Sports

AWC Qualifying: Nigeria stumbles again as Egypt, Algeria, Gabon maintain perfect start

Published

5 months ago

November 20, 2023

The African edition of the FIFA 2026 World Cup has continued to throw up surprises as Nigeria once again had to come from behind to draw 1-1 away against Zimbabwe courtesy of a second half equaliser through Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Group C match played on the neutral Butare, Rwanda, was sparked into life when Walter Musona’s 35-yard free-kick flew past the much vilified Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho and nested in the top right-hand corner in the 26th minute.

The star-studded Eagles with a squad made up of Europe-based players, had to wait till midway through the second half when Iheanacho slid in a cut-back from Moses Simon.

In a group made up of supposed minnows like Lesotho and Zimbabwe, Nigeria has managed to pick up two paltry points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Lesotho in their first match on Thursday, and again failing to beat Zimbabwe in the second.

Meanwhile, Egypt maintained their 100% start in the qualifiers after beating Sierra Leone 2-0, with former Aston Villa midfielder, Trezeguet grabbing a goal in either half.

In other matches played, Algeria beat Mozambique 2-0 away in Maputo, with second half goals from Fares Chaibi and Ramiz Zerrouki seeing off the hosts in Group G, who had the better of proceedings before the break.

Gabon also made it two wins from two with a 2-1 away victory over Burundi in neutral Dar es Salaam in Group F.

Jim Allevinah set the Panthers on their way in the 35th minute by guiding in a cut-back, before Denis Bouanga made it 2-0 with seven minutes remaining when he slotted into an empty net from 45 yards out after an attempted clearance by goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana fell to him.

Abedi Bigirimana volleyed in to pull one back with three minutes left but Gabon held on to move top of the group.

Africa has a guaranteed nine qualifiers for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with all group winners booking a spot at the tournament with the qualifiers continuing on Monday, with Ivory Coast and Mali among the 12 sides that will be in action.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

23 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.