At least 30 members and fans of a local soccer team have lost their lives when their overloaded boat capsized in Lake Albert, police say. “There was a party on the boat, the passengers were dancing and others were drunk. The boat was overloaded with 45 people, all members of the football team and local fans,” said police commander John Rutagira on Monday.

The victims were all from the village of Kawaibenda in the Buliisa district in western Uganda, near the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and their doomed voyage to Runga Landing site in Hoima District was meant to be a fun boat ride ahead of a highly anticipated local match to be held as part of the Christmas Day festivities.

Rutagira, citing eyewitnesses, added that the lake was calm in the searing temperatures of the day; however, the tragedy struck them just about 100 meters from the shoreline “when the merrymaking team and fans tilted on one side of the boat… It capsized killing about 30 people.”

He went on to say that by Monday morning rescue workers and locals had managed to retrieve nine bodies, reporting 21 others as missing, presumably dead by the time. Fifteen passengers of the ill-fated boat, however survived, either by swimming to safety of the shores or being rescued by local fishermen and police.

Godfrey Opira, the Buliisa District chairperson of soccer referees, who witnessed the accident, confirmed that none of the frenzied merrymakers on-board the boat had worn life jackets. The Sunday accident followed a similar accident on Lake Victoria on Friday which killed 20 people. Fatal accidents are quite common on Ugandan waters. Back in November, a further 10 people lost their lives in Lake Albert, the seventh largest lake in Africa.

Presstv

The Cameroonian dictator has announced that entry to the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium for the final of the women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be free. The organizing committee has confirmed the news and added that the spectators will have to bring an invitation ticket to be gotten at the points previously reserved for the sale of the tickets.

CAF is therefore expected to make available for the final of the 10th edition of the women’s African Cup of Nations 40,000 invitation tickets. The five main points of sale of these tickets are the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Palace, the National Institute of Youth and Sports in Yaoundé, the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium and the Head office of the Cameroon Football Federation.

Our chief football reporter who contributed to this report noted that the “Biya gesture is just another CPDM pattern of wasting tax payers money.”

By Chi Prudence Asong

A goal from Raïssa Feudjio at the 71st minute was enough to take the Indomitable Lionesses to the finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2016. The girls struggled to develop their game in an encounter that had a shy start. Aboudi Onguené was exceptional but failed to find our taliswoman, Enganamouit in the axis.

Samira Suleman of Ghana wanted to cut short Cameroon’s glory but goalkeeper Ngo Ndom made a spectacular save.  Head Coach Enow Ngachu was tensed as the game progressed.

The decisive moment came at the 71st minute with a miss from the Ghanaian goalkeeper following a corner from Aboudi Onguené.  Enganamouit made a failed attempt to convert, but the confusion benefited Feudjio who scored the only goal of the match. Cameroon qualified for the final of the women’s AFCON and will face the winner of the match Nigeria-South Africa.

By Rita Akana

The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon will face the Black Queens of Ghana today the 29th November 2016 in the semi-final of the 2016 Women Africa Cup of Nations. The match will be staged at the Amadou Ahidjo stadium at 4pm Cameroon time. This will be the seventh appearance of the Black Queens at the Women AFCON semi-finals. Out of their last six appearances at the semis, the Black Queens have ended three times as runners-up (1998, 2002, and 2006) and three times in the third position (1995, 2000, and 2004).

After missing out of the semis in the last four AFCON editions, the Black Queens of Ghana will be looking forward to making something out of the semis. For her part, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon will be making their tenth appearance in the Women AFCON semis. Out of their 10 appearances at the semis, they have been runners-up three times (1991, 2004, 2014), ended twice in the third Position (2002, 2012) and also four times in the fourth Position (1998, 2006, 2008, 2010).

Playing at home, the Lionesses will be looking forward to lifting the trophy for the first time. Since 1998, Cameroon and Ghana have met in the Women AFCON seven times. Out of the seven times, the Lionesses have recorded two victories and the Black Queens registered five. Worth noting is the fact that, five of these meetings have been at the group stage (1998, 2000, 2006, 2010 2014). Meanwhile, the games between the two at the semis were a difficult battle as goals came only at extra time.

The first time they met was on 17 December 2002 when Ghana beat Cameroon 3-2 after extra time. On 28th September 2004, Ghana throw weights with Cameroon and this time, Ghana lost to Cameroon 0-1 after extra time. In another semifinals duel, reigning champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will take on the Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Wednesday 30th November at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.

Culled from CRTV

Mali and Ghana have finally arrived Yaoundé for their clash on the 26^th of November 2016 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé counting for the third day in Group B. Both teams were expected in the political capital on the 23^rd of November but they finally got there yesterday the 24^th of November via the Nsimalen international airport.

The Malian and Ghanaian delegations spent the night at the Douala International airport where they were supposed to board a plane for Yaounde after their respective matches against Kenya and Nigeria. But due to bad weather, the flight was delayed.

The coaches of both teams reportedly took the situation as fair play.  “It is true that we are tired because of this setback, but it was because of a bad weather. And then, we were not alone, there was also Mali, “said Yussif Bassigi, the coach of Ghana.

For his part, Oumar Guindo, the coach of Mali retained only the warm welcome that the Cameroonians and the Malian community have reserved for his team. “Several Malians and Cameroonians came to encourage us at the airport. We thank them, “he said.

By Rita Akana