Cameroon,Libya,Egypt and Ivory Coast in one group?too difficult for each of them to qualify.
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Don't be sad for me please.
Should have seen the handwriting on the wall a long time ago.
Bungling NFA is now talking about sacking Chukwu when all of them should be talking of resigning!
How can you take such a crucial match to Kano at the edge of the Sahara where it will favour a team coming from the Kalahari?
Just the weather was in favour of the Angolans, then add to the fact that the coach chose that day to be silly! And of course the players... Aiyegbeni especially :fero:, no commitment.
Okocha, I can understand if he says he needs a rest. The man is 32, and has been playing for Nigeria in every tournament for the last 13 years. But who the **** is Aiyegbeni to be choosing matches that he will play in?
**** it we are not going!
Should have seen the handwriting on the wall a long time ago.
Bungling NFA is now talking about sacking Chukwu when all of them should be talking of resigning!
How can you take such a crucial match to Kano at the edge of the Sahara where it will favour a team coming from the Kalahari?
Just the weather was in favour of the Angolans, then add to the fact that the coach chose that day to be silly! And of course the players... Aiyegbeni especially :fero:, no commitment.
Okocha, I can understand if he says he needs a rest. The man is 32, and has been playing for Nigeria in every tournament for the last 13 years. But who the **** is Aiyegbeni to be choosing matches that he will play in?
**** it we are not going!
Looks like Round 8 was the most crucial of all the rounds to date. Could we have five new African teams at the WC in Germany? To summarise - Ghana delivers what captain Appiah promised...Super Eagles stunned at home by the Palances Negras...Togo still proving that they are worthy of WC spot...Elephants are so close to Germany, but have to overcome Cameroon in Sept...Bye bye Egypt, see you in SA2010, why did you not start Mido today...
Note that FIFA takes into account head-to-head record between the sides before goal difference.
Group 1 [Togo (17), Zambia (16), Senegal (15), Congo (10), Mali (5), Liberia (4)]
Senegal [2 - 2] Togo
Zambia [2 - 1] Mali
Liberia [0 - 2]Congo
Togo is still leading the group; this is incredible for Stephen Keshi's
men. All they have to do now is win their final two games v Liberia (h) and
Congo (a), and they'll be going to Germany. They face Liberia in September, a team that has conceded 10 goals in their previous two away qualifiers, and relies on local players to cut costs. The turnaround for this team must be the 2-1 come-from-behind win over Mali in March; that game which got abandoned when the Togolese took the lead in the dying minutes of the game.
Prior to this weekend, Senegal had won their 3 previous home games, scoring 9 goals and conceding just 1.
The visitors opened their account through Nigerian-born Adekamni Olufade
(Charlerois), but two quick goals from Mamadou Niang (Strasbourg) and Henri Camara (Celtic??) gave the home side the advantage at half. The second half saw the Togolese press the home side, and despite time-wasting tactics by Diouf and co, the visitors equalised through another Nigerian-born, AS Monaco striker Sheyi Adebayor. Adebayor capitalised on a defensive blunder to increase his goal tally in these WCQs to 7 and silence the crowd in Dakar. At the final whistle, the Togolese faithful went nuts in Lome, gathering in the main square celebrating through the night (source RFI)
If the Hawks of Togo manage to qualify for Germany, Keshi should get the African Coach of the Year honours. A former captain of Nigeria a decade ago, Keshi took over the Hawks in 2004 and would have been happy to finish in the top three. This is a Togo team which just beat Equatorial Guinea in the qualifiers to make it to the group phase, and were not expected to make it this far. By the way, Keshi was once assistant coach of the Super Eagles, a team smarting from this weekend's results (smile)
Zambia beat Mali in Chililabombwe to climb to second spot, with goals from
local boy Linus Chalwe and Collins Mbesuma (Kaizer Chiefs). Soumaila
Coulibaly (Freiburg) had equalised for the Malians after the Zambians' first
goal. Coulibaly shot home from outside the box after an indirect free-kick,
catching GK Kennedy Mwane by surprise. The home team dominated the match and deserved to get the max points. Zambia now face Senegal at home in a game which will decide second place, should Togo beat Liberia in early Sept.
So Mali, the team that finished fourth at last year's ANC, with players like
Bagayoko (Nantes), Kanoute (Spurs) and Sissoko (Valencia), find themselves out of the running for Egypt 2006. Shame. They shuold have gotten Jean Tigana back when the Malian FA was hiring and firing coaches at will (Henryck Kasperczack, Christian Dalger, Henri Stambouli).
On Sunday, Liberia welcomed the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville to the
Samuel Doe stadium in Monrovia, hoping to end their six game losing streak in the name of "rebuilding a new team to replace the likes of George Weah, James Debbah et al". They seriously need rebuilding. A local team coach was given the task of managing the Lone Stars for this game. Strange. No foreign-based player featured for the home side, as they could not afford the wages of these players. The visitors took advantage of the Liberian deficiencies by handing them a two-nil defeat, both goals courtesy of Ngandzoua
My prediction - Togo, used to be Senegal
Group 2 [Ghana (15), South Africa (15), DR Congo (12), Cape Verde (10), Burkina Faso (9), Uganda (7)]
South Africa [0 - 2] Ghana
Uganda [1 - 0] Cape Verde
Burkina Faso[2 - 0] DR Congo
Ghana is finally going to the World Cup. Well, that's what it seems like, after this weekend. Talk about a double dose of footballing fortune. They beat Bafana away from home and Burkina Faso defeat DR Congo, to give the Black Stars a commanding spot in the race. Bafana Bafana, the new wife of Ghana, were on a three game winning streak until they faced the might of midfielding-duo Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien. OK, let's not get carried away, they may very well draw their remaining games v Uganda (h) and Cape Verde (a), thereby gifting the South Africans their ticket to Germany.**
As with the Togolese, all Ghana has to do is win her remaining games and they're in!
This is a game the Black Stars *wanted* and they went there and got the
result, after camping in the high altitude of Naivasha in Kenya, and getting
the services of future African PoY Michael Essien. The $8,000 winning bonus also played a small_part in the motivation for the win. The SA team was missing Benni McCarthy through suspension and Quinton Fortune through injury, and the BS were without the safe hands of Sammy Adjei. The home team enjoyed the better of the first half and came close a few times but Shaun Bartlett (Charlton, no wonder, yeye boy!!) and Mabizela (Spurs) could not convert their chances. On the hour mark Stephen Appiah beat the offside trap and found an unmarked Matthew Amoah (Vitesse Arnheim) in the six-yard area for an easy tap in. GOAL!! Amoah is now 2 for 2, after opening his BS account in the previous game v Burkina Faso. With the match heading into extra time, Michael Essien (Lyon..maybe Chelski) headed home a Stephen Appiah cross, to give the BS a much needed away win at the FNB Stadium. Didn't South Africa beat them 3-0 in the same stadium in 1996 Nations Cup semis?
Saturday was a good day for Ghanaian sports fans; Ike Quartey also did them proud in boxing!
At the Stade de 4 Aout in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso did what they do best at home and beat DR Congo. The home side took an early lead through Saidi Penandetiguiri (Lokeren) and continued to press in an attempt to increase their lead. The points were secured when Moumouni Dagano (Guingamp 2 Div...think Didier Drogba) latched onto a defensive error in the Simba's defence and shot past the GK. The Burkinabes have lost once at home, to Cape Verde, so if they hold form, they may well beat South Africa in September. You know what that means!
Cape who? These guys were heavily favoured a month ago to disrupt the group and possibly, just maybe, squeeze past the big guns. They lost to Bafana two weeks ago and have now ended Uganda's *seven* match winless streak in Kampala. Godfrey Sserunkuma (SC Villa) got the winner after half hour of play. Cape Verde travel to DR Congo next then face Ghana at home; these are two very tough games, and for the team which, a few months ago, looked like going to the Nations Cup, things are looking very bleak.
My prediction - Ghana, used to be South Africa
Group 3 [Cote d'Ivoire (19), Cameroon (17), Egypt (13), Libya (11), Benin (2), Sudan (2)]
Cote d'Ivoire [2 - 0] Egypt
Cameroon [1 - 0] Libya
Benin [pp] Sudan Benin's overage players are in Holland at the WYC
Cameroon's IL won, but it did not matter as Cote d'Ivoire also won. This is
not going be an Elephant walk as I thought. The IL will be looking to win both games to advance from this Group of Death. I predict a draw in Abidjan, with both Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon winning their final matches against Sudan and Egypt respectively.
The glaring omission in the Egyptian starting eleven at the Stade
Houpphouet-Boigny was coach Shehata resting Mido and Ahmed Hassan and going with his local-based strike partnership of Amr Zaki and Abdelhalim Ali. Both strikers were replaced at half, after the damage was half done by the Ivorians. Shehata's counterpart, Henri Michel, fielded his strongest side, with Aruna Dindane and Drogba leading the European-based players. A goal in each half from Africa's most expensive export kept the Ivorians clear at the top of the Group. Mido scored a consolation goal for the Pharoah's but was ruled offside by the linesman who was probably taking his siesta. Drogba was subbed to a standing ovation. On abidjan.net, they think he can solve the political problems in Cote d'Ivoire
In Yaounde, the IL got the necessary three points through Achille Webo
(Osasuna) in their must-win game against Libya. I lost my match report for this game, PC crashed...grrrrrrrr
My prediction - Cote d'Ivoire, used to be Cameroon
Group 4 [Angola (15), Nigeria (15), Zim (11), Gabon (9), Algeria (6), Rwanda (5)]
Nigeria [1 - 1] Angola
Gabon [3 - 0] Rwanda
Algeria [2 - 2] Zimbabwe
Dear NFA, just fire Christian Chukwu and his coaching staff. While you're
at it, fire Samson Siasia too, and just bring in Stephen Keshi, the man you
sacked a few years ago, whom may just take Togo to the WC. WTF is going on, Nigeria was supposed to have qualified by now. They barely won their last game v Rwanda (!!) and now drew at home against Angola. Minnows in African football, I think not anymore. Okay, Nigeria *may* qualify for the WC, but they sure have made it difficult on themselves.
Christian Chukwu, who still believes his team will qualify "by God's grace", brought in the old legs, oops, big guns in Jay Jay Okocha and Nwanko Kanu (is he still 29 yrs old) Okocha, and Yak Aiyegbeni returned to the squad after being AWOL for the Rwanda game. However, coach Chukwu swallowed his pride (read coerced by the NFA) and played both players. Okocha (Bolton) opened the scoring with his trademark free-kick on 5
minutes and I thought the gates were opened for a mauling by Nigeria. After all, the Super Eagles lost to Angola a year ago, so payback was in order. There were few chances for either side in the half, and after recess, the Angolans started piling on the pressure and were rewarded when midfielder Paolo Figuereido beat GK Enyeama to level the scores at the hour mark.
Nigeria travel to Algeria in Sept and then face a Zimbabwe team whom they defeated 3-0 in Gaborone last year. However, if Angola beat Gabon (h) and Rwanda (a), they will be going to their first WC. So Nigeria should win both games and hope that Angola slip, or else we'll be seeing another new African face in Germany. Apparently the Nigerian team convoy was stoned by irate fans after the game. Only stones, they should have been flogged
Gabon beat Rwanda 3-0 in Libreville to hand the visitors their biggest
defeat in these qualifiers. The Gabonese are quietly moving into contention for a Nations Cup spot and could very well secure a place as the 16th team going to Egypt 2006. The home side opened the scoring through Alain Djissikadie in the 11th minute, before Londo Dieudonne (Raja Casablanca) and Nguema Zue (FC 105)wrapped up the scoring for Jairzinho's side.
My second biggest disappointment of these qualifiers, Algeria, almost won
their second game of these qualifiers. Almost, as they were within 5
minutes of beating Zimbabwe before captain Peter Ndlovu (Sundowns) blasted home the qualizer. Algeria have only won one game in these WCQs, against Rwanda, and with Mali, have been my worst teams in these qualifiers. Zimbabwe are not without their problems, with most players not showing up to camp in protest of the FA not paying them outstanding allowances and winning bonuses. Nothing new here. They were promised $100 million (Zim dollars ) if they won this game. Anyway, the game itself was a see-saw battle with neither side exerting itself. Algeria opened the scoring through Nasreddine Kraouche (Charleroi). The visitors pulled one back with an individual effort from Shingirai Kawondera (AE Pafos) who dribbled through the Algerian defence and equalised. The home side went ahead right after the break through Nadir Belhadj (Sedan...Ligue 2), before Ndlovu secured the much needed away point for the Zims.
My prediction - still Nigeria (misplaced patriotism?)
Group 5 [Morocco (16), Tunisia (14), Guinea (11), Kenya (10), Botswana (9), Malawi (3)]
Kenya [0 - 0] Morocco
Malawi [1 - 3] Botswana
The messed up group is becoming clearer now. Tunisia and Kenya have played 1 less game than everyone else. Kenya was suspended by FIFA last year so have to catchup with the rest. Tunisia are in Germany, and will be returning home after winning their final Confed game v Australia They then play a home/away series with Kenya, before facing Morocco on what will the biggest game of Round 10 (Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire would argue against that). This will be a rematch of the ANC 2002 final in Tunis which the home side triumphed. Morocco, by the way, remain the only unbeaten team in these qualifiers. The winner of that game will be joining Togo, Ghana etc to Germany (oops, spoke too soon).
Kenya held Morocco to a goalless draw in a match which will be remembered for the wrong reasons; a 15 yr old fan was trampled to death at the Nyayo Stadium where a capacity 40,000 crowd turned up.
Malawi had conceded 11 goals in 2 games before welcoming Botswana's Zebras at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Coach Yasin Osman blamed the losses on the team's lack of concentration for the full 90 minutes (this man is sharp!!). He opted for a 3-5-2 formation for the Flames. The visitors lit up the scoreboard through Tshepiso Mwafulirwa ( Township Rollers) after ten minutes with an assist from Dipsy Selolwane (Chicago Fire) who doubled Botswana's lead before half-time. The Malawi Flames halved the deficit through Russel Mwafulirwa (Jomo Cosmos) right after the break. The visitors, however, secured the points at the death with Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Extension Gunners) scoring his first of the WCQ.
My prediction - Tunisia
Leading goal scorers
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor (Togo) - 7
Didier Drogba (Cote d'Ivoire) - 6
Dennis Oliech (Kenya) - 6
Diphetego Selolwane (Botswana) - 5
Note that FIFA takes into account head-to-head record between the sides before goal difference.
Group 1 [Togo (17), Zambia (16), Senegal (15), Congo (10), Mali (5), Liberia (4)]
Senegal [2 - 2] Togo
Zambia [2 - 1] Mali
Liberia [0 - 2]Congo
Togo is still leading the group; this is incredible for Stephen Keshi's
men. All they have to do now is win their final two games v Liberia (h) and
Congo (a), and they'll be going to Germany. They face Liberia in September, a team that has conceded 10 goals in their previous two away qualifiers, and relies on local players to cut costs. The turnaround for this team must be the 2-1 come-from-behind win over Mali in March; that game which got abandoned when the Togolese took the lead in the dying minutes of the game.
Prior to this weekend, Senegal had won their 3 previous home games, scoring 9 goals and conceding just 1.
The visitors opened their account through Nigerian-born Adekamni Olufade
(Charlerois), but two quick goals from Mamadou Niang (Strasbourg) and Henri Camara (Celtic??) gave the home side the advantage at half. The second half saw the Togolese press the home side, and despite time-wasting tactics by Diouf and co, the visitors equalised through another Nigerian-born, AS Monaco striker Sheyi Adebayor. Adebayor capitalised on a defensive blunder to increase his goal tally in these WCQs to 7 and silence the crowd in Dakar. At the final whistle, the Togolese faithful went nuts in Lome, gathering in the main square celebrating through the night (source RFI)
If the Hawks of Togo manage to qualify for Germany, Keshi should get the African Coach of the Year honours. A former captain of Nigeria a decade ago, Keshi took over the Hawks in 2004 and would have been happy to finish in the top three. This is a Togo team which just beat Equatorial Guinea in the qualifiers to make it to the group phase, and were not expected to make it this far. By the way, Keshi was once assistant coach of the Super Eagles, a team smarting from this weekend's results (smile)
Zambia beat Mali in Chililabombwe to climb to second spot, with goals from
local boy Linus Chalwe and Collins Mbesuma (Kaizer Chiefs). Soumaila
Coulibaly (Freiburg) had equalised for the Malians after the Zambians' first
goal. Coulibaly shot home from outside the box after an indirect free-kick,
catching GK Kennedy Mwane by surprise. The home team dominated the match and deserved to get the max points. Zambia now face Senegal at home in a game which will decide second place, should Togo beat Liberia in early Sept.
So Mali, the team that finished fourth at last year's ANC, with players like
Bagayoko (Nantes), Kanoute (Spurs) and Sissoko (Valencia), find themselves out of the running for Egypt 2006. Shame. They shuold have gotten Jean Tigana back when the Malian FA was hiring and firing coaches at will (Henryck Kasperczack, Christian Dalger, Henri Stambouli).
On Sunday, Liberia welcomed the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville to the
Samuel Doe stadium in Monrovia, hoping to end their six game losing streak in the name of "rebuilding a new team to replace the likes of George Weah, James Debbah et al". They seriously need rebuilding. A local team coach was given the task of managing the Lone Stars for this game. Strange. No foreign-based player featured for the home side, as they could not afford the wages of these players. The visitors took advantage of the Liberian deficiencies by handing them a two-nil defeat, both goals courtesy of Ngandzoua
My prediction - Togo, used to be Senegal
Group 2 [Ghana (15), South Africa (15), DR Congo (12), Cape Verde (10), Burkina Faso (9), Uganda (7)]
South Africa [0 - 2] Ghana
Uganda [1 - 0] Cape Verde
Burkina Faso[2 - 0] DR Congo
Ghana is finally going to the World Cup. Well, that's what it seems like, after this weekend. Talk about a double dose of footballing fortune. They beat Bafana away from home and Burkina Faso defeat DR Congo, to give the Black Stars a commanding spot in the race. Bafana Bafana, the new wife of Ghana, were on a three game winning streak until they faced the might of midfielding-duo Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien. OK, let's not get carried away, they may very well draw their remaining games v Uganda (h) and Cape Verde (a), thereby gifting the South Africans their ticket to Germany.**
As with the Togolese, all Ghana has to do is win her remaining games and they're in!
This is a game the Black Stars *wanted* and they went there and got the
result, after camping in the high altitude of Naivasha in Kenya, and getting
the services of future African PoY Michael Essien. The $8,000 winning bonus also played a small_part in the motivation for the win. The SA team was missing Benni McCarthy through suspension and Quinton Fortune through injury, and the BS were without the safe hands of Sammy Adjei. The home team enjoyed the better of the first half and came close a few times but Shaun Bartlett (Charlton, no wonder, yeye boy!!) and Mabizela (Spurs) could not convert their chances. On the hour mark Stephen Appiah beat the offside trap and found an unmarked Matthew Amoah (Vitesse Arnheim) in the six-yard area for an easy tap in. GOAL!! Amoah is now 2 for 2, after opening his BS account in the previous game v Burkina Faso. With the match heading into extra time, Michael Essien (Lyon..maybe Chelski) headed home a Stephen Appiah cross, to give the BS a much needed away win at the FNB Stadium. Didn't South Africa beat them 3-0 in the same stadium in 1996 Nations Cup semis?
Saturday was a good day for Ghanaian sports fans; Ike Quartey also did them proud in boxing!
At the Stade de 4 Aout in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso did what they do best at home and beat DR Congo. The home side took an early lead through Saidi Penandetiguiri (Lokeren) and continued to press in an attempt to increase their lead. The points were secured when Moumouni Dagano (Guingamp 2 Div...think Didier Drogba) latched onto a defensive error in the Simba's defence and shot past the GK. The Burkinabes have lost once at home, to Cape Verde, so if they hold form, they may well beat South Africa in September
. You know what that means!Cape who? These guys were heavily favoured a month ago to disrupt the group and possibly, just maybe, squeeze past the big guns. They lost to Bafana two weeks ago and have now ended Uganda's *seven* match winless streak in Kampala. Godfrey Sserunkuma (SC Villa) got the winner after half hour of play. Cape Verde travel to DR Congo next then face Ghana at home; these are two very tough games, and for the team which, a few months ago, looked like going to the Nations Cup, things are looking very bleak.
My prediction - Ghana, used to be South Africa
Group 3 [Cote d'Ivoire (19), Cameroon (17), Egypt (13), Libya (11), Benin (2), Sudan (2)]
Cote d'Ivoire [2 - 0] Egypt
Cameroon [1 - 0] Libya
Benin [pp] Sudan Benin's overage players are in Holland at the WYC
Cameroon's IL won, but it did not matter as Cote d'Ivoire also won. This is
not going be an Elephant walk as I thought. The IL will be looking to win both games to advance from this Group of Death. I predict a draw in Abidjan, with both Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon winning their final matches against Sudan and Egypt respectively.
The glaring omission in the Egyptian starting eleven at the Stade
Houpphouet-Boigny was coach Shehata resting Mido and Ahmed Hassan and going with his local-based strike partnership of Amr Zaki and Abdelhalim Ali. Both strikers were replaced at half, after the damage was half done by the Ivorians. Shehata's counterpart, Henri Michel, fielded his strongest side, with Aruna Dindane and Drogba leading the European-based players. A goal in each half from Africa's most expensive export kept the Ivorians clear at the top of the Group. Mido scored a consolation goal for the Pharoah's but was ruled offside by the linesman who was probably taking his siesta. Drogba was subbed to a standing ovation. On abidjan.net, they think he can solve the political problems in Cote d'Ivoire
In Yaounde, the IL got the necessary three points through Achille Webo
(Osasuna) in their must-win game against Libya. I lost my match report for this game, PC crashed...grrrrrrrr
My prediction - Cote d'Ivoire, used to be Cameroon
Group 4 [Angola (15), Nigeria (15), Zim (11), Gabon (9), Algeria (6), Rwanda (5)]
Nigeria [1 - 1] Angola
Gabon [3 - 0] Rwanda
Algeria [2 - 2] Zimbabwe
Dear NFA, just fire Christian Chukwu and his coaching staff. While you're
at it, fire Samson Siasia too, and just bring in Stephen Keshi, the man you
sacked a few years ago, whom may just take Togo to the WC
. WTF is going on, Nigeria was supposed to have qualified by now. They barely won their last game v Rwanda (!!) and now drew at home against Angola. Minnows in African football, I think not anymore. Okay, Nigeria *may* qualify for the WC, but they sure have made it difficult on themselves. Christian Chukwu, who still believes his team will qualify "by God's grace", brought in the old legs, oops, big guns in Jay Jay Okocha and Nwanko Kanu (is he still 29 yrs old) Okocha, and Yak Aiyegbeni returned to the squad after being AWOL for the Rwanda game. However, coach Chukwu swallowed his pride (read coerced by the NFA) and played both players. Okocha (Bolton) opened the scoring with his trademark free-kick on 5
minutes and I thought the gates were opened for a mauling by Nigeria. After all, the Super Eagles lost to Angola a year ago, so payback was in order. There were few chances for either side in the half, and after recess, the Angolans started piling on the pressure and were rewarded when midfielder Paolo Figuereido beat GK Enyeama to level the scores at the hour mark.
Nigeria travel to Algeria in Sept and then face a Zimbabwe team whom they defeated 3-0 in Gaborone last year. However, if Angola beat Gabon (h) and Rwanda (a), they will be going to their first WC. So Nigeria should win both games and hope that Angola slip, or else we'll be seeing another new African face in Germany. Apparently the Nigerian team convoy was stoned by irate fans after the game. Only stones, they should have been flogged
Gabon beat Rwanda 3-0 in Libreville to hand the visitors their biggest
defeat in these qualifiers. The Gabonese are quietly moving into contention for a Nations Cup spot and could very well secure a place as the 16th team going to Egypt 2006. The home side opened the scoring through Alain Djissikadie in the 11th minute, before Londo Dieudonne (Raja Casablanca) and Nguema Zue (FC 105)wrapped up the scoring for Jairzinho's side.
My second biggest disappointment of these qualifiers, Algeria, almost won
their second game of these qualifiers. Almost, as they were within 5
minutes of beating Zimbabwe before captain Peter Ndlovu (Sundowns) blasted home the qualizer. Algeria have only won one game in these WCQs, against Rwanda, and with Mali, have been my worst teams in these qualifiers. Zimbabwe are not without their problems, with most players not showing up to camp in protest of the FA not paying them outstanding allowances and winning bonuses. Nothing new here. They were promised $100 million (Zim dollars
) if they won this game. Anyway, the game itself was a see-saw battle with neither side exerting itself. Algeria opened the scoring through Nasreddine Kraouche (Charleroi). The visitors pulled one back with an individual effort from Shingirai Kawondera (AE Pafos) who dribbled through the Algerian defence and equalised. The home side went ahead right after the break through Nadir Belhadj (Sedan...Ligue 2), before Ndlovu secured the much needed away point for the Zims.My prediction - still Nigeria (misplaced patriotism?)
Group 5 [Morocco (16), Tunisia (14), Guinea (11), Kenya (10), Botswana (9), Malawi (3)]
Kenya [0 - 0] Morocco
Malawi [1 - 3] Botswana
The messed up group is becoming clearer now. Tunisia and Kenya have played 1 less game than everyone else. Kenya was suspended by FIFA last year so have to catchup with the rest. Tunisia are in Germany, and will be returning home after winning their final Confed game v Australia
They then play a home/away series with Kenya, before facing Morocco on what will the biggest game of Round 10 (Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire would argue against that). This will be a rematch of the ANC 2002 final in Tunis which the home side triumphed. Morocco, by the way, remain the only unbeaten team in these qualifiers. The winner of that game will be joining Togo, Ghana etc to Germany (oops, spoke too soon).Kenya held Morocco to a goalless draw in a match which will be remembered for the wrong reasons; a 15 yr old fan was trampled to death at the Nyayo Stadium where a capacity 40,000 crowd turned up.
Malawi had conceded 11 goals in 2 games before welcoming Botswana's Zebras at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Coach Yasin Osman blamed the losses on the team's lack of concentration for the full 90 minutes (this man is sharp!!). He opted for a 3-5-2 formation for the Flames. The visitors lit up the scoreboard through Tshepiso Mwafulirwa ( Township Rollers) after ten minutes with an assist from Dipsy Selolwane (Chicago Fire) who doubled Botswana's lead before half-time. The Malawi Flames halved the deficit through Russel Mwafulirwa (Jomo Cosmos) right after the break. The visitors, however, secured the points at the death with Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Extension Gunners) scoring his first of the WCQ.
My prediction - Tunisia
Leading goal scorers
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor (Togo) - 7
Didier Drogba (Cote d'Ivoire) - 6
Dennis Oliech (Kenya) - 6
Diphetego Selolwane (Botswana) - 5
I wish I could answer that...I really do. It's mind-boggling. A do or die game in which we have to win and our moron of a coach starts with a 4-5-1 formation. Mind you, he's been playing 4-4-2 for about 6 matches, all of which he was won.
No $hit, huh...you can't but wonder what that goal would've done to the game, but oh well...it's not as if I'm not used to this.
No $hit, huh...you can't but wonder what that goal would've done to the game, but oh well...it's not as if I'm not used to this.
As Nigerians turn to God for a miracle to see the Super Eagles hoist Nigeria’s flag in the World Cup in Germany, former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi is still in shock at the predicament of the Super Eagles.
Ogunjobi who has remained incommunicado since Sports Minister, Col Musa Mohammed ensured his removal from the football house is however praying that a miracle happens for the Eagles to qualify. "I’m shocked to the bone marrow. It is sad.
It is annoying. It is unbelievable. It’s sad", Ogunjobi muttered on our hotline. Many Nigerians have attributed the poor run of the Super Eagles in the World Cup to the weak and non existent secretariat of the FA but Ogunjobi would not comment on that.
"I don’t know about that. All I know is that I am feeling like every other Nigerian. I am mourning for the Eagles and praying for them to make it to the World Cup", he said. Suspended coach of the Eagles, Christian Chukwu had blamed Ogunobi’s removal to a larger extent as contributing to the sad situation in the secretariat. "If Ogunjobi was in charge at the FA, we won’t have found ourselves in this pitiable situation", Christian Chukwu cried.
Moving the match to Kano and playing it in the heat of the sun rather than at night has variously been fingered as contributing to the annoying 1-1 draw with Angola that has placed our hope of going to the World Cup on a cliff hanger. Coach Christian Chukwu whom many Nigerians have vilified may have become a guinea pig for the incompetence of the FA. Ogunjobi would not say anything but laugh when asked. His laughter may be decoded to mean many things but the truth remains that the NFA may have bungled Nigeria’s chance of going to the World Cup.
Ogunjobi who has remained incommunicado since Sports Minister, Col Musa Mohammed ensured his removal from the football house is however praying that a miracle happens for the Eagles to qualify. "I’m shocked to the bone marrow. It is sad.
It is annoying. It is unbelievable. It’s sad", Ogunjobi muttered on our hotline. Many Nigerians have attributed the poor run of the Super Eagles in the World Cup to the weak and non existent secretariat of the FA but Ogunjobi would not comment on that.
"I don’t know about that. All I know is that I am feeling like every other Nigerian. I am mourning for the Eagles and praying for them to make it to the World Cup", he said. Suspended coach of the Eagles, Christian Chukwu had blamed Ogunobi’s removal to a larger extent as contributing to the sad situation in the secretariat. "If Ogunjobi was in charge at the FA, we won’t have found ourselves in this pitiable situation", Christian Chukwu cried.
Moving the match to Kano and playing it in the heat of the sun rather than at night has variously been fingered as contributing to the annoying 1-1 draw with Angola that has placed our hope of going to the World Cup on a cliff hanger. Coach Christian Chukwu whom many Nigerians have vilified may have become a guinea pig for the incompetence of the FA. Ogunjobi would not say anything but laugh when asked. His laughter may be decoded to mean many things but the truth remains that the NFA may have bungled Nigeria’s chance of going to the World Cup.
FIFA's executive committee on Wednesday authorised Australia's move from the Oceania confederation (OFC) to the Asian confederation (AFC). Australia had not been expected to be given approval until a FIFA Congress meeting in Morocco in September.
Mohamed bin Hammam, AFC president, said: "The FIFA executive committee decided to allow Australia to move now and I am very glad it has happened.
"It makes sense from both the Oceania point of view and for Asia it is good that we have another strong country."
Australia now become the 46th member of the AFC and the new status should have a hugely beneficial impact on the development of soccer in the country.
The move will change the dynamics of the sport in Asia and around the Pacific where Australia have been the dominant force for more than 30 years.
It will end a series of mis-matches which have included Australia crushing Pacific island nations American Samoa 31-0 and Tonga 22-0 in the last few years.
At the same time it will give Australia a far more realistic chance of reaching future World Cup finals - something they have not done since 1974 in West Germany.
Mohamed bin Hammam, AFC president, said: "The FIFA executive committee decided to allow Australia to move now and I am very glad it has happened.
"It makes sense from both the Oceania point of view and for Asia it is good that we have another strong country."
Australia now become the 46th member of the AFC and the new status should have a hugely beneficial impact on the development of soccer in the country.
The move will change the dynamics of the sport in Asia and around the Pacific where Australia have been the dominant force for more than 30 years.
It will end a series of mis-matches which have included Australia crushing Pacific island nations American Samoa 31-0 and Tonga 22-0 in the last few years.
At the same time it will give Australia a far more realistic chance of reaching future World Cup finals - something they have not done since 1974 in West Germany.
A CAF instructor and immediate past head of the technical department of the NFA, Kashimawo Laloko has declared to KICK OFF that every thing possible must be done to stop Angola from going to Germany 2006 World Cup finals at the expense of Nigeria.
He said in Lagos: “We have reached a stage where we have to play the politics of the game. We cannot run away from it, there should be mathematical manipulation because the situation we are in is very dicey. It calls for serious mathematics now.”
The controversial football administrator further opened up to KICK OFF, “We cannot fold our arms and see Angola qualify at our expense; it will be an insult on us to see them go to Germany. It is not going to be in our overall interest not to be at the World Cup. Equally Angola cannot serve the interest of Africa better than Nigeria at the World Cup”’
Laloko, who is also a director of Pepsi Academy, Agege at the outskirts of Lagos told KICK OFF that he will be ready to assist the country play the necessary role in her World Cup pursuit.
“I would want to help my country actualize her World Cup dream, and I know what I can do in this regard, but I would wish to work from outside the system, not inside it,” he insisted.
He also urged Nigerians to put the refusal of Philip Troussier to accept the job of coaching the Super Eagles behind them.
“Troussier was not sure of our position regarding the World Cup qualification, and that was why he declined the offer .He should be free to take any decision he feels is best for him,” he added.
He said in Lagos: “We have reached a stage where we have to play the politics of the game. We cannot run away from it, there should be mathematical manipulation because the situation we are in is very dicey. It calls for serious mathematics now.”
The controversial football administrator further opened up to KICK OFF, “We cannot fold our arms and see Angola qualify at our expense; it will be an insult on us to see them go to Germany. It is not going to be in our overall interest not to be at the World Cup. Equally Angola cannot serve the interest of Africa better than Nigeria at the World Cup”’
Laloko, who is also a director of Pepsi Academy, Agege at the outskirts of Lagos told KICK OFF that he will be ready to assist the country play the necessary role in her World Cup pursuit.
“I would want to help my country actualize her World Cup dream, and I know what I can do in this regard, but I would wish to work from outside the system, not inside it,” he insisted.
He also urged Nigerians to put the refusal of Philip Troussier to accept the job of coaching the Super Eagles behind them.
“Troussier was not sure of our position regarding the World Cup qualification, and that was why he declined the offer .He should be free to take any decision he feels is best for him,” he added.
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