Thursday, October 25, 2012

African football wrap: AVB in love with Adebayor, Check your Tiotè, The Ameobis, Angry Samba et al


         
                                 I need you Ade - AVB
Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor will not be allowed to leave in January, according to manager Andre Villas-Boas, despite the Togolese not having started a game this campaign.

The former African player of the year, 28,  was omitted from the trip to NK Maribor in Thursday's Europa League encounter.
                    
                                Cheick yourself Mr T
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted he might be losing patience with midfielder Cheick Tiote after the 26-year-old's sending off against Sunderland.

The tough-tackling Ivorian has come under severe criticism from cynics and critics.

                            Family affair - blood is thicker
Shola Ameobi, who is eligible to play for Nigeria, is backing his younger brother Sammy to surpass all that he has achieved during his time at Newcastle United.

Ameobi, 31, has spent his entire career on the books at St James' Park, making close to 350 appearances and scoring over 70 goals.

He is hoping the Ameobi name will continue to shine on Tyneside for many years to come, with Sammy, 20, having graduated out of Newcastle's academy system and into the first-team fold.

Shola believes his younger sibling is destined for a bright future at the highest level and is confident he will eclipse his record for the magpies.

Ameobi : "There's nearly 11 years between us, so when we were growing up, I think he was maybe a little bit intimidated by me, which is normal.

"He's trying to go through what I've been through. But we have got a great relationship now.

"I feel that as a big brother, I have to make sure he's on the right track all the time. I know my parents expect that of me, and it's something I'm conscious about doing.

"I'm sure he's well aware of how hard it's going to be and what he has to put in to make it to the very top.

"But I want to see him surpass anything I've ever done in this game and I know he has the ability to do that. He can do that, without a shadow of a doubt."


                                   Ideye's goal not enough

Nigeria international Brown Ideye scored to make it 2-2 but Jackson Martinez's goal five minutes later  was just enough to edge out spirited Dynamo Kiev 3-2 in the Champions League as Porto kept their 100 per cent record in Group A intact.

In the 71st minute, Ideye chested down Andriy Yarmolenko's diagonal pass from deep before rattling the ball beyond Helton.

                                    Mario snubbed by Nicki Minaj

US rapper Nicki Minaj refused the chance to meet Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli after a recent concert in the city, in favour of a trip to the local chicken takeaway.

Balotelli, who has biological Ghanaian parents, refused to comment.

                                    Saddened Samba

Anzhi Makhachkala defender Chris Samba is saddened by events at former employers Blackburn Rovers and feels more needs to be done to combat racism in football around the world.

Samba is currently plying his trade in Russia, having left Ewood Park to link up with ambitious Anzhi in February.

He claims he took the decision to jump a sinking ship at Blackburn because he could see that things were going to turn sour under Venky's ownership.

Congo international Samba: "It was their club so they can do what they want. It is sad that a couple of people had the power to do good or wrong, but it seems they have done wrong.

"A long time ago, I said all these bad things could happen. It's bad for the English football culture. Blackburn have been a traditional English club for so many years, a big family club.

"Changing the manager was not the right thing to do. They paid for it. They got relegated. It is very sad for the club.

"It is a club that I still follow. I hope the club find a way to get back into the Premier League. They need to be in the Premier League."


                                Passport hitch for Ambrose
Did you know? Celtic defender Efe Ambrose forgot his passport just hours before jetting off to Barcelona to prepare for their Champions League encounter. 

 Nigeria international Ambrose almost missed his flight after realising that he had left his passport behind. 

Despite his mistake, Ambrose was eventually reunited with his passport 30 minutes before Neil Lennon's men boarded at Glasgow airport. 

                             BBC African football headlines

QUITTER: Jean-Guy Wallemme has resigned as coach of Congo-Brazzaville in order to concentrate on his job in charge of French Ligue 2 club Auxerre.  

Menacing Menas: Niger coach Gernot Rohr is convinced his team can cause a major shock at the next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Ex-factor: DR Congo coach Claude LeRoy will use his experience as an ex-coach of Ghana to gain an edge in their Nations Cup group.

Concession: Egypt's Ministry of Interior says fans can attend Al Ahly's Champions League final first leg against Esperance in Cairo.



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