Ivory Coast win African Nations Cup

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Ivory Coast are champions of Africa for the first time since 1992.

Ivory Coast ended years of frustration to claim their second African Nations Cup crown following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ghana in the final.

The Elephants, whose only previous triumph in the competition came back in 1992, looked set for their third final defeat in nine years when they fell 2-0 behind in the shootout after the teams played out a drab goalless draw in Bata.

Morocco banned from next two African Nations Cup for failing to host 2015

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Morocco have been banned from the next two African Nations Cups and fined $1 million (656,000 pounds) for pulling out of hosting this year's competition, the Confederation of African Football has announced.

CAF also ordered the Moroccan Football Federation to pay compensation of eight million euros (5.9 million pounds) for losses sustained by CAF, its stakeholders and partners as a result of its decision not to host the tournament.

Ronaldo is a worthy Ballon d'Or winner

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By Gabriele Marcotti

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter

The low point was in April and, as often happens, darkness and light mixed liberally. It was his 100th game, Real Madrid demolished Borussia Dortmund 3-0 and he equalled his own record of 14 Champions League goals. But he also limped off with 10 minutes to go, clutching his thigh.

Cristiano Ronaldo would miss four games, including the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, which Real Madrid won 2-1. 

Yaya Toure wins African player of the year for fourth straight time

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Yaya Toure is the first player to win African player of the year four times in a row. (ESPN)

Yaya Toure has been named CAF's African player of the year for a record-equaling fourth time, matching the feat of former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o.

The Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder also became the first player to win the award four times in a row. Toure was announced as Africa's top player for 2014 at a ceremony in Lagos on Thursday.

Yaya Toure, Aubameyang, Enyeama vie for African POTY award

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Yaya Toure has won the award three years in a row. (ESPN)

The three-man shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award has been announced and it contains Yaya Toure, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Vincent Enyeama.

Toure, who plies his trade for Manchester City and Ivory Coast, won the CAF award for a third consecutive year in 2013 and can trump Abedi Pele (the only other man to win three in a row) if he bags the prize which will be handed out on Jan. 8.

Messi legend grows with all-time Champions League scoring record

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By Francesc Tomas

Move over, Raul; Lionel Messi is the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history/ESPN

Lionel Messi added yet another record to his already legendary collection after scoring three goals in Tuesday's 4-0 victory for Barcelona against Apoel, taking his all-time Champions League tally so far to a mind-blowing 74, four ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and three ahead of former record-holder Raul Gonzalez.

Whenever Cules begin to feel that there is there is very little more that Messi can do to surprise them, the diminutive Argentinean strikes again, breaks yet another record and rises the bar even further. 

This list of broken records shows how insanely good Lionel Messi is

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He's only 27. (Reuters/Gustau Nacarino)

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the best soccer player in the world right now, maybe the best of all time. Every year the Argentine adds another record or trophy to his name. Here are some of the records he has demolished.

Most goals scored in Spanish history

On Saturday, Messi broke the record for all-time top goalscorer in La Liga: 253 goals in 289 matches. With that, Messi finally overtook the record set by Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra back in 1955. 

African Nations Cup: Nigeria miss out after draw, Ivory Coast through

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Nigeria finished third in their group [Getty Images]

Nigeria won't get the chance to defend their title at the African Nations Cup next year after drawing 2-2 at home to South Africa on Wednesday to miss out on the finals on the last day of qualifying.

Nigeria scored two late goals to claim a frantic draw in front of a desperate home crowd. But Congo's 1-0 win in Sudan in Group A's other game saw them spring the big surprise in qualifying and take the other automatic place behind the already-qualified South Africans.

Equatorial Guinea steps in to host 2015 African Nations Cup

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Nigeria won the 2013 edition, which also had to be moved from its original host country © Getty Images

Equatorial Guinea has been confirmed as the new host country for the 2015 African Nations Cup, replacing Morocco. The African Football Confederation (CAF) confirmed the news on Friday, saying that Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo had agreed after a meeting with CAF president Issa Hayatou.

CAF said the dates for the tournament will remain Jan. 17-Feb. 8 after Morocco was dumped as host for demanding a postponement over Ebola fears.

South Africa seal progress to African Nations Cup as Nigeria rekindle hope after a 2-0 win over Congo

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South Africa sealed their place at the 2015 African Nations Cup with a 2-1 win over Sudan in Durban.

Goals from Thulani Serero (38) and Tokelo Rantie (53) sealed the win and Bafana Bafana held on despite Ibrahim Salah Mohamed Soliman's late consolation.

The match took place in the hometown of the late Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot and killed last month. South African players stripped off their team jerseys to show white T-shirts with messages dedicated to Meyiwa.

Election 2015: Soccer star, Kanu Nwankwo, stumps for actor Desmond Olushola Elliot

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Soccer star, Kanu Nwankwo, (with microphone) campaigns for actor, Desmond Olushola Elliot, second right

Kanu Nwankwo, one of the most respected footballers in Africa and United Nations Ambassador, recently gave a big boost to the political aspiration of Desmond Olushola Elliot (DOE) at a political forum recently.

Kanu told the gathering, which took place in Surulere, Lagos, that he believed Desmond Elliot would make the constituents and the people of Surulere proud when elected into the Lagos House of Assembly, just as he too had made Nigeria and Nigerians very proud as a good representative of the country abroad. He made the declaration at a forum organized for Desmond Elliot to meet a group of Widows in Surulere.

Clap for Super Falcons, weep for soccer administration!

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By Kayode Ketefe

“African Women Championship disaster: Weep not for Super Falcons.” That was the title of the piece I angrily penned two year ago when the Nigerian female national team, the Super Falcons, came back from the 8th African Women Championship held in Equatorial Guinea without a medal, being the only time it would happen since inception of the championship.  

Countries that normally trailed Nigeria in women soccer like Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cameroon scooped up gold, silver and bronze medals in that order, with Nigeria finishing in an embarrassing fourth position.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi on FIFA Ballon d'Or list, no Luis Suarez

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Cristiano Ronaldo broke Lionel Messi's grasp on the Ballon d'Or last year. Can he win it again?

Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo and four-time winner Lionel Messi are among 23 players on FIFA's list of contenders for this year's award honouring the world's top player.

The list was compiled by the FIFA Football Committee with the help of French magazine France Football. It will be trimmed to a shortlist of three on Dec. 1, with the winner announced at a ceremony in Zurich on Jan 12, 2015.

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award for Lionel Messi 'incorrect' - Sepp Blatter

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German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer (left) and Lionel Messi (Martin Meissner/Associated Press)

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday that it was "incorrect" to have given Lionel Messi the Golden Ball as best player in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Messi led Argentina to the final against Germany with four goals in the tournament, though none came beyond the group stages.

South Africa goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa, shot dead

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Senzo Meyiwa died after being shot during a burglary

South Africa international goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has died, his club Orlando Pirates have announced. The cause of the 27-year-old's death was not given by the club, but the South African Police Service (SAPS) said that he had been shot in Vosloorus, a town 20 miles south of Johannesburg on Sunday.

A tweet from the SAPS read: "We have to brake (sic) normal protocol. We can confirm that Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital.''

Nigeria secures first win in African Nations Cup qualifiers

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Ahmed Musa

Defending African champions Nigeria secured their first win in final qualifying by beating Sudan 3-1 in Group A, helped by a double from Ahmed Musa. Ghana also won to stay top of Group E and 2012 winner Zambia dragged themselves into contention with a first win in Group F.

Cameroon closed in on qualification with a 2-0 win over Sierra Leone on Wednesday. Group D rival Ivory Coast, meanwhile, lost 4-3 at home to Congo to slip out of the qualifying places for next year's continental championship.

AFCON 2015: Nigeria’s qualification depends on miracle, says former Minister

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By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja – (NAN) Bala Ka’oje, a former Minister of Sports, said on Saturday that Nigeria’s qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) now depends on miracle.

Ka’oje said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) following the 1-0 defeat of the Super Eagles by the Falcons of Sudan in a qualifying match played in Khartoum.

No changes to African Nations Cup schedule despite Ebola fears -- CAF

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Nigeria are the defending champions after beating Burkina Faso in 2013

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said next year's African Nations Cup will go ahead as scheduled despite a request from the Moroccan government for its postponement.

Morocco made the request because of fears over the spread of the Ebola virus, which has so far killed more than 4,000 people as it sweeps through west Africa.

Fatalities have been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, although no cases have yet been reported in African Nations Cup host country Morocco.

Moroccan government wants African Nations Cup postponed over Ebola

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Nigeria won the title by beating Burkina Faso in 2013

The Moroccan government has requested to postpone next year's African Nations Cup because of fears over the spread of the Ebola virus that has killed over 4,000 people, state news agency MAP has reported.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to review a report from the Moroccan health ministry about the dangers involved with hosting the tournament in the north African country. The Ebola crisis is currently sweeping through west Africa.

Sudan defeats Nigeria in African Nations Cup qualifying

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Nigeria's John Obi Mikel, left, defends against Sudan's Muhannad El Tahir on Saturday. Sudan defeated Nigeria 1-0

African champions Nigeria slumped to a 1-0 defeat in Sudan and are bottom of Group A with just one point from three games in African Nations Cup qualifying. The setback was inflicted by Bakri Almadina's goal and increases the pressure on Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi.

Meanwhile, South Africa moved to the top of the group after a 2-0 win at previous leaders Congo. Two goals in three minutes just after halftime, from Bongani Ndulula and Tokelo Rantie, earned victory for Bafana Bafana.