TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 SPORTS

AFRICAN NATIONS CUP Ghana, Ivory Coast through as Tunisian row bubbles on

MALABO: Ghana and Ivory Coast took their regular places in the African Nations Cup semi-finals by beating Guinea and Algeria on Sunday as the tournament returned to normal after recent controversy. finally came to life, scoring twice for the Ivory Coast, and a late goal com- pleted a memorable 3-1 win for the Elephants as they reached the last four for the fourth time in six tournaments. Four-times champions Ghana comfort- ably dispatched surprise packages Guinea 3-0 to reach the semi-finals for the fifth time in a row. The Black Stars will face the hosts in on Thursday and the Ivorians, whose only title was in 1992 before the emergence of the so-called golden generation, play Democratic Republic of Congo in Bata tomorrow. Off the pitch, Tunisian Football Federation president Wadie Jary resigned from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in protest at the manner of his team’s exit in a tumul- tuous tie against hosts Equatorial Guinea. Tunisia were dumped out in Saturday’s controversial and thrilling match when the hosts were awarded a contentious stoppage-time penalty to equalise before beating the enraged North Africans 2-1 in extra-time. The game ended with the Tunisians chasing the referee into the tunnel as riot police stepped in. Tunisia’s critics, however, pointed out that they were allowed to get away with brutal tackles and bla- tant time-wasting while leading 1-0. The omens did not seem to be on Ivory Coast’s side when coach Herve Renard was ordered to cover his favorite white shirt early in the game with a pink vest because it clashed with the Algerians’ strip. Renard, who wore MONACO: Lyon’s Nabil Fekir (left) vies with Monaco’s Portuguese defender Ricardo the shirt in all six games when he led Carvalho (right) during the French L1 football match. —AFP unheralded Zambia to the title three years ago, looked less than happy but his mood changed in the 26th minute Monaco frustrate Lyon when Bony headed in ’s cross. Arbi Soudani equalized early in the second half after exposing Ivory as PSG, Marseiile close Coast’s defensive fragility only for Bony to strike again, leaping superbly to PARIS: The title race narrowed on bar. Lyon’s best opportunity in the first half power a Yaya Toure free kick past Rais Sunday after leaders Olympique Lyonnais was Corentin Tolisso’s 30-metre free kick M’Bolhi against the run of play. found no way through Monaco’s steely that was boxed away by Danijel Subasic in Despite several late scares, the defense in a goalless draw in the principali- the 28th. Ivorians clung on to their lead before ty. The result left OL, who were without tal- Monaco defender Andrea Raggi sus- Gervinho added a third in the dying ismanic striker Alexandre Lacazette, with tained a possible knee injury and was sub- moments, scored twice, 49 points from 23 games, two ahead of stituted by Ricardo Carvalho seven minutes the first after three minutes and the Olympique de Marseille and Paris St from the interval. The home side stepped other a delightful curling effort in the Germain-second and third respectively up a gear and Moutinho had a goal disal- second half, and was also after posting 1-0 wins. lowed for offside before they were denied a on target for Ghana as they and Guinea Monaco, who have not conceded a goal penalty after Yannick Ferreira Carrasco had opened the double bill in Malabo. in their last eight league games, are fifth been brought down. Lyon, however, had a “Every game we are better than the on 40 points, behind St Etienne on goal clear chance at the hour when Yoann game before,” said Ghana coach Avram difference after Les Verts lost 1-0 at Caen Gourcuff’s brilliant pass set up Nabil Fekir in Grant. “There were chances, many earlier on Sunday. Lyon had to make do the box, only for the forward’s low shot to chances and we scored beautiful EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Ghana’s Christian Atsu (right) is tackled by Guinea’s Djibril Tamsir Paye during with the absence of Ligue 1 top striker go wide. Monaco, whose last defeat was on goals.”— Reuters their African Cup of Nations quarter final soccer match. —AP Lacazette, who was ruled out for three Nov 29, have conceded only one goal in weeks after sustaining a thigh injury last their last 13 competitive games. Sunday. The hosts conceded possession Champions Paris St Germain stayed in con- Preview but were barely threatened in the first half. tention on Friday with a 1-0 win at home They had the first clear chance in the 17th against Stade Rennais with arch rivals minute when Dimitar Berbatov’s header Marseille also beating Evian Thonon from Fabinho’s cross smashed against the Gaillard 1-0 on Saturday.—Reuters Januzaj hopes for Barcelona accused of tax fraud in Neymar signing Cambridge chance

MADRID: Spanish public prosecutors have the deal, which would see the overall cost MANCHESTER: Manchester United winger Leicester City just his fourth of the campaign er has been impressed by Januzaj’s efforts of late asked for Barcelona and their former presi- of the operation rise to 94.8 million euros. Adnan Januzaj hopes today’s FA Cup fourth- and first since November. “I’ve not been playing and chose instead to keep him at . dent Sandro Rosell to be tried for two Rosell resigned as president over the round replay at home to lowly Cambridge for so long so it was good to get 90 minutes, “He has a lot of talent, but you have to perform charges of tax fraud committed in the sign- affair just over a year ago when a complaint United will help him to prove his worth to man- even if I was really tired in the last 15 minutes that talent in the matches. And also in the train- ing of Brazilian star Neymar. brought by one of the club’s members for ager Louis van Gaal. The 19-year-old Belgium and got cramp,” said Januzaj. “Of course we want ing sessions,” van Gaal told reporters. “I’m not Meanwhile, prosecutors have also asked misappropriation of funds was taken to international was one of the few success stories to win the FA Cup and this is a big chance to win making the line-up. The players themselves are for the investigation of current Barcelona court. during the disastrous reign of van Gaal’s prede- it. We were good going forward against Leicester making the line-up. You don’t believe that, I president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the In his testimony before a judge on the cessor, David Moyes. At the corresponding and could have scored more than three goals, think! “I look at players every day. I observe and I club on an extra tax charge in 2014, which case in July of 2004, Rosell insisted that stage of last , he had made 24 appear- but hopefully we can take this into today night communicate with my players what I want. And could rise to 2.85 million euros. Neymar cost the club 57 million euros, 17 ances and scored three goals, including two in a and win the game.” Van Gaal was more expan- the moment I think, ‘OK, he is now ready to play,’ In a judicial file released on Monday, of which went to his former club Santos 2-1 victory at Sunderland that heralded his sive when discussing the future of Januzaj, who then maybe I can let them play.” prosecutor Jose Perals Calleja suggests that and 40 million paid to N&N, a company arrival on the scene. turns 20 this week. Rosell and Barca declared an inferior fee to owned by the player’s father. But under van Gaal, Januzaj has been It was predicted that the youngster would be Pressure ‘all on United’ that which they paid for Neymar in 2013. However, following Rosell’s resignation, involved in only 14 games to date this season, allowed to leave the club on loan during the The FA Cup is the only competition that The prosecutors believe that Neymar Barcelona also confirmed a number of extra with his start in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over January transfer window, but the United manag- United stand a realistic chance of winning and cost in excess of the 57 million euros ($64.3 agreements including a 10 million euro with Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham million, £42.7 million) declared to the signing bonus for the player and scouting Hotspur among the teams to have fallen by the Spanish tax man. and collaborative agreements between the wayside, the field has opened up.United, embar- They cite the figure at a cost of two clubs taking the total to 86.2 million rassed by a 0-0 draw in the first meeting 82,743,485 euros divided into separate euros. In February of last year, the club between the sides, therefore seem certain to contracts that secured the signing. announced that they had made a voluntary field a strong line-up, with van Gaal claiming he According to the calculations of the payment of 13.5 million euros to the will resist the temptation to hand a debut to Spanish tax authorities, Barcelona owe a Spanish tax authorities regarding the trans- new goalkeeper Victor Valdes. total of 12,148,696 million euros in tax on fer. —AFP Perhaps distracted by the prospect of the trip to Old Trafford, Cambridge’s league form has not matched their efforts in the cup, with Richard Cruyff backs Van Praag Money’s side collecting just one point from their last two League Two games. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Luton Town, which left Cambridge in for FIFA presidency the bottom half of the English fourth tier, provid- ed a wake-up call. The replay will give an oppor- THE HAGUE: Football legend Monday for the FIFA candidacy including tunity for Luke Chadwick to return to has thrown his weight behind fellow Blatter himself, considered to be the the club where he started his career, while Dutchman Michael van Praag in the race favorite. Another candidate is former winger Ryan Donaldson also has some experi- for FIFA’s presidency, saying his friend was Portugal international Luis Figo, who Cruyff ence of the stadium. somebody “you can count on.” described as an “excellent candidate” but Aged 17, Donaldson sat on the bench at Old Writing for popular daily tabloid De one lacking management experience. Trafford for his former club Newcastle United. Telegraaf yesteday, Cruyff said if Van Praag “Therefore it would be good for Figo to “Kevin Keegan was the manager. I never got on, “ever asked for my support, he’s got it.” “I’ve support Van Praag,” this time, Cruyff but it was a fantastic atmosphere,” he recalled. known him for fifty years and we remain writes.Known as the “Flying Dutchman” for “And the pitch seemed huge. Maybe that will good friends. He’s someone you can count his explosive style, Cruyff is considered by suit me if I am in a wide role again. “But no mat- on.” Dutch football chief Van Praag a week many as one of football’s all-time greats. In ter what happens, it will be an incredible night. ago threw his hat in the ring in the bid to his prime he led Ajax to three straight And the pressure is all on them, isn’t it?” The win- dethrone FIFA president Sepp Blatter, say- European Cup triumphs from 1971-1973 ners of the game will visit either Preston North ing he would stand for one term only. and he also led the Netherlands to the End or giant-killers Sheffield United, who fell to Van Praag said he wanted to modernise 1974 World Cup final, winning the Ballon Tottenham in the League Cup semi-finals last football’s world governing body “which has d’Or award as Europe’s best footballer three week. The two third-tier sides meet at Bramall lost all credibility.” The former Ajax chair- times in the process. Lane. In today’s other replay, Premier League man presented backing from the Dutch, As a coach, among others he won the Sunderland visit Fulham, while Liverpool travel Belgian, Swedish, Scottish, Romanian and Champions League with Barcelona in 1992 to second-division Bolton Wanderers on Faroe Islands’ football federations. and shaped the club’s celebrated youth sys- Wednesday with a fifth-round trip to Crystal He is among four candidates announced tem.—AFP Adnan Januzaj Palace up for grabs.— AFP