Casemiro To Miss Tonight"s Champions League Semifinal Against Manchester City

The excitement of Real Madrid fans with the return of star player Cristiano Ronaldo this week would’ve suffered a blow following the news that both Karim Benzema and Casemiro are unavailable against Manchester City.

Midfielder Casemiro and striker Karim Benzema did not attend the last training session on tuesday at Valdebebas, and were not included in the match-squad for the UEFA Champions League semifinal second-leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, against Manchester City.

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who has been a key figure in the team’s starting XI over the past months, took a blow to the hip in the victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, but was expected to play against Manchester City.

He was absent from Monday’s training, but the fact that he just stayed in the gym again on Tuesday raised concerns, and coach Zidane declined to force the inclusion of the player, not to aggravate the injury.

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Casemiro To Miss Tonight"s Champions League Semifinal Against Manchester City

Atletico Madrid Champions League Success Like A Movie - Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says his side’s “thrilling” Champions League semi-final success over Bayern Munich was like the final moments in a movie.

The Spanish club, beaten finalists under Argentine Simeone in 2014, will play Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final after a 2-2 aggregate score sent them through on away goals.

“Over the 180 minutes we showed the work of three years,” Simeone said.

“I hope that destiny will eventually help us in the final.”

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Spain, Bayern levelled the tie through Xabi Alonso’s deflected free-kick, before Atletico keeper Jan Oblak saved a Thomas Muller penalty,

Antoine Griezmann scored an equaliser on the break after-half-time – and although Robert Lewandowski’s header set up a tense finish, Atletico held on, despite Fernando Torres missing a penalty.

Simeone, whose side beat holders Barcelona in the quarter-finals, was clearly emotional as he addressed the media after the game.

“It doesn’t matter who we play in the final,” he said. “I’m proud of what has happened to this club. We are beating the best teams in the world.

“It was a very good first half by Bayern, they’re a great team. The missed penalty gave us life. The penalty miss by Torres hurt us – but in the end it was like a movie, thrilling, with five minutes extra time.”

Torres, who rejoined his boyhood club Atletico after disappointing spells with Chelsea and AC Milan, said: “It was very intense. We are so proud of this team, it is fully deserved.

“We’ve beaten some of the best teams in Europe, now we’re one step closer to the dream we all have. We have a chance to write the history that nobody at Atletico has.

“It doesn’t matter who the opponent in the final is. We are ready to fight with everyone.”

BBC

Atletico Madrid Champions League Success Like A Movie - Diego Simeone

Thiago Silva Wants Champions League Glory With Barcelona

Barcelona had repeatedly tried to sign the Brazilian defender during his spell at AC Milan, and also after his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

According to the information from Mundo Deportivo, Thiago Silva is willing to come to Barça and this time it’s very serious. Another story is that the club wants to sign him, now that the Brazilian is 31 years old.

Barcelona were unsuccessful in their previous attempts to bring Thiago Silva, and the player revealed few seasons ago that, at Camp Nou, he would’ve earned less wages than what he makes at Paris.

The report adds that Thiago Silva is tired of winning leagues and cups in France because his team have been consistently disappointing in the UEFA Champions League.

It is public knowledge that Barcelona are seeking central defenders to strengthen their back-four, and Thiago Silva and his entourage are also aware of this.

He wants to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world before ending his career and also dreams of finally lifting the European Cup, which hasn’t been possible at Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona had repeatedly tried to sign the Brazilian defender during his spell at AC Milan, and also after hia move to Paris Saint-Germain.

According to the information from Mundo Deportivo, Thiago Silva is willing to come to Barça and this time it’s very serious. Another story is that the club wants to sign him, now that the Brazilian is 31 years old. Barcelona were unsuccessful in their previous attempts to bring Thiago Silva, and the player revealed few seasons ago that, at Camp Nou, he would’ve earned less wages than what he makes at Paris. The report adds that Thiago Silva is tired of winning leagues and cups in France because his team have been consistently disappointing in the UEFA Champions League. It is public knowledge that Barcelona are seeking central defenders to strengthen their back-four, and Thiago Silva and his entourage are also aware of this. He wants to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world before ending his career and also dreams of finally lifting the European Cup, which hasn’t been possible at Paris Saint-Germain.

Thiago Silva Wants Champions League Glory With Barcelona

Wimbledon Singles Champions To Get £2m

The men’s and women’s singles champions at Wimbledon will get £2m each this year, with total prize money up to £28.1m, an increase of £1.35m.

Last year’s champions – Serb Novak Djokovic and American Serena Williams – each pocketed £1.88m.

The 2016 championships, which take place at the All England Club, will also feature wheelchair singles events for the first time.

Doubles tournaments have been running at Wimbledon for the past 10 years.

Total prize money for wheelchair players will be £200,000, a significant increase on 2015, when £64,000 was on offer in the two doubles events.

Britain’s Jordanne Whiley, who has won the women’s wheelchair doubles at Wimbledon for the last two years, tweeted her delight at the news.

Jordanne Whiley tweet

How does Wimbledon compare?

Australian Open (2016):

Winners: AUD$3.85m (£2.04m)

Total: AUD$44m (£23.31m)

French Open (2016):

Winners: €2m (£1.55m)

Total: €32m (£24.77m)

US Open (2015):

Winners: $3.3m (£2.26m)

Total: $42,253,400 (£28.919m)

Based on currency rates – 26 April, 2016

Wimbledon also plans to boost its security and commitment to integrity in tennis following a number of damaging headlines about match-fixing and doping.

These include stricter accreditation procedures, additional data provision, monitoring and analysis, more education and support for players and officials, as well as increased anti-doping measures.

BBC

Wimbledon Singles Champions To Get £2m

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League

Holders TP Mazembe have been knocked out of the 2016 African Champions League after a 3-1 aggregate loss to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

The Moroccans drew the return encounter 1-1 in Lubumbashi on Wednesday after winning the first leg 2-0 in front of their home fans.

Mazembe will now drop down to the Confederation Cup play-offs for a place in the group phase of the competition in an attempt to win continental silverware this year.

Eight-times record African champions Al Ahly of Egypt also progressed at the expense of Tanzania’s Young Africans.

The Egyptians’ powerhouse won their return encounter 2-1 in Cairo to advance on a 3-2 aggregate after drawing 1-1 in Dar es Salaam in the first leg.

Elsewhere in the competition, ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast also made it through on a 3-2 aggregate despite losing their second leg to Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli 2-1 on Wednesday.

AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo went through on the away goals rule after losing the second leg against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Pretoria.

The draw for the group stage will be held on 24 May in Cairo, Egypt.

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League

Former Champions Through To Group Phase of CAF Champions League

Former Africa champions Zamalek of Egypt and Entente Setif of Algeria have joined Zambia’s Zesco United in the group stages of the African Champions League.

Zamalek grabbed a late equaliser against Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria to progress 3-1 on aggregate.

Setif, African champions in 2014, were held to a goalless draw at home by Sudan’s Al Merreikh but go through on the away goal rule having earlier drawn 2-2 in the first leg.

Zambia’s Zesco beat Mali’s Stade Malien 2-1 on Tuesday to complete a 5-2 victory on aggregate to reach the Champions’ League group stage for the first time.

The losers get a second chance as they enter the draw for the play-offs in the second-tier Confederation Cup competition.

In that competition, former African champions Esperance of Tunisia booked their place in the play-off round of the competition on a 4-2 aggregate win over Tanzania’s Azam.

They have been joined in the next stage by fellow Tunisians, Stade Gabesian who beat Zambia’s Zanaco 3-0 on aggregate while Sagrada Esperanca of Angola went through at the expense of  V Club Mokanda of Congo.

Former Champions Through To Group Phase of CAF Champions League

We Must Be Consistent To Be Champions – Mustapha Essuman

Experienced midfielder of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mustapha Essuman has urged his teammates to be more consistent in their approach to the campaign as they chase silverware at the end of the season.

This according to him is the only way they can be assured of winning something at the end of the campaign to end the club’s trophy drought over the last few seasons.

Hearts under their Japanese-American coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi, has made a promising start to the season, and, sit in second place with 14 points, three behind leaders Wa All Stars in the Ghana Premier League after seven games.

The Phobians have lost one and drawn the other in their last two games, and this Mustapha believes must be improved upon if they are win something at the end of the season.

“We should be a lot more consistent with our performance as that is the surest way we can become successful at the end of season,” he said.

The Phobians will next play Division One outfit Samartex FC in an MTN FA Cup round of 32 game on Saturday at Samreboi in a game Mustapha hopes Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi can guide them to success.

“He is a top coach and his work so far has justified why he was brought here,” he said, adding that with the right approach Hearts can win this competition at the end of the campaign”.

“We know the game with Samartex will be difficult as they will be at home,” he added, insisting that “we will not underrate them and will go all out for the win”.

Mustapha therefore urged his colleagues to rise up to the challenge in Saturday’s game and press on for the win to advance to the next stage of the competition.

We Must Be Consistent To Be Champions – Mustapha Essuman

CAF Champions League Exit Has Affected Us - AshGold

Defending Ghana Premier League champions, Obuasi AshantiGold SC has admitted the club’s preliminary exit from the 2015/16 CAF Champions League has had a negative effect on the team.

The Obuasi based club started the defense of their league title with a slim 2-1 home victory over Medeama SC since then, subsequent results has been four straight draws and this has seen their chance of retaining the crown slashed by the bookmakers.

The ‘Aboakese’ lads lie seventh on the log with seven points, six behind leaders Hearts of Oak going into this weekends Match-Day six clash with Liberty Professionals. Only a win can get the yellow-and-black side back into the title fight even at this early stage of the season.

Kofi Yawson, Public Relations officer of the side, in an interview with Sportscrusader.com mentioned that some players are still shell-shocked and are yet to recover from the Champions League exit as they feel disappointed and this has had some effect on their league form.

He said, “we qualified to the CAF Champions League as league winners and we were hoping to make it to the group stage but it did not work. The players were impressed with the fans support in the first leg against MO Bejaia and were looking to reward them with a good result in Algeria but we lost 3-1 and that sealed our fate”.

“And this I believe has had some negative effect on the side’s showing in the league this season,” he added.

CAF Champions League Exit Has Affected Us - AshGold

Draxler"s Brace Put Nana Asare On The Brink Of UEFA Champions League Elimination

Ghanaian defender Nana Akwasi Asare hopes of lifting the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Champions league look set to end in tatters after a home reverse in the knock out stages of the tournament.

The 30 year old centre back lasted the full throttle in a five goal thriller but could end his European campaign if they fail to avenge the defeat in Gent.

VFL Wolsburg inflicted a painful 2-3 home defeat on Gent to put themselves in a pole position ahead of the second leg in at the Wolvaken Arena.

Manager Hein Vanhaez handed Nana Asare his 32nd appearance of the season in a highly involving season for the veteran centre back.

The former Utrecht utility defender however could not prevent the German side from putting themselve into a commanding 0-3 lead thanks to a brace from Julian Draxler and thunder bolt from Max Krussa before the hour mark.

Gent pulled one back through Svens Kums before a late strike from Coulibally toned down the gravity of the work for the home side ahead of the trip to journey.

Gent will have to outscore the Wolves by two clear goals to seal a place in the last eight of Europe’s top club competition.

Draxler"s Brace Put Nana Asare On The Brink Of UEFA Champions League Elimination

GPL Preview: Champions AshantiGold open at home to Medeama SC

GPL Preview: Champions AshantiGold open at home to Medeama SC

Oti Akenten tips Ashgold to go far in CAF Champions League

Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Francis Oti Akenten has charged Ashgold to pick a place in the league stages of the 2016 Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions league.

The experience trainer tipped the continental hopefuls to announce their return to Champions League football with a strong performance.

Ashgold ended their two decade of domestic hoodoo with a championship haul at the end of the 2014/15 FCPPL to book a place in the preliminary rounds of the continental elite club matches.

The Miners have been pitched against Algeria giants Olympic M. Bejaia of Algeria for the opening rounds of the continental campaign.

Coach Oti Akenteng, who doubles as a member of Confedration of Africa Footbal (CAF) Technical Committee was convinced the reigning FCPPL champions will make their way into the final stages of the CAF champions league when the competition kicks off in February.

The veteran trainer tasked Bashiru Hayford hungry side to reclaim Ghana’s lost slot in the continent’s elite club tourney with an impressive performance.

The GFA Technical Director singled out the availability of resources and the willingness of the club’s fan base to provide assistance as the Miners secret weapon ahead of a hectic season.

Speaking exclusively to www.sportscrusader.com, Mr Oti Akenten said, “I believe Ashgold can go further in the CAF Champions league next year. They have the facilities, resources and a very good coach in Bashiru Hayford as well.

“Also they have a very good CEO in Cudjoe Fianoo and everything is in place for the team to progess further in the CAF champions league.

“The supporters are also ready to support as well and I think sponsorship too has been sorted out by Cudjoe Fianoo. If the club gets out of the competition in the early stages I will personally not be very happy with them at all. They can do better and go further into the tournament.

Oti Akenten tips Ashgold to go far in CAF Champions League

Kotoko/Veria FC match will come on - Organisers

Chief Oppong Yeboah, Organiser of the much touted friendly international between dethroned league champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Veria FC of Greece insist the match will come on contrary to reports that, the Europeans are unaware of the match.

Speaking in an interview, Chief Yeboah, said, Oppong Yeboah, they are making the necessary preparations for the match on January 3 and have not been informed of the decision of Greece side to withdraw from the match.

According to Oppong Yeboah, they are in the process securing visa on arrival for the 35-man contingent expected to touch down on January 2, 2016, by Emirates Airlines.

He stated that, their league is currently on winter break and wondered why reports about the withdrawal of Veria FC from the match.

Chief Yeboah noted that, they have a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU), which states that, Veria FC are to feature at least eight of their first team players in the match and was convinced the team will come to Ghana with their regular players.

He noted that, the match will be part of activities marking the 80th Anniversary celebration as well as serve as the platform to prepare for the coming season.

However reports in the media suggests that, officials of Veria FC seem to be unaware of the match and have no plans of coming to Ghana.

Kotoko/Veria FC match will come on - Organisers