Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been allowed to leave the Gabon squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and return to his club to continue his recovery from Covid-19, his national team coach said on Monday.

Midfielder Mario Lemina of French side Nice has also been sent back to his club, with neither having played a minute in Gabon’s two matches so far at the Cup of Nations, against the Comoros and Ghana.

“Given the medical problems that Pierre-Emerick and Mario have had, in agreement with the doctor, the president of the federation and the players, we have taken the wise decision to send them back to their clubs so they can be looked after there,” said Gabon coach Patrice Neveu at a press conference in Yaounde.

News of Aubameyang’s positive test, and that of Lemina, emerged on January 6, just four days before his team’s opening AFCON group game.

The duo then tested negative ahead of Gabon’s second match, a 1-1 draw against Ghana on Friday, but both were again left out of the team after some residue from their infection was detected.

Neveu played down concerns that the players had developed inflammation around the heart following their infections, but the Gabonese Football Federation released a statement to say the pair would return to their clubs “to undergo further examinations”.

“There is no major cause for alarm regarding cardiac problems but we are not in a position here to properly analyse what damage could be done by the residue that caused the inflammation,” Neveu said.

“We can’t take any risks, and psychologically it was becoming unbearable for them staying in their rooms. So on Sunday we spoke and decided to let them go home.”

Gabon play Morocco in their last group game on Tuesday, when a draw will secure their path to the knockout phase.

However, they have also lost forward Denis Bouanga for that game after he also tested positive for the coronavirus.

The 32-year-old Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal since December 6 and was stripped of the captaincy shortly after that by manager Mikel Arteta having reportedly returned late from a club-authorised trip to visit his ill mother.

Source: AFP

After lighting up a previously goal-shy Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-1 thrashing of Ethiopia on Thursday, tournament hosts Cameroon were hoping to entrench themselves as one of the favourites to win the trophy with a formidable performance against Cape Verde on Monday. But their opponents were tougher than many predicted and held them to a draw.

Cameroon’s opening wins had already assured them of a place in the knockout rounds – but the tournament hosts were keen to keep the momentum rolling with a win against Cape Verde.

It all started out so well for Cameroon. They pressed in wave upon wave of attacks against a well-organised Cape Verde defense and it looked only a matter of time before they would score. The seemingly inevitable moment came when Vincent Aboubakar fired in a magnificent shot from the edge of the box in the 39th minute.

But Cameroon had shown some sloppy defending in the first half. After the break Cape Verde came out fighting – determined to exploit any defensive weakness. In the 53th minute a brilliant series of passes met an exquisite finish from Garry Rodrigues, and despite some threatening Cameroon attacks, Cape Verde held on right to the end.

Source: France 24

Equatorial Guinea inflicted a first defeat in 36 games on Algeria on Sunday to leave the reigning champions in serious danger of a group-stage exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after an astonishing goalkeeping blunder cost the Ivory Coast victory against Sierra Leone.

Esteban Obiang, one of a host of Equatorial Guinea players who were born in Spain, scored the 70th-minute goal that gave his side a 1-0 win in Douala as Algeria lost for the first time since October 2018.

That unbeaten run ends just two matches shy of Italy’s recently established record of 37 without defeat and Algeria now need to beat the Ivory Coast in their final Group E outing on Thursday if they are to make the last 16.

Djamel Belmadi’s side could only draw 0-0 with Sierra Leone in their opening game in Cameroon and if they do not succeed against the Ivorians it will be the fifth time in six Cups of Nations that the holders have failed to go beyond the group stage of the finals.

The only exception in that time came in 2019, when reigning champions Cameroon lost in the last 16.

“Everyone was talking about our unbeaten run but now we need to focus on something else, go out and secure qualification,” said Belmadi.

An Equatorial Guinea side ranked 114th in the world and 28th in Africa are now well placed to reach the knockout stage for the third time.

The two previous occasions came when they were hosting the tournament, in 2012 and in 2015, but this time many of the fans in the crowd of almost 12,000 in Douala were supporting the ‘National Thunder’.

Equatoguinean capital Malabo, on the island of Bioko, is a short hop over the Gulf of Guinea from Cameroon’s economic capital.

“We feel very proud to beat the best team in Africa,” said their coach, Juan Micha.

It was a dramatic day at the Japoma Stadium, where Badra Ali Sangare’s incredible injury-time error gifted Sierra Leone a point in a 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast.

With the Elephants leading 2-1, Sangare went to catch a ball headed back to him by a teammate in the third added minute in an attempt to prevent a corner, only to drop it into the path of Steven Caulker who squared for substitute Alhaji Kamara to score.

That remarkable moment prevented the Ivory Coast from wrapping up qualification for the last 16.

Tunisia cruise

Sangare, who has taken over the gloves at this tournament because first-choice Sylvain Gbohouo was handed a doping ban, then went off injured, leaving right-back Serge Aurier to see out the match between the posts.

Before the late drama the 2015 champions appeared to have a second win in as many games sewn up thanks to Nicolas Pepe’s second-half strike.

“Honestly I can’t explain that goal. You could have Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in charge and they wouldn’t be able to prepare for that,” said Ivory Coast coach Patrice Beaumelle.

Franck Kessie had an early penalty for the Elephants saved but Ajax star Sebastien Haller put them ahead and Musa Kamara made it 1-1 before Pepe struck.

Elsewhere, Wahbi Khazri scored twice as Tunisia recovered from a controversial loss to Mali by hammering Mauritania 4-0 in the coastal town of Limbe to register their first points in Group F.

Saint-Etienne forward Khazri’s brace came after Hamza Mathlouthi’s early opener. Khazri then created the final goal of the afternoon for Seifeddine Jaziri, while Youssef Msakni missed a late penalty for Tunisia.

Mali and tournament debutants Gambia both sit a point above Tunisia on four points after they drew 1-1 at the same venue, Musa Barrow converting a 90th-minute penalty for Gambia to cancel out Ibrahima Kone’s 79th-minute spot-kick at the other end.

The final round of group games begins on Monday when hosts Cameroon play Cape Verde and Burkina Faso face Ethiopia in Group A.

Source: AFP

Mohamed Salah squeezed a volley under the goalkeeper to give a nervous Egypt a 1-0 win over tiny Guinea-Bissau, which was denied maybe its biggest result at the African Cup of Nations on Saturday when it had a brilliant late equalizer contentiously disallowed after a VAR check.

Salah’s breakthrough came in the 69th minute after the record seven-time African champion labored to break down Guinea-Bissau.

But the Liverpool forward’s smart finish with his left foot from a tight angle wasn’t nearly the most dramatic moment of the game.

Guinea-Bissau forward Mama Baldé weaved in from the left wing and unleashed a shot that flew into the far corner of the net with eight minutes to go to seemingly stun Egypt, and the entire tournament in Cameroon.

But after a long delay, referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana of Burundi went over to consult VAR and eventually disallowed the goal for a foul by Baldé on Egypt defender Omar Kamal.

Baldé had put a hand on Kamal’s shoulder as he forced his way past him on the way to scoring, but it was a tight, tight call.

Egypt survived another scare from a shot by Moreto Cassamá in what was just about the last kick of the game. Egypt goalkeeper Mohammed el-Shenawy dived to push it away with two hands and it was Guinea-Bissau’s last chance.

Egypt hit the post three times in the game, one of those by Salah in the first half, but the sense of relief for the Egyptians at fulltime was obvious.

The victory revived Egypt’s Group D campaign after it lost its opening game to Nigeria 1-0. But it was not the convincing reaction Egypt fans demanded and there was increasing pressure on coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Real Madrid boss.

Source: AP

Musa Barrow converted a 90th-minute penalty for Gambia to snatch a 1-1 draw against Mali with the matchday 2 result set to take both teams through to the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mali went ahead after 79 minutes in Limbe when Ibrahima Kone scored from another penalty, both of which were awarded after the Moroccan referee watched replays on a VAR monitor.

The draw keeps Gambia and Mali level at the top of Group F with four points each. Pointless sides Tunisia and Mauritania meet later on Sunday and a win for either country will bring them into contention.

Group winners and runners-up after three matchdays qualify for the round of 16 along with the best four third-placed sides.

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, who came off the bench in a matchday 1 win over Tunisia, was promoted to the starting line-up by Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba.

The other Premier League player in the Mali team, Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo, retained his place as the west African nation sought a ninth win in 19 matches in all competitions against Gambia.

In 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) early afternoon heat and 75 percent humidity at the 20,000-seat Stade Omnisport it was no surprise that the match began at a slow pace.

Mali were more impressive in the early exchanges with Bissouma firing a free-kick wide and Djenepo having a header saved by Modou Jobe, who plays in the South African second division.

After being on the back foot for 20 minutes, Gambia were awarded a 35-metre free-kick and Musa Barrow unleashed a thunderbolt that rattled the crossbar.

After two cooling breaks within eight minutes to enable the players to drink water, the woodwork came to the rescue of Mali again.

This time Ablie Jallow was the unlucky Gambian as his angled shot rebounded off a post to the relief of Mali goalkeeper Ibrahim Mounkoro.

Djenepo was harshly yellow-carded by the Moroccan referee as half-time approached, ruling him out of the final group match against Mauritania on Thursday as he was also cautioned against Tunisia.

After a slow start to the second half, the match burst into life with Mali having three scoring opportunities in quick succession and Gambia one.

Bissouma fired just over, Adama ‘Malouda’ Traore narrowly lost a chase for the ball with Jobe, who then blocked with his chest a close-range attempt by Traore.

A Gambian counterattack threatened to break the deadlock until they were dispossessed on the edge of the Mali box.

Then came the two penalties with Kone and Barrow holding their nerve to send the goalkeepers the wrong way.

Source: AFP

Nigeria showed why they are one of the favourites to win the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations as they played a confident attacking game to thump Sudan 3-1 on Saturday – giving themselves an early ticket to the knockout rounds.

Nigeria dealt Sudan a fierce blow early on as Samuel Chukwueze scored in the 3rd minute; a calm finish after sterling creative play. Taiwo Awoniyi made it 2-0 in the dying minutes of the first half, then Moses Simon scored soon after the pause.

Simon’s was arguably the best performance in this match – and his was an exquisite, richly deserved goal that saw him burst down the left, lob the ball into the box for a one-two, take it back off his chest, then practically dribble it into the back of the net.

Sudan got a penalty because of shirt-pulling in the box and Walieldin Khidir converted it with aplomb. But it was only ever going to be a consolation goal as Nigeria dominated possession and made wave upon wave of fast-paced attack right until the end.

Source: France 24

Cameroon football fans are set to be forced into stadiums without a vaccine passport to attend Africa Cup of Nations matches – and the new directive from the Prime Minister could be in place as soon as Monday.

After thousands of both English and French speaking Cameroonians decided not to go to the stadiums, the ruling CPDM crime syndicate headed by President Paul Biya is reportedly ready to implement ‘ Plan B’.

This will include forcing all state agents, council workers and high school students to attend football matches without any Covid restrictions.

The Prime Minister’s Office informed school authorities to shutdown all government academic establishments by midday for students  to fill the scanty stadiums.

Two press releases-one from the Mayor of Buea and another from the Prime Minister’s Office sounded a note of caution to all civil servants and council workers to attend football games or face severe consequences.

Many Cameroonian football fans had challenge regulations that limited attendance at stadiums as a precaution against Covid-19.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that fewer spectators inside stadiums does not make financial sense as it does not allow the Biya regime to cover the costs of hosting the tournament.

“Those who are making the money are in the fan zones”, a French Cameroun football fan hinted our Douala city reporter. “In the fan zone there is so much excitement, and there are no regulations to get in, you just need your mask, whereas in the stadium you have to get vaccinated, get Covid test, here it’s easier because you get together and there’s joy”, another football fan was quoted by Africa News as saying late on Friday.

Aside from an Olympic bunker where organizers recruited high school students and other supporters of President Paul Biya to rally, spectators did not turn out in droves for matches elsewhere.

“It is a pity we have not gotten fans in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. We love to see fans in the stadiums” a FECAFOOT official told Cameroon Concord News.

Publicly, the regime in Yaoundé is blaming the boycott on its so-called strict Covid-19 rules with government regulations allowing 80 per cent  vaccinated supporters. However, Cameroon Concord News understands the Southern Cameroons Crisis and the numerous anti Bamileke statements coming from highly placed Cameroon government officials from the ruling Beti Ewondo tribal extractions are directly responsible for the empty seats.

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé

It ruled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of Friday’s game against Ghana and put the rest of his African Cup in doubt.

Gabon and Arsenal forward It ruled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of Friday’s game against Ghana and put the rest of his African Cup in doubt. He has been diagnosed with heart lesions at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon after contracting the coronavirus, the Gabon Football Federation said.

It ruled Aubameyang out of Friday’s game against Ghana and put the rest of his African Cup in doubt.

The “cardiac lesions” were found in a check by Confederation of African Football medical officials, who examined Aubameyang to ensure he was OK to play again after he returned from a positive virus test, the Gabon federation said in a statement.

Two other Gabon players were also prevented from playing after similar medical checks following their return from positive virus tests.

The Gabon federation said Aubameyang’s diagnosis wasn’t serious but the medical officials “did not want to take any risks,” and CAF’s medical commission ruled Aubameyang was not able to play against Ghana. A lesion is damage or abnormal change to body tissue.

Aubameyang tested positive for the virus at an airport on arrival in Cameroon last week and was put into isolation. He also missed Gabon’s first game, a 1-0 win over Comoros.

The Gabon captain has since tested negative for the virus and was out of isolation two days before the Ghana game and was expected to return to the team.

Gabon forward Axel Meyé and midfielder Mario Lemina were the other two CAF prevented from playing against Ghana after they also had evidence of cardiac lesions, the Gabon federation said. They had also been isolating because of positive virus tests.

The news regarding Aubameyang and his teammates came on the same day it was announced that Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies has been sidelined with evidence of heart muscle inflammation after he contracted the virus.

At the African Cup, Gabon played against Ghana without two other players because of the virus. Defenders Sidney Obissa and Lloyd Palun tested positive on Wednesday in mandatory testing of the squad 48 hours ahead of its game, the latest cases in Gabon’s outbreak.

Gabon coach Patrice Neveu also tested positive on Wednesday but returned a negative test later ahead of the Group C game and was allowed to take his place on the sidelines.

Gabon scored an 88th-minute equalizer to draw with Ghana 1-1 and give itself a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Source: AP

Not many football fans remember Cameroon’s game against Ethiopia, and there are reasons for that. Cameroon’s fine victory was played out in front of vast swathes of empty seats at the 60,000-capacity Olembe Stadium and Gabon’s match against Ghana ended in chaos and resulted in Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh being shown a red card.

In the words of our chief football correspondent “It was as if Ghana recruited the Batcha Boys from Mamfe and some Likomba warriors to help them fight the Gabonese team and coaching staff.”

Earlier, the tournament descended into farce, thanks to an incredibly inefficient performance from the referee in the Group F match between Tunisia and Mali.

And as we write,Tunisia’s protest over their bizarre Africa Cup of Nations defeat to Mali in which the referee blew the final whistle twice before full time was thrown out on Thursday.

Mali were leading Wednesday’s match 1-0 when Zambian official Janny Sikazwe signalled the end of the match after 85 minutes, then again at 89 minutes and 47 seconds — even though three minutes of time added on had been scheduled.

The Tunisians, who had been desperately searching for an equaliser against a Mali side reduced to 10 men, were furious.

When the teams were informed that the match must resume, only Mali complied while Tunisia’s players were already in ice baths, refusing to return to the pitch.

“After examining the protest of Tunisia and all the match officials report, the organising committee decided to dismiss the protest lodged by the Tunisian team….and to homologate the match result as 1-0 in favour of Mali,” said a statement released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF)

So while it is wonderful that Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria are thriving, at least for now, it has come at a price-The poorest Africa Cup of Nations of the modern era.

The expansion to 24 teams has favoured only the football politicians in CAF and has benefited the rich hotel owners.

Every football delegation in Cameroons team has been embarrassed and Samuel Eto’o and his corrupt acolytes in CAF will claim a nation such as Comoros has been given the opportunity to experience the tournament as never before.

With the group stages heading towards a close, the competition is yet to come to life.

By Isong Asu and Rita Akana in Yaounde