6, June 2016

Gabon 2017: The big names have their tickets ⁰

Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon have so far clinched their qualification spots for the final phase of the tournament in Gabon. Six of the sixteen teams to take part in the final phase of the African Cup of Nations to take place early next year in Gabon are already known. They are namely, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and host country Gabon. While Gabon got her qualification from the office by winning the bid to host the 2017 edition of the tournament, the others had to slot it out from the green turf of the pitch after taking an unassailable lead in their respective groups.

Egypt and Morocco were the first countries to qualify and will be making a return to the continental scene after having missed out on the 2015 edition of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea. Egypt simply didn’t qualify after having been stunned by little known Republic of Congo in the last and crucial qualification match. Meanwhile Morocco was banned from taking part in the competition after refusing to host the competition because of Ebola scare.

The sentence was higher but Morocco appealed the decision and the ban was lifted. After winning the legal battle Morocco also won on the pitch of play dominating Group F earning 12 points in four outings. Egypt equally sailed through Group G virtually unperturbed with 10 points in four outing with Nigeria coming distant second in the group with barely two points.

Algeria and Senegal also picked up their qualification tickets before the last day of play of the qualifiers top come up during the weekend running from September second to third. Algeria sailed through Group G with flying colours obtaining 13 points in five outings and can no longer be caught up by the runners up of the group, Ethiopia with barely five points.

Meanwhile Senegal witnessed an unbeaten run in Group K winning all fifteen points up for grab in the group so far and will also be making a return to the continental scene in Gabon. Cameroon as already known picked up the lone qualification ticket in Group M after butting out the last surviving contender, Mauritania in the fifth qualification match on Friday June 3^rd.

The rest of the qualified nations will be known after the last day of play of the qualifiers on September second and third. Besides the respective group leaders, the overall best runners-up of all the 13 groups join the host for the final phase of the competition in Gabon.

Cameroon Tribune

4, June 2016

Gabon’s Aubameyang is Bundesliga player of the year ⁰

Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been voted as the German Bundesliga’s Player of the Year. The Gabon captain finished just 0.2% ahead of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who was the top scorer in the league last season.

The award is voted for by the German players’ union, the VDV. “It’s a great honour to be recognised and appreciated by your fellow colleagues,” Aubameyang said. “This is for everyone at Dortmund and our amazing fans.”

Aubameyang, who is also the African Footballer of the Year, scored 25 goals and made six assists in 31 league games as Dortmund finished runners-up in the Bundesliga. He also scored 39 goals in all competitions last season and becomes the first African to win the VDV award since its inception in 1998. He is also the only African named in the Bundesliga team of the year.

4, June 2016

Gabon 2017: Cameroon qualifies through a Salli strike ⁰

Cameroon qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 win away to Mauritania in Group M. A goal from winger Edgar Salli after 31 minutes was enough to send the Indomitable Lions through to Gabon.

Mauritania were put under further pressure in the second half after defender Moustapha Diaw was sent off. Earlier on Friday, a win for Tunisia meant that Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be settled with the final ties in September. Tunisia who were 3-nil winners in Djibouti, took the lead after 15 minutes when France-born Naim Sliti scored for the Carthage Eagles after being set-up by Wahbi Khazri.

23-year-old Sliti has been linked with a move away from French second division side Red Star ahead of next season. Both sides then hit the woodwork before Sliti turned provider on the stroke of half-time as he passed to Hamdi Harbaoui to score Tunisia’s second.

Esperance striker Taha Yassine Khenissi replaced Harbaoui shortly after the break and then scored Tunisia’s third on the hour mark. The other game on Friday pits Libya against Morocco, who have already qualified for Gabon.

BBC

3, June 2016

Algeria secures place in Gabon 2017 ⁰

Africa’s top-ranked nation Algeria clinched their place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday with a 2-0 win in Seychelles. Yassine Benzia and El Arabi Soudani scored in each half to ensure Algeria will win Group J. The group winners and the best two runners-up will qualify for the finals.

The loss for Seychelles means they are unable to win the group and only have a very slim chance of winning a best second-placed spot. The other match in the group sees Lesotho host Ethiopia on Sunday.

Lille’s Benzia scored his first goal for Algeria since swapping national allegiances from France earlier this year. He scored five minutes before half-time as the Seychelles defence failed to deal with a cross and the ball fell at his feet with his back to the goal before swivelling to score. Soudani doubled the score on hour mark when as he got on the end of a free-kick from Ryad Boudebouz.

BBC

3, June 2016

International Friendlies: France 3, Cameroon 2 ⁰

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have suffered a three goals to two defeat inflicted on them by the French National team. This was during an international friendly match at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes in France in the build to Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on June 3rd, against Mauritania.
The international friendly was also to prepare the French National team ahead of the 2016 UEFA European Championship starting June 10th. The 3 – 2 victory by France over Cameroon has given, manager Didier Deschamps’ side, hosts of the tournament, automatic qualification for UEFA 2016. Sports analysts, say France had a unique preparations for Euro 2016 compared to the other 23 nations participating in the competition. The French side is expected to play one more friendly against Scotland on Saturday, June 4, ahead of the start of Euro 2016.

During the Monday encounter, Blaise Matuidi gave the hosts the lead with a smart goal, but before the French public had time to celebrate, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar equalized barely two minutes later. Olivier Giroud scored another goal for France just before half-time, the Indomitable Lions attempted to level score to no avail.

In the second half, Les Bleus dominated possession but created few chances, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting surprised the home side with a late equalizer at the 88th minute. Cameroonians had not savoured the score when, Dimitri Payet found the net for a last minute goal; giving France a win over Cameroon. Indomitable Lions goal keeper, Fabrice Ondoua has been highly appreciated for the magnificent and timely saves the spared the Cameroonian national team from conceding several goals.