Category: Sports

ASMARA, Eritrea (NPA) — Students across Eritrea gathered in Mendefera, Southern Region, from 1 to 3 May for a cultural and sports week themed “Students’ Cultural and Sports Festival for National Cohesion.”

The program brought together junior and high school students from the region’s 12 sub‑zones, featuring football, basketball, volleyball, drama, painting, music, poetry, debate, innovation, and creativity competitions.

Coordinator Mr Belay Nurhusein said the event went beyond talent discovery. “It enables students to identify their talents, exchange experiences, and reflect their national unity and harmony,” he noted.

Mr Gebregergis Gebredingil, head of administration and finance in Mendefera sub‑zone, added that the annual festival, held in connection with Independence Day, helps students build ties with neighboring areas.

In the Northern Red Sea Region, the students’ cultural and sports week opened on 2 May at Twalet Martyrs Cemetery in Massawa, with cultural and artistic performances. Regional Assembly chairman Mr Ibrahim Ali Sheikh lit a torch to mark the start of the event.

Mr Mohammed Abdella, head of culture, sports and health at the Ministry of Education branch in the region, said more than 500 students are participating. “The program will have a significant contribution in inculcating national values among students and adding color to the Independence Day anniversary festivities,” he said.

The weeklong event, running until 6 May, includes dancing, poetry, drama, songs, and educational competitions. Mr Haile Asfaha, administrator of Massawa city, urged reinforced participation, stressing the importance of students exchanging experiences and strengthening cohesion.

CAIRO, Egypt (NPA) — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced June 19, 2027, as the kick-off date for the historic TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

CAF disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the final of the tournament will be played on July 17, 2027, while the host countries for the opening match and final will be announced later.

The continental football body said the 2027 edition would be the first AFCON tournament to be hosted by three countries, describing it as a landmark event expected to reach more than 400 million people across the East African region.

CAF also confirmed that the draw for the qualifiers will take place on May 19, 2026, following the completion of the preliminary round.

A total of 48 national teams, including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will participate in the qualification series.

According to CAF, the teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the final tournament.

The qualifiers will be played during three FIFA international windows.

Matchdays one and two are scheduled for September 21 to October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will hold from November 9 to 17, 2026.

The final qualification fixtures, comprising matchdays five and six, are billed for March 22 to 30, 2027.

CAF noted that AFCON PAMOJA 2027 would mark the return of the tournament to the East African region for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the competition in 1976.

The football governing body added that the tournament would build on the success recorded by recent editions, including AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and the upcoming AFCON Morocco 2025, which it said achieved record commercial revenue, sponsorship growth and global television audiences.

CAF said the achievements underscored the rising global competitiveness and popularity of African football.

KIGALI, Rwanda — 15 April 2026 (NPA) — Rwandan President Paul Kagame has congratulated three European football giants — Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atlético de Madrid — on their qualification for the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Kagame, whose government partners with the clubs through the #VisitRwanda tourism campaign, praised their performances in a series of posts on his X account on Wednesday. “Well done to #VisitRwanda partner Arsenal for qualifying for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals tonight! Look forward to cheering you on during the next stage,” he wrote. 

He also hailed Atlético de Madrid’s “impressive win” and PSG’s “strong performance and well-deserved result,” noting that all three clubs had shown “consistency, excellence and resolve.”

Atlético’s victory over Barcelona was particularly dramatic, with the visitors scoring within the first ten minutes. Entering the match with a 0–2 aggregate deficit, Barcelona’s hopes of progressing were further diminished after receiving another red card — their second in consecutive fixtures — leaving them exposed in the closing stages.

At the end of the quarter-final ties: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG): Advanced with a 4–0 aggregate victory over Liverpool. Atlético de Madrid: Advanced with a 3–2 aggregate victory over Barcelona. Bayern Munich: Advanced with a 6–4 aggregate victory over Real Madrid.

The first legs of the semi-final matches are scheduled for 28/29 April, with the return legs on 5/6 May 2026. The final will be held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on 30 May 2026.

SPORTS, 30 March 2026 (Agency Report) — Team Nigeria has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, following a record-breaking performance in the mixed 4x100m relay.

The National Sports Commission, in a statement issued on Sunday by Kola Daniel, Media Adviser to Director-General Bukola Olopade, hailed the team’s remarkable achievement.

Nigeria’s quartet — Chidera Ezeakor, Maria Thompson, James Taiwo Emmanuel, and Obi Chukwuma — stormed to victory at the Lefika International Relays, producing an outstanding time of 41.44 seconds. Their emphatic gold medal run established a new African benchmark in the newly introduced mixed relay event.

The Commission noted that the result has significantly boosted Nigeria’s qualification ranking, moving the team into 12th position and strengthening its contention for the global competition.

Kenya finished second with a strong showing, setting a national record of 41.70 seconds.

SPORTS, 30 March 2026 (NPA) — The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Veron Mosengo‑Omba, has resigned during a turbulent period for African football.

In a statement on Sunday, Mosengo‑Omba said he was retiring, but his departure comes amid controversy over CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and postpone the women’s tournament at the last minute. These incidents have left CAF battling a crisis of confidence.

“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind, leaving CAF more prosperous than ever,” wrote Mosengo‑Omba, deputy to CAF president Patrice Motsepe.

The 66‑year‑old, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo and also holds Swiss nationality, was appointed in March 2021. He faced criticism for staying on past CAF’s mandatory retirement age of 63 and was accused of creating a toxic workplace, though an investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, CAF’s Appeals Board has declared Morocco the winner of AFCON 2025 after Senegal staged a walkout during the final. Applying Articles 82 and 84 of the regulations, CAF ruled Senegal forfeited the match, recording a 3–0 victory for Morocco. Several fines against Morocco were reduced, but disciplinary sanctions were upheld in part.

Senegal has rejected the ruling, calling it unfair and unprecedented. In a statement on March 17, the Senegalese Football Federation announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, pledging to defend its rights and the integrity of Senegalese football.

SPORTS, 30 March 2026 (NPA) — The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced far‑reaching reforms to its Statutes and Regulations aimed at strengthening trust in referees, VAR operators, and judicial bodies. The measures are designed to prevent a repeat of the incidents that marred the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.

CAF noted that referees and VAR operators at AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 earned widespread praise, and the new reforms seek to restore that level of credibility. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to appointing Africa’s most respected judges and lawyers to the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board, ensuring independence and impartiality.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe said the reforms are backed by legal advice from African and international football experts to align with global best practices. “These changes will strengthen confidence in referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, and judicial bodies. They will also ensure that the unacceptable incidents at AFCON Morocco 2025 do not happen again,” he stated.

Motsepe added that CAF is working with FIFA to provide ongoing training for referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners, while also pushing for their professionalisation and fair remuneration. He highlighted CAF’s progress in governance, ethics, transparency, and managerial best practices, stressing its zero‑tolerance stance on corruption and improper behaviour.

“Our commitment to fairness and equal treatment of all Member Associations is non‑negotiable,” Motsepe said. “No association will be favoured above another. CAF will continue to review and improve governance standards to strengthen the global competitiveness of African football.”

The matters relating to the AFCON 2025 final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Meanwhile, CAF’s focus has shifted to the Confederation Cup, Champions League, and preparations for African nations competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States. Motsepe expressed confidence that Africa’s representatives will make the continent proud.