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CAF, StarTimes in deal to broadcast ongoing CHAN tournament

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ACCRA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Chinese digital television operator StarTimes have signed an agreement by which the media group obtained the broadcasting rights for the ongoing Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, said CAF Communication Director Alexandre Siewe and overseas public relations officer David Courbe in a joint statement Saturday.

CAF Interim President Constant Omari expressed delight with the partnership and said the broadcast of the matches will facilitate access for the largest number of football fans in Africa to images of one of its top competitions.

He said: “We are delighted with this alliance with StarTimes, an internationally recognized group in the field of football broadcasting which enhances one of our most beautiful events and brings together more and more public. Through this new partnership with a key player, we are expanding the audience of Total CHAN to make it an essential destination for football fans in Africa.”

Under the agreement, the operating license issued by CAF grants StarTimes the right to broadcast all 32 matches of the competition in the territories of sub-Saharan Africa from Jan. 16 to Feb.7.The collaboration between CAF and StarTimes is the first of its kind between the two entities, with the ambition of offering African football fans wider access to one of CAF’s most important competition.

The Total CHAN is a tournament designed exclusively for footballers playing in domestic leagues in the continent. A total of 16 teams divided into four groups of four each are participating in this year’s competition.

Ghana begins preparations for U20 tournament in Mauritania

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ACCRA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Ghana’s U20 men’s football national team, the Black Satellites, began preparations Saturday ahead of the 2021 African youth tournament scheduled for Mauritania in February, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) disclosed here.

All 24 players invited by head coach Karim Zito converged at the camping base at the GFA technical center. The team hopes to win the competition for the fourth time when they travel to Mauritania for the tournament which begins on Feb. 14 and ends on March 4.

The competition was supposed to be a qualifying tournament for the FIFA U20 World Cup, but the global showpiece was canceled by the world football governing body due to the outbreak of COVID-19.The Black Satellites beat Burkina Faso 2-1 last month to lift the West African Football Union (WAFU) U20 Zone B cup in Benin.

It was the first time the Black Satellites had won the WAFU title in this category since its inception in 2018 and secured a spot with Burkina Faso to participate in the Total Confederation of African Football (CAF) U20 championship to be held in Mauritania.

Ghana women’s premier league restarts after 10-month break

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ACCRA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — After a 10-month break due to COVID-19, the 2020/2021 Ghana women’s premier league kicked off across the country, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced on Friday.

“It’s an exciting time for stakeholders of women’s football in Ghana as they get set to usher in the new season. The wait is finally over and match venues will get busy beginning from this Saturday,” The football association stated on its official website.

Following the outbreak and spread of the pandemic in the country last year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo placed a ban on all contact sports, including football, and subsequently, the GFA annulled the 2019/2020 women premier league in March last year.

Cameroonian president discusses football development with FIFA president

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Cameroonian President Paul Biya on Friday held discussions on football development with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“Delighted to meet with Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA before the start of the 6th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). We discussed the overall development of football in Cameroon and the world,” Biya said in a tweet after the meeting.

Infantino, who arrived in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde Friday, said he was pleased with the state-of-the-art football facilities in the central African nation.

“The infrastructure in Cameroon has made incredible steps forward. It will be more so next year with the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations,” Infantino told reporters after meeting Biya.

“It is important in the period of economic crisis, of the pandemic to think about the youths, to think about what makes the hearts of the people in Cameroon vibrate, and this is football. Therefore, to invest in football infrastructure is extremely positive,” he added.

The FIFA president will attend the opener of the tournament between Cameroon and Zimbabwe at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Saturday.

FIFA President Infantino arrives in Cameroon for CHAN opener

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ACCRA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde Friday morning ahead of the start of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020 in the country.

Interim Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Constant Omari met Infantino on arrival at the Nsimalem International Airport ahead of Saturday’s start of the tournament for home-based players on the continent.

Omari was accompanied by Cameroon Football Federation President Seydou Mbombo Njoya and Africa football legend Samuel Eto’o as they met Infantino on his first visit to the Central African country.

Infantino is expected to attend Friday’s CAF Executive Committee meeting before witnessing the event to crown Issa Hayatou as the honorary president of CAF.

The FIFA president will be present at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde for the opening CHAN match between Cameroon and Zimbabwe on Saturday.

Morocco to host 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Morocco has been designated the host of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said in a statement Friday evening following an executive committee meeting held in Cameroon’s capital city of Yaounde.

Morocco replaces Congo, who withdrew prematurely as host in 2019 because of the government’s reluctance to stage the continent’s biggest women football championship.

The event was later cancelled due to the threat of COIVD-19 pandemic. CAF had increased the number of participating teams from 8 to 12 prior to the cancellation.

Hosts Egypt beat Chile in handball worlds opener

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CAIRO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Host nation Egypt opened the 2021 International Handball Federation (IHF) Men’s World Championship with a 35-29 win over Chile in the group stage on Wednesday.

The Pharaohs had the upper hand from the very beginning of the match, with at least a three-point lead for the majority of the first half that ended 18-11 in favor of the hosts.

The South American team tried to get back on track in the second half, but failed to reduce the gap and ultimately lost the contest. Egypt’s Zamalek left back Yehia Elderaa, 25, was named man of the match.

The 27th Men’s World Championship was opened earlier in the evening at Cairo International Stadium by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who welcomed the participating teams from 32 countries and regions.

He referred to the event as “the largest sports gathering witnessed by the world today,” stressing that holding such a big event is a message that “the world has become able to coexist with the new situation imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.” Running from January 13 to 31, all games are held without spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It is the first time for Egypt to host the world’s showpiece handball competition in 22 years.

Santos beat Boca Juniors to reach Copa Libertadores final

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SANTOS, Brazil, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Santos set up an all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final against Palmeiras by routing Argentine giants Boca Juniors 3-0 in the second leg of their semifinal here on Wednesday.

The result at Estadio Vila Belmiro in Brazil followed a goalless draw in the first leg at Boca’s La Bombonera last week. Diego Pituca put Santos ahead in the 16th minute with a low first-time finish after Yeferson Soteldo’s long-range effort rebounded into his path off Boca defender Lisandro Lopez.

Soteldo doubled the lead just after halftime by cutting in from the left flank and curling an unstoppable shot into the top left corner.

Former Changchun Yatai striker Marinho set up Lucas Braga for Santos’ third goal, piercing Boca’s defence with a mazy run before pulling back an inviting cross from the right byline.

Boca’s night went from bad to worse when Colombian midfielder Frank Fabra was shown a straight red card for stomping on Marinho in the 56th minute.

Santos are vying for their fourth Libertadores crown while Palmeiras will bid to win South America’s premier club trophy for a second time when the teams meet at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium on January 30.

Palmeiras earned a place in the tournament decider by completing a 3-2 aggregate win over River Plate on Tuesday.

Leverkusen move 4-1 past Frankfurt in German Cup’s 2nd round

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BERLIN, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Ten-men Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to ease past Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 to progress into the round of the last 16 on Tuesday.

The hosts ensured a perfect start on the road as they needed only six minutes to open the scoring after Amin Younes finished off Andre Silva’s square pass from inside the box. The opener was a wake-up call for Leverkusen as Nadiem Amiri came close and tested Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp six minutes later.

At the other end of the pitch, Silva had the chance to double Frankfurt’s lead moments later, but Leverkusen custodian Lukas Hradecky defused the dangerous effort. Both sides continued to trade attacks, but it was a handball penalty that restored parity for Leverkusen as Lucas Alario overcame Trapp from the spot in the 27th minute.

Leverkusen increased the pressure and reaped a promising chance in the dying minutes of the first half when Wendell’s hammer from 23 meters forced Trapp into the action.

After the restart, Frankfurt grabbed a better start into the second half as Aymen Barkok’s deflected shot challenged Hradecky. The goals were scored at the other end of the pitch, though, as Kerem Demirbay’s free-kick into the box allowed Edmond Tapsoba to turn the tide with a header four minutes into the second half.

Leverkusen should have added more goals to its lead, but neither Demirbay nor Moussa Diaby could beat Trapp despite good opportunities.

The “Werkself” eventually took the wind out of Frankfurt’s sails with 67 minutes played as Amiri’s through ball found Diaby, who tapped home to lead 3-1. Peter Bosz’s men had to continue with ten-men from the 73rd minute.

Still, they made it four as Diaby completed a counterattack to seal the deal in the 87th minute.

With the result, Bayer Leverkusen clashes with fourth division outfit Rot-Weiss Essen in the round of the last sixteen on February 2. Meanwhile, the “Eagles” will have to focus on the Bundesliga.

“We did not start very well into the game. We had to fight to gain a foothold into the match, and that is what we did. It was important that we came back today,” Bayer Leverkusen head coach Peter Bosz said.

Barca beat Real Sociedad on penalties in Super Cup semis

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CORDOBA, Spain, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — FC Barcelona keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen was the hero as his side sneaked into the final of the Spanish Super Cup after beating Real Sociedad on penalties on Wednesday night.

With the score 1-1 after 120 minutes, Ter Stegen saved penalties from Jon Bautista and Mikel Oyarzabal and then won the mind game with Willian Jose, who hit his penalty against the post as Barca crept through 3-2.

Without the injured Lionel Messi, Barca lacked cohesion and were lucky to arrive at the shootout at all after Adnan Januzaj’s free-kick bounced off the woodwork late in extra-time.

The first half saw Real Sociedad mix up their game, alternately pressing high up the field and being content to sit deep and use their pace on the break. Alexander Isak twice went close with a header just over the bar and another effort well blocked by Ter Stegen in his side’s best chance of the half, before Barca began to take more control.

Martin Braithwaite did well to control before firing at Alex Remiro before playing a major role in De Jong’s opener.

The striker held the ball up before feeding it to Antoine Griezmann whose cross was well met by the midfielder, who nodded past Remiro in the 39th minute. De Jong then turned from hero to villain when his handball in the 51st minute allowed Oyarzabal to level from the penalty spot and the remaining period of normal time saw few chances.

Both Griezmann and Januzaj went close to winning the game in the extra 30 minutes, but Alex Remiro held firm, while Ter Stegen’s reflexes in the shootout saved Barca. The second semifinal between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao will be played in Malaga on Thursday night. The final will be in Seville on Sunday.

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