SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014 SPORTS Cup of Nations to go ahead despite Ebola fears

RABAT: African football’s governing not, in any case, move towards taking a request and that everyone’s working before come to the rescue of the tourna- matches at the ground of their oppo- body CAF insisted yesterday next year’s risk. The principle of precaution must intelligently and in a manner in which ment organisers, replacing cash- nents. Both will be in action Saturday Africa Cup of Nations finals would go prevail.” Organisers CAF, the the festival of African football remains a strapped Kenya in 1996 and strife-torn with Guinea hosting Ghana and Sierra ahead as scheduled despite the hosts Confederation of African Football, later festival,” Faridi said. Libya last year. Leone meeting Cameroon in Yaounde. Morocco demanding it be postponed insisted that there would be no change However, CAF later added that it had Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia are other Were South Africa chosen, they would over the deadly Ebola epidemic. in the scheduling of the tournament. been conscious of the “health risks from countries with the infrastructure and become the first country to host back- Moroccan health officials fear the bien- CAF “confirms that there is no change Ebola virus and it has implemented the expertise to possibly host the competi- to-back Cup of Nations tournaments. nial, 16-nation, three-week African foot- in the schedule of its competition and precautions as required by the World tion at three months’ notice. South African Football Assocation ball showpiece could trigger a spread of events. We would like to note that since Health Organisation”. Ebola has claimed more than 4,000 boss Danny Jordaan told AFP he had the deadly virus. the first edition of the Africa Cup in CAF contradicted Faridi by saying the lives this year, according to the World received a call from CAF president Issa Dubbing Ebola “a major health prob- 1975, this cup has never been delayed or request made by Morocco would be “dis- Health Organisation, with virtually all Hayatou without divulging the details. lem”, an advisor to Moroccan Sports cancelled”, the Cairo-based body said in cussed during the next meeting of CAF’s the victims coming from west African “I will meet the CAF president next Minister Mohammed Ouzzine reiterated a statement. executive committee on November 2 in countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra week in Namibia, where he is attending the country’s reluctance to host the The demand to delay the continent’s Algiers”. Leone. the African women’s championship,” tournament. footballing showcase has been lodged The Algiers meeting will be followed Guinea and Sierra Leone are involved Jordaan said. “The overall interest of Morocco, with CAF. And Faridi, speaking before a day later by a meeting between in the qualifying competition for the South African officials are attending Moroccan and African citizens, counts CAF’s statement, hinted that Morocco’s Moroccan officials and CAF, the govern- 2015 tournament, but have been barred an annual meeting of the national foot- above all,” advisor Hamid Faridi told request would be accepted by the body, ing body said. from playing at home. ball association. Egypt have staged the Atlantic Radio yesterday.”Morocco drew with whom a meeting has been set for Should the tournament be shifted The Guineans, ironically, play home championship a record-equalling four up its request on the basis of very seri- “next week”. from Morocco, South Africa could poten- matches in Moroccan city Casablanca times, Tunisia three times and Algeria ous health recommendations. “We can- “I think CAF was expecting this tially step in to stage it, having twice while the Sierra Leoneans play home once.—AFP Keane hat-trick leads Irish rout of Gibraltar

DUBLIN: scored a hat-trick to strike his 63rd international goal. as the made easy work McClean then saw a shot well-saved by of beating minnows Gibraltar 7-0 in a Euro Perez but the second goal was not long in 2016 qualifier at ’s Lansdowne Road coming, when Keane ran on to Hoolahan’s yesterday. pass to make it 2-0 against a static defence. Victory saw the Republic make it two Keane then scored his third goal in 12 wins from two in Group D although the minutes with a penalty after the hard- contrast between this match and their next pressed Perez tripped Hoolahan. qualifier, away to world champions Unsurprisingly, some of the Republic’s ini- on Tuesday, could scarcely be tial urgency waned at this point, greater. “It was nice to get the early goal in although Perez made a fine fingertip the game,” Republic manager Martin O’Neill save to keep out McGeady’s powerfully- told Sky Sports. “I thought we got a little struck shot and leave the score 3-0 at half- sloppy in the last 20 minutes of the game time. but outside of that I am very, very pleased. But within 60 seconds of the re-start, the “We have not got any serious injuries, just a Irish had their fourth goal, with the 34-year- couple of knocks and bruises, now we can old Keane, now playing for the LA Galaxy, concentrate on Germany.” squaring to Wigan’s McClean, who duly For Gibraltar, European football govern- tapped in. ing body UEFA’s 54th and youngest mem- Gibraltar, struggling to adjust to the ber nation, it was their second straight 7-0 pace of international football, were 5-0 drubbing after they went down by the down in the 51st minute with a goal that same scoreline against in their first summed up their performance. competitive match last month. Keane tried to lob Perez but the keeper Given Keane’s quickfire treble put the got a hand to the ball. Hoolahan’s follow-up Irish 3-0 up inside 18 minutes, against a was blocked by Scott Wiseman but Perez side with just two full-time players, then inadvertently deflected the ball into Gibraltar did relatively well to avoid a dou- his own net. ble-figure defeat. McClean, after more good work by “It is disappointing but we are all learn- Keane, made it 6-0 with a 53rd minute tap- ing and eventually we will get there,” said in. Minutes later it was 7-0 when, after Gibraltar manager Allen Bula. “Look at all McGeady and Keane combined in the the stats of other teams when they joined build-up, Norwich midfielder Hoolahan UEFA, they lost 6-0, 7-0. Everyone has taken strolled past a couple of attempted chal- a beating, and we will learn.” lenges before shooting from close range. Gibraltar, with a population of fewer Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David : Scotland’s Ikechi Anyah (top) is challenged by Georgia’s Solomon Kverkvella during their Euro 2016 Group D qualifying soccer than 30,000 people and just 600 registered Forde had been a virtual spectator for most match at yesterday. —AP footballers, were not expected to offer of the match but he then made an impres- much in the way of resistance but did at sive save to deny Gibraltar a consolation least keep the score to 3-0 before half-time. goal when he turned Roy Chipolina’s pow- However, the floodgates opened after erful header over the crossbar. Scotland see off Georgia the break as James McClean scored twice, Now the only question was whether Gibraltar keeper Jordan Perez put through Ireland-with Keane having been substitut- GLASGOW: A deflected strike “Scotland played better than we played and up the danger. his own net and made it 7-0 ed to make sure he was not injured ahead was enough for Scotland to see off Group D created the chances. I am happy with the second Brown then saw his curling shot whistle just before the hour mark. of the Germany clash-would equal their rivals Georgia 1-0 and pick up their first Euro half but we have to start playing like that from by the post as Scotland went into the break on a It took the Republic just six minutes to record 8-0 victory against Malta in a 1984 2016 qualifying points in Glasgow yesterday. the first minute,” the former Newcastle player high. score their first goal when Hoolahan played European Championship qualifier. But the The home side, buoyed by a good perform- said. Scotland continued to push forward after the in Aiden McGeady behind left-back Joseph fact they did not match that feat was little ance in their narrow 2-1 defeat by world champi- break and, just as it did against Germany, Ikechi Chipolina and his square ball set up Keane consolation for Gibraltar.—AFP ons Germany in their opening fixture, dominat- RASPING LOW SHOT Anya’s pace caused the Georgian defence prob- ed early possession at Ibrox. “We had a good chance in the second half lems with Murtaz Daushvili entering the referee’s However, the Scots could find no way past an but I cannot say we deserved something from book for cruelly halting his surging run. organised Georgian defence until their pressure the game.” Regular Scotland captain Darren Alan Hutton, enjoying a new lease of life at paid off in the 28th minute when Maloney’s Fletcher had found himself on the bench as one Aston Villa after two seasons in the wilderness, well-drilled shot came off defender Akaki of four changes Strachan made from the narrow stampeded forward down the right before find- Khubutia on its way over the line. Scotland defeat to world champions Germany. ing Naismith in the box only to see his former missed a host of second half chances with strik- Scott Brown returned from injury and Rangers teammate aim a weak effort straight at ers Steven Naismith and Steven Fletcher both Fletcher was handed the task of partnering the the keeper. shunning good opportunities to give their side in-form Naismith up front. Naismith sought to make up for his missed some breathing space. A succession of Scottish corners eventually chance moments later as he showed good Irakli Dzaria fired wide on a rare foray forward led to the home side making the breakthrough strength to barge a Georgian defender off the by Georgia and James Morrison saw a late in the 28th minute. Maloney’s corner ping- ball before releasing Fletcher down the insight chance superbly saved by Giorgi Loria as ponged around the box before making its way left channel but the Sunderland striker’s shot Scotland picked up their fifth win in eight back to him at the edge of the box and his rasp- was easily held by Loria. games. ing low shot squirmed under keeper Loria and a Scotland’s striker’s torrid time in front of goal Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, who has deflection off defender Khubutia before continued when Fletcher teed up Naismith for a masterminded his side’s rise up the world rank- trundling over the line. shot with a clever back-heel but the Everton for- ings since taking over, hailed his team’s perform- With the pressure lifted, Scotland began to ward screwed his shot off target. ance. create more opportunities with Naismith next to The hosts were very nearly made to paid for “That was the best hour or 75 minutes we try his luck from the edge of the box but his their wastefulness moments later when substi- have had as a football team since I have been effort took a wicked deflection and went straight tute Dzaria was afforded time and space for a here,” the Scotland boss said. “To make that into the arms of Loria. Strachan’s side should shot inside the Scotland box but the Georgian DUBLIN: Republic of Ireland’s Robbie Keane (right) congratulates teammate Wes many chances is a manager’s dream and I have moved further ahead moments later when fired just wide. This seemed to be the wake-up Hoolahan after scoring against Gibraltar during their Euro 2016 Group D qualifying thought the players were fantastic.” Georgian a neat interchange between Maloney and call Scotland needed and only a brilliant save soccer match yesterday. —AP manager Temur Ketsbaia thought it was a fair Naismith released the striker in the box but the from Loria then denied Morrison Scotland’s sec- result. Georgian keeper was quick off his line to mop ond goal after Fletcher had set him up. —AFP Away triumphs for Algeria, South Africa US draw with Ecuador EAST HARTFORD: The career when his JOHANNESBURG: Algeria moved closer Mesbah adding a second in stoppage played to a 1-1 draw with Ecuador on club Los Angeles Galaxy’s season con- to qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of time. Friday in a friendly football match that cludes is correct. “Mentally and physi- Nations with a 2-0 victory over Malawi in Halliche nodded a corner past goal- served as US icon ’s cally I’m there,” he said. “I’m ready. It’s Blantyre yesterday. keeper McDonald Harawa and Mesbah international farewell. been a long haul.” The ‘Desert Foxes’ set a pattern of away scored with a deflected close-range shot Donovan started the match wear- While the cameo offered a chance wins with South Africa defeating Congo for the top-ranked team in Africa. ing the captain’s armband and played for longtime fans to say goodbye, and Brazzaville 2-0 in Pointe-Noire, Mali beat- Victory before a capacity 30,000 crowd 40 minutes. He started the play that for Donovan to acknowledge their ing Ethiopia 2-0 in Addis Ababa and Togo at Kamuzu Stadium lifted Group B leaders saw Mix Diskerud put the affection, his international career effec- defeating Uganda 1-0 in Kampala. Algeria to nine points from three matches up 1-0 in the fifth minute. Donovan’s tively ended in May when USA manag- Sierra Leone exceeded expectations by after defeating Ethiopia and Mali last cross across the goalmouth was col- er Jurgen Klinsmann left him off the drawing 0-0 with Cameroon in Yaounde month. lected by , who cut a short squad for the World Cup in Brazil. and Mozambique overcame Cape Verde Another win over Malawi in Blida pass to DeAndre Yedlin, who put the Donovan, whose 57 international Islands 2-0 in Maputo in other matches. Wednesday would guarantee the 1990 ball into the path of Norwegian-born goals make him the United States’ all- The matchday 3 qualifiers took place African champions a top-two finish and a Diskerud. time scoring leader, didn’t train with amid a demand from 2015 hosts Morocco place among the 16 finalists. The lead stood up until the 88th the young US team in the build-up to that the January 17-February 8 tourna- Algeria did best of the five African minute, when Enner Valencia grabbed Friday’s match, and Klinsmann contin- ment be postponed over the Ebola epi- qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the equalizer for Ecuador. Donovan ued to sound no more than lukewarm demic. taking eventual champions Germany to came close to scoring in the 25th when asked to assess the player who But the African Football Confederation extra time before suffering a 2-1 loss. minute, as Diskerud’s through ball was had become the face of football in (CAF) reacted Saturday by saying the Malawi attacked for much of the sec- backheeled by Altidore toward America. EAST HARTFORD: Junior Sornoza No. 17 Ecuador battles Mix Diskerud three-week championship will go ahead ond half and came closest to equalising Donovan, whose attempt bounced off “I’m looking at Landon always, and I No 8 of the United States for the ball in the second half during an as scheduled. when captain and midfielder Joseph the inside of the post. But when he wish, in a certain way, he could have international friendly. —AFP More than 4,000 people had died from Kamwendo struck a post. jogged off the pitch in the 40th minute, done a bit more here and a bit more the virus this year, according to the World South Africa made it three wins from 36,000 fans at Rentschler Field were on there,” Klinsmann said. football from December 2012 to ing every day was really weighing on Health Organisation, with virtually all the five visits to Atlantic city Pointe-Noire by their feet, waving their Donovan signs Donovan says he wasn’t aware of March 2013 as a blow to his chances me,” Donovan told ESPN. “I never victims living in west African countries netting twice within four minutes soon and chanting his name. tension in his relationship with of figuring in Klinsmann’s plans. wanted it to be that way. I think a lot Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. after half-time. Bongani Ndulula silenced “It’s been an emotional week,” Klinsmann until he failed to make the Donovan said this week he was of players, a lot of athletes feel that Defenders scored both Algerian goals a 15,000 crowd crammed into the Stade Donovan said. “I’m going to miss this.” final World Cup squad, although pun- suffering from depression when he way at times. I think they’re scared to with Rafik Halliche putting them ahead Municipal by scoring off a bicycle kick on However, the 32-year-old said he had dits like to point at Donovan’s decision opted to take time away. “I was burnt say it because it shows perceived on 10 minutes and substitute Djamel 52 minutes.—AFP no doubt his plans to end his playing to take a four-month sabbatical from out and getting up and going to train- weakness.” —AFP