchester City)

Sébastien HALLER (CIV, Ajax puis Borussia Dortmund)

Harry KANE (ANG, Tottenham)

Joshua KIMMICH (ALL, Bayern Munich)

Rafael LEAO (POR, AC Milan)

Robert LEWANDOWSKI (POL, Bayern Munich puis FC Barcelone)

Riyad MAHREZ (ALG, Manchester City)

Mike MAIGNAN (FRA, AC Milan)

Sadio MANÉ (SEN, Liverpool puis Bayern Munich)

Kylian MBAPPÉ (FRA, Paris-SG)

Luka MODRIC (CRO, Real Madrid)

Christopher NKUNKU (FRA, RB Leipzig)

Darwin NUÑEZ (URU, Benfica puis Liverpool)

Antonio RÜDIGER (ALL, Chelsea puis Real Madrid)

Mohamed SALAH (EGY, Liverpool)

Bernardo SILVA (POR, Manchester City)

SON Heung-min (CDS, Tottenham)

Virgil VAN DIJK (HOL, Liverpool)

VINICIUS JUNIOR (BRE, Real Madrid)

Dusan VLAHOVIC (SER, Fiorentina puis Juventus)

Source: AFP

12, August 2022

FIFA moves up World Cup start date one day to November 20 ⁰

FIFA on Thursday officially brought forward the opening match of this year’s World Cup by one day to November 20 in a rare schedule change so that hosts Qatar feature in the gala game.

Football’s ruling executive universally approved the decision, FIFA said in a statement while Qatar said it would give unspecified help to fans affected by the change.

On the old schedule Qatar against Ecuador was to be the official inauguration match on November 21 but Senegal against Netherlands would be the first match of the day. England against Iran would have been second.

“Host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November as part of a stand-alone event,” said FIFA.

“The opening match and ceremony of this year’s tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one day following a unanimous decision taken by the bureau of the FIFA Council today.”

“The change ensures the continuity of a long-standing tradition of marking the start of the World Cup with an opening ceremony on the occasion of the first match featuring either the hosts or the defending champions,” added FIFA.

Under the new plan, the Group A game between Senegal and the Netherlands has been shifted from 1:00pm (1000 GMT) on November 21 to a 7:00pm start. There is no change to England’s opening Group B clash against Iran.

Qatari organisers, who have spent billions of dollars preparing for the event, immediately welcomed FIFA’s gesture.

“Opening the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Qatar,” said the organising committee in a statement.

“The world will be watching as our proud nation kicks-off the biggest sporting event in the world against Ecuador.

“The impact of this decision on fans was assessed by FIFA. We will work together to ensure a smooth tournament for the supporters affected by the change,” they added without giving details.

Official countdown clocks for the event were quickly changed. The 100 day countdown to the opening match will now start on Friday, instead of Saturday.

The decision was also announced as Qatar staged the first official match at the Lusail stadium which will host the December 18 World Cup final.

Before more than 10,000 fans, and with players engulfed in air conditioning to ward off stifling summer heat, Al Arabi beat Al Rayyan in the Qatar championship.

Source: AFP

11, August 2022

Football: Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt to win fifth UEFA Super Cup ⁰

Goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and a fifth UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

While Frankfurt were dangerous, particularly in the first half, Madrid’s experience and individual quality saw them through, as it did so often in their victorious 2021-22 Champions League campaign.

Frankfurt had the best of the early stages, with Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois forced into a stunning anticipation save when one-on-one with Daichi Kamada in the 14th minute.

Madrid almost got there first, when Benzema released Vinicius to curl past Kevin Trapp in the penalty box, only for Tuta to clear the ball off the line.

With Madrid dominating possession, Frankfurt mounted several counter-attacks until Madrid launched a counter of their own in the 37th minute.

A diving Trapp got his fingertips to a goal-bound shot by Vinicius, pushing the ball out for a corner.

From the ensuing play, Benzema linked with Casemiro just next to the right post.

The Brazilian sucked in several Frankfurt defenders and a diving Trapp, before heading back to an unmarked Alaba who scored from close range.

After the goal, Madrid stepped it up a gear and should have gone 2-0 up, with Benzema uncharacteristically dragging the ball wide with the goal begging in the 41st minute.

Vinicius, Benzema connect

Madrid’s quality became more obvious in the second half, with Trapp saving a deflected Vinicius shot in the 54th minute and Casemiro hitting the crossbar with 61 minutes gone.

Borussia Dortmund loanee Ansgar Knauff had a chance saved just minutes later, before Vinicius and Benzema combined to put Madrid 2-0 up.

Vinicius skated down the left before slicing the ball back seemingly unsighted for the Frenchman to hammer home from the edge of the box.

Frankfurt fought hard in the closing stages but Madrid were able to dominate the game to win their fifth Super Cup from eight attempts.

The clash, in Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium, was the first time these two sides had met in a European decider since 1960, when Madrid dismantled Frankfurt 7-3 through four goals to Ferenc Puskas and three to Alfredo di Stefano in the European Cup final.

The match also highlighted the growing gap between the Champions League and Europa League competitions, with Madrid being the ninth Champions League team to win the competition in the past 10 years.

Only city rivals Atletico Madrid have won the Super Cup when qualifying via a Europa League win in the past decade, having done so by beating Real in the 2018 edition.

In the 10 years before, Champions League and Europa League participants won five Super Cups each.

Frankfurt joined Hamburg (1977 and 1983), Dortmund (1997) and Bremen (1992) as losing Super Cup finalists from Germany, with only Bayern Munich (2013 and 2020) having won the showpiece event.

Source: AFP

9, August 2022

Irish Football: Colin O’Brien to nurture Bohemians Nickson Okosun ⁰

Republic of Ireland Mens Under-17s Head Coach Colin O’Brien will oversee a three-day training camp in Dublin this week as he continues preparation for the UEFA European U17 European Championship qualifiers in October.

O’Brien has called-up 22 players to the camp which will take place at the FAI National Training Centre, Abbotstown.

Ireland are set for a friendly double-header next month before heading to Norway in October where they face Norway, Belarus and Armenia.

Republic of Ireland Mens Under-17s squad

Goalkeepers: Darragh Foley (Treaty United), Jamie Gamble (Shelbourne), Jason Healy (Waterford)

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

Midfielders: Rhys Bartley (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Aidan Cannon (Celtic), Anthony Dodd (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Luke Kehir (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel McGrath (Bohemians), Elidon O’Boyle (Millwall), Naj Razi (Shamrock Rovers),

Forwards: Romeo Akachukwu (Waterford), Cian Morling (Brighton & Hove Albion), Taylor Mooney (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Nickson Okosun (Bohemians)

Culled from FAI

7, August 2022

FECAFOOT says Premier League forward Mbeumo to play for the Indomitable Lions ⁰

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said on Friday that Premier League outfit Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has switched allegiance from France to Cameroon.

Mbeumo’s decision came after “extensive discussions” with FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o, the FECAFOOT said in a statement.

“I’m impatient to begin this new adventure,” Mbeumo said in a tweet.

Mbeumo has made 10 appearances for France at the youth level and the FECAFOOT must obtain clearance from the FIFA to permit him to play for the Indomitable Lions.

FECAFOOT officials said they were confident such clearance will be quick to permit Mbeumo to feature for Cameroon at the World Cup in Qatar.

Source: Xinhaunet

5, August 2022

Letter to Samuel Eto’o on the creation of a football hall of fame in Cameroon ⁰

Dear Mr. Eto’o,

This is to propose to you the creation of a Football Hall of Fame in Cameroon which will not only immortalize our football heroes and history but will also highlight the role some of our great footballers like you played in bringing joy and glory to our country.

Your name recognition and your convening power can help mobilize resources for this project. The proposal, if well-developed, could also go a long way in helping FECAFOOT to put the spotlight on those whose sacrifice and determination made Cameroonians proud.

I have been reading the stories of some of our greatest footballers and I strongly hold that such a rich history could be well-documented and marketed to young Cameroonians who may be interested in football or who may just want to know those who played for their country in the past. Seeing those faces on TV and other information platforms could remind many that some of our football heroes are still around, and that we are eternally grateful and indebted to them.

Many Cameroonians have heard about Mbappe Samuel, Jean Moukoko (de Confiance) Toko Jean Pierre, Roger Milla, Mbida Gregoire, Kunde Emmanuel, Jean Manga Onguene and others who brought glory to our country, but as the years expire, many of these glorious stories also disappear just like our heroes of yesteryears.

The notion of a Hall of Fame is purely American, but it could be copied and adapted to our context. This Hall of Fame could be a massive structure with sub-components such as conference centers, exhibition centers, a hotel, and archives where researchers can have up-to-date information on Cameroon’s football history.

Cameroon is a nation wherein the beautiful game is adored and anything regarding this game, which is more of a religion, can help to create jobs and opportunities for our youths who are so passionate about this game. The organization of an event such as “The Night of the Greats” will help to bring together some of our football living legends who have been forgotten for decades.

Such an event should also bring together advertisers, politicians and businesspeople who may see the event as a place for them to be in the spotlight which should, of course, come with a huge price tag. The spotlight is never cheap and FECAFOOT can use it to make money which could be invested in footballing activities across the country.

FECAFOOT can put together a team of fine writers whose job will be to update documents and other information platforms relating to our football greats and heroes. This proposal could be a money spinner if well-developed and it could also bring a lot of hope to our youths whose love for the beautiful game is immeasurable.

Financial independence should be FECAFOOT’s long-term goal and events and proposals like this one should help the country’s football governing body to find new and innovative ways of achieving that independence.

I stand by for any details you may require to develop this idea.

Sincerely,

Joachim Arrey

arreyjoachim@hotmail.com

2, August 2022

Tiger Woods rejected $700-800 mn LIV offer, Greg Norman says ⁰

Tiger Woods turned down an offer of about $700-800 million to take part in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series, the rebel circuit’s chief Greg Norman said.

Fifteen-time major champion Woods has always made clear his opposition to the series which is threatening to tear golf apart and triggered accusations of Saudi “sportswashing”.

Speaking in an interview on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, LIV chief executive Norman was asked if it was true that the American golf legend was offered “700, 800, a billion dollars” to join the breakaway circuit.

“That number was out there before I became CEO so that number’s been out there, yes,” Norman, a former world number one who is the public face of LIV Golf, said in the interview at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, where the third LIV Golf Invitational was held last weekend.

“And look, Tiger is a needle-mover, right? So of course you are going to look at the best of the best.

“They had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO, so yes, that number is somewhere in that neighbourhood.”

The 46-year-old Woods has consistently declared his loyalty to the PGA Tour and said he has no intention of following the likes of other major winners, such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson in jumping ship to the upstart LIV.

“I disagree with it,” Woods said ahead of the British Open in St Andrews last month when asked about his fellow professionals who have been tempted to join the hugely lucrative but deeply controversial circuit.

“I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” Woods said.

“And who knows what’s going to happen in the near future with world-ranking points, the criteria for entering major championships?

“Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. We don’t know that for sure yet.”

The LIV series, spearheaded by Norman and bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, offers record prize money of $25 million per 54-hole event with shotgun starts and no cut.

Source: AFP

1, August 2022

England women beat Germany to win Euro 2022 ⁰

England won a major women’s tournament for the first time as Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal secured a 2-1 victory over Germany at a sold out Wembley on Sunday.

In front of a record crowd of 87,192 for any match in the history of the European Championships, Kelly prodded home a loose ball from close range to end English football’s 56-year wait for a World Cup or Euro victory.

England looked set for victory in the 90 minutes when substitute Ella Toone’s sublime chip over Merle Frohms put the hosts in front.

Germany showed remarkable resilience to bounce back as Lina Magull levelled 11 minutes from time.

But for once, England were not to be denied a major tournament success.

Kelly fought back from an anterior cruciate ligament tear to be fit in time for the tournament and made herself a national hero by being in the right place to pounce when Germany failed to clear a corner in the 110th minute.

Fortune did not favour Germany, who lost captain and top goalscorer Alexandra Popp to a muscle injury in the warm-up.

But England will feel their time for some luck was due as 12 months on from the Three Lions’ defeat on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 men’s final, the nation’s women went one better.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has now led the home nation to the title in back-to-back women’s Euros after leading the Netherlands to victory five years ago.

Under Wiegman, England are unbeaten in 20 games but were pushed to the limit by the eight-time winners despite missing the massive presence of Popp.

The Wolfsburg striker, who missed the entirety of Euro 2013 and 2017 through injury, had scored six goals in five games on route to the final.

Despite losing their major goal threat and facing the intimidating atmosphere of a full Wembley waiting to party, Germany showed remarkable resilience.

England were saved by desperate defending from a combination of Mary Earps, Leah Williamson and Millie Bright then prevented Marina Hegering from turning in a corner.

Wiegman did not make a change to the England starting line-up throughout the whole tournament as she resisted the clamour for Alessia Russo to start ahead of Ellen White up front.

Kelly strikes

White, England women’s all-time leading goalscorer, had the hosts best chance before the break but blazed Beth Mead’s cut-back over.

Germany started the second half even stronger and were inches away from the vital opening goal when Magull prodded just wide at the end of a flowing team move.

Strength in depth has been one of the key features of England’s success under Wiegman and the Dutch coach turned to Russo and Toone to turn the tide as they did in the quarter-final win over Spain.

The changes worked to perfection once more as Toone timed her run through the heart of the German defence to latch onto Keira Walsh’s through ball and showed the composure to coolly lift the ball over Frohms.

Lesser sides than the eight-time champions would have been broken, but Germany immediately pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The excellent Magull smashed a shot off the post and Popp’s replacement Lea Schueller should have converted the rebound rather than rolling the ball into the arms of the grateful Earps.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side were not to be denied, though, and fittingly it was Magull who sent the game to extra-time as the Bayern Munich midfielder slotted Tabea Wassmuth’s cross into the roof of the net.

The German attack was further blunted by Magull’s withdrawal at the end of 90 minutes due to a knock and both sides felt the pace of a physical encounter in the extra 30 minutes.

England just had enough left in the tank to finally get the job done as Germany failed to deal with the second ball from a corner and Kelly’s telescopic right leg flicked the ball home.

Source: AFP

30, July 2022

Football: Clinton N’Jie joins Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor on free transfer ⁰

The former Tottenham and Marseille star has agreed a two-year deal to join the ambitious club after leaving Dynamo Moscow by ‘mutual consent’

Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor have completed the transfer of Cameroon forward Clinton N’Jie from Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star has agreed a two-year deal with the club, joining as a free agent two weeks after the Russian side terminated his contract by ‘mutual consent.’

“As we continue with pre-season transfer, Demir Grup Sivasspor has signed a 2-year contract with right wing player Clinton N’Jie, who played for Dinamo Moscow in Russia last season,” stated a statement from the club on Friday.

The 28-yearold joins Sivasspor after three years in the Russian capital where he scored six goals in 66 appearances in all competitions.

N’Jie managed just one goal last season after featuring in 22 matches as Dynamo Moscow finished third in the Russian Premier League.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winner will hope to score more regularly for the Turkish side who finished last season with 52 league goals.

He will share the goal scoring burden with Ivory Coast international Max-Alaine Gradel, Mustapha Yatabare of Mali as well as Nigeria’s Leke James.

Yatabare was Sivasspor’s top scorer with 12 goals in 2021-22 with Gradel managing seven, one more than James, as Sivasspor finished 10th in the 20-team log but finished the campaign with silverware after defeating Kayserispor to win the Turkish Cup.

N’Jie is the club’s fourth signing this summer following the acquisition of right-back Murat Paluli and midfielder Robin Yalcin, both on free transfers, as well as Polish striker Karol Angielski from Radomiak Radom for €1 million.

Caped 42 times for Cameroon while scoring 10 goals, N’Jie came through the Brasserie Football Academy before joining Ligue 1 side Lyon in 2012, playing for two seasons after which he moved to Tottenham.

He spent one full season in North London where he made 14 appearances but was loaned out to French giants Marseille the following year.

N’Jie spent two further seasons at the Stade Velodrome, leaving for Russia in July 2019 after playing 83 games while scoring 16 goals.

He could make his Sivasspor debut on Saturday when they face champions Trabzonspor in the season’s curtain-raiser Turkish Super Cup. Sivasspor will open their Super Lig campaign against Gaziantep on August 6.

Source: Goal.com

30, July 2022

Request for Eto’o’s resignation: the verdict postponed again ⁰

The judges of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who were supposed to pronounce a verdict this Saturday on the case demanding the resignation of Samuel Eto’o as President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot), have again given a new date to communicate the decision.

Samuel Eto’o therefore remains president of Fécafoot. His opponents will have to wait another month before hoping to see their dream come true.

Indeed, expected this Saturday July 30, 2022, the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, has been postponed to August 31.

This is the third time that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has postponed its verdict in this case.

But this time, Me Delphine Deschenaux-Rochat, adviser in charge of this procedure, did not communicate the reasons for the postponement.

Some members of the Executive Committee of FECAFOOT and the Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee demand the resignation of Samuel Eto’o at the head of the Federation.

The reasons for this complaint against Eto’o

This comes after the Spanish courts sentenced the former Barcelona player to a 22-month prison term for “tax evasion”.

His opponents evoke a non-respect of article 36 of the statutes of FECAFOOT which stipulates that: any candidate for the position of member of the Executive Committee of FECAFOOT must meet the eligibility conditions below:

a) be a Cameroonian citizen enjoying his civic rights;

b) be at least 21 years old and not more than 70 years old;

c) not have been sentenced to a final custodial sentence without suspension of more than three (03) months;

d) not have been sentenced to a final custodial sentence with simple suspension or with probation for more than six (06) months.

By Haggai Fung Achuo