The 2018 FIFA World Cup host Russia will go into the tournament as the lowest ranked side of all the 32 participating teams.

In the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday, the Russians were placed 70^th after falling four places from their position in the May ranking.

Current world champions Germany retained their spot at the top, followed by Brazil in second place and Belgium in third.

The World Cup is set to kick off on 14 June, with a game pitting Russia against Saudi Arabia, the second lowest ranked side in the new FIFA ranking.

Africa will be represented at the tournament by Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

The Pharaohs, boosted by the imminent return of star player Mohamed Salah, will be the first side in action. They will play the second game of the tournament against Uruguay on 15 June, before Morocco takes on Iran later on the same day.

The African teams will be seeking to reach the semi-final stage for the very first time in the competition’s history.

Only three nations from Africa reached the quarter finals once each; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.

Here’s a look at the different group in which African teams were drawn;

GROUP A

• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Egypt
• Uruguay

GROUP B

• Portugal
• Spain
• Morocco
• Iran

GROUP D

• Argentina
• Iceland
• Croatia
• Nigeria

GROUP G

• Belgium
• Panama
• Tunisia
• England

GROUP H

• Poland
• Senegal
• Colombia
• Japan

Source: Africa cgtn

Egypt’s top striker Mo Salah is on track in his recovery to join the rest of his team for the start of the World Cup, said coach Hector Cuper on Tuesday.

The Argentinian coach, who took charge of the Egyptian team in March 2015 and led them to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year, was speaking in Brussels where the team is preparing for their final World Cup warm-up game against Belgium on Wednesday.

Salah scored 71 per cent of the Pharaohs’ goals in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, scoring in every one of their third-round victories. A shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final after a challenge by Sergio Ramos has raised concerns that the team might have to face their first-round opponents, in particular Uruguay on June 15, without him.

But Cuper said he was almost certain Salah would be fit for the match against Uruguay.

On the 19th they will play the hosts Russia, and will then finish their group stage against Saudi Arabia on the 25th.

Reuters

Nigeria’s coach named the final 23 man squad that will be representing the country at this month’s World Cup in Russia.

The squad was made public on Sunday before the team set off to their training camp in Austria, for their last warm up game against Czech Republic on June 6.

The Super Eagles lost a friendly game against England on Saturday and coach Gernot Rohr said the team will train hard to improve before their opening game against Croatia on June 16.

“This game shows we still have a lot of work to do to be ready for the World Cup. We have to make the best use of the 2 weeks left before our first game in Russia. It’s time to focus..no distractions,’‘ Rohr said.

Nigeria final squad

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo Coruna)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag), Elderson Echiejiole (Cercle Brugge), Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa), Abdullahi Shehu, William Ekong Troost (both Bursaspor)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Joel Obi (Torino), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor)

Forwards: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Simoen Nwankjwo (Crotone).

Source: Africa News

Nigerian fans are coming to terms with a loss to England in a friendly game at the Wembley on Saturday, just a day after their ‘beautiful’ jersey was the hottest sports story in the world.

First-half goals from Gary Cahill and captain Harry Kane helped England to victory, and Nigerians on social media shared their frustrations with the team that will be taking on on Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Croatia and Iceland at the World Cup.

The Super Eagles pulled a goal back shortly after the break through Alex Iwobi but only fleetingly threatened the hosts for much of the game.

The Super Eagles will hope to improve in the last warm up game against Czech Republic on June 6, while England are due to finish their preparations for the World Cup with a friendly against Costa Rica in Leeds on June 7.

Tunisia, Egypt register draws in World Cup warm up games

Meanwhile, England’s opening World Cup opponents Tunisia continued their preparations for Russia 2018 on Friday, with a draw against Turkey.

It was Tunisia’s second 2-2 draw this week, after they came back from 2-0 down against Portugal on Monday.

Egypt, who are playing without their injured star, Mohamed Salah could only manage a goalless draw against Colombia. The Pharaohs play their final warm-up match in Belgium on Wednesday before opening their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on 15 June.

Culled from Africa News

CAMEROON legend Geremi Njitap and CAF deputy secretary-general Anthony Baffoe will headline a host of the game’s former stars who will converge in Victoria Falls for the annual FIFPro Africa Division Congress that bursts into life tomorrow.

In a first for the country, the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, are hosting this year’s congress of the African Division of the World Footballers Association, which will run from tomorrow to Saturday.

FUZ president Desmond Maringwa revealed yesterday that Njitap and Baffoe will be among the 40 delegates expected to start trooping into the country today for the indaba that is key to the welfare of professional footballers across the continent.

The maiden congress to be staged by FUZ comes following a successful bidding by Maringwa’s leadership.

The former Dynamos and Zimbabwe midfielder has been working tirelessly to ensure the country’s footballers also receive the same kind of attention and treatment in line with current global trends. Maringwa said FUZ had deliberately chosen to stage the congress in Victoria Falls to also market brand Zimbabwe.

Sports Tourism has been on the ascendancy in Zimbabwe with a number of international football and other sporting legends visiting the country’s various resort areas. In the next few days, the spotlight will fall on Zimbabwe in as much as the focus will be on the leaders of player unions around Africa as they gather for their round table.

“The different FIFPro Divisions whether it is Europe, Asia or South America hold these congresses in their respective zones and I am glad that our bid to hold the Africa Division Congress was successful and hence we have 40 delegates coming to Victoria Falls.

“I think it is in recognition of the work that we have been doing of late that we were granted the right to host the congress and we are very happy about it as this also puts the country on the right map.

“We decided to host it in Victoria Falls as part of marketing our country and Africa at large and we believe that after the congress the delegates will be able to go back to their respective countries and talk about Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe as well as return with family and friends to visit our tourist resorts,’’ Maringwa said.

Maringwa also urged local footballers to take FUZ activities seriously and follow the other countries.

“We have come a long way in terms of our governance hence we are now able to host such a congress. I would urge local players to be members of this union and be part of the global village’’.

Maringwa, while not at liberty to reveal much about the topics they will discuss, hinted that “a lot of the key issues are internal but will be centred on player welfare and the strategies that will be used going forward’’.

ZIFA and Premier Soccer League officials are also expected to grace the opening ceremony of the congress tomorrow after which the delegates would go into closed door sessions.

Njitap, who won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000 and featured for a number of English clubs including Chelsea and Newcastle, completed a memorable season that year when he captained the Cameroon squad to Olympic gold at the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.

He also featured 108 times for the Indomitable Lions while his club football record includes stints in Paraguay and Turkey.

Baffoe, who resisted attempts to lure him to play for Germany and stuck with his native Ghana, has seen his administrative profile grow in leaps and was on November 16, 2017, appointed CAF deputy general-secretary in-charge of football and development.

The former defender was also part of the Black Stars squad that finished second in the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal and played alongside the likes of three-time Africa Player of the Year, Abedi Pele another legendary striker, Anthony Yeboah, and incumbent head coach of Ghana James Kwesi Appiah.

After his playing career, Baffoe used his broad popularity to set up and front a new TV magazine show devoted to youth football.

He was successful on German television in various sport programmes and also acting as host of Viasat One’s UEFA Champions League show in Ghana.

Legendary former Egyptian midfielder Magdi Abdelghani Sayed Ahmed, the first African player to score a penalty kick in the World Cup when helping the Pharaohs to a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands at the 1990 show-piece in Italy, will also be in Victoria Falls.

Source: herald.co.zw

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Source: Goal.com