Sports

Namibia bowled out by Australia to reach T20 World Cup Super 8

Published

2 weeks ago

June 12, 2024

Namibia’s hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup Super 8 was on Tuesday night truncated by Australia as they were bowled out for 72 in a thumping nine-wicket win in Antigua.

Australian leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, took 4-12 to reach a century of T20 international wickets, while Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis claimed two apiece.

Reports on the game noted that after dismissing Namibia in 17 overs, with only two batters reaching double figures, the Australia top order ruthlessly knocked off the runs inside the powerplay.

The victory took Australia above Scotland to the top of Group B, with the two sides playing each other in St Lucia on Sunday.

A win for Scotland would eliminate defending champions England, who first need to beat Oman and Namibia handsomely to have any chance of progressing.

On the other hand, Africa has a representative in Super 8 as
South Africa qualified after Sri Lanka’s match against Nepal in Lauderhill, Florida, was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

The result however, does not end Sri Lanka’s hopes of a top-two finish in Group D, but they require a highly unlikely sequence of results – including a washout when Bangladesh face the Netherlands on Thursday, to go through.

Australia captain, Mitchell Marsh, who spoke after the match, said:

“A great performance from our bowling team. All-round a very professional performance.

“It’s great to qualify for the Super 8s. We get pretty busy after our game against Scotland so we’ll manage as many people as we can over the next few days.”

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus:

“You can’t sit back against the best in the world – that’s one thing we’ve learned from tonight.

“The skill gap is perhaps there but you can close that a little bit by fighting fire with fire and we haven’t done that enough in this tournament.

“A good side like Australia will expose you if you’re not ready mentally.”

Related Topics:Australia Featured Namibia Super 8 T20

Click to comment

Sports

CAF reschedules AFCON 2025, announces new dates

Published

2 days ago

June 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rescheduled the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 which was to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The decision to reschedule the tournament dates, according to CAF President Patrice Motsepe in a statement on Friday after virtual executive committee in Cairo, was to avoid a clash with the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States which will hold from June 15 to July 13 next year.

The AFCON was initially scheduled for June and July 2025, but following an announcement by FIFA of the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, CAF had to reschedule its own competition to avoid a clash.

“I am confident that the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will be extremely successful and the best AFCON in the history of this competition,” Motsepe said, regardless of the postponement.

The 35th edition of the AFCON which will be held in Morocco, is set to make history with its unique scheduling as unlike previous tournaments, the edition will span across two years, commencing on December 21, 2025, and concluding on January 18, 2026.

This timing is also a deviation from the traditional AFCON schedule which typically begins in early January and ends in early February.

However, the new dates will upset many English Premier League clubs as the Christmas-New Year period is always frenetic with teams playing many matches in a short period and will need their African players who will be at the AFCON tournament during the hectic period.

Media reports in England have suggested many clubs might not release African stars as they are compelled to do so for only one international championship per year and the next World Cup is in 2026, but CAF could argue that it is the 2025 AFCON, although most of the tournament will be staged the following year.

Sports

Race for Super Eagles midfielder Ndidi heats up

Published

3 days ago

June 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The race to snap up Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, is hotting up as three French clubs have joined Everton for his signature.

According to Footmercato, French giants Olympique Marseille, AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais have indicated interest in the Eagles star who could become a free agent by the end of this month.

In its report, Footmercato said Marseille are seeking to bolster their squad this summer with the midfield being one of their priorities.

“The nine-time French champions risk the possibility of losing Jordan Veretout, Pape Gueye and Geoffrey Kondogbia while Jean Onana is also set to return to his parent club Besiktas after the expiration of his loan spell.

“Thus, the need for the Olympians to bolster their midfield with Ndidi being one of their targets but they aren’t the only French side eyeing the Nigeria international.

“AS Monaco who came second in the Ligue 1 last season are also eyeing a move for the Nigeria international who has become a hot property due to his contractual situation with Leicester City.”

However, the Foxes, as Leicester are called, are trying hard to retain the services of Ndidi beyond this summer and are running out of time with his current contract set to end in ten days’ time.