World

12, February 2017

Chelsea FC legend Didier Drogba meets Ghanaian Head of State ⁰

Ivorian and Chelsea FC legend, Didier Drogba recently paid a surprise visit to Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. The Ghanaian Head of State himself announced the visit on his Face Book page with the precision that “… the legend of Chelsea football club Didier Drogba, paid me a surprise visit at the presidency in Accra.”

In the published photo, both men greeted with smiles on their faces. Nothing has so far filtered from the presidency about the visit of Drogba to Akufo-Addo.

By Chi Prudence Asong

29, January 2017

Eto’o double gives Antalyaspor victory ¹

Cameroon football legend, Samuel Eto’o, who had aroused doubts among fans of Antalyaspor by displaying with the shirt of a Russian club, Amkar Perm Fc, on which was written, “more info to follow”, brought joy into Antalyaspor as he netted two goals and dedicated victory to the fans.

The 35-year-old Cameroonian veteran scored a penalty before the break. In the second half, Samuel Eto’o scored his second goal at the start of the last quarter of an hour, giving the victory to his club.With two goals scored yesterday, Samuel Eto’o has eight goals this season.

By Chi Prudence Asong

13, January 2017

Yannick Noah’s dad going home to rest ⁰

The dad of world tennis star Yannick Noah who died on the 8^th of January in Yaoundé will be laid to rest on Wednesday January the 18^th 2017. The former international soccer player travelled to the land of his ancestors after a protracted illness.

Yannick Noah said his late dad Zacharie Noah was a winner man full of passion. He reportedly jumped into the central court defeating all security services some few seconds after his son won the Roland-Garros final in 1983 even before Yannick Noah could shake the hands of the umpire.

The late Zacharie Noah was born on the 2^nd of February 1937 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, then French protectorate. He was the son of Simon Noah, a Cameroonian who worked in the French cocoa plantations and was murdered at the age of 84 by a stray bullet during the attempted coup in 1985.

He attended high school at the Lycée Marcel Roby in St Germain-en-Laye, France before becoming a professional footballer with Stade Saint-Germain. He won the French cup final with Sedan in 1961. His professional career stopped abruptly in 1963 following a serious injury.

Zacharie Noah got married to Marie-Claire Noah and they were blessed with two daughters, Isabelle and Nathalie and tennis player Yannick Noah, born in 1960. He is the grandfather of basketball player Joakim Noah, Son of Yannick.

By Sonne Peter

10, January 2017

FIFA expands World Cup to 48 countries ⁰

FIFA has unanimously decided the World Cup will be expanded to feature 48 countries from 2026. The football body’s ruling council said on Tuesday the tournament would see 16 groups of three nations.

Approval for the increase from 32 teams meets President Gianni Infantino’s election pledge to expand the World Cup and could help fund extra money for FIFA’s 211 members.

It will mean the current tournament format of 64 matches increasing to 80, which FIFA has forecast will equate to $1bn (£823m) of extra income from broadcasting and sponsorship deals as well as ticket sales. The 2018 World Cup in Russia is expected to generate $5.5bn (£4.5bn) in income.

FIFA’s six confederations will find out in May how many extra places they will get for the competition. UEFA has said it wants 16 European teams in the 2026 tournament, which will likely be held in North America.

The CONCACAF region – which also includes Canada and Central America – has not hosted the World Cup since it was held in the US in 1994. Football bodies from the US, Canada and Mexico have held initial talks about co-hosting a bid for 2026.

Africa and Asia could also benefit from the expansion, with up to nine places each. Africa had five and Asia only four at the 2014 World Cup.

But FIFA has admitted it expects the standard of the tournament to drop with an additional 16 teams. In a research document sent out to members last month, it said the “absolute quality” of play – defined by high-ranked teams facing each other most often – is achieved by 32 teams.

Three-team groups mean one country will be left idle for the final group matches, and concerns have been raised over collusion between the two remaining teams. FIFA has said it could guard against result rigging by introducing penalty shootouts if group games end in draws.

Culled from Sky Sports News

8, January 2017

Father of Yannick Noah dies in Yaounde ⁰

It’s no longer a hoax! Zacharie Noah is dead. He left this world around 4 am this Sunday, January 8, 2017 from the aftermath of an illness age 79 years. His remains have been kept in the Yaounde General Hospital mortuary. Last month, state radio and television had reported falsely about the death of the former defender of the Stade Saint-Germain football team in France.

Zacharie Noah was the father of tennis player Yannick Noah, champion of Roland Garros in 1983, made his last public appearance less than three weeks ago when he took part in the ceremony of giving the first-trimester school reports to students Of the La Marfée school in Yaoundé.

CIN

2, January 2017

Samuel Eto’o: A Hull City target ⁰

At 35, Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o could be on his way back to England after an earlier spell with Chelsea FC (2013-2014) and Everton FC (2014-2015).

The Cameroonian forward is currently targeted by the English club Hull City who wants to reinforce a moribund attack to save themselves from relegation.

Eto’o currently plays with Antalyaspor, but the Turkish club is interested to lend him out for the rest of the season. If the loan deal goes through with Hull City, the former Indomitable Lions captain will be at his twelfth club in his career and his third in England.

21, December 2016

Yannick Noah outraged over Dad’s fake death announcement ⁰

International tennis star Yannick Noah has lashed out at the Cameroon Radio and Television for announcing that his 79 year old dad had died. Cameroon state media reported around 8:30 am today Wednesday, December 21, 2016 that Zacharie Noah had passed away in a Yaoundé hospital.

The Noah family registered a protest observing that “Zack is very sick. All his children have been in the country for two weeks now and even though he has problem talking, he has not breathed his last.” Zacharie Noah is a former defender of French football club, Paris Saint-Germain and successfully built an empire of sports heroes including Joakim Noah, the basketball player (seen today with his dad on a wheel chair) and Yannick Noah. CRTV that was visibly in a hurry to announce the “scoop” also quickly returned and correct the false information .

By Ebong Kingsley

17, December 2016

Cameroon named among world’s top nations exporting minor footballers ⁰

The International Center for Sport Studies (CIES) in its monthly report of December 2016 has revealed that 17% of Cameroonian footballers currently playing in 31 European championships migrated before they actually turned 18.

The report stated that Cameroon is the second African country after Nigeria and the 9th in the world where the migratory flow of young footballers under 18 is most intense. To be sure, the European continent remains the main destination for the export of minor footballers and many of them were transferred to their clubs before their 18th birthday.

Nigeria occupies the 7th position in the world and is the main exporter in Africa with a rate of 19% of international transfer before the players become mature. Brazil is the largest non-European country with 20%.

However, football’s world governing body (FIFA) prohibits the transfer of minors abroad. Nevertheless, there are three exceptions. “If the player’s parents move to the country of the new club for reasons other than football; Whether the transfer takes place within the European Union or within the European Economic Area for players aged 16 to 18; If the maximum border between the domicile of the player and the club does not exceed 100 km .”

By Chi Prudence Asong

14, December 2016

Eto’o honored in Turkey ¹

Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o currently playing with Antalyaspor of Turkey has been honored by the Antalya city council in Turkey. Eto’o was made honorary citizen and he received the award on Monday the 12^th of December 2016, after his club recorded a historic win over Fenerbahce on the 14^th day of the Turkish Championship.

“I am very grateful to Turkey and my Turkish brothers for all the affection they have shown me since the first day I arrived here. Special thanks to Antalyaspor, the city of Antalya and our Mayor Menderestürel. I am proud to be an honorary citizen! “Said Samuel Eto’o in a post posted on his Instagram account.

The Cameroonian striker officially joined Antalyaspor on Tuesday the 7^th of July 2015 from the Italian club of Sampdoria of Genoa. Antalyaspor is the eleventh club of his career.

By Chi Prudence Asong with files from CIN

12, November 2016

Russia 2018: Lions hope fading away ⁰

The indomitable Lions have recorded a second draw against the Zambian national team in Limbe today Saturday the 12th of November 2016. The visitors got the opening goal to the general surprise in the 35th minute through a Collins Mbesuma free kick. Aboubakar Vincent (on penalty) allowed the indomitable Lions to equalize just before the break (45 + 2). The second half produced nothing for the Green Red Yellow boys.

Nigeria has taken the upper hand after beating Algeria 2-0. Cameroon’s hope for Russia 2018 is fading away slowly but surely. Nigeria is provisionally first in Group B with 6 points, Cameroon 2nd with 2 points, Algeria and Zambia each have a point.

Cameroon Concord Sports Desk