MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - Didier Drogba is gone, and he might soon be forgotten when it comes to Ivory Coasts national soccer

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - Didier Drogba is gone, and he might soon be forgotten when it comes to Ivory Coasts national soccer team. Tim Ream Jersey .Wilfried Bony, the newest exceptional striker from the country that also produced Yaya Toure, scored a pair of goals Sunday to put his team into the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations.The Ivorians beat Algeria 3-1 at Malabo Stadium, and it was Bony who twice gave his team the lead with headers.I think the Ivory Coast team is very lucky, Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard said. He was the best scorer in England in 2014. I think when you just said that, you can explain everything.The soon-to-be Manchester City forward first headed in a cross from Max Gradel in the 26th minute after being left completely alone at the far post. Bony scored another in the 68th by nodding in a free kick taken by Toure, his new club teammate at City.The Ivorians, who won their only African Cup title in 1992, will next face Congo on Wednesday in Bata. Four-time champion Ghana, which beat Guinea 3-0 in the other quarterfinal match, will play tournament host Equatorial Guinea in the semifinals on Thursday in Malabo.With Drogba in the team, the Ivorians twice reached the African Cup final, but both times lost on penalties. The last time was in 2012, when Renard led Zambia to a surprising victory.If Didier Drogba is not there, its not because of us, Renard said. Its because he decided to stop his international career.The Ivory Coasts other goal came from Gervinho, the Roma forward who returned from a two-match suspension after getting a straight red card in the opening match.Hilal Soudani scored Algerias goal in the 51st, beating goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo after taking a pass from Riyad Mahrez that trickled through a weak Ivory Coast defence.In the earlier match, Christian Atsu scored two goals and Kwesi Appiah added the other to put Ghana into the African Cup semifinals for the fifth straight time.Atsu, who plays in England for Everton, gave the Black Stars the lead in the fourth minute by scoring after a backheel pass from Andre Ayew. He added another in the 61st, whipping in a shot from the right side.Appiah scored the second goal of the match in the 44th, controlling a horrible defensive mistake from Baissama Sankoh and beating Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara.For us, I think we had a winning mentality, Atsu said. We went for a win and we worked hard for it. Thats why we won the game. Not because they are a bad team. We went for a win. Thats all.Guinea finished the match with 10 men after Yattara was given a red card in injury time for a foul on Asamoah Gyan. Abdoulaye Cisse then played in goal for the final seconds.Ghana came into the match as the favourite, and needed only a few minutes to take the lead. Appiah took the ball down the left side before passing to Ayew in the area, and the Marseille forward then used his heel to slide the ball to Atsu for the goal.The match slowed for most of the next 40 minutes, with Guinea captain Ibrahima Traore doing his best to create chances for his team.We lost a goal almost from kickoff, which hurt our confidence, and then lost another goal just before break, Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said. It makes things complicated against a team with the talent of Ghana.Guinea needed a touch of luck just to make it this far. The team finished tied with Mali after both teams drew 1-1 in all three Group D matches. But Guinea advanced after winning a drawing of lots on Thursday.Just qualifying for the 2015 tournament was a surprise for many, however. Guinea is one of the three worst affected countries of the Ebola outbreak and the national team was forced to play its home qualifying matches outside its borders.We need to put things into perspective, Ghana are a great team, Dussuyer said. We go out with regrets in this match but must not forget the road we have come down before today. Julian Green Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. Jesse Gonzalez Jersey . According to the CFL Scouting Bureaus January rankings, four of the top five Canadian prospects line-up on the offensive side of the trenches, which is good news for Bombers general manager Kyle Walters. With only one selection in the first two rounds — Walters sent his second-round pick to Saskatchewan in the days ahead of the 2013 trade deadline — the No. http://www.soccerusafansshop.com/Bill-Hamid-America-Jersey/ .And although FIFAs investigators are preparing to release the findings of a World Cup corruption probe, Hassan Al Thawadi dismissed any chance of Qatar losing the showpiece event.CHICAGO - Even as the Chicago Cubs lost one game after another, Ernie Banks never lost hope.That was the charm of Mr. Cub.Banks, the Hall of Fame slugger and two-time MVP who always maintained his boundless enthusiasm for baseball despite decades of playing on miserable teams, died Friday night. He was 83.The Cubs announced Banks death, but did not provide a cause.Banks hit 512 home runs during his 19-year career and was fond of saying, Its a great day for baseball. Lets play two! In fact, that finish to his famous catchphrase adorns his statue outside Wrigley Field.And on a cold winter night Friday, the ballpark marquee carried the sad news for the entire town to see: Ernie Banks. Mr. Cub. 1931-2015.Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person Ive ever known.Approachable, ever optimistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernies life in the days ahead.Though he was an 11-time All-Star from 1953-71, Banks never reached the post-season. The Cubs, who havent won the World Series since 1908, finished below .500 in all but six of his seasons and remain without a pennant since 1945.Still, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, the first year he was eligible, and was selected to baseballs All-Century team in 1999.Banks infectious smile and non-stop good humour despite his teams dismal record endeared him to Chicago fans, who voted him the best player in franchise history. One famous admirer, actor Bill Murray, named his son Homer Banks Murray.In 2013, Banks was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom — by a noted Chicago White Sox fan, President Barack Obama. The award is one of the nations highest civilian honours.Ernie Banks was more than a baseball player. He was one of Chicagos greatest ambassadors. He loved this city as much as he loved — and lived for — the game of baseball, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. This year, during every Cubs game, you can bet that No. 14 will be watching over his team. And if were lucky, itll be a beautiful day for not just one ballgame, but two.Banks No. 14 was the first number retired by the Cubs, and it hangs on a flag from the left-field foul pole at Wrigley Field.Id like to get to the last game of the World Series at Wrigley Field and hit three homers, he once said. That was what I always wanted to do.But even without an opportunity to play on the October stage, Banks left an indelible mark that still resonates with fans and athletes from all sports.Ernie Banks... We are going to all miss you. #Legend, quarterback Russell Wilson tweeted as he and the Seattle Seahawks were getting ready to defend their Super Bowl title.Banks was playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues when the Cubs discovered him iin 1953, and purchased his contract for $10,000. Sacha Kljestan Jersey. He made his major league debut at shortstop on Sept. 17 that year, and three days later hit his first home run.Tall and thin, Banks didnt look like a typical power hitter. He looked even less so as he stood at the plate, holding his bat high and wiggling it as he waited for pitches. But he had strong wrists and a smooth, quick stroke, and he made hitting balls out of the park look effortless.When he switched to a lighter bat before the 1955 season, his power quickly became apparent. He hit 44 homers that season, including three against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 4. His five grand slams that year established a major league record that stood for more than 30 years before Don Mattingly hit six in 1987.Banks best season came in 1958, when he hit .313 with 47 homers and 129 RBIs. Though the Cubs went 72-82 and finished sixth in the National League, Banks edged Willie Mays and Hank Aaron for his first MVP award. He was the first player from a losing team to win the NL MVP.Banks won the MVP again in 1959, becoming the first NL player to win it in consecutive years, even though the Cubs had another dismal year. Banks batted .304 with 45 homers and a league-leading 143 RBIs.He led the NL in homers again in 1960 with 41, his fourth straight season with 40 or more. His 248 homers from 1955-60 were the most in the majors, topping even Aaron and Mays.Mr Cub. What you have done for the game of baseball the city of Chicago and everyone you have ever touched will never be forgotten. RIP, tweeted Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.Though Banks didnt break the 40-homer barrier again after 1960, he topped the 100-RBI mark three more times, including 1969, his last full season. Then 38, he hit .253 with 23 home runs and 106 RBIs, and was chosen an All-Star for an 11th time.On May 12, 1970, he hit his 500th home run at Wrigley Field, becoming only the eighth player at the time to reach the plateau.Banks retired after the 1971 season. He owned most of the Cubs career slugging records, some of which still stand today.Known mostly for his power at the plate, Banks was a solid fielder, too. He is best known as a shortstop, where he won a Gold Glove in 1960, but he switched to first base in 1962. He played 1,259 games at first and 1,125 games at shortstop.Born and raised in Dallas, Banks would be bribed to play catch by his father, who always wanted him to be a baseball player. Banks grew to love the game and was a standout in high school, along with participating in football, basketball and track and field.He joined a barnstorming Negro Leagues team at 17 and was spotted by Cool Papa Bell, who signed him to the Monarchs in 1950. Banks played one season before going into the Army. He returned to Kansas City after he was discharged, playing one more season before joining the Cubs.He was one of the great crossover baseball players of his day, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said. His personality was a racial bridge builder. He treated all people with dignity and respect. He never stopped reaching out to bridge the racial chasms. Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys ' ' '