by FSL News | 18 Nov, 2017 | African News
- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) unveiled Belgian coach Paul Put as the new Harambee Stars head coach.
Put was former manager of the Gambia national team.
Former USM Alger and Gambia coach Paul Put has been appointed the new coach of Kenya replacing local technician Stanley Okumbi.
The 61-year-old was installed on Saturday on a two-year deal in Mombasa during the federation’s Annual General Meeting.
Put will take charge of the Kenyan Stars remaining games to qualify for the 2019 African Nations Cup in Cameroon.
Put’s first task in the ongoing 2019 qualifiers will be against the Black Stars of Ghana March 2018 at home.
Harambee Stars under Stanley Okumbi lost to Sierra Leone 2-1 in their opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg qualifying tie in Freetown in June.
Stanley Okumbi has been demoted and will be assisting the Belgian coach who has managed Belgian sides Lokeren, Geel and Lierse.
Following spells at Geel, Lokeren and Lierse, the former Rwanda national team Put was banned by the Royal Belgium Football Association for his alleged involvement in the Ye Zheyun match-fixing scandal.
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by FSL News | 17 Nov, 2017 | African News
Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not travel with the BVB squad for Friday’s Bundesliga game in Stuttgart after being left out for ”disciplinary reasons.”
Aubameyang, 28, who is named in the five-man shortlist of the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017 has netted 10 goals in 11 games this season.
A club statement on Twitter read: “Aubameyang has been removed from the squad for tomorrow’s match for disciplinary reasons.”
However, Aubameyang told Bild: “After Milan, I could understand the suspension and fine because I broke a club rule. But I don’t understand it this time — I didn’t want to turn up late.”
According to Bild, Aubameyang had thought 2:30 p.m. was the departure time for the trip to Stuttgart when it was actually 2 p.m.
Der Westen has also reported from a source “within the team” that the striker “allowed himself numerous lapses of discipline, arrives late for training constantly and considers himself untouchable.”
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by FSL News | 12 Nov, 2017 | African News
The two North African nations, Tunisia and Morocco completed CAF’s list to represent Africa at the FIFA World Cup in Russia next year.
A goalless draw against Libya at the Stade Olympique de Rades was enough for the Eagles of Carthage to pip Congo DR to top spot in Group A, while Morocco impressively recorded a 2-0 away victory in Ivory Coast.
Morocco will be at the global tournament for the first time since France 1998, while Tunisia make their World Cup return for the first time since Germany 2006.
Both nations join Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal as Africa’s representatives at the global finals next year.
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by FSL News | 11 Nov, 2017 | African News
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has become the latest to help book his country’s place in next summer’s World Cup, as Senegal beat South Africa 2-0.
South Africa defeated Senegal 2-1 in Polokwane last November, but FIFA ordered a replay because of “match manipulation” by Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey, who was banned for life.
Mane was controversially called into Aliou Cisse’s squad for qualifying double-header this month while he was still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
But with the 25-year-old having returned to fitness to lay on two goals in the Reds’ 4-1 win away to West Ham last weekend, he departed to join Senegal in Polokwane.
Cisse deployed Mane from the start at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, with his side in need of a victory to guarantee their place in Russia in 2018.
And Mane made a bright start on the right flank, with his sumptuous pass providing Hammers striker Diafra Sakho with the opening goal of the night.
Liverpool’s No. 19 was involved throughout in a combative clash, picking up a yellow card in the first half, with Senegal committing 20 fouls over the 90 minutes.
The visitors sealed the victory three minutes after his caution, with midfielder Thamsanqa Mkhize turning the ball into his own net after Mane’s shot was saved.
Ephraim Mashaba looked to change the game from the substitutes’ bench, including bringing on Siphiwe Tshabalala, who famously scored the first goal at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
But Senegal proved too strong, and Mane celebrated a historic victory, with his country’s last time at a World Cup finals coming in 2002.
Liverpool will now be hoping he is permitted to return to Merseyside before Tuesday night’s rescheduled second clash with South Africa, or at least rested.
The Reds sent physio Scott McAuley to join Mane and oversee his training and recovery, as they look to take all measures to avoid a recurrence of the injury that kept him out for five games.
South Africa 0-2 Senegal
World Cup Qualifier, Peter Mokaba Stadium
November 10, 2017 – Goals: Sakho 12′, Mkhize (OG) 35′
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Source: This is Anfield
by FSL News | 5 Nov, 2017 | African News
- Wydad Casablanca win 2017 CAF Champions League
Moroccan side crowned African club continental champions for first time since 1992
- Will represent Africa at FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017
Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca will represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 after defeating Egyptian giants Al Ahly 2-1 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League final.
Walid El Karti scored the winning goal in the second leg with a header in the 69th minute from a precise cross delivered by Acraf Bencharki.
As expected, Al Ahly started the match on the front foot as they were chasing the tie following the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Alexandria. Going into the second leg in Casablanca, Wydad knew a goalless draw would be enough to see them through.
The Moroccan club maintained a solid defensive shape knowing they carried enough threat up top to potentially punish Al Ahly on the counter-attack. Wydad almost found the breakthrough in the 30th minute when Abdeladim Khadrouf’s attempted shot inside the penalty area hit the Al Ahly crossbar after taking a deflection.
Al Ahly’s best chance in the first half came in the 33rd minute when Momen Zakaria went one-on-one with Zouahir Laaroubi, but the goalkeeper made the crucial save.
Wydad head coach Lhoussaine Ammouta changed his tactics in the second half as his side maintained possession in their attacking half to minimise Al Ahly’s chances. Eventually, the tactics paid off as El Karti latched on to the end of Bencharki’s cross to put the result beyond doubt.
Wydad lift the CAF Champions League trophy for the second time in their history. They won the competition for the first time in 1992.
They will face Pachuca of Mexico in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 on 9 December.
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by FSL News | 31 Oct, 2017 | African News
Sierra Leone female U-20 national team could be on the brink of withdrawing from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon in Freetown.
The two nations are expected clash in Freetown in the first leg round two on the weekend of November 3-5 2017 but the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) are yet to do or make any communication to their opposing F.A with regards to the match as per the African football governing CAF regulations demands.
According to a close source within the SLFA, the Cameroonian Football Federation, FECAFOOT has already reported the Sierra Leone F.A. over the lack of communication ahead of the match which leaves them in limbo for the said match.
A request was made by officials of FECAFOOT to know about the match date, venue, and other officially arrangements. Also, it is believed that the SLFA is yet to fulfil any arrangement to enable the travelling of match officials for the game.
The SLFA is yet to make any official statement with regards to the match while their Cameroonian opponent is presently in camp with 25 players while doing their training session at the Yaoundé Annexe Stadium.
Sierra Leone reaches the second round of the qualifiers after both Libya and Tunisia pulled out from the preliminary and first round respectively.
Cameroon thrashed Guinea 9-0 in their first leg tie in Conakry to progress to the competition next stage after the Guineans withdrew from the competition.
The winner between Sierra Leone and Cameroon will face the winner between Ghana and Kenya.
By Sahr Morris Jr In Nottingham – Follow the writer @morrisjr88
Sierra Leone | Highlights -