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Author: Dismas Otuke

  • Defending champions Egypt and Niger secure wins in AFCON U 23

    Defending champions Egypt and Niger secure wins in AFCON U 23

    Defending champions Egypt and Niger recorded identical wins by a solitary goal to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 AFCON U23 semi-finals alive.

    The Pharoes saw off Mali 1-0 in the 2nd round of the group B encounter played on Wednesday night at the Grande Stade ibn Batouta in Tangier City, Morocco.

    Mohammed Adel’s 10th-minute goal was enough to see Egypt secure a vital win, which puts them on the brink of last-four qualification.

    In the second match of the day, Niger scored their first international goal as they punished wasteful Gabon with a solitary goal at the Grande Stade Ibn Batouta.

    Abdoul Darankoum Moumouni of Niger celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations match between Gabon and Niger at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco on 28 June 2023 © Nour Akanja/BackpagePix

    Gabon enjoyed much possession but was kept at bay by the Nigerien defense, forcing the first stanza to end in a stalemate.

    After missing clear goal-scoring opportunities, Gabon were punished when the referee awarded Niger a penalty after Urie Michel Mboula fouled Abdoul Salam Boulhassane, which was perfectly connected by Aboud Moumouni.

    Egypt and Niger jointly lead group B on 4 points and will meet Gabon and Mali in their last fixtures, in which a draw result will see them through to the semi-finals.

    Abdoul Darankoum Moumouni of Niger celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations match between Gabon and Niger at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco on 28 June 2023 © Nour Akanja/BackpagePix

    The best three teams in the tournament will automatically qualify for next year’s Olympic games in Paris, France, while the 4th-placed team will have to play an Asian opponent for a chance to play in the summer olympic games.

    Morocco is hosting the 3rd edition of the AFCON U23 after organizing it successfully in 2011.

  • Over 8,000 participants to compete in Nairobi City Marathon

    Over 8,000 participants to compete in Nairobi City Marathon

    Over 8,000 participants have registered for the 2nd edition of the Nairobi City Marathon, slated for this Sunday, July 2.

    According to the Marathon Director, former 3-time Boston marathon champion Ibrahim Hussein, they have made some changes to the 42-kilometer course, from the starting point and will be run along the expressway and the CBD, unlike last year, while the half marathon race and 10km will be strictly along the expressway, with the race set to showcase the city.

    “This year’s course is a smooth one ,but we have made some few changes for the marathon will now start along Douglas Wakihuri unlike last year where it started along Langáta Road .Marathon athletes will run across the CBD and along the express way while the half marathon and the 10KM races will be strictly along the Express way”said Hussein

    This year’s edition has attracted athletes from 28 different nationalities, among them Kenya,Tanzania, Ethiopia, and China, with the 42 KM winners set to pocket Ksh 3.5 Million, Ksh 2.25 million for the 2nd placed, and Ksh 1.5 million for the 2nd runners-up for both men and women, according to AK Executive Member Barnaba Korir.

    “Same as last year Nairobi City marathon is still the most lucrative marathon in Africa as winners for both men and women will take home ksh 3.5 Million,Ksh  2.25 Million for 1st runners up and Ksh 1.5 Milliom for 2nd runners up with the price money trickling down until position 20 who will earn 30,000 for men and women,”said Korir

    Athletics Kenya President General Retired Jackson Tuwei also revealed that 15000 trees will be planted on Sunday in support of the government’s agenda of action against climate change.

    Half-marathon winners are set to pocket Ksh 150,000, while 2nd and 3rd-placed athletes will be reimbursed Ksh 80,000 and 50,000, respectively.

    10km winners will get ksh 100,000, while 2nd-place athletes will walk away with ksh 60,000 and 40,000 for the 3rd-place runners.

    Registration will be closed on Saturday 1st July.

    Among the top foreign athletes who have confirmed their participation are Adisu Bekele,Haile Mekonen Assefa, with a personal best time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 14 seconds, Destina Shumi, and Meseret Aragaw, both from Ethiopia.

  • Morocco thrash Ghana inching closer to 5th Olympic games appearance

    Morocco thrash Ghana inching closer to 5th Olympic games appearance

    Host Morocco produced a master  class performance  to thrash Ghana 5-1 in group A on Tuesday and book their slot in semi finals of the AFCON U 23 .

    Amir Richardson opened the scoring in the 7th minute, connecting on a neat pass from Osasuna for Adel.

    Ismael Saibari extended the host’s lead six minutes later before Yanis Begraoui adding   third in the 30th minute.

    Salim Adams scored the only  goal for Ghana two minutes from the end of the 1st Stanza.

    Adel and Begraoui added a goal each in the second half to seal a five-star performance for the home team.

    Ismael Saibari of Morocco celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations match between Morocco and Ghana held at Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 27 June 2023 ©Ladjal Djaffar/BackpagePix

    The win put the hosts in control of group A with six points and assured them of leading the group after seeing off Guinea 2-1 in the opening match.

    The Atlas Lions  will return to Prince Mouley Abdellah Stadium this Saturday for a dead rubber match against Congo.

    In the earlier match, Congo was eliminated after succumbing to a 3-1 loss to Guinea.

    Yann Geoffrey Kouori Ngatse of Congo celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations match between Congo and Guinea held at Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 27 June 2023 ©Ladjal Djaffar/BackpagePix

    The tournament will shift to 2nd round matches in group B as defending champions Egypt lock horns against Mali at the Grande Stade de Tangier on Wednesday night in a must-win for the Young Pharos, who fired blanks against Niger in the opening match, while Mali need a win to seal their berth in the semi-final after thrashing Gabon 3-1 in match day 1.

    Gabon will play Niger in the second match at the same venue at 11 p.m. Kenyan time

  • Serbia reiterates support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara

    Serbia reiterates support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara

    Serbia has restated its commitment to upholding Morocco’s territorial integrity and its “principled stance against secessionism and separatism.”

    Following a phone call between Ivica Dai, the Serbian counterpart, and Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Expatriates, this position was reiterated.

    The phone conversation was finalized during discussions in Belgrade between Dai and Mohammed Amine Belhaj, the Moroccan ambassador to Serbia.

    The FM for Serbia also reaffirmed his nation’s “support of the United Nations’ efforts to achieve a realistic, pragmatic, and lasting political solution to the Sahara issue, in the spirit of realism and compromise, and in full compliance with the relevant UN resolutions,” according to a statement from his department released after the meeting.

    The official noted that during the phone call with Bourita, he had expressed his “gratitude to Morocco for its constant and firm support for the preservation of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in accordance with international law.” This was brought up during the discussions of the potential for further intensifying and strengthening good bilateral relations.

    The official underscored the long-standing, mutually amicable connections between the two nations as well as Serbia’s readiness to continue expanding its entire cooperation with Morocco, including exchanges of high-level visits.
    In this context, Dai renewed his offer to his Moroccan colleague Nasser Bourita to visit Serbia, according to the statement.

    Serbia’s FM underlined that the two nations celebrated the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties were established, which provided the perfect opportunity for the populations of Serbia and Morocco to get to know one another through a variety of year-round artistic and cultural activities.

    Dai emphasized the necessity for further deepening “the economic and trade ties between the two countries so that they keep pace with the excellent level of our political relations.”
    A letter of congratulations from his Moroccan counterpart on Serbia’s selection to host the specialized exposition EXPO 2027 was sent to the Serbian FM by the Moroccan Ambassador in Belgrade, the statement said.

  • Ogier reclaims WRC Safari Rally tittle

    Ogier reclaims WRC Safari Rally tittle

    Sebastien Ogier of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team is the 2023 WRC Safari Rally champion after reclaiming the title from last year’s winner, Kalle Rovanperra.

    In just five starts this season, the Frenchman has won three times. He defeated Rovanperä of the GR Yaris team on African soil despite some nervousness in the final laps.

    Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth overall to clinch a Toyota clean sweep, with Elfyn Evans taking the last podium spot.

    “Unbelievable! Look at that! Even on the Power Stage, I got a stone on the windscreen! We had a lot of issues to face, but it could have been a more comfortable rally for us in terms of pace. A lot of misfortune, but we brought it home, said an elated Ogier.

    The Frenchman’s victory was his second after bagging bragging rights in 2021 after dominating the majority of the stages in this year’s championship to see off his challengers.

    Ogier claimed victory in seven of the 19 stages in this year’s edition.

    Despite finishing 2nd in Kenya, Rovanperra still leads the standings after 7 rounds with 139 points, followed by Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville with 102 points, while Elfyn Evans lies 3rd on 98 points, 1 point ahead of Ogier.

    President William Ruto presided over the award ceremony at the Wolf Power stage, accompanied by the deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua,and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

  • Tundo finishes 3rd in the WRC Safari Rally 2.

    Tundo finishes 3rd in the WRC Safari Rally 2.

    Kenyan driver Carl ‘flash’ Tundo finished 3rd in the 2023 WRC Safari Rally 2 championship, which concluded on Sunday afternoon, after navigating through the 19 stages in 4 hours, 11 minutes, and 38.6 seconds.

    Tundo, navigated by Tim Jessop in a Skoda Fabia, maintained the 3rd position in 17 stages to claim a podium finish behind the champion Kajeta Kajetanowicz of Poland, navigated by Maciej SZCZEPANIAK in a Skoda Fabia Evolution, in 3 hours, 51 minutes, and 1.3 seconds, followed by Martin PROKOP and his navigator Zdenk JRKA driving a Ford Fiesta MK2.

  • Host Morocco stage late comeback to defeat Guinea in AFCON U 23 opener

    Host Morocco stage late comeback to defeat Guinea in AFCON U 23 opener

    Host Morocco staged a late comeback to win 2-1 against Guinea in the opening match of the 2023 AFCON Under 23 group A match played on Saturday night at the Prince Mouley Abdellah stadium in Rabat.

    Debutants Guinea took an early lead in the 10th minute via midfielder Seydoumba Cisse, who fired home a thunderous shot past Moroccan goalkeeper Alaa Bellaarouch.

    The hosts kept pressing, and it bore fruit in the 67th minute, when their skipper Abdessamad Ezzalzouli was pulled down inside the area and they were awarded a penalty, which was converted by the captain, restoring parity.

    The Moroccan side persisted in attacking, while Guinea tried to defend their position as they tried to earn a point but conceded a 5th-minute extra-time penalty, which was awarded after VAR review and was calmly converted by Ezzalzouli, sending home fans wild while Guinea left the pitch with their heads down.

    The tournament continues  on Sunday with a second group A fixture pitting Congo against Ghana at 6 p.m. Kenyan time at the Prince Mouley Abdellah, before the action shifting to Tangier city for two group B opening fixtures, with defending champions Egypt taking on Niger from 8 p.m. before Mali and Gabon lock horns starting at 11 p.m. Kenyan time.

    The quadrennial tournament, which features eight teams, will see the best three teams book tickets to represent the continent in next year’s Olympic games in Paris, France, while the fourth-placed team will have to navigate through a continental playoff against an Asian opponent.

    This is the second time the tournament is being held in Morocco, which also staged the 2011 edition.

  • WRC Safari Rally:Rovanperra and Ogier in supremacy battle in day 4

    WRC Safari Rally:Rovanperra and Ogier in supremacy battle in day 4

    Toyota started the final day of the 2023 WRC Safari rally with momentum as defending champion Kalle Rovanperra halved Sebastien Ogier’s lead after claiming victory in Malewa SS 14, while Ogier won Oserian SS 15 early on Sunday.

    The Finish navigated by John Halttunen driving car number 69 needed 6 minutes and 5.1 seconds to complete Malewa, 1 sec ahead of Ogier and a whopping 14.2 sec ahead of teammate Katsuta Takamoto.

    M Sport Ford Otto Tanak finished a distant 4th.

    Ogier gathered momentum to win Oserian 1 SS15 by a big margin of 8.6 seconds faster than Rovanperra, shockingly finishing without a tailgate.

    The 2021 Safari rally winner leads overall standing after 15/19 stages, clocking 3 hours, 1 minute, and 18.7 seconds, followed by Rovaperra, 17.3 seconds behind, and Elfyn Evans, 2 minutes, 49.8 seconds behind in 3rd position.

  • Swizterland affirms support for Morocco -Sahara autonomus plan

    Swizterland affirms support for Morocco -Sahara autonomus plan

    Switzerland has reiterated the importance of Morocco’s serious and credible efforts aimed at a political solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue, based on compromise, commending “positively” the autonomy plan in the process of settling this issue.

    This position was expressed in Rabat on Friday by Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom, at a press briefing following talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

    “Switzerland recognizes and reiterates the importance of Morocco’s serious and credible efforts to find a peaceful political solution based on compromise,” he said.

    Referring to the autonomy plan presented by Morocco to the United Nations General Secretariat on April 11, 2007, Cassis said that “this initiative is a positive point in the process, and we will do everything in our power to facilitate a favorable solution.”

    “It’s time for this issue to be settled and to find a solution, because this crisis has been going on for too long,” said Switzerland’s top diplomat.

    He also indicated that Switzerland backs the efforts of the United Nations and the central role it plays in the process concerning the Sahara issue, and that it supports a political solution in line with international law and Security Council resolutions.

    “I believe we need to find an agreement with the UN representative that can bring the process to a successful conclusion, with flexibility on everyone’s part,” he said.

    Switzerland has emphasized the significance of Morocco’s sincere and trustworthy efforts to find a political settlement to the Moroccan Sahara issue that is based on compromise, while also praising “positively” the autonomy plan in the process of resolving this issue.

    In a press conference held after talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita, Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, who is also the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, stated this position on Friday in Rabat.

    He stated, “Switzerland recognizes and reiterates the importance of Morocco’s serious and credible efforts to find a peaceful political solution based on compromise.

  • WRC Safari Rally:Ogier maintains slim lead over Rovanperä into day 4

    WRC Safari Rally:Ogier maintains slim lead over Rovanperä into day 4

    Sebastien Ogier maintained a slim lead heading into the final day of the WRC Safari Rally after his Toyota teammate Kalle Rovanperra cut his lead to only 16 secs after culmination of 13 stages of saturday .

    Of the 6 stages of the day the Frenchman won Soysambu 1 and Soysambu 2 but it was Rovanperä’s day who won 3 stages Elementaita 1,Sleeping Warrior 1 and 2 whereas Katsuta Takamoto ensured Toyota dominance by claiming victory of Elementaita 2 SS 12.

    Elf Evans ended the day in 3rd position followed by Katsuta Takamoto and Hyundai’s Daniel Sordo in 4th and 5th positions respectively.

    Carl Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop driving a Skoda fabia competing in wrc 2 was the best placed Kenya completing day 3 at position 13th followed by Karan Patel placed 18th.

    At the close of day 3,Jeremiah Wahome and MCrae Kimathi finished in 2 and 3 positions respectively I Wrc 3 behind Diego Dominquez of Paraguay.

    The 2023 safari rally will conclude on Sunday with drivers competing in Malewa 1 and 2 Oserian 1 and 2 and hellgate 1 and 2.