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AFTER FRANCE 2019 DRAW; SOUTH AFRICA, CAMEROON NOT DOWNCAST
Just asNigeria is refusing to bow their heads in submission as a result of Saturday’s 019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Paris, Africa’s two other flagbearers, Cameroon and South Africa, are keeping their heads up.
“It’s not a death sentence,” Desire Ellis, Head Coach of Banyana Banyana of South Africa, told thenff.com.“We knew we would be drawn against very strong teams and that is exactly what we got. This is our first time at the World Cup so everyone will look at SouthAfrica as an underdog. We like it that way.
“For now, we have already scheduled games against European champions, TheNetherlands, as well as Sweden, and we will play the USA as well. We will be ready for the tournament.”
Banyana Banyana lost on penalty shoot –out to Nigeria in the final of the Women AFCON in Ghana a week ago, and have now been drawn to play two –time champions Germany, China and Spain in Group B of the global show piece in the summer of 2019.
President of the South Africa Football Association, Dr. Danny Jordaan, said: “There are 211 Member Associations of FIFA, and only 24 are here. There are 55 countries in Africa and only three are here. So, we should naturally expect to be drawn against the top teams. We are also a top team; that’s why we are here.”
As for Coach Joseph Buan Ndoko of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, the draw means the team has to work very, very hard. “Some people are saying we got a favourable draw but I’m not seeing it that way. We have to go and prepare well and hard.None of the 24 finalists is an easy team.”
Cameroon,who also lost to Nigeria on penalty shoot –out, in the semi finals of the Women AFCON in Ghana, will play in Group E alongside Canada, New Zealand and The Netherlands.
ALL THE GROUPS
GROUP A
France
Korea Republic
Norway
Nigeria
GROUP B
Germany
China
Spain
South Africa
GROUP C
Australia
Italy
Brazil
Jamaica
GROUP D
England
Scotland
Argentina
Japan
GROUP E
Canada
Cameroon
New Zealand
The Netherlands
GROUP F
USA
Thailand
Chile
Sweden
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Paris to face major disruption ahead of Games opening ceremony, says police chief
Paris will face major disruption ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony along the Seine on July 26, as organisers ramp up security measures to safeguard the event, the city’s police chief said on Thursday.
Organisers hope the opening ceremony, in which 160 boats carrying athletes from around the world will travel a 6 kilometre route along the Seine river towards the Eiffel tower, will deliver a jaw-dropping spectacle. Some 300,000 spectators will watch from the banks of the Seine as a global audience tunes in on TV.
But the ceremony is also a major security headache, taking place against a backdrop of wars in Ukraine and Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron has already floated the possibility of scrapping the river ceremony and reverting to at least two back-up plans if the security risks become untenable.
Paris residents with a view of the Seine can invite friends to watch the opening of the 2024 Summer Games from their balconies, but should prepare for heavy traffic and limited movement, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said at a press conference.
Adjacent metro stations, most river crossings and all water traffic will be halted in the week before the open-air ceremony, Nunez said, adding that some bridges will remain open “in order not to cut Paris in two halves.”
Everyone who wants to access the immediate surroundings of the Seine in the week before the Games will need to sign up on an online platform, Nunez said. Local residents hoping to access their homes, which are among the most prestigious addresses in France, will need to do the same.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who also spoke at the event said the disruption would impact around 20,000 residents and business owners.
Asked about Macron’s comments earlier this month, Nunez said his teams were still working on the ‘Plan A’ of the river ceremony.
“As of today, we have no reason to be worried,” Nunez said.
-Reuters
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New dawn expected as Nigeria sports ministry partners with Yanga Games
Towards creating a new dawn for Nigerian Sports, the Federal Ministry of Sports has signed a landmark agreement with top lottery company Yanga Games to raise the revenue profile of the Ministry and ensure a new deal for the welfare of athletes.
Speaking during the unveiling of the partnership between the Ministry and Yanga Games in Lagos on Friday, Chairman/CEO of Yanga Games Derrick David Kentebe said: “we are so super excited by this opportunity to work with the Ministry of Sports Development to change the narrative about Sports in the country.
Continuing, he remarked: “We see opportunity for marketing our athletes and sports generally . We shall avail ourselves the best use of this unique and special partnership. We shall pursue this mandate with vigour, passion and unrivaled commitment to bring benefits to all the critical stakeholders.”
The agreement according to Kentebe will provide support for retired athletes, enhance grassroot sports Development and advance the potentials of special athletes.
He assured that ” Yanga Games has the capacity to raise funds on behalf of the Ministry of Sports for athletes Development, endorsement and sponsorship deals for athletes”.
Minister of Sports Senator John Owan Enoh assured that the Ministry has total and absolute confidence in Yanga Games to deliver on the given mandate.
“Gone are the era when we depended solely on government to fund sports development. We are partnering with Yanga Games to bring maximum benefits to the athletes and all critical stakeholders.
“We shall give institutional encouragement and support to the Management of Yanga Games to succeed in this onerous task of rebuilding our sports sub sector.”
Speaking further, Kentebe said ” We shall raise about 34 Billion in the next four years to assist athletes and improve sports in the country.
“We shall help to develop grassroot sports and sustain youth involvement through raffle draws, fund raiser and other avenues.
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Iheanacho and Ndidi on course for return to Premiership as Leicester will not lose points for rule breaches
Leicester City cannot be deducted any points in the second-tier Championship if they are convicted of any violations of the Premier League’s spending rules, the English Football League (EFL) said on Friday.
Nigeria duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are Leicester players yearning for the club’s return to the English Premiership.
Leicester, who were relegated from the top flight last season, were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League last month for alleged violations of the league’s spending rules.
The Championship’s governing body EFL wrote to the Premier League saying they would apply any sanction handed down on Leicester while they are still in the second tier, a move Leicester opposed.
However, the EFL said they later changed their position in a letter to the English FA’s League Arbitration Panel (LAP).
“EFL has confirmed to all parties that… it does not have the power under the Regulations as currently drafted,” the EFL said in a statement.
Leicester said they will continue to co-operate with Premier League and the EFL with regards to the charges against them.
“Any charges against the Club should be properly and proportionately determined, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time,” Leicester said.
The LAP said that the Premier League Disciplinary Commission’s proceedings against Leicester will not be expedited to conclude by May 4 due to any possible points deductions not being applicable this season.
Leicester are top of the standings in the Championship with 88 points from 41 matches as they seek a promotion back to the Premier League.
-Reuters
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