Rugby’s Impact: Investing in Africa’s Development Future (By Gabriela Ramos and Herbert Mensah)

By Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, and Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa (http://www.RugbyAfrique.com) With a current population of over 1.4 billion, Africa is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. By 2030, young Africans are projected to constitute 42 percent of the world's youth. Looking ahead, by 2100, nearly half of the world's children will be African, and Africa will then […]

January 18, 2024 7

Sport

Hazlewood, Head put Australia in command against West Indies

An inspired spell of bowling from Josh Hazlewood and a brilliant attacking century from Travis Head put Australia in complete control of the first Test against the West Indies in Adelaide on Thursday. After Head smashed 119 from 134 balls to take Australia to 283 and a first-innings lead of 95, Hazlewood took four wickets for just two runs at the start of the West Indies second innings to […]

January 18, 2024

Sport

Alcaraz made to work for Australian Open third-round berth

World number two Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set Thursday before rediscovering his mojo to battle into the Australian Open third round, coming good when it mattered. The 20-year-old Spaniard was put through his paces by Italy's Lorenzo Sonego before prevailing 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) on Rod Laver Arena. Two-time major champion and second seed Alcaraz will meet either Indian qualifier Sunmit Nagal or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng […]

January 18, 2024 1

Sport

Tennis star Sanchez Vicario escapes prison over 6.6 million euro debt

Former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam winner Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for concealing assets to avoid paying a debt to a bank, the Spanish courts said on Wednesday. Sanchez Vicario, 52, and her ex-husband Josep Santacana were also ordered to pay 6.6 million euros to the Luxembourg bank with which they ran up the debt that they tried to avoid paying. Santacana, […]

January 18, 2024 5

Sport

French ministry searched in Neymar PSG transfer probe: source

The French finance and economy ministry was searched earlier this week as part of a probe into the 2017 transfer of Brazil football superstar Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, a source said on Thursday. Officers with anti-corruption units carried out the searches on Monday, amid suspicions that PSG may have received favourable tax treatment as part of the transfer, the source said. Neymar joined Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 […]

January 18, 2024 5

Sport

Meet the trailblazing women who are officiating at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

By Joel Omotto via bird story agency With the introduction of the first African woman referee at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2021 and three more women referees at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the expansion of women into football decision-making continues in the Ivory Coast where a total of six women are officiating at the 2023 AFCON tournament. The six are among 68 match officials appointed for […]

January 18, 2024 15

Africa

Ghana won Afcon four times, but the last time was 40 years ago. What went wrong with its football team?

By Ernest Yeboah Acheampong, University of Education, Winneba The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is the most important football tournament in Africa. It has been contested by the male national teams of countries on the continent since 1957. Egypt is the most successful country in the tournament’s history, with seven wins, the most recent in 2010. Previously, Ghana was the dominant force with four wins. In spite of producing […]

January 18, 2024 10

Sport

Swiatek storms back in Australian Open thriller, Alcaraz back on court

Iga Swiatek admitted she was mentally "at the airport" before staging an astonishing comeback against Danielle Collins to stay alive in the Australian Open on Thursday as Carlos Alcaraz returned to action. The Polish world number one was up a set and a break in her second-round match before faltering badly and slipping to a 4-1 deficit in the deciding set. But just as she appeared to be heading […]

January 18, 2024 3

Sport

Forest, Everton move into FA Cup fourth round after troubled week

Nottingham Forest and Everton shrugged off the threat of a potential Premier League points deduction as they battled into the FA Cup fourth round on Wednesday. Forest survived a scare to beat third-tier Blackpool 3-2 after extra-time, while Everton were 1-0 winners against Crystal Palace in another of the night's third-round replays. It was a welcome tonic for Forest and Everton, who were both referred to an independent commission […]

January 18, 2024 3

Sport