Archived News - 27th November 2006

African Cup of Nations News

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Archived News

Kanu and Aboutrika surprises on CAF award shortlist…

Mohamed Aboutrika has become the first non-European based player to ever be nominated for the Confederation of African player of the year award this week. Nwankwo Kanu, currently joint top scorer in the English Premiership, is the other surprise name on a five-man shortlist that also features Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, Ghana’s Michael Essien and Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba.

Aboutrika, 28, has spent his entire career in Egypt and recently helped national champions Al Ahly retain their African Champions League crown in a hard fought 2-1 aggregate victory over Tunisians CS Sfaxien.

CAF have again recognised Chelsea’s Drogba and Essien- both nominated in 2005- and Barcelona’s Eto’o, who has lifted the prestigious trophy three years in a row.

All 53 CAF member countries, along with the CAF media and technical committees, will vote for a winner to be announced in Abuja, Nigeria on January 18.

…While Eto’o and Drogba make Euro top ten

West African superstar strikers Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba followed up their CAF player of the year award nominations with top ten placings in the voting for the equally esteemed European Ballon D’or award.

Eto’o and Drogba came sixth and eighth respectively in the poll of journalists to honour the top footballers plying their trade in European leagues.

Italy’s World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro claimed first prize but the two African strikers were recognised for their efforts in helping their clubs win domestic titles for second successive years. Eto’o also made his mark with a goal in the 2005-2006 Uefa Champions League final, which his side Barcelona edged 2-1 over English giants Arsenal.

Australia anger South Africa with attempt to gatecrash 2010 World Cup party

Organisers of the 2010 World Cup have complained to Australian officials over suggestions that South Africa's preparations are in trouble and that Australia could step in instead.

Danny Jordaan, head of the Local Organising Committee, said a letter has been sent to the Australian foreign ministry over recent remarks that the finals are in doubt. "We find it totally unfair, especially if it is coming from a government official," said Jordaan. "They have done it more than once," he added.

Australia has already stated its intent to host the 2018 tournament but officials have also said they would be ready in four years' time if need be. In September, Football Federation Australia chief John O'Neill said: "we've got to be ready to be absolutely opportunistic.

"There are all sorts of question marks about infrastructure or requirements in South Africa. Australia doesn't have those problems," he added.

The premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, also infuriated South African officials after stating that Australia has "the capacity to step into the breach at a moment's notice.

"If it can't come off with South Africa, and there are doubts that it can, then we are by far the best alternative," Australia's Daily Telegraph quoted Iemma as saying.

Doubts raised in US over Adu’s Manchester move

Los Angeles Galaxy boss Alexi Lalas has warned Ghanaian-born Freddy Adu about the risks of making "the wrong move" overseas as the youngster enters the second week of his fortnight on trial with Manchester United.

"He is a wonderful talent but I worry about his size. He needs to go to the appropriate team," said Lalas, the general manager of the Californian MSL side.

"If he goes to the wrong team he will get swallowed up on and off the pitch - it will be a waste of time. He's not a player that can adapt to anything."

Adu, who plays for American team DC United, started a two-week stint with the Premiership leaders' Academy team last Monday (20/11), and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already expressed a desire to sign the teenager if he proves himself.

"I think we would be interested, he's only young but we have known of him for a long time," said Ferguson earlier this month.

"We tried to get him here some years ago but he signed for DC United and that stopped the progress of us keeping tabs on him."

Adu, who will be available for transfer when he turns 18 next June subject to work-permit approval, has made clear his wish to leave MLS for a bigger challenge and a number of top European teams have been linked with the hyped Accra-born sensation.

Adu has only played one friendly game for his adopted country and under Fifa rules can still represent Ghana so long as he is overlooked for competitive fixture with the US national side.

And after Bruce Arena overlooked Adu for the States’ World Cup squad Freddy admitted he had not closed the door on one day representing the Black Stars.

“It’s still open, you never know,” he said. “The way Ghana is playing right now [at the World Cup finals], they’re a good, good team.”

Caf voices concerns for Ghana 2008

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has raised four major worries with regards Ghana's preparations towards the hosting of Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 after it embarked on its fourth inspection exercise last week.

Slim Aloulou, leader of the four-member delegation, which conducted the inspection, expressed concern about the nature of training pitches, TV production, the rate of work on the hostel facilities at Tamale and access roads to the various stadia for the competition.

Addressing the press in Accra after the inspection, which took them to all the four stadia allocated for the hosting of the competition and other facilities, Mr. Aloulou said, though his team could not see the training pitches physically and only saw it on video, it was of the view that the pitches were not quality enough and up to the standard for the competition.

Super Eagles soar to ninth in Fifa rankings

Nigeria ascended two places to a staggering “ninth in the World” in the latest Fifa/Coca Cola rankings released by the global football governing body for the month of November. The Super Eagles’ proposed mid-month international friendly with Senegal was postponed at the last minute, so Nigeria’s ranking’s climb can actually be attributed to defeats suffered by the teams previously placed just above Austin Eguaveon’s men.

Nigeria are officially Africa’s finest, despite the fact that the African Cup of Nations semi-finalists have only beaten Niger and Lesotho since the continental showpiece last January.

Ghana, who disappointed in Egypt ’06 but otherwise have enjoyed a fantastic year, bizarrely slipped four places to 28th in the World and sixth in Africa in the November update.

Cameroon (11th) and Ivory Coast (18th) maintained their top twenty slots.

Please forward all press releases and feature ideas to Barney Cullum on barney@newafricansoccer.co.uk