Connect with us

Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria maintains 39th position, still ahead of Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Algeria

Published

on

The Super Eagles of Nigeria has maintained its 39th position in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Men’s Rankings released by the world football governing body for the month of September.

Though the Nigerian men’s national team’s ranking did not change from last month, they, however, remained above fierce rivals Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Algeria in the ranking released on Thursday.

The three-time African champions earned four points from their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers earlier in the month, with a 3-0 victory over Benin at home and a goalless draw against Rwanda.

The new FIFA ranking has also seen some African teams move up some places in their ranking, with Algeria, Congo, and Burkina Faso taking some steps up the table.

Cameroon dropped two places to 53 on the list while South Africa dropped to 59 and Ghana going down to an abysmal 70 having dropped two and six places, respectively.

Algeria (41) moved five places further on the list and are two places behind Nigeria, while Congo (58) and Burkina Faso (63) have moved two and four places, respectively.

The Super Eagles will be hoping that the recent performance will be taken into consideration in the next Fifa ranking list.

Nigeria dropped from 38th position to 39th place on the FIFA ranking a few months ago following several poor performances having failed to win their last four qualifying games under former head coaches Jose Peseiro and Findi Geroge.

However, they have maintained the 39th place in the world ranking following the newly released list by FIFA.

Sports

CAF announces 50% increase in prize money for 2024 Women’s Champions League

Published

on

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a 50 per cent increase in prize money for the 2024 Women’s Champions League which kicks off on Saturday, November 9 in Morocco.

With the substantial increase, the winner of the 2024 edition of the championship will go home with a whopping $600,000, representing a 52% upgrade from previous years.

In a statement on Thursday, CAF further promised financial support for every participating club, with each team guaranteed at least $150,000.

“The increased prize money is part of CAF’s broader commitment to grow women’s football across Africa, with ambitions to invest further in youth academies and enhance the appeal of CAF competitions globally,” the CAF statement said in part.

It also gave a breakdown of this year’s prize structure:

– Winner: $600,000

– Runner-up: $400,000

– 3rd Place: $350,000

– 4th Place: $300,000

– 3rd in Group: $200,000 each

– 4th in Group: $150,000 each

The African Women’s Champions League was launched in 2021 under President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, and has quickly become the highlight of African women’s football.

This year’s increased investment is expected to strengthen the tournament’s appeal and inspire greater participation across the continent.

Continue Reading

Sports

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

Published

on

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25, to 35 years in prison each for the murder of Ugandan Olympic athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was stabbed to death last year.

Khalumi and Lokere were both found guilty by Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the Kenyan High Court in the northwestern city of Eldoret for stabbing the 34-year-old steeplechaser to death.

In his ruling, Nyakundi said overwhelming evidence from CCTV cameras showed the pair intentionally killed the athlete, adding that they had not shown any remorse for the pre-meditated crime and deserved a harsh sentence.

“Your actions were cruel to a defenceless person whose life you cut short contrary to God’s plan, where God intended man to live for a minimum of 70 years,” Nyakundi said while announcing the 35-year sentence for each defendant.

The judge however, rejected a plea from Kiplagat’s mother, Elizabeth Chemweno, and his two brothers who wanted Khalumi and Lokere to be given life sentences.

The two convicts were arrested a day after the athlete’s body was found in his car on the outskirts of Eldoret on New Year’s Eve with a deep wound to his neck in a murder that shocked the country and Africa in general.

Kiplagat who was born in the Eldoret region in Kenya, had an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, and had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, including at several Olympic Games and World Championships.

He won the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the African Championships in 2012 and made the semi-finals of the event at the 2012 Olympics in London and also competed in Rio in 2016.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Metro17 hours ago

Nigeria gets backing of West African countries in bid to join UN security council

Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council has been boosted by the backing of several...

Culture1 day ago

Ghanaian TikToker’s longest eating marathon attempt blocked by GWR

An attempt by a popular Ghanaian TikToker, Clementina Nkrumah, also known as Afua Nash, to break the record for the...

Metro1 day ago

Zambia: Tonse Alliance names Lungu as presidential candidate for 2026 election

A newly formed political group, the Tonse Alliance (TA), has announced the endorsement of former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, as...

Tech1 day ago

Morocco’s retail-tech startup Chari partners with Orange to digitise retailers

Morocco’s retail-tech startup, Chari, has entered into partnership with telecoms giant, Orange Maroc, to boost the digital transformation of Moroccan...

Sports1 day ago

CAF announces 50% increase in prize money for 2024 Women’s Champions League

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a 50 per cent increase in prize money for the 2024 Women’s...

Metro2 days ago

‘We appreciate your patience, but you must endure more’, FG tells Nigerians

The Nigerian government says it appreciates the endurance of Nigerians in the face of excruciating hardship and poverty in the...

Tech2 days ago

MTN Nigeria set to acquire two more licences for its fintech

Nigeria’s largest telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria, is on the verge of obtaining two licences that will enable it expand its...

Metro2 days ago

Zambia seeks global support to boost sustainable housing

The Zambian government has called for support from the international community to help it in developing sustainable human settlement initiatives,...

Culture2 days ago

Ghanaians kick as President Akufo-Addo unveils ‘self-honouring’ statue

A decision by outgoing Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, to unveil what has been described as a “self-honouring” statue outside a...

Metro3 days ago

Nigeria, Rwanda sign MoU to boost trade, investment

Nigeria and Rwanda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries....

Trending