Zambia derail highrollers Gabon to make last eight

January 22, 2010

Zambia derailed highrollers Gabon 2-1 here on Thursday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.

Goals in either half from Rainford Kalaba and the Chinese-based James Chamanga earned Herve Renard’s side, who went into the game footing Group D, a place in the quarters along with Cameroon, who drew 2-2 with Tunisia over in Lubango.

Zambia’s reward for topping the table was a last eight match up with Group C runners-up Nigeria.

Renard said: “When we came to Angola we said we will qualify for the quarter-finals but people were laughing at us. Against Nigeria, our target is to reach the semi-final.”

Zambia skipper Chris Katongo added: “It’s a great moment for me as a captain to reach the knockout stage of the Nations Cup. We have achieved something, broken the barrier, which a lot of people thought was impossible.”

Katonga’s Gabon counterpart Daniel Cousin cut a sad figure.

“We thought we had qualified but after a short while, we received the news that we did not qualify,” he said.

“We started well against Cameroon (in their first match), but whatever happened, happened.”

Zambia burst out of the blocks in Benguela as befitted a team that needed the three points to escape the clutches of Group D – whereas Gabon required just a solitary point.

On 11 minutes Zambia had their first major opportunity after a neat move involving Felix Katongo and Jacob Mulenga only for the Utrecht striker to shoot high over.

The Gabon defence was under pressure for the first real time in the tournament as Zambia maintained their energetic start.

By far the more menacing of the two sides Zambia’s South Africa-based Felix Katongo, the captain’s brother, squandered another gilt-edged opportunity when he scuffed the ball from in front of goal.

Zambia took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when defender Kampamba slid the ball upfield to Kalaba and the Uniao Leiria midfielder kept his cool to knock the ball from the left of the box past the onrushing Gabon keeper Ebang Ovono.

That was the first goal Gabon had conceded since arriving in Angola.

At the break, with Tunisia leading Cameroon 1-0 in Lubango, it was the Tunisians and Zambia who were set to march on.

But with Cameroon levelling shortly after the break that put them in a three way tie with Zambia and Gabon on four points, with Gabon the ones to miss out.

Zambia, twice Africa Cup of Nations’ runners-up, emerged for the second half intent on killing off the tie.

Lax defending led to Zambia’s second goal with Mulenga fighting off Gabon defender Moise Brou to cross the ball from the near post to the waiting Chamanga with the forward tapping in to an open goal.

Zambia had to survive a nerve tingling final eight minutes after Gabon got back into the match when Hull City striker Cousin floated in a high ball from the left flank for substitute Fabrice do Marcolino to shoot past Ovono.

Zambia will be without the services of suspended Chintu Kampamba for the quarters after the defender picked up his secoond booking of the competition.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

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Zambia go for broke against Gabon

January 21, 2010


Zambia have to beat high-flying Gabon here on Thursday to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Zambia are bottom of Group D with a point from two matches, but victory at the Ombaka Stadium could well take them to their first last-eight spot since 1996.

“On Thursday we play against Gabon and we must win,” said Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa, who added that the team were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Cameroon on Sunday in their second Group D match.

Chansa’s must-win declaration comes on the heels of a controvery stirred by coach Herve Renard back in Zambia, when he said that the team are not welcome in their country and that they are more at home when they play away from Zambia.

“Zambians are not proud of Zambia,” Renard said.

He added: “When you are home, comments from Zambia are hard but from Europe and Africa they are happy. You have to be realistic and believe in yourselves because it is a long process building this team.”

Fans in Lubango cheered the team in their opening group match against Tunisia, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

“You know why they supported us?” he asked. “It is because we played some very good football in the first 30 minutes.”

Gabon are the in-form team in having lost out to Cameroon for a place at the World Cup.

They avenged their failure to reach South Africa in part when they beat Cameroon 1-0 in Lubango to get their Nations Cup campaign off to a fine start before they drew 0-0 with Tunisia.

As co-hosts of the next Nations Cup, Gabon are under pressure to post an impressive outing in Angola, and they have already proved that this is not a one-man band – Hull City’s Daniel Cousin and 10 others.

Midfielder Eric Moutouloungui, who plays with Nice in France, has been full of running and enterprise and could have grabbed at least two goals against Tunisia on Sunday, while Ebang Ovono has looked safe and assured in goal.

“We must work hard to win this match,” Le Mans goalkeeper Ovono told AFP at the team’s Hotel Tropicana in Lobito, about 30 kilometres from Benguela.

“Zambia are a good team and they were unlucky to lose through a late goal to Cameroon. We have to be at our best.

“It’s equally important that we start preparing our team for the 2012 Nations Cup, which we will host with Equatorial Guinea.”

“We have a good chance of winning a very difficult game against a good and young team. Victory will qualify us for the quarter-finals and further lift our confidence,” added skipper Cousin.

Angola 2010 is their fourth appearance at the Nations Cup and they recorded their best showing at the bi-ennial tournament 1996, when they reached the quarter-finals before they were sent packing on penalties by eventual finalists Tunisia after scores were tied at 1-1 even after extra-time.

Ovono added that the biggest asset for Gabon, with an average age of 26, is that most of the players have been together since the 2003 African Youth Championship in Burkina Faso.

“We are not like Cameroon, who have so many individual stars,” he added.

“Rather we play together as a team and that way it is often difficult to beat us.”

United Arab Emirates-based midfielder Cedric Moubamba is the team’s only injury worry and will face a late fitness test on Wednesday.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

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Cameroon 0-1 Gabon: Title favorites Cameroon handed shock defeat

January 14, 2010


Four-time African Cup of Nations champions Cameroon were handed a 1-0 shock defeat by Gabon thanks to a 17th minute Daniel Cousin strike.

The two sides had earlier met in World Cup qualifying, and in both the matches, home and away fixtures, Cameroon ran out as victors as they secured their place in South Africa.

Cameroonian forward Achille Emana was first to test Gabonese goalkeeper Ovono Ebang but it would be Ovono’s counterpart Carlos Kameni picking up the ball from the Cameroonian goal mid-way through first half.

Hull City striker Cousin would capitalise on poor defending to strike home a well-placed shot.

Cameroon piled on the pressure in the second half, with Emana and an under-par Samuel Eto’o coming close.

But Gabon goalkeeper Ebang’s solid display kept Cameroon at bay.

The result sees Gabon go top of a group that also includes Zambia and Tunisia, while Paul Le Guen’s World Cup qualifying side will have much to do in their remaining two group games.

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QPR set to sign Hull City’s Folan

January 8, 2010


Championship side Queens Park Rangers appeared to have agreed a loan deal to sign Hull City forward Caleb Folan.

Folan, who recently returned from a loan spell at Middlesbrough, is being loaned again by Premier League strugglers Hull.

Republic of Ireland international saw his time at Middlesbrough interrupted by injury with the powerful frontman making just one appearance for the Teesside outfit.

But Folan is now back to full fitness and QPR boss Paul Hart is keen to lure him to Loftus Road as he looks to bolster his attacking options.

Folan’s agent Hayden Evans has confirmed Hull are happy to loan out the 27-year-old and a deal has been agreed between both clubs.

“Hull have advised us they are happy to loan out Caleb,” Evans told skysports.com

“The two clubs have agreed a loan deal and now just a few details need to be finalised.

“Caleb was unfortunate with injury at Middlesbrough, but he is now fully fit again.”

Folan could be joined by Hull team-mate Daniel Cousin at Loftus Road with Hart also keen on bringing the Gabon international to the West London club on loan.

Tigers’ boss Phil Brown has admitted that both strikers, Caleb Folan and Daniel Cousin, are likely to leave the club in the transfer window, as he is under pressure to trim about £9m from the wage bill.

“Caleb has expressed a desire to leave and we have agreed to it,” said Brown.

“Daniel’s on African Nations duty and it’s hard for him to come back and sign papers. Until that happens then there won’t be a deal on the table.”

Brown said chairman Adam Pearson’s financial constraints meant departures were inevitable.

“I can’t do anything else but accept it,” said Brown.

“He is the man in charge and if that is the deal I will try to get on with it.

“We have got some good players here. Every manager wants a big squad that can compete at this level and cope with two or three games in a week.

“You need a big squad but there has been interest in a number of players at our football club and we are considering each interest on its merits.”

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Defoe treble helps five-star Spurs turn on style

August 20, 2009


Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick as his side turned on the style to crush Hull 5-1 at the KC Stadium on Wednesday.

Defoe has made an impressive start to the campaign after notching a double for England in last week’s friendly against Holland and he tore Hull’s defence to pieces.

After Defoe had opened the scoring, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios claimed his first goal in English football.

Stephen Hunt pulled one back for Hull, but Defoe struck again, then Robbie Keane underlined’s Tottenham’s dominance before Defoe completed his treble.

After beating Liverpool on Sunday, Harry Redknapp’s side have now won their opening two matches of the season for only the second time in 14 years to go top of the table, while Hull are without a win in 12 league matches dating back to their dismal end to last season.

With Ledley King unable to play two games in a week due to his degenerative knee problem, Redknapp moved Vedran Corluka to centre-back and brought in Alan Hutton at right-back.

Even without King, Redknapp’s team looked full of confidence after their win over Liverpool and ripped into Hull in the early stages.

Defoe opened the scoring in the 10th minute as he took Tom Huddlestone’s pass and drove a typically clinical strike past Boaz Myhill.

Before Hull had a chance to regroup, Tottenham increased their lead four minutes later as Keane picked out Palacios and the former Wigan midfielder calmly slotted home.

There was a blow for Tottenham when goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who had hurt himself stretching for a high ball moments earlier, had to be replaced by Carlo Cudicini.

Tigers boss Phil Brown responded to Hull’s problems by hauling off striker Daniel Cousin and sending on Brazilian midfielder Geovanni after 21 minutes.

In the 24th minute Geovanni won a free-kick on the right touchline and Hunt, a scorer on his debut at Chelsea on Saturday, floated in a cross that bounced past Geovanni and into the net as Tottenham’s defence stood flat-footed.

Brown’s team thought they had equalised when Caleb Folan fired past Cudicini but referee Chris Foy blew for a foul on Sebastien Bassong.

Just as the Tigers were starting to dominate, Defoe broke clear on the stroke of half time to lash home his second goal after Michael Turner was wrong-footed by Keane.

Hull appealed for a penalty in the second half after Geovanni went down in the area but Foy was unmoved and referee turned down more Tigers penalty protests for hand ball soon after.

Geovanni looked to be Hull’s most likely hope of an equaliser and he shot straight at Cudicini before testing the Italian keeper with a powerful header.

But Spurs wrapped up the points in the 78th minute after breaking following a Hull corner.

The ball was worked wide to Aaron Lennon and the England winger lofted a perfect cross for Keane to head in.

There was still time for Defoe to have the final word when he drilled home a fierce left-footed shot in injury-time.

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Taylor salvages a point for struggling Newcastle

March 15, 2009

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HULL, England (AFP) – Newcastle remain deep in relegation trouble despite salvaging a 1-1 draw at Hull on Saturday.

Only goal difference is keeping Newcastle outside the relegation zone after Magpies defender Steven Taylor cancelled out Geovanni’s early opener at the KC Stadium.

Newcastle, with manager Joe Kinnear still recovering from a triple heart bypass operation, have won just one of their last 11 league matches and sit two places above the bottom three.

There was a pre-match boost for Newcastle as England striker Michael Owen returned after five games out with an ankle injury.

But it was Hull who made the more lively start. The Tigers took the lead in the ninth minute through Geovanni after an inspired run from deep inside his own half by the former Barcelona player.

He picked up possession after a Newcastle attack broke down and burst forward to set Craig Fagan free down the left.

He then continued his run into the box and Fagan picked him out with an excellent cross which dipped over Sebastien Bassong. Geovanni headed firmly past Steve Harper for his seventh goal of the campaign but his first since November.

Newcastle responded through an effort from Obafemi Martins, who whipped a shot just over from inside the box.

Fagan, whose leg was broken in the reverse fixture last September, was booked for confronting Taylor following a clash between the pair.

Geovanni won a free-kick on the edge of the area after being clipped by Geremi and his curling effort was narrowly off-target.

Newcastle levelled against the run of play seven minutes before half-time when Butt crossed and Taylor flicked a volley over Matt Duke.

Daniel Cousin had a chance to restore Hull’s lead before the break but shot well wide.

Martins had a good chance on the volley soon after half-time but Hull skipper Ian Ashbee blocked.

Hull substitute Manucho, on at the break, was quickly into the action and forced Harper to save low down after being fed by Bernard Mendy.

A good run by Geremi then allowed Martins to set up Jonas Gutierrez but the Argentinian curled his effort over.

Newcastle switched off again and Mendy should have punished them after breaking clear down the right.

Manucho was unmarked in the box but the Frenchman badly mishit his cross and a relieved Harper was able to gather.

It proved to be a quiet return for Owen and after 72 ineffective minutes he was withdrawn by caretaker boss Chris Hughton.

Written by: AFP

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Touchline bust-up leaves Kinnear, Brown in hot water

January 20, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Joe Kinnear and Phil Brown, the managers of Newcastle and Hull respectively, have been charged with improper conduct over a touchline clash during last week’s FA Cup third-round replay.

The two managers were sent to the stand after an angry confrontation midway through the first half of the match, which Hull won 1-0.

Kinnear claimed afterwards that he had simply told Brown to "cool it" after his counterpart had been enraged by a tackle on forward Daniel Cousin.

It is the fourth time Kinnear has been in trouble with the FA’s disciplinary chiefs since he took over at Newcastle in September.

He was given a warning as to his future conduct over an expletive-rich outburst at journalists in early October.

The following month he got into trouble again for describing match official Martin Atkinson as a "Mickey Mouse referee" and in December he was sent to the the stand for a diatribe at referee Mike Riley at the end of a game away to Stoke.

Both those incidents led to improper conduct charges which Kinnear will answer at a disciplinary hearing due to take place in the next few weeks.

Both managers have until February 3 to respond to the charges.

Written by: AFP

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Arsenal ramp up Arshavin pursuit

January 18, 2009

HULL, England, (AFP) – Arsenal will step-up their bid to sign Andrei Arshavin this week by sending a delegation to eastern Europe in the hope of securing a 20-million-pound deal for the Russian international.

Arshavin is expected to hold another round of talks with Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis with manager Arsene Wenger desperate to land the playmaker before the transfer window closes as hopes of winning silverware begin to fade.

But Wenger could face a battle to keep striker Emmanuel Adebayor at the Emirates.

Adebayor, who scored in his side’s hard-fought 3-1 win at Hull City on Saturday, is a target of AC Milan and Barcelona.

Milan, who are expected to sell Kaka to Manchester City later this week, have untold riches to spend on finding a replacement and want Adebayor at the San Siro.

Arsenal would find a 30-million-pound offer for the Togo international difficult to refuse, but Wenger is more concerned with the thankless task of trying to catch Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table.

Daniel Cousin looked to have denied Arsenal two vital points when he cancelled out Adebayor’s opening goal in the 65th minute.

But the visitors showed their fighting spirit to destroy Phil Brown’s men with two goals in the final eight minutes from Samir Nasri and substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

Arsenal remain six points adrift of United but Wenger said believes his players can still make a fight of it.

"It was a battle but we were on top of the game. We wanted to keep Hull under pressure and this became more difficult but we had the mental resources to come back and win," said Wenger.

"We kept going. There was extra pressure on us (due to the day’s previous results) and we couldn’t afford to drop points but it’s good that the team could deal with this.

"We are up for it. This team is determined and has a strong belief and we want to finish as high as we can. There could be some surprises in this league.

"Robin Van Persie was outstanding but the team fought very hard. We were very sharp today and we worked so hard."

When asked if he was concerned Adebayor could be the target of a lucrative bid before the transfer window closes Wenger added: "I’m not worried about that at all, no."

Hull appear to be in terminal decline and supporters must wonder where their side’s next victory is coming from.

Fighting spirit can count for much but lack of genuine quality looks like being their undoing.

Phil Brown’s side have won just one of their last 13 league games but Brown thought his side had been denied a clear penalty when Johan Djourou flattened substitute Manucho, leaving the player with a cut head.

Brown said: "Brian Horton (assistant manager), who has managed over 1200 games, is calling the challenge ‘assault’. It’s astounding that we are playing a team that’s been in the top four for the last decade and won the title and then a decision like that goes against us.

"Arsenal showed what they are capable of doing in the last ten minutes and it’s given them what looks like being a handsome result. But games can turn on key moments and that was a key moment. But we can still take some positives from this. We will pick ourselves up and go again."

Written by: AFP

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Gunners take revenge on Hull

January 18, 2009

HULL (AFP) – Late goals from Samir Nasri and substitute Nicklas Bendtner kept Arsenal’s recent revival going with a 3-1 win over Hull here on Saturday.

Daniel Cousin looked to have denied Arsenal victory with an equaliser on 65 minutes to cancel out Emmanuel Adebayor’s opening goal before half time.

But Wenger’s men came good at the death with two goals in the final eight minutes to increase the gloom for fast-sliding Hull.

Adebayor, who has been strongly linked with a move to AC Milan or Barcelona in the transfer window, had notched his 12th goal of the season in the 30th minute with a clinical header.

The latest defeat for Hull has left supporters wondering where their side’s next win is coming from.

Phil Brown’s men appear to be in terminal decline following just one victory in their last 13 games and they now look increasingly like they could be heading for a relegation battle.

Brown made six changes from the side that beat Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round in midweek, the most notable being a debut to new signing Kevin Kilbane following his arrival from Wigan.

Manchester United striker Manucho had to settle for a place on the bench after joining on-loan until the end of the season.

Opposite number Wenger named an unchanged side, resisting the temptation to promote Bendtner despite his winning goal against Bolton last weekend.

The Gunners were still without William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas, yet remained determined to gain revenge for their humbling at the hands of the same opponents at the Emirates back in September, one of the lowest moments of Wenger’s time in charge.

It was Hull who made the brightest start, however. Geovanni’s corner flashed across Manuel Almunia’s goal in the first minute before Nathan Doyle shot straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Geovanni almost caught Almunia unawares with a curling free kick in the 19th minute but when Wenger’s side began to get a grip on proceedings the signs looked ominous for Hull.

Robin Van Persie’s deflected free kick shaved the Hull upright before the Dutchman went even closer in the 28th minute, demanding a world class save from Boaz Myhill with a blistering free kick which the Hull goalkeeper somehow managed to tip onto the crossbar.

Two minutes later the breakthrough eventually came when Adebayor rose high above Michael Turner to head Van Persie’s corner back across goal and into the open net.

His 12th goal of the season was harsh on the home team yet rewarded Arsenal’s growing dominance of a game they simply had to win to keep on the coat-tails of those above them.

That didn’t look likely when Cousin levelled matters with 25 minutes remaining.

But Wenger’s men found an extra gear when they needed one most.

First Nasri collected a pass from Van Persie in the inside left channel and beat Myhill with a superb left-foot finish into the opposite corner.

Then substitute Bendtner combined with the Dutchman before finishing from close range to kill the contest and ensure Arsenal remain three points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Written by: AFP

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Chelsea spare Scolari´s blushes

January 15, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea flirted with FA Cup humiliation before coming from behind to beat Southend 4-1 in a third round replay that epitomised the best traditions of the world’s oldest knockout competition.

Having been braced for a backlash from Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, League One’s Southend stunned the visitors by taking the lead through captain Adam Barrett’s 16th-minute header.

Michael Ballack’s first goal since Euro 2008 got Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side back on level terms just before the break and strikers Salomon Kalou and Nicolas Anelka found the net before Frank Lampard put a flattering gloss on the scoreline with a last-minute effort.

Scolari had reacted to Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United by announcing that he would ditch man-to-man marking in favour of a return to zonal marking.

Centreback Ricardo Carvalho also found himself relegated to the bench while Deco and Didier Drogba, who many believe may have played his last game for Chelsea, were axed from the squad altogether.

The new defensive arrangements could hardly have got off to a worse start with Barrett rising unchallenged to meet a corner and head past Petr Cech.

That left Scolari with his head in his hands and the Brazilian must have had his heart in his mouth as Cech was forced to produce a stunning point-blank save to prevent Alex Revell from putting Southend two goals in front.

Gradually Chelsea began to dominate however and a goalmouth scramble on the verge of half-time resulted in the ball breaking to Michael Ballack, who equalised with a superbly executed half-volley from just inside the 18-yard line.

The equaliser could not have come at a better time and Chelsea appeared much more relaxed after the break as they ultimately made their superiority tell to set up a fourth round tie with Championship side Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.

In Wednesday’s other replays, a second string Hull knocked out Newcastle, for whom Michael Owen squandered three superb chances.

Hull’s Daniel Cousin, in contrast, needed only one chance to send his side into a fourth round meeting with Millwall by converting a Richard Garcia cross ten minutes from time.

Crystal Palace won their battle with fellow Championship side Leicester 2-1. Goals either side of half-time from Paul Ifill and Sean Scannell put the home side in charge and Max Gradel’s last-minute strike came too late for Leicester to have any hope of forcing extra-time.

Written by: AFP

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