Category: Sports

Vincent Aboubakar came off the bench to score a stunning winner with two minutes left as Cameroon fought back to beat Egypt 2-1 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations final in Libreville, Gabon, on Sunday.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny had given Egypt the lead midway through the first half and Egypt looked to be on course to win an unrivalled eighth Cup of Nations crown in their first appearance at the tournament since 2010.

But Nicolas Nkoulou, who had come off the bench in the first half, headed in the equaliser just before the hour mark and fellow substitute Aboubakar slammed in the winner in the 88th minute.

That sparked bedlam in a near-capacity crowd of more than 38 000 in Gabon’s capital, made up in its majority by Cameroonian supporters.

It is a fifth Cup of Nations crown for the Indomitable Lions, a first since 2002, and the first time they have beaten Egypt in the final in three attempts.

“I am very happy that we won the Cup of Nations today and I am happy for the players — this is not a group of football players, they are a group of friends,” said Cameroon’s Belgian coach Hugo Broos.

Egypt fell just short on their return to the competition after a seven-year absence, and the defeat will be especially painful for their coach Hector Cuper.

The Argentine was desperate to win a trophy after a career tainted by rotten luck in finals at club level, including back-to-back defeats in the Uefa Champions League with Valencia at the start of the last decade.

But Cuper said: “The sadness I have is not because I lost another final, it’s because there was so much hope especially among the people in Egypt and I am sorry for the players who put in so much effort.”

Egypt have been derided at times for a defensive approach under Cuper, but they played their part in this rarest of things — a genuinely entertaining final.

The Pharaohs had signalled their intent within two minutes as a delightful cushioned pass by Mohamed Salah set up Abdallah El Said, but his firm shot was well held by Fabrice Ondoa in the Cameroon goal.

Egypt then opened the scoring midway through the first period with a superb team goal.

Amr Warda and Salah combined on the right and the latter played the ball into Elneny in space in the area, the midfielder taking a touch to control and another to steady himself before blasting high past Ondoa at his near post.

It was a brilliant finish from the midfielder who was returning to the side after missing his team’s last two games due to a calf injury.

SUPER SUBS

The odds were now very much against Cameroon.

The last Cup of Nations final to feature more than a single goal came in 2004, when Tunisia beat Morocco 2-1. The last time a side came from behind to win the trophy was in 1994, when Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1.

Hugo Broos’s side also lost centre-back Adolphe Teikeu to an apparent groin injury just after the half-hour mark, with Nkoulou taking his place.

The Lyon defender has been out of favour at this tournament, only starting in Cameroon’s final group game against Gabon. But thrown on here through necessity, it was he who pulled his side level in the 59th minute.

Egypt failed to fully clear their lines following a corner and captain Benjamin Moukandjo crossed from the left for Nkoulou, who soared above Ahmed Hegazy to head past Essam El Hadary from six yards.

Cameroon were revitalised by that goal, a partisan crowd lifted, but Jacques Zoua fired wastefully wide and Moukandjo blasted over from an excellent position as extra time began to seem inevitable.

Then Aboubakar, who had been introduced at the start of the second half, controlled a long ball forward with his chest on the edge of the area, poked it over the head of Ali Gabr and volleyed low past El Hadary.

Egypt (1) 1 (Mohamed Elneny 22’)

Cameroon (0) 2 (Nicolas N’Koulou 59’, Vincent Aboubakar 88’)

Egypt: Essam El Hadary, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Hegazy, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Elmohamady, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Amr Warda, Abdallah Said, Mahmoud Hassan (Ramadan Sobhi 66’), Mohamed Salah

Cameroon: Fabrice Ondoua, Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Collins Fai, Adolphe Teikeu (Nicolas N’Koulou 32’), Ambroise Oyongo, Sébastien Siani, Arnaud Sutchuin Djoum, Benjamin Moukandjo, Robert Ndip Tambe (Vincent Aboubakar 46’), Christian Bassogog, Jacques Zoua (Georges Mandjeck 90+4’)

Former England and Chelsea midfield star Frank Lampard said he was retiring Thursday at the age of 38 after turning down “a number of exciting offers” in Britain and abroad.

“After 21 incredible years I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer,” Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer, wrote on Facebook.

“I’m immensely proud of the trophies I’ve won, of representing my country over 100 times and of scoring more than 300 career goals.”

Lampard did not say what he plans to do next, but said he was grateful to the Football Association for the opportunity to do his coaching badges, suggesting he may go into management.

Lampard left New York City FC in the autumn and also played for West Ham United and Manchester City in the Premier League.

But it was at Stamford Bridge where he really made his name as a prolific midfielder.

He scored 211 times for the Blues and won every major club honour, netting the goals which in 2005 secured the club’s first championship title in 50 years.

“Of course, the largest part of my heart belongs to Chelsea Football Club, a club which has given me so many great memories,” Lampard wrote.

“I will never forget the opportunity they gave me and the success that we managed to achieve together. It is impossible to give thanks individually to all the people that helped and supported me in my 13 years playing there.

“All I can say is from the day I signed until now and going forward, I’m eternally grateful for everything and to everyone. Chelsea fans gave myself and my teammates such incredible support.

“Their passion and hunger drove me on personally to give my best year after year. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Hull City have signed Italian defender Andrea Ranocchia on loan until the end of the season from Inter Milan, the English Premier League club said on Tuesday.Ranocchia, who has 21 caps for Italy, will ease the defensive problems at Hull who have been left short of options in after Curtis Davies injured his hamstring during Sunday’s 4-1 FA Cup defeat at second-tier Fulham.

The 28-year-old Ranocchia has played nine times for Inter this season and has fallen out of favour with new manager Stefano Pioli.

The tough-tackling defender will be available for selection, subject to international clearance, when Hull, who are second bottom in the league table, two points away from safety after 22 games, travel to face sixth-placed Manchester United on Wednesday.

A renewed commitment to excellence and a nod to the past were the main themes as the Premier Soccer League and SuperSport celebrated their 10-year partnership at a gala function in Johannesburg on Saturday night.

This was to mark the successful collaboration between the two; a partnership that has empowered people and fundamentally changed the tapestry of South African soccer.

The great and the good of the soccer, entertainment and political world were in attendance, among them Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula, PSL Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza, former PSL bosses Trevor Phillips and Kjetil Siem, football club owners, players, sponsors, socialites and actors.

“I can’t help but be both humbled and excited by what the past 10 years have delivered, not least in the part we played in giving South African soccer the respect and prominence it deserves,” said Imtiaz Patel, CEO of Video Entertainment at Naspers, in his keynote address. “It truly now has its place in the sun.”

Acknowledging the fruits of a productive partnership, Dr Khoza said that SuperSport had always understood the value of its investment and had, in turn, helped the PSL thrive.

“The relationship was a defining moment for the industry in this country. It’s been far more than a mere investment in the PSL. Development has benefited, too, with club academies producing top players.

“I commend SuperSport for their courage, for being so single-minded, for understanding . . . they had the inner spirit to help bring out the best of the immense talent available in our country.”

There is broad recognition that the PSL is one of the world’s most vibrant leagues, having jumped from 30th to top 10 in terms of revenue.

The League generates more money than ever before and players’ wages have shot up with rafts of players opting to stay at home rather than play overseas because of comparable rewards in SA. Professional attitudes abound.

There have been milestones and achievements aplenty:

• Whereas 75 matches per annum used to be broadcast, 250 are now broadcast live (in conjunction with SuperSport’s free-to-air broadcast partner).
• SuperSport has a dedicated PSL channel 24/7 in High Definition with 180 matches broadcast live, all in HD.
• Up to 30 cameras are used per production, up from 10 a decade ago.
• There are multiple commentary options with state-of-the-art graphics.
• Apart from the use of the best pundits, commentators and analysts, the partnership also spurred job creation in both television and soccer.
• African players now have a global league on their doorstep.
• Global interest in the PSL is constant with requests from African countries, UAE, Scandinavia and even the US for broadcast of PSL matches.
• The partnership also gave rise to the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, a feeder competition to the PSL, which has proven a staggering success.
• PSL grants have shot up and many clubs have attracted prominent owners, who see the value of investment. • A higher percentage of clubs have sponsors than ever before; they can now get a better return on investment through additional broadcast exposure.
• More clubs offer players (and their families) medical aid cover.
• The PSL is now a world leader in rights management, allowing for PSL autonomy and self-sustainability.

Both Khoza and Patel spoke optimistically of reaching new frontiers in the coming decade with the PSL and SuperSport building on powerful foundations.

“There are scores of DStv dishes on township roofs, which illustrates how much local soccer resonates with local fans,” said Patel. “We have made every effort to produce affordable viewing packages, and the response has been humbling. The strength of the league is its vibrancy and energy. We hope to continue to play our part in what has become a case study in sport partnership.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was charged with misconduct by England’s governing Football Association on Monday after an alleged altercation with the fourth official during Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Burnley.

The veteran French boss was dismissed from his technical area by referee Jon Moss after being angered by the award of a stoppage-time penalty to Burnley, having allegedly verbally abused fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Wenger, 67, then tried to watch the closing minutes of the match in the tunnel at north London club Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and television pictures then showed him pushing Taylor when asked to move back.

Arsenal eventually won the match 2-1 after Alexis Sanchez scored an even later stoppage-time penalty following Andre Gray’s spot-kick equaliser that cancelled out Shkodran Mustafi’s opening goal for the title-chasing Gunners.

Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since 1996, apologised for his behaviour after the match but that did not prevent him being charged by the FA on Monday.

“Arsene Wenger has been charged for misconduct following Arsenal’s game against Burnley on Sunday (22 January 2017),” said a statement issued by the FA.

“It is alleged that in or around the 92nd minute, he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official.

“It is further alleged that following his dismissal from the technical area, his behaviour in remaining in the tunnel area and making physical contact with the fourth official amounted to improper conduct.

“He has until 6pm on 26 January 2017 to respond to the charge.”

Following the victory, which saw Arsenal move up into second place in the Premier League, Wenger expressed “regret” for his behaviour.

Asked in particular about television pictures that showed him pushing Taylor, Wenger replied: “I regret everything. I should have shut up, gone in and go home. I apologise for that.

“I was sent to the stands. I didn’t know if I was sent to the stands but I was sent out. I thought I could watch it from the corridor, you know. I went inside and watched it on television.

“Look, it was nothing bad. I said something that you hear every day in football. Overall nine times out of 10 you are not sent to the stand for that.

“If I am, I am (suspended), and I should have shut up completely. I was quite calm the whole game, more than usual, but just (not) in the last two or three minutes.”

Wenger, who faces the prospect of a fine and a touchline ban, was not the only member of the Arsenal set-up in disciplinary trouble on Sunday.

Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka was sent off for a reckless lunge on Steven Defour that left Arsenal a man down for the final 25 minutes against Burnley.

It was the ninth time the Swiss international has been sent off for club and country since 2014.

Xhaka, having already been shown a red card while on Arsenal duty against Swansea earlier this season, will now miss the Gunners’ next four games through suspension.

Senegal put a string of disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaigns behind them on Thursday by beating Zimbabwe 2-0 and becoming the first qualifiers for the 2017 quarterfinals.

The Group B match was all but over as a contest after only 13 minutes in Gabonese city Franceville after Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Henri Saivet scored.

Since finishing fourth in 2006, the Senegalese have suffered a horror run in the premier African football competition, failing to get past the group stage three times and not even qualifying twice.

Now they are guaranteed to top Group B — whatever the result of their final fixture against battling Algeria next Monday.

“The goal today was to qualify and we have done that,” said Senegal coach and 2002 World Cup star Aliou Cisse.

“Even when we played badly in the first match (against Tunisia), we won. Today we played well and won and we have qualified.

“It’s been 10 years since we last made the quarterfinals. Now we have done it and I congratulate the players.

“I am very proud of the guys. Now we have to continue like this.”

A draw with Zimbabwe in Libreville, in a fixture scheduled to start at the same time as Senegal against Algeria, will clinch second spot.

Algeria, considered likelier quarterfinalists than Tunisia before the biennial competition kicked off last Saturday, are in serious trouble.

Only if they beat Senegal and Zimbabwe beat Tunisia might the Desert Foxes squeeze through on goal difference, goals scored or the drawing of lots.

Saivet doubled the lead four minutes later by curling a free-kick over the defensive wall and past goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva.

A rout seemed on the cards as Senegal played keep-ball at times, as if in a training session, while increasingly frustrated Zimbabweans chased shadows.

The sole southern Africa representatives in Gabon did have a half-chance before half-time, but star attacker Khama Billiat shot weakly at Abdoulaye Diallo.

Senegal continue to stamp their authority on the match in the second half and Mane was foiled twice in quick succession by Mkuruva and Czech Republic-based defender Costa Nhamoinesu.

Tunisia scored twice in the second half before conceding a stoppage-time goal to confirm their Cup of Nations dominance over Algeria.

The Carthage Eagles also won the only previous clash between the northern neighbours in South Africa four years ago thanks to a late Youssef Msakni goal..

Msakni was involved in the opening goal in Franceville with his cross deflected into the net by Algerian captain Aissa Mandi.

Algeria also contributed to the second Tunisian goal as Wahbi Khazri was fouled in the box after intercepting a weak Faouzi Ghoulam back-header and Naim Sliti converted the penalty.

Substitute Sofiane Hanni scored a stoppage-time consolation goal.

“It was a very important match,” said Sliti. “We knew that after the game against Senegal we were very frustrated. We had chances to win.

“We made amends and showed the true face of Tunisian football. Many say that we play the most beautiful football and today we were rewarded.”

Belgium-born Algeria coach Georges Leekens said: “We started very well, but we know that in a match of this level we cannot give away gifts.

“If we make them two presents in the second half, we cannot win.

“The way we conceded the second goal when we were hit on the counter attack, we cannot have imagined that before the game.”

The Black Stars, who lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the 2015 final, are looking to win the trophy for the first since 1982.

Their hopes will not be helped if they lose left-back Abdul Rahman Baba of Schalke, who was stretchered off in the first half with an apparent hamstring injury. Grant later described the player’s prospects of recovering as “50-50”.

Uganda were making their first appearance at the Cup of Nations since 1978, when they lost to Ghana in the final, and they will have to wait a little longer for their first goal and win at the competition in almost four decades.

“In 39 years we have not been there and in the first half we had an element of stage fright,” admitted the Cranes’ Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic.

Uganda will next take on Egypt, who made their own comeback at the Cup of Nations after a seven-year absence in a 0-0 stalemate with Mali.

EL HADARY RECORD

The state of the playing surface and the humidity in the equatorial conditions were factors in making it a poor game, most notable for a substitute appearance by Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary that allowed him to become the oldest player ever to appear at the Cup of Nations.

The 44-year-old came off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Ahmed El Shennawy and beat the old mark set by compatriot Hossam Hassan, who was 39 when he played at the 2006 Cup of Nations.

Egypt’s star man Mohamed Salah failed to fire and Marwan Mohsen had the best chance with a header that was turned over.

Egypt had not been seen at a Cup of Nations since winning a record seventh title, and third in a row, in 2010.

“We would be much happier of course if we had won but this will not really change too much what we need to do in our coming games,” said Egypt’s Argentine coach Hector Cuper, who admitted concern as to the fitness of El Shennawy ahead of medical tests on Wednesday.

It will feel like an opportunity missed for Mali, who had initially been the better team in what may as well have been a home game for them.

The action swings back to the capital Libreville on Wednesday as hosts Gabon entertain Burkina Faso and Cameroon meet minnows Guinea-Bissau in Group A.