Waziri Mkuu Pinda afungua Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa Maji Safi na Salama mjini Arusha

Mh Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda akiwa na anajadiliana jambo wageni waliohudhuria mkutano wa kimataifa kuhusu maji salama na safi. Kushoto ni Profesa Shem Wandiga kutoka chuo kikuu cha Nairobi na katikati ni Mkurugenzi wa Maji safi na salama Duniani Profesa Benito Marinas kutoka chuo kikuu cha ILLINOIS nchini Marekani mkutano huo wa siku tatu unafanyika mjini Arusha.

( Picha na Chris Mfinanga).

Serengeti investor speeds up social and economic development

SAKWASA luxury lodge is one of the Grumeti properties 

that support the people of Makundusi Village in Serengeti.

 

MAKUNDUSI village found in Serengeti District in Mara Region has registered admirable success in social and economic development.

It is one of the villages located near the concession areas operated by Singita Grumeti Reserves Limited (SGR), operators of luxurious and exclusive lodges namely Sasakwa, Farufaru and Sabora which were ranked first in the world for 2011 from 100 best hotels and lodges in the world.

The concession areas operated by  Paul Tudor Jones (PTJ) an American are Ikorongo, Grumeti and Ikoma, all bordering Serengeti National Park. Local leaders are happy with the US investor, who according to them plays a significant role in speeding up social and economic development.

It is estimated the village has so far received 133,385,500/- between 2005 and 2010, according to official figures. "The income we get from the investor is what we use for the developing the village like the construction of classrooms and even buying chalk for schools," said Makundusi Village Executive Officer (VEO), Mr Juma Wambura.

The village has built two new public primary schools that accommodate hundreds of pupils with the support they get from the investor. The schools are Kewambogo and Makundusi. Now the village  has three public schools that has reduced overcrowding.

"The schools have been registered by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and  pupils can now study up to standard five," says Natta Wards Councillor, Mr Jumanne Kwiro.

The current Makundusi village chairman,  Mr Juma Porini says  the village has made significant  strides in the areas of education during the year."We built three classrooms at  Kewambogo, Makundusi and Nyaketono  at the cost of 45mil/-  from the money we get from Grumeti”, Mr. Porini said.

"We spent 32 million to build a modern teachers' houses and one more teachers' house is under construction at Kewambogo Primary School," Mr Porini said. The village has initiated a sponsorship scheme for student who qualify to join secondary schools. "We are the only village in Serengeti sponsoring secondary school students," Mr Porini said.

Presently, there are 39 students benefiting from the sponsorship scheme, but the number is expected to rise early next year, he said. Mr Kwiro said the village has sponsored three students to pursue higher education on different disciplines  at various universities in the country.

"We used part of the money to send over 16 youths to the Vocational Education  and Training Authority (VETA) to learn various trades." Apart from education, the village has also invested in health services.

According to Wambura,  the village has built a dispensary that is a big relief for pregnant women and children under the age of five. The established dispensary  has helped to cut down maternal deaths in the village. The purchase a vehicle that ferries patients to different health facilities has assisted a lot.

On the whole, Makundusi village is estimated to have 700 households (kaya) and a population of 5,000 people at the moment, according to Wambura. In the past the majority of the villagers  relied on poaching as their major source of income but they now engage on livestock keeping, farming and small scale economic activities.

A land survey was conducted for all households in the village. "The aim of the land survey was to enable people obtain traditional title deeds. The exercise was carried by government land experts and land for over 350 households was surveyed. So far 50 of them have received title deeds,"  Mr Kwiro elaborates.

SGR has set up three luxurious hotels that attract high paying clients. The lodges are Sasakwa, Sabora and Farufaru.Richard Ndaskoi, the company Outreach Programme Co-ordinator said Sasakwa Lodge is located on land that was owned by Makundusi village.

"SGR needed to secure the land for photographic tourism and thus we entered into agreements with Makundusi village," he added. Statutory payments, he said, are deposited directly to Makundusi village bank accounts.

"Development assistance is paid through Community Outreach Programme in terms of financing projects in the villages or payments to specific beneficiaries like students sponsorships.

At times we also provide humanitarian aid to," the company official said. Currently, the company sponsors 59 students hailing from Serengeti and Bunda districts in the country and abroad for further education. Visitors to the up-market lodges make donations towards community development projects in the neighbouring villages.

For instance, recently an American visitor, Prof Kimberly Moss and his wife Franklin donated 12 new laptops worth 17mil/- to the neighbouring Natta community ward secondary school, which was earlier this year upgraded into a high school.

The Serengeti District Council senior education officials welcomed the donation, saying that the computers will play a crucial role in improving learning amongst the students."It is my hope that if used well these computers will ease teaching," Serengeti District Secondary Education Academic Officer, Mr Martin Nkwabi said.

Real Madrid claw back Barcelona thanks to Raphaël Varane's late header

Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona

Real Madrid's Raphaël Varane climbs above Cesc Fábregas, centre, to equalise against Barcelona.

 Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

 In a clásico in which Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did not score for once, the game's biggest moment came from a 19-year-old defender who was included in the side because of injury and suspension. Raphaël Varane, who started in the absence of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, capped a colossal performance with a second-half header that equalised Cesc Fábregas's opener and left the Copa del Rey semi-final poised at 1-1. Barcelona take an away goal; Madrid will feel that they too can get one in the second leg in a month's time.

With ten minutes remaining Varane leapt between Fábregas and Carles Puyol to connect with Mesut Ozil's long looping cross and leave Barcelona ruing the chances that they had missed – and the chances that Varane had denied them. Not least a first half goalline clearance. Madrid too could reflect on the opportunities that had evaded them in a game that always felt open, even when Barcelona began to take a grip in the second period.

"For a 19-year-old, you can't ask for more," said Madrid's assistant manager Aitor Karanka. "He's a kid who is progressing, who's sensible, and we're very happy with him. He was perfect tonight."

Fábregas got the opener just as the clock ticked up to 50 minutes. Messi had swung a pass towards Jordi Alba on the left. Jose Callejón intercepted but his clearance swung back in Messi's direction and he was quickly onto it. Whether loose control or assist, and it looked more like the former, the ball ran through perfectly to Fábregas, one-on-one with Diego López, and he curled the ball hard and low into the far corner.

It was the first time Barcelona had found themselves beyond the Madrid defence after a first half in which they had been effectively blunted, one in which, unusually, there were no goals. And that despite the fact that the first save came from a free-kick conceded after just 47 seconds, Gerard Piqué bringing down Ronaldo. José Manuel Pinto reached backwards to push the Portuguese's shot over.

Madrid had worked the chance as they would often: by pressing Barcelona and robbing, the pitch opening up before them. When Karim Benzema hit the side-netting and much of this arena cheered thinking the ball was in the net, the opportunity had similar origins. Ozil was a constant threat, always available and always bringing clarity to the counters. Even when Barcelona started to move the ball with greater fluidity – a series of slick passes on 12 minutes ushered in a period of keep ball with Andrés Iniesta at its heart – there was still a certain vulnerability about them. And Madrid knew it.

At the other end, Madrid were organised and, above all, fast. Barcelona found few spaces and those that did open quickly closed. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira protected the defence, Callejón and Ronaldo backed up the full-backs. Michael Essien outran Messi and twice Varane was swift across the turf from centre to right to suffocate danger. He also cleared one off the line from Xavi after a startling mistake from Ricardo Carvalho, whose weak back-pass gave Fábregas the ball seven or eight yards out.

The second half saw greater opportunities. Ronaldo, stretching, headed a bouncing ball wide from barely three yards and Piqué had to move quickly to clear by the same post soon afterwards. After taking the lead, though, it was Barcelona who created opportunities. Fábregas spun to put one shot over from eight yards, Pedro ran clean through only to dink wide from five yards, and López smothered Messi. When the Argentinian did beat the keeper, he was ruled out for offside – rightly this time.

Then there was Varane. Twice he made perfectly timed interceptions. Fábregas and Messi thought they were through; but as they prepared to shoot, the ball was gone, nicked away by the Frenchman. And when the moment came at the other end, he was decisive again.

MKUU WA WILAYA YA ARUSHA AELEZA UTEKELEZAJI WA ILANI YA UCHAGUZI KWA KIPINDI CHA MWAKA 2005-2012

.. 9

 Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Arusha akiongea na waandishi wa habari kuhusiana na utekelezaji wa ilayani ya uchaguzi kwa kipindi cha mwaka 2005-2012

Imeelezwa kuwa ilani ya CCM kwa miaka saba katika Wilaya ya Arusha imefanikiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa katika njanja zote zikiwemo sector ya Elimu ,Afya,Mazingira,na Miundombinu ikiwemo Mji wa Arusha kuwa Jiji rasmi.

Hayo yameelezwa na mkuu wa ilaya ya Arusha John Mongella mbele ya waandishi wa habari wakati akitoa taarifa hiyo katika hotel ya palace hapa jijini arusha  na kusema kuwa sector zote zimefanikiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kwani toka mwaka 2005 hadi mwaka 2012 karibu utekelezaji wa ilani ya chama cha mapinduzi imetekelezwa.

Bw Mogella amesema katika sector ya elimu amesema wamejenga madarasa 172,matundu ya vyoo 225,ambapo Shule za Msingi zimeongezeka 70 ambapo kwa Shule za Sekondari zimeongezeka 23ambapo awali zilikuwa saba ,ambapo walimu na vifaa vya usimamizi wameongezeka 534 kwa miaka hiyo saba pamoja na idadi ya vyuo vya shahada ya juu vikuu kupandishwa hadhi  na kufikia 8 .

Amesema kwa upande wa afya Mkuu Mongela amesema kuwa wameweza kuboresha huduma ya mama na mtoto ambapo vituo 5 na zahanati 68 zimeboreshwa kwa uhakika wa upatikanaji wa dawa na huduma bora,huku akifafanua kuwa wameipandisha hadhi kituo cha afya cha kanisa st.elizabert na kuwa hospitali ya wilaya huku akisema kuwa katika hospitali hilo kuna kituo kikuu kitakachotoa huduma kwa watu wanaoishi na virusi vya ukimwi ambapo kitatoa huduma bure.

Kwa upande wa miundo mbinu amesema kuwa barabara nyingi zimejengwa katika kiwango cha lami katika barabara hasa za katikati ya mji ambapo hadi sasa barabara 23 zenye urefu wa km 8 zimekamilika ambapo mradi huu unaofadhiliwa na Benki ya Dunia kwa kiasi cha dola million 7 za kimarekani,ambapo  awamu ya kwanza na awamu ya pili itajenga barabara ya Njiro,Kanali Ndomba,pamoja na kujenga dampo la kisasa ,yakiwemo ujenzi wa madaraja 9 katika Wilaya ya Arusha.

Mongela akiongezea kuhusu upande wa mazingira hasa upande wa maji amesema asilimia 83 ya wakazi wanaoishi katika Jiji la Arusha wanapata maji safi na salama tofauti na awali ilikuwa ni asilimia 42 tu ya wakazi ndio waliopata huduma hiyo ya maji salama ,ambapo amesema kuwa wanamkakati wa mradi wa ujenzi wa miundo mbinu utakao gharimu shilingi million moja.

Katika swala la mazingira amesema wamepiga hatua kwani wameweza kulinda vyanzo vya maji kwa kushirikiana na AUWSA ikiwemo misitu,kuzuia uoshaji wa magari pembezoni mwa mito,na kuzuia ukataji wa miti katika misitu iliyopo ndani ya Jiji ikiwemo kuboresha usafi ndani ya Jiji letu.

Aidha alisema pamoja na mafanikio hayo pia kuna changamoto zinazoikabili Jiji hili ikiwemo ya kusafisha hati chafu ya jiji hili ,ambapo baadhi ya viongozi wabadhirifu wa raslimali wamewajibishwa kutokana na makosa yao ikiwemo kufikishwa mahakamani pamoja na kufukuzwa kazi.

Pia aliongezea kuwa changamoto nyingine ni Demokrasia ambapo Wilaya yetu ina viongozi wa vyama  vya siasa tofauti, tofauti ambapo alitolea mfano Mbunge wa Chadema katika jimbo la mjini Arusha kutofautiana katika utekelezaji na uwajibikaji katika kuwatumikia 

wananchi wa Wilaya hii .

Mwisho Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Arusha Mongella alitoa wito kwa wakazi wa Jiji la Arusha kuendelea kushirikiana na viongozi katika kuhakikisha hali ya jiji inakuwa tulivu ambapo kwa kiasi kikubwa katika swala la ulinzi na usalama ikiwemo dhana ya ulinzi shirikishi 

na kutii sheria bila shuruti.

Na Woinde Shizza,Arusha

Sunderland and Swansea shared the points in a Premier League game short of excitement.

Premier League

 Sunderland          0
 Swansea City       0

Swansea City's Nathan Dyer, right, tries to elude Sunderland's Sebastian Larsson in the Premier League clash.

No goals, some wonderfully cohesive passing from a Swansea City side who somehow kept failing to finish what they started and a reality check for Sunderland.

Despite a mild second-half revival Martin O'Neill's recently renascent players trudged off well aware that, after failing to aim a single shot on target, they owed their point to two things. First came a late, glaring miss on Nathan Dyer's part and then Titus Bramble's fabulous stoppage-time block which denied Danny Graham the most poignant of bittersweet winners.

There is something intensely therapeutic about watching the gorgeous geometry of those prolonged passing sequences Michael Laudrup's players specialise in and early bouts of compulsive visiting pass and move resulted in Dyer curling one shot wide, Michu directing another over the bar and Simon Mignolet diving sharply to save from Chico Flores.

Sunderland struggled to interrupt the revolving interplay which saw Michu, Dyer and the Israel international Itay Shechter – who might have had a penalty when John O'Shea clipped him – rotate attacking positions with bewildering rapidity.

Those Swansea fans who made the 350-mile trek north east must have wondered if this would be their final glimpse of Graham wearing white. The subject of a £5m bid from O'Neill, the striker started as a substitute. "I really don't know what will happen with Danny in the next couple of days," said Laudrup. "And I'd rather not try to guess."

O'Neill had other things on his mind. "We played very disappointingly," said Sunderland's manager. "Swansea really dictated it and we laboured." After four wins in their previous six Premier League games, better had been expected.

Instead the free-kick Craig Gardner delivered towards Row X seemed emblematic of a regression to dead-ball dependence, sporadic counterattacking and significant underachievement from Adam Johnson.

Admittedly Sunderland improved a little in the second half but they remained slightly static, seemed incapable of crossing the ball and created little. That said, it took a fine interception from Flores to halt Stéphane Sessègnon in his attacking tracks as the Wearsiders' newfound ability to hog some of the possession finally had Laudrup on his feet and out in his technical area.

Suddenly an albeit temporarily increased tempo from the home side had Swansea rattled. Fletcher displayed an adhesive first touch to control Bramble's long ball before falling under an Ashley Davies challenge but, much to the crowd's chagrin, the referee waved play on. Laudrup realised the time had come to tighten his formation a little and introduced Ki Sung-yueng at Shechter's expense.

Shortly afterwards O'Neill sacrificed a defensive midfielder in Albert N'Diaye for James McClean's skills as a winger, but it was another newly-arrived substitute, Roland Lamah, who nearly broke the deadlock. After intercepting Sebastian Larsson's slapdash pass, Lamah was left one-on-one against Mignolet but the goalkeeper dashed boldly off his line, smothering the ball at the newcomer's feet.

Graham then replaced Britton, prompting a chorus of boos from locals possibly well aware of his boyhood allegiance to Sunderland's deadliest rivals. "It was a natural reaction," said O'Neill. "He's a Newcastle fan; I don't know what will happen in the next 48 hours."

Whatever Graham felt about the crowd's reaction though, he cannot have been anywhere near as disappointed as Dyer at the end. Set up by Michu, the Englishman shot inexplicably wide with the goal gaping, leaving Laudrup and virtually every visiting player with heads in hands. Something similar happened when Bramble thwarted Graham.

"I'm very, very pleased with the performance but we should have won," said Laudrup. "We were in total control of the first half and in the last 20 minutes we had two huge chances. Sunderland had no chances at all."

Bottom club Queens Park Rangers held Premier League champions Manchester City to a draw, thanks to a fantastic goalkeeping display from Julio Cesar.

Premier League
QPR                     0    
Manchester City    0

Adel Taarabt of Queens Park Rangers, centre, reacts after a missed chance on the Manchester City goal.

Roberto Mancini offered a shrug on the final whistle and only disappointment mumbled through a rueful smile post-match but, on the night the champions sanctioned the sale of Mario Balotelli to Milan, there was something troubling that Manchester City could muster only a goalless draw against the Premier League's bottom team. An opportunity to cut the gap to Manchester United has been passed up. The title defence feels rather fraught once again.

The leaders can re-establish a seven-point advantage by beating Southampton on Wednesday, which would feel deflating given City had won their previous four matches to suggest they were building up a head of steam. Instead, they are back where they have been too often, peering over a gap that yawned this wide on Boxing Day when they last lost. It was certainly untimely to run aground on Queens Park Rangers' rugged defence on the day Balotelli finally flew the nest. Mancini will not be replacing his £17m compatriot before the cut-off and he admitted the striker may be missed over the remaining 14 games. If it was risky retaining Mario, it may be perilous letting him go.

It should be noted that the departing 22-year-old had managed only one league goal all season and was hardly guaranteed to have illuminated City's display in rain-swept west London. Rather, the visitors lacked Yaya Touré – or perhaps more specifically the rampaging, irrepressible Touré from their title-winning season – who might have driven QPR's midfield into retreat and prised the hosts open had he not been in South Africa with Ivory Coast. Yet this was still no time for Mancini's forward line to draw a blank. Presentable chances were created, despite the home side's impressive huff and puff. None was converted.

The lack of bite may ultimately prove costly. Júlio César thwarted them in eye-catching fashion here, the Brazilian goalkeeper's instinctive block from David Silva's close-range shot as the contest lurched into its closing moments confirmation he would not be beaten. Less forgivable was Joleon Lescott's volley over the bar after César's weak punch, or Pablo Zabaleta's thumped header against the woodwork from Silva's delivery.

Edin Dzeko was flung on to offer a focal point but Clint Hill and Ryan Nelsen were in no mood to be bypassed. The New Zealand defender departed through a guard of honour assembled by his team-mates with this likely to have been his final game in English football with a job as head coach at Toronto in Major League Soccer calling. He will be sorely missed.

It was QPR who blunted City here, their endeavour epitomised by those seasoned centre-halves, the frenetic energy of Stéphane Mbia and Shaun Derry's scuttling in central midfield. It was hard to equate this side's committed display with the shambolic surrender mustered by a second-string at home to MK Dons in the FA Cup on Saturday, though the reality that Harry Redknapp named Rob Green and Brian Murphy on the bench offered a reminder that reinforcements are needed if a four-match unbeaten league run is to be extended into a charge for survival. Nothing quite says "But look how stretched we are, Mr Chairman" quite as effectively as a trio of goalkeepers in an 18-man match-day squad.

Redknapp is waiting on positive news from the owner, Tony Fernandes, over Christopher Samba at Anzhi Makhachkala or Rolando at Porto, Peter Odemwingie at West Bromwich Albion or Peter Crouch at Stoke. Yun Suk-young, the South Korea left-back, should complete his move from Chunnam Dragons on Wednesday. "We could do with getting three or four more," said the manager. "We could get none. And none would leave us in trouble. We need a central defender, that's for sure. The chairman asked me a week ago whether I'd be interested if he could get me Samba. I've left it wholly in his hands. He's working on several options but we're short."

What they lack in quality they made up for here in effort. This is a more robust QPR side now than was the case recently and, having established some defensive solidity, they could probe at times on the counter. Nelsen's fine tackle on Lescott at a City corner sparked their best chance, Adel Taarabt sprinting the length of the pitch in possession to draw a fine save from Joe Hart. Löic Rémy, too, was slippery and will have more profitable evenings than this. Norwich City's visit on Saturday is significant and the recent run of encouraging draws must be converted into a sequence of wins.

Redknapp described this as a bonus point, wary that City can "rip teams to pieces, home or away", but the game to come is "massive". Their gap to safety is only four points. City's to glory could revert to seven on Wednesday night.

Nigeria qualified for the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations after two late Victor Moses penalties gave them a crucial win against Ethiopia.

Ethiopia 0
Nigeria   2        Moses 79′ (pen),    90′ (pen)

Moses, 22, opened the scoring from the spot after he was fouled by defender Alula Girma with 10 minutes to go.

The winger earned the second penalty when he was brought down by goalkeeper Sisay Bancha, who was sent off.

If Moses had not scored they would have lost a quarter-final spot to Zambia due to a worse disciplinary record.

Holders Zambia and Nigeria had come into their last round of group fixtures level on points and with an equal goal difference after they drew both their opening games 1-1.

Before Moses's intervention, his side had been set for an early trip home as they had collected more yellow cards.

Aware of the potential for that scenario, the Super Eagles began in Rustenberg with an intent absent in the tournament so far.

Defender Efe Ambrose - recalled to the team after missing out against Zambia through suspension - headed a Moses free-kick over the crossbar when well positioned, before Bancha was alert to stop Ikechukwu Uche reaching an incisive John Obi Mikel through-ball.

Some more sharp play from Nigeria saw another chance go to waste when a selfless cut-back from Uche was blazed well over by rampaging left-back Elderson Echiejile.

While struggling to retain possession in their usual manner, Ethiopia did sporadically threaten with their set-piece delivery.

Nigeria head coach Stephen Keshi had decided not to select fit-again captain Joseph Yobo, and in the 32-year-old's absence, the Super Eagles struggled to convincingly deal with high balls played into their penalty area.

Saladin Seid headed one Ethiopia corner over, while a number of other crosses caused panic at the back for Nigeria.

Dead balls were also causing a problem at the other end of the pitch, and Echiejile stung Bancha's fingertips with a powerful header from a deep Moses corner.

Nigeria's suspect defending had already seen them surrender late leads against Burkina Faso and Zambia, and a comical misunderstanding between retreating winger Sunday Mba and right-back Ambrose played in Ethiopia danger man Seid but his shot was deflected harmlessly into goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama's hands.

The Walyas could then have been reduced to 10-men before the interval after Degu Debebe put in a high, two-footed challenge on the influential Mikel that was only punished with a yellow card by referee Bouchaib Al Ahrach.

Nigeria had begun to lose momentum in the final minutes of the first half and Ethiopia were the team to begin the brightest after the break.

Centre-back Kenneth Omeruo - who had earlier wasted a decent chance when a deflected shot fell to him in the Ethiopia box - was at his sharpest as he stretched to deny Seid a clear header on goal.

Nigeria finally began to show some real intent with 20 minutes to go as they began to pick up the tempo as the threat of making only their third group stage exit in the Africa Cup of Nations drew nearer

This fate looked to have been avoided as centre-back Godfrey Oboabona rose to powerfully meet a corner but his header was cleared off the line by the diligent Abebaw Butako.

Undaunted by the clearance, Nigeria continued to pick up the pace and the exciting Moses was felled by a tired challenge in the area after he had skilfully cut inside Girma.

The Chelsea winger exhibited none of the pressure surrounding his penalty as he calmly sent Bancha the wrong way.

Nigeria had barely finished their jubilant celebrations, though, before their hope of progression was nearly in doubt again when Seid was picked out in the box but Enyeama athletically tipped his effort to safety.

Qualification then looked secured as Moses charged down on goal and was tripped by Bancha. The referee instantly followed up his decision to point to the spot with a deserved second yellow card for the Walyas keeper.

With Ethiopia already using their three substitutions, Moses slotted past midfielder Addis Hintsa who was forced to be a stand-in goalkeeper.

As Zambia were unable to put on a late surge of their own in the other Group C game, Nigeria will now face tournament favourites Ivory Coast in the next round.

Walyas's winless run
Ethiopia have not won a
game at the Africa Cup of
Nations since February 1976.

Nigeria's narrow miss
If Nigeria had gone out of the 
Africa Cup of Nations, it would 
have been the first time since 1982
they had not made the quarter-finals.

Defending champions Zambia crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a goalless draw with Burkina Faso, who progressed to the quarter-finals.

Burkina Faso  0
Zambia           0

Chipolopolo went into the game level on points with Nigeria, who went through to the last eight after a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in the other Group C game.

Zambia will rue weak efforts from Collins Mbesuma and Rainford Kalaba in a poor game against Burkina Faso.

Clifford Mulenga also missed a half-chance late as Zambia limped out.

It is the first time the reigning champions have gone out in the group stage since Algeria in 1990, when there were four groups of three teams. 

But Zambia deserved no more than they got as they failed to produce anything like the form that took them to the title last year - even though they leave South Africa unbeaten after three draws.

In contrast, Burkina Faso have shown good moments - most notably their 4-0 demolition of Ethiopia - and finished top of the group on goal difference.

However, neither Chipolopolo nor the Burkinabe covered themselves in glory in this final group match.

In fairness, the shocking pitch in Nelspruit, which was covered in sand because a virus had affected the grass, caused big problems from the start. Players were losing their footing and it was obvious that the game was not going to be a classic.

With the ball bobbling around all over the place and the players opting for long, hopeful punts up field, there was a total lack of control and a chaotic feel to the play.

Add to that the pressure that both sets of players were under - knowing that this was a winner-takes-all match - it was unsurprising that there was a reluctance to try to get the ball down and play.

And when the tournament's top scorer Alain Traore went off injured after only 12 minutes, it appeared things could hardly get worse - particularly as you feared Burkina Faso, without their star man, would adopt overly negative tactics to achieve the draw they needed to progress.

Just minutes later, Zambia lost Davies Nkausu to injury and it appeared the teams may end the game decimated.

As for any meaningful passages of play, Zambia had two chances to take the lead in the first half but squandered them both. 

Collins Mbesuma shot tamely at the keeper from an excellent central position inside the box and Rainford Kalaba headed an effort that was just as weak after the Burkinabe defence stood and watched a cross float to the back post.

It would not be unfair to say that the sound of a fan periodically sounded air-raid alarm was the only menace in the stadium. It might have even served to wake some people up as the action was non-start.

A second-half onslaught failed to materialise from Zambia as they gave up their title with barely a whimper.

With no urgency in their build-up, no periods of pressure and no drive, their fate looked inevitable.

And when they did finally create an opening, Mbesuma rose to meet a corner and headed woefully wide.

Burkina Faso, content to play out a draw, threatened even less but they might have added further misery on Zambia had Jonathan Pitroipa made contact with a low cross from the right.

As it was, Burkina Faso had done enough to make it through and Zambia's reign ended after a highly disappointing tournament for Herve Renard's men. 

End of a 15-year wait

Burkina Faso are through to the the 

second round for the first time since

they hosted the tournament in 1998

Ghana eased through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations by beating Niger to finish top of Group B.

The Africa Cup of Nations
Niger    0
Ghana  3       Gyan 6′ Atsu 23′ Boye 49′

Captain Asamoah Gyan was instrumental throughout and he set the Black Stars on their way when he controlled Albert Adomah's cross and the drove home.

Gyan then turned provider as he crossed for Christian Atsu, who chested the ball down before poking it in.

Ghana wrapped up the win when Gyan's header was parried by Daouda Kassaly and John Boye tapped in the rebound.

It was a comprehensive victory and a solid performance from a Ghana team that went into the game knowing they only needed a draw to make it through to the last eight. 

Niger's hopes of progressing were slim and they were blown away by the pace and precision of the Black Stars, who clinched top spot in the group on seven points to set up a meeting with debutants Cape Verde.

The Nigeriens may look back on a goal that was disallowed with the score at 1-0 but the gulf in class between the sides was apparent and they can have no complaints about the result.

Gyan was a huge factor in Ghana's dominance, the striker rising to the challenge of captaincy - a responsibility that some had questioned whether he could handle before the tournament - to deliver a clinical and emphatic performance.

He put his side in front when he controlled Adomah's cross from the right with a deft touch and then lashed the ball beyond Kassaly.

Then came a moment that might have made life more difficult for Ghana, as Koffi Dan Kowa drilled in from six yards but had the goal ruled out as the referee ruled Moussa Maazou has pushed Ghana keeper Fatau Dauda.

It looked a harsh decision and deprived Niger of their first goal of the tournament.

But it is unlikely it would have affected the outcome as Ghana were by far the superior team and they reinforced their dominance soon after when Atsu made Niger pay for some poor defending.

After robbing Dan Kowa, he played the ball out wide to Gyan and carried on his run into the box where he collected his skipper's cross, evaded a comical challenge from a defender and slipped the ball into the net. 

Under-fire keeper Kassaly did well to keep Agyemang Badu's shot out, diving to his left to push the ball round the post but there was little respite for the Niger stopper.

Four minutes after the break, he was picking the ball out of the net again. He kept out Asamoah's header on the goal-line but was unable to stop Boye pouncing on the rebound and tapping in.

With the game effectively over as a contest, the pace slowed and it was Niger who almost took advantage.

Maazou rose at the near post and should have done better with a header that he mistimed and sent off target. It was a rare offensive moment from Niger, who go home from their second Nations Cup without scoring a goal.

Ghana were also guilty of wasting a good chance to score when Adomah crossed to the far post for Gyan and the forward failed to get his foot over the ball, sending his shot well wide.

Not that it mattered for the Black Stars or Gyan, who was still given a rapturous reception when he was substituted soon after with his side already assured of their place in the knockout stages.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah:

"We stepped up our game and won against a good Niger team. We hope to do better as we progress in this competition."

Thirty-one years of hurt

Ghana last won the Nations Cup in 1982

Niger coach Gernot Rohr:

"I am proud of my players despite the loss. They displayed courage and the future is bright. We were up against a better, faster team today."

Steep learning curve

Niger finish bottom of the group on one point in their second Nations Cup

Mali came from behind against DR Congo to earn a point and progress to the Africa Cup of Nations last eight.

Africa Cup of Nations

DR Congo 1                        Mbokani 3′ (pen)
Mali           1                        Samassa 14′

 Leopards playmaker Dieumerci Mbokani opened the scoring from the penalty spot after just three minutes.

Mali levelled 11 minutes later as Mahamadou Samassa tapped home from Adama Tamboura's neat pull-back.

Claude LeRoy's side chased a winner but were unable to find a way through the solid Malian defence, as the Eagles joined Ghana in the quarter-finals .

It marks the Malians' second successive progression to the knockout stage, as they seek to better last year's third-place finish in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

It was DR Congo, however, who burst out of the blocks in Durban, chasing a win to progress.

 Striker Lomana LuaLua broke into the box and drove against the post from his team's first attack. Congolese forward Yves Diba followed up by darting into the area, before being tripped by Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko and winning an early penalty.

Mbokani coolly stepped up and fired the spot-kick high into the top right-hand corner past the diving Mamadou Samassa.

Sissoko responded with a snatched shot from the edge of the area, which was gathered by Robert Kidiaba in the Congolese goal.

The Malians managed to find their rhythm after the early shock and they were level on 14 minutes, after good work from Adama Tamboura, who forced his way through the Congolese defence on the left and squared for striker Samassa to finish from six yards.

The Eagles began to increase their hold on possession, with Seydou Keita delivering several threatening balls in the box, but his team-mates were unable to get on the end of them.

Youssouf Mulumbu attempted to restrict Keita's influence by grabbing hold of the Mali captain, earning the West Bromwich Albion midfielder a booking.

Keita then returned the favour, as he rugby tackled the DR Congo midfielder and was handed a yellow card. 

The former Barcelona man delivered an inch-perfect ball for Modibo Maiga, who should have done much better from close range, but headed wide.

LeRoy made an attacking change at the break, as he chased another goal to put his side back into contention, bringing on Tresor Mputu Mabi for LuaLua.

The TP Mazembe man managed to increase his team's threat, as they played the ball around the Malian half well, attempting to create an opening.

Mali comfortably soaked up the pressure, knowing a draw would take them through, with midfielders Samba Diakite, Keita and Sissoko all providing good cover for their deep-lying defence.

Diakite and Sow ventured forward in an attempt to breach the Congolese defence, but were well cut out.

Kidiaba was almost caught napping, as he managed to spill Mahamadou Samassa's speculative effort, only to gratefully see it creep around his post.

Mulumbu forced a fingertip save from Kidiaba's opposite number at the other end, whipping in a curling shot, which Mamadou Samassa just tipped around his upright.

The Eagles then almost grabbed a winner, with substitute Kalilou Traore heading against the outside of the post from a Keita cross and his fellow replacement Cheick Diabate also hitting the woodwork, after rounding Kidiaba.

The Congolese had yet another penalty appeal turned down by the referee with five minutes left, as Mbokani went down after what looked a good challenge from Coulibaly.

Keita almost got a well-deserved winner at the death, but Kidiaba saved well, as the Malians got the draw necessary to earn them a last eight meeting with hosts South Africa.

Mali coach Patrice Carteron:

"It was emotionally difficult knowing what was happening in the [Ghana] game and knowing we needed just a point.

"We need to keep up our intensity."

DR Congo coach Claude LeRoy:

"We mastered the game but we didn't create enough chances. I want to congratulate Mali. I know that this win means a lot for the people of Mali.

"I know that Mali is going through a difficult moment right now, but they are not alone, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we have many internal problems and people have died."

LeRoy's loss

DR Congo's elimination at the group stage marks the first time coach Claude Le Roy has failed to guide a team to the knockout stage, after six previous appearances with Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana - and the Leopards in 2006

LULU APATA DHAMANA LEO MAHAKAMA KUU JIJINI DAR

 Msanii Elizabeth Michael (Lulu) akizungumza na wakili wake peter Kibatala muda mfupi kabla ya kuanza kusikilizwa ombi lake la dhamana leo asubuhi kwenye Mahakama Kuu Jijini Dar es Salaam,ambapo dhamana imepatikana kwa masharti mashahidi wawili wafanyakazi wa Serikali kwa bondi ya

 Tsh 20 Milioni kila mmoja na masharti mengine tumeorodhesha kwenye habari hapo chini.

 Msanii Elizabeth Michael (Lulu) akiwasili kwenye kizimba cha Mahakama Kuu leo Jijini Dar es Salaam.

 Msanii Elizabeth Michael (Lulu) (katikati) akisubiri kusikiliza maombi yake ya dhamana kusomwa na
 Jaji anayesikiliza kesi hiyo Mhe. Zainabu Mruke leo Jijini Dar es Salaam.

 Ndugu jamaa na marafiki wa msanii huyo na baadhi ya watu wengine wakiwa kwenye chumba 

cha Mahakama Kuu Jijini Dar es Salaam wakisubiri kusikiliza maombi ya dhamana.

 Wakili wa lulu akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mara baada ya mteja 

wake kupatiwa dhamana.

Msanii Muhusin Awadi (Dr.cheni) akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mara baada ya 

kutolewa dhamana ya msanii huyo.

Hatimaye Msanii wa Filamu nhini Elizaberth mhael maarufu kwa jina la Lulu, mchana wa leo amepata dhamana na kuachiliwa kutokana na kesi inayo mkabili ya kuua bila kukusudia msanii mwenzake wa filamu marehemu Steven Kanumba mwaka jana.

Akisoma masharti ya dhamana Jaji anaesikiliza kesi hiyo Zainabu Mruke, alitaja masharti kadhaa ambayo mtuhumiwa atatakiwa kuyatekeleza kabla ya kupewa dhamana hiyo.

Mruke alisema mtuhumiwa atatakiwa kuwasilisha hati zake za kusafiria zote mahakamani hapo, atatakiwa kuwa na wadhamini wawili wafanyakazi wa Serikali ambao kila mmoja atatatkiwa kuweka udhamini wa Tsh 20 Milioni kama bondi na sio fedha taslimu.

Aidha Jaji mliongeza kuwa mtuhumiwa hataruhusiwa kusafiri nnje ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam isipokuwa kwa ruhusa maalum ya Mahakama.

Wakili wa mshitakiwa huyo Peter Kibatala alisema amefurahishwa na dhamana aliyopatiwa mteja wake na wataendelea na kazi ya kumtetea hadi mwisho wa kesi hiyo.

Wasanii wenzake waliojitokeza na kuonekana Mahakamani hapo ni pamoja na 

Muhsin Awadh (Dr. Cheni) na Steve Nyerere. Akizungumza na 

waandishi wa habari mara baada ya hukumu hiyo Dk. Cheni alisema yeye binafsi

 amefurahishwa na dhamana hiyo na yuko tayari kufanya naye kazi.

FA Cup fourth round,Leeds United's spirit sends Tottenham tumbling out of FA Cup

 FA Cup

FA Cup fourth round, Elland Road
Leeds United's spirit sends Tottenham tumbling out of FA Cup

Leeds United           2       Varney 15,     McCormack 50

Tottenham Hotspur  1       Dempsey 58

Ross McCormack scores Leeds' second goal against Tottenham at Elland Road.

By the end, it was a reminder of those days when Elland Road would consider this kind of result as the norm rather than the exception. Leeds United had played with the competitive spirit for which they were once renowned and, though a club this size might not take too kindly to being described as giantkillers, there was still something fairly heroic about the way they bridged the gap with Tottenham Hotspur and sent the Premier League side toppling out of the FA Cup.

They were helped, undoubtedly, by the inability of several Tottenham players to grasp two things. One, the importance their club place on this competition as eight-time winners. Two, that a Leeds side managed by Neil Warnock would always cherish the possibility of cutting a top-division team down to size – and would be willing to cover every blade of glass to achieve it.

Yet Leeds did not win just because their players were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and showed all the qualities associated with the classic FA Cup underdog. There was some refined football at times from the Championship's 11th-placed side and the decisive goal, from the left boot of Ross McCormack, was a beauty.

McCormack had played as though on a personal mission to show that Luciano Becchio's absence need not matter. Warnock had dropped his leading scorer in response to the Argentinian submitting a transfer request last week. The man who took his place was Luke Varney, whose lack of goals in his first season at Leeds has made him the subject of derision at times. Yet it was Varney's purposeful run and clinical finish that gave Leeds the lead and invigorated their self-esteem.

As for El Hadji Diouf, he had one of those games that made you wish he could have avoided those incidents that condemn him as one of the more reviled figures in football. Between the three of them, the Championship attackers were a constant menace for their top-tier opponents.

Clint Dempsey's clever, twisting header, eight minutes after McCormack had made it 2-0, ensured it would be a nerve-shredding finale but, overall, it was an undistinguished afternoon for Spurs. Scott Parker's display, indefatigable in midfield, should make him exempt from criticism and Gareth Bale was a formidable opponent once he stayed closer to the left wing in the second half rather than trying to run the game from every position.

This, however, was a scruffy Spurs performance. They can pass the ball a lot better and play with far better control. Perhaps this was the moment, too, when their luck ran out. All season they have been trying to scrape by with only two natural strikers. Emmanuel Adebayor's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations had left Jermain Defoe as the last man standing but the England international was missing here because of a hip problem.

How Tottenham must wish it had been him on the end of their one clear chance to snatch a replay. Instead, the opportunity fell for the substitute, Jon Obika, who waited a fraction too long to get his shot away. Lee Peltier's saving tackle was brilliantly executed, as they had been all game.

Tottenham's ordeal had begun after a quarter of an hour when Michael Brown hooked an innocuous ball forward and suddenly Varney was running free on the left and making a beeline for goal. Kyle Naughton and, to a lesser extent, Steven Caulker had both been caught out after Diouf dangled out his leg and made no contact. The ball ran through and Varney ignored the temptation to square for McCormack, opened up his body and angled his shot past Brad Friedel.

Varney's finish was so impeccably delivered it felt like a trick of the mind that the 30-year-old has repeatedly threatened to exhaust the patience of the Elland Road crowd this season. He signed from Portsmouth last June and marked his debut, in their first match of the season, by scoring one of the goals in a 4-0 defeat of Shrewsbury in the Capital One Cup. The problem was he did not manage another in his next 18 appearances. All things considered, he took his goal with remarkable confidence.

Leeds could have been further ahead before half-time, Friedel saving at McCormack's feet at the end of the first half, but Tottenham's vulnerability in defence continued after the interval. Five minutes in, Gylfi Sigurdsson lost the ball in the Leeds half. Diouf released McCormack and when he turned inside Caulker, on the right-hand corner of the penalty area, it became apparent there was nobody to help him. McCormack took the only option that was really on, letting fly with his left foot. It was a wonderfully taken shot that was still rising as it hit the net.

Dempsey's header came from Bale's cross and, for 25 minutes, the Welshman tormented the Leeds right-back Sam Byram. One nutmeg, followed by an outrageous piece of skill, saw him sprinting away from three opponents. Yet Spurs did not play with the urgency that might have been expected for a team needing to score. For the most part, they also had two players, Dempsey and Sigurdsson, playing in attack despite being midfielders by trade. Leeds took advantage to remind their crowd of better times.

Man of the match Ross McCormack (Leeds United).

 Leeds season is cups campaignLeeds are into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2003, when Terry Venables      was manager and they reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by Sheffield United. They also reached the quarter-finals of this season's Capital One Cup, beating Southampton and Everton before losing 5-1 to Chelsea.

Hosts South Africa finished top of Group A after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Morocco in Durban knocked the North Africans out of the tournament.

Morocco      2  El Adoua 10′      Abdelilah Elhafidi 82′
South Africa 2    Mahlangu 71′    Rantie 86′

Knowing a win would take them through, Morocco twice led - only to exit the finals, as Cape Verde beat Angola 2-1.

After Issam El Adoua headed home 10 minutes in, May Mahlangu curled home in fine style after 71 minutes.

Mehdi Namli put Morocco in front again but Siyabonga Sangweni broke North African hearts with a late equaliser.

The goal ensured that South Africa, who reached the Nations Cup knock-out stages for the first time since 2002, stay in Durban for Saturday's quarter-final against the Group B runner-up.

It also meant unbeaten Morocco suffered an early exit for the second finals in a row - their departure made all the more painful given that they were just four minutes away from qualifying as group winners.

On a night of unrelenting drama, the Group A climax was full of twists and turns - with the most severe coming when Cape Verde scored a 90th-minute winner to squeeze into the knock-out positions.

It was cruel on an Atlas Lions side who were much improved from their opening displays but who were undone by two high-quality South African goals.

Making light of a partisan packed house in Durban, the North Africans got off to a flier - with striker Youssef El Arabi denied after just four minutes by South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Moments later, the 1976 champions opened the scoring as Khune misread a Moroccan corner - allowing centre-back Issam El Adoua to head home from close range.

With a pace to the game seldom seen at these finals, the hosts - who were roared on whenever they advanced - first threatened as the lively Thuso Phala teed up Bernard Parker who dragged his strike wide.

Some South Africans could be seen praying in the stands and they were certainly thankful after Khune raced 20 yards out of his area to break up a Moroccan counter-attack after Kamel Chafni had broken free.

If the first half was a tasty appetiser, the second half delivered a feast of football theatre as all four teams in the group clung on to their hopes of qualification until the dying moments.

After 53 minutes, Phala - whose set-piece delivery was superb all evening - thought he had drawn the 1996 champions level with a free-kick that was flying into the top corner until veteran Moroccan keeper Nadir Lamyaghri, 36, pulled off a fine save.

El Arabi then had the chance to put Morocco in control of their destiny when a Sangweni error allowed him a free run at goal from 40 yards - but Khune threw up a hand to make a decisive save from the attempted chip.

With time rapidly ticking away, South Africa levelled as midfielder Mahlangu played a one-two with Tokelo Rantie before bending one of the goals of the tournament into the top corner from the edge of the box - leaving Lamyaghri with no chance.

At this point, with both games level at 1-1, Morocco were exiting the tournament on the number of yellow cards they had picked up - so their goal after 82 minutes sparked wild celebrations.

Substitute Abdelilah Hafidi controlled a cutback on his chest in the area before firing through the legs of Sangweni and past Khune - prompting Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi to sink to his knees and kiss the turf.

His side were top of the group but their descent started once Sangweni - nominally a centre-back - pitched up on the edge of the penalty area to curl home another fine Bafana Bafana goal.

As the Moses Mabhida Stadium led the celebrations across South Africa, news filtered through that Cape Verde had taken the lead against Angola - leaving some Moroccan players in tears as they struggled to understand the nature of their elimination.

La Liga: Cristiano Ronaldo scores 10-minute hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Getafe

Real Madrid  4         Ramos 53,   Ronaldo 62,    Ronaldo 65,    Ronaldo (pen) 72

Getafe           0      

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's third, and his second, goal against Getafe.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid warmed up for their Copa del Rey clash with Barcelona with a 4-0 home victory over Getafe on Sunday.

Sergio Ramos scored in the 53rd minute after Ricardo Carvalho forced goalkeeper Miguel Moyà to fumble the ball by hitting his arms in an apparent foul that went unpunished. "I don't know if I fouled him or not," Carvalho said. "It all happened so fast. I jumped and I don't know if I touched him." Ronaldo then scored three times in an 10-minute span to give him 21 goals in league play this season, second only to Barcelona's Lionel Messi with 29.

Madrid's win keeps them in third place and reduced the gap with Barcelona to 12 points before the league leaders host Osasuna on Sunday evening. Madrid host Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.

Even though Madrid's league title defence looks almost impossible, Carvalho said Madrid were still going all out for victory. "The most important thing is to win games, in the league as well, since it makes us stronger for the Copa del Rey and Champions League [against Manchester United]," Carvalho said.

Adán Garrido started in Madrid's goal after Iker Casillas broke his hand on Wednesday and underwent an operation on Friday. He will be out for eight to 12 weeks. Madrid signed Diego López from Sevilla on Saturday and he was on the bench for the game against Getafe. And with el clásico looming, the Madrid manager, José Mourinho, rested Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo were all substituted.

Madrid had the better share of the scoring chances in a subdued first half. Ronaldo tested Moyà with a bouncing free-kick 10 minutes in, before drawing a save from the Getafe goalkeeper 12 minutes later. Moyà again responded well to turn away back-to-back attempts by Khedira and Fábio Coentrão moments before Madrid scored after Carvalho's collision with Moyà.

"It was clearly a foul," the Getafe manager, Luis García, said. "It's a pity. When you are losing you have to push forward and that's what let them get out on the break. Madrid is the best team in the world on the counterattack."

At 1-0 up, Madrid did not look back. Ronaldo finished off a counterattack in the 62nd minute, running on to Ozil's pass and firing the ball beyond Moyà and inside the far upright. Three minutes later, he made it 3-0 as he charged in unmarked behind Gonzalo Higuaín to head home Angel Di Maria's floated cross at the far post.

Ronaldo then dispatched a penalty into the lower left corner in the 72nd to record his second hat-trick in the league this season after Alberto Lopo fouled Luka Modric in the area.

FA Cup fourth round,Oldham dump Liverpool out of FA Cup after Matt Smith double

FA Cup fourth round, Boundary Park

Oldham    3         Smith 2,       Smith 45+4,    Wabara 48

Liverpool 2         Suárez 17,    Allen 79

Oldham celebrate a famous victory.

 The final whistle sounded on a shocking defeat in every sense for Liverpool and Paul Dickov was swept into an emotional embrace by Paul Gerrard, one of the few members of the Oldham coaching team not placed on gardening leave before Christmas. Dickov's backroom staff have been decimated, and his own future at Boundary Park is in jeopardy even after this glorious high, but in that touchline clinch Dickov found the FA Cup does not distinguish between the downtrodden and the aristocracy. How Oldham merited this release.

Liverpool arrived at Boundary Park having agreed an £8.5m fee with Internazionale for Philippe Coutinho and a day after Brendan Rodgers's 40th birthday celebrations. They were abruptly, rudely curtailed in the fourth round by a tireless performance from a League One side who have slipped towards the relegation zone after taking one point from their previous eight games and are reliant on television revenue from this tie to keep going.

The on-loan Manchester City defender Reece Wabara scored what proved the winning goal but no player encapsulated the Oldham display better than the rampaging centre-forward Matt Smith.

A non-league player 18 months ago, his previous brush with fame came from playing football with the comedian Jack Whitehall at university, where he studied for a degree in international business management. He will be remembered for much more in Oldham after his two first-half goals punished a lightweight, lamentable approach from the visitors from Anfield.

Oldham had covered the pitch in a protective bubble and appealed to supporters to help clear the snow to ensure the tie went ahead. They were rewarded with a full-blooded, feisty and fully committed display that showed the "26-hour working days" that Dickov has put in since his coaches departed has rubbed off on his players. This was their chance to impress before a national audience and, from their intent to pummel Liverpool into submission from the very start, they were evidently in the mood to seize it.

For Rodgers, this was an abject humiliation a stirring finale could not cover. The Liverpool manager selected a strong, recognisable line-up despite having trips to Arsenal and Manchester City in the next week, with only Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing and Lucas Leiva of his available first choices rested on the bench. Yet they were behind before putting one pass together and served up a feeble performance that supported their manager's recent protestations about a lack of leadership in the Liverpool ranks. Physically, they were also found wanting as Dickov's decision to deploy Robbie Simpson alongside the towering Smith allowed Oldham to dominate Sebastián Coates, Jack Robinson and Martin Skrtel in the visiting defence.

Only two minutes had elapsed when Youssouf M'Changama retrieved Lee Croft's sliced shot on the left and delivered an inviting cross towards the back post. Smith steamed in above Coates, as was to become the norm, and his downward header beat Brad Jones despite Skrtel's attempted clearance on the line. That was to be M'Changama's last contribution before his afternoon was ended by a challenge from behind by Raheem Sterling, who received a yellow card and escaped another shortly afterwards for a pull on Jean-Yves M'Voto.

The former Everton trainee and boyhood Liverpool fan Jose Baxter went close from distance as Oldham combined tidy approach play with their aerial bombardment. Liverpool's response had been minimal but they were back on level terms on the first occasion Luis Suárez was afforded space to run at the home defence.

Suárez, handed the captain's armband for the first time, roamed inside from the left and regained possession from Cliff Byrne following an attempted through ball into Daniel Sturridge. A measured finish sailed through the arms of Oldham's keeper, Dean Bouzanis, to give the Uruguay international his 21st goal of the season.

Briefly, the equaliser brought composure and a touch of Premier League superiority to the Liverpool display. Suárez thought he had scored a second with a glancing touch to a Jordan Henderson free-kick but was given offside, and Bouzanis denied Sterling following a swift exchange involving Suárez and the dreadful Fabio Borini. But then the physical threat from Oldham restarted, and Liverpool folded weakly.

Jones saved Smith's header towards his top corner from Baxter's free-kick but Dickov's team continued to press throughout first-half injury time and retook the lead courtesy of a poor slip by Liverpool's stand-in keeper. Wabara, who prospered from right-back all afternoon, drove in a low but routine cross to the near post that Jones fumbled straight to Simpson. His mis-hit shot rolled across goal and perfectly for Smith, a former player with Solihull Moors, to double his tally from unmissable range.

Borini squandered a glorious chance to level moments after the restart and that assumed greater significance when Oldham extended their advantage from their next attack. Carl Winchester, M'Changama's replacement, swung over a deep cross from the left and Wabara rose above Robinson to send a looping header in off the far post.

Liverpool were staring at humiliation and Rodgers responded by introducing Gerrard and Downing from the bench. Sturridge shot over from close range after Gerrard's shot had been blocked and, with Oldham losing Simpson and Smith to injury, the latter to a jarred shoulder, the home side had no outlet to relieve the pressure. It eventually told with 10 minutes remaining when Joe Allen's volley from a Gerrard corner took a huge deflection off Baxter to beat Bouzanis.

Allen had another goalbound effort deflected just wide, Gerrard struck the crossbar from 30 yards and Liverpool pressed in search of a reprieve. It never came. Dickov had his day.

Man of the match Matt Smith (Oldham)

• Matt Smith had given up on professional football after being released by Cheltenham aged 18 and went on to gain a degree in International Management with American Studies from the University of Manchester.

• While studying he played for the likes of Redditch United, Droylsden and Solihull Moors - where he was spotted by Oldham.

FA Cup fifth round : Brighton 2 - 3 Arsenal

Theo Walcott's deflected late winner settled a pulsating encounter and sent Arsenal into the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of battling Brighton. 

Brighton's Ashley Barnes heads the ball in front of Wojciech Szczesny of Arsenal to equalise at the Amex Arena.

 Brighton & Hove Albion 2        Barnes 33,     Ulloa 62

  Arsenal                            3         Giroud 16,    Giroud 56,    Walcott 85

Arsenal's Theo Walcott strikes late to end Brighton's FA Cup dream

Arsenal reached the fifth round of the FA Cup with a breathless, boisterously fought and occasionally rather uneven 3-2 defeat of Brighton. In the event, Arsène Wenger will have been hugely relieved to see Theo Walcott's deflected 85th-minute winner ripple the Brighton net after a performance of both pluck and craft from the home team. Brighton twice equalised Olivier Giroud's brace of goals and at times stretched to the limits a weakened – some would say additionally weakened – Arsenal starting XI.

"Brighton is a good team and they made it very difficult for us," the Arsenal manager said. "They play a very positive and technical game and they had a great spirit. Especially on the right flank they gave us many problems."

Wenger is nothing if not goatishly unswerving in his convictions. He might have been tempted here to eschew the traditional weakening of his team against opposition from a lower division, but this was a selection that veered between brave and a little reckless. Tomas Rosicky was back in midfield, playing just ahead of his fellow long-term convalescent Abou Diaby, and André Santos, the Premier League's most notable "false three", continued at left-back against opposition that would target him mercilessly throughout another uncomfortable afternoon.

The Amex is an arched open bowl of a new-build stadium, not so much a symbol of the usual upwardly mobile aspirations as simply a welcome place for this most peripatetic of clubs to finally rest its head. With Arsenal's fans given an end-and-a-bit and the rest of the stadium packed with blue and white there was a slightly fevered atmosphere from the start. It was Brighton who had the first chance, after 14 minutes, Ashley Barnes seeing his shot saved by Wojciech Szczesny after Leonardo Ulloa's flick found him unmarked in the penalty area.

With the Amex still collecting itself, Arsenal opened the scoring. It was a beautiful finish out of nothing, Lukas Podolski cutting in from the left and then leaving the ball in Oliver Giroud's path on the edge of the area. The Frenchman placed it in the top corner with the minimum of back-lift.

Brighton were unbowed. With 30 minutes gone Will Buckley skipped past Santos with ease – as he did for most of the afternoon – and crossed low for Ulloa, newly arrived from Almería of the Spanish second division, to put the ball in the net from an offside position. Naturally enough it was from that side that the equaliser came on 32 minutes.

Buckley, who by this stage had Santos pretty much dangling from his back pocket each time he gambolled down the right touchline, forced a corner that was taken short. With Arsenal dithering Barnes met the cross unopposed and power his header past Szczesny. The Amex erupted. For Arsenal it was another moment of alarmingly flaccid central defending. With Brighton's captain, Gordon Greer, forced off injured Brighton lost a little of their momentum, but it was still an energetic first 45 minutes for the Championship team with Ramsey, Rosicky and Diaby out-ferreted in midfield by Dean Hammond, David López and the outstanding Liam Bridcutt.

After half-time Arsenal pressed towards their own fans with renewed vigour, Podolski smacking the bar on 54 minutes with a flighted free-kick. Giroud's second goal came two minutes later, bringing with it shades of the now defunct Alex Song-Robin van Persie axis of last season. Diaby dinked a lovely pass forward into space. Giroud caught the ball on his right foot and finished smartly.

Still Brighton fought back. With 62 minutes gone Barnes found some pace on the right to swing in a wonderful cross and Ulloa stooped to head home and make it 2-2. On the touchline Gus Poyet, the Brighton manager, could barely contain himself. The FA Cup does tend to do this. Journeyman debutant signed just 10 days ago? Of course he's going to score.

It was cavalry time for Arsenal. With 22 minutes left Wenger brought on Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere, left out here to protect his niggly ankle. Wilshere again looked by far Arsenal's brightest midfielder and inevitably it was from his corner that the winner came. Casper Ankergren punched out to where Walcott had taken up his "Sweden" position on the edge of the penalty area and his measured shot was deflected in off Adam El-Abd.

Brighton will feel unlucky to lose here, but in the end the quality of Arsenal's substitutes – and the belated appearance of the first team – made the difference.

Wenger was quick to praise Giroud, while also suggesting striking reinforcements are far from imminent. "He's scored four goals this week and he had several other chances today. He's powerful, he's dangerous, his physical presence is very important to us. Quality wise we don't need a new striker. Number wise we could be a bit short. But you do not find them in the street, strikers who can play for us and strengthen our team."

FA Cup fifth round : Manchester United 4 - 1 Fulham

Manchester United's Javier Hernández celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal against Fulham with Wayne Rooney.

 Manchester United 4       Giggs (pen) 3,    Rooney 50,    Hernández 52,    Hernández 66

 Fulham                   1        Hughes 76

Manchester United swept Fulham aside at Old Trafford to march into the fifth round of the FA Cup. 

David De Gea retained his starting berth but Wayne Rooney lost his role as the Manchester United penalty taker. These were the bulletins from what was the calmest of passages into Sunday's FA Cup fifth round draw as the 11-times winners could hope for.

The tie felt over as early as the 127 seconds United required to strike, though it was not until Javier Hernández's 66th-minute finish that made it 4-0 that the scoreline truly reflected how one-way the traffic had been.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a good performance. We respected Fulham, as you saw, because we played such a strong side, as we didn't want any slip-ups. This trophy is very important to us this season, we haven't won it for nearly 10 years, so really we need a big performance in it this year."

When the team sheet dropped, United's XI showed six changes, though De Gea was not one of them following criticism of his display at Tottenham Hotspur, and he now moves on to Wednesday's league game here against Southampton.

After his Fulham side went down 2-0 at Manchester City last time out, Martin Jol previewed this encounter by suggesting that United might be got at easier than City.

The Dutchman was alluding to the aerial vulnerability that cost United two points at Spurs, and which allowed West Ham United to take them to a replay in the previous round. Of that 2-2 draw, in which both Hammers goals were headers from high balls, Ferguson wrote in the programme: "It was a reminder that we are hardly going to do well in the Cup if we can't defend better than that."

What United can do is attack in a menacing blur. Under the Old Trafford lights, a mild evening had the best of beginnings for the home congregation when Ferguson's band poured forward and registered from their opening move.

On 40 seconds, Rooney's effort was deflected for a corner. When the Liverpudlian aimed this in from the left, Aaron Hughes used his hand to defend the ball. He was under pressure from Chris Smalling, but that was no excuse. Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot and, with Rooney having missed 10 penalties for the club, including one in the 1-0 replay win against West Ham, the gaze shifted to see who might step up.

In a moment, it became clear that Rooney had been stood down for Ryan Giggs, who duly slotted to the right of Mark Schwarzer. There had been a hint of the decision in Ferguson's notes when he wrote: "We will really have to up our game in this area."

As entries into this forbidding arena go, conceding after two minutes could not have been much worse for Fulham. Their disarray lingered throughout. Bryan Ruiz sent an errant pass across midfield that found Giggs, Steve Sidwell turned down a couple of blind alleys and, later, having pinned United on their heels, Ruiz's radar was awry as he left the returning Dimitar Berbatov howling in frustration with another poor ball.

Inevitably, the Cottagers' finest moment involved the Bulgarian. Berbatov had received a warm cheer from the United support before kick-off and the control of a pass before playing in Sascha Riether on 32 minutes was plucked straight from the archive of his time here. While the subsequent shot blazed past De Gea's right post, by half-time it was only 1-0 despite United's dominance, and Ferguson may have told his players they should have already killed the tie off.

They should also have had a second penalty when Giggs's 21st-minute pass clearly hit the arm of Damien Duff, who had stuck it out.

If Ferguson ordered his team to be more ruthless, the next seven minutes proved they listened. First, an Anderson pass to Rooney along the inside channel was turned by his right boot on to the left before he blasted home in style reminiscent of the striker's finishing at Euro 2004.

Seconds later, Rooney was the creator. He switched play from the left to Nani on the right. The Portuguese's attempt to find Hernández was repelled and Rooney, who had continued running, threaded the ball to the Mexican, who scored.

"What I'm really pleased about is Chicharito got two today, taking him to 14, Wayne got one and so did Ryan," Ferguson said. "If we have three or four around the 20-goal bracket, we're in business."

For Ferguson, complete satisfaction was thwarted when Hughes completed his topsy-turvy outing by heading home from Giorgos Karagounis's late corner. Rooney was the man detailed to pick up the defender but, as with his spot-kick duties, at least for the time being, he lost this bit of the plot.

For Jol there was relief his side had not been more embarrassed. "It could have been of those nights when they could have scored five, six, or seven."