A very respected Black Stars of Ghana team was squashed by the Copper Bullets of Zambia, 0-1 in an all-action semi-finals number one played in Estadio de Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Wednesday. Substitute Emmanuel Mayuka scored 12 minutes from time to give Zambia a shock 1-0 win over four-time champions Ghana and secure a place at the AFCON 2012 final. - The goal came against the run of play with Isaac Chansa setting up the 20-year-old striker, whose shot from outside the penalty area flew past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey into the corner of the net. Zambia now go to Libreville for an emotional showdown with Ivory Coast on Sunday, February 12 2012 as it was off the Gabon coast that a plane carryi…

Already, there are some anticipated battles as the African continent and the rest of the football world look forward to Wednesday's semi-finals number one pitting the Eagles of Mali and the Elephants of Ivory Coast and semi-finals number two, featuring the Chipolopolo of Zambia and the Black Stars of Ghana. - In Libreville, Gabon, there will be a clash between Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and a certain Cedric Kante of Mali. The battle between the Chelsea striker and the Mali defender promises to be a fascinating not to say crucial one, with both players pivotal to their respective teams' fortunes. Drogba's role in the Ivorians' march to the semi-finals has been signifi…

The Black Stars of Ghana and the Eagles of Mali are at the semi-finals of the ongoing Orange AFCON 2012. Before now it was not easy task for both teams. The John Mensah led Black Stars of Ghana had to go through the eye-of-a-needle-like situation, beating a very tough Carthage of Eagles squad from Tunisia, 2-1 after 120 minutes of play. - The organiser of the Ghanaian team, Marseille offensive midfielder, Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew, scored the winning and second goal at the 101 minute of the match to take Ghana into the prestigious semis of AFCON 2012. It was Ghana’s 101st goal in the history of AFCON. Earlier at the 10th minute, Captain John Mensah, donning jersey number 5 head…

For the first time in sixteen years, the Zambian national team, the Chipolopolo, which means Copper Bullets are back on the spotlight with a brilliant qualification for the Orange AFCON 2012 Semis. The Christopher Katongo led squad, bashed the Jediane Falcons of Coach, Muhamed Abdalla 3-0 in the first quarters played at Estadio de Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Saturday, February 4 2012. - A very motivated Zambian team managed by Frenchman, Hervé Renard netted the opener at the 15th minute of play thanks to a header from Stopila Sunzu, who trades his football skills with the DRC club, Tout Puissant of Mazembe. Led by captain fantastic, Christopher Katongo, Chipolopolo has shown very little resp…

Michel Dussuyer, the Frenchman managing the Syli Nationale of Guinea has reiterated his stance that the Black Stars of Ghana are the favourite for the Orange AFCON 2012. Guinea crashed out of the competition on Wednesday night after they could only manage a 1-1 draw with four-time winners Ghana in one of the last Group D matches. - Ghana, who last won this tournament in 1982, will face Tunisia in one of the quarterfinals on Sunday, February 5 2012. "I said it before the tournament that Ghana are my favourites to win this competition and even after how the referee helped them against us I still believe they can go all the way here," said Dussuyer. "They are a much organized …

Inspirational Gabonese striker, Patrick-Emerick Aubameyang, donning jersey number 9, once more put his country's flag and image on the international spotlight. In Gabon's last Group C match, played Tuesday, at Stade de Franceville, Aubameyang gave Gabon the lead after 62 minutes when he collected a loose ball before wrong footing Tunisia goalkeeper, Rami Jeridi for his third goal of the competition. - Co-hosts Gabon defeated Tunisia 1-0 to finish top of AFCON Group C with a perfect nine points from three matches. The Panthers will play the runners-up in Group D in Libreville on Sunday, while Tunisia, who finished second in the group will face the winners of Group D. “This…

The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso. For the first time since 1970, the Sudanese proceeded to the quarter-finals stage of the AFCON. The all-locally-based players that constitute the Sudanese squad beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in their last Group B match to pick up four points that has propelled them to the envious quarter-finals level of the ongoing Orange AFCON in Equatorial-Guinea and Gabon. - Sudan managed to pick their first AFCON win in 42 years as they struck two past Burkina Faso thanks to a brace from Mudather Al Tahir, while a stoppage time goal from Issiaka Ouedraogo was merely a consolation. Burkina Faso sprung on the attack right …

Captain Christopher Katongo's one 'Copper Bullet' shot was just timely to push forward Zambia on top spot, ahead of the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea in Group A, as they edged the AFCON co-hosts 1-0 at Stade d'Angondje in Malabo. - Equatorial Guinea were without their inspirational captain Rodolfo Bodipo due to injury, while Lawrence Doe of Liberian origin was suspended after his red card against Senegal. Inside the first five minutes, Zambian skipper Christopher Katongo broke through the centre before squeezing his shot high and wide of the target from just outside the area. Soon after Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene did well to collect a testing cross b…

The Elephants of Ivory Coast beat the Stallions of Burkina Faso 2-0 in Malabo, Thursday, January 26 to ensure qualification for the next round of the ongoing 2012 AFCON. The Ivorians currently top Group B with six points after two victories. - Burkina Faso had never beaten their West African neighbours in eight previous encounters and that trend looked set to continue when, with just 16 minutes played, Salomon Kalou netted the match’s opening goal. An early Solomon Kalou strike and a late Bakary Kone own goal propelled Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso and secured a quarterfinal berth. With eight minutes left to salvage something, it was lights out for the Stallions whe…

The Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea made a spectacular qualification for the quarter-finals of the ongoing AFCON 2012. In their second Group A game played in a packed-full Estadio de Bata, Wednesday, January 25, the Equato-Guineans bashed the Teranga Lions 2-1 in a plenty of action match. - The victory for the Nzalang Nacional, with six points after two matches, comfortably makes them the first team to get to the quarter-finals and opens the exit door for the Senegalese at AFCON 2012. After a star-studded Senegalese team, composed of Souleymane Diawara, Kader, Mamadou Niang, Papis Cisse, Demba Ba put up a good show in the first segment of the match, they will be surprised in the sec…

A largely experienced Black Star of Ghana, Tuesday, January 24 stunned AFCON newcomers, the Zebras of Botswana 1 -0 in their 2012 Orange AFCON opener in France Ville, Gabon. A similar score was recorded in the match pitting the Eagles of Mali against Syli Nationale of Guinea - Conakry. The Malians carried the day with the 30th minute goal from Traore Bakaya. - Though the Ghanaian team of John Paintsil, Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Samuel Inkoom, Ali Surrey Muntari, Asamoah Gyan had a full day, their Captain John Mensah opened scores at the 25th minute before he will be red-carded at the 66th minute for a back-tackle meted on Botswana attacker, Jerome Ramatlhakwane. This unexpe…

The Panthers of Gabon and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia opened their Group C matches at the on-going AFCON 2012 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in style. Playing in front of their home crowd and their President and wife, Mr and Mrs Ali Ben Mbongo, the Gabonese led by Pierre-Emirick Aubameyang came into the game with a lot of verve against a modest Mena of Niger. - Aubameyang scored the opening goal in the 30th minute, and Stephane N'Guema Ndo got Gabon’s second in the 45th minute. Gabon, who fielded a 5-4-1 formation, with Eric Mouloungui filling the lone striker role, started this game comfortably and took control from the start. The Mena of Niger, coached by CAF 2011 Best Man…

After a rich football career in the African and European continents, Joseph Antoine Bell is still in the milieu, but he looks at the beautiful game from the prism of consultant. For fifteen years he has been commenting African football with Radio France Internationale, RFI, he is also a consultant at Africa24 TV and the Ministry of Sports & Physical Education in Cameroon. - AfricaNews: From the sidelines, you have watched the Junior Lions of Cameroon and the Mena of Niger play, what memories does it bring to you? Bell: I do not like to talk about memories. I do not want to get back to my memories. I came to Kadji Sports Academy, KSA, because of friendship. I came to see Mr Roland Cour…

President-elect, Paul Bathelemy Biya Bi Mvondo took the oath of office at the National Assembly in Yaoundé, Cameroon to begin a sixth term in office in an election in which the opposition described as fraudulent. According to the country's law governing elections, the president-elect must perform his oath-taking fifteen days after the declaration of the final presidential results. - The swearing in ceremony has come to complete recent political activities in Cameroon, which opened on August 30 2011 with the convening of the electorate by sitting President Biya. Sunday, October 9 2011 was the Presidential election date. October 21, the results of the Presidential poll were declared by th…

Denis Lavagne, until Wednesday, October 26 was the head coach of the Garoua-based club, Cotonsport. Now, he is the new coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The French-born football trainer has been appointed by the Ministry of Sports & Physical Education, following recommendation from Cameroon's football technical body, FECAFOOT. - Lavagne, who takes over from Spanish-born football coach, Javier Clemente, will be assisted by Martin Ndtoungou Mpile, erstwhile coach of the Junior Lions Squad and Pierre Mbarga, who will take charge of the keepers. Clemente’s two assistants; François Omam Biyick and Jacques Songo’o were also shown the exit door in the ministerial deci…

Sitting President Paul Biya of Cameroon has won elections to extend his rule that began in 1982. Following the declaration of the October 9 presidential poll results, over the weekend by the country's Supreme Court, Biya of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM, scored 77.989 percent, with a vote count of 3, 772, 527 votes out of the estimated seven million Cameroonian voters in and out of the country. - For the first time, Cameroonians in the Diaspora were given the opportunity to vote. The runners up include leading opposition candidate – Ni John Fru Ndi of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, with 10.712 percent, Garga Haman Adji of the Alliance for Democracy and…

A forest ranger has been killed and another seriously wounded following a bloody confrontation with poachers near Lobéké National Park in the East Region of Cameroon. According to information verified by AfricaNews local journalist, Fidelis Manga Pegue, Pierre Achille Zomedel, 37, was shot several times in his chest during a clash recently, by well armed commercial poachers. - Zomedel’s colleague, Jean Fils Mamendji, survived after sustaining bullet wounds in his right arm and shoulder. The rangers although on official patrol were not armed; whilst the poachers were said to be armed. Gruesome murder The two game rangers, accompanied by six workers of a safari hunting company tea…

Cameroonians in and out of the country are looking forward to the results of the October 9 presidential poll. Generally, the election went on across the country in a serene and peaceful atmosphere though some electoral irregularities were noted here and there. - Information from the election managing body in Cameroon, Elections Cameroon – ELECAM, have it that some 7.5 million voters were expected at the polls, including some Cameroonians in the Diaspora who registered, for the first time, to be part of the voting process. Incumbent President Paul Biya is contesting alongside twenty-two other challengers. These include frontline opposition leader, Ni John Fru Ndi of the Social Democr…

It is now official in Cameroon, sitting President Paul Biya, has convened the electorate for a presidential election come Sunday, October 9 2011. In line with constitutional provisions in that country, the election must take place not later than twenty days and not more than fifty days before the end of the mandate of the incumbent, which is November 3 2011. - Cameroonians are now open to intense political activities, with the presidential calendar now known. The declaration of candidates will intensify and campaign activities to pick up steam, especially to some political parties and leaders, who were suggestively, not convinced that the political activities of the country will progress. …

Unidentified pirates attacked a passenger ship and took its captain hostage early Saturday close to the maritime frontier between Cameroon and Nigeria, a passenger onboard said. The pirates in a flying boat attacked a passenger ship travelling from the seaside town of Limbe in the Southwest Region of Cameroon to Calabar in the Eastern Region of Nigeria, precisely at the Oron Baracks, a locality close to the maritime frontier of the two countries. - "They were seven well armed pirates who came in on a speed boat. They were unmasked but had beads on their bodies. They fired several shots in the air ordering the ship, Monica Express, with 150 passengers on board to stop," he added. …

So far more than twenty Cameroonian political and civil society actors have indicated their intention to run for the country's top job, the president of the republic. As Cameroonians look forward to the 2011 Presidential Poll, due October, the aspirants have also been making public what they will do for the country, but some observers hold that the presidential aspirants are not proposing issues, which are realistic. - Earlier in 2011, the president of the Progressive Movement, PM, Jean Jacques Ekindi told the press in Bertoua, the chief town of the Eastern Region of Cameroon that his presidential campaign is focussed on moral probity, institutional reforms and job creation. To him, th…

Samuel Fils Eto'o, the emblematic player of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon is now the highest paid player in the world. After protracted transfer negotiation arrangements between his Italian side Inter and the receiving Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala, the striker has put pen to paper. - Eto’o agreed a juicy three-year contract, worth 20 million Euro (FCFA 13 billion) a year. According to the contract, the four-time African player of the year will be taking home a monthly salary of FCFA 1.2 billion. This newfound deal, continues to put Eto’o on the international spotlight, this time, breaking a new record in the world of football as the highest paid player ever in that…

Captain of Cameroon's national team, Indomitable Lions and striker for Italian Serie A club, Internazionale of Milan, Samuel Fils Eto'o, has blamed football authorities in Cameroon for not taking their responsibilities in the wake of poor showing, currently rocking the country's national team football in general. - At a recent press conference organised by Voodoo Communications at the Meridian Hotel in the economic capital of Cameroon, Douala, before jetting off to Milan, Eto’o said the national team has been plagued with a series of problems and greatly needs change. “Instead of facing the realties and seeking solutions to these problems, soccer authorities are sh…

Elections everywhere on the African continent have been a very critical issue to tackle. Elizabeth Bryant speaks to AfricaNews' reporter in Cameroon, Walter Nana Wilson, on election coverage and related issues. Elizabeth Bryant has a wide knowledge in journalism, especially as a reporter. Her working experiences with the VOA, since 2000 in France and other major news organs like Agence France Presse, AFP, United Press International, UPI, Newsweek and Washington Post, have also taken her to Mozambique, Tunisia, Mali, Algeria, Burkina-Faso, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal. - Bryant who has also served as the Public Information Officer for the UN Operations in Cote d’Ivoire in 2007 a…

The premier African reality show, Big Brother Amplified, has made two young African woman and a man millionaires. These are a 23-year-old commercial pilot from Harare, Zimbabwe named Wendall and the Nigerian model, aged 27, Karen. The Nigerian, from Jos and Zimbabwean respectively take home US$200,000 each. - They spent 91days in the Big Brother Africa House in Johannesburg, South Africa. From day one, they were 26 housemates, two housemates representing, from 14 African countries. These included; Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Under 24 cameras and 120 microphones in the Sasani studio …

In recent times, she is one of the few English Speaking Cameroonian writers to publish with a recognisable international publisher. Makuchi, her pen name, is formally known as Prof. Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi. In this exclusive interview with AfricaNews, she opened her world to us, where she has been, what she has been doing, what it takes to break the circles of international publishers and the relevance of Cameroonian writers to be part of the democratic process of the country. - Follow the full interview between our reporter in Cameroon, Walter Nana Wilson, and Prof. Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi. AfricaNews: What brings you to Cameroon? Makuchi: I came visiting my family and to support the EduArt…

Two fleet-footed African football players; Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon, who trades his football career with Italian giants, Inter Milan and Didier Drogba, the Ivorian and striker for English Premier League side Chelsea, have been nominated for the prestigious and internationally recognized football award, GOLDEN FOOT. - According to the French radio station, Radio Monte Carlo, the 2011 edition of GOLDEN FOOT will once more hold in the French resort city of Monaco. The international prize is given every year to the greatest players in the history of football. Patronised by Prince Albert II of Monaco, the GOLDEN FOOT has the endorsement of the World Champions Club and Tourism Office of Mo…

Thousands of workers in the ministry of public health in Cameroon recruited in the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative Project (HIPC) and the French Fund for Development (C2D) in 2007 have programmed a sit-in and hunger strike beginning Monday, July 4, 2011 across the West African country. - This information is contained in a memo dated June 23 2011 and addressed to the Prime Minister Philemon Yang. According to the twenty-six delegates and the various regional focal point members of the aforementioned recruitment projects, who signed the memo to the PM, they are expressing disgust amongst other issues, their non-integration into the public service of Cameroon and non-payment of twenty-t…

Cameroon has announced the introduction of the vaccine against Pneumococal infection. The country's minister of public health, Andre Mama Fouda said children from the ages of 0 - 11 months, will from Friday begin receiving, free of charge, anti-pneumococal vaccine that protects children against pneumonia and meningitis. - The aforementioned diseases, caused by pneumococcal germ, either kill young children or leave them seriously handicapped. As part of the promotion of health in Cameroon, Mama Fouda has invited Cameroonian parents to get their children vaccinated in all health centres and hospitals in order to protect them from these infections. Addressing journalists and traditio…

The captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Samuel Eto'o is being questioned by the Economic Department of the Judicial Police over the 2010 African Cup of Nations and World Cup spending. The Inter marksman is helping the outfit figure out how the government money for the team was disbursed in his capacity as the skipper. - Before the four-time African Best Player took his seat at the Yaounde-based investigative office, the President of Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, Iya Muhammed and the Secretary General of the Federation, Tombi Sidiki a Roko had also been summoned by the Judicial Police some three weeks ago. Reports gathered by this reporter say the Cameroon presidenc…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon failed to roar in their own den in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers against Senegal on Saturday. The Teranga Lions suffocated their host in Yaounde as both teams vie to secure a place in next year's continental football jamboree. The goalless results did not go well for the fans of Cameroon. - This morose atmosphere irked the Indomitable Lions’ fans, who surrounded the main entrance of the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, after the tension-packed match, threatening to lynch Samuel Fils Eto’o and his teammates. The blunder that broke the Lions’ back came at the 87th minute when captain Eto’o, messed up a controversial penalty against the …

There is a strong opinion in Cameroon that the increasing unemployment situation and poor work attitude for the few who have the opportunity in the country is because of an educational system that is not holistic. These, constitute the background that motivated the creation of the United Action for Children, UAC Project in 1996 by Thomas Orock. - Done with the official recognition in 1998, UAC set out to develop a caring and sustaining society through innovative programmes and addressing some of the problems children and young people encounter because of a Cameroonian educational system that is examination oriented; not readily preparing children for the professional market. On the ground…

The 2010 President of Junior Chamber International, JCI and IT Expert, Cameroonian-born Roland Kwemain is of the opinion that the African continent will miss out of the world if they are not united. After taking part in the recent Pan African Forum for Peace and Development in Lomé, Togo, dubbed PAXAFRICANA, Kwemain was of the views that African unity should be generated from the grassroots. - He noted that the biggest challenge of Africa is the absence of men and women with vision. In this exclusive interview with africanews.com, he added that African unity cannot come from the top. What was the Pan African Forum for Peace and Development all about? Kwemain: The Pan African Forum for …

Some 1863 cases of cholera have been reported in the Southwest Region of Cameroon with 33 deaths, following the increasing cholera cases in the region. The country's Public Health Minister, Andre Mama Fouda, health officials and administrative authorities visited the municipalities of Tiko, Buea and Limbe to assess the situation. - After meeting cholera patients, members of the Cholera Control Coordination Committee, C4, in the Region, told the Minister that 1863 cases of cholera had been reported since the epidemic broke out on November 17, 2010, in the Mile 16 neighbourhood in Buea, chief town of the Southwest Region. They disclosed that 33 people had already died of the disease. …

Albert Roger Milla, the African and world football legend is up and doing just great. In the sidelines of his official duties as Roving Ambassador for Cameroon, the former football maestro finds time to get to the grass root and commune with the people. In one of such outings within Cameroon, he was in Buea, the Capital of the Southwest Region, recently, where he was a special guest at a crowd pulling and splendid ceremony organised in honour of a veteran Cameroonian journalist, Kevin Njomo, just retired. - In the heart of the event, AfricaNews caught up with the legend, who shared his views on many happenings within Cameroon. Excerpts: What is the motive of your visit to Buea? I …

Twenty elephant tusks were seized aboard a truck in Ntam, a village located in the East Region of Cameroon, on the border with the Republic of Congo. The tusks were hidden in the rear chest of the 30-ton truck that was transporting some 300 bags of cocoa from Sembe in Congo-Brazzaville to Cameroon's economic capital, Douala. - Five people have been arrested including the driver of the truck. They have been taken to Abong Mbang, a town in the East Region of Cameroon where it is expected poaching-related charges will be pressed against them. If found guilty, the suspect poachers might be slammed jail terms ranging from 1 to 3 years and a fine ranging between FCFA 3,000,000 (US$ 6000) to F…

Security officers in Douala, Cameroon, cracked down on demonstrators arrested and tortured several opposition figures. Those arrested included Edith Kabbang Walla aka Kah Walla of Cameroon O'bosso, (a civil society organisation), Social Democratice Front, SDF, MP for Wouri East Constituency, in the Littoral Region of Cameroon, Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu, as well as the MANIDEM duo; Anicet Ekane and Abanda Kpama. - The demonstrators were commemorating Martyrs Week in honour of those who died in the 2008 February riots, and also to call for President Paul Biya to step down after 28 years in office. The opposition figures were arrested around midday, Wednesday, February 23, in separate i…

When Gladys Ngwi Taka looks at some of our food crops get rot, she is very sad. This Mutengene - based food processing engineer, in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, has the knowhow to conserve food crops for as long as it can last. After six years of profound work and studies, in her modest factory, there is no stopping for Gladys. - Many things are happening to her and she is breaking new grounds in and out of Cameroon with her company named Eagle Wings Food & Spices. At the recent Agro – Pastoral Show, held in Ebolowa, capital town of the South Region, Cameroon, Gladys won a Presidential Award for her efforts in transforming food crops into finished products, now available on di…

The crop of home-based players of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, flying the nation's flag at the on-going African Nations Championship in Sudan have started the competition on a good note. The Cameroonian team thrashed their counterparts from the DR Congo two nil at the El Merriekh stadium in Oumduman, Sudan. - A Congolese team that came into the competition basking in the glory of their top club, Tout Puissant Mazembe, were dominated by the Lions during 90 minutes of play. Despite coming along with 11 players from Tout Puissant Mazembe, the winners of the 2010 CAF Champions League, the Lions were not intimidated. The Cameroonian squad led by captain Paul Roland Bebey Kingue put up …

A list made public by a Belgian football magazine reveals three top African soccer stars in the top ten of highest paid footballers. They are Ivorian born offensive midfielder; Yaya Toure, who trades his football skills at English Premier League side; Manchester City, the captain of the Indomitable Lions and Inter marks man Samuel Fils Eto'o and another EPL ace Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor. - Sport Foot Magazine writes that in the hit parade of highest paid footballers, Yaya Toure is at the 4th position with a yearly take home package of 10.8 million Euros, Eto’o is at the 5th position with 10.5 million Euros per year while Adebayor closes the top ten list with 8.4 million Euros per ye…

The Congo-Kinshasa football club, Tout Puissant (TP) Mazembe might have won the prestigious 2010 Orange sponsored CAF Champions League finals at the expense of Tunisian club, Esperance Sportif of Tunis, EST, but the dust of the ugly happenings during the return leg in Tunis are yet to settle. - In its meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, on January 10 2011, CAF Disciplinary Board examined the documents related to the 2010 CAF Champions League games pitting EST of Tunisia vs TP Mazembe of the DR Congo. The date was November 13 2010, the venue Tunis, Tunisia and the match was the return leg final of the Orange Champions League 2010. Following a series of CAF Disciplinary Board decisions, carried…

Frenchman Henri Michel has officially signed a contract to become the coach of the Nzalang Nationale of Equatorial Guinea. Information from Malabo have it that Michel's contract with the Equato-Guinean football authorities will last till the end of the African Cup of Nations 2012, both parties announced. - Michel, who was coach of France in 1984 and 1988, signed the contract following negotiations initiated by his compatriot, Philippe Troussier, former coach of Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco. Troussier travelled to Malabo recently to clinch the deal. Michel’s contract has thirteen-month duration till after the AFCON in February 2012, the Equatorial Guinea Secretary of State f…

President Paul Biya of Cameroon has congratulated Samuel Eto'o for winning the 2010 Glo-CAF Best African Player award. He expressed his joy and appreciation to Eto'o for taking the Cameroonian nation, her people and Cameroon football in particular to a very shinny spot in the international scene. - He invited other Cameroonians to emulate Eto’o’s sense of hard work, discipline and patriotism for the positive image of Cameroon all the time. The Cameroonian-born striker, who trades his football skills with Italian Serie A Club, Internazionale of Milan, was able to take the award for a fourth time, beating competition from Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and Ivory Coast inte…

The Cameroonian-born striker, who trades his football skills with Italian Serie A Club, Internazionale of Milan, was able to take the award for a fourth time, beating competition from Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba. - The striker, 29, enjoyed little success with his country in 2010 but helped his club Inter Milan become European and Italian champions last season. Eto'o also won the prestigious award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while playing in Spain, latterly with Barcelona. The forward also scored one and created one in Inter's 3-0 win over Congolese side TP Mazembe to seal the Club World Cup final on Saturday. Eto'o's fourth Africa…

African champions Tout Puissant Mazembe now face European giants Inter Milan in the finals of the ongoing Club World Cup in United Arab Emirates. The Congolese pulled off the biggest shock in the 10-year history of the tournament by beating Brazilian club, Internacional 2-0 in the semifinals on Tuesday. - The four-time African heroes prevailed through fine second-half strikes by Mulota Kabangu and Dioko Kaluyituka to become the first team from outside Europe and South America to reach the tournament's final. The Nerazzurris recorded a 3-0 thumping over Asian Champions League holders Seongnam Ilhwa of South Korea to book a date with the Africans. "We believed in ourselves, we…

FIFA is putting $80 million into a trust for World Cup hosts South Africa to spend on football development, education, health and humanitarian projects, the body's President Sepp Blatter said in a Press Statement on Monday. "This is also a reward for South Africans for having been such great hosts." - "The trust is the latest piece in our mosaic of 2010 FIFA World Cup-related legacy activities for South Africa and the African continent," Blatter said. Another $20 million had been given to South Africa in the build-up to the June - July tournament, FIFA said in a statement. "We have always said that the first FIFA World Cup on African soil should leave a lasting …

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has refuted allegations of corruption against its president Issa Hayatou. The statement carried on FIFA.com and Cafonline.com respectively reads: "The Confederation of African Football refutes allegations of corruption against its President by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC. - “The BBC in one of its programmes 'Panorama' on Monday 29/11/2010, gave information concerning among others, CAF and its President, M. Issa Hayatou. “The context within which this information was broadcasted does not reflect the truth of what happened. The allegations talk of an amount of 100,000 French Francs, equivalent of 25,000 Sw…

South African referees continue to make an impact on the continent as they are recognized for their performance on the domestic league. Four of them will this week be on CAF duty for the second leg of the Confederations Cup Final between FUS (Morocco) and CSS (Tunisia), to be played at the Taieb Mhiri Stadium in Tunisia. - They are former South African referee of the year Jerome Damon, Andrew Rezeers, Enock Molefe (a past winner of the assistant referee of the year in the domestic league) and Daniel Volgraaf. This appointment follows a CAF assignment for Daniel Bennett and his team at the second leg of the Champions League final which they handled well. SA Football Association’s…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has been banned for three Serie A matches for a headbutt on Bostjan Cesar during Chievo's 2-1 win on Sunday after being tried and convicted by league chiefs on television evidence. - The Cameroon international thrust his head into Cesar's chest in retaliation to a sly punch from the centre-back seven minutes before half-time of the Serie A game in Verona. Serie A sporting judge, Giampaolo Tosel said in a statement that Eto'o's head butt to the chest of defender Cesar, which was not seen by the match officials but picked up on television replays, was "premeditated" and constituted &quo…

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is expected to officially make public Samson Siasia as substantial coach of its men's national team next week, barring any hitch in plans. SuperSport.com quoted a top official of the Nigerian FA, who mentioned that the new date could be November 30. - However, the date is still subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee of the NFF that meets this week to discuss various issues bordering on football in the country, including Siasia’s appointment. The date of next week looks a possibility as the country’s football governing body is keen to make sure that Siasia assumes duty as Nigeria’s head coach on Wednesday, December 1…

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Samson Siasia have been shortlisted for the plum job, which is the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Barrister Chris Green told journalists in Abuja that the new Super Eagles Coach will be unveiled on November 8. - “Yes, we are set to name a new Coach for the Super Eagles. Like you know, both (Stephen) Keshi and Samson Siasia had long signified their desire to manage the Super Eagles. After exhaustive considerations, the technical committee decided to settle for both men for the upcoming interview,” Green said. The interview for both men will be conducted on Novemb…

Research findings carried out by French Football magazine, France Football and made public Wednesday, have indicated that Senegal internationals are topping the list of African players trading their skills in Europe's five top leagues. - In alphabetical order, France Football noted that the division one leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain employ 30 Senegalese footballers. Ivory Coast comes second with 28 players it supplies to those five top leagues, while Cameroon with 26 of its professionals is placed third ahead of Mali and Nigeria who each furnish 22 players. During the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea, Senegal defeated then reigning champions France with a…

The Emergency Committee of FIFA has made it clear that if elections are not held by November 6 2010 for whatever reason, the Togolese Football Association would be automatically suspended from international football. - The Committee was reacting to a request from FTF to extend the deadline to hold elections until November 6 2010 at the latest. This decision has been taken as the President of the FTF Interim Committee, General Seyi Mémène, will be out of the country in the coming weeks for medical reasons. In addition, the FTF has been requested to send FIFA a new schedule for the elections as soon as possible.

Super Eagles' head coach Austin Eguavoen is sad over the latest twist in the fortunes of Nigerian football following the suspension of the country from taking part in international competitions by the world football governing body FIFA. FIFA closed the chapter on Nigeria this week on what it describes as government interference. - Eguavoen, who is due to meet with the acting Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, on his future with the national team and the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, now in doubt, said he was stunned when he heard the news on radio. “I am really unhappy with this situation particularly with just a few days to…

Tout Puissant (TP) Mazembe, the flag bearers of the Democratic Republic of Congo, featuring in the semi-finals of the prestigious African Champions League are just one match away from the final. In the first leg semi finals of the tournament on Sunday, Lamine Ndiaye charges beat their Algerian opponents, JS Kabylie 3-1. - However, the TP Mazembe victory is no reason for their captain, Pamphile Mihayo to be excited. He has rather sounded a note of caution to his fellow players, telling them it is not yet time to celebrate and pop the champagne bottles. “I invite all of us to concentrate on the tough road that still lie ahead after leading the defending champions to a nerve wrecking 3-1 …

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has been put on the alert, following the publication of a fictitious list purporting to be that of nominees for the 2010 Glo-CAF Player of the Year Awards. The news made rapid rounds in the media for several days before the continental body came out to dispute it. - A statement on the CAF website read: “CAF wishes to state clearly that the list did not emanate from its offices as there are known procedures for the listing of nominees for the awards”. The statement further noted that “In the last five years, CAF and Globacom Limited, sponsors of the award ceremony have consistently announced the list through scheduled media even…

The coach of the Simbas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Frenchman Robert Nouzaret has published a list of 23 players, including 16 local players for the October 9 game against Cameroon. The list, made public since September 16 has been described by some football enthusiast as 'intriguing.' - The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon take on the Congolese side in their Day Two matches in one of their Group E qualifiers for the 2012 AFCON billed for Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The match has been slated for the Cameroonian northern town of Garoua. The Congolese camp have decided to leave out the players of their most popular and legendary club, Tout Puissant (TP) Mazembe, from the Lu…

Namibia coach Tom Saintfiet has finally been confirmed as the substantive Warriors coach after a Zimbabwe Football Association, ZIFA, board meeting held in Harare over the weekend. The Belgian's appointment ends a week long stand-off between FA officials over a national and an outsider. - The two parties struck a compromise deal in which local coach Norman Mapeza comes in as Saintfiet’s assistant along with Black Mambas technical director Madinda Ndlovu. Friday Phiri, who is the technical director at a local club, Eagles and had been appointed one of Saintfeit’s assistants last week, would now head the Zimbabwean Under-23 team. Monomotapa coach Taurai Mangwiro takes char…

The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, has nominated Moroccan-born Hicham El Amrani as the interim Secretary General of the African football governing body. This was the gist of the CAF Executive Committee meeting, chaired by its President, Issa Hayatou, at the institution's headquarter in Cairo, Egypt. - Amrani, who officially begins his newfound responsibilities at CAF, Friday, October 1 replaces the Egyptian National, Mustapha Fahmy, who has moved house to FIFA as the Director of Competitions. While expressing gratitude to the members of the CAF Executive Committee for a job well done, in the search of a new scribe for the body, Hayatou commended Fa…

Former Nigerian Football Federation [NFF] president Sani Lulu Abdullahi and his three associates will continue to spend time in jail after failing to meet the deadline for their bail conditions. Their bail was set at N100 million each by Justice David Okorowo, along with two sureties. - The conditions were expected to be met before close of work Wednesday, September 8 to allow the men spend - Amanze Uchegbulam, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Bolaji Ojo-Oba - the sallah holidays with their respective families. But the men failed to meet the conditions before the close of business and will remain in custody. The former football officials are facing trial on a 10-count charge of misappropriating a …

Former Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf has stated his intension to stage a comeback to the national team. The Blackburn Rovers strker told Ivorian tabloid Spoire Ivoire he just went on an international football sabbatical and feels the time is ripe for him to be with the Teranga Lions. - “I can’t say it’s finished between me and Senegal. I only took a break because I wasn’t happy with so many things going on then in the team,” Diouf said. “But now if the people of Senegal ask me to come back, I wouldn’t hesitate,” he noted after retiring in April 2009. As the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Leopards of the Democratic Republic Co…

Ivorian striker Didier Drogba on Sunday insisted that he had not given up on his international career with the west African nation. "Each time they call me up, I'll be there," the 32-year-old Chelsea hit man told French Television Channel, TF1. - Drogba, scorer of 45 goals in his 71 appearances for Ivory Coast, was omitted from new coach Francois Zahoui's 21-strong squad for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in Abidjan on Saturday. The Chelsea goal-hunter surprisingly stormed Abidjan on the eve of the Amavubi encounter, receiving a fanfare reception at the Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport from hundreds of fans. He was seen at the stadium, w…

Jean - Marc Nobilo, 50, has signed a contract with Benin to take the west African country through the preliminaries for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nation finals, to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Benin. The Frenchman was confirmed by the Benin football federation as their new coach days before they begin qualifying campaign on Sunday. - The confirmation of his appointment comes one month after he opened negotiations for the first time. Benin opens their Group H campaign at home against Burundi in Cotonou on Sunday. Nobilo was coach of Le Havre Athletic Club (2009) and Angers (2005), and in many African selections.

Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan secured a transfer deal to English Premier League club, Sunderland for a club record of £13 million (€15.7 million). Gyan agreed a four-year contract with Steve Bruce's side in a deal which shatters the club's previous record when they signed Darren Bent from Tottenham for £10 million in 2009. - The 24-year-old's move was announced 20 minutes before the transfer window in England shut. "Sunderland has broken their transfer record to sign Ghanaian World Cup star Asamoah Gyan from French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes," a statement on the club's website confirmed. "Gyan arrives on Wearside for a fee in excess of 3 million pounds, more…

Discussions making rounds across Ivory Coast that goal poacher, Didier Drogba may not resume duty with the Elephants of Ivory Coast has been confirmed. François Zahoui, the Elephant's new manager, recently said his latest meeting with the Chelsea hit man in London had not been successful. - During his London sojourn, Zahoui invited Drogba for the2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda on Saturday, September 4, but the Chelsea striker turned down the request, giving more awful news of his departure. “I truly met Drogba in London. He told me he was so tired that he wanted to withdraw from the national team for a while. Drogba is a world class player who is indispensab…

A wind of change seems to be blowing in the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, with the emergence of new board members. After the Thursday elections, Aminu Maigari from the North-East Zone, emerged as the new president of the football governing body of the West African Nation. - Maigari was re-elected with a massive 31 votes as against Sani Toro‘s 5 votes and Oyuiki Obaseki’s 4 votes with Shehu Dikko and Fan Ndubuoke getting 2 and 1 votes respectively. Lumuba Adeh got no votes. No other former board member has been elected, writes Supersport.com The rest of the results show more upsets. Former International Dominic Iorfa lost his seat on the board as two new entrants emerged…

Cameroon's emblematic footballer, roving ambassador and honorary President of Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, Roger Milla, slammed the doors of the last executive meeting of the FA, held in Yaoundé recently. - This happened after FA President Iya Mohammed refused to tender a public apology to Milla, who insisted FECAFOOT’s President owed him an apology after the letter he (Iya) wrote against him (Milla) prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when Milla accused Samuel Fils Eto’o of not giving as much to the national team as he did with his various professional clubs in Europe. Milla postulated that Eto’o was underperforming while with the Indomitable Lions, both o…

François Zahoui appointed the head of the technical bench of the Ivorian national team. FA statement read: "We have the pleasure to inform the local and international community that Mr François Zahoui, formerly coach of the national junior team, has been selected by the FIF as the new national coach of Cote D'Ivoire." - The 48-year-old Ivorian, who was in temporary charge of the team for their recent friendly win over Italy in London, takes over from Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, who held a short-term appointment for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Earlier, the Ivorian Football Federation, had discussed with Frenchman Gerard Gili, who even made the trip to Abidjan. Gi…

The acting Chair of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Miagari is under pressure to call off the elections of the NFF slated for August 21. Doubts, arguments and other uncertainties surrounding the elections of a new executive for the NFF Board are raging. - The pressure on the NFF is getting more intense following the court injunction filed by one of the aspirants, ex-international Olusegun Odegbami, claiming that the election into the position of the President of the Federation should be stopped. Sources said the director general of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji has directed the NFF's acting President Aminu Miagari to instruct the congress of the Federation to call off the elect…

Former Cameroon and Togo boss Martin Otto Pfister has applied to become Zimbabwe's new coach. The 72-year-old Pfister is vastly experienced in African football, having also managed the national teams of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, plus Egyptian club side Zamalek and Sudan's Al Merrikh. - Benedict Moyo, the Zimbabwe Football Association board member responsible for national teams, told SuperSport.com on Tuesday; “We are really delighted to have someone of his caliber showing interest in the job." He led Ghana to the final of the African Cup of Nations in 2002 and repeated the feat with Cameroon two years ago in Ghana. In between, the German coach took charge of Tog…

Ifem "Iffy" Onuora, born of Nigerian parents in Glasgow, Scotland, has been recruited as the coach of the Ethiopian national team. Under the contract he is expected to receive a monthly salary of $13 000, free accommodation, a car, two free air tickets and phone service. - His salary and other expenses will be covered by MIDROC Ethiopia, a company owned by Ethiopian-born billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi. When Iffy was asked how a Nigerian came to be the coach of Ethiopia, he replied; “I was interviewed for the job of head coach in Nigeria for the Kwara Football Academy (KFA). I did not get that job but a few days later I was also interviewed for the Ethiopian job; fo…

Javier Clemente, a 60 - year - old Spaniard has been appointed the new coach for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. This is coming on the heels of a series of national and international media reports in recent days, claiming that Cameroon's football governing body, FECAFOOT had signed a two - year deal with the Spanish. - According to a Ministerial Order, Clemente will be assisted by ace Cameroonian footballer and now a trained football tactician, François Omam Biyick and the second assistant in charge of keepers, Jacques Songo’o, also a former keeper of the Lions. Clemente is expected in Yaounde, Cameroon on August 28 to officially seal his contract with FECAFOOT and the Mini…

A month after the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, football fever is once more gripping the black continent, as most of the teams warm up for the eliminatories for the joint 2012 AFCON due for Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Between August 10 and 11 some exciting international friendlies made waves across stadia in Africa, Europe and Asia. - Check out some of the highlights on Africanews.com South Africa 1-0 Ghana Though placed on the theme of continuity, the Bafana Bafana, under a new manager, Pitso Mosimane made a good start at the Soccer City Stadium in Jo’burg, Wednesday, August 11. The boys of Mosimane overpowered the Black Stars of Ghana in a one nil victory. Katlego Mphela ope…

Togo ex-captain Emmanuel Adebayor has admitted he would be willing to come out of international retirement if football in Togo started to organize itself in a more professional manner. He told Manchester City magazine Manc: "There are a lot of organizational problems and whenever we have tried to do things in recent times, it has been taken in a negative way." - "Because I have tried to explain things about the national team and tried to help my country, I have become the main focus when any problems arise and people point to me as the cause. Things have obviously changed in the last year. I have a daughter now and I have to put her first. “I am not going to put myse…

Indomitable Lions captain, Samuel Fils Eto'o has described former captain's retirement from international football as not befitting, considering his contribution to the team. Eto'o made the observation in an open letter he wrote to Rigobert Song, from the US where he is currently on pre-season tour with his club Inter Milan. - This is Eto’s second letter after the first he wrote to Cameroon’s Roving Ambassador Roger Milla. According to Eto’o, Song’s retirement should go beyond announcing it in a press conference. “In 1998, when I arrived amongst the Indomitable Lions, I had the pleasure to mix with seniors like Patrick Mboma, Marc Vivien Foe, R…

Pitso Mosimane, the man who has been tasked with orchestrating the revival of the South African national team, has insisted on continuity as he announced his first squad to face Ghana in next week's friendly at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. - As he faced the media in Johannesburg for the first time to announce his squad, Mosimane spoke of the need to create stability which he believes will create a solid foundation. “I have been in this job for just 22 days and I can’t be expected to make a many changes, that will be stupid of me," he said. "But I have a plan, a vision for this team. However, I must be careful not to make too many changes at once. I expe…

Rigobert Song Bahanack, the emblematic captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, has announced his retirement from international football. The veteran centre-back - the first African to play in four World Cups and eight African Cup of Nations - said the time was right to call it a day. - "You have to know when to quit when the time comes. I leave this team with pride ... and think I have accomplished a duty,” said the 136-times capped Song, who plays for Turkish first division side Trabzonspor. During the press conference on Sunday, the former Metz, Lens and Liverpool player had a special word for his "brother in arms" Marc Vivien Foe, who died on Stade Gerland in…

Hordes of South African coaches are leaving the country to visit various countries in South America and Europe to carefully study their coaching styles in order to personally improve themselves and to hopefully implement what they have learnt abroad in the local game. - “The modern game keeps evolving every day and it is imperative to stay abreast of modern trends,” SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt told journalists in Johannesburg. The United coach likes to quietly jet out of the country to attend coaching courses in Europe and is believed to be one of the highly qualified local coaches. Perhaps that is why Bloemfontein Celtic coach Owen da Gama also intends traveling to…

Senegal national coach Amara Traore and his backroom staff have still not been paid eight months after taking up their roles. Traore told the APS he has made a request to the Senegalese government to address the problem. "It's very difficult," he said. - “I'd really like to be in the right psychological state to carry out my work. Football doesn't wait,” he said. The former Senegal international is assisted by two coaches, Abdoulaye Sarr and Mayacine Mar, and team co-ordinator Ferdinand Coly, reportedly none of whom have been paid for eight months. Traore became Senegal coach in December, after the country failed to qualify for a place at both the 2…

Chelsea striker and captain of the Elephants of Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba, successfully, went through a groin operation over the weekend. Drogba, 32, struggled with the groin problem for much of last season. The surgical treatment was needed to ensure a successful next season. - A Chelsea statement read: "Didier Drogba successfully underwent minimally invasive surgery on the groin injury that had troubled him for some of last season. The decision to perform the procedure after his return from the World Cup was made to optimize his rehabilitation, and he is expected to return to full training in approximately three weeks." The Ivorian star is unlikely to recover in time for the …

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has defended the use of vuvuzelas in the World Cup, arguing the noisy horns served as an encouragement to the players. The cheering plastic instrument took centre stage at the global showpiece and already some English clubs have banned it from their grounds. - "I loved it; it is a way of cheering and encouraging the players and the fans. Vuvuzelas have now become famous and we will keep talking about them for many years to come. I am eager to see what the Brazilian fans will do," the Inter Milan striker told AFP. Eto’o is in Kenyan highlands town of Nanyuki, where he arrived Monday to officiate in a community football tournament finals. …

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane has been handed a new two-year deal, with the task of leading the team into the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, according to the Algerian Football Federation, FAF. Saadane's original contract, signed in 2007, expires at the end of July 2010. - The veteran coach led Algeria to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, the country's first appearance at the global showpiece in 24 years, although they were eliminated in the first round. The Desert Foxes failed to score a goal in their three matches: 1-0 losses to Slovenia and the United States and a 0-0 draw with heavily favoured England in Group C.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has refuted media reports making rounds that countries qualified for the 2012 AFCON tournament will automatically qualify for the 2013 edition. CAF Communication Director, Suleiman Habuba said the governing body would look into that. - Speaking from Cairo over the weekend, Habuba said CAF will convene a special technical and competition committee to sit down and work out the mechanism for qualification to the 2013 edition. “It must also be remembered that during the same period,” explained Habuba, “Africa will also be engaged in qualifications for the 2014 World Cup tournament to be staged in Brazil. I can confirm that countrie…

It took 120 minutes for the Spanish La Furia Roja to win the 2010 World Cup against the Oranje of Holland. After 90-minute of regulation time, with both teams holding tight to a zero all tie, Spain made the difference at the 116th minute when offensive midfielder Andres Iniesta netted a smooth pass from Cesc Fabregas. - It was a goal that brought Spain into the circles of great football nations in the world. Winning the World Cup for the first time, the Spanish team has come to confirm their progress in football in recent years. They are the current European Champions after winning the Cup in 2008. A lot of football observers had tipped Spain as one of the favourites of the football jamb…

Former Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic is among the 12 coaches who have sent in their candidature to handle the Cameroonian senior national side the Indomitable Lions. Cameroon who were highly tipped ahead of the World Cup as one of Africa's hopefuls failed woefully in South Africa at the group stages. - According to the president of the Cameroon Football Federation Iya Muhammed although no official contact has yet been made Germany's most-capped player Lothar Matthaeus and Halilhodzic are among the leading contenders. "I've never met Lothar Matthaeus but his candidature has been forwarded to us as well as that of former Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic and som…

Former Marseille coach Eric Gerets is named as new coach of the Moroccan national team on Monday. Frenchman Dominique Cuperly, former deputy coach of Lens and Marseille, will assist him, according to a statement from the Morocco Football Federation. - The head of the technical bench of the Atlas Lions of Morocco has been vacant since the sacking of Frenchman Roger Lemerre last year. Gerets, a Belgian, will leave his current position as coach of Saudi club Al Hilal in November at the latest, after the AFC Champions League, according to Supersport.com. As a player, Gerets won 86 caps with Belgium and helped them to the 1986 World Cup semifinals. He also won the then European Cup in 1988 …

Three top executives of the Nigeria Football Federation fire following the Super Eagles' poor showing at the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. According to Supersport.com the rest of the officials have appealed to the country's leader to reverse his international ban on the squad. - A statement from the NFF said it resolved at an emergency weekend meeting to dismiss President Sane Lulu Abdullah, a Vice-President Amaze Uchegbulam and executive committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi. Traditional African powerhouse Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches. The remaining nine NFF executive members tendered "an unreserv…

Germany football legend and former FIFA Player of the Year, Lothar Matthaeus is to succeed Frenchman, Paul Marie Le Guen as Cameroon national team coach, according to German sports magazine Kicker. The report said the German had reached agreement in principle with Cameroon Football Federation. - However, Kicker said Matthaeus did not want to comment on the matter. Matthaeus, 49, is Germany’s record-capped player with 150 matches and captained them to the 1990 World Cup title in Italy. He has coached the Hungarian national team in the past and his last appointment, at Israel club Maccabi Netanja, ended a year ago. Le Guen did not renew his contract after Cameroon crashed out of th…

Augustine Eguavoen named as interim coach of the beleaguered Super Eagles of Nigeria in the absence of the Swede, Lars Lagerback, according to the Nigeria Football Federation. Lagerback signed a five-month contract in February to end after the World Cup in July. - Lagerback has now been offered a new four-year contract, but has told the NFF he wishes to discuss his future with his family. Former international defender Eguavoen was in charge of the team when they placed third at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after he failed to qualify the team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The NFF board, after a Tuesday, June 29 meeting, said in a statement that all the country's tea…

Samson Siasia may be named as Super Eagles coach, with the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF appearing to have decided against keeping the Swedish-born Lars Lagerback. The executive committee of the NFF met in Abuja Tuesday, June 29 and an announcement may be made as early as Wednesday, June 30. - Top officials of the football body in Nigeria met over the weekend in Johannesburg, and a decision was taken to make a clean break with the current set-up and go for a fresh start, with Siasia emerging as the popular choice. John Obuh, who led the Under-17 team to silver at last year's World Cup in Nigeria, is expected to be his assistant. A top NFF official informed KickOffNigeria.com t…

The sledgehammer FIFA is hanging over Nigeria, following government interference in the way football is run in the country, officials have disclosed. The Sepp Blatter led administration is not happy with government's decision to suspend a federation's election. - The National Sports Commission, NSC, which is headed by sports minister Ibrahim Bio, had on the eve of the World Cup kick-off ordered the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to suspend all electoral processes, but the Nigeria FA insisted on proceeding with a time-table for the polls. The NFF have since informed FIFA of this direct interference by government in the running of football in Nigeria and the world football gove…

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen has relinquished his position after a lackluster performance of his side at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Cameroon, highly rated to inspire the African side failed to win any of their Group E matched. They lost to Japan, Denmark and slipped 2-1 to Netherlands on Thursday. - "My contract is coming up, and it was clear all along I would stop now," the Frenchman said. "Maybe I didn't succeed in unifying the team and bringing it together." Le Guen's appointment as Cameroon coach in July 2009 prompted celebrations in Yaounde and he was widely credited with turning around a World Cup qualification campaign which was in danger of g…

The heart cooling qualification of the Black Stars of Ghana to the round of 16 in the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has left every one giggling or talking about it. Tanzanian and African football icon Leodegar Tenga shares his thoughts on Ghana's achievement in reaching the second round. - Speaking to FIFA.com Tenga said: “It was very pleasing to see an African team in Ghana progress to the Round of 16. All of us Africans are looking for the teams from the continent to do well and show the strength of African football. It is extremely important we can show the world that we can do well here, and it is important for the tournament as well. And of course it is always i…

Cameroon will get to the 70,000 capacity Green Point Stadium in Cape Town tonight to win and bring honour to themselves, the country and the African continent in general. A win or not the Lions cannot progress to the next round of 16 of the ongoing WC in SA but their FIFA ranking for the month of June is at stake. - Hence, information filtering from the Lions’ base in Durban says the team is taking the match against Holland seriously. “We’ll play for the honour of the people of Cameroon,” Paul Le Guen, Lions’ trainer said at a news conference. Lions’ keeper, Souleymanou Hamidou, was still upbeat and corroborated Le Guen; “It’s still a Wor…

The head of the Bafana Bafana technical bench, Brazilian-born Carlos Alberto Parreira has said that he will make sweeping changes for the final Group A clash against France's Les Bleus, Tuesday, June 22 at the 37, 160 capacity Free State stadium in Bloemfontein. "There will be five changes in the team," Parreira told reporters during a training session. - The changes would include replacements for suspended players Kagisho Dikgacoi and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune but the Brazilian coach refused to unveil his team. "Mathematically, if Uruguay or Mexico, there is a winner there and there is a winner here of two goals difference it would be possible," he said, referr…

"Feel It! Ghana Is Here!" was the inscription on a placard of an excited Ghanaian supporter carried at the Loftus Versfeld 50,000 capacity stadium in Pretoria. The four-time African champions had just dazed the Serbians with a 1-0 victory in the 84th minute at the ongoing World Cup on African soil. - Striker Asamoah Gyan beautifully netted a deserved penalty awarded to Ghana by the Argentine referee, Héctor Walter Baldassi, who saw Serbian defender, Usmanovic, pull the ball with his hand in the 18 metre box. Many observers have quickly described the victory of the Black Stars as an African victory in the 2010 South African World Cup campaign. In the African World Cup opener Frid…

"Africa could be seeing its renaissance," said Ban Ki-Moon, the UN boss as he reflects on the excitement of the African continent's first FIFA World Cup. He shares his thoughts with FIFA.com on sport's power to unify, the tournament's potential legacy and his reading of the WC 2010 as a catalyst for development on the continent. - FIFA.com: How does it feel to attend the first-ever FIFA World Cup on African soil? Ban Ki-Moon: It is an absolute honour to be here for the first-ever World Cup on African soil. I can feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the people, and cannot help but share their sense of anticipation and excitement for such an extraordinary moment in h…

Ghana defender John Mensah has cautioned that staging the World Cup on home soil does not mean an African team is going to win the tournament. He said all the 32 teams including his native Ghana has to determine their own fate in South Africa. - “I’m glad to play in it as it’s the first time the World Cup has come to Africa,” he told a Ghanaian tabloid The Journal. “But just because it’s in Africa doesn’t mean an African team is going to win it. We don’t need to think that because it’s in Africa we’ll have things our own way. We need to determine that ourselves,” he sounded a note of advice. John Mensah, who is part of …

The coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Paul Marie Le Guen, has been assessing his 23 players selected for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa as the buildup continues with international friendlies. After a 3-1 loss to Portugal, he is still upbeat and calls on his charges to improve drastically. - Some observers of the Lions hold that the team appears to be in some disarray after failing to win in their last six outings. The game was also marred by the dismissal of captain Samuel Fils Eto'o, who has been involved in an off-the-field war-of-words with former player, Roger Albert Milla, currently one of Cameroon’s Roving Ambassadors and President Paul Biya’s adviser on …

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has challenged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to come back home on July 11 with the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy for 2010. He said it would be a birthday gift to the nation as they prepare for their 50th anniversary. - Speaking at a special dinner to send the Super Eagles off to the World Cup over the weekend, Jonathan referenced Nigeria's independence, which will be celebrated on 1 October after 50 years. "This is a call to national duty and I expect the Eagles to prepare well and win this trophy. That will be a birthday gift for our country and set the stage for a golden jubilee celebration of our independence …

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) would now run the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in odd years beginning 2013, according to a statement from the organization's Cairo-based headquarters. This means after the Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-host in 2012 there would be another one in Libya 12 months later. - After an erratic early life with odd and even-year hosting, the Cup of Nations has been staged biennially during an even year since the 1968 tournament in Ethiopia. But even-year tournaments meant every second one was held just months before the quadrennial FIFA World Cup and some observers blame this for the poor showing of teams from the African continent in the most w…

Four African referees made it to the final 30 going to handle the 52 matches at the World Cup 2010. They are Malian born Koman Coulibaly, Jerome Damon from South Africa, host country, Mohamed Benouza from Algeria, 2010 World Cup qualifier and Eddy Allen Maillet from the island country, Seychelles. - The other referees disclosed in a special and African edition of the French magazine, Onze Mondial (April – May 2010) and on the website www.onzemondial.fr are Oscar Julián Ruíz Acosta, Colombian, Joel Antonio Aguitar from Salvadore, Khalil Al Ghamdi from the oil – rich Saudi Arabian Kingdom, the Mexican Benito Archundia Téllez, from Argentina Héctor Walter Baldassi, Carlos Batres Gon…

The Egyptian Football Federation, EFF, has been invited for hearing by football governing body, FIFA. After failed attempts in April, FIFA has set May 18 to meet officials of EFF in relations to violence against the Fennecs of Algeria at the Cairo International Stadium. - Possible sanctions against EFF if found guilty are but not limited to deduction of points, matches to be played behind closed doors or simply excluded from the eliminatories of the next World Cup matches. As a result of mounting tension before the play-off between Egypt and Algeria the match was moved to Ourmduman, Sudan, where the Fennecs squeezed a one nil victory over their Egyptian counterparts to qualify for the Sou…

A plethora of Europe-based African football stars, have thrown their weight behind this year's campaign for the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS across the African continent. They include Ivory Coast's Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal, Salif Dioa, Abdoulaye Faye and Amdy Faye, all Senegalese players at Stoke City. - According to a statement from British NGO, Comic Relief, the others include Cameroon’s Sebastien Bassong who plays international football at English Club Tottenham Hotspurs; Mamamdy Sidibe, the Malian at Stoke City; Kolo Toure, the Ivorian at Manchester City and Aaron Mokoena, the South African who plies his football trade at Portsmouth, another Premier League team. …

About four local players may join the foreign-based professionals of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon as they prepare for the upcoming three international friendly matches ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, according to head coach Paul Marie Le Guen. - He was speaking to journalists in Yaounde, at the weekend, after a five-day training camp with some 26 local players. Le Guen did not release the identity of the four players, saying he was not obliged to make available that information immediately. He said the objective of the evaluation session for the local players was met with some of them distinguishing themselves. “Two teams were constituted during the camping, and on…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are well on course for their 2010 World Cup campaign billed for the rainbow country, South Africa. After the May 3 international friendly against the reigning world champions, Italy, the team has three more high-level international friendly matches. - According to the Cameroon Football Federation [FECAFOOT] and in an interview granted some Japanese journalists currently in Cameroon, deputy trainer of the Lions, Frenchman Yves Colleu mentioned that on Saturday, May 29, Cameroon’s national team will take on their counterparts of Slovakia. The game has been slated for Klagenfurt, Austria. Kick-off is 14H Cameroon Time and 13H GMT. Then on June 1, the …

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has stated that the 2010 MTN-Sponsored FIFA World Cup due for South Africa will boost the fight against racism. Pillay's statement is carried on the UN website on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. - The UN official, writes on her release: “the forthcoming…World Cup in South Africa provides an opportunity for a fresh look at the issue of racism in sport, and to enhance sport’s tremendous potential to undermine racism, xenophobia and similar forms of intolerance in wider society.” According to her, the symbolism of the game taking place in an Af…

The 32 countries taking part in the MTN sponsored 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa are expected to send at least two police officers to support the security forces of the South African government during the tournament, according to South African embassy officials. - The South African High Commissioner to Cameroon and Ambassador to Chad and Central Africa Republic, Martha Ntshadi Tsheole told journalists in Yaounde, Cameroon recently. Joined by members of a delegation from South African governmental bodies notably; International Relations and Cooperation, Arts and Culture, the International Marketing Council of South Africa and MTN South Africa, Tsheole said South Africa is taking appr…

Two notable faces of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have been dropped in the Wednesday, March 3 international friendly against the Italian national team, Azzurri. They are one time skipper Rigobert Song and Geremi Soreille Fotso Njitap. The setting will be the Monte Carlo stadium in Monaco, France at 19:45 UT. - The reigning world champion and Cameroon are taking advantage of the FIFA allocated day of international football friendlies to fine-tune their build-up to the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup. Cameroon’s coach, Paul Marie Le Guen has published a list of 22 international and local players for the game. Already the list is making waves across media circles in and out of C…

Beninese born FIFA/CAF Referee, Bonaventure Koffi Codjia, has been suspended indefinitely for the manner in which he handled the Egypt-Algeria semi-final at the African Cup of Nations in Angola. A statement from the Executive Committee of CAF, said his performance changed the outcome of the game. - CAF officials argue that the Beninese referee did not take any action against Faouzi Chaouchi, the Algerian keeper, who head-butted him in the semi final of the AFCON 2010. Chaouchi was only given a yellow card for his confrontation with the referee. Codjia, who has been shortlisted for the MTN sponsored FIFA World Cup 2010 due for South Africa in June, did not put the incident in his match re…

A star-studded Ivorian team failed to live up to expectations in their opener against a modest Stallions of Burkina Faso. After a 90-minute of regulation time the Burkinabe team neutralized Didier Drogba and his very flashy peers to the surprise of many who have highly tipped the Ivorians to carry the day. - The crop of Arouna Didane, Yaya Toure, Didier “Maestro” Zokora, Bakary Kone, Salomon Kalou, Difier Drogba, Kader Keita, Kolo Toure and more were eclipsed by the Stallions. Baky Kone, with all his verve, missed three scoring opportunities, after having been served most of the time by team mate, Gervinho, whose series of offensive moves came to naught. Drogba could be seen o…

The Togolese national football team returned home after the Hawks were caught in a crossfire last Friday on their way to Cabinda, their base in Angola for the African Cup of Nations. As he boarded the plane in Cabinda on Sunday, Captain Emmanuel Adebayor said: "We have to mourn our dead. We go back home to do this." - The inspirational captain added: "We can't be in a period of mourning and at the same time be in a festival of sport.” A gun attack on their team bus in the Cabinda enclave resulted in the death of three people - an assistant coach, press officer and bus driver – while several other players were injured. The West African country has declare…

TP Mazembe of DR Congo beat the Heartland of Nigeria 1-0 at home in Lubumbashi, Katanga Province to win the Orange-sponsored African Champions League Trophy. The Congolese carried the day on the away goal rule after losing to the visitors 1-2 in the first leg played in Owerri, Nigeria a week before. - Cameroonian Narcisse Amia Ekanga scored the lone goal to give Tout Puissant Mazembe the prestigious Champions League trophy for the third time. TP Mazembe won the African Champions League for the third time in 41 years after earlier exploits in 1967 and 1968 respectively. The Nigerian club, Heartland of Owerri was losing the African Champions League final for the second time, after that of 1988…

Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have taken over the command seat in Group A of the 2010 World Cup and African Cup qualifiers after a two - one victory over the Panthers of Gabon on Wednesday. Cameroon employed tact and experience and benefited from home ground support to dominate the first 25 minutes of the match. - The Lions began the game in Yaoundé with the apparent hope of achieving two things; a precious victory and the love of their fans, something that has been absent as a result of the hitherto dwindling fortunes of the squad. The action-packed dual African Nations Cup/World Cup qualifying determinant was an opportunity for the Lions to once more prove that they are the kings. But…

A private radio station - Sky One - in Yaounde and Douala of Cameroon has been banned from operating by the Minister of Communication, Issa Bakary Tchiroma. The media house is alleged to have violated Cameroon's law on social communication in spite of numerous warning letters to its management. - AfricaNews reporter said officials of the Communication Ministry are not content with the content of a programme – “La Tribunal” - airing on the radio station. They said the general public is using the phone-in segment of the programme to settle personal scores with people in government. The Communication boss took the final decision to close shop for Sky One radio when of…

A new era has dawned for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon as Samuel Fils Eto'o, who trades his football know-how at the Italian Calcio League, with Inter Milan, was designated captain of the Cameroon national football squad. - It is a decision of the newly recruited trainer of the Lions, French man, Paul Le Guen. Eto’o takes the captain ban from Rigobert Song Bahanack, who has played that strategic role for the Lions for 10 years. Le Guen’s option for Eto’o is coming on the heels of his first official outing with the Lions as head coach. The French football technician will be fielding his first team as Lion’s trainer in the Wednesday, August 12 international …

Cameroonian football fans have shown a sense of solidarity with their football icon Samuel Fils Eto'o. Most of them, who were initially with him at FC Barcelona, have now switched their support to the striker's new club Inter-Milan. - From the sales of supporters’ jerseys as captured by this reporter in the municipality of Buea, it was gathered that the sales of Barcelona supporter jerseys have dropped in favour of Inter-Milan’s, as a result of Eto’o’s recent move from the Spanish La Liga to the Italian Serie A club. Augustin Nkemta, who sells sporting gears in Buea said when Barcelona won the Champions League with Eto’o, the sales of Barcelona jer…

French man Paul Le Guen, who officially put pen to paper, Monday, July 27, as the new trainer of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, has published his first squad. The 22-man team will face their counterparts of Austria come August 12 in an intentional friendly programmed for Vienna. - It will be Le Guen’s first outing with the Lions and first outing with an African national squad as a coach. Le Guen’s first 22 include; Idriss Carlos Kameni, Souleymanou Hamidou Yaya, Sebastien Bassong, Geremi Soreille Fotso Njitap, Captain Rigobert Song Bahanack, Andre Stephane Amougou Bikey, Nicolas Nkoulou, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Augustin Binya, Aurelien Chedjou, Eyong Enoh Takang, Daniel Ngom Kom…

Paul Le Guen has been appointed as the new coach of the Cameroon national soccer team, the Indomitable Lions. The country's Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Michel Zoah, endorsed Guen on Wednesday. His decision has come to put a stop to the recent speculations in the media over who succeeds Pfister. - The 44-year-old Le Guen will arrive in Yaounde, Cameroon on Saturday, July 25 to officially put pen on paper in a tripartite agreement, which will involve the Ministry of Sports & Physical Education, Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, and the recruited coach. The new coach is expected to sign a six-month contract with Cameroon’s Ministry of Sports. This contract…

The newly appointed Minister of Sports and Physical Education in Cameroon, Michel Zoah has asked the president of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, to make available to him a short list of coaches competent to train the national football team also known as the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. - Some names are already making the rounds; German-born Lothar Mathaeus, former captain of the German Manchafft and World Cup winner, Belgian Jean Tiessen, the current coach of the Hawks of Togo, another German-born Horst Koppel and Portuguese Arthur Jorge. As lobbying and counter lobbying rages on as who gets the prestigious job to be the head coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, info…

Coach of Cameroon's national soccer team, Otto Pfister has resigned. He said his resignation comes after his assistant, Gweha Ikouam was sacked. Pfister has since handed his resignation letter to officials of Cameroon Football Federation. He has insisted that his decision to resign is irreversible. - It should be recalled that Gweha Ikoum was recently replaced with Michel Kaham and Jean Paul Akono after the Indomitable Lions suffered a series of dismal performances in the ongoing qualifiers for the African Nations Cup and World Cup. Pfister told fifa.com that the decision to sack his assistant was taken without his consent or any consultation with him. He praised Gweha Ikouam as t…

Cameroonian striker, Samuel Eto'o, made the difference for FC Barcelona as they beat Manchester United 2-0. The striker put his club into the lead of the 2008/2009 final of the European Champions League. The setting was the San Siro Stadium in Rome, Italy. Eto'o opened the scores at the 10th minute of play. - He had unperturbed collaboration from his peers like Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Ivorian Yaya Toure, Malian Seydou Keita, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, whom many observers have described as the organizer of the Barça play style. One goal up, the Spanish team will play with a lot of confidence. All attempts by a Manchester team backed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, keeper Van Der Sa…

Plans to organize a fund raising match between the national teams of Ivory Coast and Cameroon have been criticized by the Ivorian Minister of Sports, Dagobert Banzio. He said it is premature to hold the event for the families left behind as a result of the stadium disaster on March 24 in Abidjan. - “The idea behind the match is praiseworthy, but we’re still in the process of learning the lessons from the tragedy,” he told the BBC. “I think we have a duty to take the measures recommended [by the inquiries] before taking the risk of organizing such a match.” He said he was worried the possible presence of big stars such as Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Rigobe…

Coach of Cotonsport football club in Cameroon, Alain Ouombleon Guedou, has been relieved of his functions. The Wednesday, May 13 decision to fire Guedou has been confirmed by the club's Honorary President, Iya Muhammed, who doubles as the President of Cameroon Football Federation, (FECAFOOT). - He has been replaced by his assistant, Gabriel Haman, who has been at the Cotonsport’s technical bench for a little more than a decade. Sources have it that Guedou has been shown the door open because he has failed to deliver the goods since the start of the 2008/2009 football season in Cameroon. Recently, Cotonsport was booted out of the preliminary face of the 2009 African Champions…

Four new coaches have been appointed to assist the current trainer of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, German-born Otto Pfister. Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Thierry Augustin Edjoa, signed the appointment decision this past Thursday. - The coaches, all Cameroonians include; Jean Paul Akono, Michel Kaham, Martin Ndtoungou Mpile and Thomas Nkono, who is been re-appointed. The four replace Gueha Ikouam, who was the assistant to Pfister. The Sports Minister’s decision is coming on the heels of scathing criticisms Pfister and Ikouam have received since the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, painfully lost to the Hawks of Togo on Saturday, March 28 at the Ohene Djan Stadium in…

The Bishop of Buea Diocese of the Catholic Church said the church does not discuss condoms. "As a catholic church, we do not discuss condoms. It hasn't got a place. What the church is dealing with is not head-counting. The church is talking about spiritual and moral issues, which are of the highest order." - Mgr. Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu, was talking to issues that was still making waves across Cameroon out of the Pope’s visit to that country. He granted an exclusive interview to AfricaNews. Our reporter Walter Nana Wilson had an exclusive with Mgr. Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu. Here are excerpts of the interview. Walter: What is your reaction having participated in the…

The head coach of the Cameroonian national soccer team, Otto Pfister, has released his squad for the Saturday, March 28 2009, game against the Hawks of Togo. According to the Cameroon Football Federation, besides the regulars and the big names in the team, Pfister, has introduced some new comers. - These include; MAYEBI Joslain of Hakach Amidar in Israel, CHEDJOU Aurélien, who trades his football at Lille, France, and ALO’O EFOULOU Paul, who plays at Angers, also in France. The rest are; team captain, Rigobert Song Bahanag, NJITAP Fotso Geremi Soreille, ETO’O Fils Samuel, KAMENI Idriss Carlos, MAKOUN Jean II, MBAMI Mbami Modeste, DJEMBA Djemba Eric, MBIA Stéphane, NGOM Kome D…

Belgian-born Jean Thiessen has been appointed the new head coach of the Togolese national football team, the Hawks. The country's football federation made the confirmation this week. The 62-year-old has signed an 18-month contract to qualify Togo to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations 2010. - The Hawks first game in the final round of 2010 qualifying is on 28 March against Cameroon. Thiessen takes over from former Nigerian football star Stephen Keshi. Keshi is remembered for having qualified the Togolese National Football squad for their first World Cup participation in Germany 2006 but did not go along with the team because of misunderstandings with some of the players, especia…

Africa's longest serving head of state, Omar Bongo Odimba, of Gabon has seen some of his juicy bank accounts blocked in France. The government of Sarkozy blocked some of the accounts of the 72-year-old African leader after a court ordered he return a payment made to him to release a jailed Frenchman. - The nine frozen French accounts hold over four million euros, said Jean-Philippe Le Bail, who is representing a French plaintiff who paid Bongo 457,347 euros (USD$583,454) to free his father from prison. In 1996, Rene Cardona was imprisoned after a business dispute with Bongo, to whom he had sold a fishing and shipping firm. The businessman was released after his son paid money into Bo…

Issa Hayatou was unanimously elected and retained as the president of the Confederation of African Football at the 38th Ordinary General Assembly. The Cameroonian-born sports and physical education instructor, who has been at the helm of affairs for two decades was elected in Lagos, Nigeria. - After 21 years of stewardship, African football observers have credited Hayatou for haven spotlighted CAF on a positive light in the international scene. In a recent stopover in Yaounde, Cameroon, aides to Hayatou told reporters that there is a general consensus across the African continent that Hayatou should be allowed to continue the good work he has been doing in CAF. One of his campaign message…

The Disciplinary and Homologation Committee of the world football governing body, FIFA, has banned the Lome Stadium of Togo from international activities. - The directive follows investigations into violence that erupted during a World Cup/ACN qualifying series between Togo and Mali. The FIFA suspension decision states that in one of the preliminary matches pitting Togo against Mali at the Lome stadium, violence erupted, leaving two Malian players and 60 supporters wounded. FIFA has directed that the upcoming opener of the third and last phase of the ACN/World Cup qualifiers engaging Togo against Cameroon, billed for Saturday, March 28, has been moved to the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accr…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Syli National of Guinea-Conakry would clash in an international friendly scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 2009. The much-awaited match would take place in the French capital of Paris, the Cameroon Football Association website said. - According to a time table of the Indomitable Lions on the website, the team would have a training session in France that will last from February 8-12. The high point of the Paris camping would be the international friendly against the Guinean Syli National slated for Bondoufle, outskirts of Paris. This match is to re-launch the international campaigns of the Lions as they look forward to the third and last round o…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will take on the Bafana Bafana of South Africa today in Rustenberg, South Africa for a FIFA authorized friendly. The match is also billed to spice the 91st birthday activities of former South African President and legendary Statesman, Nelson Madiba Mandela. - It would serve as an opportunity for Cameroonian trainer, Otto Pfister, to continue looking for a better solution to his squad, as they begin the third and crucial phase of the joint World Cup/ACN 2010 eliminatories in March 2009. The following players have been served invitations to be part of the South African expedition. They are Rigobert Song Bahanack, Samuel Fils Eto’o, Geremi Soreille Fotso …

Cotonport lost to Al Ahly 0-2 in the first leg finals of the MTN CAF Champions league. Despite Al Ahly's domination of the match, the Egyptians had intimidated and caused Cotonsport psychologically. Cotonsport put up a spirited game, as they played an experienced side in front of 70,000 supporters. - Cotonsport players and officials were greeted with intimidation as they met a hostile reception at the Cairo International Airport. The Cameroonian delegation had to pay $50 per person to be released from their plane. A representative of Al Ahly claimed they could not support extra charges from the visitors and said the Cameroonian delegation should have boarded a commercial flight. Thou…

Pope Benedict XVI is expected to make his maiden visit to Africa in March 2009. The spiritual father of the Catholic Church would visit Cameroon and Angola, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano disclosed over the weekend. Benedict, 81, made the surprise announcement in St. Peter's Basilica. - Pope Benedict was speaking during a ceremony closing three weeks of discussions by bishops from around the world about the Bible's importance in the life of the Church. “It is my intention to go next March to Cameroon” as part of preparations for an October 2009 bishops' meeting at the Vatican dealing with Africa, Benedict said at the end of his homily. “Go…

Cotonsport of Cameroon made it to the finals of the MTN CAF Champions League competition after humiliating Power Dynamos of Zimbabwe 4-0 on Saturday. The team of President Pierre Kaptene sailed through with 5-0 aggregate. This is their first time since the inception of the competition a decade ago. - A fortnight ago in the first leg match played at the Harare Stadium, the visiting Cameroonian team unleashed a 1-0 defeat on their hosts. The Garoua-based team came into the match to confirm their newfound supremacy in the African club scene. Cotonsport’s defence man, Sebastien Ndzana Koua surprised the visitors from Harare when he opened scores at the first minute of play. At the 52nd…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon trashed their Mauritius Island folks 5-0 over the weekend in the joint World and African Cups` qualifiers. It was a splashing game for the experience Cameroon side at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde. Goal poacher Eto`o opened the score sheet in the 26th minute. - The game was more or less a goal festival for the boys of German football technician and Cameroon’s trainer, Otto Pfister, 70. Having employed an all-professional team of 22 men, Pfister, certainly, was going in for big business. Nothing will be left to chance, especially as the Lions had already picked qualification ticket into the third and crucial phase of the joint ACN/World Cup 2010…

The Divisional Officer, DO, of the Kombo Abedimo area in the Bakassi Peninsular, Felix Fonya Morfaw and six Gendarmerie officers have been reported abducted by unknown gunmen in one of the fishing ports in the Bakassi peninsular. - The incident occurred Monday, June 9, when the Cameroonian administrator and the military officers in his company were on an official visit to the Akwayafe estuary in Akwa, headquarter of Kombo Abedimo. Reacting to the unfortunate happening, Cameroon’s Army Chief of Staff Rene Claude Meka issued a statement, saying the whereabouts of the DO and the six Gendarme officers are not known. The communiqué added that three of the Cameroonian soldiers succes…

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are progressing in the on-going preliminary matches for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) and World Cup 2010 campaigns billed for Angola and South Africa respectively. Cameroon was finalist in the last CAN tournament. - In Day 2 matches for the Lions’ pool, where you also have Cape Verde, Tanzania and the Mauritius Island, the squad of German-born trainer and 70-year-old Otto Pfister walloped their counterparts from the Mauritius Island 3-0. The match took place in Curepipe. Lions’ defender, André Stéphane Amougou Bikey, who trades his professional know-how with Reading, a British club, which has just been relegated to the Division 2 League ope…