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ANOCA ELECTION OFFERS AFRICA CHANCE FOR ‘A FRESH START’

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BY AIPS AFRICA TEAM.

A fresh start! That is what the four contenders for presidency of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa are promising the 54-member nations.

After all it’s been 13 years of no change with Lt. Lassana Palenfo at the helm.

The Ivorian, the longest serving ANOCA president, opted not to seek re-election after turbulent recent times for the Abuja based association.

The 77-year-old barely served a year into his fourth term, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that ANOCA must hold fresh elections.

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This was after the ANOCA executive committee, controversially blocked Cameroon’s Hamad Kalkaba Malboum his only challenger at the elections in May 2017 in Djibouti, from contesting the elections over alleged bribery and inappropriate campaign.

But CAS upheld the appeal by Kalkaba and directed that fresh polls must be held.

The four players

Kalkaba is one of the four vying to replace Palenfo at the elections in Tokyo, being held on the sidelines of a tensed ANOC general assembly in Tokyo.

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Hamad Kalkaba Malboum of Cameroon

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The others are Algeria’s Mustapha Berraf, Botswana’s Negroes Malealea Kgosietsile and Burundi’s Lydia Nsekera.

Respect, rebuild, united, vibrant are some of the words that have pepper the campaigns of the quartet.

But the first task for the new president will be to oversee and revamp the All Africa Games that will be held in Morocco, a step-in host.

Zambia had been earmarked as organisers of the 2019 event but claimed they were not ready due to lack of facilities.

Here is a look at the four players in their countries ascending order:

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Algeria’s Mustapha Berraf

 

He wants a more efficient and respected ANOCA. He has been the ‘acting president’ since last November in Prague, when Palenfo was relieved of his operational duties.

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Mustapha Berraf

The Algerian was elected vice president of ANOCA in 2005 in Accra. It is this experience that the Berraf, who is also serving his fourth term as president of the Algerian Olympic Committee, hopes he can bank on to succeed his former boss.

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If he is elected he will be the first North African to lead ANOCA.

All the five previous presidents have been from central, east and west Africa.

He led and hosted the Africa Youth Games in Algiers this year, a platform he used to endear himself to the members.

His biggest selling point has been marketing the association, its activities and providing resources for its members.

“We intend to perpetuate the initiatives we have undertaken by providing our organization with the necessary financial and material resources for the African Youth Games in Lesotho, Beach Games in

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Cape Verde and the African Games in Morocco,” underlined the 63-year-old basketball star who has had a fair share of controversy back home.

His stint as NOC president was tainted by a corruption scandal as a director of a publicly managed shopping centre in the 90s.

He hopes to use his management experience to transform ANOCA.

“We will also focus on professionalizing the management of ANOCA’s products and assets, as well as the introduction of new marketable products and programs.”

Botswana’s Negroes Malealea Kgosietsile

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Negroes the ‘competent, selfless and tested’ leader ANOCA needs The Botswana was the last one to formally declare his intention to contest.

The former NOC president considers himself as the change candidate ANOCA needs after a rather dull five years. In his 16-year terms as the NOC president he oversaw the 2014

 

Africa Youth Games, an event that boosted the Southern African country’s profile.

This influenced his country’s decision to bid for the 2022 Youth

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Olympic Games that were last month awarded to Senegal.

Negroes ventured into sport after a career in finance, skills he is banking on to professionalize the operations of ANOCA.

 

“It is of critical importance for the ANOCA Electorate to assign a competent, selfless and tested leader to catapult the organization to its rightful place,” said Negroes who serves on the ANOCA Executive committee.

Despite not having any continental know-how feels there is need to fix the association’s operations and review the constitution.

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“The conduct of our meetings has in the past tended to deprive the

General Assembly of its powers to debate matters and make informed decisions.

“ANOCA Solidarity funds are still managed by Olympic Solidarity, an indication that ANOCA is not in a position to manage its share of

Solidarity funds,” added the head of the Confederation of Southern African National Olympic Committee.

 

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Burundi’s Lydia Nsekera

Governance and inclusion are at the heart of Nsekera’s campaign. The ascendance of the former basket baller and high jumper will make her the woman to head an Olympic continental section.

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Lydia Nsekera

The 51-year-old is no stranger to firsts. She was the first woman to hold a seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee, and the first woman to head the Burundian football association and the NOC.

Nsekera who began her professional career as an auditor is one of the 13 African IOC members, a position she hopes to leverage on and make history.

The renowned female sports administrator has put youth and women’s issues on the front burner of her campaign.

“Africa is undeniably the continent with the largest number of young people. It is our responsibility as sports leaders to support our girls and boys and help them grow up healthy,” said the Burundian, who

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hopes to take back the presidency to the zone five.

The late Francis Nyangweso from neighbouring Ugandan headed the association between 1999-2001.

Nsekera, who also chairs the IOC women and sport commission has Tokyo 2020 Olympics high on her agenda.

“Top priority will be given to the preparation and planning of Africa’s participation (at Tokyo 2020) by creating small committees whose task will be to propose the most effective way to facilitate the smooth preparation and participation.”

Kalkaba, tried and tested

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The IAAF vice president, who also heads the Confederation of African Athletics, was the trigger of change.

Kalkaba challenged Palenfo again, in what was expected to be a close election but missed on what would have been his second appearance on the ANOCA presidential ballot.

The former Cameroonian track and field athlete was lurking in Palenfo’s shadow at the 2005 elections.

Palenfo replaced Guinea’s Alpha Ibrahim Diallo as ANOCA president after polling 24 of the 51 votes against Alhaji Dandeh-Njie of Gambia, who garnered 16 votes but decided not to contest the run off.

During that election in Ghana, Kalkaba was one of the three contenders who withdrew from the race. The others were Zoumaro

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Gnofame from Togo and Guinea’s Diallo.

 

The veteran sports administrator who is the president of the NOC has in the past headed handball and athletics federations, all-round proficiencies that he feels proves he is capable transforming ANOCA.

“I hope to urge the African Union and African countries to enact laws that will guarantee the status of high-level athletes and their future reconversion through an appropriate social reintegration,” outlined the former musician, who hopes the NOCs can dance to his tune as he looks to write the last chapter of his sports career.

Rebuilding trust and attracting partners are among the key pillars of his campaign, goals that remain slippery for CAA.

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“Increase the financial resources of the Development Zones, to better coordinate the activities of the NOCs.”

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Sundowns get the better of Ulsan in battle of the outsiders

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Mamelodi Sundowns FC forward Lebo Mothiba (35) passes the ball during the second half against Ulsan HD during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.

South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.

KEY QUOTES

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Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”

Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”

-Reuters

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Mexico readies for historic third World Cup as Azteca Stadium tensions grow

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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.

Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.

The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.

Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.

While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.

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Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.

FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.

HARSH REALITY

The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.

One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.

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Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.

“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”

By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.

Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.

“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”

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As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.

After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.

-Reuters

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Queens and Angels depart from the President Federation Cup

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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.

Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.

Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.

In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.

Results of Semi Finals (Women)

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  • Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
  • Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)

Results of Semi-Finals (Men)

  • Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
  • Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)

WOMEN’S FINAL

  • Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons

MEN’S FINAL

  • Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United   

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