Sports
2011: A Year To Remember In African Football
If 2010 was the ‘Year of Africa’ in football circles, it will be remembered for a spirited celebration of the FIFA World Cup that left little room for much of the pre-event doubts. The successful hosting of the tournament was a timely boost for the continent’s image in the eyes of the global community, and never before have Africans spoken so fondly of their region, which can now proudly point to their capacity and ability in staging the event. For South Africa, it offered a chance to change perceptions and greet the world like few others have before.
In football terms, Africa remains at a crossroads, threatening to push on and become more of a world force but at the same time under threat of being turned back. With six representatives at the FIFA World Cup for the first time, 2010 offered an opportunity to make a stronger bid for success, but results on the pitch were mixed.
Egypt failed to reach South Africa 2010 after a bitter play-off defeat by Algeria in 2009, but in 2010 they kept up a remarkable continental run that has now seen them win an unprecedented three CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournaments on the trot. The Pharaohs were rarely even threatened and brushed aside all comers with six wins out of six in Angola.
The vanquished team in the ultimate match at the Cup of Nations was an injury-hit Ghana, coached by Milovan Rajevac. But the emergence of a young Ghanaian generation built around 2009’s FIFA U-20 World Cup success and the consistent goalscoring of Asamoah Gyan were a harbinger of things to come. The most successful African team at the ‘African World Cup,’ the Black Stars stunned Serbia in their first match after a late Gyan penalty and rode Gyan’s extra-time goal past the USA in the second round. Those wins allowed Ghana to match the feat of Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) in reaching the last eight at the World Cup.
Although South Africa became the first host nation not to make it past the first round of the World Cup, Bafana Bafana gave their supporters a farewell gift in the form of a 2-1 victory over former champions France in boisterous Bloemfontein. Elimination on goal difference could not take away the pride of the nation or the memories of the vuvuzela.
Nigeria were runners-up at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this year, which is further than any African women have ever gone at a FIFA tournament. Their most important victory was a penalty shootout win over defending champions United States in the quarter-final, a round that the Falconets had fallen at in the previous three tournaments.
At club level, the FIFA Club World Cup offers the only forum for Africa to match itself up against the rest of the world, and after years of disappointing results, TP Mazembe Englebert became the first side from outside of Europe or South America to reach the final of the event after besting Brazilian opposition Internacional 2-0 in the semi-final.
Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o had a disappointing World Cup along with the rest of his national team, who finished bottom of their group without a point. Nonetheless, his exploits with all-conquering European club side Inter Milan were enough for him to win a record fourth CAF Africa Player of the Year Award.
Breakout stars
Egyptian striker Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagui was the revelation of the Cup of Nations in Angola. Having scored just once previously for the Pharaohs, Gedo managed five goals in five appearances as a substitute, including the late winner in the final.
Still only 25, Asamoah Gyan will surely see 2010 as the most significant year in his short career. After scoring three goals at the Cup of Nations, including two match-winners, Gyan still came to the World Cup with some questioning his ability to lead the line. But in the absence of talismanic captain Michael Essien, Gyan was Ghana’s inspiration, scoring three goals and embodying the team’s lively confidence.
Gyan was joined on the Ghana team by a fantastic collection of promising talents, notably midfielders Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah, 21 and 22 years old respectively. Ayew, the son of Abedi Pele, was named a finalist for the Hyundai Best Young Player Award at the World Cup, while Asamoah picked up CAF’s Most Promising Talent Award at the end of the year.
Unforgettable moments
Siphiwe Tshabalala’s fantastic goal opened not only the World Cup but South Africa’s campaign as hosts in style. It seemed like it might carry them through a difficult group, but although they fell at the first hurdle, this moment alone left a taste of triumph in the mouth.
Three weeks after Tshabalala’s goal, Soccer City witnessed another moment for the ages. Just minutes after he had blazed over from the spot in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay – a miss that would have made Ghana the first African team to reach the semi-final of a World Cup – Gyan converted Ghana’s first attempt in the post-match shootout. Although the Black Stars were eliminated moments later, it was a spectacularly brave display by the gutted striker and a worthy memory for the watching continent.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.