TRANSFER - MOROCCO - Marseille sign Abdelaziz Barrada

Barrada started his career at Paris Saint-Germain before making his name in Spain with Getafe. The 25-year-old scored 15 goals in 34 appearances for Al Jazira last season.

17 Aug 2014
Transfer - Senegal - West Ham have signed striker Diafra Sakho from French side FC Metz

The 24-year-old Senegal international has moved to Upton Park after agreeing a four-year contract. His 43 goals over the last two seasons helped Metz win back-to-back promotions into France's Ligue 1.

16 Aug 2014
FIFA RANKING - Sierra Leone break new ground

Sierra Leone have climbed 14 places in the Fifa world rankings for August, lifting them into the top 50 for the fist time in their history.

14 Aug 2014
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014 - GROUP STAGE - 5TH MATCHES - ALL RESULTS

Semi-final line-ups complete.

11 Aug 2014
AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014 - GROUP STAGE - 5TH MATCHES - Leopards stun Coton Sport as Nkana beat Al Ahly

A second-half hat-trick from Kader Bidimbou and a Cesaire Gandze strike gave Leopards the victory which helps them close the gap on leaders Coton Sport to just two points with one round of group matches remaining.

10 Aug 2014
African Confederation Cup 2014 - GROUP STAGE - 5TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

GROUP A
• Coton Sport vs AC Leopards -:-
• Asec Mimosas vs Real Bamako -:-

GROUP B
• Nkana vs Al Ahly -:-
• Etoile Sahel vs Sewe San Pedro -:-

8 Aug 2014
Transfer - ALGERIA - Carl Medjani and Kevin Constant join Trabzonspor

Algeria international Medjani, 29, has signed a three-year deal after Monaco agreed to terminate his contract. Constant, who can play in defence or midfield, has joined from Italians AC Milan for an undisclosed fee.

8 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - CONGO DR - Forest sign Congolese striker Assombalonga

Britt Assombalonga 
• son of Fedor Assombalonga, former Zaire international. 
• He scored 33 goals in 58 games for Posh last season and had attracted interest from Premier League clubs.

7 Aug 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - ZAMBIA - COACH - Honour Janza appointed as new coach

Janza's first challenge will be the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Zambia are placed in Group F and will open their campaign at home to Mozambique on 6 September, followed by a trip to Cape Verde four days later.

7 Aug 2014
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014 - GROUP STAGE - 5TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

GROUP A
TP Mazembe vs Al Hilal -:-
Zamalek vs AS Vita Club -:-

GROUP B
Al Ahli Benghazi vs CS Sfaxien -:-
Entente Setif vs Esperance -:-

7 Aug 2014

FIFA - PORTUGAL - candidate Luis Figo wants World Cup with 48 teams

Luís Figo World Cup 2014

 

Luis Figo would consider a bigger World Cup if he is elected to replace Sepp Blater as Fifa president.

Releasing his manifesto at Wembley Stadium, the legendary Portugal midfielder said he would look at increasing the number of teams from 32 to 40 or even 48.

Figo, 42, is one of three candidates challenging Blatter in the election on 29 May.

He also proposed sin-bins and reverting to the old offside rule interpretation.

Dutch federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein are also in the running to become head of football's world governing body.

Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger Figo, who played at two World Cups, said on Thursday that the current format could be increased to 40 teams or Fifa could stage two 24-team competitions simultaneously on two continents, followed by a knockout phase in one nation.

He said: "Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play.

If this expansion were to take place I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.

"We not only make sure that we include more countries from across the world, but also enable Fifa to raise significant increased revenues that can be used to invest in the growth of the game globally."

Figo, the 2001 Fifa world player of the year, also proposes:

•    Spreading half of Fifa's $2.5bn revenue over four years to associations to fund grassroots football.    

•    Redistributing $1bn of Fifa's $1.5bn cash reserves to the 209 national federations. 

•    Increased use of technology in the game, using sin-bins for unsporting behaviour.    

•    Reverting back to the previous interpretation of the offside rule, "where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not".


Blatter, 78, has been Fifa boss since 1998 and said in June 2014 that he intended to run for a fifth term.

He was criticised for Fifa's handling of Michael Garcia's report into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

 

 

21 Feb 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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