Africa - Most popular for 2008
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The Confederation of African Football named its shortlist of five for 2008 African Footballer of
the Year yesterday, and Didier Drogba's name was on there. Problem is: Didier Drogba wants nothing
to do with the award. Seems odd to not want to be named the best player in your confederation, but
Drogba has his reasons: After [.
In the past few years, the number of American players plying their trade abroad has increased
exponentially. It wasn't that long ago that knowledgeable American fans could easily count all of
the "Yanks Abroad" (personally, I remember scouring for newspapers that would have a one-sentence
blurb on the exploits of Tab Ramos at Real Betis).
Greenland is an autonomous province of Denmark with a population of around 50,000. The Faroe
Islands are an autonomous province of Denmark with a population of around 50,000. The Faroe Islands
belong to FIFA; Greenland does not. A reasonable person might wonder why the Faroes are given
membership into the international soccer governing body while Greenland [.
Something tells me I may not be the only one out there that feels this way but with the way the MLS
is growing and the new international player rules, I think it is time for the MLS to take serious
looks at players in Africa. I thought of this a few weeks back before the [...]
On the European Continent and on the British Isles the view of the Olympic football Tournament is
completely different than in the rest of the world. In Europe the tournament is seen as more of a
nuisance than anything, while among those in the Western Hemisphere and in Africa it is seen as big
deal.
DC United is going to Africa. Instead of their usual shopping in Latin America, the club has gone
in a different direction as of late. At the start of the season they signed Francis Doe (Libria)
and a month ago they signed keeper Louis Crayton (Liberia). Now they are set to bring on two more
Africans [.
According to reports, Arsenal are keeping tabs on Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah. It was reported
that West Ham had also made an offer for the former Fenerbahce midfielder, but Arsene Wenger could
also be on the look out for the experienced stalwart. Appiah is one of the most highly regarded
midfielders in Africa and has been [.
Steve Menary's book Outcasts!: The Lands That FIFA Forgot is a fascinating read. In the book,
Menary reports on the far flung "countries" that FIFA doesn't recognize. Steve Menary sat down to
speak with me recently about writing Outcasts and the issues his book raises. Menary told me that
he got his start writing for [.
Some of world football's biggest super stars are signed up to play in a charity match in Germany
next week to help raise money for Africa. Among the players signed up to raise money for this great
cause are: Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Gennaro Gattuso, Michael Ballack, and Steven Gerrard. Fans
will make a donation for each goal scored by their favorite player; too bad young David Villa's not
on the list.
Some news to peruse as you fake illness so you can live in hospitals for three years. You know that
supposedly gay player from Brazil? His ex-girlfriend is in Playboy and Brazil Offside has all the
links (Brazil Offside) Chicago Fire are too cheap to get their first-choice coach (Red Card Blog)
US and Canadian fans can [.
Hosts Ghana kicked out of their hotel ahead of African Cup of Nations opener.
(Summary is not available.)
Back in January we spent a month covering the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations on WCB. The three things I
took away from this were: 1) African football is on the rise, 2) Manucho is a damn fine footballer,
and 3) There's not nearly enough written about African football. What I mean by 3) is that [...]
Unfancied CFR Cluj and FC BATE Borisov have made good starts to their UEFA Champions League
campaigns (Cluj are still unbeaten after playing Roma away and Chelsea at home). But they have a
long long way to go to match Dynamos FC of Harare, Zimbabwe. Despite facing multiple political and
economic problems (eg Robert Mugabe and [.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the FIFA 09 release party, Matt
Mbuta, the newly acquired right wing prospect for the Red Bulls, watched the gaming action
on a huge 104 inch projection screen while sipping a glass of what seemed to be ginger ale. "I
don't play video games.
Its the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is the only time of the year when you
are nice to people you don't like and the whole thing about being naughty or nice doesn't matter
cause you will still receive gifts. I've been more naughty than nice this year, especially that one
[...]
Some news to contemplate as you're getting arrested for hitting a police officer with a snowball:
And the African Player of the Year is... (World Cup Blog) Who are the Premier League's twenty most
valuable players? (Who Ate all the Pies? ) Why are so few Americans coaching abroad? (Culture of
Soccer) Basketballer Steve Nash [.
What happened to the Ghana vs Ivory Coast dream final? Well, it's off, that's what. Here's how:
Ghana 0-1 Cameroon The hosts were outmuscled by Cameroon, in a match that was marred by the
unbelievably inappropriate behaviour of Reading defender...
If you're wondering why Zamalek keeper Mohamed Abdel Monsef looks so distraught in the above video,
it's because he knows Zamalek have just lost to Al-Ahly. Again. Moetaz Eno's cracking goal one
minute from time made it 2-0 to Al-Ahly in the Egyptian Super Cup, which means Zamalek have beaten
Al-Ahly just once in the [.
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/8/18/wallidan-ace-training-with-new-york-red-bulls
Gambian U-17 and Wallidan striker Sainey Touray has been on trial with Red Bull New York for the
last few weeks. Touray led Wallidan to the 2008 Gambian league title and was the club's top scorer.
The African qualifying groups for World Cup 2010 are always a particular favourite of mine, as they
are rarely predictable and - as things get tense - there are often accusations and
counter-accusations of cheating, voodoo and bribery. Unfortunately, this time around the seeding of
the teams will most likely make things a little more predictable.
With the African Cup of Nations just a matter of thirteen days from opening in Ghana, I'm hoping to
put together a chunky Pitch Invasion feature on African football to coincide with the event. As
usual, we're looking for writing and photography that explores things not covered by the mainstream
football media.
(Summary is not available.)
One of the joys of watching the World Cup is seeing teams from different parts of the globe play
each other. The styles they employ are often a study in contrasts. Any time England plays
Argentina, it is a battle of grit and determination versus technique and guile (there's also the
wee matter of the [.
The 2008 African Cup of Nations began in earnest this week with colourful fans, spectacular goals
and dodgy goalkeeping galore.
It's refreshing to see football played in such a different atmosphere to the standard hostile one
which awaits most European players when they travel to away grounds.
This photo was taken the day before Cameroon faced Egypt in the ACN final. The dark clouds in the
background didn't just forecast the weather, but also the game ahead. Cameroon lost 1-0. (AP
Photo/Alastair Grant)
Google would like you to know that, contrary to rumor, they do not censor images for political
content. Even explosive little hot potatoes like this one of Egyptian player Mohamed Aboutreika at
the African Cup of Nations. From the blog from a Google software engineer. Every now and then a
story surfaces that Google [.
Apparently kids in Africa are using condoms -- sent to the continent for AIDS protection -- to help
hold up their soccer socks.
Innovative, I love it.
Come on down! These days everyone wants to be taken over by a billionaire and then immediately get
linked with players worth more than the entire debt of Africa. But how? Ker-Ching! It's easy! The
Premier League title awaits, all you have to do is pick out a billionaire, flutter your eyelashes
and as sure as [.
His name has been floating about for some time as the latest unpolished diamond the emerge from the
heart of Africa, but without a concrete deal on the continent, he's been biding his time back in
the DR Congo, his homeland. Now, one year after a trial with Arsenal, interest is finally heating
up across [.
An 18 year old Moroccan schoolboy is in seriously hot water after paying allegiances to his
favorite football team, FC Barcelona, over the king of Morocco, Mohamed VI. And really, who can
blame him? Barca's hot shit right now. I'd like to see King Mohamad VI do the kingly equivalent of
score 17 in 4 [.
It has been a crazy week in football with so much happening on and off the pitch. On this week's
good, the bad and the ugly we feature Maradona, River Plate, Liverpool, Tottenham and, of course,
Joey Barton. Click on the links to find out more about these stories Good Liverpool beat Chelsea
1-0 at Stamford Bridge [.
Some news to read as you spray paint a police officer: Does your country exist? FIFA might say no.
(Culture of Soccer) Jeff Agoos is Red Bulls' new Sporting Director (Soccer by Ives) Zambia and
Namicia mourn their former coach (World Cup Blog) A look at Real Madrid's youth team (Real Madrid
Offside) It hurts me to watch this [.
Some news to read as your macaw scares off a burglar: Beckham, year two. (Don't worry. This isn't a
puff piece. Or a hit piece.) (US Soccer Players) So this is what they mean when they say "sports
hernia operation." (Chivas Offside) Mike Ashley faces some tough questions (Run of Play) Here's how
FIFA rank [.
We all know about Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and Michael Essien, but there are more than three
players worth watching at the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on 20th January. Courtesy of the
good people from World Cup Blog...
(Summary is not available.)
Saturday's Games US 2 - 0 Sweden. US Soccer is still trying to convince FIFA that this is, in fact,
the USMNT's 500th international game. We're operating on the assumption that they'll be vindicated
here, so we're officially saying Woohoo!! With this win, we're .500 after 500! And Landon Donovan
[.
Do the words "FIFA Corruption Investigation" make anybody else snicker? In a kind of cynical and
jaded way? They shouldn't. I know this. The money to be had in the sport is huge, and where there's
huge money, there's always somebody attempting to get more of it in illicit ways, as [...]
The common image of African football is of a dusty field, a rag ball, rickety wooden goalposts, and
a bunch of shoeless kids playing for fun. But the early history of the game suggests that African
football is more complex and sophisticated. It is a history of money, racism, tactics and magic.
Jack Lord explains.
