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Ivory Coast

Côte d’Ivoire have become the first team to reach the quarter finals in the Africa Cup of Nations. They defeated Ghana 3-1 on Friday.

The Elephants were reduced to 10-men after defender Emmanuel Eboue was red-carded for a tackle from behind on Opoku Agyemang. The other two teams in the Group B – Burkina Faso and Ghana will clash Tuesday to decide the second qualifier from the Group. Togo, the 4th country from the group, withdrew from the tournament after their bus was attacked by terrorists.

Kouassi Yao put the Ivorians ahead midway through the first half.  He scored from a direct free-kick. Ghana pulled one back during stoppage-time through an Asamoah Gyan penalty.

Ivory Coast Captain – Drogba commented:

“We’re all relieved. We were consistent from the start. Even if we had difficulties we succeeded in remaining solid and performing the counter attacks.”

Ghana started with a second rate team with almost eight of the first-choice players missing. Defenders John Pantsil and John Mensah, midfielders Anthony Annan, Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Laryea Kingson and Sulley Muntari and striker Asamoah Gyan.

The driver has been killed and several players were injured when the bus carrying the Togo national football team was ambushed in Angola.

The Togo Football team are in Angola to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on Sunday. However, after this severe attack the tournament might postponed or called off. Togo may pull out of the tourney after two of their players were injured. The attack lasted for around 15 to 20 minutes. Togolese and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor is safe but is visibly shaken by the terror strike.

Togo National Team

The team will decide whether they want to continue with the tournament or not. Defender Serge Akakpo was injured with about 2 bullets in his back. His condition is said to be stable. The other player injured was goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, a bullet pierced his kidney.

This terror attack has also cast a shadow over the World Cup finals which are set to be held later this year, in June, in South Africa.

One of the team members commented:

“We had just crossed the border. We had filled in the border formalities and were surrounded by police. Everything was fine. Then there was a powerful burst of gunfire. Everyone dived under the seats and the police fired back.”

“It felt like war had broken out. It’s shocking. When we got off the bus we were asking ourselves what was up. The official in charge of communications also stopped a bullet – he lost a lot of blood.”

Togo are supposed to play Ghana on Monday.

English Premiership

7th January 2010

• Liverpool have signed Maxi Rodriguez
  The Reds have managed to sign the Argentine midefielder from Atletico Madrid for a 1.5mil pounds deal. The 29-year-old has penned a 18-month contract. He will now join his national team captain Javier Mascherano and former A. Madrid team-mate Fernando Torres.

2nd January 2010

• Liverpool need a right-back
  Benitez is looking for a replacement for Glen Johnson, who could miss up to two months with his knee injury and has set his eyes on Greece international full-back Vasil Torosidis.

1st January 2010

• Chelsea to buy David Villa for 40mil pounds
  The Blues are looking for a replacement for Didier Drogba, who is going to participate in this months African Cup of Nations. Chelsea are looking at the Valencia striker to boost their chances of winning the Premiership.
• Liverpool looking to get Maxi Rodriguez
  The Reds are targeting Atletico Madrid’s Maxi Rodriguez for a loan deal, ahead of Real Madrid’s striker Van Nistelrooy.

30th December 2009

• Van Nistelroy loan deal for Liverpool
  Benitez is set to sign a loan deal for Real’s striker. By signing Van Nistelroy, Rafa looks to strenghten his strike force. He also hopes for a full contract for the Dutchman.
• Nemanja Vidic might be off to Real Madrid
  Real are keen on Vidic and are ready for a swoop deal. Manchester United are commanding a 30mil pound price and have also pinpointed Simon Kjaer as his replacement. The other replacement candidates are Bruno Alves and Jack Rodwell

28 December 2009

• Bolton looking to sign veteran Real Madrid midfielder- Guti.
  According to Mirrorfootball, Bolton manager Gary Megson is making a sensational bid to sign Real Madrid legend Guti on loan for the rest of the season. Guti has been out of favour at Real and was told he could find a new club. Guti would cost around £2million in wages for half-a-season. Bolton hope to pull off the deal quickly to get Guti on board and playing after his own stop-start season and they will be attempting to get him in at the beginning of the month rather than at the end.
• Fernando Torres is ready to quit Liverpool if they fail to finish in the top four this season.
  Rafa Benitez has already turned down a £70million bid from Manchester City and earlier Chelsea’s bid for the Spanish star. Torres left his boyhood team Atletico Madrid because they could not match his Champions League and trophy- winning dreams. Now with Liverpool’s slump, Torres might have to accept the offers coming his way, to fulfil his trophy ambitions.
• Arsenal might sign City’s Craig Bellamy
  The Welsh star had apparently led a protest against the sacking of coach Mark Hughes and was left on the bench by new manager Mancini for the club’s recent win. Arsenal on the other hand are lloking to strenghten their strike-force after Van Persie’s injury.
• Rafael Benitez eyeing Goran Pandev
  Liverpool keen on signing Lazio’s striker Goran Pandev in a free transfer, next month. The 26-year-old recently won a batle against the club, unwilling to sell him for less than £18million. Benitez will have to sell Dutchman Ryan Babel to come up with the cash to buy in the next transfer window. Other players on their way out will be Ukrain’s Andrei Voronin and Italy’s Andrea Dossena and the Swiss Philipp Degen.
• Stoke want to buy Ryan Babel
  Manager Tony Pulis wants to strengthen his squad and is looking to buy Liverpool’s out-of-favour player, Babel (left wing, forward). He also has his sights set on Villa’s Emile Heskey(striker) and Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones (striker).

Spanish Premira Liga

2nd January 2010

• Real Madrid to bid for Rooney
  The Galacticos are calculating a £60million bid for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. Real’s star player and ex-United man- Ronaldo has publically acknowledged many-a-time that he would like Rooney to come to Spain.

30th December 2009

• David Silva to Barcelona?
  Barcelona are still keen on signing Fabregas during this transfer window. Another player they look to buy is David Villa. With Henry leaving he would be a potential replacement for the Frenchman.

One of the most talked about transfers probables of this season- Sergio Aguero has committed his future to his current club Atletico Madrid.

He told Atletico Madrid’s official website:

“I am aware that there are always rumours about my future, but actually I am isolated from everything.”

He said that he has always been committed to Atletico and that everybody knows it. He also added not to pay much attention to what comes out.

“I am happy to be spending my fourth year at Atletico Madrid. I realise that I have learned many things both on and off the field during my time here.”

Atletico had finished fourth in La Liga last time round are now currently in the 15th spot – just two points above the relegation zone. Aguero commented on this saying:

“We have not started the season well. The situation now is not good, but we must realise that we are practically the same players from last season except the odd change. We are the ones we have to look at the situation the team is in and pull forward, because we have no choice.”