6, July 2016

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison ⁰

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud. His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights. However, neither man is expected to serve time in jail. Under the Spanish system, prison terms of under two years can be served under probation.

BBC

30, June 2016

Nkoulou signs a 4 years deal with Lyon FC ⁰

Nicolas Nkoulou has been presented officially as an Olympique Lyonnais player. Cameroon Concord News gathered that Nkoulou signed a 4 years deal with the Ligue 1, France side.

The Cameroonian was presented to the public at a press conference on Wednesday by the President of Lyonnais, Jean-Michel Aulas. A native of Yaounde, Nkoulou has replaced another Yaounde citizen, Samuel Umtiti, who left Lyon for Barcelona.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)

28, June 2016

Nicolas Nkoulou: Olympique Lyonnais or Barcelona? ⁰

Cameroon Concord News has learnt from reliable sources in France that, Nicolas Nkoulou is expected to sign a contract with Olympique Lyonnais. Nkoulou, one of Cameroon’s key defenders reportedly had a medical yesterday.

The 26 years old footballer has played 33 League 1 matches with Olympique de Marseille and he is currently out of contract with the French giants. Our source hinted that there may be a kind of last minute change as Spanish heavyweight, Barcelona have signaled interest in the defender.

Fon Lawrence (Cameroon Concord News Group)

28, June 2016

Former Ghana International defender replaces Doctor Khumalo at Kaizer Chiefs ⁰

John Paintsil, former Ghana international defender has been appointed the new assistant coach of Kaizer Chiefs, a South African Premier League club. Painstil will work with head coach Steve Komphela.

The former defender of the Black Stars of Ghana who announced his retirement from the beautiful game last week replaces Doctor Khumalo.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News Group)

26, June 2016

Marc Vivien Foe: 13 years after!!!! ⁰

On June 26th, 2003, Marc Vivien Foe died at the Gerland football stadium during a Confederation Cup match in France. The celebrated midfielder of the Indomitable Lions suffered a heart attack at the 72^nd minute of the match against Colombia.

Thirteen years later, we of Cameroon Concord News Group have still not forgotten this great man in the history of Cameroonian football. Thirteen years later, the promises of the Head of State and his ruling Francophone Beti-Ewondo CPDM government have still not been fulfilled. Thirteen years later, the huge sports project started by the late Marc Vivien Foe is still not completed.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Intelligence Report)

26, June 2016

Eto’o summons football stars to Antalya in Turkey ⁰

Cameroon football legend has announced a charity match in Antalya in Turkey to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Samuel Eto’o Foundation.A sea of soccer stars have registered their attendance.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that the charity match will be staged on July the 16, 2016. Eto’o who recently celebrated a church wedding with his long time partner Georgette does not intend to retire from soccer anytime soon.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News Group)

26, June 2016

The Indomitable Lions and qualification for Russia 2018: A rocky path ⁰

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will not have an easy task en route to Moscow. The Lions have been paired with the likes of Algeria which is currently the best selection in the continent. To be sure, Cameroon will travel to Algiers on Monday, the 3^rd of October 2016.

The Indomitable Lions will host the Mighty Zambia on November the 7th, 2016 in Yaounde. Then, Head Coach Hugo Broos and his boys will travel to the fantastically corrupt nation for their third match scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2017. The encounter against Nigeria will mark the end of the first phase.

The Super Eagles will be in Cameroon on Saturday, September 2, 2017. The Indomitable Lions will again have a home menu against Algeria on the 2nd of October 2017 before going to stage the final game of the playoffs in Lusaka- Zambia on November 6th, 2017.

Here is the full schedule of Group B matches

October 3, 2016

Algeria against Cameroon

Zambia against Nigeria

November 7, 2016

Cameroon against Zambia

Nigeria against Algeria

August 28, 2017

Nigeria against Cameroon

Zambia against Algeria

September 2, 2017

Algeria against Zambia

Cameroon against Nigeria

October 2, 2017

Nigeria against Zambia

Cameroon against Algeria

November 6, 2017

Zambia against Cameroon

Algeria against Nigeria

NB: Only the first of the group will qualify for the finals of the World Cup Russia 2018. The system of qualification has not provided for second best.

Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Concord News Group)

23, June 2016

Enfin!! Henri Bedimo signs for Olympique Marseille ⁰

Cameroon’s Henri Bedimo has signed a contract with Olympique Marseille that will keep him at the club for the next three seasons. Bedimo was out of contract with Olympique Lyonnais and became a free agent before the move to Marseille.

The 32 years old former League 1 champion with Montpellier (2012), will begin a new adventure and he has become the 12^th Cameroonian to play for the great club after Joseph-Antoine Bell, Stéphane M’Bia, Modeste Mbami, Salomon Olembe etc

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News Group)

18, June 2016

More chaos in Euro 2016 as Air France pilots go on strike ⁰

Pilots with the French flag carrier, Air France, are set to walk out of their jobs over pay cuts as the country is hosting the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. Three major pilot unions said on Friday that they were going on strike between June 24 and June 27 after the Air France management made “very vague promises” in negotiations during the last industrial action on June 11-14.

Pilots complain that new pay rules, which were recently decided by the airline management, would lower their salaries by five percent. Air France pilots’ previous action, which ended on June 14, grounded around 20 percent of domestic and international flights and cost the carrier more than EUR 40 million (USD 45 million).

The Air France management said only a quarter of pilots joined the walk-out earlier this month, but unions said the figure was about seven in 10.

Presstv

17, June 2016

French court sentenced African Football legend Claude Le Roy to 2 years in prison ¹

In what has been described as a major blow to the Togolese national football team on their way to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nation, Gabon 2017, a French court has sentenced Claude Le Roy to two years in prison including an 18 months ban from all football activities this Friday June 17, 2016. Cameroon Intelligence Report learned that Le Roy was jailed following his involvement in some fraudulent transfer deals when he managed Racing Club of Strasbourg between 1998 and 2003.

The former Cameroon and Congo Kinshasa football trainer has been quoted as saying he was not aware of any illegality on the said transfers. Our senior football correspondent who contributed to this report observed that if the sentence by the court is confirmed, it could upset the contract Claude Le Roy has with the Togolese national team. CIR sports desk is keeping a watchful eye on this developing story and we will keep our readers posted.

Ebong Kingsley (CIR)