Sports

CAF mulls AFCON 2023 postponement

Published

3 years ago

June 30, 2022

The Super Eagles may have their dreams of claiming a fourth winners medal at the Africa Cup of Nations delayed.

A Le Monde report claimed the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is considering postponing the next edition of the continent’s flagship football championship in Cote d’Ivoire.

The 17th edition of the continental championship, AFCON 2023, was initially scheduled for June 23 to July 23, 2023.

But exactly a year before kick-off, major cities in the West African country are experiencing heavy rains with floods. And CAF is beginning to admit that scheduling the competition in the middle of the rainy season may not necessarily be a bright idea.

“We are considering it; it is one of the possibilities,” CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba admitted in an interviewed with Le Monde.

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“We asked Ivorian meteorologists to report to us on rainfall history in Cote d’Ivoire in June and July, but also to share their projections with us.”

With the 2022 World Cup billed for November 21 to December 18, 2022, it is impossible to push back the AFCON to January-February 2023.

Obviously, players will not be able to participate in two major tournaments in the space of a few weeks.

The most likely alternative appears to be to postpone the AFCON to January-February 2024.

That is similar to the previous edition, AFCON 2021, in Cameroon, which kicked off earlier this year after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted initial plans.

The subject is expected to be on the menu of the 44th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF scheduled for August 10 in Arusha, Tanzania.

Sports

Why Salah turned down ‘£500m Saudi move’ for Liverpool stay

Published

7 hours ago

April 13, 2025

Trends Admin

Mohamed Salah

Why Salah turned down ‘£500m Saudi move’ for Liverpool stay

Mohamed Salah is staying at Liverpool, bringing one of the season’s key storylines to a conclusion. At times, though, it seemed in doubt.

So What Happened Behind The Scenes?

Was there a £500m offer from Saudi Arabia and how did the Egypt forward go from being unsure of his future to expressing delight at signing a deal that lasts until he turns 34?

Deal breakthrough came at end of March

When Salah set the cat among the pigeons about his future in November by saying he was ‘more out than in’, he wasn’t being disingenuous.

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Yet it was also not misleading to say the Egyptian always wanted to stay at Liverpool. The two stances weren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

It has always been Salah’s ambition to extend his eight-year stay at Anfield – and news today of his new two-year contract will bring the 32-year-old’s tenure at the club to a decade, should he see out the duration of the terms.

But the conditions – for both Salah and Liverpool – had to be right. Thankfully for the club’s supporters a middle ground was finally reached.

Sources close to the situation indicated a breakthrough in talks between Salah, his representative Ramy Abbas Issa and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes was reached at the end of March, with the formalities of the deal concluded earlier this week.

Indeed, in an interview with BBC Sport, left-back Andy Robertson revealed he only found out about the Egypt forward’s new contract on Thursday.

Why Salah turned down ‘£500m Saudi move’ for Liverpool stay

Sports

Victor Osimhen speaks on Juventus transfer rumour

Published

1 day ago

April 12, 2025

Trends Admin

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen speaks on Juventus transfer rumour

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has addressed speculations surrounding a potential move to Serie A side, Juventus.

Following a spectacular goal-scoring form for Galatasaray during his loan spell, Osimhen has attracted the attention of top European clubs and is expected to make a transfer decision by the end of the season.

According to the latest reports, Osimhen’s heroics in Turkey have been noticed by Juventus, who are keen to sign him.

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In a chat with Tuttomercatoweb, Osimhen stated that while such rumours abound, he chooses to live in the moment.

“There are always rumours about me, but I live in the moment. Now I’m enjoying all this. The fans have supported me in an incredible way.

“Not only me, but also my teammates and my family. The best decision for everyone will be made. But Galatasaray will always remain in my heart,” he said.

Victor Osimhen speaks on Juventus transfer rumour

Sports

De Bruyne leads Man City comeback win against Palace

Published

1 day ago

April 12, 2025

Trends Admin

De Bruyne leads Man City comeback win against Palace

Six days after being condemned for their performance in the derby stalemate at Old Trafford, Manc City roared back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace in a thrilling encounter at Etihad Stadium.

After their defence had been badly exposed for Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards to put the visitors into a comfortable lead, City hit back after Palace had a third goal ruled out by a close call from the new semi-automated offside technology.

Outgoing City skipper Kevin de Bruyne was at the centre of the astounding reversal of fortunes.

First De Bruyne levelled as he deceived Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson with a superb 33rd-minute free-kick. Omar Marmoush levelled before the break with his seventh goal for City, and then Mateo Kovacic drove De Bruyne’s lay-off into the bottom corner a minute into the second half.

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James McAtee finally found the target after wasting a couple of excellent chances on his first Premier League start, dashing on to Ederson’s punt downfield before rounding Henderson and applying the finish. Nico O’Reilly’s deflected effort completed the scoring as City hit five goals in a home Premier League game for the first time this season.

It was a thrilling way to end an uncharacteristic run of six City games which had produced a total of 10 goals.

More importantly, it took them back into fourth spot in the Premier League and applied the pressure on Chelsea and Newcastle in the scrap for Champions League qualification.

There was some bad news as goalkeeper Ederson went down after feeling a pain in his leg as he went to make a routine second-half clearance and had to be replaced by Stefan Ortega.