Africa Cup of Nations

IVORY COAST’S Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia ended in bizarre circumstances after the referee collapsed with just ten minutes to play.Official Charles Bulu left the field on a stretcher in the closing stages of Tuesday’s clash after he fell to the ground, with medics rushing to his aid.
Referee Charles Bulu collapsed to the floor during Ivory Coast’s clash against EthiopiaCredit: AFP
Bulu was seen walking on unsteady legs with both sets of players concerned about his welfareCredit: beIN Sports
The incident happened just after Ivory Coast went 3-1 up through Jean Kouassi’s strike.
A clip posted on social media showed Bulu walking on unsteady legs, with both sets of players ushering him towards the medical staff.
But Bulu failed to make it to the sidelines as he collapsed on to the floor, with the 34-year-old understood to have been swiftly taken to a local hospital for tests.
The Ghanaian was only taking charge of the match as the referee who had been scheduled to officiate the match tested positive for coronavirus.
Fourth official Koussi Biro was then expected to ref the final ten minutes, but he was ineligible as he is Ivorian.
After lengthy discussions, Kenyan linesman Gilbert Cheruiyot blew the final whistle in the 90th minute.
A statement from the Ethiopia Football Federation declared that there will be a decision on the outcome of the match shortly.
They said: “The game has been cancelled. The referee has been taken to hospital because he fell sick and fell on the field. CAF decision is expected.”
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Bulu fell to the ground with just ten minutes remaining in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifierCredit: AFP

Bulu was taken to a nearby hospital for tests after he collapsed during the matchCredit: beIN Sports
The fixture had no significance as both nations has already qualified for next year’s tournament.
Football fans were understandably worried about the health of Buku, as one tweeted: “Speedy recovery to Charles Bulu. I think he needs our prayers guys.”
Another messaged: “My heart goes out to Ghanaian referee, Charles Bulu who I understand collapsed in the 80th minute during the Ivory Coast vs Ethiopia tie. Speedy recovery, Charles!”
A third simply stated: “Get well soon, referee Charles Bulu.”
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PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has shocked fans by getting a new hair style on international duty.The Arsenal forward was sporting the fresh look on social media after Gabon qualified for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Aubameyang, 31, poses with his half-brother WillyCredit: Instagram @willy.aubameyang
The Arsenal star’s previous trimCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
The 31-year-old shared an Instagram story by Willy Aubameyang, his half-brother and former international colleague, featuring his new braids.
The 34-year-old tagged recording artists Travis Scott and Sean Paul in the post, a hint they were the inspiration behind the fresh trim.
His older sibling was also sporting the braids, jokingly captioning the post: “New song coming soon.”
While Aubameyang turning his hand at singing seems unlikely, he wouldn’t be the first footy star to give it a go.
Earlier this month, fellow forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic performed a duet with Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlovic at a music festival.
While there are doubts about Aubameyang’s music career, he is flourishing on the pitch – scoring and assisting in Gabon’s 3-0 win against DR Congo.
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Couldn’t care less about Aubameyang’s hair.Performances have to improve of course, but what does one thing have to do with another?Someone even said he should lose the captaincy😭😂Class hairstyle btw.— Jerome (@Klarence_o) March 26, 2021

Gabon’s qualification isn’t great news for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who is set to be without his captain for up to a MONTH when he participates in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament is set to be held between January 9 and February 6 next year.
Arteta’s relationship with Aubameyang hasn’t been great recently, dropping the forward for the north London derby against Tottenham.
The two are believed to have settled their differences, though, with Arteta wanting to ‘move forward’ and finish the season strongly.
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ETIENNE ETO’O proved that class runs in the family with an immaculate free-kick for Cameroon Under-20s.
As the son of Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o, the 18-year-old has a lot to live up to but is already showing his skill.

Etienne Eto’o hit a free-kick from 25 yards with the score goalless

The player’s first goal for his country was met with an emotional response

On the weekend, Etienne made his debut for his country’s youth team and had an instant impact.
After only seven minutes of the game against Mozambique U20s, he struck a fantastic free-kick that beat the goalkeeper from 25 yards.
In celebration, the young Eto’o broke down in tears while being mobbed by team-mates.
At the end of the first-half, he swept home a penalty to double his tally in the eventual 4-1 win.

Having sat on the bench for Cameroon’s opening two games of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, the teenager got his chance in the final group match as the team made it three wins from three.
Eto’o was born in Palma in 2002, during his dad’s four-year stint at Spanish club Mallorca, and is signed to Real Oviedo.
Samuel, 39, left the Balearic Islanders for Barcelona in 2004 and won three LaLiga titles and a pair of Champions Leagues with the Camp Nou giants while racking up 118 Cameroon caps.
Another Champions League arrived at Inter Milan and he enjoyed stints at Chelsea and Everton before retiring in 2019 with Qatar SC.

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I want to try and be better than my dad and I am always looking forward to stepping on the pitch and giving my best.
Etienne Eto’o

Etienne’s free-kick stunner was likened to a similarly fantastic set-piece goal from his dad for the Lions back in 2006.
The Eto’os are certainly an extensive footballing family with Samuel’s brothers David and Etienne also playing professionally.
And the young forward spoke of it being ‘natural’ for him to want to follow in their footsteps – and he is aiming to BEAT his dad’s prestigious record.
He told the Caf website: “I think sometimes it is natural that your father influences what you want to be in future.
“My father has played a huge role in my life and influenced me to take football as a career.
“For me, it doesn’t feel strange and it is nothing special really. I just have to enjoy who my dad is but also keep working hard for myself.

“There is always pressure in life whether or not you are the son of a famous person. But for me, I just try to enjoy my career and demonstrate to people that I can do it.
“My dad has played a huge influence in my life because I have always admired him and want to learn from him and continue in his steps. Always I want to be someone like him.
“I want to try and be better than him and I am always looking forward to stepping on the pitch and giving my best.
“Even though I know it is difficult to be better than my father, I want to work hard to achieve like him. He is always there to support me and give me advice.”
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ZIMBABWE have accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after a dead bat was found on the pitch of their African Nations Championship opener.
The discovery was made before the game in Yaounde, which tournament hosts Cameroon won 1-0.

Zimbabwe boss Zdravko Logarusic accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after finding a dead bat on the pitchCredit: Twitter

A photograph, via Goal, showed Zimbabwe’s Croatian boss Zdravko Logarusic kneeling next to the bat’s carcass, which was on the centre spot of the halfway line.
The tactician had a piece of paper next to the bat which read ‘Witchcraft in Cameroon’.
Whether it was intentional or not, Zimbabwe ended up suffering defeat at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in front of Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Cameroon’s Salomon Banga popped up 18 minutes from time to score a winning overhead kick to send the quarter-full stadium of home fans into raptures.

But despite accusing Cameroon of witchcraft before kick-off, Logarusic was upbeat at the final whistle.
The Zimbabwe gaffer told Caf: “We will try our best to see how things go.
“We have tried our best as the technical team to give most players in the top flight a chance to prove themselves.
“We will certainly try our best. We need to improve in every area of the game and hopefully we will be in better shape as a team.

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Zimbabwe lost their opening African Nations match to the hosts 1-0Credit: Rex Features

“The players haven’t played football for eight, nine months and every aspect of their game needs to be improved.”
Incidentally, Cameroon were accused of dark arts at the 2002 Afcon before their semi-final with Mali.
Coach Winfried Schafer and goalkeeping coach Thomas Knono were both arrested after allegedly putting a charm on the field.

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ZIMBABWE have accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after a dead bat was found on the pitch of their African Nations Championship opener.
The discovery was made before the game in Yaounde, which tournament hosts Cameroon won 1-0.

Zimbabwe boss Zdravko Logarusic accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after finding a dead bat on the pitchCredit: Twitter

A photograph, via Goal, showed Zimbabwe’s Croatian boss Zdravko Logarusic kneeling next to the bat’s carcass, which was on the centre spot of the halfway line.
The tactician had a piece of paper next to the bat which read ‘Witchcraft in Cameroon’.
Whether it was intentional or not, Zimbabwe ended up suffering defeat at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in front of Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Cameroon’s Salomon Banga popped up 18 minutes from time to score a winning overhead kick to send the quarter-full stadium of home fans into raptures.

But despite accusing Cameroon of witchcraft before kick-off, Logarusic was upbeat at the final whistle.
The Zimbabwe gaffer told Caf: “We will try our best to see how things go.
“We have tried our best as the technical team to give most players in the top flight a chance to prove themselves.
“We will certainly try our best. We need to improve in every area of the game and hopefully we will be in better shape as a team.

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Zimbabwe lost their opening African Nations match to the hosts 1-0Credit: Rex Features

“The players haven’t played football for eight, nine months and every aspect of their game needs to be improved.”
Incidentally, Cameroon were accused of dark arts at the 2002 Afcon before their semi-final with Mali.
Coach Winfried Schafer and goalkeeping coach Thomas Knono were both arrested after allegedly putting a charm on the field.

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ZIMBABWE have accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after a dead bat was found on the pitch of their African Nations Championship opener.
The discovery was made before the game in Yaounde, which tournament hosts Cameroon won 1-0.

Zimbabwe boss Zdravko Logarusic accused Cameroon of WITCHCRAFT after finding a dead bat on the pitchCredit: Twitter

A photograph, via Goal, showed Zimbabwe’s Croatian boss Zdravko Logarusic kneeling next to the bat’s carcass, which was on the centre spot of the halfway line.
The tactician had a piece of paper next to the bat which read ‘Witchcraft in Cameroon’.
Whether it was intentional or not, Zimbabwe ended up suffering defeat at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in front of Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Cameroon’s Salomon Banga popped up 18 minutes from time to score a winning overhead kick to send the quarter-full stadium of home fans into raptures.

But despite accusing Cameroon of witchcraft before kick-off, Logarusic was upbeat at the final whistle.
The Zimbabwe gaffer told Caf: “We will try our best to see how things go.
“We have tried our best as the technical team to give most players in the top flight a chance to prove themselves.
“We will certainly try our best. We need to improve in every area of the game and hopefully we will be in better shape as a team.

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Zimbabwe lost their opening African Nations match to the hosts 1-0Credit: Rex Features

“The players haven’t played football for eight, nine months and every aspect of their game needs to be improved.”
Incidentally, Cameroon were accused of dark arts at the 2002 Afcon before their semi-final with Mali.
Coach Winfried Schafer and goalkeeping coach Thomas Knono were both arrested after allegedly putting a charm on the field.

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