Egypt Men’s Volleyball team continued their winning rhythm with 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-12) victory over Algeria in the Algerian Capital of Alger on Wednesday in the second camp of preparations for the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championship.
The Egyptian coach Ibrahim Fakhr Eddine tried to use most of his players in the camp to give all of them the chance to perform before the final selection of the squad for the World Championship in Poland from August 30 to September 21.
The match was attended by the Algerian Volleyball Federation President Okba Gougam who also signed a contract of cooperation between both federations in Algeria and Egypt with the Egyptian representative of the federation Adel El Sadawy.
Ahmed Salah Abdelhay of Egypt digging
This is the third match in the preparation programme for the Egyptian team after they defeated their rivals Tunisia twice 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-15) and 3-1 (26-24, 25-15, 20-25, 27-25) in their first camp in the Tunisian capital.
Egypt will line up in the World Championship finals against Russia, Bulgaria, Croatia, China and Mexico in Pool C, while Algeria failed to qualify after the finished second to Cameroon in the final Qualification tournament Pool T held in Yaoundé.
Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon had charged Nigeria’s women under-20 national team the Falconets not to be disappointed in the result of their first group match against Mexico which ended in a 1-1 draw in the ongoing FIFA under-20 World Cup.
The coach who led the Falconets to a semi final finish in the last tournament in Japan said the girls must work hard to ensure that they win their remaining matches which is very important if they must progress in the competition.
“I am praying for Peter Dedevbo and his girls to win their remaining matches to firstly boost the confidence of the girls to qualify from their group and do the nation proud .Thank God they did not loose their first match so they should pick themselves up and pick the maximum points for the remaining matches”
“We know they won all their matches in qualifying for the World Cup but they must guard against complacency if they must progress.The World Cup is a different ball game and the girls must remain focused and double their efforts to emerge from the group” he stated.
Edwin Okon, Super Falcons Coach, photo credit fifa.com
Coach Okon stressed that he would be praying for the team on behalf of the entire Super Falcons players and officials adding that hopefully the Falconets will do the country proud in Canada.
Here are our man Paul Ayorinde’s pick of the hottest football transfer news making the rounds at this moment.
you can also follow Paul on twitter: @El_Pauleta on twitter and also follow @NewFanzone and we will follow you right back, lets keep the discussion going.
Arturo Vidal
Done Deal:
– Sunderland have re-signed Estudiantes defender Santiago Vertini on a season-long loan deal
– Arsenal have confirmed that Johan Djourou has completed his move to German side Hamburg
– Everton defender John Stones has signed a new five-year contract with the club.
– West ham target Vedad Ibisevic has signed a new three-year deal with Stuttgart
– Valencia have completed the signing of German international Shkodran Mustafi from Sampdoria on a five-year deal.
– Santos have completed the signing of Robinho from AC Milan on a season-long loan deal
Angel Di Maria- (AP Photo/Paul White)
Today’s reports and rumours:
– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed today Thomas Vermaelen is likely to leave Arsenal after receiving a bid from Manchester United
– According to reports, Manchester United wants to put Arturo Vidal through a rigorous medical before agreeing a fee with Juventus
– According to reports in Italy, Manchester United are set to make an official bid for Juan Cuadrado on Friday
– Paris Saint-Germain owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has today said PSG are out of the running to sign Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria because the asking price is too high.
– Edison Cavani has reportedly had offers from Liverpool and Arsenal but is yet to make up his mind about his immediate future
– Former Borrussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios is on the verge of signing for Ligue 1 side Montpellier
– Aston villa are close to signing former Liverpool left back Aly Cissokho from Valencia for €2.5million
– Zenit St Petersburg are close to signing midfielder Javi Garcia from Manchester city
– Monaco has reiterated star striker Radamel Falcao would not be leaving this summer despite interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool
– Lille have open the exit door for Salomon Kalou after deciding his wages are way too high for the club
– Hertha Berlin have denied reports they are interested in signing Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou
– Juventus winger Simone Pepe is set to be sold to either Cesena or Atalanta
– According to reports, Manchester United are ready to submit a £30million bid for Roma defender Mendi Benatia
– Monaco have identify Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder as the man to replace James Rodriguez
– Roma are set to rival Spurs and West Ham for the signature of Ukrainian winger Yehven Konoplyanka
– AC Milan have emerged as favourites to sign Real Madrid’s outcast goalkeeper Diego Lopez
– According to reports in France, QPR have made a two million euro bid for Guingamp midfielder Younousse Sankhare
– According to reports, Daniel Agger has begged Brendan Rodgers to let him leave Liverpool and join Barcelon
– Lazio are closing in on the signing of defender Eder Balanta from River Plate
– Tottenham’s £17million deal for Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio should go through, despite a hitch over third-party issues.
– According to reports, Manchester City will offer captain Vincent Kompany a new £65million six-year contract worth £200,000 per week to stay with the club.
– Swansea are ready to splash out £8million on Napoli’s Argentina World Cup defender Federico Fernandez.
– Queens Park Rangers are chasing West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame.
– Former Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury will not sign a new contract at Nottingham Forest and is set to instead join Burnley in a deal worth around £3.5million.
– According to reports, Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala is due to fly into the UK within the next 48 hours as his move to Manchester City finally nears completion.
– Tottenham are confident of landing PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay – even though midfielder Nacer Chadli would not be prepared to go the other way in part-exchange.
Football tit bits:
– U.S. soccer icon Landon Donovan will retire from the sport at the end of the current Major League Soccer season, he revealed on Thursday.
– Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola said he didn’t shake the hand of MLS All-Star squad manager Caleb Porter after his side’s 2-1 loss in Portland because he didn’t see his counterpart.
– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he believes the new Premier League season could be the most competitive in recent years, with six teams battling for the title.
– West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison threatened to throw acid in the face of his ex-girlfriend and have her killed, a court heard on Thursday. The 21-year-old is also accused of threatening to blow up her house in a course of harassment against his ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor lasting four years, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.
– Luis Suarez’s legal team is confident they can persuade the Court of Arbitraton for Sport (CAS) to halve the four-month ban imposed by FIFA for biting an opponent when the appeal hearing takes place on Friday.
Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, have named a 25-man squad for a final 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against Lesotho later this month.
Skipper Musa Muhammed (Besiktas/Turkey) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Kalmar FF/Sweden) are the only overseas-based players as the Flying Eagles will be without several of their foreign-based stars as a result of club commitments, according to coach Manu Garba.
The Flying Eagles take on Lesotho on August 16 in Kaduna for a place in the final of the 2015 AYC in Senegal in March.
Please find below Wednesday results from the 2014 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals taking place in Prostejov, Czech Republic on 4-9 August. Sixteen boys and 16 girls teams are taking part in the finals of the ITF’s world junior team competition for players aged 14-and-under. A total of 172 teams from 90 countries have taken part in this year’s event.
(6) Russia defeated (1) USA 3-0
Olesya Pervushina (RUS) d. Rachel Lim (USA) 61 63
Anastasia Potapova (RUS) d. Claire Liu (USA) 64 36 60
Tatiana Makarova/Olesya Pervushina (RUS) d. Elysia Bolton/Claire Liu (USA) 64 64
Spain defeated India 3-0
Marta del Pino (ESP) d. Shivani Ingle (IND) 06 61 63
Carlota Molina Megias (ESP) d. Sathwika Sama (IND) 62 64
Marta del Pino/Laura Lopez Giese (ESP) d. Aarja Chakraborty/Sathwika Sama (IND) 64 61
Girls Group B
(3) Chinese Taipei defeated (8) Colombia 2-1
Pei-Hsuan Chen (TPE) d. Maria Camila Osorio (COL) 46 63 62
Emiliana Arango (COL) d. I-Hsuan Cho (TPE) 63 76(1)
Pei-Hsuan Chen/I-Hsuan Cho (TPE) d. Emiliana Arango/Maria Camila Osorio (COL) 75 57 62
Romania defeated Morocco 3-0
Mihaela Lorena Marculescu (ROU) d. Hiba el Khalifi (MAR) 62 61
Selma Stefania Cadar (ROU) d. Diae el Jardi (MAR) 62 61
Selma Stefania Cadar/Andreea Prisacariu (ROU) d. Diae el Jardi/Hiba el Khalifi (MAR) 60 63
Girls Group C
(4) Australia defeated Czech Republic 2-1
Baijing Lin (AUS) d. Karolina Berankova (CZE) 63 62
Destanee Aiava (AUS) d. Lucia Kankova (CZE) 62 36 60
Lucia Kankova/Anna Kynclova (CZE) d. Destanee Aiava/Gabriela Ruffels (AUS) 76(5) 46 64
(8) Poland defeated Peru 3-0
Iga Swiatek (POL) d. Almudena Boza (PER) 61 62
Anna Hertel (POL) d. Anastasia Iamachkine (PER) 76(5) 36 64
Iga Swiatek/Wiktoria Rutkowska (POL) d. Almudena Boza/Maricielo Sicha (PER) 61 60
Girls Group D
(2) Ukraine defeated (5) Canada 2-1
Katarina Zavatska (UKR) d. Brindtha Ramasamy (CAN) 76(1) 64
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) d. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 63 61
Bianca Andreescu/Maria Tanasescu (CAN) d. Yelyzaveta Domukhovska/Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 63 63
China defeated Egypt 2-1
Xiyu Wang (CHN) d. Dalia Sherif (EGY) 61 60
Dalila Said (EGY) d. Qian Hui Tang (CHN) 62 26 64
Mei Qi Guo/Qian Hui Tang (CHN) d. Dalila Said/Hala Khaled (EGY) 63 60
International Tennis Federation
Boys Group A
(1) Germany defeated (7) Argentina 2-1
Nicola Kuhn (GER) d. Santiago Franze (ARG) 60 61
Sebastian Baez (ARG) d. Rudolf Molleker (GER) 63 76(6)
Nicola Kuhn/Rudolf Molleker (GER) d. Sebastian Baez/Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) 63 63
Thailand defeated Morocco 2-1
Yassir Kilani (MAR) d. Tanawat Kitivachira (THA) 64 61
Tonkla Mulada (THA) d. Soufiane el Mesbahi (MAR) 62 61
Tanawat Kitivachira/Tonkla Mulada (THA) d. Soufiane el Mesbahi/Yassir Kilani (MAR) 76(1) 16 64
Boys Group B
(3) USA defeated Spain 3-0
Keenan Mayo (USA) d. Rafael Izquierdo Luque (ESP) 62 61
Roscoe Bellamy (USA) d. Alejandro Vedri-Castellano Asensi (ESP) 62 62
Roscoe Bellamy/Keenan Mayo (USA) d. Rafael Izquierdo Luque/Alejandro Vedri-Castellano Asensi (ESP) 63 36 63
(6) Brazil defeated New Zealand 3-0
Joao Reis (BRA) d. Macsen Sisam (NZL) 62 61
Thiago Wild (BRA) d. Finn Reynolds (NZL) 63 61
Igor Gimenez/Joao Reis (BRA) d. Macsen Sisam/Chris Zhang (NZL) 60 62
Boys Group C
(4) Russia defeated (8) Korea, Republic 2-1
Nikolay Vylegzhanin (RUS) d. Seonyong Han (KOR) 60 61
Uisung Park (KOR) d. Alen Avidzba (RUS) 06 64 62
Alen Avidzba/Alexey Zakharov (RUS) d. Seonyong Han/Yeongseok Jeong (KOR) 60 61
Colombia defeated Portugal 2-1
Tomas Soares (POR) d. Juan Castellanos (COL) 62 76(5)
Nicolas Mejia (COL) d. Daniel Rodgrigues (POR) 61 61
Nicolas Mejia/Juan Sanchez (COL) d. Daniel Rodrigues/Tomas Soares (POR) 63 64
Boys Group D
(2) Canada defeated Czech Republic 2-1
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) d. Evzen Holis (CZE) 63 63
Tomas Jirousek (CZE) d. Nicaise Muamba (CAN) 63 63
Felix Auger-Aliassime/Nicaise Muamba (CAN) d. Tomas Jirousek/Evzen Holis (CZE) 62 60
Poland defeated (5) Chinese Taipei 2-1
Tomasz Dudek (POL) d. Yu-Hsiang Su (TPE) 61 75
Daniel Michalski (POL) d. Chen-Jui Ho (TPE) 63 62
Chen-Jui Ho/Hua-Chen Yu (TPE) d. Tomasz Dudek/Daniel Michalski (POL) 61 60
Wasiu Jimoh from the Kwara Football Academy plundered four goals as the Flying Eagles hammered Amakson Academy of Abuja 7-1 in a test match on Thursday.
Jimoh has been a fringe player in the Nigeria U20 team, but in the absence of some of the established stars ‘Baba Kwara’ grabbed his chance to make a big statement ahead of a final qualifier against Lesotho on August 16 in Kaduna.
He opened scoring after 16 minutes when he jabbed home from a right cross by Ifeanyi Nweke.
He then made it 2-0 on 32 minutes with a long-range pile driver, before he completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute with yet another superb shot from distance.
He grabbed his fourth goal in the 78th minute with yet another classy effort.
Amakson first appeared to be up for a fight because after 36 minutes their lively skipper Isaac Udoh pulled a goal back with the Flying Eagles then leading 2-0.
Flying Eagles
It was a sublime finish by the impressive Udoh as he went past two defenders before slotting beyond goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo.
Thereafter, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sulaiman Abdullahi missed glaring chances, before Chisom Eze put the Nigeria U20 team 3-1 ahead on 62 minutes with a sweet finish.
After Jimoh fired his third and fourth goals, substitute Abubakar Lawal increased the tally to 6-1 after he was set up by Abdullahi.
The hard working Abdullahi completed the rout on the dot of 90 minutes from the penalty spot after Bernard Bulbwa was felled inside the box.
The leaderboards across the ten events on show at the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 are starting to take shape following four days of competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Medal Race places have been decided in the Men’s and Women’s RS:X fleets whilst the top batch of Olympic sailors have cemented their spots in the top places of the remaining fleets.
Tuesday’s rain was replaced with sunshine and a cool 15 knot breeze across the five race areas. The waves remained on the outside courses whilst shifty conditions on the inside courses was present, ensuring firm tests of tactical nous.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-2. photo credit ISAF
Men’s and Women’s RS:X
Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) and Charline Picon (FRA) solidified their spot at the top of the Men’s and Women’s RS:X leaderboards.
Picon was dominant once again in the Women’s fleet and with a strong racing day that included a bullet, a second and a fourth. She has opened up a 16 point lead ahead of the Medal Race on Thursday 7 August. Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) sits second on 29 points whilst Marina Alabau (ESP) is third on 40 points.
Picon has a medal in the bag but the colour is to be decided in the Medal Race but with such a strong lead it would take a disastrous day for the French racer to lose grip on top spot.
Van Rijsselberge has a narrow advantage in the Men’s fleet and leads Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) by just three points.
The leading duo were unable to find their form from their previous two days of racing as Kokkalanis explained his day, “It was not such a good day unlike yesterday. I had a seventh, eighth and a second. It was kind of tricky. It was all about the first upwind and I couldn’t find myself. I’m still happy, still in second place and tomorrow is the Medal Race and I hope everything will go well.”
Whilst every racer wants to win, no matter what the event, the Aquece Rio has been a learning curve for the sailors. Kokkalanis concluded, “We haven’t raced in a lot of different conditions. We need to train here a lot more to master this place. What I saw yesterday was that it can be really tricky. There are some changes on the course because the surroundings are strange with the mountains so we need to train in this place.”
Polish London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Przemyslaw Miarczynski occupies the final podium spot on 30 points with plenty to play for on the final day.
Men’s RS:X Medal Racing will commence at 13:00 on Pão de Açucar with the Women’s RS:X fleet following at 13:40 on the same race area.
Nacra 17
Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) were dominant in the Nacra 17 as they took three race victories from four races.
The French pair are seven points clear of Ben Saxton and Hannah Diamond (GBR) in second place and Besson was visibly pleased with his day, “The day was really windy and shifty but for us it was great,” smiled Besson. “We learnt that the wind is never the same as the forecast. It was a bit windier and it was really difficult but we learnt a lot about the racing area.”
For all of the fleet the event is about learning and every day is a school day as Besson added, “We are just looking everywhere, seeing everything and finding out about the venue.”
Saxton and Diamond advanced to second overall following a steady day that included three second place finishes and a fourth. Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS) drop to third, three points off the Brits.
Laser
Australia’s Tom Burton held on to his Laser lead after a fantastic day from Nick Thompson (GBR). The British racer smashed it up on the Copacabana course taking both of the day’s race wins.
Burton leads by a single point after an up and down day, “I started off reasonably good with a third,” explained the Aussie, “but then I got a little bit mixed up and bounced around and maybe finished early teens so not that great.
“Yesterday was pretty steady with the big waves and shifts. It was a little bit skewed with the breeze but there were a few more shifts today. It’s very similar to what we’ve had in training so we kind of expected it.
“Everyone is talking about a light wind venue but the first two days have been pretty breezy. It’s very shifty and very predictable sometimes and unpredictable other times. It’s hard to judge what we’ll get but everyone faces the same obstacles. There’s going to be big scores but tight racing as well.”
Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) is third overall on 18 points.
Laser Radial
Despite picking up a 21st place finish Ireland’s Annalise Murphy moved into pole position in the Laser Radial. Racing on the big Copacabana race course waves, the Irish sailor had a poor opening race but hit back in the second of the day, picking up a third.
On her day Murphy said, “I messed up the first race. I wasn’t feeling so good in that big swell. I hit a mark and went for a swim as well so that was pretty frustrating but I came back good in the second race. I fought back to second by last reach but then I got a bit high and Anne Marie [Rindom (DEN)] got by me but it was really fun out there. The waves were really big, sun was shining and the wind was in so it was good.”
Like Burton in the Laser, Murphy was quick to echo his point on Rio’s conditions, “I think the last two days the waves are probably the biggest I’ve ever raced in. It’s not what you’d be expecting when coming to Rio as people have been saying it’s a light wind venue. We’ve had quite a good breeze over the last two days and huge waves and it’s difficult but it’s something we’re all going to have to learn and get used to.”
Marit Bouwmeester was the standout performer in the 25-boat Laser Radial fleet and notched up double bullets. Her opening three races were not quite up to the high standard she sets herself but she bounced back and is fifth overall.
Rindom is three points behind Murphy on 13 points with Tuula Tenkanen (FIN) in third.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-2. photo credit ISAF
Men’s and Women’s 470
The 470 fleets remained outside Guanabara Bay but switched from Copacabana to the Niteroi race track.
It was business as usual for Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) as they continued their fine run of the form. From two races the Australians picked up a bullet and a third and have an 11 point advantage over Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR).
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) advanced to the top of the Women’s 470 leaderboard after notching up double bullets. The Kiwis lead on six points. Overnight leaders Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA) consolidated their excellent opening day with a fourth and a discarded sixth and trail Aleh and Powrie by three points. Great Britain’s Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) are a point behind the Americans in third.
49er / 49erFX
There is no change in the top three of the 49erFX with Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) top of the pack followed by Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) and Olivia Price and Eliza Solly (AUS).
The Brazilians weren’t quite on top form early on in the day on Ponte course as they picked up a ninth from the opening race. They bounced back with a bullet and a third to lead the Kiwis by five points. Maloney and Meech picked up a 2-5-2 scoreline whilst the Australians recorded a bullet, a fourth and a sixth.
Changes are afoot in the 49er fleet as Julien D’Ortoli and Noe Delpech (FRA) marched up the leaderboard to take top spot. A first and a fourth leaves them on 16 points going into the fifth day, two ahead of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL).
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) took two mid fleet finishes, leaving them third overall on 19 points.
Rio 2014 Test Event – Aquece Rio Day 4-3. Photo credit ISAF
Finn
Giles Scott (GBR) was on top form in the Finn fleet and posted double bullets and a fourth. The British sailor has opened up an 18 point advantage over Jonathan Lobert (FRA) who has progressed up to second overall. Ed Wright (GBR) is a single point behind Lobert.
Racing resumes at 13:00 on Thursday 7 August. Four races are scheduled in the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 with three in the remaining fleets.
Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma says organisers of the Federation Cup must work extra hard to see that the glamour return to the competition.
Eguma has been in the Cup final in 2001 with Eagle Cement, now Dolphins which he won and now says it is clear the glamour of the competition is gone.
“There needs to be an improvement because the glamour is no longer there.
“We knew how it was in the past with a lot of excitement and fun and it is no longer there now so something has to be done,” Eguma said.
“I think the authorities need to improve especially in the area of sponsorship because the competition has no title sponsors for now.”
Teslim Balogun Stadium
Ever since Coca/ Cola withdrew from sponsoring the Federation Cup, the NFF has not been able to acquire new sponsors for Nigeria’s premier football competition.
Dolphins will play Enyimba in the final on August 16 in Lagos, a date that is not certain as the rumour mills indicate that there may be a shift.
To get to the final Dolphins beat Ingas 3-1 in the Round of 64, Kogi United 1-0 in the Round of 32, El Kanemi 1-0 in the round of 16, Lobi Stars 4-2 in the quarter finals and Prime FC 1-0 in the semi final.
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