Sports

Tunisian tennis star, Ons Jabeur, identifies with rights of African migrants

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2023

Tunisian international tennis star, Ons Jabeur, has given her support for African migrants following a speech by President Kais Saied calling for a crackdown on sub-Saharan African migrants, which has sparked mass repatriations and attracted global criticism.

Saied had. on February 21, called for “urgent measures to be taken against the illegal immigration of nationals from sub-Saharan Africa”, describing their presence in Tunisia as a source of “violence and crimes” and was part of a “business crime intended to change the demographic composition of the country.”

The speech, however, drew condemnation from international NGOs which described it as “racist and hateful,” as well as causing outcry globally.

The NGOs accuse Saied of sowing a wind of panic among sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia who have since reported an upsurge in attacks against them and have rushed by the dozens to their embassies to be repatriated.

Lending her voice to the outcry, the world tennis star said she stands on her “pride” as an African woman and defended “the right of everyone to live in dignity.”

“Today is Zero Discrimination Day. As a proud Tunisian, Arab, and African woman, I celebrate everyone’s right to live with dignity,” Ons Jabeur wrote on her Twitter account on Wednesday.

Attached to her tweet wss a photo of a Tunisian postal stamp issued on April 15, 1961, celebrating “Africa Day” and on which two hands, one white and the other black, intertwine.

Today is #ZeroDiscriminationDay. As a proud Tunisian, Arab and African woman I celebrate the right of everyone to live with dignity 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/cDJFhx45y9

— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) March 1, 2023

Another Tunisian sportsman, ex-international footballer Radhi Jaidi, who is part of Tunisia’s 10% black minority, also expressed his solidarity with African migrants by tweeting:

“I am African, not because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me,” Jaidi wrote.

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Sports

Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns female team suspended over sexual harassment allegations

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team, Jerry Tshabalala, has been suspended indefinitely amid allegations of sexual harassment of players.

A statement by the management of the top South African team said the 44-year-old Tshabalala, who has been in charge of Sundowns’s women’s team for over a decade, has been accused of a number of allegations, including making inappropriate sexual comments to his players, as well as entering the dressing room and refusing to leave while players are completely naked.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sundowns said they had appointed a law firm to investigate the allegations against the coach with specific instructions to unravel allegations of improper conduct by the Tshabalala.

The club said it views the allegations in a very serious light and has relieved the coach of his appointment pending when the investigations are concluded.

“Sundowns has, in the interim, put Coach Jerry Tshabalala on special leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the club statement said.

“This is not done to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation, but to ensure that the investigation can proceed expeditiously and protect the rights of all parties.

“In the event that the investigation establishes facts that warrant action, the Board will immediately take such steps as are appropriate.

“Mamelodi Sundowns will in due course make announcements on the findings of the investigation and the action to be taken,” the statement concluded.

The Sundowns female team have been a dominant force in women’s football in South Africa and on the continent since Tshabalala took over in 2012, winning seven domestic league titles, as well as two CAF Women’s Champions League crowns.

Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)