Winning team rewarded with tractors and land

GUINEA’S President Lansana Conte has rewarded the national soccer team with gifts of two tractors and land to show his appreciation after they routed Botswana 4-0 to move to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.

"The president has decided to give the players special prizes, plots of land, and two tractors," Minister for Sports Fode Soumah told national television earlier this week.

The minister did not say why the players were given the two tractors, but Guineans speculated the gift fitted in with Conte's appeal to his countrymen to work the land, at a time when the population is facing rice shortages.

The price of a 50 kg (110 lb) bag of rice the staple diet in the West African country has more than tripled since April to 90,000 CFA francs ($165.7), well beyond the means of many of Guinea's eight million inhabitants.

Angry crowds have rioted, attacked trucks carrying rice and looted food warehouses in past months as the price soared.

Meanwhile, injuries have forced Israel coach Avraham Grant to call up three late replacements to his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Tel Aviv.

Yigal Antebi, who limped off after 11 minutes of Saturday's goalless draw against France in Paris, Shimon Gershon and Avi Strul were the players ruled out of Wednesday's group four match.

The trio were replaced by striker Shai Holtzman, midfielder Yossi Shivkhon and defensive newcomer Roni Gafni.

Creative midfielder Yossi Benayoun is also doubtful after he missed training on Monday because of a knee injury. The Racing Santander player is to undergo a fitness test.

Israel Football Association officials say they expect a crowd of at least 30,000 at the National Stadium for the first official international fixture to be played in Tel Aviv in almost three years.

In March 2002, UEFA barred matches under its jurisdiction in Israel because of security fears. The ban was lifted in April.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa), Liran Strauber (Maccabi Tel Aviv). Defenders: Tal Ben-Haim (Bolton Wanderers), Arik Benado (Maccabi Haifa), Roni Gafni (Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv), Adoram Keisi (Hapoel Petah Tikva), Ori Uzan (Maccabi Haifa), Ravid Gazal (Maccabi Haifa), Klimi Saban (Hapoel Petah Tikva). Midfielders: Idan Tal (Maccabi Haifa), Walid Badir (Maccabi Haifa), Avi Nimni (Betar Jerusalem), Yossi Shivkhon (Hapoel Petah Tikva), Yossi Benayoun (Racing Santander). Strikers: Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa), Pini Balili (Kayserispor), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Omri Afek (Salamanca), Shai Holtzman (Ashdod SC).