IVORY COAST FINALLY BECAME CHAMPIONS AGAIN

Ivory Coast has finally lifted the African Cup of Nations trophy, after beating Ghana 9 - 8 in the penalty shoot-outs in the final on Sunday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

This is the second time that the country has won the trophy in their history. They have waited 23 years to acomplish such feat once again.

                               Ivory Coast are Afcon Champions

The match was goalless after the stoppage time. They played an extra 30 minutes but the game still did not produce any goals, hence the penalty.

Well the penalties were like riding a roller-coaster, at the initial stages Ghana scored their first two spot kicks while the Ivorians lost theirs.

But the uncertainty which the beautiful game is made of, showed up, and Ivory Coast made amends, by levelling the score as Ghana stumbled with their shots.

After the other players had taken their penalties, it came down to the two goalkeepers. By this time the scoreline was 8 - 8.

The Ghanaian goalkeeper, Brimah Razak's penalty was blocked by Boubacar Barry. Then it was the turn of Barry to take his own spot kick. If he scored, his country will lift the trophy once again after such a long time.

He did score and ended the agony of the disappointments of the last two finals they lost in 2006 and 2012. They have played three finals in 9 years.

With the score he sent his nation into a euphoric pleasure that knows no bounds.

The victorious captain, Yaya Toure, said after clinching the hard fought continental trophy.

''Sometimes when you win with your club, it's magical, but winning with your country is something exceptional,'' Toure told the French publication, L'Equipe.

''I've lost twice in the final, so to be here now is fantastic. I'm so happy,'' he added.

Well, credit should not only go to the players but also to their French coach, Herve Renard, who did a marvelous job of selecting players based on merit and not based on past glories.

This is the second African Cup of Nations trophy he has won in a space of three years. In 2012, he led Zambia to their first Afcon trophy.

Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the Ivorians in their winning and the Ghanaians in their galant efforts in the tournament. Ghana should be proud in their performance in the mundial.

It is unfortunate that they lost once again to Ivory Coast in the finals through penalties. The first time in 1992, it was through penalties that Ghana lost to them.

But it is the nature of penalties, it could go either way for the teams. Maybe next time they will do better.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

GHANA TO FACE IVORY COAST IN THE FINAL

Ghana defeated the host Equatorial Guinea 3 - 0 in the second semi-final of the on-going CAF African Cup of Nations tournament amid crowd violence.

The Black Stars took the lead in the first half, when Jordan Ayew scored the penalty, which was given to Ghana when the Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper Felipe Ovono fouled kwesie Appiah.

The Ghanians increased their lead in the first half, when the skillful Mubarak Wakaso, sloted in their second goal from a counter attack.

Andre Ayew

The fans of the host nation - Equatorial Guinea had already showed signs of discomfort before the end of the first half.

Second half began with Ghana continueing their pressure on their opponents, which resulted in their third goal of the match on the 75th minute, when Andre Ayew scored.

It was after this third goal that the host nation's fans lost their cool and started throwing missiles at the Ghana fans and also into the pitch.

A number of people were wounded and the match was halted for about half an hour, while the police struggled to control the situation.

The Ghana fans were huddled together with fear at the back of one of the goal post, as the agitated Equatorial Guinea fans continued to rain all sorts of missles at the Ghana fans and littered the pitch with their missiles.

The crowd violence really took away the sweet taste of a well deserved victory from the Ghana team.

The barbaric actions of the fans is a big disgrace and tarnished the image of the beautiful game in Africa.

Confederation of African Football (CAF), which is the organisers of the football tournament in Equatorial Guinea, has fined the nation $100,000, for the violence in Thursday's semi-final match against Ghana.

Ghana will play Ivory Coast on Sunday in the final. Ivory Coast beat Democratic Republic of Congo 3 - 1 in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Equatorial Guinea will play Democratic Republic of Congo for the third place on Saturday.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

IVORY COAST BOOKED THEIR PLACE IN THE FINAL

Ivory Coast have book their spot in the final of the on-going CAF African Cup of Nations football tournament by beating the Democratic Republic of Congo 3 - 1 in the first semi - final today.

The Ivorians took the lead in the 20th minute through their talented captain Yaya Toure, who released a thunderbolt of a shot, outside the box which the goalkeeper had no answer to.

But in just three minutes later the Congolese got a penalty awarded to them when an Ivorian handled the ball in his own box. Mbokani stepped forward and calmly sloted the ball to the far right side of the post.

The keeper nearly block the ball going into the net. He scored and it was 1 - 1.

The Ivorians were better organised than the Congolese and their attackers were more determined to score goals, while their opponents seemed to have lost steam especially in the second half.

The persistence of the Ivorians yielded a second goal, through Arsenal's former player, Gervinho, who now plays for AS Roma.

Ivory Coast did not rest because they were leading 2 - 1, they kept on pressing their opponents, until the pressure produced a third goal through Kanon.

The match ended 3 - 1 putting the Ivorians in their third Afcon final in less than 10 years.

They now wait the out-come of the second semi-final, between Ghana and the host country Equatorial Guinea tomorrow.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

THE NIGERIAN 'WONDER KID' ASISAT JOINS LIVERPOOL

The Nigerian and African Women footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala (20), has signed a contract with the Liverpool Ladies - the reigning Women's League champions.

Asisat is the 'Wonder kid' of the African Women Football. She is really a gifted player. She has skills, pace, power and also a good finisher as a striker.

Asisat Oshoala with her WC awards

The Liverpool Ladies coach, Matt Beard, was very happy that he signed her. ''We beat a number of top American and European clubs to Asisat's signature. Asisat is one of the best young players in the world,'' he said.

She show-cased her talent and skills in the 2014 Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup in Canada, where she won the Golden Boot as the highest goal scorer and also she won the Golden Ball (MVP) of the tournament.

Later the same year she joined the Nigerian senior women team in the CAF's African Women Championships in Namibia, where she helped her country lift the trophy for the 7th time in the history of the tournament.

In that tournament she also won some individual awards, and earlier this month she won the 2014 African Women's player of the year and also the Youth player of the year. Her club in Nigeria, the Rivers Angels won the country's league.

Her new coach, Mr Beard, said that he watched her in the World Cup, where she was a sensation and the club had discussion with her to join them.

''I watched her at the Under-20 World Cup, where she was sensational, and we had early dialoge with her about coming to Liverpool.

''There's been plenty of other interest in her in the last few months, but she chose to join us and I'm absolutely delighted,'' the coach said.

Oshoala herself was glad to join the reigning Women Super League champions. ''To be able to join the reigning Super League champions is absolutely fantastic,'' she said.

''Liverpool Ladies are a massive club with some fantastic players who I nbelieve can help me to develop my game to the next level,'' Asisat added.

The latest golden girl of the Nigerian women's football, will be going with her country to this year's Fifa Women World Cup in Canada this summer.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

THE AFCON GAMES RESULTS

The African Cup of Nations tournament which began on Saturday, the 17th in Equatorial Guinea has so far not produced any big shock - in the terms of David and Goliath. All the six matches that have been played so far were okay, as per the expectations of fans.

Well, the only exception, if one can call it that was the fact that last tournament finalist - Burkina Faso lost 2 - 0 to Gabon on the opening day of the mundial.

Ghana Fans

But that may not come as a surprise to many, because Gabon has improved tremendously especially their star striker and captain, Pierre Emrick Aubamayang who plays with Borussia Dortmund.

Anyway, here are the results of the matches that have been played so far.

17/01/15

Equatorial Guinea 1 - 1 Congo

Burkina Faso 0 - 2 Gabon


18/01/15


Zambia 1 - 1 Democratic Republic of Congo

Tunisia 1 - 1 Cape Verde


19/01/15


Ghana 1 - 2 Senegal

Algeria 3 - 1 South Africa

APOY Shortlist Reduced To Five

The 2014 African Player of the Year (APOY) shortlist has been now cut to 5 candidates by the Confederation of the African Football (CAF).

It was originally a list of 25 footballers which was announced last month, November.

The award is divided into two separate categories. One is for players that are plying their trade outside Africa and the second category is for players playing in Africa.

Vincent Enyeama

The votes for the awards will be decided by the chief coaches of the national football federations affiliated to the CAF.

The winners of the two categories will be announced in a gala on the 8th of January, 2015, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The 2013 winner of the award is the Ivorian international and Man City midfielder, Yaya Toure, who is also among the five candidates. He has won the award in three occassions.

Without further ado, the following are the names of the five players.

African Player of the Year: (Foreign Based)

1).  Ahmed Musa      (CSKA Moscow and Nigeria)
2).  Asamoah Gyan   (Al Ain and Ghana) 
3).  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Dortmund and Gabon)
4).  Vincent Enyeama  (FC Lille and Nigeria)
5).  Yaya Toure          (Man City and Ivory Coast)

African Player of the Year: (African Based)

1).  Akram Djahnit  (Entente Setif and Algeria)
2).  El Hedi Belamieri (Entente Setif and Algeria)
3).  Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (CS Sfaxien and Tunisia)
4).  Firmin Mubele Ndombe  (AS Vita and DRC)
5).  Senzo Meyiwa       (Orlando Pirates and South Africa)

The South Africa goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, who was killed in his girl friend's house, last October by armed robbers, was also among the five candidates.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

The Conclusion Of The Afcon Qualifiers

The last of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers games were concluded on Wednesday, all over the continent, with the shocking result in Group A of Nigeria, the defending champions failing to qualify to the tournament after playing a 2 - 2 draw at home with South Africa.

The visiting South African team, popularly known as the Bafana - Bafana had already qualified to the tournament, but Nigeria needed a win in the match to seal up their qualification.

While the third placed Congo which had 7 points as Nigeria before the games began, needed to win to qualify if only Nigeria fail to win their match.

Nigeria Vs South Africa

Before the matches began, Nigeria was second on the Group A table as a result of CAF rule of head to head advantage between two teams that have the same points.

Anyway, Nigeria failed to get a win, while Congo playing away in Sudan got a 1 - 0 win to finish second on the table.

Nigeria still failed to clinch the best third finisher on the tables as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) beat them to it with 9 points to their 8 points.

In Group B, Mali made it through to the second position by beating Algeria 2 - 0 which had already qualified with 15 points. Mali finished with 9 points.

The Group C qualifiers was already decided last weekend, when the two teams of Gabon and Burkina Faso went through. So the Wednesday match was just to know, which team will finish on top of the table.

So Gabon finished on top of the table with 12 points after beating Lesotho 4 - 2.  Burkina Faso came second after playing a 1 - 1 draw with Angola, finishing with 11 points.

In Group D, Ivory Coast needed a draw while hosting Cameroon the table leader with 14 points, which had already qualified.

Ivory Coast qualified after playing a 0 - 0 goalless draw, and finishing second with 10 points to the third placed DRC with 9 points. Fortunately, for the DRC they also qualified, after beating Sierra Leone 3 - 1. 

Before the Wednesday matches, the Group E was more or less open to the four teams to qualify. Ghana was on top of the table with 8 points, while Guinea and Uganda had 7 points and Togo had 6 points.

So you see, the home teams of Ghana and Guinea had to fight hard to win in order to make sure of their qualifications. And they both did not disappoint their fans, as the Nigerian team did. Ghana won Togo 3 - 1 to finish top with 11 points while Guinea defeated Uganda 2 - 0 to finish second with 10 points.

In Group F, Cape Verde and Zambia had already qualified last weekend first and second respectively. Zambia beat Cape Verde 1 - 0 in their last match on Wednesday, but that did not change their positions on the table. Cape Verde top the table with 12 points and Zambia Finished with 11 points.

The last group which is Group G, already had Tunisia and Senegal qualified, before the Wednesday games. Senegal won Botswana 3 - 0 to finish second on the table with 13 points, while Tunisia defeated Egypt 2 - 1 and finished on top of the table with 14 points.

As I mentioned earlier on in this article, the Democratic Republic of Congo, completed the 16 teams to participate in the January 17 to Febrary 8 tournament in Equatorial Guinea. The DRC finished as the team with the best result of all the teams, that finished third on the table.
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com




 

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS RESULTS (14 & 15/11/14)

The African Cup of Nations qualifications matches today have been virtually completed all over of the continent. There were no surprises in the games of today except probably that Malawi defeated Mali 2 - 0.

After today's games six countries qualified for the tournament, which is now slated to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea in January to February next year.

The six countries that qualified for the tournament today after the games are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Senegal, Zambia and South Africa. They join the three that have already qualified - Algeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia.

The last qualification matches will be played Wednesday next week by which time the remaining teams will know whether they qualified or not. The following are the results of the games today.

        Group  A                                    Group  B

Congo           0  -  2  Nigeria      Malawi  2  -  0  Mali        
South Africa  2  -  1  Sudan        Algeria      -       Ethiopia  

        Group  C                                    Group  D

Lesotho      0  -  1  Burkina F     Cameroon  1  -  0   DRC
Angola       0  -  0  Gabon        Sierra Leone 1 -   5   I. Coast

        Group  E                                     Group  F

Uganda     1  -  0  Ghana      Mozambique 0  - 1 Zambia         
Togo         1  -  4  Guinea     Cape Verde   3  - 1  Niger

                                     Group  G

                      Egypt           0   -   1    Senegal
                      Botswana     0   -   0    Tunisia

As at the time of writing this article Algeria which has already qualified is leading Ethiopia by 3 to 1 goals.
Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com




    

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS WEEKEND QUALIFIERS

This weekend the first of the last two qualifier games will be played all over the African continent, amid the cloud of uncertainty over where the 2015 biannual tournament will be held.

Morocco the nation that was slated initially to hold the event was disqualified, because the country wanted Confederation of African Football (CAF), to move the tournament to 2016 as a result of the fear of the ebola virus in West Africa.

CAF refused to change the date of the event, and gave them an automatum to decide by Saturday, whether they will host the event or not. So Morocco decided that they will not host the event next January.

Ghanian Fans

CAF disqualified them from participating, because as host they were not involved in the qualification series, because they had automatic qualification as host. So since they are not hosting the event anymore, it was withrawn.

Anyway, CAF announced on Tuesday, that there were three countries ready to host the event, and that they will make the decision on which country will be given the right to host the tournament in 2 or 3 days time.

After this weekend matches, the last of the qualification series will be played on Wednesday, the 19th of November.

Without much ado, before I digress once again, the following are the matches for Friday and Saturday.

Friday, 14/11/14

                       Group  D

Sierra  Leone     -      Ivory Coast    (Time: 15.00)

                       Group  G

Botswana          -      Tunisia            (18.00 hours)

Saturday,  15/11/14

                      Group  A

South Africa        -         Sudan             (15.00)
Congo                  -         Nigeria           (15.30)

                      Group  B

Malawi               -         Mali                  (14.30)
Algeria               -         Ethiopia            (20.30)

                       Group  C

Angola              -         Gabon                (18.00)
Lesotho            -          Burkina Faso     (16.00)

                       Group  D

Cameroon       -          DRC                    (15.00)

                        Group  E

Togo               -          Guinea                 (15.30)
Uganda           -          Ghana                  (16.00)

                        Group  F

Mozambique  -          Zambia                (16.00)
Cape Verde     -         Niger                    (16.00)

                        Group  G

Egypt              -         Senegal                (19.00)

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

THE 2014 BBC AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

The shortlist of five players has been released by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), for the 2014 BBC African Footballer of the Year.

The list included the title holder Yaya Toure who is Ivorian international and Manchester City player. Toure has been nominated for the award for the past 6 years.

He was in the summer World Cup with Ivory Coast and is the new captain of the Ivory Coast national team.



Yaya Toure

Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria international goalkeeper and captain of his national team. He ply his club football with French Ligue 1 top club FC Lille, where is the first choice goalkeeper and has performed well. He was with the Nigeria national football team at the World Cup.

Another player on the list is the Algeria international and FC Porto player. The former FC Granada hitman was named the best African player in Spain last  season, which contributed to Porto signing him this season. Brahimi was also at the World Cup in Brazil with Algeria.

Next on the shortlist is Ivorian international and AS Roma forward Yao 'Gervinho' Gervais. The former Arsenal striker was at the summer World Cup with Ivory Coast. He is currently enjoying a good form in his career with his club.

The last but not the least on the list is the Borussia Dortmund and Congo international, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He is the only player on the shortlist that was not at the World Cup in Brazil. He is enjoying good form in his game at the moment.

Voting is open to members of the public from the 10th to the 24th November. The winner will be announced on the 1st  of December.

People can vote online or through Sms to this phone number,
+447786202008. Note that voting is limited to one vote per mobile phone number.

To vote for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014, text the number of the footballer to the above listed phone number.

Text 1. for  Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang
Text 2. for  Yacine Brahimi
Text 3. for  Vincent Enyeama
Text 4. for  Gervinho
Text 5. for  Yaya Toure
Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com 

NOMINEES OF THE AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR (BASED IN AFRICA)

The following are the 20 names of the African based footballers, that has been nominated for the African Footballer of the year Award. The names are listed in an alphabetical order.

1.   Amr   Gamal                (Egypt, Al Ahly)
2.  Abdelrahman Fetri        (Libya, Ahly Benghazi)
3.  Akram Djahnit               (Algeria, ES Setif)
4.  Bernard Parker               (South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs)
5.  Bogani Ndulula              (South Africa, Amazulu)
6.  Ejike Uzoenyi                 (Nigeria, Enugu Rangers)
7.  El Hedi Belamieri           (Algeria, ES Setif)
8.  Fakhereddine Ben Yousef    (Tunisia, CS Sfaxien)
9.  Ferdjani Sassi                     (Tunisia, CS Sfaxien)
10. Firmin Mubel Ndombe      (DRC Congo, AS Vita)
11. Geoffery Massa            (Uganda, Pretoria University)
12. Jean Kasusula               (DRC, TP Mazenbe)
13. Kader Bidimbou            (Congo, AC Leopards)
14. Lema Mabidi                 (DRC, Congo AS Vita)
15. Mudathir Al Taieb        (Sudan, Al Hilal)
16. Roger Assale                (Ivory Coast, Sewe Sport)
17. Senzo Meyiwa              (South Africa, Orlando Pirates)
18. Solomon Asante           (Ghana, TP Mazembe)
19. Souleymane Moussa    (Cameroon, Coton Sport)
20. Yunus Sentamu            (Uganda, AS Vita)

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

THE 2014 NOMINEES OF THE AFRICAN FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the body governing football in Africa has just released the names of 25 players, as the nominees for the 2014 African footballer of the year.

The award is divided into two categories - the first is only for Africans plying their trade outside Africa, while the second category is for players playing their club football in the continent.

Vincent Enyeama

Among the nominees of the foreign based players is Yaya Toure of Manchester City and Ivory Coast, who has won the last three of the award and is among the favourites to win the honour again.

Without much ado, the following names are the full list of the foreign based players, listed alphabetically.

1.  Ahmed Musa        (Nigeria, CSKA Moscow)
2.  Asamoah Gyan     (Ghana,  Al Ain Club)
2.  Dame N'doye       (Senegal, Lokomotiv Moscow)
4.  Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Tottenham Hotspur)  
5.  Eric Maxim Choup-Moting (Cameroon, Schalke)
6.  Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Tunisia, CS Sfaxien)   
7.  Ferdjani Sassi      (Tunisia,  CS Sfaxien)
8.  Yao Kouassi 'Gervinho' Gervais (Ivory Coast, Roma)
9.  Islam Slimani           (Algeria, Sporting Lisbon)
10. Kwadwo Asamoah   ( Ghana, Juventus )  
11. Mehdi Benatia          (Morocco, Bayern Munich)
12. Mohammed El Neny  (Egypt, Basel)
13. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang  (Gabon, Dortmund)
14. Rais M'bolhi            (Algeria, Philadelphia Union)
15. Sadio Mane              (Senegal, Southampton)
16. Seydou Keita            (Mali, AS Roma)
17. Sofiane Feghouli      (Algeria, Valencia)
18. Stephane M'bia         (Cameroon, Sevilla)
19. Thulani Serero           (South Africa, Ajax)
20. Vincent Aboubakar    (Cameroon, Porto)
21. Vincent Enyeama       (Nigeria, Lille)
22. Wilfried Bony             (Ivory Coast, Swansea)
23. Yacine Brahimi           (Algeria, Porto)
24. Yannick  Bolasie         (DRC, Crystal Palace)
25. Yaya Toure                  (Ivory Coast, Manchester City)

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com 

KILLER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOALKEEPER CHARGED

A 25 year old man, Zanokuhle Mbatha, has been charged to court with the murder of the South African goalkeeper -  captain, Senzo Meyiwa (27).

He will appear again in the court on the 11th of November, 2014.

The national football goalkeeper, Senzo, was shot dead when three men came into the home of his girl friend, and demanded for their mobile phones and valuables, in Vosloorus, Johannesburg.

 

Senzo Meyiwa

Meyiwa, the slained keeper played his club football with the Orlando Pirates, a top football club based in Johannesburg.

The South African Police Services had put up a financial reward for anyone that has information that will lead to the arrests and conviction of the perpetrators.

The Police appealed to the public to keep on assisting them with vital information concerning the case.

They said that they are still investigating and searching for the other two men involved in the murder of the footballer.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

ZAMBIA WOMEN FOOTBALLERS PROTESTS AGAINST FAZ

The Zambia Women National Football team has occupied the Football Association's technical centre and refused to leave until they are paid their allowances due to them for representing the country in the just concluded CAF African Women Championships in Namibia.

The ladies have been at the centre since they came back from participating in the 9th African Women Championships in Namibia two weeks ago.

Kenneth Kalusha Bwalya President of (FAZ)

 

One of the players who did not want to be named, said that they were in camp for a month in preparation for the tournament and was two weeks at the mondial.

She also said that they only got US$15 for transportation. She further stated that since over one week they returned the officials of the Football Association (FAZ) did not see anything wrong in paying them just $15 for their services.

The player added that they made history by being the first set of women to qualify the country to the Championships.

One of her team - mate who was listening to the discussion
added, "Football is everything to us and we have families to support.''

''If these people (FAZ) have a heart for us, they should give us at least $2,000 for qualifying for the tournament for the first time in our country's history.''

The spokesman for the Zambia Football Association (FAZ),
Nkweto Tembwe, said that they know that they owe them money, but it will only be paid to them, when the money is ready.

''We owe them money - and we have never said we don't owe them. The money shall be paid to them as and when it is ready,'' Mr Tembwe said.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL GOALKEEPER SENSELESSLY KILLED

The South Africa national football goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa (27), was senselessly killed yesterday, sunday night in his girl friend's house in Vosloorus, Johannesburg.

The South Africa Police Service said in their statement that two men entered the house and demanded for their mobile phones and valuables around 20.00 hours.

According to the police a third man of the gang waited outside the house and they said that it was a robbery case.

Senzo Meyiwa was shot at the chest by one of the men and made away with one mobile phone. The three men ran away on foot.

The player was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His girl friend Kelly Khumalo is a musician and a celebrity in South Africa.

Senzo Meyiwa

Senzo was the goalkeeper of the Orlando Pirates football club and played on Saturday in the South African League Cup, in which they beat Ajax Cape Town 4 - 1 to advance to the semi - final.

He also kept a clean sheet in the four games the country played in the African Cup of Nations qualification games.

The African football community is still in a shock as regards to the unfortunate news.

Ephraim 'shake' Mashaba, Senzo's national coach, said tearfully in a press conference on Monday that Senzo was a kind person and he never saw him angry in the camp.

''Senzo is a very kind person. I have never seen Senzo being sad or angry in the camp.'' He added, ''Senzo is a team player, Senzo is everything.''

The chairman of his club, Irvin Khoza said that in whichever way you look at the incident, it is a sad loss to his family, his club and the country - South Africa.

''This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it, to Senzo's family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation,'' Mr Khoza said.

Reacting to the tragic incident, the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Monday:
''We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career. Words cannot express the nation's shock at this loss.''

Indeed words cannot express this kind of senseless killing. The government and the law enforcement officers must leave no stone unturned until the wicked criminals are caught and given appropriate punishment.

May Senzo's soul rest in peace and may the Almighty God give his family the hearts to bear their lose. I pray that our Lord Jesus will take care of his young family, amen.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

NIGERIA'S FALCONS LIFTS 7th AWC TITLE

The Nigeria Women Football team popularly known as the
(The Falcons) defeated the Cameroonian women team (Les Lionesses) 2 - 0 in the final of the 9th CAF African Women Championships on Saturday at the  Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek Namibia.

The two countries which had already qualified to represent Africa for the 2015 Fifa Women World Cup in Canada along with Ivory Coast began the match with each team determined to lift the trophy.

African Women Championships Champions

Both teams were very impressive throughout the tournament
with the Falcons having won all their games without dropping any point, while Les Lionesses only lost one game in the group phase.

While the Cameroonians were hoping to upset the Nigerians which were slightly billed before the match as the favourites, and win their first title since the inception of the tournament in 1991, the Nigerians were determined to win their 7th title.

Nigeria lost the title in 2012 as the defending champions, when South Africa knocked them out 1 - 0 in the semi - final in the Equatorial Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea won the title that year but surprisingly did not qualify to participate in this year's tournament, so they could not defend their title.

Anyway, in the Saturday finals, it was the two top Nigerian strikers, Desire Oparanozie and Assisat Oshoala, who each scored a goal in the first half of the game.

Oparanozie who was the highest goal scorer of the tournament, scored Nigeria's first goal in the 12th minute of play while her team-mate Oshoala who again won the Most Valueable Player (MVP) of the tournament doubled Nigeria's scoreline just before the interval.

Assisat Oshoala had already won the MVP award and the Golden Boot award this summer in the Fifa Women Under - 20 World Cup tournament in Canada.

The Cameroon goalkeeper, Annette Ngo Ndom who produced good saves in the match and also throughout the Championships won the Best Goalkeeper award.

Tournament's Individual Awards:

Golden Boot Award:  Desire Oparanozie (5 goals, Nigeria)

Most Valueable Player:  Assisat Oshoala (4 goals, Nigeria)

Best Goalkeeper Award: Annette Ngo Ndom

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

IT's NIGERIA Vs CAMEROON IN THE AWC FINAL

AFRICAN WOMEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The semi-finals of the African Women Championships tournament that is on-going in Namibia were played on Wednesday at the Sam Nujoma stadium in Windhoek.

In the first semi - final of the day, the six time champions, Nigerian ladies nicknamed the Falcons laced their boots against their arch rivals Bayana-Bayana of South Africa.

Assisat Oshoala with her Fifa Awards

Before the match the Falcons said that they want to revenge losing 1 - 0 to South Africa in the semi-final of the 2012 tournament.

The Falcons won the match 2 - 1 through a brace from Assisat Oshoala in either of the halfs.

Assisat who turned 20 years old last week, also played in the Fifa Women Under-20 World Cup in Canada this summer, where she won the Golden boot and the MVP of the tournament.

In the second semi - final game Cameroon won Ivory Coast 2 - 1 and will meet Nigeria in the final on Saturday.

The three top teams in this tournament will represent Africa in the Fifa Women World Cup in Canada next year.

On Saturday, the third country to join Nigeria and Cameroon will be decided in the third place match between South Africa and Ivory Coast.
Read also, Africanfootie.blogspot.com

AWC SEMI - FINAL, NIGERIA Vs SOUTH AFRICA, CAMEROON Vs I. COAST

The semi - finals of the 2014 African Women Championships which is currently being held in Namibia, will be played Wednesday, the 22nd of October.

In the first semi - final of the day, the six time champions of the tournament, Nigeria will be meeting South Africa at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at the 17.00 hours.

Fans from Ghana

In the second semi - final Cameroon will be locking horns with Ivory Coast in the same Sam Nujoma Stadium at the 20.00 hours.

Both games will be very interesting to watch, because all the four teams are capable at this juncture of the tournament, to win and get to the final.

Since the inception of the tournament in 1991, only two countries have shared the titles. Nigeria has won it a record six times and Equatorial Guinea has won it twice.

The other three teams in the semi -finals are dying, to taste the euphoria of lifting the trophy, for the first time, while the Nigerian ladies which won the title last in 2010, said that they want to regain the title, which is currently held by Equatorial Guinea.

It is going to be a very interesting semi - finals, because all the four teams are hungry to win the title.

''Each of the teams is capable of winning and going to the final. You cannot predict the outcome of the games at this stage,'' the Ghanaian midfielder, Elizabeth Cudjoe said.

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

NIGERIA'S INTERIM COACH, KESHI IS SACKED

Nigeria interim coach, Stephen Keshi has been sacked by the newly elected Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This action came after a series of poor performances of the national football team nicknamed - the Super Eagles, during the ongoing African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles is the defending champions of the tournament and is at a great risk of not qualifying for the 2015 tournament in Morocco. The former coach of the team, Shaibu Amodu has been appointed to take charge of the remaining two games next month.

Nigeria is in the 3rd position on the Group A table with 4 points after 4 games. South Africa is on top of the table with 8 points followed by Congo with 7 points.

The team needs to win South Africa at home and Congo in away to even stand a chance of qualifying. This is a herculean task to say the least, but it is not impossible.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, told the media that, ''The Executive Committee took a unanimous decision to let Keshi go and Shaibu Amodu to take charge for the next two matches.''

Amodu will be assisted in this task by Gbenga Ogunbote and Salisu Yusuf and Aloysius Agu, while Garba Lawal will serve as the Co-ordinator of the team. Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com

The 2015 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS (15/10/14)

The second leg of the double header of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualification games were played today all over the continent.
Some of the big footballing nations are doing very well, while some are surprisingly doing very badly, to the amazement of many fans.

Among the countries that are doing well in the qualifications series are Cameroon, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana to mention be a few. While some countries are not doing well such as the defending champions - Nigeria which has only 4 points from 4 games.

The surprise result of today was Ivory Coast losing at home to DRC.
Anyway, the following are the results of today's games, that were played in different cities of the African continent.

Group  A                                       Group  B

Nigeria           3  -  1   Sudan           Algeria   3  -  0   Malawi
South Africa   0  -  0   Congo          Mali       2  -  3   Ethiopia

Group  C                                       Group  D

Angola           4  -  0   Lesotho     Cameroon  2  -  0  Sierra Leone
Burkina Faso  1  -  1   Gabon       I. Coast      3  -  4   DRC

Group  E                                       Group  F

Togo          1  -  0   Uganda        Cape Verde  1  -  0  Mozambique
Ghana        3  -  1   Guinea           Zambia       3  -  0  Niger

Group   G

Egypt        2  -  0    Botswana
Tunisia      1  -  0    Senegal

Read also: Melvinsports.blogspot.com