Hosts Ivory Coast determined to continue ‘miraculous’ run until AFCON final

Hosts Ivory Coast determined to continue ‘miraculous’ run until AFCON final
Ivory Coast's players attends a training session in Abidjan on February 6, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) semi final football match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo. (AFP)
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Updated 06 February 2024
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Hosts Ivory Coast determined to continue ‘miraculous’ run until AFCON final

Hosts Ivory Coast determined to continue ‘miraculous’ run until AFCON final
  • The Elephants reached the last four after an remarkable escape in Saturday’s quarter-final, when they beat Mali 2-1

ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast’s interim coach Emerse Fae has urged his team to go into Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against the Democratic Republic of Congo with the mindset that has allowed the hosts to make a “miraculous” recovery from the brink of elimination at the tournament.

The Elephants reached the last four after an remarkable escape in Saturday’s quarter-final, when they beat Mali 2-1 thanks to Oumar Diakite’s goal in added time in extra time.

They had been reduced to 10 men in the first half when Odilon Kossounou was sent off, and were heading out, trailing 1-0, when substitute Simon Adringa leveled in the 90th minute to force the extra half-hour.

Before that, they came from behind against Senegal in the last 16 before eliminating the holders on penalties, and before that they scraped out of their group as the last of the four best third-placed teams.

“We are aware that we have made a spectacular recovery, that when you look at the Mali game we survived miraculously,” Fae told reporters in Abidjan on Tuesday.

“We will garner strength from that and tell ourselves that our mindset is good. It is that mindset which allows us to pull off miracles like that, but we are not going to relax and say that because we won miraculously it means it is our destiny that we are going to win the trophy.

“The miracle against Mali did not fall out of the sky, it did not just happen like that, it happened because the players kept on fighting and believing until the end.”

Fae was put in charge following the sacking of Jean-Louis Gasset in the wake of the Ivorians’ 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their final group game, the team’s heaviest ever home loss.

Wednesday’s match will be Ivory Coast’s first at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium since that humiliating reverse on January 22.

From the brink of a group-stage exit, they now stand one game away from a first AFCON final since they last won the trophy in 2015.

“It would be a lie to say we have nothing to lose but we have come a long way,” said Fae as he dismissed fears his team could crumble under the pressure.

“We have put in so much effort to lift our heads back above water so we are not going to give up now because of the pressure of not getting to the final,” added Fae, who played in the Ivory Coast team that lost the 2006 final on penalties to Egypt in Cairo.

Ivory Coast are without Diakite, suspended after he was sent off while celebrating his winning goal against Mali.

Serge Aurier, Christian Kouame and Odilon Kossounou are also banned.

“It is always a loss when you lose a player but the rest of the squad will fight, grit their teeth, do their job and try to take the team through to the final,” Fae said.


A Costa Rican team threatens FIFA with legal action in bid for spot at Club World Cup

A Costa Rican team threatens FIFA with legal action in bid for spot at Club World Cup
Updated 20 November 2024
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A Costa Rican team threatens FIFA with legal action in bid for spot at Club World Cup

A Costa Rican team threatens FIFA with legal action in bid for spot at Club World Cup
  • Team spokesman Marco Vazquez noted that Mexican clubs Leon and Pachuca belong to the same owner, Jesus Martinez, of Grupo Pachuca
  • “We hired a law firm in Spain, and they have all the details,” Vazquez said of potential legal action

COSTA RICA: The winningest team in Costa Rica are asking FIFA for a spot in next summer’s Club World Cup and are willing to take legal action if denied.
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, which have won 30 league titles, want FIFA to enforce the rule that forbids clubs from the same ownership to participate in the tournament.
“The claim is based on the principles of eligibility set in the rules of the tournament,” the club said in a press release.
Team spokesman Marco Vazquez noted that Mexican clubs Leon and Pachuca belong to the same owner, Jesus Martinez, of Grupo Pachuca.
“Those are the rules that FIFA established — there cannot be multi-ownership,” Vazquez said Wednesday. “There are two Mexican clubs from the same owner and the rulebook is clear. What we are asking is to review what FIFA itself established.”
The FIFA-run competition has been expanded from seven teams to 32 and will be staged in the United States from June to July next year.
“We hired a law firm in Spain, and they have all the details,” Vazquez said of potential legal action.
FIFA has not publicly reacted to the team’s announcement and didn’t immediately answer a request for comment.
Alajuelense are the best-ranked team in Central America for the CONCACAF but 40th overall in the region.
CONCACAF has four spots in the Club World Cup. The teams that qualified are: the Seattle Sounders, Monterrey, Leon and Pachuca. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will participate as guests of the host.
All five clubs were announced for the Dec. 5 draw in Miami.
In Mexico, besides Leon and Pachuca, there are another two companies that own two or more clubs in the first division. Grupo Caliente owns Tijuana and Queretaro, while Grupo Orlegi controls Atlas and Santos. TV Azteca owns Mazatlan and has partial ownership of Puebla.
On May 2023, the Liga MX announced that multi-ownership will be forbidden but gave owners four years to sell.
Jesus Martinez Murguia, who runs the Leon club, said they will sell part of the team to comply with the rules but will still have a partial ownership.


Netflix showcases Ittihad and Ahli episodes of new docuseries at exclusive Jeddah screening

Netflix showcases Ittihad and Ahli episodes of new docuseries at exclusive Jeddah screening
Updated 56 min 54 sec ago
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Netflix showcases Ittihad and Ahli episodes of new docuseries at exclusive Jeddah screening

Netflix showcases Ittihad and Ahli episodes of new docuseries at exclusive Jeddah screening
  • Six-part “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff” will be available for streaming on the platform from Thursday
  • Al-Ittihad’s episode is titled, “The struggle to achieve glory,” while Al-Ahli’s is “Counterattack”

JEDDAH: Ahead of its official launch on Nov. 21, Netflix gave an exclusive first look at its new documentary series, “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” on Tuesday night with two viewing events in Jeddah that showcased episodes covering the city’s two giant clubs.
The screenings were attended by club officials, members of the media, sports bloggers and Al-Ahli’s German coach Matthias Jaissle.
Al-Ittihad’s episode is titled, “The struggle to achieve glory,” while Al-Ahli’s is “Counterattack.”
Two more exclusive screening events will take place in Riyadh on Wednesday to unveil episodes on Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
Attendees at the Muvi theater in Jeddah were treated to storylines on Karim Benzema’s experiences during his first season at Al-Ittihad, and Jaissle’s leadership at Al-Ahli as the club battled to gain qualification to the AFC Champions League on their return to the Saudi Pro League after relegation two season earlier.
As well as shining a spotlight on Jeddah’s big-name players, the episodes also showcased emerging local talents from the two clubs, such as Al-Ahli’s forward Feras Al-Buraikan, and the 16-year-old striker Talal Hajji of Al-Ittihad.
Jaissle said that he was impressed with the first look at “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” and described Al-Ahli’s episode in three words: “Overwhelmed, emotional and authentic as well.”
“I really enjoyed the special documentary on Al-Ahli, and it offers an exclusive look into the world of Saudi league, showcasing Al-Ahli dynamics and individual player journeys,” he said.
Adnan Jastania, a renowned Saudi football analyst who watched Al-Ittihad’s episode, said: “It really shows the drama, excitement and passion for football in Saudi Arabia. I enjoyed the intra-history of Al-Ittihad and the culture of the oldest sports in Saudi.”
Set to launch on Thursday, the docuseries will have six episodes in total and will focus on the battle for the 2023-24 SPL title with focus on then-reigning champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq.


Greece’s Olympiacos hits out at police death probe

Greece’s Olympiacos hits out at police death probe
Updated 20 November 2024
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Greece’s Olympiacos hits out at police death probe

Greece’s Olympiacos hits out at police death probe
  • “This latest development... is yet another attempt to blackmail Olympiacos FC, aiming to undermine both the Olympiacos family and its President,” the club said
  • “It follows the unjust collective targeting of our fans“

ATHENS: Greek football powerhouse Olympiacos on Wednesday slammed a probe targeting their top management in connection with the death of a riot policeman at the hands of hooligans last year.
Judicial authorities have called owner and president Evangelos Marinakis to appear next week to answer to possible misdemeanour charges of supporting a criminal organization and fomenting sports violence.
“This latest development... is yet another attempt to blackmail Olympiacos FC, aiming to undermine both the Olympiacos family and its President,” the club, which is also active across several sports besides football, said in a statement.
“It follows the unjust collective targeting of our fans,” it added, which it said was “fueled by specific political and business interests.”
In December 2023 riot officer Yiorgos Lyggeridis was fatally injured by a marine flare fired outside a sports hall during an Olympiacos-Panathinaikos volleyball match near Piraeus.
The 31-year-old died in hospital and stadiums across the country were closed for several weeks as a result of the incident.
More than a dozen people, reportedly hard-line Olympiacos fans, were subsequently placed in pre-trial detention as part of the investigation.
Several of those held are said to be senior members of Gate 7, Olympiacos’s main supporters’ club, and authorities suspect they could not have operated without the knowledge of club officials.
Besides Marinakis, four other members of the club board including Piraeus mayor Yiannis Moralis have been called to appear on Tuesday, where the authorities will decide whether to formalize the charges facing them.
Olympiacos on Wednesday said Marinakis, a shipping and media magnate who is also a majority owner of Premier League side Nottingham Forest and Portugal’s Rio Ave, has a “clear conscience,” “cannot be intimidated and will not back down.”
Piraeus mayor Moralis has also denied any involvement.


Vieira takes over at struggling Genoa

Vieira takes over at struggling Genoa
Updated 20 November 2024
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Vieira takes over at struggling Genoa

Vieira takes over at struggling Genoa
  • “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira has been entrusted with the technical management of the first team,” the club said
  • The 48-year-old replaces Alberto Gilardino who was sacked on Tuesday

ROME: Former France and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira was named on Wednesday as the new coach of relegation-threatened Serie A club Genoa.
“Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira has been entrusted with the technical management of the first team,” the club said in a statement.
“The new coach will direct the first training session this afternoon after the formalization of the contract at the Villa Rostan headquarters.”
The 48-year-old replaces Alberto Gilardino who was sacked on Tuesday with the club 17th in the table, just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, spent the bulk of his playing career with Arsenal driving them to three Premier League titles and two domestic doubles.
He later went on to play for Juventus and Inter Milan, where he won four Serie A titles, before closing his on-field career with Manchester City.
His management career has taken him to New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace and his last job at Strasbourg which he left “by mutual agreement” in July.


’Rare joy’ as war-hit Sudan reaches African football showpiece

’Rare joy’ as war-hit Sudan reaches African football showpiece
Updated 20 November 2024
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’Rare joy’ as war-hit Sudan reaches African football showpiece

’Rare joy’ as war-hit Sudan reaches African football showpiece
  • The feat, achieved at the expense of Ghana comes despite the team having to play all their matches abroad and the domestic league being suspended
  • The match marked Sudan’s 10th qualification for the continental tournament

PORT SUDAN: Football fans in Sudan, a country torn apart by war, are savouring a rare moment of pride after the national team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The feat, achieved at the expense of Ghana, one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses, comes despite the team having to play all their matches abroad and the domestic league being suspended.
Streets of Port Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of displaced endure agonizing waits for water and health care, came alive after the match, with car horns blaring and ecstatic fans waving Sudanese flags from the windows.
The match marked Sudan’s 10th qualification for the continental tournament, offering a rare moment of happiness to a nation devastated by 19 months of war.
“Our joy after the game... could not truly reflect the emotions in our hearts,” one jubilant fan, Hassan Mohamed, told AFP.
In Port Sudan, the country’s de facto capital since last year, fans gathered in cafes Monday to watch the final group stage match against Angola, played in Benghazi, Libya.
Others followed the action on mobile phones, holding their breath in the final moments, an AFP correspondent reported.
Despite a goalless draw, Sudan secured the second qualifying spot for next year’s AFCON finals from a group that, besides Angola and Ghana, also included Niger.
As the referee’s whistle signalled the end of the game, chairs toppled over as fans jumped for joy.
Celebrations spilled into the streets of the Red Sea port city, where car horns echoed in triumph.
It was only the second time that Sudan, the champions in 1970, made it to the AFCON finals in the last seven editions.
Social media platforms lit up with images of the players, as Sudanese users hailed the team’s qualification as a “rare joy in dark times.”
“Their aim was to bring a smile back to the Sudanese people,” Khalid Omer Yousif, vice-chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party, wrote on X.
Speaking to AFP by phone, sports journalist Nasr Al-Din Al-Fadalabi called the achievement “an impossible smile in a time of sorrow.”
Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Tens of thousands have been killed and more than 11 million have been displaced, including over three million who fled the country.
Inside Sudan, displaced people face compounding humanitarian crises and the threat of famine, even in areas spared direct fighting.
The war has devastated the country’s infrastructure, crippled the health sector and shuttered most businesses.
Football has not escaped the turmoil.
With the domestic league suspended, Sudanese football has taken a new path.
Home games were relocated to South Sudan and Libya, and the national team trained in Saudi Arabia.
Players have signed contracts abroad, including goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa in Tanzania.
Sudanese footballers in Libya benefit from local status, while others who played abroad are now in the national team.
Among them is Mohamed Eisa, a star forward who spent years in British leagues and now plays in Iran.
The war has also seeped into football.
In an October match against Ghana, team captain Ramadan Agab mimicked a victory gesture associated with army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, taunting his paramilitary rivals.
Burhan has praised the team in public statements and visits to the football federation.
For many Sudanese, this week’s qualification was a moment of pride and unity.
“Despite the divisions among some and despite so many obstacles... they (the players) have overcome every challenge,” said fan Akrama Ali Karamallah.
“I believe they will go even further, and as they say, nothing is impossible.”