Sports

AFCON: West Africa Catching up

Published

4 years ago

10/02/2022

The battle for the 2021 AFCON is over and the highest-ranked African nation, Senegal, has finally bagged the African title after years of failure.

This one was definitely their time, after falling at the last hurdle in the 2019 and 2002 editions. They overcame a slow start to the competition, and an early penalty miss in the final, to see off record-holders Egypt.

This win is Senegal’s, and the manager Aliou Cisse too, after losing two finals, as a player in 2002 and coach in 2019. It is the rebirth of a new golden generation after the 2002 team failed to hit the expected highs. On a broader view, however, Senegal’s win is a win for West Africa, as the region now has four teams that have won the African title.

Senegal’s win at AFCON 2021 is a precursor to a brewing rivalry with Egypt. The two nations are set to face off twice again in their immediate fixtures, another contest but this time for a bigger prize – a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and the betting sign up offers on Wincomparator will just serve to spice things up. Among the top bookies, 1XBet stands out with a bonus of up to €130 while 22Bet has one of up to €122 and Betsson €125 among others.

As Africa shifts focus to the World Cup qualifiers in March, West Africa is still playing catch up to North Africa as far as AFCON titles per region are concerned. North Africa has in Egypt the most successful African nation in football, with seven African titles. No team in Africa has won six. North Africa has 11 titles; Algeria is the second-best after Egypt with two while Morocco and Tunisia have each managed one.

The closest challenger to Egypt is Cameroon, which is more in the Central African part than the West. Cameroon have five titles so far; their fifth having come at the expense of Egypt in 2017. Their race for a sixth on home soil was ended by Egypt in the semi-finals. Central Africa has eight African titles – DR Congo having won two and Congo-Brazzaville with one.

After Senegal’s win, West Africa is now just one title behind North Africa; there are 10 African titles in the region. Ghana leads the pack here, having bagged four titles, followed by Nigeria with three, Ivory Coast with two and now first-time winners Senegal.

The two regions still lagging way behind are Southern Africa and East Africa. Each one of these has two titles. In Southern Africa, Zambia has one and the Republic of South Africa has one. South Africa won theirs in 1996 and Zambia claimed the big prize in 2012.

In East Africa, Ethiopia and Sudan were the only nations to have lifted the AFCON title. Teams from this region are normally eliminated early and even the quality of players from the region don’t match up to their mates in the other regions.

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Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Sports

The Grueling 12 Hours of Sebring

Published

7 hours ago

08/04/2026

Dipo Olowookere

The 12 Hours of Sebring stands as one of endurance racing’s most punishing and prestigious events. Your favorite races are available if you try 1xBet website for betting today.

It is a relentless test of 3 aspects:

speed;
stamina;
and survival.

First held on March 15, 1952, at a former military airfield in Florida, the race quickly became a cornerstone of international motorsport. It attracts elite drivers and manufacturers from around the world. Motorsports fans are also invited to try the 1xBet website for betting on their favorite sports too.

A brutal race

What makes Sebring so grueling is not just its duration, but the unique brutality of the circuit itself. Built from a mix of old concrete runways and asphalt, the track is notoriously bumpy, shaking cars, and drivers, to their limits over 12 continuous hours. Combined with the intense Florida heat and humidity, these conditions push mechanical reliability and human endurance to the edge. Before the next edition of this race starts, you may also want to enjoy best slots casino from the 1xBet website.

The race begins in daylight and ends in darkness, creating constantly changing conditions. Drivers must adapt from glaring sun to the reduced visibility of night racing, all while navigating heavy traffic from multiple classes of cars. Fatigue becomes a critical factor, as teams rotate drivers in a delicate balance between rest and performance. The best casino slots from 1xBet are perfect to enjoy while waiting for other amazing motorsports drivers as well.

Every mistake is amplified over time, and even minor mechanical issues can spell disaster in such a long contest.

Becoing ready for other events

Historically, Sebring has also been a proving ground. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it was a key round of the World Sportscar Championship and drew legendary figures such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. Victories here often signaled readiness for the even longer 24 Hours of Le Mans, with teams using Sebring as a vital preparation event. All those big races are available for betting on the go through the 1xBet download application.

Yet the race’s history also reflects the dangers of endurance racing. A tragic 1966 edition, marked by multiple fatalities, forced significant safety improvements to the circuit. Since then, continuous upgrades have made the track safer while preserving its challenging character.

Today, the 12 Hours of Sebring remains a centerpiece of the IMSA SportsCar Championship and a highlight of the global endurance racing calendar. And if you follow this calendar, it is also a great idea to download the 1xBet app and bet on the tons of available motorsports events available.

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Sports

Harry Maguire to Remain at Manchester United Until June 2027

Published

1 day ago

07/04/2026

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

Manchester United centre-back, Harry Maguire, has signed a new contract with the football club for an additional year.

He will remain at the Theatre of Dreams until June 2027, with the option for a further year, a statement from the Red Devil said.

“Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour. It is a responsibility that makes me and my family proud every single day.

“I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club to at least eight seasons and continue to play in front of our special supporters to create more amazing moments together.

“You can feel the ambition and potential of this exciting squad. The determination throughout the whole club to fight for major trophies is clear for everyone to see, and I am confident that our best moments together remain ahead of us,” the club’s former captain stated.

“Harry represents the mentality and resilience required to perform for Manchester United. He is the ultimate professional who brings invaluable experience and leadership to our young, ambitious squad.

“Harry, like everyone at the club, is completely determined to help Manchester United to achieve regular and sustained success,” the Director of Football at Manchester United, Mr Jason Wilcox, was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Three Lions defender has made 266 appearances and won the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup since joining the club in 2019.

Sports

UEFA Club Competitions Reach Quarter-Final Stage Live on SuperSport

Published

1 day ago

07/04/2026

Business Post Contributor

European club football enters its decisive quarter-final phase in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. With semi-final places on the line, the first-leg fixtures promise high-intensity clashes. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport, available on DStv and GOtv.

Champions League: Heavyweights Collide

At 8:00 PM, Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in the standout tie of the round. Both sides were emphatic in the previous stage, with Madrid dismantling Manchester City and Bayern delivering a dominant performance against Atalanta. The match airs live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203).

Madrid arrive off a disappointing domestic setback, while Bayern continue to show resilience and attacking firepower. The Bernabéu will be central to Madrid’s hopes against a side currently scoring with ease.

Also at 8:00 PM, Sporting Lisbon face Arsenal in Lisbon, live on SS Football Plus HD (DStv Ch. 202). Arsenal come into the tie under pressure following consecutive cup losses in the Carabao and FA Cups, while Sporting are full of confidence after an impressive run of form. With momentum firmly on the Portuguese side, this fixture presents a significant test of Arsenal’s mentality.

At 8:00 PM on Wednesday, Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid in what promises to be a tightly contested tactical encounter. The game will be shown live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203). Barcelona claimed a recent league victory between the sides, but Atletico have already proven their ability to disrupt them this season. Expect a high-stakes contest between two teams who know each other well.

Also at 8:00 PM, Paris Saint-Germain take on Liverpool in Paris, live on SS Football Plus HD (DStv Ch. 202). PSG have emerged as one of the competition’s most dominant sides, carrying strong momentum into the tie. Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive under pressure following a heavy domestic defeat and will need a significant improvement to remain competitive heading into the second leg.

Europa & Conference League: Thursday Night Stakes

While the Champions League dominates midweek headlines, Thursday brings its own high-stakes quarter-final action across the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.

In the Europa League, Bologna host Aston Villa in a compelling first-leg encounter, live on SS La Liga (GOtv Ch. 62, DStv Ch. 204) at 8:00 PM, . Aston Villa have impressed throughout the competition and arrive well-rested, while Bologna’s path to this stage has been defined by resilience and high-intensity performances. The contrast in preparation could shape the outcome.

Also at 8:00 PM, FC Porto face Nottingham Forest, with the match airing on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203). Porto will look to assert themselves at home after previous meetings between the sides, while Forest have already demonstrated their ability to navigate difficult knockout ties.

For the Conference League, Crystal Palace take on Fiorentina at Selhurst Park, live on SS Football (GOtv Ch. 61, DStv Ch. 205) at 8:00 PM. Palace continue their pursuit of European silverware against a Fiorentina side balancing continental ambition with inconsistent domestic form. The hosts will aim to build a first-leg advantage before the return fixture in Italy.

Quarter-Final Fixtures – First Legs

UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich – Tue, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal – Tue, 8:00 PM (SS Football Plus HD)
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – Wed, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)
Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool – Wed, 8:00 PM (SS Football Plus HD)

UEFA Europa League

Bologna vs Aston Villa – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS La Liga)
FC Porto vs Nottingham Forest – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS Premier League)

UEFA Conference League

Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Thu, 8:00 PM (SS Football)

Follow the Action

Catch all the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League action live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv. Matches are also available to stream via DStv Stream and GOtv Stream. Manage or upgrade your subscription via the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps, visit www.dstv.com or www.gotvafrica.com, or dial *288# to stay connected.