Fit-again Cameroon international defender Ambroise Oyongo has agreed a four-year deal to join 2012 French champions Montpellier.

The 26-year-old, whose contract with MLS club Montreal Impact ends on 31 December, ruptured a tendon in June.

He becomes the club’s first major winter signing, according to club president Laurent Nicollin.

“It’s done, it’s signed,” Nicollin told French publication ‘Midi Libre,’

“He’s an endearing boy, who has not played since June and is only making a big return from his injury.

“I hope it’s going to be a nice surprise, he’s here to help us from this season, but most importantly to be starting from the next.”

It will be Oyongo’s first professional club in Europe in a career which began at Coton Sport in his native Cameroon, where he won three league titles between 2010 and 2014.

He had a brief spell with Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls in 2014, before switching to Montreal Impact in January 2015.

Oyongo scored three goals and provided six assists in 72 games for the MLS Eastern Conference outfit.

Capped 28 times by Cameroon scoring twice, Oyongo played all six games as the Indomitable Lions won their fifth African Cup of Nations title in Gabon early this year.

Source: BBC

The world’s greatest footballer, Diego Maradona has not remained insensitive to the sudden disappearance of the former Indomitable Lion, Benjamin Massing who died on Sunday at the age of 55 in his home in Edea, not far from the Douala metropolis.

In a tribute far beyond the borders of Cameroon, Diego Armando Maradona who played against Massing in the opening game of the FIFA 1990 World Cup in Milan, Italy said he and Massing were rivals in Italia 90.

“I want to remember the late Benjamin Massing. We were rivals at the beginning of Italy 90. Behind every football player, there is a man and a family. My respects for them” wrote the Argentinean on his Facebook page.

Football fans will remember the opening match of the FIFA World Cup in 1990 between Argentina, the reigning world champion and Cameroon in which the late Massing had a memorable performance against Diego Maradona, considered at the time as the best player in the world.

By Chi Prudence Asong with files from CIN

Alex Song is ready to leave Rubin Kazan because the Russian club’s players have not been paid for four months, Sky Sports News understands.

Sky Sports News understands the former Arsenal, Barcelona and West Ham midfielder is wanted by clubs in England and Europe.

Song, capped 49 times by Cameroon, joined Rubin as a free agent in August last year after his contract at Barcelona expired. The 30-year-old has scored once in 22 appearances for the Russian Premier League club.

Song has previously played for Bastia, Arsenal, Barcelona, West Ham and Charlton

Rubin have so far endured a poor 2017/18 campaign and currently sit 12th in the table having won only five matches.

Song started his career at French side Bastia before moving on loan to Arsenal in 2005.

He made the move permanent a year later and went on to make 215 appearances during his seven-year stay with the Gunners.

Song joined Barcelona in 2012 and helped the club win the La Liga title during his first season with the club.

He returned to England in 2014 by joining West Ham and spent the next two seasons on loan with the east London side, helping them achieve their highest Premier League points tally – 62- during the 2015/16 campaign.

Source: Sky Sports News

The RLEF board has awarded observer status to Cameroon Rugby League XIII, an association based in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital city.  “Rugby league will give Cameroonian youth strong human and social values; solidarity, courage and citizenship,” said CRLXIII chairman Samuel Tayou. “Physically, rugby league is well suited to Africans and the game is just spectacular.”

Tayou heads a seven-strong executive committee which was elected by its 26 Directors in 2017, in line with the French system. However, the Cameroon story is now in its sixth year and currently involves eight member clubs: Yaoundé-based Dragons RL, Bulls RL, Raiders RL, Petou Institut RL and Panthers RL; plus Nyété Bulls, Babadjou RL and Kumba RL. Another five clubs are in the process of being formed.

“Everything started in 2012 with (former Kangaroo international) Michael Hancock in Brisbane, who embraced my idea to set up rugby league in Cameroon,” explains Carol Manga, CRLXIII’s general and development manager, who worked in the medical profession in Australia. “Back then I just wanted to give something back to the youth that they could enjoy at home.

“I brought a bit of Cameroon to Australia and now I’ve taken a part of Australia back with me! I would like to thank everyone involved, especially the Australian and Cameroonian governments and rugby league officials Tas Baitieri, Brad Fittler and Remond Safi who supported this idea. Now it’s representing hope to many young people in Cameroon, a way to teach and educate through rugby league.”

The CRLXIII’s current two-year development plan concentrates on four objectives: obtaining government recognition, a target being supported by the French rugby league federation, which is already in correspondence with the Cameroonian sports ministry; the creation of four geographical groups to administer the sport regionally; establishing competition, youth, technical education and development commissions, which will be charged with growing the sport at grassroots level; and entering the Emerging Nations World Cup in Sydney in 2018.

Cameroon is the latest African country to be accepted by the RLEF following Ghana in 2014 and joining Burundi, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. RLEF Middle East Africa director Remond Safi is also reviewing an application from two other African countries, and is in contact with others interested in developing the sport there. He is also drawing up plans to take each country from observer to affiliate member status.

“Africa is an important region for the sport,” said Safi. “It has 1.2 billion people and the African Union recognises 54 countries. Rugby league’s universality will be strengthened through African development and we have the opportunity to partner with many more governments which should eventually lead to IOC and GAISF full member recognition.”

Source: Total Rugby League

The English Football Association has announced a comprehensive study to find out how the sport may cause brain damage in players.

The association announced on Thursday that a research is to be launched into the possible link between heading a football and brain damage.

The research, which will study the incidence of degenerative neurocognitive disease in approximately 15,000 former players, will start in January.

The launch of the study to unveil the potential risk of brain damage among football players followed a BBC documentary presented by former England captain Alan Shearer this month that  highlighted the case of former English footballer Jeff Astle, who died aged 59 in 2002.

An inquest found that heading a heavy leather football repeatedly during his career was a key factor in causing brain damage in the player..

“In the past decade there have been growing concerns around perceived increased risk of dementia through participation in contact sports. However, research data to support and quantify this risk have been lacking,” said Dr William Stewart.

Stewart provided medical evidence in the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Astle’s death, and is the lead expert in the study entitled Football’s Influence on Lifelong Health and Dementia Risk (FIELD).

“Through the FIELD study we hope to be able to provide some understanding of the long-term health impact of football,” he said.

Stewart and his team will be conducting the research from the University of Glasgow and the Hampden Sports Clinic.

“Dementia can have a devastating effect and, as the governing body of English football, we felt compelled to commission a significant new study in order to fully understand if there are any potential risks associated with playing the game,” it added.

Source: Presstv

Tearful goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon ended his 20-year Italy career in the saddest possible way on Monday, November 13, with their first failure to qualify for the World Cup in 60 years.

The 39-year-old Buffon said after Monday’s goalless playoff draw against Sweden, which ended Italy’s hopes of going to Russia, would be the last of his 175 appearances.

Buffon made his full international debut in 1997 against Russia the last time Italy took part in a playoff to qualify for the World Cup. Then, they scraped through 2-1 on aggregate.

In 2006, he helped Italy win the World Cup in Germany, beating France in the final in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

The 2010 and 2014 World Cups were less successful, Italy being eliminated in the group stages of the finals in South Africa and Brazil respectively, but Buffon remained with the team hoping for one last World Cup in Russia but it was not to be.

Source: Presstv

Zambia will take on Cameroon in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification CAF Group B match at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday.

Chipolopolo succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in Uyo last month, and their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time came to an end.

Zambia, who placed second in group B having collected seven points from five games, find themselves above much-fancied Cameroon and Algeria.

Promising youngsters Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu will be looking to impress for Wedson Nyirenda’s side, who will finish second if they secure a draw or win against Cameroon.

However, Zambia will be without Kondwani Mtonga. The defender has been sidelined as he is nursing an injury. “He is not available for now due to the injury. He needs to heal,” Zambia team manager Chris Chibuye said.

“We called 28 players and we need 23 for the game, so we have enough back up. “He came to be examined by the national team doctors and they have OK’d the treatment that he is receiving from the club.”

Meanwhile, Cameroon have endured a disappointing qualifying campaign which saw them fail to book their place in the finals. The Indomitable Lions overcame Algeria 2-0 at home in their previous qualifier, which sees them placed third on the group B standings with six points from five games.

Cameroon, who have participated in seven World Cup finals, will finish second in the group if they beat Zambia.

Source: This Day

Cameroon have launched their PUMA home kit, with the current squad teaming up with famous musician MHD and national team legend Roger Milla for the viral unveiling.

Milla became a global cult hero when he danced his way into the hearts of people all over the planet with iconic goal celebrations at the 1990 World Cup – a tournament that saw Cameroon become the first African team to reach the quarter finals.

The veteran forward had already played the 1982 World Cup, and had earlier retired from international football in the late 1980s. He later returned to play in 1994 at the age of 42, still a tournament record for the oldest outfield player.

Cameroon and PUMA have been no strangers to striking kits – cast your mind back to the sleeve-less shirt or the all-in-one jersey – and the latest is no different.

The shirt, in typical green and with a darker shade of sleeves, features a bold roaring lion graphic, bringing alive the spirit of the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon will play five Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to play against Comoros, Malawi and Morocco in 2018, despite having already qualified for the tournament as hosts.

Having won the 2017 edition, the Indomitable Lions will be looking to retain the trophy on home soil in 2019 and win back-to-back titles just as they did in 2000 and 2002.

Source: Sports Ilustrated

Houston Rockets basketballer Luc Mbah a Moute says he grew up as a son of a village chief in Cameroon, but tells BBC Sportsworld: “I never had a crown though”.

Moute was part of the Rockets team that beat reigning NBA champions the Golden State Warriors on the opening day of the season.

He also helps to find the next crop of African talent through training camps back home.

Source: BBC

Armand Carlos Netsing Takam (born 6 December 1980), best known as Carlos Takam, is a Cameroonian-French professional boxer and former WBC Silver heavyweight champion. As an amateur, he represented Cameroon in the super heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics. 2003, at the All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, Takam captured the bronze medal in his weight division.

He made his debut as a professional in France on December 10, 2005, when he defeated Zinidine Benmakhlouf of Belgium. He had a record of 17 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws and at 16 knockouts by the end of 2008.

Takam made his HBO debut on 18 January 2014 against Cuban Mike Perez. The fight started slow with little action in the first five rounds, however, Takam took over starting in round six, as he planted his feet inside and was able to work Perez over. The Cuban’s arms got heavier and heavier as the fight went on, and he didn’t seem to have his usual snap or speed. Takam was able to hurt Perez in round six and round ten.

On 16 October 2017, Takam, 33 years old, was made the replacement to fight Anthony Joshua when Joshua’s opponent Kubrat Pulev pulled out with a shoulder injury.

Since Takam and Nigerian born Anthony Joshua’s bout has been fixed both countries have been taken sides. While Cameroonians are all out rooting for their son Takam, the rave here in Nigeria is not in anyway lesser.

Ahead of Saturday when the centre stage will be set for the Nigerian-born Anthony Joshua to defend his WBA and IBF heavyweight title against the Cameroonian-born French boxer, the country is already agog with publicity and high spirit momentum.

Nigerians are anxiously looking forward to the bout with the same strong feeling they have for football. Nigerians support the Super Eagles of Nigeria no matter who their opponent is, and at what level. This explain the support Joshua is having back home in Nigeria.

Nigerians at Anthony Joshua’s hometown believes when their son as he has threatened to target Carlos Takam’s body as he plots to fight “in a phone box”. The IBF and WBA ‘super’ heavyweight champion is four-and-a-half inches taller than his late-notice opponent Takam this weekend in Cardiff, having initially prepared to fight the much rangier Kubrat Pulev.

“I’m going to stand in front of [Takam] and gun his tree down because that’s what he does,” Joshua exclusively told Sky Sports.

“A fighter like him wants to get on the inside and work you around the body. I can’t keep punching straight if a fighter is on my chest, so I need to work on my inside game and stand in a phone box. Those fights come down to will, heart and whoever wants it more.

“He disheartens you. Imagine throwing your best shots and they are still in front of you. It’s disheartening. To do that for 12 rounds takes a lot of energy so sometimes I’ll have to stand in front of him, trade him, and go to war. I need to break his will, to break his heart.

“Takam keeps on coming, keeps on coming. He works the body well and loves a left hook. I already thought he was a game, well-rounded fighter so what is going to happen when he comes here and has everything to take home with him? I’ll see an improved Takam.”

Cameroon-born Takam has been stopped just once in 39 fights, by Alexander Povetkin, and the durable challenger was compared to a “block of cement” by Joshua last week.

The world heavyweight champion said: “With Pulev it wasn’t about whipping him around the body, it was about staying off the line and boxing down the middle. Carlos is different – he can trade down the middle. My speed will beat his combinations. A good way to beat Carlos is to take his body out, that’s what Povetkin did to him.”

Joshua added: “[Takam] moves around a lot, and boxes well. As the rounds start going on he likes to trade, and throw hooks on the inside.

“I’ve had sparring partners who have tried to knock me out, and I’ve had to dig in and give them some body shots. So my inside game has definitely improved. If we stand on the inside and start trading, it will be entertaining.”

Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken confirmed they would revamp his final sparring sessions by bringing in training partners who would replicate Takam’s physique. McCracken said: “Anthony is good against shorter opponents, anyway.”

KweseTv has stormed the Nigeria-home town of Joshua for a live broadcast of the fight.The much-anticipated bout is billed for Saturday in Cardiff, Wales, and Kwese Tv would showcase the hometown of Joshua and her indigenes to the world while also simultaneously beaming live the fight in England.

The General Manager, Kwese Free Sports Nigeria, Chichi Nwoko who said this added that Kwese Tv would put in place a spectacular carnival-like show to celebrate the fight and to commemorate Sagamu Day.

Source: The Nation