7 - 13 February 2002
Issue No.572
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 7 - 13 February 2002 Issue No.572 |
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Inside the ANC
Suspensions, probes
THE Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has suspended national team player Ibrahim Said after he was sent back from the African Nations Cup tournament in Mali.
The EFA decided to bar the player from the national team for two years and fine him LE100,000 ($22,000) for "improper behaviour," EFA officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Team management had accused Said of an unacceptable attitude toward the coach and fellow players, a lack of punctuality and a lack of focus.
The defender did not play in any of Egypt's four matches.
The officials said that if Said failed to pay the fine within two months, he would be barred from league matches in Egypt.
Said plays for one of the country's top clubs, Ahli, which was designated "African team of the century" last year by the CAF, the continent's governing body.
The EFA also said it would investigate national team player Mohamed El-Yamani.
El-Yamani's Belgium club, Standard Liege, had refused to allow El-Yamani to play for the Egyptian team in the African Cup and he respected the club's decision. However, FIFA said it believed he should have made himself available for the Egyptian team in Mali.
FIFA suspended El-Yamani from playing for Standard Liege during the African Cup tournament.
The 19-year-old striker is one of Egypt's most promising players. He was among five Egyptians nominated for Africa's Player of the Year last year, after playing brilliantly in the youth World Championships in Argentina in July.
New star rising
WHEN Ghana offered Isaac Boakye his first international game, he sent Zimbabwe into mourning by scoring the winning goal to knock the Warriors out of qualification for the African Nations Cup (ANC). Zimbabweans had barely finished weeping when Boakye put George Weah temporarily into retirement after he scored the winner against Liberia in Monrovia. Boakye's goal in Monrovia gave the Black Stars a 2-1 win to dent Liberia's hopes of reaching the World Cup this year.
Stones were thrown at Weah and his team- mates after the match and the Liberian star, incensed by the behaviour of the fans, announced his retirement -- a decision he rescinded a few days later.
But as one of Africa's brightest stars fades, so another one is discovered. Coming on as a substitute, Boakye, the Obuasi Goldfields striker, scored twice in the last 60 seconds to put Ghana into the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup by beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in Mopti. And Black Stars coach Fred Osam-Duodu believes Boakye will soon be a very big name.
Coelho wants to stay
MOROCCO's coach Humberto Coelho says he wants to stay on as coach of the Atlas Lions despite failing to progress at the Nations Cup finals in Mali. Coelho is still under contract with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, who hired him two years ago to reach the World Cup finals and Nations Cup.
Morocco went into the final round of group games in top position in their group, but were overwhelmed 3-1 by South Africa and crashed out.
It was a big blow for Coelho, who was hoping to make up for the World Cup elimination. Coelho told Moroccan radio that he would not resign. "I intend to continue my job with Morocco," said the Portuguese coach. "There is still more for me to offer to the country. We were not able to do well this time but it could change with some continuity."
Compiled by Abeer Anwar
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