New African Soccer News

MTN CAF Champions League Results 28^th April

It looks set to be another dramatic season in the African Champions League. Holders Etoile Sahel went down 1-0 to Dynamos in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile five times champions Al Ahly of Egypt travelled to South Africa and lost to Platinum Stars 2-1. The favourites both have plenty to do if they’re to progress to the next round.

1^st Leg 1/8 Finals Round

ASEC Mimosas (IVO) 0-0 Khourigba (MOR)

Zamalek (EGY) 3-0 GD Interclube (ANG)

Dynamos (ZIM) 1-0 E.S.S. (TUN)

Coton Sport (CAM) 3-0 J.S.K. (ALG)

Ittihad (LIB) 2-1 TP Mazembe (DR CON)

Enyimba (NIG) 5-1 Club African (TUN)

Platinum Stars (SA) 2-1 Al Ahly (EGY)

Al Hilal (SUD) 4-2 Mamelodi Sundowns (SA)

The 2^nd legs are to be played on the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th of May.

Confederations Cup Results 28^th April

1^st Leg 1/8^th Final Round

US Masseda (TOG) 1-0 E.S.T. (TUN)

Djoliba (MALI) 3-1 Mangasporl (GAB)

Linguere de St Louis (SEN) 3-2 C.S.S. (TUN)

Astral Douala (CAM) 0-0 ASV Club (DR CON)

Al Akhdar (LIB) 1-1 Haras El Hadoud (EGY)

Highlanders (ZIM) 0-2 El Merrikh (SUD)

Ajax Cape Town (SA) 5-1 Mt Cameroon (CAM)

Dolphin (NIG) 2-0 Asante Kotoko (GHA)

Fellaini claims the Ebony Boot title 29^th April

21 year old Standard Liege midfielder Marouane Fellaini won the Ebony Boot award in Belgium this week.

The Ebony award emerged out of the disaffection of a group of African students who grew tired of seeing African players being sidelined for individual honours.

They set up “Le Soulier d’Ebene” - the Ebony Boot - 16 years ago to redress the imbalance.

The prize is voted for by coaches in Belgium and is awarded to the best African player (or player of African origin) in the country. Previous winners include Daniel Amokachi (1992 & 1994), Victor Ikpeba (1993), Eric Addo (1998) and Aruna Dindane (2003)

Fellaini is Morroccan by birth but opted to play for the Belgian national team. Four of the last five recipients of the award have played their international football for Belgium rather than the country of their origin.

Championship of African Nations 2009 3^rd May

The qualifiers are well underway for CAF’s latest baby in which only players based in their home nation can participate. Ivory Coast will play host to the maiden edition of the Championship of African Nations next February, when 16 nations will do battle for the inaugural title.

1^st Round 1^st Leg Qualifier Results

Algeria 1-1 Morocco

Ghana 2-0 Togo

DR Congo 3-0 Congo

Mozambique 1-1 Angola

Tanzania 2-0 Uganda

Botswana 1-0 Zambia

Zimbabwe 0-0 Namibia

Cameroon 1-2 Gabon

Nigeria 2-0 Burkina Faso

Mauritania 2-2 Guinea

Still to be played… Sudan - Rwanda & Senegal - Mali

Libya and South Africa have both qualified to the final round due to the withdrawal of their respective opponents, Egypt and Mauritius.

The 2^nd legs are to be played on the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th of May.

Diouf Looks Set to Leave Bolton 3^rd May

Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf looks to have played his last game in Bolton colours.

He scored a sensational goal as Bolton Wanderers beat Sunderland 2-0 in their last game of the season at the Reebok Stadium. Speaking to the BBC after the match he announced ‘I won’t be here next year.’

The 27 year old has made 108 appearances for Bolton and scored 20 goals. Bolton manager Gary Megson played tribute to the Senegalese international “He has the ability to change a game by doing something out of the ordinary. It’s a rare talent.”

Diouff would prefer to stay in the Premiership but has also expressed interest in trying his luck elsewhere, in Spain or Italy.

News in Brief…

• Benin Coach Reinhard Fabisch forced to resign due to ill health.
• CAF team are in Angola to inspect preparations for CAN 2010.
• The assistant coach of Ghana, Herve Renard, has been named as the new coach of Zambia.
• Zamalek turn down Wigan’s £4 million bid for Zaki.
• Yaya Toure to have hernia operation and miss Ivory Coast’s World Cup Qualifiers.