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Tag CAF

  • Mar, Mon, 2020
Sport

Douala, Rabat to host CAF club competition final matches

Finals
Cairo, March 16, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) The newly-built Japoma Stadium in the Cameroon city of Douala will stage the final of this season’s African Champions League, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed on Monday.

The match is slated for May 29.

It is the first year that the final will be played over a single leg and on neutral territory.

The venue beat two other bids to stage the match —- the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco and the Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunisia.

The Champions League semi-finals are scheduled for early May but will be under threat due to the coronavirus outbreak that has led to postponements and cancellations in global sports.

The line-up features two Moroccan sides pitted against Egyptian opposition as Raja Casablanca face Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca meet Al Ahly.

CAF have also announced that the final of the secondary club competition on the continent, the African Confederation Cup, will be staged in Morocco.

It will hold at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Stadium in the Moroccan capital of Rabat on May 24.

Egyptian side Pyramids FC take on Horoya from Guinea in the first semi-final, while the second is an all-Moroccan affair as RS Berkane take on Hassania Agadir.

Those two-legged ties will also be played in May.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Sport

2021 AFCON qualifiers postponed over coronavirus

Postponement
Cape Town, March 13, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Two rounds of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers scheduled for March have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Friday.

Rounds three and four of the pool qualifiers were due to be played in the international window from March 25 to March 31.

But the CAF emergency committee has postponed the games until further notice, without providing alternative dates.

The Nations Cup finals in Cameroon have been moved forward to next January and February to avoid the rainy season, which means the qualifiers will have to be completed this year.

That could see a delay to the start of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup which were due to start in October.

The Nations Cup qualifiers would have involved 48 countries.

Many players would have been travelling from the major European leagues in Italy, France, England, Germany and Spain, where the coronavirus has disrupted domestic fixtures.

CAF has also postponed qualifiers for the 2020 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for April and this month’s Women’s Under-20 World Cup preliminaries.

“We would like to assure you that CAF is monitoring the situation closely and working with the competent authorities such as WHO (World Health Organisation) on the impact of the virus in the continent and CAF competitions,” a statement said.

The African Nations Championship (CHAN), a national team competition for home-based players, is still on in Cameroon from April 4 to April 25.

But this is dependent on the findings of the CAF medical committee who will visit the country this weekend to assess preventative measures taken by the Local Organising Committee.

Morocco’s football federation has called a meeting for Monday to decide whether they will play in the tournament.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Sport

CAF confirms receipt of 3 bids for 2019/2020 inter-club finals

Bids
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, March 6, 2020 (NAN) The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the receipt of bids from three member Associations during the Feb. 11 to Feb. 20 timeline to host the 2019/20 inter-club finals.

A statement on the website of the continental football governing body on Friday said Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia bidded to host the CAF Champions League 2019/2020.

Morocco alone bidded to host the CAF Confederation Cup 2019/2020.

It added that the bids would be reviewed and evaluated by CAF First Vice-President, Omari Selemani.

“Guided by the Technical Specifications the ad hoc committee chaired by CAF First Vice-President Selemani, CAF will review and evaluate the received bids taking into consideration key facilities such as infrastructure, accommodation, medical amongst others.

“A final decision is expected to be made by the CAF Emergency Committee on March 12.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the CAF Executive Committee at its meeting in June 2019 decided on a single match as against the two-legged encounter obtainable before. (NAN)
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NPFL calendar unfavourable for Nigerian clubsides’ continental campaign, sports journalist says

NAN-S-16
Calendar
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 4, 2018 (NAN) A veteran sports journalist, Segun Agbede, on Thursday said Nigerian clubsides’ campaign in 2018 CAF tournaments may not be fruitful in view of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) calendar.

Agbede told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the calendar was unfavourable to the four clubsides and would affect their performance while playing in the two continental competitions.

NAN reports that Plateau United Football Club of Jos and Lagos-based MFM FC would play in the 2018 CAF Champions League.

Similarly, Enyimba International of Aba and Akwa United of Uyo would feature in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.

Plateau United’s only appearance on the continent before now was in 2000, when they were edged out from the CAF Cups’ Winners Cup in the first round.

Enyimba were regular on the continent, and they won the CAF Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004.

Akwa United, the AITEO Cup winners, will be playing for the second time in the CAF Confederation Cup having lost out in the first round in 2016.

Agbede said Nigeria’s representatives should have, in view of their relative experience, had enough playing time before featuring in the competitions this year.

“I have a serious doubt if they can perform well because only Enyimba has the pedigree in the continental tournament; other three clubs are new entrants.

“If they are not careful, they will exit the tournament early even as CAF has changed the calendar of the competition from the end of 2018.

“The championships are now expected to start by November and finish by May 2019 which is in line with most of the other leagues around the world,’’ he said.

Agbede said changing the NPFL calendar to be in line with that of many league competitions in Europe and Africa would afford Nigerian clubsides the opportunity of adequate preparations.

“Hopefully, if the Nigerian league starts by Jan. 14, it can be compressed to finish latest by September so that we can start again before November to accommodate the new calendar.

“We must also realise that the date for AFCON has been changed to a new date in 2019 which is now June/July.

“Our clubs need to be ready and have good playing time in order to be able to square up successfully against their opponents who have favourable league structures.

“Otherwise, they may not do well.

“But I hope things get better in 2018 for all our clubsides and the national teams as well,’’ he said.(NAN)
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(Edited by Cecilia Odey and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

CAF offers $500,000 to each African representative for 2018 World Cup preparations

NAN-S-3
CAF
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it would grant financial subsidy of $500,000 (about N175 million) to all five African representatives at the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The continental football governing body said the decision was taken by its Executive Committee and other stakeholders on the sidelines of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draws in Moscow on Friday.

“At its last meeting held on Nov. 16 in Rabat, Morocco the CAF Executive Committee decided to set up an ad hoc committee chaired by the CAF First Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi.

“The committee was told to map out a kind of support to be provided to African representatives to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

“The committee, which has CAF Executive Committee member Kalusha Bwalya and presidents of the Football Associations of the five qualified countries as members, met in Moscow, Russia on the sidelines of Friday’s draw for the FIFA World Cup finals.

“At the meeting, it was decided that CAF will grant a financial subsidy of $500,000 to each of the five African teams.

“The financial package will be used mainly to strengthen and improve the technical supervision of each team.

“In addition, CAF will provide each African representative with `fieldwiz’ equipment, a technological device and physical performance measuring tool for outdoor team sports players,” the continental football body said in a statement on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five African representatives at the FIFA World Cup in Russia are Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal.(NAN)
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Omu-Aran football fans want Nigeria to host 2018 CHAN

NAN-S-2
Football
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Sept. 25, 2017 (NAN) Some football fans in the Kwara state town of Omu-Aran on Monday advised the Federal Government to bid for the hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The fans spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in reaction to the loss by Kenya of the competition’s hosting rights.

They said the move by Nigeria, if it was made, would enhance the development of its sports facilities.

NAN reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at its Executive Meeting on Saturday at Accra in Ghana had withdrawn the hosting of the event from Kenya.

It said the country would not be able to put the necessary infrastructure in place, ahead of the competition scheduled for January 2018.

The Omu Aran fans were however of the belief that Nigeria has the wherewithal to host such an event successfully.

Zakariyau Bello, the Chairman of Football Supporters Club, Omu-Aran Chapter, said the hosting of the 2018 CHAN would enhance the country’s preparedness and performance at the 2018 World Cup.

“Nigeria has always been tipped by sports analysts and the world football governing body, FIFA, as one of the African countries with the potential to win the FIFA World Cup in future.

“That assertion to me is a great challenge to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and it should be handled with all seriousness.

“The journey to attain such feat depends much on our active participation in football activities, including the bidding for and the winning of the 2018 CHAN hosting right,’’ he said.

Yemi Aransiola, the Director of Oyeyemi Sports Academy in Omu-Aran, said hosting the next CHAN by Nigeria would help to promote unity and harmonious relationship among the citizenry.

He said football is globally well-known to be a unifying factor, irrespective of ethnic, religion, cultural or political affiliation.

“Recent developments in the country as regards hate speech, agitation and the rest remain a source of concern to patriotic Nigerians.

“Not minding the cost, hosting an event of such magnitude will not only help to transform the game but will bring us together as one indivisible entity,” Aransiola said.

Festus Nwosu, a sports promoter, called for the sustenance of the country’s football exploits, especially in Africa.

“It has been a very long time we played host to African teams in football. Hosting the 2018 CHAN will not be a bad idea,” he said.

CAF member-countries wishing to replace Kenya have until Oct. 1 to submit bids, while the new host would be named later in the month.(NAN)
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Pinnick’s victory an opportunity for Nigeria to reassert itself in world football, SWAN says

 

NAN-S-23
Opportunity
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, March 17, 2017 (NAN) The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) says Amaju Pinnick’s election into the CAF Executive Committee has presented Nigeria an opportunity to realign and reassert itself as a major football power.

While congratulating Pinnick who was elected in Addis Ababa on Thursday, SWAN said Pinnick’s election offers Nigeria a fresh opportunity to be among the leading players in world football.

“While we congratulate you on this resounding victory, we also wish to remind you that it is an opportunity we must all grab with both hands.

“This is because it offers us the fresh opportunity to be among the leading players in world football.

“It is an opportunity for Nigeria to realign and reassert itself as a major football power,’’ SWAN said in the letter signed by its Secretary-General, Olawale Alabi, on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Presidential and Executive Committee Elections were held at the 39th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Ethiopia.

The elections also saw the emergence of Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar as the new CAF President, following a 34-20 defeat of Issa Hayatou of Cameroon.

SWAN also said it was confident in the abilities of Pinnick, who is Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President to ensure maximum benefits for Nigerian football in all the necessary areas.

“Pinnick’s election is an opportunity not only for him as an individual we so much believe in his abilities, but for Nigerian football in general.

“We are therefore hopeful that all members of the Nigerian football family, ranging from young and elite footballers, coaches, referees, administrators, sports journalists, sponsors, fans, et cetera, will with time feel the impact of your being on the CAF Executive Committee.’’

The Association further called for support for Pinnick from the entire Nigerian football family for him to be able to actualise the mandate of helping to uplift football in Africa.

“It is now no longer his call alone, but that of Nigeria, and we enjoin all stakeholders to rally round Pinnick for him to be able to deliver on the job.

“Being on the CAF Executive Committee should not be the end of the journey for any Nigerian football stakeholder who has been well accepted in the way Pinnick’s victory suggests.

“Bigger opportunities are there ahead for any Nigerian who dares to aspire, once we all rally round to lend support.’’

SWAN also congratulated the new CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, on his election, and reminded him of the need to take immediate steps to ensure the change he has brought about is full of positive gains.

“Many football enthusiasts have so much hope in the change you have promised, and they will all be expectant that you will in a very short time ensure there are positive gains for African football.’’

The Nigerian sports writing body did not fail to praise former CAF President Issa Hayatou for his magnanimity and past efforts.

“Hayatou has done his best, and really deserves praise for his magnanimity in conceding defeat and not leaving the confederation in a state of rancour out of unbridled ambition to continue in office.

“It is noteworthy that he has also left behind worthy legacies, which have seen CAF become financially healthier in the last few years, and he therefore deserves praise.’’(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

CAF Presidency: Yakmut, Gaiya urge Ahmad on innovations to improve African football

NAN-S-14
Ahmad
Abuja, March 16, 2017 (NAN) Alhassan Yakmut, a former sports administrator, has advised Ahmad Ahmad, the new President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), to hasten the process of making African football a bigger business.

Yakmut told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the new change in CAF was long overdue, and would ensure the needed innovations in African football.

NAN reports that Ahmad beat incumbent Issa Hayatou on Thursday to be elected new CAF President.

“Sports is a dynamic business. So, its leadership should be dynamic. A situation where a leadership has perpetuated itself for over 28 years or more in office was long overdue for change.

“I am happy that it came at a time when there is radial change in the administration of football at the international level.

“It is necessary for Africa as a subsidiary of CAF and FIFA, to respond to the change too.

“I want to congratulate all those who voted for change,’’ Yakmut who was a former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC) said.

He however advised that African football stakeholders should not be too excited about the change.

“The new leadership should make sure that there is visible development in football in Africa.

“The business aspect of sports in Africa should be developed properly, so that it becomes a revenue-earner, instead of having government funding football across the continent,’’ Yakmut said.

He noted that football stakeholders in developed countries utilise sports as a revenue-earner, leading to revenue from sports contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of these countries.

In the same vein, Godfrey Gaiya, a former Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports, said the change at CAF Presidency was necessary for football development in Africa.

“If football will move forward by changing him (Issa Hayatou) for another person, I don’t think I have a problem with that.

“The new president should bring innovations into football in Africa.

“For now, African football has no followership or sponsorship. The new leadership should look for sponsors to develop the industry.

“They should source for sponsors for the member-federations to have money to develop football in their various countries.

“This did not happen under Hayatou’s leadership. We did not have sponsors through which money can come into football. This forced most governments to fund football, which is not right,’’ he said.

Gaiya said football was a big business with a big market, adding that it would take only an organised leadership of CAF to utilise this.(NAN)
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Camara elected to FIFA Council after opponents unexpectedly withdraw

Camara elected to FIFA Council after opponents unexpectedly withdraw

 

NAN-S-17
FIFA
Abuja, March 7, 2017 (Reuters/NAN) Almamy Camara of Guinea has been elected unopposed to the council of FIFA, a week before African elections for the post were to be held.

This happened after both his rivals pulled out hours before FIFA announced the results of background investigations on prospective candidates.

Camara was one of three candidates for two places in the open category of the African elections, which also have other categories for the continent’s various language groups.

But both Danny Jordaan, president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), and Goc Alei of South Sudan withdrew without explanation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this leaves a vacancy that will be filled by a supplementary election.

If either Jordaan or Alei had stayed in the race, he would also have been elected unopposed to the council of world football governing body.

CAF and FIFA were notified of their withdrawals on Monday, hours before FIFA announced that the 10 candidates in the race had all passed integrity checks.

Camara will now fill one of the seven seats reserved for Africa on the FIFA council.

Lydia Nsekera of Burundi is guaranteed another as the continent’s female representative.

The other five would be determined by elections at the CAF’s congress in Addis Ababa on March 16.

Former African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya of Zamba, had already pulled out at the weekend as campaigning continued in the most animated CAF election for decades.

Long-standing CAF President Issa Hayatou faces a challenge from Madagascar’s Ahmad, who uses just one name, for the organisation’s presidency and an automatic place on the FIFA council.

Africa’s other FIFA council seats would be determined by races in three language categories – Arabic, English and French.

Two candidates are contending for a single place in each category.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

CAF Elections: Ahmad promises all-inclusive governance

NAN-S-24
Candidate
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, March 2, 2017 (NAN) Ahmad Ahmad, a presidential aspirant in the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee elections, on Thursday in Abuja said his desire was to run an all-inclusive government. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmad was in the country to officially inform Nigerians of his intention to challenge long-serving CAF President Issa Hayatou.

Ahmad, who is the president of Madagascar’s football federation, is the sole challenger to Hayatou, the Cameroonian who has led CAF since 1988.

He told newsmen that central to his manifesto was a desire for improved governance, with a commitment to increased transparency and re-investment.

Ahmad also said he hoped to bring about reconciliation within the different actors in African football.

“Now is time for the politics of football in Africa. I am running for the CAF presidency because I and most of my colleagues are clamoring for change. 

“Those who have lost their trust, their confidence in CAF, those who have been long forgotten and those who have been left on their own. They all must join hands with me to effect the much-needed change.

“This is the first time in the history of CAF that one candidate has a manifesto and my vision is very clear — the management of football is for everybody and not a few group of people,” he said.

Ahmad said also that he wanted to promote football to lead to inclusion, bring about reconciliation and give greater recognition to those who played a major role in African football.

He added that part of his goal was to create infrastructure which suits African football while avoiding the creation of “white elephant’’ stadiums.

Ahmad expressed gratitude to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its support, saying he was confident that with Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and others he would achieve success at the polls.

“I am here because I respect Nigeria. Nigeria is a big country and a giant as far as the game of football is concerned in Africa and so if you want to achieve success, you must align with countries like Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt.

“I thank the NFF President (Amaju Pinnick) for endorsing my candidature and all my gratitude goes to the government of Nigeria and the entire football family for their support.

“This is indeed a big support,” he said.

NAN also reports that part of Ahmad’s visit was a courtesy call on the Youth and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, Pinnick, as well as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

The elections will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 16.(NAN)
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Olawale Alabi)