Sports
2013 AFCON: Let The Excitement Begin
The 2013 African Cup of Nations will finally kick off tomorrow in South Africa amidst excitement and expectations.
It is the 29th edition and the first time the African mundial will be held in an odd year, a design by the Confederation of African football, CAF, to avoid the championship being held in the same year as the FIFA World Cup.
After an expected elaborate opening ceremony, hosts, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and debutants, Cape Verde Islands will take to the pitch for the opening match of the Championship.
Johannesburg will host the opening and final matches while other centres are in Rustenburg. Nelsprint and Port Elizabeth.
Having successfully hosted the 2010 World Cup, South Africa has what it takes to bring back the sparkle to the Nations Cup, which it is hosting after Libya, the initial host was swopped.
Only a year ago the continent and beyond was thrilled by the crème dela crème of African football in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, which threw up Zambia as eventual champions.
Already, pundits are creating their favourites. Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana seem to be high on the lists of predicators of eventual winners.
But with returnees after 31 years of absence, Ethiopia, First timers, Cape Verde, who stopped the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the hosts and the North African contingents fancying their chances for glory, it may be fool hardy for any one to stick his neck out too much on predictions.
Certainly, which ever country that lifts the trophy will be making history with the coronation of the odd years. And if Zambia fails to mount successful defence of their title, they will make history as the only champions to have reigned for one odd year only.
Indeed, all 16 nations in South Africa have cause to feel the hand of history on their shoulders.
Overall, the AFCON is a festival of friendly rivalries. It is a pan-African funfair, one of the most colourful football tournaments on planet Earth. The fans are expected to make all the difference even when teams falter. They drum, they sing, they dance, they celebrate in flamboyant costumes and drama.
The plurality, diversity and uniformity of African culture finds its fullest and most passionate expression at one and the same time.
For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the aging golden generation of Cote d’ Ivoire, Black Stars of Ghana and perhaps, the north African teams, it is an opportunity to taste success again.
But the AFCON is a people’s affair, far more than a love for trophies. It touches almost every home through out the continent. And from tomorrow to 10th February will be action time.
Let the excitement begin, let the Vuvuzelas sound and let the talents of Africa shine through from South Africa.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.