The goal was scored by Sadiq Ibrahim in the 39th minute. He met captain Eric Ayiah’s low cross from the left.

The Starlets started brightly and felt comfortable by the mid-point of the first half, when they started to find spaces down the flanks.

But the Colombians also got into a good rhythm and even before going down to the Ghana goal, they went close twice. However, they could not convert their opportunities.

The second half was played at a lower tempo, but it was laced with chances for the two sides. Ayiah was put through, but the Colombian defence managed to clear the danger.

A Colombian cross was missed by Ghana goalie Ibrahim Danlad, but the South Americans could not take advantage.

After 96 minutes of play, the referee ended the match for Ghana to celebrate their first victory of the tournament.

–

By: Citi Sports

The post Ghana beats Colombia 1-0 in U-17 World Cup opener appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Hours of heavy rains overnight caused rivers to burst their banks, flooding homes with mud in Putumayo province.

An unknown number of people are missing. One army officer said the main local hospital was struggling to cope.

Mr Santos, who has travelled to the area, said troops had been deployed as part of a national emergency response.

The national fire service said at least 190 had been injured.

The region’s governor, Sorrel Aroca, told Colombian media that whole neighbourhoods had been buried.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES / COLOMBIAN ARMY

Jose Antonio Castro, mayor of the provincial capital Mocoa, told Caracol radio that the town was “totally isolated”, without electricity and water.

On arriving at the scene, President Santos told reporters, “My heart and the hearts of all Colombians are with the victims of this tragedy.”

An alarm had sounded as the river’s levels rose, leading many people to leave their homes for shelter, and avoiding wider loss of life, Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper said.

Image copyrightCOLOMBIAN FIRE SERVICE

Image copyrightCOLOMBIAN FIRE SERVICE

The mudslides were caused by the rise of the Mocoa river and three tributaries, a representative of the National Disaster Risk Management Unit told AFP news agency.

Rescue services said 17 neighbourhoods had been affected and Mr Castro said his own house had also been destroyed.

“The mud is up to the roof,” he told Caracol radio. Two bridges were also swept away, he said.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES / COLOMBIAN ARMY

The region, bordering Ecuador and Peru, is heavily dependent on agriculture and the petroleum industry.

While landslides and heavy rains are common in the mountainous area, March was Colombia’s rainiest month since 2011, according to the state meteorological agency.

In neighbouring Peru, more than 90 people have died since the start of the year because of unusually heavy rainfall, which also caused landslides and flash floods.

–

Source: BBC

The post Colombia landslides: More than 100 die after heavy rains appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Messi had just inspired the victory, scoring one goal and laying on the other two, to put Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.

“We have decided not to speak any more with the press,” Messi announced in the post-match press conference room with his 25 team-mates attending.

“We’ve received many accusations, a lot of lack of respect and we never said anything. We’re very sorry it has to be like this but we have no option.

We know there are lots of you who are not in the game of not showing us respect but getting into one’s personal life is very grave and that’s why we’re here [announcing this],” he added before they all walked out.

The players have suffered criticism by sectors of the Argentinian media over a loss of form and poor results, but their decision was sparked by a radio report alleging Ezequiel Lavezzi smoked marijuana after training. It transpired at the press conference that Lavezzi is taking the Radio Mitre reporter to court.

The coach, Edgardo Bauza, whose media conference was held afterwards, said the victory made him happy for the team.

“I told the players I’m happy for them after a week of criticism and because it wasn’t an easy match,” he said.

“Messi is a great and decisive player, he showed that in the first goal and with the others.” Argentina were slated by some media after going down 3-0 to Brazil in Belo Horizonte last Thursday.

It was their second consecutive defeat and followed two draws, leaving Argentina with two points out of a possible 12.

Tuesday’s win means they have 19 points from 12 matches and sit fifth in the South American World Cup 2018 qualifying group.

The top four go straight into the finals in Russia while the fifth qualifies for an intercontinental playoff.

There are six rounds of matches to go next year, with Argentina resuming their campaign at home to Chile, who are fourth behind Brazil, Uruguay and Ecuador.

–

Source:Theguardian

The post Lionel Messi leads Argentina squad in media boycott after beating Colombia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The deal was signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez after nearly four years of negotiations.

But it needed to be ratified by Colombians in order to come into force.

Addressing the nation, President Santos said he accepted the result but would continue working to achieve peace.

He said the current ceasefire remained in place and that he had ordered negotiators to travel to Cuba to consult Farc leaders on the next move.

“I won’t give up,” he said. “I’ll continue the search for peace until the last moment of my mandate because that’s the way to leave a better country to our children.”

Meanwhile the Farc leader, known as Timochenko, said the group remained committed to securing an end to the war.

The rebels earlier agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of conflict to join the political process.

But critics said the deal treated the Farc, which the US still considers a terrorist group, too leniently.

The agreement was rejected with 50.2% of voters against it and 49.8% in favour – a difference of less than 63,000 votes out of 13 million ballots.

The surprise result means the peace process is now shrouded by uncertainty.

Former President Alvaro Uribe, who headed the “no” campaign, said all Colombians wanted peace, but that the deal needed “corrections”.

“We want to contribute to a national accord and be heard,” he said.

Analysis – BBC South America correspondent Wyre Davies

This was arguably the most important vote in Colombia’s history and the government had hoped that the promise of peace would have persuaded a majority of voters to accept the agreement.

But with fears that too many concessions have been made to the guerrillas, by less than half of 1%, the people of Colombia rejected the agreement (although voter turnout, at only 40%, was remarkably low).

Speaking on national television shortly after the result was announced, President Santos said that a previously announced ceasefire will hold and that both sides would meet in the Cuban capital, Havana, to decide on a way forward.

While there’s clearly a will across Colombia to end more than half a century of violence, the terms of the deal still worry many Colombians.

President Santos had previously warned that there was no plan B for ending the war, which has killed 260,000 people.

The result of the vote is a major setback to the president, who since his election in 2010 had pledged to end a conflict blamed for displacing about eight million people.

Less than a week ago, he was celebrating with world leaders and Farc commanders the end of Latin America’s last and longest-running armed conflict at a ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena.

The rebels were making plans to lay down their weapons and become a political party within six months.

But the president is now facing one of the most difficult moments in Colombia’s recent history, says the BBC’s Americas Editor Leonardo Rocha.

The Farc’s 52-year fight

1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party

2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages

2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year

2012: Start of peace talks in Havana

2016: Definitive ceasefire

The 297-page peace deal is a deeply divisive issue in Colombia, and the government has been accused of taking victory for granted.

Many of those opposed to the deal were angry that it would have spared the rebels time in prison when they were responsible for so many deaths and displacements.

The government tried to offset these concerns throughout the referendum campaign by spending heavily on television adverts in addition to staging concerts and peace rallies throughout the country in a bid to get people out to vote.

It called on the support of U2’s Bono and former Beatle Ringo Starr – and for the first time in an election made ballots available in Braille so blind Colombians could vote.

–

Source: BBC

The post Colombian voters reject Farc peace deal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

FIGHT TO THE END #TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/MGufFUyi5o

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 11, 2014

Manchester City v West Ham (Kickoff: 2pm)

Manchester City require just one point against West Ham United to almost guarantee their second Premier League title in three years.

West Ham go into the game at the Etihad Stadium safe from relegation but failure to earn any points in Manchester could see the Hammers drop as low as 16th position.

Liverpool v Newcastle (Kickoff at 2pm)

Liverpool go into their match with Newcastle United on Sunday knowing that only three points will do if they are to retain any hope of winning the Premier League title.

Manchester City will secure the league trophy if they avoid defeat to West Ham United, but if they slip up against the Hammers, the Merseyside outfit can step in with a victory over the Magpies.

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew enters the fixture fighting for his job at St James’ Park, and not even three points could be enough to ease the backlash from the club’s supporters.

DIRECTIONS TO EPO SPOT

By private car:

From Kwame Nkrumah Circle, drive to the Danquah Circle, take the turn into Oxford Street. Count five junctions on your right from the Danquah Circle and you will see the Frankies Hotel. Take that right turn. At the first junction on your left, ask for the Epo Spot. There will be someone there to direct you. See you soon!

From 37, drive to the Togo Embassy Roundabout, and then to the Danquah Circle. Drive along the Oxford Street, counting five junctions on your right from the Danquah Circle and you will see the Frankies Hotel. Take that right turn. At the first junction on your left, ask for the Epo Spot. There will be someone there to direct you. See you soon!

By Trotro: 

From Kwame Nkrumah Circle, take a bus that is going to Osu which costs one cedi. Tell the driver you will alight at Frankies Hotel. Epo Spot is a 50 metre-walk from Frankies Hotel. See you soon!

From the 37 station, take a trotro that’s going to Osu. Costs one cedi fifty pesewas (GHS 1.5). Tell the driver you will alight at Frankies Hotel. Epo Spot is a 50 metre-walk from Frankies Hotel. See you soon!

From the Accra Mall, take a trotro at the bus stop near African Regent Hotel to 37 (70 pesewas). From the 37 station, take a trotro that’s going to Osu. Costs one cedi fifty pesewas (GHS 1.5). Tell the driver you will alight at Frankies Hotel. Epo Spot is a 50 metre-walk from Frankies Hotel. See you soon!

By taxi:

From Kwame Nkrumah Circle, take an Osu taxi at the station near Provident Insurance. It costs one cedi fifty pesewas. (GHS 1.5). Tell the driver you’ll alight at Frankies Hotel. Epo Spot is a 50 metre-walk from Frankies Hotel. See you soon!

From 37, take an Osu-bound taxi, alight at Frankies Hotel. Epo Spot is a 50 metre-walk from Frankies Hotel. See you soon!

DIRECTIONS WITH YOUR PHONE 

If you are on Android or iOS and are coming to Epo from Nkrumah Circle, 37 Military Hospital and the Accra Mall, then please click any of the following maps that direct you from one of the three places.

From Kwame Nkrumah Circle

__

From 37 Military Hospital

__

From the Accra Mall

REMEMBER: Our live broadcast begins at 1pm!

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

The post #CitiSports Judgment Day: Final EPL Roadshow hits Epo Spot appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.