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yyys123 · Joined: 08 Jul 2019 Posts: 855

BATA, Equatorial Guinea - Young Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Felipe Ovono is a major reason why the host is still in the African Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast forward Gervinho has made headlines for his absence after getting sent off in the first round and serving out a two-game suspension.Here are some players to watch out for as the African Cup reaches the knockout stages this weekend:___Felipe Ovono, goalkeeper, Equatorial Guinea: Ovono is becoming a cult hero for the home fans, who roar with delight every time he swoops out of his goal to collect a cross, or dives full-stretch to punch a shot away. The 21-year-old Ovono plays semi-professional football for Equatorial Guineas Deportivo Mongomo and has never played for a team outside the country, but he must be destined now for a bigger club. He has been outstanding in all three of Equatorial Guineas games and ensured his country beat Gabon in its decisive final group match with a series of fine saves.___Gervinho, forward, Ivory Coast: One of the stars of the star-studded Ivory Coast team, Roma forward Gervinho has seen less than an hour of action at this African Cup. He was sent off in the first game for hitting an opposition player and given a two-match ban. Hes expected to be back for Ivory Coast for its quarterfinal against Algeria on Sunday, a welcome return for coach Herve Renard who hasnt got the Ivorians playing to their potential just yet. Gervinho — impressive for 58 minutes before his red card — could be the catalyst in the final stages.___Ibrahima Traore, winger, Guinea: The driving force behind Guineas slightly fortunate run to the quarters. Skipper Traore has been highly-rated as a player for some years, but hes added the responsibility of the captaincy now and is leading by example, scoring once in Equatorial Guinea and setting up chances for his teammates with his whipped left-foot crosses. Went off in Guineas last game with a right ankle injury and it will be a big blow for the Guineans if he cant play against Ghana in the quarterfinals.___Thievy Bifouma, forward, Republic of Congo: Born in France, 22-year-old Bifouma only made his debut for Republic of Congo in last years African Cup qualifiers. Hes already scored twice in three games at his first major tournament as the Congolese enjoy their best showing at the continental championship in over 40 years.___Asamoah Gyan, forward, Ghana: Gyan was hampered by a bout of mild malaria in the first week of the African Cup and sidelined as Ghana let slip a lead to lose to Senegal. He returned to the lineup to pounce for a stoppage-time winner against No. 1 African team Algeria and, with him back, Ghana has won two out of two. One of Africas wiliest strikers, Gyan can punish teams with just half a chance. Fred Lynn Angels Jersey .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. Reggie Jackson Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/andrelton-simmons-angels-jersey/ . Gauteng High Court Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled Tuesday that South African media houses will be allowed to install three remote controlled cameras in court for the Olympic athletes trial starting next week to capture images that likely will be seen by millions around the world. Justin Bour Jersey .Y. -- The New York Islanders were seeking a positive finish to a frustrating season on home ice. Jonathan Lucroy Jersey . - Josh Sterk scored twice to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 7-1 rout of the Ottawa 67s in Mondays Ontario Hockey League action.SAN DIEGO - As players and teams waited for Jon Lester to make a decision and start defining the high-end pitching market, baseballs winter meetings opened Monday with Oakland jettisoning yet another All-Star and the Chicago White Sox adding a closer.In the first swap of the four-day session, the Athletics sent first baseman-outfielder Brandon Moss to Cleveland for minor league infielder Joey Wendle. That followed Oaklands trade last month of third baseman Josh Donaldson to Toronto.The White Sox agreed to a $46 million, four-year contract with David Robertson, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal had not yet been announced.Chicago also acquired right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa from Oakland on Tuesday for right-hander Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley, first baseman Rangel Ravelo and infielder Marcus Semien. Samardzija had pitched for the crosstown Cubs before he was traded to the Athletics in July.Big-name moves among free-agent starting pitchers are taking more time to percolate. Traded from Boston to Oakland last summer, Lester was sought by the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.Athletics general manager Billy Beane is watching the bidding without getting personally involved from his position with the low-payroll As.That ones more just for my industry curiosity as much as anything, he said. Like Arthur Miller being married briefly to Marilyn Monroe — thats who we are. Were the Arthur Miller in Lesters career.Max Scherzer and James Shields appeared content to wait for Lester to reach a deal first. And trade talks for top pitchers seemed secondary.Almost any move thats made has some kind of domino effect, some more pronounced than others, said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers new president of baseball operations. But obviously when youre talking about the bigger guys coming off the board, theres a more pronounced trickle-down effect.Lester helped Boston go from worst to first and win the 2013 World Series, and then was part of a purge as the Red Sox again dropped to last in the AL East.Were still optimistic that hell be in a Red Sox uniform. Theres a lot of history between the Red Sox and Jon, Boston manager John Farrell said. We obviously have a strong desire to bring him back. And yet, hopefully, this is coming to a little bit of a head here.The perennially woeful Cubs got a player back att the less pricey level, agreeing to a $20 million, two-year contract with right-hander Jason Hammel — a pitcher Chicago traded to the As last summer.dddddddddddd That deal was confirmed by a person familiar with those talks, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP because the deal had not been announced.Arizona completed its $68.5 million, six-year contract with Yasmany Tomas, a 24-year-old Cuban defector the Diamondbacks may move from the outfield to third base.Initially, youve got to believe that thats a lot of money to be passing out on any player, new Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said. And in this day and time when a player has not played here, hes not proven yet here, that makes it even a little bit uncomfortably. But once you get the right information and youve checked the right sources, it makes it a lot easier to make the move.Cleveland obtained the 31-year-old Moss, who hit .234 with 25 homers and 81 RBIs in 2014. He batted .268 with 21 homers in the first half of the season to earn his first All-Star selection, but a nagging hip problem cut into his production over the final months.On Oct. 21, Moss had a hip operation. Moss said Dr. Thomas Byrd was prepared to perform microfracture surgery, but all he needed was a labrum repair and cartilage cleanup.Its a really difficult market to acquire offence, whether thats in free agency or the free-agent market, but we thought the deal for Brandon made sense because we felt we were getting one of the better power hitters in the game, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said.As the meetings began, the doors to baseballs Hall of Fame remained shut to this years Golden Era committee candidates.Nine players and one executive whose primary contributions were from 1947-72 all failed to receive the 75 per cent of the vote needed for election.Dick Allen and Tony Oliva came closest, each receiving 11 of 16 votes, one shy of the 75 per cent needed for election. Jim Kaat appeared on 10 ballots, Maury Wills nine and Minnie Minoso eight.Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Billy Pierce and Luis Tiant each received three or fewer votes, as did the late Cincinnati Reds general manager Bob Howsam.The results today are a reminder that election to the Hall of Fame is incredibly difficult and the highest honour an individual can receive in baseball, Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said.___AP Sports Writers Howie Rumberg and Bernie Wilson contributed to this report. ' ' '