Sports
Africa Wants Return To Rotation Of World Cup Hosts
African delegates are keen for FIFA to reintroduce a rotation system for World Cup hosting after Morocco failed to land the 2026 World Cup.
The North Africans lost out to the triple bid from Canada, Mexico and United States on Wednesday.
“Rotation would be a solution,” said Malawi FA president Walter Nyamilandu.
“We should ask for an amendment to the bidding process that would allow rotation to come back,” added Liberia FA president, Musa Bility.
Morocco lost Wednesday’s vote at the FIFA Congress in Russia by 134 to 65.
By the time the 2026 finals take place, Africa will have hosted just one of 23 World Cups, while Mexico alone will have staged three separate tournaments.
The 2010 finals in South Africa only came about after football’s world governing body specifically introduced a rotation system in 2001.
This was pushed through by former Fifa president Sepp Blatter in response to South Africa’s narrow defeat to stage the 2006 World Cup, which eventually took place in Germany.
Bility believes FIFA could be tempted by the reintroduction of the system, which was abandoned in 2007 after Africa had been awarded the 2010 finals.
“I think this would be acceptable to FIFA because the World Cup is about taking football to the people,” the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee member told Tidesports source.
“There is inequality in the status of countries around the world so you need laws that will allow the tournament to rotate. You saw the margin of the vote – there was no way Morocco was going to win.”
Liberia was one of several African countries which did not vote for the Moroccan bid.
Morocco’s comprehensive defeat has left several African delegates wondering when, if ever, the continent will stage football’s greatest event again.
A total of 41 African nations backed the Moroccan bid, meaning the North Africans picked up just 24 votes from a possible 147 outside the continent.
“My biggest concern is that Africa won’t be given a chance soon,” added Nyamilandu.
“It might take a lot of years and a lot of convincing for the rest of the world to come and vote for Africa again. We had an opportunity and (the final vote) was clear testimony that Africa will not get support from the rest of the world.
“It’s going to take a long time for Africa to host the World Cup.”
Many African delegates believe Morocco lost because its projected tournament profit of $5 billion fell considerably short of the $11 billion being pledged by the North American bid.
“It was a game changer,” said Barry Rukoro, secretary-general of a Namibian FA that backed the ‘United’ bid.
“Football needs resources to develop across the globe and everywhere around the world, people are looking for much more resources than are available. So it really assisted the United bid.”
Even though many African federations will theoretically benefit from additional development funds that the extra $6bn of revenue for Fifa will bring, it still leaves a nagging doubt for some.
“I ask myself, what is the future of the World Cup? – because if we are going to go with the numbers only, what does it mean?,” said Kenya FA president Nick Mwenda.
“The numbers were staggering and it’s true that we all need the money, but when is Kenya going to stage the World Cup if that’s the route we go down?”
“If it is possible to achieve the $11 billion, is that going to be the benchmark?” queried Seychelles FA president Elvis Chetty.
“And if so, will that stop other nations from ever hosting and maybe Africa from ever hosting?”
Morocco has now bid five times for the World Cup without success.
Nonetheless, the African nation was still able to pledge a profit of $5 billion – double the amount that FIFA made from Brazil 2014, from an expanded 48-team World Cup.
“The dynamics have changed with the 48-nation tournament so maybe from an African perspective we need to start thinking how best we can accommodate 48 teams,” said Zambia FA president Andrew Kamanga.
“If you take Africa a whole, we have enough capacity from South Africa to Morocco in the north, so it’s question of ensuring you put together one composite bid that can address all the challenges.”
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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