Source: Cafonline.com

The annual CAF Awards enters its 22nd edition this year and the Awards Gala will take place Lagos, Nigeria.

On Thursday, January 9, 2013; the King of African football will be unveiled at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos; amongst the trio of Yaya Toure, past winner of the last two editions; his Ivorian counterpart Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria).

From 1992 to 2012, from Ghana’s Abedi Pele to Ivorian Toure, 14 players have laid claim to the most prestigious individual honour in African football. Eto’o has been crowned an unprecedented four times - 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010, whilst Senegalese forward, El Hadji Diouf won the award twice in succession; 2001 and 2002 just as Toure in 2011 and 2012.

Source: Cafonline.com

The road to Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2015 is about to begin with 51 of the 54 African countries registering to be involved in the qualifiers. The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee will meet January 24, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa, on the sidelines of the Orange Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) to decide on the format for the qualifiers. Morocco the host country qualifies automatically.

By Editor

Upon the expiry of the 12 month suspension period, he shall be automatically eligible to bowl in international cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that an ICC Analysis has found the bowling action of Hong Kong’s Moner Ahmed to be illegal and, as such, the player has been suspended from bowling in international cricket for a period of 12 months.
 
The ICC Analysis revealed that the amount of elbow extension in Moner’s bowling action across all deliveries (stock delivery, quicker delivery and arm ball) exceeded the 15 degrees’ level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions. As a result, he is immediately suspended from bowling in international cricket.

By: Editor

Canada has played in the ICC’s biggest event the most number of times; four times in 1979, 2003, 2007 and 2011

Top seed UAE, third seed Scotland and sixth seed Canada are the three strong contenders looking to qualify for the Super Six stage from Group A of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 (ICC CWCQ), which will be staged at seven venues from 13 January to 1 February.
 
Apart from these three sides, eighth seed Hong Kong and ninth seed Nepal are the other two sides in the group, whose matches will be played in Christchurch, Queenstown and Rangiora.
 
The UAE finished third behind Ireland and Afghanistan in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship 2011-13 (WCLC). Ireland and Afghanistan thus progressed to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (ICC CWC) from the WCLC, leaving the UAE as the highest-seeded side at the ICC CWCQ.

By: Editors

Cameroon, who were a huge hit in the 2010 edition, will play their Africa third round FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Poland 2014 qualifier in front of their own fans

Cairo, Egypt, January 6, 2014 - The African Volleyball Confederation has confirmed the dates and organizers for the third and final phase of the African qualification tournaments for the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championships, which are due to be held in Poland and Italy in September and October later this year.

Fifteen teams will be participating in the men's qualifiers and will be divided into three pools of five. The winner of each pool will secure a ticket to the finals in Poland, which will take place from September 3 to 18.

By:Editor

The inaugural U23 World Championships showed how popular age-group World Championships are

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 5, 2013 – Age-group beach volleyball players will have four chances to make an early mark on the sport in the four age-group FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that will take place in 2014.

The FIVB U23 World Championships return for a second year after a successful debut in 2013, while there is a new tournament at U17 level. In between those categories are long-time favourites, the World Championships at U19 and U21 level.

All three defending champions are eligible to defend their titles, while the inaugural champions will be decided at U17 level.

By: Joel Chirwa

Lilongwe, January 6: Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has referred back to Super League of Malawi (Sulom) Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers case against league’s Disciplinary Committee verdict that found the two clubs guilty of causing violence.

FAM Chief Executive Officer, Suzgo Nyirenda said the FA decided to refer the case back to the league governing body after noting that the clubs involved in the case  had not exhausted  all channels of resolution within the league’s structures.

“We cannot intervene into the matter at this moment because the [aggrieved] teams have not exhausted all channels of resolution of the matter.

By: Editor

The South African U20 Women’s National team (Basetsana) have vowed to up their antic when they take on Nigeria in the third and final round of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers Canada 2014.

Basetsana are among four African countries that will battle for two spots on the continent that will join the last 14 at the 2014 Edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup that will be staged between 5-24 August later this year.

Basetsana know what is at stake and will be looking to carry a positive mental attitude when they travel to the Nigeria on Thursday (9 January) for the first leg encounter that will be played at the National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday, 11 January.

By: Editor

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has called up rising Ajax Cape Town defender Thato Mokeke to replace the injured Tsepo Masilela of Kaizer Chiefs in the squad to play the Orange CAF African Nations Championship (South Africa 2014).

Mokeke is expected to join up with his compatriots tonight (Monday, 6 January 2014) at their base camp in Cape Town as he is based in the Mother City.

“Ï am very happy I now have a full squad to work with. Thato is a young and very good player. We have been keeping an eye on him for quite some time and I believe he will add to the competitiveness within the squad.

By: Editor

South Africa is the clear leader of the table with 133 ratings points

Australia’s 281-runs victory over England in the fifth and final Test in Sydney on Sunday has helped it to jump two places to third on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings Table.
 
The 5-0 series win has helped Australia gain 10 ratings points to finish on 111, six ratings points behind second-ranked India.
 
England, on the other hand, has conceded nine ratings points to end at 107, thereby moving down a place to fourth.

By: Editor

Harris at third position is now the highest-ranked bowler from Australia, with Vernon Philander at the top, followed by Dale Steyn at second place

Ryan Harris, star of Australia’s 281-runs win over England in the fifth and final Test at Sydney, has moved up two places to a career-best third in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers released on Monday.

Harris’ match haul of eight for 61, not only helped him claim the player of the match award, but also led his side to a 5-0 series whitewash.

Over the course of the Ashes series, Harris moved up three places. He gained as many as 80 ratings points from his match-winning performance at Sydney to end with a career-best 8 for 66.

By: Farai Diza

The much awaited Ram Slam T20 cricket challenge finally got underway on Sunday with all six franchises in action at Sahara Park in Newlands, Cape Town. The start of the competition coincided with the three day Cell C cricket festival.

The first match of the day featured the Dolphins against the Titans. The Dolphins got off to a terrible start losing three wickets for 34 runs in the first seven overs but they managed to turn the match around winning by eight runs.

Two of the Dolphins wickets were run out and Protea poster boy David Miller was dismissed for just one run after being caught by Mangaliso Mosehle off a Henry Davids delivery. Khaya Zondo and Vaughn Van Jaarsveld then went on a rampage bringing up 117 runs off 76 deliveries.

By:Farai Diza

Zimbabwe are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for African glory ahead of the 2014 Chan tournament in South Africa.

The Warriors have lined up a friendly against Gabon at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday were the technical team is expected to access the players. They will then round off their preparations with a friendly match against local outfit Ajax Cape Town in a practice match.

Zimbabwe had been hoping to play Libya at the National Sports Stadium in Harare but the game was cancelled after the North Africans advised that they could no longer arrive on time. Libya will also be playing at the Chan finals.

By: Editor

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has joined the world in mourning the passing away of Mozambican-born and Portugal international football great, Eusebio da Silva Ferrera who died of cardiac arrest on Sunday, 5 January 2014. He was 71.

“This is a massive loss for the game in the whole world. His exploits reverberated across the universe, especially after his 1966 showing where he helped Portugal to reach the semi-finals,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

Dr Jordaan who had a close relationship with the Portuguese forward during the 2010 World Cup hosted here in South Africa, said Eusebio’s football achievements helped many African players to make it big on professional and international leagues.

By: Editor

Bafana Bafana players have been given the afternoon off after two grueling training sessions in Cape Town on Saturday (4 January 2014) and Sunday (5 January).

They will report back for duty on Sunday evening.

Head coach Gordon Igesund took the players through their paces at the Santos training fields in Lansdowne, Cape Town and was impressed with the work.

“I am expecting the Kaizer Chiefs players tonight and we have a lot of work to do in a short space of time. At the moment we are doing the best we can but the players are looking good and raring to go. They are really working hard because they are aware of what is expected of them. They look very confident, and it would be great for the rest of the players to join up with the national team so I can work with the full team,” said Igesund after Sunday’s training session.

By: Farai Diza

Hosts of the 2014 Chan Championship, South Africa are cautious of the danger imposed by Nigeria at the tournament as the Super Eagles aim to lift the cup ahead of the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

Bafana Bafana have to bet Nigeria in the group stages if they are to have any real chances of progressing to the quarter finals. The two heavy weights were drawn together in Group A in the preliminary stage in Cape Town alongside Mali and Mozambique in what analysts have professed that it is a tight group.

Bafana coach Gordon Igesund told the local media that he is worried about the threat that Nigeria may pose to his side as he knows little about the squad that Stephen Keshi has assembled.

Source: cafonline.com

The Local Organizing Committee has welcome with enthusiasm the announcement made by SAFA that the South African team. Bafana Bafana, is now fully complemented and ready to compete at the 3rd Orange African Nations Championship, SOUTH AFRICA 2014.

The conclusion of the Bafana Bafana national squad, and the team's arrival at their designated host city, now adds to a total of 6 teams who now have arrived for the Orange CHAN 2014 which kicks off on 11 January till 1 February 2014. Commenting on the amicable conclusion of the national squad the LOC CEO, Mr. Mvuzo Mbebe, said: "it has always been our resolve and belief as the LOC that we have full confidence that 16 nations participating at this tournament will select their best squad for this competition. We therefore welcome Bafana Bafana as they join Mali, Mozambique and Nigeria in Group A".

By: Sahr Morris Jr

Nigeria`s Super Falcons will resume training camp on Jan 13th ahead of the 2014 African Women Championship ( AWC) qualifiers against Sierra Leone’s Sierra Queens.

According to the Nigeria football governing body, NFF, Director of Competition Sanusi Mohammed, the Super Falcons will return to training camp on January 13 for the 2014 AWC qualifiers against Sierra Leone with 30 players.

By: Sahr Morris Jr

Sierra Leonean striker, Mohamed Poborsky Bangura will be returning to Scotland champions, Celtic following a successful loan spell with former Swedish champions IF Elfsborg.

The striker who has six months remaining on his contract was sent on loan for a full season but will return to his parent club as coach Neil Lennon looks forward to ease his striking woes with the services of Bangura. 

The striker was back training with the Hoops on Friday after his spell with IF Elfsborg who do not plan on signing him back, either on loan or on a permanent deal.

Source: cafonline.com

The momentum for the 2014 Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN) is gradually building up with the arrival of five teams for the tournament.

The quintet consists of DR Congo, Gabon, Libya, Mali and Mauritania; with the others expected before the opener on Saturday, January 11 in Cape Town.

The Congolese, winners of the maiden edition of the tournament designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues in 2009 (in Cote d’Ivoire), were the first team to touch down, arriving in Johannesburg on December 29 last year.

Source: cafonline.com

It is with great emotion and great sadness that CAF President, Issa Hayatou, on Sunday, 5 January 2014, learnt of the death Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, known worldwide as ‘Eusebio’.

Of African origin and born in Mozambique to be precise, he made his name in the late 60’s and 70’s with Benfica and the Portuguese national team. These exploits earned him the European Footballer of the Year award in 1965.

Source: FIFA.com

The death of Eusebio on Sunday has robbed the football world of one of its greatest idols. Born in Mozambique, the Black Panther enjoyed an outstanding career, becoming Benfica’s leading all-time goalscorer and playing an inspirational part in Portugal’s third place finish at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England™.

An ambassador for Benfica and FIFA, the legendary striker died at the age of 71 as a result of heart failure, a sad loss that prompted many warm tributes to one of the game’s true greats. FIFA.com rounds up just some of the heartfelt reactions to his death.

By: FIFA.com

Portuguese football legend Eusebio, who was the top scorer in the 1966 FIFA World Cup™, has died at the age of 71, his former club Benfica confirmed.

The Mozambican-born Eusebio died of a heart-attack at 0430 GMT, the club said. Eusebio, the 1965 European Footballer of the Year, is considered one of the best footballers of all time and best ever from Portugal.

By: Editor

SAFA is happy to report that it has reached agreement with Bidvest Wits FC on the release of players to participate in the 2014 African Nations Championship Final Tournament (2014 CHAN).

 

Following a very fruitful discussion with the club, SAFA has asked the Premier Soccer League to adjust the fixtures of 3 / 4 February 2014 for those teams whose players are included in the Bafana Bafana squad.

"We are extremely grateful to the club for their patriotism and continued support of the national team" says SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan. "Our gratitude goes out to Mr Brian Joffe and Mr Jose Ferreira of Bidvest Wits FC for their long-standing unstinting support of the national team. They have always made their players available for the national team, even during times when their program was quite congested," he continued.

By: Editor

SAFA is happy to report that it has reached an agreement with Kaizer Chiefs FC on the release of players to participate in the 2014 African Nations Championship tournament (2014 CHAN).

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, said there will be no sanction against any team as no rule has been violated by anyone.

The Association on Friday held very constructive discussions with Kaizer Chiefs FC regarding the release of players. The two parties agreed that Kaizer Chiefs FC will release the players as discussed between the coaches of the national team and Kaizer Chiefs FC. Players will join the National Team over the next 24 hours to ensure that Bafana Bafana has a full strength squad by Sunday, 5 January 2013.