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African Roundup FIFA bans Somalia boss for two yearsPosted: Monday January 20, 2003 12:52 PMZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Farah Weheliye Addo, president of the Somali Football Federation, has been banned from soccer two years following comments he made against FIFA president Sepp Blatter last year, the world governing body said on Monday. FIFA said the sanction related to comments made by Addo in February 2002 citing "irregular financial practices that were intended to assist the election of Blatter to the FIFA president in 1998." FIFA said Addo had made accusations against Executive Committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam, of Qatar, and questioned the integrity of Blatter. Addo had been unable to produce evidence to FIFA's Disciplinary Committee when asked to substantiate his claims, FIFA added. MOROCCONew recruit Moussa Souleymane marked his arrival at Raja Casablanca with the only goal of the game in a classic Moroccan derby against Wydad Casablanca on Sunday. It was Raja's second league win of the season only and saved Belgian coach Walter Meeuws his job. The result lifted Raja, who were runners-up in last year's African Champions League, away from their previously perilous position near the foot of the standings. Raja ended their recent run of poor form with a vital win in the 93rd derby between Morocco's two biggest clubs, pushing themselves up the standings and dragging Wydad down to third position. Meeuws, the former Belgium manager, had threatened to resign if Raja lost the game but his position was saved by the new Nigerian signing Souleymane, who made an immediate impact with the club. More than 50,000 watched the match, which had been described in the build-up as one of the least anticipated meetings between the two rivals over the last years. Raja's indifferent form, coming after a bruising Champions League campaign, had Wydad as the runaway favorites in the Moroccan press in the days before Sunday's game. Wydad's Argentine coach Luis-Oscar Fullone had predicted a 3-0 win for his team ahead of the game, which would have been the first such margin of victory since 1957. But Raja's victory was hailed on Monday as a return to form and the result meant Wydad were overtaken by COD Meknes in the standings. Meknes won 1-0 at home to Tihad Sportif on Sunday to reclaim second place. Leaders Hassania Agadir stretched their lead to three points on Saturday when Hassan Ouchrif's first-half goal gave them a 1-0 win at home to Fath Rabat. Agadir, who are the defending champions, now have 24 points from 12 games, three more than Meknes. Wydad are third in the standings with 19 points but have a game in hand. SOUTH AFRICA Orlando Pirates retained their lead at the head of the South African premier league standings at the weekend but their top-of-the-table clash with second-placed SuperSport United petered out into a goalless draw. Leaders Pirates and SuperSport United met in a top-of-the-table league clash for the second time in a fortnight and again the result was inconclusive after a goalless draw at Phokeng on Saturday. Pirates remain two points ahead and have played two matches fewer than their nearest rivals but could have put a lot more distance between themselves and the chasing pack had they converted their chances in the weekend's game. Lamontville Golden Arrows moved third after winning 1-0 away at Jomo Cosmos on Sunday with a goal from Swaziland international Siza Dlamini while Mamelodi Sundowns slipped down the table after a third successive defeat in the premier league. A surprise 1-0 home loss in Pretoria to Wits University on Sunday put added pressure on Brazilian coach Djalma Cavalcante, who took over the side in November. Kaizer Chiefs stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 matches with a 2-0 away win at Ajax Cape Town in a fast-placed encounter at Newlands. Stanton Fredericks and Congolese import Kabama Musasa scored as Chiefs suddenly emerged as potential title contenders, seven points off the pace at the halfway point of the season. Moroka Swallows recorded the only home win of the weekend's eight matches, coming from a goal down at halftime to beat relegation-threatened Hellenic 2-1 in Johannesburg on Sunday. ALGERIA Leaders USM Alger had their lead cut to two points in the Algerian league as they drew in Constantine and second-placed USM Blida won away. USM Blida moved to within two points of leaders USM Alger last Thursday, winning 1-0 at ASM Oran with a 75th minute goal from Benhalima Rouane, fast becoming the revelation of the season. The goal was one of just seven on a dreary day for spectators watching the eight matches played in the championship. A full program of games is scheduled for Monday with USM Alger at home to CA Batna and Blida hosting NA Hussein-Dey. Hussein-Dey's captain Samir Alliche scored three minutes from time as they won 1-0 at home to Entente Setif last Thursday to also move up into the reckoning the standings. Hussein-Dey are fourth on 29 points, just behind Mouloudia Oran on goal difference. USM Alger have 33 points and USM Blida 31 after 17 rounds of the championship. EGYPT League action has taken a back seat with Cup matches played over the last week in Egypt. Six second-round second-leg ties are scheduled for Monday and two more on Tuesday and Wednesday as several leading clubs face embarrassing early elimination. Al Ahli, who have a 100 percent record after 12 matches in the league, were held to a 1-1 draw by second division Tanta last Wednesday and play the return leg on Monday in Cairo. Al Ahli are handicapped by an Egyptian Football Association decision to limit the use of international players in the competition. Ismailia drew 2-2 with Domiat and Al Masry lost 1-0 at home to Baladia Al Mahalla in their respective first leg matches, setting up further potential for surprise results. The quarterfinal matches will be played over two legs in April. SENEGAL AS Ndiambour took over as leaders of the first division on Sunday profiting from a surprise home defeat for Diaraf Dakar. Ndiambour moved to 21 points from 11 matches after a 1-1 away draw at Sonacos. A controversial penalty resulted in Diaraf losing 2-1 in Dakar to Linguere to remain on 20 points. Champions Jeanne d'Arc remain third a further point back after a lethargic goalless draw at home to Douanes in Dakar on Saturday.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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