2014 WORLD CUP - ARGENTINA - KEY PLAYER - ‪LIONEL MESSI - PROFILE

Lionel Andrés Messi; born 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

1 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - STEPHEN KESHI RESIGNS AFTER EXIT

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

France vs Nigeria 2:0

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - GERMANY vs ALGERIA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

Germany vs Algeria 2:1

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - FRANCE - KEY PLAYER - ‪KARIM BENZEMA - PROFILE

He has been named French Player of the Year twice for his performances in 2011 and 2012. Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. 

Benzema has earned over 65 caps and represented France at three major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - NETHERLANDS VS MEXICO 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Netherlands vs Mexico 2:1

Lucky dutchmen!

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - COSTA RICA VS GREECE 5:4 - win on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Costa Rica vs Greece 5:4

Costa Rica through on penalties.

29 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - MEXICO - KEY PLAYER - ‪Giovani dos Santos‬ - PROFILE

Giovani dos Santos‬ was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Giovani joined FC Barcelona's academy of La Masia at the age of eleven and played for Barcelona's Juvenil A category where he helped his team to make a comeback in the league and win the regional title. 

This title allowed them to participate in the Youth Copa del Rey, where they faced other regional champions, among them their historic arch-rivals, Real Madrid. 

29 Jun 2014

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016 - Preliminary round - 1st leg - all results

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016

 

Friday's matches
▪ Vipers vs Enyimba 1:0 
▪ Olympique Khouribga vs Gamtel 2:1 

Saturday's matches
▪ Cercle Joachim vs Young Africans 0:1 
▪ Chicken Inn vs Mamelodi Sundowns 1:0 
▪ Gor Mahia vs CNaPS 1:2
▪ Mafunzo vs AS Vita Club 0:3
▪ Recreativo Do Libolo vs Racing Micomseng 5:1
▪ AS Mangasport vs Etoile Du Congo 0:0
▪ AS Douanes Dakar vs Horoya 0:0
▪ Stade Malien vs RC Bobo Dioulasso 3:1

Sunday's matches
▪ Zesco Utd vs Al Ghazala 2:0
▪ Volcan vs Kaizer Chiefs 0:4
▪ Club Africain vs Tanda 2:0
▪ St George vs St Michel Utd 3:0
▪ Mbabane Swallows vs APR 1:0
▪ Lioli vs Vital'O 1:2
▪ Cotontchad vs ASEC Mimosas 0:1
▪ AshantiGold vs Mouloudia Bejaia 1:0
▪ Warri Wolves vs Sporting Praia Cruz -:-
▪ Onze Createurs vs Al Ahly Tripoli 1:2
▪ Nimba Utd vs Union Douala 1:3
▪ Wydad vs Douanes -:-


South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns were beaten 1:0 away to Zimbabwe's Chicken Inn on Saturday, as the African Champions League first round first leg upsets continued.

Sundowns, along with Kaizer Chiefs, were hoping to lead another charge by South African clubs to rule the continent, after both clubs exited the competition in the first round last season.

But a solitary goal from Mischeck Katsvairo in the first half gave Chicken Inn a surprise win in Bulawayo.

The two will meet in the second leg in Pretoria in two weeks time, when Sundowns will be under pressure, considering they play in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) which is one of the richest leagues on the continent.

The PSL season has reached the halfway mark, but the league in Zimbabwe has not yet started. Kaizer Chiefs, also of South Africa, are away to Volcan Club of Comoros Island on Sunday.

Tanazania's Young Africans were the first of Saturday's winners, beating Cercle de Joachim 1:0 in Mauritius thanks to a goal from Zimbabwe midfielder Donald Ngoma on 16 minutes.

On Friday, the upsets began in the very first game of this year's African Champions League as Uganda's Vipers won their first ever continental club match beating visiting Enyimba of Nigeria 1:0.

Erisa Sekisambu, who was part of the team at the recent African Nations Championship in Rwanda, scored the only goal of the game for the Ugandan champions in the 72nd minute.

The goal was set up by a deep pass from Keziron Kizito but it was Sekisambu's skill that ultimately beat the Enyimba defence.

He was left with plenty to do as he picked up the ball cut into the area before dribbling past Akabueze John Uche feigning to pass and finally hitting the ball into the roof of the net.

There was some groans around the Nakivubo Stadium in central Kampala as fans thought he has only hit the side netting but they soon turned to cheers as they realised what he had done.

Vipers overcame the two-time African and current Nigerian champions without several key players including striker Farouk Miya, who has joined Belgian club Standard Liege.

The second leg is on the last weekend of February in the Nigerian city of Aba.

Also on Friday, Olympique Khourigba of Morocco beat Gambian League champions Gamtel 2:1 in Marrakech in their first leg.

Gamtel went ahead through a thunderous strike from Modou Sarr.

But the host side came back with goals from Ibrahim.

 

14 Feb 2016
(BBC Sport UK)

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