News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

The Nigerian Football Federation confirms a 32-man delegation for Sierra Leone

8/31/2015

Johansen to lead Sierra Leone’s delegation to Nigeria despite tussle at home

The Nigerian Football Federation has confirmed that a 32-man delegation to be led by the embattled Sierra Leone Football Association President, Isha Johansen will travel to Lagos for their Sunday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Match qualifier against the Ivory Coast.

Leone Stars will host the African champions at the 23,000 –capacity Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Sierra Leone Volleyball named All Africa Games squad

8/31/2015

Abubakarr I Kamara & Patrick Lombi in photo above

The Sierra Leone Volleyball Association (SLVA) on Monday August 31st officially announced a seven-man delegation (Players & official) for the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

With barely a few days to go for the commencement of the Games, SLVA became the first Association to officially announce their delegation which includes four players and three officials.

Egypt withdraws from African Games Brazzaville 2015

8/31/2015

Egypt has announced its withdrawal from both the Women’s and Men events of the African Games Brazzaville 2015.

In accordance with Article 19 (B) of the regulations which states “If a team withdraws after having qualified for the Final Tournament, but before the actual start of the Final Tournament, the Organizing Committee may replace it by the last team it has eliminated, if the circumstances are favourable…” the two teams eliminated by Egypt in the qualifiers, Senegal (Women) and Burundi (Men) also decided against replacing Egypt due to the short notice.

Sierra Leone born joins Napoli loan

8/31/2015

Chalobah (LEFT) watches on alongside Pedro as Eden Hazard moves forward

Sierra Leonean born midfielder, Nathanial Chalobah has joined Italian Serie A side Napoli on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

The 20 year-old who was born in Sierra Leone before he moved to England at aged 7 put pen to paper on the season loan move as he switched from England for Italy.

Chalobah who joined the Fulham academy in 2004 signed for Chelsea in 2005 and before his loan move to Italy did not register a single competitive cap for the English champions.

Toronto and Seattle duel in Pacific Northwest; In-form Crew SC host FC Dallas

8/31/2015

Michael Bradley balances Club and Country as Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders FC clash on Saturday

Having already missed seven league matches for U.S. Men’s National Team duty this season, midfield general Michael Bradley will be sticking with Toronto FC (11-10-4) as it heads to Seattle for Saturday’s meeting with Seattle Sounders FC (12-13-2) (10 p.m. ET, TSN2). Bradley, who wears the captain’s armband for both TFC and the USMNT, is doing his best to balance club and country as the MLS playoffs and CONCACAF Cup near. He’ll miss the Americans’ match versus Peru on Friday, but is expected to meet up with his countrymen in Boston for next Tuesday’s game versus Brazil. Bradley is intent on helping the Reds rack up points and secure its first playoff appearance, and can help extend their winning streak to three matches with a road win in Seattle. Sounders FC are hungry for points as they cling onto the sixth-seed (the final playoff spot) in the Western Conference, and that desperation makes the club a dangerous adversary going forward. Seattle will become even more dangerous if Clint Dempsey – who hasn’t played since August 1 due to a lingering hamstring injury – makes his return on Saturday. With Dempsey potentially back in the fold alongside summer signings Nelson Valdez and Roman Torres, Sounders FC might be on the cusp of regaining early-season form and emerging as viable MLS Cup contenders at the perfect time.

President Graça meets Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee

8/31/2015

FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° meets Tokyo Organising Committee Director General Toshiro Muto

Tokyo, Japan, August 28, 2015 - FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° met with representatives of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organising Committee in the Japanese capital on Thursday, where plans for the volleyball and beach volleyball tournaments at the Summer Games in five years' time were discussed.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are set to be another major milestone for the sport after next year's much-anticipated volleyball and beach volleyball tournaments at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Just over fifty years ago, the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 were also the first Summer Games to feature women's volleyball - hosts Japan defeated the Soviet Union to win gold.

Norwich sign Mbokani on loan

8/31/2015

© AFP

Norwich have signed Congo DR striker Dieumerci Mbokani from Dynamo Kyiv on a season-long loan, the Premier League side announced.

The 29-year-old will move to Carrow Road pending the approval of a work permit. The Canaries also have an option to buy Mbokani, who has scored 19 goals in 46 matches for Dynamo since moving to Ukraine in 2013.

He should fill a significant void for Norwich, whose strikers have struggled in the first four games of the Premier League campaign, with winger Nathan Redmond and defender Russell Martin currently their top scorers with two goals apiece.

More than 40 MLS Players tabbed for Italian, Brazilian, Belgian, other senior national teams

8/31/2015

Sebastian Giovinco finally got the call he was waiting for.

The Toronto FC forward – who moonlights as a superhero – was selected to represent the Italian National Team for a pair of Euro 2016 qualifiers this week.

Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko put it best, calling Giovinco’s selection a “watershed moment” for Major League Soccer.

“For the world to see that Seba is playing in Major League Soccer, with a club like Toronto FC, will help us reach the next level; a global scale,” Bezbatchenko said. “For a national team like the Italian national team – multiple World Cup winners – to call him into a critical juncture, leading up to the Euros, is really a benchmark for the league.”

Liverpool sign Nigerian starlet Awoniyi

8/31/2015

© Getty Images

Liverpool signed teenage Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi and immediately sent him out on loan to German club FSV Frankfurt.

Brendan Rodgers' side have brought Awoniyi to Anfield from Imperial Academy in Nigeria after fending off reported interest from Porto and Monaco.

The 18-year-old is understood to have cost around £400,000 and will spend the rest of the season learning his trade on loan with Frankfurt in the German second tier.

Blazing midfielder Ethan Finlay helps lead Crew SC’s playoff push

8/31/2015

Columbus Crew SC have been one of the teams to watch this season due to their impressive offensive totals and possession oriented soccer being implemented by coach Gregg Berhalter. They lead the Eastern Conference in scoring with 45 goals, which is only trumped by Western Conference leading LA Galaxy (49). The club currently resides in third place in the Eastern Conference standings and their quest to make a second straight MLS Cup Playoffs appearance is being pushed by 25-year-old midfielder Ethan Finlay.

Finlay, a Minnesota native, has been one of the standout players of the 2015 MLS campaign. In his fourth year with Columbus, the speedy winger has racked up eight goals, good for second on the team behind MLS leading scorer Kei Kamara (18), and has notched 13 assists, which is tied for second in MLS behind Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana (14). Finlay has nearly doubled his career best assist total and is three goals shy of his all-time regular season goal record of 11, notched in 2014. As a result of his impressive 2015 season, Finlay earned his first MLS All-Star selection and featured in the MLS All-Stars’ 2-1 victory over English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

AmaZulu Defender Completes Overseas Switch

8/31/2015

Photo Courtesy; amazulufc.net

Sadate Ouro-Akoriko has completed a switch from AmaZulu to Saudi Arabia.

The defender has been eyeing a move away from the KZN outfit, since the team’s relegation to the National First Division at the end of the 2014/15 season.

It was recently revealed by the Siya crew that the Togolese has been eyeing an overseas move and that the KZN side has been open to his release for a right offer.

Africa T20 Cup to kickoff

8/31/2015

In a bid to promote the game and nurture young talent in the continent, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced a new tournament to be known as the Africa T20 Cup. The tournament featuring Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia, hosts South Africa and 12 CSA affiliates will run from September 4 to October 4. The CSA announcement today came in the wake of news that the T20 Champions League has been called off for this year amid declining revenues. CSA said the tournament will be a World Cup-style competition, consisting of four pools of four teams each with the winners of each pool advancing to the semi-finals and eventually to the final, reportsPTI.

Tunisia hold on against Senegal to take third place

8/30/2015

RADES (AfroBasket 2015) - Michael Roll had the best performance of his international career with Tunisia to date as the hosts held off Senegal 82-73 in the AfroBasket 2015 Third-Place Game on Sunday in Rades, Tunisia.

Roll made 4 of his 8 three-point attempts to lead all scorers with 25 points as Tunisia bounced back from a disappointing Semi-Final clash against Angola on Saturday.

Tunisia, who in the process recorded their highest offensive output of the tournament, led for all but 48 seconds of the contest.

Stade Malien at the double in Mali

8/30/2015

Stade Malien completed a domestic double after beating Onze Createurs 2-1 in the final of the ‘Coupe du Mali’ on Saturday, 29 August 2015 in Bamako.

Mamadou Coulibaly scored in added-on time to power ‘Les Blancs’ to their second title after clinching the league trophy last week. It is fifth time Stade Malien has achieved a domestic double, and takes their tally in the annual knockout competition to 19 overall.

Seb Coe excited to start a new race

8/30/2015

Today is my first day of office as President of the IAAF. I am very excited and proud to have been given an opportunity to lead our great sport into the new era that lies ahead. I am looking forward to working closely with my colleagues on the IAAF Council, who yesterday accepted my recommendation to appoint Sergey Bubka as our Senior Vice President.

Beijing has been a wonderful edition of the IAAF World Championships. The stadium has been full over nine days, morning and evening, with an energetic and enthusiastic crowd who have been enthralled by the world’s greatest athletes.

Oguchi named AfroBasket 2015 MVP, headlines All-Star Five

8/30/2015

AfroBasket 2015 All-Star Five - from left to right: Gorgui Dieng (SEN), Makram Ben Romdhane (TUN), Carlos Morais, (ANG), Chamberlain Oguchi (NGR), Al-Farouq Aminu (NGR) with FIBA President Horacio Muratore (ARG)

RADES (AfroBasket 2015) - Nigeria shooting guard Chamberlain Oguchi was rewarded for his impressive tournament and a huge individual performance in the Final of AfroBasket 2015 on Sunday by receiving the Most Valuable Player award, presented by Tissot.

0guchi hit a trifecta of three-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds as Nigeria held off Angola 74-65 to claim their first-ever continental title.

Nigeria beat Angola to win first-ever AfroBasket title

8/30/2015

RADES (AfroBasket 2015) - Nigeria beat Angola 74-65 in the Final of AfroBasket 2015 in Rades, Tunisia on Sunday to claim their first-ever continental championship.

Angola went into the game looking to win a 12th African title, but some poor shooting boosted Nigeria's confidence as they led by as many as 19 points.

The win also saw Nigeria qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Nigeria beat Angola in AfroBasket 2015 Final to win first-ever continental title

8/30/2015

Nigeria (NGR) - AfroBasket 2015 champions. Angola v Nigeria, Afrobasket 2015, Radès (Tunisia), Final, 30 August 2015

RADES (AfroBasket 2015) - Nigeria beat Angola 74-65 in the Final of AfroBasket 2015 in Rades, Tunisia on Sunday to claim their first-ever continental championship.

In being crowned African champions, the Nigerians also qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Meanwhile, second-place Angola joined third- and fourth-place Tunisia and Senegal in booking their places for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

Kone makes Mali squad for Benin date

8/30/2015

France-based midfielder Youssouf Kone has been named in the Malian squad for their 6 September 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifier against Benin away in Porto Novo.

The talented 20-year old left back, who plays for Lille, finally opted to feature for ‘Les Aigles’ giving coach Alain Giresse the go-ahead to include him in his 22-man squad. The inclusion of the former AS Bakaridjan defender was without any surprise.

Kenya tops the World in Beijing

8/30/2015

After nine days of exciting action at the Iconic Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing China the 15th Edition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships has finally come to a close and the final results of the best performers at this 2015 version of the Games saw the smaller East African Nation of Kenya atop of the Medal table followed closely behind by Jamaica.

Below these two smaller nations is the USA, the former bastion of the sport of Track & Field which has slowly loosened its grip of dominance of the sport as other nations around the world catch up to it.

ICC holds successful Town Hall meeting with USA cricket community

8/30/2015

A group image from the ICC’s Town Hall meeting in Chicago on Saturday with stakeholders from the USA Cricket Community. Credit @ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday conducted a Town Hall meeting in Chicago with stakeholders from the USA cricket community.

The meeting was attended by 85 people, with most representing many of the approximately 100 cricket leagues across the country.

Cote d’Ivoire leaves out Toure for Sierra Leone tie

8/30/2015

Midfielder Yaya Toure has been left out of the Cote d’Ivoire squad for the Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifier against Sierra Leone on 6 September 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Elephants coach Michel Dussuyer did not include the 32-year old midfielder in his 23-man squad for the Group I clash as the Manchester City enforcer ponders over his international future.

There was also no place for left-back Siaka Tiene in the squad that includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and seven forwards.

Bounedjah hat-trick powers Etoile to Coupe de Tunisie title

8/30/2015

Picture credit: Tunisia Press Agency

Algeria-born forward Baghdad Bounedjah scored a hat-trick as Etoile du Sahel beat Stade Gabesien 4-3 to win the 2014/2015 ‘Coupe de Tunisie’ (Tunisian Cup) on Saturday, 29 August 2015 at the Olympic Stadium in Rades.

Bounedjah scored the winner on 74 minutes as Etoile came from behind to seal their third title in five years of the annual competition. The feat caps a successful season for ‘Les Diables Rouges’ who have reached the semis of the 2015 Orange CAF Confederation Cup.

Wanderers are Malawi knockout champions

8/30/2015

Be Forward Wanderers FC defeated rivals Big Bullets 2-1 on Saturday, 29 August 2015 at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe to lift Malawian national knock-out competition.

The expensively-assembled Wanderers, who are sponsored by automobile dealers, Be Forward, received a trophy and K9 million ($20 000) cash prize for their win that sparked countrywide celebrations.

It was a sweet win for Wanderers’ coach, Elia Kananji, who punished his former club, Bullets, whom he guided to lift the ultimate in the same competition last season.

Vilnius triumphant at FIBA 3x3 World Tour Lausanne Masters

8/30/2015

Both Vilnius and Trbovlje (SLO) qualify for the Abu Dhabi Final

LAUSANNE (2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - Team Vilnius (LTU) won the 2015 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Lausanne Masters after a thrilling final (17-13) against Trbovlje (SLO), who will join them at the World Tour Final in Abu Dhabi on 15-16 October.

Tournament MVP Ovidijus Varanauskas was unstoppable during the event and paced his team in the final with 7 points. The powerful Vitalij Luksa patrolled the paint with 5 points. Giedrius Marciukaitis added 3 points and Darius Tarvydas contributed 2 points, including a memorable dunk.