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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 February 2000 Issue No. 468 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 February 2000 Issue No. 468
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Focus Profile Travel Books Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters ACN briefs
Play or I'll shoot
COTE D'IVOIRE'S military leader Gen Robert Guei has denounced the national soccer team and threatened players with army service if they play another bad game. He was speaking to the players, most of whom have lucrative contracts with European clubs, in his office last week after they were released from two days of military detention. They were brought to a military base following their first-round elimination from the African Cup of Nations (ACN). "I asked that you be taken there so you could reflect a while. You behaved unworthily. You should have spared us the shame", Guei told the players, according to Fraternite Matin newspaper. "Next time you will stay there for military service. You will be sent to the barracks until a sense of civic pride gets into your heads." Guei said the country had sacrificed in giving the Elephants, as the team is called, daily pay and expenses.
There was no immediate response from the players, who were 1-1-1 in the first round of the tournament -- tying Togo 1-1, losing to Cameroon 3-0 and beating Ghana 2-0. All four teams in Group A finished with the same record; Côte d'Ivoire was eliminated on goal differential.
Throughout the detention, government officials said the players were being held for "protection" from irate fans, though there were no reported protests or threats.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter condemned the Ivorian action and wrote the president of the Côte d'Ivoire Football Association, Ousseynou Dieng, and asked him to intervene. "Detaining a team because it failed to qualify for the next round of a football competition is a blatant violation of the autonomy of the Football Association as well as of the fair-play principle", Blatter said. "At a time when the entire football world is looking to Africa and following its major football competition, such an action harms the standing of football in Côte d'Ivoire and on the entire African continent", he said.
Gabon's coach ponders
GABON coach Antonio Dumas has said he was undecided over whether to stay on for the World Cup qualifiers. "I have three good offers from other African national teams to consider", the Brazilian said. Gabon was knocked out in the first round, picking up their only point in a goalless draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, but merely reaching Ghana in the first place was considered an achievement for the tiny nation. Dumas said he had to weigh the prospect of working with a talented crop of young players, on the plus side, against yet more battles with federation officials. "Gabon has some very good young players who could do well in the future," said Dumas, who was voted the second most popular man in the country in a poll carried out by a Libreville newspaper last year. "There are players here who are good enough to play with any Brazilian team." Dumas has complained of resistance from Gabonese officials, who are against replacing established internationals with some of the younger generation. Gabon's young generation is led by 16-year-old striker Chiva Nzighou, who became the youngest player ever to take part in the Nations Cup. Nzighou, who played in all three games, scored in the opening match against South Africa.
Who's No 1?
TITLE favourites Nigeria and Cameroon are bragging loudly about who is the better team. "We are the best team in Africa", boasts Nigerian captain Mutiu Adepoju, who led the co-hosts to an impressive 2-0 victory over Morocco in the last match of the first round. "Our performance against the Moroccans proved we are the best squad on the continent. Nothing can stop us now." Cameroon football legend Roger Milla tipped his country to defeat Algeria in the quarter-final and they did just that, 2-1. "Nothing can stop the Indomitable Lions qualifying for the final," the 1990 World Cup hero told reporters in the Ghanaian capital. "At last we have a national team that is fulfilling its potential." After winning twice and finishing runners-up once between 1984 and 1988, the Central African nation has seen a succession of star-studded squads fail to match expectations. The Lions resembled toothless cubs two years ago when timidly departing from the Nations Cup after a shock quarter-finals defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Italy, not France
TUNISIAN star striker Zitouni Ali has said he preferred to play in the Italian league rather than the poorer French championship after the ACN championship ends. The 20-year-old, who plays for crack Tunisian club Esperance, claimed he has received offers from mostly French clubs, but that he had also heard of interest from Serie A giants Juventus and minnows Bari. "I have been contacted by French clubs like Monaco, PSG, Nancy and Lens but my mind is with Juventus or Bari who have shown an interest in signing me," he said. "I've told them to come down and watch me play in the Nations Cup and if I am impressed with their offers, I will sign for any one of the Italian clubs. I have always dreamt of the day I will play in Italy. It is a place for big-time players. I like France, too, but Italy is better", the striker added.
Retired with a record
CÔTE D'IVOIRE goalkeeper Alan Gouamene announced his retirement after his country failed to qualify for the quarter-finals. Gouamene, 36, played 24 games in seven ACN finals, beating by one match the record held by Cameroon's Kundi.
(Compiled from wire services)
