Archived News - 7th Dec 2006

African Cup of Nations News

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Africa To Have SIX Representatives at SA 2010…

Africa will have a record number of representatives competing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Fifa President Sepp Blatter has confirmed. It had been feared that with Bafana Bafana qualifying automatically as hosts only four other qualifying spots would be up for grabs in the African zone.

The growing strength in depth of the continent led the Fifa Executive Committee to vote in favour of expanding African entry at its two-day end of year meeting, however.

Togo caused Africa some embarrassment on her World Cup debut this year whilst Tunisia underperformed in failing to qualify out of a relatively weak group containing South Korea and Switzerland, as well as eventual runner-up France. But Ghana, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire all did more than enough in their respective campaigns to illustrate the growing strength in depth on the continent.

Once again, one qualifying campaign will determine places for both the 2010 World Cup and the 2010 African Cup of Nations, which is to be held in Angola.

…But Blatter Tells Hosts To Get A Move On

“We need to bring a little bit of fire to the organisers,” Sepp Blatter proclaimed, in an effort to kick-start South Africa’s apparently slow-moving preparations for the 2010.

The Local Organising Committee in South Africa has been having construction delays and internal squabbles over the 10 stadiums lined up fot the World Cup.

“We still have a few shovels and picks here that you can take home along so that work really now progresses and ensures that the stadia is built on time,” Blatter told South Africa organizing committee head Danny Jordaan.

With the exception of Cape Town's stadium, which is involved in a planning dispute, Jordaan said building work was expected to be under way on all sites by the first quarter of 2007 and that five stadiums would be ready by December 2008, in time for the Confederations Cup in 2009.

The executive committee has now finalized the dates for the World Cup finals which will take place between June 11 and July 11, 2010.

Drogba Deserves CAF Award- Amokachi

Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi says Didier Drogba deserves to be crowned Africa’s Player of the Year, rather than his compatriot and former team-mate Nwankwo Kanu.

Portsmouth striker Kanu has been in inspired form since his summer transfer from West Bromwhich Albion, and currently shares joint leadership of the Premiership goalscorer’s chart with Chelsea’s Drogba and Reading’s Irish forward Kevin Doyle.

Kanu’s eight goals have lifted his new club up to third in the table, but Amokachi believes Drogba has made a bigger impact over the year as a whole and deserves to be recognised by CAF ahead of Kanu and fellow contenders Samuel Eto’o, Mohamed Aboutreka and Michael Essien.

"I am not among one of the coaches that will cast their votes for the players,” said Amokachi, “but my choice is Drogba. He is very convincing this year and should be the top contender for the honour.”

“Essien is also a good professional while I would include Kolo Toure and Obinna Nsofor if asked to draw the short list. Nsofor in particular should have been a revelation if not for the suspension imposed on him by FIFA for alleged dual (club) registrations. He is one player cut for greater things in future," Amokachi added.

The former Everton, Besiktas and Bruges star has also spoken out to lament the decline in profile of Nigerian players- Kanu aside- since the turn of the century. Nigeria won the coveted CAF Player of the Year Awards on five different occasions in the 1990s through Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu (twice) and Victor Ikpeba.

“During our time, we had players who featured among the best clubs in the world, but now Nigeria doesn’t have any players playing amongst the world’s top ten clubs,” claimed the national under-23 coach.

Joetex For Ahly ?

Enyimba legend Joetex Frimpong has told media sources he would consider an offer to move from defeated African Champions League finalists CS Sfaxien to their conquerors, Al Ahly of Egypt.

Ghanaian striker Frimpong left Nigeria for Sfaxien at the start  of the Tunisian season and boosted their assault on the Champions League with three goals in eight fixtures and a string of man-of-the-match performances.

Ahly eventually defeated Sfaxien 2-1 on aggregate to win the 2006 CAF Champions League, but Frimpong made a name for himself by scoring Sfaxien's equalizer in the first-leg in Cairo.

"Al Ahly are a big club, which is very popular in Africa and beyond,” Frimpong told Monastir news, “and if they make me a good offer I would be happy to go.”

Frimpong made the Black Stars squad for the African Nations Cup held in Egypt in January, but missed the cut for the World Cup and is now looking for an international return under new national team coach Claude LeRoy.

Frimpong’s comments could hardly have been timed any worse, with Sfaxien gearing up for their biggest game of the domestic calendar this weekend against Tunisian Champions Esperance Sportive.

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