Sports

Africans Go Goal-Wire In Europe

Published

14 years ago

October 10, 2012

With three hattricks by Ivory Coast’s Wilfried Bony in
Holland Algeria’s Sarber Khalifa in France, and Nigeria’s Derrick Ogbu in
Belgium and braces from Guinea Bissau’s Ivanildo Cassama in Portugal and
Algeria’s El-Arbi Soudani, African strikers painted European leagues with goals
at the weekend. In

France

Gabon striker, Pierre Aubameyang continued his fine form for
Saint Etienne by scoring another goal at the weekend in his side’s 4-0 win over
10-man Nancy.

He is now the league’s joint-third highest goal scorer with
five goals. Nigeria’s Simon Zenke was sent-off in the 68th minute for Nancy,
who have lost seven out of their eight games so far this season.

Despite leading at half-time, reigning champions Montpellier
lost 3-2 to Evian, with Tunisia striker Saber Khalifa scored a hat-trick
including an 89th minute winner.

Khalifa has also scored five league goals this season.
Senegal striker Souleymane Camara was on target with his fourth of the campaign
scoring Montpellier’s second.

Cape Verde striker Ryan Mendes was on the score sheet for
the first time in Lille’s 2-0 home win over Ajaccio.

Valenciennes lost a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 away at
Toulouse with the Algeria midfielder Foued Kadir scoring the opening goal for
the visitors in the 12th minute.

Mali’s Cheick Diabate scored for the second weekend in a row
with his 68th minute equaliser for Bordeaux who drew 1-1 at Brest.

England

Youssouf Mulumbu helped heap the pressure on QPR manager
Mark Hughes. The DR Congo international scored the third for West Bromwich
Albion in their 3-2 win over the struggling London club. Morocco’s Adel Taarabt
had earlier given QPR some hope with his second goal in as many games.

Arouna Kone set Wigan on their way to a surprise point at
home to in-form Everton. The Ivorian, who has now scored three Premier League
goals, gave his side the lead with a header. The match ended 2-2.

Mohamed Diame scored his first goal for West Ham as they
stole the lead at home to Arsenal. The Senegalese was booked for his goal
celebration and was then lucky to escape a second booking moments later with a
reckless challenge on Mikel Arteta. Arsenal responded to win 3-1.

The Netherlands

Wilfried Bony grabbed a hat-trick for Vitesse Arnhem as they
drew 3-3 with Heerenveen, including a 79th minute penalty to salvage the point
for his side. The goals mean the Ivory Coast forwars is the joint highest
marksman with eight goals so far.

His compatriot Sekou Cisse put Feyenoord ahead in the ninth
minute as his side drew 2-2 at Groningen.

Spain

Although Getafe played out the last six minutes without
their top striker Abdelaziz Barrada, who was sent off, his side managed to
secure all the points with a 1-0 win away at Real Zaragoza. Zaragoza’s Ivory
Coast midfielder Romaric Ndric had been sent off after just nine minutes as his
side finished the match with nine men.

Another Moroccan Youssef El Arabi scored from the penalty
spot to give Granada the lead in their 2-1 away win at Real Mallorca.

Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins played the entire game and scored
the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute for Levante who edged out
Valencia.

Germany

DR Congo’s Cedric Makiadi put Freiburg in front in the 36th
minute as his side defeated Nuremburg 3-0 at home, to help lift his side to
11th in the league, with their first win in four games.

Senegal striker Mame Birmam Diouf, helped Hannover 96
salvage a point at home in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund. He came on as a
substitute in the 67th minute to equalise with four minutes remaining with his
first goal of the season.

Belgium

Mali midfielder Mamoutou Ndiaye fired home for Gent in added
time at the end of the first-half to give them the lead away at Beerschot. But
the home side equalised in the 60th minute through Senegal striker Elimane
Coulibaly. The game finished 2-2 as both sides grabbed goals in the last 10
minutes.

Nigeria striker Derick Ogbu ended his goal drought with his
first goals of the season scoring a hat-trick for Leuven who beat Charleroi
4-0. Gambia’s Ebrahima Sawaneh scored the other goal for Leuven, to take him to
eight goals for the season.

Central African Republic striker Mouhamadou Habib Habibou
scored for the second weekend in a row to help his side Zulte-Waregem beat
Cercle Bruges 3-1, despite playing the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

There was anguish for Senegal defender Ibrahima Gueye whose
last-minute own goal meant his Lokeren side had to share the points in a 2-2
draw with Lierse. Earlier South Africa midfielder Ayanda Patosi had scored to
give Lokeren a two-goal lead before half-time.

Cameroon striker Ernest Nfor sealed victory for Kortrijk in
the 70th minute as they defeated 10-man Mechelen 2-0. Senegal’s Boubacar
Dialaba was sent-off in the 28th minute for Mechelen.

Another Cameroon players Aloys Nong found the back of the
net in the 59th minute to equalise for Mons who drew 2-2 with Waasland-Beveren.

DR Congo’s Dieudonne Mbokani was not so lucky as he missed a
penalty and a chance to equalise for Anderlecht who lost 2-1 to 10-man Standard
Liege in the big Belgian derby.

South Africa defender Calvin Ngongca saw only 14 minutes of
action for Genk as he was sent-off in his side’s 1-1 draw at league leaders
Club Bruges.

Turkey

Senegal’s Lamine Diarra scored the only goal of the game as
his side Antalyaspor edged out Gaziantepspor 1-0.

Sivasspor came from two goals down to force a draw at home
thanks to two goals in the last 10 minutes with the Nigeria striker Michael
Eneramo scoring the equaliser in the 87th minute.

Senegal striker Moussa Sow scored the opening goal for
Fenerbahce in their 3-0 win over arch-rivals Besiktas.

Portugal

Somali sensation Liban Abdi gave Olhanense the lead in the
2nd minute in the eight-goal thriller at Sporting Braga which finished 4-4.
Guinea Bisaau’s Ivanildo Cassama scored twice for Olhanense.

Vitoria Guimaraes came from a goal down to beat Academica
2-1 thanks to two second-half goals by Algeria striker El-Arbi Soudani.

Ukraine

There was only one African on target but in style as a
hat-trick by Mali striker Dramane Traore helped Metalurh Donetsk hammer Kryvbas
6-2.

RUSSIA

Anzhi Makhackala have moved to the top of the table for the
first time after beating Dinamo Moscow 2-0 with Samuel Eto’o sealing victory
with three minutes remaining. The Cameroon striker has taken his tally for the
season to seven goals.

Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa scored the opening goal in the Moscow
derby as his side CSKA defeated Spartak 2-0.

China

Mali captain Seydou Keita scored one of the goals while
Peter Utaka from Nigeria scored ther other two as Dalian Daerbin beat Beijing
Guoan 3-1. Utaka is the second highest scorer in China with 19 goals.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba was on once again on
target for Shanghai Shenhua who lost 4-2 to Guizhou Renhe.

Zambia striker James Chamanga now has 11 goals for the
serason, after scoring twice for Dalian Shide, but it was not enough as his
side lost 3-2 away at Liaoning Whowin.

His compatriot and national team captain Christopher Katongo
scored in the 71st minute for bottom of the table Henan Jianye, but his side
also lost going down 3-1 to Hangzhou.

Sports

Recommended NFF Normalisation Committee Members Fail FIFA Test?

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Normalisation Committee to spearhead major reform in Nigerian football has yet to be announced because several of the committee members recommended did not scale the FIFA integrity test.

The NFF announced in an official statement on October 22 that world football governing body FIFA have approved a Normalisation Committee to reorganise football in the country following the resignation of the NFF executive committee led by Ibrahim Gusau.

The statement pointed out that the committee members will be jointly appointed by FIFA and CAF.

Since then not much has been reported on this development.

A top source has now informed that the delay in the announcement of this committee has been held back because several of the

proposed members did not pass the integrity test conducted by FIFA.

“Some of those recommended for the committee did not pass the FIFA test, that is partly why the committee is not yet in place, ” a top source said.

“However, I wouldn’t want to give out the names of those who did not scale through.”

It was further gathered that the committee will have between seven and nine members with strong indications that there could be as many as two non-Nigerians on it.

Meanwhile, a former NFF general secretary as well as a one-time highly influential NFF executive committee member are among those lobbying to head the Normalisation Committee.

The committee will be expected to round up by May 31, 2027.

Sports

Olopade Insists 2026 NSF Will Hold

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has insisted that the 23rd National Sports Festival will hold as scheduled, with key facilities in Enugu nearing completion ahead of the November 28 opening ceremony.

Olopade gave the assurance after inspecting the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and other venues earmarked for the event in the Coal City. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and said funding and equipment for the festival had been secured as preparations enter the final phase.

He disclosed that the swimming pool would be ready by November 18.

“In the coming days, the tartan track will be laid, and buses to move the athletes are ready,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that the festival could be postponed, Olopade criticised the speculation and said the authorities had already made their position known.

“When Lagos asked for postponement, we came out confidently to tell the public. Heaven did not fall,” he said.

“Suggesting that it will be postponed after announcement from Enugu State and NSC suggests that we are deceiving the nation. Not nice at all.”

The NSC boss also said the Enugu 2026 edition was projected to become the highest-sponsored National Sports Festival in history, with sponsorship expected to reach between ?12bn and ?15bn.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to declare the festival open on November 28, while about 12,000 athletes and officials are scheduled to arrive in Enugu from November 26.

Athletes from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory will compete in various disciplines.

Olopade commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for his commitment to hosting the event, describing the state as a secure and welcoming destination for athletes and other stakeholders.

Sports

Senegal kicks Africa’s First Ever Olympics

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympics ever to be held on African soil, opened Saturday in the Senegalese capital marking an historic moment for the continent.

Signs proclaiming “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates” are abundant across Dakar, which is hosting some 2,665 young competitors aged 14 to 17 from around the world.

The event marks the return of Russian athletes to the Olympics and also includes a refugee team. Overall, the athletes will compete across 25 sports and 153 medal events.

“We’ve got people from around the world that maybe had a very different idea about Africa and they’re going to leave, hopefully, with something really positive in mind”, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, said last week during a press conference in Dakar.

“I think that is really important for our continent”, she said.

Events ranging from athletics to beach wrestling, rugby sevens to breaking, will be held across eight venues in three locations.

Dakar, the nearby suburb of Diamniadio and the beach town of Saly located some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, will all host events.

An opening ceremony held on Saturday evening in Diamniadio kicked off the Games.

A total of 136 Senegalese athletes will participate in the Youth Olympics, with some 6,000 volunteers from Senegal helping put on the event.

The west African nation is renowned for its sports culture, including its football team, traditional wrestling and surf scene.

Football enthusiasts and young people often organise impromptu matches in the evenings or weekends on the beach or in village squares.

And as the day cools, hundreds of people flock to Dakar’s iconic coastal road, the Corniche, to run, do strength training or take part in group exercise.

While a sense of excitement is being stirred in the capital, the fourth summer edition of the Youth Olympics has struggled to stoke wild enthusiasm across Senegal.

Many are more concerned with the high cost of living, unemployment and economic hardship.

“Once the youth Olympic Games in Senegal begin, Dakar will become the capital of African youth,” Senegal Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo had said in an interview last week.

“Africa hosting the (Youth) Olympic Games, it’s a symbol”, he said.

With the IOC effectively lifting the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) suspension in July, the Youth Games mark the first Olympic competition since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 in which Russian athletes are allowed to compete under their own flag and colours.

According to the ROC, 13 Russian athletes will participate and 10 coaches will accompany them to Senegal.

“The kids are excited, it’s good that our legitimate right to participate with the national anthem and Russian flag has been restored”, Anzor Gaunov, who coaches Anastasia Dobrovolskaya in judo, told Tidesports source in Moscow.

However, it is up to each sport’s international federation whether to authorise the Russian athletes’ participation.

The Dakar Youth Games will also welcome a refugee Olympic team, composed primarily of athletes based in Africa.

The IOC has called the Dakar Games an important milestone for the continent and an opportunity to showcase Senegal’s cultural richness and Africa’s growing role within the Olympics.

South Africa could potentially become the first African nation to host the Olympic Games, having already paved the way by hosting the men’s FIFA World Cup in 2010. The country is officially in the running for the 2036 Summer Olympics.