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Mensah sorry for Ghana exit
Ghana captain John Mensah has apologised to fans after they were upset by Zambia in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.
The Black Stars lost 1-0 to Wednesday's clash courtesy of a goal by substitute Emmanuel Mayuka after Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the first half.
"We are sorry for the whole of Ghana for what happened today," Mensah said after the game, according to the BBC.
Ghana were favourites to reach the final, but were stunned by the underrated Zambians in Bata.
"It's unlucky that we lost this game," Mensah said.
"We promise them (the fans) we will come back strongly next year (in the 2013 Cup of Nations in South Africa)."
Ghana will play in the third-place playoff match against Mali on Saturday.
Keshi predicts Gabon success
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has tipped co-hosts Gabon to shock the continent and win their first title at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Keshi, who is doing television work at the tournament with African channel SuperSport, made the prediction during a question and answer session with fans on the channel's website.
"I'm not 100 percent sure but Gabon at home, with all their support and the momentum, they are riding high. They can shock people and win it," Keshi said.
Gabon won their three group matches, defeating Tunisia, Morocco and Burkina Faso, and they will next take on Mali in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Keshi also praised the work done by Zambia so far.
"Their chances are good. They are playing very good football and if they keep the momentum with good management, they will achieve their goal," he said.
"My friend Kalusha (Bwalya, Zambian FA president) has done a good job of providing leadership."
Keshi, who won the Cup of Nations title in 1994 as captain of his country, tackled the issue of Nigeria's failure to qualify for this year's tournament.
"The problem of the Super Eagles is to have self-determination, self-belief and above all re-ignite the kind of fire that my generation possessed to be the best in Africa, if not the world," he said.
"We have the quality to have won more but have lacked the capacity and will to drive home long-term planning and organisational stability through the years."
"We need to start grooming local players and evolving a discernible pattern. The way forward is to have a vision and have the players know what direction we want them to go, not just have them show up (for) a few days and just play to win matches."
"I believe Nigeria will qualify for the next AFCON."
Centralised TV deal for Africa's 2014 qualifiers
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has signed a centralised television and marketing rights deal for all African countries for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The deal with French company SportFive will see all the 52 countries earn a minimum of $23m for all the matches to be played across the continent.
The money accrued from the deal will be shared by a formula to be agreed by the CAF Executive Committee next week.
CAF claims the decision to centralise the television and marketing rights was unanimously agreed by the national associations through a resolution on May 21.
But the deal faces serious opposition from the continent's top footballing nations who already have lucrative deals in place with television companies.
CAF boss Issa Hayatou insists the deal will offer "less privileged countries an opportunity to expose their matches on international platforms, considering the challenges facing some African countries in putting on an up to standard TV production."
He added that the agreement will allow for "a substantial increase of revenues for the vast majority of football associations".
Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria claim they have privately negotiated more than the total amount raised by Caf to be shared among the 52 countries.
Egypt claim they earn US$5m per match during their qualifiers which means they can earn US$30m if they play six home matches to qualify for the tournament in Brazil.
South Africa and Nigeria can also command huge amounts of money from television deals with continental broadcaster SuperSport.
Despite the likely complaints from the three giants, the smaller countries in Africa will support the deal as they have been unable to reach lucrative television deals for their qualifiers.
Local free-to-air broadcasters who will get the for free will be delighted by the agreement.
2014 WC qualifiers: Analysis
MTNFootball.com takes a closer look at the groups in African qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil … and picks some likely winners!
Group A
South Africa, Botswana, Central Africa Rep, Somalia/Ethiopia
Our say: South Africa have not fared well with draws for major competitions in recent past, having been handed some tough assignments. But they will be pleased with this one. Botswana are no pushovers, but Bafana would expect to collect four points at least from them, while CAR’s recent success looks to be on the wane. Either Somalia or Ethiopia should be a walkover. Group Winner: South Africa
Group B
Tunisia, Cape Verde Islands, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea/Madagascar
Our say: Tunisia look the favourites for this pool but face potentially three tough away days that will test their mettle. Cape Verde are a much improved side, while Sierra Leone in Freetown is daunting (they also got a draw in Cairo last year), while Equatorial Guinea are importing players en masse to boost their ranks. Group Winner: Tunisia
Group C
Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, Gambia, Chad/Tanzania
Our say: Cote d’Ivoire go into the qualifiers as Africa’s top-ranked team, but will not have been too pleased to see Morocco come out the pot to join them. The Moroccans are a tough nut and will run the Ivorians close in the pool. The others should be also-rans. Group Winner: Cote d'Ivoire
Group D
Ghana, Zambia, Sudan, Lesotho/Burundi
Our say: This could potentially be a three-horse race between Ghana, Sudan and Zambia. The Sudanese are already running Ghana close in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group, while on their day, Zambia are a match for anyone on the continent. This could be this year’s ‘Group of Death’. Group Winner: Too tight to call
Group E
Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Sao Tome n Principe/Congo
Our say: Another fascinating pool between three seemingly well-matches sides. Burkina Faso have looked fantastic over the last four months, while Gabon have not really been gauged given their automatic qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as host. Niger could throw a spanner in the works given their remarkable home form in Niamey, though they are a shadow of their usual selves away from home. Group Winner: Burkina Faso
Group F
Nigeria, Malawi, Seychelles/Kenya, Djibouti/Namibia
Our say: Nigeria could not have asked for a better draw and will be supremely confident of advancing from this pool. It is difficult to see where a challenge to them will come from, such has been the form of the other teams over the last 12 months. Only Malawi have looked anywhere near a competitive side. Group Winner: Nigeria
Group G
Egypt, Guinea,Zimbabwe, Comoros/Mozambique
Our say: Could Egypt be on course for a first World Cup finals since Italia 90? You would think so, though they are a shadow of the side that won three Nations Cup titles in succession, while Guinea and Zimbabwe are in the ‘useful’ bracket. Even Mozambique can be a challenge in Maputo. Perhaps The Pharaohs will just shade it. Group Winner: Egypt
Group H
Algeria, Mali, Benin, Eritrea/Rwanda
Our say: Algeria have been in free-fall since the 2010 FIFA World Cup and one wonders if they can pick themselves up for what is a difficult pool. Mali have terrific players at top clubs in Europe, while Guinea are no slouches either. Perhaps the Maliens will have the experience to shade this hard-fought pool. Group Winner: Mali
Group I
Cameroon, Libya, Guinea-Bissau/Togo, Swaziland/DR Congo
Our say: Cameroon have been fairly dismal in their 2012 Nations Cup qualification campaign but will be pleased with this pool against a dis-heartened Libya and then two sides from the first round of qualifiers. Togo are still reeling from the horror of their bus attack at the 2010 Nations Cup and have struggled to compete since, while DR Congo can be useful on their day. But surely the Indomitable Lions must come through. Group Winner: Cameroon
Group J
Senegal, Uganda, Angola, Mauritius/Liberia
Our say: Senegal have been one of the form teams in Africa over the past 12 months and there is no reason to suggest that will change. Uganda and Angola are useful (they are meeting in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers too), while Liberia away could be a tough road trip, but a short one for the Senegalese. Group Winner: Senegal
Knockout round to settle African finalists for 2014
(BBC Sport)African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup finals will climax in a round of five knockout games, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has said.
A record number of countries - 52 in all - have entered their teams into the qualification process, which will begin before the end of the year.
Only Mauritania failed to register its name from Africa's 53 Fifa members to contest five finals berths in Brazil.
There will be three stages of preliminaries in the African zone.
The knockout format will be used for the first time in more than two decades, assuring a dramatic finish to the qualifiers at the end of 2013.
Caf confirmed the revised African zone format at a meeting of its executive committee in Cairo.
The 24 bottom-ranked teams will play off against each other in 12 two-legged ties in November 2011 to immediately reduce the number of teams in the preliminary process.
The 40 remaining countries will then be divided into 10 groups, which they will contest between June 2012 and September 2013.
The 10 group winners will go on to compete in the climactic play-offs - five two-legged ties which will determine who qualifies for Brazil.
