Nigeria beats E.Guinea to win African crown

Nigeria overpowered Equatorial Guinea by 4-2 scoreline to emerge winners of this year’s Africa Women Championships on Sunday.

The defending champions were hoping to defend the title they won two years ago as hosts but the Super Falcons proved too strong for them.

The feat thus cements Nigeria’s status as the most successful African female side having won six out of the seven editions of the tournament.

Nigeria’s Stella Mbachu was voted the overall best player of the tournament while veteran Perpetua Nkwocha won the golden boot award. She scored eleven goals in six games.

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have both qualified to represent Africa at next year’s World Cup to be staged in Germany.

Caf on Saturday released the list of nominees for their annual African Player of the Year award.

Gyan and Boateng gunning for player of the year award

Ten (10) players will vie for the prestigious Player of the Year award whilst five others have been shortlisted for the African-based Player of the Year award.

The nominees were determined by the Media, Technical and Football Committees of CAF taking into consideration the performance of the players during the year under review, from January to November 2010.

List of nominees for African Player of the Year award in Alphabetical order

Ahmed Hassan (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille and Ghana), Kevin Prince Boateng (AC Milan and Ghana), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers and Algeria), Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire), Samuel Eto’o Fils (Inter Milan and Cameroon), Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’ (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland and Ghana), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire), and Seydou Keita (Barcelona and Mali).

The contenders for the African-based Player of the Year are: Ahmed Hassan (Al-Ahly and Egypt), Oussama Darragi (Esperance and Tunisia), Alain Kaluyituka Dioko (TP Mazembe and DR Congo), Michael Eneramo (Esperance and Nigeria) and Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’ (Al-Ahly and Egypt).

Ghana’s splendid performance at the 2010 World Cup has been well reflected as they have the highest quota of three nominees while Ivory Coast and Egypt follow with two in the list.

The winner of each category will be decided by votes from the respective senior national teams’ Head Coaches or Technical Directors of the 53 National Associations affiliated to CAF.

Danny Jordaan is seeking to sit on the all-powerful FIFA committee that decides, among other things, where future World Cups will be played.

Danny Jordaan is seeking to sit on the all-powerful FIFA committee that decides, among other things, where future World Cups will be played.

The 59-year-old South African administrator, whose term as chief executive officer of the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee ends next month, has been nominated by his country for a post on the FIFA executive committee, the 24-man inner cabinet that runs the game and takes all its major decisions.

“The World Cup profile is a big help,” said Jordaan, who intends lobbying across the continent in the next months.

“It is important for me that Africa feels I can make a contribution,” he told Reuters.

Two of Africa’s four positions on the FIFA executive committee come up for re-election in February, one of them held by Nigerian Amos Adamu, who world football’s governing body provisionally suspended last month.

Adamu was caught in a newspaper sting seeking money for his vote in next month’s upcoming on where the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be held.

The other African berth up for re-election is held by Jacques Anouma, president of the Ivorian Football Federation, who has not yet made public whether he will seek another four-year term.

Adamu is expected to try to hold on to his post if he is not expelled by FIFA, whose ethics committee will decide on his future this month.

Embattled Amos Adamu

Athletics coach Tobias Igwe has sensationally claimed that it was the curse he placed on Amos Adamu that led to his down fall from the executive committee of Fifa.

Adamu and Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii was last week suspended from all football relating events pending a final decision next month after being named in a cash for vote world cup bid scandal.

Coach Igwe however says it was nemesis that caught up with the former director-general of the National Sports Commission.

“In 1996 he denied me my N100,000 allowance due to me from the Atlanta’96 Games. I wrote several letters to have him pay me the money, but there was nothing coming from him.

“It’s not just me alone, there are other poor people he denied their rights. It is my curse and those of others that have just caught up with him,” said the coach yesterday.

He sounded a warning to other sports administrators who according to him have denied athletes and coaches their entitlements.

“Just because you are in position of power, you denied other people what rightly belongs to them. This is something that is common in our sports, but nemeses will always catch up with whoever deny poor people their dues,” Igwe added.

“We the coaches and athletes are working very hard to bring honor to this country. And it is not fair that someone with the stroke of the pen could cancel out the benefits of others.”

South Africa President Jacob Zuma has urged his countrymen to rally behind the Bayana Bayana as they host the CAF African Women Champions.

Bayana Bayana

The President was a guest at the Bayana Bayana’s pre-tournament warm-up friendly at the Makhulong Stadium and edged South Africans to replicate the support offered to the male team during 2010 world cup.

Sani Keita makes a return to the Super Eagles for the first time since his red card at the World Cup as he is named in Nigeria’s 20-man squad to face Iran in an international friendly.

Kaita red-carded at World Cup against Greece

The FC Metalist Kharkiv player, who admitted that the referee was right to issue him a red card against Greece, is however among only six midfielders listed for the game in Tehran on November 17.

Remarkably, the Eagles’ current first choice goalie, Vincent Enyeama was conspicuously missing on the list.

His place is expected to be taking by Israel-based Dele Aiyenugba and also has Bassey Akpan of Heartland FC among the seven home-based players selected for the encounter.

Nigeria squad:

Dele Aiyenugba                       Beni Yehuda FC, Israel
Bassey Akpan                          Heartland FC, Owerri
Chibuzor Okonkwo               Heartland FC, Owerri
Showemimo Wasiu               Kano Pillars FC
Valentine Nwaebili              Enyimba FC
Adeleye Ayodele                 Metalurh Donetsk , Ukraine
Taye Taiwo                             Olympic Marseille , France
Michael Odibe                        A C Seina , Italy
Emmanuel Anyanwu          Enyimba FC
Fegor Ogude                           Valerenga FC, Norway
Kalu Uche                                Almeria FC, Spain
Sani Kaita                                FC Metalist Kharkiv , Ukraine
Eneji Otekpa                           Enyimba FC
John Owoeri                          Ismaily FC, Egypt
Ayo Saka                                  Ocean Boys FC
Musa Ahmed                         V.V.V. Venlo , Netherlands
Osaze Odemwemgie           West Bromwich FC, Egbaland
Martins Obafemi                Rubin Kazan FC, Russia
Ofere Edward                        US Lecce , Italy
Obinna Nsofor                     West ham FC, England

Khumalo celebrates goal against France at World Cup

South Africa defender Bongani Khumalo has sealed a deal to join English side Tottenham Hotspurs.

The 23-year-old signed a pre-contract agreement to join Spurs when the transfer window re-opens in January, subject to a work permit being granted.

The former SuperSport player seems to have impressed boss Harry Redknapp during his trial period at White Hart Lane and would be a positive addition to Spurs injury-ravaged rearguard.

Speaking last month, Redknapp said of the player: “He’s not expensive. We had him over on trial and we like him. He’s got potential and we’ve got a tie-up with the club SuperSport so we’ve taken him on.

“It will be a great chance for the kid. He’s a great lad. He comes from a poor background and he’s desperate for a chance and we’re going to give him a chance.”

Khumalo played in all three of South Africa’s matches at the Fifa World Cup during June this year, scoring in the 2-1 victory over France.

Rumours linking him with Spurs began shortly after the tournament, with the defender saying at the time: “I have always wanted to play in England and obviously in the Premier League and it would be a dream to move to Tottenham.

“Playing in the Champions League would be another dream. I think the Champions League is the closest level to the World Cup in terms of quality and the play, so it would be great to make the move.”

Eto'o leading African nominations

Three Africans namely; Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Asamoah Gyan have been named in the 23-man shortlist for the Fifa player of the year award.

The annual award now merges with the European player of the year award popularly called the Ballon d’Or.

Ivorian Didier Drogba in the year under review helped his club side Chelsea reclaim the English League title they surrendered three years ago to Manchester United and also emerged as the Premier League’s top scorer. He however had a disappointing World Cup where he only managed a single goal.

Likewise Drogba, Samuel Eto’o endured a torrid World Cup in the summer but had won all there was to with his Italian club Inter Milan. The Cameroon captain was an integral part of Inter’s historic treble winning year which included the Uefa Champions League, the Scudetto and the Italian cup.

Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan however had a memorable world cup for both the right and wrong reasons. After helping the Black Stars to the quarter finals with his three goals, Gyan fluffed a last minute penalty against Uruguay that could have made Ghana the first African team to make the World Cup semis.

The trio however face very stiff opposition from seven members of Spanish World Cup winning squad, five of Germany’s, four of Inter’s treble winning squad and former winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The winner will be revealed at the first FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on January 10.

Zimbabwe bids to host three World Cups

Zimbabwe is biding to host three FIFA World Cups according to reports in the south African country.

Acting Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze told The Herald that they have submitted bids to host the FIFA Women’s Under-20 and the senior Women’s Championships in 2014.

The federation is also eager to host the men’s Under-20 World Cup in 2013.

“We managed to submit the bids before the deadline that was set by FIFA last month and we are now waiting for the response. FIFA are likely to make an announcement on the successful nominations early next year,” he said.

Mashingaidze said the nation that wins the right to host the Under-20 Women’s Champions will also stage the senior championships.

No Zimbabwe football team has ever played at a FIFA World Cup and the country will be making history if it wins a bid to host any of the three finals.

Egypt last year hosted the men’s Under-20 Championships, which was won by Ghana while Germany hosted the senior Women’s World Cup in July this year. Chile hosted the junior women’s World Cup in December last year.

“It has been a joint bid for the senior women and the Under-20 Championships.

“So we have submitted as one bid for the women and the other bid for the junior men.

“If, as we hope, we are nominated then we will set up the bidding committees and budgets,” said Mashingaidze.

Zimbabwe made a successful bid to host the African Nations Cup in 2000 but the Confederation of African Football later withdrew the rights and moved the finals to Ghana and Nigeria.

Africa’s most impressive side at the 2010 World Cup, the Black Stars of Ghana are still waiting to receive their full bonuses promised to them three months after the competition.

Black Stars yet to receive full World Cup bonuses

The Deputy Sports minister Nii Nortey-Duah promised the playing body upon his visit to their training grounds before the Sudan game that the remaining monies would be paid the following Friday.

“I am glad to inform you that the winning bonuses for the game against Swaziland has been paid,” he told Hot Fm the Thursday before the team traveled to Kumasi for the game on Sunday.

“The delay in payment was caused by bank transactions. It takes a lot of time for transactions of this magnitude to mature.

“But i can assure that by next week Friday all the monies would be paid,” the honourable minister added.

Checks at the GFA however proved the bonuses remain outstanding almost a week after the ministry’s own time-line for payment.

“The monies have not been paid,” FA spokesman Randy Abbey said.

“Usually the ministry calls us (GFA) when monies pertaining bonuses are ready but we have not received the call yet.

“I cannot tell the reason for the delay,” Abbey added.

The delay in payments of bonuses where nations that did not do as well as Ghana did at the World Cup have longed received their bonuses has sparked fears of a player revolt in the Stars camp.

A section of the Ghanaian public are even blaming the lackluster performance of the team in the disappointing barren draw against Sudan in the 2012 Can qualifier to the unpaid bonuses.