insert_link Africa The Moroccan referee who has overcome cultural barriers and gender stereotypes to make history at AFCON 2023 By Joel Omotto, bird story agency Bouchra Karboubi is blazing a trail through the beautiful game. While there has been a laudable increase in the number of female referees at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the appointment of six women, only one has been given the mandate to officiate as a centre referee, with the rest working as either assistant referees or Video Assistant Referees […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Namibia Debmarine Namibian Premier League fixtures Play has resumed in the Debmarine Namibia Premier Football League after all matches were cancelled out of respect after the passing of HE Dr Hage Geingob. today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Qatar captain says reaching Asian Cup final proved critics wrong Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos said the Asian Cup hosts and defending champions have proved their critics wrong by reaching Saturday's final against Jordan. Tintin Marquez was parachuted in to replace Carlos Queiroz as coach just a month before the tournament, sparking criticism in some quarters. But the Spaniard's impact has been immediate, leading Qatar to their second consecutive final. Haydos said his team's "professional mentality" has allowed them to […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Las Vegas in party mode before Superbowl The biggest party in American sport is about to get even bigger on Sunday when Las Vegas hosts the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in what promises to be a Super Bowl blockbuster for the ages. The first-ever NFL championship finale to be staged in the glittering Nevada gambling metropolis was always going to be a money-spinning bonanza. But the budding romance between pop superstar Taylor […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Niners coach Shanahan out to lift Super Bowl curse After seeing his teams snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on his two previous visits to the Super Bowl, Kyle Shanahan is hoping to strike it third time lucky in Las Vegas. The San Francisco 49ers head coach is back in the NFL's championship game once more, hoping to banish the ghosts of his previous agonizing near-misses on Sunday when his team faces the Kansas City Chiefs. The […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Schmidt’s Australia to face Wales in Sydney in his first match Joe Schmidt will get his reign as Wallabies coach underway against Wales in Sydney, their 2024 home schedule showed Friday, with Australia also hosting world champions South Africa twice this year. The former Ireland boss was appointed in January, replacing Eddie Jones after Australia's calamitous World Cup campaign. Jones won just two from nine Tests, with Schmidt looking to turn the corner against Warren Gatland's Wales at Allianz […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Ravens quarterback Jackson earns second NFL MVP award Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was crowned the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the second time on Thursday. The dual threat Ravens star led the league in quarterback rushing yards this year with 821 while guiding Baltimore into the playoffs with a 13-4 record. The MVP honor does not take into account the playoffs, where the Ravens were beaten on home turf last month by the Kansas City […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Messi Hong Kong no-show sparks wave of outrage in China Lionel Messi's no-show at a match in Hong Kong has triggered a surge of online outrage in the city and in mainland China, with the football superstar accused of seeking to embarrass Beijing -- or even engaging in a sinister foreign plot. The Argentine ace and his team Inter Miami sparked fury in Hong Kong from fans on Sunday when he did not play in a friendly, citing injury. […] today9 February, 2024
insert_link Sport Ex-Wallabies star Beale not guilty of sexual assault Former Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale was found not guilty on Friday of sexually assaulting a woman at a Sydney pub, ending a trial that put his rugby career on ice. The 95-Test veteran was arrested a year ago and charged over an alleged incident in the bathroom of a pub, prompting his suspension from all forms of the game. A court spokeswoman told AFP on Friday that Beale had […] today9 February, 2024
