“Today a young one had his say,” Didier Drogba told FIFA.com after Côte d’Ivoire came from behind to open their FIFA World Cup™ account with a 2-1 win over Japan. “Serge brought us energy and balance and he had a fantastic game,” added the 36 year-old striker, a UEFA Champions League winner and a true icon of African football.Drogba, a member of Côte d’Ivoire’s aging Golden Generation, is speaking of one Serge Aurier. Just 21-years-old, the flying Toulouse wing-back had a night to remember in his World Cup debut. “I can’t believe it,” the stocky wide man enthused, all nervous…
Author: CAF News
Oribe Peralta was the hero as Mexico edged Cameroon in a pulsating Group A game that somehow finished with only one goal. Three goals were ruled out in the first half before the 30-year-old striker slotted home a rebound in the 61st minute in Natal to send Mexico second in their FIFA World Cup™ pool, behind Brazil on goal difference.Miguel Herrera’s men immediately took the game to their opponents, and only a series of sliding interceptions prevented the Mexicans going clean through on goal.Giovanni dos Santos did ripple the net in the tenth minute, volleying home Hector Herrera’s right-wing cross,…
Yaya and Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba and Didier Zokora have made nearly 400 appearances for Côte d’Ivoire and have played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, becoming living Ivorian legends in the process. Together they make up a golden generation and have long been a source of pride not just for their nation but for the whole of Africa. Yet strangely for a quartet so talented, they have never won an international title.Fresh from firing the Elephants to their third consecutive FIFA World Cup™ appearance, the fabulous foursome know that Brazil 2014 represents their last chance of…
TP Mazembe beat FC MK Etancheite 3-0 on Wednesday (11 June 2014) at the Kalamondo Stadium in Lubumbashi to win the 2014 DR Congo Super Cup.The one-off between the league champions (TP Mazembe) and the winners of the Coupe du Congo (FC MK Etancheite) officially wraps up the Congolese season.The encounter, a repeat of the 2013 clash also saw the return of midfielder Bedi Mbenza to the Mazembe fold after a stint abroad.Malian Adama Traore fired ‘Les Corbeaux’ into the lead after 20 minutes before Jonathan Bolingo strengthened the lead on the half hour-mark.Ghana-born winger, Solomon Asante sealed victory with…
Friday 13 June 17:00 Mexico v. Cameroon Group A Sunday 15 June 02:00 Côte d’Ivoire v. Japan Group CMonday 16 June 20:00 Iran v. Nigeria Group F 23:00 Ghana v. USA Group G Tuesday 17 June 17:00 Belgium v. Algeria Group H Wednesday 18 June 23:00 Cameroon v. Croatia Group A Thursday 19 June 17:00 Colombia v. Côte d’Ivoire Group CSaturday 21 June 20:00 Germany v. Ghana Group G 23:00 Nigeria v. Bosnia Group F Sunday 22 June 20:00 South Korea v. Algeria Group H Monday 23 June 21:00 Cameroon v. Brazil Group A Tuesday 24 June 21:00 Greece v. Côte d’Ivoire Group C Wednesday 25 June 17:00 Nigeria v. Argentina Group FThursday 26 June 17:00 Portugal v. Ghana Group…
The 64th FIFA Congress ended in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Wednesday 11 June with President Blatter announcing that there will be an increment in the disbursements to the six Confederations and the member associations. FIFA will give $750,000 to member associations, with each Confederation getting $7 million.Meanwhile FIFA President, Sepp Blatter made special mention of the Sierra Leonean Football Association, President, and Isha Johansen at the Congress. Johansen is the only female leading a football association in the whole world and Mr Blatter asked her to stand and while the Congress applauded and paid tribute to her. Blatter said Johansen was…
The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has organized a course for young match officials to equip them for challenges ahead.The course dubbed “CAF Young Talent Refereeing Course” was held from 4-9 June 2014 at the CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, Cameroon.The aim of the five-day course, targeted at Referees and Assistant Referees below 30-years, was to equip them with the requisite skills and techniques for assignments in the not too distant future, with a target of a continuous follow-up as well as ensure the efficient and systematic development of young referees in Africa.The course was in two parts; theoretical…
FIFA President Joseph Blatter has awarded Hassan Shehata of Egypt the FIFA Order of Merit during the Opening Ceremony of the 64th FIFA Congress at the Transamerica Expo Center on June 10, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Shehata’s award was in recognition of his outstanding service to the game.Shehata coached Egypt to a record run of three Nations Cup titles in a row – 2006, 2008 and 2010. Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
A rising name in European club football, Algeria’s Islam Slimani could be a stand-out figure up front for his national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, and the Sporting Lisbon star says that he and his teammates are looking to leave a mark in Brazil.“Algeria has never got past the first round, so that’s our goal,” he told FIFA.com. “We are flying to Brazil with ambitions. It will be our fourth appearance at the finals. We all know about the victory against [West] Germany in 1982 with the likes of [Rabah] Madjer, [Salah] Assad or [Lakhdar] Belloumi. We all…
Abedi Ayew, known popularly as Abedi Pele, was undoubtedly one of the finest footballers ever to come out of Africa. During a career spanning some 20 years, the attacking midfielder won the UEFA Champions League with Marseille, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana and was named African Player of the Year on three occasions. The one thing that was denied him was a spot at the FIFA World Cup™ as the Black Stars did not qualify until 2006 – eight years after his international retirement.However, the great one has been well represented by his progeny as three of…