Africa

Africa, Sports

Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan retires from football.

Go well legend!

Ghanaian football icon, Asamoah Gyan has hung his boots.  The 37 year-old tearfully revealed, “It’s time to tell everybody. It’s a very, very difficult moment. It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football. ’’ He continued, “A stage that is difficult in every footballer’s career, a moment all footballers do not wish but when nature dawns that this voice will keep echoing into the ears.” Image

Asamoah Gyan who scored 92 goals for the likes of Al-Ain, Stade Rennais, Sunderland & Modena made his international debut in 2003 as a 17-year-old, coming on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Somalia. He made his final appearance for his nation 2019.

He played in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, helping Ghana finish third in 2008 and as runners-up in the 2010 and 2015 editions. He also remains Africa’s top World Cup scorer.

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 Africa, Sports

Ex Super Eagles player, John Utaka named Montpellier U-19 coach.

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria winger, John Utaka has been named new coach of French side, Montpellier. The 38 year-old who played for the former French Champions between 2011 and 2013, making a total of 68 appearances and scored 12 goals will manage the club’s U19 team. He was part of the team that won the Ligue 1 Title in the 2011/12 season, the first in their history.

“Less than a month ago, several changes were made to the organizational structure of Montpellier Hérault, including the retirement of Robert Nouzaret, and the non-renewal of Laurent Robert’s contract. Today there are significant arrivals, which will be recorded.  Star striker of the club between 2011 and 2013, John Utaka (38) will join the training center in the coming weeks. The former Nigerian international will begin to pass his diplomas as an educator/coach.” a source was quoted.

Montpellier confirms Utaka’s return

Utaka played for Nigeria until 2014 and was a participant at the 2002 World Cup. He started four of Nigeria’s six games in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, in which Nigeria finished in third place. He was also part of the Nigeria squad that participated in the 2010 World Cup.

 

Additional source: Wikipedia

 

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 Africa, Sports

Samuel Eto’o labels himself the greatest African player.

Senegalese legend, Samuel Eto’o has crowned himself  the greatest player in the African continent. This remark was made in response to his fellow African footballe, El Hadji Diouf’s claims that he was the best Cameroonian legend .

Not only has the former Barcelona player boasted to be the best forward to come out of Africa, he has also said neither Diouf nor Ivory Coast’s Drogba are at his level.

Also Read: Why Emmanuel Adebayor won’t donate to Togo’s coronavirus fight.

He was quoted on GOAL thus, “Even if my brother Diouf the last time, with an extra glass, got a little lost, there is no debate, None of them (Diouf and Drogba) can come and say that they were at my level or better. And it’s not the fact that I say it, it’s a fact, it’s something that is there. I wanted to be number one and I have been throughout my career.” The 4-time African footballer of the year award recipient maintained.

Eto’o netted 56 goals for the Cameroonian national football team in 118 appearances, won two African nations cup titles, the 2000 Olympic gold medal,  three Spanish La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, one Coppa Italia, two Copa del Rey titles, one Fifa Club World Cup during his spells at Chelsea, Everton, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Mallorca.

Do you agree with Eto’o?

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 Africa, Sports

NFF places mums of Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini on monthly stipends.

The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has pledged to put the matriarchs of the late ex-internationals, Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini on monthly stipends of N30,000. The issue of neglect of the families of this heroes by the government has been on for years . The announcement was made on their official Twitter account, @thenff this morning.

“In furtherance to, and in appreciation of, the recent pronouncement of the HM Sports, to put the mothers of late ex-internationals Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini on a monthly stipend, the NFF has decided to support this noble initiative with a further monthly stipend of N30k to each of the two matriarchs. In addition, the NFF will henceforth review the situation of surviving mothers of our ex-internationals that died in active service for the country and resolve what to do for them on monthly basis.”

Also Read: Sam Okwaraji – 26 Years After

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, a professional lawyer and graduate of Pontifical Lateran University, Rome collapsed after a cardiac arrest on the pitch during during a 1990 World Cup qualifier v Angola in Lagos. The Lagos stadium ambulance refused to start and his death was announced later that night. He played for Nigeria at the 1988 Olympic Games and the 1988 AFCON in Morocco. He was a youth team player for AS Roma before joining Dinamo Zagreb.

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Also Read: Colleagues, football fans, pay tributes to Rashidi Yekini, 8 years after his demise.

Rashidi Yekini on the other hand, a gangling striker died on May 4, 2012 in Ibadan at the age of 48. Rashidi was dubbed the greatest striker in the history of Nigeria, he was the first Nigerian ever to be recognized as the best player on the African continent& was the most valuable player at the 1994 Cup of Nations. The 1993 African Footballer of the Year was Nigeria’s top scorer with 37 goals in 58 games.

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May their souls continue to rest in peace. Amen
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 Africa, Bundesliga

Ex Schalke player presumed dead in 2016, found alive and well.

Former Schalke player, Hiannick Kamba has reportedly been found alive and well in Germany, four years after being presumed dead in a car crash in his native Congo in January 2016. German tabloid newspaper, Bild claimed the 33 year-old was found in Gelsenkirchen, where he works as a chemical technician for an energy company in Ruhr.

His club VfB Huls, published an obituary, saying, “He represented the ideas and values ​​of our club like few others. His demise will leave a big gap. Hiannick is undoubtedly a bitter sporting loss for us, but primarily we will miss it as a fellow human being.”

But where has he been all these while?

The talented right-back told the authorities that he was separated from his friends during a trip in Congo and left without any documents, money or a phone.

Public prosecutor, Anette Milk is quoted in the newspaper thus, “Kamba claims he was abandoned by friends overnight in Congo in January 2016 and left without documents, money and a cell phone, In the event of his disappearance, Kamba was pronounced dead in 2016 and his ex-wife claimed a low, six-figure amount on his life insurance.

Also Read: Colleagues, football fans, pay tributes to Rashidi Yekini, 8 years after his demise.

The woman who has a 10 year-old son with him and is being investigated for fraud, denied the fraud charges saying she only found out about the insurance after being informed of his presumed death. However, in 2018 Kamba allegedly went to the German embassy in Kinshasa to report the ‘fake news’ about his death.

The Congolese is currently awaiting a verdict for the ongoing investigation into fraud.

 

 

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 Africa, Sports

Colleagues, football fans, pay tributes to Rashidi Yekini, 8 years after his demise.

On this day 8 years ago, Rashidi Yekini, a prolific and gangling striker  Nigeria’s all-time top scorer and an African hero, passed on in Ibadan at the age of 48. Family, colleagues, football fans have continued to pay tributes to the soccer genius. Check out some of the tributes below.

 

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 Africa, Sports

Why Emmanuel Adebayor won’t donate to Togo’s coronavirus fight.

Emmanuel Adebayor has said he won’t be coerced into donating to the coronavirus fight in his country.

The Togo legend currently playing for Paraguayan giants, Olimpia who recently faced criticisms for his failure to contribute financially to his country, Togo’s covid-19 fight was also compared to his counterparts, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o who have made massive investments through their respective foundations in Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

“I am compared with Drogba and Eto’o,” he said on Facebook Live. “However, I am neither of them. I am Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor and I will always do what I want. I do what I want, I eat what I want, and this is the most important thing. Of course, there will be those who criticise me because I did not create a foundation in Lome.”

Also Read: Neymar, Alves, Alisson support poor Brazilian families.

The former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker continued, “For those saying I do not donate, let me be very clear: I do not donate. It is very simple. It is like some people believe that I brought coronavirus to Lome. It is very unfortunate but that is how it is and that is how this country is. I’m just living my life, I’m just enjoying myself. A lot of people are coming on my page and asking why are you not doing a charity.”

Also Read: How the Footballing world is joining the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added: “For God’s sake. Why are you asking me to do a charity? I do what my heart asks me to do, not what you people ask me to do. I hate it. If I have 10,000 in my pocket and someone comes across my page and will say use that 10,000 to do something. Whatever you have in your pocket, use it as you wish. It’s as simple as that.”

 

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 Africa, Sports

#CAFAwards18 : Full list of winners.

The 2018 edition of the AiteoCAF awards was held on January 8, 2019 in Dakar, Senegal. Below are the list of winners. Morocco and Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi was named CAF African Youth Player of the Year 2018. 

Egypt Mohamed Salah is the CAF African Player of the Year 2018
for second time.  

Africa Best XI 2018. Onyango, Aurier, Benatia, Bailly, Koulibaly, Keita, Partey, Mahrez, Aubameyang, Mane, Salah

The CAF Women’s Team of the Year 2018 is Nigeria. 

The Super Falcons have now won the Africa Women Team of the Year award for a record four times. 2010: 2014, 2016, 2018

Morocco coach Herve Renard is the Men’s Coach of the Year 2018. 


South Africa forward Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana is CAF African Women’s Player of the Year 2018.


South Africa coach Desiree Ellis is CAF African Women’s Coach of the Year 2018.


The CAF Men’s Team of the Year 2018 is Mauritania. 

 

 

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 Africa, Sports

Egypt to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF have announced Egypt as hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Egypt have won the hosting rights of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2006 after beating South Africa 16-1 in votes. The Pharaohs have won it 2 out of the 3 times they have hosted; in 2006 and 1986. 
The tournament will run from 15th June to 13th July, 2019.

According to reports, one of the main differences in the bids was that
Egypt had full governmental support whereas South Africa was the opposite. Egypt will use 8 stadia in 5 cities (3 in Cairo)
Port Said (1 stadium). Other cities are Alexandria – 2 stadia, Ismailia – 1 stadium and Suez – 1 stadium.

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Africa, Sports

NFF announces N2.5bn partnership deal with AITECO Group.

The Nigeria Football Federation have announced AITECO Group, a frontline integrated energy solutions company as its latest corporate sponsor. According to  NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, the partnership which is worth N2.5bn starts on May 1, 2017 and will last five years with an initial option of a one-year extension.

The firm becomes the official optimum partner of the federation and will pay salaries of all National team coaches for the next five years. The statement issued after the signing of the agreement, “it will improve the technical preparation and enhance the performance of Nigerian national teams involved in tournaments.”

Shehu Dikko, chairman of the League Management Company Limited (LMC) added, “We have opened our books at the NFF to Aiteo to inspect at any time to show our financial transparency”

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