by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 19, 2024 | Ghana, Other Sports
The Functional Sports League Ghana is set to host its inaugural National Championship, dubbed Iron Forge, on Saturday, November 23, 2024, and Sunday, November 24, 2024. The action-packed event will kick off at 4:00 PM each evening, with Saturday’s activities taking place at Zulka Astroturf Park, Dansoman, and Sunday’s finale at Idrowhyt Event Centre, Akokofoto, Dansoman.
Athletes from Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Central, Western, and Eastern Regions will compete in a series of rigorous challenges designed to test their physical abilities. According to Charles Owusu-Ansah, President of Functional Sports League Ghana, participants will face six test routines: Endurance, Strength, Bodyweight, Power, Mixed, and Skill. These routines showcase the full spectrum of functional fitness, pushing athletes to their limits.
The Iron Forge championship aims to celebrate dedication, athleticism, and the passion of Ghana’s fitness community. Whether you are a seasoned athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or simply in search of thrilling entertainment, this event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 18, 2024 | Africa, Basketball, International, Other Sports
Senegal’s Mouhamed “Momo” Faye has captured the attention of the global basketball community with his impressive performances in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). At just 19 years old, Faye’s dynamic playstyle and potential have drawn the eyes of NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
Recently, two Lakers scouts witnessed Faye’s breakout performance for Pallacanestro Reggiana in a game against Bertram Derthona Tortona. Faye dominated the court with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks, demonstrating his elite skills on both offense and defense. Representing a prestigious club in both the LBA and BCL, Faye has quickly become one of the most exciting young talents to watch.
Last season, Faye’s decision to delay entering the 2024 NBA Draft after several NBA tryouts is now paying off. With projections placing him late in the first round or early in the second round of the 2025 Draft, his stock continues to rise. His journey began in Senegal, where he gained international recognition during the 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship, averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds per game. Known for his rebounding, shot-blocking, and athleticism, Faye is part of a new wave of elite African big men following in the footsteps of stars like Yves Missi, Ulrich Chomche, and Adama Sanogo.
Standing at 6’10” with a 7’5” wingspan, Faye possesses the physical attributes and defensive instincts to impact the NBA. While he’s still developing his outside shooting, his presence in the paint as a scorer and shot-blocker makes him a formidable talent. His Basketball Champions League debut further solidified his status as one to watch, with a record-setting performance of 15 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks—the youngest player to achieve such stats in the league.
As Senegal’s basketball program continues to gain prominence, Faye’s role in their international aspirations is critical. However, speculation remains about whether he will stay committed to Senegal or explore opportunities with Italy for his international career. With the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers approaching, Faye could be a game-changer for Senegal as they face strong competition from the likes of South Sudan, Cameroon, Egypt, and Angola.
As the countdown to the 2025 NBA Draft continues, Mouhamed “Momo” Faye represents the perfect blend of size, youth, and potential. With NBA scouts closely monitoring his progress and fans eager to see what he will achieve next, the future is undeniably bright for this young Senegalese star.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 18, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, International, Other Sports
As anticipation builds for the World Athletics Awards 2024, the finalists for the coveted Athlete of the Year honours have been unveiled. Among the 12 outstanding athletes—six men and six women—three African athletes have been recognized for their record-breaking and historic achievements in 2024.
African Finalists for World Athlete of the Year
Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya)
Set a world marathon record of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October, becoming the first woman to finish under 2:10.
Claimed her third Chicago victory and improved her personal best by over four minutes.
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)
Made history as Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist with his 200m victory at the Paris Olympics, clocking an African record time of 19.46 seconds.
Secured a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay and placed sixth in the 100m final.
Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia)
Won the Olympic marathon in Paris with a record-breaking time of 2:06:26, surpassing the previous Olympic best set in 2008.
Finalists for Athlete of the Year Categories
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year: Julien Alfred (LCA), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), Nafissatou Thiam (BEL)
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year: Mondo Duplantis (SWE), Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE)
Women’s Out-of-Stadium Athlete of the Year: Ruth Chepngetich (KEN), Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s Out-of-Stadium Athlete of the Year: Brian Pintado (ECU), Tamirat Tola (ETH)
Voting and Awards Ceremony
The first round of voting, which combined votes from the World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family, and the public, determined the top two finalists in each category. A second round of voting, conducted from November 4-10, will decide the overall World Athlete of the Year.
The winners of each category and the overall World Athlete of the Year will be announced during the World Athletics Awards 2024 ceremony on December 1 in Monaco.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 18, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, International, Other Sports
World Athletics has revealed the three finalists for the 2024 Women’s Rising Star Award, honoring the year’s top U20 athlete. The nominees reflect remarkable performances across major events, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, World Athletics Indoor Championships, World Athletics U20 Championships, and more.
Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, who broke the championship record to claim the women’s 3000m steeplechase title at the World U20 Championships in Lima, is the only African nominee in the top three. She is a strong contender for the prestigious award, which will be announced on December 1 via World Athletics’ platforms.
Finalists for the 2024 Women’s Rising Star Award:
Sembo Almayew (Ethiopia): World U20 3000m steeplechase champion, fifth place at the Olympics.
Angelina Topic (Serbia): World U20 high jump champion, Olympic finalist, and fifth place at the World Indoor Championships.
Yan Ziyi (China): World U20 javelin record holder and World U20 champion.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 17, 2024 | Africa, International, Nigeria, Other Sports
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup African Qualifier C, scheduled from November 23 to 28 in Abuja. The tournament will test the country’s cricket infrastructure and event management capabilities as Nigeria’s national team, the Yellow Greens, begins its quest for World Cup qualification.
The competition will feature six African nations—Nigeria, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, St. Helena, and Sierra Leone—battling for two spots in the next round of qualifiers. Matches will take place at the Twin Oval, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Highlighting Nigeria’s rising profile in cricket, Akpata stated, “This is an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s unique cricket culture and organizational strength. Hosting this event will not only advance talent development but also present a new perspective of Nigeria to the global cricket community.”
Currently ranked 36th in the T20 global standings, Nigeria is the highest-ranked team in the competition. The national team, coached by Steve Tikolo, has been in camp in Abuja, with players like Isaac Okpe, Chiemelie Udekwe, and Isaac Danladi bringing valuable international experience from the Zimbabwean National Cricket League.
As the team gears up for the event, Akpata emphasized the dual goals of securing qualification and creating unforgettable experiences for both fans and visitors.
