Sports

8, January 2025

Football: Didier Deschamps to step down as France coach after 2026 World Cup ⁰

Didier Deschamps, France’s longest serving national team coach, will not seek to renew his contract which expires in 2026, the French Football Federation told Reuters on Tuesday.

Deschamps’ deal runs until after the next World Cup, for which Les Bleus have yet to qualify.

The 56-year-old took over from fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc in 2012 and led Les Bleus to the World Cup title in 2018, two years after reaching the European Championship final on home soil.

The former France captain, one of only three to win football’s most prestigious prize as a player and a coach, guided the national team to the World Cup final again in 2022, losing to Argentina on penalties after one of the best matches in the tournament’s history.

Earlier on Tuesday, French sports daily L’Équipe reported that Deschamps would make his announcement on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters

2, January 2025

Football: The 36 Anglophones in the history of the Indomitable Lions ⁰

What gives them joy in Yaoundé is not only the slaughtering of innocent English speaking Cameroonians by the Francophone dominated military but also the important role played by Anglophones in the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Renowned academic Dr Claude Kana has sounded a note of caution to the regime in Yaoundé and he recently reminded Yaoundé of the contributions made by Southern Cameroonians to the success of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon from 1964-2020. He was helped in his effort by veteran sports journalist DJOMO Kevin.

Indeed, since the early days of the reunification of the two Cameroons, Southern Cameroonians have played an important part in the history of the Indomitable Lions. EBAÏ Fidelis was the first to be selected in 1964 and today a total of 36 have worn the green, red, yellow outfit and two of have been captains: TATAW ETA Stephen and EYONG ENOW Tarkang.

This is the list compiled by Dr Claude Kana

EBAÏ Fidelis, NDIEFFI Steven 404, MAKOLE Sher, NANGOH David, KULU Emmanuel, KANG Wilson, MUKUBE Vincent, EWUNKEM Joseph, NGOH Franklin, EPIE NZAMS Charly, DOCTOR EKWE Fabian, BEN BOLA Forshu, NDIP AKEM Victor, NLEND ANJUMA Simon, NTAMARK Charly, AGBO Hans, TATAW ETA Stephen, EKEME NDIBA Samy, BEKIMA ASHU Charles, ASHU NTONG, OBONAYA Edwin, SHI FRU Celestine, ESSA Pius, NJUME NTOKO Roland, NJANG Sunday, ETCHI OBEN Ernest, SIMO Augustine, NDIEFFI Pius, DJAMA MBAH Robert, WAMFOR Justice, EYONG ENOW Tarkang, ANDONGCHO Mbuta, FAÏ Collins Ngoran, NJIÉ Clinton, NDIP TAMBE Robert, BOKWE Georges.

By Chi Prudence Asong

23, December 2024

Tiger Woods’ son Charlie, 15, hits first hole-in-one ⁰

Tiger Woods’ teenage son Charlie hit his first hole-in-one during the final round of the PNC Championship – but they were beaten to the title in a play-off by Bernhard and Jason Langer.

Charlie Woods, 15, holed out at the par-three fourth to send the father-son team into the lead at the tournament, which features 20 major champions playing with a member of their family.

But it was Team Langer who celebrated a second consecutive trophy – and fourth overall – in Orlando, Florida when German Bernhard made eagle on the first play-off hole to seal the win.

“It was awesome,” Charlie said. “No one made a mistake today, so that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”

He added: “On top of that, I made an ace. I don’t think I can top that.”

Tiger Woods was playing in his first competitive event since the Open in July.

The 15-time major winner had back surgery for the second time in 18 months in September and conceded he was “nowhere near competitive shape” at the PGA-backed exhibition tournament.

However, he did think he and son Charlie “made a great team this week”.

“And that’s the whole joy of it, is to be out here with family and bonding and just the enjoyment of each other’s company,” the 48-year-old added.

The younger Woods was not the only player to make a first career hole-in-one on Sunday.

Some 30 minutes after Charlie holed out, Paddy Harrington – the 21-year-old whose father Padraig is a three-time major winner – aced the eighth hole.

“I’ve never hit a shot and been that excited before,” Padraig Harrington said.

Source: BBC

18, December 2024

Dr Motsepe confers CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award to Biya and El-Sisi of Egypt ⁰

The President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”), Dr Patrice Motsepe, on Monday, 16 December 2024 conferred the CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 on Cameroon Head of State, President Paul Biya and Egypt Head of State President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award is in recognition and appreciation of the support and partnerships that exist in many African countries between the Head of State, the National Government and the Football Leadership in each of the 54 nations that are Members Associations of CAF.

*Mr. Philippe Mbarga Mboa, Representative of President Paul Biya*

*Dr. Ashraf Sobhy , Representative of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi*

Previous Winners

2022: The CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 was conferred on President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and King Mohammed VI of Morocco in recognition of their track record and extensive and far-reaching contributions to football in their countries, and to making African football globally competitive and self-sustaining.

Source: CAF

12, December 2024

Swedish prosecutor closes rape inquiry against Kylian Mbappe ⁰

An investigation into alleged rape and sexual assault in Stockholm which Swedish media said targeted Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been closed due to insufficient evidence, the Swedish prosecutor said Thursday.

Mbappe, the 25-year-old Frenchman who is one of the highest-profile players in world football, visited the Swedish capital October 9-11 with a group of people after he was left out of his country’s squad for a Nations League match.

Sweden’s prosecution authority announced on October 15 that it was investigating an alleged incident that occurred at an upscale Stockholm hotel on October 10, without mentioning the suspect by name.

Several Swedish media outlets, including newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen and public broadcaster SVT, identified Mbappe as the suspect.

“My assessment is that the evidence is not sufficient to proceed and the investigation is therefore closed,” prosecutor Marina Chirakova said in a statement that also did not mention Mbappe by name.

Chirakova said the person in question had not been interrogated and “not been notified of suspicion of a crime”.

“I have concluded, based on what has emerged in the case, that new evidence, including interrogations of the person in question, would not change the evidence situation right now,” she told AFP.

She said her team had nonetheless “conducted a large number of interviews in the investigation”.

Petra Eklund, the lawyer for the plaintiff, whose name has not been disclosed, told AFP she had “no comment” to the news that the case had been closed.

Mbappe’s lawyer said in October that he was “shocked” to see his name linked to the investigation.

Speaking for the first time about the case on Sunday, he told French television show Clique he was “not involved”.

“I haven’t received anything, no summons… I’m not involved,” he said.

According to Aftonbladet, Mbappe and his entourage dined at a restaurant one evening before going on to a nightclub.

The complaint was filed on October 12 after the alleged victim had sought medical attention, according to the newspaper.

Expressen reported that police had seized some clothing as evidence, saying it consisted of women’s underwear, a pair of black trousers and a black top. Photographs showed police officers leaving the hotel with brown bags.

Difficult season

Mbappe joined Madrid this summer after seven years at Paris Saint-Germain and has stayed clear of scandal in his private life.

The forward, who is known for carefully managing his image through a close network of family, lawyers and spokespeople, has become one of the world’s highest paid players after a stellar career that began when he was barely into his teens.

He has had a difficult season since moving to reigning European champions Real Madrid from PSG in the summer, failing to find his top form.

However the Frenchman scored in Madrid’s 3-2 win against Italian side Atalanta on Tuesday which revived Real’s flagging bid to regain their Champions League title.

Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were all on the scoresheet in Bergamo as Madrid moved up to 20th place in the Champions League table, on nine points from six matches.

The Spanish giants would have been at risk of dropping out of the Champions League play-off places if they had lost.

Mbappe won the World Cup as a teenager in 2018 in Russia and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final in Qatar which France lost on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

At PSG he was part of a superstar trio with Messi and Brazilian forward Neymar, but the Qatar-owned club were unable to win the Champions League.

Source: AFP

4, December 2024

Football: Nickson Okosun joins English Championship side Watford ⁰

Watford FC confirms the signing of young Irish forward Nickson Okosun, who will initially become part of the club’s Under-21 squad from January 1, 2025.

The 18-year-old will join for an undisclosed fee from Dublin side Bohemians and has been permitted to train with the Hornets until the deal is ratified on New Year’s Day.

He has signed a contract until 2029, with the club having the option of an additional year.

Okosun can play as a striker or a winger, and came through the youth system at Bohemians.

He went on to make seven appearances for their first-team, and has also represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 level.

In March 2023, Okosun scored the winning goal for Ireland’s Under-17s in a 3-2 win over Cyprus, which booked their place at that summer’s UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.

The forward went on to play in the tournament, where his country reached the quarter-finals.

“I’m happy to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” Okosun told watfordfc.com.

“I like to link up and get in behind, and I love scoring goals as well.

“It’s a big club and there are good people, and Watford really resonated with me in that sense.

“Hopefully, I’ll hit the ground running and I’ll try and impress people here.”

Welcome to Watford, Nickson!

Culled from Watfordfc.com

28, November 2024

Indomitable Lions: Choupo-Moting heading to MLS ⁰

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has been without a club since the end of his contract with Bayern Munich, is preparing to take on a new challenge in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Media reports in the West say the 35-year-old Cameroonian striker has signed for New York Red Bulls, marking a turning point in his rich career.

Having played for prestigious clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Choupo-Moting has forged a reputation as a versatile and valuable player, often decisive in crucial moments. With Bayern, he won several Bundesliga titles and took part in major Champions League campaigns.

As well as winning trophies, the Cameroon international also showed his professionalism and ability to adapt, whether at Stoke City in the Premier League or Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. However, the end of his contract with the Bavarian giants last June raised doubts about the future of his career.

By Chi Prudence Asong

20, November 2024

Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr traces ancestry to Cameroon through DNA test ⁰

A Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test has revealed that Vinicius Jr., the Brazil and Real Madrid star winger, has ancestral roots in Cameroon.

The test conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Fonte Nova revealed that the player’s ancestry is rooted in the Tikar tribe of Cameroon.

A certificate recognising Vinicius Jr’s Cameroonian heritage was issued, along with a video highlighting the legacy of his Tikar forebears, a prominent tribe in Cameroon.

The initiative is part of the CBF’s ‘Roots of Gold’ campaign, which honours the history and pride of the Afro-Brazilian community, with a special focus on football.

Speaking about his roots, Vinicius said, “Discovering that my roots are in Cameroon is a very special moment for me and my family.

“It reminds me that, despite the challenges, our origins and our history count for a lot.”

In response to the discovery, Vinícius’ father shared his excitement, saying, ‘It’s important for us to know where we come from. Many Brazilians are unaware of their ancestry or heritage. I’m happy that we have roots in Cameroon too.’

The founder and president of AfricanAncestry.com, Gina Paige, underscored the importance of helping people of African descent reconnect with their heritage.

“Vini Jr. carries within him the desire to honour his heritage. However, like many individuals of African descent, his ancestral story has been erased by racism and the legacy of slavery. Through a DNA test, we discovered that Vini Jr.’s ancestors belong to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

“We believe that Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice both on and off the football pitch,” Page said.

In honor of his ancestry, Vinicius Jr. wore a special jersey featuring the flags of Brazil and Cameroon for the match against Uruguay, which ended in a 1-1 draw, with the winger playing the entire 90 minutes.

Source: Vanguardngr

19, November 2024

Indomitable Lions: Zambo Anguissa back in squad for today’s Zimbabwe clash ⁰

Napoli midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa has joined the Cameroon national team camp ahead of the Warriors game.

Anguissa missed the Indomitable Lions’ trip to South Africa, where they faced Namibia in their penultimate fixture of the 2025 Afcon Qualifiers Group J.

The midfielder has now joined the camp ahead of the final Group J game against Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Cameroon national team arrived home on Wednesday and quickly began their preparations for the game against Zimbabwe.

The match will be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 3 pm CAT.

Source: Soccer 24

16, November 2024

AFCON 2025: 19 countries secure tickets for Morocco ⁰

With only a few matches left in the qualifiers, 19 teams have secured their places at the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, set to be held in Morocco.

Friday’s results on Matchday 5 saw three more nations — securing their places in Africa’s flagship football competition with Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe and Comoros sealing their slots.

Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon — clinched their spots, on Thursday joining a growing list of African football powerhouses ready for the tournament.

The confirmed teams represent a blend of regular AFCON contenders and rising forces in African football.

Host nation Morocco automatically qualified, alongside notable teams like Senegal and Algeria, who secured early qualification through consistent performances.

Egypt and title holders Cote d’Ivoire also bring strong legacies to the competition, with both countries boasting numerous AFCON titles.

Several teams have made a comeback to the continental stage.

DR Congo, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea will look to make an impact, while Uganda and Gabon are back with ambitions to advance deep into the tournament.

For South Africa, qualification marks a return to Africa’s biggest football stage after their impressive at the previous competition held in Cote d’Ivoire.

The qualification phase isn’t over yet. Matchday 5 matches continue into Saturday, with Matchday 6 next week set to confirm the remaining teams, rounding off the 24-nation lineup for Morocco 2025.

Anticipation is building as the final slots are contested, with top African teams and emerging challengers vying to be part of the action.

The 19 countries qualified for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025

Morocco,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola

Equatorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Comoros

Source: CAF