BEB Weekend Sports: News!

2021 AFCON moved to January

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will start on 9 January after its dates were moved, hosts Cameroon have announced.

The tournament was scheduled to take place in June and July but was changed because of the "unfavourable" weather in the country at that time of year.

It means a number of Premier League clubs could be without first-team players at a crucial stage of the season.

The 2019 tournament in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer.

Before that, the Cup of Nations had been held in January and February, clashing with the European domestic season.

June and July in Cameroon are during the country's rainy season.

The change back to a January start means that the tournament will not clash with the expanded Club World Cup, being held in China in June 2021.

Following a meeting on Wednesday with representatives from the Confederation of African Football (Caf), including president Ahmad, the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) tweeted: 

"It [2021 Africa Cup of Nations] will be played in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February, 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon's request."

Caf's deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe said: 

"We have reviewed the period of the competition as requested by the Cameroonian party due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period initially slated.

Lampard eyes new attackers after last gasp loss to Newcastle

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has made signing a striker a priority after his side suffered their first defeat in four league matches with a dramatic 1-0 loss at Newcastle.

The Blues created 19 chances but only four were on target.

"If we are looking for people to bring in to the areas to win games when you are controlling it, it is scoring goals," said Lampard. 

"It's clear from what I'm saying we know where we need to strengthen."

Chelsea looked set to earn a point until Isaac Hayden converted for Newcastle in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Lampard added: 

"We know we have problems at the top of the pitch in terms of we don't get enough goals. If you don't score you are always liable for a sucker punch and they got it. 

"We can't work any more in training on finishing. You need to have that killer instinct in front of goal. We need to score more goals from front-line areas if we are going to get to where we want to be."

Chelsea remain in fourth, five points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United who play Liverpool on Sunday.

Bekele to take on Kipchoge at London Marathon 2020

Kenenisa Bekele - the second-fastest marathon runner of all-time - will take on world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge at April's London Marathon.
Ethiopian Bekele, 37, was only two seconds off Kipchoge's world record in Berlin in September.

"I am looking forward to racing against Eliud again. We have had many great battles over the years," said Bekele.

London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher called it "the head-to-head that the world is waiting to see".

Since turning to the road in 2014, Bekele's marathon career has been hindered by various injuries. But after coming so close to toppling Kipchoge's world record in the German capital last year, he says he is finally realising his potential over 26.2 miles.

"Everyone knows that I am a strong athlete, after 15 years on the track and when we come to marathon I have problems but this is not because of lack of personality," he said. 

"Because of injury I was behind for some years. I am full of health and now I am doing a lot better."

Ethiopian duo Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun have also been named in the field, meaning all three podium finishers from 2019 and four of the eight fastest men in history will race.

McGregor wins comeback fight in 40 seconds

Conor McGregor returned to the octagon in style at UFC 246 as he beat American fan favourite Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in just 40 seconds in Las Vegas.

Irishman McGregor, 31, came out on top after one of the most spectacular performances of his career.

Two of UFC's most popular fighters went toe to toe in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena.

But referee Herb Dean stepped in and waved off the contest inside a minute after a series of blows from McGregor.

"I made history tonight. I set a new record. I'm the first fighter in UFC history to secure knockout victories at featherweight, at lightweight and now at welterweight - across three weight divisions, so I'm very proud of that," said McGregor.

He had not won inside the UFC's octagon since capturing his second UFC world title in November 2016, and was submitted in four rounds by undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018.

from Bola Esho's Blog