Mido going to Celta

FIFA has permitted the loan transfer of Egypt striker Ahmed "Mido" Hossam to Spanish club Celta Vigo. The 20-year-old striker is expected to leave Ajax Amsterdam this week to sign his new contract with Celta where he will stay until the end of the season. The deal is said to be worth $250,000. FIFA permitted the loan deal to go ahead after both clubs made representations to Zurich. "This is the best news I have ever heard lately. I am very happy and I will show my best with Celta," Mido told BBC Sport. "It is a new challenge for me which I hope will end successfully," he said. The loan deal was timely for the young Pharaoh who has had a series of run- ins with Ajax coach Ronald Koeman. The Ajax manager twice demoted him to the reserve team on disciplinary measures.

Scolari in Cairo

FORMER Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari has predicted that an African side will qualify for the semi-finals at the 2006 World Cup. Speaking in Cairo at a FIFA workshop reflecting on the 2002 World Cup finals, Scolari said the only thing that could prevent this from happening is poor team organisation. "What you need to do is teach your players tactical discipline," Scolari told his African colleagues. "If you are able to discipline your players, I can guarantee that there will be an African team in the semi-final of the next World Cup." Scolari, who is now in charge of Portugal, said there are many similarities between Brazilian and African players. "They are both very skillful and creative. I feel that Brazilian and African players share the same genes. These are the players who can produce results," he said.

German Winfried Schafer, who managed Cameroon at the World Cup, described his experience with the Indomitable Lions as a success, despite their first round exit. "In the beginning, it was hard for me and for them. They were not used to being trained by a coach who does not speak French. Courage, respect for themselves, their coach and most of all, for their opponents, were the keys behind the glory of the Indomitable Lions," the Cameroon manager explained.

The two-day FIFA/CAF symposium was organised to analyse and examine the latest coaching methods applied at the last World Cup, in addition to focusing on the future of the African game. Over 50 African national managers attended the event.

Diouf to apologise

LIVERPOOL striker El-Hadji Diouf is set to apologise in person to the Celtic fan he spat on during last week's UEFA Cup tie. An estimated television audience of 5.4 million saw the Senegalese striker spit at teenage supporter Dominic Schiavone. The £10 million summer signing was fined two weeks' wages by his club and faces a UEFA inquiry into the incident. But he has invited Schiavone and a friend to Anfield as his guest for the second leg today in a bid to preserve the "special relationship" between the two clubs.

Celtic season ticket holder Schiavone will be driven to Anfield for a two-night VIP stay, during which he will receive a personal apology from Diouf and a Liverpool shirt signed by the team.

A Liverpool spokesman confirmed: "Everyone at Liverpool is conscious of the special relationship between the clubs which goes back a long way. Schiavone revealed he would accept the offer -- and the apology."

Soar record

SVETLANA Feofanova set a new world indoor pole vault record to take gold on the final day of the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. The Russian clipped the bar on her first attempt at 4.8 metres but, despite a wobble, it did not fall, sparking joyous celebrations from the 22-year- old.

The vault beat the previous best indoor mark of 4.78m held by American Stacy Dragila, who failed to reach the final, at the US championships two weeks ago in Boston. Dragila, the Olympic and world outdoor champion, still holds the world outdoor record of 4.81m.

European champion Feofanova, won silver at the world indoors in Lisbon two years ago. Her compatriot, Yelena Isinbayeva, got silver with 4.6m, while Monika Pyrek of Poland took bronze.

Titles unified

SVEN Ottke defeated American Byron Mitchell by a split decision in Berlin to unify the WBA and IBF super middleweight titles. The German, who had defended the IBF title 16 times before the bout, edged a close fight with two judges favouring him by scores of 116-114 and 115-113, while the other judge scored it 116-112 for Mitchell.

In a battle of opposing styles, the slick Ottke managed to stay out of the way of Mitchell's much-vaunted heavy punches. The 35-year-old Ottke may now seek a fight with WBO champion Joe Calzaghe. The winner has yet to lose any of his 30 professional fights while the 29-year-old Mitchell suffered his second defeat against 25 wins and a draw.

For father

ACELINO Freitas stopped Mexico's Juan Carlos Ramirez in the fourth round to retain his WBA and WBO super-featherweight titles in Chicago. The referee stepped in just 19 seconds into the round when Freitas trapped Ramirez against the ropes, landing a series of punches.

Freitas, who was making the ninth defence of the WBO title and second of the WBA crown, dedicated the victory to his father, who died of cancer three months ago. "My dad asked me for a knockout and I accomplished it. This is great for me. Right now I want to celebrate with my family," said the Brazilian.

Freitas was knocked down for only the third time in his career in the second round and was also warned for a low blow. But he floored Ramirez twice in the third round before opening the fourth with four quick punches, including a devastating uppercut, that forced the referee to call a halt.