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SA sprint star Akani Simbine upstages Olympic champion at Oslo Diamond League

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It was a good outing for South African sprint sensation, Akani Simbine, at the Oslo Diamond League held on Thursday night when he dusted current Olympic 100m champion, Marcell Jacobs of Italy, to take home the gold medal with time of 9.94 seconds.

Simbine was the standout performer in a strong field of some of the best sprinters which had the likes of Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown who finished second in 9.99 seconds and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme who clocked 10.01 seconds to finish third, while Jacobs ran 10.01 to settle for fourth.

Simbine’s time was a season’s best for him after starting slow out of the blocks but produced a strong second half and a savage dip to claim victory ahead of the field.

Speaking after race, Simbine, 30, said:

“It ended up in the rain which probably influenced the race but at the end of the day we all have to run 100m rain or not and get to the line first.

“I did that today which I am happy with but I have a lot to work on and a lot to do. I am happy with my performance and I hope there will be more highlights coming up as we build towards the Olympic Games.”

“I put my marker out to the world today that I am here. The goal was the win today and I did that. Getting the win always helps with confidence as we get closer to Paris.”

Also speaking, Jacobs said his attention would now turn the 7-12 June European Championships in Rome.

“I am good but I haven’t yet run sub-10, but today it was important to get a good feeling in my race.

“I did that today and I start getting in shape to run the best in my home town in Rome at the European Championships in front of my people.”

Jacobs had won gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, and backed it up with a second gold in the 4x100m relay.

He followed his performances with victories over the world indoor 60m in Belgrade in 2022 and the 100m at the European championships later that year.

But he has suffered a number of injuries, something he says led him to moving from Italy to the United States to train in Rana Reider’s camp alongside Canada’s Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse and Sani Brown among others.

“The last two years have been difficult with injury but now I have moved to the US for training and have a new coach so things are going well,” Jacobs said.

“It is Olympic year and I want to defend my title of course, so I mustn’t push my body too quickly too soon but I will be ready,” he added.

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Samuel Eto’o threatens to sue CAF after match-fixing hearing

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President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, has threatened to institute a lawsuit against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a disciplinary hearing over match-fixing allegations against him.

The Cameroonian football legend announced the threat after he was invited for questioning over the allegations.

The ex-Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan striker has been a subject of match-fixing allegations in his capacity as head of the FECAFOOT after he was accused of having orchestrated the promotion of a team owned by a close associate of his.

Apart from the match-fixing allegations, Eto’o is also accused of spreading false information, making threats, inciting violence and abusing power, in a scalding report sent to FIFA.

According to the report, Eto’o was charged by CAF over the alleged offences and on Wednesday, June 26th, he appeared before a disciplinary panel.

Though the outcome of the hearing are yet unknown as CAF is yet to publish an official statement, Eto’o says he is not satisfied with the process and will be seeking redress in court.

“I have mandated my lawyers to file a complaint against CAF and for responsibilities to be established,” Eto’o said while addressing journalists.

“It was too easy to tarnish everything I had built during these few years in the world of football. CAF launched a press release much too early. This is unacceptable behaviour.”

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South Africa succumbs to India in T20 World Cup finals

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South Africa’s unbeaten run to the final of the T20 World Cup was ended on Saturday by India which also ended their 13-year wait for a world title.

In the thrilling final match in Barbados, India fought back gallantly to beat the Proteas who needed 26 from 24 balls in pursuit of 177, but the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen for 52 from 27 swung a dramatic game in India’s favour.

The game looked done during Klaasen’s onslaught but Hardik removed him by finding a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Even as Klaasen slumped off, South Africa remained favourites.

The win was India’s second T20 title, having won the inaugural tournament in 2007, and first World Cup win in either format since the 2011 50-over competition.

And for South Africa, it was a horrible defeat that brought back all the pain of World Cups past after breezing through to the final without losing a single match.

India had so much in their favour, a team of superstars chosen from population of 1.4 billion and the largest proportion of the revenue generated in the game.

The Proteas, like India, had progressed to this point unbeaten and had come through a series of tight games and their semi-final win against Afghanistan was their first victory in the last four of a World Cup in eight attempts.

Arshdeep Singh conceded only four from the penultimate over, leaving Hardik Pandya to defend 16 from the last, while David Miller was sensationally caught by Suryakumar Yadav at long-off for 21 from the first ball before India closed out a seven-run win.

It sparked jubilant scenes among the India players and fans in Barbados, including superstar Virat Kohli, who dragged his side to 176-7 with 76 off 59.

The final result left Hardik was in tears as he was part of the Indian side that lost the 50-over World Cup final to Australia on home soil eight months ago.

In the end, up against some superb bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2-18 in a high-scoring game, they faltered again at the last.

In the final moments, Kagiso Rabada edged a four and Hardik bowled a wide, leaving eight needed from the last two balls before Radaba was caught at long-off.

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