AFCON 2015: Congo Shocks Gabon to Win their first AFCON game since 1974

Congo won their first ever African Cup of Nations game since 1974 to leap frog Gabon to top Group A.

Google Image: Congo v Gabon

The Gabonese enjoyed the better of the first half but couldn't take their chances before falling behind in the 48 minutes by Prince Oniangue scored for Red Devils of Congo with a superb header from a corner.

Congo were barely in the game but the half-time team talk delivered by French legend Claude LeRoy, coaching at his eighth Nations Cup. 

Gabon Dominated the early exchanges, playing with confidence after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso on Saturday. 

All  fans attention may have been on Gabon's Broussia Dortmund star Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang but as he struggled from a wide position, Madinda grabbed the limelight and the bustling midfielder almost gave the Panthers the lead.

More over, Congo coach Claude Leroy says that their game plan worked well and his team were lucky that Gabon did not convert their chances.

AFCON First Round Standings Inview.

The African Cup of Nations is now getting to a more interesting stage, after all teams have played their first round matches in each group.

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We can recall that the defending champion Super Eagles of Nigeria, where not part of this year 2015 AFCON edition after they failed to qualify. With the likes of South Africa and Congo emerge the winner and runner up of the qualifying stages, Nigeria with Sudan had to settle for 3rd and 4th position receptively.

The AFCON 2015 first group round matches started on Saturday 17th of January and we have begin to see so much glamor even though most fans are beginning to complain and giving there opinion that it not so much interesting like it use to be, because the current holders Super Eagles of Nigeria are not involve.

This is how the Standings and Results of the first round of group matches looks, See Below:

Result of matches:
Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon
Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo
Group A
1. Gabon 1 2 3
2. Equatorial Guinea 1 0 1
3. Congo 101       
4. Burkina Faso 1-2 0
 Gabon leads in the group in the first round of matches played.

Result of Matches:
Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde Islands
Zambia 1-1 Congo DR

Group B
1. Zambia 1 0 1
2. Tunisia 1 0 1
3. Cape Verde Islands 1 0 1
4. Congo DR 1 0 1
Zambia top the chat after the first round

Result of Matches:
Ghana 1-2 Senegal
Algeria 3-1 South Africa

Group C
1. Algeria 1 2 3
2. Senegal 1 1 3
3. Ghana 1 -1 0
4. South Africa 1 -2 0
Algeria leads the table with 3points

Result of Matches:
Ivory Coast 1-1 Guinea
Mail 1-1 Cameroon

Group D
1.Ivory Coast 1 0 1
2. Mail  1 0 1
3. Cameroon  1 0 1
4. Guinea 1 0 1
Ivory Coast top the chat.

The second round matches will begin today with  Equatorial Guinea v Burkina Faso 16:00,  Gabon v Congo 19:00

Christiano Ronaldo back to Bachelors Life as he call off his relationship with Irina

The world footballer of the year Christiano Ronaldo has end the relationship between him and his Model girl friend Irina Shaky.

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After several weeks of tittle-tattled stoked by Shayk's not showing at the 2014 Ballon d 'Or ceremony last week, Ronaldo has now blown it out openly on Tuesday morning to confirm that the couple have split-ed after five years together.

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"After dating for five years, my relationship with Irina Shayk has come to an end," Ronaldo said via a written statement to Associated press. "We both believe it would be best for us to take this step now.

"I wish Irina the greatest happiness."

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The 29-year-old forward also added that he was making the statement publicly to bring the speculation about their relationship and his private life to an end. All the best to them

NNF Urge to Appoint a New Coach Quickly

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been urged to complete without any form of delay of signing a coach for the Super Eagles to enable the team begin early preparations for 2017 AFCON

President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Raufu Ladipo, who made spoke Monday in Abuja also urged the NFF to sponsor the former Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi to a coaching course abroad to upgrade his skills, if the federation has agreed to re-engage him. Ladipo insisted that Keshi should be attached to understudy any reputable coach in any top European club for some months for a fresher course so that he can be acquainted with new skills before he reconvenes the Super Eagles team.

Google Image/ Raufu Ladipo

"Keshi may consider himself a high class coach, but there is need the NFF attach him to a top European club for at least three months. it will help him to recover because he needs to upgrade,"Ladipo says.

The Supporters club also urged the NFF to take a definite decision concerning the employment of Keshi or any other coach, adding that the federation should place the conditions of the contract on the table for the coaches to accept or not.

Google Image/ Stephen Keshi

"I know that the NFF is still in communications with coach Stephen Keshi. They should come out plan on their decisions. This is because there is no time left before we begin preparations for the next nation's cup. Let those conditions, as the NFF wants it, be made open to Keshi."

"But like i said, keshi needs to get attached to one or two other teams in Europe for about two or three months," he added.

The President, who regretted that Nigeria is missing at the on going AFCON in Equatorial Guinea, urged all the warring factions in the NFF leadership tussle to come together for the interest of the game, stressing that the best thing is for everybody to rally behind the Amaju Pinnick-led board to give its best.        

Senegal Surprised Ghana to their first ever AFCON Opening Match Defeat

The Taranger Lion of Senegal shocks Black star of Ghana with a dramatic come back to win by 2 goal to 1.                                      

Dailymail Image Ghana Celebration

The Ghanaian team add an impressive performance in the first 15 minutes of the game and was able to get an early goal in the match through a penalty converted by A.Ayew, but couldn't put such great first half performance into the second half has they played more defensive tactics.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese came all out looking for victory and they were rewarded.

Dailymail Image Senegal Celebration

Senegal got the equalizer through Diouf 58, and continued to press hard on the Black stars defense which really end up giving them the whole 3points, through a Moussa Sow last gasp "93rd minute goal to make the score line 2:1.       

Chelsea can Only Buy Messi by Selling half of their team- Courtois

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has reacted to rumours that their manager Jose Mourinho is keen to price Lionel Messi away from Barcelona this year.

Google Image/Courtois & Messi

Messi, who silence the critics and rumors of him leaving Nou Camp last weekend struck a hat-trick against Deportivo La Coruna, has been linked with the Blues, Manchester City and Manchester United this month amid talk of him being unsettled with the Catalonia giants Barcelona.

The Belgium International 'Courtois, spent three years in Spain with Atletico Madrid, is blow by the speculation.  

"I do not know why this has caused such a stir! He has not even said he wants to leave Barcelona. According to what Courtios told Canal Plus, with social networking today, people become crazy."

"I do not think Chelsea can buy Messi, except if we sell half our team!"