Sports

Four footballers among victims killed in Libyan flood

Published

3 weeks ago

September 14, 2023

The Libya Football Federation (LFF) has confirmed that the devastating floods that ravaged the North African country since Monday has claimed the lives of four elite footballers.

The floods, which emanated from torrential rains caused by Storm Daniel, resulted in two dams bursting, sweeping away large parts of the eastern port city of Derna where over 6,000 people have reportedly died, with another 10,000 missing.

An official statement by the LFF gave the names of the four footballers as Shaheen Al-Jamil, Monder Sadaqa and brothers, Saleh and Ayoub Sasi.

The statement said Sadaqa played for Derna-based Premier League side, Darnes, where the Sasi brothers were part of the youth team, while Al-Jamil recently signed for Al-Tahaddi, another Premier League team in the city of Benghazi.

Darnes are one of two teams playing in Derna along with Al-Afreky, another club in Libya’s second-tier known as the First Division.

The club’s stadium which is one of the historical landmarks of the city, suffered significant damage in the flooding and was swept into the Mediterranean Sea along with most parts of the city which is the worst hit in the flood.

The LFF mourned the loss of the players and all victims of the disaster, saying “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”

A later report by BBC Sport Africa states that another footballer, Ibrahim Al-Qaziri, also died in the floods.

The BBC report said Al-Qaziri had played for several Libyan Premier League sides and was most recently at second-tier Nusour Martouba.

Related Topics:Featured Flooding Footballers Libya Storm Daniel

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Sports

Napoli social media executive resigns after Osimhen saga

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

The recent saga involving Nigerian and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has swept away the Italian club’s social media executive, Alessio Fortino, who resigned from his position.

Fortino’s resignation comes days after a controversial video shared on the club’s official TikTok platform where the player was mocked for missing a penalty in a Serie A match against Bologna went viral.

A first video posted on the account showed the 24-year-old Osimhen appealing for a penalty, with an audio captioned “Gimme penalty please,” before showing him blazing the spot-kick wide of the post, while a second video compared Osimhen to a “coconut head”, which many widely viewed as having a racial slur.

The denigrating videos caused outrage, with Osimhen’s fans urging him to leave the club, citing disrespect and possible racism. Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, waded into the matter and promised to intervene to protect the player and other Nigerian athletes in any part of the world.

Following the backlash from the saga, Fortino threw in the towel, and confirmed the news via a post on his personal Instagram account on Monday after offering an apology that the TikTok videos were “never intended to offend or make fun of Osimhen.”

“Today, after 805 days, my professional adventure with SSC Naples ends. For many, this job would be comparable to a dream,” the post reads.

“For me, it was a simple daily reality: a reality built on commitment and fueled by the constant desire to learn and play.

“I cannot help but express my deepest gratitude to all the colleagues, collaborators, partners and supporters I’ve met along this long journey for making this experience so special.

“Leaving the company with a baggage of great memories and an excitement for the new adventures that lie ahead,” Fortino said.

Though the Serie A champions have not made an official comment on Fortino’s resignation, Italian sports media believes the circumstances surrounding his stepping down are not far from the Osimhen saga.

Sports

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe wins inaugural men’s half marathon world title in record time

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe has won the World Road Running Championships held in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, in a record time of 59:10.

The Berlin Half Marathon was also a great event for Kenyan athletes as compatriots Daniel Simiu picked the silver with a close 59:14, while Vienna City Marathon champion, Samwel Mailu, secured the bronze, completing the race in 59:19, while another African athlete, Jemal Yimer Mekonnen of Ethiopia finished fourth in 59:22.

It was only the second time in 25 editions that the eastern African nation would sweep the men’s world half marathon, the last occurring in 1997 when Kenya’s Moses Tanui, Paul Yego and Charles Tangus went 1-2-3 on the podium.

Kenya, known for its prowess in long distance races, has claimed the team title for the 17th time, with a cumulative time for their top three of 2:57:43, well ahead of Ethiopia with 2:59:54.

Speaking at the end of the pulsating race that had a total of 97 runners, Sawe said he felt that despite the deficit he had to overcome, gold was always within reach.

“I always have confidence in the last kilometre. I knew the gold was always within reach.”