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Meet the African coaches heading to Qatar World Cup

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The World Cup holding in Qatar in November will throw up an interesting history as there will be four African coaches leading their nations to the Mundial.

This will be a departure from past World Cups where African teams are often tutored by foreign coaches who are seen as superior to local coaches.

But in Qatar 2022, out of the five African countries that will fly the continent’s flag at the world soccer fiesta, four of them will be coached by homegrown gaffes.

Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia will represent the continent but apart from Morocco, the other four will have local coaches in their dugouts.

Cameroon

Not many gave former defender, Rigobert Song, a chance to lead Cameroon to the World Cup, especially after the Indomitable Lions lost 0-1 at home to Algeria in the first leg of the final qualifiers.

But the four times African champions pulled the chestnut out of the fire in the second leg in Blida by defeating their host 2-1.

Song who was only appointed after the AFCON im February, is one of only the third African players to have played in four FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010), along with teammates Samuel Eto’o and Jacques Songo’o.

The 45 year-old led Cameroon to two Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2000 and 2002 as captain of the squad.

Ghana

Though he was born in Germany to Ghanaian parents, Otto Addo is another local coach who will lead an African team to the Mundial.

The former Bramfelder SV, Hannover 96, Dortmund and Mainz 05 defender was appointed to take over the Black Stars after their disappointing outing at the 2022 AFCON where they were bundled out by debutant Comoros.

Addo set to work, assembling a bunch of hungry players led by Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, and the team displayed such resilience by pipping the Super Eagles of Nigeria over to legs to pick the World Cup ticket.

The 46-year-old has thus become the first Ghanaian footballer to qualify for the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.

Senegal

Senegal coach and former midfield maestro, Aliou Cissé, no longer needs long introductions when it comes to African football.

After being in charge of the talented Senegalese team for over seven years, Cissé led the team to conquer Africa at the last AFCON in Cameroon in February, beating Egypt via penalties in the final.

The continental title was the first for the West African nation after many years of asking, including the pain of losing the 2019 final to a Ryad Mahrez inspired Algeria.

During his player days, Cissé was a midfield lynchpin for French clubs like PSG and Lille. He also played for English clubs Portsmouth and Birmingham in the premiership.

He captained Senegal to a famous 1-0 victory over France at the 1998 World Cup hosted by the European nation.

Tunisia

Tunisian coach, Jalel Kadri, has become the most popular man in his country after successfully leading the North African country to Qatar 2022.

The 50-year-old has a proven track record as his international managerial career has taken him to Saudi Arabia where he coached Ansar Al Madina club.

He also had a stint in Lebanon and was the head coach of Libya’s Al-Ahly Tripoli, before returning home to coach JS Kairouan in the Tunisian league, before he was appointed head coach of the Carthage Eagles.

Kadri is now tasked with leading the Eagles as far as possible at the World Cup in Qatar.

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Kenya unveils ‘killer-squad’ for Paris Olympics marathon Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic

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Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kicking off in July, Kenya has unveiled a “killer-squad” for the marathon event.

The six-man team, which was unveiled by Athletics Kenya on Wednesday, is made up of three men and three women with one reserve each on either side, with defending champions, Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchichir, as well as Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto leading the pack.

Others named in the final Kenyan Olympics team include London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso and Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto while Timothy Kiplagat, who finished second in Tokyo, will be on standby incase any of the selected three cannot make it.

With the final team list, Jepchirchir will get a chance to defend her title as she heads to Paris in good form after winning the London Marathon in a new women’s-only world record last month.

Jepchirchir will be joined by Obiri who defended her Boston Marathon title last month, while Brigid Kosgei made the final three despite finishing fifth in London last month.

According to sports analysts, Kosgei’s experience seems to have convinced the panel of selectors given that she won silver behind Jepchirchir at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, edging ahead of Sharon Lokedi, who finished second in Boston.

Lokedi will therefore be on standby as the reserve in case any of Obiri, Jepchirchir and Kosgei fail to make it to Paris.

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Cameroon’s boxing icon Francis Ngannou loses 15-month-old son

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Cameroon’s heavyweight boxer and former UFC champion, Francis Ngannou, has been thrown into mourning with the loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe.

The boxer who announced the demise of the infant in a post on X on Monday, he and his family have been hit by the blow following the death of the toddler.

“Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone,” Ngannou wrote.

“My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he’s laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he’s not responding.

“I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most.”

The fighter’s manager, Marquel Martin, who also confirmed the death of the boy, posted online saying that he along with millions of others will be praying for the Cameroonian.

As the sad news continued to spread, martial arts colleague, Conor McGregor, was among the first to send his condolences to the 37-year-old boxer and former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star.

“I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time,” the Irishman wrote on X.

Ngannou’s former MMA coach, Eric Nicksick also sent an emotional message too.

“It’s been a heavy few days, words can’t express the pain we all feel for the Ngannou family during this time,” Nicksick said.

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