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Sun 31 Jan, 2010

Champions Egypt, youthful Ghana clash in Cup climax NICK REEVES

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Defending champions Egypt have steamrollered their way into Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final where they must now overcome a youthful Ghana side to claim a third consecutive continental crown.

Beset by injuries Ghana have excelled themselves, the eight youngsters from the Under-20 World Cup winning side belying their inexperience to manfully step into the shoes of the likes of injury-hit stars Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, John Pantsil and John Mensah.

Ghana started out with an opening loss to Ivory Coast, but then rattled off wins against Burkina Faso, Angola and Nigeria to make it to their first final in 18 years.

Egypt for their part have have looked invincible, brushing aside Nigeria, Mozambique, Benin, Cameroon and old foes Algeria to set themselves up for a third straight title and seventh in all.

The smart money must be with Hassan Shehata’s Pharaohs pulling off an amazing treble to offer them handsome compensation for missing out on the World Cup.

But Ghana won’t prove easy pickings, as they have shown scant regard for reputation here in Angola, witness the way they dug deep and defended after Asamoah Gyan’s decisive first half goal in the semi-final against Nigeria.

For Gyan, 2010 has proved a far more enjoyable experience than the 2008 edition on home turf.

In Ghana the in-form Rennes striker was psychologically and mentally knocked for six by the attacks directed by fans and media who slated him for his lack of form.

“I felt bad two years ago in Ghana,” he said. “But I’m a strong man - mentally strong - and as a strong man I have to keep on going.

“I believe in my qualities - I’m scoring for my club - I’m also scoring for my country - I know they are happy back home.

“I’m not angry, I’m confident because I’m scoring goals - that’s what everyone is expecting of me.”

Egypt have scored 14 goals to two conceded in their path to Sunday’s climax, but Ghana coach Milovan Rajevic was unperturbed by the free-scoring opposition lying in wait.

“People are saying we need to score at least two goals against Egypt to win, but I say we only need to score half a goal more than them to win the title.

“Egypt are a very polished team. They have been playing together for a long time and their coach has also been there a long time.

“We played a friendly against them in Cairo last year and so we know them well, but we’ll prepare our team to achieve a result.”

The Serb added: “In the quarter-finals Angola, playing at home and with all their experience, were favourites. Nigeria were favourites, now Egypt are favourites. They’ve won the last two titles, but we’re not thinking about that.

“What’s more important, playing beautiful football or the result?”

Ghana are hopeful inspirational skipper and goalkeeper Richard Kingson will have recovered from a groin problem to face Egypt - the Wigan stopper was receiving treatment in a Luanda hospital on Friday.

Egypt turn up at the 11 November stadium their confidence sky high after Thursday’s 4-0 semi-final wipe out of eight-man Algeria.

Star player Mohamed Zidan, said: “We were one million times better than Algeria. We haven’t won five games here in this competition to lose the final.”

Captain Ahmed Hassan, in his 171st international, warned Ghana to expect more of the same silky smooth football from the kings of Africa.

“Against Ghana we will continue to play as we have started. We don’t care how they play, we are here to defend our title, and we’ll do everything to succeed.

“Our 4-0 win over Algeria has proved we are the best team in Africa, without argument.”

Sat 30 Jan, 2010

Ghana, Egypt Set For Final Clash

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The line up for the Sunday’s final of the African Cup of Nations is complete as Egypt and Ghana go head-to-head for the continental title.

Egypt will be defending its Nations Cup title as they will try to win a third successive African final and a seventh overall.For Ghana won the last of its four titles in 1982, the final is an opportunity to attempt a fifth championship.

The match in Luanda will be the first time both sides will be meeting in the finals of the competition.Ghana advanced to the final for the first time in 18 years, defeating Nigeria 1-0 courtesy an Asamoah Gyan goal in the 21st minute with Egypt producing a 4-0 win over Algeria in the other semi-final clash. Nigeria and Algeria will meet in the third-place playoff on Saturday at Benguela.

Sat 30 Jan, 2010

Room to groove for world music

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Toumani Diabate’s West African beats are the perfect outdoor festival gig, writes Bruce Elder.

It has taken the Sydney Festival a decade to realise that if it is going to include vibrant, sunny world music acts on the bill it needs to find a location free from the dance straitjacket that is the Opera House Concert Hall or the State Theatre.

Think only of Celia Cruz at the State Theatre in 1999 and Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra at the Opera House two years ago. When the music moves the body, concert-goers should be in an environment where they can leap to their feet and sway and gyrate.

So the news that Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra will perform in

The Domain for 2½ hours (free) should be greeted as one of the smartest and most sensible decisions to enrich this year’s program.

Get those dancing shoes on and be prepared to stagger away elated and exhausted from a highlight of what the festival is calling Summer Sounds in The Domain.

Speaking from his home in Bamako, the capital of Mali, Diabate is enthusiastic about the Domain concert.

“I will love that,” he says. ”It is always good to play for large audiences. That makes great sense.”

The interview has been delayed so he can finish dinner. It is now 11pm in Bamako and the meal has still not been finished, but Diabate is happy to chat about his return to Sydney. “I had a very good experience in Australia in 2008. The reception was very warm. I have members of my family and Australian and African friends in Sydney so I am looking forward to coming back.”

Apart from being recognised as the world’s finest exponent of the kora (a beautifully stringed instrument that sounds like a more emotional version of a harp), Diabate is a compulsive teacher. As a griot - the West African equivalent of a medieval European troubadour - he is a storyteller, oral historian, poet and source of news and gossip. His influence was recognised when he won a Grammy, in 2006, for his work with his late compatriot Ali Farka Toure (whose son, Vieux Farka Toure, will perform with him in Sydney).

With the clattering of dishes and chattering of guests in the background, he tells of the Makinda Empire, which he says began 700 years ago and comprised the modern states of Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast and parts of Nigeria.

”From that time the griot people became the collective memory, the archive of the empire,” he says. “You have to be born a griot. You cannot become a griot. My family have been griots for 71 generations. From father to son we hand down the music. You can be born into a griot family and not become a musician but 95 per cent of the musicians in West Africa are from griot families.”

He explains that for most of their history griots were attached to specific prominent families. “Each family had its griot. Those griots knew the family’s story.

“I was five years old when I started playing the kora. The kora was a gift from God to me and I can thank God for that. Nobody taught me. Now people come from all over the world to be with me and learn to play the kora.”

Inevitably the role of the griot has changed in recent times, and Diabate has been at the forefront of experiments with jazz and blues musicians. Just like European troubadours, there was always room for improvisation, and it was accepted that the repertoire would change according to the news and gossip.

Diabate says that he writes original compositions but equally “I draw from a tradition which has thousands and thousands and thousands of songs. Today I bring the kora out of my continent and introduce people to the meaning of the griot and play the griot music.

”When I am playing with jazz musicians or blues musicians like Taj Mahal I play my own music and he plays his music and the combination creates a new music. Music has its own language. The notes - C, B, A, G, F, E, D - are the same in the piano, the same in the kora, the same in Bamako, the same in Sydney and New York. You don’t need to speak English to play with British musicians. It is natural.

”The music I’m playing has a history … has a geography. My country has one of the richest cultures in the world and if you don’t have a culture you have lost everything.”

The result, not surprisingly, is music that is timeless, experimental, beautiful and, on a balmy summer night, an irresistible invitation to dance<br><br>

Sat 30 Jan, 2010

Kutcher-Backed Twitter Campaign Helps Bring 90,000 Malaria Nets to Senegal

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When Ashton Kutcher and CNN were racing to be the first to get one million Twitter followers, Kutcher pledged 10,000 malaria nets for Malaria No More if he reached the big number first. He won, so now he’s making good on that promise. 89,724 malaria nets will be distributed in total, thanks to word-of-mouth on Twitter.

Malaria No More’s campaign went viral onTwitterTwitter on World Malaria Day 2009, and the current Twitter initiative will conclude just in time for World Malaria Day 2010. The most retweeted message last World Malaria Day was: “Every 30 seconds a child dies from Malaria. Nets save lives. Support World Malaria Day = www.MalariaNoMore.org.” Celebrities like Ashton Kutcher helped make it happen.

The nets will be distributed in the Senagalese towns of Seraya and Vélingara; each person at risk for malaria will get a net to protect him or her from the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

Kutcher — who has now exceeded four million followers — said at the 2010 People’s Choice awards, “The true reward of the race to a million followers on Twitter are the 90,000 people in Senegal who will sleep underneath bed nets because of the money we all raised through the race.” Other Twitter celebrities who helped spread the word included Anderson Cooper, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ryan Seacrest and Oprah.

We’ve been following the impact of social media and technology on the relief effort in Haiti, but it’s obviously not the first example of social media being used for good. When you see stuff like this happening, though, you can’t help but feel excited to be part of a positive movement in history for a change.

Thu 28 Jan, 2010

Ghana beats Nigeria to reach African Cup final

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LUANDA, Angola (AP) — Ghana reached its first African Cup of Nations final in 18 years Thursday after Asamoah Gyan scored to secure a 1-0 win over Nigeria.
Gyan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute against the run of the play with a header at the near post from Kwadwo Asamoah’s corner to send the Black Stars into the biennial tournament’s final for the first time since 1992.

Gyan also scored the winner in Ghana’s 1-0 win over Angola in the quarterfinals.

World Cup qualifier Ghana will next face the winner between Algeria and Egypt, who played later Thursday in the other semifinal.

Nigeria dominated from the start and created a number of good chances but was unable to break down Ghana’s rock-solid defense.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac made one change from the team that beat host Angola in the quarterfinals, bringing in Anthony Annan for Haminu Draman after the midfielder recovered from a thigh injury.

Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins, who replaced Yakubu Ayegbeni in the starting lineup, had a good chance in the opening minute when he was set up in the box by Peter Odemwingie but failed to reach the ball.

Ghana forward Andre Ayew then went close when he backheeled Lee Addy’s cross wide in the 9th minute before Gyan gave his side the lead.

Nigeria should have equalized five minutes later after Martins connected with Odemwingie’s shot in the box only to see his effort well saved by Richard Kingson.

Nigeria had a strong start to the second half and an Odemwingi cross caused confusion in the Ghana box with Kingson forced to make a diving save after a misdirected pass by his own defender.

Following a quick run down the right, Chinedu Obasi then unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle that hit the side netting in the 49th.

Nigeria kept the pressure on, but was again denied by Kingson when the Ghana keeper saved from Martins after he had been put through with a perfect chipped pass over the defense from John Obi Mikel in the 59th.

Trying to beef up his attack, under-fire Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu brought Yakubu on for Odemwingie with 20 minutes left. The Everton striker immediately looked a threat but volleyed over the bar from Echiejile’s cross following a swift Nigerian move on the left.

Nigeria, who last reached the tournament final in 2000, continued to creating half chances until the end but couldn’t breach Ghana’s defense.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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