Guinea-Bissau Only Newcomer At AFCON 2017

Of the 16 teams for next year’s Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, the tiny West Africa nation of Guinea-Bissau will be the only newcomer at the competition.

The other 15 nations that have made it to the continents greatest football showpiece have all played at this competition before and have experience playing at this level.

Gabon qualified automatically as hosts for this biennial event that is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and features some of the best players in Africa.

Guinea-Bissau defied all odds to top a very strong Group E that included former winners of this competition Congo Republic and Zambia as well as Kenya who were all rated higher.

They won three drew one and lost two of the six games they played in qualifying and, will look to build on this when the tournament come around.

Other nations that have made it to the 31^st edition of the event are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Senegal was the only team to have won all six matches in qualifying as they topped Group K. Uganda, second in Group D and Togo, second in Group A qualified as the two best runners-up.

The draw for the competition will be held in Libreville, Gabon on October 19 with the 16 teams being divided into four groups of four teams each for the initial round-robin contest.

The winner of the event will qualify for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, a tournament that will feature the winners from each of the federations.

 

Guinea-Bissau Only Newcomer At AFCON 2017

Nyantakyi Eyes Afcon Glory

Ghana FA Boss Kwesi Nyantakyi is adamant the target for Ghana in the 2017 African Cup of Nations is to win gold.

The Black Stars have been narrowly defeated in two finals in the last five years of the continental competition.

This has prolonged Ghana’s wait for an AFCON title to 33 years but the FA boss believes they are focused on winning the title in 2017 in spite of all the pressure around the team.

“We thank God because since 2006 we have been able to participate in every AFCON tournament so we are grateful we have been able to gain another qualification,”he told Asempa Sports.

“We are looking forward to winning the trophy in Gabon. Even though there is pressure around but we have to get used to that and work around it.”

Ghana qualified for Gabon with a game to spare.

Nyantakyi Eyes Afcon Glory

Madagascar Sack Coach Rajaonarisamba

Madagascar have sacked national team coach Franck Rajaonarisamba after a 6-1 loss at home to DR Congo in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.

The football association has replaced him with Frenchman Auguste Raux.

He returns for a third spell after leading the side for two matches in 2003, and again from 2012 to 2015.

The loss leaves the island nation bottom Group B with just two points from five qualifiers so far and with no chance of reaching the finals in Gabon.

Raux’s first task will be to lead Madagascar at the Southern African regional championship the Cosafa Cup which starts on Saturday.

His side face Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Seychelles in a preliminary pool, with only the group winners advancing to the quarter-finals.

Madagascar are also out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, beaten 5-2 on aggregate by Senegal last November.

Madagascar Sack Coach Rajaonarisamba

Andre Happy For Afcon Qualification

Andre Ayew is delighted at helping Ghana to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations tournament following the Black Stars 2-0 win over Mauritius.

The 26-year-old Swansea City star was on target with the opening goal in 71 minutes as the Black Stars clinched victory in Port Louis.

Ayew, who captained Ghana with Asamoah Gyan injured, said: “It was a great victory for us and a big motivation to the Afcon tournament. We worked hard and won,” he told reporters after the game.

The Group H encounter was played at the Stade Anjalay in the Mauritian city of Belle Vue Maurel.

Ghana finished at the top of Group H with 13 points, while Mauritius remain third on the group standings with one game left.

Andre Happy For Afcon Qualification

Grant Praises Black Stars

Avram Grant has hailed the stupendous performance of the Black Stars for their 2-0 win over Mauritius on Sunday.

The four times Africa champions laboured for 70 minutes before finding their way through the back line courtesy of Andre Ayew and Christian Atsu to seal qualification to the continent’s flagship football competition scheduled for Gabon next year.

 And Avram Grant stated that he was happy with the performance of the Black Stars and hopes they would repeat it in subsequent games.

“It was a one sided game. We dominated play and created a lot of chances, so I am hoping we continue to play like this. I am happy for the results,” Avram Grant said after the game.

The Back Stars thrashed the Mauritians 7-1 in the first leg played in Accra last year.

Avram Grant has been tasked by the Ghana Football Association to win the 2017 African Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon in January, 2017.

Grant Praises Black Stars

Guinea Bissau Books Maiden Nations Cup Ticket

Guinea Bissau book a maiden ticket to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) next with a hard earned home win over Zambia in the penultimate round of matches.

The spirited host held their nerves to clinch a very late winner at home to the 2012 continental champions in a five goal thriller. Silva’s strike late into injury time won the game for the Foxes and a ticket to the 2017 continental showdown.

Zezinho opened the flood gate for the motivated Foxes at the Estadio Lino Correra in the opening 15 minutes of the game before Collins Mbesuma leveled for the much fancied visitors.

Experience centre forward Christopher Katongo then followed up with another equalizer for the Chipolopolo after Mendy’s stunner midway through the first half.

The hosts later confirmed the ticket to Gabon with a winner seven minutes into time added on to send the fully packed Estadio Lino into a frenzy mood as they ended a run of 22 years without continental football since joining the qualifiers in 1994.

Guinea Bissau surged top of the log with 10 points in the five games they have played in the group. Congo can join Guinea Bissau in Gabon next year if they can get the better of the Foxes on home soil in the last round of matches.

Story by Saani Abacha/Sportscrusader.com

Guinea Bissau Books Maiden Nations Cup Ticket

AFCON 2017 Qualifier: Mauritius Name 25-Man Squad to Face Ghana

Mauritius has named a 25-man squad to prepare for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2017) qualifier against Ghana on Sunday.

 

Coach Joe Tshupula named, Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Bru as the high profile player in the squad to face the Ghana Black Stars in the penultimate round of matches ahead of the tournament final in Gabon.

 

Mauritius nicknamed Club M and Les Dodos (The Dodos) are yet to lost a game at home in the qualifiers but have no chance progressing to the 2017 finals in Zambia as the Black Stars need just a point to seal qualification to Gabon.

Mauritius team to face Ghana:

Goalkeeper: Kevin Jean-Louis, Aboobakar Augustin

Defenders: Damien Balisson, Marco Dorza, Emmanuel Vincent, Cédric Permal, Francis Rasolofonirina, Brendon Citorah, Kylian Yrnard, Jovani Vincent

Midfielders: Cédric Théodore, Jonathan Aza, Jonathan Bru, Kevin Chan Yu Tin, Christopher L’Enclume, Colin Bell, Arassen Ragaven, Guiyano Chifonne, Kevin Bru, Adel Langue, Kevin Perticots,

Attackers: Adrien Botlar, Gianno Li Tien Kee, Gary Noël, Jesson Rungassamy

AFCON 2017 Qualifier: Mauritius Name 25-Man Squad to Face Ghana

Black Stars Open Camp

The Black Stars will open their training camp in Accra Monday evening for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Mauritius.

Coach Avram Grant has invited 23 players including home-based players Samuel Tetteh of WAFA, Mohammed Kadri of Ashgold and Wa All Stars goalkeeper Richard Ofori in the squad which began arriving in camp on Sunday.

With some of the players already in the country, the team is expecting some Europe-based players to arrive in camp before Monday’s training session which will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm.

The Black Stars are expected to travel to Mauritius on Wednesday for the game which will be played on Sunday.

Ghana is leading Group H with 10 points and a point in Mauritius will seal their place at next year’s AFCON in Gabon.

Source:

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GFA

Black Stars Open Camp

CAF Fines Nigeria, Others For Overcrowding

The Nigeria Football Federation has been fined US$5,000 for overcrowding at its Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna against Egypt on 25 March.

It is one of several sanctions handed out by the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary committee.

An estimated 40,000 fans took over the stadium in Kaduna designed to hold just 16,000 spectators as the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Egypt.

Nigeria were also warned of further sanctions if similar incidents occur.

Egypt were fined the same amount for the “excessive use of lasers” at the return match against Nigeria in Cairo four days later.

DR Congo, Sudan, Comoros, The Gambia and Kenya were also sanctioned.

Kenya were give a fine of US$10,000 for “players severely contesting referee decisions, supporters throwing stones and police had to use tear gas to disperse crowd.”

The incidents happened as they lost 1-0 in Nairobi in a Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea Bissau on 23 March.

The committee also issued a warning about the “security measures in Caf matches” and that in the case of similar incidents, the team may have to play on neutral territory.

A few days earlier when Guinea Bissau beat the visiting Kenyans 1-0 ball boys had invaded the pitch the Guinea Bissau federation were given a warning letter to respect the rules and reinforce security.

There was also a warning letter for Comoros after a spectator got onto the pitch during their 1-0 win over Botswana in a Nations Cup tie.

A spectator also got onto the pitch as DR Congo has they beat Angola 2-1 on 26 March, objects were also thrown on the pitch too for which the Congolese authorities were fined US$5,000.

That amount will double though if the team is found guilty of similar offences in upcoming matches.

The Gambia and Sudan will have to pay US$5,000 for the throwing of missiles, including stones, during their 2017 matches against Mauritania and Ivory Coast respectively.

CAF Fines Nigeria, Others For Overcrowding

Adebayor Praises Le Roy Appointment

Skipper of Togo’s Senior National Team, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has praised the appointment of Frenchman, Claude Le Roy as coach of the Hawks.

Le Roy was in London on Thursday to meet the Crystal Palace forward and following the meeting, Adebayor took to social media to express his delight about the former Ghana coach’s appointment.

“With all the talent we have in Togo, our national team deserve a competent manager”, Adebayor wrote on instagram with a picture of him and Claude Le Roy.

“I am glad to see that we are making progress and naming Claude Le Roy as the new coach is a new step forward.

“It was great meeting with him here in London. This is all I ever wanted for my country.. Positivity”, he added.

Claude Le Roy’s first ever assignment as the head coach of the Togo National team will be a double Afcon 2017 Qualifiers against Djibouti and Liberia in June this year.

Adebayor Praises Le Roy Appointment

Grant Sets Sight on AFCON 2017

A draw in either of Ghana’s next AFCON 2017 qualifiers will ensure the country a place in Gabon, but Avram Grant already have sights in the host country.

Grant, was given a 217-month barely a month to the 2015 Africa Cup of nations. His employers gave the target to ‘do well’ in Equatorial Guinea and win the subsequent tournament.

The former Chelsea manager led the four -time Africa champions to the final, and is looking forward to achieving the target given to him by his employers in 2017.

“I’m thinking about this and thinking even more than this. I will make Ghana strong, strong and strong. I will have a meeting with the people in charge and we will talk about things we can do better because we need to show things in African Cup. I hope and am sure we will qualify,” Avram revealed in an interview with the Ghana FA Communications Division.

“So in this case, we want to show again the last time. Quality teams, strong team mentality and strong team physically for this. I think we showed that in the last time by pushing the button. It is a lot of work off the pitch. If we do the right thing, I think we can have a good tournament,” he added.

Ghana sit top of Group H with 10 points, and a draw against either Mauritius and Rwanda will book Ghana a ticket to the continent’s flagship football competition.

Grant Sets Sight on AFCON 2017

Adebayor Set To Return To Togo For Tunisia Clash

Crystal Palace forward, Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return to Togo for their 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification game against Tunisia on Tuesday after a self imposed leave from national team duty.

The Sparrow Hawks are desperate to return to winning ways when they host their North African counterparts in Lome with all but one team currently tied on six points in Group A after three rounds of fixtures.

Togo, Tunisia and Liberia have all managed two wins apiece with the Lone Stars set to face Djibouti in Monrovia on the same day.

Togo were defeated 1-0 by the Carthage Eagles in Monastir last Friday and Adebayor’s return will be a morale booster for the reverse fixture in Lomé.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City striker, who turned down his initial call-up to the national side, reconsidered his decision at the request of the countries football officials.

Adebayor Set To Return To Togo For Tunisia Clash

Photos: Black Stars Train Ahead of Return Leg Clash

Ghana Black Stars trained on the Estádio do Zimpeto stadium pitch ahead of the return leg clash against Mozambique.

OS Mambas of Mozambique have a daunting task of winning the second the leg to have any chance of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations 2017 in Gabon after no win in three matches.

Coach Avram Grant led the Stars along with his assistant, Maxwell Konadu through an intensed training routine as they take a step closer to the final tournament.

Here are photos of the training session

Photo credit: Senyuiedzorm A. Adadevoh

Photos: Black Stars Train Ahead of Return Leg Clash

Gabon Set To Unveil "Samba" Mascot For AFCON 2017

Host of African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2017), Gabon is set to unveil later on Friday, the official mascot for the final next year.

The event is expected to be graced with the presence of newly elected FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.

 

The mascot named ‘Samba, the panther,’ will be the big attraction this Friday, March 25th 2016, of the football game between Gabon and Sierra Leone at the Stade de Franceville.

Samba is still unknown to the public, but on Friday its face will represent the African Cup of Nations 2017 Gabon.

Indeed, the panther was chosen to be the mascot of the event because it represents the country on sporting events across the globe to have a panther as the mascot of the event that will take place in January and February 2017.

Gabon Set To Unveil "Samba" Mascot For AFCON 2017

Mozambique Defiant In Defeat

Head coach of Mozambique, Abel Xavier has praised his teams attitude and devotion in their 3-1 loss to the Black Stars of Ghana.

OS Mambas needed at least a draw to keep any hope of qualifying for next year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament alive, but, ended out in defeat and will most certainly miss out on the event to be held in Gabon.

The Black Stars with a hundred per cent record started in the qualifiers, the game well very though the performance was below expectation, but, yet recorded a valuable win to keep form hold of top spot in Group H.

But Xavier believes the performance of his boys deserves proper recognition and hope to improve on that in subsequent matches.

Speaking to the media during his post match interview, the ex-Middlesbrough defender said, “Our play in the second half was a very improved performance and that made me proud of my players, their attitude and reaction to score a goal after conceding three goalswas fantastic,” he said.

“My players have dignified me, themselves and most importantly our country (Mozambique),” he added.

The return leg of this fixture is on Sunday 27 March in Maputo.

Mozambique Defiant In Defeat

Profile: Mozambique Danger-man, Elias Pelembe

Mozambique will face the Ghana Black Stars on Thursday, March 24 in an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The OS Mambas of Mozambique will look to pick at least a point if not win in the game to keep their slim chance of making it to the competition final in Gabon.

Sportscrusader.com profiles the Mambas danger-man, Elias Pelembe, born on 20 September, 1987. The striker plies his trade in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) with Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.

Elias Pelembe of Mozambique

The young forward has made 22 senior national team appearances and has scored 3-goals. Pelembe has made just 7-league appearances in the 2015/16 PSL season with 2-goals to his name. Though the form is way off his potential the Black Stars defenders can’t afford to have an oversight of Pelembe whose pace can be his hidden weapon.

Profile: Mozambique Danger-man, Elias Pelembe

Photos: See Images of Mozambique Train Ahead Of Ghana Clash

The Mambas of Mozambique held their first training at the Accra Sports Stadium ahead of the African Cup of Nations 2017 qualifier (AFCON) against the Black Stars of Ghana.

 

The Mambas were put the warm-up drills and some technical tactics by former Liverpool midfielder and head coach Abel Xavier.

Mozambique will look to cause an upset in the game that has seen them being made outside favourites to win the game even with the presence of danger men – striker, Helder Pelembe who plays for Bloemfontein and midfielder, Simao Mate of Levante in the la liga.

 

See photos of the teams training:

Photos: See Images of Mozambique Train Ahead Of Ghana Clash

Video: Avram Grant Press Conference Ahead Of AFCON Clash

Ghana Black Stars coach, Avram Grant met the press earlier today prior to overseeing the teams day two training as they prepare for the AFCON 2017 qualifier against the Mambas of Mozambique.

The soft-spoken Israeli came to the conference in the company of the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The Ghanaian press were heavily represented as well as the international media notably, Voice of America (VOA).

See Avram Grant address the press ahead of the AFCON clash against Mozambique on Thursday, March 24 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

https://youtu.be/yebeij-QDAw

Video: Avram Grant Press Conference Ahead Of AFCON Clash

Photos: Avram Grants Meets Press Ahead Of AFCON Qualifier

Black Stars head coach, Avram Grant met the press Tuesday at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

The former Chelsea boss will hope to guide Ghana to a fifth and a first African Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON) since 1982 and speaking ahead of the game, the Israeli admitted missing the services of Swansea City forward, Dede Ayew as a worry but has equally good replacement for the deputy Black Stars captain.

See photos of the press confab

 

Photos: Avram Grants Meets Press Ahead Of AFCON Qualifier