#SSU #SPORTSUPDATE Morocco has not withdrawn as host of the African Cup of Nations, the minister of information said on Thursday, denying reports that fears over the Ebola outbreak caused the country to give up the tournament. But Mustapha Khalfi, who was also the official government spokesman, said Morocco still wanted the event in January postponed because of the Ebola threat, forcing a conflict with organisers that may still see Africas top football tournament moved just three months before kickoff. The Confederation of African Football has insisted the January 17-February 8 African Cup must go ahead as planned on those dates, and repeated its stance on Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press. CAF has apparently reached out to at least two other countries to ask if they would step in at short-notice if Morocco refuses to host on the original dates. ----------- Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka says he is happy to have played his part in Wednesday’s 2015 Africa Cup qualifier against Niger by scoring a goal. Mayuka was on target in Zambia’s 3-0 Group F home win over Niger at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. The Southampton strikers’ goal was his first for Zambia since August, 2012 when he was on target in a 2-1 friendly defeat away to South Korea in Seoul. “I believe in every department you work as a team not as an individual and I believe I am team player,” Mayuka said. “I always want to play for my team so even if I score or I don’t score just as long as I put in everything for the team because at the end of the day we all want three points.” Mayuka scored Zambia’s second goal in the 73rd minute to justify Honour Janza’s decision to start him despite not seeing any competitive action at Southampton this season. ------------ Zambia captain Stopilla Sunzu has saluted his teammates for easing the pressure after picking up their first win in the 2015 Africa Cup qualifiers. Chipolopolo beat Niger 3-0 at home on Wednesday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to end their three match winless run in the Group F qualifiers in which they picked up two points prior to that victory. “We worked hard in training and hard it paid off with victory,” Sunzu said. “Now we need to focus on our next two games and there is still a lot of work to do just as we did to get this win.” Second half goals from midfielder Rainford Kalaba in the 58th minute and striker Emmanuel Mayuka in the 73rd minute set the tone for Zambia’s first three points in the qualifiers. Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene then stepped up to convert an 88th minute penalty after Given Singuluma was fouled in the area. ---------- Jose Mourinho will judge the progress of his Chelsea side when the Premier League leaders travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Blues manager was highly critical of his team when they lost last seasons corresponding fixture at the end of March and questioned the resilience and mental strength of some of his players. That defeat contributed to Chelseas failure to sustain their title challenge but Mourinho believes his squad is now worthy of being regarded as genuine contenders this time around. An unbeaten start to the season has lifted Mourinhos side to the top of the table, five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, the defending champions, just seven games into the season. Recent signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have settled in immediately to Chelseas squad, with Costas nine league goals marking the Spain forward out as the divisions form striker. And the victory over Arsenal before the recent international break prompted suggestions Mourinhos side could go on and match the Gunners achievement of 2004 and go through the league campaign unbeaten. --------- In the week that he marked the 10th anniversary of his competitive debut for Barcelona, Lionel Messi could become the all-time top scorer in the history of La Liga. The Argentine made his bow as a 17-year-old in a 1-0 win at city rivals Espanyol on October 16, 2004. Now he is preparing to face Eibar at the Camp Nou on Saturday needing just two goals to equal Telmo Zarras all-time Spanish top-flight record of 251, set in the 1950s. Messi, who told fans he was constantly trying to improve and win more titles, has been back at his best in the early weeks of this season to help the Catalans to the top of La Liga with six wins and a draw in their opening seven games. They are two points clear of Valencia and have yet to concede a goal so far, and they will want to keep that form going against Eibar before they go to Real Madrid for the first Clasico of the campaign next weekend. --------- Oscar Pistorius will be committed to the hospital wing of one of South Africas toughest prisons if the double-amputee Olympic track star is sentenced to jail time for killing his girlfriend, the head of the prison service said on Thursday. On the fourth day of Pistorius sentencing hearing, Zach Modise, who has worked in the prison service for 35 years, was questioned by the defense about conditions at the Pretoria Central Prison, Pistorius most likely destination because of its disabled facilities. The jail was the execution site of dozens of black political activists by South Africas apartheid government, which handed over power after the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994. It is also the home of apartheid death squad leader Eugene de Kock, known as Prime Evil, and is known for a vicious gang culture. Beatings, male rape and murder cases have been reported there in South African media. However, Modise said the reality of the prison was a long way from the popular perception and said Pistorius disability - his lower legs were amputated as a baby - would ensure he was kept in a separate wing.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 07:19:34 +0000
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