Players have wrecked artificial turf at Swaziland's main football stadium by putting magic charms, or "muti" underneath it, say furious officials.

The damage was worst near the goals and centre circle at the Somhlolo National Stadium in the capital Mbabane.

The muti, which some believe will help teams win games, has been stuffed under the turf over the last month.

Officials say they may ban any teams responsible for damage to the $600,000 (?375,000) turf.

'Something strange'

"Maybe we have to consider banning one big team because whenever that team would be playing at the stadium, something strange would happen," government sports officer Sipho Magagula told AFP news agency.

The country's sports minister has reportedly filed a formal criminal complaint over the damage, which has been noticed before and after national league games.

The BBC's Thulani Mtetwa in Mbabane says holes have been cut and burned in the turf, so the muti can be placed underneath.

He says many rituals involve burning something.

The police say it is difficult to take action as such rituals are often carried out at night.

. Monday June 8, 2009 Flashed By: Newsman

Virgin Atlantic is to pull its brand name from Nigeria's national airline Virgin Nigeria and sell its stake in the company.

Virgin's sell-off is the final closure of an increasingly acrimonious deal, announced with great fanfare, five years ago.

An unnamed Virgin source told Reuters news agency the company would have until early July to rebrand itself.

Virgin Nigeria could not immediately be reached for comment.

"It is like the parent is now letting the child go off on its own," the Virgin source said.

In 2004 Virgin entered into a deal, brokered by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, to take over as the national flag-carrier from Nigerian Airways which had collapsed among accusations of corruption.

'Mafioso tactics'

Virgin Atlantic paid $25m for a 49% stake in the new airline, with Nigerian investors making up the rest.

Relations between Virgin and the government soured after President Obasanjo's successor, Umar Yar'Adua took over in 2007.

In 2008 Virgin Nigeria was stripped of a special deal allowing them to operate domestic flights from the international terminal at Lagos airport.

While stunned passengers looked on, hammer-wielding men demolished their lounge.

Virgin owner Richard Branson accused the government of using "mafioso tactics" and the government accused Virgin of "orchestrating negative propaganda".

In January, Virgin Nigeria announced they would be stopping flights on their loss-making Lagos-Johannesburg and Lagos-London routes.

After Virgin's withdrawal, the Nigerian airline is likely to merge with another local carrier, the Virgin source told Reuters.

Virgin Atlantic's flights into Lagos Airport are to continue.

. Monday June 8, 2009 Flashed By: Newsman

Africa's longest serving leader -Gabonese President Omar Bongo - has died aged 73.

His death was confirmed by the country's Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement.

There had been conflicting reports earlier on Monday about whether Mr Bongo, who had led Gabon since 1967, had died in a Spanish clinic.

In his statement, Mr Ndong said Mr Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 1230 GMT.

He said Gabon would observe 30 days of mourning, and called on the Gabonese people to "stand together in contemplation and dignity".

Under the constitution, the leader of the Senate, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, should take over as interim leader and organise elections within 45 days.
But opposition leaders have claimed that Mr Bongo's son, Ali-Ben Bongo, currently defence minister, has been manoeuvred to take over, and question whether any election would be free and fair.

In the capital Libreville, the BBC's Linel Kwatsi said people had reacted to the earlier rumours of Mr Bongo's death by stockpiling food. They feared shops would shut if it was confirmed.

The internet has been cut off since Sunday, while state television is playing religious music.

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his sadness over the death of Mr Bongo. He said France was "standing by the people of Gabon and its institutions, at this difficult time."

Gabon under Mr Bongo has maintained close economic and political ties to France, the former colonial power.

Mr Bongo became vice-president, and then president, of Gabon in 1967.

He stopped work in May, and entered a clinic in Barcelona. Government officials insisted it was for a check-up, but other reports said he had cancer.

Mr Bongo faced a French inquiry into corruption allegations.

Oil earnings mean that Gabon is officially one of Africa's richest states but analysts say that the political elite has kept most of the money for themselves. Most of the country's 1.4 million people live in poverty.

Mr Bongo was one of three African leaders being investigated for alleged embezzlement by a French judge. The others are Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.

It is alleged that the properties owned by Mr Bongo's family in France could not have been purchased with official salaries alone.

Mr Bongo denied any wrongdoing.

. Monday June 8, 2009 Flashed By: Newsman

Super Eagles Coach Shuaibu Amodu yesterday invited German born Dennis Aogo who plays for Hamburg FC in Germany to join the Super Eagles for the matches against Kenya and Tunisia. The 22 year old Aogo has already played for Germany at the junior level and may not be eligible to play for Nigeria under FIFA rules. According to FIFA rules, a player can only switch national allegiance before the age of 21. It is therefore not clear how Amodu hopes to convince FIFA to allow Aogo play for the Eagles.

Lagos Nigeria Saturday, April 25 2009 Flashed By: George

Today, Heartland football club (former Iwuanyanwu nationale FC) claimed a 2-1 victory over Cottonsport FC of Cameroun. This result puts Heartlands in a very delicate position when they return to Cameroun for the second leg in two weeks time. Heartland should have remembered that this is an African championship and home advantage counts! With this result, Nigeria completed a bad show in this competition with after Kano pillars played a 1-1 draw with visiting Al Ahly of Egypt. Only Enyimba FC of Aba has made Nigeria proud in this very competition. I was hoping that this year will produce something for the thirsting Nigerian soccer fans. I guess our hopes may be dashed again. How sad! Let's keep hope alive. Anything can happen in football.

USA Sunday, April 19 2009 Flashed By: Eddy