African football briefs on Saturday:

Transfer of Malawi striker delayed

BLANTYRE: The transfer of young Malawi striker Essau Kanyenda to French team Marseille has been temporarily halted according to his South African club, Jomo Cosmos, who offered no explanation.

Canon hit rock bottom

YAOUNDE: Defending champions Canon Yaounde lost 1-0 at promoted Victoria Limbe and prop up the Cameroon standings with no points after two rounds. Bamenda and Mont Camerooon share top spot with maximum points.

Zambian puts club before country

LUSAKA: Russia-based midfielder Gift Kampamba has withdrawn from the Zambia squad for an African Nations Cup qualifier in Tanzania next month to concentrate on his club career.

Ivorian striker moves to Middle East

ABIDJAN: Teenage striker Antonin Koutouan, whose goals helped Ivory Coast giants ASEC reach the African Champions League semi-finals last year, has signed a three-year contract with United Arab Emirates club Al-Wahda.

Goalless tour for Kansas City Wizards

JOHANNESBURG: American Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards drew 0-0 with Premiership clubs Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United on a tour of South Africa.

Egypt pip Russia in Olympic warm-up

CAIRO: Egypt defeated Russia 2-1 in an under-23 friendly staged to prepare the countries for 2004 Olympic qualifiers. Mahmoud Mahmoud and Mohamed Abdelwahed were the Egyptian scorers.

Madagascar call up ?exiles?

ANTANANARIVO: Madagascar have called up four players from the neighbouring Indian Ocean island of Reunion for a Castle Cup Southern Africa championship first round clash with Mauritius here next Saturday.

Ghana declare coaches unsuitable

ACCRA: Ghana have declared the candidates for the national coach post, locals Emmanuel Afranie and Abdul Razak plus Manuel Gomes from Portugal and German Burkhard Ziese, unsuitable and will broaden their search.

Swaziland close national stadium

MBABANE: Swaziland have closed the national stadium to renovate it for the African junior championships in May, leaving the senior squad to find a new venue for an African Nations Cup qualifier against DR Congo next month.

Former Senegal official Alcantara dies

DAKAR: Former Senegal official Rito Alcantara has died aged 81, the Confederation of African Football announced. He represented Africa on the executive committee of world governing body FIFA for 20 years from 1968.

German to guide Seychelles

VICTORIA: African minnows Seychelles have appointed German Michael Nees national coach in succession to Dominique Bathenay, who returned to France after being put in charge of struggling first division club Sedan.

Fes change coaches again

RABAT: Moroccan club Maghreb Fes have changed coaches for the second time this season, putting Bulgarian Ivica Todorov in charge of a club struggling at the wrong end of the championship standings.