Sacked Ghana coach goes to FIFA for fear of life
Dismissed Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic has alerted FIFA after he was told by the Ghana Football Association his safety cannot be guaranteed.
The 45-year-old has attributed the comments to FA vice-president Jordan Anagbla after he was officially sacked on Monday.
The former Partizan Belgrade boss met the Ghana FA together with his lawyer Zoran Andjic.
Fall-outs of the meeting prompted the coach to inform the world's football governing body
"We are shocked, and scared and fearful for our safety and our lives, because vice president [of the GFA], Jordan Anagblah told us that from now on, no one can guarantee security of our client Goran Stevanovic on the territory of Ghana and that anything can happen to him and that they can’t prevent it," a letter signed by Andjic read.
"We [plead with] you urgently to urge the GFA, the Ministry of Police [Interior] and the President of Ghana government, to guarantee the safety of our client Mr. Goran Stevanovic, because these things are against all statutes and regulations of the Fifa."
Stevanovic is supposed to meet the Ghana federation on Wednesday to decide on his compensation package.
He had ten months left on his two-year contract.
Nigeria to play friendly against Brazil
Nigeria will play an international friendly match against Brazil in Abuja, according to reports in the Nigerian media.
Nigeria will play an international friendly match against Brazil in Abuja, according to reports in the Nigerian media.
The Selecao are expected to field a strong team to play against the Super Eagles on a yet to be decided date in September.
Last year, Nigeria hosted Argentina in a friendly at the same venue, going on to triumph 4-1. It necessitated a rematch in Bangladesh where the Albiceleste avenged their loss by winning 3-1.
An unnamed Nigeria Football Federation official told SuperSport that arrangements are being made and that the exact date "is yet to be confirmed but will be made official very soon".
"The friendly is the annual 'Guinness The Match' tournament where the winner will be handed a trophy."
Nigeria hosted Brazil in the game to commemorate the opening of the Abuja
National Stadium in 2003. They lost that friendly encounter 3-0.
Cup of Nations 2013 - qualification February 29
Nigeria held in Rwanda 0-0
Cameroon wins 1-0
Madagascar 0 - 4 Cape Verde
Burundi 0 - 2 Zimbabwe
Ethiopia 0 - 0 Benin
Tanzania 1 - 1 Mozambique
Rwanda 0 - 0 Nigeria
Seychelles 0 - 4 DR Congo
Chad 3 - 2 Malawi
Kenya 2 - 1 Togo
Congo 3 - 1 Uganda
16:00 Sao Tome/Principe ? - ? Sierra Leone
Liberia 1 - 0 Namibia
Gambia 1 - 2 Algeria
Guinea-Bissau 0 - 1 Cameroon
2012 Nations Cup goes to Zambia in dramatic pk
Zambia outlasted Cote d’Ivoire 8-7 in a penalty dramatic shoot-out at the end of a thrilling final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to claim their first-ever continental title on Sunday night.
The teams had been locked at 0-0 at the Stade d'Angondjé in Libreville at the end of a highly entertaining 120 minutes of football in which Ivorian talisman Didier Drogba missed a second half penalty that would have won the game for his side.
And so while Cote d’Ivoire contemplate another finals tournament that ends in bitter disappointment, unlikely heroes Zambia are left to celebrate joyously just kilometres from the scene of their greatest tragedy following the 1993 air crash which killed 18 members of the Chipolopolo national side off the coast of Gabon.
The final was an all-action affair that was surprisingly open as both teams created numerous opportunities and were adventurous in their attacking endeavour.
Zambia might have been ahead inside the first minute when a well-worked corner saw the ball fall to Nathan Sinkala, whose shot was saved by Boubacar Barry in the Ivorian goal.
The Southern African side were dealt a blow on 11 minutes when a tearful Joseph Musonda limped off injured from the left-back position to be replaced by youngster Nyambe Mulenga.
Yaya Toure should have put the Ivorians ahead midway through the first half when a great team move saw Drogba back-heel the ball into his path, but his shot was inches wide with Kennedy Mweene in the Zambian goal beaten.
Emmanuel Mayuka then found himself on acres of space from a corner, but completely missed his kick with no defender in sight and the chance was gone.
A clash of heads left Drogba looking dazed at the start of the second half, but he decided to carry on after being checked over by the medical staff. It is questionable whether that was the right decision though as he did not look the same player after the incident and he fluffed his lines when Cote d’Ivoire were handed the best chance of the game to score. 
Isaac Chansa was adjudged to have fouled Gervinho inside the box, even though replays suggested the contact happened outside the area. But Drogba skied the penalty over the bar, his second miss of the tournament from 12 yards.
The game went into extra-time and it was Zambia who came closest to breaking the deadlock as Felix Katongo powered into the penalty-area and his cross found brother Chris, whose goal-bound shot was knocked onto the post and away to safety by Barry.
Max Gradel had two chances to win it for Cote d’Ivoire after that, but first shot wide and then missed the ball completely with the second effort.
The lottery of penalties would have to decide the winner and after the first 14 were successfully converted, suddenly there was major drama.
First Kolo Toure saw his weak effort saved by Mweene, but Rainford Kalaba, such a hero for Zambia in this tournament, could not win it for them when he kicked his spot-kick over the bar.
But the much maligned Gervinho, who looked unwilling to take a penalty, then put his shot wide of the goal and Stoppila Sunzu was able to make history for Zambia by converting his. 
After finals disappointments in 1974 and 1994, Zambia finally are able to write their name among Africa’s elite.
But for this ‘Golden Generation’ of Cote d’Ivoire, there will perhaps be one last chance in South Africa in just 11 months’ time when the Africa Cup of Nations will be played again. If not, they will look at this as a giant missed opportunity.
MTN
Chansa commends Zambia preparation
Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa said his nation's recent success has had much to do with professional preparation and coaching.
Zambia defeated Ghana 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, and continue to march forward in the continental tournament.
"I think the preparations have gone well and the coach has told us to take every game one at a time," Chansa said, according to Backpage.
"We have also put emphasis on team spirit in training and everything comes very easy."
Zambia have been hailed as one of Africa's most unified teams, displaying team spirit above all other sides.
Captain Christopher Katongo has led his team from the front, while manager Herve Renard has also impressed in their run to the final.
"Our coach has done very well so far and with our goals and spirit with him I can only urge the Football Association of Zambia to renew his contract, especially after reaching and going further than our goal of reaching the semi-finals," Chansa said.
Zambia will face Ivory Coast in Sunday's final.
Zambia v Ivory Coast 2012 Nations Cup Finals
Gervinho puts Ivory Coast into the final
A superb solo goal from Gervinho saw Cote d’Ivoire defeat Mali 1-0 in Libreville on Wednesday night to secure a place in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Arsenal attacker, who had failed to produce his best form at the tournament, netted a magnificent goal just before half time to set up a final between the Elephants and surprise package Zambia, who beat Ghana by the same score line earlier in the evening.
Ivory Coast started the match like a house on fire and almost took the lead in just the sixth minute when Didier Drogba got a glancing header on a Siaka Tiene free kick, but the ball rebounded off the upright.
Ten minutes later Salomon Kalou played a pass inside from the right flank that handed Yaya Toure a sight of goal. The lanky midfielder got a fierce drive away but again the woodwork came to Mali’s rescue.
The Elephants had further chances through Kalou and Didier Drogba, but as the half wore on it was the Eagles of Mali who began to assert themselves in midfield and put some pressure on their opponent’s defence.
Yet Ivory Coast broke the deadlock just before half time through a brilliant individual goal from Gervinho. The Arsenal winger used his searing speed to race free down the left before cutting infield to provide a deft finish just inside the far post with his right foot.
The second half was a tense affair and the quality of football didn’t match up to the first 45 minutes, though both sides managed to create scoring opportunities.
In the end, the Eagles simply didn’t have enough in the tank to come from behind for a second successive game. Their efforts against Gabon in the quarterfinal on Sunday, where they took the game to extra time before winning the penalty shootout, had left them without the energy necessary to haul back the Elephants.
Mali will face Ghana in the third-place playoff on Saturday, while Ivory Coast will take on Zambia in the final on Sunday evening in Libreville.
Semi final match
Zambia 1 - 0 Ghana
Ivory Coast 1 - 0 Mali
Zambia 1-0 Ghana into finals.
Emmanuel Mayuka came off the bench to score a late goal as Zambia shocked Ghana to earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The substitute collected a pass and steered a shot into the bottom corner 12 minutes from the end after Asamoah Gyan missed a first-half penalty.
Gyan's effort was saved when Davies Nkausu fouled Kwadwo Asamoah.
Derek Boateng was sent off late on for Ghana before Prince Tagoe had a goal-bound shot blocked.
Despite the Black Stars' dominance and the penalty miss, Zambia's Chris Katongo had another great opportunity in the first half but fired off-target.
The Chipolopolo have never won the competition but the two-times runners-up have now reached the final of the competition for the first time since 1994.
While for Ghana, who reached the 2010 final and have not won the Cup of Nations for 30 years, it was another crippling blow in similar circumstances to their World Cup exit in 2010.
Back then, the Black Stars fell to a penalty-shoot out defeat in the quarter-final against Uruguay, where Gyan again missed from the spot in normal time.
This time it was Kennedy Mweene who saved, as the striker shot low to the keeper's left after Asamoah was caught by Nkausu following Samuel Inkoom's cross.
Ghana, who were without the injured Emmanuel Agyemang Badu dominated possession in the first period with brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew showing some neat link-up play as they strove to get in behind the Zambian defence.
But Herve Renard's team stood firm, and after Nathan Sinkala tested goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, they could have taken the lead on the break.
Rainford Kalaba cleverly received the ball and slipped in Katongo, but he shot wide from 12 yards with only Kwarasey to beat.
Jordan Ayew missed a sitter when his brother found him before the break and shot from range early in the second half, yet for all their persistence and further efforts by Gyan, Ghana could not pierce the Zambian defence.
With the game in a lull it was a surprise, then, that Gyan was replaced with 15 minutes left, especially as Zambia struck with the second half's only major chance.
And when it finally came it was a goal worthy of winning the match.
Half-time substitute Mayuka was fed by Isaac Chansa, before he held off a Ghanaian challenge and on the half turn fired into the bottom corner and in-off the post.
The Ghana riposte was put off course when Derek Boateng received his second yellow card to reduce the 1982 champions to 10 men.
And although Tagoe was denied in the closing stages, the four-times champions were made to rue another missed opportunity to claim silverware.
By Alistair Magowan BBC Sport
Zambia finish off Sudan 3-0 to make final four
Double from Drogba Ivory Cost into semi 3 - 0 E.Guinea
Quarter-finals set
Saturday February 4, 2012
11:00 ET Zambia 3 - 0 Sudan
2:00 ET Ivory Coast 3 - 0 E.Guinea
Sunday, February 5, 2012
11:00 ET Gabon 1 - 1 Mali(4-5pk)
2:00 ET Ghana 2 - 1 (ET) Tunisia
2012 African Nations Cup Fixtures
Saturday Jan 21, 2012
1:30 ET Equatorial Guinea 1 - 0 Libya Group A Estadio de Bata
4:00 ET Senegal 1 - 2 Zambia Group A Estadio de Bata
Sunday, January 22, 2012
11:00 ET Ivory Coast 1 - 0 Sudan Group B Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
2:00 ET Burkina Faso 1 - 2 Angola Group B Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
Monday, January 23, 2012
11:00 ET Gabon 2 - 0 Niger Group C Stade d'Angondje
2:00 ET Morocco 1 - 2 Tunisia Group C Stade d'Angondje
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
11:00 ET Ghana 1 - Botswana Group D Stade de Franceville
2:00 ET Mali Wednesday, January 25, 2012 11:00 ET Libya 2 - 2 Zambia Group A Estadio de Bata
2:00 ET Equatorial Guinea 2 - 1 Senegal Group A Estadio de Bata
Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:00 ET Sudan 2 - 2 Angola Group B Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
2:00 ET Ivory Coast 2 - 0 Burkina Faso Group B Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
Friday, January 27, 2012 11:00 ET Niger 1 - 2 Tunisia Group C Stade d'Angondje
2:00 ET Gabon 3 - 2 Morocco Group C Stade d'Angondje
Saturday, January 28, 2012 11:00 ET Botswana 1 - 6 Guinea Group D Stade de Franceville
2:00 ET Ghana 2 - 0 Mali Group D Stade de Franceville
Sunday, January 29, 2012 1:00 ET Equatorial Guinea 0 - 1 Zambia Group A Stade d'Angondje
1:00 ET Libya 2 - 1 Senegal Group A Estadio de Bata
Monday, January 30, 2012 1:00 ET Ivory Coast 2 - 0 Angola Group B Stade d'Angondje
1:00 ET Sudan 2 - 1 Burkina Faso Group B Estadio de Bata
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 1:00 ET Gabon 1 - 0 Tunisia Group C Stade de Franceville
1:00 ET Niger 0 - 1 Morocco Group C Stade d'Angondje
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 1:00 ET Botswana 1 - 2 Mali Group D Stade d'Angondje
1:00 ET Ghana 1 - 1 Guinea Group D Stade de Franceville
Saturday, February 4, 2012 Quarter-finals Zambia 3-0 Sudan
Ivory Coast 3-0 E.Guinea
Sunday, February 5, 2012 Gabon 1-1 (4-5 pen) Mali
Ghana 2-1 (et) Tunisia
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 Semi-Finals Ghana 0-1 Zambia
Mali 0-1 Ivory Coast
Saturday, February 11, 2012 2:00 ET Loser Match 61 v Loser Match 62 Third Place .
Sunday, February 12, 2012 2:00 ET Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 Final
World Cup qual. - Africa (2nd leg Qualification) Burundi 2 - 1 Lesotho (2-2 agg)
Madagascar 2 - 1 Equatorial Guinea (2-3 agg)
Tanzania 0 - 1 Chad (2-2 agg)
Kenya 4 - 0 Seychelles (7-0 agg)
Rwanda 3 - 1 Eritrea (4-2 agg)
Congo 1 - 1 Sao Tome and Principe (6-1 agg)
DR Congo 5 - 1 Swaziland (8-2 agg)
Togo 1 - 0 Guinea-Bissau (2-1 agg)
Mozambique 4 - 1 Comoros (5-1 agg)
Namibia 4 - 0 Djibouti (8-0 agg)
World Cup qual. - Africa (Qualification) 18:12 November 11
Comoros 0 - 1 Mozambique
Djibouti 0 - 4 Namibia
Eritrea 1 - 1 Rwanda
Seychelles 0 - 3 Kenya
Swaziland 1 - 3 DR Congo
Chad 1 - 2 Tanzania
Equatorial Guinea 2 - 0 Madagascar
Sao Tome and Principe 0 - 5 Congo
Guinea-Bissau 1 - 1 Togo.
Lesotho 1 - 0 Burundi
Puma reveals new strips for African nations Puma has unveiled the new strips for 10 nations ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Puma sponsor Confederation of African Football (CAF) members Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, South Africa, Algeria, Namibia, Senegal, Togo, Gabon and Burkina Faso, revealing unique new kits on Monday for each nation.
Cameroon, South Africa, Algeria, Namibia and Togo did not qualify for the tournament but will begin using their jerseys in upcoming friendlies.
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan of Al Ain on Monday modelled the Black Stars' new strip in London at a ceremony held at the Design Museum, which was attended by Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Steven Pienaar of South Africa, Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast also modeled the uniforms of their national sides.
Ghana maintains the white shirt as its home jersey and red and yellow for away fixtures.
"We will officially use our new designs in our first match at the 2012 African Nations Cup against Botswana," Nyantakyi told the GFA website.
Nigeria face Rwanda in 2013 Cup of Nations qualifiers The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced the preliminary match-ups for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
With so many big names failing to make it to the 2012 edition, there are some important ties early on in the campaign.
Seven-time champions Egypt will face Central African Republic while Cameroon take on Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria will take on Rwanda, with both teams currently looking for a coach.
The Nations Cup is being switched from even to odd years, meaning there is only one year between the next two events.
The preliminary phase of the qualifiers will start with the countries who fail to qualify for the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January 2012.
Fifteen countries that make it through the preliminary qualifiers will be drawn against fifteen teams from the 2012 tournament.
South Africa qualify automatically as hosts, after taking over from Libya, who will now organize the 2017 competition.
All 16 teams who will compete in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon 2012 get a bye to the final round of qualifiers.
To start with, Seychelles will play Swaziland and Sao Tome will take on Lesotho in double-headed ties for the right to go into the preliminary draw.
Then there are 14 head-to-head ties to determine who goes forward to the final round, where the 16 teams who made it to the 2012 event will join the race for 2013.
The opening rounds of the campaign will take place in early 2012 and the final round of qualifying will happen in September and October next year.
Preliminary round one: Seychelles v Swaziland. Sao Tome v Lesotho.
Preliminary round two: Ethiopia v Benin. Rwanda v Nigeria. Congo Brazzaville v Uganda. Burundi v Zimbabwe. Algeria v The Gambia. Kenya v Togo
Sao Tome/Lesotho v Sierra Leone. Guinea Bissau v Cameroon. Chad v Malawi
Seychelles/Swaziland v DR Congo. Tanzania v Mozambique.
Central African Republic v Egypt
Madagascar v Cape Verde. Liberia v Namibia
Cameroon sack coach Javier Clemente Coton Sport's Lavagne takes over as new Cameroon coach Denis Lavagne has been named as the new coach of Cameroon, replacing Spaniard Javier Clemente.
The Frenchman leaves his post with Cameroonian side Coton Sport to begin his job with the Indomitable Lions with immediate effect.
Clemente lost his job after he failed to lead the Indomitable Lions to January's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Cameroon's campaign to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins next June.
They have been drawn in Group I alongside Libya and the winners of the qualifying games between Swaziland and DR Congo as well as Guinea Bissau against Togo.
Lavagne will be assisted by Martin Ndtougou Mbile from the under-20 team that went to July's World Cup in Colombia and Pierre Mbarga will be the goalkeeping coach.
Cameroon have won the Nations Cup four times so missing January's finals is a major setback for one of Africa's most successful teams.
Guinea´s recruiting method slammed Equatorial Guinea's move to naturalise foreign-born footballers has been slammed by locals in the African nation.
Host of next year's African Cup of Nations, the 155th-ranked country is recruiting players to boost their profile in the sport, but local-born footballers are unhappy with the naturtalisation of foreigners.
The tiny, oil-rich central African nation, which is set to co-host the showpiece with neighbouring Gabon, has succeeded in enrolling more than a dozen foreigners in the Nzalang Nacional line-up, eclipsing indigenous players, whose long-time dream of participating in the continent’s premier football competition fortuitously came to pass when the country grabbed the rights to host the event.
However, this supposed positive revolution has been slammed by some of those born and raised in the country, with a recent outburst coming from team member Juvenal Edjogo-Owono of Spanish Segunda Division side Sabadell, who admitted regret at how the national team was becoming a club-like group of players with different nationalities.
"I prefer playing and losing three to four goals in a national team with all its players originally from the country, than playing in team made up of players coming from different countries," Owono told the BBC World Service Sport.
"You have a goalkeeper coming from Brazil, a striker from Nigeria, a midfielder from Cameroon, it’s no longer a national team but a club side."
Among the players to have joined Equatorial Guinea include Brazil-born Danilo Clementino, Andre and Atila Nelese; Daniel Ekedo and Kelvin Onosiughe of Nigeria; and Luciano Mutasi of Cameroon.
More than a dozen Spanish-born players are also being prepared to play their international football in the former Spanish colony.
