SPORTS

Mesut Ozil receives widespread support as German federation denies racism

Mesut Ozil’s decision to immediately retire from the German national team has caused shockwaves not only in the German media but across European football after the Arsenal star accused the German Football Association (DFB) of racism and treating him as “a German when we win, and an immigrant when we lose”. Ozil, who is considered one of the greatest midfielder’s …

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Mesut Özil quits Germany over Erdogan controversy

Footballer Mesut Özil has quit the national team amid the fallout from meeting Turkey’s president and Germany’s World Cup exit. In a strongly worded statement, Özil said he would “no longer stand for being a scapegoat.” Matt Pearson reports. Mesut Özil said on Sunday he will no longer play international football for Germany following the fallout from his meeting with …

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Salah signs new deal with Liverpool

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new five-year contract with the club. The 26-year-old Egypt international joined the Reds for £34m from Roma last summer and has scored 44 goals in 52 appearances for the club. The financial terms were not disclosed.  “I’m very happy to say I have signed a new contract with the club,” he said. “My …

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Ghana Football Association dissolved after bribery allegations

The Ghanaian government has decided to dissolve the country’s football association after claims, in an undercover documentary, of bribe-taking by referees and kickbacks to top officials. Information minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said “the government had decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA (Ghana Football Association) dissolved” because of the “widespread nature of the apparent rot”. The revelations, filmed over …

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Uproar over Anas Aremeyaw’s documentary on corruption in Ghana football

Hundreds of Ghanaians on Wednesday trooped to Accra to watch alleged acts of bribery involving football officials, including the head of the country’s football association, captured on video demanding kickbacks. Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is also a member of the FIFA Council, was seen in a hotel room taking a $65,000 (£48,393) bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the …

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Rwanda unveils partnership with Arsenal to increase tourism, investment

The three-year deal will also see ‘Visit Rwanda’ become Arsenal’s official Tourism Partner. The Rwanda Development Board, through its subsidiary, the Rwandan Convention Bureau, has become Arsenal’s first official sleeve partner as part of the country’s drive to become a leading global tourist destination. The three-year deal will also see ‘Visit Rwanda’ become Arsenal’s official Tourism Partner. The ‘Visit Rwanda’ …

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BBC Sport Africa Launches

Starting, Tuesday 1 May, and continuing weekly throughout the year, BBC Sport Africa will bring the issues, the personalities, the buzz, the key moments and the trends in sport from across the continent. The 30 minute programme will cover many different sports including those that are little-known, and will be featuring everyone from the most famous sports stars to rising …

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Kenyans dominate Paris Marathon again

Kenyans won the men and women’s Paris Marathon titles on Sunday as, in a piece of theatre calculated by the organisers, the two champions finished almost together. The women’s race started 16min 26sec before the men, the difference in times between the male and female winners last year. Paul Lonyangata retained his men’s crown and also caught and passed Betsy …

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Germany fires Steffi Jones as women’s national team coach

The German soccer federation says it has fired Steffi Jones as coach of the women’s national team following recent poor results. The Afro-German (45) was sacked following a disappointing showing at the SheBelieves Cup, in which the team failed to win a single game. The 2016 Olympic champions were last in the four-team competition, which was won by the host …

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George Weah’s son makes debut at French club PSG

Timothy Weah, son of the legendary African footballer and now Liberian president, George Weah, has made his senior debut with Paris Saint-Germain, nearly 23 years since his father’s last game with the French club. The 18-year-old striker on Saturday helped PSG win two goals to nil against Troyes, a win that restored the club’s 14 point advantage at the top …

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Blatter supports Morocco to host 2026 World Cup

Banned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has put his support behind Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup finals, saying the North African country would be the logical choice. Morocco is bidding for the fifth time to host the World Cup finals, having also tried for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 tournaments. The only other bid is a …

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Weah, Drogba, Mbappé launch African sports project in Paris

Liberia’s President George Weah joined fellow African football great Didier Drogba and emerging French youngster Kylian Mbappé in Paris, to launch a platform that will support sports in Africa. Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the three great strikers committed themselves to supporting the French initiative. Sport can be “a strong and dynamic vector for Africa”, stressed Macron at the …

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Sunday Oliseh speaks out on why Dutch club sacked him as coach

Sunday Oliseh said he was suspended from his job at Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands due to his refusal to participate in illegal activities at the club. The 43-year-old former Super Eagles coach was relieved of his duties as coach on Wednesday via a statement on the club’s website “www.fortunasittard.nl”. “The club management makes this decision as a result of the repeatedly culpable …

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Don’t stereotype African players, says André Ayew

Ghana international and former West Ham United striker André Ayew has responded to the comments made by the club’s ex-head of recruitment Tony Henry on African footballers by saying it is impossible to stereotype players from the continent. Henry was sacked this month after newspaper revelations that he had told agents the Premier League club “don’t want any more Africans” …

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Nigerian women’s bobsled team writes Winter Olympics history

With average temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, Nigeria is anything but a suitable country for winter sports. Nevertheless, Nigeria will be represented at the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang , South Korea (9-25 February) It is thanks to the bobsled Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, who met the Olympic standard of five finishes at official bobsled races …

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