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Byline: APO GROUP

NBA Africa and Shesha open league’s first physical store on the continent

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
NBA Africa and Shesha open league’s first physical store on the continent

New NBA  store at Sandton City in Johannesburg, South Africa Features Extensive Range of NBA Merchandise, Including Nike Jerseys, Apparel, Memorabilia and More; 2004 NBA Champion Richard “Rip” Hamilton Attends Store Opening

NBA Africa and Shesha, a premium retailer of exclusive and limited-edition footwear, apparel, and accessories, today announced the opening of the first physical NBA Store in Africa.

The 270-square-meter store, which is located at Sandton City in Johannesburg, South Africa and operated by Shesha, features an extensive range of official NBA merchandise and memorabilia, including current and former player jerseys, an assortment of youth NBA jerseys, apparel, headwear, footwear, sporting goods, toys, and collectibles from major brands such as Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Wilson.  The store also features authentic memorabilia from throughout NBA history and a customization area where fans can personalize NBA jerseys.

The announcement was made this afternoon at the store by NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, Shesha CEO Nirmal Devchand and 2004 NBA champion Richard “Rip” Hamilton.  In celebration of the opening, fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, which will be displayed at the store from today through Sunday, Oct. 16.

Later this year, NBA Africa and Shesha will launch the league’s first e-commerce site on the continent, which will provide fans in select African countries with the widest selection of authentic NBA products ever available in Africa.

“Launching the first NBA Store in collaboration with Shesha reflects our commitment to driving greater engagement with our passionate African fans,” said Williams.  “Through this new store, fans will be able to more easily represent their favorite teams and players, showcase their fandom and elevate the culture around basketball on the continent.”

“We are honored and excited to deliver the first NBA Store in Africa,” said Devchand.  “This store will provide NBA fans in South Africa with the greatest access they have had to league merchandise, including jerseys of NBA players, legends, and African pioneers past and present.  We look forward to welcoming basketball fans to the NBA Store and celebrating our shared love for the game.”

In addition to merchandise, the new store features large screens showing NBA TV, the league’s 24/7 dedicated channel that airs live games, highlights, and original content.  The store also features an interactive photo display where fans can take pictures as if they are standing alongside NBA players, as well as a dedicated area where fans can compare their heights and shoe sizes to NBA players and legends.

There are more than 400 NBA-branded retail stores and attractions worldwide that serve as the league’s official destinations for fans around the world.

Hamilton spent 14 years in the NBA, playing for the Washington Wizards (1999-2002), Detroit Pistons (2002-2011) and Chicago Bulls (2011-2013).  He won the 2004 NBA championship with the Pistons and was a three-time NBA All-Star (2006-2008).

Posted in BasketballTagged NBA, Shesha

FIFA announces partnership with Globant to wide-ranging FIFA+ and multi-tournament agreement

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
FIFA announces partnership with Globant to wide-ranging FIFA+ and multi-tournament agreement

ZURICH, Switzerland, October 17, 2022/ — Globant will be the Global Platform Supporter of FIFA+, leveraging the latest technologies to enhance the user experience on FIFA+ game-changing digital platform.

The digital consultant and software development provider will support and sponsor flagship events as part of the multi-year deal, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023; agreement also sees Globant become a FIFAe Series Global Sponsor in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

FIFA has struck a multi-year agreement with digital consultant and software provider Globant to supercharge the growth of the FIFA+ streaming platform and support football’s flagship events, starting with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Globant will be the Global Platform Supporter of FIFA+, the game-changing digital destination launched earlier this year. As part of its responsibilities, Globant – which has 25,900 employees and a presence in 20 countries – will create new features and connected experiences for FIFA+ users while supporting the distribution of the platform.

In addition, the company will be a Regional Supporter of this year’s FIFA World Cup in North America and Europe, as well as a Sponsor of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

Globant will also be a FIFAe Series Global Sponsor in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and a worldwide Tournament Supporter of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024, FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 and FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025.

“Since its launch in April, FIFA+ has quickly established itself as the go-to platform for fans, as well as the digital home of FIFA events, including those that will be supported by Globant over the coming years,” said Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer.

“Through its multi-faceted support, Globant will play a vital role in accelerating the development of FIFA+ as a groundbreaking digital hub that inspires and engages football enthusiasts across the globe.”

Martin Migoya, Co-Founder and CEO of Globant, said: “We are proud to start working with FIFA to accompany them in their digital transformation process and continue propeling our goal of reinventing industries. This multi-year partnership transcends any specific competition and supports this sport in all of its expressions – women, men, esports and youth. We believe that unlimited voices bring unlimited power, and diversity is a pivotal factor for innovation.”

Wanda Weigert, Globant’s Chief Brand Officer, added: “We believe that technology can boost passion and elevate the sports experience. Participating in all these global competitions will allow us to connect with people from every corner of Earth and with beloved brands to support them in their reinvention paths.”

Posted in Sport ExtraTagged Fifa, Globant

Six global cities to host International FIFA Fan Festival  events during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
Six global cities to host International FIFA Fan Festival  events during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

The fun, entertaining and joyful atmosphere of the FIFA Fan Festival  in Doha’s Al Bidda Park  will now be felt around the world as FIFA Monday  announced that six global destinations would host satellite events during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Budweiser will therefore be the first Commercial Affiliate in FIFA World Cup history to host International FIFA Fan Festival  events, together with sister brands Corona and Brahma, in six cities across the globe: London, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Seoul, and Dubai. Budweiser, Corona and Brahma, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, will be the featured brands for the festivals.

The satellite events will complement the main FIFA Fan Festival in Doha’s Al Bidda Park, a newly reimagined experience that will create a go-to destination for all fans on-site in Qatar and will offer an electric experience of football, music, food and culture.

All International FIFA Fan Festival events will offer live match broadcasts from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as well as various entertainment-driven activities, including performances by popular international DJs, local musicians and artists as well as appearances by FIFA Legends. Selected events will boast 4D immersive audio that will bring the sounds from the matches in Qatar to local events.

The International FIFA Fan Festival venues will be connected with the mothership event in Qatar through on-site FIFA World Cup branding, exclusive content from the host country and unified storytelling on FIFA digital channels, in particular FIFA+, which will serve as a digital content hub for fans to watch, experience and interact with others around the world.

International FIFA Fan Festival events will be open on selected dates and times throughout the tournament, starting on 20 November. The individual event concepts range in size, with pop-up activations as well as flagship events with a capacity of 10,000+ visitors. All International FIFA Fan Festival events led by Budweiser and Brahma will only be open to consumers of legal drinking age, with general admission and VIP access available either free of charge or for a fee, depending on the market.

“The FIFA Fan Festival was designed to bring fans together beyond the stadiums to experience the best of football, music, culture and lifestyle,” said FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai. “We’re honoured to collaborate with Budweiser, Corona and Brahma to take the FIFA Fan Festival concept that will live in Doha and reverberate it around these high-energy global events – taking the buzzing atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup to the doorsteps of fans worldwide.”

“With billions of football fans watching the World Cup, we’re thrilled to partner with FIFA to create the first-ever International FIFA Fan Festival, which is the ultimate fan experience – from a next-generation audio and visual experience to celebrating local music and culture – all with Budweiser, Corona and Brahma,” said Todd Allen, Global Vice President of Marketing, Budweiser at AB InBev.

International FIFA Fan Festival™ events:

Event name

Location

About the location

BudX FIFA Fan Festival London

Outernet

Outernet is the newest party venue in the heart of London, with state-of-the-art facilities that will give fans in London a combined match-viewing and nightclub experience.

Corona FIFA Fan Festival Mexico City

Plaza de la República

An iconic tourist spot, centrally located in Mexico City. Plaza de la República is an open-air square that will naturally bring fans together.

Arena Brahma FIFA Fan Festival Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana

Known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Copacabana needs no introduction. It is an iconic location with a vibrant atmosphere, and it also hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Fan Fest.

Arena Brahma FIFA Fan Festival São Paulo

São Paulo Anhangabaú

Vale do Anhangabaú is a park that separates the old city centre from the new city centre in São Paulo. Centrally located, Vale do Anhangabaú is surrounded by iconic architecture and is easily accessible.

BudX FIFA Fan Festival Seoul

S Factory

S Factory is one of the trendiest venues in Seoul, with a premium underground feel that will make any event memorable.

BudX FIFA Fan Festival Dubai

Dubai Harbour

An extraordinary outdoor venue on the Dubai waterfront, with the city’s unique skyline serving as its backdrop.

FIFA Fan Festival

In September, FIFA introduced a reimagined fan destination and on-site entertainment experience for fans at future FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup events called the FIFA Fan Festival. Beginning with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Bidda Park in Doha, this multidimensional, inclusive event will provide new ways for fans to celebrate their shared passion for football while experiencing the very best in music, entertainment, local culture, food, games and lifestyle in a true festival environment.

This unique commercial licensing model created by FIFA allows new and existing stakeholders to stage events in major cities across the globe. FIFA will extend the licensing model to future events and plans to announce more locations for International FIFA Fan Festival events in due course.

For more information about the FIFA Fan Festivals, both in Doha and beyond, visit FIFA+.

Beyond Doha’s Al Bidda Park

Qatar will also host a vast array of cultural and entertainment options during this year’s FIFA World Cup, with more than 90 special events set to take place on the sidelines of the tournament. Doha Corniche will be one of the largest fan destinations, with roving performances, cultural activities, food and beverage stalls, and retail outlets along its 6km route, with capacity to host up to 120,000 fans every day.

Other activities will include the daily “Welcome to Qatar” show, one of the biggest water and pyrotechnics shows in the world that will feature music from the Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, Qatari composer Wael Binali and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Theme-park rides and other attractions at Al Maha Island Lusail will also be open to fans, as will the Ras Abou Aboud 974 Beach Club, the Hayya Fan Zone on the Lusail South Promenade, and the Arcadia Spectacular and ARAVIA by MDL Beast dance music festivals. The Last-Mile Cultural Activations will also feature more than 6,000 performances in 21 locations, offering entertainment for those on their way to the stadiums.

Posted in Qatar 2022Tagged International FIFA Fan Festival™, Qatar World Cup

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official soundtrack release: all-female line-up inspires the globe to Light The Sky

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official soundtrack release: all-female line-up inspires the globe to Light The Sky

Light The Sky is the fourth release from the multi-song FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack; the single features four of the Arab world’s most famous female singers – Balqees, Nora Fatehi, Manal and Rahma Riad; the single’s music video celebrates female referees officiating at a FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.

Light The Sky, a stunning collaboration including four of the Arab world’s most famous female singers, is the latest release to hit the airwaves from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack.

The spellbinding single features the haunting vocals of Emirati singer Balqees, Moroccan-Canadian sensation Nora Fatehi, Iraqi superstar Rahma Riad, and award-winning singer-songwriter Manal from Morocco.

The song’s atmospheric and edgy music video also celebrates the groundbreaking inclusion of female referees at the first-ever FIFA World Cup in the Middle East by featuring all six officials who were selected for the tournament.

Stéphanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan will take charge of matches in Qatar, while Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Díaz Medina from Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt from the USA will be assistant referees.

Light The Sky is the fourth single on the Official Soundtrack, following global hits Hayya Hayya (Better Together), Arhbo and The World is Yours to Take, with more releases to follow ahead of the start of the tournament on 20 November.

The multi-song Official Soundtrack, spearheaded by the FIFA Sound strategy, is bringing together artists, fans and players to share their passion by combining the universal languages of music and football.

“Light The Sky tells us to ‘shout if you’re with me’ and brings to life the spirit of communal celebration of the FIFA World Cup – an energising message as we look forward to a game-changing tournament of firsts,” FIFA Entertainment Executive and song producer RedOne says. “This is an inspirational song with its roots firmly in the Middle East. It is also fitting that the first-ever female referees at a FIFA World Cup are part of this release that will connect with football and music lovers of all ages.”

Posted in Qatar 2022Tagged Fifa, Qatar, World Cup

NBA debuts 2022-23 Tip-Off Spots: “The Nonstop NBA” and “This is HAPPENING

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
NBA debuts 2022-23 Tip-Off Spots: “The Nonstop NBA” and “This is HAPPENING

The NBA Friday  debuted its new 2022-23 season tip-off spots, “The Nonstop NBA” for its brand campaign and “This is HAPPENING” for the new NBA App.

Both are now streaming across all @NBA social platforms and on the new reimagined NBA App.

2022-23 Brand Campaign – “The Nonstop NBA”:

Told through the lens of the ultimate NBA superfan, nicknamed “Non-Stop”, and featuring an All-Star lineup of NBA players, coaches and legends, the spot celebrates the return of the NBA, showcasing how the game and its culture is constantly evolving.

“We got sneaks-on-the-ground on four coasts… From a Serbian Serpent moving like Mamba… To A Greek-Nigerian-Milwaukeean changing the face of the game… to an ice-cold Trae in the heart of Hotlanta… To a couple brothers in the Bay with wet jays splashing their way back to try to go back-to- back…”

Reigning NBA Champion Stephen Curry headlines an illustrious cast of NBA talent starring Jayson Tatum, Tyler Herro, Paul George and Joel Embiid, who remind fans about all the exciting on-court elements that they can look forward to this season. From a potential Warriors repeat for Curry to another shot at the Celtics claiming a league record 18th title orchestrated by Tatum, the drama known as the NBA is about to begin its next act.

“The Nonstop NBA” also features a fan debate at an outdoor basketball court on whose team will be this year’s champ, with Embiid proclaiming that it’s the 76ers’ year. From exciting matchups and captivating crossovers to breathtaking buzzer beaters, the nonstop energy of the league extends far beyond the baseline to culture, fashion, music, the metaverse and more – whether it’s Damian Lillard recording in the studio, DeMar DeRozan showing off his impressive sneaker collection or Luka Dončić coming to life in NBA 2K23.

Finally, “Non-Stop” makes one thing clear – the NBA has something for everyone, and fans better keep up because “in the NBA, what’s happening next is happening now.”

Full cast includes:

NBA Players: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Paul George (LA Clippers), Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

NBA Legends: Tim Hardaway Sr., Bill Walton

Coaches: Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers)

Influencers: Crissa Jackson

Non-Stop: Actor Keyon Bowman

Created in conjunction with independent creative agency Translation, the spot was directed by Calmatic (“House Party”, “Entrepreneur” by Pharrell Williams ft.

Jay-Z and “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus.  “The Nonstop NBA” is currently airing on television networks, with additional :30, :15 and :10-second versions running on social and digital channels. The spot will also be translated in 14 additional languages to reach fans globally.

2022-23 NBA App Campaign: “This is HAPPENING”:

Ahead of the 2022-23 season, the league launched the new reimagined NBA App  to be an all-in- one destination for fans of every team. To celebrate the new app, the league released its campaign, “This is HAPPENING,” to get fans excited about all the NBA App has to offer.

Posted in BasketballTagged NBA

Eritrea is participating at Summer Para-Olympics

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
Eritrea is participating at Summer Para-Olympics

Eritrea is participating at the Summer Para-Olympics 2022 that is underway in Sochi, Russian Federation, from 2 to 9 October under the theme “We Are One in Sport”.

At the Para-Olympics in which 20 countries are taking part, Eritrea is participating by three disabled athletes including one female in table tennis.

Eritrea is participating at the invitation by the National Committee of the Para-Olympics of the Russian Federation to the National Para-Olympics Committee of Eritrea.

Para-Olympics 2022 incorporates table tennis, athletics, swimming, chess, and handball among others.

Eritrea became member of the International Para-Olympics Committee on 11 December 2021 at the general meeting held in Taiwan.

Posted in Paralympic GamesTagged Eritrea, Paralympics

Bright Future Beckons for Liberian football

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
Bright Future Beckons for Liberian football

Liberia rolling out ambitious pilot development schemes; refurbishment of the Antoinette Tubman Stadium and construction of head offices for national FA; projects funded with the aid of the FIFA Forward Programme.

In late September, a FIFA delegation travelled to Liberia to tour the new facilities that the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has worked hard to put in place, with the assistance of world football’s governing body and its FIFA Forward Programme.

“On behalf of the people of Liberia, I would like to express my gratitude to you once again for your visit,” said LFA President Mustapha Raji. “My thanks to the FIFA Council for having approved and launched FIFA Forward, a programme that has changed the dynamics of Liberian football and the development of infrastructure in our country.”

The focal point of the pilot project, which was put on hold as a result of the pandemic, was the refurbishment of the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, starting with its lighting system. “We are proud of what has been achieved here with the installation of a cutting-edge floodlight system,” said Carlos Gazapo, FIFA Infrastructure & Environment Manager, who is heading up FIFA Forward infrastructure projects.

The city’s main football stadium, the ATS has been unable to host evening matches for several years now on account of its defective floodlights. Thanks to the new system, it can now host night matches across all age groups, giving the general population an opportunity to enjoy some recreation after work and school hours.

“Having these floodlights is a real boost,” commented LFA Vice-President Sekou Konneh. “Schoolchildren who don’t have such facilities in their neighbourhoods can now come and sit and watch matches or even do their homework.”

Women’s football in the spotlight

The extension of the stadium’s operating hours means it can now host more women’s football matches. “Many girls go to school during the day and they’re thrilled to be able to come here and play at night,” said LFA Deputy Vice-President and Head of Women’s Football Jodie Reid Seton. “It’s important that FIFA continues to support the national FA and women’s football in particular. It will encourage new approaches and ensure that more girls play the game and take part in FIFA’s women’s football development campaign. It will help us to train more female coaches too.” A giant LED screen has also been installed at Liberia’s legendary national stadium. As well as displaying the score it can also screen advertisements, helping to generate income that can be put towards the upkeep of the venue.

The Samuel K. Do Stadium, which backs on to the ATS, has also undergone extensive refurbishment work, the idea being to broaden the appeal of the city’s main football venue, which is home to the local footballing community, and the services it offers. “Our plan was to install three artificial pitches, renovate the roof on the stand, which has a capacity of 600, and refurbish the dressing room,” explained Diop El Hadji Wack, the head of FIFA’s regional development office in Dakar, Senegal. “As you can see, these renovations are complete and the federation is now in a position to organise league matches and club training sessions. Players can now enjoy playing better football on standard pitches that reduce the risk of injury.”

In further good news for Liberia, construction of the LFA’s first head offices will very soon be complete. The new headquarters will allow the federation to run all its activities from a single location and to make the most of all its resources.

Also built with FIFA Forward funding, the offices will provide a fresh boost for the development of the game in Liberia and reflect the desire of FIFA President Gianni Infantino to make football truly global.

Posted in Football - AfricaTagged Fifa, Liberia

Brazil pull away from the pack in FIFA rankings

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
Brazil pull away from the pack in FIFA rankings

A total of 53 UEFA Nations League matches and 119 friendlies were played in the last international break before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which begins on 20 November. As well as giving the 32 qualifiers for the upcoming world finals one last dress rehearsal, the matches also had an impact on the latest FIFA/Cola-Cola World Ranking.

Brazil (1st, -) will embark on their bid to win a sixth world title as Ranking leaders. In beating Ghana and Tunisia in their two friendlies last week, A Seleçao widened the gap between themselves and their nearest challengers, Belgium (2nd, -), who lost to Netherlands (8th, -) in the Nations League. Argentina (3rd, -) complete the podium.

Just behind lie reigning world champions France (4th, -), followed by England (5th, -). The only change in the top 10 saw Italy (6th, plus 1) leapfrog Spain (7th, minus 1), who drop down a place.

There is more movement further down the Ranking. Croatia (12th, plus 3) rose three places, while IR Iran (20th, plus 2) moved into the top 20, followed closely by Serbia (21st, plus 4), who gained four places.

The biggest movers were teams who failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, namely Scotland (40th, plus 5) and Azerbaijan (123rd, plus 5), both five places higher. Honourable mentions should also go to Algeria (37th, plus 4), Georgia (78th, plus 4), Mauritania (103rd, plus 4) and Suriname (139th, plus 4), all of whom ascended four places.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 22 December 2022.

Leader Brazil (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 None
Moves out of top 10 None
Matches played in total 172
Most matches played Ghana (5)
Biggest move by points Azerbaijan (plus 19.55)
Biggest move by places Azerbaijan, Scotland (plus 5)
Biggest drop by points North Macedonia (minus 16.69)
Biggest drop by places Norway (minus 6)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked None
Inactive teams that are no longer ranked None

Posted in FootballTagged Brazil, Fifa

NBA launches reimagined app: The all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team

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NBA launches reimagined app: The all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team

The NBA Tuesday announced the launch of the reimagined global NBA app, the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team.

With entirely new personalization features, the NBA App will provide wall-to-wall content from every NBA game and feature social-style vertical video, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players and teams, new and existing shows and series, and access to the NBA vault for free.

The NBA App – a product of NBA Digital, the league’s joint venture with Turner Sports – is free to download.

Additionally, the NBA has launched NBA ID, the league’s new global membership program offering fans benefits and rewards from the league, teams and its partners. NBA ID, which is free to join, will link a fan’s experiences across existing products like NBA League Pass and NBA Pick’Em.

Throughout the season, NBA ID members will get access to new original content and fan favorites from the NBA vault.

Additionally, there will be enhanced members-only experiences from NBA partners, ticket promotions, prizes through predictive and sweepstakes-style NBA Pick’Em fantasy games, voting campaigns and other rewards.

The NBA App is powered by the NBA’s new integrated digital platform, which was built in partnership with Microsoft, the NBA’s official cloud and AI partner.

The NBA App now includes a sleek new design and a first-of-its-kind “For You” experience, with content recommendations based on fan preferences and personalization powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure AI.

Within the app’s “For You” page, fans can tap into a social-like vertical video experience – with vertical scrolling – that features real-time highlights of all NBA games in progress.

The league’s direct-to-consumer subscription offerings – NBA League Pass and NBA TV – will be integrated into the NBA App, giving fans the ability to watch live games and highlights and check scores, statistics and standings, all in one place.

For NBA League Pass subscribers, the live streams will feature higher video quality, lower streaming latency and a seamless user experience for consuming live NBA content.

NBA League Pass returns this season with a new bundle and at its lowest pricing ever.  For a limited time, the standard package is now available for $14.99 per month ($99.99 for full season) and the premium package for $19.99 per month ($129.99 for full season).

Subscribers will automatically receive the NBA TV direct-to-consumer offering as part of the new bundle.

“Launching our new NBA App and digital platform is a major milestone as we continue to build and strengthen our direct-to-consumer offerings,” said Chris Benyarko, NBA Executive Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer.  “We are thrilled to deliver a reimagined product that will enhance and personalize the way NBA fans engage with the league on a daily basis.”

Additional content series and other enhanced features on the NBA App will be announced throughout the season.

Posted in BasketballTagged NBA, NBA League

Players at FIFA World Cup 2022 to access individual data and insights through app

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/apo-group/" rel="tag">APO GROUP</a>
Players at FIFA World Cup 2022 to access individual data and insights through app

In line with the FIFA President’s Vision 2020-2023 to harness technology to further improve football, players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be able to get insights into their on-field performance through the FIFA Player App, FIFA announced on Friday.

FIFA has developed the FIFA Player App, based on input from professional players, in collaboration with FIFPRO, the global representative of professional footballers. The FIFA Player App will be used for the first time at a FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The survey and interviews conducted show that players are very interested in their performance data and want to have easy access to this information. The FIFA Player App will provide the opportunity for each player to access their individual player-performance data shortly after each match. The data collected includes the following:

Enhanced football data metrics – calculated from enhanced event data, captured by a team of highly trained FIFA football performance analysts, combined with tracking data.

Examples include whether a player made an offer or movement to receive, whether their distribution action broke opposition lines, and the pressure they applied to an opponent in possession of the ball. All metrics are captured against the FIFA Football Language definitions.

Physical performance metrics – collected through a highly accurate in-stadium tracking system consisting of multiple cameras located around the pitch for maximum player coverage.

Metrics include distance covered at various speed thresholds, number of actions above 25km/h, and maximum speed, all displayed on positional heat maps.

Enhanced football intelligence metrics – created by the FIFA Football Performance Analysis and Insights team through the development of a series of algorithms and models that operate live to integrate event and tracking data.

The new metrics provide innovative and exciting ways to analyse the game, including the phase of play, line-breaking events, receiving locations, and pressure being applied to the player in possession of the ball.

This data is then synchronised with match footage to enable players to watch all key moments of their own performance in detail, using different camera angles.

Additionally, multiple action photographs taken during key moments of each FIFA World Cup match will be made available to each individual player. Players will be able to save or share the photos on social media, together with their favourite match statistics, directly from the app.

Players will be able to access the FIFA Player App when they arrive in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA Player App was successfully trialled with players from different teams at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 and was presented to the FIFA World Cup participating teams during the recent Team Workshop in Doha.

Johannes Holzmüller, FIFA Director of Football Technology and Innovation, said:

“For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, not only the participating teams but also all players will have the opportunity to get direct access to their own performance data and the related video clips after each match. This player-centric development is based on direct feedback from the players and is another great example of how FIFA is using technology to the best of its potential by improving the football experience for the key actors on the pitch.”

This innovation is a first visible outcome of the collaboration between FIFA and FIFPRO ( on the development of standards and best practices for the collection, protection and use of personal player-performance data.

Both organisations have been working closely together to define a Charter of Player Data Rights with the goal of developing these standards whilst transparently informing football players about their privacy rights according to existing legislation such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Simon Colosimo, FIFPRO Deputy General Secretary, said: “Players have clearly articulated to us that they want more access and benefit from the collection of their data. In combination with the Charter of Player Data Rights announced earlier this week, the FIFA Player App is a positive outcome that will activate personal data rights and provide a new resource for players at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. We expect the joint work between FIFA and FIFPRO on player data to continue unlocking benefits for men and women players across a wide range of areas, including health and performance, in-game technology and matchday experience.”

One of the goals of FIFA’s Vision 2020-2023 is to harness technology to best serve football, players and the game – and that includes the way FIFA processes the personal data of players.

FIFA is proud that players trust us to look after their data, and the FIFA team works hard to keep all personal information safe and secure.

Posted in Qatar 2022Tagged Fifa, Qatar, World Cup

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