Cameroon coast to record sixth World Cup appearance

November 14, 2009

Cameroon coasted to a 2-0 win in Morocco Saturday and clinched a record sixth appearance for an African team at the World Cup.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ took a one-point lead over Gabon into the final round of Group A fixtures and stretched it to four by full-time as their only rivals for a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa fell 1-0 away to Togo.

Achille Webo put Cameroon ahead on 18 minutes in Fes and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o added a second soon after half-time against a poor Moroccan team.

Qualification was a personal triumph for French coach Paul Le Guen, who took over last August from German Otto Pfister with Cameroon bottom of the table having secured just one point from two outings.

But the highly successful former Lyon coach steered the four-time African champions to four consecutive victories and top place with 13 points followed by Gabon (nine), Togo (eight) and Morocco (three).

Cameroon booked a passage to South Africa a few hours after Nigeria topped Group B by winning 3-2 in Kenya and they join South Africa, automatic qualifiers as hosts, Ghana and Ivory Coast as African representatives.

Egypt or Algeria, who clash later Saturday at the Cairo Stadium, will fill the remaining place.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

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World Cup chaos fears as Egypt, Algeria clash

November 14, 2009

Threats of violence in Cairo have overshadowed the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers in Africa this weekend with three places in South Africa up for grabs.

Egypt host bitter rivals Algeria Saturday in the potentially explosive highlight of a nine-match schedule and already-qualified Ghana meet Mali in the sole Sunday fixture.

Cameroon or Gabon will go through from Group A, Tunisia or Nigeria from Group B and Algeria or Egypt from Group C while Group D table-toppers Ivory Coast, Group E winners Ghana and hosts South Africa are already through.

Wins for Cameroon away to Morocco and Tunisia away to Mozambique will seal places at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa while a win, draw or one-goal loss for Algeria returns them the finals after a 23-year absence.

A two-goal victory for Egypt would mean a play-off in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 18 and the ‘Pharaohs’ would qualify directly for South Africa if they triumph by a wider margin at home.

Tension ahead of the Saturday evening clash at the 73,000-seat Cairo Stadium has led world governing football body FIFA and officials from both countries to call for fair play on the field and calm off it.

Those pleas fell on deaf ears when Algeria arrived in Cairo late Thursday with police officials confirming stones were thrown at the visitors’ bus as it sped from the airport to a hotel.

While Egypt insisted no one was injured, Algeria claimed several players were hurt ahead ahead of the return match in a mini-league that has not gone according to form.

Internet and media ‘wars’ have been raging for weeks between the rivals and Algeria want extra security for the ‘Desert Foxes’ players and officials after the bus incident.

The ‘Pharaohs’ were firm favourites to finish first and compete at the World Cup for the first time since 1990, but a home draw with Zambia followed by a loss in Algeria placed them under pressure.

A recovery brought home and away wins over Rwanda and a fortunate victory in Zambia, but Algeria won four consecutive games following a Kigali draw to take a three-point advantage.

“Algeria have the advantage. The team has been strong throughout the qualifiers and need to prove ourselves one more time. It is up to Egypt to make the running,” said captain and midfielder Yazid Mansouri.

“We can leave a mark on the history of our country and playing in Cairo is going to be the match of our lives. I will tell my team-mates how proud I am to lead them and then we must get a result that takes us to South Africa.”

Egypt skipper and midfielder Ahmed Hassan countered: “I know Algeria are in a better position but I also feel our team are superior. It is a unique moment – without doubt the most important of our careers.

“Our generation has dominated African football for the last few years, but only qualifying for the World Cup would put a proper seal on that. We believe in our ability and deserve to qualify.”

Cameroon have a one-point lead in their group and can reach the World Cup a record sixth time for an African country either by winning in Morocco or matching the result of second-placed surprise packets Gabon in Togo.

Failure to convert a stoppage-time penalty cost Cameroon a place at the 2006 finals in Germany and star striker and captain Samuel Eto’o is wary of bottom team Morocco, who have failed to win in five outings but drew in Yaounde.

“Morocco deserve respect despite their position and we have to use maximum concentration. Our ‘Indomitable Lions’ nickname is significant. A lion commands territory, earns respect and is feared,” he boasted.

Seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the World Cup, Tunisia hold a two-point advantage over Nigeria, who are facing the grim prospect of missing the tournament again after Angola pipped them four years ago.

Both teams finish with away assignments and while Mozambique promise stiff opposition to Tunisia, Kenya have been hit by coaching chaos and injuries as they prepare to tackle Nigeria.

German Antoine Hey walked out when two players he did not select turned up for training in Nairobi and injury forced midfielders MacDonald Mariga and Robert Mambo to withdraw.

Rwanda tackle Zambia, Sudan meet Benin, Didier Drogba-less Ivory Coast face Guinea and Burkina Faso confront Malawi in the other Saturday fixtures.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: bitter rivals, body fifa, cairo stadium, coast group, deaf ears, desert foxes, extra security, fair play, goal loss, goal victory, grabs, Ivory Coast, khartoum, pharaohs, police officials, return match, saturday evening, sudanese capital, table toppers, world cup qualifiers

Captain Hassan insists Egypt can qualify for World Cup

July 4, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Captain Ahmed Hassan insists struggling Egypt can reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa ahead of a crucial qualifier against Rwanda in Cairo Sunday.

Winners of the last two African Nations Cup tournaments, the North Africans lie bottom of Group C with just one point after a home draw against Zambia and away loss to Algeria.

Arch-rivals Algeria top the final qualifying round table with seven points followed by Zambia with four and while Rwanda have only one, they boast a superior goal difference to the Egyptians.

Only victory at Cairo Stadium will keep the ‘Pharaohs’ in contention for first place and a World Cup ticket and midfielder Hassan from Cairo club Al-Ahly believes a weary, unpredictable national team can secure three points.

“Even if we have 50 percent hope we must hold on to it. We still have four games left and if we win them all we will be at the World Cup,” Hassan told local reporters.

“We suffered a heavy defeat in Algeria last month and the players know they did not play well. No individual is to blame for that loss. We were all responsible.”

After a 3-1 reverse in Algeria, Egypt showed what they are capable of at the Confederations Cup in South Africa last month by losing to eventual winners Brazil in stoppage time and defeating world champions Italy.

But with a semi-finals place at the 2010 World Cup dress rehearsal beckoning, the ‘Pharaohs’ imploded in a 3-0 loss to the United States, who went on to finish runners-up behind the Brazilians.

Officials played the humiliating Rustenburg defeat on tiredness, injuries and false South African media reports that some players had been robbed by prostitutes at a Johannesburg hotel after stunning Italy.

After being held goalless at home by Algeria and suffering a solitary-goal loss in Zambia, a Rwandan team coached by Croat Branko Tucak has also arrived at the last chance saloon.

Tucak boasted before the qualifiers began last March that the tiny central African nation could top the table and reach the World Cup finals for the first time.

Those expectations have been downgraded to a top-three finish and a place at the African Nations Cup in Angola six months before the first World Cup to be staged in Africa kicks off.

The winners of the five qualifying groups advance to the World Cup where they will be joined by hosts South Africa while the top three in each pool compete for the Nations Cup beside Angola.

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Coach says Zambia can upset Egypt

March 20, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Coach Herve Renard believes Zambia have the same chance as group favourites Egypt of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Zambia are away to Egypt next weekend when the six-round final phase begins of an elimination competition that will determine which five African countries join automatic qualifiers South Africa.

Algeria and Rwanda complete Group C with the winners securing a place at the first World Cup staged by Africa while the top three finishers go to the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola earlier that year.

Egypt, victors at the last two editions of the Nations Cup, are the team to beat as they boast the strongest squad, an outstanding coach, a formidable home record and the highest ranking among the quartet.

But fresh from a third-place finish in the African Nations Championship, a new tournament restricted to local-based footballers, Renard says Zambians are entitled to dream of a first World Cup appearance.

"Powerful teams like Cameroon and Nigeria cannot defeat Egypt in Cairo so what chance a smaller team like ours winning there?" the 39-year-old Frenchman asked reporters.

"However, we will always have the confidence that can cause an upset. Nothing is impossible in football. We have the same chance of reaching the World Cup as Algeria, Rwanda and even Egypt.

"We are not naive and know Egypt will be considered group favourites because they are African champions but we have to believe. I wanted to avoid Cameroon and Ivory Coast and my wish has been granted.

"Zambia have a good squad and great team spirit and I also know that we can improve as the qualifying competition progresses," said the Frenchman who came to Lusaka after assisting compatriot Claude Le Roy in Ghana.

If a match against the African kings at their 70,000-capacity Cairo Stadium fortress is a daunting start, Renard draws comfort from home fixtures against Rwanda and Algeria during June.

"Of course it is a tough first game for us on the road in Egypt but if Zambia manage to get a result we can take that momentum back home and really begin to promote our push to the top.

"While our supporters are dreaming of South Africa they must realise it will be difficult because there are no easy games, but we can succeed with adequate preparations," insisted Renard.

The steady improvement of a national team nicknamed Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) under the Frenchman since he took over last year has won approval from west Africa with Senegal and Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas showing interest.

"I have received contacts from Senegal and ASEC, but it is important to understand that these are not contracts. For now I coach Zambia because that is where I have a contract."

Speculation that Renard might quit Zambia heightened after sponsors Konkola Copper Mines stopped paying his reported 240,000-dollar annual salary owing to falling mineral demand triggered by the global economic downturn.

President Rupiah Banda moved quickly to back Renard: "Like a jealous husband we shall defend our coach with all means at our disposal. We are going to do everything to keep you (Renard) here to complete your work."

Written by: AFP

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Ahly shade Zamalek to bolster title challenge

January 11, 2009

CAIRO (AFP) – Al-Ahly edged fierce rivals Zamalek 1-0 Sunday in the biggest African domestic football fixture to strengthen their push for a fifth consecutive Egyptian league title.

The only goal came nine minutes from full-time at the Cairo Stadium and was an Angolan affair with striker Flavio Amado heading in a cross from midfielder Felisberto ‘Gilberto’ Amaral.

Victory moved the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ to within one point of leaders Petrojet and the six-time African Champions League winners have two matches in hand on the surprise pacesetters.

Ahly achieved maximum points despite a depleted defence with Wael Gomaa suspended and captain Shady Mohamed forced to withdraw minutes before the kick-off after a warm-up injury.

Zamalak, who have been African champions five times, seem out of contention after their third league loss of the season left them eight points adrift of Ahly having played two fixtures more.

The ‘White Knights’ have lacked a permanent coach since German Reiner Hollmann was sacked last month and Cairo reports have linked Swiss Michel Decastel to the post.

Rivalry between the Cairo clubs stretches back to 1911 and no other national fixture in Africa commands the same interest with the fixture broadcast across North Africa and the Middle East.

Written by: AFP