The usual suspects: Africa's World Cup hopefuls head for the last 90 minutes of qualification with the "Big Five" favourites for Brazil

Brace yourself: Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike

Nearly four years and an Arab Spring or two after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it’s the usual suspects who are looking likely to qualify for Brazil 2014.

Nearly four years on, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Algeria – the five sides who qualified with hosts Bafana Bafana in the last global footballing saga – are once again the favourites to fill Africa’s ‘big five’ qualifying spots after the first legs of CAF’s unjust qualifiers.

Favourites Ghana don’t take on riot-ravaged Egypt until tomorrow night, when they play their first leg in Kumasi but Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast and African Nations Cup champions Nigeria cruised to their expected first leg victories over the weekend.

Former Chelsea veteran Drogba scored the opening goal for the Elephants against Senegal with Lamine Sane then providing an own goal before another Chelsea old boy Salomon Kalou made it three in the 50^thminute.

Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse pulled one back for Senegal but it was Arsenal’s unwanted Gervinho, now playing in Italy for Roma, who pulled the strings for the Ivory Coast, playing a part in all three goals and setting up Africa’s top-ranked nation for qualification with a two-goal cushion.

The Cote D’Ivoire have gone 20 games without defeat in World Cup qualifying – they’ve won 14 and drawn six since a 3-2 loss against Cameroon in September 2005.

Nigeria coped reasonably well in Addis Ababa against South Africa’s Group A nemesis Ethiopia. The loudly backed home side, desperate for a first World Cup finals appearance, dominated early on and – after a goalless first half - deserved to go ahead in the 57^th minute through Behailu Assefa.

 But it was that man Emmanuel Emenike – who played for two years in South Africa five years ago with Mpumalanga Blacks Aces and FC Cape Town – who silenced the Walya Antelopes with an equaliser followed by a last-gasp penalty to secure a narrow away advantage before the return to Nigeria.

Game of the weekend came in Ougadougou where Burkina Faso saw off Algeria but gave away what could be two decisive away goals in a 3-2 win over visiting Algeria. The Burkinabians, finalists at AFCON in South Africa earlier this year, went 2-0 up through Jonathan Pitroipa and Djakaridja Kone.

Sofiane Feghouli and Carl Medjani made it 2-2 before Fortunate Dusseldorf-based Aristide Bance, who had a first half penalty saved by Adi Mbolhi, scored the winner from the spot after a highly-controversial 86^th minute handball decision. Algeria remain in pole position despite defeat though Stallions coach Paul Put insists: “We will go to Algiers with every intention of qualifying.”

Tunisia, only in the play-offs because upstarts Cape Verde fell foul of the rules, gave Cameroon a tough ride in Rades but couldn’t find a way past the Indomitable Lions’ French-based goalkeeper Charles Itandj.

With Chelsea’s experienced on-loan striker Samuel Eto’o returning for the umpteenth time after international retirement, Cameroon nearly snatched it through Peirre Webo. This one might be the tightest second leg of the lot, but Yaounde should be celebrating when the second legs are played in mid-November.

And what of South Africa? Held 1-1 by fellow-non-qualifiers Morocco in Agadir on Friday night, this from Dean Furman on Twitter sums it up:  “Solid showing for Bafana last night against a strong Moroccan side. Congratulations to the young boys making their debut. Hopefully the start of big things in the future.”

BOLLOCKZ! my show on www.ballz.co.za, airs every Thursday from 9am. See the Ballz channel on www.YouTube.com for our growing collection of interviews with the big names in South African football.

You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news… and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday inwww.thenewage.co.za.

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VIDEO AND HIGHLIGHTS: My interview with Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund on "Bollockz" today, the new football show on Ballz radio

BAFANA BAFANA coach Gordon Igesund is roaring again. Less than a week after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by a sensational own-goal in Ethiopia, he says: “Our final game against Botswana means something again. We’ve got to hope and pray. And win.”

Speaking on “Bollockz”, my brand new football show on Ballz Radio, Igesund was back to his usual optimistic self after the defeat in Addis Ababa which appeared to have left South Africa’s World Cup qualification dream shattered.

The full interview is on video above, but here are some of the highlights: “The Ethiopia defeat? You know it was one of those situations, unfortunately for us like we’ve had since I started in this job, where we have to win every game. This was no different.

“In the World Cup qualifiers I’ve been playing catch-up every game. It was an absolute freak own goal that Benard Park scored against a highly-motivated Ethiopia.

“We played with a lot of passion and more importantly, we’re starting to get an identity, playing a brand of football which is effective for us.”

Gordon and I spoke on the phone hours after the game – when the FIFA website announced Ethiopia were to be investigated for using an ineligible player in their away win over Botswana a week before.

Gordon, who won the PSL title with a record FOUR different clubs, admits: “It came as a shock to me, before every single game, the match commissioner will tell the opposition who is ineligible to play. That was done and they chose to play the player.

“I’m not going to get over-excited about it, but we’re still in with a bit of a shout. I’ve also heard about Ethiopia losing six points, but I don’t want to talk too much about that.

“The player still hadn’t served his suspension when he played against us. Like I said, I’m more worried about Botswana. All we can do is win that last game.

“We don’t want to jump ahead of ourselves. The way it is right now, this Beyene will have to serve his ban against the Central African Republic. This is what we’re hearing. From our point of view, from SAFA point of view, we’ll just wait and see.”

As for where Ethiopia’s final game will be played, Gordon said: “We didn’t play CAR in Bangui because our soldiers lost their lives there. It wasn’t a very good situation for football. That’s why the game was moved to Cameroon, we had lost our loved ones. The country wasn’t stable either.

“Now Ethiopia, if CAR is back to normal, have to play there. Bangui is one stadium nobody likes going to. CAR haven’t lost there for two years, including Nigeria and Egypt.

“We are building something here with the national team. We had seven or eight injuries but we’ll see what’s available on September 6. We’ve got the COSAFA Cup coming up to try new names. I don’t like chopping and changing too much.

“At the moment, we’re doing things right. We’ve had some tough times. Huge strides have been made with the players, the attitude… they’re proud to play for their country.

“We’ve got another bite of the cherry. The nice things is the Botswana game is going to mean something again. Now we’ve got to hope and pray.”

BOLLOCKZ! My new show on www.ballz.co.uk. Tune in by live stream or app, from anywhere in the world, 10am-noon every Thursday. Follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol and see our backers www.topodds.com for the latest sports betting!

Not a blog, a diary: eNCAnews video, "Bollockz" launches on Ballz, Bidvest on the Sunderland shirt and Umlazi Bush Bucks revisited!

HERE'S the eNCAnews interview about the Ethiopia situation we recorded on July 17... before Danny Jordaan comments about the situation yesterday. It offers a brief explanation of how the story broke.We await the FIFA verdict with several options now open.

Will it be THREE points or SIX the Walya Antelopes lose? Gordon Igesund, the Bafana coach, told me on my brand new Ballz radio show this morning that "at least three points" will be docked from Group A leaders Ethiopia for playing ineligible Minyahile Teshome Beyene.

The Ethiopian Football Federation admitted to the "grave blunder" when they used twice-booked Beyene against Botswana a fortnight ago - as my blog http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/ethiopia-full-sorry-truth-about-blunder.html reveals.

But SAFA vice-president Jordaan told me over lunch yesterday - http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/dannys-double-jeopardy-why-ethiopia.html?showComment=1371658298569 - that he believes they could be docked further points for using Beyene for the first 70 minutes in their dramatic 2-1 win over Bafana last Sunday.

Jordaan, who knows a thing or two about the workings of FIFA after running a highly-successful World Cup in South Africa three years ago, reckons: "A played is suspended until he has served his ban," but EFF sources are now claiming they had "permission from FIFA" to play Beyene against South Africa.

Sunderland's new kit:
Phetolo Patleswana (@jibu_za)
sent this via twitter

Three videos from today's launch of my new show "BOLLOCKZ" on Ballz radio this morning will be coming soon. With station founder Darren Scott holding my hand through my first day, I talked to new Bidvest Wits coach GAVIN HUNT - who revealed he is signing a "young Sunderland centre-half" to replace the departed Bafana and Portsmouth legend Aaron Mokoena. This follows the Clever Boys' link with the English Premier League club - see their new Black Cats shirt with the Bidvest logo (right).

Hunt has several more big names to unveil before the season starts - I'm privy to one or two major signings but let's leave that for a few weeks.

I also got hold of SuperSport United's new coach CAVIN JOHNSON just before he boarded a flight to Durban with his new club officials. As you may have read here http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/miracle-worker-cavin-johnson-leaves.html, Cavin finally made the appointment official yesterday. He confirmed the arrival of Thuso Phala from his old club Platinum Stars plus AmaTuks impressive Senegalese striker Mame Niang. And when I asked him if he was hopeful of finishing in a top four place, Cavin laughed: "Very confident!"

Bafana Bafana boss GORDON IGESUND came out of a meeting to close the show - he talked about the ups and downs of a week which started on Sunday with shattered World Cup dreams but may end with qualification assured if FIFA decide to dock Ethiopia the full six points.

Gordon said: "I won't be making major changes for the final Group A game against Botswana here on September 6. I've got the COSAFA Cup to try out some new faces."

I'll be posting videos of those interviews later. As for ROGER DE SA my opening no-show, I've only got an SMS: "Sorry, training!" We'll have a go at getting the under-pressure Orlando Pirates coach on air next week.

Thanks to the support from my followers on Facebook and Twitter - now a combined army of over 11,000 - and if you missed it this morning, listen to the show every Thursday 10am-noon on www.ballz.co.za or download their app! Oh, and this from @mycousin1975 (Chris, a Geordie with African roots) on twitter after mention was made of my old club Umlazi Bush Bucks. I've identified a few of the characters:

Blast from the past: the Umlazi Bush Bucks title winning outfit from
circa 1985, featuring coach Clive Barker, owner Lawrence "Big Bear"
Ngubane (right), I think the goalkeeper was called Dave Watterson,
big signing from Wits at the time, Mark Tovey front right, and I reckon
the bloke next to big, beardie Brummie de Leur is Chilean Raul Gonzalez,
whose son Mark Dennis Gonzalez (named after Tovey and Dennis Wickes
(front) went on to play for Liverpool and Chile at 2010 World Cup!

Danny's Double Jeopardy: Why Ethiopia could lose SIX POINTS in the World Cup race (inludes all THREE possible tables)

MAKING A MEAL OF IT: lunch with Danny Jordaan

DANNY JORDAAN had no hesitation. When I put it to him that Ethiopia couldn’t be docked six points for failing to honour a ONE MATCH ban, he came straight out with it: “You’re completely wrong.”

Ever the cool football administrator, Jordaan explained: “That player is under suspension until he has served his sentence. He should not have played against Botswana and he should not have played against South Africa. Especially when the Ethiopia Federation already knew they had made a mistake.”

To there it is. SAFA’s president-elect Danny Jordaan, the man who engineered a massively successful 2010 World Cup, has spoken. I thought the fact that Minyahel Teshome Beyene had ignored a one-match ban to play against Botswana could only mean a maximum three-point deduction for the side currently top of CAF World Cup qualifying Group A.

But let’s face it. Jordaan, steeped in football politics for forty years, is the authority on these things.

And if he’s right, and FIFA decide to act against Ethiopia for fielding Beyene illegally in TWO successive World Cup qualifiers, South Africa are home and hosed as Group A winners.

As you can see from the three tables below, the task would then be complete for under-fire Gordon Igesund, who thought he was OUT of the World Cup in our distraught Sunday night phone call.

Under the “Danny Double Jeopardy” (table number 3) South Africa would have a four-point cushion if FIFA give them a 3-0 win rather than the 1-2 defeat they actually suffered on Sunday.

FIFA are refusing to comment on the case “while it is under scrutiny” but the admissions of guilt from EFF president Sahilu Gebremariam and vice-president Berhanu Kebede seem to suggest the case is proven. They can hardly claim “mistaken identity” now, which is the only defence left to them according to Jordaan.

All that remains is for FIFA to make the pronouncement. They will also be asked to scrutinise two further allegations – that Dean Furman was spat at in the face and that the Ethiopian No5 was booked twice in the match but not sent off.

However this turns out, September 6 will be an interesting day. Ethiopia go to the Central African Republic knowing only off-field blunders might have denied them a place in the play-offs for Brazil 2014. South Africa play Botswana knowing many feel they don’t deserve to top the group.

But whoever ends in that coveted spot will know that a final significant hurdle remains. To reach the World Cup, African group leaders, uniquely, have to play off against each other. And with teams like Egypt, Algeria and the Ivory Coast lurking, Brazil remains a hope rather than a certainty.

CAF World Cup qualifying Group A as it stands:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 4 1 0 8 3 +5 13  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3

How the table will look if FIFA act on Botswana game:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 3 1 1 6 5 +1 10  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 2 1 2 7 6 +1 7  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3 How the table will look if FIFA act on BOTH games:

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
South Africa	5	3	2	0	10	2	+8	11
Ethiopia	5	2	1	2	4	7	-3	7
Botswana	5	2	1	2	7	6	+1	7
Central African Republic	5	1	0	4	4	10	−6	3

Proof that should cheer all Bafana Bafana fans: why Ethiopia WILL lose three points in CAF World Cup qualifying Group A.

Booked up: Minyahile Teshome Beyene's yellow cards
(with thanks to Joe Crann/Laduma)

THERE’S no getting around the fact South Africa’s highly-paid footballers were beaten 2-1 by Ethiopia’s highly-enthusiastic semi-professionals in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

It’s not as if Bafana Bafana were outplayed. Bernard Parker’s exquisite opener was cancelled out by the Lions just before half-time but for most of the second period it was Gordon Igesund’s men who looked the more likely to take the three points necessary to (hopefully) qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next year.

But then came that unbelievable own goal from Parker – videos of his headed effort from 18 yards past Kaizer Chiefs’ club-mate Itumeleng Khune have flashed around the world – and as Igesund told me after the game: “You simply can’t legislate for that kind of thing, you know.”

But now we have a development. Shortly after the game, I found this statement on the official FIFA website while having a look at the miserable Group A table: “FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against three member associations for each having allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil."

Togo and Guinea were mentioned, but this is the sentence that drew my eye: “The Ethiopian Football Association allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the match between Botswana and Ethiopia on 8 June 2013."

And then we were off. A quick check of Ethiopia’s team in their opening matches revealed that Minyahile Teshome Beyene is the man in question. And here's why.

He was booked in Ethiopia’s first game against South Africa in June2012 and in their third, against Botswana at home in March; the little yellow cards appear clear as a bell next to his name. As in any group qualifying format under FIFA rules, Beyene should have been suspended for his nation’s next game, the vital away win in Botswana.

But he wasn’t. Somebody made a boo-boo. Perhaps, with AFCON between the two cautions, the first card had been forgotten. As I thrashed twitter with this information, a fuming Igesund – with his head on the block in Addis Ababa - sent me a link to the original FIFA story.

I immediately informed him of my findings. Open and shut case. Under under FIFA Disciplinary Code 55, sanction for fielding an "ineligible" or banned player is 3pts deduction and a €6000 fine. Suddenly, the door to Brazil had been re-opened. Just a touch.

On the telephone after frantic SMSes, Gordon said: "If we'd known about this BEFORE the game I would have played for the draw! I went out trying to win, we played a very open style. I don’t believe this!”

Igesund, still raging after a game which saw a frequent flow of nasty challenges, added: "Dean Furman was spat at, right in the face and their number five was BOOKED TWICE and not sent off!

“And what about that unbelievable own goal? Look, I’ve got to congratulate Ethiopia for the win. Only now we might still have some hope, better to have a slight chance than none at all when we play Botswana in our last game."

If Ethiopia ARE deducted three points (and the usual 3-0 defeat), it means Bafana must beat Botswana in their final game at home and hope Ethiopia draw in the Central African Republic (or at a neutral venue given the troubles in Bangui), both games due to be played on September 6. Goal difference will put South Africa through in that situation.

Then there are the play-offs, five of them, pitting groups winners against group winners, a peculiar torture unique to Africa. Teams like Algeria, the Ivory Coast, Egypt and Tunisia will go in to the hat along with (probably) Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Ghana. But a glimmer of hope, as Gordon said, is better than none.

Kirsten Nematandani, the SAFA president, yesterday confirmed he would “wait patiently” for the results of the FIFA investigation. And he insisted: “We had nothing to do with the naming of this player.”

The social networks have been abuzz since I broke this story on Sunday night with Gordon’s quotes – as I write, over 5,000 have “hit” the story on my blog (http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/world-cup-heartbreak-bafana-bafana.html but a warning: also contains video of THAT Parker own goal). Many suggest Ethiopia are full value to go to Brazil next year, that they don’t deserve Bafana to sneak past on a technicality.

I’m not one of them. Ethiopia used every trick in the book on Sunday. As Dean Furman and Itumeleng Khune. If – and it’s still a sizeable if – Bafana end up on top of Group A on September 6, I will weep no tears for the Ethiopians. This is about attitude, not altitude.

World Cup heartbreak: Bafana Bafana beaten by the greatest headed own goal you are ever likely to witness

Somewhere amid the wreckage of South Africa’s failed World Cup campaign, we must pick up the pieces and assess the real value of Ethiopia’s quite unbelievable 2-1 win over brave Bafana Bafana on Sunday.


NOTE: Breaking News of Ethiopia possible points deduction at the foot of this story.

It was never about altitude. It was about attitude. And Gordon Igesund’s men had that in spades in lofty Addis Ababa. The opening goal from Bernard Parker gave the nation hope, the real prospect of a THIRD weekend success after highly-fortunate results for both our cricketers in Cardiff and our rugby team in Mbombela.

Then came the Ethiopia equaliser minutes before half-time. Hearts in mouths time. Anything less than a win wasn’t going to be enough for South Africa, with Botswana at home to come while the Ethiopians would be left to beat bottom-of-the-group Central African Republic.

Yes for fully 20 minutes, Bafana outplayed the home side, despite a raucous gathering of 25,000 inside the stadium and 10,000 outside. The winner looked like it would come at any moment.

Tokela Rantie, the Malmo striker curiously ejected by Orlando Pirates, very nearly scored with his first series of touches when he came on as a substitute. The Ethiopians, hacking down any South African on the run, were giving away copious free-kicks in dangerous positions.

The Ethiopians, workmanlike at best in their enthusiasm to qualify for a first every World Cup, were just not threatening. Until one of the most bizarre moments you are every likely to see in football. The cross comes in. Parker rises to clear. But the ball pinged off his head at pace from fully 18 yards to nestle in the corner of his Kaizer Chiefs club-mate Itumeleng Khune’s net.

There are own goal and there are own goals. I, personally, have scored several in my low level career. Seen plenty at all levels. But never quite one as devastatingly accurate as Parker’s mis-cued header.

Few sides would recover from such a blow. The ghost of unpaid sangomas immediately appeared over Igesund’s brave effort to overcome that chaotic start  to Group A, with Pitso Mosimane failing to beat Ethiopia at home before caretaker Steve Komphela’s draw against Botswana in Gaborone.

For all the huff and puff at the end, looking for an equaliser which would have only made elimination more painful, there was never going to be a miracle in the chaotic final 15, with Ethiopians queueing up for the time-wasting stretcher and ball-boys throwing the ball the wrong way.

And so it was done. Gordon was there at the end, saying things like “We did all we could, I can’t fault the players for their effort” with Khune, the man who has raised time-wasting to an art form, complaining about… erm time-wasting.

Afterwards we had Dean Furman, who has single-handedly revived the art of the slide tackle, telling the nation how sorry he was on twitter. And also pointing out that the one of the Ethiopians had spat in his face.

It was not a great end to Father’s Day, Soweto Day, Youth Day… whatever you want to call it. And there were the predictable calls for heads to roll. Personally I think Gordon Igesund deserves more time to finish what he started.

The improvement in Bafana’s form is hard to ignore. Sunday’s bizarre defeat came at the end of an eight-match unbeaten run in competition for Igesund. There were real positives, a good spirit in the camp.

But nothing can persuade a broken-hearted nation that our footballers fell short only because they lacked the luck on show when the Proteas sneaked a tie with the West Indies to progress in the ICC Champions Trophy or the Springboks benefited from a yellow card and a penalty try against Scotland the brave on the lowveld on Saturday.

Now we must look at what Ethiopia have to do to actually make it to Brazil and the World Cup next year. Côte d'Ivoire – with their Toure brothers and vast array of European stars - and seven-time AFCON winners Egypt are already through.

The Ivorians came back from behind to beat Tanzania 4-2 with Manchester City’s African Player of the Year scoring twice to leave Morocco short despite a 2-0 win over Gambia.

Ghana, another of the African heavyweights, will probably join them in the last ten after their 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru thanks to goals from Christian Atsu and captain Asamoah Gyan. They need a draw with 2012 AFCON champions Zambia to get through.

North African giants Tunisia and Algeria are also in the shake-up, with Gabon, the Congo and Burkina Faso making Group E impossible to call. Where does this leave Ethiopia, the world’s 105^th ranked side, in the shake-up?

Well, struggling to be honest. Depending how the draw works out, we’re looking at CAF succeeding as planned. The people Danny Jordaan describes as “the Arab powerhouses” look nailed on for Brazil. Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia…along with the Ivory Coast and Libya, who look like they’re going to oust Cameroon in Group I. And then we have the Ivory Coast and reigning AFCON champions Nigeria, who should see off Malawi in Group F.

It’s not a good time for Southern African teams… or English-speaking African nations. Issa Hayatou will shed no tears for us.


But there may still be hope: this just dropped on FIFA.COM:

FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against three member associations for each having allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

The Ethiopian Football Association allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the match between Botswana and Ethiopia on 8 June 2013.

Link to full story here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2110660/index.html

Player concerned is Minyahile Teshome Beyene, booked in first game against South Africa and against Botswana at home. He should have been suspended for win in Botswana. Gordon Igesund sent me a link to the story above last night after I'd posted this. He said: "If we'd known about this BEFORE the game I would have played for the draw! I went out trying to win, we played a veryopen style.

"Dean Furman was spat at, right in the face and their number five was BOOKED TWICE! Unbelievable own goal did for us. But hey, better to have a slight chance than none at all when we play Botswana in our last game."


Under under FIFA Disciplinary Code 55, sanction for fielding "ineligible" or banned player is 3pts deduction & €6000 fine.

If Ethiopia are deducted three points, it means Bafana must beat Botswana in their final game and hope Ethiopia draw in the Central African Republic. Then there are the play-offs. But a glimmer of hope, as Gordon said, is better than none.

If Ethiopia ARE deducted three points, it means Bafana must beat Botswana in their final game at home and hope Ethiopia draw in the Central African Republic (or at a neutral venue given the troubles in Bangui), both games due to be played on September 6.

Then there are the play-offs, five of them, pitting groups winners against group winners, a peculiar torture unique to Africa. But a glimmer of hope, as Gordon said, is better than none.

Kirsten Nematandani, the SAFA president, yesterday confirmed he would “wait patiently” for the results of the FIFA investigation. And he insisted: “We had nothing to do with the naming of this player.”

We wait. And hope.