Let me make it clear that I do not believe what happened at the Afcon 2015 semifinal match between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Ghana has shamed African Football. . It has not. It has only shamed Equatorial Guinea, their football fans, their authorities, the local organising committee at the venue and especially their footballers who were on the pitch during this match. . I am particularly disappointed and even a tad angry at the Equatorial Guinea players and I hold them responsible for what eventually happened from the fans. . Step forward in the hall of shame Iban Edu and…
Author: David F.
There was massive shock in Pretoria rugby circles on Friday night when it was confirmed that Jacques du Plessis, one of the brightest prospects in South African rugby, had been lured to Montpellier on a two-year deal. . The deal, which is said to be one of the largest in Europe, sees the SA under-20 utility forward join former Springbok coach Jake White’s French club for the foreseeable future. . The InfoStride’s sources in France have revealed that an offer was first made to Sharks and Springbok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit to join Montpellier, but he turned it down, with…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that plans are in gear to find a new kit sponsor for the national teams after the contract with sportswear giant Adidas expired. . The national teams have been using the Adidas kits subject to a window of grace granted by the German firm who kit countries like World Cup winners Germany, Argentina and Russia. . The NFF Director of Marketing Idris Adama, has revealed that lines of communication have been opened between the Federation and other firms who are interested in kitting the Super Eagles. . “Though the contract has come to…
Nigerian striker Joseph Akpala scored for Turkish Super Lig club Karabukspor in the club’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Istanbul Basaksehir on Friday. . Akpala netted in the 21st minute as the points were shared at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium. . Edin Višca, however, equalised for the hosts and there was no further scoring until full time. . Yalcin Ayhan seemed to have given Istanbul Basaksehir maximum points when he netted four minutes from time but Karabukspor snatched a late equaliser through Abdou Razack Traore at the death. . The goal Akpala netted on Friday represents Akpala’s third in the…
Four guards from the Eastern Conference All-Star team – starters John Wall of the Washington Wizards and Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, as well as reserves Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls and Jeff Teague of the Atlanta Hawks – and defending champion Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz will headline the 2015 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Saturday, February 14. . The Philadelphia 76ers’ Michael Carter-Williams, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Brandon Knight and the Phoenix Suns’ Isaiah Thomas complete an eight-player field for the three-round, obstacle-course competition…
Newcastle Coach John Carver has assured Sammy Ameobi that he has a future at the club following his performance against Hull City. Ameobi who graduated from the Newcastle Academy has been of great help to the club and this has made it difficult for the management of the club to allow him leave. . The winger’s contract is up at the end of the season and with no permanent head coach in place could be facing uncertainty this summer. . However, head coach John Carver feels he can be part of the club’s plans going forward if he can reproduce…
Last year was a memorable one both on and off the track for the multi-talented Blessing Okagbare. She capped off golds galore in the Commonwealth Games and African champs by tying the knot in her hometown. Now the Nigerian wants to take on even more in 2015. . You could forgive Blessing Okagabare for feeling a tinge of regret on New Year’s Day. . It is not that the outrageously gifted Nigerian should approach 2015 with anything but optimism; it is just that 2014 was such a memorable year for the sprinter-jumper that it must have been hard to leave…
Emmanuel Emenike has said he hopes after that breaking his goals’ drought at the weekend he will now fire more goals for Turkish champions Fenerbache. . Nigeria international Emenike ended a long-drawn goals’ drought when he netted the winner for Fenerbahce on Saturday in a 2-1 win at his former club Karabukspor. . The AFCON 2013 top scorer’s last goal for Fenerbahce before that of Saturday was on November 2, 2014 in a 2-0 win at Besiktas. . “I’m very humbled by this goal. I am very sure that everybody is happy and the story has changed. Now, I want…
Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins scored as his MLS side Seattle Sounders defeated University of Carlifonia, Los Angeles (UCLA) 5-0 on Wednesday in their first pre-season game in Walnut. . Obafemi Martins opened the scoring for his side in the 39th minute, Lamar Neagle added the second goal on the stroke of half time. . Chad Barrett, Kenny Cooper and Micheal Azira scored the remaining goals in the second half to complete the demolition. . Martins scored 17 goals last season and has been doing well in training since he rejoined the rest of the squad. . The Sounders…
Hull City boss Steve Bruce has welcomed the addition of Mike Phelan to his backroom staff ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Manchester City. . Phelan was announced as Hull assistant manager on Thursday. . Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Manchester United number two and Bruce were team-mates at Norwich and at Old Trafford. . Bruce said “He comes in at just the right time to add valuable experience, plus he has been assistant to the best boss we will ever come across.” . Hull lost 4-2 against Manchester City in September, despite being level with the Premier League champions at the…
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini expects new signing Wilfried Bony to make his debut in the home match against Newcastle on 21 February. . Bony, 26, joined City from Swansea last month but is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, who have reached the final, which is on Sunday. . Yaya Toure is also part of the Ivorian squad that will contest the final, but Pellegrini says it is “impossible”
QPR caretaker manager Chris Ramsey would welcome the arrival of Tim Sherwood as permanent boss. . Ramsey, a coach at Tottenham during Sherwood’s brief reign at White Hart Lane last term, is in temporary charge following Harry Redknapp’s resignation. . “We’re good friends outside football so speak regularly,” he said of Sherwood. . “He gave me an opportunity at Tottenham to coach in the Premier League so I’d be happy working with him as I think he’s very good at what he does.” . QPR have made contact with Sherwood, who won 14 of his 28 matches with Tottenham, but…
Defender Gabriel Zakuani wants DR Congo to pull out of their Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off against Equatorial Guinea amid security fears. . His side face the hosts on Saturday at the same venue where rioting marred the home side’s semi- final against Ghana. . “If they’re throwing this [rocks and glass] at players, Eq Guinea, you can have 3rd place, I love football but prefer to live,” Zakuani, 28, tweeted. . Equatorial Guinea’s football federation has been fined £65,000 for the trouble. . It has also been told by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to meet the…
Defender Gabriel Zakuani wants DR Congo to pull out of their Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off against Equatorial Guinea amid security fears. . His side face the hosts on Saturday at the same venue where rioting marred the home side’s semi- final against Ghana. . “If they’re throwing this [rocks and glass] at players, Eq Guinea, you can have 3rd place, I love football but prefer to live,” Zakuani, 28, tweeted. . Equatorial Guinea’s football federation has been fined £65,000 for the trouble. . It has also been told by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to meet the…
Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross will be out for “a couple of weeks” because of a back injury. . The 27-year-old defender had to leave the field in the first half of last weekend’s 3-1 home victory over QPR. . “Unfortunately Ryan will be missing now for a couple of weeks,” Potters boss Mark Hughes said. “He’s just got an issue with the disc in his back. . “We have other players capable of filling in though, so it is a chance for them to come in and make a mark.” . Stoke, 10th in the table, travel to Newcastle in…
Wigan boss Malky Mackay has signed Kim Bo- kyung, the player who was allegedly the subject of an offensive text message sent by the Scot. Mackay was Cardiff manager when the Welsh side signed the 25-year-old South Korea international. . The 42-year-old admitted to sending offensive messages, one allegedly about Kim, to colleague Iain Moody, for which he later apologised. . The midfielder joins on a contract until the end of. the season. . He told the club website: “I am very happy to be joining up with the gaffer again. . “I really enjoyed working with him in the…
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere is “not a smoker” after a picture emerged on social media of the midfielder holding a shisha pipe. . The 23-year-old has been reprimanded by his manager before for twice being photographed smoking. . Wenger said Wilshere had apologised, but added: “One second of your life does not define who you are. . “He is not a smoker. He is sorry about what happened but he has to master his own life.” . On Thursday, Wilshere, currently out of action with an ankle injury, posted a video of him in training on social…
The Russian Football Union said they have cleared their debt to coach Fabio Capello who had been unpaid since June. . The RFU said in November it could not pay the Italian, who earns more than any other national coach. . Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov reportedly claimed on Thursday he had loaned 400m rubles (£3.9m) to meet the payments on Capello’s £7m salary. . On Friday the organisation said it had performed the “necessary operations to transfer the money” to Capello. . Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who is understood to have arranged Usmanov’s loan, reportedly said the money would…
Manager Sean Dyche said it would be “inappropriate” for Burnley to spend tens of millions of pounds on players. . Burnley’s only transfer window business was a permanent deal for Manchester United defender Michael Keane as they missed out on their midfield targets. . And Dyche admitted the Clarets, who are 17th in the Premier League table, had found the market tough. He said: “We haven’t got the backers some of the teams have got – even in the Championship.” . Burnley did achieve their stated aim of hanging onto striker Danny Ings, despite firm interest from Liverpool. . The…