Pienaar misses vital South Africa qualifier

South Africa captain and Tottenham midfielder Steven Pienaar will miss a vital 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone on October 8 in north-eastern city Nelspruit due to injury.

Fellow midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi from English second-tier club Crystal Palace and left-back Tsepo Masilela from Spanish side Getafe have also been ruled out of the final-round Group G game.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Lebohang 'Cheeseboy' Mokoena was recalled by coach Pitso Mosimane Tuesday and striker Bradley Grobler, who moved from Platiunum Stars to Turkish club Gotzepe in mid-year, got a first call-up.

Surprise side Niger lead the mini-league with nine points from five matches, South Africa and Sierra Leone have eight each and defending champions Egypt are out of the running with just two.

Only group winners are guaranteed places at the 16-team finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next January and February with the best two of 10 pool runners-up also qualifying.

Although Sierra Leone are seven places below South Africa on the FIFA African rankings, they have won once, drawn twice and never conceded a goal in three previous Cup of Nations qualifiers against Bafana Bafana (The Boys).


Poulsen picks 23 for Morocco assignment

Tanzania national team coach Jan Poulsen has announced 23 players for the final AFCON 2012 qualifier match against Morocco to be played on October 9th.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam today, the Danish coach said his team still has a chance to make it in the final as it is in other three teams in group D.

“After a match against Algeria in Dar es Salaam which ended in one all draw I told you that our chance to qualify has vanished. But Morocco- Central Africa Republic in Bangui in which visitors forced a nil draw the chance is there. “Why? This is because if we beat Morocco and Central Africa Republic loses away to Algeria each team will have eight points and the goal difference will decide. Also it is possible for a group to snatch one of the best looser places,” he said.

Poulsen has called seven foreign- based players for the match to be played in Marrakech. Tanzania (Taifa Stars) lost 1-0 at home against Morocco in the first leg match.


Cafonline.comierra Leone on October 8 in north-eastern city Nelspruit due to injury.

Fellow midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi from English second-tier club Crystal Palace and left-back Tsepo Masilela from Spanish side Getafe have also been ruled out of the final-round Group G game.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Lebohang 'Cheeseboy' Mokoena was recalled by coach Pitso Mosimane Tuesday and striker Bradley Grobler, who moved from Platiunum Stars to Turkish club Gotzepe in mid-year, got a first call-up.

Surprise side Niger lead the mini-league with nine points from five matches, South Africa and Sierra Leone have eight each and defending champions Egypt are out of the running with just two.

Only group winners are guaranteed places at the 16-team finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next January and February with the best two of 10 pool runners-up also qualifying.

Although Sierra Leone are seven places below South Africa on the FIFA African rankings, they have won once, drawn twice and never conceded a goal in three previous Cup of Nations qualifiers against Bafana Bafana (The Boys).


Poulsen picks 23 for Morocco assignment

Tanzania national team coach Jan Poulsen has announced 23 players for the final AFCON 2012 qualifier match against Morocco to be played on October 9th.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam today, the Danish coach said his team still has a chance to make it in the final as it is in other three teams in group D.

“After a match against Algeria in Dar es Salaam which ended in one all draw I told you that our chance to qualify has vanished. But Morocco- Central Africa Republic in Bangui in which visitors forced a nil draw the chance is there. “Why? This is because if we beat Morocco and Central Africa Republic loses away to Algeria each team will have eight points and the goal difference will decide. Also it is possible for a group to snatch one of the best looser places,” he said.

Poulsen has called seven foreign- based players for the match to be played in Marrakech. Tanzania (Taifa Stars) lost 1-0 at home against Morocco in the first leg match.


Cafonline.com