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 Confederation Cup 2017- play-offs - 1st leg - Holders Mazembe win first leg

TP Mazembe

African Confederation Cup 2017
play-offs
1st leg

TP Mazembe vs JS Kabylie 2:0 


TP Mazembe won the Confederation Cup for the first time last season

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo continued the defence of their African Confederation Cup crown with a 2:0 win over Algerian side JS Kabylie on Sunday.

In front of their home fans, they won the first leg of their play-off in Lubumbashi courtesy of goals from Zambian international Nathan Sinkala and Malian defender Salif Coulibaly.

Mazembe dropped down into Africa's second tier club competition following their shock Champions League exit last month.

Victory over two legs will earn all sixteen play-off winners a place in the group stage of the Confederation Cup, starting next month.

Also on Sunday, Tunisia's Club Africain came away from Mauritian team Port Louis with a 2:1 win in Curepipe.

In Nigeria, Enugu Rangers scuppered a 2:0 advantage at home to draw 2-2 with Zambia's Zesco United.

Goals from David Owino and Patrick Kongolo helped Zesco level the score and take two away-goals into the return leg next weekend.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Ivory Coast's Tanda were 2:0 winners over South African outfit Platinum Stars in Abdijan.

Sunday's Confederation Cup play-off first leg results:
▪ Port Louis (Mauritius) vs Club Africain (Tunisia) 1:2 
▪ TP Mazembe (DR Congo, holders) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria) 2:0 
▪ Enugu Rangers (Nigeria) vs Zesco United (Zambia) 2:2 
▪ Tanda (Ivory Coast) vs Platinum Stars (South Africa) 2:0 
▪ Leopards (Congo) vs Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) 1:0 
▪ Rail Kadiogo (Burundi) vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) 1:2 
▪ Ports Authority (Gambia) vs Al Hilal Obeid (Sudan) 1:1 
▪ Horoya (Guinea) vs Ittihad Tanger (Morocco) 2:0 
▪ FUS Rabat (Morocco) vs MAS Fes (Morocco) 2:1
▪ Barrack Young Controllers (Liberia) vs SuperSport Utd. (South Africa) 1:1 

 

12 Apr 2017
(BBC Sport UK)

Related countries

Related articles