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Nigeria Top Basketball Ranking in Africa, Rise to 22 Globally
Published
1 month agoon

D’Tigers, Nigeria’s men senior basketball team, on Thursday retained the first position on the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) ranking for Africa.
Globally, the team rose to 22nd position after winning all its games at the FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers.
In the ranking, shared on by FIBA on its website, D’Tigers’ moved by one spot up on the global scene after garnering 433.3 points in the month under review.
D’Tigers were able to achieve this feat after winning their three matches against South Sudan, Rwanda and Mali in the just concluded 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers.
On the global scene, USA maintained a firm grip on top spot ahead of No. 2 Spain.
Russia is the only newcomer to the top 10 after climbing two spots to No. 9 and switching places with the Czech Republic, which dropped to No. 11.
Having played just one game in November, Italy stayed put at No. 12 despite seeing their point tally grow to 582.5.
Defending EuroBasket champions Slovenia, which won twice to improve to 3-1 in Group F of the Qualifiers and clinch a spot in the Final Round, climbed two spots to No.16 after wins over Ukraine and Austria.
Wins against higher-ranked Spain (No. 2) and Poland (No. 13) not only locked in Israel’s berth at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 but also saw them rise two spots to No. 39.
Syria and Saudi Arabia were the biggest risers in Asia, moving up five places each to No. 90 and No. 91, respectively in the FIBA World Ranking after both went 1-1 in November.
South Sudan, coached by long-time NBA star and federation president Luol Deng, won two of three games in the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, to register a rise of nine positions to their current rank of No. 98.
A win against Mozambique was enough to see Kenya move seven spots to No. 115 despite losses to African basketball powerhouses Angola and Senegal.
Meanwhile in Europe, Albania also moved up seven positions to break into the top 100 following their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Pre-Qualifiers games against the higher-ranked Portugal and Belarus.
The biggest drop in the FIBA World Ranking was suffered by Madagascar, which plummeted 30 places to No. 124 after losing in the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers to Tunisia by 37 points, to Central African Republic by 26 and to Democratic Republic of Congo by 18.
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North Africa Sports
Mahrez, Man City Go Second after 2-1 Win over Aston Villa
Published
5 hours agoon
January 21, 2021
Algerian international, Riyad Mahrez, played for 18 minutes as Manchester City dig deep to beat a hard-fighting Aston Villa 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The victory, their sixth consecutive, pushes Manchester City, who began the season on a low, to the second place of the English Premier League (EPL) table but with a game in hand.
Man City moved to 38 points, above Leicester City on goal difference, with Manchester United on 39 points after a 2-1 victory playing at Fulham later on Wednesday.
After both sides had created plenty of openings, Bernardo Silva put City ahead in the 79th minute with a brilliant left-footed finish after Rodri had robbed Villa defender Tyrone Mings.
Rodri had come back into play from an offside position and Villa Manager, Dean Smith, was given a red card for his protests at the referee.
Ilkay Gundogan made sure of the three points with a 90th-minute penalty after the ball struck Matty Cash’s arm in the box.
Central Africa Sports News
CHAN2020: Africa’s Festival of Football, Music and Culture
Published
6 hours agoon
January 21, 2021
When the African Nations Championship kicked off at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Cameroon showed the world a glimpse of what Africa deeply entails.
Beyond football, Africa’s beauty is richly defined by its excellent culture and art.
Africa stands out for its glitz and glamour, and when football, the most followed sport on the continent comes knocking, expression becomes compulsory – a watchword.
COVID-19 has denied the world of many things, but 2021 has shown it may come with a difference. And in the first month of the new year, Africa is treating the world to the spectacle it missed months ago.
Like the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship was not enough, competing national teams, fans and players have shown the cultural strength of the continent, and you can’t but admire it.
😍🕺💃🔥🏆🇨🇲#TotalCHAN2020 pic.twitter.com/vmGByjHqWG
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 17, 2021
—🔛 Masque.
— #TotalCHAN2020 – FR (@caf_online_FR) January 18, 2021
—🔛 Musique.
—🔛 Freestyle.
—❤️ #TotalCHAN2020 pic.twitter.com/W36rAC1gdb
From the most beautiful local drums, to the rhythmic dance steps and music, Africa has shown itself through CHAN.
As teams score, there is a clear elucidation of the wealth of artistic beauty the continent possesses. While players’ hairstyles are a form, their celebrations are another show of undisputed cultural creativity and credibility.
On green-lush grasses, jerseys blend with music and style as players toil with swivelling arms and legs, chasing the round leather, sweating to bring glory to their nations. Realistically, the glory doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, as their cultural suaveness keep stealing the headlines.
Fighting for every ball!
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 17, 2021
🇱🇾 🤜⚽🤛 🇳🇪#TotalCHAN2020 | #LBYNIG pic.twitter.com/4f0gio0RAx
The first six games of the competition produced four goals, in what showed how tough, and sometimes, drab football can be on the continent, but fans had been treated to a cultural spectacle, beyond the round leather.
Tanzanian players sing from the dressing room as they match on to the pitch, and just when you think they faze their opponents, Congolese players are in a queue-like fashion, passing on the dance steps from front to back. It’s a festival of art and culture for Africans.
🇨🇩🕺🤩 RD du Congo 🤩🕺🇨🇩
— #TotalCHAN2020 – FR (@caf_online_FR) January 17, 2021
Suivez nous sur Instagram pour plus d’information! 👇https://t.co/CYoJgDjCaY#TotalCHAN2020 pic.twitter.com/Uw7c6OfuqL
Whoever isn't following our #TotalCHAN2020 coverage on Instagram stories, is missing out on a lot. 😆
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 17, 2021
Behind the scenes! 👇https://t.co/3Gahasn32N pic.twitter.com/PDqDv8sVVF
Celebrate Africa 🎉#TotalCHAN2020 | #LBYNIG pic.twitter.com/TQUqprA4IE
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 17, 2021
🇿🇲🇹🇿🇬🇳🇳🇦
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 19, 2021
📱 Follow the Stories on our Instagram account for more coverage from today's games: https://t.co/0rts7aNYzQ #TotalCHAN2020 pic.twitter.com/QM1bmfcetZ
🕺 Dance.
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2021
🎤 Sing.
⚽ Play.#TotalCHAN2020 | #CMRMLI pic.twitter.com/SUK78fdke3
Cameroon is treating the world to a carnival of football, with beautiful displays mostly seen so far. However, beyond the game is the serene and tranquil ambience brought by fans and players, who have taken every opportunity to show why Africa is the seat of entertainment.
What you may not see in the AFCON is the cultural diversity and understanding shown by players, as many European-born footballers represent African countries.
High spirits from the Zimbabwean players! 🇿🇼🎶#TotalCHAN2020 | #BFAZIM pic.twitter.com/BunZAMZ4tC
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2021
It is a sight to behold for the many players of dual nationalities who are not yet exposed to the full bloom of Africa’s flowers, but these African-based players dueling for the CHAN prize, are themselves, a sight to behold- the flower itself.
Central Africa Sports News
CHAN: Burkina Faso Defeat Zimbabwe, Gain First Points
Published
7 hours agoon
January 21, 2021
The Stallions of Burkina Faso ran out 3-1 victors over the Warriors of Zimbabwe on matchday 5 of the ongoing African Nations Championship.
Burkina Faso who had lost 1-0 to Mali in their opening fixture, started as favourites on Wednesday night and were quick to fire the first salvo.
FULL-TIME 🇧🇫 3-1 🇿🇼
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2021
A great performance from Burkina Faso 👏#TotalCHAN2020 | #BFAZIM pic.twitter.com/ZRwvq43I11
Issouf Soso scored on the 14th minute before Partson Jaure drew the Zimbabweans level just nine minutes later.
In the second half, Clavert Kiendrebeogo put the Burkinabes ahead again on the 53rd minute before Ismahila Ouedraogo scored the third and final goal of the game on the 67th minute.
At the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Cameroon played a 1-1 stalemate against Mali. Salomon Banga drew the first blood for the hosts before Issaka Samakke scored a sublime free-kick before the break to draw the Malians level.
🚨 FULL-TIME!
— #TotalCHAN2020 (@CAF_Online) January 20, 2021
🇨🇲 The entertainment ends after a 1️⃣-1️⃣ draw between the two nations 🇲🇱#TotalCHAN2020 | #CMRMLI pic.twitter.com/B5rPiG01aB
Cameroon and Mali are tied on points on group A with a goal difference of plus one after two matches.
Cameroon will face Burkina Faso in the third and final group game while Zimbabwe will hope to pick their first point of the tournament against Mali.

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