#african cup of nations 2022

[sheltiechicago]

YE Sports 2022

Mali's Falaye Sacko stands on the pitch during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group F soccer match between Mali and Mauritania at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.

(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) ASSOCIATED PRESS

[cypher2]

2023 Women's World Cup records

In addition to breaking numerous worldwide social media and viewing records, the 2023 Women's World Cup set and broke a number of unique tournament records as well. The players and teams that participated in this WWC should all feel extremely proud for the history they have made. Their performances continue to show the world that these athletes are capable of so much more than they are ever fully recognized for.

First team from their nation to qualify for a men’s or women’s senior FIFA tournament: Vietnam WNT 8 nations had their debuts for first time appearing in a FIFA women’s World Cup: Haiti, Portugal, Zambia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, and Panama. Canadian midfielder Quinn starts for Canada and becomes the first non-binary athlete to play at a FIFA World Cup.

Christine Sinclair (Canada) and Marta (Brazil) become the 3rd and 4th players in history to appear in 6 World Cup competitions men or women, with Homare Sawa (Japan) and Onome Zeno (Nigeria) being the other two. The player with the record for most world cup appearances in history remains Brazil’s Formiga, the only player to compete in 7 world cups (men or women).

Kristine Lilly still holds the record for most WC appearances by men or women with 30 games played - a record set and held since 2007. Followed by Formiga with 27 as of 2019 and Lionel Messi with 26 as of 2022. Brazil’s Marta still holds the all time leading record for most goals scored across all World Cup competitions with 17 goals in 23 appearances across 6 tournaments.

Zambia’s Lushomo Mweemba scores the fastest goal of this year’s tournament in group stage at 2min 11 sec, also marking Zambia’s first ever world cup goal in their debut. The fastest goal in a FIFA Women’s World Cup has stood for over 30 years - it remains the goal scored by Lena Videkull of Sweden, who scored after just 30 seconds against Japan in the inaugural 1991 tournament. Zambia’s Barbra Banda scores the 1000th goal in WWC history. Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco becomes the first Women’s World Cup player to wear a hijab.

Ary Borges of Brazil scores a hat trick in her WWC debut and the first hat trick of the tournament. First Caribbean nation to reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Jamaica First Arab nation to qualify for a WWC and reach the round of 16 in WWC history - Morocco Of the eight debutants, Morocco was the only one to advance to the round of 16. Two teams reached the round of 16 having conceded no goals so far in the tournament- Japan and Jamaica.

First time four African nations have been represented at a WWC with three of them qualifying for the knock out stage at this years competition - South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria. 3 of the 4 African nations appearing in this year’s WWC all finished 2nd in their groups (Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria). The US suffered its earliest elimination in WWC history, getting knocked out in the round of 16. The U.S. has never finished below 3rd place in all previous editions of the competition. Sweden’s Zećira Mušović sets a new record for most saves in any WWC 2023 game with 11 saves vs the US in the round of 16.

First manager to lead two different nations to a World Cup final (Netherlands and England)- Sarina Wiegman First goalkeeper to take and convert a PK in a WWC penalty shootout - Alyssa Naeher

Golden ball (best overall player of the tournament) - Aitana Bonmatí Silver ball - Jenni Hermoso Bronze ball - Amanda Ilestedt Golden boot (most goals scored in the tournament) - Hinata Miyazawa (5 goals) Silver boot - Kadidiatou Diani Bronze boot - Alexandra Popp Golden glove (best goalkeeper of the tournament) - Mary Earps

FIFA young player award (best player of the tournament under 21 years old) - Salma Paralluelo FIFA fair play award (team with best record of fair play during the tournament) - Japan Best mascot of the tournament (unofficial) - Waru Longest penalty shootout in World Cup history (20 penalties taken) - Australia vs France quarter final

The 2023 competition was hosted by Australia and New Zealand, making it the first edition to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Women's World Cup to be hosted by two countries, and the first FIFA senior competition for either men or women to be held across two confederations (Asia and Oceanic).

First edition of the women’s tournament to feature an expansion to 32 teams and 64 matches, and largest women’s sporting event in history with 32 teams and 736 players. Only team to play all matches (group stage + knockout) undefeated with a 6-0-0 record - England All 4 previous winner nations (US, Germany, Norway, and Japan) were eliminated before the semifinal stage, marking the first time this has happened in the competition’s history.

For the first time in its 32 year and 9 tournament history, the WWC has a new champion (Spain) and new runner up (England) in 2023, with both nations never having made it to the final stage before. Only the 2nd nation in history to win both a men’s and women’s World Cup - Spain Top scoring country at the 2023 WWC - Spain with 18 goals First time a senior English football team has made it to a WC final in 6 decades - England WNT

First time advancing past quarterfinals in their WWC history and first host nation to advance to semifinals in 20 years - Australia placed 4th place for best in all 8 WWC competitions they’ve participated in and broke attendance records through all stages of the tournament, with an overall stadium attendance across all matches at 1.978 million. More than 1.5 million tickets were sold for the WWC, surpassing the entire tournament’s projected target in the first 5 days alone.

Two attendance records were broken for both host nations on day one of the WWC - largest crowd ever for a men’s or women’s football game in New Zealand (42,137) and largest crowd ever for a women’s football game in Australia (75,784).

Brazil's opening match v Panama was simulcast live on TV Globo and SporTV, delivering a combined audience of 13.9 million viewers - higher than any audience in the territory during the 2007, 2011, and 2015 WWC. China v England produced the highest audience for a single match, reaching 53.9 million viewers, becoming the highest in any global market so far. 17.15 million people tuned into the Australia v England semifinal cumulatively across Channel 7, Optus Sport, venues, and live-sites, comprising approx 64% of the entire Australian population - the biggest television event not just in any sport in the country, but in Australia’s television history.

The record for highest single match attendance still remains the 1999 WWC final between the US and China with 90,185 in attendance - a number that hasn’t been reached since the men’s tournament at the 1994 WC final between Italy and Brazil at 94,194.

The largest 2023 attendances were at Stadium Australia in Sydney, which saw four capacity-crowd fixtures, including Australia's opening win over Republic of Ireland and the final between Spain and England. The crowd of 75,784 was a record home audience for a women's football match in Australia and the third largest individual crowd attendance in Women's World Cup history. Over 50% of all matches had near sell out or at stadium capacity with a total of 1,977,824 fans in attendance at the 64 games in total, setting a new record for highest overall attendance in Women’s World Cup history across all 9 editions of the tournament. Highest grossing Women’s World Cup in history with a revenue of over half a billion dollars ($570 million), surpassing the projected revenue estimate by $100 million.

[rmfantasysetpieces1]

By Nick Miller Jul 18, 2022

Barbra Banda is a woman.

It’s important to start from that point for a couple of reasons.

The first is that nothing in what follows here should suggest she is not a woman. The second reason is that this is ultimately an extremely sad human story — one about a footballer who is potentially about to be denied her career — not an “issue” to be jumped on by anyone with malign intent.

You might be familiar with Banda if you watched the women’s football tournament at the Olympics last summer. Zambia only gained a point from their three games in Japan, comprehensively outmatched in a 10-3 opening defeat by the Netherlands, although they did draw 4-4 with China and performed credibly in only losing 1-0 to Brazil.

Banda dazzled, though.

The forward scored hat-tricks against the Dutch and the Chinese — the first woman to ever score back-to-back trebles at the Olympics — a combination of pace, wily movement and slick finishing earmarking the then 21-year-old as arguably the breakout star from the women’s football.

Banda moved from Dux Logrono in northern Spain to the slightly more lucrative environs of Shanghai Shengli at the start of 2020. In her first season in Shanghai, she was top scorer in the Chinese Women’s Super League with 18 goals from 13 games.

Her performances have been such that she has been heavily linked with a move back to Spanish football with Real Madrid this summer, although neither the club nor a source close to the player could confirm how advanced that potential transfer is.

She was thus expected to be one of the key players at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, currently taking place in Morocco.

FIFA was using her image to promote the tournament only a week or so before it started. The tournament’s Twitter feed hyped her as one of the players to watch at WAFCON. Zambia have never made it beyond the group stage on the other two occasions they qualified for WAFCON in its current format in 2014 and 2018. But with Banda as their captain, supported by brilliant No 10 Grace Chanda and electric winger Xiomara Mapepa, they had a real shot at making a significant impact this time.

Then, just before the tournament started, Zambia announced a squad that did not have Banda, along with two other players who were expected to be named, in it.

Initially, the official line was that Banda was not present for slightly vague-sounding “medical reasons”. Ultimately it emerged that she had not met the criteria put forward in the gender verification tests laid down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), African football’s governing body.

Banda’s tests revealed elevated levels of testosterone — naturally occurring, but higher than the levels permitted by CAF (which maintains it is simply applying standards put forward by FIFA, football’s global rulers).

Testosterone level is not the only criterion, but neither CAF nor officials from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) would confirm what those other criteria were.

It was an echo of the previous edition of the tournament four years ago, when Banda was initially named in the Zambia squad but was ultimately prevented from competing for similar reasons. But it left a star on the sidelines, opened a debate that could easily stray into desperately toxic areas, and perhaps most importantly denied a young woman the chance to play on one of the biggest stages of her career.

The whole business is, to be frank, an absolute mess. There has been claim and counter-claim throughout, but the situation as The Athletic understands it is as follows.

Before the tournament, FAZ medical staff conducted tests to, in their view, comply with gender recognition regulations set forward by CAF and FIFA. After those tests, Banda and three players were not named in their WAFCON squad. Zambia did not call up any replacements: a maximum of 26 players are allowed in each squad, and they named 22.

The players were offered hormone suppression medication that could bring their testosterone down to “acceptable” levels, but — setting aside the moral issues of whether that is acceptable — due to side effects reported by athletes who have taken them in the past, such as South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, they declined.

“These are personal issues, and she refused,” former FAZ official Blackwell Siwale told ESPN. “Someone should first counsel (them), and tell that how it would affect them, or that it might affect their energy levels et cetera.”

It was reported that CAF had “banned” the players from competing, but the African federation’s position was that Zambia simply named a squad as they saw fit, rather than the players in question being included and CAF rejecting them.

Ergo, in CAF’s view, this was all essentially nothing to do with it as the governing body.

Zambia, clearly, took a different view.

“Everybody at home has been made to believe that FAZ did nothing and decided on their own to exclude the player,” FAZ president Andrew Kamanga told the BBC. “We the federations are compelled to undertake the tests and then we pass on the information to CAF, and CAF, equally, test the players if needs be in the tournament. So it will be unfair to turn around and say CAF is not part and parcel of whatever has transpired.”

FAZ made representations to a meeting on July 7 that involved officials from FIFA, the CAF medical department and others. It “appealed” Banda’s omission from the tournament.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s campaign on the pitch was underway. Banda was still with the squad in Morocco, supporting the team from the stands.

Rumours circulated on social media in the following days that FIFA had intervened and Banda would be allowed to play in the remainder of the tournament, but these turned out to be false.

FIFA did not respond when asked by The Athletic for comment.

Then, on July 12, CAF wrote to Adrian Kashala, the general secretary of FAZ — a rather brusque letter that has been seen by The Athletic. In so many words, the letter tells Zambia to get lost. The letter reiterates the position that there was “no decision taken by any CAF body” so, officially and technically speaking, there is nothing to appeal against.

A FAZ spokesman suggested that it will work in the future to change the regulations in the long term, but as things stand Banda and the other players will not be allowed to compete in the ongoing WAFCON, where Zambia face South Africa in the semi-finals today (Monday).

And that, at the time of writing, is that.

A situation that is, at best, deeply unsatisfactory, whereby a player is being prevented from representing their country and nobody seems to be taking responsibility for the decision to prevent her from doing so.

The FAZ says it is complying with CAF rules. CAF says it had nothing to do with the decision.

When asked to supply more details about its medical processes, CAF declined to do so. FIFA is, at present, saying nothing.

It is worth pausing for a minute to look at exactly why increased levels of testosterone are considered to provide an athletic advantage.

“Testosterone is an anabolic hormone,” says professor Anthony Hackney from the exercise and sports science department of the University of North Carolina in the US. “One of the major things that anabolisms do is build protein.

“One of the largest tissues of your body that contains the most protein is skeletal muscle, and when skeletal muscle is asked to do its job — to contract and produce force, strength, endurance — it has to use those proteins.

“One of the reasons testosterone is viewed as a possible enhancement to sports performance is to allow you to have more muscle, which means you have more force-generating capacity, more strength and greater endurance.

“The other aspect of this anabolism is that one of the proteins that it helps to synthesise is haemoglobin, which is found in your red blood cells, and haemoglobin’s job is to carry oxygen. Any highly aerobic sporting activity is potentially going to be benefitted by more haemoglobin, which could be due to more testosterone.”

So, in short, testosterone could potentially make you stronger and faster for longer. Which is why artificial enhancements, such as anabolic steroids, are banned in sport.

But there is no suggestion the testosterone levels found in Banda are anything but naturally occurring.

The most prominent and obvious case that will come to the mind of most people when hearing about Banda’s situation is that of Semenya, who has been barred from competing in her favoured 800m event (the event she has two Olympic and three World Championship gold medals in) since 2019, unless she first takes medication that lowers her testosterone levels, which she has refused to do. Recently, Semenya called leading figures in African athletics “cowards” for not fighting harder for competitors in her situation.

However, directly comparing Banda and Semenya is tricky, simply because not enough is publicly known about Banda’s condition to put them both in the same category. Their issues are both related to “differences in sexual development” tests and regulations but they could be different, so at this stage, it is probably wise not to make a direct comparison.

From its perspective, CAF will argue that it is simply trying to be fair, and trying to avoid a situation similar to the one that came to a head after the 2010 WAFCON when complaints were lodged against two Equatorial Guinea players who took part in that tournament.

After that, CAF introduced the regulations at the centre of this case.

The whole situation seems deeply unsatisfying, partly because it is so opaque, but also from a distance at least, it is inconsistent. A FAZ official, when contacted by The Athletic, bemoaned a situation where Banda and other athletes in her position could appear in some international competitions but not in others.

“The points we touch upon in our position is the inconsistency in these rules,” says Tim Harper, executive director of Equity Sport, a group that aims to advance equality in global sport and does much of its work in sub-Saharan Africa. “Banda was allowed to play in the Olympics and was celebrated throughout as a superstar, and now, a year later, she’s suddenly not allowed to even be on the pitch.”

Olympic rules in this area only apply to a select few sports, including the 400-metre, 800-metre and hammer throw. Football isn’t included, so Banda was allowed to play at the Games last summer, and did so brilliantly.

Equity Sport also points out that this is an issue which seems to disproportionately impact Black, sub-Saharan African women.

In addition to Banda and Semenya, recent examples include Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, two Namibian 400-metre runners who were banned from those same Tokyo Olympics.

“What we want to understand is whether this is a biological matter,” Harper says.

The short answer to which is: It might be.

Professor Hackney is at pains to point out that the vast majority of research into whether higher levels of testosterone naturally occur in Black athletes has been conducted on men, but: “If you look at just the male research, there is evidence to suggest very definitely that testosterone happens to be higher in African Americans, than in matched Caucasian white populations.

“The difference is consistent, it seems to be across age ranges, but it’s not a large magnitude of difference. It’s in the range of five per cent, maybe 10 per cent, so it’s not as if it’s astronomically higher. I would suspect it would also be true in women, but again, without the same body of evidence and literature, I couldn’t say Black women are always going to have higher testosterone levels.”

“It should concern all of us,” Harper says. “If it was happening to the England team, there would be even more of a global media storm about it.

“The question we have to ask ourselves is: Is this what we want sport to be?”

Again, it should be repeated that testosterone is not the sole marker in this case, although FAZ seems to think it forms a disproportionate part of the regulations.

“Many players can be affected by these regulations, and football is their livelihood,” FAZ communications director Sydney Mungala told ESPN. “I think the CAF regulations are a lot more stringent (than Olympic regulations), and they put too much stress on testosterone levels.”

But what of the woman at the centre of this latest episode?

It’s easy to forget that, although Banda has been part of the Zambia team for some time and was their captain, she is still just 22.

Banda grew up playing on the streets of capital city Lusaka, and her talent meant she became the first female Zambian footballer to play for a European club. She is a wildly popular member of the squad, and not just because she is their best player. A source close to Banda described her as “jovial” but also “a warrior”.

The source suggested she was coping as well as can be expected with her omission from the WAFCON squad, although there were concerns that the debate around her could adversely impact her mental state.

Even if she is unable to play for Zambia in Morocco, she has been present at their games and has posted her encouragement to the team on social media as they have progressed to the final four.

After each victory, she has tweeted messages of congratulations, all of which include a variant of “I am with you all the way”.

And “all the way” might not just be a turn of phrase, because Zambia — nicknamed The Copper Queens (copper mining is big business there) — have been exceptional so far. They were arguably the most eye-catching team in the group stage, easing into things with a 0-0 draw against Cameroon, then squeezing past Tunisia 1-0 with a stoppage-time winner before really cutting loose to defeat Togo 4-1.

With her direct, rapid running, Mapepa won a penalty after 47 seconds against Togo. That was missed by defender Lushomo Mweemba, but from that point Chanda took over, dictating the game from the No 10 position and helping herself to two goals. Another came from Ireen Lungu, architect of some remarkable passes elsewhere in the game (some have nicknamed her “Xavi”), who skimmed a 35-yard effort over the goalkeeper after the ball had broken to her.

Mapepa, who has described Banda as her “idol” and is wearing her No 11 shirt at the tournament, scored the pick of the goals late in the first half, shortly after Togo had made it 2-1; driving down the left flank, leaving defenders in her wake, she thrashed a finish into the roof of the net from an implausible angle. Then came their quarter-final against Senegal on Wednesday. It was a nervy affair, the tension raised by the fact that the teams knew victory would also earn them a World Cup spot (WAFCON doubles as African qualification for next summer’s global tournament in Australia and New Zealand), something neither side had previously achieved.

It went to penalties, and in what can only be described as “quite the flex”, goalkeeper Hazel Nali stepped up to take Zambia’s fifth kick. Into the top corner it went and Zambia were through — to the semis, and to their first ever World Cup. Whether Banda will be there with them is another question entirely.

Even given her absence on the field, Banda was with the team off it. She was there in the dressing room after that shootout victory in Casablanca, wearing a team tracksuit and a shirt with the number 23 (remember, Zambia only named 22 players in their squad when 26 are permitted) on it, leading her team-mates in celebratory song.

“This was for Barbra Bandaaaaaaaaaa!!!!” yelled Nali as the whole squad celebrated.

“We still missed them,” said Zambia coach Bruce Mwape after the Togo game, when asked about the missing players. “They are part of our team.”

Zambia could be on the verge of doing something extraordinary.

It’s just profoundly sad that Banda won’t be on the pitch to do it with them.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3426458/2022/07/18/barbra-banda-womens-football/

#rmsoccer

[lboogie1906]

William Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. (October 8, 1993) is a stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the #23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the #1 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage.

He was a development driver in Toyota’s driver development program where he drove part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series and full-time for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series. He then moved over to Ford and its driver development program and competed full-time for Roush Fenway Racing in the Xfinity Series. After competing in select Cup Series races for Richard Petty Motorsports in their famous #43 as an injury replacement, he became a full-time driver for RPM.

He has been the only full-time African American driver in NASCAR’s three national series (Cup, Xfinity, and Truck) each year he has competed in them. He is the only African American driver to win more than once in any of these series, which has made him one of the most successful African American drivers in the history of NASCAR. He became known for his activism on racial justice in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, which led to NASCAR strengthening their actions and efforts in this area, highlighted by them banning the display of the Confederate flag at their tracks.

He was born in Mobile and raised in Concord, North Carolina. He is the son of Darrell Wallace Sr. and Desiree Wallace. His father is the owner of an industrial cleaning company, and his mother is a social worker who ran track at the University of Tennessee.

In 2019, he revealed that he dealt with and continues to deal with depression for most of his racing career. After others reached out to him to thank him for bringing awareness to depression, he said he did not know it was such a widespread problem; for him, being depressed was an honest answer to a media question.

He married Amanda Carter (2022). He is a Christian. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[andiessoccerblog]

Group B Breakdown

Expected to move on: Australia, Canada

Expected to exit in group stage: Ireland, Nigeria

Australia

FIFA Ranking: 12

Reputation:

As a host country, Australia’s games sold out almost immediately, so they are guaranteed to have a huge support base. Australia have a ton of potential to work with and completely dominate Asia and Oceania, but they have to bring their game up to par with USA and top European teams. The Aussies are inconsistent–they have beat the best teams in the world, and lost to teams ranked beneath them. I expect they will make it out of the group stage, and then it’s a 50/50 odds on winning the next game.

Player Pool:

Australia currently has arguably the best striker in the world, Sam Kerr, who scored five goals in Australia’s four women’s World Cup games in 2019 and leads top England club Chelsea. Several Australian midfielders play in the USA, including Emily Van Egmond and Alex Chidiac, and others play in top leagues and top teams in England and Sweden.  Australia has good depth, as many of their non-headliners play in two leagues–one in the American/European summer, and the second in the Australian summer. 

2019 World Cup  performance:

They were supposed to soar, and I talked them up a ton, but they were completely caught off guard in their first game, leading to an unexpected (but not undeserved) loss to Italy. They had possibly the best game in the cup against Brazil, a wild 3-2 finish that left me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, they went up against a tough opponent, Norway, in the first round of group play and were eliminated, but only after penalty kicks. 

Republic of Ireland

FIFA Ranking: 23

Reputation:

This is the Irish  women’s team's first World Cup. They can find success against teams ranked below them and won’t make it easy for Canada and Australia to take the top two group spots.  Ireland’s path to the World Cup is credited in part to coach Vera Pauw, who joined Ireland after coaching professionally in the USA. Ireland also benefits from its proximity to England’s FAWSL, where several Irish players play on lower-level teams. 

Player Pool:

Captain Katie McCabe is a leading scorer and an absolute brick wall for Ireland and for the Arsenal team in England. Her fellow midfielder, Denise O’Sullivan, is captain of the American team North Carolina Courage. Ireland’s strength is in their central midfield with these two players, but against tough competition they will need to rely on veteran defenders Lousie Quinn and Niamh Fahey. 

2019 World Cup Performance:

Did not qualify

Nigeria

FIFA Ranking: 45

Reputation:

Nigeria is one of a few teams that has qualified for all 9 World Cups. Historically they have been as much of a powerhouse as a team from Africa can be. In all 13 African Women’s Championships, they have been champions eleven times, including in 2014, 2016, and 2018. However, in the 2022 AFWCON, they finished fourth, barely qualifying for the World Cup. 

Player Pool: 

Nigeria has two standout forwards, Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona) and Ifeoma Onumonu (Gotham FC), but not much other depth in their team. They will need a strong defense in the games in this group. They might have a slight advantage just on experience, as most of their players will have played in a World Cup before. 

2019 World Cup performance:

Nigeria had a rough draw in the group stage, playing Norway and France, but did succeed in making it past the group stage after a win over South Korea. Their first game in the round of 16 was against Germany, who dominated the game and sent Nigeria packing. 

Canada

FIFA Ranking: 6

Reputation:

Much like a moose, the Canadian Women’s National Team is fierce and strong, but mostly ignored until you come up against them in a fight. They are one of the most physical women’s teams in the world, and have a range of both young and veteran talent. The team has had inconsistent results: they hosted the2015 World Cup and were eliminated in the quarterfinals in a heartbreaking defeat to England, then struggled at the 2019 World Cup, then won the gold medal in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The team has been fighting for equal pay and treatment, causing a distraction that could impact their performance. 

Player Pool:

Without a doubt, their most notable player is veteran Christine Sinclair, who holds the record for most international goals scored, male or female.  Jessie Fleming, who is only 24, will have almost a decade of experience under her belt when the World Cup starts, and is a starting midfielder for top club team Chelsea. Fleming and Jordyn Huitema (OL Reign) are two young players for Canada that are hitting their stride and building Canada’s future.

2019 World Cup  performance:

Canada finished second in the group, losing to the Netherlands, then to Sweden in the knockout round. After making it to the semifinals in 2015, it was a disappointing performance. With a new coach and an Olympic gold medal, hopefully 2019 was just a blip.

[heliosphoenix]

State of the Planet: 2022 Edition

And so here we are again, with just hours to go before we finish another lap around the Sun.

I feel that in many ways, 2022 will be looked back on as the year we have once a decade: where the old order finally passes on to make way for the new order that will come to define this period. In addition to some major world-shaking events (we all know what those are), it felt like this was the year in which we set ourselves down on the paths that we shall follow for the next decade.

And despite some dark clouds that were present back in the Winter, I feel this year ends on a note of optimism. There were moments where things could've turned bad and put us all into a grave situation, and in some respects things got pretty dire for some of us. But I feel like that while we certainly entertained our worst fears, we never realized them, and now we can be in a spot where while we're not out of the woods yet, we can feel as though things are looking up.

With that said, let's look back at some of the good things that happened this year:

The permanent members of the UN Security Council put out a joint statement saying nuclear war must be avoided at all costs.

A pig heart was successfully transplanted into a human for the first time.

The Winter Olympics were held in Beijing and the World Cup was held in Qatar.

Over 10 Billion COVID-19 vaccines have been adminsitered around the world.

The wreck of the Endurance, commanded by Ernest Shackleton during his Antarctic expedition, was discovered.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo joined the East African Community.

Turkey and Israel resumed diplomatic relations.

At the COP15 Biodiversity conference, 200 nations pleged to preserve a third of the planet for nature by 2030.

Construction on a wind farm began in the Mediterraian sea, it's estimated the farm will power 21,000 homes.

The US Government invested $430 billion dollars into fighting climate change, the largest investment in American history.

EU Environmental ministers committed to eliminating carbon emissions from all new vehicles by 2035.

The National Ignition Facility records a net energy gain from a fusion ignition for the first time.

The European Southern Observatory announced the discovery of the micronova, a new type of exploding star.

The James Webb Space Telescope began sending back its first images.

The Event Horizon Telescope gave us our first look at Saggitarius A*, the black hole at the center of the galaxy.

Artemis 1 became the first human-rated spacecraft to visit the Moon in 50 years.

* The global population surpassed 8 billion people.

Those are just some of the highlights that occured this past lap around the ol' Sun, and they show that despite the darkness that may exist, the light of progress and hope can shine through all the same.

Which is why my word of the year is "evolution."

As I said above, I truly believe that this will be the inflection point for the decade, the year when the cultural zeitgeist of the 2010's ended in favor of the 2020's. We don't know yet where this decade will lead us, but the way to ensure the best future for all of us is for us to constantly remember to evolve, whether it be in our professional lives or our personal lives.

It sounds like a tough ask, to exchange the comfort of the familiar for the uncertainty of the future, but it's actually something we do constantly, whether we want to or not. In our younger days, we all had our lives planned out; we knew exactly what we were going to be, who we were going to marry, where we were going to live, and we were naieve to assume that things would fall into place. But as we got older, we discovered the real world is not as accomodating as we'd like it to be, and often we found that our hopes and dreams ended up being just that in the face of reality.

But we didn't give up. What did we do instead? We evolved. We recognized the changing world around us and we changed ourselves to find or secure our place in it. Maybe we didn't recognize it at the time but we changed nonetheless. Sometimes we were forced to evolve, other times we took the initiative, but the end result was the same: every year we exit the calandar a little different than who we were when we first opened it.

But evolution shouldn't be looked upon as something that's imposed on us, or something that is a burden. Rather we should see it as an opportunity. A chance to view the world in a new way and come up with new ideas to solve the challenges and problems that face us all. Perhaps old thoughts and predjudices looked at in a new light is the key to overcoming them, and those who you thought you needed to hate and fear could turn out to be the people that will help you on your way.

So as we truly begin this decade, remember to always be looking for ways to improve yourself. Inspire those around you to do the same. Don't wait for someone above to bring about the change that you feel is necessary to make your life better, make it happen yourself. Be the change that you want to see in the world.

Like I always say: better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today.

Happy New Year to you all and let's make 2023 a good one!

[sa7abnews]

MENA Sports Wrap: Morocco clinch historic Olympic bronze

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/11/mena-sports-wrap-morocco-clinch-historic-olympic-bronze-2/

MENA Sports Wrap: Morocco clinch historic Olympic bronze

This week, Algeria’s Sports Minister announced legal action against those defaming boxer Imane Khelif, while Palestinian runner Layla Almasri set a new national record at the Paris Olympics.

On Thursday, Morocco secured their first-ever Olympic medal in men’s football with a 6-0 victory over Egypt, and Saudi taekwondo athlete Dunya Abutaleb defeated an Israeli opponent in a closely watched match.

Morocco trash Egypt 6-0 to win men’s football bronze medal

Morocco’s Atlas Lions outclassed Egypt on Thursday at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes during the men’s bronze medal match with six goals, in a match which saw the Moroccans seal their first-ever Olympic medal in the sport.

The prolific Soufiane Rahimi scored twice and captain Achraf Hakimi netted a stunning free-kick from outside the box, with other goals coming from Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss and Akram Nakach.

UAE-based Rahimi’s brace took him to eight goals at the Olympics, cementing his status as the tournament’s top scorer.

Morocco, who beat Argentina in their opening group game and were eventually beaten by Spain in the semi-finals, had already defeated Egypt in the final of last year’s Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match was highly anticipated due to the rivalry between the Atlas Lions and the Pharaohs.  

“We had to earn our victory, it wasn’t easy. It’s important to get failures first and learn from mistakes and we were able to come back stronger,” Morocco manager Tarik Sektioui told reporters.

Morocco’s win seals the country’s impressive rise in world football over the years, including the fourth-place finish at the World Cup in 2022, which saw them beat the likes of Spain and Portugal during the tournament.

Thursday’s medal is also Morocco’s second of the Olympics after long-distance runner Soufiane El Bakkali won gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. 

Algeria to sue boxer Imane Khelif’s critics for defamation

Algeria’s Sports Minister Abdul Rahman Hammad has said the North African country will legally pursue anyone who defames Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who is competing in the Paris Olympics.

“Our great Iman Khelif is under attack from an organisation that has no legitimacy with IOC [International Olympic Committee],” Hammad said in a post on X on Monday, without identifying the organisation he was referring to.

“Incredible resources are used to legally pursue and hold accountable anyone who dares to threaten or defame her. Our determination is limitless,” Hammad said.

His post on X was accompanied by an illustration of the boxer surrounded by supporters.

Also on Monday, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee (COA) issued a statement defending Khelif.

The COA announced last week that it had taken legal action against a Hungarian boxer over an “offensive” social media post relating to Khelif.

Khelif was cleared to compete in the women’s boxing in Paris, having been disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s Women’s World Championships last year after not meeting eligibility criteria.

Layla Almasri sets new 800-metre record for Palestine in Paris 

Palestinian runner Layla Almasri set a new national record for her country in the women’s 800-metre event at the Paris Olympics on Friday, despite failing to progress in the competition.

Almasri, whose parents hail from the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, completed the first heat with a time of 2:12.21, finishing in ninth place.

“I think I can speak for all eight of us here at the Olympics,” Almasri said after the race on Friday. “We’re definitely diplomats for our people as well as athletes.”

On Saturday, Almasri ended her participation in the Paris Games with an eighth-place finish in the 800-metre repechage event, with a time of 2:16.72.

The Colorado-born athlete had become a fan favourite in Paris, with fans from many countries cheering on the 25-year-old.

“I wasn’t even looking at the clock,” Almasri was quoted by AP as saying. “Just soaked in the moment. The crowd was really what I was focused on. And of course (I had) the best view in the house watching that race. Right on the track.”

The popularity of the Palestinian contingent has also extended to the athletes’ village, where Almasri said they have received a warm welcome.

“Everybody wants a pin. We’re stopped for photos in the dining hall constantly,” Almasri said. “It’s really incredible to see how many people are really surprised to see us and happy to see us.”

Almasri’s appearance at the Paris Games comes amid Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, which has killed close to 40,000 Palestinians and injured tens of thousands more since October.

Israel’s onslaught has also killed at least 400 athletes, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee, including Palestine’s first-ever Olympian Majed Abu Maraheel.

Despite coming last in the first heat on Friday, Almasri her participation was for a purpose bigger than any medal she could have won on the day.

“I was doing it for Palestine,” she said. “And I felt I could do no wrong because I was running for my people.”

Saudi Arabia meets Israel in Taekwondo

Saudi taekwondo competitor Dunya Abutaleb defeated Israeli counterpart Avishag Semberg in the women’s flyweight event on Wednesday, in round 16, much to the delight of fans watching in the stands.

Semberg was reduced to tears following the defeat and expressed disappointment after losing 2-6, 5-4, 10-0. Abutaleb capped her victory with two kicks to the head and two kicks to the body in the third round.

Abutaleb is the first Saudi woman to earn direct qualification to the Olympics, after making it through Asian qualifiers. Previously, Saudi female athletes were included as part of national quota allocations.

The Saudi taekwondo athlete also competed against Morocco’s Oumaima El-Bouchti but lost to Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit.

The match drew attention as Israeli athletes have received criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for competing in the Olympics due to the country’s deadly military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as well as due to Abutaleb’s Saudi nationality.

[influencermagazineuk]

England's Pursuit of Another Semi-Final Triumph Against India

In recent years, England has shone brightest in semi-final matches, demonstrating their prowess in high-stakes games. Two dates stand out in their white-ball cricket resurgence: July 11, 2019, and November 10, 2022. These days saw England deliver two of their most impressive limited-overs performances, both leading to World Cup finals victories. In 2019, England crushed Australia by eight wickets to secure a spot in the 50-over World Cup final. In 2022, they defeated India by 10 wickets in Adelaide, reaching the T20 World Cup final amid a fervent crowd. This Thursday, England, the defending champions, return to Guyana for the first time in 14 years to face India in another crucial semi-final. Storm machine, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Previously, England entered these matches as underdogs but managed to turn the tide spectacularly. Despite a rough start, they gained momentum with wins over Oman, Namibia, and the United States. The only Test-playing nation they beat was the West Indies, but they did so convincingly. This semi-final will be a true test of England's capabilities. India, on the other hand, has cruised through the tournament, particularly in New York, where they were the main attraction. They haven't faced significant challenges since their close win over Pakistan and continued their strong performance in the Caribbean. Captain Rohit Sharma's recent explosive innings against Australia, scoring 92 from 41 balls, signals a formidable challenge for England. Virat Kohli, although not in top form, is another potential threat. India had the advantage of knowing their semi-final venue early due to the tournament's scheduling for Indian television, while England faced last-minute travel arrangements. India's strategy includes a spin-heavy squad, anticipating the slow pitch in Guyana. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, yet to play in the tournament, are expected to feature prominently. England might also consider debuting their spinner, Tom Hartley, to counter India's approach. Weather conditions and the lack of a reserve day add another layer of uncertainty. If rain disrupts play, India will advance due to their higher group stage ranking. England's recent history in knockout matches is positive, whereas India has struggled, losing four of their last five semi-finals in white-ball World Cups. A win for England would vindicate coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler, easing the disappointment of last year's 50-over World Cup. The victor of this match will likely be the favorite in the final, facing a South African team with its own semi-final demons. For England, a win on June 27 could become a landmark date, while a loss would quickly fade into obscurity amid the upcoming football frenzy. Read the full article

[humorous-football-shirts]

The Evolution of the World Cup: From 1930 to Today

Introduction: The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious football tournament in the world, capturing the hearts of millions of fans every four years. Since its inception in 1930, the World Cup has undergone significant changes, evolving in format, rules, and global impact. This article explores the journey of the World Cup from its early days to its current status as a global phenomenon.

1. The Inaugural Tournament: 1930 The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, with only 13 teams participating. Uruguay, celebrating its centenary of independence, was chosen as the host country. The tournament was a groundbreaking event, marking the first time national teams competed for the title of world champions. Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup, defeating Argentina 4-2 in the final.

2. Early Years and Growing Pains: 1934-1950 The early years of the World Cup were marked by challenges, including political tensions and the impact of World War II. The 1934 and 1938 tournaments saw European dominance, with Italy winning both titles. The World Cup was suspended during the war years and resumed in 1950 in Brazil, where the famous "Maracanazo" occurred – Uruguay's stunning victory over Brazil in the final match.

3. The Birth of Modern Football: 1954-1970 The 1954 World Cup in Switzerland introduced a more structured tournament format and was the first to be televised. Hungary's "Mighty Magyars" were the favorites, but West Germany emerged victorious in a surprise win. The following decades saw the rise of legendary players like Pelé, who led Brazil to three World Cup victories (1958, 1962, and 1970), solidifying Brazil's status as a football powerhouse.

4. Expanding the Global Reach: 1974-1994 The World Cup continued to grow in popularity and global reach. The 1974 tournament in West Germany introduced a new trophy, replacing the Jules Rimet Trophy. The 1982 World Cup in Spain expanded to include 24 teams, reflecting the increasing number of competitive national teams worldwide. The 1994 World Cup in the United States was a landmark event, showcasing football's potential in new markets and setting attendance records.

5. Technological Advancements: 1998-2010 The late 1990s and early 2000s saw significant technological advancements in the World Cup. The 1998 tournament in France expanded to 32 teams, providing more opportunities for countries to compete on the world stage. Innovations in broadcasting technology brought the games to a global audience with enhanced coverage and analysis. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the first on the African continent, highlighting the sport's global diversity.

6. The Role of Women’s World Cup: 1991-Present The FIFA Women’s World Cup, first held in 1991, has played a crucial role in promoting women's football. The tournament has grown in prestige and popularity, with the 2019 Women's World Cup in France setting viewership records. The success of the women's tournament has paralleled the men's, contributing to the overall evolution of the World Cup as an inclusive and global event.

7. Controversies and Challenges: 2002-Present The World Cup has faced its share of controversies, from corruption scandals within FIFA to debates over hosting rights and working conditions. The 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, was the first in Asia and marked by surprising results. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been scrutinized for human rights concerns, prompting discussions about the responsibilities of hosting nations.

8. Advances in Technology and VAR: 2018-Present The introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the 2018 World Cup in Russia marked a significant shift in officiating. VAR aimed to improve decision-making accuracy and fairness, though it also sparked debates about its impact on the flow of the game. The 2018 tournament was praised for its competitive matches and high level of play, with France emerging as the champions.

9. The Future of the World Cup: 2026 and Beyond Looking ahead, the 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expanding the tournament to 48 teams. This expansion aims to increase global participation and competitiveness. Future World Cups will likely continue to embrace technological innovations and sustainability initiatives, reflecting broader trends in sports and society.

10. The World Cup’s Cultural Impact: The World Cup's influence extends beyond football, shaping global culture and fostering international unity. The tournament provides a platform for cultural exchange, national pride, and collective celebration. The stories, emotions, and memories created by the World Cup transcend borders, making it a truly universal event.

Conclusion: From its humble beginnings in 1930 to its current status as a global spectacle, the World Cup has evolved in countless ways. Each tournament brings new stories, innovations, and challenges, reflecting the dynamic nature of football and its impact on the world. As we look forward to future World Cups, the tournament's rich history reminds us of its enduring power to inspire and unite people across the globe. Read more

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 6.24 (after 1900)

1894 – Marie François Sadi Carnot, President of France, is assassinated by Sante Geronimo Caserio. 1913 – Greece and Serbia annul their alliance with Bulgaria. 1916 – Mary Pickford becomes the first female film star to sign a million-dollar contract. 1918 – First airmail service in Canada from Montreal to Toronto. 1922 – The American Professional Football Association is renamed the National Football League. 1932 – A bloodless revolution instigated by the People's Party ends the absolute power of King Prajadhipok of Siam (now Thailand). 1938 – Pieces of a meteorite land near Chicora, Pennsylvania. The meteorite is estimated to have weighed 450 metric tons when it hit the Earth's atmosphere and exploded. 1940 – World War II: Operation Collar, the first British Commando raid on occupied France, by No 11 Independent Company. 1943 – US military police attempt to arrest a black soldier in Bamber Bridge, England, sparking the Battle of Bamber Bridge mutiny that leaves one dead and seven wounded. 1945 – The first Victory Day Parade takes place on Red Square in Moscow, Soviet Union, symbolizing the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. 1947 – Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington. 1948 – Cold War: Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union makes overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible. 1949 – The first television western, Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is aired on NBC. 1950 – Apartheid: In South Africa, the Group Areas Act is passed, formally segregating races. 1954 – First Indochina War: Battle of Mang Yang Pass: Viet Minh troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment ambush G.M. 100 of France in An Khê. 1957 – In Roth v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment. 1960 – Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt is injured in an assassination attempt. 1963 – The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government. 1975 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 encounters severe wind shear and crashes on final approach to New York's JFK Airport killing 113 of the 124 passengers on board, making it the deadliest U.S. plane crash at the time. This accident led to decades of research into downburst and microburst phenomena and their effects on aircraft. 1981 – The Humber Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It remained the world's longest bridge span for 17 years. 1982 – "The Jakarta Incident": British Airways Flight 009 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines. 1989 – Jiang Zemin succeeds Zhao Ziyang to become the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. 1994 – A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crashes at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington, killing four. 1995 – Rugby World Cup: South Africa defeats New Zealand and Nelson Mandela presents Francois Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup in an iconic post-apartheid moment. 2002 – The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history. 2004 – In New York, capital punishment is declared unconstitutional. 2012 – Death of Lonesome George, the last known individual of Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise. 2013 – Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is found guilty of abusing his power and engaging in sex with an underage prostitute, and is sentenced to seven years in prison. 2022 – In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the U.S. Constitution does not assign the authority to regulate abortions to the federal government, thereby returning such authority to the individual states. This overturns the prior decisions in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). 2023 – The Wagner Group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin launches an insurrection against the Russian government.

[hjemne]

I am Lilian Thuram's no1 fan. I'm so not kidding. Do you know how many people won the world cup and then became a leading anti-racism activist and philosopher???? Do you know the sheer balls required for this guy to tell J-M Le Pen, the founder of the far right in France, to back the fuck off. He was the most capped player on the French national team until 2022 despite a vocal part of the country being extremely racist towards him. He has spent most of his life dealing with and shutting down all the racism France has to offer and he keeps on going.

Lilian Thuram is the world's one and only footballer-philosopher and I adore him.

He fully eviscerated far-right fuckwit Le Pen after he said "I get the feeling that the French public do not feel truly represented by them [because there were lots of black & north African men on the national team]which, without doubt, explains why there is not the same depth of support as there was eight years ago [when France won the world cup in 1998]"

Like goddamn he's funny as fuck but also holy shit EVISCERATED

One thing to remember is that the discussions of racism in France are lagging way behind the anglophone world, so if what he's saying seems a little basic (esp for Tumblr) at times, please remember that he is being loudly & continuously denounced as a reverse racist in France for what he's saying here

He often mentions that he became black aged 9 when he moved to Paris & was treated black for the first time, and he's made the same point as Simone de Beauvoir did about women that no one is born black/white (/man/woman) but you become so because of your socialisation and upbringing in a world that's built on white + male power.

(hence why he told Le Pen 'me, personally, I'm not black' when le pen was going off on one of his tirades which is, honestly, iconic)

Anyway absolute king, you should read his books, especially White Thinking (La Pensée Blanche)

[wordpresscasinooa]

u20 african cup of nations 2022 ทีมไหนมีโอกาสชนะมากที่สุด?

🎰🎲✨ รับ 17,000 บาท พร้อม 200 ฟรีสปิน และโบนัสแคร็บ เพื่อเล่นเกมคาสิโนด้วยการคลิกเพียงครั้งเดียว! ✨🎲🎰

u20 african cup of nations 2022 ทีมไหนมีโอกาสชนะมากที่สุด?

ทีมฟุตบอลชาติ U20 เป็นทีมชาติหรือทีมชาติที่รวมนักฟุตบอลอายุไม่เกิน 20 ปีเพื่อแข่งขันในการแข่งขันระดับชาติ ทีมฟุตบอลชาติ U20 ถูกสร้างขึ้นเพื่อเสริมสร้างทักษะและความสามารถของนักฟุตบอลรุ่นหนุ่มและสาวที่มีฝันอยากเป็นนักเตะอาชีพในอนาคต

การแข่งขันระดับชาติที่รวมทีม U20 เป็นโอกาสที่ดีที่จะสุ่มเยาะบทกวีในกลุ่มเล็กน้อยของนักเตะที่มีฝันอยากเข้าร่วมการแข่งขันในระดับชาติ นอกจากนี้ การสร้างทีมฟุตบอลชาติ U20 ยังช่วยกระตุ้นพัฒนาการของกีฬาฟุตบอลในประเทศเพราะให้โอกาสแก่นักฟุตบอลรุ่นหนุ่มและสาวที่แสดงความสามารถในสนามแข่ง

ทีมฟุตบอลชาติ U20 มักจะมีการเตรียมความพร้อมอย่างดีก่อนการแข่งขัน เช่นการซ้อมซ้อมร่วมกัน เป็นต้น การฝึกซ้อมที่เน้นการเรียนรู้และพัฒนาทักษะของนักเตะทุกคน เพื่อเตรียมพร้อม���นการแข่งขันในระดับชาติอย่างดี

การเป็นสมาชิกของทีมฟุตบอลชาติ U20 เป็นระลอกทางสู่การเป็นนักเตะมืออาชีพในอนาคตสำหรับนักเตะหลายคน เนื่องจากโอกาสในการแข่งขันระดับชาติจะช่วยเพิ่มโอกาสในการเป็นตัวแทนชาติและเข้าสู้ตลาดแข่งขันสากลในอนาคต

ในปี 2022 การแข่งขัน African Cup of Nations หรือยุคสมัยที่ 33 จะมีการจัดขึ้นในประเทศคูôte d'Ivoire. การแข่งขันนี้เป็นการแข่งขันฟุตบอลที่สำคัญที่สุดในทวีปแอฟริกาที่มีความสนุกสุดๆ และโดดเด่นด้วยการแข่งขันระดับสูงจากทั้งประเทศและทีมชาติที่มีคุณภาพ.

ในการแข่งขันนี้จะมีทีมชาติจากรายการ 24 ทีม ที่ได้รับเชิญมาร่วมแข่งขันในสนามใหม่ที่สร้างไว้เพื่อการแข่งขันระดับสูง. ความสนุกสุดๆ ของการแข่งขันนี้คือการต่างรางระดับของทีมชาติทุกแห่ง ที่มีความแข็งแกร่งและพร้อมที่จะพ่ายแพ้กันในศึกชิงชนะเลิศ.

การแข่งขัน African Cup of Nations 2022 จะเป็นที่บอกเล่าสำคัญที่ช่วยสร้างเส้นทางใหม่ให้กับฟุตบอลในทวีปแอฟริกา และเสนอบทความทรงประสิทธิภาพให้กับผู้ชมทั่วโลกเกี่ยวกับฟุตบอลในทวีปแอฟริกา. ไม่ว่าคำถามว่าทีมชาติใดจะบุกโชว์สกิลที่ดีเพื่อคว้าแชมป์หรือไม่ เราจะติดตามแข่งขันนี้อย่างใกล้ชิด และพร้อมเสมอ ในการเข้าร่วมสนุกไปด้วยกันในยุคสมัยที่ 33 ของ African Cup of Nations.

ขณะที่การพัฒนากลยุทธ์การตลาดเป็นสิ่งสำคัญในธุรกิจ 3. โอกาสชนะ ก็เป็นองค์ประกอบสำคัญที่ทุกธุรกิจควรพิจารณาอย่างสม่ำเสมอ โอกาสชนะคือสิ่งที่ช่วยให้ธุรกิจเติบโตและรวดเร็วขึ้น โดยทำให้ตลาดสนับสนุนและสร้างความน่าเชื่อถือให้กับธุรกิจของคุณ

การบูรณาการโอกาสชนะในกลยุทธ์การตลาดของคุณสามารถช่วยให้ธุรกิจของคุณมีประสิทธิภาพในการแข่งขันในตลาด โดยการวิเคราะห์และนำโอกาสชนะมาใช้ได้อย่างเหมาะสม ทำให้ธุรกิจของคุณมีเสถียรภาพและสามารถเติบโตได้อย่างเร็วกว่า

การจดจำว่าโอกาสชนะสามารถมาจากตลาดเป้าหมายของคุณ การวิเคราะห์ความต้องการของลูกค้าและการเปลี่ยนแปลงในสภาพแวดล้อมการตลาดสามารถช่วยให้คุณเข้าใจโอกาสชนะอย่างถี่ถ้วน

ในสรุป การนำโอกาสชนะมาใช้ให้เหมาะสมในกลยุทธ์การตลาดของคุณเป็นเรื่องสำคัญ เพราะมันช่วยให้ธุรกิจของคุณมีข้อได้เปรียบและสามารถเติบโตได้อย่างรวดเร็วในตลาดที่แข่งขันอย่างมาก

ดังนั้น อย่าละเลยโอกาสชนะในกลยุทธ์การตลาดของคุณ และตัดสินใจใช้ทรัพยากรที่มีอยู่ให้เหมาะสมเพื่อสร้างความสำเร็จให้กับธุรกิจของคุณได้อย่างเต็มที่

ทีมไหนที่เหมาะกับคุณ? เมื่อคุณเริ่มต้นที่จะเล่นกีฬาหรือกิจกรรมกล่าวคือ, เลือกทีมที่เหมาะกับคุณสำคัญมาก ไม่ว่าคุณจะเล่นกีฬาอย่างเทนนิส ฟุตบอล บาสเกตบอล หรืออื่น ๆ การเลือกทีมที่คำนึงถึงลักษณะบุคลิก���องคุณสำคัญ เช่น ความแข็งแกร่ง ความสม่ำเสมอ หรือ ความสมดุล นอกจากนี้โค้ชและสมาชิกในทีมก็มีบทบาทสำคัญในการเลือกทีมที่เหมาะกับคุณ ความเข้ากันได้กับทีมมีผลต่อประสิทธิภาพของคุณในการแข่งขัน อีกทั้งการสนับสนุนและยำเกรงสมาชิกในทีมก็ช่วยกระตุ้นแรงใจของคุณในการประสานงานกับทีมได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพมากยิ่งขึ้น รูปแบบการเล่นของทีมด้วยเช่นกันมีผลต่อความเพลิดเพลินที่สุดของการแข่งขัน จึงสำคัญที่จะคำนึงถึงลักษณะต่าง ๆ ของทีมและเลือกทีมที่เหมาะกับคุณในการเล่นและสร้างประสบการณ์ที่ดีในการแข่งขัน.

ออกาสชนะมากที่สุดคือสิ่งที่ทุกคนต้องการในชีวิต ไมว่าจะเป็นในด้านการงาน ความสำเร็จ หรือความสุขในชีวิตประจำวัน มากมายที่เราทั้งตามหาหลังจับตามอง แม้จะเป็นที่ยากลำบาก แต่หากมองดีจะพบว่า โอกาสชนะย่อมมีมากมายไร้ข้อจำกัด

การพัฒนาทักษะ: การเรียนรู้และพัฒนาทักษะใหม่ ๆ เป็นเรื่องสำคัญที่จะช่วยเติบโตและเตรียมตัวสำหรับโอกาสที่มาใหม่

การเรียนรู้จากความล้มเหลว: ทุกครั้งที่เผชิญกับความล้มเหลวไม่ใช่การถอยหลัง แต่เป็นโอกาสที่จะเรียนรู้และเข้าใจว่าอะไรที่ควรปรับปรุง

การเคลื่อนไหวออกนอก Comfort Zone: การก้าวออกมาจาก Comfort zone เป็นการสร้างโอกาสใหม่และมอบประสบการณ์ที่ร่วมสนุก

การสร้างความเชื่อมั่น: ความเชื่อมั่นในตนเองและความสามารถจะช่วยให้เรารับมือกับทุกข์เขม่าเมื่อเผชิญกับโอกาสใหม่

การทำงานหนัก: ทำงานหนักและมุ่งมั่นทำให้เรามีโอกาสชนะมากที่สุด เพราะความพยายามและความมุ่งมั่นต่างก็เป็นจุดเด่นที่สำคัญในการสร้างโอกาสสำเร็จในชีวิต

ดังนั้น โอกาสชนะมากที่สุดไม่ได้มีเพียงแค่ตอนเริ่มต้น แต่เป็นผลลัพธ์ของความพยายาม การเรียนรู้ การพัฒนาตนเอง และความมุ่งมั่นที่ไม่มีทิศทาง จึงทำให้เราพบกับโอกาสชนะในทุก ๆ ด้านของชีวิต

[calacuspr]

Calacus Monthly Hit & Miss – Sebastien Haller & Enhanced games february 2024

Every month we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the last few weeks.

HIT - SEBASTIEN HALLER

The late, great Daily Mail sport columnist Ian Wooldridge once wrote: “There are days when sport reaches the sublime heights of unscripted theatre and draws from men and women performers resources of nerve and skill beyond human comprehension.”

The magic of sporting contest is that it can be so unpredictable that it is often said that no one would believe it if you made a movie about what you’ve just witnessed.

This month’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) certainly fits that description, with striker Sebastien Haller front and centre in the drama.

Ivory Coast, the hosts, looked set to exit the competition after a disastrous group stage, when they lost twice, including a heaviest ever home – and Nations Cup finals – defeat when losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea.

Manager Jean-Louis Gasset was promptly sacked, but the team got a reprieve when Zambia failed to get the result they needed to finish above the hosts as a best third-placed side.

Haller had not featured in those first few matches due to an ankle injury, but his comeback is far more dramatic than a typical footballer’s injury.

A former France youth international, Haller made his name at Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Premier League side West Ham for a then club-record fee of £45million in July 2019.

He failed to replicate his Bundesliga form, scoring only 10 goals in a year and a half before moving to Ajax.

Haller twice helped the Dutch giants win the Eredivisie and became only the second player, after one Cristiano Ronaldo, to score in all six of his club’s group-stage Champions League games, and the fourth, with Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, to reach double figures in the competition’s group phase.

This prompted Borussia Dortmund to sign him to replace Erling Haaland, where his impressive form was stopped in its track by a tragic turn of events.

In July 2022, just two weeks after signing, the forward complained of abdominal discomfort and during a consultation with a urologist, a testicular tumour was discovered.

Haller promptly underwent surgery to remove it and within the week, he had started receiving chemotherapy.

In a Canal+ documentary called ‘Fight’, Haller’s wife Priscilla described the news Haller had a tumour as a “nightmare.”

“When (he) told me on the phone, I didn’t believe it — it’s a joke,” she said. “Until he got upset because he takes the blow and on top of that has to convince me. I understood what it was to be really afraid. I was scared and had the fear of my life.”

Haller was determined to play football again as quickly as possible and had a personal trainer devising tailored exercise programmes for him in hospital.

When Haller attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris with Priscilla, the extent of his illness was clear for all to see, his hair loss as a result of chemotherapy a stark reminder of how gravely unwellhe had been.

Haller was voted the 13th best player in the world for his achievements with Ajax, and also went up on stage to present an award.

He was encouraged by his idol, former Ivory Coast captain and fellow striker Didier Drogba, to provide an update on his condition and said: “Everything is fine. I’m here because everything is going as well as it can. It’s important to be involved at such events to show that you’re strong.”

That turned out not to be the case.

A month after the Paris ceremony, he needed a second, more dangerous  procedure, to remove the residual findings from the tumour, which took over four hours.

When Haller was eventually given the all-clear, he flew with his team-mates to Dortmund’s winter training camp in Marbella, telling reporters that “(retiring) was never on my mind.”

On January 10 2023 Haller was greeted with applause from his team-mates, club staff, opposition players and supporters as he finally stepped onto the pitch for the first time in a Dortmund shirt for a friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf.

“It’s been a dream to play with my team-mates, certainly more fun than doing runs through forests,” he said afterwards.

Two weeks later, he made his official debut for Dortmund, and first competitive appearance since recovering from cancer, coming off the bench in a 4-3 victory over Augsburg.

The words “F*CK CANCER” were inscribed on his boots.

It was fitting that on World Cancer Day, in early February 2023, Haller scored his first goal for Borussia Dortmund, heading into the net against Freiburg in front of 80,000 supporters at Signal Iduna Park and subsequently swamped by a horde of yellow-clad team-mates.

He pointed to that message on his boots as part of his celebration and he said afterwards: “To score today was a great message to everyone who is fighting today or will fight later.

“It gives some hope, some courage. The days after will always be better. You only want to score another goal, to have that feeling again. It’s the best feeling.

“You’re flying. You’re on a cloud. The whole stadium is on fire. Your team-mates, the staff, everyone is as one. It’s a big boost. There’s still a long way to go, but we will walk down that path.

"Of course, you realise it is something really serious that is happening, that a lot of things can change. It's important to tell it straight about cancer.

“But the urologist helped me not to be scared. He said I could heal well. I took all his words for granted.”

With Ivory Coast struggling and scoring just twice in the AFCON group stages, Haller’s recovery from his ankle injury took on added significance.

"After the big defeat against Equatorial Guinea, we had no choice," Haller said.

"We've come back from a long way. There were words, moments, which were not easy for the players, staff and everybody [but] which were necessary."

Haller’s teammate Seko Fofana said that Haller's struggles with health and fitness inspired squad unity, especially after their coach was sacked in the group stage.

"He was a benefit to others in the team, always giving something else to this group," Fofana mused. “[Consequently] we're now a unit, a collective, and we can be very happy about it.”

Losing against defending champions Senegal, Haller was thrown on late in normal time to help save the game, and his perfect through ball to Nicolas Pepe saw the former Arsenal winger fouled in the penalty area.

Franck Kessie equalised from the spot to take the game into extra time with Haller scoring in the penalty shootout, with the Ivorians knocking out the holders 5-4.

Still not fit enough to start games, Haller was brought on against Mali in the quarter-final with the team down to 10 men, hitting the bar before Oumar Diakite scored in the 122nd minute to see the hosts through 2-1.

In the semi-final against DR Congo, Haller scored the only goal with a volley into the ground, which bounced over goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and into the net.

That gave Haller the chance to put his health problems behind him, and looking forward to the final, he said: “The last 18 months have been quite challenging for myself and the family. I just take everything step by step and I just try to enjoy the moment. I don't want to have any regrets.

“It’s a great moment to be here in front of you, talking about the final of AFCON in my own country. It will take a few months, or a few years, to really realise what happened (to me).”

Hollywood scriptwriters would have ensured Haller scored the winning goal in front of his home fans, a scenario which looked unlikely when William Troost-Ekong had put Nigeria ahead seven minutes before half-time.

Kessie equalised with just over an hour gone before Haller seized his moment, flicking the ball into the net from Simon Adingra's cross in front of 60,000 fans at Abidjan's Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

An emotional Haller broke down in tears after the final whistle, the reality of his achievement hitting home.

"We dreamed of this moment so many times," Haller said. "We hoped to get to this point and once again the match wasn't an easy one. The joyous scenes we see now, what's happening in the country, they deserve it too. I really hope it does a lot of people good."

Haller was congratulated by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara after picking up his winners' medal, perhaps in recognition of the impact his return had on Ivory Coast's Éléphants. 

Understandably, Haller was front and centre of the team's trophy parade through the centre of Abidjan the following day, the victory a show of unity coming only 13 years since the end of Ivory Coast’s second civil war.

But victory was about more than just lifting the AFCON trophy for the first time since 2015.

Thousands of Ivory Coast fans came to celebrate on the streets of Abidjan, adorning the team’s orange and white colours, a national holiday called to celebrate the championship success.

Haller’s dignified and determined fight against cancer, his impact on the team and the entire nation underlined how sporting prowess can have a positive impact on society.

It’s a reminder not only of the importance of sport, but how its impact transcends the field, bringing joy, hope and inspiration to millions.

MISS – ENHANCED GAMES

With the recent backing of PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel and other tech businessmen, it looks like the controversial Enhanced Games has the financial backing to take place in 2024.

The Enhanced Games is a proposed international athletic competition, not unlike the Olympic Games, but with one major difference: they explicitly do not test for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). This is not to say that athletes are forced to dope, but rather than doping is perfectly permissible in the eyes of the organisers.

Their stated goal is to see how far humans can go, using a combination of chemical and technological doping; the former including anabolic steroids and hormone therapy, the latter technology like ’super trainers’ and swimsuits based on sharkskin.

The main philosophy of the Enhanced Games is that PED use should be seen as a ‘demonstration of science’ rather than as cheating.

Is this philosophy legitimate? It is true that no athlete succeeds on their own, and that every Olympic champion has a team of nutritionists, coaches and trainers, equipment designers, physiotherapists, friends, and family behind them. Why not add a pharmacist to the list?

The point could be made that high-altitude training could count as an unfair advantage, given that it is only available to athletes from countries that can either afford to fly them there, or who happen by chance to host training facilities in the mountains. It certainly gives athletes a clear and measurable edge over those that don’t have the option.

From a different perspective, a world-class swimmer like Michael Phelps has longer-than-average arms and a torso that is proportionally longer compared to his legs, as well as size 14 feet and a body that produces half the lactic acid of an average swimmer, but he is celebrated as a natural superhuman.

Meanwhile, women such as champion runner Caster Semenya, whose bodies produce higher than average testosterone levels, are punished and forced to take supplements to bring their hormone levels back down to average.

Clearly, there are grey areas when it comes to genetic and competitive advantages, so it could be argued that any and all enhancements should be allowed. That way, an athlete’s performance on the international stage would represent the combined scientific and sporting abilities of their nation to achieve victory as well as any genetic gifts they have.

Given the allegations of the Russian state-sponsored doping program that saw the state formally expelled from the Olympic Movement, forcing the nation’s athletes to compete as independents, this could be more endemic than we currently think.

The Enhanced Games also claim to have a vastly improved pay structure compared to the Olympic Games, including a stipend for all athletes that compete, as well as substantial prizes for the most successful – including up to and above $1m for gold medallists.

Olympic Games silver medallist James Magnussen has indicated he’d be more than happy to come out of retirement and take steroids if it meant a large payday.

He said: “They [Enhanced Games] have said they have a billion-dollar person backing them.

“If they put up a million dollars for the freestyle world record, I’ll come on board as the first athlete. I’ll juice to the gills and break it in six months.”

Three-time swimming gold medal winner Leisel Jones has argued that the Enhanced Games might actually benefit the Olympic Games.

“It might actually keep the clean sport, clean,” she said. “If this clears out people who genuinely want to [take PEDs] and are doing illegal things in sport, if that clears them out of clean sport, that would be wonderful.”

However, she has said that while she might be interested in commentating, she wouldn’t be interested in coming out of retirement to take part herself.

“I don’t want to participate in it myself, I’m not in a position to do that. The risks are too big for me I think for the side effects and whatnot.

“But I am happy to see other people do this. I would watch it for sure. I just want to know how fast they can go.”

There is some truth in the argument that traditional athletics has been afflicted by illicit drug use. Beyond Russia, a 2017 study carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suggested that as many of half of tested athletes had used PEDs in the last year.

Two parallel Games, one ‘natural’ and one ‘Enhanced’ could, properly enacted, result in fairer competition for all.

However, the Enhanced Games has understandably been strongly criticised by anti-doping agencies all over the world.

Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, described the Enhanced Games as ”farcical… likely illegal in many states” and “a dangerous clown show, not real sport”

In a release, WADA further condemned the new Games, calling it “a dangerous and irresponsible concept.”

“WADA warns athletes and support personnel, who wish to participate in clean sport, that if they were to take part in the 'Enhanced Games', they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations under the World Anti-Doping Code,

"Athletes serve as role models and we believe this proposed event would send the wrong signal to young people around the world.”

Australian Olympic Committee chief Matt Carroll added that: “The Australian Olympic Committee believes the concept of a drug-enhanced games is dangerous.

“We know next to nothing about this organisation but sport needs to be clean and it needs to be safe for all athletes,

“The Olympic Movement is devoted to clean sport and athletic excellence, celebrating the best in humanity, excellence, friendship and respect.”

A spokesperson from UK Anti-Doping has described the Games as ”‘unsafe, dangerous to athletes’ health and wellbeing [and flying] in the face of fair play.  

"We believe competing is about respect, hard work and determination, not a dangerous game of endorsing drug use to enhance performance. We are committed to working with athletes to champion their rights, their health and their wellbeing.”

Even cyclist Joseph Papp, who was suspended in 2006 for PED use, has come out against the Enhanced Games.

“A doping free-for-all just invites the most ambitious person to be the most reckless person, and to take the most drugs possible without literally killing themselves.”

Athlete safety should be paramount in any sporting competition, and it is unclear how PEDs that are illegal in many countries would be regulated to ensure fair access for all competitors.

The condemnation that the Enhanced Games has received is also not limited to the world of sports: their messaging appears to be mimicking that of other, serious, political movements.

One of the Enhanced Games website slogans is: ‘My body, my choice,’ clearly attempting to echo the pro-choice slogans of pro-abortion activists.

Aron D’Souza, President of the Enhanced Games, said: “Fifty years ago, being a gay man was like being enhanced today. It’s stigmatised, it’s illegal in some sense and it’s done in a dark alley.”

In referencing a picture on the Enhanced Games website of an athlete holding up a flag bearing the event’s stylised “E+” logo, he added: “What changed for the LGBT community was pride — there was a flag to rally around and if you look at our website, it is intentional. What’s our first picture? A flag. Maybe this was our Stonewall moment.”

That is a bold claim even for a gay man like D’Souza to make, given the long and deeply oppressive experiences that LGBT+ communities have undergone throughout history.

There’s clearly a shock value aspect to the Enhanced Games’s communications strategy.

A further slogan of the Enhanced Games is ‘Science is real,’ echoing pro-vaccination arguments during the Covid Pandemic. These attempts to co-opt major worldwide political issues for the gain of the Enhanced Games organisers and investors is unlikely to improve the organisation’s credibility.

Whether or not they can attract sufficient athletes remains to be seen. At the time of writing, very few have publicly supported the new competition.

D’Souza claimed that 500 ‘sleeper’ athletes had privately agreed to take part, but so far none have spoken publicly, raising doubts about whether the Enhanced Games can go ahead.

With the very real safety concerns, the question remains: who will actually benefit from the Enhanced Games? It may certainly garner some initial attention, but what sponsors would want to be associated with such a controversial competition which would potentially undermine their own ethics and ethos?

D'Souza claims that he has no need for further investment, and that this is simply a project to see what humanity is capable of. But the financial incentives offered to attract athletes will need funding if the Enhanced Games are to ensure.

There is so much that the Enhanced Games have got wrong from a communications perspective.

Instead of demonstrating an understanding of the concerns and addressing them in a sensitive way, the approach has been one of aggressive belligerence.

Whether more athletes will sign up for the Enhanced Games in the fullness of time remains to be seen.

The risks to athlete safety alone will ensure continued widespread condemnation from the sports world and beyond.

[andiessoccerblog]

Women’s Soccer Globally: July 2, 2023

Around the world, women's soccer is in flux. There have been an incredible number of advancements in the last four years, but the increased media coverage has revealed a myriad of shortcomings as well. To be fair to the sport, I want to mention both here.

Norway and New Zealand were the only countries with equal pay between men and women in the 2019 World Cup; since then England, Brazil, Australia, and the USA have ratified similar policies. In Europe especially, women’s soccer is drawing sold-out, record breaking crowds. The women’s 2022 UEFA final drew 87,000 fans to Wembley Stadium in London, breaking the record for women’s AND men’s European championship game attendance. As much as western Europe remains a steady powerhouse of women’s soccer, other continents are starting to embrace women’s soccer as well. Morocco qualified for their first World Cup after unveiling a plan in 2020 to make the country a contender in the African Soccer Confederation, and proving that countries who commit resources to their women’s teams can and will see success.

However, equal pay in some countries definitely doesn’t mean equality is the priority in others. France, Canada, and Spain, all exceptionally well-funded and top-ranked teams, faced player strikes in early 2023 due to poor treatment of players by coaches and federations. In preparation for this world cup, Jamaica’s women’s national team has created a GoFundMe page just to cover expenses. 

Other aspects of women’s soccer have struggled to meet minimum standards as well. After FIFA hosted the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, a country where women aren’t treated equally to men, there was a little backlash. When FIFA tried to make Saudi Arabia Tourism a sponsor of the 2023 World Cup, there was a LOT of backlash, and FIFA eventually had to back off. In a similar vein of racist and sexist policy, 2022 saw the French Football Federation ban hijabs for soccer players at all levels as part of a law intended to keep religion out of public spaces.

FIFA confirmed recently that players will not be allowed to wear rainbow armbands in support of LGBTQIA+ equality. The federation has approved 8 possible wristbands that support various causes, but none that explicitly support LGBTQIA people. In a sport that includes more lesbians than you can count and boasts the first transgender olympic gold-medal winner (Quinn, from team Canada), this is causing a massive controversy. 

Despite the issues, FIFA maintains that they are making strides. In 2022 FIFA published the paper “Setting the Pace”, a report intended to benchmark the progress of women’s soccer globally. TV viewership, in-person attendance, and merchandise sales are up across the board. FIFA has also more than tripled the prize money available for the 2023 World Cup, although the men’s tournament was awarded four times as much. The president of FIFA has indicated that he would like to see an equal payout for the women as soon as 2027, but right now that is just an empty promise. 

In the opener of this World Cup, ticket sales proved that FIFA grossly underestimated the popularity of tickets, and games sold out in the first 24 hours of ticket sales. In response, FIFA moved the opening Australian game to a bigger stadium and has released additional tickets, which have now sold out for the second time. Again and again, fans and athletes alike prove that all over the world, people like women’s soccer.

[speedyposts]

‘Different territory’: How African football underdogs caused AFCON upsets

Abidjan, Ivory Coast – As the quarterfinal stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on Friday in Ivory Coast, none of the five teams highest-placed teams in the FIFA ranking of December 2023 will feature.

Reigning champions Senegal, 2022 World Cup semifinalists and pretournament favourites Morocco, 2004 champions Tunisia, two-time champions and 2019 winners Algeria, and seven-time AFCON kings Egypt have all been eliminated. Other top teams like five-time champions Cameroon and four-time winners Ghana, have also exited the competition.

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In a tournament which has come to be defined by the frequency of upsets, it is the unlikely progression of some of the continent’s lesser-fancied sides that is making the headlines.

As it stands, four of the last eight have never won the competition so the chances of a first-time champion are 50-50. These uncrowned four include perennial underachievers Guinea and Mali, which though boasting talented squads since the turn of the millennium, have never been able to progress beyond the last four. But there are also Cape Verde and Angola who have never even reached the semifinals before.

And some of the other results have been unbelievable: Equatorial Guinea triumphed 4-0 over Ivory Coast, even as Cape Verde won 2-1 against Ghana.

“The results you see in the AFCON are impossible at the Euros or Copa America,” former Nigerian forward Victor Ikpeba tells Al Jazeera. “Imagine the Faroe Islands beating Germany, or England losing to San Marino. Venezuela beating Argentina or Brazil rarely happens, but in African football it is possible.”

In addition, this edition has witnessed an unprecedented number of goals: With 105 already scored in advance of the quarterfinals, it has already surpassed the tallies from the past two editions.

The uptick in goals was expected after AFCON was upgraded to a 24-team tournament, beginning with this edition. Some – including Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year – argue that it is precisely this factor that is responsible for the improved fortunes of historically modest nations in this year’s edition.

“The expansion of the AFCON from 16 to 24 teams has given opportunity to so-called minnows to punch above their weight when they face some of the most successful countries on the continent,” he says.

“So many shocking results at the AFCON show that countries in Africa are developing fast and are not afraid of any team.”

Giving weight to this idea is the fact that, in Qatar in 2022, the continent’s elite sides made significant strides on the global stage. For the first time ever, all five of its representatives won at least one match at the World Cup, and not only did two of them advance to the knockout stages, but Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinals. The Atlas Lions stunned more-fancied, higher-ranked nations such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way, and consequently came into AFCON 2023 as favourites.

But even Morocco have since fallen by the wayside, exiting the competition after a 2-0 drubbing by South Africa who are ranked 66th globally, more than 50 places beneath the North Africans.

This, industry insiders say, is an indication that, rather than the better sides getting weaker, it is a case of the smaller nations rising to the challenge.

“African football is a different territory. Atlas Lions of Morocco can roar loudly at the World Cup but can easily be tamed by a team ranked 60 places below them in Africa,” says Mimi Fawaz, a broadcast journalist and African football specialist.

“There are remarkable changes happening within the continent. Some countries are putting their trust in local managers and also closing the gaps because of improved facilities,” she adds.

Targeted investment in local sporting infrastructure has also been central to their newfound success, much of it anchored upon the FIFA Forward Programme. The programme was conceived in a bid to provide 360-degree, tailor-made support for football development to all of FIFA’s member associations (MAs) and is based on three principles: more investment, more impact and more oversight.

Between 2016 and 2022, funding to the tune of $2.8m was made available to 211 MAs, according to the latest FIFA Forward Report. These disbursements were predicated upon compliance with the programme’s regulations, as well as annual audits by FIFA at the end of each financial year. With more funding, smaller countries have also been able to call on more players from the diaspora.

The Mauritanian football association (FFRIM) is one shining example of the success of the initiative, with facilities in the capital, Nouakchott, where $11.1m in FIFA Forward funds have been used to radically revamp and develop football infrastructure.

The FFRIM building is one of several projects funded, as is the Sheikha Boidiya stadium. Originally built in the 1960s, the 5,000-capacity venue has undergone a major facelift, with a new synthetic playing surface being laid and off-the-pitch facilities such as dressing rooms, also being renovated.

The effect on the national team’s performance has been apparent: Mauritania have qualified for three consecutive AFCON tournaments on the trot, and not only scored their first AFCON goal from open play in this edition but recorded their first win and reached the knockout rounds for the first time, eliminating Algeria in the process.

The Lions of Chinguetti may not have made the last eight, but Cape Verde did, and have done so playing some of the best football in the tournament. Their success stems from similar roots, however.

Back in July 2022, a FIFA delegation completed a four-day visit to Cape Verde, during which it unveiled facilities such as new artificial pitches and the refurbished academy and headquarters of the Cape Verdean Football Association (FCF), all funded by the same programme.

“Countries like Mauritania and Cape Verde book spots in the knockout stage of AFCON, but some of their growth and successes are intentional and come from their federations’ ability to use funds from FIFA forward to develop facilities, pitches and improve the local games,” Gelson Fernandes, FIFA director of member associations-Africa, tells Al Jazeera.

At the next World Cup being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the continent will have a minimum of nine slots for the first time. The qualification series for the mundial kicked off in October, and the likes of Rwanda and Comoros sit atop their respective qualifying groups after two matches.

If their performances – like those of the underdogs at AFCON 2023 – are anything to go by, a continental awakening may be under way, led by a change of the old guard. Football officials, like the fans, seem enthused by the prospect of the entertaining football that the increased competition will bring.

“Successes on the pitch and growth off it can only impact African teams and the 2026 World Cup will give African countries the opportunity to show what they are capable of,” Fernandes predicts.

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