SPORTS
Kenya, Ethiopia Win Medals as Nigeria Breaks Records
At the end of Day 9 of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, there were spectacular performances from African countries who won a cumulative six medals in three events, but it wasn’t just the medals that generated all the discourse; two African records tumbled to cap off what had been a good day for the continent.
After years of toiling hard, Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir finally has a World title to his name, galloping with speed in the home straight and bolting his way to glory in the men’s 800m final.
The Olympic champion had fallen short three years ago in Doha, but he wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip from his grasp, digging deep to produce the much needed win.Korir finished strongly ahead of the impressive Marco Arop who had set the pace for him, but he went down an extra gear crossing the line in a Season’s Best of 1:43.71. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati also finished strongly, running hard to get Silver in 1:44.14, his country’s first medal at these World Championships.
In what was a tactical battle in the women’s 5000m, Gudaf Tsegay had more to cheer for after clinching gold, the first time she will be winning a World title. The Ethiopian set her stall early, sharing leads with her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey, and they even played mind-games with each other, talking to themselves mid-race.
But it was Tsegay who outwitted the field, sprinting out from the final bend, en route winning gold in a time of 14:46.29. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet got the Silver in 14:46.75, while Dawit Seyaum held on to Bronze in 14:47.36 to complete an Ethiopian 1-3 on the podium.
Meanwhile in the field events, Hugues Fabrice Zango is a gift that keeps giving for Burkina Faso. For the umpteenth time he became his country’s sole medallist at a major championship, leaping a distance of 17.55m to clinch Silver in the men’s triple jump event.
Prior to the 2019 World Championships, no athlete from Burkina Faso had ever won a World Championships medal, but Zango successfully ensured his country got on the podium yet again, winning his second consecutive World Championships medal.
Zango isn’t just repping the Green, Red and yellow star of the Burkinabe flag, he was sailing on the wings of the African continent, being the only African athlete who made it to the final of this event. In fact, he was one of only two African athletes who even qualified for the Triple Jump in Eugene.
Perhaps one of the best performances of the day came in women’s 100m Hurdles, where Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan led qualifications across heats, racing to yet another African Record of 12.40s to emerge fastest in all the six heats. Amusan was blistering, flying over the hurdles in quick pace to suggest that she is in a good shape to finally exorcise the demons of not having won a global medal.
“I did not know I was going that fast. The aim was just to qualify. At these championships, I am aiming on the podium for sure and want to take the fastest time, trying to execute well. I trust my hard work so I am just going to come out here and do what I have to do-” Amusan said after the race.
She has now broken the African Record three times in a space of 10months, indicative of a lady in the form of her life and what she is capable of. It might still be early days with two more rounds left on Sunday, but going into the semis with the fastest time ahead of your closest challenger at 12.48s, should give her a big boost.
On the other hand, a Nigerian team was also at the end of another African Record, this time women’s 4x100m, who broke the 30-year-old record of 42.39s set at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, racing to a new AR of 42.22s.
The quartet of Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma & Grace Nwokocha got the stick round in 4th place, almost making it to the podium, but narrowly missed out to Germany who got the Bronze.
The Super Eagles camp in Cairo has grown to 22 players with the arrival of Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) international friendly match against Egypt.
News reports that Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman and defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel reported to camp earlier on Monday at the Renaissance Hotel, joining a steadily increasing squad.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Igoh Ogbu and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi were also among the latest arrivals to bolster the team.
They linked up with early arrivals Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had checked in on Sunday.
Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe said that 20 players participated in the team’s first training session held on Monday evening.
“Training went smoothly and the players showed good energy and commitment, which is encouraging at this stage of preparations,” Efoghe said.
Efoghe said that Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika and Alebiosu arrived shortly after training, raising the number of players in camp to 22, with six more expected.
He said as part of preparations, the Super Eagles would play a friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
“The friendly will help the technical crew assess team shape and readiness ahead of the AFCON challenge,” Efoghe said.
Nigeria, three-time champions, and seven-time winners Egypt will clash at 8 p.m. Egypt time (7 p.m. Nigeria time) in the build-up to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Efoghe confirmed that the team will depart Cairo for Féz on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to continue final preparations.
Nigeria’s quest for a fourth continental title, following victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013, begins on Dec. 23 against Tanzania, under the theme “NAIJA 4 THE WIN.”
The Eagles will also face Tunisia on Dec. 27 and Uganda on Dec. 30 in Group C, with all matches scheduled for the Complexe Sportif de Féz.
Egypt, the only nation to win AFCON three consecutive times, will battle South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B, with matches holding in Agadir.
As anticipation builds for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, the Confederation of African Football has released a list of items prohibited across all tournament stadiums.
According to the guidelines cited on CAF’s website on Monday, the rules are aimed at ensuring fan safety throughout the competition.
Fans attending AFCON 2025 matches in Morocco will be subjected to security screening.
They are advised not to bring prohibited items into stadiums to ensure safety, order and a smooth match-day experience.
Below is the list of items fans are advised to leave at home before entering AFCON stadiums:
Alcoholic beverages, Illegal substances and drugs, Weapons and sharp objects, Fireworks and pyrotechnics, Glass bottles or containers, Flammable materials, Racist, violent or discriminatory banners, Unauthorised political, religious or commercial signs, Drones and animals, Large umbrellas and oversized hats, Professional cameras and recording equipment, Musical instruments and loud horns, Radio-emitting devices (except mobile phones) and Heavy or large bags.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has disclosed that the team are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season.
The Spanish tactician made this known after the Citizens thrashed Crystal Palace 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League game.
In a chat with the club’s website, Guardiola stated that the team are in a better position than last season.
“Many things we have to improve.
Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us.“When you win in the past, you believe the past was perfect, always brilliant, always the red carpet.
When we won with 100 points, all the things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today. The resilience was part of that.“There are moments that you struggle. Madrid was not the perfect game, but it was a step. We fought unbelievably to achieve that.
“We are in a better position than last season. We are close in the competitions we are in.”
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