Sonstiges » e coach Nino Severino. MONTREAL -- Co

BATA, Equatorial Guinea - Equatorial Guinea taking over late as host of the African Cup of Nations may not be great for the tournaments troublesome last-minute planning, but its pretty good for the home team. Giorgio Tavecchio Jersey .Six months ago, Equatorial Guinea was thrown out of the African soccer championship for cheating in qualifying. On Saturday, it will play in the tournaments opening game against Republic of Congo in front of its own red and blue-clad fans.How did that happen?Equatorial Guinea stepped in late last year when Morocco pulled out as host because of Ebola, fearing the deadly virus might spread during the 16-team, three-week tournament. With its decision to stand in, Equatorial Guinea earned a spot for its team in place of Morocco.When the Equatorial Guinea team learned it would participate in the CAN (African Cup), it was very quick. Quick, quick, Equatorial Guineas newly-appointed Argentine coach Esteban Becker said on Friday. And we have organized the team for a new coach. But the players mentality ... for them the mentality is very happy for the African Cup.The national team is theoretically picked from a population of just over 700,000 people, although foreign-born players once dominated the Equatorial Guinea lineup and sometimes got the country into trouble. Equatorial Guineas initial disqualification last year was for selecting a player from neighbouring Cameroon.At this African Cup, the teams strength will again be playing at home, as it was three years ago when it co-hosted the Cup of Nations and reached the quarterfinals, surprising Senegal on the way.Were not thinking about the quarterfinals, the semifinals or the final, captain Javier Balboa, who once played for Real Madrids reserve team, said ahead of this campaign. Game by game by game.In 2012, Equatorial Guineas riotous home support spurred it on. But on Friday, just a few supporters stood outside a broken-down ticket office on the outskirts of Bata Stadium, one wearing a wooly Equatorial Guinea hat and team scarf in the 30-degree heat and sweltering equatorial humidity. It didnt look like a mad rush for tickets on the eve of the opening night, when Burkina Faso also faces Gabon in a double-header at the same stadium.Fearing poor crowds — a problem at many African Cups — the government announced this week that ticket prices would be reduced to cater for the many poor.They will start at 500 Central African francs, or around $1, in the remote host towns of Mongomo and Ebebiyin. The cheapest tickets will be $2 for games in the bigger cities of Bata and Malabo, the capital. And for 40,000 supporters, their tickets to a game will be free, bought for them by the countrys president. Teodoro Obiang Nguema announced his gesture to the country on national television this week.Let those who have the means help the poor, Obiang said. Myself, I bought 40,000 tickets.A charm offensive, maybe. But for this curious country halfway up the west coast of Africa, where Spanish is spoken, oil is big business and the autocratic Obiang has been firmly in charge since he took over in a coup in 1979, the tournament could be a major boost for its image if it comes off.Still, it is a risk.There are already problems with the organization, including no running water and dangerous electric cables at one teams hotel, no rooms at all for another squad, and a training ground located in the middle of the rainforest and a two-hour drive from its base for a third, tournament favourite Algeria.Coach Claude Le Roy, whose Republic of Congo plays Equatorial Guinea in the opening game, has complained bitterly about the standard of his teams hotel. Le Roy declined to answer questions on the issue on Friday, telling reporters to go ask organizers the Confederation of African Football about the running of the tournament, which he has said should have been delayed to give Equatorial Guinea more time.As Le Roy spoke at Bata Stadium, the lights suddenly failed, temporarily plunging a media room into darkness. As they flickered weakly back on again, Le Roy started laughing.___Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Doug-Martin-Draft-Jersey/ . This is Lowry’s third time winning the award in his career. He won the award last season and as a member of the Houston Rockets in 2011. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Tahir-Whitehead-Draft-Jersey/ .com) - The San Antonio Spurs will try to even their series with the Dallas Mavericks Monday night when the two teams collide at American Airlines Arena for Game 4. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Lester-Hayes-Draft-Jersey/ . She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. MONTREAL -- Coach Scott Milanovich says his Toronto Argonauts are getting better. They played with discipline, stuffed Montreals offence and got a big game from running back Steve Slaton in a 31-5 defeat of the punchless Alouettes on Friday night. The Argonauts (2-4) ended a three-game losing skid and, despite their record, moved into first place in the woeful CFL East Division. "It was big," said Milanovich. "The big thing was we bought into what it takes to win. "We had less penalties. We protected the ball better. We protected our quarterback and we got after their quarterback. Thats the formula. Its the first time we grasped that." Slaton, who rushed for 52 yards and caught six passes for another 48, caught a TD pass in the final minute of the first half and added another on the opening drive of the second. "Steves talented," Milanovich said of the former Houston Texan. "Unfortunately, hes been hurt for four of our first six games, but hes got some burst." Linebacker Jamie Robinson scored on a late interception off a pass by Alex Brink and kicker Swayze Waters added two field goals. The Argos also got four points on a pair of safeties in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Toronto rebounded from a 37-9 loss at Saskatchewan last week despite a so-so game from Ray, who completed 19 of 33 passes for 186 yards. It hasnt helped the veteran QB that the Argos are missing a handful of receivers to injuries, including stars Chad Owens and Andre Durie. It helped a lot that the defence held Montreal to only 125 net yards and that, as a team, Toronto took only four penalties to Montreals 12. The Alouettes (1-4) did not score a touchdown for a second consecutive game despite switching back and forth between quarterbacks Troy Smith and Brink, with Tanner Marsh also seeing action on short yardage plays. Sean Whyte had a field goal and two singles for the Alouettes, who were coming off a bye week after a 41-5 defeat at B.C. two weeks ago. There were boos from the 20,692 at Percival Molson Stadium as they left the field at halftime. "Right now it looks like we have a two-quarterback system, even though neither quarterback played as well as we anticipated or wanted them to," said Montreal coach Tom Higgins, who made the switches based on "certain criteria" he didnt elaborate on. "So were back at the drawing board now. "WWeve got to find a quarterback that can move our offence. Seth Roberts Jersey. Were not getting production from that position. I have to find a way by hook or by crook to get more than five points. Thats not going to do it in the CFL." Smith was handed the starting job out of training camp, taking on the difficult job of replacing retired all-time CFL passing leader Anthony Calvillo. He has had his moments, but still overthrows receivers regularly and does not run with the ball. Brink looked promising, but had some drives stalled by penalties. "I wasnt happy, but weve got to win,"Smith said of getting the hook. "There was no portion of me that was going to be sombre. "I have to feel Ill get better because Im the quarterback of this team. Theres no other way to think but to be positive. I will stay positive. I wont admit this is bad and its going to get worse because Im trying to do good and positive things. Well get back to the drawing board." Smith was 5-for-10 for 63 yards, while Brink went 9-for-23 for 60 yards. Neither team was able to move the ball in the first half until Ray finally led a TD drive in the final minute capped by Slatons 10-yard catch over the middle for a 10-5 lead at the intermission. A long kickoff return by Robert Gill to open the second half and a 24-yard gain on a reverse by Slaton put the ball on the Montreal five, where Ray hit Slaton for a TD at 2:57. Robinson stepped in front of Brinks throw to Eric Deslauriers and ran it back 46 yards for a TD with 1:33 left to play. Waters had booted a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter, although he missed a 38-yarder and put 48-yard attempt off the left upright. Montreal managed two singles and a 49-yard Whyte field goal in the opening half, as Smith started and was relieved in the second quarter by Brink. The teams woes were highlighted by a third-and-two gamble at the 53, after calling a time out, on which they were called for having 13 men on the field, forcing them to punt. Smith was back to start the second half, only to have Brink step in again midway through the third quarter. Montreal receiver Mardy Gilyards first CFL start didnt last long, as he left with what seems to be a serious leg injury in the first quarter after making two catches for 16 yards. Left tackle Josh Bourque left with an injury in the fourth quarter but Higgins said it may not be serious. 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