Joseph Lamptey Named Fourth Official

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has named Ghana’s referee Joseph O. Lamptey as the fourth referee in the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) match between Cameroon and Ethiopia on Thursday, January 21, at the Butare Huye Stadium.

This is the second appointment taken up by the Ghanaian referee in the competition, having officiated in the game between Gabon and Morocco last Saturday.

According to CAF, the match will be handled by Ivorian referee Denis Dembele, with Ghanaian David Laryea and Mama Tere from Guinea on lines one and two respectively.

Also in the list of officials are, Angolan Pedro De Moraise Neto will be the Match Commissioner with Dramen Dante of Mali as the Referees Assessor.

 

Source: GNA

Joseph Lamptey Named Fourth Official

CHAN 2016: DR Congo Cruise To Comfortable 3-0 Win Over Ethiopia

Héritier Luvumbu was the star of the show as the Democratic Republic of Congo cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Ethiopia in a Group B 2016 African Nations Championship clash at the Stade Huye in Butare on Sunday.

The AS Vita midfielder played a part in all three goals as The Leopards enhanced their credentials as one of the favourites for the crown in Rwanda.

After an equal start to the game, Florent Ibenge’s troops started to dominate with Luvumbu stating his intent on 32 minutes – forcing Mamo into a good save from long range.

DRC entered the tunnel at the break a goal up, Guy Lusadisu with a towering header from a Luvumbu cross a minute before the interval.

The fans were still finding their seats as Luvumbu doubled the 2009 champions lead with a power header two minutes after the break.

This before the knockout blow followed in the 57th minute – Luvumbu burst down the left flank before firing in a pin-point cross, which left Meschack Elia with an easy finish.

DRC next face Angola on Thursday while Ethiopia will be eager to bounce back against Cameroon.

CHAN 2016: DR Congo Cruise To Comfortable 3-0 Win Over Ethiopia

Gabon And Morocco Draw Goalless In CHAN 2016 2nd Match

Gabon and Morocco played to a dull 0-0 draw in their Group A 2016 CAF African Nations Championship match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Saturday evening.

It was a cagey start, with both sides aiming to settle down in the contest, not to commit early mistakes and there were no clear-cut chances after 10 minutes of action.

The Atlas Lions dominated the tie after the 10th-minute mark as they pushed forward in search of an early lead, however, winger Abdelilah Hafidi saw his shot going wide in the 15th minute.

On the other hand, Stephane Bounguendza’s men were stable at the back but they lost the ball easily in the midfield, and Ness Younga attempted a shot from the edge of the box but it went wide.

Mohamed Fakhir’s men nearly caught the Panthers napping when Abdessamad El Mobaraky received a pass from a quick free-kick, but his shot went wide after the 35th minute.

The game lacked free flow and was dominated by fouls and long balls, but in the last five minutes of the half Morocco came close to bagging a lead when Abdeladim Khadrouf nearly beat Bitseki – his shot went across the mouth of the goal with nobody to finish it off.

With a few minutes to go, Ondo Biyoghe saw his spectacular bicycle kick going wide of goal and it was 0-0 at half time.

After five minutes into the second stanza, Morocco took the game to Gabon but the Panthers remained steady at the back, with Mobaraky taking a long range shot looking to put it in the top corner, but Bitseki showed great reflexes and collected.

After 80 minutes in the encounter, the game became an interesting affair but then goals wouldn’t come as both sides wasted their opportunities.

Bitseki came out to stop Morocco’s attack and a few moments later Boumpenza nearly bagged the three points for Gabon, but his header went wide off the far post.

In the injury time, Mario Mandrault beat his man and surged forward but his final shot let him down as the shot flew way too wide.

The draw means both sides have one point apiece and the hosts, Rwanda, lead the standings with three after beating Cote d’Ivoire 1-0.

Gabon And Morocco Draw Goalless In CHAN 2016 2nd Match

Rwanda Beat Cote d’Ivoire In CHAN 2016 Opening Match

A solitary goal by Bayisenge Emery ensured Rwanda defeated Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 during their Group A 2016 CAF African Nations Championship opening match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Saturday afternoon.

Johnny McKinstry’s men started like a house on fire, with his charges taking the game to the Ivorians and the Rwandans fully behind them.

However, the match was dominated by fouls in the middle of the park, with Rwanda fouling Koffi Boua, but six minutes later the hosts delivered a pin-point cross from the right only for goalkeeper Ali Sangare to collect easily.

In a follow-up attempt, Innocent Habyarimana unleashed a grass-cutting shot in the 15th minute which couldn’t give keeper Sangare any troubles as it went wide.

A minute later, Emery netted from a fine free kick, beating Sangare in the 16th minute to hand the hosts the lead, and the culprit Koffi Mercelin went into the referee’s book for a foul.

Michel Dussuyer’s side kept probing despite Amavubi’s superiority in the middle of the park, however, Boua’s cross failed to meet the intended target and it sailed across the face of goal in the 22nd minute.

With the match heading to the interval, the Elephants’ Boua couldn’t connect with the ball following a great run behind the defence and it was 1-0 at the interval.

Just after coming from the tunnel, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Isenge was brought down in the box. Emery took it but his attempt was saved by Sangare in the 60th minute.

With 13 minutes to go, Rwanda’s Isenge started a great move but he failed to connect with a return pass in the box and in their swift response, the Elephants’ Guiza missed a great opportunity to level matters: with the keeper off his line, his shot went over the bar.

In the 80th minute Dussuyer’s men kept the hosts under pressure and Guiza was unfortunate as he hit the woodwork with the keeper Ndayishimiye left stranded and beaten hands down.

In the end, McKinstry’s side held onto their lead and walked away with the full three points as the top Group A.

Rwanda Beat Cote d’Ivoire In CHAN 2016 Opening Match

Referee Joseph Lamptey To Officiate CHAN 2016 2nd Match Between Gabon And Morocco

Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey will officiate the second match of the CHAN 2016 tournament between Gabon and Morocco.

The tournament which kicks off today in Rwanda with see the hosts take on Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match, a game that will be officiated by Malagasy referee Hamada El Moussa Nampiandraza who will be assisted by Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue of Cameroon and South African Mothibidi Stevens Khumalo with Ali Lemghaifry of Mauritania as the fourth official.

Referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey will be assisted by fellow Ghanaian compatriot David Laryea with Marwa Range of Kenya the other officcial.

The fourth official for the Gabon and Morocco is Kenyan Davies Ogenche Omweno, in what completes a Ghana-Kenya combination.

Referee Joseph Lamptey To Officiate CHAN 2016 2nd Match Between Gabon And Morocco

CHAN 2016: Rwanda Ready For Big Kick Off

The fourth edition of a unique senior national team tournament kicks off in Rwanda Saturday with Nigeria and Tunisia among the title favourites.

Only footballers playing in their country of birth are eligible for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), whose matches are recognised by FIFA as full internationals with results counting toward the monthly rankings.

A brainchild of CAF president and acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou, the CHAN was introduced to give local stars national team experience they would not ordinarily get because overseas-based compatriots are preferred.

Labelled the ‘baby brother’ of the Africa Cup of Nations, the CHAN has the same format with 15 qualifiers and the hosts split into four groups from which winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

The home-only rule will have little effect on finalists like Rwanda and Ethiopia, the bulk of whose leading footballers perform in the domestic championships.

But the Ivory Coast CHAN squad bares no resemblance to that which competes in the Cup of Nations and is dominated by Europe-based stars like four-time African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure.

However, France-born Ivorian Cup of Nations coach Michel Dussuyer is also in charge of a CHAN selection in which first-time champions AS Tanda have six players. Franco-Pole Henryk Kasperczak fills a similar role for Tunisia, but gallbladder surgery prevented him travelling to Rwanda and assistant Hatem Missaoui takes charge.

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh sees little difference between the Africa Cup of Nations and the African Nations Championship tournaments.

“We do not have A and B teams,” he stressed in South Africa while preparing for the 22-day CHAN, which will be staged at four venues, two of them in the capital Kigali.

“They are all national squad players with the only difference being that some play abroad and others at home.”

Tunisia and Nigeria are the first and second seeds in Group C and it would be a shock if they failed to reach the knockout stage at the expense of Niger and debutants Guinea.

Nigeria defender Samson Gbadebo is brimming with confidence after the West Africans beat Ivory Coast and drew with Angola in Pretoria warm-up matches against fellow finalists.

“There is nothing to worry about in our group. We will start with a victory against Niger and top the standings.

“Our players compete in a leading African national championship and I believe we have what it takes to go all the way.”

Oliseh is wary of Tunisia, whose squad contains many of the stars who helped Etoile Sahel beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup final. “Tunisia have a strong domestic league and many of the CHAN squad also play in the Cup of Nations,” he said.

The draw did Rwanda no favours with Gabon, Ivory Coast and Morocco the strong Group A rivals of a host nation coached by 30-year-old Johnny McKinstry. “Rwandans can be confident that our squad will give everything in pursuit of good performances,” was the reassuring message from the Irishman.

Democratic Republic of Congo, winners of the maiden CHAN in Abidjan seven years ago, and Cameroon look the strongest sides in Group B, which is completed by Angola and Ethiopia. But choosing two likely quarter-finalists from Group D contenders Mali, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe is difficult.

Zambia have chosen midfielder Isaac Chansa and striker Christopher Katongo, pivotal figures in the team that mocked the form book by winning the 2012 Cup of Nations.

Recalled after two years in the international wilderness, the veterans said they were “humbled by the call-ups and the confidence shown in their abilities”.

Source: AFP

CHAN 2016: Rwanda Ready For Big Kick Off