Sports

Amusan wins silver at World Athletics Championships

Published

5 months ago

September 15, 2025

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has won silver in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, finishing behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stunned the field to take gold in a national record.

Kambundji, 23, stormed to victory in 12.24s, eclipsing her previous best to secure Switzerland’s first-ever world title in the event.

Amusan, the 2022 champion and world record holder, followed closely in 12.29s to earn Nigeria’s 12th medal in World Championships history.

The bronze went to American Grace Stark, who crossed in 12.34s, while her compatriot Masai Russell placed fourth in 12.44s after a sluggish reaction time of 0.240, the slowest in the field.

Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska equalled her season’s best with 12.49s for fifth, just edging Bahamian Devynne Charlton who clocked the same time. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, finished seventh in 12.53s, and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands completed the line-up in eighth with 12.56s.

Amusan had earlier looked in commanding form in the semi-final, winning her race in 12.36s ahead of Visser and Skrzyszowska to set up hopes of retaining her crown. But in the final, despite a strong start, she was unable to match Kambundji’s late surge.

The result means Amusan, 28, adds another silver medal to Nigeria’s tally at the World Championships, following her historic gold in Eugene in 2022 when she set the world record of 12.12s.

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Sports

Guardiola slams EFL rule as Guéhi is ruled out of Carabao Cup final

Published

16 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Pep Guardiola has called on the English Football League to change its rules to allow Manchester City defender Marc Guéhi to play in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Guéhi is currently ineligible for the final at Wembley on March 22 after joining City from Crystal Palace following their 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the first leg of the semi-final.

As reported by BBC on Thursday, Carabao Cup regulations state that players must be registered prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or before the first leg of the semi-final, whichever comes sooner, in order to be eligible to play in the competition.

As a result, the England centre-back missed both legs of City’s 5-1 aggregate win over Newcastle and is also set to miss the final.

Speaking after Wednesday’s second-leg victory, Guardiola questioned the logic of the rule and confirmed the club would ask the EFL to reconsider Guéhi’s eligibility.

“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final.

“I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play because of a rule I don’t understand,” Guardiola said.

City’s other January signing, Antoine Semenyo, was eligible for the semi-final after arriving from Bournemouth four days before the first leg, and went on to score in that match.

“Antoine arrived before the first game so he could play. “Now it’s the final. Why should Marc not play? We pay his salary, he is our player,” he added.

Guardiola also pointed to the fact that City have already benefited from a rule change this season that removed traditional cup-tying restrictions, allowing players to represent more than one club in the competition.

That amendment allowed Semenyo and defender Max Alleyne to feature in the semi-finals despite having appeared for Bournemouth and Watford earlier in the tournament.

Asked whether he expected the EFL to grant City’s request, Guardiola said he was doubtful but confirmed the club would still make an approach.

“No,” he said. “But we will try.”

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Sports

Morocco remains 2026 WAFCON host, says S’Africa’s minister

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has dismissed reports suggesting that the country has been confirmed as the new host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the minister stated that “no formal decision” has been taken to replace Morocco.

McKenzie reaffirmed that Morocco remains the official host of the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on March 17.

The minister was responding to comments credited to the Deputy Minister of Sport, Peace Mabel, who had claimed that South Africa had taken over hosting rights after Morocco allegedly withdrew from the competition with just five weeks to the start date.

Mabel had said Morocco pulled out of hosting the WAFCON and that South Africa was ready to step in.

However, McKenzie clarified that South Africa has merely expressed readiness to assist the Confederation of African Football if the need arises.

According to him, South Africa “has only indicated its willingness to support CAF if alternative hosting arrangements become necessary.”

He explained that such measures “are part of CAF’s routine contingency planning” ahead of major tournaments.

“At this stage, no formal decision has been taken to relocate the tournament, and Morocco remains the official designated host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. CAF has not activated any alternative hosting process,” the statement said.

McKenzie added that for South Africa to host the tournament, several requirements must be met, including CAF’s formal approval, clearance from the cabinet, and the availability and readiness of venues and supporting infrastructure.

It was reports that Morocco is poised to host the WAFCON for the third consecutive time, with the tournament set to run from March 17 to April 3.

The North African country finished as runners-up in the last two editions, losing to South Africa in the 2022 final and to Nigeria’s Super Falcons in 2024.

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Sports

South Africa set to replace Morocco as WAFCON hosts

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

South Africa have moved to step in as hosts of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) following Morocco’s reported withdrawal from staging the tournament with just 60 days to the scheduled kick-off.

The 2026 WAFCON is billed to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, under a compressed timetable that follows the delayed 2024 edition, which was impacted by global scheduling challenges, including the Paris Olympics.

The development was announced on Sunday night by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, who revealed that the Rainbow Nation would take over hosting duties after Morocco’s sudden decision to pull out.

Speaking at the Super League Awards ceremony in Johannesburg, Mabe confirmed that the handover had been finalised, leaving South Africa with a tight window to prepare for Africa’s flagship women’s football tournament, which also doubles as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

“Tonight, I would like to announce that South Africa will be hosting the 2026 WAFCON, which we all know is a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil,” Mabe said.

Morocco’s withdrawal has come as a surprise, especially after the North African nation hosted the men’s Africa Cup of Nations just weeks ago.

Although no official explanation has been issued by Moroccan authorities or the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the decision is believed to follow heightened domestic tensions after the dramatic AFCON final in Rabat, where the hosts lost to Senegal.

The 2026 WAFCON was originally scheduled for March 17 to April 3 and will feature an expanded 16-team format. However, it remains unclear whether the dates will change following the switch in hosts.

The aftermath of the AFCON final was marred by controversy, disciplinary actions and public criticism, with reports suggesting growing internal pressure on Morocco to step back from hosting further major CAF competitions in the short term.

South Africa’s late confirmation as hosts presents a significant logistical challenge, but the country is no stranger to staging top-level women’s football on the continent.

Banyana Banyana lifted the WAFCON trophy on home soil in 2022, a triumph that underlined South Africa’s status as one of Africa’s leading forces in the women’s game.

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations carries added significance, with the expanded format allowing the four semi-finalists to qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The remaining two African slots will be decided through inter-confederation play-offs involving the losing quarter-finalists.

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