Morocco, Tunisia Lose World Youth Handball Openers in Doha

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04/08/2005


Both Morocco and Tunisia lost their opening matches at the World Youth Handball Championship in Doha Wednesday (3 August). Host Qatar thrashed Group A rival Morocco 39-19, while Denmark downed Tunisia 32-18 in Group B.

In the other opening day matches, Egypt edged Iran 34-32 and South Korea prevailed over Argentina 30-29. The championship, which also features teams from Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, will run through 11 August. (Peninsula Online)

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04/08/2005


Club Africain midfielder Ashraf Khalafawi is close to signing a contract with Etoile Sahel after previously failing to agree to an extension with his team, Tunisian daily Al-Chorouq reported Wednesday (3 August). The extension talks were scuttled over a monetary disagreement. If Khalafawi signs with Sahel, Africain will lose a valuable player for local league and Arab Champions League games, the paper added. (Art Sports TV)

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The Tunisians will host the first game on 17 August, for which Evene Divine of Cameroon has been appointed referee. For the return match on 2 September, FIFA has ordered the Kenyan Football Federation to hold the game without fans and to pay a fine of 25,000 Swiss francs. The unfortunate decision for Kenya came in response to rioting during a match with Morocco on 18 June when fans raided the field. A number of people were injured and a 15-year-old boy was killed in the melee.

Morocco leads Group 5 with 16 points, followed by Tunisia with 14, Guinea with 11, Kenya with ten, Botswana with nine, and Malawi with three.

In other football news, the African Champions League competition continues. In Group B, all six games played so far have ended in draws and all teams have the same number of points.

Egypt's Zamalek and Tunisia's Esperance played perhaps the most entertaining game in the last round, despite disappointing their fans with a 1-1 draw. Both teams actually had much reason to celebrate as one player from each side was due to marry the next day. To their chagrin, neither Hamza Gamal nor Mourad Melki could add a victory to their collection of wedding presents. Espérance leads Group B on goal differential.


Melki was unable to lead Esperance to victory before his wedding.

The other two teams in the group also ended their game in a draw. El Asec of Cote-d'Ivoire led Etoile du Sahel 1-0 most of the match and was already tasting victory before the Tunisians were awarded a penalty kick just moments before the end of the match. Bassem Ben Nasri converted it for a goal to earn a valuable point for his team.

The standings are much different in Group A, where Egypt's Al Ahly defeated South Africa's Ajax 2-0 to remain at the top, five points ahead of second-place Raja Casablanca, which defeated Enyimba of Nigeria 1-0.

In European news, Moroccan national Mourad Hdioued has just learned he will receive the career break of his life. His new Bulgarian club CSKA has been picked to play Europe's reigning champion Liverpool in the next edition of the Champions League.

Such tournaments can make or break a player's career, as they are watched closely by recruiters from across the continent. For instance, a CSKA match with Barcelona launched the career of Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov. A few years later in 1994, he was named Europe's best footballer.

It is now Hdioued's chance to shine.

The recent news will likely provide a lift for the Moroccan and his teammates, who lost to Levsky on Saturday (30 July) in Bulgaria's Supercup final. The game went into overtime after regulation time ended in a 1-1 tie, with CSKA eventually succumbing on penalty kicks.

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