by FSL News | 7 Jul, 2019 | African News
- Egypt coach Javier Aguirre has been sacked a few hours after South Africa eliminated his side from the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.
Thembinkosi Lorch 85th-minute goal on Saturday ended the host run in this year’s Afcon.
The Egypt Football Association president, Hany Abo Rida also announced his resignation under three hours after the agony of defeat.
Abo Rida also called on his board members to step down, calling his resignation a “moral obligation, although the football association had given the national team full material and moral support.”
Aguirre told journalists after Saturday’s defeat that he took sole responsibility but was proud of all of his players.
“The game was open and saw many chances. The only difference was that South Africa managed to score,” he said.
Aguirre, 60, departs after less than a year in the job but not before setting a unique record by coaching at four different continental championships.
He won the Concacaf Gold Cup with his native Mexico in 2009, took them to the final of the Copa America and was in charge of Japan four years ago when they went out in the Asian Cup quarter-finals.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
by FSL News | 7 Jul, 2019 | African News
- South Africa will take on Nigeria in Wednesday’s quarter-final after their impressive 1-0 victory over host Egypt on Saturday in Cairo.
Thembinkosi Lorch scored the winner for South Africa in their well deserved late win over the tournament favourite Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations.
His goal came following a counterattack with just five minutes to full time at the Cairo International Stadium.
Egypt was one of the favourites to win this year’s AFCON, but on the day Bafana Bafana was well up for the task despite they qualified for the last 16 as the lowest-ranked of the four third-placed teams.
Elsewhere, The Super Eagles of Nigeria eliminated holders and bitter rivals Cameroon, scoring twice in three minutes coming from behind to win a thrilling last-16 match 3-2.
South Africa’s Thembinkosi Lorch stuns Egypt’s home crowd with a late winner in the Africa Cup of Nations. Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP
Thembinkosi Lorch (Total Man of the match)
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.
by FSL News | 5 Jul, 2019 | African News
Cairo (AFP) – Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf wants forward Karl Toko Ekambi to rediscover his La Liga form when they meet Nigeria on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 blockbuster in Egypt.
Ekambi was the leading Villarreal scorer in the Spanish top flight last season with 10 goals but has failed to find the net for the Indomitable Lions in three group matches.
Seedorf tried various attack combinations, all including Ekambi, but after a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, the defending champions were held to 0-0 draws by Ghana and Benin.
Former Dutch star Seedorf deflected media criticism away from his misfiring forwards, saying: “Sometimes teams do not score for weeks and forwards do not score for months.”
“Karl and the other forwards have to improve a few details, be smarter and create more chances,” added the four-time UEFA Champions League winner.
“We pushed forward in each group game, we introduced attacking players off the bench, but we dare not try crazy stuff. We have to respect our opponents.”
Here, AFP Sport looks at the Saturday matches with the clash of Cameroon and Nigeria in Alexandria too close to call, while hosts Egypt are expected to defeat South Africa in Cairo.
Cameroon v Nigeria
In 2004, the last time Cameroon was Cup of Nations defending champions, they were eliminated in the first knockout round by Nigeria.
The great rivals have met six times in the biennial tournament, including three finals that Cameroon won, one after a penalty shootout.
Only once did more than one goal separate the sides and the latest episode at the 20,000-seat Alexandria Stadium looks evenly balanced.
After single-goal victories over Burundi and Guinea, Nigeria came a cropper against minnows Madagascar, losing 2-0 to finish second in the group and get tougher last-16 opponents.
Captain and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel put a positive spin on the setback, saying: “It is better this (losing) happened now than in the knockout stages.”
Egypt v South Africa
Unlike the showdown between Cameroon and Nigeria, this match appears easy to call with record seven-time champions Egypt overwhelming favourites to defeat poorly performing South Africa.
While the Pharaohs won all three group games without conceding a goal, Bafana Bafana (The Boys) sneaked into the last 16 as the lowest of the best four third-place qualifiers.
Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan have been constant threats in attack for Egypt while Aston Villa right-back Ahmed Elmohamady netted twice.
In stark contrast, South Africa did not have a single goal attempt on target in losses against the Ivory Coast and Morocco.
But South Africa coach Stuart Baxter sees a glimmer of hope, telling reporters: “If we can improve our attacking game by 10 to 15 per cent, we will give Egypt problems.”
AFCON Last 16 wrap-up
Friday, JULY 5
Morocco v Benin – 18:00
Uganda v Senegal – 21:00
Saturday, JULY 6
Nigeria v Cameroon – 18:00
Egypt v South Africa – 21:00
Sunday, JULY 7
Madagascar v Democratic Republic of Congo – 18:00
Algeria v Guinea – 21:00
Monday, JULY 8
Mali v Ivory Coast – 18:00
Ghana v Tunisia – 21:00
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone.
by FSL News | 2 Jul, 2019 | African News
Two Second-half goals from Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey gave Ghana a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau to edge out Cameroon as Group F winners in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Qualification was in the balance for Kwesi Appiah’s men after draws from their opening two games.
Ayew’s gave the Black Stars their lead with his 46th-minute goal and was his second in the competition.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey close-range finish in the 72nd minutes, completed the victory to put Ghana ahead of Cameroon on goals scored.
Total Man of the Match: Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana)
Elsewhere, holders Cameroon played goalless with Benin to finished on five points to join Ghana from the same group to last 16 .
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
by FSL News | 30 Jun, 2019 | African News
- Guinea’s AFCON 2019 last 16 hopes still alive
Guinea defeated Burundi 2-0 in their final AFCON Group B match at the Alexandria Stadium in Cairo on Sunday to keep their last 16 hopes alive but will have to wait until other group matches completed.
With Madagascar’s 2-0 victory over already qualified Nigeria, the Guineans are sitting third in their group, four points adrift from leaders Madagascar and Nigeria respectively.
Mohamed Yattara scored a brace for the West Africans as Guinea defeated 10-man Burundi to give themselves a strong chance of a place in the knockout stages.
Debutants Burundi will be heading home after three defeats and no goals scored in what has been a difficult introduction to continental finals for the East African nation.
Influential Liverpool’s midfielder Naby Keita was missing from action as he did not recover in time from a knock he picked up in the 1-0 loss to Nigeria in the team’s previous fixture.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer @bittar32 Contact bi****@*********************ne.net.
by FSL News | 28 Jun, 2019 | African News
Kenya’s Harambee Stars restored their last sixteen hopes after a 3-2 win over neighbours Tanzania at the June 30th Stadium in Cairo on Thursday night.
Striker Michael Olunga scored twice in either half as resilient Kenya came from behind to secure maximum points ahead of the final round of group matches next Monday.
Saimon Msuva had given Tanzania a fifth-minute lead before Olunga level the scores in the 39th minute. Tanzania’s Mbawana Samatha restored their lead in the 40th minute making it 2-1 just before the break.
In the second half, Johannah Omollo brought Kenya level at 2-2 before match winner Olunga doubles his tally just after the hour mark in fine fashion.
The goal means Kenya’s lead for the first time in the match, getting on the end of a flowing move to beat the busy Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula with a grass cutter.
In the day’s earlier kickoff, Algeria stunned one of the tournament favourite Senegal with a 1-0 win to reached the tournament last 16 joining Nigeria and hosts Egypt.
Kenya will face Senegal in a crucial qualification contest in their Group C final game. Both sides need a victory to be comfortable in reaching the last 16 of the competition.
Connect with us @football_sierra, on Facebook/ Instagram Football Sierra Leone, the writer Prince Scott @PrinceArmaniSc2.
Sierra Leone | Highlights -