SPORTS
Tunisia Beat Cote D’Ivoire to Successfully Defend AfroBasket Title
Tunisia on Sunday won the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket title, after beating Cote d’Ivoire 78-75 on Sunday at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda.
It was the Tunisians’ third AfroBasket title, having claimed the trophy in 2011 in Madagascar, and the 2017 edition of the tournament at home.
With the win, Tunisia became the first team to win back-to-back AfroBasket titles since Angola in 2009.
Omar Abada finished with 10 points, while Michael Roll was magnificent by contributing 18 points and nine assists.
Makram Ben Romdhane contributed eight points and 10 rebounds and Salah Mejri came up with 22 points and six rebounds for Tunisia.
Makram Ben Romdhane was named the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Most Valuable Player.
Souleyman Diabate was 4-of-5 from behind the arc to finish with a game-high 22 points, and his teammate Jean-Francois Kebe added 10 points in the losing cause.
Cote d’Ivoire had a strong start to the game, but Tunisia regrouped in time to close the opening quarter with a 25-18 lead.
Tunisia went for the break leading 47-34.
The Tunisians had stepped on the court with one primary goal: to neutralise Cote d’Ivoire’s key player Matt Costello.
And the Tunisians’ plan worked to perfection as AfroBasket debutant Costello did not score his first two points until four minutes into the third quarter.
In spite of the 13-point deficit at the break, Cote d’Ivoire opened the third quarter with a sense of urgency.
The Ivorians used a 10-2 run to cut the reduce the damage to five points (49-44), forcing Dirk Bauermann to call a time-out to reorganise his troops.
Soon after Cote d’Ivoire’s short-lived resurgence, Tunisia responded with a 5-0 run for a 57-46 lead.
And even though Salah Mejri had picked his fourth foul with 4:10 minutes left in the third quarter, which forced Bauermann to rest him, the African champions never panicked.
They kept total control of their AfroBasket 2021 destiny.
Cheered by a significant portion of fans inside the Kigali Arena, Cote d’Ivoire rallied to single-digits in the fourth quarter.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Souleyman Diabate, who came up with an outstanding performance, converted a three-point, followed by a free-throw, cutting the points gap to just three points (78-75).
That was the moment the Ivorians’ last hope of staying in contention happened, especially after Tunisia turned the ball over with 10 seconds left.
However, after a timeout called by Natxo Lezcano, Costello who had been superb throughout the tournament turned the ball over to allow the Tunisians’ celebration.
Cote d’Ivoire tried time and time again to try and reverse the score, but trailing by 16 early in the game proved costly to the team that last won a AfroBasket title back in 1985.
Tunisia closed their FIBA AfroBasket 2021 campaign with a perfect 6-0 record.(NAN)
SPORTS
Former Liverpool Co-owner Hicks Dies at 79
Former Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has died at the age of 79.
The American, who owned the club alongside George Gillett from 2007 to 2010, died surrounded by family at his home in Dallas, Texas.
“Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hicks’ most cherished title was ‘Dad’,” read a statement from Hicks’ six children.
“No matter the trials and tribulations he faced in life, he was constant in his generosity and love for his family.
“He remains a guiding force for our family, and we are deeply honoured to continue expanding his legacy.
“Although we are devastated by this loss, we are profoundly grateful to have been his children.
”Hicks and Gillett sold Liverpool to Fenway Sports Group after encountering financial difficulties.
They were widely unpopular with Liverpool fans, running up debts of about £237m and failing to deliver on promises to renovate Anfield or build a new stadium.
In a statement, Liverpool said they send their condolences “to the Hicks family and Tom’s friends at this difficult time”.
Hicks also owned ice hockey team the Dallas Stars from 1995 to 2011 and baseball team the Texas Rangers from 1998 to 2010.
Under Hicks’ ownership, the Stars won consecutive Central Division titles between 1996 and 1998 and the Stanley Cup in 1999.
The Rangers won three American League West Division titles, and were runners-up in the 2010 World Series.
Hicks is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cinda.
SPORTS
South Africa Close to First Series Win in India Since 2000
South Africa are on the brink of a first Test series win in India for 25 years after reducing the hosts to 27-2 in pursuit of 549 on day four in Guwahati.
India, who were skittled for 201 in their first innings, must bat throughout the final day to avoid a second whitewash in three home Test series.
Prior to last October’s 3-0 defeat by New Zealand, they hadn’t lost a Test series on home soil for 12 years.
South Africa won the two-Test series opener in Kolkata by 30 runs.
Resuming on 26-0, South Africa wobbled to 77-3, losing three wickets for 18 runs in a 13-over spell, before Tristan Stubbs took charge.
Top-scoring with 94, he shared a century partnership with Tony de Zorzi and added a further 82 alongside Wiaan Mulder to power South Africa’s overnight lead of 314 to beyond 500.
He missed out on a third Test century when he was bowled by a slower ball from spinner Ravindra Jadeja (4-62), prompting South Africa’s declaration.
In reply, India lost two wickets inside 10 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind off Marco Jansen and KL Rahul bowled by Simon Harmer.
Kuldeep Yadav, who faced 134 deliveries for his 19 in the first innings, was sent out as nightwatcher and remained not out on four at stumps. Sai Sudharsan has six.
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SPORTS
UCL: Kane Returns to North London in Career-best Form as Bayern Visit Arsenal
Bayern Munich striker, Harry Kane, returns to north London on Wednesday to face old rivals Arsenal, arguably in the best form of his career after dropping into a deeper position.
Always a consistent goalscorer, the England captain has become a more complete player at Bayern, shouldering more creative and defensive duties.
The 32-year-old’s form is a big reason for Bayern’s remarkable start to the campaign.
The German champions have won 17 and drawn one of their 18 games in all competitions this season, with Kane playing every match.
Kane, who has scored 15 times in 21 matches against Arsenal, may be the key to unlock the Gunners’ stingy defence.
Mikel Arteta’s side are the only team not to have conceded in the Champions League this season. In the Premier League, Arsenal have shipped just six goals — the best record in Europe’s top five leagues.
Kane is again producing incredible numbers this campaign, with 24 goals in 18 Bayern appearances and five from five for England.
But Kane’s weight of numbers only tells part of the story this season.
Always willing to drop deep, Kane has often been deployed as a creative midfielder by Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, sitting behind either Nicolas Jackson or Serge Gnabry.
Whether by design or necessity — Jamal Musiala has been out with a broken ankle since the Club World Cup — the move has not only unleashed Kane’s game, but the England captain is having fun.
“I know I’m not just a goal-scorer,” Kane said after Saturday’s come-from-behind 6-2 win over Freiburg. “I can impact the team with passing, one-on-one situations, and taking the pressure off the team.
“This is the most I’ve enjoyed my football because I’m just involved more. I love the way we play. A really aggressive style, no fear.
“I love tackling, I love helping the team out and blocking shots and all that part of it as well.
“Obviously, I’m going to be judged on goals, but I think, especially this season, people will appreciate some of the other stuff I do as well.”
Kane will need to shoulder a bit more of the scoring load with Luis Diaz, who netted both of Bayern’s goals in their 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain, suspended for three Champions League matches after his red card for a tackle on Achraf Hakimi.
Kane moved to Bayern in 2023 after coming through the ranks at Tottenham, after being cut by north London rivals Arsenal as a child.
“I was there for a couple of years and got released,” Kane said Saturday, but declined to use the rejection as a motivator.
“It’s all part and parcel of the journey of football. That was 20 years ago, a long time ago.
“We’ve moved on a long way since then.”
Kane faced Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2023-24, scoring a penalty as Bayern won over two legs.
“It’s very familiar territory for me. Having played for Tottenham for so long, it adds a bit more to the game,” Kane said.
Bayern are flying high, but they are vulnerable to set-pieces, which is one of Arsenal’s biggest strengths.
Bayern have conceded four goals in their past two games, all of which came from set plays.
Arsenal have scored 24 goals in the Premier League this season, 10 of which have come from set-pieces.
Kompany admitted his side had an “issue” with dead-ball situations, saying: “You can’t hide it, everyone saw it. Arsenal’s analysts will see it too.
“We have to show personality, character, and defend those things. But I have confidence in our side.”

