Rot-Weiß Oberhausen II hat den Aufstieg in die Kreisliga A weiter fest im Blick. Die Kleeblätter feierten a
Senegal’s retreat, the spoon
Senegal’s withdrawal, Brahim’s spoon, the towel: what happened in the African Cup of Nations final
After Caf’s unbelievable decision to award the 2025 Cup to Morocco, we review the facts of the incredible last act in Rabat
The credibility of a movement put in serious jeopardy. How is it possible to award the continental cup by forfeit after two months by accepting the appeal of the defeated national team, not because of a case of doping, of irregular registrations, but because of something that happened on the field and therefore – at this point one would say only theoretically – in the public eye? Regulations in hand it was a classic case of black and white. There was very little gray about it. Don King, historic boxing promoter, used to say “Only in America” even though his was a positive meaning. Here it comes to say, “Only in Africa,” with a wistfulness for those who dream of seeing this continent evolve, not only sportingly.
After the resounding decision by Caf, the African soccer federation chaired by Patrice Motsepe, to award the 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations to Morocco, the organizing country (and which will also host matches in the 2030 World Cup) against Senegal, with a 3-0 forfeit, it is good to retrace what happened on the evening of Jan. 18 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. With the score still deadlocked at 0-0, the referee awarded eight minutes of recovery time. Senegal got their hopes up with Gueye’s goal in the 92nd minute after a post hit by Seck, who, however, the referee deemed guilty of having previously fouled Hakimi. Goal then nullified. In the 98th minute, Morocco’s corner: Brahim Diaz is belted in the box: the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala of the Democratic Republic of Congo, awards the penalty – dubious to say the least – after on field review. And all hell breaks loose.
Senegal quits- Tensions on the field are sky-high. The Senegalese feel robbed and are not taking it. After some paraphernalia among the players, Senegal decides to return to the locker room in protest as requested by coach Pape Thiaw. We are now beyond the 8′ of recovery when the Lions of the Teranga leave the field to not have the disputed penalty shot taken. It is Sadio Manè who convinces his teammates to return to the pitch to play the very last minutes. Also re-entering the field is coach Thiaw, who first argues with the referee and then is accompanied in his place by Regragui, Morocco’s coach. In the 112th minute it is Brahim Diaz who goes to the penalty spot. His penalty is comical: a spoon that Mendy blocks without moving. Doubts arise for many that he missed on purpose…. It then goes to extra time at 0-0.
The towel and gueye- Pepe Gueye’s goal in the 4′ of the first overtime put Senegal ahead. Soon after yet another installment in this final that increasingly takes on the contours of a farce. While the game is stopped to rescue Giallorossi’s El Aynaoui, who is injured in the head, Hakimi is asked by his fans to steal Mendy’s white towel. He takes it and throws it behind the billboards. Diouf, the Teranga Lions’ left-back, immediately retrieves it and puts it back in its place. Play resumes. Yehvann Diouf, reserve goalkeeper, brings another towel, blue, to Mendy. A pack of ball pickers pops up behind him, one of them tries to steal the colorful fetish from him. The Nice goalkeeper does not let go of it. Saibari then arrives, trying to bar his way. But Yehvann manages to avoid him and hands the towel to his comrade, who then returns it to him. The question arises: why all this chaos over a piece of towel? Because in those parts it is considered a powerful amulet, matters of black magic. After all, “Only in Africa,” alas….
the party- At the triple whistle the celebration breaks out, on the field and in the streets of Dakar. While an entire people, the Moroccan people, fall into the darkest despair. It was a title they had been waiting for since 1976, eluded after almost clutching it in their hands. Or so they thought. Until the fateful appeal upheld by Caf two months later. Who knows how Diaz (in the Etihad locker room after City-Real) and Hakimi (in the Stamford Bridge locker room after Chelsea-Psg) must have learned the news. But mostly what the poor Senegalese must have thought. A cup for two, with an epilogue that cannot help but leave a bitter taste in their mouths. Perhaps also to those who found themselves raising it, metaphorically.
By Brahim, the towel: what happened in the African Cup of Nations final.
After Caf’s unbelievable decision to award the 2025 Cup to Morocco, we review the facts of the incredible last act in Rabat
The credibility of a movement put in serious jeopardy. How is it possible to award the continental cup by forfeit after two months by accepting the appeal of the defeated national team, not because of a case of doping, of irregular registrations, but because of something that happened on the field and therefore – at this point one would say only theoretically – in the public eye? Regulations in hand it was a classic case of black and white. There was very little gray about it. Don King, historic boxing promoter, used to say “Only in America” even though his was a positive meaning. Here it comes to say, “Only in Africa,” with a wistfulness for those who dream of seeing this continent evolve, not only sportingly.
After the resounding decision by Caf, the African soccer federation chaired by Patrice Motsepe, to award the 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations to Morocco, the organizing country (and which will also host matches in the 2030 World Cup) against Senegal, with a 3-0 forfeit, it is good to retrace what happened on the evening of Jan. 18 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. With the score still deadlocked at 0-0, the referee awarded eight minutes of recovery time. Senegal got their hopes up with Gueye’s goal in the 92nd minute after a post hit by Seck, who, however, the referee deemed guilty of having previously fouled Hakimi. Goal then nullified. In the 98th minute, Morocco’s corner: Brahim Diaz is belted in the box: the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala of the Democratic Republic of Congo, awards the penalty – dubious to say the least – after on field review. And all hell breaks loose.
Senegal quits- Tensions on the pitch are sky-high. The Senegalese feel robbed and are not taking it. After some paraphernalia among the players, Senegal decides to return to the locker room in protest as requested by coach Pape Thiaw. We are now beyond the 8′ of recovery when the Lions of the Teranga leave the field so as not to have the disputed penalty shot taken. It is Sadio Manè who convinces his teammates to return to the pitch to play the very last minutes. Also re-entering the field is coach Thiaw, who first argues with the referee and then is accompanied in his place by Regragui, Morocco’s coach. In the 112th minute it is Brahim Diaz who goes to the penalty spot. His penalty is comical: a spoon that Mendy blocks without moving. Doubts arise for many that he missed on purpose…. It then goes to extra time at 0-0.
The towel and gueye- Pepe Gueye’s goal in the 4′ of the first overtime put Senegal ahead. Soon after yet another installment in this final that increasingly takes on the contours of a farce. While the game is stopped to rescue Giallorossi’s El Aynaoui, who is injured in the head, Hakimi is asked by his fans to steal Mendy’s white towel. He takes it and throws it behind the billboards. Diouf, the Teranga Lions’ left-back, immediately retrieves it and puts it back in its place. Play resumes. Yehvann Diouf, reserve goalkeeper, brings another towel, blue, to Mendy. A pack of ball pickers pops up behind him, one of them tries to steal the colorful fetish from him. The Nice goalkeeper does not let go of it. Saibari then arrives, trying to bar his way. But Yehvann manages to avoid him and hands the towel to his comrade, who then returns it to him. The question arises: why all this chaos over a piece of towel? Because in those parts it is considered a powerful amulet, matters of black magic. After all, “Only in Africa,” alas….
the party- At the triple whistle the celebration breaks out, on the field and in the streets of Dakar. While an entire people, the Moroccan people, fall into the darkest despair. It was a title they had been waiting for since 1976, eluded after almost clutching it in their hands. Or so they thought. Until the fateful appeal upheld by Caf two months later. Who knows how Diaz (in the Etihad locker room after City-Real) and Hakimi (in the Stamford Bridge locker room after Chelsea-Psg) must have learned the news. But mostly what the poor Senegalese must have thought. A cup for two, with an epilogue that cannot help but leave a bitter taste in their mouths. Perhaps also to those who found themselves raising it, metaphorically.
m vergangenen Spieltag ihren elften Sieg hintereinander.
Die zweite Mannschaft von Rot-Weiß Oberhausen hat den nächsten Schritt in Richtung Aufstieg gemacht. Am vergangenen Freitag (13. März) gewann der B-Ligist zu Hause deutlich mit 5:0 (2:0) gegen den SV 1911 Bottrop.
Auch ungemütliche vier Grad Celsius und Dauerregen hielten die Kleeblätter nicht auf, die von Beginn an die Kontrolle übernahmen und fast ausschließlich in Richtung des gegnerischen Tores spielten. Nach einer sehenswerten Kombination sah Philipp Klempel den freistehenden Christopher Harder, der in der 25. Minute zum 1:0 einschob.
Die Rot-Weißen behielten die Ballkontrolle und wollten unbedingt das 2:0 erzwingen, doch die Bottroper verteidigten zunächst stark dagegen. In der 41. Minute war es dann Florian Abel, der den Ball gekonnt zum 2:0 im Tor unterbrachte.
“Wir haben den Ball gut laufen gelassen und sind mehr als verdient mit einer Führung in die Halbzeit gegangen”, lobte Abel.
Auch in der zweiten Halbzeit ließ der nächste Treffer nicht lange auf sich warten. Direkt nach dem Wiederanpfiff nahm sich Florian Abel den Ball und hämmerte ihn aus 20 Metern sehenswert unter die Latte – 3:0.
Weiter ging es nur in Richtung des Bottroper Tores. In der 56. Minute wurde Harder im Strafraum zu Fall gebracht und verwandelte den folgerichtigen Elfmeter selbst zum 4:0. Trainer Günter Abel wechselte anschließend durch und brachte Jussef Hassan ins Spiel, der sich ebenfalls direkt in die Torschützenliste eintrug. In der 66. Minute stand es damit 5:0. Diese Führung verwalteten die Rot-Weißen bis zum Ende.
Es war der elfte Sieg in Serie für die Oberhausener, die die Tabelle weiterhin recht komfortabel mit sechs Punkten Vorsprung vor dem ersten Verfolger Grün-Weiß Holten anführen. Am kommenden Freitag (20. März, 20 Uhr) geht es für die Abel-Elf schon weiter mit einem Heimspiel gegen den Tabellenvierten DJK Adler Oberhausen II.
“Jetzt geht es in eine spannende Zeit. Es folgen Topspiele. Bereits am Freitag kommt mit Adler Oberhausen ein starker Gegner, der uns alles abverlangen wird. Da hoffen wir auf große Unterstützung,” sagte Daniel Schliwa, Sportchef der RWO-Zweitvertretung.
