Drogba out to eliminate Chelsea

Didier Drogba hopes to mark his return to Chelsea with a Galatasaray victory on Tuesday night when he plans to keep his emotions in check. The 36-year-old, whose final act after eight years as a Chelsea player was scoring the decisive penalty in the 2012 European Cup win over Bayern Munich, returns to his old stomping ground with the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg.

The Côte d'Ivoire striker admitted he would feel mixed emotions when he was asked if he would celebrate the winning goal at Stamford Bridge, if he scores it. "With all the respect that I have for this club, for the fans and for the players, I might not celebrate, but if we win I'll be happy," said Drogba, who was speaking at Stamford Bridge.

"I'm really happy to come back and to see some familiar faces. It's a big game. The Champions League is a big competition and it means a lot for my team. I'll find a way to play. It's very difficult to play against Chelsea, but it's not going to be difficult for me to put myself into the competition mode.

"Now I belong to Galatasaray. I need to be professional. Of course there will be emotions. Like the first leg to see my ex-team-mates and also the Chelsea fans in the stadium was special. But then there was the game and the game as you could see was tough, was good, with high intensity. I think it's going to be the same tomorrow."

Prior to the draw in December, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hoped for his side to be reunited with Drogba, who netted 157 goals in 341 appearances before leaving for a spell in Shanghai. Mourinho, who signed Drogba for Chelsea from Marseille in 2004, was given a rousing ovation when he made his return to the Blues dugout in August after a near six-year absence and hopes the Ivorian will experience similar acclaim.

It's very difficult to play against Chelsea, but it's not going to be difficult for me to put myself into the competition mode.

Didier Drogba, Galatsaray striker, on returning to face his old club

It is anticipated he will, after his decisive interventions in Munich left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all Chelsea fans as they became the first London club to lift the European Cup. "To leave Chelsea on a high like I did, if I could do it I would do it again the same way," Drogba added.

"But then I always say that I believe in destiny and if I ever wanted to play again for this team, I think it could've happened a long time ago. As it didn't there's no problem with that. I'm really happy at Galatasaray. I'm focusing on this game tomorrow, because for me it's an important one and I want it to be the best one."

Mourinho returned to Chelsea with Inter Milan en route to winning the 2010 Champions League and Drogba has no qualms with ending the Blues' participation in the 2014 edition. "I have nothing to prove to this club," he added. "Everything I had to prove I think I did it with Chelsea. I come here with another team. I just want to win the game, I just want to qualify. There's nothing personal against Chelsea, there will never be."

Drogba has expressed a desire to remain in football when he calls time on his career. Asked if he would like that to be at Chelsea, after reports surfaced earlier this year that Mourinho had offered him a coaching role, he said: "Of course, but just not now. I still want to play."

Drogba is the main protagonist of a contest which pits Mourinho against his predecessor as Inter boss, the former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. Mancini steered City to the 2012 Premier League title - City's first championship in 44 years - and is relishing his return to England. "I did a really good job with Manchester City," Mancini said. "I'm very happy to play this game, first of all because it's here in London and after because it's Champions League."

A win or a score draw of 2-2 or more would see Galatasaray progress, with Mancini comparing the scenario to the end of Group B, when a 1-0 win over Juventus saw them advance at the Italians' expense. "We did a miracle in the group because it was really diffcult to go through in that group," Mancini added. "Chelsea have a small advantage. I don't know if it will be enough to score one goal. Tomorrow we will see what happens."

The Italian said he would accept Mourinho's offer, made in Istanbul, of a post-match dinner, on one condition. Mancini added: "If we win, sure. And I'll pay.

Favourites stumble out of the gate - CAF CHAMPS LG

Several big-name clubs will have to dig deep if they want to advance to the second round of qualifying in the CAF Champions League. Defending champions Al Ahly, Raja Casablanca, Coton Sport and the sole Nigerian representatives left, Enyimba, slumped to defeats, while Berekum Chelsea managed no better than a draw at home. The 16 winners from the home-and-away ties will advance to the final round of qualifying. The winner of the competition will represent the continent at the FIFA World Club Cup in Morocco at the end of the year.

Game of the week
Nkana FC 2-2 KCC FC
Ugandan champions KCC FC stayed on course to advance to the second round of the Champions League for just the second time in their history after holding Nkana FC to a 2-2 draw in Kitwe, despite being reduced to ten men in the second half. Tony Odur gave the visitors the lead in the first half and Jamal Salim kept the score at 1-0 after saving Ronald Kampamba's penalty – having already saved a spot kick in the preliminary round. The Chipolopolo striker made amends shortly afterwards with an equalising goal from the edge of the box. Shadrack Musonda put Nkana, who are the only Zambian team to have ever made the final of the showpiece event of African club football, into the lead shortly after the restart. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Tom Masiko was sent off for a second bookable offence. However, the Kasasiro Boys snatched a draw late in the game when Brian Majwega scored from the penalty spot.

The surprise
Young Africans 1-0 Al Ahly
As defending champions and winners of the CAF Super Cup Al Ahly were always expected to return to Cairo with a result from their away trip to Tanzania, but the home side had other plans as they took control of the game from the opening minutes. Taifa Stars international Nadir Haroub gave the Yanga, whose last appearance in the second round of the qualifiers dates back to 2007, their just reward with the match-winning goal with eight minutes remaining. It is the first victory the Tanzanian side have achieved in 13 matches against Egyptian opposition in continental competitions.

Other matches
West African pair Berekum Chelsea and Enyimba will have their work cut out for them if they want to prolong their stay in the competition beyond the first round after disappointing results in their home legs. Ghanaian side Berekum were held to a 1-1 draw by Libyan club Al-Ahly Benghazi, while Enyimba slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against Malian club AS Real Bamako, who came from behind to beat the Nigerians through goals by Mohamed Cisse and Amadou Samake.

Liberian club Barrack Young Controllers, who stunned Asante Kotoko in the preliminary round, played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sewe Sport, while AC Leopards seem well on course for the next round as they beat Primeiro de Agosto 4-1. Former champions Esperance, who have appeared in the semi-finals for the last four years, got the better of hosting Gor Mahia in a five-goal thriller, winning 3-2, while another former champion, TP Mazembe were held to a 1-1 draw at Les Astres.

Player of the week
For several seasons, Egyptian club Zamalek have been playing second-fiddle to Cairo city rivals Al Ahly, who won five Champions League titles in the last nine years. Against Angolan champions Kabuscorp the White Knights dominated the game, but could not convert their chances. That was until the 56th minute when veteran defender Mahmoud Fathalla rose above his markers to score with a powerful header from a corner kick to give the home side a 1-0 victory. The result leaves the tie wide open and keep Zamalek's hopes of a sixth Champions League title alive.

The stat
3 – Al Ahly's 1-0 defeat against Young Africans is only the third time since the start of the Champions League that the defending champion lost their opening game. In 1999 ASEC Mimosas lost 1-0 in Gabon against FC 105 Libreville, while in 2010 TP Mazembe lost by the same score against Rwandan club APR. In both cases the champions managed to overturn the result in the next round.

What they said
"I thought at times we played very well. We scored two goals but we took the foot off the accelerator a wee bit in the second half," Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter after his side beat Mozambican club Liga Muculmana 4-0.

Have your say
Can Flambeau de l'Est from Burundi hold on to their 1-0 lead from the first leg to stun Coton Sport and advance to the second round in their first-ever Champions League appearance.

History favours Ahly against Yanga

Record champions and title holders Al Ahly of Egypt enter this weekend’s 2014 Orange CAF Champions League first round second leg match with a tricky mission return.  The Cairo giants lost to Tanzania’s Young Africans 1-0 in Dar Es-Salam last week and they have to score two unanswered goals at the very least if they want to continue their title defending campaign.

But Al Ahly will have to fight to reverse the first leg defeat deprived from one of their strongest weapons, the fans. The game is to be held behind closed doors for security reasons. Ahly however will have another weapon to rely on; history. The Red Devils never lost to a Tanzanian side in CAF interclub competitions at home. In six previous encounters with clubs from Tanzania, Ahly had ousted Young Africans (thrice), Simba, Pemba and Maji Maji with a 100% victory record. Their only other defeat to Tanzanian opposition before last week came against Young Africans’ bitter rivals Simba in the defunct CAF Cups Winners Cup in 1985, when Simba won 2-1 in Dar Es-Salam before Ahly qualified with a 2-0 victory in Cairo.

History on one side, future on the other; that’s what Ahly will be looking for this Sunday. The Reds are undergoing a rebuilding phase after the retirement of superstar duo Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Abu Treika. Captain and veteran defender Wael Gomaa also announced that he will hang his boots at the end of this season. This will leave manager Mohamed Youssef and his technical staff with the tough mission of finding the suitable replacements to lead a new revolution at Ahly.

One of these rising stars is  Amr Gamal. The 22 years old striker made his continental debut last year Champions League group stage game against Congo’s AC Leopards in Dolisie. With the long term injury of teammate Emad Metaeb and out of form El-Sayed Hamdy, Gamal set himself as a first choice striker for manager Youssef this season. Scoring 4 goals in the ongoing domestic season he is currently his team’s top goal scorer. And when manager Youssef gave him the chance in the 2014 Orange CAF Super Cup against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien last month, Gamal was up to the responsibility producing a Man of the Match performance and scoring a brace to help Ahly win the title with a 3-2 victory.

“We had a very tough game in Dar Es-Salam”, Gamal told Cafonline.com before this weekend’s game. “I believe we didn’t deserve to lose. I had a couple of chances and we conceded a late goal. But I believe we will win and qualify this Sunday”.

The young striker was rewarded when he was called up national team duty for the first time ever this week. Newly appointed Pharaohs manager Shawky Ghareeb gave Gamal the chance to join the Egypt national team for midweek friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Austrian capital Vienna. “It’s a great honor for me to defend the national team colors. I hope to be up to the responsibility and seek new grounds with Ahly and the Pharaohs”, he concluded. Ahly entertains Young Africans (nicknamed Yanga) on Sunday 9 March, with the aggregate winner qualifying to the second round. Senegalese referee Badara Diatta will be the match official.

Exit stares at Ahly, Enyimba

Holders Ahly and former Enyimba are in danger of exiting the 2014 Orange CAF Champions League, unless they conjure magical performances in this weekend’s second leg matches of the 1/16^th round.

Whilst Ahly are favoured to overturn a lone goal defeat from the first leg against Young Africans of Tanzania on Sunday, two-time winners Enyimba will be threading a dangerous path in Bamako as guests of AR Real.

The Malians stunned Nigeria’s surviving club in the premier continental club championship, beating them 2-1 in Aba, to end the latter’s eight-year unbeaten spell at home that also put their chances of progress hanging by the slimmest of chances. 

AS Real, the club that served the breeding ground for Mali legend, Salif Keita and losing finalists in the 1966 edition, are responsible for the exit of former winners, AS FAR of Morocco at the preliminary round.

Enyimba must score at least two unanswered goals to go past their hosts, a task that striker Mfon Udon reckons difficult but achievable.

 
“We have to believe we can go to Mali and do the same thing they did in Aba. We are a team that wants to go as far as possible in this competition so we have to go there and prove ourselves," he told the club’s website.

Another former winner on the brink of exit is Raja Athletic Club of Morocco, who need to overturn a lone goal deficit against Horoya of Guinea in Casablanca 

Cameroon champions, Coton Sport also find themselves in a similar dilemma as they host Flambeau de l’EST of Burundi in the northern city of Garoua.

Congolese duo, AS Vita Club and TP Mazembe will be at home to visiting Dynamos (Zimbabwe) and Les Astres (Cameroon) in Kinshasa and Lumbumbashi respectively. Vita pulled a barren draw in the first leg in Harare whilst Mazembe are tipped to scale over Astres, whom they held 1-1 in Douala last week.

Nigeria-born striker Stephen Worgu looks set to make his international debut for new club, Al Hilal against Stade Malien of Mali in Khartoum. The striker, top scorer in the same competition in 2008 with Enyimba (scored 13 goals) was a pale shadow of himself during his four years with Merrikh, and is looking forward to prove he still has something to offer after crossing carpet to their city rivals.

Tunisia’s representatives, CS Sfaxien and Esperance are favoured to complete a double over East African duo, Dedebit (Ethiopia) and Gor Mahia (Kenya) into the next round. Sfaxien won 2-1 in Addis Ababa whilst Esperance returned with a 3-2 victory in Nairobi.

Five-time winners, Zamalek of Egypt face a tough test in Luanda against Angolan champions, Kabuscorp after managing a lone goal win in the first leg. Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’ of the Egyptian side remains upbeat about their chances against Kabuscorp, who have former TP Mazembe captain Tresor Mputu and former Cameroon captain Albert Meyong in their roster.

“We will play to win in Angola. Kabuscorp will be under pressure to score from the start. Our players have the quality to survive,” Mido was quoted to Egyptian press.

AC Leopards of Congo and Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa travel to Luanda and Maputo with a fee each at the next round on the backdrop of huge wins from the first leg. Leopards won 4-1 in Dolisie whilst Chief triumphed 4-0.

 

Fixtures

Friday, 7 March 2014

Kabuscorp (Angola) vs Zamalek (Egypt) (0-1)

 

Saturday, 8 March 2014

AS Real (Mali) vs Enyimba (Nigeria) (2-1)

Esperance (Tunisia) vs Gor Mahia (Kenya) (3-2)

Kampala City Council (Uganda) vs Nkana (Zambia) (2-2)

Raja Club Athletic (Morocco) vs Horoya (Guinea) (0-1)

ASFA Yennenga (Burkina Faso) vs ES Setif (Algeria) (0-5)

Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs AC Leopards (Congo) (1-4)

Liga Muculmana (Mozambique) vs Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) (0-4)

 

Sunday, 9 March 2014

Al-Ahly (Egypt) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (0-1)

Ahli Benghazi (Libya) vs Berekum Chelsea (Ghana) (1-1)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs Astres (Cameroon) (1-1)

Sewe Sport (Cote d’Ivoire) vs BYC (Liberia) (3-3)

CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) vs Dedebit (Ethiopia) (2-1)

Coton Sport (Cameroon) vs Flambeau (Burundi) (0-1)

El Hilal (Sudan) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (0-0)

AS Vita Club (DR Congo) vs Dynamos (Zimbabwe) (0-0)

Getting down to last 16 - CAF CONFEDERATION CUP

The Orange CAF Confederation Cup competition action returns this weekend across the continent with some mouth-watering encounters lined up in first round second leg matches. Cameroonian side Union Douala will travel to Nigeria to face Warri Wolves. Doula carries a 3-2 deficit and will need to turn things round away from home if they are to reach second round. It is the same story with Malian side C.O Bamako who lost 2-0 to visiting Ivorians, ASEC Mimosas and now head to Abidjan looking for a miracle win.

South African side SuperSport United will be in Nairobi at the weekend to play AFC Leopards and the Kenyans 2-0 down from first leg encounter. Matsatsantsa as SuperSport Utd are affectionately known will be hoping the Kenyan Leopards do not claw their way back like they did against Defence FC from Ethiopia in the previous round. AFC Leopards beat Defence 2-0 in Nairobi but the South Africans boasting likes of in-form Senegalese striker Mame Niang might prove to be a different kettle of fish.

Meanwhile reports from Accra say that Orange CAF Confederation Cup debutants Medeama of Ghana intend to take their own food, water to Morocco where they bring a 3-0 first leg win against 2011 competition winners Moghreb Fes.

According to SuperSport.com a Medeama official Ebenezer Aidoo was quoted on a local radio station saying, “We know all the tricks that teams employ to make sure they win. Our plans include taking food and water to Morocco and finding good lodgings in Fes so that our players are comfortable."
MAS Fes has come back from similar loss before and the prospect of doing that again makes it an interesting clash on Saturday in northern Moroccan city for a place in the last 16 in the second-tier African club championship. Malik Akowuah, Kabiru Imoro and Kwame Boahene scored the goals that have left Moghreb needing three unanswered goals at home just to force a penalty shootout.

Ebusua Dwarfs, the other Ghanaian challengers, also have a good chance of advancing in a 10-year-old competition dominated by Tunisian (four titles) and Moroccan (three) clubs. They travel to Angola with a 2-0 lead over Petro Atletico thanks to second-half goals from Beninese David Gomez and Ricky Mensah. However, Petro overcame a similar handicap last month in the preliminaries, defeating Namibians African Stars 3-0 at home with Senegalese Ladji Keita bagging a brace.

A solid away 0-0 draw by Nigerian club side Bayelsa United will be encouraging when Congolese side Kondzo visit. The 2009 semi-finalists Bayelsa United will start out as favorites on home soil. The other Congo Brazzaville club CARA, hold a 1-0 advantage over Tunisians Etoile Sahel in a showdown between two former African champions.



Etoile Sahel (TUN) v CARA (CGO) (0-1)

AFC Leopards (KEN) v SuperSport Utd (RSA) (0-2)

Al-Ahly Shendy (SUD) v AS Kigali (RWA) (0-1)

El-Jadida (MAR) v Gamtel (GAM) (2-0)

Moghreb Fes (MAR) v Medeama (GHA) (0-3)

Zesco Utd (ZAM) v Ferroviario Beira (MOZ) (0-0)

St Michel Utd (SEY) v How Mine (ZIM) (1-5)

Bayelsa Utd (NGR) v Kondzo (CGO) (0-0)

CS Constantine (ALG) v Red Lions (LBR) (1-0)

ASEC (CIV) v CO Bamako (MLI) (2-0)

Ismaily (EGY) v MK Etancheite (COD) (0-0)

Petro Atletico (ANG) v Ebusua Dwarfs (GHA) (0-2)

Wadi Degla (EGY) v AS Douanes (TOG) (1-1)

Djoliba (MLI) v Don Bosco (COD) (1-2)

Warri Wolves (NGR) v Union Douala (CMR) (3-2)

CA Bizertin (TUN) v Desportivo Huila (ANG) (1-0)

Arsenal’s trophy drought is embarrassing, says Sagna

The France international is frustrated at having failed to lift any silverware during his time in north London but says the Gunners have the quality to claim the title this season

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has branded the club's ongoing trophy drought “embarrassing”.

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The Gunners have failed to win any silverware since 2005, and Sagna, who joined from Auxerre in 2007, is therefore yet to lift a trophy during his time in north London.

Arsenal are currently just a point behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League and are still in the FA Cup, and Sagna is hoping for a successful end to the season.

“It would be my first trophy. I've been here for seven years and we haven't won anything so it's a bit embarrassing for the club, the fans and ourselves as well,” he is quoted as saying in the Mirror.

“As a player you want to be successful, show you have quality and when you don't win you always wonder what's happening. But it makes me even more hungry to do it."

Arsenal's last Premier League triumph came back in 2004, but Sagna says he is confident the current side can learn from past mistakes and go on to claim the title this season.

“I know we have the quality to do it. Every day I think about it, every day I come to training and make myself better and hope we can win something," he added.

“It's our ambition is to stay top of the league. We have a quality team to be successful at the end of the season but we must stay focused.

“But we have to learn from what happened in the past, everyone is ready to fight and show how much we want it.”

Was Ozil always a problem waiting to happen for Arsenal?

Scout reports in 2010 spotted problems with the Germany international's mentality and work-rate and persuaded Arsene Wenger not to sign him despite a fine World Cup

When Arsene Wenger was asked about Mesut Ozil’s state of mind ahead of Arsenal's trip to Stoke this weekend, he tried his best to relieve some of the pressure on his club record £42 million signing.

The Gunners boss spoke of the “toughness” of the Premier League and expressed his confidence that Ozil will be able to adapt mentally to the English game and handle the pressure that comes with being the club’s most expensive player.

Behind the scenes, though, there are long-standing concerns.

"I never tell Mesut, 'You have to win us the game’,” Wenger told the world's press. “He shouldn't do that. It's down to the performance of the team. But maybe he feels that a bit in a different way than I do. I just want him to enjoy it and play well.

"It is difficult for him mentally to be confronted with that pressure every three days and in every single competition. But he will adapt. He had a difficult game [against Bayern] because he missed that penalty and it was on his mind. Sometimes, when you are under this kind of pressure, it's good to refresh."

Ozil was left out of the Arsenal squad for last weekend’s home victory over Sunderland but returns to action at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, hardly the most forgiving of grounds for someone who has shown even the slightest of cracks in his state of mind.

Taking Ozil out of the spotlight following his penalty miss against Bayern - at the end of a string of poor performances - was a sharp move by Wenger but also reflected concerns within the Arsenal camp about Ozil’s ability to cope with the strain.

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A club of Arsenal's size and nous should have predicted such problems; in fact they did.

When the north London side scouted Ozil four years ago while the German was at Werder Bremen, the reports suggested that Wenger should stay away because of the playmaker’s mental weakness.

Indeed, despite impressive performances at the 2010 World Cup and an expiring contract which made him available at a reduced price, Wenger opted against signing him due to the information gathered by the club's top-level scouts.

The same reports also cited Ozil’s lack of team ethic and laziness off the ball, which have become evident at times since he joined Arsenal, with the 25-year-old clashing on the pitch with team-mates Per Mertesacker and Matthieu Flamini in recent weeks.

Ozil has frustrated fans and team-mates alike with the lack of intensity in his pressing off the ball, an almost blase attitude towards the ugly side of the game.

While all and sundry hailed Arsenal’s ambition in signing a bona fide star on the final day of the transfer window last summer, some within the club’s structure were already worried that they were signing a man who did not fit in to the club’s ethos.

Arsenal are hoping that Ozil has matured as a player and a person following three years at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world where it is virtually impossible to escape scrutiny.

They also accept that the make-up of the squad does not suit Ozil’s style of play. Injuries to Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey mean there are few runners to take advantage of Ozil’s main skill - his ability to spot and execute a killer pass.

While Wenger took Ozil out of the firing line last week, the manager will not be granting the Germany international any special treatment.

Ozil has played 35 games already this season since joining Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window, and there is already excitement around the club about the potential once he gets a full pre-season under his belt and truly settles.

But will Ozil ever be a true leader, the kind of player to take responsibility and drag Arsenal to trophies?

The evidence so far suggests those scouting reports four years ago were right.

Heartbreak for Gor Mahia in Nairobi, loose 3 - 2 to Esperance

Gor Mahia could not repeat their 1987 heroics over Tunisian giants Esperance as the visitors won the first leg of their Caf Champions League clash 3-2 in Nairobi on Saturday.

The Kenyan champions had a great start to the game and won a penalty in the 13th minute after Chamebine Daquadi was adjudged to have fouled Kevin Omondi in the box though replays showed there was little or no contact.

Dan Sserunkuma stepped forward to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way to claim his second goal of the tournament.

The lead, however, lasted just seven minutes as a misplaced header by Musa Mohamed gifted Ahned Akaichi possession in the Gor Mahia box. The Tunisian’s first shot bounced off Haron Shakava and with the ball falling in his path, he picked the near post with the second shot and beat Jerim Onyango.

The teams went to the break balanced at 1 – 1 and on resumption, Sserunkuma thought he had scored his second on the 47th minute after picking Anthony Akumu’s pass but he was flagged offside and four minutes later the keeper tipped his effort out for a corner.

The Tunisian side built up patiently and a foray forward on 62 minutes left the Gor Mahia defence in shambles as Yannick Ndjeng slotted Harrison Afful’s cross in an unguarded goal for the second goal.

Two minutes later he should have added his second when he rose to meet Jerim’s spilt ball but he headed narrowly over.

Haron Shakava threw Gor Mahia a lifeline in the 77th minute when he rose well to direct Joseph Wanyonyi’s corner home with a free header much to the delight of the crowd.

Sserunkuma should have won it three minutes later when Gor Mahia went on the counter but his attempted curling effort had too much power and went wide.

The home side was made to pay for the wastefulness as Haithan Jouiwi broke free on the left and cut in but his shot bounced off the bar before Afful controlled well to tee him up for the third goal on 89 minutes.

Godfrey Walusimbi had an attempt with a long shot deep in time added on but his drive was punched out for a corner.

The loss leaves Gor Mahia with an uphill task when they head to Tunis in a week’s time as they are required to score twice and not concede in order to make it to the next phase of the competition.

Young Africans upset Al Ahly

The League Champions of Tanzania, Young Africans, have spoilt the party by beating eight time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League tie in Dar es Salaam.

With everyone expecting the Egyptian giants to run havoc, it was the home team's skipper Nadir Haroub who netted the crucial goal in the 82nd minute.

Young Africans played with passion and confidence and fully deserved their winning goal late in the game.

Al Ahly might have recently won the the Africa Super Cup, but the home team knocked the ball around and played with determination, driven forward by their Ugandan stars Emmanuel Okwi, Hamis Kizza and Mrisho Ngasa.

Al Ahly were mostly on the back foot and had to defend in numbers for most of the game, which sets up an exciting return leg in Cairo next weekend.

Watatu Waombewa Uhamisho Wa Kimataifa Wachezaji watatu wanaocheza mpira wa miguu nchini Tanzania wameombewa Hati ya

Wachezaji watatu wanaocheza mpira wa miguu nchini Tanzania wameombewa Hati ya Uhamisho wa Kimataifa (ITC) ili wakacheze katika nchi za Thailand na Ujerumani.

Mchezaji Khamis Mroki Jamal aliyekuwa na timu ya Daraja la Kwanza ya Polisi Dar es Salaam ameombewa ITC na Chama cha Mpira wa Miguu Thailand (FAT) ili akajiunge na Kabinburi ya nchini humo.

Said Ali Nassor aliyekuwa akichezea FC Turkey ya Zanzibar na Samuel Chuonyo wameombewa na ITC na Chama cha Mpira wa Miguu Ujerumani (DFB) kwa ajili ya kujiunga na klabu ya VfB Eichstatt.

Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu Tanzania (TFF) linafanyia kazi maombi hayo na mara taratibu zote zitakapokamilika ikiwemo ridhaa ya klabu zao za hapa Tanzania itatoa ITC hizo.

Boniface Wambura Mgoyo

Ofisa Habari na Mawasiliano

Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu Tanzania (TFF)