The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CAF

  • CAF draft Aminu to AYC XI

    CAF draft Aminu to AYC XI

    CAF have picked Flying Eagles striker Umar Aminu for the 2013 AYC XI after they admitted a mistake for overlooking the tournament top scorer.

    CAF technical director Abdel Moniem Hussein specially informed MTNFootball.com that Aminu has now been picked for the tournament XI for the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    “The tournament XI was picked before the final round of matches but with Aminu finishing as top scorer, he has to be included in the team. He’s a very talented player and he deserves his nomination,” said Hussein, who is better known as Shatta.

    It is believed that Ghana striker Ebenezer Assifuah, who along with Hamid Mahmoud of Egypt finished as second leading scorers at the U20 championship with three goals apiece.

    Wikki Tourists striker Aminu top scored at the AYC with four goals to succeed compatriot Uche Nwofor, who was Goal king at the 2011 edition of the tournament in South Africa. Aminu has attracted overseas interest since his exploits in Algeria.

    The 18-year-old striker has said Club Africain of Tunisia as well as a host of Turkish clubs have approached him.

  • Maigari: No hard feelings after CAF polls loss

    Maigari: No hard feelings after CAF polls loss

    NFF president Aminu Maigari has said he has no hard feelings after he lost a chance to be on the executive committee of CAF after a run-off.

    The Vice President of CAF’s West B zone and member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, Maigari on Sunday gave his opponents a serious fight before losing to Beninoise official, Moucharafou Anjorin, in a second vote.

    However, while the Nigerian football boss said he is not bitter with his defeat, he maintained CAF should now strive to entrench a system that will allow the finest to emerge to run the game on the continent.

    “I wish to start by thanking the federal government and good people of Nigeria for backing me all the way in this election. I specially thank the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, NFF executive committee and management, the media and all those who supported the campaign,” Maigari said.

    “The poll was an experience and I have no hard feelings. That’s what life is all about. You learn every day. I am proud of the campaign we conducted. But it is time that African football begins to put in place a structure that will allow the best to emerge on to the CAF Executive Committee.

    “Nigeria football is big, not only because we are the current champions of Africa at both junior and senior levels, but also as a result of what we have achieved in the past, on and off-the-field. It is my considered view that Nigeria should always be considered for a seat on the Executive Committee.”

    At the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in the Moroccan city, the NFF President polled 17 votes in the first round as against 27 for Anjorin and only nine for Hima Souley, a former president of the Niger Football Federation.

    However, as CAF rules stipulated that simple majority would be 28 votes, Anjorin failed to emerge as outright winner in the first round and a run-off was called between himself and Maigari.

    A lot of serious politicking and horse-trading went on in the auditorium before the second round, which Maigari lost 19-35.

    Chairman of the NFF media and publicity committee, Emeka Inyama, who was also at the elections, said: “There should be a new way of conducting these polls. The best people should emerge. I really cannot understand why someone like Maigari, president of Nigeria FA, and Danny Jordaan of South Africa, who organised the best FIFA World Cup finals ever, should not win seats on the CAF executive committee.

    “We even have it on good authority that some Nigerians worked against the candidacy of Aminu Maigari, day and night. They did everything to sabotage his candidacy. It is unfortunate and unpatriotic.”

  • Pitroipa cleared for AFCON final

    Pitroipa cleared for AFCON final

    The Confederation of African Football has cleared Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria, futaa.com reports.

    The continent’s football governing body on Friday overturned the decision of center referee Slim Jdidi who sent off the Burkinabe talisman with a second booking in Wednesday’s semi-final victory over Ghana that ended in a penalty shoot-out.

    CAF’s disciplinary committee rose from a meeting on Friday to announce Pitroipa’s clearance following the referee’s admission of a wrong decision.

    The Rennes midfielder will therefore be available for selection on Sunday and the latest development will come as a big boost for the team and the Burkina Faso football fans back home.

    It could be recalled that CAF on Thursday suspended the Tunisian referee for his below-par performance in the semi final clash between the two West African nations.

     

  • AFCON: Hayatou happy with refereeing

    AFCON: Hayatou happy with refereeing

    The Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou, has admitted that referee Slim Jedidi, who took control of the African Nations Cup semifinal between Ghana and Burkina Faso, did not produce the best performance, but said the body’s officials are happy with the officiating overall.

    “Everybody saw this referee did not perform well, but the Secretary General has told me the referee wrote a letter to say he was mistaken,” said Hayatou, before touching on the topic of the Jonathan Pitroipa dismissal which would result in the Burkina Faso player missing the final.

    “The case will refer to the disciplinary commission to make the decision today (Friday). At this point we cannot comment on what will happen,” added the president.

    “But the referee said he recognised his mistake and acknowledged it. Again I say, this matter will be dealt with by the disciplinary commission and the decision will be made today.”

    MTNFootball.com reports that Pitroipa’s Burkina Faso teammates have pleaded with CF to overturn the red card, based on video footage, and allow their star player to be available for the cup final.

    Nonetheless, despite this acknowledgement of guilt by Jedidi and wide spread criticism of the overall officiating at AFCON 2013, President Hayatou is happy with the officials and their performances.

    “On the whole in CAF we are satisfied with African refereeing, for this tournament we experienced some errors, especially the one between Burkina Faso and Ghana.

    “We have noticed some deficiencies, but on the whole African refereeing is good and we are satisfied during the tournament,” concluded Hayatou.

     

  • NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    NIGERIA VS ZAMBIA REFEREE: CAF expels Gehad

    Sequel to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)’s threat of protesting against the biased officiating of the center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia match in Mboembela, Nelspruit on Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Committee on Referees has sent packing Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match.

    The Super Eagles versus defending Champions Chipolopolo match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the equalizing goal for the Southern Africans was the result of a questionable spot kick call by the referee Gehad, who replays showed, had wrongly adjudged SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Ogenyi Onazi as having held the arms of a goal-bound Zambian attacker in the 83rd minute of the game.

    A very competent source close to CAF told SportingLife under condition of anonymity that the referee has been sent back to his home country, Egypt.

    “The center referee that officiated the Nigeria versus Zambia second group match that ended in a 1-1 score draw has been sent packing.

    “The Egyptian referee, Grisha Gehad, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. Ghead, who was in charge of the match between Nigeria and Zambia has been sent packing. He was sent home because of his mishandling of the match”, the source told SportingLife.

    “The penalty call by the referee was wrong. If there was a foul, it was definitely outside the 18-yard box and not a penalty. Referees are not allowed to re-write the rules of the game”, a top CAF executive member was quoted as saying by the source.

  • NFF protests poor officiating to CAF

    NFF protests poor officiating to CAF

    The Nigeria Football Federation has officially written to the Confederation of African Football over the refereeing in Friday’s game against Zambia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    NFF had earlier complained about the officiating during Super Eagles’ opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.

    The Nigerians also felt they were victims of controversial refereeing in Friday’s game against African champions, Zambia in Nelspruit, Supersport.com reports.

    Egyptian referee, Gehad Grisha penalised SS Lazio man, Ogenyi Onazi for a perceived foul on Emmanuel Mayuka with television replays showing that there was little contact from the Nigerian midfielder.

    The replays also showed that the foul also happened outside the box.

     

  • AFCON: CAF Hammer falls on Ethiopia

    AFCON: CAF Hammer falls on Ethiopia

    The Confederation of African Football has fined Ethiopia’s Football Federation $10,000 after the team’s fans hurled vuvuzela’s and other missiles onto the pitch during Monday’s 1-1 draw with Zambia at the African Cup of Nations, futaa.com reports.

    Ethiopia’s return to AFCON after over three decades absence has been marred with poor disciplinary record, a situation which prompted the Confederation of African Football to slam a heavy fine on the East African country.

    During Monday’s match, the Ethiopian keeper was red-carded for committing a serious foul against his Zambian opponent and he will miss the team’s next two matches against Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

     

  • CAF picks 2013 tournament song

    CAF picks 2013 tournament song

    THE AFRICA Football Confederation (CAF) has picked the song ‘Sela-Sela’ (Dance Together) by the international artists Wes Madiko and Zahra Universe as the official song of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, tagged South Africa 2013.

    The U.S. media company On-Spot Enterprises, through its record label Arusa Music Entertainment, will handle all the various steps until the release of the single, a local PR firm told the press on Saturday.

    “It is our goal to make the official song of the Africa Football Cup of Nations be heard around the world to share in the challenges, triumphs, and spirit of community that comes with the sport of football. And especially in this, the largest tournament of football on the African continent,” says Rod On Jr, Chief Executive Officer and president of On-Spot Enterprises.

    The song, ‘Sela-Sela’, has lyrics in English and Bantu and talks about the celebration and joy among all people, breaking down barriers that would hinder peace and unity.

    It is a mix of many genres including pop, electro-house, dance, R&B, and African, making it very appealing to a wide range of listeners worldwide.

    The continental tournament kicks off Jan. 19, with an opening match between host South Africa and Cape Verde.

  • CAF exco post Maigari seeks to replace Adamu

    CAF exco post Maigari seeks to replace Adamu

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Aminu Maigari will contest for a place on the CAF executive committee next year.

    According to CAF, Maigari is one of three candidates who will seek to replace outgoing Amos Adamu at next year’s ordinary general assembly. The other candidates to contest against Maigari are Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharafou and his Niger counterpart, Hima Souley.

    Maigari is on his second-term on the executive committee of the NFF. The vacancy is for West Africa B, which has Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger.

    CAF president Issa Hayatou is the only candidate for his position at the next general assembly, while South Africa’s Danny Jordan will again attempt to get on the CAF board after he failed to do so previously.

    Hayatou was first elected CAF boss in 1988.

     

  • CAF National Team of the year award Super Eagles missing

    CAF National Team of the year award Super Eagles missing

    • Chipolopolo lead nominations
    • Afcon debutants Cape verde make list

    Super Eagles’ group opponents in the AFCON 2013 in South Africa, the Chipolopolo of Zambia, have been nominated for this year’s CAF National Team of the year award.

    Not surprisingly, Stephen Keshi’s boys were not named. Other national teams that did make the list include Nations Cup finalists Cote d’ Ivoire, Central African Republic (CAR) and AFCON debutants Cape Verde who are scheduled to face host South Africa in the opener on January 19.

    The nominees released by the Confederation of African football (CAF) for the award billed for December 20th in Accra Ghana, is coming just a few days after a shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year was released with Eagles trio Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and John Utaka missing.

    In the Women’s National Team of the Year, recently crowned African Women’s Champions, Equatorial Guinea will slug it out with Ghana’s U-17 side that finished third in this year’s FIFA World Cup and Nigeria’s Super Falcons for the honours.

    Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Senegalese young striker, Pape Moussa Konate and Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama have been nominated for the Most Promising Talent.

    CAF will announce the top three nominees in each category of the Year and by late December after the voting by CAF relevant Standing Committees, namely the Media, Technical and Football committees.