Elephants march on but Nigeria on brink of exit
4 hours ago
ACCRA (AFP) - The Ivory Coast became the first side to qualify for the African Nations Cup quarter-finals on Friday but fellow heavyweights Nigeria's hopes were left hanging by a thread.
The Elephants from the Ivory Coast brushed aside Benin 4-1, with Didier Drogba getting his first goal of this year's tournament, to go top of Group B and assured of a place in the last eight.
A goalless draw against Mali in the second match in Sekondi left Nigeria with just one point and facing an all-or-nothing date with Benin (0 points) on Monday while at the same time needing Ivory Coast to beat Mali (4).
It was the first scoreless stalemate of the 2008 tournament and it left Nigeria precariously close to their first opening round exit since their disastrous title defence campaign in 1982.
"We're still in the tournament, we'll have to keep going and see what happens," said Nigeria's man-of-the-match, John Mikel Obi.
He added: "I think we played very well but were just a bit unlucky, the goals weren't coming, we've got to work on that."
The run up to Friday's double header at Essipong Stadium was overshadowed by match-fixing claims made by Benin coach Reinhard Fabisch.
The German-born Fabisch said he had been approached last weekend by a man representing an Asian betting syndicate interested in 'buying' Benin's opening game against Mali last Monday.
"He wanted to find out from me if there was any possibility of manipulating the match," the 57-year-old disclosed.
"I told him: 'Look, you have two minutes to leave the hotel or I will call the police'."
The Confederation of African Football has asked the former Kenya and Zimbabwe coach to provide them with the necessary details by Saturday before launching an inquiry.
Benin's game against Ivory Coast on Friday had been widely described as a mismatch given the firepower from the English Premiership and Spanish League at the Ivorians' disposal.
And so it proved with Drogba, Yaya Toure, Abdelkader Keita and Aruna Dindane on target to crush the curiously named Squirrels and further press home the Elephants' tag as one of the tournament favourites.
Sweden-based Razack Omotoyossi scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Benin.
But success for the 1992 champions and 2006 finalists came at a price as Arsenal defender Kolo Toure was stretchered off just before half-time with a suspected groin injury.
Drogba, who had a knee operation last month leading to fears he might miss the biennial tournament, came off after 68 minutes to be replaced by Boubacar Sanogo.
The Chelsea star said: "The game was tough but we made it easier by scoring the first goal."
Fabisch reflected: "The Ivory Coast were simply stronger. They have players who can pounce on the slightest mistake like Drogba."
There have now been 37 goals at this year's competition which compares favourably to the 26 goals at the same stage in 2006 backing up the feeling that this has the makings of a vintage edition of the biennial tournament.
Saturday sees the Cup caravan pitch up at Kumasi with titleholders Egypt out to follow up their impressive Cameroon victory against Sudan, with the Indomitable Lions facing a survival game against Zambia.
At Sudan's team hotel a fight broke out when an Egyptian television crew attempted to interview Sudan players ahead of Saturday's clash.
Fists flew and the police were called with the Egyptian media men saying they planned to file a complaint.
On a day of disputes Zambia's players were reportedly prepared to boycott the game in a row over the 2,000 dollar bonus for their win over Sudan.
Copyright (c) 2008 AFP. All rights reserved.
Football betting: Champions League outright
December 24, 2007 - Richard Aikman
Arsenal fans must have needed to sit down when they were told that their next opponents in the Champions League will be the current holders AC Milan. However, the Rossoneri's bark is greater than their bite this season and it is Liverpool and Celtic supporters who should be crying into their beers after drawing Inter Milan and Barcelona respectively.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told this column only two weeks ago that "most teams will fancy drawing us" and Barca will be delighted at having done so in the last 16. The 2006 winners, who overcame Rangers in the group stages, have been installed as 7/2 favourites and rightly so. Frank Rijkaard's side are returning to their irresistible best and by the spring will almost certainly be leading the Primera Division, while Celtic were made to look very ordinary in their last group game against AC Milan and, figuratively at least, are not in the same league.
Milan's pedigree in the European Cup, meanwhile, is unquestionable. Carlo Ancelotti's side have made it to at least the semi-finals of the competition five times in the last six years and have reached the final on three of those occasions, winning it twice, so the European champions will be confident their track record in this competition will see them through at the expense of Arsenal's youthful squad. Interestingly, though, the bookies disagree and have sided with the current Premiership leaders, who are 12/1 with Paddy Power to the seven-time winners' 14/1.
Manchester United will be relatively satisfied with having drawn perennial French league champions but European underachievers Lyon in the next round and, after cruising through the group stage with five wins and a draw are 11/2 second favourites to win the competition for the third time. Betfred once paid out on customers that backed United to win the Premier league, before Arsenal pipped them to the prize, and they are tempting fate again by offering a massive 33/1 about Alain Perrin's side upsetting Sir Alex's European apple cart.
Talking of which, it'll be another case of how do you like them apples for Rafa Benitez, whose side have the second toughest draw of them all when they take on Serie A pacesetters Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri have the strongest squad in Europe at present and already look untouchable in the Scudetto race after steaming clear in spite of numerous casualties. Unlike Inter, Liverpool do have a nose for this competition and could do a Chelsea on Roberto Mancini's side but the bookies think otherwise having priced them at 14/1. Indeed, 9/1 about Inter constitutes great value and can be fancied to go all the way this year.
With Chelsea having drawn Olympiakos it is no surprise to see the Blues priced as third favourites (7/1) to win in Moscow in May, although the Greeks have been surprisingly effective in this competition and could be the shock winners of the round. The other plum tie of the round pits Real Madrid (11/1) against Roma (33/1), which will be another close-fought affair. Elsewhere, Fenerbahce (200/1) and Sevilla (14/1) have a great chance of reaching the last eight for the first time as do antepost recommendations FC Schalke (66/1) and FC Porto (40/1).
Verdict: 2pts Inter e/w for the Champions League @ 10/1 (Paddy Power)
Already recommended: 2pts FC Schalke e/w for the Champions League @ 66/1
bettingchoice.co.uk
BetUknow launches fantasy football betting community
A new service offers football fans the chance to win prizes for their predictions for UK Premiership, Champions League and Euro 2008 matches. They won't be gambling real money though: the site gives each user a virtual allowance of 1,000 gbp a week to stake on their forecasts, using odds from real-world bookmakers.
You can set up your own fantasy league of friends and family on the site, while an overall monthly winner from the entire site gets 250 gbp of Amazon gift certificates. BetUknow says it plans to add more features in the coming months, including the ability to bet on who'll be the next England manager.
People are already playing on the site, which reckons Newcastle fans are the best predictors, while Blackburn fans are the worst. Anyway, it's a good way to test your betting skills without actually losing your house and possessions, so well worth a look.
(c) 2007 Shiny Media
BetUknow.co.uk Kicks Off Fantasy Prediction Site for UK Football Fans
Predict, challenge and win on new community fans portal
London, UK - 6th December, 2007 - BetUknow today unveiled its fantasy football betting community (www.betuknow.co.uk), where football fans can predict winning teams and correct scores and can win prizes in the form of Amazon UK vouchers by placing fantasy bets on all the fixtures from the Barclaycard Premiership, UEFA Champions League and Euro 2008.
Signing up is simple and free and each person that joins the community receives a weekly allowance of 1000 virtual pounds which is used to place bets on all upcoming games, at the latest odds from leading bookies, including William Hill, BWIN and Ladbrokes.
Member bets, results and performances are tracked and stored on users private pages so that they can monitor their prediction achievements or losses. All members' bets unite to develop community graphs and statistics, building a unique fans community. Members can also invite friends and family and build a private 'Fantasy-League' to share results and determine who's best at predicting match results. It's not all just for fun; there's a fan league table where the member who has gained the most virtual pounds by the end of the month can win 250 gbp worth of Amazon UK Gift Certificates. This December, BetUknow members would win a total of 1000 gbp worth of gifts and one lucky winner will take home a Nintendo Wii.
Zohar Alon, CEO BetUknow said, "The power of mass prediction is far greater than that of a single individual. We wanted to build a site where football fans can record predications and prove to their mates that they can predict results better than them. Additionally, members can track their own performance and discover where they produce good returns and when they should avoid future fantasy and real bets. It brings a lot of fun and excitement to the weekly football fixtures and gives users the thrill of betting on matches cost free."
"Through the intelligent back-office of the site, we're able to tell which team fans are the most successful at making predictions. For instance, despite the team's under achievements on the pitch, Newcastle United can rest assured that its fans are currently sitting pretty at the top of the BetUknow prediction league table with the highest winning average, whereas Blackburn Rovers fans are propping up the table with the worst predictions."
"Over the coming months as we build upon the site, we're going to add regular fan polls, so members can predict more than just the football results, such as who will be the next England manager or will England be granted the opportunity to host the World Cup." concluded Alon.
One member who's already enjoying BetUknow emailed the team and said, "I play a number of different virtual betting games but I must say that yours' is by far the best. It is simple to navigate the site, has clear rules and no 'grey areas' to dispute."
If you think Derby County can overcome the in-form Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday or if you're confident that Chelsea will beat Sunderland, sign-up to BetUknow today for FREE at www.betuknow.co.uk and start challenging your mates on this weekends Premiership matches.
ENDS
About BetUknow
BetUknow is the place where football bettors join to share their knowledge of the Premiership and other continental competitions, such as the Champions League. BetUknow it is a totally free fantasy betting game, with over 1000 British Pounds in real monthly prizes on offer from Amazon UK.
Press Contacts:
Sarah Bedwell/Adam Clatworthy
MUSTARD PR
Tel: + 44 (0) 1628 502601
Email: sarah@mustardpr.com / adam@mustardpr.com
Arsenal's Bubble Will Burst
02/11/2007 08:51
Arsenal are superb. Arsenal are magical. Arsenal are the class of the Premiership at the moment. But can it last?
The signs that Arsenal's youngsters meant business were there in the final fourth of last season, when despite having fallen out of the title race, they produced some memorable football, wowing one and all.
Nothing was more symptomatic of their class than the way Arsene Wenger's second choice players dominated Chelsea in the Carling Cup final, being denied a win very cruelly.
There was always a great chance they would build on that even without Thierry Henry, for they had done without him for much of the season anyway. Yet, few would have expected them to come out of the blocks as strongly as they did.
While Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United misfired, Wenger's young Gunners taught the Premiership how football ought to be played. Unlike at the same time last season, they were also backing it up with results.
The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie, Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky have taken a step forward in terms of maturity.
They have come of age, and the effects are there to be seen. They will no longer be bullied by Bolton or Blackburn. They will no longer fold at Goodison Park. They will have their say against any team in the world, and know no fear.
It is those games that win Premierships, not necessarily the big head to heads. It is all about consistency, and that is something Arsene Wenger's prodigies look ready to deliver.
Or do they?
It is important that this question is asked now, and not as a panicking reaction to a shock defeat - which will come at some time.
As Cristiano Ronaldo declared on Wednesday, this is a marathon and not a sprint, and therein lies the problem. There are still questions over whether Arsenal's squad is good enough to see them through, packed as it may be with eleven more youngsters waiting in the wings.
Cesc Fabregas has not picked up any injuries yet. God forbid the genius is ruled out of six weeks, or worse still, three months. Do they really have an alternative? What about Kolo Toure? Senderos will fill in alongside Gallas, but would you bet your life on him as you might on the Ivorian?
And speaking of Ivorians, I come to what I think could be the one telling factor in their demise: the African Nations Cup. No Gunner can say, hand on heart, that the simultaneous departure of Eboue and Toure is not a worry? What if Gallas or Sagna pick up a knock or a suspension just then? Two soft defeats or draws could be the difference.
The Carling Cup win over Sheffield United was enjoyable, but then again, they are struggling to stay up even in the Championship. There is a tendency to read too much into these results.
Don't get me wrong. Arsenal go into Saturday's big match as slight favourites, and could well put one over Manchester United. In fact, I will be surprised if Fabregas doesn't torment United with his passes. They might even head into Christmas as Premiership leaders.
The big question is: can they head into March as leaders? If they do, do they have the steel to compete in both Europe and England, to compete when it is not about ebullience but sheer guts.
Their seniors, who won the title four seasons ago, had the steel in their side to survive the tough times. Mourinho's two Chelsea sides and Ferguson's winners last season also had plenty of steel about them, as much in their first eleven as their squad.
It is all well and good to have the ebullience and the fearlessness, but do this Arsenal side have the raw guts to come through the rough patches - the guts that the likes of Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell and Freddie Ljungberg brought to the side?
The jury is out!
If you are still shaking your heads in disagreement, as many of you will be, consider this: not one single betting company in the UK is tipping Arsenal over Manchester United for the title. Not one! These fellows are no mugs, and risk millions. There has to be some reason why they are offering 2.36 (and thereabouts) on the Red Devils and 3.65 on the Gunners.
If Wenger's boys do head into March still leading the race, it might just start to change. Until then, it is still a case of a good start blowing expectations out of proportion.
Abhishek Thakur
goal.com
WEST HAM UNITED v SUNDERLAND - ROBBO SAID NO TO LATICS
West Brom hardman Paul Robinson claims he turned down a move to Wigan in the close season, but did not hold talks with Sunderland boss Roy Keane.
A host of Albion players departed The Hawthorns in the summer following their defeat by Derby in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Diomansy Kamara headed to Fulham, Jason Koumas was sold to Wigan, Paul McShane joined Sunderland and Curtis Davies made the short switch across the Midlands to sign for Aston Villa.
Defender Robinson was linked with a move to both the Black Cats and Latics - but was rumoured to have failed a medical at both clubs.
The 28-year-old says that is nonsense - and that he decided to stick with Tony Mowbray's side as the 'time was not right to move on', with his family also settled in the Black Country.
Robinson said: "People don't realise that initially it's not my decision, it's the club's. If the club accepts a fee that's their valuation of me then they give you permission to speak to another club. It's then a player's decision whether he wants to stay or go.
"It was a tough decision because I love it here and my family are settled where we are. At the same time, it was Premiership football. These are the decisions you have to make in life.
"Considering leaving wasn't because I wasn't committed any more. Over the summer my head wasn't right because of all the stories that were coming out and things were said about me that upset me.
"I don't know where the Sunderland story came from but the Wigan one was true, I don't deny that, but again what was written about me was untrue.
"I went for a chat, end of story. My decision was simple - it wasn't the right time for me to move on. It was my decision to stay with Albion and the way the stories were twisted was ridiculous.
"For me to say this now will hopefully put a lot of people right and maybe they will respect me a little bit more for my decision."
The former Watford defender has been a virtual ever-present so far this season, helping the Baggies up to third in the Championship table.
And he insists he is totally committed to winning promotion with Albion, adding in the Birmingham Mail: "My track record proves I've never missed a game and the fans should know that when I play I wear that shirt with pride.
"Some of the things put me on a downer. I had to pick myself up as a person and my family supported me through it. For people to question my commitment just twisted the knife in a little bit more."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Let's hear it for the country boys
Oct 12 2007 South Wales Echo
Boot Room - Behind the headlines with Ian Carbis
PICK a football's bad boys XI and, rightly or wrongly, Craig Bellamy and Joey Barton would likely be included.
If you're looking for anyone to start an argument in an empty room, the two are usually first in the queue.
But this week has shown that their footballing philosophies are wide apart.
If Bellamy skippers Wales in Cyprus tomorrow it will be just nine days after he went to Germany for groin and hernia surgery.
His Munich surgeon, Dr Ulrike Muschaweck is also responsible for Michael Owen's quickfire return to first-team action and she is being kept busy this weekend by operating on former Cardiff City full-back Chris Barker.
She's much in demand, and understandably so.
Almost as remarkable as his recovery is Bellamy's obvious desire to play for his country.
At a time when club football is threatening to leave the international game in the shade, it's great to see the likes of Bellamy and Owen wanting to be part of their national sides.
Contrast their approach with the views of Barton, who, in a snipe at Newcastle colleague Owen, says players "should not get carried away about playing for their country".
And he goes on: "England is on the back-burner for me. I haven't been bought to play for England, I've been bought to play for Newcastle United."
This is the Joey Barton who has made one England appearance as a 78th-minute substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Spain.
At the time, and certainly now, it already seems one cap too many.
Sorry, but he goes on: "I would rather be successful for Newcastle than England. I'm more interested in winning domestic honours."
If that's the case, he may just have joined the wrong club.
Uefa have got it right with their verdicts on the Parkhead fan fiasco.
Celtic have been fined 25,000 gbp, half of it suspended, while Milan golakeeper Dida has been given a two-match ban after falling theatrically when tapped on the chin by a fan who ran on the pitch.
Milan plan to appeal, calling the suspension "illogical", but one match for each step he took in pursuit of the supporter before deciding to fall seems fair.
(c)owned by or licensed to Media Wales Ltd 2007 icWales
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