World Cup 2010 News: Africa

Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 June 2010

Nigeria struggle against a sleek Argentina

The Diego Maradona World Cup experience got off to a winning start in Johannesburg this afternoon, but already it is worth asking the question: will Argentina’s fantastic attack be fatally undermined by their fragile defence?

The uncontrollable Lionel Messi might have had a hat-trick, or even the four goals he scored against Arsenal in the Champions League last season, but for the heroics of Nigeria’s goalkeeper. But Argentina’s defending was distinctly dodgy during an entertaining match at Ellis Park in front of a near-full, and wildly loud and exuberant, crowd.

Chief culprit was the right back, Jonás Gutiérrez, of Newcastle United. He was exposed time and again and a better team than Nigeria – whose composure in front of goal was abject – would have scored a couple of goals. Do not expect many more 1-0 scorelines in Argentina’s future games.

The warning signs were there early on as the impressive Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, preferred to Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu, skipped past Gutiérrez but pummeled a shot well wide.

Madjid Bougherra talks positive on Algeria's World Cup adventure.

Algeria will play the first match of their third World Cup against Slovenia on Sunday but their players already have an eye on their second Group C match, against England.

The Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said today that his experience in British football would help him to deal with the likes of Wayne Rooney when Algeria meet England at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town next Friday night. The centre-back, who has played for Crewe Alexandra, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday, has also played European football with the Scottish champions.

"It can help me," said Bougherra of his experience in Britain. "I play in a big team, I played Champions League so I have learned a mentality change – I want to win every game."

Friday, 11 June 2010

Didier Drogba makes swift recovery may play against Portugal

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba could start their opening World Cup game against Portugal next week, coach Sven Goran Eriksson said on Thursday.

Drogba, 32, broke his arm during a friendly against Japan on June 4, and needed surgery.

'If the game had been today or tomorrow, he wouldn't play. But there are still some days. He might play against Portugal,' Eriksson told journalists at the team's arrival on Thursday.

On the mend: Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba (right) has an operation on his broken arm

Ivory Coast take on Portugal next Tuesday in Group G in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth.

They have been drawn in a tough group, which includes North Korea and five-times World Cup winners Brazil.

'It is a difficult group, but we will be well prepared and we will do everything to play well against the other teams,' Eriksson said.

Lagerback says Nigeria have nothing to fear against Argentina

Nigeria go into their opening match, against Argentina on Saturday afternoon, telling themselves that although they are up against the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tévez, they have nothing to fear. They are merely some of the best players in the world — but ignore it.

This, at least, has been the gospel according to Lars Lagerbäck, their coach, who has been parachuted in to do a quick-heal job similar to the one that Sven-Göran Eriksson, his fellow Swede, has been asked to pull off with Ivory Coast.

It is a tall order for both of them. Eriksson may have to do without Didier Drogba, the talismanic striker, and Lagerbäck has lost John Obi Mikel, Drogba’s Chelsea team-mate, to injury. Yet they have been asked to raise the spirits of their teams without the leading player there to show the way.

Although Nigeria finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations, their performance was sufficiently disappointing for them to sack their coach, Shaibu Amodu, in February and ask Lagerbäck to do better.

Maradona launches mind games as he says Nigerians are dirty players

The 49-year-old, who lifted the World
Cup as Argentina captain in 1986, having infamously scored a goal with his hand against England in the quarter-finals, said he hoped the referees would ensure the Africans play fair.

"We know how Nigeria play and they know how we play. We don't expect to play a rough and tough team, although we're ready to play any team," said Maradona, whose international career ended in disgrace when he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup finals when Nigeria were also in their group.

"But the only thing I can say right now is those looking for fair-play should not stand alone.

"Let's really look for fair play and referees should understand what fair play is.

"When fair play started in 1990 I got a kick from a Cameroon player who nearly kicked my head off.

"Claudio Caniggia got a yellow card for a small kick and I nearly got kicked in the head.

Martins says Eagles must look beyond Argentina

Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins has warned that the Super Eagles would have to look beyond Lionel Messi if they are to get a result against Argentina on Saturday. Talk among the fans have been centred around the World Player of the Year, but Martins, 25, says there are other players that the team need to be wary of.

"People talk a lot about (Lionel) Messi, forgetting that there are other very good players in the Argentine team, such as (Carlos) Tevez and (Diego) Milito. It's a team game and we also have our own stars for the day.

"It is an important match for all of us, the players and the technical crew."

Left back Taye Taiwo, who played against the Argentina Under-20 team which defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Netherlands in 2005, added: "I was not happy that we lost that day in Utrecht against Argentina because we worked so hard. But for sure, this is payback time.

"We know Messi is a good player and we can't allow him to roam round the park just like that. But we also have our great players. They've got a couple of great players and we've also got a couple of great players.

Tshabalala super strike fails earn South Africa opening win.

Diminutive midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala sent the whole of South Africa in to raptures with the opening goal of the World Cup in Johannesburg but it was not enough to hold off Mexico at the final whistle.

His wonderful strike in the 55th minute of an entertaining opening match put Bafana Bafana ahead with a goal that looked likely to give them an emotional victory - a win which could ignite not only their own campaign but the whole World Cup.

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

Eto'o sent off as Cameroon fall to Portugal

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o was sent off on his return to the Indomitable Lions side, as his team slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Portugal.

The Inter Milan striker was dismissed in the first half for a second bookable offence in quick succession after returning to the side for their final two World Cup warm-up games.

A frustrated and agitated-looking Eto'o received his marching orders for a high tackle on Portugal left-back Duda, immediately after being booked by the referee for protesting, following the opener from Raul Meireles.

The Cameroonians looked unsettled after their captain's departure, and were well beaten by a Portuguese team who looked a lot more polished and confident ahead of their departure for South Africa - in stark contrast to their visitors.

The Indomitable Lions are now six games without a win, but drew some little comfort from an impressive debut for German-born striker Eric Choupo-Moting, who has just been cleared to play for the west Africans.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto also put in an impressive performance on the left, after a shaky start.

Portugal boost as Pepe is given the all clear

Pepe is going to South Africa with Portugal. The Real Madrid player has received medical clearance to participate in this summer’s World Cup.

The news that Carlos Queiroz most wanted to hear was confirmed on the site of the Portuguese Football Federation yesterday:

“The medical teams of the National Seleccao, Real Madrid, Juan Carlos Hernandez and Carlos Diez, and the surgeon who operated on Pepe, Jose Carlos Noronha, agreed to pronounce medical clearance to the Portugal international, meaning the player can continue to comply with the programme of gradual sporting integration.”

Pepe was outstanding for Portugal in the qualification campaign, playing as a defensive midfielder, but has not played a competitive match since rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in December.

His recovery is a huge boost for the national team, although question marks will remain about whether he will be match fit in South Africa, especially for the first game against Ivory Coast on June 15th.

Slick Holland thrash woeful Ghana

The Netherlands proved to be too strong a side for Ghana in last night's friendly, handing the Black Stars a crushing defeat.

Sunderland loan-star John Mensah came on for the second half in Rotterdam but by then Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt and Rafael van der Vart had given the Dutch a 2-0 lead.

Ghana pulled a goal back midway through the second half but Holland's Wesley Sneider found the back of the net before a Robin van Persie penalty took the scoreline to 4-1, dealing the Ghanaians a crush blow as they prepare for their World Cup campaign.

Ghana have one friendly against Latvia on Saturday prior to their World Cup opener against Serbia on 13 June.

The Black Stars are also in a group with Australia and Germany.

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Thursday, 27 May 2010

Australia's Socceroos are the first team to land in South Africa

Australia national team the Socceroos are the first of the World Cup teams to arrive in South Africa. the 30 man squad touched down on Wednesday at Johannesburg's international airport.

The 'Socceroos', in Group D with Germany, Ghana and Serbia, boarded a luxury coach for the trip to a hotel in the elite northern Sandton suburb and will start training Thursday at a college in another upmarket area of the South African economic capital.

Australia have lined up friendlies against Denmark on June 1 and the United States on June 5 in Roodepoort on the western outskirts of Johannesburg.

Thursday, 13 May 2010

The USA names 30 man squad for South Africa 2010.

Coach Bob Bradley names 30 man squad for South Africa 2010.

USA coach Bob Bradley has named his provisional 30 man squad from which he will select the final 23 men to travel to South Africa for this summer’s 2010 World Cup.

The coach has included a host of players based in Europe, including an all Barclays Premier League selection of three goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann.

USA face England, Slovenia and Algeria in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Squad: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves); Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham); DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jose Torres (Pachuca); Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)

Slovenia names 30-man World Cup provisional squad named.

Slovenia has named a 30 man provisional squad for the coming World Cup.

The Slovenia coach, Matjaz Kek, has named his 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals.

Slovenia who are in Group C alongside England, Algeria and the USA, must submit a final squad of 23 players on or before 1 June.

Robert Koren, the West Bromwich Albion midfielder, is Slovenia's only British-based player.

"I'm particularly happy about the last report from South Africa where the training headquarters of the Slovenian team, including an excellent pitch, are already waiting," Kek said in a statement.

The team qualified for the World Cup by ousting Russia in a big upset in the November playoffs on away goals. With a population of two million, Slovenia will be the smallest nation at the tournament.

Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam), Jan Koprivec (Maribor).

Defenders: Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Ghent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Dejan Kelhar (Cercle Brugge), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Aleksandar Rajcevic (Koper), Suad Filekovic (Maribor).

Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Internazionale), Mirnes Sisic (Giannina), Darjan Matic (Rapid Bucharest), Dare Vrsic (Koper), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre).

Forwards: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Miran Burgic (AIK), Tim Matavz (Groningen).

Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Algeria names provisional squad for World Cup

Rabah Saadane names his provisional squad for the World Cup. With only three recognised strikers in the squad it looks like Saadane is falling back on his instinct to be overly cautious and defensive.

The 25-man squad was made up largely of those players who contested January's African Nations Cup, where the Desert Hawks finished fourth. Fawzi Chouachi, Lounes Gaouaoui, Mohamed Zemmamouche and Abdelkader Laifaoui are the only squad members who play their club football in Algeria.

Seven players ply their trades in France, while four are based in Britain - Rangers' Madjid Bougherra, Portsmouth duo Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda, and Adlene Guedioura, who is currently on loan at Wolves from Belgian side
Charleroi.

Algeria, who have reached the World Cup for the first time since 1986, will face England, United States and Slovenia in Group C in South Africa. They will hold a fortnight-long training camp in Switzerland from May 13 before contesting friendlies against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on May 28 and the United Arab Emirates in Nuremberg on June 5.

Saadane will be required to trim his squad to 23 players by June 1.

Preliminary Algeria squad: Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO
Chlef), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (MC Alger), M'bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia);
Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Carl Medjani
(Ajaccio), Rafi Halliche (Nacional), Anther Yahia (Bochum), Haib Belaid
(Boulogne), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce); Hassan Yebda
(Portsmouth), Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlene
Guedioura (Charleroi), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Fouad
Kadir (Valenciennes), Mourad Meghni (Lazio), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg), Karim
Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach); Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour
(AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres).

Sunday, 2 May 2010

South Africa introduces "World Cup" visa

The South African government has announced the introduction of a special visa specially for visitors attending the World Cup.

South Africa will issue the first ever Event Visa for an international event in support of the 2010 Fifa World CupTM, Minister of Home Affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, announced on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

The issuing of such a visa is in keeping up with the guarantee that the Department of Home Affairs made to Fifa when the 2010 Fifa World Cup was awarded to South Africa in 1994. The Visa will make South Africa the first country to ever issue such a Visa for an international event.

The Event Visa will be issued free of charge to visitors to South Africa in 2010.

According to the department, the Event Visa has been finalised and will be tested by eligible visitors coming to South Africa for the Fifa Confederations Cup in 2009. The Visa will enable visitors for both events to enter South Africa conveniently at various ports of entries.

Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said the department was aware of the central role it has to play to make a meaningful success of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa and use the event to revolutionalise the migration regime in the country.

“The Event Visa is one of the department’s exciting new immigration initiatives in support of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. As the department we are also aware of the central role we have to play to make 2010 a success for our country. When visitors come to South Africa, their first contact will be our officials, which is why we have to keep our promises,” she said.

She said the 2010 Fifa World Cup preparations had been intertwined with the department’s overall migration strategy to ensure that all the systems being put in place for the event become a legacy beyond 2010.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

South Africa rally to draw with Paraguay

South Africa put in a credible performance in Asunción as they held Paraguay to a 1-1 draw and had coach hailing the Bafana Bafana as "Lion Kings"

Carlos Alberto Parreira has called Bafana Bafana the “Lion Kings” after they came back to earn a credible 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Asuncion on Wednesday.South Africa were awful in the opening half hour or so, and deservedly went behind to a Marcelo Estigarribia header.

Bafana, however, were much improved after the break, as both coaches rang the changes, and Siphiwe Tshabalala thrashed home a wonderful left-footed drive to level the scores.“Paraguay were much better in the first half, we didn’t control the game as we would like,” said Parreira afterwards.

“In the second half we created more opportunities than them - we made good counter attacks and I believe the result is fair for what Paraguay have done in the first half, and for what we have done in the second half.”Lion Kings“We are the Lion Kings, we never give up. We were the better team in the second half and could have won.” Bafana captain Teko Modise, meanwhile, concurred with Parreira.

“Paraguay were the better team in the first half, and made things difficult for us,” said Modise.“They started pressurising us and we couldn’t play. In the second half we became better and started having confidence. If we can show character like this away from home, imagine what we can do at home,” added the midfielder, in a clear reference to the 2010 World Cup.

Bafana will return to Sao Paulo on Thursday, and will play Brazilian club side Santos on Saturday in the final game of their month-long tour of South America. Bafana have also now decided to leave Brazil on Sunday, returning to Johannesburg on Monday, two days earlier than expected.On April 9, Parreira will then announce a squad for his next training camp in Germany, from April 13-28.

Le Guen weighs up local players

Cameroon's coach Paul Le Guen is looking to local players to complement his squad ahead of the World Cup.

Paul Le Guen is broadening his net ahead of the World Cup and has called up 24 locally-based players to a training camp in Yaounde later this month. The five-day exercise, which is aimed at identifying possible new talent, will also have striker Francis Ambane, based at Algerian champions Entente Setif, and Alfred Mfongang, who plays for AS Vita Club in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Indomitable Lions team has long been dominated by players in Europe, but Le Guen had promised to pay more attention to the home-based talent that many of his predecessors were accused of neglecting.

Cameroon's squad at January's African Nations Cup finals was made up only of overseas-based players. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

At this year's World Cup in South Africa, Cameroon have been drawn in Group E with Denmark, Japan and Netherlands.

Sunday, 28 March 2010

Travel to the World Cup 2010 for Free.

Bud House : Big Brother World Cup Style....

Budweiser is looking for a passionate fan from each of the 32 FIFA World Cup qualifying countries to take part in a world Cup reality TV programme in South Africa.

Selected Contestants will be flown in stlye to Cape Town, South Africa where they will enjoy Luxurious accommodations, thrilling excursions, and the opportunity to have the kind of access few fans ever have.

The Contestants will filmed as they show their passion for their home country and the World Cup experience as a whole.

If you think YOU should represent your country in the Bud House, please click HERE to begin the application process. You must be over the age of 25, have or be able to get a valid passport and speak English. We welcome applications from both men AND women!

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN FULL NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT, CENTRAL TIMEZONE, SUNDAY MARCH 28, 2010.

So if you are a fan from

Africa
Algeria
Cameroon
Cote D'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
South Africa

Asia
Australia
Japan
Korea DPR (North Korea)
Korea Republic (South Korea)

Europe
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland

North and Central America
Honduras
Mexico
USA

Oceania
New Zealand

what are you waiting for?

APPLY NOW

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

Ivory Coast finally get a coach (and it's Sven)

Sven Goran Eriksson is set to lead Ivory Coast at the World Cup finals.

Jacques Anouma, head of the African country's FA, is in Paris to conclude negotiations with the former England manager, who emerged as the frontrunner after Guus Hiddink turned down the chance to replace Vahid Halilhodzic.

The Elephants had been hoping to convince Guus Hiddink to take the reins in South Africa, but saw their efforts come to nothing.

The Dutchman is currently between jobs, having parted with Russia and yet to take charge of new employers Turkey.

However, an agreement could not be reached and the Ivoirians have been forced to turn their attention elsewhere.

Swedish tactician Eriksson was quickly installed as their top choice, with the former Mexico and England boss looking for work after leaving his role as director of football at Notts County in February.

He has prior experience of life at the World Cup, having guided England to the finals in 2002 and 2006.

Ivory Coast general secretary Hegaurd Ouattara admits Eriksson was not the leading candidate to replace Vahid Halihodzic, but is delighted with the appointment.

"He was not out first choice. That was Guus Hiddink," he said.

"But Eriksson's record speaks for itself."

Saturday, 20 March 2010

Algerian Keeper Chaouchi fails to overturn ban.

Algerian keeper Chouchi and defender Belhadj are set to miss the opening rounds of Algerians World Cup campaign after they failed to overturn bans they incurred during the last African Cup of Nations.

Earlier this month, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) handed Belhadj and Chaouchi two-match and three-match bans respectively.

But Caf have upheld both those disciplinary decisions.

Both were punished for red cards in the 4-0 loss to Egypt during January's Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Defender Rafik Halliche was also dismissed in that game and earned a one-game ban.

With the trio having already missed the third-place play-off through suspension, Halliche can contest all Algeria's Group C ties while Portsmouth's Belhadj must only sit out the opener with Slovenia.

However, Algeria will have to make do without their number one goalkeeper Chaouchi for the first two group games against Slovenia and England.

After meeting Slovenia in Polokwane on 13 June, the Desert Foxes face England before finishing Group C against the United States in Pretoria on 23 June.

World Cup 2010 News