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Following are results of second preliminary round first leg fixtures in the 20222023 CAF Confederation Cup competition, played from Friday to Sunday:
Kwara United (Nigeria) 3-1 RS Berkane (Morocco)
Sporting Club de Gagnon (Côte D’Ivoire) 1-0 JS Saoura (Algeria)
ASCK (Togo) 0-2 U.
S.M Alger (Algeria)
AS Real de Bamako (Mali) 3-0 Accra Hearts of Oak (Ghana)
Hilal Alsahil (Sudan) 0-2 Pyramids FC (Egypt)
Fasil Kenema SC (Ethiopia) 0-0 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Association Sportive de Kigali (Rwanda) 0-0 El Nasr (Libya)
Kisangani FC (Zanzibar) 0-0 Club Africain (Tunisia)
Al Akhder (Libya) 3-0 Azam Football Club (Tanzania)
Royal AM FC (South Africa) 0-0 Zesco United FC (Zambia)
FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) 2-0 GD Sagrada Esperança (Angola)
St Michel United (Seychelles) 1-0 DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)
Ferroviario Da Beira (Mozambique) 2-1 CSM Diables Noirs (Congo)
Elgeco Plus (Madagascar) 1-3 Marumo Gallants FC (South Africa)
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Nigerian under-23 men’s national football team will begin camping in Ibadan on Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the camping is in preparation for their 2023 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Tanzania later this month.
“The 32 players invited to camp by the Salisu Yusuf-led technical crew will train in Ibadan until a final squad is selected.
”The squad will depart Nigeria on Oct. 18 for Dar es Salaam, for the first leg match scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 21 to Oct. 23,” Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement on Monday.
He added that the team would return to Ibadan to prepare for the return leg match which would hold at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Oct. 29.
ALL 32 PLAYERS INVITED TO CAMP:
Goalkeepers: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Edwin Emelan (Calabar Rovers); Amah John (Box-To-Box FC)
Defenders: Bamayi Calocho (Yumyum FC); Bello Babatunde (Akwa United); James Ajako (Akwa United); Yazid Adamu (MY Jamil FC)
Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Christopher Nwenze (Plateau United); Isaiah Ejeh (Kwara United); Anas Hassan (Vandrezzer FC)
Midfielders: Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Uche Ogonna (Campos FC); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Olamilekan Adebayo (Remo Stars); Suleiman Abdullahi (Gladano FC)
Naziru Awwal (Rangers Int’l); Adam Yakubu (Akwa United); Joshua Alechenu (Nasarawa United); Suleiman Garba Kirki (Kebbi United)
Forwards: Kalu Samuel (Enyimba FC); Edwin John (Water FC); Chisom Orji (Colins Edwin FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Ogbuehi Nzuebuchi (Campos FC); Jerry Alex (Kano Pillars)
Mustapha Jibrin (Abia Warriors); Ademola Adebabam (Ottasolo FC); Abdulsalam Abdulasalam (Shooting Stars); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); Jonathan Alukwe (Heartland FC)
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Following are the results of first leg matches in the second preliminary round of the 20222023 CAF Champions League, played from Friday to Sunday:
Rivers United FC (Nigeria) 2-1 Wydad AC (Morocco)
Plateau United FC (Nigeria) 2-1 E.
S.T. (Tunisia)
ASN Nigelec (Niger) 0-2 Raja CA (Morocco)
US Monastirienne (Tunisia) 0-1 Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
Vipers SC (Uganda) 0-0 TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
La Passe FC (Seychelles) 0-7 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
ASKO De Kara (Togo) 1-2 JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali) 2-1 CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Young Africans (Tanzania) 1-1 Al Hilal (Sudan)
Al Merrikh (Sudan) 2-0 Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya)
Cape Town City FC (South Africa) 0-3 Atlético Petroleos (Angola)
CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 1-3 Simba SC (Tanzania)
Royal Leopards FC (Eswatini) 1-1 Coton Sport FC (Cameroon)
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Six people including police officers and match organisers are facing criminal charges in Indonesia over a stampede at a football game last Saturday, the country’s police chief said on Thursday.
At least 131 people were killed during the stampede in the Malang region of East Java.
Saturday’s stampede was among the world’s worst sports disasters, as hundreds of football fans tried to flee a stadium riot and the firing of tear gas by police.
It led to a crush worsened by several locked exits.
Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told a news conference that organisers and police officers were among those being investigated and more people may be charged.
They would be charged with criminal negligence causing death, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence if found guilty.
The suspects include three police officers over their use of tear gas, the head of the organising committee and the chief security officer of the home club Arema FC.
Police said the club’s officials had not complied with safety requirements and had allowed a crowd larger than the stadium’s capacity, while stewards had abandoned exits.
Police have said the exits where fleeing people escaped were too narrow to pass through, while the country’s football association said some exits were locked.
The government had set up a fact-finding team in hopes to reveal the culprits of the deadly stampede, among the deadliest football-related tragedy since the crush in Peru in 1964.
The investigation comes as President Joko Widodo ordered an audit on the stadia across the country to make sure its security is up to code.
He had said “locked doors and steep stairs” were key factors in the incident.
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Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish and Portuguese federations said on Wednesday.
Both associations communicated their plans to European ruling body UEFA, which “immediately expressed its total support,” a statement said.
The joint bid aims to use football as a way to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction, the statement said.
But it did not mention Russia’s war in the country directly.
The 2030 World Cup Commission will now include officials from Ukraine and will fulfil all deadlines to present the proposal to football governing body FIFA, the statement added.
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The police in Cologne on Wednesday said they detained five suspected perpetrators involved in the violent riots during the Conference League game between Nice and Cologne on Sept. 8.
The report said investigators and the police have been searching flats and houses in Cologne, as well as the neighbouring towns of Hürth, Pulheim and Bergisch Gladbach.
This had gone on since the early morning hours.
Cologne’s Conference League opener at Nice had to be delayed nearly an hour due to violence between fans at the match.
Local police said that 32 people were injured.
The police union described the operation as a “strong sign of the state under the rule of law” and said the decision now is in Cologne’s hand.
“We need stadium bans,” union chief Michael Mertens said.
Around 10,000 Cologne fans reportedly travelled to the south of France.
But their behaviour, namely littering and public urination, had been criticised by the Mayor of Nice and his deputy in the build-up to the game.
European football ruling body UEFA has already punished the German side with a fine of 100,000 euros (99,448.56 dollars).
They were also punished with a fan ban for two away games for using pyrotechnics, throwing objects onto the pitch and causing disturbances in the stadium.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claims Erling Haaland is beyond comparison and even better than the statistics suggest.
Haaland has made a stunning start at the English champions, scoring 17 goals in just 11 appearances since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund.
The Norwegian’s hat-trick against Manchester United on Sunday was remarkably his third in successive home English Premier League (EPL) games.
The 22-year-old is averaging a goal every 54 minutes, has had 42 shots and has also laid on three assists, two of which came in the 6-3 derby demolition of Manchester United.
On Wednesday he will hope to add further to his record of 26 career UEFA Champions League goals from 21 matches as Manchester City host FC Copenhagen.
Guardiola said on Tuesday: “At his age no one can compete with him.
“The numbers speak for themselves and inside, in the locker room, and on the pitch we see things that are not in the stats that make us feel happy to have him here.
”
Haaland was not the only Manchester City player to shine on Sunday with midfielder Phil Foden, also 22, claiming a hat-trick.
In spite of the high standards being set, Guardiola believes there is more to come from both of them.
The Spaniard said: “Phil is an exceptional player.
He grew up a lot and is already many years with us.
“He’s reliable in terms of his physical condition and he’s so intense and clever in everything.
He is able to play every three days.
“But both know they can do better and hopefully they can do it.
”
One player yet to sparkle this term is Riyad Mahrez, who was one of the stars of last season’s title win and their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The Algeria international has started just four times and has not scored.
Guardiola said: “I know perfectly Riyad, how important (he is).
“We need him to come back to his best —- his best in terms of personality, ability, quality, his love for this game and how he enjoys playing.
“Step by step he will come back.
Now he’s not playing much, but he has to come back in better physical condition and then the rest will come along.
“As a player I cannot teach him anything, he’s too good.
”
Manchester City already have a three-point lead in Group G after winning their opening two matches against Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.
They will now hope to take a firm stride to the last 16 in their back-to-back matches against the Danish champions.
Guardiola wants to put the elation of the weekend aside to focus on the next task.
He said: “You have to pay attention.
A mistake and now you don’t have time to recover.
We know how important our home games are.
“I spent last night and this morning watching FC Copenhagen.
They are really good, well organised and you have to be careful.
“You have to come back to reality and put our effort in to win an important game.
If we are able to make nine points from three games we’d be so close to the next stage.
”
Right-back Kyle Walker looks set to miss out after being forced off against Manchester United while midfielder Rodri’s calf problem will be assessed.
“We will train this (Tuesday) afternoon and we will know exactly,” Guardiola said.
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Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer, defender Timo Baumgartl and winger Tim Maciejewski have tested positive for COVID-19, the Bundesliga leaders said on Tuesday.
Fischer will miss the 20222023 Europa League game against Malmö on Thursday, Union Berlin said.
All other players and members of the coaching staff have tested negative, the German side added.
While Baumgartl is not registered to play in the Europa League, Maciejewski has not been in the squad so far in the Bundesliga season.
He was only on the bench against Braga last month.
Union Berlin are third in their Europa League Group D and are yet to secure a point in the competition.
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Guinea has been stripped of the rights to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Saturday.
This development means a fresh bidding for the tournament’s hosting rights is set to be reopened on Saturday.
The rights withdrawal followed a meeting on Friday in Conakry between Guinea’s interim president, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
The meeting had discussed the withdrawal after the west African country, among the poorest of the continent, said it was not ready to host the 24-nation tournament.
Guinea’s inability was due to its infrastructure and facilities not being ready to host a world-class AFCON competition.
Motsepe was accompanied during his meeting with the Guinean leader by CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba.
The development is expected to ginger Guinea into working towards bidding with other competing nations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The 2022 edition of CHAN is being hosted by Algeria in 2023.
The CAF Executive Committee will be meeting on Saturday in Algiers, Algeria and will take a decision to re-open the bidding process for the 2025 AFCON.
The 2023 AFCON is already scheduled to hold in Côte d’Ivoire.
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Casper Ruud stumbled to defeat against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka as the French Open and US Open runner-up bowed out in the Korea Open quarter-finals.
World number two Ruud lost 6-2 3-6 6-2 in Seoul on Friday as the Norwegian found the going too tough in his first tournament in Asia for three years.
Ranked 56th before this week, Nishioka is one win away from vaulting back into the top 50, potentially going beyond his highest ranking of 48th if he reaches the final.
He said, quoted on the ATP website: “I feel great.
My motivation is very high.
I am playing very well, very smart.
”
Assessing top seed Ruud, Nishioka said: “I know he came from Europe and played at the Laver Cup, which is not easy matches.
He wasn’t settled on this court or this country yet, maybe.
“I was ready.
I was focused on playing against him and I had a plan and it worked.
”
Nishioka had an outstanding run to the Washington final in August, before losing out to Nick Kyrgios in the title match.
That was a major outlier in his season, which has consisted largely of early-round defeats.
His semi-final opponent will be American Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 24-year-old world number 222 who is enjoying the biggest week of his career.
A “lucky loser” and handed his place in the draw when a spot opened up, Kovacevic has taken full advantage.
He beat compatriot Mackenzie McDonald 4-6 6-3 6-2 in their last-eight battle.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov, still seeking a first final appearance of the year, moved one step away by beating Moldova’s Radu Albot 6-2 6-2.
He set up a clash with American Jenson Brooksby, who was handed a bye due to Cameron Norrie pulling out with illness.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
