Sports

Cameroon loses basketball star, Joel Embiid to USA

Published

7 months ago

October 6, 2023

Cameroon has lost Philadelphia 76ers centre, Joel Embiid to the United States after the NBA MVP chose to represent the star-studded US team at the 2024 Paris Olympics rather than his other options of France and his native Cameroon.

The Yaoundé, Cameroon-born Embiid, who made his position known at a meeting with USA Basketball managing director, Grant Hill, said it was an easy decision for him as he had been in the country for such a long time and his son was American.

“I’ve been here for such a long time,” Embiid said at the meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the 76ers are having their training camp.

“For the past few years, every decision I’ve made has been based on just family. My family, my son, and having the chance to represent a country like the US, with my son being born here. I love my home country, but I really wanted to play in the Olympics,” he said.

Embiid who was born in Cameroon, has never played in a major international tournament for the African country, which he said made it simpler for him to choose the US, a country he moved to at the age of 16.

Embiid’s decision has finally put paid to dreams of Cameroon luring him to play for the country.

Before now, France had also harboured the dream of getting the NBA star to play for them, with French President, Emmanuel Macron even appealing to Embiid in a phone call.

According to the Wall Street Journal, France’s basketball federation had reportedly set a deadline of next Tuesday for Embiid to make a decision on whether he would switch allegiance to his second country.

“The deadline wasn’t much of a factor, but it was put out there,” Embiid told journalists.

“I wouldn’t have made this decision if I wasn’t ready. I kind of wanted to get it over with. I’ve been asked these questions since last year.

“After talking to my family, I knew it had to be the American team. I want to play with my brothers in the championship. I want to play for my fans because they’ve been incredible since the day I arrived here.

“But above all, I want to pay tribute to my son who was born in the United States. I want my boy to know that I played my first Olympics for him.

“I’m really proud and excited by this decision. It wasn’t easy. I’m lucky enough to live in Cameroon, France and the United States,” Embiid wrote on his X account.

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Sports

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.