Africa continued its journey towards the 2014 competition in Brazil with a number of qualifying matches taking place on Saturday and Sunday throughout Africa.
Namibia 1-0 Kenya
The Brave Warriors welcomed the visit of Kenya's Harambee Stars, having lost their first World Cup qualifier 1-0 to Nigeria. Kenya in comparison, drew 0-0 with Malawi.
In the cold night air of Windhoek, around 5,000 fans created the atmosphere at the stadium, and the home side was motivated to do well in front of their supporters.
The first half ended goalless, but not for lack of effort, as Namibia had two clear cut chances to go ahead, but Kenyan keeper Anthony Origi was in fine form and made some crucial saves. The second half produced few opportunities for the two sides, and those that came were wasted.
The match was not yet over, however, and Namibia still had one more addition to the game's script, with Henrico Botes completing a stunning win for the Brave Warriors with a goal in the 85th minute, making it 1-0 to Namibia over Kenya.
Equatorial Guinea 2-2 Sierra Leone
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations hosts were paid a visit by the Leone Stars, with the home side having lost to Tunisia in their first qualifier, while Sierra Leone went top of Group B alongside the Carthage Eagles thanks to their win over Cape Verde.
A flurry of goals were scored in the first half of the match, with the score set at 2-2 by the break, thanks to a double from Equatorial Guinea captain Juvenal, as well as one goal apiece from Samuel Barlay and Ibrahim Bangura for Sierra Leone.
Juvenal opened his account on 13 minutes, but by the half hour mark the visitors had turned the game on its head, and the skipper equalised with his second of the encounter.
For all the excitement of the first half, the second session was rather disappointing and the match would produce no more goals, although Equatorial Guinea missed a penalty which they should have converted.
Leone Stars captain Ibrahim Kargbo was sent off, giving Juvenal a chance to score his hat-trick, but the player missed the target altogether, meaning that 2-2 would remain the final scoreline.
The result means that Equatorial Guinea remains in the bottom two of Group B on one point, while Sierra Leone moves to four points.
Congo 1-0 Niger
The Mena travelled to Congo with determination to return home with a positive result, but it was not to be for the 2012 Afcon qualifiers, as the hosts recorded a 1-0 victory in Pointe Noire at the Stade Municipal.
The visiting Mena would have felt rather confident at half time, with the score still unadjusted.
As time wore on in the second half and chances were few and far between, Niger would have been considering a point almost bankable, but the Congolese had other plans and in the 86th minute Francis Malonga earned his side all three points with a goal to send their opponents home empty-handed.
Group E now sees Congo and Gabon leading on four points each, while Burkina Faso and Niger are bottom of the standing with a single point each.
Gabon 1-0 Burkina Faso
The Panthers of Gabon were keen to get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track following a draw in their first match, and the Stallions of Burkina Faso stood in the way of their objective.
The home side began brightly and aimed to make their fans in Libreville at the L’amitié Sino Gabonaise happy with a victory. They were able to do just that, despite the score ending goalless at half time.
In the second half the Panthers found the breakthrough thanks to a strike from Remy Ebanega in the 56th minute. The meeting ended 1-0 for the hosts, leaving Burkina Faso on one point while Gabon move to four, topping Group E alongside Congo following their victory over Niger.
Uganda 1-1 Senegal
Uganda and Senegal ended their second 2014 World Cup qualifying game with a 1-1 draw in Kampala on Saturday, with Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse putting the Teranga Lions in the lead in the first half and Bunamwaya midfielder Godfrey Walusimbi equalising via a penalty minutes before full time.
Zambia 1-0 Ghana
Zambia beat Ghana 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in their second 2014 World Cup qualifying game to make up for their loss against Sudan last week.
Captain Christopher Katongo led a well organised Zambian side that made it impossible for their visitors to break into their defense. The 29-year-old inspirational leader, who was conspicuous in every department of the game, put the Chipolopolo in the lead within 14 minutes of play.
Botswana 1-1 South Africa
South Africa travelled to Botswana for the second round of 2014 World Cup qualifying in Group A, and the teams walked away with a point each after a 1-1 draw. Kickoff
Monday, 11 June 2012
Chiefs or Pirates for Nkosi
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| Nkosi has to decide on his fututre this week. Picture by Football 365. |
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi will decide later this week on whether to rejoin Kaizer Chiefs or sign for Orlando Pirates.
Since leaving Golden Arrows earlier this month, Nkosi has been under the radar of a number of PSL clubs, but KickOff.com has learnt that the player has been negotiating with the two Soweto giants.
“He has been speaking to both teams and will definitely make a decision before the end of the week,” says a source close to the player.
“He has been stalling because he doesn’t want to rush into making a decision. He has been speaking to Maritzburg United as well and doesn’t mind the idea of moving to Port Elizabeth with them.
“But Maritzburg has an outside chance because Nkosi prefers Chiefs or Pirates. Swallows were in the picture before they went to China, but now they are completely out of the picture.”
Nkosi started his career with Orlando Pirates but left without playing a match. Kickoff
Spain not happy with the pitch
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| Disappointed spain players after a 1-1 draw against Italy. |
Spain have complained about the state of the pitch they played out a 1-1 draw with Italy on last night.
La Furia Roja are unhappy that the surface was bone dry, a factor they believe stymied their crisp passing style.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque is a man of few words, so when he talks people listen.
And unbidden, last night he expressed dissatisfaction with the pitch in Gdansk.
"It is a pity to play on a dry pitch. For us, for Italy and for the fans. I am sure we would have seen a better game if the pitch had not been so dry," he said.
Spain’s goalscorer Cesc Fabregas was less diplomatic.
"The pitch is a disaster. It's lamentable to play on a pitch like that," he fumed. "I can't complain but we deserved a lot more. It's lamentable that we still have to play on pitches like that."
While midfield conductor Xavi Hernandez explained: "The fact they didn't water the pitch affected us and our passing." And Andres Iniesta added: "To see the pitch in this condition was a disaster. It was super dry and that makes passing the ball difficult."
Italy, who were happy to have surprised the defending champions by taking the lead and refusing to surrender, were not wont to criticise the surface.
"It is the same for both teams," Andrea Pirlo said.
The chief of the Polish FA, Grzegorz Lato, has rejected Spain’s misgivings about the pitch outright.
"What nonsense! The grass was the perfect length," Lato told Polish radio station TOK FM.
"The thing is that often one waters the pitch for the game. But you need agreement from the two teams. The Spanish wanted it to be watered, the Italians did not agree.
"[Italy] know that the pitch being slower - because on a watered pitch the ball slides a lot and will move a lot faster - is the better tactical option for Italy.
"If there isn't agreement (from both sides), it doesn't make any difference that at Barcelona and Real Madrid they water the pitch two hours before the game." SoccerLaduma
Trapattoni tells players to keep their heads up
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has urged his players to keep the faith at Uefa Euro 2012™ after their long unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt against Croatia in rainy Poznan on Sunday.
A mistake-riddled 3-1 defeat in their opening Group C match put a dampener on Ireland's first appearance at the finals since 1988 and means they must avoid defeat on Thursday against world champions Spain who drew 1-1 with Italy.
"It's important we recover psychologically and believe again because we have to remember how many games we had played without conceding a goal," the seasoned Italian, whose side had kept 11 clean sheets in a 14-match unbeaten run, said.
"We believe in our strength."
Since taking over four years ago Italian Trapattoni has transformed Ireland's fortunes and they were desperately unlucky to miss out on qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Despite being placed in a tough Euro 2012 group that also includes four-times world champions Italy, hopes were high that Ireland could sneak into the quarterfinals but defeat against Croatia, a match that was targetted as the most likely victory, means the party could be cut short.
They never really got started against the lively Croatians, conceding a soft goal to Mario Mandzukic within three minutes.
Although Sean St Ledger equalised they were rocked either side of halftime with Nikica Jelavic's shot and Mandzukic's header which went in off keeper Shay Given sealing defeat.
FRESHEN UP
reland looked heavy-legged for long periods and lacking in creativity when chasing the game and Trapattoni hinted that he may freshen up the team for the clash with Spain in Gdansk.
Many of the travelling Irish fans frequenting the bars of Sopot, close by the team's training base on Poland's Baltic coast, want to see an injection of youth such as Sunderland's highly-rated midfielder James McClean.
Whether or not the wily Trapattoni will risk tinkering too much against Spain is doubtful although he did offer some encouragement for the fringe players.
"Spain is another game and then we have to think very, very much," the 73-year-old, who tasted only his third competitive defeat as Ireland boss and his first on the road, said.
"If I decide to change, it will not be because a player played badly or does not deserve to play. We have another game. Our opponent only drew and has only one point."
Defender Stephen Ward said they would be huge underdogs against the Spanish but hoped the luck of the Irish would return after two of Croatia's goals owed much to large slices of fortune.
"Against Spain we have nothing to lose so we have to go out and give it everything and hopefully we can get a bit of luck on Thursday and then go into the Italy game with a chance of qualifying," he said. Supersport
A mistake-riddled 3-1 defeat in their opening Group C match put a dampener on Ireland's first appearance at the finals since 1988 and means they must avoid defeat on Thursday against world champions Spain who drew 1-1 with Italy.
"It's important we recover psychologically and believe again because we have to remember how many games we had played without conceding a goal," the seasoned Italian, whose side had kept 11 clean sheets in a 14-match unbeaten run, said.
"We believe in our strength."
Since taking over four years ago Italian Trapattoni has transformed Ireland's fortunes and they were desperately unlucky to miss out on qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Despite being placed in a tough Euro 2012 group that also includes four-times world champions Italy, hopes were high that Ireland could sneak into the quarterfinals but defeat against Croatia, a match that was targetted as the most likely victory, means the party could be cut short.
They never really got started against the lively Croatians, conceding a soft goal to Mario Mandzukic within three minutes.
Although Sean St Ledger equalised they were rocked either side of halftime with Nikica Jelavic's shot and Mandzukic's header which went in off keeper Shay Given sealing defeat.
FRESHEN UP
reland looked heavy-legged for long periods and lacking in creativity when chasing the game and Trapattoni hinted that he may freshen up the team for the clash with Spain in Gdansk.
Many of the travelling Irish fans frequenting the bars of Sopot, close by the team's training base on Poland's Baltic coast, want to see an injection of youth such as Sunderland's highly-rated midfielder James McClean.
Whether or not the wily Trapattoni will risk tinkering too much against Spain is doubtful although he did offer some encouragement for the fringe players.
"Spain is another game and then we have to think very, very much," the 73-year-old, who tasted only his third competitive defeat as Ireland boss and his first on the road, said.
"If I decide to change, it will not be because a player played badly or does not deserve to play. We have another game. Our opponent only drew and has only one point."
Defender Stephen Ward said they would be huge underdogs against the Spanish but hoped the luck of the Irish would return after two of Croatia's goals owed much to large slices of fortune.
"Against Spain we have nothing to lose so we have to go out and give it everything and hopefully we can get a bit of luck on Thursday and then go into the Italy game with a chance of qualifying," he said. Supersport
CR7 under pressure
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| CR7 was frustated after the 1-0 loss to Germany |
Perhaps Portugal should never had made Cristiano Ronaldo captain, judging by the way he tore his armband off and was the first player to storm down the tunnel after Saturday’s Euro 2012 defeat to Germany.
After all, in the greatest Portugal teams of the past, stars like Eusebio and Luis Figo were not the skippers. They were allowed to play, free from the responsibility of leadership.
Being captain may be something that stokes the fires of CR7’s notorious ego, but it is debatable whether or not it adds to his performance for his national team.
While he was certainly Portugal’s best player against Germany, Ronaldo still did not do enough to suggest he can drag them kicking and screaming into the second round of the competition.
He was his customary step-over self, but the tricks he has used to destroy teams like Granada and Getafe in the past seldom flustered Germany’s nonplussed defenders.
And when Ronaldo started to berate his team-mates for misplacing passes before half time, perhaps he should have held a mirror to himself.
Portugal’s manager Paolo Bento knows full well the importance of CR7 to his cause, and insisted the Real Madrid man had a good game against Germany.
"I haven't done the individual analysis yet but I think it was a very good game by Ronaldo," Bento said on Sunday.
And former Portugal wizard Figo sought to lump CR7’s ineffective display on the shoulders of his team-mates.
"I think the team need to give [Ronaldo] the chances to have a good performance," Figo said.
"Cristiano's style is to finish, to score, so if the team don't produce those kind of opportunities then of course his performance is down."
After his stunning season, there can be no doubt as to CR7’s standing at the pinnacle of the game.
However, it seems that he is now the superstar to shoulder the burden of underperforming for his national team.
His rival for the podium as football’s best player is Lionel Messi, who has buried the old saw that he cannot play for his country.
Messi has embraced the captain’s armband for Argentina, and flourished with it, scoring nine goals from as many internationals.
His hat-trick against Brazil at the weekend gave him 82 goals for the season, and pushed him closer to retaining the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo meanwhile, needs a stellar Euro 2012 if he is to pip Messi for football’s top individual award.
There are still two group games to go for Ronaldo to assert himself, and perhaps the knockout stage to follow.
But after Portugal’s damp squib display against the Germans, and Messi’s goal rush weekend, the pressure on Ronaldo to perform for himself and his country has ratcheted up a notch.
Italy coach please with a draw
\Italy coach Cesare Prandelli believes that their 1-1 draw with Spain in their opening Euro 2012 match was a fair result.
The Italians were both sturdy in defence and exciting on attack and produced a performance that will surely fill their players with confidence.
Antonio Di Natale put the Italians ahead on the hour mark just moments after coming on as a substitute but Cesc Fabregas netted an equaliser four minutes later.
"I think it was the right result," Prandelli told Rai tv.
"There is a slight regret that we conceded so soon after we had scored.
"The important thing is that the players have done what I asked them. We played well and played as a team."
Di Natale has to wait patiently for his turn after Mario Balotelli was given a starting role, but the goalscorer was not worried about starting on the bench.
"I'm happy to have been able to score just a few minutes after coming onto the pitch," he added.
"I am at the disposal of the coach and I will play whenever it is possible. The draw was a good result for us." SoccerLaduma
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Banyana's Olympic squad announced
The SA Sports Confederation an Olympic Committee has announced the Banyana Banyana squad for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Sascoc has revealed the 112-member initial team for the tournament today; the final team will be announced on July 4.
"Today's announcement is the culmination of four years of extremely hard work for everyone, both at Sascoc and in the broader South African sports fraternity," Sascoc President Gideon Sam says.
"I've always said that the building of a team is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. So today we are putting just about the final pieces of that puzzle into place with only a few more additions likely after the final qualification cut-off.
"Make no bones about it, we could have done better if we had more funding but that's always the case. The time for excuses is over and I believe that we have done the very best that we could have done under the circumstances.
"There was the criticism over the clothing sponsor but we believe we've done our absolute best and when you see our stars turn out at the Olympics and Paralympics I think you'll agree."
A total of 16 sporting codes will be represented, ranging from archery to weightlifting, and it will be the first time that Banyana Banyana will be competing.
Banyana squad
Roxanne Barker, Zamandosi Cele, Amanda Dlamini, Judith Hlumbane, Refiloe Jane, Kylie-Ann Louw, Noko Matlou, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Philadelphia Mndaweni, Portia Modise, Sanah Mollo, Robyn Moodaly, Marry Ntsweng, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Amanda Sister, Leandra Smeda, Janine van Wyk, Nothando Vilakazi.
KickoFF
Sascoc has revealed the 112-member initial team for the tournament today; the final team will be announced on July 4.
"Today's announcement is the culmination of four years of extremely hard work for everyone, both at Sascoc and in the broader South African sports fraternity," Sascoc President Gideon Sam says.
"I've always said that the building of a team is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. So today we are putting just about the final pieces of that puzzle into place with only a few more additions likely after the final qualification cut-off.
"Make no bones about it, we could have done better if we had more funding but that's always the case. The time for excuses is over and I believe that we have done the very best that we could have done under the circumstances.
"There was the criticism over the clothing sponsor but we believe we've done our absolute best and when you see our stars turn out at the Olympics and Paralympics I think you'll agree."
A total of 16 sporting codes will be represented, ranging from archery to weightlifting, and it will be the first time that Banyana Banyana will be competing.
Banyana squad
Roxanne Barker, Zamandosi Cele, Amanda Dlamini, Judith Hlumbane, Refiloe Jane, Kylie-Ann Louw, Noko Matlou, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Philadelphia Mndaweni, Portia Modise, Sanah Mollo, Robyn Moodaly, Marry Ntsweng, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Amanda Sister, Leandra Smeda, Janine van Wyk, Nothando Vilakazi.
KickoFF
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