Kevin-Prince Boateng has made it into Milovan
Rajevac's final 23-man squad for South Africa
2010.
The 23 year-old attacker is yet to be capped for
Ghana after securing his nationality switch from
Germany.
Rajevac confirmed his decision today at Ghana's
training camp in Paris ahead of the Black Stars'
departure to Rotterdam tomorrow for the friendly
against Holland on June 1.
The Serbian coach cut six players from his squad
today, with goalkeeper Stephen Adams, Eric
Addo, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Laryea
Kingston, Haminu Draman and Bernard
Kumordzi all omitted.
Ghana will also play Serbia, Australia and
Germany in Group D.
Ghana squad
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson, Daniel Agyei,
Stephen Aholu
Defenders: John Paintsil, John Mensah, Samuel
Inkoom, Hans Adu Sarpei, Rahim Ayew, Lee
Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Jonathan Mensah
Midfielders: Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony
Annan, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng,
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Stephen Appiah, Andre
Ayew, Derek Boateng
Attackers: Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe,
Dominic Adiyiah, Mathew Amoah
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Christopher Opoku: GHANA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD: SENTIMENT OVER REALISM
So finally, Ghana’s provisional World Cup squad has been named. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t surprised with most of the names on the list and indeed, even though in my last few articles, I had indicated why I thought certain players should not be in the team, checks carried out clearly indicated that most of such players would make the squad. As usual, I will attempt to provide a critique of the squad.
Before I go on to the squad, player for player, it is time to make some observations and ask some tough questions. It would appear that some of the players selected made it into the squad based on past achievements more that anything else. There is no doubt that the likes of Stephen Appiah, Richard Kingston, Laryea Kingston, John Mensah and Michael Essien are great players in their pomp, but are they in their pomp? The records speak for themselves. I know I might be sounding like a broken record, but full fitness and regular playing time are to very important factors that should go into selecting a good World Cup squad, unless the team in question is travelling to make up the numbers.
To cite a few examples, England coach Fabio Capello is considering leaving Rio Ferdinand out of the English World Cup squad if he fails to prove his fitness and is indeed trying to convince Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher to come out of retirement. Ferdinand happens to be England captain and if Capello is considering dropping him on grounds of fitness, then it is a measure of how serious most of the competing nations are. Ronaldo is the all-time World Cup top scorer and even though he is regularly banging in the goals for Corinthians in Brazil (12 in 20 games as of last month), he has admitted that he might not make it into the Selecao on grounds of a comparative lack of playing time. Remember that he single handedly won the World Cup in 2002 by scoring eight goals. Rene Adler was to have been Germany’s number one goalie in South Africa and indeed after suffering his shoulder injury, he is quoted as saying that he could play through the pain barrier but head coach Joachim Loew decided not to risk him, a decision Adler agreed with. Adler has since been left out and on the basis of consistency, veteran keeper Hans Joerg Butt, who has been ever present for Bayern Munich this season, has been called up in Adler’s place. These are just a few examples of the sort of barometers several coaches are using to pick squads capable of competing at the highest levels.
This brings me to the afore-mentioned players as per the Black Stars. I am currently getting conflicting reports about whether Michael Essien will be fit in time for the World Cup. On one hand, I am told that his participation in South Africa is looking extremely doubtful; on the other, I am getting reports that he is finally over his injury problems and will be available to play in Ghana’s pre-World Cup matches. There is no doubt that he is by far Ghana’s best player and if there is any chance that he can play, it would be a major boost to the Black Stars, but the Chelsea midfielder has been quoted as saying that he would prefer to compete at the World Cup fully fit and that he might be forced to miss the trip to South Africa to save his long-term career. Add that to the fact that he was recovering from an injury when he travelled to Angola and after 45 minutes against Ivory Coast, he suffered the knee injury that has kept him out since then, and surely the conclusion is that if he is not fully fit, then perhaps it is time to plan for the World Cup without him!
The whole world and his wife know that Stephen Appiah has not played competitive club football for close to two years. His displays for the Black Stars during the World Cup qualifiers clearly reflect that fact and whilst he was instrumental in Ghana’s blaze of glory four years ago in Germany, it would be counter-productive to include him in Ghana’s final squad because he is not match-fit! The World Cup is a competition that leaves no room for error, much less lack of match fitness and whilst we all applaud Appiah’s exploits over the years, his selection into the team smacks of an attempt to reward him for past service to the Black Stars, a move that could blow up in the face of the selectors.
In my last piece, I included John Mensah in my opinionated World Cup squad. However, since that time, he returned to Sunderland’s starting line up against Manchester United and limped off after 18 minutes. I still maintain that he is one of the best in the business when fit, but will he be fit, when corrective surgery is clearly needed for his back problems? Do not forget that former Italy defender Alessandro Nesta had the same issues and had to stay out of football for over a year after surgery and now, Marcelo Lippi is still making overtures to convince Nesta to return to the national fold. Perhaps it is time for Mensah himself to bite the bullet and admit that he will not be fit enough for South Africa, otherwise he could put his entire career at risk, which would be a pity because at 27, his best years are ahead of him and perhaps the 2014 World Cup would be a good time for him to show his full fitness after undergoing surgery and playing for some time.
My stance on Richard Kingston has generated a lot of debate, with some arguing that he is very experienced and it would be catastrophic to leave him out. Well for me, what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander and if I am arguing that Appiah should be left out on the basis of lack of playing time, then the same argument should apply to ‘Olele’, who has not played a competitive match for Wigan this season. He clearly has fitness issues which were evident in Angola and even though he played through the pain barrier, it ultimately cost him the chance to represent Ghana against Bosnia a few months back. I am sure that Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac also has doubts about Kingston’s fitness and that is why he has called up four goalkeepers in the provisional squad. For me, I believe that Stephen Ahorlu, Daniel Agyei and Stephen Adams have all been in good form and should go to South Africa as Ghana’s three goalkeepers.
Laryea Kingston has had a mixed season for Heart of Midlothian. Fitness issues, a run in with the former coach and lack of playing time amongst other things have conspired to lower his performance levels and only 9 starts for the Scottish club tells the story. His omission from Heart of Midlothian’s 0-0 draw with Dundee United last week would suggest that new manager Jim Jeffries also has doubts over his fitness. I remember including him in my ‘stand-by’ seven, but I do not think he should travel to South Africa.
Eric Addo made it into Ghana’s provisional squad and whilst he is one of Ghana’s most experienced players, 12 starts in the Dutch Eredivisie out of 34 is a less than satisfactory output for Roda JC and an extended period on the bench does not bode well for the defensive midfielder turned central defender. His tactical awareness has been blunted by a lack of pace and in his last few games for Ghana, it was evident. Poor positioning on his part led to Bosnia’s equalizer against Ghana and for me, he should also miss the trip.
I maintained last time out that Haminu Draman should not make the trip and my stance remains unchanged because he has not played this season. He has been on the bench only once this season and his penchant for taking the wrong option at times is a mark against him. He might have scored in Germany, but that was then. This is now.
I am also concerned about Rahim Ayew’s inclusion into the squad because he has been in and out of the Zamalek team, and even though he has the ability to play in different positions and so will provide options, I am just wondering whether he is well-conditioned to play in South Africa. I reckon the jury is out on that one. How Dominic Adiyiah, who has yet to break into the AC Milan first team was chosen ahead of Eric Bekoe, who has had a prolific season with Petrojet in Egypt I will never know and at any World Cup, firepower is very important.
I omitted Derek Boateng from my list the last time out, but I will wholeheartedly agree with the decision to include him. He has had a consistent season with Getafe and with Emmanuel Agyemang Badu set to recover just in time for the World Cup, perhaps he might get a starting place alongside Anthony Annan in midfield. I am also delighted to see that Bernard Yao Kumordji’s consistency in the Greek Super Liga has been rewarded with a call up and he remains a useful option.
I was also surprised to see Jonathan Mensah’s name in the list. He was a regular for Free State Stars before a failed move to Udinese. He has been out of the reckoning for the South African side since then and I would have thought that some of our locally based central defenders like Karim Alhassan, Awudu Nafiu and John Kuffuor would have been picked as cover for Lee Addy and Isaac Vorsah.
With all this to chew on, one cannot help but ask the following questions; what target have we set for ourselves in South Africa? (GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi believes Ghana can win the World Cup whilst Rajevac is targeting a second round place) What are the criteria for selection into the team? Have past accomplishments and experience become more important than full match fitness and consistency? Indeed, are e going to South Africa just to make up the numbers or are we bent on achieving anything all? Are we still being sentimental instead of wearing a cloak of realism? I guess we all have to wait until the final 23 is named and Ghana plays in the pre-World Cup friendlies. Whilst I would be happy to be proved wrong as per fitness issues of certain players, for now the above remains my opinion on the matter and only time will tell whether the Black Stars are being prepared adequately for the World Cup or whether this is a rerun of the mythical soap opera entitled , ‘He has done it before in the past, so…….’.
Before I go on to the squad, player for player, it is time to make some observations and ask some tough questions. It would appear that some of the players selected made it into the squad based on past achievements more that anything else. There is no doubt that the likes of Stephen Appiah, Richard Kingston, Laryea Kingston, John Mensah and Michael Essien are great players in their pomp, but are they in their pomp? The records speak for themselves. I know I might be sounding like a broken record, but full fitness and regular playing time are to very important factors that should go into selecting a good World Cup squad, unless the team in question is travelling to make up the numbers.
To cite a few examples, England coach Fabio Capello is considering leaving Rio Ferdinand out of the English World Cup squad if he fails to prove his fitness and is indeed trying to convince Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher to come out of retirement. Ferdinand happens to be England captain and if Capello is considering dropping him on grounds of fitness, then it is a measure of how serious most of the competing nations are. Ronaldo is the all-time World Cup top scorer and even though he is regularly banging in the goals for Corinthians in Brazil (12 in 20 games as of last month), he has admitted that he might not make it into the Selecao on grounds of a comparative lack of playing time. Remember that he single handedly won the World Cup in 2002 by scoring eight goals. Rene Adler was to have been Germany’s number one goalie in South Africa and indeed after suffering his shoulder injury, he is quoted as saying that he could play through the pain barrier but head coach Joachim Loew decided not to risk him, a decision Adler agreed with. Adler has since been left out and on the basis of consistency, veteran keeper Hans Joerg Butt, who has been ever present for Bayern Munich this season, has been called up in Adler’s place. These are just a few examples of the sort of barometers several coaches are using to pick squads capable of competing at the highest levels.
This brings me to the afore-mentioned players as per the Black Stars. I am currently getting conflicting reports about whether Michael Essien will be fit in time for the World Cup. On one hand, I am told that his participation in South Africa is looking extremely doubtful; on the other, I am getting reports that he is finally over his injury problems and will be available to play in Ghana’s pre-World Cup matches. There is no doubt that he is by far Ghana’s best player and if there is any chance that he can play, it would be a major boost to the Black Stars, but the Chelsea midfielder has been quoted as saying that he would prefer to compete at the World Cup fully fit and that he might be forced to miss the trip to South Africa to save his long-term career. Add that to the fact that he was recovering from an injury when he travelled to Angola and after 45 minutes against Ivory Coast, he suffered the knee injury that has kept him out since then, and surely the conclusion is that if he is not fully fit, then perhaps it is time to plan for the World Cup without him!
The whole world and his wife know that Stephen Appiah has not played competitive club football for close to two years. His displays for the Black Stars during the World Cup qualifiers clearly reflect that fact and whilst he was instrumental in Ghana’s blaze of glory four years ago in Germany, it would be counter-productive to include him in Ghana’s final squad because he is not match-fit! The World Cup is a competition that leaves no room for error, much less lack of match fitness and whilst we all applaud Appiah’s exploits over the years, his selection into the team smacks of an attempt to reward him for past service to the Black Stars, a move that could blow up in the face of the selectors.
In my last piece, I included John Mensah in my opinionated World Cup squad. However, since that time, he returned to Sunderland’s starting line up against Manchester United and limped off after 18 minutes. I still maintain that he is one of the best in the business when fit, but will he be fit, when corrective surgery is clearly needed for his back problems? Do not forget that former Italy defender Alessandro Nesta had the same issues and had to stay out of football for over a year after surgery and now, Marcelo Lippi is still making overtures to convince Nesta to return to the national fold. Perhaps it is time for Mensah himself to bite the bullet and admit that he will not be fit enough for South Africa, otherwise he could put his entire career at risk, which would be a pity because at 27, his best years are ahead of him and perhaps the 2014 World Cup would be a good time for him to show his full fitness after undergoing surgery and playing for some time.
My stance on Richard Kingston has generated a lot of debate, with some arguing that he is very experienced and it would be catastrophic to leave him out. Well for me, what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander and if I am arguing that Appiah should be left out on the basis of lack of playing time, then the same argument should apply to ‘Olele’, who has not played a competitive match for Wigan this season. He clearly has fitness issues which were evident in Angola and even though he played through the pain barrier, it ultimately cost him the chance to represent Ghana against Bosnia a few months back. I am sure that Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac also has doubts about Kingston’s fitness and that is why he has called up four goalkeepers in the provisional squad. For me, I believe that Stephen Ahorlu, Daniel Agyei and Stephen Adams have all been in good form and should go to South Africa as Ghana’s three goalkeepers.
Laryea Kingston has had a mixed season for Heart of Midlothian. Fitness issues, a run in with the former coach and lack of playing time amongst other things have conspired to lower his performance levels and only 9 starts for the Scottish club tells the story. His omission from Heart of Midlothian’s 0-0 draw with Dundee United last week would suggest that new manager Jim Jeffries also has doubts over his fitness. I remember including him in my ‘stand-by’ seven, but I do not think he should travel to South Africa.
Eric Addo made it into Ghana’s provisional squad and whilst he is one of Ghana’s most experienced players, 12 starts in the Dutch Eredivisie out of 34 is a less than satisfactory output for Roda JC and an extended period on the bench does not bode well for the defensive midfielder turned central defender. His tactical awareness has been blunted by a lack of pace and in his last few games for Ghana, it was evident. Poor positioning on his part led to Bosnia’s equalizer against Ghana and for me, he should also miss the trip.
I maintained last time out that Haminu Draman should not make the trip and my stance remains unchanged because he has not played this season. He has been on the bench only once this season and his penchant for taking the wrong option at times is a mark against him. He might have scored in Germany, but that was then. This is now.
I am also concerned about Rahim Ayew’s inclusion into the squad because he has been in and out of the Zamalek team, and even though he has the ability to play in different positions and so will provide options, I am just wondering whether he is well-conditioned to play in South Africa. I reckon the jury is out on that one. How Dominic Adiyiah, who has yet to break into the AC Milan first team was chosen ahead of Eric Bekoe, who has had a prolific season with Petrojet in Egypt I will never know and at any World Cup, firepower is very important.
I omitted Derek Boateng from my list the last time out, but I will wholeheartedly agree with the decision to include him. He has had a consistent season with Getafe and with Emmanuel Agyemang Badu set to recover just in time for the World Cup, perhaps he might get a starting place alongside Anthony Annan in midfield. I am also delighted to see that Bernard Yao Kumordji’s consistency in the Greek Super Liga has been rewarded with a call up and he remains a useful option.
I was also surprised to see Jonathan Mensah’s name in the list. He was a regular for Free State Stars before a failed move to Udinese. He has been out of the reckoning for the South African side since then and I would have thought that some of our locally based central defenders like Karim Alhassan, Awudu Nafiu and John Kuffuor would have been picked as cover for Lee Addy and Isaac Vorsah.
With all this to chew on, one cannot help but ask the following questions; what target have we set for ourselves in South Africa? (GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi believes Ghana can win the World Cup whilst Rajevac is targeting a second round place) What are the criteria for selection into the team? Have past accomplishments and experience become more important than full match fitness and consistency? Indeed, are e going to South Africa just to make up the numbers or are we bent on achieving anything all? Are we still being sentimental instead of wearing a cloak of realism? I guess we all have to wait until the final 23 is named and Ghana plays in the pre-World Cup friendlies. Whilst I would be happy to be proved wrong as per fitness issues of certain players, for now the above remains my opinion on the matter and only time will tell whether the Black Stars are being prepared adequately for the World Cup or whether this is a rerun of the mythical soap opera entitled , ‘He has done it before in the past, so…….’.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
I'm Coming To Town says Arsenal's Emmanuel Frimpong
Ghanaian born midfield powerhouse Emmanuel Yaw Frimpong who plays for Arsenal FC would be coming to his homeland, Ghana, on June 2, 2010. Yaw Frimpong born on January 2, 1992 moved to England at the age of 9 and was scouted by Arsenal when he was playing for a local side called Broadwater Farm. He joined the club after a short trial and quickly became one of the rising stars of his year group which included Sanchez Watt and Jack Wilshire.As a 15year old schoolboy, Manny as he is affectionately called, captained the Under 18s side and made his first team debut in a friendly against Huddersfield in the summer of 2008.
Speaking to your authoritative blog, Yaw Frimpong said:
“I am coming to Ghana this summer to see my family in Kumasi”.
Manny has represented England as a teenager but declared in February 2010 that his international future lies with Ghana. He won youth international honours for England but despite spending a decade in England, his heart remains with his homeland.
“I have always said that, no matter what, I will always play for Ghana because at the end of the day, from what I believe, I am a Ghanaian.”
“England has done a lot for me and my family but at the end of the day I can’t see myself playing for England because I am not English. I am from Ghana.”
Speaking on his chances in the Black stars team, Yaw Frimpong said:
“With players like Essien and Muntari, I don’t think I’ve got any chance at the moment!”, he smiled.
“But hopefully, you never know in the future, I might get a chance.”
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Glo-CAF Awards 2009: Top three nominees revealed
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday revealed the top three nominees for the Glo-CAF Awards 2009 at a press briefing in Accra, Ghana.
Ex-Black Stars defender Anthony Baffoe revealed the identity of the nominees for the various categories at the ceremony attended by Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other sporting dignitaries
The flagship award, African Footballer of the Year 2009 has Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Cameroonian forward Samuel Eto’o Fils as the contenders.
The top three for other categories namely; Best African Player on the continent, National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Coach of the Year were also revealed.
The winners of the respective categories will be announced at the Awards Gala fixed for March 11, 2010 at the Banquet Hall, State House, in Accra, Ghana.
This is the fifth time cellular giants Globacom is sponsoring the annual awards which seeks to reward distinguished football personalities for their performance during the year under review.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor picked the flagship prize at the 2008 Awards Gala held in Lagos, Nigeria last year.
Top Three nominees (alphabetical order)
African Footballer of the Year 2009
Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire)
Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana)
Samuel Eto’o Fils (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
Best African player on the continent 2009
Uche Agba (Heartland FC and Nigeria)
Mputu Mabi (T.P. Mazembe and DR Congo)
Abdelmalek Ziaya (Entente Setif and Algeria)
National Team of the Year 2009
Algeria
Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana
Club of the Year 2009
Heartland FC (Nigeria)
Stade Malien (Mali)
T.P. Mazembe (DR Congo)
Young Player of the Year 2009
Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan and Ghana U-20)
Kermit Erasmus (Feyenoord and South Africa U-20)
Sani Emmanuel (Bodens BK and Nigeria U-17)
Coach of the Year 2009
Diego Garzitto (T.P. Mazembe)
John Obuh (Nigeria U-17)
Sellas Tetteh (Ghana U-20)
Ex-Black Stars defender Anthony Baffoe revealed the identity of the nominees for the various categories at the ceremony attended by Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other sporting dignitaries
The flagship award, African Footballer of the Year 2009 has Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Cameroonian forward Samuel Eto’o Fils as the contenders.
The top three for other categories namely; Best African Player on the continent, National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Coach of the Year were also revealed.
The winners of the respective categories will be announced at the Awards Gala fixed for March 11, 2010 at the Banquet Hall, State House, in Accra, Ghana.
This is the fifth time cellular giants Globacom is sponsoring the annual awards which seeks to reward distinguished football personalities for their performance during the year under review.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor picked the flagship prize at the 2008 Awards Gala held in Lagos, Nigeria last year.
Top Three nominees (alphabetical order)
African Footballer of the Year 2009
Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire)
Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana)
Samuel Eto’o Fils (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
Best African player on the continent 2009
Uche Agba (Heartland FC and Nigeria)
Mputu Mabi (T.P. Mazembe and DR Congo)
Abdelmalek Ziaya (Entente Setif and Algeria)
National Team of the Year 2009
Algeria
Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana
Club of the Year 2009
Heartland FC (Nigeria)
Stade Malien (Mali)
T.P. Mazembe (DR Congo)
Young Player of the Year 2009
Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan and Ghana U-20)
Kermit Erasmus (Feyenoord and South Africa U-20)
Sani Emmanuel (Bodens BK and Nigeria U-17)
Coach of the Year 2009
Diego Garzitto (T.P. Mazembe)
John Obuh (Nigeria U-17)
Sellas Tetteh (Ghana U-20)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Glo-CAF Awards 2009 rescheduled for March 11, 2010
The Glo-CAF 2009 ceremony has been rescheduled and confirmed for Thursday, March 11, 2010. The Awards Gala will now be held in Accra, Ghana, intiatlly schedulled for Dakar.
The change of date is also to ensure the attendance of all nominees pencilled for honours. It will be the second time the annual event is being staged in the Ghanaian capital after March 2007.
Cellular outfit, Globacom will be sponsoring for the fifth time the event that seeks to honour and celebrate African football and its best performing actors for the calendar year 2009.
Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, compatriot Yaya Toure, Ghana’s Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o Fils of Cameroon and Malian Seydou Keita are the contenders for the flagship award, African Footballer of the Year 2009.
The change of date is also to ensure the attendance of all nominees pencilled for honours. It will be the second time the annual event is being staged in the Ghanaian capital after March 2007.
Cellular outfit, Globacom will be sponsoring for the fifth time the event that seeks to honour and celebrate African football and its best performing actors for the calendar year 2009.
Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, compatriot Yaya Toure, Ghana’s Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o Fils of Cameroon and Malian Seydou Keita are the contenders for the flagship award, African Footballer of the Year 2009.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
2009 GLO-CAF Awards Top Three Nominees Emerge Feb 16.
The race for the 2009 Glo-CAF Player of the Year will be narrowed down to the final three nominees to be announced in Accra , Ghana on Tuesday, February 16.
CAF will also on that day announce nominees for other categories including Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Club of the Year, Inter-Club Player of the Year, National Team of the Year and Supporters Club of the Year amongst others.
Suleiman Habuba, the CAF Director of Communications said votes from all the 12 members of the Media Committee and 17 members of the Technical and Development Committee have been collated for the announcement.
He said the nominations were based on players’ performance for club and country from January to December 2009 and that the nominations cover all African players in European and the domestic African club leagues. “Obviously, we have made tremendous progress in the process of selecting the winner for the 2009 Glo-CAF Awards ceremony as the five highest scoring nominees have already been forwarded to all the national team coaches of CAF member federations for their vote ”, Habuba explained.
The five top nominees announced in Lagos last December are Drogba Didier of Chelsea and Cote D ’Ivoire, Essien Michael of Chelsea and Ghana, Eto’O Samuel of Inter Milan and Cameroon, Keita Seydou of Barcelona and Toure Yaya of Barcelona and Cote D ’Ivoire.
The 2008 winner, Emmanuel Adebayor of Manchester City and Togo failed to reach the top five. The awards ceremony sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom has held in Abuja, Accra, Lome and Lagos .
CAF will also on that day announce nominees for other categories including Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Club of the Year, Inter-Club Player of the Year, National Team of the Year and Supporters Club of the Year amongst others.
Suleiman Habuba, the CAF Director of Communications said votes from all the 12 members of the Media Committee and 17 members of the Technical and Development Committee have been collated for the announcement.
He said the nominations were based on players’ performance for club and country from January to December 2009 and that the nominations cover all African players in European and the domestic African club leagues. “Obviously, we have made tremendous progress in the process of selecting the winner for the 2009 Glo-CAF Awards ceremony as the five highest scoring nominees have already been forwarded to all the national team coaches of CAF member federations for their vote ”, Habuba explained.
The five top nominees announced in Lagos last December are Drogba Didier of Chelsea and Cote D ’Ivoire, Essien Michael of Chelsea and Ghana, Eto’O Samuel of Inter Milan and Cameroon, Keita Seydou of Barcelona and Toure Yaya of Barcelona and Cote D ’Ivoire.
The 2008 winner, Emmanuel Adebayor of Manchester City and Togo failed to reach the top five. The awards ceremony sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom has held in Abuja, Accra, Lome and Lagos .
Monday, January 25, 2010
Angola 2010 : GHANA VS NIGERIA IN SEMI-FINALS CLASH
By Stephen Amos, sheggs.blogspot.com
Ghana will face West African rivals Nigeria in Thursday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash at the Estadio de 11 Novembro in Luanda.
Nigeria progressed to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals by beating Zambia 5-4 on penalties and will meet Ghana in the semi-finals on Thursday.
It took 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out for the Eagles of Nigeria to fly past the Chipolopolo of Zambia and qualify for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Nigeria got the advantage after Nyirenda missed the third spot kick for Zambia. Super Eagles' goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeam secured a win by for Nigeria by scoring the last spot kick to make the shoot 5-4 in favour of the Eagles.
Everton FC's striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni is the stand-in captain of the super eagles after injury ruled out substantive captain Joseph Yobo earlier in their group match against Benin. In an interview with Boss Fm's(in Ghana) sports desk, Yakubu spoke of the rivalry between the two big football nations on the continent and expectations of Thursday's titanic encounter.
"We are not going on a revenge mission. It is no revenge. Ghanaians are like our brothers. We are very close and whenever Nigeria plays against Ghana, it is a big rivalry. They did so well the last time in 2008 as the host country, we got beaten by them and hopefully now that we have got the opportunity to play them, we hope to beat them and do them the same."
He went on to make a statement of intent on the ongoing tournament as to wanting to play in the finals.
"Of late, we find it difficult in the nations cup and we just were unlucky the last time we went out when Ghana beat us but hopefully, i hope it is not going to be the same. We want to play in the finals."
"We want to win the cup and we have teaams like Ghana, they are a good team and even Egypt too. They are are all good teams and it is not going to be easy but for us, we are going to win. Our mentality is going there to win and fight for each other, hopefully we get to the finals and there, we will see how it goes."
Egypt will meet north African rivals Algeria, in a repeat of their tense and controversial World Cup play-off match in November, which saw Algeria progress to South Africa.
Ghana will face West African rivals Nigeria in Thursday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash at the Estadio de 11 Novembro in Luanda.Nigeria progressed to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals by beating Zambia 5-4 on penalties and will meet Ghana in the semi-finals on Thursday.
It took 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out for the Eagles of Nigeria to fly past the Chipolopolo of Zambia and qualify for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Nigeria got the advantage after Nyirenda missed the third spot kick for Zambia. Super Eagles' goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeam secured a win by for Nigeria by scoring the last spot kick to make the shoot 5-4 in favour of the Eagles.
Everton FC's striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni is the stand-in captain of the super eagles after injury ruled out substantive captain Joseph Yobo earlier in their group match against Benin. In an interview with Boss Fm's(in Ghana) sports desk, Yakubu spoke of the rivalry between the two big football nations on the continent and expectations of Thursday's titanic encounter.
"We are not going on a revenge mission. It is no revenge. Ghanaians are like our brothers. We are very close and whenever Nigeria plays against Ghana, it is a big rivalry. They did so well the last time in 2008 as the host country, we got beaten by them and hopefully now that we have got the opportunity to play them, we hope to beat them and do them the same."He went on to make a statement of intent on the ongoing tournament as to wanting to play in the finals.
"Of late, we find it difficult in the nations cup and we just were unlucky the last time we went out when Ghana beat us but hopefully, i hope it is not going to be the same. We want to play in the finals."
"We want to win the cup and we have teaams like Ghana, they are a good team and even Egypt too. They are are all good teams and it is not going to be easy but for us, we are going to win. Our mentality is going there to win and fight for each other, hopefully we get to the finals and there, we will see how it goes."
Egypt will meet north African rivals Algeria, in a repeat of their tense and controversial World Cup play-off match in November, which saw Algeria progress to South Africa.
NO CHANGE IN AFCON FORMAT
Europe's big clubs who regularly criticize the staging of the Africa Cup of Nations will have to live with the current format.The continental competition is held every two years and is regularly criticized as European clubs are forced to let their players go in the middle of the season.
CAF President Issa Hayatou said that there was no possibility of staging the competition on a four-year cycle and but that plans to stage it on odd years was being examined.
Such a move would allow CAF to hold its showcase event on years that don't feature other major tournaments, like the World Cup or the European Championship.
"The decision is actually pending," Hayatou said in an Associated Press report.
"No decision has been taken yet. This requires a great reflection on the feasibility, particularly in terms of qualifying for major competitions."
Hayatou added that the tournament was an opportunity for all African countries to develop their infrastructures.
In Angola, where this year's Afcon is currently being played, new stadiums were built in Luanda and three other cities.
"We need sports infrastructure in our countries," Hayatou said. "Four stadiums were built in Ghana 2008, another four this year in Angola. These would not have happened without the Afcon. Afcon is a development tool not only in the football area."
The next Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012.
Source: Kickoffghana
Paraguay soccer star shot in Mexico Citybar
By Stephen Wade, Ap Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY – Salvador Cabanas, the top player on Paraguay's World Cup team, was shot in the head before dawn Monday in the bathroom of a bar in a well-off neighborhood in Mexico City.
The 29-year-old striker underwent surgery in which doctors failed to remove a bullet lodged in his skull. Dr. Ernesto Martinez, who was part of the surgical team, said "we cannot guarantee that his life is out of danger." He called the player's condition stable.
"Injuries like this are unpredictable," Martinez added. "We don't know what kind aftereffects he might have — perhaps none, or perhaps there will be many. We don't know right now."
Mexico City Attorney General Miguel Angel Mancera visited the popular nightspot "Bar Bar" and said from the crime scene robbery did not appear a motive "because nothing was taken."
Mancera later said a suspect had been identified from surveillance videos as a man with an accent from the northern state of Sinaloa — long considered the cradle of Mexico's drug lords — who traveled with at least one bodyguard.
However, Mancera said that as of yet "there is no indication of organized crime," a term Mexican officials use to refer to drug cartels.
Mancera said the suspect was known by the nickname "J.J." or "El Modelo" ("The Model") and was being sought. He said one of the suspect's associates was seen talking to a Cuban woman who worked at the club, and one possible motive was "there could have been some kind of trouble" over the woman. Cabanas was in the bar with his wife.
He said a cleaning employee said there had been "an argument, a strong exchange of words" between two men in the bathroom before a shot was fired.
The videos showed that club employees did not attempt to stop the suspects as they hurriedly left the bar and got in a car.
"Nobody did anything to stop them," Mancera said.
Cabanas plays for the Mexico City team America. Club president Michel Bauer said Cabanas was conscious when he arrived at the hospital and was speaking as he awaited surgery.
"He was a bit confused and didn't know what had happened and he was asking where they were taking him and why they were taking him there," Bauer told Mexico television Televisa.
Bauer said Cabanas' wife told him the two were preparing to leave the bar when the shooting took place in a bathroom. His wife said she found her husband on the bathroom floor.
Mancera said four people were being questioned — two security guards, the bar manager and Cabanas' brother-in-law. He said the brother-in-law volunteered to testify.
Authorities in the city's leafy Alvaro Obregon borough ordered the bar closed Monday, saying it had failed to provide adequate security for its customers based on the shooting.
Cabanas has played in the Mexico league since 2003 and is the highest-profile player on his national team. Paraguay will face Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia in the group stage of the World Cup in South Africa in June.
Cabanas has 125 goals in 218 games in Mexico and played last weekend in America's 2-0 loss to Morelia. This month he drew attention from Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who expressed interest in adding Cabanas to his club in England's Premier League.
"Club America is deeply sorry for what happened to our beloved Salvador Cabanas and shows its total support for his family and loved ones," the Mexican team said in a statement.
Paraguayan Football Association president Juan Angel Napout said a doctor would travel to Mexico to assist Cabanas.
"We are praying for him," Napout said.
Cabanas was honored as South America's soccer player of the year in 2007 by Uruguay's El Pais newspaper, the only time a player in Mexico has won the award.
There is a long history of violence involving Latin American soccer players. Most prominently, Colombia defender Andres Escobar was shot and killed in his home country days after his own-goal helped the United States defeat the Colombians 2-1 in a major upset at the 1994 World Cup.
AFRICA TO RECEIVE $150m
African soccer will receive $150m in television and marketing income over the next eight years in a significant increase in revenue for the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Up to two years ago CAF were paid $5m annually for African Champions League rights and $5.5m every two years for the African Nations Cup.
CAF’s financial report, released ahead of their congress in Luanda on Friday, said the organisation had an operating profit of $939 000 over the last financial year and a cash balance of $18.8m.
It said CAF were spending almost $25m on three training centres in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Senegal.
French company SportFive have the exclusive rights to all African competitions at national, youth and club level.
Angola 2010 : KALUSHA BWALYA SEEKS REVENGE AS ZAMBIA CLASH WITH NIGERIA
Memories of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations finals are likely to be replayed this evening when Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Chipolopolo of Zambia in the 2010 AFCON quarter-finals in Lubango, Angola. President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Kalusha Bwalya, was captain when Zambia last clashed with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Speaking to MTNFootball.com, Kalusha Bwalya, said that the current squad has shown their mettle against top teams in the continent and can claim the Super Eagles' scalp on the way to the final.
“We are very delighted to be through to the quarter-final after 14 years. We feel liberated, extremely pleased, with a lot of confidence that this team can show what they are capable of,” Bwalya said.
“The target was to get to the quarter-final, which has not been achieved for a long time. Every other thing on the way would be a bonus, but we feel confident that anything can happen now.”
Asked about the Nigeria quarter-final challenge, Bwalya observed: “We will look at Nigeria now; we did not concentrate on them before now. We have time to look at them in more details. We played against them in Durban in a friendly. The stakes were different then and we are very conscious of that. It was important for us to play against a team like Nigeria at the time we did in South Africa. We did not know that we would meet at this stage of the tournament. Everything put together, we do not expect anything less than a cup final. When we started, every game was a cup final for us and this will be an even more daunting cup final for us.
“We all said before the friendly in Durban that this was the first time Zambia were meeting Nigeria since that game in 1994. We all understand how important it is to meet a team like the Super Eagles, who have a good coach and exceptionally talented players. We hope we can play as well as we have played to stand a chance of going through to the next round.”
Zambia will be facing Nigeria at 19.30GMT in Lubango. Nigeria's coach, Amodu Shaibu is set to field the same squad that spanked Mozambique 3-0 in the third round of the group mathces to book a place in the quarter-finals of the African cup of nations.
NIGERIAN STEPHEN WORGU DENIED AL AHLY MOVE
By Stephen Amos, sheggs.blogspot.com
El Merreikh striker Stephen Worgu who was close to signing with Egyptian giants Al Ahly recently is set to stay for one more season with the Sudanese club after the deal fell through due to his club's reluctance in releasing him.
It would be recalled that few weeks ago, the striker was on the verge of signing for Ahly but officials of the club persuaded him to stay for one more season. Certainly some arm twisting did take place behind closed doors and the striker did confirm this to a radio station in Ghana.
"It is true i was negotiating with Ahly and a team in Switzerland and my team refused to let me move but it is not clear if i would like to stay for one year", the Nigerian International told Boss Fm's Stephen Amos.
The youngstar added that now his fate lies in the hand of the man upstairs, but expressed his strong desire to live the borders of Sudan and return to Africa.
"I have been looking forward in a move on but God has plans for me. His decisions are ok with me because i was not expecting to be back here (Sudan) due to things that came my way".
"Merreikh has done well for me, the fans, players, officials and particularly, the club president so i owe him my stay and i will put my best this season for my club El Merreikh".
The 20 year old former Eyimba Fc of Aba striker who joined El Merreikh in 2008 on a record $2.6million deal had agreed to join Al Ahly of Egypt in a loan deal but was persuaded by club president to stay for one more season due to consistent pressure from supporters of the club calling for his stay. However, Stephen Worgu could decide to move out in the next summer. Watch this space.
El Merreikh striker Stephen Worgu who was close to signing with Egyptian giants Al Ahly recently is set to stay for one more season with the Sudanese club after the deal fell through due to his club's reluctance in releasing him.
It would be recalled that few weeks ago, the striker was on the verge of signing for Ahly but officials of the club persuaded him to stay for one more season. Certainly some arm twisting did take place behind closed doors and the striker did confirm this to a radio station in Ghana.
"It is true i was negotiating with Ahly and a team in Switzerland and my team refused to let me move but it is not clear if i would like to stay for one year", the Nigerian International told Boss Fm's Stephen Amos.
The youngstar added that now his fate lies in the hand of the man upstairs, but expressed his strong desire to live the borders of Sudan and return to Africa.
"I have been looking forward in a move on but God has plans for me. His decisions are ok with me because i was not expecting to be back here (Sudan) due to things that came my way".
"Merreikh has done well for me, the fans, players, officials and particularly, the club president so i owe him my stay and i will put my best this season for my club El Merreikh".
The 20 year old former Eyimba Fc of Aba striker who joined El Merreikh in 2008 on a record $2.6million deal had agreed to join Al Ahly of Egypt in a loan deal but was persuaded by club president to stay for one more season due to consistent pressure from supporters of the club calling for his stay. However, Stephen Worgu could decide to move out in the next summer. Watch this space.
Angola 2010 : Oh Drogba, Pourquoii?
Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast are heading home after the substitute Hameur Bouazza earned Algeria a 3-2 extra-time win in Cabinda tonight and a place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.The France-born Blackpool midfielder Bouazza headed home two minutes into extra-time after Algeria twice came from behind in the quarter-final between two World Cup-bound teams. The Algerians will now play either the defending champions, Egypt, or Cameroon, who meet in Benguela tomorrow.
Karim Matmour cancelled out Salomon Kalou's fourth-minute opener for Ivory Coast, one of the pre-tournament favourites, just before the break. No sooner had Abdulkader Keita fired into the top corner one minute from time to restore the lead than Algeria's Madjid Bougherra headed home to force the game into the extra 30 minutes.
Speaking to BBC, Hameur Bouazza said,"I am really happy. We came up with what we wanted," said Algeria coach Rabah Saadane.
"I wasn't surprised by my team, but more by the decline of the Ivory Coast side. The critics said after we beat Mali (1-0) that we only scored goals from dead ball situations, well here we scored three goals from open play!"
Drogba failed to impose himself on the Algerian defence and missed a couple of clear chances. Kolo Touré, the Manchester City defender, had had the ball in the net in the dying seconds but was flagged offside.
Ivorian fans back home where very disappointed by the result of the game. Here are some snapshots from fans back home. They were left asking 'pourquoi'?...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Angola 2010 : GHANA EDGES PAST HOST TO REACH SEMI FINALS
Ghana’s Black Stars reached the last four of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations with a lone goal victory over hosts Angola on Sunday in Luanda.Striker Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal of the match in the first half as the Ghanaians cut short the campaign of the host nation.
The Palancas Negras unsettled the Black Stars with dominance in possession in response to the loud cheers and chants from their teeming fans, who flooded almost every seat at the stadia.
The Ghanaians weathered the storm but lateral defenders Samuel Inkoom at the right and Hans Adu Sarpei appeared jittery allowing petit midfielder Djalma Campos threats at goal.
On the quarter-hour mark, the roaring stadium went dead as the Black Stars, four-time winners of the biennial competition struck the opener. Playmaker Kwadwo Asamoah laid a perfect long pass towards the Angolan goal area which located Asamoah Gyan, who outpaced captain Alonso Carlos “Kali” in a close chase before firing into the right corner of the net, with Angola goalie Fernandes Carlos’ elastic-limit stretch not enough to stop the ball.
Gyan, scorer of the fastest goal at the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup celebrated with finger plastered on his lip, signifying silence.
The crowd roared on and the Palancas Negras responded with several attacks led by Djalma who proved a tough customer for his markers, leaving them with no option than fouling him.
On 29 minutes, Manucho was robbed off the equalizer by the Black Stars veteran goalkeeper Richard Kingson, as the Wigan goalie saved his goalbound header. Djalma’s surging runs on the right proved positive but they lacked the cutting edge upfront.
Five minutes on, Ghana goalie Kingson surprisingly dropped his vast experience to the cleaners for a basic offence of holding unto the ball for a long time, leading to an indirect free-kick, which Flavio blasted wide to his relief.
The Black Stars maintained hold of their thin lead at half time thanks Manucho’s wide kick from close range through an ensuing goalmouth scramble.
Angola coach Jose Manuel introduced local hero Ricardo Job in the second half, and the Petro Atletico midfielder returned the confidence with surging runs from the left, as the hosts continued their search for the equalizer.
The Angolans resorted to circuit passes after the long balls to Flavio and Manucho were curtailed by the Ghanaian defense.
As the clock ticked on, the Angolan fans never lost hope cheering on but their players failed to give them what they were expecting – the equalizer.
Burly defender shattered the hopes of the home fans by scooping Kali’s kick which was zooming into the net, completing ending the campaign of the hosts.
Ghana midfielder Asamoah was named the Orange man-of-the-match whilst Angolan midfielder Fernando Costa “Chara” the Samsung Fair Play award.
ESSIEN STAYS UPBEAT DESPITE INJURY SETBACK
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is staying upbeat despite missing the next four to six weeks after he suffered a meniscus injury while training with Ghana in Angola for the African Cup of Nations.
"Injuries are part of what we do and I am not going to let this affect me at all."
"It's a shame because I hate sitting in the stands watching my team mates both at Chelsea and in the Ghanaian team," Essien told his personal website.
"Those who know me know that I love being on the pitch and that is what I will be working towards. I want to be back playing as soon as possible'
"I am on first name terms with all the medical team now," he joked, "so it will be business as usual with them and I have no doubt I am in the best hands at the moment."
"I have already started dreaming about coming back and carrying on where I left off and I hope it will be soon.
"Hopefully I can come back and help the team achieve our aims of the season."
Essien thanked those who showed their support while he was in Africa with Ghana.
"I will like to say a big thank you to all the fans who read my CAN 2010 blogs and sent me lovely messages and comments. Sorry I had to leave early but I enjoyed reading your encouraging words and funny comments," he said.
"Finally a massive good luck to the Black Stars at CAN 2010. Keep fighting hard as usual and I am sure we can make it all the way," he concluded.
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