Seychellois boxer Joshua Cousin has claimed a gold medal at the first-ever Mandela African Boxing Cup, after beating his opponent in the final on Sunday.
Cousin, who competed in the men’s 71-75kg category, went up against Ethiopia’s Neka Mitiku in the final and won the bout after the referee stopped the count.
To reach the final, Cousin had to defeat three boxers. In the round of 16 stage, he grabbed victory over Nkosinathi Dvuba of Eswatini and eliminated Jon William in the quarter-final.
In the semi-final, the Seychellois boxer got a walkover over David Tshama from the Democratic Republic of Congo to make it to the final.
Aside from Cousin, who won gold, Seychelles was represented by three other boxers, with Keddy Agnes winning the bronze medal in his +92kg category, losing in the semi-final to Anthony Bweluzey form the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Arshild David lost in the quarter-final against Alayu Mekonne in the 51-54kg weight class, while Dasheil Fanchette also his quarter-final bout in the 80-86kg category, against Peter Pita also from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The results placed Seychelles 10th on the medal table.
The Democratic Republic of Congo came out first on the medal table with 10 gold medals, two silver and six bronze followed by Mozambique with two gold medals and three silver. Neigbouring island nation in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius came out third with two gold medals and three bronze.
The introduction of the new tournament in memory of the late South African President Nelson Mandela was organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the African Boxing Confederation and the South African Boxing Organisation. It took place in Durban, South Africa, from April 15-21.
Monetary rewards will be given to winners and gold medallists will receive $5,000 (SCR68,000), silver $3,000 (SCR 41,000) and $1,500 (SCR20,000) for bronze, courtesy of IBA.
Five of the boxing giants from Africa did not participate in the competition namely Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Zambia and Ghana.
Twenty-four countries participated in the tournament with around 101 competitors.
Despite setting up a new Premier Netball League executive, some of the leagues’ teams maintain that they will still not participate in this season’s campaign if pending issues are not resolved.
There are claims that it was recently discovered that there are several teams that have been participating in the league for seasons without paying affiliation fees. It is also being claimed that the league’s constitution was recently amended without stakeholders’ approval.
As a result, reigning champions Platinum Queens, 2023 PNL runners-up GreenFuel, second runners-up Ngezi Platinum Queens, ZUPCO, Harare Polytechnic, and Hustlers maintain that issues need to be cleared before they can play their games.
FilChrist has permanently withdrawn their two teams from the league due to the chaotic situation that the league finds itself in.
The league, featuring only 11 clubs out of a traditional 20 is already underway with each team having played four games so far.
“We are happy that they have set up a new executive. It did not make any sense for us to be part of a league that does not have leadership,” said an executive member from one of the clubs.
“Now they need to fix the other issues that we outlined because a lot has been going on for a long time. On countless occasions, we aired our concerns but we then realised that if we do not take action, nothing ever gets fixed.”
The league was officially launched in September 2021 under the leadership of chairperson Thabiso Mokoena, vice-chairperson Loveday Magaya, secretary-general Liberty Mhizha, vice-secretary-general Sarudzai Chapo, treasurer Kuziwakwashe Mutuza and fixtures-secretary Tinashe Jonasi.
Following the elections at the weekend, the PNL will be led by chairperson Rita Mkandla, who will be deputised by Kevin Marengahosi.
Alice Mukunura is the league’s secretary general while Melody Mabonga is her deputy, Seyelukhile Sithole becomes the organising secretary while Innocent Ndiya holds the public relations and media office
Major League Soccer (MLS) side New England Revolution is on the verge of securing the services of Black Stars defensive midfielder Baba Iddrisu from La Liga club Mallorca, according to reports from Spanish news outlet Relevo.
Relevo has indicated that negotiations between New England Revolution and Almeria, where Baba Iddrisu is currently on loan from Mallorca, are progressing positively.
Although nothing has been finalized yet, New England is eager to conclude the deal.
Iddrisu, who joined RCD Mallorca’s youth setup in January 2014, has since made significant strides in Spanish football. After featuring prominently for Mallorca’s first team, he moved to Almeria on loan with a buyout clause in August 2023.
Despite facing challenges at Almeria, The 28-year-old has demonstrated his consistency and reliability as a defensive midfielder, making 24 appearances in the ongoing La Liga season.
With 150 games under his belt for Mallorca’s first team Baba Iddrisu’s potential move to New England Revolution represents a significant opportunity for the Ghana midfielder to further advance his career.
Moreover, Baba Iddrisu’s performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him recognition as a consistent player in the Spanish league and a regular presence in the Ghana national team, the Black Stars.
As he looks forward to potentially joining New England Revolution, Iddrisu is also expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the Black Stars, scheduled for June 2024.
Eliud Kipchoge said he had “fulfilled” his legacy after retaining his Olympic title in Tokyo three years ago
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge is confident he can win a historic third successive Olympic marathon gold medal in Paris this year.
The 39-year-old, who was victorious in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, finished 10th in this year’s Tokyo Marathon in March.
Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1964) and East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1980) are the only other men to defend an Olympic marathon title.
“My huge expectation actually is to win the Olympics for the third time,” said Kipchoge.
Last week Kipchoge was named alongside two-time Boston Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat, Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich and newcomer Alexander Mutiso on Kenya’s marathon shortlist for the Paris Games, which begin on 26 July and end on 11 August.
Kipruto won this year’s Tokyo Marathon in a time of two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds, with Kiplagat and Ngetich completing the podium.
Kipchoge finished over four and a half minutes adrift of Kipruto in Japan, but that result has not made him concerned about his chances in Paris on 10 August.
“I think I just got tired,” he explained.
“I don’t know what happened but it’s life, it’s sport. It’s the beauty of sport.”
On retirement and Olympic prize money
Kipchoge will turn 40 in November and he would not be drawn when asked if he could race at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“In Kenya we say you don’t chase two rabbits at a time, you will miss all of them. You chase one,” he said.
“So the rabbit of the Olympic Games is what I’m chasing now. After that I go back to the drawing board, see what’s in my bucket list and start again to chase the next.”
In the meantime, as questions persist over when he plans to retire, he has reiterated his commitment to inspire people of all levels to be active.
“If you can convince me that the moment I will be crossing the finishing line the whole world has become a running world then I will retire,” he added.
Kipchoge was in the French capital on Thursday as part of Kenya’s kit launch for the Games, and he will also receive a financial reward should he defend his marathon title.
Kipchoge believes the development will boost the sport in the long term.
“I don’t run because of money but I run because I want to perform,” Kipchoge said.
“It was a great idea for Seb Coe and World Athletics. For the young generations I think it’s a good idea to develop – it makes sport more interesting.”
World Athletics has announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at the Olympic Games.
The global governing body said a total prize pot of $2.4m (£1.9m) has been made available for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, with gold medallists receiving $50,000 (£39,400).
This will be extended to silver and bronze medallists at Los Angeles 2028.
World Athletics president Lord Coe called the decision a “pivotal moment”.
He told BBC Sport the organisation wanted to create a “stable financial landscape” for athletes.
There will be 48 athletics events in Paris, with relay gold medallists to share their prize money among the team.
The prize money will not apply at the Paralympics, which takes place from 28 August to 8 September, as Para-athletics is governed by World Para Athletics.
“The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games,” Coe said.
“While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games, I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is.”
Greg Rutherford, who won gold in the long jump at London 2012, said: “This is a brilliant step in the right direction and I take my hat off to Seb Coe and the rest of the World Athletics staff for initiating this improvement.”
The former British athlete said the view that Olympic sports are still amateur “couldn’t be further from the truth”.
Asked if prize money went against the Olympic spirit, Coe replied: “I don’t see that making life a little easier for the athletes, allowing them maybe to stay on in the sport a little bit longer, to give them the financial independence to train, and maybe in a more sophisticated way is anything other than sitting behind good firm Olympic principles.”
World Athletics said the format and structure of prize money for the 2028 Games will be announced nearer the time.
It added that the payment of prize money will depend on athletes “undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures”.
Given the Olympics’ origins as an amateur sports event, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not award prize money but distributes funding through international federations (IF) and national Olympic committees (NOC).
Some national Olympic committees offer financial rewards to their medallists, though the British Olympic Association does not.
The IOC said: “It is up to each IF and NOC to determine how to best serve their athletes and the global development of their sport.”
‘Athletics has not been a rich sport’
Dame Denise Lewis, won gold in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics for Great Britain, said the announcement is “really positive”, but added athletics “has not been a rich sport”.
“This is nothing to do with ‘the Olympics is supposed to be about valour, about honour and representation of your country’, this is absolutely a gesture from World Athletics to its athletes,” Lewis told BBC 5 Live Drive.
“The Olympics earns billions – as we know, for a lot of people, but the athletes don’t always get that in track and field.”
Lewis, who also took heptathlon bronze at the Atlanta Games in 1996, said prize money would not devalue the achievement of reaching an Olympics, rather it would offer athletes a possible incentive to continue competing.
“And to just give them a little bit of assistance going forward,” she added.
Rutherford, who was also an Olympic bronze medallist in Rio in 2016, said he hopes other sports can adopt the same approach as World Athletics.
“Athletes from around the world sacrifice so much to achieve the most difficult accolade in sport, becoming Olympic champion – standing at the top of the podium and hearing your national anthem is one of the greatest feelings you can have,” he said.
“But, the scrutiny that the athletes are constantly under – along with the comparisons to other sporting success stories – always fail to mention the lack of financial support given.”
The 2015 long jump world champion added: “I really hope the athletes across all sports will now finally be supported by the multi-billion dollar IOC and their efforts, not just by individual sports, for the long-term health of the Olympic movement.
“We do this for the love of the sport, but it is also our livelihood.”
Swedish Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis said World Athletics’ move was a “step in the right direction”.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Olympic 400m hurdle champion Karsten Warholm said the prize money did not change his motivation to win an Olympic gold medal, but he agreed it was the “right direction” for building a professional sport.
However, Jonathan Edwards, GB gold medallist at Sydney 2000 and still the men’s triple jump world record holder, said the decision was “a little bit odd”.
“It’s not [World Athletics’] event, it’s the Olympics. It feels like a bit of an undercut to the IOC, who have been very strict around saying ‘we’re not going to have prize money'”, said the 57-year-old.
“Athletes who win at the Olympic Games already get rewards.”
The head coach of Angola Marcos Antunes says his charges will work towards stopping high flying Morocco when the two sides face each other in Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, 11 April in Rabat.
The Portuguese coach was speaking from the Salle Prince Moulay Abdellah a day ahead of the big opening to the competition.
Angola finished third four years ago to reach their maiden FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania.
“We will fight with competence to stop the quality of Morocco and try to show our quality, that is the way we work. Morocco is one of the top ranked teams in the world. If we want to develop we have to play against the best teams and we’re ready to play against Morocco” said Antunes.
“We have been working with the new methods and ways of playing Futsal and now we’re trying to implement it on the field so that we can secure one of the World Cup spots.”
The coach stressed the need to integrate the young players who are eager to show their talent at the continent’s flagship Futsal competition.
“We have young players who are eager to show their qualities and we want to have an identity of play. Our expectation is to secure a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan later this year and we will work and fight for that. We are part of the Futsal story because we have been to the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania and we showed a good image and now we will work towards confirming that image here”, concluded the coach.
In Saturday’s match between SM Caen and AJ Auxerre in the French Ligue 2, Godson Kyeremeh, the French-born Ghanaian midfielder, showcased his prowess by scoring for the visitors.
Madagascar international Rayan Raveloson levelled the score 14 minutes for Auxerre before the final whistle, and Brazilian attacker Jubal sealed the win for the home team eight minutes later.
Kyeremeh’s goal, marked by an impressive buildup and intelligent finish, wasn’t enough to salvage the match for his team.
Kyeremeh, at 23 years old, has proven to be a valuable asset for his team throughout the season, contributing six assists and three goals in 29 appearances.
Despite his individual success, the outcome of the match against Auxerre underscores the challenges faced by Stade Malherbe Caen.
Despite their efforts and Kyeremeh’s contributions, they fell short against a determined Auxerre side.
The Ghana Football Association’s pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo could be handed a huge boost following reports that the Manchester United midfielder is set for promotion to the U21s rather than the English national team.
The English-born Ghanaian has raised eyebrows with his eye-catching performances for the Red Devils this season, leading to interest from the Football Association.
Although Mainoo has represented England at the U17 and U18 levels, he remains eligible to play for the Black Stars of Ghana due to his parent’s origin.
The 18-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford, commanding a starting role in the starting eleven of Manchester United.
His splendid performances has seen him earn plaudits from legends such as Rio Ferdinand and Ian Wright, with the latter calling for his quick invite to the national team.
However, it seems manager Gareth Southgate prefers other players to the teen sensation.
Southgate will name his team for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this week, as the Euro 2020 finalist prepares for the international competition this summer.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association have the chance to continue the process of convincing the youngster to play for the Black Stars.
The four-time African champions, who are yet to name a new coach after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, will face Nigeria and Uganda during the international break.
Los Angeles Galaxy FC forward Joseph Paintsil is optimistic about the team’s prospects this season, expressing confidence that their hunger for success could potentially “kill a lot of clubs” if they maintain their current form.
Having played a key role in all three of LA Galaxy’s 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, Paintsil has already left his mark with a victory against San Jose Earthquakes and draws against Inter Miami and Nashville.
The former Genk star has contributed significantly, scoring a goal and providing an assist, showcasing his talent and versatility on the field.
In a recent interview with the LA Galaxy website, the Black Stars winger highlighted the team’s collective determination for success, emphasising their unity and strong performances as key factors that could pose a significant threat to other clubs.
“The players are really hungry for success,” Paintsil stated. “We did everything together, and if we keep playing like this, we are really going to kill a lot of clubs, trust me.”
Paintsil’s impact on the pitch has not gone unnoticed, and his impressive performances have put him in contention for a spot in the Ghana squad for the upcoming friendlies against Uganda and Nigeria in Morocco.
The Ghana Volleyball Association (GVA) has disassociated itself from comments made by Seidu Ajanako following Ghana’s defeat to Morocco in the ongoing African Games.
Ghana lost to Morocco in two straight sets in the quarterfinals of the men’s beach volleyball event on Wednesday morning resulting in their elimination from the competition.
Prior to the clash against the North Africans, Ghana had won their first four games of the event since the start of the competition.
Speaking to Joy Sports after the defeat, one of Ghana’s players, Ajanako, complained about the team not receiving protective socks for the games which have left them with blisters.
“All our toes are full of blisters because of the heat of the sand. That can also affect you,” he said.
“We didn’t get the sand socks to wear because they told us there’s a shipment coming and it has been delayed.”
However, GVA has denied the concerns raised by Ajanako.
In a rejoinder issued on Wednesday evening, the Association disassociates itself from the player’s comments claiming the team lost to an ‘equally good side’.
Read the full statement below:
Ghana currently boasts five medals from the games so far from weightlifting and swimming.
