Gyan gets a brace for Rennes

He’s shown class, power to outwit defenders and find the back of the net when the chips are down. His finishing was clinical and charming but his general play and contribution to the attack was even better. The chap is really red hot! Most people should shot themselves in their own knees with their own unconstructive comments about him. Go Gyan!

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan scored a goal in either half as Rennes thrashed Toulouse 4:1 in Ligue 1. The goals took Gyan's haul this season to 12.

The win lifted Rennes to 7th on the table, leapfrogging AS Monaco who drew 0:0 away to bottom-of-the-table team Grenoble.

Gyan scored first on 36 minutes to double Rennes' advantage, before making it three a minute after the restart.

Braaten pulled one back for Toulouse in the 51st minute before Congolese-French player Jires Kembo-Ekoko rounded off the home side's performance with a goal at the death.

Eto'o Clouds Drogba

In a sense Tuesday's Champions League clash between Chelsea and Internazionale at Stamford Bridge was a contest between Africa's best two players, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. In the end only one of the duo was left standing... and standing really tall.

Eto'o proved why he has won titles with every club he has played for from Mallorca to Milan, when on 78 minutes he scored a spectacular winner for the Italian champions.

The Cameroon skipper controlled a sublime long pass from the flying Dutchman Wesley Sneijder, left Branislav Ivanovic for dead, and side footed past Ross Thurnbull to ensure a double victory for Mourinho over his former club.

Eto'o and Drogba, to be fair, had a night beneath their exceptional standards. The Ivorian skipper was no where near his unplayable self, while Eto'o missed a good few chances to put the game to bed early on.

However while Eto'o again reestablished his big game credentials, the ghosts of the past came back to hunt the Blues top scorer who got sent off, following two yellow cards, in yet another crucial game for Chelsea.

For many African fans Eto'o's winner would energise a debate of a different kind. Last week Drogba was controversially voted the 2009 Africa Football of the Year, a decision not a few found curious, believing Eto'o who was an integral part of the all-conquering Barcelona, to be the better choice. I'd imagine the Cameroonian's feat yesterday would have a few CAF officials scratching their heads over their roles in the unpopular decision.

Mourinho would be happy he did the summer swap that saw him get Eto'o plus a cool 48m Euros for his former top striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who headed for Barcelona. At the time the Portuguese said he got the best deal of the summer as his new striker wasn't worth a dime less than Ibrahimovic. He even considered the big game achievements of Eto'o an edge over the Swede who is notorious for disappearing when the heat is on.

Eto'o promised to do all within his famed powers to bring European success to the Nerazzurris and last night, despite having struggled all season to adapt to Inter's style of play he delivered to some degree on his word.

There are still three rounds to go before Eto'o can tie AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf as the only man to be European champion with three different clubs, but if any player in the game today can do it, the Indomitable Lion Samuel Eto'o Fils is that man.

credit: Africaplays

Pacquiao Shows Class!

If Clottey was to win this fight he had to spring out of the cocoon he'd enveloped himself in. He was clearly the bigger man. Clottey was having only sporadic success, enough to go the distance but not with wits to win on the night. Clottey showed decent athleticism and average speed at best but wasn’t at best to neutralize Pacquiao's rapid and powerful punches. Bad game for Clottey, one to keep in the books for Pacquiao!

Fighting on the star, Manny Pacquiao showed once again why he is the star.

With the biggest fight crowd in the U.S. in 17 years cheering him on at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao dominated a strangely passive Joshua Clottey from the opening bell Saturday night to retain his welterweight title and cement his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

The fight wasn't close, and it was never in doubt. It was so one-sided that those in the cheap seats among the crowd of 50,994 could tell without even looking at the giant video screens over the ring that Pacquiao was in total command.

One ringside judge gave Pacquiao every round, while the two others gave him all but one. The Associated Press scored it a shutout for the Filipino sensation.

It wasn't as flashy as his knockout of Ricky Hatton or as savage as the beating he gave Oscar De La Hoya, but there was no doubt Pacquiao was in command the entire way against a fighter who kept his gloves up high in front of his face and chose to engage him only in spurts. Clottey's strategy worked to keep him upright, but he was never competitive in the biggest fight of his career.

"He's a very tough opponent," Pacquiao said. "He was looking for a big shot."

Pacquiao was supposed to have been fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. instead of Clottey, but the megafight fell apart over a dispute over blood testing. He took out any frustrations over losing the biggest fight of his career by beating up Clottey on the biggest stage of his career.

"I want that fight, the world wants that fight, but it's up to him," Pacquiao said.

The tone of the fight was set early, with Pacquiao advancing against his taller opponent and throwing punches with both hands from all angles. It was the same style that gave him spectacular wins in his last three fights and, though Clottey was clearly the bigger fighter, he fought back only sparingly.

Clottey seemed content to hold his hands in a peek-a-boo style through much of the early rounds, trying to pick off Pacquiao's punches and perhaps rally late. But he gave away round after round, despite landing some clean punches on the rare occasions when he would throw a combination.

"Everything's working now," trainer Freddie Roach told Pacquiao after the third round. "It's easy."

Drogba Is Africa's Best

Larceny and thievery at its best by Issa Hayatou and his cohorts! So how did CAF and its subpar affiliates arrive at Drogba? I think this is a frightful decision in its almost absurd term. I don't get this decision in the least. Drogba finished the year well, yes, but no way can his season measure up to Eto'o's. Eto'o scored about 30 goals (jan -dec) last year (including 10 for Inter Milan) Drogba did not score more than 25 goals for Chelsea (including his 19 goals by December) Eto'o won three big trophies with Barcelona and was a key player in all of them, Drogba only won the FA Cup. Both led their teams to the World Cup so no advantages there - Both were also involved in charity work in their home countries, so whats the criteria here. Get a grip, CAF!

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba has been named the 2009 African Footballer of the Year, his second in the history of the awards at a ceremony in Accra on Thursday night.

The Chelsea ace put up a heart of the sleeves inspiration through perspiration to secure a second successive Fifa World Cup qualification berth with the Elephants.

The 32-year-old was instrumental in the Blues progress to the semi-finals of last season's Uefa Champions League.

Drogba beat competition from club mate Michael Essien and Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'O Fils.

He was also crowned the 2006 African Footballer of the Year.

AC Milan's Ghana international Dominic Adiyiah was named the Young Player of the Year. The 19-year-old beat competition from South Africa's Eramus Kermit and Sani Emmanuel of Nigeria. Adiyiah won the Top scorer and Most Valuable Player Awards at the 2009 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. His 8 goals helped Ghana to become the first African country to lift the prestigious World Youth trophy.

Adiyiah's coach at the tournament, Sellas Tetteh, was adjudged best coach under the year in review. Tetteh emulates his mentor Cecil Jones Attuquafio who won it in 2000.



2009 Glo-Caf Awards:

African Player on the continent-Tresor Mputu Mabi.

Young Player of the Year-Dominic Adiyiah

Coach of the Year-Sellas Tetteh

Supporters Club of the Year-South Africa Supporters Club.

Club of the Year-TP Mazembe

National Team of the Year-Algeria

Fair Play Award-Al Hilal (Sudan) Supporters

Platinum Award-Ghana President John Evans Atta Mills

Is Ghana's striking savour in Ghana?

Asamoah Gyan used to be the man with the assault rifle, but the 24-year old seems to have finished his bullets in Ghana's impressive run to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. His partner Matthew Amoah's sporadic fire for NAC Breda in the Eredivisie has all, but ceased, after just one strike post-Angola. Another striker of worth Prince Tagoe is back for Hoffenheim, after his problems with the club. He is looking distinctly sharp, but is still not a serial scorer in the mold of World Cup dangerman yet. The new strikers brigade led by Dominic Adiyiah and Randford Osei are still in the trenches, with little expected from them for a while to come, it seems.

I have been keen on developments in Ghanaian football for a while now and so have known what everyone else knows... that Ghana has a striking deficiency. Being an avid follower of African players in Europe I am amazed at how little is heard of the Black Stars marksmen there every weekend.


On Sunday Samuel Yeboah did find the target for his club Racing Genk, but for most I guess the question would more likely be "Samuel who?"

However a certain Eric Bekoe has been firing on all cylinders for his club Petrojet, and tops the goalscorers chart of arguably Africa's finest league with 13 goals this season.

Yet Eric Bekoe, 24 or 21, depending on which account you read, has not made the Black Stars squad since the preliminary stages of the World Cup qualifiers.

The former Asante Kotoko man, who counts been top scorer in the CAF Confederations Cup as one of his personal achievements, is technically sound, has good pace, dribbling skills and strength.

Importantly, he has been a sharp shooter all season.

As Milovan Rajevac searches for the missing link in his squad, I can't help but ask why this prolific scorer from a league that has mainly produced the champions of Africa over the last three Nations Cups, is not getting a look into the Black Stars squad.

Ghanaians are asking too, but the opinions are split on whether the Petrojet man should be in the team or not. However Bekoe himself is philosophical about his plight.

"I don't feel sad because I was not called even though a lot of people think I deserve a chance with this team for the Nations Cup," he told Ghanasoccernet late last year.

"We should rather pray for the team for them to succeed because when they do, we all will be proud as Ghanaians whether you are part of it or not.

"I am not perturbed at all with what has happen, I guess the coach knows why he didn't call me, we live to see tomorrow."

Amen to that I say, because brilliant I as I think Miliovan Rajevac is, he has me worried about his ideas for Ghana's attack.

If the men in Europe have lost their balls, maybe the men in Africa might have an answer.

Kenneth Ezaga

Muntari's anger normal - Inter Director

This chap's never far from trouble, is he? Wholesome fact is, Muntari should consider leaving Inter. The pressure is enormous and the fans are very demanding at a time when Sulley isn’t with a pack of fine performances. He is a good player but his outings on the pitch have been abysmal this term. He is not playing regularly and looks like losing out his place in the team to Mariga.


Internazionale director Marco Branca played down the anger shown by Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari following his substitution in the Nerazzurris 0:0 home-draw with Genoa on Sunday.


Muntari stormed down the tunnel when he was subbed on 58 minutes batting away an attempt for a handshake by a club official.


"I think he was angry, just like anyone who comes off. It's a question of attachment to the shirt. Sulley is an excellent lad and he said sorry in the changing room." the club's official website, inter.it, quotes Branca as saying.

Inter Milan remain four points clear at the top of the table, missing a vital opportunity to stretch their lead, after closest rival AC Milan drew on Saturday.

Essien Suffers Inury Setback

The "Matador" had shown bottle, fight and spirit even in adversity up until this time where this piece of news feels like chalk for lunch. He has a strong character and an eye to play through the pain barrier and so it would only be encouring to see him do that again. Wish him speedy recovery.

Michael Essien has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation process from injury and will now spend more time on the sidelines before returning to action.

Chelsea has hoped Essien will return in time for their Uefa Champions League second leg tie against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan but that won't happen now after he suffered a setback.

He will now miss the six week recovery deadline after the knee ligament injury he picked up in training at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola at training with Ghana.

Chelsea's assistant manager Ray Wilkins said: “Michael Essien is doing well, there has been a slight complication which means it needs a couple of weeks longer but he's out [in France] with Ashley [Cole] now and they're both doing extremely well, so from that point of view we're delighted with their recovery.

“It's difficult to give a timescale but hopefully he'll be fit as soon as possible because when we lose players of that quality it is damning on any side.”

The midfielder himself admits the wait on the sidelines has been painful but says he has no option but to be patient and let the medical team do their work.

"I will be back as soon as I can. I hate being on the sidelines but at the same time I need to be patient and heal properly. Once the medical team give me the all clear you will see me doing my thing on the pitch," he said.

Which Way Ghana?

When Cote d'Ivoire imploded in Angola, Africa turned its beam from the team considered the continent's strongest, to the exciting young Ghanaians, who against the odds, made the competition's final. It was a second string team populated by about a dozen Nations Cup debutants, many in their teens and early 20s and a few experienced hands. Popular wisdom held at the time that the Black Stars had to be the African team to beat at the World Cup, when the injured stars showed up fit.

Post-Angola, an upbeat Rajevac, declared he was hoping to have the big guns back in his team to mount a strong World Cup challenge.

The chances of that happening are becoming increasingly remote as old injuries persist, and new names join the list. It appears coach Milovan Rajevac must do the Houdini once more in South Africa.

Team stalwarts John Mensah, John Paintsil, Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien are still injured, and save for the Chelsea man, the others are unlikely to make the World Cup.

John Mensah has had a recurring back problem that has dogged his season and made it virtually impossible to have a good run of games at his club Sunderland. He has even been unable to handle the rigorous exercise routines of his team-mates.

Fulham defender John Paintsil's season, may be over already following injury sustained in December, in Fulham's away loss to Chelsea. The word out there is that his season is over and his appearance at the Mundial highly unlikely, but Paintsil has vowed to fight on.

Stephen Appiah appears the least likely to recover having been on the sidelines for over two-years. The 29-year old isclose to a comeback we hear, but it is hard to see his aging body cope with the demands of best-class football.

Michael Essien has had his bouts with injury in recent months, and has not played a competitive game for Chelsea since early December. The frequency and length of his problems must be a source of worry for Ghana fans.

My worry is that Ghana may be caught between the hope for fully fit squad of top players, that may not materialise, and a fallback position of a mentally unprepared young team.

Time and timing are of the essence here, and the Stars and Milo don't have much latitude. Ghana must take a decision quickly if it wants to have an Angola-type World Cup.

The manager and administrators must decide whether to focus on the youngsters and mentally prepare them for the challenge ahead or risk waiting on a team that may never be.

Injury to Opoku Agyemang, 20, who lit up wings for Ghana in Angola, and his subsequent unavailability for the World Cup adds to the need for a clear strategic plank to go to war in June.

Personally I think Ghana's team to South Africa should more or less be Ghana's team to Angola.

That team's only weakness was its attack, and that's where Milo's focus should be. I think Ghanaians should look beyond Mensah, Paintsil and Appiah, and concentrate on making the team to Angola more competitive.


That way Adiyiah and Ransford Osei would have been in Sarajevo growing towards the World Cup. It does not mean changes can't be made along the way, it just means the youngsters get more time to visualise themselves as the gladiators needed for the World Cup.

It's a difficult turn to take, but it is better than being indecisive and immobile. Afterall you can't change the course of a stationary car.

credit: Kenneth Ezaga

Adiyiah Scores Twice For AC Milan

Ghana's international youngster Dominic Adiyiah took a step closer to AC Milan first team action when he netted a brace for the Rossoneri in a training match against Berretti on Wednesday at the club's Milanello training ground.

Pippo Inzaghi scored four goals as Milan won the game 6:0. The 20-year old Adiyiah joined other Milan stars including Ronaldinho Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Flamini and Inzaghi in a match involving players who were off international duty.

Adiyiah officially joined Milan in January, and is yet to get any competitive action.

While he was on the winning side in Milan, his Black Stars team-mates were on the losing side in Sarajevo following a 2:1 loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Wednesday's international friendly.

FIFA Rankings: Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt Slide

African teams took a beating in the latest FIFA ranking released by FIFA today. Seven-time African champions Egypt dropped seven points out of the top 10 to 17th position. However the Pharaohs remain Africa's top team.

The slides followed the devaluation of last years results.

Nigeria fell from second to third in Africa behind the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Nigeria dropped six points to move from 15th to 21st place in the global order, while Cameroon remained at 20 position.

Cote d'Ivoire maintained its 22nd position in the world, but Ghana fell one spot to move to 28th on the global table.



Top Ten in Africa
[World, Africa]

(17) - 1. Egypt

(20) - 2. Cameroon

(21) - 3. Nigeria

(22) - 4. Cote d'Ivoire

(28) - 5. Ghana

(32) - 6. Algeria

(43) - 7. Gabon

(51) - 8. Burkina Faso

(54) - 9. Mali

(55) - 10. Tunisia

100 days to South Africa 2010

The journey to the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been one long road filled with great expectations, heart-rending disappointments, and unprecedented joy not only for those people involved in bidding for the football tournament, but for Africans at large. Johannesburg residents took a break from their busy schedules, donned their Bafana Bafana jerseys and kicked back with the rest of the country on Tuesday to celebrate the 100 days countdown to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

BuaNews spoke to some of the South Africans who gathered at the 100 days countdown celebration on Maude Street, Sandton, on Tuesday.

Thami Makhaya, wearing his Bafana jersey and sporting a vuvuzela, spoke of the long road to 2010, beginning with the country winning the bid in 2004 to host the World Cup.

"This World Cup will unite this country," Makhaya said. "I think once people realise just how big this event is, they will look beyond the differences and unite as South Africans to show the world what we can offer as a nation.

"We have travelled a long journey as a country, and this is an opportunity to take yet another step forward."

The Khan family of four, who where dressed up for the occasion, said they came to Maude Street to support their country.

"It is important for us be part of this historic occasion ... All of Africa is supporting South Africa," said Suraya Khan. "The World Cup is already a success, because it has shown that Africa is capable."

2010 will undoubtedly go down in the history books as one of the country's most memorable moments, she said.

For Josef Mkhabinde, the World Cup is about the legacy it will leave behind. "It's what Africa has been dreaming about ... I approach the tournament with confidence. Our stadiums are ready, our transport and security plans have been fine-tuned.

"I can assure you we will not disappoint," Mkhabinde said, "because we are a loving nation."

The world will descend on South African shores on 11 June – more than six years after the country was chosen as hosts – to witness the world's greatest sporting event being held on African soil for the first time.

Credit: Beau News