Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015
Five big names missing from Cup of Nations
MALABO: When the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations begins this Enyeama headlines the list of star names who will not fea- KWADWO ASAMOAH weekend, some of the biggest names on the continent will ture at this year’s tournament because of defending Part of Ghana sides that have reached the semi- be missing for a variety of reasons. AFP Sport takes a look at champions Nigeria’s surprise failure to qualify. finals of each of the last four tournaments - losing the five stars who will not grace the tournament in Equatorial Enyeama, who was named in the team of the tourna- 2010 final to Egypt - and the quarter-finals at the 2010 Guinea: ment as he helped the Super Eagles win the 2013 Cup of World Cup, left-back Asamoah is one of the biggest- Nations in South Africa, has been playing the best football name injury absentees from this year’s Cup of Nations. DEMBA BA of his club career over the last 18 months with French side The 26-year-old Juventus star underwent knee sur- Senegal coach Alain Giresse surprised many when he Lille. He also featured at his third World Cup last year, help- gery late last year that will keep him out until the did not even include the prolific Ba in his preliminary squad ing Stephen Keshi’s side to the last 16 in Brazil. However, spring. That is a blow for new Ghana coach Avram for the finals. The 29-year-old French-born striker, formerly the 32-year-old could not prevent Nigeria finishing behind Grant, whose side could do with all the help they can of Newcastle United and Chelsea, is the leading scorer for South Africa and Congo Brazzaville in qualifying. get if they are to progress from a group that also con- Besiktas this season, with his 16 goals in 19 games pro- tains Algeria, Senegal and South Africa. pelling them into title contention in Turkey and helping DIDIER DROGBA them into the knockout stage in the Europa League. Possibly the best player to come out of the continent MEHDI BENATIA Giresse has plenty of options in attack, with Ba’s former in a generation, the 36-year-old Drogba announced his Central defender Benatia is one of the highest-pro- Newcastle colleague Papiss Demba Cisse, Mame Biram retirement from international football last summer after file members of the Morocco squad that had been Diouf of Stoke City, Sadio Mane of Southampton and playing a peripheral role in the Ivory Coast’s World Cup looking forward to the prospect of competing as hosts Fenerbahce’s Moussa Sow all included. However, Ba, who campaign. until the country asked for a postponement of the played at the 2012 Cup of Nations could scarcely contain Drogba bowed out after winning more than 100 caps tournament over Ebola fears and were then thrown his anger when he discovered that he had been dropped. for the Elephants, although sadly he will be remembered out by the Confederation of African Football. “I can’t wait to hear his excuses and destroy them one best as part of the country’s golden generation which has The 27-year-old French-born player, who played in by one,” he wrote of Giresse in a Twitter post, before later failed to win a major international trophy. Drogba played Morocco sides that were eliminated at the first hurdle telling Senegalese media that his coach had cited an ankle at, and scored in, each of the last five Cups of Nations. But in 2012 and 2013, will instead have to focus on his club problem for leaving him out. he missed penalties in each of their final defeats to Egypt career. He has so far made just eight Bundesliga in 2006 and Zambia in 2012. Without him, the Elephants appearances since a big-money move from Roma to VINCENT ENYEAMA continue their search for a first Africa Cup of Nations since Bayern Munich late in the transfer window last sum- Arguably the finest goalkeeper Africa has produced, 1992. mer. — AFP Wilkins hopping mad over doping fiasco
MELBOURNE: Jordan coach Ray Wilkins blasted a urine sample on Monday, causing the player to Asian Cup organisers yesterday after a botched throw up and feel dizzy, according to the Jordanian doping test made one of his players sick, potential- FA, a team doctor adding that the test had to be ly ruling him out of the tournament. The Jordanian cancelled. Jordanian FA general secretary Fadi FA has lodged a formal protest to the Asian Zureikat subsequently lodged a protest to the AFC, Football Confederation (AFC) over striker Ahmad citing the “unhealthy procedure” taken in the dop- Hayel’s treatment, claiming he began vomiting ing test. after being forced to drink water to help him give a The AFC insisted that the proper protocol had urine sample after a 1-0 defeat by Iraq earlier this been followed, but a furious Wilkins let rip after week. security staff initially refused to allow him through Wilkins confirmed Hayel will miss today’s game the door. “Today we stood outside for 10 minutes against Palestine in Melbourne, and possibly their because we had no accreditation,” shrugged the final Group D clash with Japan, and accused the former Queens Park Rangers and Fulham manager. AFC of ignoring the well-being of players. “The “The other night my player was struggling. What’s important thing is to put football into perspective,” more important, accreditation or the guy? I’m sure Wilkins told reporters after being prevented from you’ll agree the guy.” CANBERRA: Bahrain’s Faouzi Aaish (C) tries to dodge United Arab Emirates’s Omar entering the stadium because he had left his Zureikat complained that Jordan officials had to Abdulrahman (2nd L), Abdelaziz Sanqour (L) and Hamdan Al Kamali (2nd R) during the Asian accreditation pass at the team hotel. “People are far ferry Hayel back to the team hotel by private car, Cup football match between Bahrain and United Arab Emirates in Canberra yesterday.— AFP more important than a game of football. Ahmad claiming the player left the doping room in a “semi- lost so much fluid the other night, we were very, coma” and suffering from hypothermia. very concerned as to his well-being. “I will not Wilkins added that he had not had any contact UAE score after 14 chance any young man if he has a problem, never- with the AFC since the incident. “I’ve heard nothing so we may lose Ahmad for two games. We’ve lost a whatsoever,” he said. “It’s a big competition and I seconds in Bahrain win very important player.” expect (the organisers) have lots of things to con- Hayel was made to drink “several litres of water” sider. But the most important consideration must CANBERRA: United Arab Emirates striker Ali If Iran, playing later yesterday, avoid defeat as a result of being unable to immediately provide be the well-being of the player.”—AFP Mabkhout scored after 14 seconds in one of the against Qatar then UAE’s progression to the group fastest goals in Asian Cup history yesterday to pro- stages will be confirmed. They enjoyed more of the pel his side towards a 2-1 win over Bahrain. ball in the opening stages, but Bahrain gradually The Group C victory in Canberra marked the came into the match after the shock of conceding first time UAE had won their opening two matches so early and always looked dangerous up front at the tournament and put them on the brink of through Nigerian-born striker Jaycee qualifying for the quarter-finals. Okwunwanne. Omar Abdulrahman clipped a superb ball over The bulldozing targetman-nicknamed the top of Bahrain’s defence and Mabkhout calmly “Ronaldo” in some quarters-blazed just over the controlled it with his right foot before slotting past bar with an audacious overhead kick, before goalkeeper Sayed Abbas with his left. Ahmed Khalil rattled the post from close range at It was Mabkhout’s third goal of the Asian Cup the other end. after a double in UAE’s opening 4-1 win against UAE would rue that miss shortly afterwards Qatar Sunday, making him the tournament’s top when Okwunwanne got his reward for his persist- scorer. Goals have been scored within a minute at ent badgering of the defence, scoring with a head- the competition before, notably China’s Xie Yuxin er at the back post from a corner on 26 minutes. in 1992 and Kuwaiti Fat’hi Kameil in 1976, but The Emiratis almost went into the break a goal Mabkhout’s is one of the quickest on record. up after poacher Mabkhout took the ball around Midfield wizard Abdulrahman, whose idol is Abbas following a mazy run by Abdulrahman, only France great Zinedine Zidane, and close friend for his shot to be cleared off the line. Mabkhout were the standout performers for UAE. The start of the second half was less high- MELBOURNE: Jordan’s football coach Ray Wilkins (C) looks over his players as they train ahead “I’m very close to Mabkhout and I’m delighted he’s octane until Abdulrahman curled an indirect free- of their next match at the AFC Asian Cup in Melbourne yesterday. Jordan plays Palestine in scored three already,” said Abdulrahman. “I will kick a fraction over on 61 minutes after Abbas had their next match today. — AFP work hard to help him score more.” picked up a back-pass.—AFP