Fifa rejects transparent voting booths

Fifa has rejected a demand from a presidential candidate to use transparent voting booths at next week's election to ensure delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the head of soccer's world ruling body.

The request came from Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, who said he would take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sport's highest tribunal.

Prince Ali wanted to ensure that transparent booths were used at the February 26 election "to safeguard the full transparency of the electoral proceedings", he said in a statement released by his French-based lawyer.

Fifa's 209 member national associations (FAs) each hold one vote at the election where Prince Ali is among five candidates standing to replace outgoing President Sepp Blatter, who is banned for eight years amid a graft scandal that has shaken soccer's global governing body. Under Fifa statutes, voting is secret.

The statement said Domenico Scala, head of Fifa's electoral committee, had admitted to Prince Ali in correspondence that the voters could produce evidence of their vote by using a mobile phone.

Scala rejected transparent booths, however, and said members would be reminded that voting is secret and told to hand over mobile phones and cameras before doing so.

"He (Scala) has said it is enough just to tell them they must not do so, and has rejected Prince Ali's request to use transparent voting booths," the statement said, adding that there was an "absence of any dedicated system to detect potential violations of this rule."

A spokesman for the electoral committee declined to comment.

Jerome Champagne, another presidential candidate, said this week that FAs were under pressure to vote for certain candidates and some had been asked to provide evidence of their vote.

Prince Ali has also said that FAs face reprisals if they fail to tow certain political lines.

"Development projects mysteriously stall; tournament hosting bids are suddenly compromised or withdrawn; national teams start to mysteriously face less favourable fixtures or and even referees," he said last week.

Arsenal frustrated by dogged Hull

Holders Arsenal's 14-match winning run in the FA Cup ground to a halt in a dreary 0-0 draw at home to Championship leaders Hull City in the fifth round at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The first of eight ties spread over three days was less than gripping as Hull hung on for a replay both sides could do without as they chase their respective priorities.

There were goals elsewhere, though, as second-tier strugglers Reading shocked Premier League West Bromwich Albion 3-1 and Watford saw off Leeds United 1-0.

Bournemouth host Everton later on Saturday in an all top- flight clash while on Sunday the standout tie of the round is Chelsea v Manchester City.

With one eye on Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg at home to Barcelona, Arsenal made nine changes from the side that beat Premier League leaders Leicester City last week.

But even when manager Arsene Wenger, in charge of his 100th FA Cup tie for the club, threw on the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud the Gunners could find no way past Hull's inspired keeper Eldin Jakupovic.

The Gunners will now need to survive a replay to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first club to win the Cup three times in succession in the modern era.

"The goalkeeper did well of course, but we had maybe 70 percent possession and more than 20 shots on goal, and we didn't score," Wenger, taking charge of his 100th game in the FA Cup told reporters.

"The replay is not especially good news but Hull defended very well. Between that and going out, we choose the replay."

GREAT SAVES

The closest Arsenal came to breaking the deadlock was Joel Campbell's 54th-minute free kick that was tipped against the post by Jakupovic who also made great saves from Theo Walcott and Sanchez.

Hull, beaten by Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup final after leading 2-0 inside the opening 10 minutes, rarely threatened, although David Meyler wasted their best chance when he shot into the side-netting.

The visitors made 10 alterations to their line-up from last week's draw with Brighton and Hove Albion but manager Steve Bruce defended his selection which included a place for 16-year-old Josh Tymon.

"It's not like I sent out a team of kids," Bruce, whose priority is to get Hull back into the top flight, said.

"We made 10 changes and we rode our luck a bit, but the team deserved it for the spirit and effort they gave."

Reading have slid down to 15th in the Championship having won only once in the league this year, but goals from Paul McShane, Michael Hector and Lucas Piazon sent them through to the quarterfinals at West Brom's expense.

Captain Darren Fletcher put West Brom ahead but McShane and Hector headed in Oliver Norwood crosses before Piazon struck in stoppage time.

Premier League Watford avoided an upset against former winners Leeds when Scott Wootton's own goal proved decisive at Vicarage Road.

Kenya confirm Okumbi as new coach

Kenya on Saturday replaced Bobby Williamson with a former youth football coach Stanley Okumbi for the next round of African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

New Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Nick Mwendwa said Okumbi, who coached Kenyan premiership side Mathare United last season, will take interim charge of the Harambee Stars when they play Guinea Bissau away in Bissau next month.

Williamson, who had been the Kenyan national coach since August, 2014, was believed to be owed about 30 million shillings ($30 000) in salary arrears by the former FKF administration of Sammy Nyamweya, which was voted out office earlier this month.

"The appointment of Okumbi is geared towards building local capacity," said Mwendwa.

"We have picked our own whom I believe have the capacity to do the job. Personally I love the passing game and believe in our own style.

Former international Musa Otieno, who acted as Williamson's deputy, has been retained.

Under Williamson Kenya struggled in their two opening round 2017 Nations Cup matches, drawing 1-1 draw away to Congo and losing 2-1 at home to Zambia.

Hope of Benzema return good for France

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane described the partial lifting legal restrictions on Real striker Karim Benzema as "a good thing" for the French team as hopes have been raised Benzema could now feature in the European Championships later this year.

Restrictions prevented Benzema from seeing international teammate Mathieu Valbuena due to his alleged involvement in blackmailing Valbuena in a sextape case were lifted by a French judge on Thursday.

However, prosecutors have appealed the decision with the case to be heard before a court in Versailles, outside Paris on March 4.

"Above all it is a good thing for the French team. That is what I have always said and I repeat it," Zidane said on Saturday.

"I hope that this matter is fixed quickly and that is what is happening. I am happy above all for the French national team."

The French Football Federation (FFF) suspended Benzema from the national team after he was placed under formal investigation in November for alleged complicity in a blackmail attempt targeting Valbuena.

If the judge's decision to lift the restrictions is upheld, it could pave the way for Benzema to return to the national team in time for Euro 2016, which France is hosting.

Benzema has denied any wrongdoing but could face a five-year jail term if found guilty.

Zidane is a legend in France having won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with Les Bleus.

However, his and Madrid's continued support of Benzema has been in stark contrast to the treatment received by the 28-year-old in his homeland.

Benzema has continued to play for Madrid and is enjoying his best ever goalscoring season having struck 23 times in 24 games.

Borussia 'fight' to keep Gundogan

Borussia Dortmund say they are 'fighting' to keep Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, amidst reports he has already told Barcelona he will join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City next season.

Second-placed Dortmund play Bayer Leverkusen, who are third in the Bundesliga table, on Sunday hoping to close the gap behind runaway league leaders Bayern Munich.

Dortmund have won 15 of their 21 games so far in Germany's top flight and defensive midfielder Gundogan, who has a contract until 2017, is in superb form.

But according to Spanish newspaper Sport, Gundogan has broken off negotiations with Barcelona and told the Catalan giants he expects to join City next season to play under Guardiola, who leaves Bayern at the end of the season.

Sport say the 25-year-old Gundogan has already told Dortmund that he will not be extending his contract.

"Really? We should know about that, shouldn't we? Truth is, we don't know anything about that," replied Borussia Dortmund's official account on Twitter to Sport's claims.

Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel says they are working hard to keep Gundogan, who is back to his best after missing most of the 2013/14 season with a back injury.

"We are fighting to keep him and I believe it's not the case that there isn't a chance he'll stay," said Tuchel.

"The importance of Ilkay in this form is undisputed, but one can imagine that the interest from other clubs is very high."

Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says he expects to be able to announce a decision on Gundogan soon.

Meanwhile, French newspaper L'Equipe claims Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is under contract at Dortmund until 2020, is destined to play for Real Madrid – due to a promise he made to his grandfather.

'Auba' has scored 30 goals this season, 20 of which have come in the Bundesliga, and is rivalling Bayern's Robert Lewandowski as the league's top scorer.

"In 2014, just before the death of my grandfather, who was born in Avila 100 kilometres from Madrid, I gave him the promise to play one day for Real," Aubameyang told L'Equipe.

"It'll be complicated, but this (promise) is anchored to a corner of my heart."

Chippa record third successive win

Chippa United registered a 2-0 win over Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday afternoon.

The Chilli Boys remain sixth on the league standings following their win, while Ea Lla Koto drop to eighth spot on the log.

The match got off to a lively start with Ea Lla Koto enjoying more possession in the opening stages of the league encounter.

Stars midfielder Nhlanhla Vilakazi fired the first shot at goal four minutes into the game, but his attempt went wide of the target.

In the 11th minute, the visitors were forced to substitute injured fullback Reuben Thebakang with winger Mothusi Gopane.

The first shot on target came in the 25th minute when Chippa striker Aristide Bance forced Stars goalkeeper Daouda Diakite into an easy save.

As the game progressed the Chilli Boys began playing possession football, but Ea Lla Koto were determined to press the home side in their own half.

On-loan Kaizer Chiefs striker David Zulu suffered a leg injury in the 37th minute and was eventually replaced by Chippa midfielder Buyani Sali six minutes later.

Chippa broke the deadlock through Xola Mlambo, who scored with a shot inside the box following a cross from the right three minutes before the halftime break.

Burkina Faso international striker Bance nearly beat his countryman Diakite in the Stars goal a minute after the restart, but the latter made a comfortable save.

Diakite was forced to make two great saves in the 50th minute. The keeper denied Sali with a low save, before parrying away Joseph Molangoane's shot from close range.

At the other end Stars striker Ayanda Nkosi unleashed a powerful shot in the 62nd minute, but Chippa keeper Daniel Akpeyi made a comfortable save.

Former Arab Contractors keeper Diakite produced a fantastic save six minutes later when he tipped over Chippa captain James Okwuosa's header.

Nevertheless, Chippa did double their lead in 72nd minute when Nkosinathi Mthiyane finished off a low pass from Sali following a great build-up by the home side.

With nine minutes left on the clock, Mthiyane nearly grabbed his brace, but his shot from close range was deflected out for a corner-kick.

In the end, Chippa held onto their lead to emerge 2-0 winners on the day. This was the Chilli Boys' third consecutive league victory.

Chippa United (1) 2 (Mlambo 43', Mthiyane 72')

Free State Stars (0) 0

Teams

Chippa: Akpeyi, Mthiyane (Zuke 90'), Okwuosa, Macheke, Thopola, Chipeta, Mlambo, Sangweni, Bance (R.Manzini 65'), Zulu (Sali 43'), Molangoane

Free State Stars: Diakite, Masehe, Mashego, Sankara (Venter 74'), Chabalala, Kerspuy, Thebakang (Gopane 11'), Jaftha (Nkosi 45'), Thethani, Ngasa, Vilakazi

Nxumalo brace hands Ajax win

A second-half brace from Prince Nxumalo handed Ajax Cape Town a 4-1 win over Polokwane City in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.

The win is Ajax’s seventh of the season and sees them into the top half of the table with 26 points from 19 matches.

The loss for Polokwane is their 11th of the league season and sees them in 13th place with 21 points from 20 matches.

The first 20 minutes was a rather scrappy affair with both sides squandering possession and, as a result, there were no decent goalscoring chances.

The first significant shot on goal came on the half hour mark from Polokwane’s Sphesihle Nzimande, but Anssi Jaakkola made a good save.

Ajax took the lead a minute before the break when Erwin Isaacs turned home a pass from Tashreeq Morris with a clinical finish.

Three minutes into the second half Ajax doubled their lead courtesy of a strike from Nxumalo.

Polokwane, however, were not going to go down without a fight and managed to pull a goal back in the 57th minute when Jabulani Maluleke found the back of the net from a free-kick just outside the box.

Ajax put the result beyond doubt seven minutes later when Nxumalo grabbed his brace after some neat interchanges in the build-up to the goal.

Maluleke nearly pulled another goal back in the 75th minute, but his long-range effort skimmed the wrong side of the post.

The game almost ended on a rather sour note for Ajax, who saw Lawrence Lartey sent off in the 87th minute after receiving his second yellow card.

However, Ndiviwe Mdabuka returned the smiles to the Ajax supporters’ faces with the side’s fourth goal in the 90th minute after a thunderous free-kick found the back of the net.

Polokwane City (0) 1 (J. Maluleke 57’)
Ajax Cape Town (1) 4 (Isaacs 44’, Nxumalo 48’+64’, Mdabuka 90’)

Teams

Polokwane: Chigova, Barends, Hlongwane, Tshilo, Nene, Tema (Jembula 56’), Jacobs (Ngcobe 77’), Nzimande (Ngidi 46’), Alexander, Mncwango, Maluleke.

Ajax: Jaakkola, Mobara, Lartey, Jenniker (Mabaso 51’), Isaacs, Graham, Morris (Hartog 75’), Mdabuka, Nxumalo, Losper, Norodien (Langwe 67’).