by FSL News | 23 Jun, 2017 | African News
Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah has officially signed for English Premier League side Liverpool FC and was presented by the club on Thursday.
According to reports, the deal is believed to have cost around £36.9million — eclipsing the £35m spent on Andy Carroll in 2011.
He said: “I’m very excited to be here. I’m very happy. I will give 100 per cent and give everything for the club.
“I really want to win something for this club.”
The Liverpool new boy insisted he’s much better equipped to take the Premier League by storm during his second spell in England.
The Egyptian winger failed to make his mark in the capital after Chelsea beat the Reds to his signature three-and-a-half years ago.
Salah made just 19 appearances for the Londoners before being off-loaded on loan to Fiorentina.
Since then his career has been on an upward curve. He went on to flourish at Roma – scoring 19 goals in all competitions last season.
Asked if he was a better player now than when he was at Chelsea, Salah told LFCTV: “100% yes. They have paid a lot of money for that!
“Everything, even my personality is different. I was a kid then, just 21. Now, four years on, I have a baby and everything is different.
In the 2016/17, the 25-year-old had his best-ever season since going professional, scoring 19 goals in all competitions for Roma, despite missing almost a month and a half due to his participation with the Egyptian national team at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
At the AFCON in Gabon, Salah was involved in four of Egypt’s five goals with two goals and two assists as he led the Pharaohs to the final, where they lost 2-1 to Cameroon.
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by FSL News | 21 Jun, 2017 | African News
Cameroon head coach Hugo Broos has emphasised that only a victory against Australia in their 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B match in Saint Petersburg, Russia on Thursday will keep them in the tournament.
The must-win tie kick-off 17h00 at the Stadion Krestovskyien between Cameroon and Australia.
Broos stressed: “If we don’t have a victory against Australia it’s finished for us. We know what to do but it’ll be a tough game.”
The African champions were defeated 2-0 by Chile in their first Group B match on Sunday, while Australia lost 3-2 to Germany on Monday. Belgian tactician Broos is now eyeing a win over Australia.
“I hope we start the game better than we did against Chile,” Broos told the media at a press conference according to BBC.
“The first 20 minutes were almost disastrous and if we didn’t have a bit of luck on our side, we could have been 3-0 down.
“I hope against Australia that from the first second of the game we will seek to dominate,” he said.
“I’ve seen a few games of Australia and there is a lot of enthusiasm in the team, a fighting spirit, so it’s a very difficult team to play against.
“But again we’ll need to be on our highest level if we are to beat them, and we have to beat them to keep up our chances to go further than the first round. It’s a different style than three days ago when we played Chile,” he added.
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by FSL News | 19 Jun, 2017 | African News
Russia 2017: Goals from Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas ensure Chile beat Cameroon 2-0 in their Group B 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup opener at the Otkrytiye Arena in the Russian capital of Moscow on Sunday evening.
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez came off the bench to cross for Vidal’s 81st-minute header, with Vargas finishing in injury-time after Sanchez rounded the keeper but failed to beat a defender on the line.
Had Sanchez found the net, he would have become Chile’s all-time leading goalscorer. He currently has 37 goals, level with former Lazio and Juventus striker Marcelo Salas, who retired in 2008.
Just before the break in Moscow, Vargas had a strike correctly ruled out for a very marginal offside following the use of video technology. His goal in the 91st minute was also referred to the video assistant referees – presumably to check on another possible offside – but it stood.
Cameroon could also have argued they should have had a referral in the first half when Vincent Aboubakar was harshly adjudged to have pulled back Vidal as Michael Ngadjui headed in a free-kick.
The other two teams in Group B – Australia and world champions Germany – play on Monday (16:00 BST).
Cameroon: Ondoa; Mabouka, Teikeu, Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Fai; Anguissa (Mandjeck 89′), Siani (Ngamaleu 86′), Djoum; Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Bassogog
Chile: Herrera; Isla, Jara, Medel, Beausejour; Fuenzalida (Valencia 64′), Vidal, Diaz, Aránguiz (Silva 71′); Vargas, Puch (Sanchez 58′)
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by FSL News | 16 Jun, 2017 | African News
Francis Amin Michael Paul has been elected as the new president of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA).
Amin, a well-known businessman beat former international referee Lual Maluk Lual in the polls which were overseen by delegates from Fifa and the Confederation of African Football.
He won 22 votes out of 34. SSFA election ends a period of uncertainty as he replaces Chabur Goc Alei, who was suspended by the SSFA’s general assembly last year.
“Let’s forget our differences but be united by the beautiful game of football,” Amin said.
“I welcome all my opponents to come and join hands so that we develop football in our beloved country South Sudan.”
Alei was forced out of office amid allegations of mismanagement.
Venasio Deng Amun will be Amin’s deputy after he beat Sestilio Juba Leriba in the polls for vice-president.
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by FSL News | 14 Jun, 2017 | African News
The President of Football Kenya Federation, Nick Mwendwa, has disclosed to Soka25east that his administration will officially write a letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what he described as “biased” officiating against Harambee Stars.
“It was horrendous, to say the least. The ref was aggressive towards our players and in many instances, gave away free kicks to our opponents unjustly,” FKF boss told Soka25east adding that his boys were equally very upset.
“The boys went out there and gave their all in very unfair conditions. I feel it’s in bad taste that people are saying that should have won anyway. I feel I have to protect them,” the President said.
The Leone Stars got off to a winning start defeating the Harambee Stars of Kenya 2-1 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F first leg qualifying tie in Freetown last Saturday. The victory was coach John Keister’s his first win in charge of the National team.
Goals from Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura in the 22nd and 69th minutes respectively were enough to down their visitors. Kenya’s Michael Olunga scored their only goal in the 76th minutes despite playing with a man down.
However, although it will be insignificant as CAF will not be overturning the result or punishing the match officials, the FKF boss believes the letter will act as an eye opener for other matches across Africa.
“We want Africa to know that we were not pleased with the level of officiating in the match, and for future reference, we believe that filing a formal protest is well in order.”
Nigerian officials led by centre referee Ferdinand Aniette, first assistant referee Tejiri, second assistant referee Abdulmajeed Olaide and reserve referee Ekabatiem Ekabatiem were in charge of the group F tie in Freetwon.
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by FSL News | 12 Jun, 2017 | African News
The former Chelsea star also claimed an assist in his side’s 2-1 win over Whitecaps FC 2
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba scored a trademark header to mark a brilliant Phoenix Rising debut on Saturday, before dedicating the 2-1 win over Whitecaps FC 2 to Cheick Tiote.
The Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend opened the scoring late in the first half, before laying on an assist for Shaun Wright-Phillips to grab the winner.
Drogba’s former international teammate Tiote tragically passed away on Monday after collapsing during training in China.
The striker took to Instagram to post a tribute to the ex-Newcastle midfielder following his side’s win.
“I want to dedicate this win to Cheick Tiote who passed away a few days ago while doing what he loved, playing football,” he wrote.
“My thoughts and condolences go to his family.”
Drogba joined the USL side in April as a player and co-owner of the club after leaving Montreal Impact in November 2016.
He enjoyed two spells at Chelsea, where he won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and secured that memorable Champions League triumph.
He is also Ivory Coast’s record goalscorer, netting 65 times in 104 appearances for the national side.
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