ROCKERSPORTS

NIGERIA NA GHANA ZAANZA VIZURI KUWANIA KUFUZU MATAIFA YA AFRICA African favourites record easy wins
Ghana and Nigeria had straightforward wins in their first qualifying matches for the 2012 African Nations Cup today.

In Lobamba, the Black Stars, the pick of the continent's representatives at the World Cup in South Africa two months ago when they reached the quarter-finals, ran out 3-0 winners over Swaziland.

Andre Ayew gave them the lead after 13 minutes, before further strikes from Prince Tagoe (70) and Hans Sarpei (81) saw them ease to a win that moves them above Sudan at the top of Group I.

Nigeria, who managed just one point in a disappointing World Cup campaign, bounced back with a 2-0 triumph over Madagascar in Calabar, thanks to goals from Obafemi Martins (19) and Michael Eneramo (45).

But the win was only good enough to put them second in Group B, behind Guinea after they thrashed Ethiopia 4-1 in Addis Ababa.

It was no easy ride for the visitors, though, who fell behind after Umed Ukuri struck on the half-hour mark.

But once Ibrahima Yattara scored after 37 minutes, it was one way traffic for Syli National.

The Trabzonspor striker netted on half time to hand his side the lead and further goals from Karamoko Cisse (60) and Kamil Zayatte (75) saw Guinea ease to victory.

In Group A, Liberia and Zimbabwe played out a 1-1 draw that leaves them playing catch-up behind leaders Cape Verde Islands, who upset Mali 1-0 yesterday.

Zambia took charge of Group C after thrashing Comoros 4-0 in Lusaka - in a game that was delayed for 24 hours due to the late arrival of the match officials.

Rainford Kalaba put the hosts ahead after five minutes and further strikes from Fwayo Tembo (30) and James Chamanga (40) saw them cruise into the break 3-0 ahead.

Emmanuel Mayuka (83) added a fourth goal late on to help the Chipolopolo ease home.

In the group's other game, Mozambique and Libya played out a goalless draw in Maputo.

Mamadou Niang hit a hat-trick in a six-goal clash in Lubumbashi as Senegal ran out 4-2 winners over DR Congo.

Moussa Sow put the visitors in front after three minutes and they never looked back.

Niang scored in the 10th and 19th minutes before completing his treble with a penalty in the 68th minute.

The hosts were never really in the game despite Patou Kabangu (44 and 83) netting a brace.

Cameroon head Group E after beating Mauritius yesterday.

The Group F match between Gambia and Namibia in Banjul was postponed, while Cedric Amissi struck five minutes from time in Group H to help Burundi snatch an unlikely 1-1 draw in Benin.

Mickael Pote opened the scoring after just two minutes in Cotonou and with the home side set to take all the points, Amissi ensured there was a twist at the death.

African champions Egypt were almost stunned by Sierra Leone in Cairo and had to come from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw.

The Pharaohs trailed to a Alhassan Bangura strike after 56 minutes, but Mahmoud Fathallah equalised four minutes later to set up a frantic finish.

But it was not to be for Hassan Shehata's team, who eventually failed in their search for a winner.

They must now play catch-up in Group G after South Africa won their opening match against Niger yesterday.

AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS
Ivory Coast na Cameroon zapeta
Heavyweights katika bara la afrika katika soka timu za mataifa ya Cameroon na Ivory Coast wameanza vizuri michezo yao ya awali ya kuwania kufuzu kwa fainali za mataifa ya afrika baada ya kuaanza kwa ushindi katika michezo yao waliyocheza hapo jana huku timu za mataifa ya Mali na Togo wakianza vibaya mbio hizo za kuelekea katika fainali za mataifa hayo ya Afrika ambazo fainali zake zitapigwa mwaka 2012 katika nchi mbili washirika katika kuandaa za Equatorial Guinea na Gabon
Ivory coast ikiwa na kocha mpya Francois Zahoui kwa mara ya kwanza akiwa katika mchezo wa kimashindano hakuwa na kazi kubwa kuifunga timu ya taifa ya Rawanda

Katika nusu ya kwanza ya mchezo bao la kwanza likiwekwa dimbani na kiungo Yaya Toure anaye kipiga na klabu ya Manchester City, bao lapili likifungwa na Salomon Kalou anayechezea klabu ya Chelsea huku bao la tatu likifungwa na Emmanuel Eboue anayekipigwa na na klabu ya Arsenal imeifanya Coart de voure kuibuka na ushindi huo mnono wa mabao hayo 3-0 katika mchezo uliochezwa katika jiji la Abidjan na wenyeji kujiweka katika hali nzuri katika kundi la H.

Katika jiji la Bellevue kocha mwingine mpya aliyepata kibarua cha kukinoa kikosi cha timu ya taifa ya Camerron mhispania Javier Clemente naye ameanza vizuri na kupata kumbukumbu nzuri ya kuanza kazi kwa ushindi baada ya ushindi wa mabao 3-1 dhidi ya waliokuwa wenyeji wa mchezo Mauritius.
Bao la kwanza likianza kuwekwa kimiani na nyota mshambuliaji wa Inter Milan ya Italia Samuel Eto'o kunako dakika ya 36 ya mchezo kabla ya wenyeji kupata bao la kuswazisha kupitia kwa Jonathan Bru dakika nne baadaye. Hata hivyo nahodha wa Indomitable Lions extended the lead two minutes baada ya mapumziko kabla ya Eric Choupo-Moting kunako dakika ya 60 kuandika bao la tatu na la mwisho katika mchezo huo na kuwapa faraja wageni kujiweka katika mazingira ya kufanya vizuri toka katika kundi la E.

Togo ikicheza bila ya kuwa na mshambuliaji wao nyota aliyeamua kuachana na soka la kimataifa Emmanuel Adebayor imejikuta ikiangukia pua kwa kichapo cha mabao 2-1 toka kwa Botswana na kuifanya timu hiyo ya taifa kufikisha jumla ya michezo mitatu ikipoteza mfululizo . Joel Mogorosi katika dakika ya sita ya mchezo alifanikiwa kuandika bao la kwanza kwa wenyeji waliokuwa katika jiji la Gaborone kabla ya kiungo wa Togo Serge Gakpe kusawazisha kunako dakika ya 45. Hata hivyo Jerome Ramatlhkwane alifanikiwa kuwaandikia wenyeji bao la pili katika dakika ya 56 ambao sasa wamekalia usukani wa kundi hilo la K wakiwa na points 10 baada ya michezo minne huku Togo katika michezo iliyopita wakipata sare.

Katika mchezo mwingine wa kundi hilo timu ya taifa ya Tunisia imeendelea kuweweseka kwa mara nyingine tena baada ya kupata sare ya mabao 2-2 dhidi ya Malawi. Wenyeji ndo waliokuwa wa kwanza kupata mabao mawili ya chap chap kupitia kwa Issam Jemaa kunako dakika za 11 na 27 lakini hata hivyo Malawi kupitia kwa Chiukepo Msowoya kunako dakika ya 45 kabla ya Essau Kanyenda kunako dakika ya 82 kufanikiwa kusawazisha baada ya kufanikiwa kupata penati.

Uganda wakiwa nyumba ni nchini Uganda katika dimba la Mandela wamefanikiwa kuwashitua wenyeji wa michuano ya mataifa ya Afrika mwaka huu timu ya taifa ya Angola kwa kuwachapa cha jumla ya mabao 3-0 mabao yakifungwa na mshambuliaji David Obua kunako dakika ya 35 na bao linguine likifungwa na Andrew Mwesigwa kunako dakika ya 58 huku Geoffrey Sserunkuma akiikamilisha bao la tatu kunako dakika ya 87

Wenyeji wa kombe la dunia 2010 Afrika Kusini wao wamepata ushindi mwepesi tu wa mabao 2-0 dhidi ya Niger huku mabao yakifungwa na Katlego Mphela kunako dakika y 12 ya mchezo na Bernard Parker kunako dakika ya 45 . kumbuka Afrika kusini maarufu kama bafana bafana sasa iko chini ya kocha huyu ni Pitso Mosimane ambaye anakazi ya kuhakikisha Afrika Kusini inafuzu kutokea katika kundi la G kundi ambalo lina mabingwa wa bara hili la Afrika ambao wao wako dimbani hii leo baada ya futuru.

Katika kundi I, Sudan wameanza vizuri kampeni zao baada ya kupata ushindi wa mabao 2-0 dhidi ya Congo. Mabao yakifungwa na Montasser Careca katika dakika ya tisa ya mchezo kabla ya bao la pili la njia ya mkwaju wa penati likifungwa na Mudathir Al-Tahir kunako dakika ya (90) mchezo ukipigwa katika jiji la Khartoum.

Katika kundi F Gambia wameanza vizuri kwa ushindi wa mabao 3-1 dhidi ya Namibia huku Kundi J Guinea-Bissau wakiwapa mshituko wakenya kwa ushindi wa bao 1-0 na katika kundi A timu ya taifa ya Mali imepoteza mchezo wake baada ya kibano cha bao 1-0 toka kwa timu ya kisiwa cha Cape Verde na kundi D mchezo kati ya Morocco dhidi ya Central African Republic umemalizika kwa sare ya bila mabao na kumbuka hili ndilo kundi la timu ya taifa ya Tanzania sasa utaona ni namna gani kundi hilo hili lilivyoanza kwa hali ya ugumu

EURO 2012 NEWS
ROONEY ANAJIPANGA KUREJEA KIKOSINI UINGEREZA
Wayne Rooney anatarajia kusalia katika kikosi cha timu ya taifa ya uingereza kwa ajili ya mchezo wa kuwania kufuzu fainali za mataifa ya ulaya 2010 mchezo dhidi ya Switzerland utakao pigwa jumanne hii ni baada ya shutuma kutawala katika vyombo vya habari juu ya maisha yake binafsi.
Kulikuwa na tetesi za chini chini kuwa huenda Rooney akaondoka katika kikosi cha timu ya taifa ya uingereza kutokana na taarifa zilizo zagaa katika vyombo vya habari hususan magazeti ya News of the World na Sunday Mirror, asubuhi ya leo alikuwa bado katika kikosi katika mazoezi ya ndani kitaalam yanaitwa “ behind closed doors”.
Taarifa toka ndani ya FA zinasema licha ya kuwa hakuna maamuzi yaliyofanywa juu yake kuna uwezekana wa mshambuliaji huyo kusafiri akiwa na kikosi cha timu ya taifa ya uingereza huku kukiwa na taarifa kuwa jana usiku kulikuwa na mazungumzo ya kina juu ya taarifa hizo zilizo vunjika zinazo muhusu Rooney.
Mazungumzo hayo yameendelea asubuhi ya leo lakini FA imeonekana kutokuwa na kia ya kuchukua hatua dhidi ya Rooney na inaonekana kutaka kumtetea mchezaji huyo kutokuondolewa kikosini
Endapo Rooney ataondoshwa kikosini ukijumlisha na kutokuwepo kwa Peter Crouch kufuatia majeruhi yanayo msibu ni wazi kuwa kocha Fabio Capello atakuwa amesaliwa na Darren Bent, Carlton Cole na Jermain Defoe kama washambuliaji.
Pengine litakuwa ni jambo la faraja kwa Capello kwa kuwa mshambuliaji wake Defoe ambaye alipiga “hat-trick” katika ushiondi wa mabao 4-0 dhidi ya Bulgaria kuachana na mpango wa upasuaji ili kushiriki michezo ya kuwania kufuzu mataifa ya ulaya.
Mtu wa karibu na meneja wa England amepenyeza umbe hapo jana ya kwamba kunatahadhari kubwa inachukuliwa juu ya uwezekano wa kutokuwepo kwa Defoe kwa kuwa klabu yake ya Totternham imeshatamka kuwa nyota huyo hatapatina kwa michezo ya timu ya taifa.