Gabon holds Swiss for historic point

Gms: Cafonline, 28 July

African newcomers Gabon earned a hard-fought point at their first-ever Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Newcastle.

The result sees all four teams in Group B now tangled on one point apiece, setting up an interesting second match day in the section.

Nervy Gabon were made to pay for their inexperience early in the contest when Henri Ndong lunged inside his own penalty area, committing a foul and conceding a spot-kick. Admir Mehmedi stepped [...]

Sir Alex Ferguson considered bringing Drogba to Manchester United

Gms: Goal.com, Jul 26, 2012, By Joe Doyle

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he “could’ve been” tempted for a move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had the striker not been so keen on a move abroad.

Drogba completed a transfer to Shanghai Shenhua after securing the Champions League for Chelsea by scoring the winning penalty in a shootout against Bayern Munich in May, and is now set to line up against the Red Devils in a pre-season [...]

Happy birthday to you!

Gms: (FIFA.com) 23 July 2012

In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays during the coming week.

22.

Kristine Lilly (41) represented USA in the first five FIFA Women’s World Cup™ tournaments, lifting the trophy twice and finishing third on three other occasions. In total, she played thirty matches in the competition, scoring eight goals. At the Olympics, the attack-minded American picked up two gold medals and one silver. [...]

Official: Caf media director Suleiman Habuba resigns

Gms: Goal.com, Jul 19, 2012, By Juliet Bawuah

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed the resignation of its media director Suleiman Habuba.
Habuba confirmed the news to Goal.com Ghana, explaining that he resigned way back in April, but took effect from this month. Due to his rich experience in media issues across the continent, he will be a communication consultant.

Goal.com Ghana broke the news on Monday, and it has now been confirmed officially by the football governing body of [...]

All attention on “closed doors” Cairo Derby

Gms: Cafonline, 20 July

It will be the first time in over 100 year’ history that Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek face each other behind closed doors. The Cairo arch rivals clash in the 2012 Orange CAF Champions League mini league Group B, but this time the Military Academy Stadium stands will be empty as the security concerns is still an issue in the Egypt. The Day 2 fixture looks like a crucial one already for both teams, after Zamalek [...]

Jacques Anouma launches bid for Caf presidency

Gms: Goal.com, Jul 19, 2012, By Kingsley Kobo

Cote D’Ivoire’s Football Federation (FIF) on Tuesday announced its former president Jacques Anouma would be running for the president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), which is set for March 2013 during the body’s general assembly in Morocco.

The 58-year-old member of Fifa and Caf executive committees last week sought for the support of the FIF and the Ivorian sports ministry, in line with Caf’s regulations.

“The president of Cote D’Ivoire Football Federation (FIF) [...]

SPORTS: Al Ahly Shandi Makes History and Send Cottonport Out

Gms: Sudan.net, CAF – July 18

Sudanese debutants, Al Ahly Shandi beat Cottonport Garoua 2-0 to complete a historic day for the club and Sudanese football in general. Sandi’s win in the second quarter final of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup sees them through to the group stage of the competition where they join fellow Sudanese giants Al Hilal and Al Merrikh to leave Sudan with three clubs in the mini-league stage, a first in the history of the country

Al Ahly [...]

SPORTS: Draw brings history for Sudan trio

Gms: Sudan.net, AFP – July 18

Confederation of African Football (CAF) history will be created during August when three teams from the same country play each other in the group stage of a club competition for the first time. Sudanese sides Al Ahly Shandy, Al Hilal and Al Merreikh are in Group A of the CAF Confederation Cup with 2011 semi-finalists InterClube of Angola, who defeated Al Amal Atbara from the east African nation in a qualifier.

The draw means the Angolan [...]

Blatter must quit after bribe accusations, says German Football League president Rauball

Gms: Goal.com, Jul 16, 2012, By Gareth McKnight

Reinhard Rauball, the president of the German Football League (DFL), has stated that Sepp Blatter must step down from his role with Fifa after the latest scandal.
Revelations regarding Joao Havelange and Ricardo Teixeira taking as much as €11.5 million in bribes have made the press, with the Swiss executive believed to have had knowledge of the deals.

And Rauball, who is also the president of Borussia Dortmund, has called for Fifa to make [...]

Holders MAS Fes crash out as Hilal progress

Gms: Cafonline, 16 July

Holders MAS Fes have crashed out of the 2012 Orange CAF Confederation Cup whilst Sudanese giants Al Hilal joined archrivals Al Marreikh at the mini-league stage.

MAS Fes suffered a shocking 0-2 loss to Congolese side AC Leopards in Brazzaville on Saturday allowing the latter to progress into the last eight on a 2-1 aggregate whilst Hilal completed a double over Malian side Cercle de Bamako with a lone goal victory in Bamako and advance 2-0 on aggregate.

The [...]