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Tag: African Cup of Nations

  • Samuel Eto’o faces probe for alleged ‘improper conduct’ after complaints by Cameroonian stakeholders

    Cameroon soccer federation president and former star participant Samuel Eto’o is being investigated by the Confederation of African Football for alleged “improper conduct.” The former Barcelona and Inter Milan ahead was elected to a four-year time period in December 2021 however the preliminary euphoria that greeted his reforms is giving option to accusations of clientelism and unfulfilled monetary guarantees to golf equipment.

    The sport’s governing physique in Africa mentioned “several Cameroonian football stakeholders” have complained and that it’s going to “investigate certain alleged improper conduct” by Eto’o.

    CAF described the allegations as “serious” however famous that Eto’o ”is presumed to be harmless till an acceptable judicial physique concludes in any other case.” Eto’o’s lawyer, Elame Bonny, mentioned Thursday that his shopper was stunned at CAF’s transfer provided that he obtained no prior notification of accusations. Bonny additional described CAF’s transfer as “hasty, pernicious and toxic,” and he threatened authorized motion.

    Cameroon’s soccer federation posted Bonny’s letter on its social media channels and marked it as “urgent.” Questions have been raised in Cameroon concerning the 42-year-old Eto’o’s ambassadorial position with a sports activities betting firm. At least one membership has complained to the Cameroonian federation concerning the deal and whether or not it violates the establishment’s codes.

    Cameroonian soccer had loads of issues prior to now. Before Eto’o was elected president, the nationwide league had been tainted by interference from the federal government, allegations of corruption and unkept guarantees from soccer leaders.

    Eto’o performed at 4 World Cups for Cameroon between 1998 and 2014

  • Egypt objects to referee picked for African Cup semifinal

    Egypt has filed a criticism with the African soccer confederation towards the appointment of a Gambian referee for the Pharaohs’ sport towards Cameroon within the African Cup of Nations semifinals on Thursday.
    The Egyptian Football Association didn’t give causes for its criticism towards Bakary Gassama, certainly one of Africa’s best-known referees. He refereed the Pharaohs’ 1-0 loss to Nigeria within the group stage.
    The 42-year-old Gassama is thought to Egyptian followers for having refereed the Pharaohs’ 2-1 victory over Congo in October 2017, which certified Egypt for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was the primary time in practically three a long time that they certified for the event.
    Egypt, which has gained the African Cup a report seven instances, filed its criticism late Tuesday. Representatives of the Egyptian Football Association and the Confederation of African Football weren’t instantly obtainable to remark.
    The Pharaohs superior to the semifinals by beating Morocco 2-1 because of a purpose and an help from its star Mohamed Salah. Host nation Cameroon progressed with a 2-0 win over Gambia. On Wednesday, Senegal faces Burkina Faso within the first semifinal.

    🔴 📸 | صور من فوز المنتخب الوطني على نظيره المغربي بنتيجة 2/1 وتأهله إلى نصف نهائي بطولة كأس الأمم الأفريقية 🇪🇬 ….. ⬇️#EFA pic.twitter.com/otjPzXMdad
    — EFA.eg (@EFA) January 30, 2022
    Gassama has additionally refereed many video games for Egypt’s giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, within the African Champions League tournaments, with a few of them sparking controversy within the soccer-mad nation.
    Thursday’s sport will characteristic the 2 most profitable groups in African Cup historical past with 12 titles between them. It might be repeat of the 2017 last, when Cameroon gained its fifth cup, and the eleventh encounter between the 2 heavyweights within the event’s historical past, in accordance with the CAF.
    Egypt depends closely on Liverpool star Salah, who remains to be remains to be on the lookout for a primary main title along with his nation since its final the African Cup championship in 2010. Cameroon hopes striker Vincent Aboubakar, the event’s main scorer up to now with six targets, can lead the hosts to the Feb. 6 last.

    Following its win over Gambia, Cameroon federation president Samuel Eto’o advised his nation’s squad to arrange for a “war” within the semifinals.
    “Everything you’ve done, you need to capitalize on it. Prepare yours, because it will be a war, my guys, a war,” Eto’o was seen telling gamers in video feedback.
    Pharaohs coach Carlos Queiroz dismissed Eto’o feedback as “unfortunate” and a “bad message.”
    “I think he forgot that Cameroonian people died at the stadium several days ago, and so making this declaration of war before one game shows that he learned nothing from his time in professional football,” Queiroz advised a information convention.
    He was referring to the stampede that killed eight followers and injured 38 others exterior the Olembe Stadium within the capital, Yaounde, earlier than a sport between Cameroon and Comoros.
    “It was a very, very unfortunate comment, because football is not about war, it’s about celebration, joy and happiness,” Queiroz mentioned.

    Cameroon lately has additionally seen preventing get away in western components of the nation between English-speaking separatists and troopers from the French-language dominated authorities based mostly in Yaounde. More than 3,000 folks have been killed within the preventing and greater than 700,000 have fled their properties.

  • Cameroon overcome plucky Comoros to advance at Cup of Nations

    Hosts Cameroon made heavy work of beating 10-man Comoros Islands 2-1 on Monday to advance to the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals on the expense of a staff who had every little thing stacked towards them within the final 16. Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar scored the house staff’s objectives on the Olembe Stadium to remove the debutants, who have been compelled to make use of a full again in purpose and had their captain despatched off after six minutes.
    But Comoros nonetheless put up a gallant struggle and, regardless of the appreciable drawback, pulled a purpose again from Youssouf M’Changama with 9 minutes remaining to depart the match with their reputations significantly enhanced.
    Cameroon meet upstarts Gambia within the final eight in Douala on Saturday after they upset Guinea 1-0 in Bafoussam earlier on Monday. Ravaged by COVID-19 infections, Comoros had no goalkeeper obtainable for the sport, bringing left again Chaker Alhadhur into service, plus needed to do with out coach Amir Abdou, who can be in quarantine.
    The scenario worsened significantly six minutes into the sport when captain Nadjim Abdou was dismissed for a lunging deal with that caught Nicolas Moumi on the Achilles tendon. The crimson card, nevertheless, was solely issued after the Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema had been suggested to overview the incident on the pitch facet VAR display screen.

    Cameroon, five-time African champions, went on the assault from the beginning however have been met by spirited resistance. Their first efforts from Aboubakar and Toko Ekambi have been each large of the goal, failing to check the makeshift goalkeeper, earlier than a easy inside go from captain Aboubakar left Toko Ekambi with a simple end to open the scoring within the twenty ninth minute.
    Alhadhur made a number of sharp, albeit unorthodox saves to maintain Cameroon at bay till Aboubakar slipped across the defence to latch onto a intelligent via go and make it 2-0 with 20 minutes left. But Comoros have been in no thoughts to pack the defence and El Fardou Ben Mohamed compelled a flying save out of Andre Onana within the 79th minute earlier than M’Changama then beat the goalkeeper with an outstanding long-range freekick. All three goalkeepers for the small island nation had been dominated out of the match on the eve of the tie –- one via harm and two after testing COVID-19 constructive final week. But Ali Ahamada returned a brand new unfavourable take a look at and was pronounced match to play by the Comoros Football Federation in a medical bulletin on Monday, just for his participation to be later dominated out by the Confederation of African Football.
    Their medical fee stated any participant who had been in quarantine must wait a minimal of 5 days earlier than being allowed to return to play. Instead, the Comoros fielded the 30-year-old defender Alhadhur, who had his squad quantity plastered on an outsized goalkeeping jersey and whose first contact was to move the ball clear from the sting of his field.He didn’t make an precise save till late within the first half in what nearly changed into a fairytale efficiency.
    At least 6 reported useless in crush at African Cup of Nations recreation
    People help victims of a stampede outdoors a stadium internet hosting an African Cup of Nations soccer recreation in Yaounde, Cameroon, Monday Jan. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Thierry Noukeu)
    At least six individuals died in a crush outdoors a stadium internet hosting a recreation at Africa’s prime soccer match in Cameroon on Monday, a neighborhood authorities official stated, realising fears over the capability of the Central African nation to stage the continent’s largest sports activities occasion.
    Naseri Paul Biya, the governor of the central area of Cameroon, stated there may very well be extra deaths.
    “We are not in a position to give you the total number of casualties,” he stated.
    The crush occurred as crowds struggled to get entry to Olembe Stadium within the capital metropolis of Yaounde to look at the host nation play Comoros in a final 16 knockout recreation within the African Cup of Nations.
    Officials on the close by Messassi hospital stated they acquired at the least 40 injured individuals, who have been rushed to the hospital by police and civilians. The officers stated the hospital was not able to treating all of them.
    “Some of the injured are in desperate condition,” stated Olinga Prudence, a nurse. “We will have to evacuate them to a specialised hospital.”
    Witnesses on the stadium stated kids have been amongst these caught up within the crush. The witnesses stated it occurred when stadium stewards closed the gates and stopped permitting individuals in.
    Soccer officers stated round 50,000 individuals had tried to attend the match. The stadium has a capability of 60,000 however it was not meant to be greater than 80 per cent full for the sport as a result of restrictions on the scale of the group due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    The Confederation of African Football, which runs the African Cup, stated in an announcement it was conscious of the incident.
    – AP

  • Aubameyang having exams after early return from African Cup

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has returned to London and is present process medical exams as Arsenal seems to be for “clarity” after he was recognized with coronary heart lesions throughout his restoration from the coronavirus on the African Cup of Nations, supervisor Mikel Arteta stated Wednesday.
    Aubameyang was launched by Gabon’s nationwide crew after being recognized with “cardiac lesions” in exams performed by Confederation of African Football medical officers, who had been checking on his situation after he examined constructive for COVID-19.

    “We haven’t had any clarity from the Gabon national team about the reasons why he came back,” Arteta stated. “It’s our obligation to make sure, medically, the player is safe, in a good condition and there are not any issues related to that. Because historically everything we have done with the player, he has never had that issue.”

    🏟 The semi-final second leg awaits…
    Tune into @M8Arteta’s LIVE press convention forward of tomorrow’s match at Emirates Stadium 👇#CarabaoCup
    — Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 19, 2022
    While the African federation introduced Aubameyang and teammate Mario Lemina had coronary heart lesions, Gabon coach Patrice Neveu stated neither participant had severe coronary heart issues however reasonably they had been affected by some aftereffects of COVID.

    They examined constructive for the virus at an airport in Cameroon on their arrival for the African Cup, forcing them to overlook Gabon’s first sport whereas in isolation. They additionally missed the crew’s second sport after CAF’s medical fee suggested that they shouldn’t play following the exams.

    Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy final month for disciplinary causes. He was additionally overlooked of some matches earlier than being allowed to affix up early with Gabon’s squad forward of the African Cup.

  • Mané scores penalty deep into harm time to avoid wasting Senegal

    Sadio Mané transformed a penalty greater than six minutes into harm time as Senegal escaped with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe on Monday to open its African Cup of Nations marketing campaign.
    Mané despatched the goalkeeper the mistaken approach and drilled the penalty into the left nook after Senegal produced a misfiring first efficiency in Cameroon for a lot of the sport.
    Senegal by no means seemed like Africa’s top-ranked crew, or a crew enjoying an opposition ranked 101 locations under it.

    FULL-TIME! ⏰#StaffSenegal 1⃣-0️⃣ #StaffZimbabwe
    With a killer objective by Sadio Mané within the dying minutes of the match, the #LionsofTeranga safe their first three factors. 💪#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #SENZWE pic.twitter.com/hmAzL0xl5S
    — #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022
    But the possibility for a winner lastly got here after Zimbabwe’s Kelvin Madzongwe was penalized for handball within the fourth minute of harm time.
    Zimbabwe protested vehemently however referee Mario Escobar of Guatemala caught by his choice after referring to VAR. Madzongwe had thrown himself to the bottom making an attempt to dam a shot and the ball struck his arm.

    The TotalEnergies Man of the Match award goes to the spectacular Sadio Mané! 🪙
    What an unimaginable efficiency! 👏#StaffSenegal | @SoccerSenegal | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #SENZWE | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/1VzpKAni5R
    — #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2022
    After Mané’s penalty, Escobar whistled for full time as quickly as Zimbabwe kicked off once more.

    Senegal performed with out goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who have been amongst a bunch of gamers dominated out for the sport after testing optimistic for the coronavirus.
    The recreation was the primary of 4 matches on the second day of the African Cup. It was performed within the western metropolis of Bafoussam, the place a tiny crowd turned as much as watch one of many title favorites.

    Senegal misplaced within the ultimate to Algeria on the final African Cup in 2019 and continues to be looking for its first African title.

  • Host Cameroon rallies to win African Cup of Nations opener

    Host Cameroon got here from behind with two penalties within the house of eight minutes on the finish of the primary half to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 Sunday within the opening recreation of the African Cup of Nations.
    Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored each penalties, calmly slotting the primary to the appropriate aspect of the purpose and the second to the left to finish a comeback that left house followers sighing with reduction.

    Cameroon had waited out a three-year delay to host this African Cup after being stripped of the 2019 match after which seeing its 2021 internet hosting delayed a 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    FULL-TIME! ⏰ #CrewCameroon 2️⃣-1️⃣ #CrewBurkinaFaso
    Cameroon earn all 3️⃣ factors regardless of being a purpose down close to the tip of the primary 45’ ✔️
    The hosts imply enterprise 🦁 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #CMRBFA pic.twitter.com/IhkEXJlxuN
    — #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 9, 2022
    It appeared the wait wouldn’t be value it when Gustavo Sangaré volleyed Burkina Faso into the lead within the twenty fourth minute at Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.
    He scored after Burkina Faso had a header cleared off the road and hit the crossbar in the identical transfer.
    But Burkina Faso misplaced the lead with two reckless items of defending on the finish of the primary half.
    Bertrand Traoré barged into André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to offer Cameroon its first penalty, which was solely confirmed after referee Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria consulted VAR.

    👀 Keep calm ✔️⚽️ Score ✔️🕺 Celebrate accordingly ✔️
    🇨🇲 Vincent Aboubakar lit up the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 opener in type! 🦁#AFCON2021 | #CMRBFA | #CrewCameroon pic.twitter.com/KWyUv2EPRY
    — #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 9, 2022
    VAR is being utilized in all video games on the African Cup for the primary time. It was used from the quarterfinals onwards on the final African Cup.
    Soon after, Issoufou Dayo mistimed a sliding deal with to foul Nouhou Tolo and Aboubakar scored from the spot once more three minutes into first-half harm time.
    VAR was within the highlight once more within the second half when there was a protracted evaluation to disallow a 3rd purpose for Cameroon for offside.

    The African Cup formally began with a brief opening ceremony just a few hours earlier at Olembe Stadium. The continent’s soccer showpiece will probably be performed beneath the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic and amid a world surge in instances.

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the opening ceremony, as did 88-year-old Cameroon President Paul Biya, who has led the Central African nation since 1982.
    Cape Verde performs Ethiopia within the different Group A recreation on the opening day.