Sports

18, October 2024

Ngannou returns to MMA to take on Brazil’s Ferreira: Here are all the fight details ⁰

Cameroonian fighter Francis Ngannou is set to make his long-awaited return to the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) circuit to challenge the Professional Fighters League’s (PFL) heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira of Brazil.

Here’s everything you need to know about the fight night:

When is the Ngannou vs Ferreira fight?

The fight is scheduled for Saturday, October 19.

When is the Ngannou-Ferreira ring walk?

Ngannou and Ferreira will begin their ring walks for the main fight at 11pm (20:00 GMT).

Where is the Ngannou vs Ferreira fight taking place?

The fight will be held at Mayadeen, an events venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What are Ngannou and Ferreira fighting for?

The PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship belt.

Where and how can I follow the Ngannou vs Ferreira fight live?

Al Jazeera will have live text and photo coverage of the fight from 15:00 GMT.

The fight will be streamed and broadcast live on multiple regional platforms that are charging pay-per-view fees.

What will be the duration of the MMA fight?

MMA fights vary in their number of rounds and the duration of each round, with title fights generally being the longest. In this case, the fight will be spread over five rounds of five minutes each. The total duration, if all five rounds are completed, will be 25 minutes.

What’s the MMA fight ring called for Ngannou vs Perreira?

The custom cage for this fight will be called the PFL SmartCage.

PFL MMA — The fight will be held in the PFL’s custom MMA cage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [Courtesy of the PFL]

Who is Francis Ngannou?

The 38-year-old fighter began his career in 2013 in France before switching to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two years later and became the promotion’s heavyweight champion in March 2021. He kept the title until 2023, when he left the promotion.

Ngannou signed with the PFL in May 2023, and the promotion agreed to let him follow his boxing aspirations, which saw him take on Tyson Fury in Riyadh on October 28, 2023, and Anthony Joshua, also in Riyadh, on March 8, 2024.

The Cameroonian’s journey began at the age of 12 when he worked in a sand quarry. In his mid-20s, he embarked on a long and life-threatening journey from Cameroon to France – a trip he once described as “hell”.

Ngannou crossed the Sahara Desert and spent a year in Morocco before entering Spain through the Mediterranean Sea. Upon reaching Spain, he was detained for entering irregularly and spent two months in custody before regaining his freedom and finally making it to France.

In Paris, he was homeless until he found a fitness centre where he could sleep and start training as a fighter.

PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants Press Conference at the The Anthem in Washington D.C., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Cooper Neill / PFL) — Francis Ngannou’s last MMA fight came in 2022 [Courtesy of the PFL]

Who is Renan Ferreira?

The Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter began his career in the United States in 2013 and joined the PFL in 2023.

The 34-year-old won the PFL heavyweight title in a fight against Denis Goltsov, whom he beat in a second-round total knockout.

Ferreira, nicknamed “Problemo” has also recorded a win over Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in a three-round non-title crossover fight on February 24.

What’s Ngannou’s MMA fight record?

Fights: 20
Wins: 17
Losses: 3
By knockout: 12 wins, 0 losses
By submission: 4 wins, 0 losses
By decision: 1 win, 3 losses
By disqualification: 0 wins, 1 loss

What’s Ferreira’s MMA fight record?

Fights: 19
Wins: 13
Losses: 3
By knockout: 11 wins, 1 loss
By submission: 1 win, 1 loss
By decision: 1 win, 0 losses
By disqualification: 0 wins, 1 loss

What has Ngannou said about the fight?

On Ferreira: “Renan is at the top of the line [of MMA fighters] but my entire life, my biggest opponent has always been me. On Saturday night, I am going to get him, so he should be ready.”
What to expect from the fight: “This is an MMA fight, so everything will be on display. We’ve prepared everything, and everything will be on display. Ferreira is preparing some things because he is a jiu-jitsu black belt, and he is not undermining my punching power.”
Plans for a knockout victory: “I am going to fight strategically and according to how the fight presents itself. In my career, I went for a knockout, but it didn’t work out for me. The times when I did score a knockout, it wasn’t something that I had planned. I know I have 25 minutes, so I am going to lay my game plan down in that 25 minutes and win the fight.”

What has Ferreira said about the fight?

On Ngannou: “Both of us came from humble beginnings. We had an incredible career to reach where we are right now. It is a great honour to be fighting one of the strongest men in the world.”
What to expect: “We are both complete fighters. We can strike and grapple as well. I am ready to fight wherever the fight goes.”

What are the pre-fight events?

The main fight will be preceded by four events:

Women’s Featherweight: Cris “Cyborg” vs Larissa Pacheco
Bellator Middleweight: Johnny Eblen vs Fabian Edwards
Featherweight: Husein Kadimagomaev vs Zafar Mohsen
Lightweight: AJ McKee vs Paul Hughes

Who is on the undercards?

Five undercard fights will build up to the main event in Riyadh:

Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots vs Marcos Breno
Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov vs Dedrek Sanders
Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov vs Nacho Campos
Middleweight: Mostafa Nada vs Ahmed Sami
Featherweight: Youssef Al Housani vs Taha Bendaoud

Has Ngannou left boxing for MMA?

No. The fighter has been pursuing both since leaving the UFC in early 2023.

Source: Al Jazeera

16, October 2024

Football: Tuchel agrees to become next England manager ⁰

Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has agreed to become the next England manager.

The BBC has been told by two different sources that German Tuchel will become the third non-British permanent manager of the England men’s team after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

England have been without a permanent manager since Gareth Southgate resigned following the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain.

Lee Carsley, who the Football Association put in charge on an interim basis, will remain in place for England’s final two Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November, with Tuchel set to formally take over after that.

Tuchel’s formal unveiling is expected on Wednesday at Wembley.

His main target will be leading England through qualification for the 2026 World Cup which takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

An approach was also made for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the summer to see if had an interest in the role.

Tuchel is familiar with English football having managed Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2022.

The 51-year-old lifted the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup with the Blues before being sacked.

In June, the former Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager ruled himself out of the running to take over at Manchester United having met Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in France.

He won the German Cup with Dortmund and two Ligue 1 titles at PSG, including a domestic treble in 2019-20.

His last high-profile job was manager of Bayern but, after the club failed to win the Bundesliga title for the first time since 2011-12 last season, he left the position despite still having a year to run on his contract.

Neither the FA nor Tuchel’s representatives would comment publicly when approached by BBC Sport.

Source: BBC

14, October 2024

Africa Cup of Nations: Cameroon, Algeria qualify, Nigeria refuses to play in Libya ⁰

Nigeria’s refusal to play an Africa Cup of Nations fixture in Libya after alleged “inhumane treatment” of their squad, overshadowed Algeria and Cameroon qualifying on Monday for the 2025 finals.

“This is getting scary,” said forward Victor Boniface on social media after the Nigerian squad were stranded at an airport 225 kilometres (140 miles) by road from Benghazi, the match venue.

“We have been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, Wi-Fi or place to sleep. Africa, we can do better,” he added on X (formerly twitter).

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied Nigeria to north Africa, told AFP: “If CAF know their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football.”

Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in Uyo last Friday in Group D and the teams were set to meet again in the fourth round in Benghazi on Tuesday.

Furious at the way they were allegedly treated, the Nigerian delegation returned home on Monday, a CAF official confirmed to AFP.

A Libyan Football Federation statement said: “We reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation.

“There are no grounds to accuse the… Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating the incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles.

“It is important to highlight that just last week our own national team faced significant challenges upon arrival in Nigeria.”

CAF reacted to the incident by saying in a statement that they had been in contact with Libyan and Nigerian authorities.

“The matter has been referred to the CAF disciplinary board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated CAF statutes and regulations,” it said.

Free-kick sinks Kenya

Ahead of the Group D fixtures on Tuesday — Rwanda host Benin in the other — Nigeria and Benin were well placed to fill the top two places and qualify for the finals.

Three-time AFCON champions Nigeria have seven points, Benin six, Rwanda two and Libya one, halfway through the six-round qualifying competition.

In Group J, Cameroon substitute Boris Enow beat Kenya goalkeeper Bryne Omondi off a free-kick outside the area to give the five-time AFCON title-holders a 1-0 win and qualification.

Kenya, beaten 4-1 in Yaoundé last Friday, were forced to move the home fixture to Uganda as stadiums in Nairobi are being renovated for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Second-placed Zimbabwe beat Namibia 3-1 to move four points ahead of Kenya in the fight for the other qualifying place. The rivals meet next month in the penultimate round.

Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini converted an 18th-minute penalty to earn two-time AFCON champions Algeria a 1-0 Group E win over Togo in Lome.

Algeria have a maximum 12 points from four outings and second-placed Equatorial Guinea are likely to join them at the 2025 tournament, which Morocco will host.

Substitute Dorian Hanza scored in added time to give Equatorial Guinea a 2-1 win against Liberia in Paynesville, and a five-point advantage over Togo.

Captain Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe, who turns 41 in November, opened the scoring for Mozambique in a 3-0 Group I victory over Eswatini. It moved the Mambas (snakes) above Mali to first place.

However, Mali will qualify if they win in Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday. The fixture is one of 16 scheduled.

Source: AFP

13, October 2024

Ugandan Deputy Speaker meets Andre Onana ⁰

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, and his son had a memorable encounter with Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana during the player’s visit to Uganda ahead of Cameroon’s AFCON 2025 qualifier match against Kenya.

Tayebwa, an ardent Manchester United fan, expressed his excitement at seeing an African footballer succeed at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

“We are thrilled to see an African, particularly from our continent, playing at such a prestigious level with Manchester United. Onana has settled in well, and we continue to pray for his success,” Tayebwa said.

In a light-hearted moment, Tayebwa joked about researching whether Onana has any Ugandan roots, noting the shared heritage between Uganda’s Bakiga people and Cameroon.

He also revealed that Onana had invited him and his son to watch a live match at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home ground, a gesture Tayebwa welcomed with enthusiasm.

Onana is in Uganda as part of the Cameroon national team’s preparations for their AFCON qualifier at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Source: Nilepost

13, October 2024

Indomitable Lions: Marc Brys threatens to resign ⁰

In an unexpected twist, Marc Brys, head coach of the Indomitable Lions has issued an ultimatum that is now shaking the apparent calm following the recent joint statement from FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP).

The reason for this ultimatum is the absence of Mununga from the match sheet, the assistant to the 62-year-old Belgian tactician.

“If my assistant’s name is not on the match sheet soon, I will resign,” Brys declared at the post-match conference following Cameroon-Kenya.

This statement, unusually frank in the otherwise reserved realm of Cameroonian football, raises many questions about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the national team.

The Belgian coach, not widely known to the public despite his experience, appears ready to put his position on the line for his assistant. This stance reveals not only a deep attachment to his coaching staff but also a possible reliance on his collaborator.

Timing

The timing of this declaration is particularly intriguing. While one might expect to see a jubilant coach following his players’ 4-1 victory over the Kenyans, Marc Brys made a heavy statement.

In recent days, tensions seemed to have eased between the governing bodies of Cameroonian football, but Brys has rekindled the embers of a latent conflict. His threat of resignation could be interpreted as a gesture of solidarity, but also as a tactic to safeguard his personal interests.

This situation highlights the fragility of the balance within the Indomitable Lions’ coaching setup. It also raises questions about the actual autonomy of the head coach in his technical choices and the potential interference in the composition of his staff.

The response of FECAFOOT to this ultimatum will be crucial. Will they yield to Brys’s pressure, risking the creation of a precedent, or will they maintain their position, even if it means losing their coach just months ahead of important deadlines?

This emerging crisis reveals the challenges facing Cameroonian football, caught between sporting ambitions and behind-the-scenes power struggles. The future of Marc Brys and his assistant may well become a symbol of a broader fight for control over the technical leadership of the Indomitable Lions.

While awaiting a resolution, Brys’s explosive statement leaves Cameroonian football in uncertainty, reminding us that even in sports, stakes often exceed the simple context of the pitch.

Source: Koaci

13, October 2024

Joel Matip confirms retirement from football ⁰

Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from football.

The centre-back departed the Reds in the summer after an eight-year spell that included 201 appearances and multiple major honours with the club.

Signed on a free transfer from Schalke 04 in 2016, Matip was a key figure throughout Jürgen Klopp’s reign as manager, helping to secure a return to Champions League football and starring in the run to glory in the competition in 2019 – including an assist for Divock Origi in the Madrid final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Matip featured as Liverpool went on to add the UEFA Super Cup, and was involved in nine Premier League games in 2019-20 as Klopp’s team emphatically ended the club’s 30-year wait to be crowned English champions again.

After a long-term injury curtailed his 2020-21 campaign, the ex-Cameroon international returned to stellar form as the Reds launched a quadruple bid the following season.

The No.32 clocked up 43 games – his most in a single campaign for the club – and appeared in both finals as the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup were lifted at Wembley, while he and his teammates also finished runners-up in the top flight and Champions League.

He continued to be an important member of the squad in 2022-23 and into the beginning of 2023-24, but a cruel anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last December prevented him from playing for the club again.

Matip and supporters said farewell to one another at Anfield on the final day of last season, ahead of the expiry of his contract, and he has now confirmed that his playing career has reached a conclusion.

He had previously spent seven years representing Schalke at senior level after progressing through their youth ranks, winning the German cup with the club in 2011.

In international football, Matip made 27 appearances and scored once for Cameroon, with whom he played at the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

Everybody at LFC wishes Joel and his family the very best for the future.

Source: LFC

5, October 2024

Football: Pogba doping ban reduced to 18 months ⁰

Paul Pogba says his “nightmare is over” after a four-year ban for a doping offence was reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Sources close to the 31-year-old Juventus midfielder told BBC Sport he can resume training in January 2025 and will be eligible to play again from March.

France international Pogba was suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) in February after a drugs test found elevated levels of testosterone – a hormone that increases endurance – in his system.

Cas director general Matthieu Reeb confirmed to Reuters the ban had been reduced to 18 months from 11 September, 2023.

In a statement, Pogba said: “Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.

“I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.

“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.

“This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Pogba took his case to Cas and gave evidence in person at a hearing earlier this summer.

He previously said he would “never knowingly or deliberately” dope and believed the verdict was “incorrect”.

Had the original ban stood, the 2018 World Cup winner would have been unable to play until 2027, when he will be 34.

Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after being randomly tested following Juventus’ first match of the 2023-24 season on 20 August.

The positive test was confirmed by Nado in a second sample in October, and the anti-doping prosecutor’s office requested a four-year suspension.

Speaking at the time of the initial suspension, Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”

Juventus re-signed Pogba on a four-year deal in July 2022 after the player ran down his contract at Manchester United and left as a free agent following a six-year spell.

However, his return to Turin has been beset by persistent injury problems which also caused him to miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Pogba managed just 162 minutes across five appearances during the 2022-23 season and had played a total of 51 minutes as a substitute in the following campaign before his suspension.

Cas has been contacted by BBC Sport for comment.

Source: BBC

3, October 2024

Indomitable Lions: CPDM solutions to CPDM problems ⁰

Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), Samuel Eto’o, announced a reshuffle of the Indomitable Lions’ coaching staff in a joint statement on Tuesday, October 1.

The decision was made “to restore the calm desired by Cameroonians around the national football team and in accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic,” the officials said in a joint statement.

The reshuffle affects all levels of the team’s management. Head coach Marc Brys remains in his position, along with assistants Joachim Mununga and Giannis Xilouris. François Omam Biyick and Ashu Cyprian Bessong, previously appointed as assistant coaches by the Sports Minister, are now designated as analyst supervisors. Martin Ndtoungou Mpilé and David Pagou, appointed by Fecafoot, will serve as new assistant coaches. The goalkeeper coach position will be shared between Idriss Carlos Kameni (Fecafoot) and Alioum Boukar (Ministry of Sports).

Dr. Patrick Joël Fotso, appointed team doctor by Fecafoot, will continue in his role, replacing Professor William Ngatchou, who had been nominated by the Minister. Additionally, Fecafoot’s appointees from May 30—Serge Pensy (Deputy National Teams Coordinator), Nicolas Alnoudji (Team Manager), Thierry Ndoh (Team Press Officer), Pierre Arnold Ebolo Abada (Liaison Officer), and physiotherapists Che Awah Daniel and Elias Kaleguem Fomekong—will also remain in their positions. However, a new national team coordinator has been named: former Indomitable Lion Timothée Atouba.

This reshuffle comes after a “series of consultations” aimed at easing ongoing tensions between Fecafoot and the Ministry of Sports. FIFA had sent a letter to the federation in August, stressing the need for “constructive dialogue” between the parties and warning that interference could lead to sanctions. In May, FIFA had recommended revisiting the 2015 agreement between the Ministry of Sports and Fecafoot to clarify their respective roles.

Both the Minister of Sports and the Fecafoot President “urge the Indomitable Lions to seize this renewed sense of calm to work toward reviving Cameroonian football,” while calling on fans to continue supporting the team.

Source: Sbbc

2, October 2024

Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher seen in public for first time in over a decade ⁰

Michael Schumacher has been seen in public for the first time in over a decade. The Formula 1 legend was seriously injured after hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps in December 2013, with the life changing accident leaving him in a medically induced coma for several months.

Since the accident, Michael requires round-the-clock medical care and the family have been fiercely protective of his privacy.

But last weekend (26 September), Michael, who is now 55 years old, was spotted attending his daughter’s wedding. Gina Schumacher tied the knot to her partner Iain Bethke in a stunning ceremony at the famous family’s luxury Spanish villa.

Source: Yahoo.com

30, September 2024

FIFA bans Samuel Eto’o from Cameroon games for six months ⁰

Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), has been handed a six-month ban from attending any international matches involving Cameroon by FIFA’s disciplinary panel.

The former Barcelona and Chelsea striker’s sanction comes after violations of two articles from FIFA’s disciplinary code during the Under-20 Women’s World Cup last-16 match between Cameroon and Brazil on 11 September, where Cameroon lost 3-1 after extra time.

FIFA cited breaches related to offensive behaviour, misconduct, and violations of fair play principles during the match in Bogota, Colombia, which Eto’o attended. The 43-year-old is now barred from attending all matches involving Cameroon’s national men’s and women’s teams, across all age groups.

The ban took immediate effect, and Eto’o has been informed of the decision, leaving him unable to attend Cameroon’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Kenya in October.

This is not Eto’o’s first disciplinary issue. In July, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined him $200,000 for breaching ethics rules after signing a contract to be an ambassador for betting company 1XBET. While Eto’o’s legal team is appealing the CAF ruling, his controversies as Fecafoot president have continued.

Since his election in 2021, Eto’o has faced criticism from within Cameroon’s football circles, with accusations of irregularities at Fecafoot, and one former teammate labelling him a dictator due to his leadership style.

Source: Sports News