Final Stadium

NEO-NAZI soccer thugs in Germany are plotting to ambush Chelsea fans at the Champions League Final. Intelligence teams have uncovered evidence that hooligan followers of Bayern Munich are planning to attack Blues supporters at Saturday’s match.

Security experts fear 400 British and German thugs are gearing up for a battle in Munich — where all police leave has been cancelled.

A hard core of skinhead thugs in Bayern’s “Schickeria” — “Smart Set” — want to test themselves against Chelsea’s notorious “Headhunters”. The German gang model themselves on English terrace yobs of the ’70s.

All are banned from the final’s venue, the Allianz Stadium.

But the thugs have formed terrorist-style “cells” and German police and British anti-hooligan units are monitoring plots to ambush Blues fans at bars, stations and motorway services.

Around 30,000 Chelsea fans, many without tickets, are flocking to Munich to cheer on Ashley Cole and co at the biggest game in the club’s history.

British cops say 80 known thugs have had their passports seized, but 150 “problem fans” are travelling.

Munich police said: “We are prepared for all eventualities.”

Source: thesun.co.uk

Appiah traveled to Dubai last week to meet with the Al Ain striker with the sole aim of having the 26-year-old come out of temporary retirement for the games against Lesotho and Zambia.

The conspicuous absence of the on-loan Sunderland ace from the latest provisional Black Stars squad released on Wednesday however proved Appiah’s bid was unsuccessful.

It remains to be seen when indeed Gyan will return to the national team with findings of the visit of the Black Stars coach yet to be made public.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Robert Dabuo (Wa All Stars), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Cheslea), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China), Daniel Addo (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Rashid Sumaila (Dwarfs), Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese , Italy), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Richard Mpong (Medema) Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ishamel Yartey, (Servette, Switzerland), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Emmanuel Baffour (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea).

The 30-man squad will be pruned down before the team departs to Kumasi on 27th May ahead of the match against Lesotho on 1st June, 2012.

The result means that the Reds are still capable of over hauling seventh-placed rivals Everton on the final day but Roberto Di Matteo’s side will finish sixth no matter what.

Luis Suarez conjured the opener with a mazy run before playing it off Michael Essien for an own goal, but it was John Terry at fault shortly after when his slip allowed Jordan Henderson through for a second.

Daniel Agger headed home from a corner and only Stewart Downing’s limp penalty miss just before the break prevented a 4-0 half-time advantage.

A sloppy Ramires goal after the break restored some Chelsea hope but Jonjo Shelvey ruthlessly punished Ross Turnbull’s error on the hour with a strike that broke the visitors’ resistance.

Both teams fielded understandably weaker sides than those which contested the cup final. Liverpool made four changes, with captain Steven Gerrard the headline absentee through a minor back injury and the likes of Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll recalled.

Chelsea, meanwhile, brought in Fernando Torres up front as one of eight alterations to Saturday’s XI, the striker making a long-awaited return to Anfield. Turnbull deputised in goal with Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Ashley Cole among those on the bench.

After hearty boos for Torres, Liverpool forged the first chance; Suarez nutmegging Terry and running into space, but the Uruguayan’s shot was comfortably wide.

Carroll took his turn next, looking to produce the spectacular after a quarter of an hour, attempting a delicate chip from outside the area that swooped slightly off-target.

Chelsea came back moments later, though, with poor marking from a corner allowing Branislav Ivanovic an opportunity to head at goal, the Serb nodding Florent Malouda’s delivery against the bar.

The Reds, however, were the ones to break the deadlock. Though called an own goal against Essien, it was Suarez’s handiwork, the attacker gliding down to the right-hand byeline and weaving through two men before playing it off the Ghanaian and into the net.

Already having been twice outfoxed embarrassingly by Suarez, Terry’s evening got even worse five minutes later when he slipped comically at a crucial moment, allowing Henderson to seize a through-ball, advance into acres of space, and slot calmly home.

With the Blues looking totally absent, the misery kept coming. Liverpool earned a corner and Carroll evaded Terry, nodding across the box to the waiting Agger, who made no mistake as a rout loomed.

The Blues captain continued his malaise and was lucky not to be further punished when he unwittingly passed to Carroll in space, but the striker’s shot was saved by Turnbull.

A moment later Chelsea had a rare chance to break and hit the woodwork again. Torres darted into the area before unleashing a heavy effort that smashed against the bar.

Liverpool, though, continued to dominate, with Downing encouraged to try for his first league goal in some style, getting his foot underneath the ball to thump it at goal. The winger’s spectacular strike deserved better than coming back off the bar.

He certainly seemed more confident from over 30 yards than from 12. Chelsea’s catastrophe rolled on as Ivanovic inexplicably took aim and dug into Carroll with an elbow in the area, at the cost of a booking and a penalty, but Downing stepped up and limply rolled it against the post as half-time arrived.

Despite their submissive first half, Chelsea got one back within five minutes of the restart, Ramires’ touch off his groin enough to force Malouda’s free-kick past a flailing Pepe Reina.

Their 15-minute revival was quashed, though, when the ball came to Shelvey on the edge of the area. As Turnbull mishit a clearance into his path and raced vainly back towards his net, the youngster blasted the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach to restore the three-goal cushion.

The hosts were taking their foot off the pedal slightly and there was an opening for substitute Romelu Lukaku with 20 minutes left. The youngster rose in the six-yard box to apply a simple header to a dinked cross but Reina recovered impressively to deny him at point-blank range.

At the other end Carroll had two quick chances but shinned the first when precise reactions were needed and thumped an effort that was neither a cross nor a shot out of play moments later.

With the game clearly beyond Chelsea, disputes began to crop up over niggling fouls rather than concerted attacks from either side, Essien unhelpfully curling a rare free-kick high and wide as full-time approached.

There was time left for both Suarez and Agger to respectively sidefoot and head 90th-minute chances wide – and also for Maxi to come off with what looked a gesture of farewell to the home crowd, who gleefully lapped up a fine performance to close 2011-12 at Anfield.

Emmanuel Baffour

Over the last decade, Ghana have proven themselves to be one of the most balanced and promising teams in Africa.

One sore point has been in the striker position, where Asamoah Gyan has had glorious highs but also some painful lows.

But despite the 27-year-old’s famous struggles from the penalty spot – at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year – Ghanaian supporters are on pins and needles when the live-wire forward is not in the team.

And as Ghana head into a vital period that sees qualifying for Brazil 2014 as well as next year’s Cup of Nations begin in earnest, it’s a situation Black Stars fans are going to have to learn to live with as Gyan announced his retirement from the national team after the quest for the continental championship ended at the semi-final stage.

Whether Gyan makes his return at some point, there is a sense in the country that a viable replacement for the player, currently on loan in UAE with Al-Ain, needs to be found.

However, it’s been a tricky nut for the Black Stars to crack. “For now, Gyan is still the best striker in Ghana,” said Emmanuel Clottey, one of the talented young players with the potential to lead the line at the national team level.

Along with the Berekum Chelsea player, there are three other names jostling for position at the front of the line: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2009 hero Dominic Adiyiah, Jordan Ayew of Olympique Marseille and domestic goal-machine Emmanuel Baffour.

A new face steps forward

Long regarded as the next in line to the throne after winning the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe as Ghana became the first African team to win the U-20s, Adiyiah’s career has stalled since a move to AC Milan after the tournament.

Difficult loan spells in Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine have not stopped the 22-year-old from making over 15 appearances for the senior team, but his output has been limited and he failed to make the AFCON squad.

In contrast, Ayew – son of Abedi Pele and brother of Andre – has been making successful strides in Ligue 1,

Emmanuel Clottey

but he also has struggled in the national team colours.

The continental championships gave the 20-year-old an opportunity to shine, but he failed to find the net in 270 minutes of action.

That has led to a new poster boy for Ghanaian striking hopes, and indeed the most common name on lips is now ‘Baffour’.

The 23-year old, who stars for New Edubiase FC has scored 20 goals from 25 games in the domestic season, leaving him two shy of the record held by Ishmael Addo.

Largely an unknown quantity outside of Ghana, the striker believes the top scorer gong will shoot him into the limelight proper.

“I’m enjoying my season. My secret has been intensive training and respecting the instructions of my coaches. Also, I’m blessed with two qualities of a good striker: movement and finishing. To score 20 goals is no mean feat, and when I smash the record, I will be more than happy,” he said.

Although Baffour was on the provisional team for the AFCON, he did not – to the consternation of the public – make the team. But Baffour says he lost no sleep over the decision of then-coach, Goran Stevanovic.

“I was not disappointed at all. I’m a young player and still in the learning process. I was waiting for my chance to prove my case,” he said.

Baffour, who idolises Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his dexterous style of play, did win his first cap in February in a friendly with Chile, and he says his goal is to stay in contention.

“I will always be excited for the chance to play for the Black Stars,” he said. “It was a great experience, and I’m convinced with my performance. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to showcase my talent and help the team’s cause.”Two friends on a mission

Baffour is good friends with Clottey as the two played together at youth side Mighty Victory, and the pair could some day see a dream fulfilled of playing together up front in a Ghana strip.

Clottey, top scorer in the Ghana Premier League in 2007, has also been making big waves of his own for Berekum, who won their first title last season.

While Baffour has monopolised local attention, Clottey has won rave reviews in the CAF Champions League.

His five goals so far, including a hat-trick against three-time winners Raja Casablanca of Morocco, did not go unnoticed at the highest levels of the sport.

At 24, the former national Olympic star has fully recovered from a year-long ban by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in July 2009 related to his eligibility for another club.

But since returning to action, he has played as if on a mission. With three caps under his sleeves, Clottey insists he has matured after low-key stints with Wacker Innsbruck (Austria) and OB Odense (Denmark), where he played alongside Cameroonian Eric Djemba-Djemba.

‘As a local player, it’s always a morale booster to don the national colours. It inspires you to do more and aim for higher. When the door stares at me again, I will walk through it with my head high,” he said about the possibility of filling Gyan’s big boots.

Source: Fifa.com

The outcome of friendly internationals against Thailand, Colombia, Bulgaria and Guatemala in the weeks leading up to the tournament are all in question after FIFA found the match officials had been provided by a Singapore-based company, fronting for match fixers.

Eaton said the South African Football Association (SFA) had taken up an offer from Wilson Perumal, who has since been convicted in Finland on match fixing charges, to use his company for the procurement of referees for the games.

“It is clear that the convicted criminal and football match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal, was involved in convincing SAFA to agree to a company then managed by him (Football4U) to select, fund and appoint referees to certain international matches played in 2010, which are now under investigation,” Eaton said in a statement released on his behalf by the South Africans on Monday.

It follows a four-day trip by FIFA’s outgoing security director to Johannesburg to interview those involved and investigate any potential duplicity.

Eaton suggested the South Africans were deceived rather than complicit in any deceit.

“It should also be said that to date there is no information, suggestion or evidence that any player or team, including the national South Africa team, was in any way complicit with any attempt to manipulate a match outcome,” he said.

South Africa usually invites match officials from neighbouring countries to handle home friendly matches but agreed to Perumal’s offer that he fly in officials from Kenya, Niger and Togo for the four matches.

Bafan Bafana were handed two disputed penalties in beating Colombia 2-1 when they played at Soccer City in Johannesburg on May 27. One of the kicks was ordered retaken twice after the initial efforts were both saved. Colombia’s goal also came from a penalty.

South Africa’s 5-0 win over Guatemala in Polokwane four days later saw them awarded a further two spot kicks.

Among the referees was Ibrahim Chaibou from Niger, already suspended by FIFA for involvement in other match fixing allegations in Bahrain and Nigeria.

Eaton’s investigation is the first into the affair despite SAFA being aware of the allegations for more than a year after tabloid newspaper revelations.

“This investigation will be concluded as fast as humanly possible, while respecting due process and extending full opportunities for anyone to contribute to arriving at the complete truth of these matters,” Eaton added.

The embattled South African association is already reeling under the embarrassment of its national team failing last year to qualify for the African Nations Cup finals because it did not understand the rules and Eaton’s statement will add to a picture of a bungling and gullible organisation.

SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani said his organisation had co-operated fully.

Striker Asamoah Gyan was the first to score a free kick at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after several initial misses.

The Black Stars had recorded high numbers in set pieces in the two games played so far in the tournament but the proportionate conversion rate has been appalling to say the least.

Appiah however says the technical team has put in place an effective set-piece taking regiment but that the efforts have always been thwarted by the opposition.

“I don’t think we have a problem with set pieces,” he said.

“It is something we have been practicing quiet well with a lot of variations.

“But then our opponents defend very well these set pieces and that is why we are not scoring enough of them.

“We will however continue working towards it and I am sure with time we will start scoring from set pieces.”

Source: Ghanasoccernet.com

The captain of the Black Stars was given his marching orders in their game against the Zebras of Botswana last Tuesday and has also suffered a hamstring injury.

The Serbian coach, who is making his debut Nations Cup appearance, is sad with the latest development, but believes that he has a bench that can still execute his strategies without the Olympique Lyon defender.

“I’m worried because Mensah is very difficult to replace,” Plavi told the press in Gabon, co-hosts of the 28th edition. “He played well against Botswana but then got sent off.”

“But while we were training in South Africa, I told the players that I need every one of them for this competition and so I have 20 other players who could replace him and we will be ready for Mali,” the coach assured his local fans.

Source: Goal

Didier Drogba scored from a first-half header from Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou’s cross in the 39th minute.

Ranked more than 100 places below Ivory Coast, Sudan went closest when Mudathir El-Taieb’s shot rattled the crossbar just before halftime.

With a combined 75 caps and six collective AFCON finals appearances for Ghana, the former defenders have extensive insight on what a nation requires to claim glory in Africa’s biggest football spectacle even though they never quite made it onto the winner’s podium.

They join an elite panel of analysts which boasts former winners in South Africa’s Neil Tovey, Doctor Khumalo and Shaun Bartlett, Nigerian duo of Stephen Keshi and Daniel Amokachi along with Cameroons Joseph-Antoine Bell.

Having set aside a 24-hour channel dedicated to the event, SuperSport will broadcast all 32 matches live and for the first time in the splendor of High Definition as well as two magazine programmes Hello Africa and Masterplan.

Hello Africa will include reports from reporters stationed in Franceville, Libreville, Malabo and Bata. There will also be previews, memorable moments and viewer interaction. Moreover, every Sunday award-winning presenter Robert Marawa will present Masterplan, an analysis show designed to get to the heart of team tactics and strategies.