Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew then wrong-footed the Mali defence before slotting home at the near post, after a clever back-flick from Gyan.  Mali were unlucky not to score earlier through Cheick Diabate’s free-kick, which struck the Ghana woodwork twice.

The match was a cagey affair in the first-half between two experienced Nations Cup sides.  Both teams also picked up a number of yellow cards, with the young Ghana defensive centre-half pairing of John Boye and Jonathan Mensah living dangerously.

Mensah was in the side in place of his namesake, captain John Mensah, who was suspended after picking up a red card in Ghana’s 1-0 win over Botswana.

And the 21-year-old Mensah was lucky to only see yellow for a thumping challenge on Diabate, who stepped up for the resulting free-kick himself, only to see his chipped shot hit both posts after beating Kwaresey.

Abdou Traore was then unable to convert the follow-up.  Ghana increased their intensity in the second-half and got the break-through, with Asamoah Gyan opening his 2012 Nations Cup account in some style.

The Al-Ain striker curled in a free-kick from just outside the area to Diakite’s left, with the pace and curl on the ball leaving the Mali keeper rooted to the spot.  Mali responded by taking off Cheick Diabate and sending on Garra Dembele, and should have equalised immediately through striker Modibo Maiga.

Kwarasey, who looked uncomfortable in the Ghana goal all night, ended up stranded after coming for a corner and opened the goal up for Maiga to head home, but the striker could only nod it just over.

That missed opened the door for Ghana to hit back and double their lead, which they duly did through BBC African Footballer of the Year Ayew.

Gyan back-flicked deftly into the midfielder’s path, before the Marseille man did the rest himself, wrong-footing the Malian defence, before switching feet skilfully and firing home with his left at the near post.

The second goal effectively killed off the tie, as Mali had no response and paved Ghana’s path through to the last eight, where they join fellow pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast

Source: BBC

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Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea pulled off a shock by beating Libya 1-0 in the opening game of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.  Former Real Madrid player Javier Balboa scored a dramatic late winner when curling home with three minutes left.

The result means the Equatorial Guinea squad will receive one million dollars from President Obiang Nguema’s son. The National Lightning thought they had scored early on only for Ivan Bolado’s shot to be ruled out for offside.

In an extraordinary sequence of events in the 16th minute, the co-hosts had the ball in the Libyan net on two occasions in the space of a few seconds only to not be awarded a goal.

After captain Juvenal’s deflected shot came back off the post, goalkeeper Samir Aboud made a meal of Ivan Bolado’s effort as the Libya captain let the ball squirm under his body and over the line.

Officials ruled out the strike for offside however after Thierry Fidjeu was adjudged to be interfering with play – with the drama magnified by the net bulging as a scrambled clearance rebounded into the net.

Libya, who qualified for the finals against the odds, forced Confederation of African Football officials to remove the old Muammar Gaddafi-associated flag from its tournament website ahead of a match which they started strongly.

However, they allowed the co-hosts to take control in the middle period of the first half as Randy, Juvenal Edjogo and Balboa impressed on the counter-attack, even if one of the best chances came from a corner as Fousseny Kamisoko headed wide.

At the other end, Libya were struggling to create any clear-cut chances – with Ahmed Zuway toiling alone up front despite some bright play from midfielder Walid El Khatroushi, who fought for the rebels during the anti-Gaddafi revolution.

In the second period, Equatorial Guinea – who were playing their first competitive match under a coach who took charge just 18 days ago – were again slow to make any impression on the half.

But Balboa’s effort midway through the first half was well-blocked by Abdulaziz Berrish before central defender Laurence Doe stung the palms of Aboud with a thunderous 30-yard free-kick.  With Libya restricted to half-chances, the finals’ opening game looked set to end in a lacklustre draw until substitute Daniel-Bladimiar Ekedo played in Balboa just a minute after a coming on.

Steadying himself on the edge of the box with his first touch, Balboa – who played a handful of games for Madrid in 2007 – advanced on Aboud before opening his body to curl into the top corner.

The late strike sparked the game into life as Danilo smartly tipped a fierce drive from Libyan midfielder Djamal around the corner, only for the co-hosts to instantly break free at the other end.

Narcisse Ekanga must have thought he had won the game as he crashed a curling 20-yard shot against the crossbar with the outside of his right foot, but to the delight of a packed house the co-hosts did not have to wait long for the final whistle.

Saturday’s victory was a bittersweet event as regular captain Rodolfo Bodipo, who came on as a late substitute, was stretchered off with an injury – but that will be an idle thought for many Equatoguineans as the country celebrates its Nations Cup debut with a famous win.

Source: BBC

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Sweating is a good way to begin 2012. Exercise, like dark chocolate and office meetings that suddenly get canceled, is a proven pathway to nirvana. But if you’re going to join a gym—or returning to the gym after a long hibernation—consider the following:

1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.

2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.

3. Develop a gym routine. Try to go at least three times a week. Do a mix of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. After the third week, stop carrying around that satchel of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading “The New Yorker” and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one.

5. Bring your iPod. Don’t borrow the disgusting gym headphones, or use the sad plastic radio attachment on the treadmill, which always sounds like it’s playing Kenny Loggins from a sewer.

6. Don’t fall for gimmicks. The only tried-and-true method to lose 10 pounds in 48 hours is food poisoning.

7. Yes, every gym has an overenthusiastic spinning instructor who hasn’t bought a record since “Walking on Sunshine.”

8. There’s also the Strange Guy Who is Always at the Gym. Just when you think he isn’t here today…there he is, lurking by the barbells.

9. “Great job!” is trainer-speak for “It’s not polite for me to laugh at you.”

10. Beware a hip gym with a Wilco step class.

11. Gyms have two types of members: Members who wipe down the machines after using them, and the worst people in the universe.

12. Nope, that’s not a “recovery energy bar with antioxidant dark chocolate.” That’s a chocolate bar.

13. Avoid Unsolicited Advice Guy, who, for the small fee of boring you to death, will explain the proper method for any exercise in 45 minutes or longer.

14. You can take 10 Minute Abs, 20 Minute Abs, and 30 Minute Abs. There is also Stop Eating Pizza and Eating Sheet Cake Abs—but that’s super tough!

15. If you’re motivated to buy an expensive home exercise machine, consider a “wooden coat rack.” It costs $40, uses no electricity and does the exact same thing.

16. There’s the yoga instructor everyone loves, and the yoga instructor everyone hates. Memorize who they are.

17. If you see an indoor rock climbing wall, you’re either in a really cool gym or a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson.

18. Be cautious about any class with the words “sunrise,” “hell,” or “Moby.”

19. If a gym class is going to be effective, it’s hard. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, you’re at brunch.

20. If you need to bring your children, just let them loose in the silent meditation class. Nobody minds, and kids love candles.

21. Don’t buy $150 sneakers, $100 yoga pants, and $4 water. Muscle shirts are for people with muscles, and rhythm guitarists.

22. Fancy gyms can be seductive, but once you get past the modern couches and fresh flowers and the water with lemon slices, you’re basically paying for a boutique hotel with B.O.

23. Everyone sees you secretly racing the old people in the pool.

24. If you’re at the point where you’ve bought biking shoes for the spinning class, you may as well go ahead and buy an actual bike. It’s way more fun and it doesn’t make you listen to C+C Music Factory.

25. Fact: Thinking about going to the gym burns between 0 and 0 calories.

26. A successful gym membership is like a marriage: If it’s good, you show up committed and ready for hard work. If it’s not good, you show up in sweatpants and watch a lot of bad TV.

27. There is no secret. Exercise and lay off the fries. The end.

Source: wsj

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A attack on a church outside Abuja killed 37 people on Christmas Day

Hundreds of people have been fleeing areas of north-eastern Nigeria, after a 24-hour wave of violence apparently targeting Christian communities.  At least 29 people have died in four attacks in Adamawa state, prompting the state governor to impose a curfew.  The Islamist Boko Haram group has said it carried out several attacks.

One Boko Haram faction has warned all southerners – who are mostly Christian and animist – to leave the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria.

Last week President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Yobe and Borno states, as well as Plateau state in central Nigeria and Niger state in the west, following a surge in ethnic and sectarian violence.  Adamawa, which borders Borno state where Boko Haram emerged, was not included.

More than 500 people have been killed by the group over the past year.

President Jonathan, who is a Christian, has vowed to crack down on the group but Christian groups have accused him of not doing enough to protect them.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said his members would protect themselves against the attacks.  “We have the legitimate right to defend ourselves. We’re also saying today that we will do whatever it takes” he said.  The pattern of the killings suggested “systematic ethnic and religious cleansing”, he added.

The pastor declined to be specific about how Christians would defend themselves, raising fears of retaliation and an escalation of the violence.

Shoot-out

At least 17 people were killed in Mubi, in Adamawa, as gunmen opened fire in a town hall where members of the Christian Igbo group were meeting.  They had been meeting to organise how to transport the body of an Igbo man who was shot dead by gunmen on motorbikes on Thursday evening.

“It was while they were holding the meeting that gunmen came and opened fire on them,” a resident said.  More attacks on a church and hairdressing salon in Adamawa’s capital, Yola, left more than 10 dead.  The attacks prompted state governor Murtala Nyako to impose a 24-hour curfew.

Security was tightened and troops were seen patrolling the streets.

A resident in Yola says all shops and businesses are closed and only essential services are being allowed through the deserted town.  Meanwhile people fled the streets of the town of Potiskum, in Yobe state, after an attack on banks and the police headquarters followed by a shoot-out between gunmen and security forces.

“We are afraid the soldiers will raid and burn our homes like they do in Maiduguri each time Boko Haram attack,” local resident Amiru Umar told AFP.

The Islamist Boko Haram group said it had carried out the attacks in Mubi and Yola, and another in Gombe on Thursday night in which at least six people died.

The group has staged numerous attacks in northern and central areas in recent months – on Christmas Day it attacked a church near the capital, Abuja, killing dozens of people.

Boko Haram, whose name means ‘Western education is forbidden’, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.

Meanwhile, the government is also facing the bleak prospect of a general strike in two days’ time amid popular fury over its removal of a fuel subsidy which has seen fuel prices double for ordinary Nigerians.

The BBC’s Mark Lobel in Lagos says the strike will overstretch the military, which already appears to have lost control of the situation in the north-east.

Source: BBC

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President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, center,

JOHANNESBURG — Tens of millions of dollars in diamond profits — perhaps more — are being secretly extracted from state-owned mines in eastern Zimbabwe, bypassing the nation’s treasury and raising fears that President Robert Mugabe is amassing wealth to help extend his 31-year reign, according to monitoring groups, diplomats, lawmakers and analysts.

Even if Mr. Mugabe’s allies in the mining ministry are telling the truth about the number of diamonds produced, the treasury was still shortchanged by at least $60 million last year, according to a budget report by the finance minister, one of the president’s chief opponents.

But the amount of money being withheld from the nation’s coffers may be much larger than that. Experts, and even some members of Mr. Mugabe’s own party, say the president’s allies are lowballing the nation’s diamond figures by millions of dollars, hoping to hide the fact that profits are being diverted for personal and political ends.

“The benefits of the diamond sales go primarily to allies of the president,” said Mike Davis, a specialist at Global Witness, a group that has extensively researched the contested mines in eastern Zimbabwe, known as the Marange fields. The strategy, Mr. Davis added, was “part of a wider attempt by people around Mugabe to seize the diamond wealth for their own political purposes, which in the short term means beating and cheating their way to another election.”

Now that Mr. Mugabe no longer controls the Finance Ministry — the result of a tenuous power-sharing arrangement to end the rampant state-sponsored violence during the 2008 presidential election — analysts say he needs outside income to finance his political operations. Diamonds offer him a rare opportunity to do that, especially now that international monitors have agreed to let Zimbabwe sell vast quantities of them, despite repeated warnings that it would enable Mr. Mugabe to tighten his grip on the nation.

Recent expenditures by Mr. Mugabe and his security forces have worried observers that unaccounted money from Marange, estimated to be one of the world’s richest troves because of its volume of diamonds, is financing his party’s groundwork for the early elections he is seeking next year.

The country’s defense forces, which answer to Mr. Mugabe and helped secure his victory in the last election by force, recently bought a large shipment of weapons and equipment from China, local news media reported. The mining ministry has paid millions of dollars in salary increases for civil servants outside its ranks, a form of patronage intended to win votes, according to some lawmakers and watchdog groups. And Anjin — a Chinese mining company in Marange that local and Western officials say the Zimbabwean military has a direct ownership stake in — is financing a new military academy.

“It’s quite clear that there’s much more money floating around than is justified by the level of economic activity,” said Eddie Cross, a Mugabe opponent in Parliament. He told the legislature in October that, based on information from geologists and production records, one company alone mined $1.4 billion in diamonds in Marange last year, far more than the $300 million the mining ministry had reported for all its operations there.

Questions about the diamonds have even caused some splintering within Mr. Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF, as some benefit personally while others get cut out.

“I personally don’t think the numbers tally at all,” said a former senior ZANU-PF official, speaking anonymously to maintain relationships within the party. “When you look at the fields they are mining and how rich they are and what they later declare, you see that there must be a huge difference.”

“People are asking, ‘Where is the diamond money?’ ” the official added, “and the answers don’t seem to be coming out.”

While Mugabe officials deny any sleight of hand, other members of his party acknowledge that the nation’s mineral wealth does not always make it into the public treasury.

Edward T. Chindori-Chininga, a ZANU-PF member who is chairman of the Parliament’s committee on mines and energy, said that while 60 percent of the country’s exports came from mining, the sector accounted for only 10 to 15 percent of the government’s revenue. All of Zimbabwean mining, including platinum and gold, needs to make sure “that the money truly does come” to the treasury, he says, though he argues that there is no evidence of his party using any money improperly.

The diamonds have become a vivid symbol of Zimbabwe’s conflicts. International monitors and human rights groups say the army seized the Marange fields in 2008, using “horrific violence against civilians.” The Kimberley Process, an international coalition trying to prevent the trade of diamonds that fuel conflict, initially suspended trading from Marange. But in 2010, under pressure from some of Zimbabwe’s neighbors, it authorized two sales over objections from Western powers like the United States.

Zimbabwe sold an additional four million carats of diamonds in November 2010, and last month it was given official approval to export diamonds from Marange, drawing harsh criticism from human rights groups and some Western nations. Global Witness, which helped to establish the Kimberley Process, quit the coalition in protest last week.

Officials within Mr. Mugabe’s party insist that they have accurately reported all Marange revenue. “It is not possible in Zimbabwe to stash away anything by anybody,” said the mining minister, Obert Mpofu. “The systems are so tight. Everything that has been mined in this country, sold in this country, is accounted for.”

Critics, monitors and diplomats strongly disagree. “We hear very detailed reports of how sales are made through suitcases full of cash and antisanctions units in local banks,” said a Western official. “By those sales and revenue details not being conveyed in treasury figures, it leads many to believe that real sales are higher, possibly much higher.”

The political consequences could be stark. A military operation known as Operation Zhunde Ra Mambo, or “blessings of the chief,” financed by the ZANU-PF member who oversees the state’s interests at Marange, has deployed troops to rural areas to intimidate political opponents, according to one former opposition intelligence operative.

Mr. Mugabe has said the power-sharing deal is not working and has called for elections next year, a year ahead of schedule. Some analysts argue that Mr. Mugabe is pushing for elections because of his poor health — ZANU-PF would crumble or fracture without its leader — and to capitalize on the diamond wealth while he has it.

How much of the profits the nation’s coffers deserve is a matter of fierce debate. In his budget report, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the government was entitled to at least 75 percent of gross proceeds, but received only 56 percent of reported earnings last year. Mining officials say the treasury got all it was owed.

But whether all the profits are being reported is another matter. One of the mining companies, Mbada, is owned by the state’s Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and The New Reclamation Group, a company based in the wealthy Johannesburg suburb of Sandton. The chairman of Mbada is Robert Mhlanga, Mr. Mugabe’s former pilot and a former member of the Zimbabwean defense forces.

A diamond production expert provided what he said were Mbada’s records for November 2010. They indicate that it produced between $100 million and $121 million worth of diamonds in that month, or possibly more than $1 billion that year. If accurate, that means a single company produced more than three times the amount claimed by the mining ministry for all of Marange.

Mr. Mhlanga and David Kassal, an owner of the New Reclamation Group, declined to comment. But skeptics abound.

“The people who are mining are ZANU-PF faithfuls,” said Moses Mare, another Mugabe opponent in Parliament. “They are not mining for the government. They are mining for their leaders.”

Source: nytimes

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Ayew beat Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Samuel Eto’o and Seydou Keita to the title.

“I’m honoured and surprised to receive this prestigious award, especially considering the great players who have won it in the past,” said Ayew.

“I thank all the people who voted for me – in Ghana, in Africa and in the world.  “I’m going to work hard to show them they made a good choice.”

The award was voted for by African football fans who nominated their favourites either by text or email.  They chose from a shortlist which was drawn up by football experts from every country in Africa, who based their choices on players’ skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.

After making an impact on the international stage in 2010, when he impressed observers at both the Africa Cup of Nations and Fifa World Cup, 2011 marked a year when Ayew became a key figure at club level.

He finished the 2010-11 campaign as a regular starter for Marseille for the first time in his career, with his goal tally of 11 aiding his cause.  At the start of this season, he struck a hat-trick to help Marseille win the French Super League – and has since contested all but one of his side’s 17 league games, scoring six times.

Injury ruled him out of Marseille’s opening Champions League group game but the Ghanaian has gone on to miss just one minute of European action since then, as the 1993 champions reached the knockout stages.

At international level, Ayew also played a key role in ensuring that the Black Stars qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with an unbeaten record.

Abedi “Pele” Ayew was the first winner of the BBC African Sports Star of the Year award for his achievements in 1991, with the title later turning into the current BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

“Dede” becomes the fifth Ghanaian to win after his father, Sammy Kuffour (2001), Michael Essien (2006) and last year’s winner Asamoah Gyan.

Previous winners of BBC African Footballer of the Year award:

2010 – Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)

2009 – Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)

2008 – Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2007 – Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)

2006 – Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)

2005 – Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2004 – Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2003 – Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2002 – El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)

2001 – Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)

2000 – Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)

Source: BBC

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