JOHANNESBURG, Jan 1 (AFP) - African football briefs on Wednesday:

Emam strikes twice as Zamalek close gap

CAIRO: African club champions Zamalek won 2-0 at Goldi to close the gap on leaders Al-Ahly to eight points in the Egyptian title race. Midfielder Hazem Emam scored both goals for the 'White Tribe'.

Sierra Leone defender switches European clubs

FREETOWN: Sierra Leone defender Mustapha Sama has been transferred from Haugesund of Sweden to Charleroi of Belgium and his new team-mates include compatriot Ibrahim Kargbo.

Esperance change coaches after African failure

TUNIS: Stade Tunisien coach Faouzi Benzarti has moved to leading Tunisian club Esperance in place of Swiss Michel Decastel, who pays the price for a second-phase exit from the African Champions League last year.

Gift-wrapped goals for South Africa

JOHANNESBURG: The South African Olympic team defeated Lesotho 1-0 at home and 5-0 away in warm-up matches for an All-Africa Games qualifier against Angola this month. Gift Leremi scored a hat-trick in Maseru.

Egyptian weekly rates Barakat tops

CAIRO: Saudi Arabia-based midfielder Mohammad Barakat has been voted Egyptian Footballer of the Year by the mass-circulation weekly Al Ahram. Al-Ahly striker Ahmed Bilal was runner-up.

French club sign Ivorian striker

ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast striker Kanga Akale has quit Swiss club FC Zurich for French outfit Auxerre, whose stars include 2002 African Footabller of the Year nominee Benjamin 'Benjani' Mwaruwari from Zimbabwe.

Desperate Bizerte turn to Algerian coach

TUNIS: Tunisian Super League strugglers CA Bizerte have hired former Algeria star and national coach Ali Fergani. Bizerte lie joint ninth in the 12-team championship, four points above bottom club CS Hammam-Lif.

Masvingo survive scare to secure Zimbabwe Cup

HARARE: Masvingo United edged Railstars 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in an all-second division Zimbabwe FA Cup final. Playing at home, United led 2-0 only to concede two goals within six minutes in the closing stages.

Al-Masry fight back to hold Wydad

CAIRO: Port Said-based Al-Masry came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with African Cup Winners Cup holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in a friendly. Wydad face another Egyptian club, Zamalek, in Cairo on February 7 for the African Super Cup.

Agadir take over top spot in Morocco

RABAT: Title holders Hassania Agadir pipped Mohammedia 1-0 to climb above idle Wydad Casablanca into first place on the Moroccan championship standings. Mighty Raja Casablanca are last with just six points from six matches.

'Blood and Gold' surrender unbeaten record

TUNIS: Defending champions Esperance surrendered the last unbeaten record in the Tunisian league after losing 2-1 at mid-table US Monastir, but the 'Blood and Gold' enjoy a seven-point advantage over second-placed CS Sfaxien.

Nigeria are spot on in Niger

NIAMEY: Nigeria won a four-nation tournament, defeating Burkina Faso 3-2 on penalties after a goalless final. Hosts Niger pipped Mali 4-3 in another penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw to finish third.