Blatter Dismisses World Cup 2010 ‘Plan B’
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has dismissed ditching South Africa as 2010 World Cup hosts saying there is ”no Plan B.” Blatter had revealed earlier this year that FIFA had put together contingency plans in light of South Africa’s perceived ill-preparation, causing a flurry of speculation about possible alternative hosts — including Germany, hosts of the last World Cup finals in 2006.
Al Ahly Fall at First Hurdle
African champions, Al Ahly threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to Pachuca of Mexico after extra time in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan on Saturday.
Led by the mercurial Mohamed Aboutrika,the CAF Champions League winners were expected to dominate the encounter. And they did just that, jumping to a 2-0 lead at half-time, with a Fausto Pinto own goal in the 28th minute and Flavio scoring with a breakaway effort on 45 minutes. » Read more…
Essien encourages young footballers
Some of the brightest young footballers in Ghana will have the chance to shine at the NIKE sponsored Premier Cup Ghana Country Finals which commences on Friday December 12 at the Dawu Sports Stadium, in the Eastern Region of the country.
The competition, hosted by Right to Dream Academy, brings together six of the best under-15 football teams in the country to fight for the chance to become national champions. In June 2009, the winners will travel to the Netherlands and represent Ghana in a playoff against national champions from Egypt, Angola and Algeria in the Premier Cup Africa Qualifications. The Africa Champions will then proceed to the MUPC World Finals next summer. » Read more…
Equatorial Guinea Assume Mantle as Africa’s Top Women’s Team
By winning the 6th African Women Championship, hosts Equatorial Guinea not only became the second country in history so to do, but also destroyed the old order along the way. Nigeria’s has always dominated the women’s scene, with Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa providing occasional competition. When the draw for the tournament was made, and the Guineans avoided three of the aforementioned foursome – Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa – the hosts breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly remembered that Cameroon still posed a threat in the Malabo-based Group A.
CAF African Women’s Championship Kicks Off
Amidst little fanfare, the sixth edition of the CAF African Women’s Championship kicked off this past weekend in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Backed by a ferocious home support, Equatorial Guinea pulled off what must surely be the upset of the tournament so far, by beating perennial powerhouse, Cameroon 1-0. In the other Group A match, Mali slumped to a 0-1 defeat against Congo.
Drogba in Hot Water Over Coin Incident
It was hardly a surprise to hear that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association for throwing a coin back into the crowd. Drogba hurled a coin into a section of Burnley supporters following his goal in Chelsea’s shock Carling Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge lat week Wednesday. He has until Monday evening to respond, with a hearing planned for Tuesday. In addition, Drogba, 30, made a single-finger gesture before throwing the coin back following his 27th-minute goal, but there have been no reports of any spectators being injured.
Al Ahly Win Africa’s Top Club Competition
After last week’s debacle that is the FIFA monthly rankings–how Israel is 15th and African champions Egypt remain in the 22nd position is beyond me–we turned our attention back to more local matters as Egypt’s Al Ahly won the CAF African Champions League for a record sixth time on Sunday after beating Coton Sport of Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate.
Serena Williams Opens Secondary School In Kenya
The world’s #2 female tennis player Serena Williams has made a visit to Kenya. On her three day tour she officially opened a School named after her and built through her charity work, in Makueni District, southeast of Nairobi. » Read more…
Right to Dream Soccer Academy thrashes Ultimate FC
Right to Dream Soccer Academy, Africa’s rep to the 2008 Manchester United Premier Cup world finals, proved its superiority in African academy football when its under-15 and 17 teams thrashed visiting Nigerian team, Ultimate FC 4:0 and 5:0 respectively last Saturday. It formed part of the friendly matches lined up for the Lagos-based amateur second division team during their one-week tour to Ghana.
Ultimate FC has toured the Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin playing against some of the best under 15 and under-17 teams on the West coast. They first played in a friendly match against the Shooting Stars of Achimota at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Kaneshie, Accra. They lost 2:0 in the under-15 category and drew 1:1 in the under-17 division.
According to Coach Tunde Johnson, Ultimate FC could not perform creditably in Ghana due to the stress of traveling and the lack of basic needs such as training pitch and accommodation for his team. He however hoped to return to Ghana with a better prepared team to redeem the image of his team.
Jail Time for Serbian Attackers of Ghana Footballer
Finally some much-needed justice has been meted out to some ignorant fans who chanted derogatory racial messages in the stands and then proceeded to attack a football player. A Serbian court has sentenced four football fans to a total of four and a half years imprisonment for a racially-motivated attack on a Ghanaian player, Solomon Opoku.
Tricky Fixtures Await in Final Round of 2010 Qualifying
Africa’s top-ranked soccer team, Cameroon, were handed a tricky route to the 2010 World Cup after being drawn Wednesday against Morocco, Gabon, and Togo in Group A of the continent’s third and final qualifying stage. The group will also see Cameroon’s German coach Otto Pfister pit his wits against the Togo side which he coached during a chaotic 2006 World Cup campaign with players threatening to strike over allegedly unpaid bonuses.
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
-
July 14 - 17, 2010
Africa Fashion Week New York (AFWNY) in New York
USA - North East
-
March 20, 2010
FACE Africa 1st Annual Gala
USA - North East
-
March 11 -15, 2010
Sixth Annual New African Films Festival
USA - North East
-
April 10, 2010
RUNWAY LIBERIA: Silver Spring,MD
USA - North East
See more African Events | Submit Your Own
Browse by Region
- Asia (2)
- Australia (2)
- Canada (1)
- Central Africa (3)
- East Africa (9)
- South Africa (9)
- UK (15)
- USA – Mid West (4)
- USA – North East (123)
- USA – North West (3)
- USA – South East (23)
- USA – South West (5)
- USA – West Coast (5)
- West Africa (16)
- West Europe (14)
