CECAFA U-15 in Eritrea: Kenya vs. Rwanda, Uganda vs. Burundi [Semi-finals]

Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban

Semi-final fixtures at the Council for East and Central African Football Associations, CECAFA, under 15 championships, will be played on Wednesday (August 28) in the Eritrean capital Asmara.

East Africans sweep slots

Rwanda FA

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#CECAFAU15Tournament

Semi-final Pairing
Wednesday, August 28
Kenya vs Rwanda
Uganda vs Burundi @RwandaOlympic @MINISPOC @CAF_Online @cecafafootball @FIFAcom #Eritrea2019

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Per the calculations of Group A, Kenya and Burundi qualified for the semi finals with Kenya bagging 10 points to top the group whiles Burundi came second with 10 points by virtue of goal difference.

In Group B, Uganda topped the group with 12 points whiles Rwanda got nine points to finish second.

The four teams will return to action on Wednesday (August 28) with semi-final clashes. The final has been scheduled for August 30, 2019, in Asmara.

Hosts Eritrea stuttered on day one as they failed to win their fixture against Burundi. The East Africans prevailed 2 – 1 in the game.

The Eritrean team, however, redeemed their chances on Day 5 (August 20) beating neighbouring Sudan emphatically by 6 – 0.

Eritrea went on to lose by 2 – 1 to Kenya in a game that was billed a do or die affair. Whiles in the battle of the whipping boys, Somalia put two unanswered goals past Sudan on Day 7.

Match Day results:

DAY 10 (August 25)
Ethiopia vs. Tanzania 1 – 3
Rwanda vs. Uganda 0 – 3

DAY 9 (August 25)
Burundi vs. Sudan 4 – 0
Somalia vs. Eritrea 1 – 1

DAY 8 (August 23) 
Tanzania vs. Rwanda 1 – 2
Uganda vs. South Sudan 5 – 0

DAY 7 (August 22) 
Eritrea vs. Kenya 1 – 2
Somalia vs. Sudan 2 – 0

DAY 6 (August 21)
Tanzania vs. South Sudan 6 – 0
Rwanda vs. Ethiopia 3 – 0

DAY 5 (August 20)
Kenya vs. Burundi 1 – 1
Sudan vs. Eritrea 0 – 6

DAY 4 (August 19)
Tanzania vs. Uganda 0 – 2
South Sudan vs. Ethiopia 1 – 1

DAY 3 (August 18)
Sudan vs. Kenya 0 – 4
Burundi vs. Somalia 2 – 1

DAY 2 (August 17)
Rwanda vs. South Sudan 3 – 0
Uganda vs. Ethiopia 3 – 0

DAY 1 (August 16)
Kenya vs. Somalia 3 – 1
Eritrea vs. Burundi 1 – 2

East African dominance:

East African sides have proven superior as the fixtures enters Day 6 (August 21). Burundi, Kenya and Uganda have won their first two fixtures booking qualification for the next round. Kenya and Burundi played a one-all draw on Tuesday.

The tournament kicked off on August 16 and is expected to end on September 1. Sides that have struggled include South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania.

Even though reports indicated that Djibouti were due to participate, that did not happen and groups were reconfigured into two of five teams each.

Group breakdown of competing teams:

Group A – Eritrea, Kenya, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan
Group B – Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania

Natti@nattiyebio

#CECAFAU15 #Eritrea
Photos from Eritrea's resounding 6-0 win over Sudan.

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Ethiopian lads made history with outing

Despite being the first major tournament Eritrea is hosting, history was made by the Ethiopian lads who lost their first match last Saturday against Uganda 3 – 0.

They became the first Ethiopian team to play in Asmara in over two decades – the period during which both countries were engaged in a border row. Incidentally, none of those boys were born when the war broke out in 1998.

They attained the feat after a friendly match planned for Asmara between the two senior sides failed to hold last year.

According to CECAFA General Secretary, Nicholas Musonye, the aim of the tournament is to develop talents at the grassroot level which is the basic stage in the development of a player.

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Kenya’s Ulinzi stars beat Burundi in EAC Military Games match

Kennedy Langat

Kenya’s Ulinzi stars kicked off their 2019 East Africa Community Military games campaign on a high note beating Burundi 4-0 in the soccer match which was played Tuesday at the Kasarani stadium.

The games which started Tuesday brings together military teams from Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Kenya and will compete in football, basketball, netball, volleyball, and cross-country. Kenya will be represented in all five disciplines.

Kenya’s ladies team will compete in cross country, volleyball and netball while their male counterparts will challenge in cross country as well as football and basketball.

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Gor take on Burundi’s Aigle Noir in crucial tie

By Rodgers Eshitemi

Gor Mahia Kenneth Muguna reacts in past action.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Steven George Polack hopes to get a winning start at Gor Mahia when the record Kenyan champions battle Burundi’s Aigle Noir CS in the first leg of CAF Champions League preliminary round at Urukundo Stadium, Ngozi, today.

The 58-year-old English-Finnish tactician was unveiled on Thursday in Nairobi after the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Hassan Oktay.

Just like Polack, Kenyan international Kenneth Muguna will also be aiming to begin his captaincy at Gor on a positive note.

Muguna is expected to wear the armband after succeeding Harun Shakava, who moved to Zambian giants Nkana a few weeks ago.

While Oktay led K’Ogalo to their 18th unprecedented Kenyan Premier League title and historic Confederation Cup quarter-finals last season, Polack guided Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko to the group stages of the second-tier competition of African club football.

The winner on aggregate, in a fortnight time, will battle with either USM Alger of Algeria or Niger’s SONIDEP in the next round.

Though Polack put on a brave face as he explained his past experiences, the former Bertekum Chelsea coach said he knows something about the Burundian side thanks to video analysis.

“I have already seen a few highlights of the Burundian side. So, I have an idea of who they are. I have had a few training sessions with the team and it’s my hope that we will get it right,” said Polack.

“But remember, this is not the first time I am coming right on the job. This is something that I have done before and I am used to it.

“Of course, it will not be easy, but I would like to be always number one in everything I do. Hopefully, we will be very competitive and by God’s blessings we will bring victory back home.”

Even though Polack will have to do without seven key players due to various reasons, he insisted that his mission is to restore Gor Mahia’s lost glory at the continental level.

The trio of Ghanaian Francis Afriyie, Ivorian Gislein Yikpe and Maurice Ojwang have been ruled out due to late registration while Dennis Oliech, Curtis Wekesa and Philemon Otieno are nursing injuries. Defensive midfielder Ernest Wendo is still on suspension.

“Everywhere I have gone especially in Africa, I have left a mark to remind people that I was there. Some clubs have even gone ahead to call me to go back there again which is a great honour. That’s why I believe I will leave a mark on this great club when my time to leave reaches,’’ he said.

“Gor Mahia have won everything locally and what is remaining is to conquer Africa. I am here to do that with them.”

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Turkish company constructs Rwanda’s indoor stadium

KIGALI- Anadolu Agency

Rwanda inaugurated a new events and indoor sports facility Friday that was constructed by Turkish construction company Summa.

The record six-month constriction boast a multi-purpose facility in Kigali that is arguably among the top 10 largest indoor venues in Africa and the biggest in the Eastern Africa region.

The state-of-the-art 10,000-seat complex will host major sporting and cultural events, including basketball, tennis and volleyball as well as conferences, meetings and concerts, according to the Rwandan Sports Ministry.

Chief Technical Officer for the project, Ugur Murat Altun, told the media ahead of Friday’s launch that construction was completed July 5 after starting Jan. 18.

President Paul Kagame inaugurated the facility and commended the Turkish contractor for completing the project in record time without compromising quality.

“I want to thank those who built this arena, Summa Company of Turkey, who built this arena in only six months. They worked day and night. And that is how we should all learn to work: fast and producing quality,” said Kagame.

He also commended the President of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri who reportedly brought the idea of developing basketball to Africa and advanced it with the league’s commissioner, Adam Silver.

The Rwandan leader noted the new facility should not just be a decoration in the city because it was built to host the best basketball players in Rwanda and Africa- to train, play and win games.

The complex sits on 301,00 square feet (28,000 square meters) with a parking lot for more than 600 vehicles.

It features 13 eateries, six changing rooms, a fitness center, a media hall and a doping control room.

“This is a great asset to Rwanda’s sports,” basketball enthusiast Jonah Munyagishari told Anadolu Agency. “Rwandans, especially youth, should take advantage of this facility to develop their sports talents.”

The construction of the area offered jobs to 1,700 workers, 70 percent were Rwandans and the rest from Turkey, according to the country’s sports authority.

The arena is scheduled to host the 2021 FIBA Men's Africa Basketball Championship. 

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Alex Iwobi now Nigeria’s costliest player ever after £35 million move to Everton

By 

Calista Jacob-Akpan

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi has become Nigeria’s top record signing and costliest player following his dramatic £35m (€37.9m) shock transfer deadline day switch to Everton from Arsenal.

In a surprising move which only came to the fore during the week, Everton succeeded in prising away Iwobi from Arsenal with the deal formaly announced few hours after 7pm deadline yesterday for transfers in England.

The Nigeria international who recently featured in his debut Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt where he won the bronze medal with the Eagles has overtaken compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho who moved from Manchester City to Leicester City for €27.7 million.

The 23-year old who started his professional football career with Arsenal in 2004 spent seven seasons at the Emirates before his switch to Everton.

Iwobi now sits atop Nigeria’s Top-20 list of most expensive players whose transfer fee hit the double digits as given below:

1.Alex Iwobi – Arsenal to Everton – €37.9m (£35m)
2. Kelechi Iheanacho – Man City to Leicester City – €27.7 million
3.Odion Ighalo – Watford to Changchun Yatai- €23.3m
4.Obi Mikel – Lyn Oslo to Chelsea – €20m
5.Ahmed Musa – CSKA to Leicester – €19.5m
7.Wilfred Ndidi – Genk to Leicester – €17.6m
7.Yakubu Aiyegbeni – Middlesbrough to Everton – €16.5m
8.Obafemi Martins – Inter to Newcastle – €16m
9.Isaac Success – Granada to Watford – €15m
10.Emmanuel Emenike – Spartak to Fenerbahce – €13m
11.Brown Ideye – Dynamo Kiev to WBA – €12.63m
12.Austin Okocha – Fenerbahce to PSG – €12.4
13.Taribo West – Auxerre to Inter – €12m
14. Victor Osimhen – Sporting Charleroi – Lille €12m
15..Victor Moses – Wigan to Chelsea – €11.5m
16.Anthony Ujah – Werder to Liaoning FC – €11.5m
17.Obafemi Martins – Newcastle to Wolfsburg – €10.5m
18.Sunday Oliseh – Ajax to Juventus – €10m
19.John Utaka – Rennes to Portsmouth – €10m
20.Peter Odemwingie- Lille to Lok Moscow – €10m
20.Finidi George – Ajax to Real Betis – €10m

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Vincent Enyeama begins career comeback with French club

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Enyeama begins career comeback with Dijon after French offers him a trial in his quest to sign a contract.

The 36-year-old CAF Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations winner have not played competitive football since April 2017 and since he left Lille at the end of his contract in 2018, and is set to prove his fitness in an attempt to earn a deal ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Enyeama will train with the France Ligue 1 club between Friday until the end of the month before coach Stéphane Jobard will then decide whether to offer ex-Nigeria international who is keen on a route back to football, a deal read a statement from the club website.

Former Israeli Footballer of the Year holds the most appearances [101] alongside Joseph Yobo in Super Eagles history.

Enyeama started his career at Ibom Stars, Enyimba, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Lille

Arsenal agree stunning £72 million deal for Nicolas Pepe

Arsenal have reached an agreement with French club Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe in a deal worth 80m euros (£72m).

The Gunners will pay for the 24-year-old via a series of instalments that suit their restricted budget for this summer.

An agreement between Arsenal and Pepe’s representatives still needs to be finalised.

But the transfer is expected to be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Italian side Napoli also met Lille’s asking price, but their proposal was rejected by the player’s camp.

Pepe tends to operate on the right wing and cut in on to his left foot, but can also be used as a striker in a 4-4-2 formation.

He scored 23 goals for Lille last season and satisfies Arsenal’s need for a wide player with pace and high technical ability.

Arsenal offered £40m for Crystal Palace’s Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha earlier this month, but their Premier League rivals value the player at about £80m.

Nicolas Pépé to decide on his future with four clubs in the running

Four clubs are in the running to sign Lille sensation Nicolas Pépé with the player now set to make a decision on where his future lies.

Pépé was one of the breakout stars in Ligue 1 last season, netting 22 goals in all competitions and earning admiring glances from sides all over Europe.

La Voix du Nord, who are the local paper in Lille, say that four sides are now battling it out to land the forward, with each side having agreed an €80m fee with Les Dogues.

Apparently it’s Liverpool, Manchester United, Napoli and Inter who Pépé will have to decide between, with his agent’s commission believed to play a huge part in where the 24-year-old ends up.

It’s claimed the representatives want €5m, a fee well above the usual rate.

Either way, it looks as if Pépé has played his last game for Lille and will make a decision on his next club soon.

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FIFA ranking: Nigeria move up 33rd

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up 12 spots in the July FIFA ranking, to place 33rd in the world after winning bronze at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations tournament. 


In the ranking table released by the world football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria garnered 1, 481 points as against 1, 433 it had in June to place 45th. 

The movement has now placed Nigeria as the third in Africa behind Senegal and Tunisia, who are 20th and 29th in the world, respectively. 

African champions Algeria (40th, up 28) are the biggest mover in the July edition by ranks and points (up 117), while fellow finalists, Senegal (20th, up 2) did not make a huge leap but reached their best-ever ranking position. 

AFCON surprise quarter-finalists, Madagascar (96th, up 12) and Benin (82nd, up 6) saw their continental performances rewarded with a ranking rise. 

On the global scene, new South American champions, Brazil (2nd, up 1) leapfrogged France (3rd, down 1) in second place and trail leaders Belgium by a narrow margin of 20 points. 

Other sides in Copa America action improved their ranking positions substantially. 

Quarter-finalists Uruguay (5th, up 3), Colombia (8th, up 5) and Venezuela (26th, up 7) – who reached their best-ever ranking position after their run to the last eight. 

Bronze-medalists, Argentina (10th, up 1) complete a quartet of South American teams in the top 10.

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Cameroon striker Njie signs for Dynamo Moscow

Njie

Cameroon international Clinton Njie has completed his transfer from Marseille to Dynamo Moscow, the Russian Premier League side announced on Thursday.

“Clinton Njie to Dynamo!!! Today, the Cameroon forward signed a contract with our club for four years,” Dynamo Moscow wrote on their Twitter account, adding that he will wear the number nine shirt.

The transfer fee has not been made public. The 25-year-old began his career at Lyon. After an unsuccessful two-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur, he joined Marseille, initially on loan, in 2016.

Njie first played for Cameroon in 2014 and was a part of their squad in the recent Africa Cup of Nations, scoring in their last 16 defeat by Nigeria.

FIFA’s African football takeover plan set for court challenge

FIFA’s plan to take over the running of African football is set to face a possible roadblock, with an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) saying he will challenge the decision in court.

Hasan Bility, who is from Liberia and a CAF executive committee member for last two years, said he will ask the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport to declare invalid the agreement by which FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura will be sent on a secondment to overhaul the African governing body.

Mr Bility said he also wants to ask the court to compel CAF to start a forensic audit of its finances, which he said the executive committee had previously agreed to, but CAF president Ahmad Ahmad then stalled.

CAF is in crisis following corruption allegations against Ahmad which he has denied.

Mr Ahmad was reported in March to FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged corruption and harassment by c general secretary Amr Fahmy. Mr Fahmy was then fired.

Mr Ahmad was detained in June by French police in Paris where he was questioned over a sportswear deal between CAF and a French company, in which the African body is said to have paid exorbitant prices for equipment it could have got much cheaper directly from the manufacturers.

In a statement released to the media on Monday, former Liberian Football Association president Bility said Mr Ahmad must resign and the proposed FIFA takeover be cancelled.

“In an attempt to salvage CAF from imminent implosion and irreversible reputational damage, FIFA proposed a poorly conceptualised and worse executed agreement,” Bility said.

“Logically, and in a sane world, the acquiescence by the CAF leadership that they have been unable to manage their own affairs ought to have been followed by quick resignation of its top leaders.

“It is clear to me and many others that the agreement as currently structured has the sole purpose of shielding and cleansing CAF President Ahmad from the crimes he has committed – financial impropriety, sexual harassment and nepotism.”

FIFA has confirmed there is an ethics investigation into Mr Ahmad, although he was yet to be sanctioned.

Mr Ahmad has not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment on the specific allegations against him.

Mr Bility also claimed FIFA President Gianni Infantino has seized on the opportunity to get rid of his secretary-general.

“Infantino has thus seized this opportunity to offer Fatma a ‘golden parachute’ into a confederation job to pave the way for her eventual replacement at the helm of FIFA,” he said.

FIFA on Monday told Reuters it had no further comment to add to last week’s release of an 11-point road map to help African football.

Infantino claimed last week that the unprecedented move to step in and administer African football would “significantly improve” the sport in the continent.

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