Sports

Olympic hero Tebogo gets heroic welcome in Botswana

Published

3 months ago

August 14, 2024

Botswana’s Olympics 200m gold medalist, Letsile Tebogo, was on Tuesday given a heroic welcome on his return to the tiny Southern African nation after stunning the world to win country’s first ever Olympic gold medal.

Tens of thousands of his countrymen led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi thronged the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone to welcome the 21-year-old who defeated favourites Americans, Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles, in Paris to win the 200m race.

Rapturous supporters waved the country’s blue-and-black national flag as the Olympic team touched down in the capital, while the athletes paraded around the National Stadium on a rooftop bus, waving at fans enjoying a half-day holiday declared by the president to celebrate Tebogo’s success.

President Masisi led the dance by exhibiting some of his own moves, dancing on the tarmac as an aide held an umbrella to shelter him from the sun to celebrate Tebogo and who set an African record time of 19.46 seconds, as well as leading the country’s men’s 4x400m relay team to a silver at the Olympics.

Traditional dancers wearing animal skins and beads were also at the airport and stadium to welcome the team who won a total of four medals.

From the airport, the athletes were transported to greet a much bigger crowd at the national stadium.

After winning the 200m, Tebogo had dedicated his gold medal to his mother Seratiwa, who died in May after a brief illness, and held up his spikes, displaying her date of birth, to the camera, following his victory.

“It is basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field,” Tebogo had said.

“To take her with me, it gives me a lot of motivation. She’s watching up there, and she’s really, really happy,” he added.

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Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

9 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).

Sports

Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.