The battle for the seven spots for the 2015 CAF U-17 Championship – Niger 2015 gets keener, with the first leg matches of the second round taking place this weekend across the continent.Following the completion of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the attention will be focused on African football and the twinkle twinkle little stars will be the centre of attraction.Unlike the first round, which saw only a handful of matches as a result of withdrawals by some teams; the second round will see 24 teams in contention for the six slots to join Ghana and Tunisia in…
Author: CAF News
After the spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the race to the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 continues this weekend as 14 nations face-off in the first of two legged matches which will deliver the final seven teams into the final group phase of qualification.The East African trio of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya lead the charge into the weekend action seeking to end a combined distressing 80 years of non-qualification to the biggest continental soccer fest.The Cranes’ last qualified in 1978, the Taifa Stars last appeared at the Afcon finals in 1980 while Kenya’s last showing…
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars are targeting a win that will ‘put one foot’ in the group stage of Afcon 2015 qualification as they host Mozambique’s Mambas at the National Stadium in Dar s Salaam this Sunday.Tanzania will be playing Mozambique for the fifth time in Afcon qualifiers, in which the former has never eliminated the latter, managing only one victory, lost twice and drawn once. Seven years ago Mozambique ended Tanzania’s dream of reaching the 2008 Afcon finals. The Mambas triumphed 1-0, courtesy of a Tico Tico goal in a match the Stars needed victory to keep alive hopes of reaching…
Kenya’s Harambee Stars have suffered a blow ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations first leg second round qualifier against Lesotho following confirmation that first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi will miss the encounter in Maseru.Origi, who plies his trade in Norway for Lilestrom confirmed his unavailability for the Harambee Stars as he would be engaged in club duty playing against Viikings on Sunday; the day Lesotho hosts Kenya in Maseru.”I really feel bad that I cannot be able to play in this crucial game that will ensure we qualify for the group stages. I could not be released by my…
Likuena coach, Seephephe Matete, is worried with injuries to some of his key players ahead of Sunday’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations first leg second round qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Stars set for Setsoto stadium in Maseru.Midfielders Ralekoti Mokhahlane, Motlalepula Mofolo and striker Thapelo Tale picked up injuries and were all substituted as Lesotho went down 0-2 to Botswana in an international friendly in Gaborone on Monday.First choice goalkeeper Mohau Kuenane, was also injured in a collision with a Botswana player in a fixture Matate still insisted was important as it was “very helpful in their preparations for the clash…
Al-Ahly’s dreams of a domestic double went into flames after Smouha beat them 2-1 in the Egyptian Cup semi-final on Tuesday in Cairo.A first half brace from talented forward, Ahmed Hammoudi put the Alexandria-based club on the path of victory whilst the ‘Red Devils’ hope of coming back was substitute Emad Moteab’s consolatory goal from the spot in the dying embers.Ahly, which clinched the Egyptian League title last week, were undone by a well-composed Smouha side, which had earlier held them to a barren draw in the league decider.With the Ahly defence leaking at the start, Hammoudi made amends for…
Cameroon champions, Coton Sport maintained their hold of Group A after holding Congolese campaigners, AC Leopards 0-0 on Tuesday in Dolisie.The encounter, rescheduled from last May due to the involvement of AC Leopards players in the Congolese national team for their Orange Africa Cup of Nations – Morocco 2015 qualifier against Namibia, failed to produce a winner, ensuring both clubs maintain their unbeaten status at the mini-league stage.Leopards, winners of the second-tier continental club championship two years ago, held their visitors in check in the hotly contested game.The hosts had the better of scoring opportunities but Boris Moubhio fumbled at…
Germany are the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ champions, lifting the Trophy for the fourth time in their history after overcoming Argentina 1-0 courtesy of an extra-time goal by Mario Gotze at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.The substitute settled a tie that was in the balance from the first minute until the last with a finish of startling composure given the circumstances, pressure and surroundings. His strike proved the difference, with Argentina unable to respond in what little time remained, adding another star to the Europeans’ crest following their triumphs in 1954, 1974 and 1990. A naturally frenetic beginning to…
CAF president Issa Hayatou has expressed his condolences to the people of Somalia and the East African football community following the death of Somalia’s first national team captain Mohamed Qalaf Aden Shangole.The Somalia Football Federation on Wednesday announced the death of Aden Shangole in Mogadishu.”I received with sadness the news of the death of Mohammed Qalaf Shangole, an icon and legend of the Somalia game who not only was the country’s first national team captain but went onto to inspire many more players and Somalis with his contribution to the game behind his playing days.”“On behalf of CAF and the…
The FIFA Emergency Committee has decided today, 9 July 2014, to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect, on account of government interference. Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.The decision follows a letter sent by FIFA to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in which it expressed its great concern after the NFF was served with court proceedings and consequently an order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF…