Ashgold 1 Bejaia 0

The Miners recorded a slim win over the Crabs in the
first leg tie of the Caf Champions League despite
having a numerical advantage
Ghana champions Ashantigold defeated 10-man M.O Bejaia
1-0 in the first leg of Caf Champions League’s preliminary
stages at the Len Clay Stadium on Sunday thanks to Tijani
Joshua’s solo effort.
Making a return to continental football after a seven-year
hiatus, the Miners went underway with a frenetic pace to
prevent their host from taking an early lead.
However, after sustaining pressure for the opening ten minutes,
Bejaia came into the game strongly and started creating
decent chances.
Ndoye Waliou’s on-target strike was denied by an offside flag
after heading home a Boukria’s rebound by the13th minute.
The visitors had another good chance when Ashantigold
midfielder Nuhu Alhassan handled the ball near the box but
Boukria’s free-kick crashed against the woodwork.
Amos Addai was set up deep in Bejaia’s half after 21 minutes
but his finish was parried by goalkeeper Taliz.
Paul Abaka Nkrumah delivered a threatening cross from the
right flank few minutes later and Nuhu Fuseinu got up to the
back post to connect it but it narrowly missed the target.
Ashantigold goalkeeper Robert Dabou, who was handed the
starting role ahead of Fatau Dauda, was called to duty as he
stretched to his elastic limit to parry a long drive from Sidibe
Soumaila.
Isaac Amoah was brought down on the edge of the box by Amir
Aguid on 39th minute but miscommunication gave Bejaia an
opportunity for a quick counter attack, with Nuhu Alhassan
halting the pace on the halfway line to receive the first booking
of the game after which Bejaia’s Lakadari also went into the
books for a rough challenge on Amoah.
The end-to-end action continued but despite Ashantigold
having a superior ball possession, they couldn’t let it count.
After the break, Nkrumah came agonisingly close to breaking
the deadlock when he beat the offside trap to take the ball
beyond goalkeeper Taliz after 57th minute, but the youngster’s
last ditch effort from a tight angle hit the side net.
Then came the breakthrough on the hour mark, as Tijani Joshua
latched onto a through pass from Alhassan Nuhu and perfectly
slotted it past onrushing Taliz, who was subsequently replaced
after picking an injury.
Issues compounded for Bejaia as Lakadari was shown the exit
after picking his second yellow card of the day.
Fuseinu had two glaring opportunities during stoppage time but
they were all wasted.
Bejaia will host Ashantigold in the return encounter on
December 28 at the Stade de l’Unite Maghrebine. The winner on
aggregate will meet the winner between As Tanda and Club
Africain in the second stage of the competition.
Credit : Evans Gyamera-Antwi (Ashes)

PSG suspend Sergie Aurier indefinitely

Paris Saint-Germain have announced that full-back Serge Aurier has been suspended indefinitely and will not feature in their Champions League match against Chelsea on Tuesday.

The Ivory Coast international, 23, is set to be disciplined by the French champions after taking part in an extraordinary live Periscope session during which he insulted manager Laurent Blanc and several teammates.

As well as Blanc, Aurier gave forthright opinions on players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Salvatore Sirigu and the video was quickly circulated by French media outlets.

L'Equipe reported that the former Toulouse defender was absent from training on Sunday as a result of the broadcast and on Sunday evening PSG acknowledged that they are investigating Aurier's behaviour.

"This video, filmed in a private setting, contains comments that are clearly unacceptable coming from a Paris Saint-Germain player, towards certain teammates and in particular towards the manager Laurent Blanc," a club statement said.

Aurier has been hugely impressive at right-back for the Ligue 1 leaders this season but, following discussions with PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi, the club have opened disciplinary proceedings and suspended the player.

The club statement also confirmed that Aurier will not be included in the PSG squad for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg match against Chelsea in Paris.

"Paris Saint-Germain would like to express its full support for its manager, Laurent Blanc, and to the players who could feel, with just cause, offended by remarks that are contrary to all the values of the club," the statement said.

In an interview broadcast on Sunday night, Aurier asked for forgiveness from everyone he had offended.

"I've done something really stupid," he said in a video posted to PSG's official website. "I'm here to apologise to the coach, my teammates, the club and the supporters. Because I think that today they're the most important people at the club and I think it's normal to apologise to them."

He said he owed Laurent Blanc the biggest apology and is ready for whatever the fallout might be.

"I'd like to apologise in particular to my coach. I think that today I can only thank him for everything he's done for me here since my arrival at PSG. He wanted me and I came and it's gone really well.

"I think I owe him a lot for his advice and that's why I'm apologising this evening for everything which was said and which I sincerely regret."

"I accept all the penalties that the club will have for me as a result of this story. I did something stupid and I'm unforgivable. So I'm ready to take responsibility for all the consequences."

In the club's announcement, PSG president Al-Khelaifi vowed that Aurier's actions would not be allowed to destabilise the club.

"I took the decision to suspend Serge Aurier," Al-Khelaifi said. "Paris Saint-Germain is a very strong institution which no one can touch.

"I will not allow anyone to put the club in difficulty and distract us from our objectives, starting with our meeting with Chelsea, which is eagerly awaited by our supporters.

"All the energies of the club, those of the players like those of the manager and his staff, are from now on focused on this very important and priority date for us and for all of our fans."

Last year, Aurier was forced to apologise for comments he made about referee Bjorn Kuipers after Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off in a heated Champions League encounter with Chelsea.

Aurier was later banned by UEFA for three gamesas a result of the remarks, which the PSG player had made in a video posted on social media.

FALCAO AXED FROM UCL SQUAD

Radamel Falcao have been dropped from Chelsea's UCL Squad. Winter Recruits Alexandre Pato and Matt Miazga have been included in Chelsea's adjusted UCL squad, but there is no place for Radamel Falcao.

The Colombian's disappointing spell in front of goal has continued since arriving on a season-long loan from Monaco with 1 goal in 9 appearances. He has been replaced in the squad for the knockout stages by forward Pato. 

The Blues take on an in-form PSG in the last 16 of the Champions League. The 1st leg takes place in Paris on February 16, with the return leg in London on March 9. Although he will not feature again in Europe this season, Falcao remains in Chelsea's Premier League team.