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Showing posts from January, 2022

AFCON 2021: Egypt, Senegal complete semi final pairings

By Bakah Derick  Egypt grabbed the third semi finals ticket for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021 on Sunday 30 January 2022 in Yaounde after beating fellow North Africans Morocco 2-1.  Sofiane Boufal for the Atlas Lions opened scores from the penalty spot just six minutes into the game  and managed the lead till the end of first half.  The Pharoahs scored eight minutes into the second half via striker Mohamed Salah to draw level. The tension packed fixture played to prolongation with both fighting hard to secure a spot in the Semis. Mo Salah then paired perfectly with second half substitute Trezeguet to get a winner at the 100th minute.  Egypt's win sets up a meeting with host Cameroon and  pushes the Moroccans on the side as they were hoping to play their second semi final since 1988.  The Teranga Lions of Senegal grabbed the fourth and last ticket thrashing one of the tournament's revelation Equatorial Guinea 3-1. 

AFCON 2021: Olembe Stadium suspension lifted, facility to host Semi final

By Bakah Derick  The African Football Confederation (CAF) organising committee of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021 has decided to lift the suspension on the recently constructed facility that turned deadly on Monday 24 January 2022.  That deadly entrance at the Olembe Stadium  The decision is contained in a release made public at the closing hours of Sunday 30 January 2022 after CAF's President Dr Patrice Motsepe met with the CAF AFCON Organising Committee and received the report compiled by CAF Safety and Security Department together with Local Organising Committee (LOC) relating to the tragedy that occurred at the Olembé Stadium killing eight and injuring 38.  "Having noted the recommendations and undertakings from Government in regard to additional security provisions over and above those which were already successfully implemented at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium during the Morocco and Malawi match and at the Japoma Stadium durin

AFCON 2021: Cameroon, Burkina Faso from underrated Group A at the Semi finals

By Bakah Derick  The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and The Stallions of Burkina Faso have made it to the round of four at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021.  Dango Ouattara scored at the third minute of first half additional time on Saturday 29 January  2022 at the Roumdé Adjia stadium in Garoua to ensure his team returns from the break from a superior posture. They kept the score till full time to clinch a precious semi finals ticket.  After qualifying his country for the third AFCON semi final in their last five participations, Ouattara shall miss their next fixture as he was sent off after his elbow hit Tunisia's Ali Maaloul on the face  in the 82nd minute. The Stallions will face either the Teranga Lions of Senegal or Equatorial Guinea expected to clash on Sunday.  Fellow group stage opponent and host nation Cameroon showed the way out to The Gambia.  Karl Toko Ekambi connected with a cross from Fai Collins to head the b

AFCON 2021: Equatorial Guinea knocks out Mali, heads to last eight

By Bakah Derick  It's end of the road for the eagles of Mali in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021. They were shown the way out from the penalty spot by Equatorial Guinea in Limbe on Wednesday 26 January 2022.  Photo credit: Cameroon Tribune  Equatorial Guinea's shotstopper Jesus Owono was the star of the evening as he saved two penalties to move his country and team to the last eight.  The referee suspended celebrations for a while for Equatorial Guinea as he requested a review of the last penalty which the video Assitant Referee validated.  Photo credit: Cameroon Tribune  Mali trainer Mohamed Manasuba has decribed their second consecutive eighth final exit as a failure and insufficient. Describing his players as children, the gaffer said they gave their all during the game.  The reward for Equatorial Guinea's win is Senegal. They will face the Teranga Lions who qualified after seeing off Cape Verde in Koueko

AFCON 2021: Egypt dismiss Cote d'Ivoire in eighth title quest

By Bakah Derick  The Pharaohs of Egypt have beaten the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire to keep hopes of winning another Africa Cup of Nations title. The sides separated on a viegin tie at the Japoma sports complex in Douala before heading for shootouts.  Starting line-up for Egypt ( Photo credit: Cameroon Tribune)  After Eric Bailly's penalty was saved, Egypt's captain Mohamed Salah scored the winning shot to take his side through to the quarter finals on a 5-4 win.  Starting line-up for Cote d'Ivoire ( Photo credit: Cameroon Tribune )  The North Africans will face block members Morocco on Sunday in Yaounde in one of four fixtures for the round of eight.   The Egyptians received huge support from Cameroonian fans in Douala who said they were paying back Cote d'Ivoire for supporting Comoros and accusing Cameroon of fraud.  Two time winners Cote d'Ivoire will have to wait for 2023 when they host to continue search for a third

AFCON 2021: CAF goes harder on Olembe Stadium after deadly stampede

By Bakah Derick The African Football Confederation (CAF) has made public some  decisions following the Olembe Stadium stampede that killed eight and injured close to 40. The CAF decision which fell like a bombshell on Wednesday evening cancelled an earlier announcement by the President Dr Patrice Motsepe relocating match number 48 from the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium to the Limbe Omnisport stadium.  Here is the release by the continental football governing body.  The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe today hosted a meeting of the CAF Organising Committee for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (“CAF AFCON Organising Committee”) and it was agreed that:  due to the incident at Olembé Stadium that resulted in the death of eight spectators and several other spectators being injured and, the decisions of the CAF Disciplinary Board  The next match that was scheduled for the Olembé Stadium will not take place until CAF and the Local Organising Committee have received

FECAFOOT: Samuel Eto'o discusses NW Leisure center project with UNDP

By Bakah Derick  The President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has met with the resident representative of the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) to discuss the possibility for the construction of a leisure center in the North West Region.  Samuel Eto'o Fils and Jean Luc Stalon met at the national football governing body headquarters in Tsinga Yaounde on Tuesday 25 January 2022 to reflect on the project expected to be in the North West and South West Regions.  Hilltopvoices has not gotten detail on the project and the meeting reported on the football association (FA) social media platforms. It is also indicated on the post that discussions also touched on the construction of a stadium in the far North Region of Cameroon.  "It was a pleasure to meet with Jean-Luc Stalon, resident representative of UNDP Cameroun, to discuss partnership opportunities to promote football and sports as agents for social cohesion & develop

FECAFOOT NW: dark cloud as peace seems further away

By Bakah Derick  There are signs that peace may still be far from returning to the regional league of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) for the North West slightly above two months after the elections that saw incumbent maintain his office though  standing without opposition.  Ivo Chi and Mbigha Felix  Though Hilltopvoices understands that there were standoffs before and during the regional league elections just like the national that saw the elections of Samuel Eto'o Fils at the helm of FECAFOOT, there are signs that all is not yet well at the regional football house.  Away from the divisions that still seem to be rocking the place after election choices, there are indications that disagreements are beginning to surface on work issues.  In a message Hilltopvoices stumble on this Wednesday, Chi Ivo, Club Promoter and a staunch supporter of Samuel Eto'o Fils has made a call out on the Mbigha Felix led administration on the stadium issue in the r

AFCON 2021: Morocco turns off Flames, head to Quarter finals in search of second title

By Bakah Derick  The atlas lions of Morocco have eliminated the Flames of Malawi from the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021. Playing at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde on Tuesday 25 January 2022.  Malawi's Gabadinho Hellings Mhango hit the net through a long range shot at the seventh minute in what looked like an offset.  Several offensives from the Moroccans paid off just before the close of first half with an equaliser.  Achraf Hakimi made matters worst for the Flames after brilliantly transforming a spot kick at the 70th minute.  All efforts by the Malawians were unproductive till full time.  Coach Marian Marinica has praised his contingent for fighting a good fight despite being exited by Morocco.  Malawi's participation is the third with the previous two being in 1984 and 2010. They have not won the title so far.  Morocco stays on course in search for their second AFCON title. They will face the winner

AFCON 2021: In pains, Sadio Mané leads Senegal to quarter finals

By Bakah Derick  The Teranga Lions if Senegal have secured a quarter finals place in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021. Team Captain Sadio Mané though in pains after a dangerous head clash with Cape Verde shot stopper Josimar Dias, scored the opener for his team at the 63rd minute. His side will get The second through substitute Seny Dieng two minutes into additional time.  Cape Verde finished the game with nine men after midfielder Erickson Patrick Correia Andrade and goal keeper Josimar Dias were shown red cards at the 21st and 57th minutes reapectively.  Both sides have never won the trophy. A defeat ends the road for for Cape Verde as Aliuo Cisse and his men continue their search for a title after finishing as runners up in 2019.  Senegal will play against winner of the game Mali versus Equatorial Guinea. 

AFCON 2021: CAF takes responsibility for COVID-19 testing, clears Cameroon of wrongdoing

By Bakah Derick  The African Football Confederation (CAF) says they have an independent firm incharge of testing participating teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cameroon 2021. The Secreatey General of the continental football governing body repeated their position during a press conference on tuesday 25 January 2022  to address a fatal rush that occurred the previous day at the Olembe Stadium.  Responding to a question on the accusation of Cameroon for manipulating COVID-19 results against their quarter finals opponent Comoros, Veron Mosengo-Omba explained that after the experiences from the Afrcan Nations Championship CHAN in Cameroon early 2021, CAF decided to hire an independent institution to carry out testing during the ongoing AFCON. He went on to appreciate the government of Cameroon for allowing CAF to do that.  He presented the profile of the institution saying that they have done testing during the European championship and the Arab cu

AFCON 2021: CAF indicts local organising committee on death of eight in Olembe

By Bakah Derick  The African Football Confederation (CAF) has indicted the local organising committee (LOC) of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the dead of at leaat eight on Monday 24 January 2022 as a result of match rush during a Cameroon vs Comoros eighth finals fixture. CAF's President Patrice Motsepe  was speaking during a presser on Tuesday 25 January 2022 in Yaounde.  Though insisting that the responsibility is collective, CAF's strongman maintains that security in the stadium is the duty of the LOC. Dr Patrice Motsepe questioned severally why a stadium gate entrance that was to be opened was closed. He has challenged the LOC to provide a detailed report not later than Friday 28 January 2022.  The South African has announced the cancellation of match number 47 initially programmed for the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde.  The match which will now be moved to nearby Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium will also cause the movement of match num

AFCON 2021: At least eight dead, about 40 injured in Olembe Stadium match rush

By Bakah Derick  Cameroon's government has confirmed that not fewer than eight persons have died following rush to have access into the recently constructed Olembe Stadium. According to the Minister of Communication Rene Emmanuel Sadii, 38 have be injured with seven in very critical condition.  Those injured the Minister said are under emergency care in hospitals around Yaounde; the nation's capital on the instructions of Cameroon's President Paul Biya.  While extending the condolences from the President to the bereaved families and encouragement for quick recovery to the injured, the Minister has invited all to remain responsible, discipline and civic as the Africa Cup of Nations campaign (AFCON) continuous in Cameroon.  Observers have blamed the incident on the unwieldy and slow procedure fans go through to watch matches especially in Yaounde when host Cameroon is playing.  "I think this is because the procedure to enter the stadiu

AFCON 2021: Cameroon sends off resistant Comoros, clinch quarter finals ticket

By Bakah Derick  The Indomitable lions of Cameroon have beaten Comoros in match 39 of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021. Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1 on Monday 24 January 2022 at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde to grab the third quarter finals ticket of the competition.  Heavily affected by COVID-19 with not fewer than 12cases plus the expulsion of a player less than 10mins into the game, The Coelacanths without a regular goal keeper kept the match goalless till the 30th minute when Karl Toko Ekambi got the first  for Cameroon.  Outfield player on the goal post for Comoros  Vincent Aboubakar will later get the second for the host nation to make it 2-1.  Andre Onana made matters more difficult for the Islanders with several spectacular saves before Youssouf M’Changama pulled one back with a stunning free kick.  Cameroon will face tournament debutants Gambia at the quarter finals.