News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

FIBA Africa President Niang upbeat about game's growth across region

8/29/2017

Hamane Niang, FIBA Africa President and FIBA Vice-President, with Alphonse Bile, FIBA Regional Director - Africa. FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 Final, 27 August 2017

BAMAKO (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - FIBA Africa President and FIBA Vice-President Hamane Niang was on hand to witness Nigeria being crowned FIBA AfroBasket Women 2017 champions on Sunday night in Bamako, Mali.

ESPN pens Top Rank deal

8/29/2017

International sports broadcaster ESPN has agreed a new rights deal with the Top Rank boxing promoter in the US and Canada.

The length of the multi-year agreement was not disclosed.

ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of fights featuring Top Rank boxers on television and digital platforms.

Developing football: Confederations meet with FIFA

8/29/2017

© Foto-net

As part of its commitment to developing football around the world, FIFA invited the Technical Directors from every confederation to the Home of FIFA in Zurich last week for a two-day meeting.

Along with a review of FIFA’s new structure, its technical development strategy/philosophy and details about how the Forward Programme will assist in capacity building, different technical development areas were discussed including best practices in grassroots football, coach licensing, women’s football and the role of Technical Directors in their member associations.

Becks Blue partners with two City Runs

8/29/2017

The organisers of the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN are excited to welcome Becks Blue as an official partner in 2017.

“We are proud to welcome Becks Blue as a partner of both the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. “Highlights on the road running calendar, both the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN emphasise the true beauty of its host city while encouraging an active, healthy lifestyle. With Becks as a partner, runners and walkers can celebrate their 10km achievement ‘guilt free’ by enjoying an ice cold beer in the finish area.”

21 World Junior Records and 45 Championships Records in Indianapolis

8/29/2017

Photo credit: Istvan Derencsenyi

21 World Junior Records were established at the sixth edition of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, held in Indianapolis (USA) from August 23-28, 2017, while many young talents were discovered in the iconic Indiana University Natatorium Swimming Pool on the campus of IUPUI.

Guinea's Keita set for 2018 Liverpool switch

8/29/2017

© Getty Images

Liverpool and RB Leipzig have confirmed a deal that will see Guinean international Naby Keita move to Anfield in June 2018.

“I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly,” the midfielder said.

KIA becomes UEFA Europa League Partner

8/29/2017

UEFA has announced Kia Motors has signed a three-year agreement to become an official partner of the UEFA Europa League. The sponsorship of club football competition will commence at the start of the 2018/19 season and run through to the UEFA Europa League final in 2021.

The UEFA Europa League involves clubs from 55 national associations from across Europe and each season attracts a global cumulative TV audience of 980 million across all programming. As the world’s largest professional club football competition, this partnership will provide Kia Motors with an opportunity to increase their global brand awareness, to build consumer loyalty and to engage with automotive dealers across Europe.

Niger set sights high for historic bow

8/29/2017

© LOC

India 2017 will be Niger’s first World Cup appearance in any level
Soumaila Tiemogo led the Junior Menas to the semi-finals in CAF qualifying
Tiemogo says his players can form the backbone of the nation’s senior side

Quakes’ Ureña providing spark heading into Ticos’ crucial qualifier against U.S. Men’s National Team

8/29/2017

San Jose Earthquakes forward Marco Ureña has put together a strong stretch the past two months in his first MLS season, scoring three goals in his past five appearances as San Jose hopes to solidify a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. On the international stage, Ureña and Costa Rica are gearing up for a crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against the U.S. Men’s National Team on Friday at Red Bull Arena (6:30 p.m. ET), with the broadcast on ESPN, UniMás and UDN.

"We are a better and more experienced team now," says Egypt's new coach Aboul Kheir

8/29/2017

Amr Aboulkheir (EGY) - Spain vs Egypt, 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Granada (Spain), Day 2, Group phase

CAIRO (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Four years after leading Egypt to a Second-Place at FIBA AfroBasket 2013, former Olympian Amr Aboul Kheir is back at the helm of the Pharaohs.

The man who replaced Juan Orenga - who led the team during the FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers earlier this year - is working with 15 players in the build-up to the upcoming FIBA AfroBasket 2017 to be co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia.

WWE returns to SuperSport

8/29/2017

The World Wrestling Entertainment will make its return to DStv with the first broadcast of Raw on SuperSport.

The first live broadcast of WWE took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 29th August with a broadcast of Raw from Memphis at 2am (SS4 / SS7A / SS7N / SSM / SSM3) with a repeat broadcast at 7pm.

Toronto FC Forward Sebastian Giovinco voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week

8/29/2017

NEW YORK (Tuesday, August 29, 2017) – Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco was voted the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 25th week of the 2017 MLS season. This is his third MLS Player of the Week honor of the season.

Giovinco started the week with a goal in a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday at BMO Field followed by a brace in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo. The Italian international is tied for fourth in the Golden Boot race with 15 goals this season to go along with his six assists. Toronto sits in first place in the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference standings and is in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten streak including four straight victories (56 points, 16-3-8 overall record).

Nearly 90 MLS Players Called to Represent National Teams; 2018 FIFA World Cup Hopes on the Line

8/29/2017

A record 89 MLS players have received the call to represent their national teams in international matches during the month of September, with the majority of the standouts participating in World Cup Qualifying play in their respective federations.

Thirty-three of the 89 players are in their first year playing in MLS, a group that includes a number of talented young South Americans in Atlanta United’s 23-year-old Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) and 24-year-old Josef Martinez, Orlando’s Yoshimar Yotún (Peru), and New York City FC’s 19-year-old midfielder Yangel Herrera (Venezuela).

Obed Appiah tops in 2017 Betway Talent Search

8/29/2017

18-year-old attacking midfielder, Obed Appiah, was last Friday named winner of the maiden Betway Talent Search in Accra.

Out of 18 finalists, Appiah was adjudged winner of the competition after weeks of trials by many aspiring young footballers across four major capital cities in the country namely, Takoradi, Koforidua, Kumasi, and Accra.

Brighton pull out of £10m deal for Raphael Dwamena after failed medical

8/29/2017

Brighton and Hove Albion's £10 million deal to sign Ghana striker Raphael Dwamena from FC Zurich is off.

The 21-year-old has failed a medical, according to reports in Switzerland due to a heart condition.

A statement on the Seagulls' official website confirmed: "Brighton & Hove Albion have withdrawn from the potential transfer Raphael Dwamena after the player failed the club's medical.

Sierra Leone Players Abroad …Christian Moses hits double as Mansaray sees red on Umeå debut

8/29/2017

Christian Moses on fire two in two matches Photo: TorbenHansenHjorring

Christian Moses scored his second goal of the season in five days for Vendsyssel in the Denmark 1st Division league in Monday night’s clash 1-2 defeat to Viborg at the Hjørring Stadion, Hjørring.

The 24-year-old level things up three minutes after Mikkel Jespersen gave the visitors the lead in the 28th minute but Pierre Dahlin Larsen ensure the victors walked away with maximum points before the break.

Robert Otuboah Jnr. Aims At Big Time Football

8/29/2017

Robert Otuboah Jnr. is a young rising star whose ambition is to play football in Europe alongside the best players in the world.

The 15 year old student of Ada SHS Technical told Yours Truly in an exclusive interview at the Accra Sports Stadium he wants to wear the national jersey and feature for the u17, u20, the Black Meteors and the Black Stars.

Ghanaian transfer record: Man City offer $2m for WAFA teenager Aminu Mohammed

8/29/2017

Manchester City have smashed the Ghanaian transfer record with their US$ 2m offer for talented WAFA kid Aminu Mohammed.

Striker Emmanuel Clottey held that record after Tunisian giants Esperance paid US$ 1.5 million for the then Berekum Chelsea player in 2012.

31 nations reach Quarter Finals in Hamburg as preliminary-round bouts come to an end on Day Four

8/29/2017

Monday in Hamburg saw the Flyweight (52kg), Lightweight (60kg), Welterweight (69kg), Light Heavyweight (81kg) and Super Heavyweight (+91kg) boxers in action across two sessions, each of them looking to secure their place in Tuesday’s Quarter-Finals and take a big step closer to World Championship gold

Daria Gavrilova and Dominika Cibulkova Enter Top 20 on Porsche Race to Singapore Leaderboard

8/29/2017

The Top 8 singles players and doubles teams of 2017 will secure a spot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global

In the final U.S. Open series event of 2017, Daria Gavrilova claimed her maiden WTA title in a thrilling three-set final over Dominika Cibulkova at the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies (New Haven). The Australian jumped 12 spots to enter the Top 20 on the Porsche Race to Singapore Leaderboard at No.17.

Alhassan Wakaso agrees 3year deal with Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes

8/29/2017

Ghanaian midfielder Alhassan Wakaso has finally signed a three year deal with Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes to bring his 8 months stay with Lorient to an end GHANAsoccernet.com.

The 25-year-old midfielder is not new to the Portuguese league having spent three seasons with mid table team Rio Ave and before that with with Portimonensi.

Kenenisa Bekele challenges Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipsang in Berlin

8/29/2017

Kenenisa Bekele at the Berlin Marathon: Photo Credit: SCC EVENTS / Jiro Mochizuki

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will stage a unique contest on September 24: for the first time in the history of the event the top three marathon runners in the world will be on the start line as the Kenyan duo of Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipsang take on Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele. The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is an Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) event and an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Could South Africa make an impression on return to AfroBasket 2017?

8/29/2017

South Africa set to make first appearance at FIBA AfroBasket since 2011

JOHANNESBURG (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) – In the lead-up to the FIBA AfroBasket 2017, we take a closer look at all 16 participating teams competing in the championship running from September 8-16 in the co-host countries of Senegal and Tunisia.

Freeman’s breakthrough Games

8/28/2017

Cathy Freeman celebrating her gold win with Nigeria’s Mary Onyali (silver) and Melinda Gainsford (bronze) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

In August 23 years ago, one of the Commonwealth Games most iconic moments unfolded, as an Australian champion announced herself to the world.

A 21-year-old Cathy Freeman, after winning gold in the 200m final at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, paraded with the Aboriginal and Australian flag.

Buya Turay scores and sees red in AFC defeat

8/28/2017

In form Mohamed Buya Turay on target again for AFC Eskilstuna Stock Photo: Niklas Holm

Mohamed Buya Turay continues his goal scoring form for AFC Eskilstuna last Wednesday despite a 3-1 loss to Swedish Division One side, Vasalund in the Swedish Svenska Cupen second rounds.

The Sierra Leone striker gave the visitors the lead just 10 minutes before the break but the home side leveled things up through Carl Björk 68 minutes after the break to force the match into extra-time.