Auteur: Darina Markozashvili

1, 2, 3 – Viva L’Algerie!

By Darina Markozashvili   |

With stars such as Islam Slimani, Madjid Bougherra, Sofiane Feghouli, and Medhi Lacen, Les Fennecs – Algeria’s football team – are hoping for victory in their fourth World Cup appearance.

During our visit to the Embassy of Algeria to the United States, His Excellency, the Ambassador Abdallah Baali, shared some of his favorite World Cup moments:

“Algeria has a great tradition of playing high quality football. One of my favorite football memories comes from 1982 World Cup in Spain, where Algeria beat West Germany 2-1 in their opening game; that was a great game. Another favorite football memory has to be 1975, when Algeria defeated France 2-1, in the Mediterranean finals.”

Of course, being the big football fan he is, the Ambassador had to pass along his well wishes to Les Fennecs with the traditional Algerian cheer: “1,2, 3 – Viva L’Algerie!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5wbSI4f0Y

See Les Fennecs face Belgium on June 17, Republic of Korea on June 22, and Russia on June 26th. And keep up with all the latest World Cup news here at VOAFootball.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

They Have to Win...and They Can Do It

Cameroon’s Ambassador to US Hails the Indomitable Lions

By Darina Markozashvili   |

Cameroonians around the world are hoping that their national football team, The Indomitable Lions, live up to their name and play some indomitable football in the coming weeks.

Among the team’s biggest fans? His Excellency, Joseph Bienvenu Charles Foe-Atangana, Ambassador of Cameroon to the United States. We recently visited the Ambassador, who shared his excitement on the upcoming games, and his best wishes to the team:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1hyfG1-wtk

“I am delighted that our team has been placed in Group A with Mexico, Brazil, and Croatia. We are very proud of our players as they will make their 7th appearance in the World Cup,” the Ambassador said. “Football has become a sport of our culture.”

The Indomitable Lions make their World Cup 2014 debut the tournament against Mexico on June 13 at Arena das Dunas in Natal, followed by matches against Croatia on June 18, and Brazil on June 22.

Will Cameroon’s dreams be dashed before the end of group play? Or will they stun favorites Brazil…and the world? See for yourself by following the latest World Cup news here at VOAFootball.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Ghana’s Black Stars Come to Washington

By Darina Markozashvili   |
Ghana national World Cup team.

Ghana’s national soccer before a friendly soccer match against Netherlands. Toussaint Kluiters | Reuters

The World Cup is just around the corner and everyone seems to be talking about Group G, “Group of Death,” which includes Germany, Portugal, Ghana, and the United States. Here in Washington DC, with one of the largest Ghanaian diaspora, there is a lot of buzz in town about the Black Stars, the Ghanaian national football team.

Scores of reasons to be excited! After playing South Korea in Miami, Florida, the Black Stars will make a visit to Washington tomorrow, before heading to Brazil for the upcoming games.

During our visit to the Embassy of Ghana in the United States, we spoke with Mr. Jojo Bruce-Quansah, Head of the Information section at the Embassy, regarding the preparations to host the team in Washington DC. “We are very proud of our players, and look forward to having them in town. There will be a press conference on June 10th, here at the Embassy of Ghana, giving an opportunity to our diaspora members and the Black Star fans to meet the team and show their support,” he stated. The press conference will be followed by a fundraising dinner and a send-off party later in the evening. Check out the schedule here.