by FSL News | 6 Apr, 2018 | African News
The world football governing body, Fifa has demanded that the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) make key changes to its electoral process.
According to a communique to the EFF dated 2 April, Fifa’s Secretary General Fatma Samoura noted, the elections cannot take place until the electoral process is brought into line with Fifa statutes.
The communique also stated that EFF new elections must take place before 3 June 2018.
Four times EEF elections have been postponed amidst persistent infighting over the electoral process.
Following several “confusion” regarding the electoral procedure and rules because of the “absence of a proper legal framework.”
Fifa highlighted the make-up of Ethiopia’s electoral committee and electoral appeals committee, saying there are members who appear to be either officials or members of the EFF, including presidents of regional associations, which is deemed as a conflict of interest.
The head of the Electoral Committee, Zerihun Mekonnen, is also the head of the Amhara Regional State Football Federation.
The EFF has been told it must convene an extraordinary general assembly to adopt an electoral code and to elect a new electoral committee and new electoral appeals committee.
Five candidates are vying for a place to the take control of football in Ethiopia.
They include current incumbent Juniedi Basha, former president Dr Ashebir Woldegiorgis and ex-vice-president Teka Assefaw.
Some 16 candidates including former national team head trainers Sewnet Bishaw and Asrat Haile are locking horns in the hope of being elected to the executive committee.
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by FSL News | 1 Apr, 2018 | African News
The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 36 referees and 63 assistant referees, representing 46 different countries, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Sixteen out of the total number are from Africa; the contingent comprises six referees and ten assistants.
Preparations for the road to Russia kicked off in September 2014 not only for the 32 participating teams but also for the initial group of 53 FIFA referee trios from around the world.
The choice of the final group of match officials selected to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by teams.
Over the last three years, preparatory seminars have taken place for referees and assistant referees focusing on fair play, protecting players and the image of the game, as well as consistency and uniformity.
The selected FIFA World Cup match officials will attend another dedicated seminar for two weeks in the second half of April at the technical centre of the Italian Football Association in Coverciano, Italy. The officials will be divided into two groups, which will also include video assistant referee (VAR) candidates.
Following this seminar, the FIFA Referees Committee will announce the names of the referees selected to act as VARs during football’s most important competition, the FIFA World Cup. The selection process will take into account the candidate’s VAR experience in domestic leagues, FIFA competitions and FIFA refereeing seminars since the beginning of the VAR project in 2016.
Between now and the World Cup in June, the selected referees, assistant referees and VARs will be monitored and supported by FIFA Refereeing on an individual basis to ensure they are fully prepared. Following the seminar in Coverciano, all of the match officials will take part in a final preparatory seminar at the FIFA World Cup match officials’ HQ in Moscow, which will start ten days before the tournament kicks off. This seminar will also cover VAR.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the selected match officials will operate in a variety of roles, e.g. referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, reserve assistant referees and video match officials.
The 6 African referees
Abid Charef Mehdi (Algeria), Diedhiou Malang (Senegal), Gassama Bakary Papa (Gambia), Grisha Ghead (Egypt), Sikazwe Janny (Zambia)
Tessema Weyesa Bamlak (Ethiopia)
The 10 African assistant-referees
Achik Redouane (Morocco), Ahmed Waleed (Sudan), Birumushahu Jean-Claude (Burundi), Camara Djibril (Senegal), Dos Santos Jerson Emiliano (Angola)
Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria), Hmila Anouar (Tunisia), Range Marwa (Kenya), Samba El Hadji Malick (Senegal), Siwela Zakhele Thusi (South Africa)
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by FSL News | 29 Mar, 2018 | African News
Guinea Bissau technician Emiliano Te’ has named his 20-man squad including 15 foreign-based for the Niger 2019 first leg doubleheader U20 AFCON preliminary qualifier, which will take place on April 1.
The Bissau’s U20 side are set to host Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars on Sunday, at the 24 de Setembro Stadium, with the second leg expected to be played at Bo City Stadium.
Shooting Stars Cameroonian coach, Ken Tabi is faced with a tougher task. Sampdoria Primavera player Janclaudio Gomes Ricciulli, Chaves defensive midfielder Manuel Pami Costa, Ismael José Gomes from Porto and left-back João Vaz Mendes are some of the noticeable players in the Bissau’s side.
The Senegalese referees, who will be in charge of the contest, are Alioune Sow SANDIGUI (SEN), Amadou Ngom (SEN), and El Hadji Abdoul Aziz GUEYE (SEN).
This will be the 21st edition of the Total Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 20 and below.
The winner between the two countries will face Nigeria’s Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles will then play away to the overall winners of this first round clash on May 11, 12 or 13 with the return leg in Nigeria a week later.
The overall winners of this clash will then feature in a final playoff which could involve Morocco/Mauritania or Guinea.
This final U20 AFCON qualifier is billed for July and Zambia are the defending champions.
The four semi-finalists will be at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup.
15 foreign-based below…
1 – Bubacar Sidibé (Alcanenense Portugal) 2 – Jefferson Encada (Olhanense Portugal) 3 – Samir Banjai (Desportivo de Chaves – Portugal 4 – Babagaldé Malam Baldé (SL Cartaxo Potugal) 5 – Emílio Paulo Mendes Biepar (Palencia Cristo Atlético – Spain 6 – Ismael José Gomes (Porto) 7 – Carlos Vaz Fernandes (FC Carregal de Sal – Portugal) 8 – Janclaudio Gomes Ricciulli (Sampdoria – Italy) 9 – Mada Alberto Pereira (Sport of the Birds) 10 – Florentino Luís da Silva (Sport of the Birds) 11 – Manuel Pami Costa (Chaves ) 12 – Umaru Esmeraldo Pereira (Real Sport Club Massamá) 13 – Al-Hassan Djassi Ould Hamed Lamin (Lazio Societa Sportiva SPA) 14 – João Vaz Mendes (Sport of Trofense) 15 – Roger AC Pinto (Rio Ave)
Home-based players below… 16 – Iano (Sport Bissau and Benfica), 17 – Ussumane Baipar (Sport Bissau and Benfica), 18 – Emerson (UDIB), 19 – Ivanov (UDIB), 20 – Salifo (Flamenco Pefine), 21 – Horácio Braima Djau (Club Sintra Football)
Sierra Leone U20 Previous Results
Sat 28/07/12 Sierra Leone 1 – 1 Cameroon U20
Sat 11/08/12 Cameroon 2 – 0 Sierra Leone U20
Fri 04/04/14 Sierra Leone 1 – 0 Guinea U20
Thu 24/04/14 Guinea 0 – 1 Sierra Leone
Fri 09/05/14 Sierra Leone 0 – 2 Ghana
Fri 23/05/14 Ghana 2 – 1 Sierra Leone
Sat 02/04/16 Sierra Leone 0 – 2 Gambia
Sat 23/04/16 Gambia 2 – 0 Sierra Leone U20
Compiled by Bissau Journalist Sene Camara’ (Seninho) and @bittar32 Follow us On Twitter @football_serra/Facebook Football Sierra Leone
by FSL News | 24 Mar, 2018 | African News
Chelsea’s Victor Moses converted a second-half penalty to ensure Super Eagles defeated Poland 1-0 in their World Cup warm-up friendly on Friday played at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw.
The friendly meeting was the first ever between both teams. Poles creating more of the chances but Nigeria ending as winners.
Poland dominated the first half but in the 61st minute, Moses stroked the ball home from the spot after winning a spot-kick from English referee Michael Oliver.
Polish captain Robert Lewandowski was unfortunate hitting the post and Leon Balogun making a daring clearance off the goal line.
The victory for the Eagles maintained their positive results since they qualified for the World Cup.
In their last friendly, they beat Argentina 4-2 in a match played in Russia in November.
Nigeria continues their impressive run of appearances at the finals, having missed only one tournament – Germany 2006 – since qualifying for their debut in 1994.
Nigeria are in Group D at the FIFA World Cup alongside Argentina, Iceland, and Croatia
They open their world cup 2018 campaign against Croatia June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
Poland will take on Senegal, Colombia and Japan in Group H.
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by FSL News | 22 Mar, 2018 | African News
CAF Champions League record winners Al Ahly of Egypt will battle it out with Esperance of Tunis, debutants Uganda’s Kampala City (KCCA) and Botswana’s Township Rollers in Group A.
Top Congolese side TP Mazembe have been paired in Group B with two Algerian sides including former winners Algeria’s Entente Setif, Mouloudia Alger of Algeria and Difaa El Jadidi of Morocco.
The draw that was held in Cairo on Wednesday also put holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco alongside another newcomer AS Port of Togo and Guinean top-flight side Horoya in Group C.
In the same group, Mamelodi Sundowns have a chance to settle a score with the reigning African champions Wydad Casablanca, who dethroned them in the quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League last year.
In Group D, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia will face Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto, Zesco United of Zambia, as well as newcomers Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.
The group phases will kick off on the weekend of 6-8 May.
Champions League groups:
Group A: Al Ahly (Egypt), Township Rollers (Botswana), KCCA (Uganda), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
GROUP B: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), Difaa El Jadidi (Morocco), Entente Setif (Algeria)
Group C: AS Port of Togo (Togo), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Horoya (Guinea)
Group D: Zesco United (Zambia), Primeiro de Agosto (Angola), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland)
Caf also held draws for the Confederation Cup playoffs.
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by FSL News | 21 Mar, 2018 | African News
Super Eagles captain and former Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi is uncertain to play in Friday’s international friendly match between Nigeria and Poland in Wroclaw.
Obi, 30, uncertainty is due to not being able to renew his work permit to date and it is unlikely to get the issue resolved before Friday.
“We all had been hoping that the renewal would come in good time for him to fly to Poland. As it is now, it is not likely that he would make the trip,” revealed team administrator, Dayo Enebi.
The Tianjin Teda of China midfielder is a vital player for the Super Eagles.
The West African big guns were the first side from Africa to reach Russia.
Nigeria continues their impressive run of appearances at the finals, having missed only one tournament – Germany 2006 – since qualifying for their debut in 1994.
22 players, we understand have arrived the Super Eagles’ Radisson Blu Hotel camp in Wroclaw.
The match kicks off at 8.45pm (Nigeria and Poland are on same time zone) on Friday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria are in Group D at the FIFA World Cup alongside Argentina, Iceland, and Croatia
They open their world cup 2018 campaign against Croatia June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
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