Eurosport's international football coverage, as unique as it remains in the field of sports broadcasting and run on a shoestring budget, remains excellent. And this year's ACN coverage has been as comprehensive and well-informed as ever. But, as Groups B and D came to their conclusions, well... oops.

The 2012 African Cup of Nations begins this weekend with two host nations, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, which have such a limited record in this competition. The former has never qualified for an African Cup of Nations before and will be an unknown quantity to most observers of this year's tournament whilst the latter have competed in just four previous tournaments and have only progressed beyond the group stage on just one occasion when reaching the last eight in 1996.

Sky Sports understands Liverpool have handed a two-week trial to Swedish teenager Abdul Aziz, who has been dubbed the "baby Didier Drogba".
The 14-year-old, who was born in Sierra Leone, has an excellent scoring record for his club ISK Norkopping and with the SwedenUnder-15 national team.
Manchester United and City had both been watching the youngster, but have been caught napping by their north west rivals who moved swiftly to land Aziz on a trial.

Continuing on with the caps trend, here's the updated stats for caps as a member of the SKC Wizards. First is the caps that a player got while with KC, the second number is goals scored in those caps.
Josh Wolff - USA - 38 - 6
Jimmy Conrad - USA - 28 - 1
Preki - USA - 26 - 4
Roger Espinoza - Honduras - 21 - 3
Kerry Zavagnin - USA - 21 - 0
Eddie Johnson - USA - 20 - 3
Shavar Thomas - Jamaica - 19 - 0
Chris Klein - USA - 17 - 3
Gary Glasgow - Trinidad & Tobago - 16 - 1
Khari Stephenson - Jamaica - 15 - 3
Scott Sealy - Trinidad & Tobago - 14 - 1
Tony Meola - USA - 12 - 0
Craig Rocastle - Grenada - 9 - 0
Sunil Chhetri - India - 9 - 5
Stephane Auvray - Guadeloupe - 8 - 1
Davy Arnaud - USA - 7 - 1
Kei Kamara - Sierra Leone - 6 - 0
Nick Garcia - USA - 6 - 0
Uche Okafor - Nigeria - 6 - 0
Onandi Lowe - Jamaica - 3 - 2
Mike Sorber - USA - 3 - 0
Miklos Molnar - Denmark - 3 - 0
Teal Bunbury - USA - 2 - 1
Mark Chung - USA - 2 - 0
Jermaine Hue - Jamaica - 2 - 0
Peterson Joseph - Haiti - 1 - 0
Chris Henderson - USA - 1 - 0
Steve Pittman - USA - 1 - 0
Digital Takawira - Zimbabwe - Unknown
Unfortunately I've still been unable to find a source for Digital Takawira's caps for Zimbabwe while with Kansas City, I've tried contacting the FA and the CAF, but have struck out in both instances.

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.

6 Togolese players were killed in an unfortunate accident on Saturday after the bus they were travelling in plunged into a ravine and exploded into flames. This is the latest tragedy to affect the footballing fraternity in the Western African nation after their after yet another attack on their team bus by armed gun men in Cabinda in January 2010 left team members and officials dead.

If John Spencer says it, it must be true. "They're winding down. We try and keep the tempo as high as we can, but professional athletes are geared toward training and playing games that mean something to them, so this time of year you can't help but switch off a little bit."

The trialists playing with the Timbers were running on all cylinders, though.

The Major League Soccer playoffs begin tomorrow without the Portland Timbers, but that does not mean Timbers fans should lose interest. With just over half the league qualified the choices to root for are plentiful.

Reasons to root for or against each team in the playoffs (plus a poll!) after the jump.

I am not going to join the choir criticizing South Africa's Football Association (SAFA) or coach for their inability to qualify to the African Nations Cup. No, instead I am going to commend the coach, Pitso Mosimane, for his apparent strategic abilities: knowing (or thinking....) that 0-0 against Sierra Leone was enough to qualify, he decided to play on the result rather than a victory against a

I am not going to join the choir criticizing South Africa's Football Association (SAFA) or coach for their inability to qualify to the African Nations Cup. No, instead I am going to commend the coach, Pitso Mosimane, for his apparent strategic abilities: knowing (or thinking....) that 0-0 against Sierra Leone was enough to qualify, he decided to play on the result rather than a victory against a

Apparently there is some sort of Kei Kamara documentary-type video profile thing coming out that was shot in Sierra Leone recently. Here's a preview and here's a link to a bunch of other excerpts and a series of blog posts about about. No word yet on whether or not Chipotle is backing this film but if you see a shot of him eating a barbacoa burrito bowl on the streets of Freetown you know what's up.

Michael Lahoud has turned heads this year in more than one way. Apart from his steady play, he's shown that one of the most notable factors about him is his motivation to give back to the community. Born in Sierra Leone and now plying his trade for Chivas USA, the former WakeForest midfielder is an integral part of the "Date a Chiva" fundraiser.

Wayne Rooney is writing to UEFA in hopes of keeping his one-game ban in the European championship from being extended.

Rooney was sent off in England's draw with Montenegro for an unnecessary kick to Miodrag Dzudovic, and it's up to UEFA to judge whether the automatic suspension should be increased to three matches for violent conduct.

South Africa manager Pitso Mosimane made a bit of history at the weekend by becoming the first manager to lead an entire nation astray.He convinced himself and everyone else in South Africa that the Bafana Bafana needed only a draw against Sierra Leone in order to make it to the finals of the AFCON in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea'
So they followed the game plan and played out a goalless draw in Nelspruit.

"We go with God." If you missed yesterday's post, South Africa had a bit of a 'mare on Saturday. They celebrated their 0-0 draw with Sierra Leone to mark their qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations only for it then to emerge that they hadn't actually qualified! The players were celebrating on the [.

By Alan Duffy

Poor old South Africa manager Pitso Mosimane made a right mess of his team's final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the weekend.

The 47-year-old manager was convinced that his side needed only a draw against Sierra Leone in order to make it to the finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and his side duly obliged, playing out a goalless draw in Nelspruit.

South African player's celebrate thinking they were through to the African Nations Cup Finals

2010 World Cup host's South Africa were left red-faced after failing to read the rule book on African Nations Cup qualification. Manager Pits Mosimane played for a draw against Sierra Leone thinking a point would put them through to the finals on goal difference from Niger who they were level on points with when in fact the Bafana Bafana needed to win because of their head-to-head with Niger who qualified for the very first time in their history.

How silly and embarrassed the players, officials and supporters of the South Africa soccer team must feel.

In their final game of the qualification rounds to try to reach the 2012 African Nations Cup, South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane believed that all his team needed was a draw to qualify for the tournament.

Bafana Bafana balls up South Africa were celebrating qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations when it emerged that they had not done enough to make it to the tournament. Bafana Bafana had drawn last night's match with Sierra Leone 0-0. A win for either side would have secured qualification. The other side in contention [.

Yesterday's round of AFCON qualifiers marked a huge upset for traditional African football powerhouses Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt who saw their hopes of making it to the 2012 African Cup of Nations end dramatically.

For Nigeria, a 2-2 draw at home against Guinea was not enough to see them through to the finals.

Kei Kamara and the Leone Stars pulled out a draw in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana, but the point was not enough to see them through to the African Cup of Nations. Sierra Leone needed a win and a Niger loss to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1996, but couldn't find the net.

Kei Kamara and the Leone Stars pulled out a draw in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana, but the point was not enough to see them through to the African Cup of Nations. Sierra Leone needed a win and a Niger loss to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1996, but couldn't find the net.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Earlier today I posted about Kei Kamara's international situation, his suspension by the Sierra Leone FA and subsequently being invited to the game in South Africa even though he was suspended. Well Kamara is headed to South Africa to job his national team for their African Cup of Nations qualifier.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Earlier today I posted about Kei Kamara's international situation, his suspension by the Sierra Leone FA and subsequently being invited to the game in South Africa even though he was suspended. Well Kamara is headed to South Africa to job his national team for their African Cup of Nations qualifier.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Last week when Sporting KC announced that 5 players would be representing their respective national teams in games this coming weekend, one name was absent from the list of players, Sierra Leone striker, Kei Kamara. Sierra Leone play a must win qualifier in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana on Saturday.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Last week when Sporting KC announced that 5 players would be representing their respective national teams in games this coming weekend, one name was absent from the list of players, Sierra Leone striker, Kei Kamara. Sierra Leone play a must win qualifier in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana on Saturday.

To go along with Roger Espinoza's call up for Honduras, four more Wizards players have been called up to represent their respective national teams. Teal Bunbury, Peterson Joseph, Craig Rocastle, and Shavar Thomas have all been called up to the US, Haiti, Grenada, and Jamaica respectively.
The biggest games of the international break are for Joseph and Rocastle whose national teams have two World Cup qualifiers.

To go along with Roger Espinoza's call up for Honduras, four more Wizards players have been called up to represent their respective national teams. Teal Bunbury, Peterson Joseph, Craig Rocastle, and Shavar Thomas have all been called up to the US, Haiti, Grenada, and Jamaica respectively.
The biggest games of the international break are for Joseph and Rocastle whose national teams have two World Cup qualifiers.

While Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has used the Europa League to blood many of the younger players at the club, there is another benefit to the competition as he will discover tomorrow night.

It has been difficult for Harry to find any positives from European qualification but tomorrow's game against Shamrock Rovers gives the boss a possible opportunity to give run outs to Aaron Lennon, Steven Pienaar and Danny Rose.

By Eric Beard

In the ever-elusive environment that is African football, Egypt are the winners. They may not be the best, but they're winners. They may not have the talent to match the Ivory Coast or Ghana, but the 7-time winners of the African Cup of Nations won't back down against anybody.

Sporting Kansas City closes out their home stand tomorrow afternoon against the Houston Dynamo. At this moment, KC is only 2 points clear of the third place Dynamo. The two teams have played the same number of games, and with 7 games still left on the season, now is the time to really start picking up the form level getting ready to head into the playoffs.

What's this, a Philadelphia goalkeeper gets his own TTB edition? Yes and for good reason to. You see, starting tonight for the Philadelphia Union is Zac MacMath, the #5 overall pick in this years SuperDraft. He'll be the fourth youngest goalkeeper ever to start for an MLS side at the age of 20. The reason why he's starring in this edition is because I want to highlight his possible implications for Saturday's match against the Timbers as he'll likely be starting then as well.

Brazilian football legend, Marta, was in Sierra Leone in the last two days to promote women's empowerment. The UNDP Goodwill Ambassador met with university students, footballers, advocates and students. Marta also told them the story of how she overcame a difficult childhood to become the best female football player in the world.

In a very big game in Freetown, Sierra Leone today, Kei Kamara and the Leone Stars took on Egypt in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. Kamara went the full 90 minutes as the Leone Stars won 2-1 with an 89th minute penalty kick. Sierra Leone dominated the early going of the game and got the first goal from Sheriff Suma off of a corner kick in the 14th minute, although the goal could could down as an own goal.

On a day when Plymouth Argyle players are considering going on strike because they haven't been paid in ages, it's a breath of fresh air to hear about a feel-good story for a change. Manchester City have been making inwards into Sierra Leone, a...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.

Lots of international team news was announced today, and 4 Sporting KC players were affected. First, Kei Kamara's call up for the Sierra Leone national team was confirmed by the team today, although I think Kamara tweeting last night that he'd been called up was proof enough that he'd been called up for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt at home.

Lots of international team news was announced today, and 4 Sporting KC players were affected. First, Kei Kamara's call up for the Sierra Leone national team was confirmed by the team today, although I think Kamara tweeting last night that he'd been called up was proof enough that he'd been called up for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt at home.

According to Kei Kamara on Twitter tonight, he has been called up for the Sierra Leone national team for their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt. With the call up, Kamara looks set to miss the game against the LA Galaxy two days after Sierra Leone's game on the 3rd. A blow for KC in a game that was moved by Farm Aid.

Sporting KC midfielder, Roger Espinoza looks set to miss the upcoming game against the LA Galaxy over Labor Day weekend. This is because Espinoza has been called up by the Honduran national team for a pair of friendlies against Colombia and Paraguay. Honduras starts this international break with a game in New York at Red Bull Arena against Colombia on the 3rd of September before heading down to Honduras for a friendly against Paraguay on the 6th.

Photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Very Kei Kamara centric for this week's after stats entries, each one retains to the man from Sierra Leone.
Kei Kamara scored the 800th competitive goal in all competitions for KC.
Kamara also made his 100th MLS league start of his career.