Latest in Tag: Visa Highlight
Latest in Tag: Visa
Win or bust for Nigeria and coach Shua
BENGUELA: Nigeria face Benin on Saturday with the World Cup-bound Super Eagles under huge pressure to stay in the African Cup of Nations after a 3-1 loss to defending champions Egypt in their opener. Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, has also been issued an ultimatum to beat next-door neighbors Benin or else make way for his …
Nigeria's Everton striker Yakubu hits out at Cup critics
BENGUELA: Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has lashed out at critics who have questioned his place in the Nigeria team at the Africa Cup of Nations. Yakubu rounded on his detractors after Nigeria s 3-1 opening defeat to Egypt, insisting that the entire team did not play well in Tuesday s Group C opener here. I …
Angola edge towards last eight, but at what cost?
LUANDA: Angola registered their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations to edge closer towards the quarter finals but Thursday s victory over Malawi may have come at a high price. The 2010 hosts lost two key players – Flavio and Gilberto – during an impressive performance which lifted the Black Antelopes up to …
Algeria back in business with Mali defeat
LUANDA: Algeria gave their hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals a significant shot in the arm here Thursday with a 1-0 win over Mali. It moved the World Cup qualifiers on to three points in Group A, level with Malawi who lost to Angola (four points) later. The hosts and Mali …
Worgu's move to Ahly in jeopardy, says agent
CAIRO: Ahly s attempts to land Stephen Worgu from Merreikh were dented after they failed to agree personal terms of a contract for the Nigerian striker, his agent said. Earlier this week, Ahly said they are close to signing the 20-year-old from Merreikh, shortly after the Sudanese club had revealed that an “agreement was reached …
Warming up
Zaki apologizes to Zamalek
CAIRO: Zamalek striker Amr Zaki made an apology to the club s board for missing regular training over the past couple of weeks. The muscular hitman went AWOL early this month to incur the wrath of Zamalek s officials, who eventually put him on the transfer list. Zaki showed up at the club on Wednesday, …
Mozambique coach to man-mark Egypt stars
CAIRO: Mozambique manager Mart Nooij revealed he will resort to a man-to-man strategy in Egypt s game on Saturday. We will man-mark Egypt forwards because they are so fast, Nooij was quoted as saying in Angolan press on Thursday. The Pharaohs hit three past Nigeria in Group C opener, with Emad Meteb, Captain Ahmed Hassan …
Injury-ravaged Ghana bank on Essien against Ivorians
CABINDA: Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien faces a great challenge of his international career when he captains Ghana against Ivory Coast here on Friday. The box-to-box workaholic with the biting tackle and thunderous drive must inspire an injury-ravaged “Black Stars side against the under-pressure Africa Cup of Nations title favorites in a crunch Group B clash. …
I was really scared, admits Geddo
CAIRO: Egypt midfielder Mohamed “Geddo Nagi admitted that he was scared when coach Hassan Shehata told him to warm up ahead of his introduction in the Pharaohs 3-1 win over Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations. Geddo, who scored on his international debut against Mali in last week s exhibition game, made his first …
Former champions Tunisia held by Zambia
LUBANGO: Tunisia, the 2004 champions, were held to a 1-1 draw by spirited Zambia in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations here on Wednesday. Jacob Mulenga put the Copper Bullets into an early lead only for Zouhaier Dhaouadhi to level for the north Africans before the break. Zambia coach Herve Renard reckoned his …
Cousin gives Gabon shock triumph over Cameroon
LUBANGO: Hull City striker Daniel Cousin scored the only goal as Gabon caused the biggest upset so far in a shock-filled Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Cameroon 1-0 on Wednesday. Cousin scored early in the first half of the Group D clash and the Gabonese survived numerous goalmouth scares to record only their second …
Mali, Algeria, eager to atone for bumpy Cup starts
LUANDA: For Mali and Algeria, Thursday s second Group A run out gives them a second chance to prove their true worth after indifferent starts to their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns. In the case of Mali a miraculous fight back to grab a point against Angola having looked down and out trailing by four …
Giantkillers Malawi have Angola in their sights
LUANDA: Malawi, who claimed the scalp of World Cup qualifiers Algeria on Monday, are intent on dishing out the same treatment to Angola when they meet the Africa Cup of Nations’ hosts here on Thursday. In only their second ever appearance in the competition Malawi go into the game as the surprise leaders of Group …
Martins departs Angola for injury treatment
BENGUELA: Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins has left the Nigerian squad to see his specialist in Europe after he complained of persistent pain on his recently operated shin. Eagles media officer, Peterside Idah, confirmed the departure of the striker Wednesday morning. Martins has gone back to Europe to see his specialist as regards the problem with …
Mozambique deny Benin first Nations Cup victory
BENGUELA: Mozambique held Benin to a 2-2 draw here Tuesday night to deny the west Africans their first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. Angola 2010 is Benin’s third Nations Cup appearance after they debuted in the competition at the 2004 edition in Tunisia and had they defended an early two goal lead, they …
Jose says Angola have mental strength
LUANDA: Angola coach Manuel Jose is confident his players have the required fortitude to deal with any mental scars left by Sunday s opening game capitulation against Mali. The Africa Cup of Nations hosts return to the frey Thursday in their second Group A tie facing Malawi, the surprise table toppers after their defeat of …
Nigeria coach Amodu's future uncertain
BENGUELA: Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu faces an uncertain future and he may well again not take the team to the World Cup unless they bounce back from their opening Africa Cup of Nations loss to Egypt and at least progress to the semi-finals. On Tuesday, the Super Eagles fell 3-1 to the Pharaohs, who were …
Pharaohs crush Eagles in 3-1 African Cup victory
BENGUELA: Defending champions Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-1 in their opening Africa Cup of Nations Group C match at the Ombaka Stadium on Tuesday. Egypt coach, Hassan Shehata, said some inspired second-half substitutions helped his team to a deserved victory. “The substitutions paid dividends, said the former Zamalek striker. The veteran manager added: “The victory over …
Egyptian referee explains warm greeting refusal
CAIRO: Egyptian referee Essam Abdel-Fattah implied that he refused to let Angola winger Felisberto “Gilberto Amaral kiss him on the cheek because he thinks such an act could lead to accusations of favoritism. Abdel-Fattah was spotted when he leaned his head back, refusing to let the Ahly player kiss him on the cheek as a …
Angolan security forces seal off footballer village
CABINDA: Angolan security forces have sealed off the complex housing the football teams contesting the Africa Cup of Nations in restive Cabinda province, hoping to ward off any new separatist attack. Since Friday s attack on Togo s squad that killed two people, little has changed in the small town of Cabinda. But the complex …
Egypt deputy goalie unconvinced by rotation policy
CAIRO: Egypt s deputy goalie Abdel-Wahed Al-Sayed says a policy of rotation wouldn t be the Pharaohs best interest during the African Cup of Nations (CAN). The Zamalek keeper was called up to the African champions CAN squad, and he s expected to play second fiddle for first-choice guardian Essam Al-Hadari. Al-Sayed assured that he …
Wounded Eagles wary of falling prey to the Cup curse
LUBANGO: Zambia are out to continue the tradition this Africa Cup of Nations is fast gaining of producing shocks against Tunisia in their Group D clash here on Wednesday. Tunisia turned up in Angola wounded from missing out on a World Cup berth at the last throw of the qualifying dice. The Carthage Eagles, who …
Cameroon star Eto'o sends painful warning to Gabon
LUBANGO: Star striker Samuel Eto o says Cameroon are set to inflict more pain on neighbors Gabon when they clash Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations. The central Africa countries came face to face twice within four days last September in qualifiers for the 2010 Angola tournament and a Cameroon team revitalized by French …
Security in Angola stepped up, assures Egypt director
CAIRO: Egyptian national team director Samir Adli stated that the Angolan authorities have finally managed to step up security measures, following the vicious attack on Togo. Two days before of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) got underway, the driver of Togo s bus was instantly killed and nine people, including two players, were terribly …
Champions Egypt off to winning start
BENGUELA: Defending champions Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-1 in their opening Africa Cup of Nations Group C match at the Ombaka Stadium here on Tuesday. The six-time champions brought to an end a 23-year-old winless run they have endured against the west Africans and, most importantly, gave them a head start to progress to the knockout …
Cup of upsets as Algeria, Ivory Coast toil in the heat
LUANDA: The form book was shredded on day two at the Africa Cup of Nations as Algeria crashed to minnows Malawi and favorites Ivory Coast stuttered against Burkina Faso. It was going to be a tall order to follow up Sunday’s sensational curtain raiser when Mali fought back from four goals down to snatch a …
Shawky completes Kayserispor deal
Mohamed Shawky has completed his move to Turkish side Kayserispor from Middlesbrough on Monday after both clubs reached an agreement, the midfielder s agent said. Shawky has already put pen to paper and he s about to start an adventure in the Turkish Super Lig, Nader Shawki, who s now in Turkey, told FilGoal.com over …
Champions Egypt, Nigeria in top spot battle
BENGUELA: Defending champions Egypt and Nigeria clash in the Africa Cup of Nations Group C curtain raiser under the scorching afternoon sun at the brand-new Ombaka Stadium here on Tuesday. Both teams are expected to progress to the knockout of stage of the continental showpiece at the expense of Mozambique and Benin in the sleepy …
Nigeria face tough Egypt test, says Kanu
CAIRO: Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu conceded that his side will face a tough task against Egypt in their African Cup of Nations (CAN) opener. They are the defending champions, and it is never easy to play against the champions because they want to hold on to their title, Kanu told KickOffNigeria.com on Sunday. They deserve …