(APA 06/14/17)
A delegation from the Geneva-based International Federation of Football Associations, FIFA, on Tuesday arrived in Khartoum to investigate government interference in elections of the Sudan Football Association, SFA. "We came to the Sudan to get first-hand information about the current crisis in the Sudanese football with the existence of two football associations", the FIFA delegation told reporters. FIFA officials on Wednesday held a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr Abdul Karim Musa, in the presence of the current president of the SFA, Dr Mutasim Jaafar, and several members of his group. During the meeting, the minister underlined the need to reach a solution to avert any threat of freezing Sudan football activities...
(AFP (eng) 03/16/17)
Africa will host a Commonwealth Games one day despite the blow of Durban being stripped of hosting the 2022 edition, David Grevemberg, the chief executive of The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), told AFP. Durban lost the right to host the Games on Monday -- just 18 months after being awarded them -- when it failed to meet criteria laid down by the CGF, primarily over costs. "I wouldn't want to make a judgement call," Grevemberg told AFP on the sidelines of a briefing by 2018 Games hosts Gold Coast on Wednesday. "Durban has hosted some great events, it is a fantastic city and are wonderful warm hosts with bright ambitions and great aspirations. "However, it takes more than a municipality,...
(AFP (eng) 02/10/17)
Up to 18 players at the just-completed Africa Cup of Nations could be involved in the new-look CAF Champions League when it kicks off this weekend. Among them is Georges Bokwe, one of two unused goalkeepers in the Cameroon squad that defeated Egypt in the final last Sunday in Gabon. Bokwe was kept out of the starting line-up by the consistent brilliance of Spain-based Fabrice Ondoa, who was included in the team of the tournament. But Bokwe is the first...
(AFP (eng) 01/09/17)
Gabon witnessed one of the most sensational finishes to an Africa Cup of Nations tournament when no-hopers Zambia stunned the Ivory Coast to win the 2012 final. Zambia failed to qualify this time, but the Ivorians will be among the favourites again when the competition returns to the central African state with the first fixtures scheduled for Saturday. AFP Sport rates the chances of the 16 challengers for the $4 million (3.8 million euros) first prize (last three competitive results...
(Xinhuanet 12/07/16)
Chicago marathon champion Florence Kiplagat of Kenya has ruled out competing in the World Cross Country Championships next year. Kiplagat, 29, competed the Iten cross country meet last week and hopes to reclaim the title she last won in Amman, Jordan in 2009 World Cross Country. She said she was not keen to compete in Kampala, in March where the biannual competition will be held. "I just wanted to feel my body and see how good I am in training...
(AfricaNews 12/05/16)
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses failed to use home advantage and revenge in the final of the Women African Cup of Nations (AWCON 2016) losing by a goal to Nigeria’s Super Falcons. The Super Falcons thus successfully defended the title they won in 2014 by defeating Cameroon in Namibia. The hosts entered the final aiming to win their first title and avenge two previous defeats by Nigeria. But a late goal by Oparanozie Desire dashed hopes and sent disappointment through the teeming...
(AFP (eng) 11/10/16)
All CAF competitions will offer increased prize money from 2017, the Cairo-based African football body said Wednesday. The announcement came months after French oil-gas company Total signed an eight-year sponsorship deal with CAF reportedly worth more than one billion dollars (915 million euros). Winners of the biennial Africa Cup of Nations will receive $4 million, up from the $1.5 million pocketed by 2015 champions the Ivory Coast. CAF Champions League title-holders are going to collect $2.5 million -- $1 million...
(AFP (eng) 11/03/16)
African champions Mamelodi Sundowns won for the first time in the South African Premiership this season Wednesday and climbed off the bottom of the table. The Pretoria club triumphed 2-0 at Polokwane City thanks to goals from Percy Tau and Zimbabwean Khama Billiat, two stars of the 2016 CAF Champions League triumph. Sundowns became African champions for the first time 11 days ago by defeating Zamalek of Egypt 3-1 on aggregate in the final. But a domestic fixture backlog meant...
(AfricaNews 09/19/16)
The agreement on African games signed in Cairo over the weekend between the African Union and the Association of National Olympic committees of Africa will be implemented after validation by the Africa Union commission. The two parties are expected to mobilise renowned African athletes and the best teams to help raise their level of performance. Sources say the African Union will continue to manage the African games while the Union of African Sports Confederations will take care of its technical...
(BBC News Africa 07/25/16)
Sudan shocked Nigeria to book their place at next year's Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, eliminating the defending champions on away goals. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Sudan pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory in Lagos - despite having Walaadihh Musa sent off on the hour mark. Nigeria, who had 15 members of the 2015 Under-17 World Cup-winning side in their squad, had been huge favourites. But Sudan are among seven teams to join hosts Zambia at the finals...
(AFP (eng) 07/22/16)
French petroleum giant Total signed an eight-year deal to become the new sponsor of African football and its showpiece event, the Africa Cup of Nations, on Thursday. The sponsorship of the tournament will start at its next edition in Gabon from Jan 14 to Feb 5, 2017. "This partnership is a major milestone in our ongoing search for additional resources to accelerate African football’s development, bring its governance up to date, upgrade its sports infrastructure and advance its performance globally,"...
(AFP (eng) 06/16/16)
Demarte Pena was too young to fight in Angola's civil war, where his family played a major role, but he has fought his way to a mixed martial arts championship. Instead of an AK47, "The Wolf" as he is known in the ring, uses fists, feet and pure muscle to subdue his opponents in what is seen as one of the fastest growing sports in Africa. Pena is bantamweight champion among the new crop of mixed martial arts fighters in...
(Capitalfm Business 05/26/16)
The international friendly pitting Harambee Stars and Sudan has been postponed to Tuesday next week on request of the Sudanese Football Association. The match was scheduled for Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium but had to be moved forward after Sudan failed to arrive in Nairobi on Wednesday night, one day before the build-up match. “It is true the Sudan F.A has requested that the match be moved to Tuesday, May 31 2016 as the earliest they can arrive in...
(AFP (eng) 05/19/16)
African football body CAF are probing violent behaviour by footballers and officials of Sudanese club Al Merrikh toward a referee during a Confederation Cup play-off in Morocco. Gabonese Eric Otogo-Castane had to retreat from the six-yard box to the centre circle late Wednesday as he was repeatedly pushed by players furious at the harsh awarding of a penalty. Moroccan TV showed a burly Merrikh official hitting the referee on the side of the face in Marrakech before being led from...
(Xinhuanet 04/20/16)
(Xinhua) -- Algeria' s ES Setif on Tuesday secured a spot in the group stage of African Champions League after tying 0-0 with Sudanese side of Al-Merrikh. The 2014 trophy winners won the series with two away goals after tying 2-2 in the first leg of the round of 16. Abdelmoumen Djabou, who scored one of two goals in the first leg, missed a goal in the 4th minute. This goal would have allowed ES Setif to endure less stressful...
(Voice of America 03/15/16)
George Wyndham of Sierra Leone is a force to be reckoned with. He’s been playing table tennis for 14 years, despite being paralyzed by polio as a child. Now, at age 26, he is among the best physically challenged players in Africa. "Whenever I play table tennis, it always makes me happy and forget about my disability," Wyndham said. Having polio has pushed him even harder to make something of his life, he says, especially in a country where there...
(Reuters (Eng) 01/16/16)
FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has asked soccer's world governing body to investigate Friday's agreement signed between the African and Asian confederations in case it breaches the electoral code. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Confederation of African Football (CAF) counterpart Issa Hayatou signed the 'co-operation agreement' in Rwanda, just over a month before the FIFA presidential election in Zurich on Feb. 26. Sheikh Salman, South African politician and...
(APA 01/11/16)
The Sudanese Football Union said it has been notified that it will host the 2016 tournament of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA). In a statement issued on Sunday, the Sudanese union confirm the readiness of the country to host the competition, adding that the schedule will be announced in the coming February. CAF has announced last week that Sudan will host the 2016 Council of East and Central Africa Football Association Senior Challenge Cup. The country last hosted...
(Dw-World 12/22/15)
Joseph Blatter has pledged to fight the eight-year ban handed down to him by FIFA's Ethics Committee with all means at his disposal. He also reiterated earlier assertions that he had done nothing wrong. The FIFA president told reporters at a press conference in Zurich on Monday that he would go to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport and to a Swiss human rights court in a bid to get his ban on all football-related activities overturned. "I will...
(Xinhuanet 12/08/15)
(Xinhua) -- Uganda's Hamza Olema has signed a two year professional contract with Sudan Premier League side Merikh Kosti. "I am happy that finally we have agreed terms with the a top Sudan team after undergoing trails," Olema told Xinhua in an interview on Monday. The midfielder who played for Fire Masters in the Uganda Premier League three years ago, last season featured for Atlabara FC in the South Sudan League. "This is a good chance in my career and...