Sports

The Argentina and FC Barcelona striker is in Gabon for a 48 hours stay. The current world best player was invited to participate in two events: the laying of the foundation stone of the future modern stadium which will host the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2017 and another sports complex in Port-Gentil, the economic capital and second largest city. Before boarding a flight to the capital of Ogooué-Maritime province, Messi will attend the inauguration of a VIP restaurant in Libreville. 

The cost of the Messi visit has attracted strong criticisms from opposition groups to the President Ali Bongo regime and a cross section of the population that lives below the UN poverty line. The Ali Bongo government has spent almost 2 billion CFA francs to get Lionel Messi appear in Gabon.  The Gabonese government has responded to the scathing attacks stating "This visit of Lionel Messi that honors not only the Gabonese youth as it constitutes a real source of motivation for almost all young people, also positions the Republic of Gabon as a land of football. This is a good way to start our preparation for the CAN 2017, the major sporting event that Gabon has the honor to host on its land".

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Ngwa Bertrand

18.Jul.2015

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Cameroon will soon have its first sports TV channel. News has filtered that Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto'o has accepted to invest in the project. Sources close to the former captain of the Indomitable Lions indicate that the equipment to be used to mount this unit has already arrived at the port of Douala. We have also gathered that the sports channel will broadcast from Douala, the economic capital and will be headed by Yolande Bodiong. 

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Ngwa Bertrand

18.Jul.2015

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Nigeria on Wednesday appointed former international captain Sunday Oliseh as their new coach on a three-year contract. Oliseh said it was an honour to lead the Super Eagles, but warned that he alone was not capable of turning around the country’s footballing fortunes. “It a great honour to be coach of this nation,” he said at a media presentation in Abuja Wednesday. “First of all, I am not coming as a Messiah. I am not coming as a man who can single handedly turn Nigeria into Germany. “I am coming in to do my best and give, if possible, 150 percent all the time.

“The state we are now in in Nigeria I think we are all not happy with. Gone are the days we have individual players who can single handedly win a match for you. But we have the potential and that is our belief and the players must know that it’s an honour to be invited to the national team.” Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), praised Oliseh. “Today is another historic day in the history of Nigeria football. Today we have been able to present the Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich coach) of Africa,” Pinnick remarked. “We know that Sunday Oliseh can deliver. Talking to Sunday Oliseh, we are very excited, about his advancement. On the field we have not been able to have a replacement for him. “As a member of the FIFA technical study group, he is vastly travelled and trained. “I can assure you that we are going to have one of the best coaches Nigeria ever had. “On behalf of the federation we will give him 100 percent support. We will follow all the clauses of this contract.” 

Oliseh, 40, has replaced Stephen Keshi, who was sacked recently for a breach of trust. The midfielder played for several top European clubs including Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam as well as featuring at two World Cups with Nigeria. He also won Olympic gold in 1996 as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994. Oliseh holds a UEFA pro coaching license and is a member of the FIFA technical study group. The immediate tasks for the new Nigeria will be a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away in Tanzania in early September as well as a friendly some days later. “There is no time to waste. The team have important matches to play in the next few weeks and it is imperative that Oliseh starts work immediately,” NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said.

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Ngwa Bertrand

17.Jul.2015

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Alex Song has agreed terms with West Ham to join the club from Barcelona, according to reports. Song, who spend last season on-loan at Upton Park from Barca, was one of the club’s stand out performers.

And despite the sacking of Sam Allardyce, they’ve been desperate to bring him back, and now reports in Spain say it looks set to happen. They claim Song has given West Ham a verbal agreement that he wants to return, and work is now underway on securing his release from Barca.

West Ham expect not to have to pay a fee for the star who is believed to be on a salary worth £120,000-a-week.

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Ngwa Bertrand

15.Jul.2015

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