Florentino Perez bows to pressure

Florentino Perez has quit his job as president of Real Madrid.
Perez last night threw in the towel to mark the end of a five-and-a-half-year tenure which saw his expensive band of `galacticos' fail to deliver on the pitch.
The 58-year-old saw Real win the Primera Liga twice and Champions League once, but that record was a relative failure for a club who had invested heavily in the world's most glamorous players.
Madrid have not claimed any major silverware since winning the league in 2003 and look likely to finish this season empty-handed following a string of disappointing recent results.
Perez will be replaced with immediate effect by former club vice-president Fernando Martin.
Perez replaced Lorenzo Sanz in 2000 and heralded the "galactico" era at the Bernabeu by buying stars such as Portugal's Luis Figo, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo and England captain David Beckham

Real Madrid are facing another trophyless season following a disappointing series of results.
Perez's resignation comes after a bad week in which the team lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League knock-out tie, then were sunk 2-1 by Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Perez was less than two years into his second term as Real president having been re-elected in July 2004.

Man United Dethroned As Richest Club

Real Madrid have leapfrogged Manchester United to become the world's richest football club in terms of income, according to a report.
After eight years at the top of the Deloitte Football Money League, United were pushed into second place based on revenues from the 2004-5 season.
Real Madrid's income has doubled in the past five years, as players such as David Beckham have boosted shirt sales.
Nine British clubs made it into the list of the world's richest 20 teams.
Liverpool moved up to eighth in the table after their Champions League victory gave a major boost to their income.
The Deloitte review does not include the cost of transfer fees or player wages and concentrates solely on day-to-day income from football business such as ticket sales, merchandising and broadcast revenues.
As a consequence, Chelsea came fifth in the table with income of £149m despite making a record £140m loss last season.

via BBC

Champions league is here again

All across Europe,the passion of the inseparable will be lit once more as Champions league action resumes across various cities in Europe.With the defending champions Liverpool and a host of other great teams such as Real Madrid,Barcelona,Chelsea still in contention, there is great expectation as to what these sides can perform.
But some of the teams have been unimpressive in their domestic leagues;yet it is expected that there will be suprises as thats what many passionate fans will be waiting to see come next week tuesday and wednesday.

Aftermath of the Nations cup and the lessons

Even before the floodlights went out at Cairo's International Stadium on Friday, it was clear that African football has a real dilemma.Even before the floodlights went out at Cairo's International Stadium on Friday, it was clear that African football has a real dilemma.vEven before the floodlights went out at Cairo's International Stadium on Friday, it was clear that African football has a real dilemma.Even before the floodlights went out at Cairo's International Stadium on Friday, it was clear that African football has a real dilemma.
While the standard of African players continues to improve, it appears the same cannot be said for the continent's organisers and administrators.Stadium disasters claimed the lives of almost 200 spectators during a 12 month period, with incidents in Ghana, DR Congo and Zimbabwe.
Here in Egypt the situation was exactly the same.
When Egypt faced Ivory Coast in their final group game, it was claimed that up to eleven thousand extra fans forced their way into the match.

The Cairo International Stadium was refurbished for the Nations CupThe problem for the final was just as bad.
Aisles were blocked, thousands more stood around the top of the stadium leaning over walls, while police sat around soaking up the atmosphere.
At the Military Stadium in Cairo, a television gantry was erected on scaffolding and positioned on a staircase leading from the main stand.
This was pointed out to Fifa's head of security, Walter Gagg, who appeared genuinely shocked.
It was also pointed out to a Caf official, who appeared genuinely surprised that a fuss was being made about it in the first place.
Before the tournament, the Egyptians were keen to shout about how much money had been spent on refurbishing the stadiums.
Sadly, a major international sporting event is not simply about building smart, well-equipped venues. And there lies the problem.
The standards expected by Fifa for all aspects of a major football tournament are not being achieved by Caf , who ultimately must take responsibility.
It's no longer about education.
Time has come to stop patronising African football's administrators.

Sadly, as long as Africa refuses to apply international sporting standards, that's unlikely to happen. I just hope the organisers of Ghana 2008 take heed.

Keshi sacked as Togo coach

Togo's Football Federation (TFF) has sacked national coach Stephen Keshi.
The TFF's decision was announced during a television programme in Lome on Monday.
Federation officials stated that differences between Keshi and key players of the national team had forced them to take the decision.
Keshi, the former Nigeria captain, achieved the unprecendented feat of earning Togo a ticket to this summer's World Cup finals, ahead of Senegal and Zambia.
But the national team's first-round exit at the African Cup of Nations, where Keshi had a row with star player Sheyi Adebayor, had caused key TFF officials to turn against him.
German coach Otto Pfister and Bora Milutinovic, the Serbian that managed Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup finals, are among the candidates in the running to replace Keshi.
Pfister, who managed Ghana at the 1992 Nations Cup finals, has opened talks with TFF officials.

Ronaldinho predicts a classic encounter

World and European Player of the Year Ronaldinho says fans should expect another classic when his Barcelona side take on Chelsea in the choice tie of the last 16 in the Champions League.
At the same stage last season Chelsea recovered from a 2-1 first leg deficit to win the second 4-2 in a superb match and advance 5-4 on aggregate.
The tie was also notable for the row between coaches Frank Rijkaard and Jose Mourinho which led to the latter getting banned for two games.
'It will be another top contest between two coaches with high tactical awareness, we should expect something good,' said Ronaldinho.
The Brazilian said he felt last season's off-pitch antics played no part in the result. 'It was our own mistakes that let us down,' he said.

Chelsea Humiliated

Middlesbrough made a mockery of crisis talk at the Riverside Stadium by handing Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho a stunning 3-0 defeat - his heaviest defeat in English football. Goals from Fabio Rochemback, Stewart Downing and Aiyegbeni Yakubu condemned the Blues to just their second Premiership defeat of the season, and it was every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.
Chelsea crashed to their first Premiership loss since November - and their heaviest under Jose Mourinho - as struggling Boro were boosted.
Here is what the coach had to say Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:"When you lose, it is always a bad day, especially when you don't lose a lot.
"In my time at Chelsea, this is the third defeat in the Premiership and you can say it was the worst.
"We lost to Manchester City and didn't deserve it, we lost at Manchester United and didn't deserve it. We lost today 3-0 - and we deserved it."

PHARAOHS CONQUER AFRICA

Egypt won the African Cup of Nations for a record fifth time by beating Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in the final in Cairo.
Goalkeeeper Essam Al Hadary was the hero for the hosts, saving two penalty kicks, while Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba and Bakary Kone missed theirs.
The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, with Drogba missing the Ivorians' best chance in regulation time.
Mohammed Aboutrika scored the winning penalty for the North Africans.

EAGLES ESCAPE LIONS DEN

Nigeria claimed the bronze medal at the African Cup of Nations for the third successive time with a 1-0 win over Senegal in Cairo.
Garba Lawal grabbed the winner with just 10 minutes of the game remaining as he fired home a John Utaka cross.
Even Jay-Jay Okocha in his final game for Nigeria failed to light up a dull game that was played at walking pace.
First half chances fell the way of Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo, who crashed a free-kick onto the crossbar, while Guirane Ndaw's long-range dipper for Senegal brought a finger-tip save from a back-peddling Vincent Enyeama.
Nigeria's winner came on 79 minutes, in an otherwise tepid second half.
John Utaka's deep cross from the right-hand side was met at the far post by an incoming Garba Lawal, whose shot nestled neatly in the opposite corner with Senegal goalkeeper Papa Mamadou Diouf well beaten.
Okocha failed to complete the game as he was replaced by Wilson Oruma midway through the second half.
It was not the way the Super Eagles' skipper will have wanted his international career to end, but after winning 74 caps over 13 years, the midfield maestro makes way for the next generation.
His career highlight was winning the Nations Cup in 1994 and he was named player of the 2004 tournament, during which he scored the 1,000th goal in the tournament's history.

DROGBA DELIGHTED TO BE IN THE FINAL

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba says that the African Cup of Nations final against Egypt is a matter of pride.
Drogba, who scored the winning penalty against Cameroon and the only goal in the semi final with Nigeria, says that he would be proud to lift the trophy.
"Quite simply, I'd be really proud to win the cup, either as a player or the captain," said Drogba.
"A continental title means a great deal, it's a degree of recognition that comes just below that of the World Cup.
"Simply being in the final is pure happiness."
The Chelsea striker, who currently has three goals to his name in the tournament, believes that the captaincy has not changed his style of play.

WILL WEMBLEY BEAT THE DEADLINE?

The Football Association insist they will give Wembley's builders Multiplex until the last possible minute to try to complete the stadium in time for this year's FA Cup final.
There were reports today that a decision to stage the final on May 13 in Cardiff has already been taken.
Although that is looking an increasingly likely prospect, the FA are adamant that no final decision has been taken.

It is in Multiplex's interests to finish work as soon as possible - they are expected to lose more than £100million on building the £757million stadium and will be penalised £1million a week for over-running the deadline.
Even if they do complete construction by March 31, however, that would not guarantee the final being at Wembley.
The new stadium would still need to train up hundreds of staff, and satisfy safety officials it would be able to stage the final in such a short space of time.
Multiplex admitted last month that there was only a 70% chance of Wembley being built in time to stage this year's cup final.

UNIVITED GUEST

Robbers have broken into the hotel rooms of some of Nigeria's players at the African Nations Cup in Egypt.
Midfielder Wilson Oruma, who plays for French side Marseille, has reported the loss of US$6,000 from his room, while reserve goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba said he was missing $2,500.
Other players reported mobile phone sets and other personal belongings being taken.
Nigeria team official Sunmonu Bello-Osagie confirmed the incident at the Hilton Green Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, where the team stayed for their African Nations Cup semi-final clash against Ivory Coast on Tuesday, which they lost 1-0.

ESSIEN SPEAKS

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien said he was disappointed at having to miss the African Cup of Nations for Ghana.
The 23-year-old was part of the original squad but subsequently ruled out with an ankle problem two weeks before the start of the tournament.

Some supporters have called for the resignation of national team coach Ratomir Dujkovic, but Essien believes they should be patient.
"I know the Ghanaians are frustrated, but he was the first ever coach to guide Ghana to the World Cup finals. There were also three key players who were missing from the Cup of Nations squad," he said.
Looking ahead to Germany 2006, the midfielder said he was eager to make amends for missing the Cup of Nations.
"I need to prepare myself for the World Cup," he said.
"I have to be ready for it and I'm willing to play in the friendlies leading up to the event."

MIDO THROWN OUT OF EGYPTIAN SQUAD

Mido has been thrown out of the Egypt squad at the African Cup of Nations and suspended for six months after a row with coach Hassan Shehata.
The 22-year-old Tottenham striker had a heated pitch-side argument with Shehata after being substituted in Tuesday's semi-final win over Senegal.
Mido had to be dragged away by coaching staff after being substituted for Amr Zaki, who went on to score the winner.
Mido will now miss Friday's final when the hosts take on the Ivory Coast.

Shehata's assistant Shawki Gharib said the Egyptians just want to concentrate on Friday's final.
He said: "The Egypt team does not just mean Mido. He is just one player in a squad of 23.
"Now we have to concentrate on the final and forget our problems. The important thing is what we are going to do in the final.
"The team's preparations are far more important than any dispute between Shehata and Mido.
"This issue will be handled by the coach and it is not for discussion."

BECKS SET TO STAY AT THE BERNABEU

England captain David Beckham believes it is all-but certain that he will sign a new contract with Real Madrid rather than return to the Premiership.
The 30-year-old's current deal at Real ends in June 2007 but he is expected to sign an extension until 2009.
"There is a 99% chance that I will stay and sign a new contract with Madrid," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.
"We will begin to talk before the summer but there are no doubts, I will remain here."
English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with Beckham, while Sven-Goran Eriksson was recently quoted in a Sunday newspaper as saying he may be able to entice him back to the Premiership.
But midfielder Beckham added: "Madrid know that I want to stay and I know that they want me to stay."
This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so why would I want to leave?
David Beckham
"I have just moved house and the club knows this.
"They are not worried by my situation, they know I don't want to leave.
"Perhaps in England things are resolved earlier but here things are different.
"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so why would I want to leave?"

OKOCHA VOWS TO KEEP HIS PROMISE

Jay-Jay Okocha said there was no going back on his decision to quit international football after Nigeria bowed out of the African Nations Cup on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old midfielder said he was sticking to his pre-tournament decision to bring an end to his long-standing international career.
'That is it, it's over for me,' Okocha told Reuters after Nigeria's 1-0 semi-final defeat by Ivory Coast. 'There is no going back.'
Okocha, who won his 73rd cap on Tuesday, played just a cameo role at the tournament in Egypt after picking up a thigh injury on the eve of the competition.
The Bolton Wanderers player came on as substitute early in the second half against Ivory Coast but was unable to engineer a comeback.
Okocha, who played at three World Cups and five Nations Cup tournaments, said Nigeria had been outplayed by a tougher Ivorian outfit. 'We just couldn't get in the game. We were very tired.
'I think they (Ivory Coast) deserved to win today, they were a lot better than us. They were more organised. Today our lack of experience showed but we have done well to get this far,' he added.
Okocha missed Nigeria's first four matches at the tournament, first through injury and then losing his playmaking midfield role to talented teenager John Obi Mikel.
He said he was not sure whether he would play in Thursday's third place play-off match in Cairo, which would mark his last international.
Okocha was named as the best player at the last Nations Cup finals in Tunisia and also earned the distinction of scoring the 1,000th goal in the tournament's history.
He made his international debut against the Ivorians in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan in 1993.

ELEPHANTS SEND EAGLES HOME

The Ivory Coast secured their place in Friday's final of the African Cup of Nations after a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in Alexandria on Tuesday.
In a less-than-magical semi-final at the Harras El-Hedod stadium, Didier Drogba's 47th-minute goal exposed the Super Eagles' revival as nothing more than a false dawn.
Drogba pounced when Nigeria's centre-backs lost concentration at precisely the same moment that Romaric Ndri played a delightful long ball for him to chase before placing it between the legs of onrushing goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama
The Super Eagles must therefore wait two more years for another crack at a trophy they had pinned their hopes on, after their traumatic failure to qualify for the World Cup.

HERE WAS WHAT THE COACHES HAD TO SAY
Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen:"We did not play well, this was our worst game at this tournament and we were clearly outplayed in all departments by our opponents.
"This probably had to do with fatigue but our ball movement was slow.
"However, the goal that finally beat us was scored from an offside position. Drogba was at least seven metres offside before he scored but the referee gave the goal."
Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel:"I'm very satisfied with the performance of my young team which only took shape about two years ago.
"Our tragets were to qualify for the World Cup as well as the Nations Cup and we have achieved both of them.
"And at this tournament, our objective was to advance from one round to the next and it appears it is working well for us."

REDS SEE BLUE

Chelsea's superior finishing proved the difference as the Blues beat rivals Liverpool to move 15 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
The two teams were meeting for the fourth time this season and predictably the familiarity resulted in the usual cagey start.
Liverpool's misery was compounded when Reina was sent-off for a push on Robben, who seemed to make more of the incident than appeared necessary.
Chelsea's victory was their 50th in the Premiership under manager Jose Mourinho.

YOUTHFUL EXURBIRANCE

Ronaldo was charged with misconduct following the incident in the Champions League in the Stadium of Light on December 7 when he raised his middle finger to home fans.
The Portuguese winger has been fined £4,000 and suspended from one UEFA club competition match. He has until Thursday to appeal.
Ronaldo, a former Sporting Lisbon player, was booed by Benfica fans throughout the whole match, which United lost 2-1 and were eliminated from the competition.
After the game, Ronaldo said the abuse he suffered was over the top.
'There was nothing to justify the way the crowd treated me,' he said

TERANGA LIONS ROAR INTO THE SEMI FINALS

Senegal's capital erupted in noisy celebration on Friday after the national side came from behind to beat Guinea 3-2 in an African Nations Cup quarter-final.

Groups of screaming students waving flags ran into the streets around the main university, stopping buses to make passengers join in the party. Workmen shovelling sand threw their spades in the air when the final whistle blew.
Senegal came from a goal down to beat Guinea 3-2 and reach the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations.
Guinea opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Kaba Diawara capitalised on a mistake by the Senegal goalkeeper Tony Sylva.

Pape Bouba Diop scored Senegal's equaliser 16 minutes after the break, heading home a cross from Diomansy Kamara.
Senegal will now play either Egypt or the DR Congo in Tuesday's semi-finals.

KINGSTON IN WORLD CUP PALAVER

Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston's dream of playing at the World Cup finals appears to have been shattered.
His four-match ban, resulting from his expulsion in their Group C African Cup of Nations match against Senegal, could see him missing Ghana's three group games against Italy, the Czech Republic and the USA.
A spokesman for Fifa, football's governing body, told BBC Sport that while they do not comment on individual cases, suspensions not completed at a continental tournament will be served according to Article 39(2F) of Fifa's disciplinary code.
The rule states that: "Match suspensions in relation to the expulsion of a player outside of a competition or not served during the competition for which they were intended are carried over as follows:
"Confederation competitions for competitive teams: carried over to the to the representative team's subsequent official match in a competition organised by Fifa."
It is this rule that may have informed the decision of the Ghana Football Association to appeal to the Confederation of African Football to mitigate Kingston's record ban, so he can appear at the finals.
Kingston began serving the four-match suspension during the Black Stars final group game against Zimbabwe, which they lost 2-1.
The midfielder, who was forced to watch Tuesday's game from the stands, said Ghana's Nations Cup exit was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I feel very bad about it because most people back home will say the problem is from me. If I had been in the team, things could have been different," Kingston told BBC Sport.
"I'm very disappointed about the situation because my aim is to let people in Africa and the world know me. It's very unfortunate that I had problems in this tournament," he lamented.
"This was the first time I was not playing with my colleagues and I felt I had let the team down," he intimated.

QUARTER FINAL PAIRINGS

QUARTER-FINALS
3 February
MATCH 1 Egypt v DR Congo: Cairo International Stadium (1700)
MATCH 2 Guinea v Senegal: Harras El-Hedoud Stadium, Alexandria (1300)

4 February
MATCH 3 Cameroon v Ivory Coast: Cairo Military Academy Stadium (1700)
MATCH 4 Nigeria v Tunisia: Port Said Stadium (1300)

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Nigeria's Obafemi Martins scored two goals in the 79th and 88th minutes to secure a 2-1 victory over Senegal and the top spot in group D.
Senegal missed numerous chances and should have won, but still went through on goal difference despite only picking up three points in three games.
With this performance,Martins has been able to shut the mouth of his critics.
Bravo young lad.

THE BLACK STAR REFUSED TO SHINE

Ghana became the third World Cup-bound team to fail to go past the group stages at the African Cup of Nations after losing to 2-1 to Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Ismailia.
The Warriors, who were yet to earn their first point at the tournament, looked the stronger side from the start in their final Group D match.
Veteran captain Peter Ndlovu and Portsmouth's Benjamin "Benjani" Mwaruwari spear-headed the Zimbabwean attack which terrorised the Ghanaian half intermittently.
Ghana's woes were compounded in the 69th minute when Benjani ran on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and calmly slotted the ball into the net to put Zimbabwe 2-0 up.
With captain Stephen Appiah half-fit and and Laryea Kingston suspended, the Ghanaian midfield looked non-existent for most of the match, as Zimbabwe worked hard to earn their first win of the competition.Here is what the Ghanian coach had to say
Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic:"We were under pressure, we could have qualified with victory or a draw but Zimbabwe did not have that pressure and played well.
"We did not play well but this has nothing to do with the World Cup as it is still a long way away. We were missing several key players after all.