LIBREVILLE, Gabon: Traditional continental giants who had fallen on hard times, Egypt and Cameroon are looking to cap remarkable revivals when they meet in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.
The first winners of the trophy 60 years ago, Egypt have been African champions a record seven times but were making their comeback in the competition here after missing the last three editions of the Cup of Nations amid political upheaval in the country.
Behind them Cameroon are, alongside Ghana, the next most successful side in the history of the tournament with four victories, the last in 2002.
While Egypt were seen as dark horses on their return to the Cup of Nations for the first time since their run of three straight triumphs in 2006, 2008 and 2010, Cameroon were dismissed as outsiders.
Apparently handicapped by the refusal of several leading players to accept call-ups from Belgian coach Hugo Broos, instead a team lacking in stars has eliminated hosts Gabon and fancied duo Senegal and Ghana to make it this far.
Sunday’s match at the 40,000-seat Stade de l’Amitie in Gabon’s capital Libreville kicks off at 1900 GMT and is preceded by the closing ceremony.
It will be the third meeting of the countries in the final — Egypt won on penalties in Cairo in 1986 and triumphed 1-0 in Accra in 2008.
That was Cameroon’s last final appearance, but while then they had the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Rigobert Song, their current team has no such big name stars.
“For these young players — 14 of the 23 are playing at their first Cup of Nations — it is possibly a unique opportunity in their careers to win the trophy,” Broos said.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, captain Benjamin Moukandjo added: “Of course when you get to this stage you want to win but I think looking at the run we have had we have already done well.”
Eto’o, the former Barcelona striker who is now 35 and playing in Turkey, was at the Stade de l’Amitie for the game to provide some star backing for his country.
“Wishing you a great final! Come on Cameroon!” he wrote on Twitter, while posing for a photo with the former France star Marcel Desailly.
Egypt have been solid and unspectacular on their run to the final, the only goal they have conceded coming in the semifinal against Burkina Faso.
After drawing that match 1-1, they went through on penalties, 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary saving two spot-kicks to take the Pharaohs through and keep alive his dream of winning the title for the fifth time in a remarkable career.
Like Broos with Cameroon, Hector Cuper has done a fine job in reviving the fortunes of the Egyptians, whose squad contains only four survivors from their 2010 triumph in El Hadary, Ahmed Fathy, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi and Hull City wing-back Ahmed Elmohamady.
“Egypt will not be very different to what we have seen so far, whether people like that or not, whether that means we will be attacking or not,” Cuper said on Saturday.
Cuper’s own career has featured numerous disappointments in finals, most notably in successive seasons in the UEFA Champions League with Valencia in 2000 and 2001.
However, he can take some comfort from Egypt’s own record in finals — they have won seven of eight in the Cup of Nations.
The injuries have been piling up for them, however, and strikers Ahmed Hassan and Marwan Mohsen are on the sidelines.
“We will wait until the last moment to see how the players are feeling. They are very tired, but a final is different to other games and there are a huge number of factors in play,” added Cuper.
One factor that could play into Cameroon’s hands is the crowd — the large number of Cameroonian expats in Gabon and the short distance from Cameroon to Libreville meant the majority of the crowd was expected to be behind them.
Cameroon, Egypt go head to head in Africa Cup of Nations final
Cameroon, Egypt go head to head in Africa Cup of Nations final
Germany’s president visits Riyadh training center for briefing on women’s football development in Saudi Arabia
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the first German head of state to visit Saudi Arabia, was accompanied by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal
- Regional Training Centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are nurturing football talent in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation hosted Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Riyadh Regional Training Center on Monday.
Steinmeier, the first German head of state to visit Saudi Arabia, has travelled to the Kingdom to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a three-day tour of the Middle East.
Steinmeier visited the Riyadh Girls’ RTC for a briefing on the development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia. His appearance highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to developing sport across all levels in the country.
Steinmeier was accompanied by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi.
The Riyadh RTC is one of four such training centers across the Kingdom that are developing football talent in a safe, educational, and supportive environment.
The centers focus on physical health, social skills and mental well-being. There are facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah.
The Riyadh Girls’ RTC was launched by the SAFF in 2021. Now operating for the fourth year, there are 60 female players enrolled from under-8 to under-15.
The Jeddah center, in its third year, has 100 female players, while there are 80 in Dammam, and 60 in Madinah.
The work of the RTCs to prepare players for elite-level competition has proved vital since their launch, with 60 percent of the under-17 women’s national team scouted from the centers during the 2023/2024 season.
Saudi Pro League expands global footprint with Brazil push
- SPL executives are in South America to meet Brazilian League, Brazilian Football Confederation
- There are more Brazilian players in the SPL than from any other overseas nation
SAO PAULO: The Saudi Pro League has started a strategic expansion drive into Brazil with the aim of strengthening ties with one of the world’s biggest, most enthusiastic football markets.
The SPL is currently home to 26 Brazilian players, more than any other overseas nation. With more than 100 matches streamed on YouTube in Brazil via Canal GOAT and Band, the league reached 50 million views in 2023-24, creating a solid platform for an initiative which strives to deepen engagement with Brazilian fans, broaden the SPL’s visibility, and create new commercial opportunities.
As part of its strategy, SPL executives are presently in Brazil to meet representatives from the Brazilian League, the Brazilian Football Confederation and leading sports marketing agencies, as well as existing and potential partners.
Mohammed Basrawi, the Saudi Pro League’s general manager of marketing, communication and content, said: “Brazilians have a deep and passionate football culture, and we want to bring them closer to the excitement of the SPL by establishing a long-term and immersive presence in the country.”
The SPL is launching official Brazilian social media channels to provide fans with localized content, behind-the-scenes access, and exclusive engagement opportunities. The league will also introduce a local fan community to enhance its connection with Brazilian supporters. Additionally, the SPL’s presence in Brazil will extend to key football events, ensuring strong on-the-ground engagement at key points in the football calendar.
By investing in Brazil, the SPL is solidifying its global stature while also embracing the passion and heritage that define Brazilian football, marking an exciting new chapter in the league’s international journey.
Tatum shines as Celtics down Cavs, Lakers thrash Clippers
- Kyrie Irving scored 34 points but it was not enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks from taking a 118-116 defeat against Philadelphia 76ers buoyed by the return of Joel Embiid
- Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points and hauled down 20 rebounds to help the New York Knicks to a 121-115 win over the Raptors
LOS ANGELES: Jayson Tatum scored 22 points as the Boston Celtics laid down a postseason marker against the high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers with a 112-105 victory on the road on Tuesday.
In a heavyweight showdown between the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers and the second-ranked Celtics, Boston produced a clinical display to seal a deserved win.
Tatum led the Boston scoring but it was the Celtics’ balanced offense that proved too much for the Cavaliers.
Tatum was one of five Celtics players to finish in double figures, while Derrick White’s 20-point contribution — which included six three-pointers — played a key role in securing a Boston victory.
Kristaps Porzingis finished with 19 points and Jaylen Brown 16 while Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland scoring with 31 points.
Boston had looked poised to inflict a crushing defeat after outscoring Cleveland 28-15 in the first quarter before opening up a mammoth 20-point lead in the second.
But after trailing 43-23 midway through the second quarter, Cleveland came roaring back to cut the deficit to 10 points at halftime.
The Cavs kept chipping away at the Boston advantage in the second half but some superb shooting by the Celtics ensured the visitors always kept the hosts at arm’s length.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Lakers recruit Luka Doncic looked on from the bench as his new teammates demolished the Los Angeles Clippers 122-97.
LeBron James led the way for the Lakers with 26 points while Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves added 20 points apiece.
The Lakers improved to 29-19 with the win and are sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
“We’re just trying to play good basketball and keep stacking days, tonight was another one,” James said. “We came out with the right mindset, we had a great scheme and we executed that.”
In other games, Kyrie Irving scored 34 points but it was not enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks from slipping to a 118-116 defeat against a Philadelphia 76ers lineup buoyed by the return of Joel Embiid.
Embiid, who has missed the past month with a knee and foot injury, produced a superb triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and scored the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds remaining to help the Sixers claim a precious win.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers scoring with 33 points, with 13 assists and four rebounds.
The Mavericks were without new recruit Anthony Davis, who was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers.
Davis is still nursing an abdominal strain but is expected to be ready to make his debut later this week, either against Boston on Thursday or against Houston on Saturday.
In Toronto, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points and hauled down 20 rebounds to help the New York Knicks to a 121-115 win over the Raptors.
The pre-game ceremony once again saw Canadian fans boo the US national anthem in protest at US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
In New York, the struggling Brooklyn Nets (17-33) upset the Houston Rockets 99-97 thanks to a D’Angelo Russell three-pointer with three seconds remaining.
Jabeur through to last 16, Raducanu eliminated at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
- Tunisian defeats Jelena Ostapenko and will face Japanese rising star Wakana Sonobe on Wednesday
ABU DHABI: Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur overcame Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets on Tuesday to reach the last 16 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, while Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing early exit at the hands of Marketa Vondrousova.
Elsewhere, Belinda Bencic, Leylah Fernandez, Magda Linette and Linda Noskova all progressed on day four of the tournament.
Jabeur faced Ostapenko in the day’s final match on Stadium Court, and it was a case of saving the best for last as the two players pushed each other all the way in a wonderful contest.
In truth, it was a match in which neither player deserved to lose, but Jabeur did enough to edge it, winning the first set via a tie-break before taking the second 7-5 to set up a last-16 clash with 17-year-old Wakana Sonobe.
In a meeting of Grand Slam champions, Raducanu faced Vondrousova and began the match brightly. Having forced an early break of serve to go 3-1 up, the 22-year-old appeared to be in the ascendancy.
A double fault in the following game, however, set the tone for what followed as she struggled to recover, with Vondrousova winning five consecutive games to take the first set.
While Raducanu, at times, produced moments of brilliance, she was hampered by a series of unforced errors. Both players had their moments in the second set, but it was Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, who displayed greater consistency in her game.
At 5-3, Raducanu broke her opponent, who was serving for the match. But it was indicative of her overall performance that in the following game, the Brit was on the opposite end of a break. Vondrousova now progresses to the last 16, and meets Yulia Putintseva, courtesy of a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Bencic, winner of the inaugural Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in 2023, made a triumphant return to Zayed Sports City as she overcame the challenge of Rebecca Sramkova in three sets.
Making her first appearance at the stadium since winning the competition, Bencic started the match confidently, dropping just two games as she took the first set comfortably.
Sramkova produced a strong response to win the second set. But Bencic, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, totally overwhelmed her opponent, running out a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 winner, and setting up a last-16 meeting against Veronika Kudermetova.
Canada’s Fernandez, runner-up at the 2021 US Open, edged a tight and entertaining encounter against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on Stadium Court early in the day.
After the first set had swayed back and forth, it was ultimately settled via a tie-break in the favor of Fernandez. It was a high-tempo contest with both players producing some fantastic shots and intense rallies, and the second set followed a similar pattern to the first.
Once again, a tie-break was required, but sensing victory was in her grasp, Fernandez seized control, winning all seven points without reply to claim a 7-6, 7-6 victory. Fernandez now faces Lulu Sun, conqueror of Caroline Garcia, in the next round.
Noskova took just 61 minutes to qualify for the last 16 as she ruthlessly dispatched Magdalena Frech, winning the first set without dropping a single game on her way to a 6-0, 6-3 victory. She now faces Paula Badosa, a semifinalist at the recent Australian Open, in the next round.
Linette also secured her place in the last 16 courtesy of a straight-sets victory, getting the better of Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, who can count herself unlucky to go out following a spirited performance in which she pushed her opponent all the way.
A semifinalist at the 2023 Australian Open, Linette edged a tight first set before an even closer second went right to the wire. Even during the tie-break, it was difficult to separate the two players, but with the Pole leading 7-6, an over-hit shot from Zarazua settled the contest.
Linette’s reward is a meeting with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who booked her place in the last 16 courtesy of a 6-3, 6-1 win over 2020 Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin.
In the doubles, Japanese duo Shuko Aoyama/Eri Hozumi came out on top in their match against Asia Muhammad/Demi Schuurs.
Both pairs had won a set each with relative ease, but the decisive part of the game was a completely different story, going right to the wire as Aoyama/Hozumi eventually sealed their passage with a 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 victory.
On Wednesday, reigning champion Elena Rybakina begins the defense of her crown against Katie Volynets, while Daria Kasatkina, last year’s beaten finalist, takes on Ashlyn Krueger.
Luka Doncic is excited to join the Lakers after the shock of his stunning trade away from Dallas
- The superstar has begun to recover after his first two days in LA, and he’s growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famed new team
- The Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three-team deal for the Slovenian scorer
EL: Luka Doncic was nearly asleep last Saturday night in Dallas when his phone buzzed. Only then did he learn that the Mavericks had just stunned the sports world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“You can imagine how surprised I was,” Doncic said. “I had to check if it was April 1. I didn’t really believe it.”
The superstar has begun to recover after his first two days in LA, and he’s growing increasingly excited about a new chapter with LeBron James and his famed new team on the sunny West Coast.
And while his past and future teammates say Doncic has never lacked motivation to be great, he has all the fuel he’ll ever need after the Mavericks inherently questioned his talent and determination by making this seismic trade.
“It was a big shock,” Doncic said. “(Dallas) was home, so it was really hard moments for me. … (But now) I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I’m excited for this new journey.”
The Lakers formally welcomed Doncic on Tuesday, less than three days after they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a three-team deal for the Slovenian scorer who won his first scoring title last season before leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals. Doncic is a five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star.
Stars of Doncic’s age and accomplishments are almost never traded in any sport, and particularly not in such an abrupt manner. But when Dallas decided to move on from its 25-year-old centerpiece, the Lakers eagerly gave up Davis — one of basketball’s best big men — to make it happen.
Doncic is still processing the upheaval, but he already is seeing the limitless upside of a career in Los Angeles that will begin alongside the 40-year-old James, the top scorer in NBA history.
“Honestly, it was hard at first,” Doncic said. “That first day was really hard. I felt like these last 48 hours was one month. Emotionally, it was really hard, but today was much better. This is the Lakers. It’s one of the best clubs in history, so I’m excited to be here.”
General manager Rob Pelinka didn’t hide his glee at landing Doncic when they met with the media at the Lakers’ training complex. In his typically florid style of discourse, Pelinka said Doncic’s arrival would bring “basketball joy to the world.”
“We have one of the game’s biggest superstars and an international player coming to join the Lakers,” Pelinka said. “I think it’s going to be something incredibly special that the NBA and basketball has never seen before.”
Although James was blindsided by the deal along with the rest of the NBA, he quickly made a call to Doncic to welcome him to the Lakers. Doncic has often described James as his idol.
“It’s just like a dream come true,” Doncic said. “I always looked up to him. There’s so many things I can learn from him, and I’m just excited to learn everything and get to play with him. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Doncic hasn’t played since Christmas because of a calf strain, but he is close to a return. He will participate in 5-on-5 work at practice Wednesday, and the Lakers will make a plan for Doncic’s debut afterward.
The Lakers have four games in the Los Angeles area in the next seven days, with a road game against the Clippers on Tuesday night followed by three straight home games.
The trade caused an uproar in the sports world, leaving most Mavs fans furious — including Doncic’s father, Sasa, who said his son “absolutely did not deserve this.”
The basketball world also was baffled by how quiet the Lakers and Mavericks kept the talks. Pelinka clearly took pride in keeping a lid on these negotiations, which began at a coffee shop with Dallas GM Nico Harrison, a longtime friend.
Some of the league’s biggest names — names who, like Doncic, would generally be considered untouchable in trades — have reacted in complete disbelief.
“Especially with (Dallas) coming off the finals, it’s a reminder that there are only a few in this league that can go to sleep with any type of confidence that you’ll still be there,” Golden State guard Stephen Curry said. “It’s kind of a very unique situation across the board.”
Added Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards: “They traded probably the best scorer in the NBA at 25. And he didn’t know about it. There’s a lot more digging somebody’s got to do to find out why he got traded. You don’t just trade him at 25. He just went to the finals. I feel bad for Luka, man.”
The Lakers also acquired Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the trade with Dallas. Both praised Doncic’s work ethic and leadership — and both laughed at the widespread notion the Mavs were irredeemably concerned about Doncic’s conditioning and work ethic.
“I hear the stuff about him not being in shape, but if you can go in an NBA game and get 30 and 15 and 10 like it’s nothing, then I don’t really know what shape is,” Morris said. “You’re gonna see it really soon. You’ll make the (determination) if he’s in shape or not.”
Morris returns to the Lakers after winning a championship ring with the team in the Florida “bubble” in 2020. He said the Mavs informed him he had been traded Saturday night, but not where he was going — he learned that on television and social media.
Kleber is on crutches after having surgery on his broken right foot. The German veteran — best known in LA for hitting a particularly spectacular 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Lakers in March 2023 — says he will be re-evaluated in eight weeks, hopefully allowing him to return around the postseason.
“I don’t know if a guy like Luka needs extra motivation, because I’ve seen him work, and how competitive he is over the years,” Kleber said. “I think he was that type of person already before. But if you want to add something to it, he will be competitive, for sure.”
