South Korea vs India Asian Cup- Group C- January 18, 2011 Final result and full time score:- South Korea 4-1 India (Dong-Won Ji*2, Ja-Cheol Koo, Heung-Min Son/ Sunil Chhetri ) This South Korea vs India fixture saw the Koreans run out 4-1 winners and hand India their third successive defeat of the tournament.

By Alan Duffy

January and February will see a number of Premier League managers once again bemoaning the loss of a number of their top players to the small matter of the African Cup of Nations.

However, while the players left behind freeze in a post-Christmas England , those headed for the heat in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will come face to face with the tournament's new mascot, Gaguie, who was recently unveiled in Libreville to a rather unimpressed (see video) selection of dignitaries.

Morocco's "architectural jewel" Stade de Marrakech

After competing against South Africa for the 3rd time in the last decade to host an international tournament, Morocco finally came out on top. The North African country, who competed against South Africa to host both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, was selected by the Confederation of African Football to host the 2015 edition of the African Cup of Nations.

Morocco's "architectural jewel" Stade de Marrakech

After competing against South Africa for the 3rd time in the last decade to host an international tournament, Morocco finally came out on top. The North African country, who competed against South Africa to host both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, was selected by the Confederation of African Football to host the 2015 edition of the African Cup of Nations.

After being knocked out in the last eight of the Champions League, Chelsea have finished in second place, Carlo Ancelotti has been fired and along with an ageing side; the cracks now visible at Stamford Bridge may be a bigger than they appear.

On Sunday 22nd Chelsea Football Club made an announcement that stated "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Carlo Ancelotti parted company with the club today".

The African Cup of Nations is just a couple of weeks away and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is already predicting a tough title challenge for Manchester City.

The Citizens are set to lose their most influential player of the season so far-Yaya Toure. Yaya who was also named as the African player of the Year 2011 has been in scintillating form for City helping them to a first place finish in the league for the first time in 82 years since Christmas 1929.

It's been a long 2 and a half months, but it's finally coming to an end tomorrow when KC ends their 10 game road trip in Toronto. KC ended their long losing streak last week in Colorado with a 1-1 draw against the defending champs. Toronto comes into this game on the backs of a humiliating 6-2 loss to Philadelphia at home.

While his teammates are getting ready to face Toronto FC tonight, Kei Kamara was in Freetown, Sierra Leone as the Leone Stars took on Niger in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. Sierra Leone needed a win to keep in the race for qualification after a 3-1 loss in Niger earlier this year. By first hand reports, Sierra Leone dominated the game but was unable to finish their chances Kamara had a few chances as he mainly played in a support role behind Sierra Leone's two strikers.

Sporting KC has officially announced the rescheduled date of their game against the LA Galaxy. The game was supposed to take place on August 13th and be broadcasted on FSC. But with the announcement of Farm Aid coming to LiveSTRONG Sporting Park, KC had to move their game against David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and the rest of the Galaxy to September 5th.

After a disappointing end to last season, numerous Arsenal fans were calling for several players to be booted out of the club. I remember logging onto Twitter one day and seeing a great number of Arsenal fans I follow, tweeting the five players they wanted Wenger to sell this summer.

Whilst this may have been a bit of a rash reaction to a poor end to the season, it was understandable, emotions were running high, and many fans were finding it difficult to come to terms that Arsenal had ended their sixth consecutive season without a trophy.

Arsene Wenger wrapped up as many as five quality signings on the transfer deadline day but not all members of his squad are feeling confident about the future ahead.

Russian winger Andrei Arshavin, for one, believes that the Gunners' failure to sign a defensive midfielder such as Rennes' Yann M'Vila not only left the Arsenal midfield incomplete, but also prevented Wenger from compensating for the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

With all the personal arrogance and Euro-centricity he could muster, which is quite a lot, all told, Alex Ferguson dismissed the leading international football tournament of the world's most populous continent in those four words. But the tournament which started in Qatar on Friday is rather more important than that.

Written by WiganGooner

As with all Football Clubs, Arsenal send their scouts all over the world looking for top, top talent. Just a few of the Nationalities at Arsenal are of course French, Spanish, Swiss, Belgian, Russian, Dutch, Argentinian, Brazilian, English, Welsh, Polish, Bolivian – the list goes on.

After going a full month with four draws and a loss, it felt like it could be mission impossible for New York Red Bulls losing five players to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and missing Bouna Coundoul to African Cup of Nations Qualifying. You would wonder if the depth was going to take the challenge well and to be honest they did a great job until the final moments of the match.

In 1978 the president of Uganda (or to give him his full title His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor) was Idi Amin, the country was embroiled in a war with neighbours Tanzania and Idi Amin was still twelve months from relinquishing power. It was also the last time that Uganda's national football team (The Cranes) had qualified for an African Cup of Nations.

In 1978 the president of Uganda (or to give him his full title His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor) was Idi Amin, the country was embroiled in a war with neighbours Tanzania and Idi Amin was still twelve months from relinquishing power. It was also the last time that Uganda's national football team (The Cranes) had qualified for an African Cup of Nations.

The first match-up of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign will begin in earnest on Wednesday. Belize and Montserrat, ranked in positions 172 and 202 of FIFA's World Rankings respectively, will begin the qualification process in the CONCACAF region with a two-legged fixture taking place on June 15th and 19th.

Michael Essien's nightmare is now a reality.

Official statement from the club:

Following injury to his right knee in training last week Michael Essien had surgery today to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.

The surgery was successful and Michael's full recovery could take up to six months.

Your whistle-stop guide to the latest Premier League arrivals Name: Romelu Lukaku Age: 18 Position: Striker Signed from: Anderlecht Fee: £20m Did you know? His dad Roger played for Zaire in the 1990s, taking part in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers and a couple of African Cup of Nations tournaments.

Former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has surfaced as a leading candidate to take over Egypt.
Bradley, will meet with the head of the Egyptian federation this week, national team press officer Azmi Megahed told MLSSoccer.com.
Bob Bradley appears to be in line to coach Egypt's national team.

African Cup of Nations 2012: New Ghana Home Kit is a post from: Just Football

On Monday, at a lavish launch party at the Design Museum in London, PUMA unveiled the 2012 football kits for their 10 partnered African National football teams. Of course Just Football was there doing its bit to represent African football and we were lucky enough to mingle, sit down and chat with some of the top players on the continent.

The Egypt national soccer team (Arabic: منتخب مصر الوطني لكرة القدم) has long been one of Africa's footballing powers. Nicknamed The Pharoahs, Egypt holds the record for the most African Cup of Nations titles with seven. However, after winning the 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions of the tournament, Egypt did not qualify for the 2012 [.

The Egypt national soccer team (Arabic: منتخب مصر الوطني لكرة القدم) has long been one of Africa's footballing powers. Nicknamed The Pharoahs, Egypt holds the record for the most African Cup of Nations titles with seven. However, after winning the 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions of the tournament, Egypt did not qualify for the 2012 [.

African Cup of Nations 2012: New Cote d'Ivoire Home Kit is a post from: Just Football

More from PUMA's African football 2012 kit launch now on Just Football, with a look at the new Côte d'Ivoire home kit. Undoubtedly one of the favourites for the African Cup of Nations 2012 in a few months time considering the absence of other big names such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire will be hoping this will be the kit that sees the Elephants finally cement their as yet unsecured position as one of Africa's best international sides of the last decade.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Mario Balotelli and Micah Richards were anything but all smiles in Thursday's training session.

The two Manchester City regulars were involved in a scuffle near the end of practice following a heated exchange of words. Richards had to be held back by fellow teammates when he attempted to continue the argument.

Not even one of the faces of African soccer is immune to punishment of the harshest kind.

The Cameroonian Football Federation banned captain and star forward Samuel Eto'o 15 matches for his role in a players' strike last month. Eto'o can appeal the punishment over the course of the next two weeks, but if it is upheld, the ban could signal the end of the 30-year-old Eto'o's international career, considering the length of the ban and the bad blood between player and federation.

Morocco will become the first African country to host the FIFA World Club Cup finals in 2013 and 2014 after a successful tournament in Japan this year. The tournament will however remain in Japan in 2012 before moving to the North African nation in 2013.

The world governing football body revealed that Morocco won the rights to host the tournament after the withdrawal of bidders South Africa, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

One of the more interesting rumors of the holiday season in Europe surrounds Thierry Henry's potential return to Arsenal on a short-term loan in January. Nobody at Arsenal is publicly admitting it is in the works (Arsene Wenger said he has yet decide whether to pursue it), and there is no guarantee that the New York Red Bulls would be willing to let their star player go on a loan, but the idea remains an intriguing one.

Given Arsene did his whole, 'I don't know what you're talking about routine', when questioned about the potential return of Thierry Henry in the press conference on Friday, I would be very surprised if we do not announce that we are re-signing Thierry on a two-month loan-deal very soon, probably in the first week of January.

Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside this season. Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside And Newcastle will shortly have to do without their number one goalscorer, as the Senegal International will soon head off to the African Cup of Nations. Alan Pardew was hoping to keep him at Newcastle until 15th January, and the tournament starts a week later, but the news [.

Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside this season. Demba Ba has been a revelation on Tyneside And Newcastle will shortly have to do without their number one goalscorer, as the Senegal International will soon head off to the African Cup of Nations. Alan Pardew was hoping to keep him at Newcastle until 15th January, and the tournament starts a week later, but the news [.

The Arab Football Spring - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The performances of the North African national football sides in 2011 have reflected the political actions of the Arab Spring.

The failure of Egypt, the champions of the past three tournaments, to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN), alongside the absence of regional heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria, has thrown the tournament wide open.

The Arab Football Spring - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The performances of the North African national football sides in 2011 have reflected the political actions of the Arab Spring.

The failure of Egypt, the champions of the past three tournaments, to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN), alongside the absence of regional heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria, has thrown the tournament wide open.

With the expected arrival of Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga not now going to happen, the Newcastle manager has said today the Magpies will not be bringing in a new striker next month. Emerging folk hero Demba Ba will be off to African Cup of Nations soon Newcastle had worked since late August on agreeing a deal with Sochaux for Modibo Maiga, and a £6M transfer fee had [.

The 2012 African Cup Of Nations is set to begin on the 21st of January until the 12th of February, so we thought with not long to go it may be worthwhile figuring out which teams are going to be most affected by players departing for this competition.

Players Involved In The African Cup Of Nations

Starting with the teams at the top end of the Premier League, Biram Diouf of Senegal appears to be the only Manchester United player affected which isn't likely to affect the club much at all as he is probably their 6th choice striker.

So the far-fetched rumours are true, Thierry Henry will sensationally return to Arsenal as long as everything runs smoothly, with the move being confirmed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. All that has to be finalised is an insurance package, incase Henry is to be injured during his return to the Premier League.

LITTLE ELM, Texas — Uche Okafor, a defender on two Nigerian World Cup teams and a stalwart player for the Kansas City Wizards in the U.S., committed suicide this week at his Dallas-area home, authorities said Friday. He was 43. Okafor's body was discovered Thursday afternoon by his wife in their house in Little Elm, [.

Uche Okafor (right) coaches at ESPN Caribbean/Flow Montego Bay Football clinics. Photo credit: Anthony Harris

Former Sporting Kansas City and Nigeria World Cup defender Uche Okafor died Thursday at his Dallas-area home.

Okafor, 43, was African football pundit for ESPN Soccernet Press Pass, the daily soccer analysis show.