by FSL News | 12 Mar, 2019 | African News
A top Kenyan football official Hussein Swaleh was named among the 157 people killed on the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed on Sunday.
Mr Swaleh, a former secretary general of Kenya’s Football Federation (FKF), was part of the tragic accident.
He was reported to be returning to Nairobi after serving as a match commissioner in Friday’s African Champions League game between Ismaili and TP Mazembe in Egypt.
The plane crashed minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa.
“The President of the Confederation of African Football, Ahmad Ahmad, and all the African football family send their condolences to our dearest Hussein Swaleh Mtetu’s family, his relatives and to the Kenyan Football Federation,” Caf said in a statement.
The Kenyan Football Federation boss Nick Mwendwa, paid his own tribute:
Hussein Swaleh served as the FKF’s secretary general between 2000 and 2004 and was in the post when Kenya last played at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia in 2004.
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by FSL News | 9 Mar, 2019 | African News
CAF Champions League holders Esperance proved too strong at home as they defeat Guinean club Horoya 2-0 in Group B on Friday to become this year’s first quarter-finalist.
The sixteen-time Guinean title holders coming into this tie one point behind the Tunisians with lots of positive but an own-goal from Malian Hamed Assoko midway through the first half to put the host ahead.
Esperance second came almost eight minutes to full time through their Cameroonian midfield enforcer Franck Kom.
As a result, they are top of the tree as group leaders after South African giant Orlando Pirates were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by FC Platinum of Zimbabwe.
Despite the defeat, Horoya still second in the group ahead of their home and final group B encounter against Orlando Pirates.
It was a disappointment for the Pirates, who surprisingly were unable to find the cutting edge against group bottom team FC Platinum of Zimbabwe.
Some pundits in South Africa described their performance at the Orlando Stadium on Friday night as one of the worst performances in their 2018-19 Caf Champions League campaign for a home team.
Elsewhere, Group C leaders CS Constantine of Algeria beaten 1-0 at home by Club Africain of Tunisia to surrender an eight-match unbeaten run.
Ismaily of Egypt after a 1-1 draw at home against five-time champions TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo dropped out of contention for a quarter-finals place.
Constantine on 10 point still ahead of TP Mazembe on eight and Africain seven in the race to make a quarter-final spot.
Esperance de Tunis win victory over Horoya AC in Radès on Friday, March 8, 2019. (Photo est.org.tn)
CAF Champions League Group B and C Standings
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by FSL News | 6 Mar, 2019 | African News
Sixteen-time Guinean Champions Horoya AC departed Conakry for their crucial Total African Champions League tie against Esperance de Tunis on Friday.
Both sides played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg match in Guinea but, this time in a bid to reach the quarter-final phase, the match has been dubbed a cracker.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis defeats South African side Orlando Pirates 2-0 in their last group matchday 4 to maintain their lead on the table.
After settling for a goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium, the Tunisian game plan was spot on with goals from Anice Badri and Haythem Jouini were enough for the host.
The Guineans on the other hand deservedly secured a home and away victories against Zimbabwean side FC Platinum.
As a result, the Zimbabwean champions are out of the CAF Champions League as they remain bottom on the standings with only a point.
Horoya going into the contest against Esperance highly confident standing second in their Group B with seven points, a point behind their hosts.
Soccer pundits have described this Friday’s contest between the sides as the groups’ curtain razor.
Horoya must avoid defeat in Tunisia because a win for Orlando at home against FC Platinum will move then to eight points ahead of Pirates visit at the Stade du 28 Septembre on March 16.
As it stands Pirates, Horoya and Esperance any two can qualify for the quarter-finals. (Photo Credit HAC)
CAF Champions League Group B Table
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by FSL News | 5 Mar, 2019 | African News
Herman Tsinga, who was playing in the Gabonese first division, died after collapsing during a game in Libreville, local media reported on Monday.
Tsinga, 30, a striker for Akanda FC, collapsed in the 23rd minute of the match with Missile FC on Saturday, The Union daily newspaper reported.
He received a cardiac massage by a military doctor but died on his way to the hospital.
An amateur video posted on Twitter showed the confused reaction after Tsinga collapsed on the edge of the centre circle.
According to The Union, neither of the two ambulances at the scene had the defibrillator or oxygen mask necessary “to save the life of the player”.
The death was the seventh in 12 years in Gabonese football, The Union said.
The match was part of the second round of the championship, which was able to resume in February after a gap of eight months when Gabon Oil Company agreed to sponsor the competition.
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by FSL News | 2 Mar, 2019 | African News
Algerian international Riyad Mahrez scored Manchester City only goal as they beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Dean Court, currently known as the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The midfielder opened the scoring for Manchester City with his 11th goal of the season in the 55th to help his back to the top of the Premier League.
“Today is a special moment for all of us,” the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Saturday.
He added, “We made an incredible performance, we didn’t concede one shot on target. They had 11 players in the box which meant there were no spaces, but somehow we found them.”
Elsewhere, Ivorian International Wilfried Zaha scored in Crystal Palace 3-1 thumping of Burnley on the same day.
Zaha, who was outstanding throughout, was instrumental as Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone.
Chelsea’s on-loan striker Michy Batshuayi convertible scored before Wilfried Zaha’s third.
The visitors took the lead in the 15th minute when Jeffrey Schlupp’s pull-back struck Burnley defender Phil Bardsley and ricocheted into his own goal.
Ashley Barnes scored a consolation late on and, Burnley substitute Peter Crouch almost set up a nervy finish.
The 26-year-old Ivorian player was pleased with his goal and, teams performance.
He told the club’s website, “The main thing is the three points for the team but, I’m glad I could add to the goals.”
“To be honest, I score goals like that all the time in training when we play five-a-side, so it’s nice to finally get a goal like that in a game.”
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by FSL News | 25 Feb, 2019 | African News
Senegal, Nigeria, Mali and South Africa have all been handed a tough draw ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Poland.
This year’s U-20 World Cup is expected to be played across six venues running from 23 May to the 15 June 2019.
The Amajita of South Africa with the toughest amongst the four nations from Africa, they are in Group F against six-time winners Argentina, two-time champions Portugal and, South Korea.
A daunting task awaits the African champions Mali, who will take on France, Panama and Saudi Arabia in Group E.
The 2015 semi-finalists Senegal, equally facing a tricky test in Group A against hosts Poland, 2003 third-placed side Colombia and Tahiti.
Nigeria a familiar name will open Group D against Qatar before facing the United States and, their last tie is against Ukraine.
Ghana are the only nation in Africa to have won the Under-20 World Cup, lifting the trophy in 2009 with a penalties victory over Brazil in the final in Egypt.
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