By Akyereko Emmanuel

Samir Zaher

Samir Zaher has won an appeal over the legitimacy of his victory in the 2008 elections as the Egyptian FA chairman.

The Egyptian court of law announced the ruling on Monday, which means that Zaher is staying in his position until the the next elections is due.

Zaher was kicked out of the post by the National Sports Council which claimed it received a letter from the Egyptian Supreme Court declaring him ineligible to run for the post in 2008.

But the 67-year-old challenged that the decision was based on pure allegations without substance and therefore filed an appeal against the decision.

With this verdict from the appeals court, Zaher will remain in his post as the chairman for the Egyptian FA until 2011 but the current regulations prevents him from running for a third term.

Nigerian Eneramo gives Esperance early lead

Tunisian side Esperance beat Egypt’s Al Ahly in the second leg of the semi final tie of the 2010 Caf Champions League by a solitary, highly disputed goal.

A first minute Michael Eneramo header sent the November 7 Stadium agog Sunday evening but television replays proved the ball was helped on by Eneramo’s hand – a classic Maradona “hand of God’ style.

The Nigerian striker who is the campaign’s top scorer thus extends his tally to eight goals.

Ahly’s woes were deepen in the 29th minute with the sending-off of midfielder Mohammed Barakat.

Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey showed the red card to Barakat for slapping an Esperance player in the face.

The first half thus finished with the homers recording 1-0 lead which makes the tie 2-2 on aggregate and puts Esperance firmly in the driving seat on the away goal rule as the rains came down in Rades.

With all the action in the first half, the second half was played along more tactical lines.

As Ahly pressed for the much needed away goal, Esperance looked content with soaking the pressure only to hit their opponents on the break.

Chances in the second half were far in between with constant stoppages due to consistent fouling and time delay by the homers.

With all substitutions made, coach of the six-times African Champion, Hossam Badri could only watch on the sidelines as the ‘Red Devils’ hope of making this year’s finals kept wearing away with time.

And so it was, Esperance pipped their north African rivals on the away goal rule with a goal that the Ahly faithfuls will hope to forget very quickly – it wont be easy though.

Esperance will now take on defending champions TP Mazembe of the DRC in the final with the Congolese side hosting the first leg on the weekend of 29th, 30th and 31st of October.

Marouane Chamakh

Marouane Chamakh is set to make his Arsenal debut today against Barnet at Underhill.

The former Bordeaux striker has been named in Arsenal‘s 22-man squad, along with another new signing, Laurent Koscielny, the former Lorient defender.

The Moroccan completed his English switch in May from the 2008-2009 French Champions on a free transfer after refusing to pen a new deal.

The 26 year old has made 53 appearances for his national side with a goal return of 27 since making his debut in 2003.

Black Princesses in the lead against US

An early goal from Elizabeth Cudjoe has given Ghana a deserved first half lead against USA.

A beautifully struck long range shot from Cudjoe emerged too much for American goalie Henninger to handle as she was left completely beaten as the ball zoomed well into her twine.

The Black Princesses would however have to see through the rest of the game without inspirational captain Mercy Miles as she left the field of play full of vomiting.

If the girls are able to hold on and even increase their tally to emerge winners of the match, it’ll be Africa’s first win at this year’s tournament following Nigeria’s one all draw game against England earlier in the day.

Greek goalie Tzorvas helpless as ball enters his net but had the last laugh as they won 2-1

Just a day after hosts South Africa were humiliated by the Uruguayans, yet another African team in Nigeria will have to deal with the bitter disappointment of defeat as they slumped to a 2-1 at the hands of Greece.

A second goal in the 70^th minute from Greek midfielder Vassilis Torosidis after Vincent Enyeama failed to hold on to a ferocious strike from outside the goal area practically gifting the ball to the rugged midfielder who made no mistakes in guiding the ball home.

This was all after  Dimitris Salpingidis had pulled even following a 16^th minute goal from Kalou Uche with Nigeria ending the first half a man down after Sani Kaita received his marching orders for retaliation.

Nigeria could have added to their tally early in the second half when Hoffenheim’s Chinedu Obasi missed an absolute sitter after Greek goalie Tzorvas had pushed a Yakubu Ayigbeni’s shot into his path, but the youngster failed to capitalize to the bemusement of his coach Lars Largerback on the bench.

The score line could have got even worse but for the agility of Enyeama who once again ended up on the loosing side despite putting in another impressive performance.

The win brings Otto Rehagel’s side back into the fray with the Nigerians almost certain to bite the dust after the group stages.

The Super Eagles would now have to beat South Korea on Wednesday to stand any chance of making the knock out rounds.

The Greek side on the other hand has recorded their first win ever in the World Cup finals diminishing the African challenge in the process.

Uche puts the Super Eagles in the lead

Africans in particular, Nigerian hearts breathed easy as Almeria’s Kalou Uche’s harmless but temptious free kick found its way to the back of the Greek net to give the Super Eagles a deserved first half lead.

A resulting free kick taken by Uche surprisingly ended up in the Greek net after Lukman Haruna had been felled 25 yards out on the 16^th minute mark.

Though a scrappy game, the Nigerians are making frantic efforts to keep the ball on the turf in order to impose their play but Otto Rehagel’s men will not allow it.

They however would have to do it the hard way after seeing their defensive midfielder Sani Kaita sent off 10 minutes from half time for retaliation even though his Greek counterpart seemed to have exaggerated his act.

Vincent Enyeama in post once more again emerged Nigeria’s hero as he stopped a clear shot from Dimitris Salpingidis after Karagounis has put him through clear on goal.

Their persistence however paid off in the 44^th minute when Dimitris Salpingidis’s shot deflected off Haruna to pull even.

Nigeria are looking very shaky since the sending off and would have to pull something out of their surprise bag to secure victory against a Greek side which smells blood and are pushing for the kill.

Odemwingie reclames spot in starting line up

Chinedu Obasi and Victor Obinna drop to the bench alongside Obafemi Martins as coach Lars Lagerback shuffles his attack in search of goals and their first points of the tournament.

Greece have added some defensive steel to their line-up with imposing duo Socratis Papastathopoulos and Sotiris Kyrgiakos starting having surprisingly been left out for the opening defeat to South Korea.

Coach Otto Rehhagel, whose side have never won or even scored in a World Cup match, also brings in striker Dimitris Salpingidis for Giorgos Samaras.

Teams

Greece: 12-Alexandros Tzorvas; 11-Loukas Vyntra, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Avraam Papadopoulos, 19-Socratis Papastathopoulos, 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis; 14-Dimitris Salpingidis, 17-Fanis Gekas.

Nigeria: 1-Vincent Enyeama; 17-Chidi Odiah, 6-Danny Shittu, 2-Joseph Yobo, 3-Taye Taiwo, 12-Kalu Uche, 20-Dickson Etuhu, 15-Haruna Lukman, 14-Sani Kaita, 8-Yakubu Aiyegbeni, 11-Peter Odemwingie.

Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)

Source: supersports.com

Khune recieved his marching orders in the 75th minute

A sending off and a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay was not what South Africans were expecting at the start of their second group game.

A 75^th minute penalty was perfectly placed by Diego Forlan following the sending off of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune after he fell Luis Suarez denying him of a clear goalscoring opportunity after he has beaten the offside trap.

The Athletico Madrid forward had earlier given the South Americans the lead in the first half when his deflected shot off Aaron Mokoena beat Khune in post from 20 yards.

Noisy sounds made from the vuvuzela’s by a packed house was not intimidating enough for the Uruguayans as they dealt a massive blow to the host nation which further weakens the African challenge in the African World Cup.

Just when one thought it couldn’t get worse, a defensive blunder opened the door for Parreira who made no mistakes in stamping the ball at the back of the net aggravating the pain of the home faithful.

Bafana Bafana will now need a miracle which will be heavily dependent tomorrow’s game between Mexico and France to stand any chance of qualification into the knock out stages.

South Africa will now have to deal with the heavy disappointment at least until the team take to the field again in their last match against former world champions France.

Forlan gives Uruguay a befitting lead

A 24th minute Diego Forlan goal made all the difference as a seemingly confused Bafana failed to create a single decent goal scoring opportunity capping a disappointing first half.

Out of nothing just outside South Africa’s penalty area, an unmarked Forlan was given too much time to pick his spot with a fierce strike that deflected off captain Aaron Mokoena on its way in leaving Khune in post completely rooted to his spot.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will have to bring all his arsenals in the second half to save South Africa’s stuttering World Cup campaign from a very comfortable Uruguayan side.