Sports

Football: Djemba Djemba recalls Marc-Vivien Foe’s last words before pitch collapse

14, February 2020

Football: Djemba Djemba recalls Marc-Vivien Foe’s last words before pitch collapse 0

The football world was thrown into mourning when the Cameroon legend died after collapsing during a Confederations Cup game in Lyon

Former Cameroon international Eric Djemba Djemba has revealed the last words of Marc-Vivien before he collapsed in their Fifa Confederations Cup semi-final game against Colombia.

In June 2003, Djemba Djemba was playing alongside Foe in the middle of the park for the Indomitable Lions when the former Manchester City and Lyon midfielder fell without contact from any player.

Efforts to revive Foe following the collapse proved futile as he was confirmed dead on arrival at the stadium’s medical centre, with an autopsy confirming hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause of his death.

On their way to the Stade de Gerland, Djemba Djemba said the 28-year-old talked about death on the team bus on that fateful day and complained of fatigue during the match that ended 1-0 in favour of Cameroon.

“I will never forget what he said to us on the bus before we played,” the ex-Manchester United midfielder told SunSport.

“He said, ‘if someone needs to die today, we will die. We don’t need to lose that game because I promised to my wife and children we need to go to that final. I need to win the Confederations Cup.’

“I was the last person that talked to him. He said to me just before, ‘Eric, I am tired.’

“So I said to him, when the ball goes out, we’ll tell the coach, and he will substitute him.

“But he didn’t have one minute. The ball was in the air and he jumped up with Mario Yepes, who I played with at Nantes.

“I saw Foe fall down and then I saw Mario shouting, ‘Hey, hey, hey’. We walked over to him and we knew he was dead straight away.”

Djemba Djemba, 38, who is currently plying his trade in Swiss fifth division, admitted the tragic incident nearly made him quit football.

“I didn’t want to play again. Everyone was afraid to play the game. We won 1-0, and we needed to play the final,” he added.

“But we said we don’t want to play. We couldn’t sleep that night, everyone was crying. How could you go to play football and die?”

The sudden demise of Foe made Cameroon reluctant to play in the Confederations Cup final but efforts from ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter, and Foe’s widow Marie-Louise, charged them to play the encounter which they lost 1-0 to France.

“He spoke to us and said he understood it was difficult, but added Fifa didn’t know what to do because we had got to the final,” he continued.

“Then Marc’s wife came to the hotel, and she said to us we need to play for him, for her and her children.

“So we went to play and we lost the game 1-0. Thierry Henry scored. But we weren’t in the right frame of mind.”

In paying tribute to the Indomitable Lions legend, France and Cameroon players held the Confederations Cup together while Foe was named the third-best player in the competition and was posthumously honoured.

Source: Goal.com

Biya regime vows to organise perfect CHAN, AFCON

14, February 2020

Biya regime vows to organise perfect CHAN, AFCON 0

Cameroon is putting in place measures to ensure a perfect organisation of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said on Thursday.

“All the stakeholders and all the parties are strongly mobilised to make sure that we have a perfect organisation of CHAN in April and AFCON next year,” Kombi told reporters at the end of an evaluation meeting with Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute.

“We are going to make some readjustments and be up to the level of the expectations of CAF (Confederation of African Football) in the few days. Telecommunications, water supply and production of tickets, all those aspects are going to be taken care of in a few days. We are doing small repairs and maintenance,” the minister added.

Ngute stressed during the meeting that all measures should be taken to ensure good security, hygiene and sanitation and lodging before and during the competitions.

CHAN is scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon from April 4 to 25.

The country is also expected to host AFCON in 2021 after losing hosting right in 2019 over “inadequate infrastructure and pressing insecurity concerns”, according to the CAF.

In January, a vising CAF delegation said there was “remarkable progress of work in the different construction sites” for the competitions.

Source: Xinhuanet

Football: Casillas weighing run for Spanish presidency

12, February 2020

Football: Casillas weighing run for Spanish presidency 0

Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas plans to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Spanish media reported on Wednesday.

Casillas told the national sports council (CSD) of his intention to run in the upcoming RFEF elections, reported the Cadena Ser radio station early Wednesday.

According to this media, Casillas “has made the decision to run” for the elections and has informed Irene Lozano, who as secretary of state for sport is president of the CSD.

Contacted by AFP, the CSD made no comment.

The date of the election has not been decided. The AS newspaper, citing CSD sources, Casillas met Lozano and expressed an interest in running.

Casillas, 38, played 167 times for Spain, winning two Euros and one World Cup, and more than 700 games for Real Madrid, with whom he won the Champions League three times. He joined Porto in 2015.

Last April he suffered a heart attack during training and has not played since. His name has been linked with the RFEF presidency for some months.

The Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said that “it was Casillas who requested the meeting” with Lozano.

Current RFEF president Luis Rubiales is in perpetual conflict with Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish league.

According to the rules, the elections should be held in the second half of the year after the Tokyo Olympics. However, Rubiales has asked the CSD to bring the date forward to the first half of the year before Euro 2020, which will run from 12 June to 12 July.

Source:  AFP

UEFA reveal plan to help Cameroon capitalise on ‘surreal passion’ for women’s football

7, February 2020

UEFA reveal plan to help Cameroon capitalise on ‘surreal passion’ for women’s football 0

UEFA have outlined a plan to progress women’s football in Cameroon in an attempt to build on the ‘surreal passion’ for the sport in the country.

Former Dutch international Hesterine De Reus, who recently flew out to the African country as part of a Uefa-Assist, has called for radical changes to be made to their footballing set-up.

Despite reaching the last 16 of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Reus insists Cameroon has a great deal more potential it can unlock.

She said: “We’ve (UEFA) analysed the situation and spoken with Fecafoot about the next steps.

“We’re going to help with coaching education, the youth league and talent development plan by providing technical support in all these areas.

“The passion for women’s football in Cameroon is surreal. Football is in the genes of Cameroonians and they play everywhere but I feel at youth level it has to be better organised.

“There are a lot of young talented players here but there is a need for more investment. If it is well organised, we can easily identify the young talented players and create more opportunities for them to further develop.

“Women’s football is developing very fast on an international level and if Cameroon have the ambition to continuously qualify for the world cup, we need to start building the structures.”

Source: News Chain.UK

Football: Drogba agrees with Infantino’s call for AFCON every four years

6, February 2020

Football: Drogba agrees with Infantino’s call for AFCON every four years 0

Organsing the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, as FIFA proposed “can be a good thing,” according to former Ivorian international and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba.

The Elephants skipper believes it could increase the flavour and rarity of the trophy. Drogba also thinks that this schedule will protect African footballers who play in Europe.

“I think we’re going to have to get to that point [playing in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations every four years] because the African player is quite disadvantaged in relation to his club, and given that there are a lot of African players now playing in Europe, it complicates things a bit.

Already at the time when we played in the African Cup of Nations, which was in January, (a player) to leave for the national team was to jeopardise his place in the starting line-up.

“It was really complicated, not to mention the weather conditions. So it’s going to be an interesting debate and I hope I can contribute to,” Drogba stressed.

The debate over AFCON regularity is not a new one. The most recent case is when FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged the African football organizing body to consider making the AFCON one that happens over four instead of two-years. He says a four-year sequence will give it more impact.

It is one of few major continental competitions that happens every two years as compared to the European and World Cups.

So far, the Confederation of African Football has explained that by organising the event every two years, it encourages the rapid development of infrastructure in the host countries.

Source: Africa News

Football: Liverpool opens up the biggest lead by any team in English top-flight history

2, February 2020

Football: Liverpool opens up the biggest lead by any team in English top-flight history 0

Liverpool opened up the biggest lead by any team at the end of a day in English top-flight history with an emphatic victory over Southampton – but manager Jurgen Klopp says his side are “not even close to being perfect”.

The Reds extended their advantage in the Premier League to 22 points over second-placed Manchester City, who face Tottenham on Sunday, with a 4-0 win against Southampton at Anfield.

They have also equalled City’s record of 20 consecutive Premier League wins at home and only Bill Shankly’s Liverpool team in 1972 had a longer winning streak on home soil in English top-flight history.

“We’re not even close to being perfect. We just look to use our skills in the best possible way. The boys have done that for a while pretty good and that’s why we have these numbers,” said Klopp.

“We didn’t want a 22-point lead. We wanted 73 points at the end of today.”

Four second-half goals gave Liverpool a victory that extends their unbeaten run in the league to 42 games and means they have picked up 100 points from the last 102 available.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the opener against Southampton just after half time – his second goal in as many league matches – when he drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.

Reds’ skipper Jordan Henderson made it 2-0 on the hour mark with a calm finish after being set up by Roberto Firmino.

Henderson then played in Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s third and the Egypt forward added a fourth from close range in the last minute.

The scoreline was harsh on the visitors, who matched Liverpool for much of the first hour with Danny Ings going close in the first half and Shane Long also denied by home keeper Alisson.

It was Southampton’s first away defeat in five games and they fall to 11th place.

Title gets closer, unbeaten run rolls on

Liverpool’s wait for a first league title in 30 years will surely end this season. They have one hand on the trophy and seven wins from their remaining 13 games will guarantee success.

Liverpool are unbeaten in 42 games across two seasons, have conceded just one league goal in their last 10 matches and have 73 points from 25 games – a top-flight record.

Before Saturday, only City had won more consecutive games at home in the Premier League, between March 2011 and March 2012.

With only 13 matches left, it is increasingly surely only a question of whether Liverpool can remain unbeaten for the whole season rather than if they end their drought.

Nevertheless, their performance in the first half against Southampton was nervous and suggested the visitors could have a chance to inflict a first defeat on Klopp’s side.

Sloppy passes, mistakes at the back and a lack of intensity going forward meant the Saints had opportunities to score and were barely stretched at the back.

Southampton, spearheaded by top-scorer Ings in attack, finished the half as the better team, going close through the former Reds striker as well as Long and Moussa Djenepo.

But Liverpool, no doubt invigorated by a half-time talk from Klopp, were quick out of the blocks in the second half and as soon as they scored the victory that most will have expected before the match felt inevitable.

The scorer of that opener, Oxlade-Chamberlain, is starting to regain the form he demonstrated prior to picking up a serious knee injury while Henderson was magnificent again in controlling the midfield. They were solid at the back, with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk’s centre-back partnership continuing to flourish.

The Reds were without the injured Sadio Mane, but Firmino and Salah delivered the goods; the Brazil striker produced a hat-trick of assists to take his total to 51 in all competitions for the club, while Salah scored twice.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said before the game he wanted his side to “show how far we have come, how competitive we are”.

They certainly did that, especially in the first half.

Ings, who left Liverpool to join the Saints for £20m in July, had scored 14 goals in 19 starts heading into the match and he was a threat throughout.

His close-range effort in the first half looked like it was heading in before it clipped the heel of team-mate Long and bounced away from goal.

The striker, who was praised for his tireless work ethic by Klopp, threatened early in the second half when he bundled into the box before being stopped by a challenge from Fabinho.

There were appeals for a penalty but it was reviewed by VAR, who must have decided it was the eager Ings’ effort to evade Fabinho that sent him to the ground rather contact from Liverpool’s midfielder – although Hasenhuttl believed it was a foul.

To rub salt into Saints’ wound, immediately after the incident Liverpool went up the other end and scored the opener.

Ings continued to cause problems though, earning a corner off a deflected shot after taking on Andy Robertson and Van Dijk as well as linking up with James Ward-Prowse, who fired just wide of the right post.

He was substituted in the 70th minute, alongside strike partner Long, and was given a standing ovation by the fans of his former club.

Ings’ form has been one of the reasons for Southampton’s surge away from the relegation zone and if he continues to be such a threat, Saints look good for a top-half finish in the table.

They had 10 shots in the first half against Liverpool, the most the Reds have faced in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match at Anfield since Chelsea in November 2014.

Klopp mirrors Shankly – best of the stats

  • Only once in English top-flight history has a team had a longer winning streak on home soil – Liverpool themselves between January and December 1972 under Bill Shankly.
  • Liverpool have earned 100 points from the last 102 available to them in the Premier League, winning 33 of their last 34 matches in the competition while only failing to win away at Manchester United in October 2019.
  • Southampton have lost each of their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool, losing their last three visits to Anfield in the competition by a 10-0 aggregate score.
  • This result was Southampton’s heaviest margin of defeat in an away league game since November 2018 when they lost 1-6 at Manchester City.
  • Salah has scored more home goals in this season’s Premier League (12) than any other player; indeed, since he joined Liverpool in 2017, only Lionel Messi (51) has more home goals in Europe’s big-five leagues than the Egyptian (44).

‘When we are rolling, it’s difficult to stop’ – what they said

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “The readiness to improve in the game and learn from the game [is what we had to do to win]. The set-up of Southampton I could not give more credit to. What a strange result in the end. It’s deserved because we score the goals, but what a team.

“They had too many shots on target and we had to change in the second half. That helped massively and when we are rolling it’s difficult to stop.

“Even when it was 4-0 Southampton did not stop and I have so much respect for that.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: “Maybe the result is a little high but I would like to watch this game if we had gone a goal up. The best team in the world, for 50 minutes had no real chances and we had a massive one.

“It must be brave at that moment to say goal, so it’s no penalty here at Anfield. The way we played was unbelievably good and I am proud and stand by our plan. It is a clear penalty but in such moments the game can turn in our direction. But in the end it was a deserved win for Liverpool. We played the best we can so I am very proud.”

What’s next?

Liverpool’s first-team players will be given the night off on Tuesday for the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Shrewsbury, while their next Premier League match is against Norwich City on Saturday, 15 February (17:30 GMT).

Southampton travel to Tottenham on Wednesday for their FA Cup replay, before hosting Burnley in the Premier League on 15 February (12:30 GMT).

Culled from the BBC

Lions: Young Boys forward Nsame hints at Cameroon return

2, February 2020

Lions: Young Boys forward Nsame hints at Cameroon return 0

Young Boys forward Jean-Pierre Nsame has said that he would be happy to play again for Cameroon.

The 26-year-old, who has two caps, hasn’t appeared for the five-time African champions since being dropped from their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

He’s subsequently declined call-ups to the national team, citing personal reasons.

This season, Nsame has been in mesmerizing form hitting a league-leading 16 goals in 18 outings as his Young Boys side top the Swiss top-tier.

“I took a decision based on what was happening, to sit out a few games but I’ll be glad to play again for Cameroon” Nsame told BBC Sport

“The national team is always on my mind but I needed this time off to focus on my club duties and my family which is a very important component of my life”

“The national team is very important and it means a lot to me to be able to play for the Indomitable Lions. There have been rumours about me and the national team but I felt the timing wasn’t right back then”

Nsame with his award for Swiss player of the season

The former Angers striker has scored 22 goals this season and recently scooped the best player distinction in the Swiss championship as well as being named in the team of the year.

His ultimate goal this term is to fire Young Boys to a 14th league title and reward the clubs fans whom he thinks are the fuel to the side’s fire.

“We have very amazing fans who are firmly behind the club and who have the same objectives as the players do. It’ll be good if we can give them something to celebrate at the end of the season”

“My motivation is to help the team and my mates play at their best level. It’s not about me but the club and because we have the same ambitions it’s easy for us to produce good results”

“We have to maintain the same intensity and mentality during the second phase of the season to end the season on a high”

Nsame is aware that maintaining his form will heighten his chances at a return to the national team, just in time for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which will be the second time Cameroon has hosted the biggest tournament in African football since the 1972.

“Just like every Cameroonian footballer, there’s great excitement when I think that we’ll host the Afcon next year” Nsame added

“But I’m not letting this cloud my reflections because I have to stay focused to perform. Only my displays with Young Boys can get me a spot in the Afcon”

“When the time is right, I’ll think about the Afcon and if I’m granted the opportunity, my ambitions will be the same as that of the team”

Nsame’s performances for Young Boys have attracted interest from several European clubs.

“I hear of the transfer rumours but I’m not bothered by them. When the time will be right for a new adventure, I’ll talk about it with my family and we’ll decide”

“I’m a player of Young Boys and this is what is most important. We have some major goals and I’m keen on achieving those before thinking about anything else”

Source: BBC

France Football: Neymar helps PSG to five-goal romp

1, February 2020

France Football: Neymar helps PSG to five-goal romp 0

Neymar shook off an injury scare and raged with the match officials while helping Paris Saint-Germain romp to a 5-0 win over Montpellier that stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Layvin Kurzawa all scored along with a Daniel Congre own goal, with the outcome never in doubt after Montpellier goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud was sent off early on.

Montpellier finished the game with nine men, and the result means PSG start February by making it 19 games unbeaten and are now 13 points ahead of nearest rivals Marseille.

But it was Neymar, his hair dyed shocking pink for the occasion, who predictably caught the eye.

The Brazilian warmed up with a shirt bearing the name of Kobe Bryant and the number 24 of the basketball star who was killed in a helicopter crash last weekend. PSG also held a minute’s applause for Bryant ahead of kick-off.

Neymar didn’t score, having to settle just for one assist, but he produced his usual tricks, provoked the opposition, and required lengthy treatment at the end of the first half after appearing to hurt his ribs as he grappled for the ball with Montpellier’s Arnaud Souquet.

Unhappy with the some of the treatment reserved for him, Neymar was then caught by television cameras angrily remonstrating in Portuguese with the fourth official in the tunnel at half-time.

Despite the knock, the world’s most expensive player — who on Sunday is set to host a lavish party for his 28th birthday at a Parisian nightclub — lasted the 90 minutes.

– Cavani back on bench –

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel had opted to leave Mauro Icardi on the bench at kick-off alongside Edinson Cavani, who remains in the French capital after a January move to Atletico Madrid never materialised.

Instead Sarabia started with Mbappe up front, and the former Real Madrid player pounced on a loose ball to curl home a fine opener from 22 yards in the eighth minute for his 10th goal of the season.

Andy Delort then missed a chance to equalise for Montpellier, and their hopes of getting back into the game were as good as over when Bertaud was sent off in the 17th minute.

Only playing because usual first choice Geronimo Rulli was suspended, Bertaud raced out of his box to stop Mbappe bearing down on goal, only to block the ball with his arm and receive a straight red.

On came young debutant Matis Carvalho in goal for the visitors and he had to pick the ball out of his net twice before the interval.

Di Maria exchanged passes with Sarabia before lifting the ball over Carvalho to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute, and shortly afterwards Teji Savanier’s attempt to clear a Di Maria corner rebounded off the face of defender Congre and in.

After Neymar had cooled down at the break, he set up Mbappe for one shot that hit the outside of the post, and then played in the France World Cup winner to round Carvalho and score his 14th league goal of the season.

Kurzawa drilled in the fifth in the 65th minute, and Cavani came on before having a late header disallowed for offside. By that point the visitors were playing with nine men after substitute Joris Chotard saw two quick yellow cards.

Marseille go to Bordeaux on Sunday looking for a first win there in 43 years, while Rennes strengthened their grip on third by scoring twice in injury time to claim a 3-2 win over local rivals Nantes on Friday.

Source:  AFP

FIFA President wants African Cup of Nations every four years, not two

1, February 2020

FIFA President wants African Cup of Nations every four years, not two 0

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino told African football leaders on Saturday that he wants their continental Cup of Nations to be played every four years as part of a package of reforms designed to lift “African football to the top of the world”.

Infantino also told a seminar in Rabat attended by delegates from each of the Confederation of African Football’s 54 member associations, that he wanted new stadiums in every member state and had earmarked $1 billion to finance the ambitious program.

The Africa Cup of Nations is currently staged every two years, which makes it unpopular with European clubs.

“What I’m asking you, and it’s your decision, is to discuss and consider moving to a Nations Cup every four years,” Infantino said.

He said he wanted to “revolutionise African football”.

“Pele once said that an African team would win the World Cup, but this hasn’t happened and it seems we are not making progress. Today must be the day we turn that page” Infantino said.

“Our objective must be to project African football to the top of the world,” he said.

He said FIFA was “elaborating a proposal to mobilise $1bn.”

“In the countries where there is already at least one very good stadium, the investments can be done in other infrastructures,” he said.

After decades of being accused of not adequately supervising how its money is spent by members, FIFA has been rolling out best practice standards and says it will ensure that the African development project funding is managed via transparent accountable procedures.

– African club championships –

Infantino also promised to create a pan-African league that would feature 20-24 clubs with a maximum of maybe two clubs per country that would still play in their national leagues.

“So we can really crown the club champions of Africa,” Infantino said although the African Champions League already does that.

“Let us show the world what we can do,” Infantino challenged Africa’s footballing community.

“This day is special — it’s the start of a new chapter for African football.”

Source: AFP

Tennis: American Sofia Kenin wins Australian Open to claim first Grand Slam title at 21

1, February 2020

Tennis: American Sofia Kenin wins Australian Open to claim first Grand Slam title at 21 0

America’s Sofia Kenin stunned two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza to win the Australian Open on Saturday, completing a surprise run where she came from nowhere to earn her first Grand Slam title.

Despite making her debut in a Major final Kenin, 21, showed all her trademark aggression as she fought back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in 2hrs 3mins against the shellshocked Spaniard.

The 14th seed, who will now jump to seventh in the world and usurp Serena Williams as America’s number one, was in tears at the end and headed straight for her father Alexander, who is her coach.

It was the final twist in a tournament of upsets, after Williams crashed out in the third round and Kenin beat Australia’s world number one Ashleigh Barty in the semi-finals.

“It’s just such an honour to have my name on that beautiful trophy, it’s something I’ve dreamed about,” said Moscow-born Kenin.

“Of course it’s an exciting moment for me and for my family, I get to share this.

“Obviously things are going to change for me, but we’re just going to move forward, get ready for next tournaments.

“Right now we got to figure out how to celebrate.”

Former world number one Muguruza was unseeded for the first time at a Slam since 2014, having suffered a marked loss of form in the last 18 months.

The 26-year-old was resurgent in Melbourne over the past fortnight, but after grabbing the first-set lead her serve failed her spectacularly.

She totted up eight double-faults in all, three of them in the final game—including one on the second championship point, handing the title to her younger opponent.

Kenin fights back

Muguruza drew first blood at Rod Laver Arena, where the roof was closed for rain in Melbourne, getting the first break of serve.

Kenin, who ended the fairytale run of 15-year-old Coco Gauff on her way to the final, bounced her American stars-and-stripes racquet on the hardcourt in anger.

The 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon winner Muguruza took the first set in 52 minutes when the young American planted her forehand out.

Kenin, not one to hide her feelings on court, said that she had struggled to rein in her emotions at that point.

“I was obviously devastated, I knew I didn’t take my chances,” she said. “I knew I needed to somehow forget what happened, just move forward and just keep believing in myself.”

The aggressive Kenin upped the ante in the second set, breaking her more experienced opponent in the fourth game and easily holding to sprint into a 4-1 lead.

Kenin, who won their only previous encounter in three sets, grabbed the second set in an emphatic 32 minutes. A rattled Muguruza was seen briefly by a physio for what appeared to be a lower-back problem.

Into the deciding set and the gutsy Kenin saved three game points in a pivotal fifth game, tossing the ball back over her head by way of a defiant celebration.

Kenin adds by far the biggest title of her fast-burgeoning career to the three WTA crowns she won last year.

“The past two weeks have been the best of my life,” she told Rod Laver Arena, as her father—who left the Soviet Union in 1987 to give the family a better life—filmed her victory speech on his phone.

“I love you guys from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much,” she told the crowd.

At 21 years and 80 days, Kenin is 22 days younger than Japan’s Naomi Osaka when she won the title last year.

Kenin is the youngest Australian Open champion since Maria Sharapova—her idol—won aged 20 in 2008.

(AFP)

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