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3, February 2024

Ivory Coast sink Mali at the death in AFCON quarters ⁰

A back-heel goal by Oumar Diakite in added time at the end of extra time gave hosts Ivory Coast a 2-1 win over Mali in Bouake on Saturday after a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.

Reduced to 10 men by a red card at the end of the first half, the Ivorians fell behind in the second half to a Nene Dorgeles goal only for Simon Adingra to equalise in the 90th minute.

The result marked another upward turn for the Ivory Coast in a roller coaster AFCON campaign in which they scraped into the knockout stage after a 4-0 hiding from Equatorial Guinea.

It was a heartbreaking outcome for Mali, who dominated for long periods and, despite missing a penalty, seemed set to maintain a record of never losing a Cup of Nations quarter-final.

Ivory Coast now return to Abidjan, where they will face the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in the semi-finals, but Diakite is set to miss out after picking up a second yellow card while celebrating his winning goal.

“After this kind of match, there are no real things to explain, it is just emotions,” said Diakite.

“My joy was so great that I forgot that I had a yellow card. It was a mistake on my part. Even if I am not there, we can do the job (reach the final).”

Odilon Kossounou, sent off late in the first half, captain Serge Aurier and forward Christian Kouame have also been ruled out of the semi-final due to suspensions.

This was the sixth meeting of the countries in the AFCON with the two-time champions Ivory Coast winning four and drawing one previously against rivals whose best showing was 1972 runners-up.

Ivory Coast caretaker coach Emerse Fae made three changes to the lineup that started in the dramatic last-16 penalty shootout triumph over defending champions Senegal.

In came midfielder Franck Kessie, scorer of the winning penalty, winger Nicolas Pepe and forwards Kouame in place of Ibrahim Sangare, Diakite and Jean-Philippe Krasso.

Mali had one enforced change to the team that defeated Burkina Faso to set up the west African showdown with Diadie Samassekou replacing ill Mohamed Camara in midfield.

Dominant Mali

Mali made light of the fact that the majority of the capacity 40,000 crowd in the central city were supporting the host nation and established early dominance.

The Eagles had an appeal for a penalty rejected after the ball struck the outstretched hand of Kossounou because there had been an earlier offside.

But when Kossounou fouled Lassine Sinayoko, the Egyptian referee pointed to the spot only for Adama ‘Noss’ Traore to have his 17th-minute penalty saved by Youssouf Fofana.

Ivory Coast were battling to create chances until just before half-time when Seko Fofana blazed over when offered a good chance just outside the area.

A troubled first half for Kossounou got worse on 44 minutes when shown a yellow card for the second time, after clipping Sinayoko, and was sent off.

Fae immediately brought on Wilfried Singo to bolster the defence with Pepe sacrificed, and Ivory Coast were lucky to still be level when the half ended.

Mali attacked continuously against 10 men and finally broke the deadlock when Dorgeles raced across the pitch and from just outside the D unleashed a shot that flew past Fofana.

Substitute Diakite came close to levelling, with his header from a corner finishing just off target.

Diakite was involved in the last-gasp equaliser with Adingra pouncing on a deflection off Boubakar Kouyate inside the area and hammering the ball past goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.

Another Ivorian substitute, Sebastien Haller, headed against the crossbar in the first half of extra time.

Also on Saturday, Cape Verde face 1996 champions South Africa in the last quarter-final in Yamoussoukro and the winners face Nigeria for a place in the final.

Source: AFP

3, February 2024

Senegal’s President Macky Sall postpones Feb 25 presidential elections indefinitely ⁰

Senegalese President Macky Sall on Saturday announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25, just hours before official campaigning was due to start.

In an address to the nation, Sall said he had signed a decree abolishing a previous measure that set the date as lawmakers investigate two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the election process has been questioned. “I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent and inclusive election,” Sall added without giving a new date.

It is the first time that Senegal has delayed a presidential vote. Its four largely peaceful transitions of power via the ballot box since independence from France in 1960 have built up its reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.

Last month, the Constitutional Council approved 20 candidates but disqualified dozens of others from the race, including opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade.

Sall had repeatedly said he would hand over power in early April to the winner of the vote. After announcing he would not run for a third term as president, Sall designated Prime Minister Amadou Ba from his party as his would-be successor.

Inquiry on Constitutional Council

Senegal’s parliament on Wednesday approved a commission of inquiry into the workings of the Constitutional Council – the body which both finalises the list of candidates and announces the winner of the election.

Many MPs from the president’s own party unexpectedly voted in favour of the inquiry, fuelling speculation that they could be trying to delay a vote they fear losing.

The campaign to establish an inquiry was launched by disqualified candidate Wade. He has accused two of the seven members of the Constitutional Council of having links with presidential hopefuls, including Prime Minister Amadou Ba, endorsed by the outgoing president.

Before the president’s speech, the influential League of Imams and Preachers of Senegal on Saturday warned of the dangers of postponement and appealed directly to President Sall to take steps to avoid fuelling instability.

“Any attempt to postpone the elections would be fraught with pointless risks,” it said in a statement. “As Senegal is stable in all respects and on track for elections, the wisest decision for the head of state would be to do everything possible to ensure that free and transparent elections are held.”

Senegalese voters are due to choose a successor to President Sall, who is not seeking a third term. For the first time in Senegal’s history, the incumbent is not on the ballot. His handpicked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, is among 20 candidates cleared by the constitutional council to run.

Source: Reuters

3, February 2024

FIFA set to open investigation on Samuel Eto’o match fixing and threat charges ⁰

Cameroon’s football legend Samuel Eto’o has been accused of making threats and match-fixing, with the Barcelona legend’s file sent for investigation to the FIFA Ethics Committee.

Former Barça striker and current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, has been accused of match-fixing and paying someone to make threats.

According to a report by The Athletic, Samuel Eto’o is facing serious allegations outlined in a file sent to FIFA’s Ethics Committee. The current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation is accused of match-fixing, spreading false information, making threats, inciting violence, and ‘abuse of power.’

Source: India Today

3, February 2024

CDC faces workforce exodus and financial strain amid ongoing Ambazonia crisis ⁰

Between 2021 and 2022, the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a state-owned agro-industrial enterprise operating banana, oil palm, and rubber plantations in the Littoral and Southwest regions of Cameroon, experienced a staggering 34.7% reduction in its workforce. The information was revealed in a recent report by the Technical Commission for the Rehabilitation of Public and Para-public Sector Enterprises (CTR), indicating that 5,518 personnel left the company during the period under review.

The CTR attributes this “significant and continuous decline” in the workforce to the “security crisis that came with the Anglophone conflict.” Indeed, since the conflict started in late 2016, CDC’s facilities and employees have become targets of separatist militants. Incidents such as the incineration of company packaging units, conversion of plantations into separatist base camps, and attacks resulting in severe injuries or fatalities to employees have plagued the CDC. The insecurity prompted a halt in the company’s operations in mid-2018, only to resume nearly two years later. The situation has gradually worsened with the accumulation of salary arrears due to the CDC’s financial difficulties resulting from the Anglophone crisis.

“The operational challenges faced by CDC hinder meeting its financial commitments, resulting in an overall increase in its indebtedness. Social debt has increased due to the 17.78% rise in salary arrears as of December 31, 2022, despite government support, and the accumulation of unpaid social security contributions, which have risen by 15%. As of June 30, 2023, salary arrears amounted to CFA35.7 billion, and the social debt to the National Social Security Fund (CNPS) stood at CFA26.7 billion,” CTR said.

With a monthly payroll estimated at CFA2 billion, according to figures disclosed during a board meeting on December 27, 2018, this volume of salary arrears corresponds to approximately 17 months of unpaid wages. Considering the financial assistance allocated by the state to public enterprises in the 2024 budget, personnel expenses were estimated at CFA16.09 billion in 2022, equating to CFA1.34 billion per month.

With cumulative losses of CFA38.7 billion between 2019 and 2021, as reported by the CTR, CDC emerges as the Cameroonian company bearing the heaviest toll of the ongoing separatist war in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

Source: Business in Cameroon

3, February 2024

Yaoundé: Dion Ngute raises fuel prices ⁰

The Cameroonian government on Friday hiked fuel prices, which will go into effect from Saturday.

According to a statement by Seraphin Magloire Fouda, Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office, the price of a liter of Super has been increased from 730 XAF (approximately 1.21 U.S. dollars) per liter to 840 XAF (approximately 1.39 U.S. dollars) and gasoline increases from 720 XAF (approximately 1.19 U.S. dollars) per liter to 828 XAF (approximately 1.37 U.S. dollars).

Fouda said in a statement Friday night that the price increase was “due to the need to absorb the growing budgetary constraints that the state is facing and to avoid tensions in the supply of the nation’s market with petroleum products.”

As part of the measures to accompany the price hikes, basic salary of civil servants will be increased by 5 percent and “certain” taxes and customs duties in the road transport sector will be reduced, according to officials.

“The government is counting on the understanding, sense of responsibility and civic-mindedness of consumers for the implementation of these measures,” the statement said.

Officials said the latest hikes at the retail level were inevitable to reduce the subsidy burden on state-run distribution companies.

The central African nation increased fuel prices by over 10 percent in January last year.

Source: Xinhuanet

2, February 2024

Basketball: Six unpaired Michael Jordan sneakers sell for $8 mn ⁰

Six single Nike Air Jordans, worn by the eponymous basketball star in the 1990s, sold Friday for a record $8 million, according to auction house Sotheby’s.

Michael Jordan gave the separate shoes to Chicago Bulls communications executive Tim Hallam, after decisive games that helped the club win six NBA championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998.

The purchase price achieved at auction at Sotheby’s in New York is a record for such an unusual offering — and the second highest ever for Michael Jordan collectibles.

The prices reached for the “Dynasty Collection” “will likely never be replicated”, Sotheby’s boasted in a statement that did not disclose the buyer’s identity.

“Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles, using a popular acronym for “greatest of all time.”

Last April the company, owned by French-Israeli tycoon Patrick Drahi, auctioned a pair of sneakers worn by Jordan in his last championship final with the Chicago Bulls in 1998 for $2.2 million.

That was a record for the shoes, “Bred” (“Black and Red”) Air Jordan XIII, which were signed by the player.

He wore them in Salt Lake City for the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, documented in the Netflix and ESPN documentary “The Last Dance.”

The six shoes sold on Friday were an Air Jordan VI (1991), VII (1992), VIII (1993), XI (1996), XII (1997) and an Air Jordan XIV (1998).

Demand from collectors since 2020-2021 has driven up the prices commanded by such items at auction.

The record for the most expensive jersey in auction history is Michael Jordan’s 1998 final shirt, which went for $10.1 million in September 2022.

It leads Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s World Cup quarter-final shirt from his side’s storied clash against England in 1986, which handily brought in $9.3 million in May 2022.

Source: AFP

2, February 2024

Nigerian traditional monarch shot dead and wife kidnapped ⁰

Armed men have shot dead a traditional ruler, and kidnapped his wife plus one other person in south-western Nigeria, authorities say.

The attackers stormed the palace of Segun Aremu – a retired army general and monarch whose official title is the Olukoro of Koro – on Thursday night.

It is not clear who the gunmen were or whether they are demanding a ransom.

This latest killing and abduction comes days after campaigners demanded a state of emergency to deal with the issue.

Some 50 civil society groups want President Bola Tinubu to make that declaration, saying more than 1,800 people had been abducted since he took office last May.

But the true number of abductions during that time could be more than double that figure, at almost 4,000 people, says Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence.

No matter how desperate the circumstances, Nigerian law prohibits the payment of ransom money. However, many victims pay up because they do not trust authorities or their track record.

Condemning the killing of the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara state, as “reckless, shocking, and abominable”, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has vowed that the authorities would catch those responsible.

Police say a manhunt is under way. They have also promised the local community they will set up a police outpost.

Nigeria is home to hundreds of traditional rulers, who have no constitutional role but are a respected presence in community life. They are often called upon to settle disputes between local people, and lead cultural activities.

Source: BBC

2, February 2024

Africa Cup of Nations: Lookman goal takes Nigeria into AFCON semi-finals ⁰

Ademola Lookman scored his third goal in two games as Nigeria advanced to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Angola in the last eight.

Lookman again stole the limelight from Victor Osimhen by following his brace in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the last 16 by breaking the deadlock four minutes before half-time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.

The Super Eagles then saw the game out before a crowd of 18,757 in Abidjan, with Osimhen finding the net only for his effort to be disallowed after the VAR ruled him to be offside.

The Napoli superstar, Africa’s reigning footballer of the year, remains stuck on just one goal at this AFCON, but Nigeria’s success has been built around an impressive defence that has now kept four consecutive clean sheets.

“They created more chances against us than anyone else until now. Angola did not reach the quarter-finals by some miracle,” said Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro.

“They are a good team, but once again we didn’t concede. Once again we scored once.

“I would have liked to score more. With better finishing we could have scored another one or two goals, but I am happy. My players deserved it.”

The three-time continental champions advance to a last-four tie next Wednesday against Cape Verde or South Africa in the central Ivorian city of Bouake — those sides meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Angola, meanwhile, go home but this Cup of Nations will be remembered as a success for the Black Antelopes, after they won a knockout tie at the tournament for the first time ever.

Africa’s 28th-ranked side battled bravely here but could not follow up their victory over Namibia in the last round.

“Nigeria are really a very strong team. Congratulations to Jose Peseiro, who has shown how to build a structure that brings success,” said Angola coach Pedro Goncalves.

“I am grateful to my players for the run they have had and very proud of what they have done.”

Nigeria struggled to reach the same heights as against Cameroon six days earlier, undoubtedly affected by the heat and humidity which was even more energy-sapping than at previous points in the competition.

Angola almost took the lead inside four minutes, as a corner from their right was helped on to Mabululu, whose attempt at the near-post was kept out by Stanley Nwabili, the Nigerian goalkeeper who had passed a fitness test to play.

Osimhen tried his luck twice from headers but it was Lookman, the Atalanta forward and former England Under-21 international, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Moses Simon collected a pass on the left, accelerated away from Kialonda Gaspar and drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Lookman to finish.

Nigeria continued to create chances after the break, but Angola did pass up a glorious opportunity to draw level just before the hour mark.

AEK Athens striker Zini, on as a half-time substitute, was sent through on goal and his effort beat Nwabili, only to rebound back off the far post.

It was a major let-off for Nigeria, who then thought they had killed the game off when Osimhen rose to head home a Lookman free-kick with a quarter of an hour left, the ball going in despite the Angolan goalkeeper getting a touch.

However, the effort was disallowed to the frustration of Osimhen, who carried on until the final moments despite taking a succession of knocks and being helped to the side of the pitch on a stretcher at one point.

Source: AFP

1, February 2024

Biya, Chadian delegation discuss cooperation ⁰

President Paul Biya on Tuesday met with a Chadian delegation made up of three ministers. The two sides discussed ways to enhance their historical, friendly relations.

In a statement issued Tuesday night, the Cameroonian Presidency said that Cameroon is a strategic trade partner to Chad, and that the establishment of a safe corridor for the transportation of goods via the Cameroonian seaports of Douala and Kribi and the Chad-Cameroon pipeline has significantly boosted bilateral ties.

The Chadian delegation was headed by Minister of State Mahamat Ahmat Alhabo.

Alhabo told reporters after the meeting in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde that they were mandated by Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno “to come and meet his elder (Biya), to explain to him the good relations of friendship and cooperation between our countries, and in return to receive his wise advice so that relations between the two countries are even better.”

Source: Xinhuanet

1, February 2024

Central Africa Communication Ministers Discuss Ways to Stop Hate Speech ⁰

Communication ministers from the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, are meeting in Bangui, Central African Republic, this week to map out ways to stop the spread of hate speech.

Officials from central African states say some influential politicians, business moguls and community leaders are using radio, television and social media to propagate information that has fueled regional crises, resulting in the displacement of millions of people.

Simplice Mathieu Sarandji, prime minister of the Central African Republic, said leaders of the 11-member ECCAS expect communication ministers at the meeting in Bangui to propose lasting solutions to xenophobic statements that are propagated on media outlets.

Sarandji said humanitarian crises are spiraling in ECCAS states because of widespread hate speech.

A separatist crisis in western Cameroon, which has killed more than 6,000 people, was fueled in part by social media propaganda by rebel leaders who are based in Europe and the United States, according to Cameroonian officials.

Hate on social media also fueled an ongoing conflict between ranchers and fishers in northern Cameroon and Chad. Clashes there have killed more than 100 people and displaced more than 80,000.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was sparked by hate speech, mostly over radio, by Hutu extremists against Tutsis.

Joanne Adamson, deputy head of MINUSCA, the U.N. stabilization mission in the Central African Republic, spoke about the Bangui meeting on state TV in the CAR.

She said the focus on hate speech is an important step toward finding solutions to fighting that sparked a mass movement of people fleeing in search of safety. By organizing the forum, Adamson added, the 11 ECCAS member states indicate they are ready to support and defend values that are vital to consolidate peace and security and promote human rights.

The ministers said they will enact legislation to punish people who use TV, radio and print media to propagate hate speech, but gave no further details. They also have agreed to control harmful content they say runs rampant on social media.

Charly Gabriel Mbock, an anthropologist and conflict resolution specialist at the Yaounde-headquartered Catholic University of Central Africa, said the ministers should launch campaigns against hate speech in restive central African towns and villages.

To do this, Mbock said, ECCAS communication ministers must educate clerics and traditional rulers that peace is priceless, before using radio, television and print media to call on civilians to reject and denounce calls for violence, especially on social media. He said central African governments should also make sure media laws being prepared against hate and xenophobic language do not infringe on press freedom.

The communication ministers say they will submit their recommendations to ECCAS governments with the hope that if hate speech and xenophobic statements can be stopped, peace will return to restive areas.

Source: VOA