BENGUELA: Nigeria pipped Algeria 1-0 to claim the third place honors at the Africa Cup of Nations here on Saturday. Obinna Nsofor scored the match winner in the 55th minute when he sprinted through a crowded Algerian defense before slotting past diving goalkeeper Lamine Zemmamouche. This was the Super Eagles seventh third-place finish at the …

CAIRO: Cairo duo Ahly and Zamalek are tracking Zambia s attacking midfielder Rainford Kalaba, FilGoal.com understands. Egyptian champions Ahly have tabled a ?450,000 bid to sign Kalaba from Portuguese side Sporting Braga. They are facing a race against time to land him as the winter transfer window ends at Sunday s midnight. I will not …

CAIRO: Amr Zaki played his first game with Hull City as they threw away their lead twice to draw 2-2 with fellow struggling side Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Hull the lead after 11 minutes but an own goal from Anthony Gardner gifted Wolves the equalizer four minutes …

CAIRO: Ismaili chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan denied recent reports claiming that Fulham had made an offer for goalie Essam Al-Hadari. I can t comment on a bid that doesn t exist, Aboul-Hassan told FilGoal.com. We will consider letting Al-Hadari go should Fulham contact us. A week ago, Watford offered to sign the 37-year-old on loan till …

LUANDA: Togo, who pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a terrorist attack on their team bus, have been banned for the next two competitions in 2012 and 2014, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said Saturday. CAF president Issa Hayatou told AFP the decision was based on governmental interference, which led to …

CAIRO: Hundreds of thousands of Egyptian football fans flooded the streets all over the country to celebrate Egypt’s 4-0 victory over Algeria in the semifinal of the African Cup of Nations in Angola. As soon as referee Coffi Codja sounded his final whistle until the early hours of Friday morning, people burst with joy onto …

BENGUELA: World Cup-bound Nigeria and Algeria will have to dig deep to motivate themselves for Saturday s Africa Cup of Nations losers final. Nigeria were stopped from reaching the final proper by a youthful Ghana team courtesy of a first-half winner from Asamoah Gyan after the Super Eagles failed to convert a hatful of chances …

One had to stay up late Thursday night, not just because of the noisy celebrations that prevented sleep following Egypt’s 4-0 demolition of Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Angola, but to keep an eye on the news for fear that angry Algerian fans might have dismembered Egyptians in Benguela. Memories are …

ALGIERS: Algerians still honked horns, waved flags and cheered on their football team after it was crushed 4-0 by Egypt in the African Cup of Nations semifinals on Thursday. Many fans blamed Benin referee Codjia Koffi for hobbling Algeria and helping Egypt to its first goal. Three Algerian players were expelled in the tense match …

CAIRO: Zamalek officials are exchanging accusations over the potential exit of Mido in January. Football director Ibrahim Hassan said he filed an official request to the board for holding on to Mido. Mido joined Zamalek in the summer on a one-season loan from Middlesbrough. But the 26-year-old striker said he wants to return to Europe …

LUANDA: Former England and Liverpool midfielder John Barnes says African teams need to toughen up mentally to improve their chances of winning the World Cup. Barnes is in Angola, which is currently hosting the African Cup of Nations, to promote England s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Physically and tactically, they can compete …

CAIRO: Ittihad played down media reports claiming that Fulham made an offer for forward Mohamed Nagi Geddo . The Egyptian international, who has been impressing in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, has drawn the attention of several European sides this winter. Skysports.com says the Cottagers have already offered to buy the 25-year-old but Ittihad …

LUANDA: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will waive tough immigration restrictions and adopt a joint visa when they co-host the next African Cup of Nations in 2012. The tournament will be played in the Equatorial Guinean cities of Malobo and Bata along with Gabonese cities Libreville and Franceville. A new stadium is being built in Libreville. …

CAIRO: Qatar forward Hussein Yasser has joined Zamalek on a free transfer, shortly after leaving Ahly, the Whites said on Wednesday. Yasser, 27, rescinded his contract with Ahly earlier on Wednesday after he agreed to pay $300,000 in compensation. His capture is intended to boost Zamalek s attack following the departure of Egypt striker Amr …

CAIRO: Premiership strugglers Portsmouth want Emad Meteb on loan, said the Ahly striker s agent Nader Shawki. Portsmouth want Meteb on loan for six months. They are willing to pay £50,000, Shawki told FilGoal.com on Wednesday. Ahly expect an official bid to be made in the near future for the 26-year-old, who is currently with …

CAIRO: Zamalek boss Hossam Hassan implied that he may quit the team if the board failed to bring in new players in January. The ex-Masri manager revealed that he has been approached by his former club, hinting that there is a possibility he could be forced to leave Zamalek. Masri talked to me, but if …

CAIRO: Ahly playmaker Amir Sayoud is set to join Kuwait s Arabi Athletic in the winter transfer window on a four-month loan deal. The Red Devils announced on their official website that the loan offer for the Algerian youngster has been accepted. According to Kuwaiti paper Al-Kabs, Arabi will pay $ 150,000 to bring in …

BENGUELA: The die is cast for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between fierce regional rivals Egypt and Algeria here less than two months on from when two qualifying matches for a World Cup ticket left a long trail of bitterness and violence. Algeria will feature at the World Cup in South Africa later this …

LUBANGO: Nigeria goalkeeper Victor Enyeama turned Africa Cup of Nations match winner by converting the decisive kick in a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Zambia on Monday after a goalless quarter-final. John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins, Obinna Nsofor and Osaze Odemwingie also scored from the spot to give the Super Eagles a 100 percent success …

BENGUELA: Aided by a brace from skipper Ahmed Hassan, Egypt defeated 10-man Cameroon 3-1 after extra-time in an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match here on Monday. Egypt s prize is a mouth-watering last-four showdown on Thursday against bitter rivals Algeria, who pipped the Egyptians to a World Cup ticket in dramatic circumstances in November. …

BENGUELA: Playing defending champions Egypt Thursday in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final here is a dream come true for Algeria hero Hameur Bouazza. The 24-year-old wide midfielder from English second-tier club Blackpool headed the extra-time winner that toppled title favorites Ivory Coast last Sunday and he has been itching for another shot at the …

LUANDA: Not for the first time Didier Drogba and his Ivory Coast teammates turned up at the Africa Cup of Nations wearing the mantle of favorite only to flatter to deceive. In 2006 the Elephants suffered a shattering 4-2 penalty defeat to Egypt in the final in Cairo. Two years later in Ghana they came …

BENGUELA: Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan says his team s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Algeria here on Thursday will be a “war, which Egypt have to win to prove they deserved to feature at the World Cup. Egypt failed to qualify for this year s World Cup in South Africa after bitter regional rivals …

CABINDA, Angola: Substitute Hameur Bouazza scored in extra time to give Algeria a 3-2 win over fellow World Cup qualifier Ivory Coast on Sunday and a spot in the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations. Algeria, which is playing in the biennial tournament for the first time since 2004, will next face either defending …

LUANDA: Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a 1-0 win over host Angola and a place in the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations on Sunday. Gyan received a pass from Kojo Asamoah before firing a diagonal shot into the bottom corner. Ghana, a four-time African Cup champion who has also qualified for the World Cup …

LUANDA: Angola face the biggest game in their history when they take on Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, coach Manuel Jose declared here Saturday. The 2010 hosts reached the last eight in Ghana two years ago, and also made it to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, but Sunday s showdown …

BENGUELA: Revenge will be in the air on Monday when Cameroon battle champions Egypt for a place in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations here. In what is arguably the pick of the four quarter-final matches of Angola 2010, the Indomitable Lions will first wish to avenge for the defeat they suffered at …

LUBANGO: Star-less Zambia are the gate crashers at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals party in Angola which finishes late on Monday when they face former champions Nigeria at Tundavala Stadium. Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria had to be present having qualified for the World Cup in South Africa this year while …

LUANDA: Zambia belied their lowly world ranking to emerge as surprise Group D winners ahead of continental giants Cameroon as the Africa Cup of Nations first round came to a nerve-jangling climax on Thursday. With a superb 2-1 win over Gabon, Zambia jumped from bottom to top of their mini-league to earn a quarter-final date …

LONDON: Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will be out of action for up to six weeks after returning from the African Nations Cup with a knee injury, his club announced on Friday. Essien, 27, damaged cartilage while training in Angola and although the injury has not proved as serious as first feared, he is …