Ivory Coast May Be Disqualified From Afcon

The Ivory Coast national football team, (nicknamed the Elephant) will be disqualified from the 2015 African Cup of nations, if they forfeit their qualifier game against Sierra Leone, because of the fear of the deadly Ebola virus, which has been ravaging some West Africa nations.

The government of Ivory Coast said, that they will not allow Sierra Leone team into their country, for the September 6th encounter in Abidjan.

Ivorian officials are very fearful, that the virus could be brought into the country. The football federation of the country said that they are considering two options, which are to relocate the game or forfeit it, instead of allowing Sierra Leoneans to enter their shores.

But the football governing body in Africa, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said in reaction to the forfeiture notion, that if a country forfeit a match, that country is no longer legible to continue in the competition. In other words, the country is automatically disqualified.

''If a country forfeits one qualifier, they will be disqualified from the championship,'' CAF spokesman said.

CAF also said that the issue of Ebola will be re-visited, in the middle of September for a further assessment of the situation.

In other to allay the fears of the Ivorians, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has named their foreign based players, to prosecute the game for them. CAF is insisting that all games must go on as planned.

Sierra Leone is not the only country affected by the deadly virus, but it is one of the three countries that was hit hardest. The other two hardest hit countries are Liberia and Guinea, where the out-break began.

CAF said that these three countries, are required to relocate their home games. These three nations have recorded about 1500 deaths from the virus.

Among the six affected nations, Nigeria recorded 5 deaths out of 13 reported cases, from the virus in Lagos, which is in the Western part of the country, and no other part of the country is infected.

This may be the reason why CAF allows Nigeria, to host their September 6th match against Congo, in the Southern city of Calabar. It was reported that Congo asked CAF for a relocation of the match outside Nigeria, but the organisation did not sanction the idea, since only a few number of people were infected by the virus in Lagos.

As afore-mentioned in this article, Confederation of African Football (CAF) is very adamant, that all the scheduled matches on that day must go on as planned, except the three countries in the epi-centre of the virus, which have been ordered to relocate their home games to neutral countries.

In the match between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, I think the solution which the SLFA adopted, is the best one to solve the problem of fear of contacting the virus.

It is a good solution. Countries that are safe, and are afraid to play against countries that are inffected, should request that the inffected countries must use only players that are based in safe foreign countries.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

Algerian Football Federation To Give Ebosse Family $100,000 And More

The Algerian Football Federation, has suspended the football league in the country indefinitely, in reaction to the death of Albert Ebosse - the J S kabylie's striker, who was stoned to death after Saturday's match, against USM Alger, at the Tizi Ouzou Stadium.

J S Kabylie lost the home match 2 - 1, even though the Cameroonian striker Ebosse, scored the only goal of his team.

A day after the unfortunate incident, the Algerian Football Federation decided after a meeting, to postpone the league.

A statement from the Association said that it was, ''in protest at the irresponsible actions of certain fanatics and hooligans, who resorted to violence in the stadiums, which has reached an unacceptable level.''

Albert Ebosse

It went further to say, that the organisation is also considering to expel whichever club, that was at fault in the incident, in all competitions. But that is likely to be after the investigation

The Algerian Ministry of Interior, has ordered an indept investigation into the incident, that caused the death of Albert Ebosse, and football hooliganism in the country.

The Football Federation announced that the slained player's family, will be given $100,000, and all the money he could've earned, during the period of his contract.

In addition to this, all the players of his club - J S Kabylie, will each donate one month salary to the family of Ebosse.

Even though all these monetry gestures, cannot be equated to the life of the unfortunate player, it will go a long way to reduce the financial burden, that the family may suffer as a result of his untimely death.

I hope that the Algerian government and the Football Federation, will after the inquiry, set up a mechanism that will deter football fans, from resorting to hooliganism, whenever their football team lose a match.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

Cameroonian Striker Died After Hit By Missile

A Cameroonian striker, Albert Ebosse (25), who played for the Algerian clubside, JS Kabylie has died Saturday night, after he was hit by a missile from the fans, during a home match between his club and USM Alger in the Algerian Championship.

The footballer scored his team's lone goal in their 2 -1 defeat. After the final whistle was blown, the players were leaving the pitch, when the fans started throwing objects into the field of Tizi Ouzou stadium and unfortunately, Ebosse was hit at the head and sustained injury.

He was rushed to the hospital in the city of Tizi Ouzou, where the match was played. It was in the hospital that he was pronounced dead. A very sad situation. This is very difficult to comprehend.

Ebosse played for Coton Sport of Cameroon and a team in Malaysia before joining JS Kabylie in 2013. He quickly established himself, and became the highest goal scorer in the 2013/2014 season, in the Algerian League.

Albert Ebosse

A prolific goal scorer, as aforementioned in this article, he was the person who scored the only goal of his team. Little did he or anyone for that matter know, that such a tragedy was waiting for him.

May the Lord God Almighty have mercy on the person, that stupidly threw such a projectile, on an innocent young man and cut his life short.

An investigation has been ordered into the incident, by the Algerian ministry of Intrior. Meanwhile, his club wrote in their website,

''The JSK player succumbed to a head injury, after being hit in the head at the end of the meeting with USM Alger.''
It added for clarity, ''JS Kabylie's Camaroonian striker, has lost his life, after being hit in the head, by something launched from the stands.''

The team they played against, USM Alger, wrote in their website after they learnt that the young player died, ''In these painful circumstances, USM Alger and its members, send their deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, and to JS Kabylie. May Albert Ebosse rest in peace,'' USM said.
Issa Hayatou, the President of the football governing body, Confederation of African Football (CAF), said in a statement at the organisation's headquarters.
''My thoughts go out to the family and friends of this young man, who enjoyed his job peacefully and went further, to pursue his passion for football abroad.''

Hayatou went on to warn that African football cannot be a breeding ground for hooliganism.

''African football cannot be the breeding ground for hooliganism whatsoever. We expect examplary sanctions to be taken against this grave act of violence.

''Violence has no place in African football in particular and sports in general. We remain resolute and state in the strongest terms our determination to eradicate all forms of violence and unsportsmanlike conduct in stadiums on the continent,'' Hayatou concluded.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

It's Nigeria Against Germany In The Final

Asisat Oshoala, is a name that people of Korea DPR will not forget in a hurry, especially the players, after she almost single handedly crushed them, in the semi-final of the Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup in Canada.
Nigeria over-ran the team by 6 - 2 on their way to the final. Asisat scored 4 of the 6 goals.

Courtney Dike, opened the goals account for the Nigeria's Falconets (as they are nicked), in the second minute after kickoff time, to continue her nack for scoring fast goals. Dike scored the fastest goal of the tournament in 18 seconds after kickoff time, against South Korea in the group phase.

Asisat doubled the Nigerian goals in the 24th minute of play, but that was the beginning of her raining goals on North Korea. But before the interval, Um Sim in the 31 minute pulled one goal back for the Koreans.



The Falconets

In the 55 minute Uchechi Sunday, restored the Falconet's two goals lead, and five minutes later in the 60th minute, Asisat scored her second goal of the day. Eight minutes later she made sure that their Asian opponents, will not be able to come back into the match, by scoring her third goal of the of the encounter in the 68th minute.

But before Asisat scored on the 68th minute, the Koreans were awarded a penalty, when Ugo Njoku handled the ball in the Nigerian box. Then J. So Yon stepped forward, in the 62nd minute and tucked it away, on the right hand side of the goalkeeper.

The match continued, with the Nigerian girls maintaining their dorminance of the game. Then five minutes to stoppage time, in the 85th minute, the very talented and pacey Asisat made sure, that the match will be one to be remembered for a long to come, by scoring her 4th goal.

In the history of the Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup, no team has been crushed in the semi-final with such a huge number of goals, except in this very tournament.

Germany defeated France 2 - 1 in the other semi-final, and will be meeting Nigeria in the final on Sunday the 24th, in a match that will be interesting to watch, as Nigeria will be looking to revenge losing the final to Germany in 2010, while Germany will be hoping to show that their 2010 winning was not by chance. Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Rwanda has been thrown out of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, for fielding an ineligible player, Birori Dady, in their first leg encounter against Congo. The player who ply his club football with AS Vita in Kinshasa (DRC), played for Rwanda national team under a different name - Etekiama Agiti Tady. So Congo which lost the qualification, through penalties after two legs, protested to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The football body then set up an investigation on the issue, which included among other things, talking to the player in question. They found out that the two names in the club and national team were the same person. The player was suspended until further notice by CAF and Rwanda thrown out. Congo has now replaced Rwnada in Group A, where they will meet, Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan.

Victor Moses

 

Victor Moses (23), the Chelsea and Nigeria international has joined the English Premier League clubside - Stoke City on a season loan. He was also on a season loan last season at Liverpool, where he featured minimaly. Since Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager returned at the Stamford Bridge, for his second term, he barely use the gifted and pacey winger. Stoke City's chief executive, Tony Scholes, was very happy to have signed such a young talent. ''We are delighted to have secured the services of such an exciting young talent in Victor,'' he said. ''He will certainly add to our attacking options and from talking to him it's obvious that he's really excited about the prospect of making an impact in the Premier League with Stoke City,'' Scholes added.

Sierra Leone is still searching for a neutral venue, where they will play their 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier, against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Sierra Leone Football Association, first wrote to the Ghanian Football Association, to allow them to play the match in Ghana, which has been scheduled for September 10. Then the GFA replied, that since it was because of health issue, as a result of the out-break of the Ebola virus, SLFA should make the request through their government to the Ghana government, which will then make the decision on what to do. Sierra Leone did so, and it was rejected by the Ghana government, through their Foreign Affairs minister, Hannah Tetteh. The SLFA Secretary General, Christopher Kamara, said that they are still waiting for the final word from Ghana, but added that if Ghana totally refuse, they will approach Gambia and Morocco. He said that pulling out of the competition is not an option.
''The issue of us withdrawing is out of the question.''
Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

Kenya Has Sacked Coach Amrouche And Staff

The Kenyan Football Federation has sacked their national football coach, Adel Amrouche and all the technical staff, after the team (Harambee Stars) played a 0 - 0 draw on Sunday in Nairobi against Lesotho, in an African Cup of Nations qualifier encounter.

Kenya which already had lost 1 - 0 in the first leg in Lesotho is now out of the competition on a 1 - 0 goal aggregate.

The Algerian born Belgian coach, was already suspended for one year by the football governing body in Africa, Confederation of African Football (CAF) for allegedly spitting at a fourth official in an ACN qualifier match in Comoros in May. Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

Adel Amrouche

He has already appealed the decision and claimed that he did not spat at the official and can prove it with video evidence.

"I can prove it with video evidence, I never spat at the referee. It is an injustice against me and my team. The issue has killed our hopes of qualifying,''  coach Amrouche said.

The coach said that he has never lost a match with the team in 16 games, he told BCC Sport. He said that the two games that Kenya lost, he was in the stands due to the suspension.

Amrouche also said that, the fact that he was suspended for a year, affected his players concentrations and focus.

''I have never lost with this team in 16 matches. The two games that Kenya lost I was in the stands because I was suspended.''

''When we lost on Sunday I was in the stands, and the story that I am banned for a year, ruined the players concentration and focus,'' he said.

The team has been doing well under the coach Amrouche. As he mentioned, they won 16 matches under him, and never lost with him untill the ban, which took him out of the pitch.

In 2013 he led the Harambee Stars to win the Cecafa trophy - (the East and Central African countries football tournament). And also when he became their coach, the country was ranked 138th by Fifa but now they are at number 95th.

''We lifted the team up from 138th in Fifa's rankings and now they are 95th,'' the coach said.

It is quite unfortunate that he has been sacked by the KFF, inspite of the fact that he improved the national team greatly. Even though the Federation was disappointed that they failed to qualify to the 2015 African Cup of Nations, I think that it could've benefitted the team, if he was allowed to continue building and developing the team.

Continuity is very vital in this sport, especially if a coach is making a big impact, bringing success after success no matter how small, as long as the players are responding well to his coaching.

I have no doubt in my mind, that with what he has already achieved with the team, that given a couple of years more he would have achieved more. Most likely he would lead the team to qualify for the 2017 tournament.

Long term plan is very important, in order for any team that is building up, to start yielding dividend. But the problem today in football business, is that heads of football associations don't have patience. Is either a coach produce results immediately or be sacked. It is very unfortunate indeed.
Read also: melvinsports.blogspot.com

Herve Renard Is Ivory Coast New Coach

The successful former Zambia national football coach, Herve Renard (45), has been appointed the new national coach of Ivory Coast. He was given a two year contract.

He replaced the former coach, Sabri Lamouchi, who led the team to the World Cup in Brazil, but they failed to qualify to the second round of the summer mundial.

The Ivory Coast Football Federation, selected Renard among many coaches who applied for the post, because of his achievements in the continent of Africa.

The President of the Ivory Coast Football Federation, Augustine Sidy Diallo, said in the organisation's website that the coach fulfilled their requirement in a new coach.

''We were looking for a loyal, able coach who had already proved himself.''

Renard surprised the football community in Africa, when he led Zambia national football team to victory and lifted the 2012 African Cup of Nations trophy, by coincidentally beating Ivory Coast in the final in a penalty shoot out.

His immediate first job is to prepare the team, for the 2015 African Cup of Nations, which will start in September.

The Frenchman has experience in African football, having coached not only Zambia, but also Ghana as an assistant coach to his mentor, Claude Le Roy.

He also coached the Angolan national football team, and the Algerian football club, USM Alger. He left the Zambian national team, to coach the Ligue1 club, FC Sochaux, but unfortunately they were relegated to division two.

The 2015 African Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco. Renard has been mandated to qualify his new team to the tournament. He is lucky, because his new team is full of stars, who plays in big clubs in Europe.

His problem will be how to manage so much big egos in the team, and get them to perform to their highest ability, especially in tournaments, where it seem like they always have problem, to perform to their highest potential, which everybody knows that they have.
Read aslo: melvinsports.blogspot.com

Bony Is Not For Sale, Says Garry Monk

The Ivory Coast international and the English Premier League striker for Swansea City, Wilfried Bony (25), has been declared ''Not for sale'' by his football club manager, Garry Monk.

There has been rumours that a couple of clubs wants to sign him, especially Liverpool FC. But the team turned their attention to the Queens Park Rangers' French striker, Loic Remy, who they agreed to sign with the fee of €10m.

But this week Liverpool pulled out of the deal, after Remy had his medical with the team in USA, where they were having their pre-season, with the reason being that Remy failed his medical.

Wilfried Bony

Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager told the media, that he did not agree with Liverpool reason, he said, that it was not possible that Remy failed his medical.

Redknapp said that Remy had extensive medical at QPR, Newcastle United where he was on loan last season and in June with the French national team for the World Cup.

Anyway, the rumour has began again, that Liverpool may be going back for Bony. Bony represented Ivory Coast at the World Cup in Brazil, where he scored two goals for his country. He scored 25 goals last season in the EPL.

Garry Monk, said that no team has approached them for Bony's services, but even if any club is interested in signing him, he declared that the player is not for sale.

He then added that the only way, they will sell him is if a club offer them an astronomical fee.

''We've had no contact from anyone at all,'' Swansea City manager said.

''At the end of the day he's not for sale, unless someone comes in with an astronomical offer.

''Unless they want to pay an astronomical fee, he's going nowhere,'' Garry Monk said emphatically. Read also: africanfootie.blogspot.com