By Ollie Irish
This statement just in from Platini Towers:
"UEFA has decided that vuvuzelas – the trumpet that came to prominence at games during this
summer's FIFA World Cup in South Africa – may not be brought into stadiums at matches in UEFA
competitions.
The CAF Champions League semi-finalists have been decided with one match to play in the group
stage of the competition whilst the CAF Confederation Cup is taking shape halfway through its group
phase. Stoppage Time International Football Blog reports on the latest developments from
Africa's two continental club competitions.
By Chris Wright
FIFA have confirmed that they are investigating allegations that a 'fake' Togo team turned up to
play in a friendly against Bahrain last Tuesday.
Bahrain eventually ran out 3-0 winners, but head coach Josef Hickersberger was
left dumbstruck by the awful quality of his opponents describing the encounter as 'boring' and 'a
waste of time'.
In the Moroccan Cup Round of 16 last week a penalty shoot out ensued following the 1-1 draw
between MAS Fes and FUS Rabat. During the shoot out one of the most extraordinary goals ever scored
in such a situation came about following what was initially a save from Khalid El Askri for FUS.
What the keeper was oblivious to was the ball spinning in behind him as he tapped his chest in
celebration of his "save" and, to make things worse, he ended up on the losing side as MAS won the
shoot out 7-6 to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Absa Premiership is climbing world football's money league. In the three years since a
R1.6-billion broadcast rights bonanza was secured from pay channel SuperSport, top PSL players'
earnings have rocketed - to the extent that staying at home can now be as lucrative as accepting a
European offer.
JS Kabylie had the best record in the Champions League group stages
With the identity of all four semi-finalists known the final matchday in the CAF Champions
League group stages was a little anti-climatic but there were still points to play for as teams
jostled either for the leadership of the group or to avoid the wooden spoon.
Your Editor, Elsewhere is a post from: Just Football
Just a couple of quick bits and bobs I haven't mentioned on here recently regarding your humble
editor, moi. About a month ago the lovely people over at FourFourTwo, one of the most
popular and prestigious football magazines in the world, invited me to join up with them to write a
regular blog on African football for the online portion of their wonderful magazine.
Your Editor, Elsewhere is a post from: Just Football
Just a couple of quick bits and bobs I haven't mentioned on here recently regarding your humble
editor, moi. About a month ago the lovely people over at FourFourTwo, one of the most
popular and prestigious football magazines in the world, invited me to join up with them to write a
regular blog on African football for the online portion of their wonderful magazine.
By Chris Wright
The Togolese 'keeper that was shot twice in the back during an armed raid on the Togo team bus
during the African Cup of Nations in Angola earlier this year has been handed a donation of $25,000
by FIFA a fairly paltry sum considering that Kodjovi Obilale now owes over
$140,000 in medical bills after a seven month hospital stay.
