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Soccer-Injured Traore returns to cheer on Burkina Faso in final

February 9, 2013 07:00
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Injured Burkina Faso attacker Alain Traore will return to South Africa to cheer on his team mates as they take on Nigeria in the African Nations Cup final, the Burkinabe Football Federation said on Saturday. The Lorient forward will fly in for Sunday's match from France, where he returned last week after suffering a thigh injury in the group stages of the tournament.

Football: How B. Faso, Nigeria reached Africa Cup final

February 9, 2013 02:17
How rank outsiders Burkina Faso and twice champions Nigeria reached the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final at Soccer City stadium Sunday: BURKINA FASO Jan 21 At Nelspruit Burkina Faso 1 Nigeria 1 Alain Traore, a doubtful starter for the tournament because of injury, came off the bench during the second half to salvage an unexpected point for the Stallions with a goal seconds from the end of stoppage time. Jan 25 At Nelspruit Burkina Faso 4 Ethiopia 0

Football: Miracle worker Put turns Burkina around

February 9, 2013 02:16
Paul Put has achieved a football miracle with Burkina Faso no matter what happens when the pre-tournament no-hopers tackle Nigeria Sunday for the biggest prize in African football. The humble, straight-talking Belgian arrived in South Africa last month with a squad of flops -- 16 of the 23 players had made a humiliating exit from the previous Cup of Nations in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea a year ago.

Football: Nigeria favoured to win and end Burkina fairytale

February 9, 2013 02:16
Nigeria are expected to be crowned African football kings a third time Sunday by bringing the fairytale run of Burkina Faso to an end. Man for man, the Super Eagles look stronger than the Stallions ahead of the title match at the 85,000-capacity Soccer Stadium in Soweto, a township on the south-west outskirts of Johannesburg. The team in green and white can also expect to enjoy a massive advantage in support with thousands of Nigerians working in the South African financial hub set to roar on the footballers they adore.

Football: Pitroipa delighted by Africa Cup final go-ahead

February 8, 2013 17:15
Burkina Faso star Jonathan Pitroipa was cleared Friday to play in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria after a referee who sent him off admitted the decision was incorrect. "The red card is withdrawn," CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani told journalists after the disciplinary commission's decision. Pitroipa told AFP that he feared his dream of playing in Sunday's showpiece had been shattered before the CAF decision. "I am happy because to take part in this final was my objective," he said.

Football: Pitroipa cleared to play in Africa Cup final

February 8, 2013 15:01
Burkina Faso star Jonathan Pitroipa was cleared Friday to play in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria after a referee who sent him off admitted the decision was incorrect. "The red card is withdrawn," CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani told journalists after the disciplinary commission's decision. Tunisian Slim Jdidi red carded Pitroipa during the semi-final win over Ghana for wrongly believing he had 'dived' and the midfielder would have missed the final this Sunday if the match official had not accepted he made a mistake.

Football: Pitroipa cleared to play in Africa Cup final

February 8, 2013 13:31
Burkina Faso star Jonathan Pitroipa was cleared Friday to play in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria after a referee who sent him off admitted the decision was incorrect. "The red card is withdrawn," CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani told journalists after the disciplinary commission's decision. Tunisian Slim Jdidi red carded Pitroipa during the semi-final win over Ghana for wrongly believing he had 'dived' and the midfielder would have missed the final this Sunday if the match official had not accepted he made a mistake.

Football: Ref suspended, B. Faso appeal Pitroipa red card

February 7, 2013 11:16
Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi has been suspended for his controversial handling of the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso, the organisers said Thursday. "We would have expected a better standard," Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general Hicham El Amrani told a media conference just hours after Burkina Faso lodged an official appeal against key player Jonathan Pitroipa's red card in the semi-final win over Ghana on Wednesday. "There is a meeting tomorrow (Friday) to discuss the Pitroipa incident," El Amrani told reporters.

Soccer-Referee banned after controversial Nations Cup semi-final

February 7, 2013 11:00
By Mark Gleeson JOHANNESBURG, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi has been banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after his controversial performance in Wednesday's African Nations Cup semi-final between Burkina Faso and Ghana. "CAF was not happy with the standard of refereeing in the match," general secretary Hicham El Amrani told a media briefing on Thursday.

Football: Burkina Faso dancing to Bance's tune

February 7, 2013 08:00
Aristide Bance emerges from his hotel room, it's the morning after the night before, the semi-final win over Ghana in which he and his blond spaghetti-mop hair played a starring role. The Augsburg attacker left an indelible mark on the game, an ever-present threat to the Ghanaian defence he grabbed the equaliser that sent the tie into extra time and then produced an outlandish penalty in the shoot-out.
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