Sports
AFCON 2013: 46 Days To Go
In 46 days’ time South Africa will host the Africa Cup of Nations, two years and seven months after they became the first African country to provide the stage for the World Cup.
South Africa received high praise for the success of the 2010 tournament and for its construction of several new world-class stadia, and was awarded the 2017 Nations Cup.
Then 14 months ago, the plan to host the 2013 edition of the tournament in Libya fell apart after civil war broke out in the country, leading to the death of Muammar Gaddafi – and South Africa stepped in.
Fifteen nations are soon to arrive for the 29th edition of the tournament, which will be played between 19 January and 10 February. Is South Africa ready?
“We are comfortable with plans that have been put into place, in terms of details and operational execution,” said Mvuzo Mbebe, chief executive officer of the local organising committee.
But he conceded “there’s been a lot of fair criticism that people have not seen enough branding around various cities” and promised that visibility will increase shortly.
The government has allocated 452 million rand (£32 million) to the tournament, of which 83 million rand (£5.8 million) has been assigned to the organising committee. The rest will go to the beautification of host cities and to national departments for logistical costs.
While the World Cup averaged 49,000 spectators per game, and 93 per cent of tickets were sold, filling stadia for Africa Cup of Nations matches has historically proved a much harder task.
Earlier this year, in Equatorial Guinea, only 200 fans were present for the quarter-final between eventual champions Zambia and Sudan in Bata. The 2013 organising committee made ticket sales its number one priority, and in phase one of their campaign they sold 20,000 – double their original target.
The demographic of South Africa’s population has helped, too. The Ethiopian Football Association has requested 15,000 tickets to accommodate their fans as they compete in a major tournament for the first time in 30 years.
Champions Zambia are expecting to sell 10,000 tickets to their followers.
South Africa president Jacob Zuma says hosting the tournament will be “a timely reflection on the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which we hosted successfully with the support of the African continent”.
In a nation where half the population live below the poverty line, tickets have been priced sensibly, with fans able to watch two games for 45 Rand ($5) – since 1978, group matches have been played as double headers in the same stadium.
For a tournament that wasn’t televised until the mid-1980s, the growth has been impressive.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) says, cumulatively, the 32 matches in the 2012 tournament were watched by 6.6 billion people, providing 87,072 hours of television exposure to sponsors.
It’s one thing being good party hosts, but can South Africa perform on the pitch in 2013?
Some see similarities to the 1996 tournament, which South Africa hosted and won only two years after the free elections that saw Nelson Mandela become president.
Hosting the World Cup and now the Nations Cup is seen by many as a watershed moment, the crest of a wave that Bafana Bafana can ride all the way to the final in Johannesburg.
To lift the trophy for a second time South Africa will have to overcome some of the traditional powerhouses of African football.
Sports
Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues
Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Sports
City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road
Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.
The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.
City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.
Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)
Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.
Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).
In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.
And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.
Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.
But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.
Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.
Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.
Sports
PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1
Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.
The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.
PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.
Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.
Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.
Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.
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