The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially disclosed the long-withheld reasoning behind its decision to exclude Rwanda’s army-founded Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) basketball club from the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL), confirming the move is a direct response to sweeping U.S. sanctions levied against Rwandan military entities earlier this year. The clarification came in a formal response to a bipartisan inquiry from two U.S. senators, who had raised sharp criticism of the league’s ongoing ties to Kigali over alleged human rights violations and regional destabilization.
U.S. legislators Senator Jeffrey Merkley, a Democrat, and Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, penned a letter dated October 23 that demanded the NBA justify its partnership framework with Rwanda, issuing a November 2 deadline for a written explanation of the league’s policies on collaborating with foreign governments accused of systemic human rights abuses. The pair warned the NBA risked being labeled complicit in “sportswashing” by maintaining ties to the Rwandan state, which U.S. authorities have accused of actively fueling the years-long violent insurgency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through its support for the M23 rebel group. In a separate announcement last week, the U.S. government extended sanctions to cover Rwanda’s entire defense ministry over its documented backing of the M23 faction, which has seized swathes of territory in eastern DRC and displaced millions of civilians. Rwandan officials have repeatedly denied all allegations of supporting the M23 rebels, despite widespread independent evidence corroborating the claims.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum confirmed in remarks first reported by sports outlet ESPN that APR has been formally removed from BAL competition, and the ban will remain in full effect for the duration of the active U.S. sanctions. APR, one of Rwanda’s most decorated domestic basketball sides, previously represented the nation in the 2024 and 2025 BAL seasons, securing a third-place finish in 2025 before being replaced by the RSSB Tigers for the 2026 tournament cycle.
The BAL, a landmark pan-African professional basketball competition co-founded by the NBA and international basketball governing body FIBA, has maintained a high-profile commercial partnership with Rwanda since its inaugural 2021 season. Kigali pays millions of dollars annually to secure official BAL partner status, and has hosted every BAL finals and playoff series except one at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in the Rwandan capital. DRC officials have for years publicly condemned Rwanda’s string of high-value international sports sponsorship deals – spanning partnerships with top European football clubs, Formula 1 events, and the NBA – arguing these agreements allow Kigali to rehabilitate its global public image while violence persists across eastern DRC.
Prior to the formal disclosure of the sanctions-linked ban, the NBA had only announced APR would not compete in the 2026 BAL season without offering a public rationale for the exclusion, leaving the decision open to widespread public and media speculation.
分类： sports
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Rwanda’s army team removed from Africa league after US sanctions, NBA says
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Canada bars Russia & Belarus from junior tournament
In a firm policy announcement that has sent ripples across the global ice hockey community, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that no athletes representing Russia or Belarus will be permitted to participate in the upcoming IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, scheduled to take place across Canadian venues from 26 December through 5 January. The landmark ruling comes on the heels of a recent decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which formally overturned a nearly two-year blanket suspension that had barred both Russian and Belarusian national ice hockey teams from all International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) sanctioned competitions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The IIHF swiftly released an official statement following the CAS verdict, expressing explicit disagreement with the arbitral panel’s ruling and noting that the body had significantly underestimated the far-reaching global repercussions and operational challenges the decision would create for all participating stakeholders, event hosts, and national federations. The governing body added that it would maintain ongoing close monitoring of the evolving situation to assess all potential implications for its upcoming tournament calendar.
Ukraine’s national ice hockey federation issued a public statement conveying deep outrage over the prospect of Russian teams being reinstated to international competition while the ongoing conflict in Ukraine persists. Prime Minister Carney echoed that sentiment in his public remarks, emphasizing that as long as Russia and Belarus continue to support what he described as the illegal, unjustified, and horrific war being waged on Ukrainian territory, no athletes competing under the official banners of the two nations will be allowed to step onto Canadian ice for the World Junior tournament. He explicitly confirmed that no Russian national team delegation would be present at the event, a competition that Canada has historically dominated as the all-time record holder for most World Junior Championship titles.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Russia’s ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, who characterized the Canadian government’s decision as a regrettable step that injects unnecessary partisan politics into junior ice hockey, a sporting space that he argued is supposed to serve as a unifying force for young athletes rather than a source of global division. The Canadian government’s stance has also gained traction among other European ice hockey authorities: national federations in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech Republic all announced on Tuesday that they would refuse to face Russian national teams in matches scheduled for next year’s senior men’s Ice Hockey World Championship, which is set to be hosted in Germany.
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Football world mourns Tenerife striker De Miguel
The international football fraternity has united in collective grief following the untimely death of CD Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a high-stakes Spanish Segunda División fixture against FC Andorra earlier this week. The fatal incident unfolded in the seventh minute of stoppage time, with the match locked at a 2-2 draw, when Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono charged toward the centre circle to clear a long through ball, his knee making forceful contact with De Miguel’s head and chest. Medical teams rushed to attend to the motionless striker on the pitch before he was transported via ambulance to a local hospital, where he was initially listed in stable but serious condition on Monday. However, De Miguel’s health declined rapidly the following morning, and the 26-year-old Spanish player was pronounced dead at 07:00 GMT. In immediate response, match officials showed Owono a straight red card before abandoning the fixture entirely. Owono, who boasted over 30,000 Instagram followers as of Tuesday morning, has since deactivated his social media account. Per Spanish legal protocols, all non-natural deaths trigger an automatic judicial inquiry, and local authorities have opened a preliminary investigation into potential involuntary manslaughter. However, Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui confirmed to EFE news agency that formal criminal proceedings against Owono are “very unlikely”. Tributes have rippled across the entire European football ecosystem in the wake of the tragedy. UEFA mandated a minute’s silence before all Tuesday night Champions League fixtures, a gesture that will be extended to Wednesday’s Champions League matches, plus all Europa League and Conference League games scheduled for the rest of the week. At Tenerife’s home ground, Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, supporters gathered to lay bouquets of flowers and light candles beneath a large black-and-white portrait of De Miguel. The club announced a six-day official mourning period starting Tuesday, during which all scheduled club activities will be fully suspended. The Tenerife administration confirmed that all first-team players, coaching staff and club officials will attend De Miguel’s funeral, to be held in his hometown of Navahermosa, Toledo. The stadium will also open its doors to fans on Saturday evening, allowing the Tenerife faithful to gather and pay their final respects to the late striker. In an official statement, De Miguel’s family thanked supporters across the world for their outpouring of condolences and requested that their privacy be respected during this devastating period. De Miguel joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025 on a three-year contract, after previously representing Castellon, Unionistas de Salamanca and Leganes’ youth academy. He played a pivotal role in helping the club secure promotion back to the Spanish second tier in his first season with the side. His death has sparked an unprecedented wave of sympathy from football and sporting icons worldwide. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho noted that the tragedy was deeply shocking for the entire football community, and extended his support to both De Miguel’s grieving family and Owono, who he noted was facing an unimaginably difficult moment. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta described the incident as “heartbreaking”, saying no words could adequately capture the pain of losing a fellow professional on the pitch. Barcelona forward Raphinha, who scored a brace against Aston Villa in their Tuesday Champions League tie, declined to discuss his on-pitch performance, instead directing his full attention to offering condolences to De Miguel’s loved ones. Beyond active football figures, global sports legends including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Nadal all posted tributes on social media, expressing their profound sadness and solidarity with the bereaved family. FC Andorra co-owner Gerard Pique shared a heartfelt message of sorrow, while De Miguel’s former Tenerife teammates posted emotional personal tributes, recalling his gentle demeanour, relentless camaraderie and unwavering passion for the club. Local Tenerife fan association president Fran Leon emphasized that the grief extended far beyond the stadium walls, noting that the entire Canary Islands community was united in mourning, while long-time supporter David Tejera stated that De Miguel’s legacy of effort and dedication would forever be etched into the club’s blue-and-white history.
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King’s former horse wins prestigious Melbourne Cup
Sydney, Australia – In a landmark upset victory that captivated the nation, Australian jockey Ethan Brown guided thoroughbred Point of Law, a horse previously in the ownership of King Charles, to take the crown at this year’s iconic Melbourne Cup, widely known as the “race that stops a nation”.
Purchased from the British monarch earlier this year for an undisclosed sum by an investor group fronted by former AFL star Chris Judd and his wife Bec, the three-year-old bay thoroughbred had already cemented strong form with a win at the Geelong Cup the month prior, and was pegged as a leading pre-race favourite. Trained by top-tier handler Ciaron Maher, who fielded a record seven horses in this year’s 24-strong Melbourne Cup field including the second-place finisher Zahrann, Point of Law sat mid-pack for nearly the entire 3200-metre race, even as longshot Royal Supremacy charged more than a dozen lengths clear of the rest of the field for the majority of the run. Brown, who endured a near-fatal 2023 racing fall that left him sidelined for six months, recalled repeating the mantra “stay cool, stay patient” to himself as he bided his time, before making a decisive surge in the final 300 metres to overtake the leading pack and cross the finish line first.
“Never wake me up – this is the dream every single jockey chases their entire career,” Brown, who grew up in the remote outback town of Alice Springs, told reporters in a giddy post-race interview. “This horse is something truly special, a future superstar, and he could not be in better hands with Ciaron’s team.”
The 163-year-old Melbourne Cup, which carries a total prize pool of A$10.2 million (US$7.04 million, £5.3 million), ranks as Australia’s third-richest thoroughbred racing event, but holds unrivalled cultural prestige across the country. This year’s race day at Flemington Racecourse drew tens of thousands of attendees basking in sunny spring conditions, with a record-breaking pre-race headline set from UK pop icon Robbie Williams, who performed with a 10-piece live band, backup dancers and full pyrotechnic production, the largest entertainment showcase ever staged ahead of the Cup.
However, the high-profile event was marred by two significant controversies. Early on race day, fan-favourite contender Asterix was scratched from the field entirely after stewards confirmed a stable staff member had administered the anti-inflammatory and muscle soreness treatment penetrene to the horse that morning, in clear violation of strict rules that ban all medical treatments on official race days. Stewards ruled that while the administration was an accidental error, it still constituted a serious breach of racing regulations, resulting in trainer Chris Waller being handed a A$50,000 fine, which he attributed to an overworked staff member making a simple mistake.
Outside the racecourse gates, hundreds of activists from the national “Nup to the Cup” animal welfare protest group gathered to stage demonstrations against the horse racing industry, holding placards emblazoned with slogans including “horse racing kills”, “don’t bet on cruelty” and “no more whips”, as part of long-running campaigns calling for stricter animal safety regulations in the sport.
Recent polling from Guardian Essential shows that public enthusiasm for the historic race is gradually declining, with only 9% of Australian respondents stating they hold a very high level of interest in the event, and a further 23% noting moderate interest. Even so, more than 60% of survey participants agreed that the Melbourne Cup remains a one-of-a-kind, defining part of Australian national cultural identity. Last year’s edition of the race drew a record A$382.5 million in total nationwide betting turnover. -
Tenerife striker De Miguel dies after on-field collision
The Spanish football community and global sports world are in mourning following the sudden death of 30-year-old CD Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel Alameda, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a high-stakes Spanish Segunda División fixture against FC Andorra this week. The fatal incident unfolded in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time, with the match locked at a 2-2 draw, when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono charged toward the centre circle to clear a long aerial ball, and his knee made forceful contact with de Miguel’s head and chest. The impact left the Madrid-born striker motionless on the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Lopez pitch, prompting immediate emergency medical intervention from on-site staff. Initial updates released by the club shortly after the Monday incident classified de Miguel’s condition as “stable but serious”, but his health declined rapidly in the early hours of Tuesday, and he was pronounced dead at 07:00 GMT (08:00 local time). Local Spanish sports outlet Marca reported that de Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital via ambulance, and paramedics had successfully resuscitated him mid-transit before his ultimate passing. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, match officials issued Owono an immediate straight red card for the dangerous challenge, before abandoning the fixture entirely, as players from both teams were overcome with visible distress, with many of de Miguel’s Tenerife teammates breaking down in tears. CD Tenerife released an official statement conveying the club’s overwhelming grief: “Heartbroken, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe this is true, CD Tenerife announces the tragic death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda. There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can lessen this overwhelming sadness. We stand with his grieving family, with his loved ones, with all of Tenerife who mourn this cruel loss today.” The de Miguel family, through the club, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of global support, while making a heartfelt plea for full privacy as they navigate their devastating loss. Tributes have poured in from across the entire Spanish football ecosystem, starting with FC Andorra, the opposing side in the fateful fixture, which released a statement noting, “With broken hearts and devastated, we want to send our most sincere condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, to all his team-mates, friends, and to CD Tenerife.” Former Barcelona star defender and FC Andorra co-owner Gerard Pique shared his personal condolences on social media, writing, “I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesus.” De Miguel’s former club CD Castellon, where he scored 16 critical goals to help secure promotion to the Segunda División in 2024, also paid tribute, stating, “It’s hard to find words when reality strikes in such an unfair way. We join with all our affection in the grief of his family and loved ones, whom we embrace in these terribly difficult moments.” La Liga president Javier Tebas acknowledged the collective loss for the entire Spanish football community, saying, “Today, we all share the terrible pain of an irreparable loss. My deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, team-mates and the whole club.” Even global football superstar Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid and French national team striker, shared his shock on social media, writing, “Much sadness, there are no words.” Real Madrid’s first team paid their respects ahead of Tuesday’s training session, holding a formal minute of silence to honour the late player. De Miguel, who launched his senior career with Leganes in 2015, built a 10-year professional career across eight different Spanish clubs, including stints at Lugo Fuenlabrada, Internacional Madrid, Union Adarve, Navalcarnero, and Unionistas, before signing a three-year contract with CD Tenerife in 2025. He had notched 11 goals in 29 senior appearances for the side at the time of his passing. The striker leaves behind his infant daughter, Carla de Miguel Fernandez, who was born earlier in 2025.
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Vikings, Chiefs and Cowboys beaten – NFL week eight
Week 8 of the 2026 National Football League season delivered a slate of unprecedented drama, historic statistical milestones, and career-altering injuries, as the Minnesota Vikings saw their status as the league’s final unbeaten squad come to a crashing halt amid a weekend full of last-minute fightbacks and overtime thrillers. The action unfolded across divisional rivalries and cross-conference matchups, rewriting multiple decades-old league records while upending the early-season playoff picture for several high-profile franchises. One of the most devastating storylines of the weekend unfolded in Buffalo, where the Baltimore Ravens’ highly anticipated MVP showdown between two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson and Bills quarterback Josh Allen collapsed almost immediately after kickoff. Jackson, who had only just returned to the lineup after a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain, sustained a severe right thumb injury on the very first snap of the contest when his hand made contact with a Bills defender immediately after releasing a pass. The Ravens were already forced to pivot to backup signal-caller Tyler Huntley, but their quarterback crisis deepened in the second quarter when Huntley was sidelined with a toe injury that ruled him out for the rest of the game. Left with no other options, Baltimore turned to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano to helm the offence for the remainder of the matchup, and the Bills cruised to a dominant 36-10 victory. The loss marks the Ravens’ third consecutive defeat, dropping their season record to an even 4-4, and medical evaluations have confirmed Jackson will undergo thumb surgery that could sideline him for the remainder of the campaign. The 29-year-old dual-threat quarterback, widely regarded as one of the most electrifying talents of his generation, now faces growing speculation that he may never lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl appearance, while the franchise risks missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. With Huntley also projected to miss multiple weeks of action, the Ravens front office faces an urgent deadline to sign a veteran experienced quarterback before their Thursday night divisional clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Minnesota Vikings, who had stormed out to a flawless 6-0 start to the season, saw their undefeated run snapped by NFC North rival Detroit Lions, who secured a 19-15 home victory behind a 153-yard, one-touchdown performance from star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The contest was marred by a frightening fourth-quarter injury to Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, who was carted off the field and transported to a local hospital for evaluation after sustaining a neck injury while tackling Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. In the AFC West, the Denver Broncos leapfrogged the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to claim the top spot in the division after staging a stunning late comeback, erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to seal a 28-24 victory. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes turned in a standout individual performance with 321 passing yards and three touchdown throws, but a last-gasp goal-line stand by the Broncos’ defence denied Kansas City a game-winning score and secured the upset. The Jacksonville Jaguars took firm control of the AFC South standings with a lopsided 42-7 rout of the Indianapolis Colts, a result that reinforces widespread expectations the Colts will embark on a full roster rebuild in the coming months. The Colts front office has already moved on from their general manager and traded two key starters in the last two weeks, and league reports confirm the franchise is actively negotiating a trade for star running back Jonathan Taylor. The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to the top of the AFC North with a decisive 26-7 defeat of the Cleveland Browns, while their division rival the Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a high-scoring 43-36 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans behind a historic individual performance from quarterback Joe Burrow. Despite being intercepted three times by Titans defensive back Amani Hooker, Burrow etched his name into NFL record books by becoming only the second player in 75 years of league history — joining Norm van Brocklin’s legendary 1951 campaign — to post over 450 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown in a single contest. The former first overall draft pick also became the first quarterback in league history to complete 70% or more of his passes and throw at least one touchdown in three consecutive games, positioning the high-octane Bengals offence as a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into their upcoming divisional showdown with the Steelers. The weekend also saw running backs steal the spotlight across the league, with six different players racking up 140 or more rushing yards in a single Sunday for the first time since 2003. The most remarkable ground performance came from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who secured a 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons in torrential Florida rain without completing a single pass all game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted only three total passes on the afternoon, with zero completions, as the Buccaneers leaned into a historic rushing attack that amassed a franchise-record 324 total yards on 56 carries. Tampa Bay becomes only the second team in the Super Bowl era to finish a game with zero pass completions, a feat last achieved in 1974. The Arizona Cardinals also pulled off a massive upset on the road against the Dallas Cowboys, erasing a 17-3 third-quarter deficit behind backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who was signed in the offseason to serve as new starter Kyler Murray’s backup after Murray’s blockbuster trade from Arizona to Minnesota. Minshew, a journeyman signal-caller who has played for six different franchises in eight years since being drafted in 2019, delivered a career resurgence by becoming the first quarterback of the 2026 season to throw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to force overtime. After kicker Chad Ryland missed an extra point that nearly cost the Cardinals the game, he redeemed himself with a game-winning overtime field goal to secure a 33-30 final score. The loss drops Dallas to a 3-5 record on the season, marking only the second time in franchise history the Cowboys have surrendered a 10-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation, and has heaped intense pressure on head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Outspoken Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly acknowledged the team’s systemic failures after the game, stating, “It’s an indictment of the whole show.”
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Namibia overpower Ireland in series decider
Against the backdrop of Windhoek’s cricket grounds on 28 August, the final clash of the five-match one-day international (ODI) series between Namibia and Ireland delivered a landmark result, as the host nation claimed a decisive five-wicket victory to seal a 3-2 overall series triumph. The contest unfolded with a lopsided opening batting performance from the visiting Irish side, who won the pre-match toss and elected to take first strike. Ireland’s innings quickly unravelled, with opener Tim Tector dismissed for just five runs in the second over, followed closely by Andrew Balbirnie who fell for nine. A brief bright spell from Cade Carmichael was cut short when he became the first of seamer Jack Brassell’s three wickets, leaving the Irish middle order under immense pressure. While Harry Tector and team captain Lorcan Tucker mounted a brief resistance, and Jordan Neill’s blistering 33 runs off 25 deliveries prevented a total batting collapse, the Irish side was eventually bowled all out for a mere 129 runs in just 33.1 overs. Namibia’s star all-rounder JJ Smit was the architect of the batting collapse, finishing with exceptional figures of four wickets for only 20 runs, tearing through Ireland’s lower order to set his side a trivial run chase. Namibia’s response at the crease was far from flawless, with opener Michael van Lingen caught for 15 in the seventh over and top scorer Louren Steenkamp run out for 46 runs off 44 balls by Ireland’s Matthew Humphreys, who claimed two wickets for 48 runs to keep the visiting side’s faint hopes alive. However, a steady 30-run knock from Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus steadied the innings, and the hosts crossed the 130-run mark in just 21.2 overs with five wickets still in hand, wrapping up the series win long before the allocated overs were exhausted. The series holds critical competitive value for both sides, as Namibia is set to host the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in February of the following year, making this hard-fought series a high-stakes preparatory campaign for Gary Wilson’s home squad. Post-match, Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker acknowledged his side’s underperformance, noting that the team had failed to bring their top-level skill execution to the deciding fixture despite high pre-match motivation to claim the series. Tucker added that the Irish squad would take valuable lessons from the competitive tour, noting that Namibia’s consistent, disciplined execution of top-order batting and middle-overs bowling had served as a valuable learning opportunity, and that the team would be reviewing gaps in their skill intensity ahead of upcoming international fixtures, while offering full credit to the host side for their consistent, diligent play across the five matches.
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Wales hit by Australia century in World Cup record
In a historic, lopsided 2024 Rugby League World Cup fixture hosted in Sydney, the Australian women’s national rugby league side, the Jillaroos, etched their name into the sport’s record books with a staggering 124-6 triumph over tournament debutants Wales, marking the highest ever score posted in any senior international rugby league match across men’s and women’s divisions. The reigning three-time consecutive world champions, who entered the contest on an unbroken run of World Cup wins, ran in 21 total tries across the 80 minutes, surpassing the previous all-time international high of 122 points set by the Danish men’s side against Sweden back in 2012. The opening half ended with an unprecedented 60-0 scoreline, the largest half-time margin recorded across any men’s or women’s World Cup fixture in tournament history, as Australia dominated possession to an extreme 84% share, completing 21 out of 22 attacking sets and controlling play for nearly 13 minutes compared to Wales’ mere 2 minutes and 29 seconds on the ball. Wales, who only fielded their first ever senior test side in 2021 and were competing in just their 16th international match ever, entered the contest already reeling from heavy prior defeats to England (70-6) and Samoa (76-0) at the tournament, but mounted a surprisingly resolute opening stretch led by captain Bethan Dainton, who had notched a tournament-leading 77 tackles across the first two rounds of group play. The deadlock broke in the sixth minute, when Australian lock Olivia Kernick capitalised on a brilliant offload from prop Makenzie Weale to cross for the opening try, after which the Jillaroos’ stacked roster of NRLW elite talent shifted into ruthless, high-tempo gear. Winger Jaime Chapman put on a career-defining masterclass, notching six tries in total including a first-half hat-trick, while centre Jessica Sergis crossed for four tries, halfback Jesse Southwell slotted 20 successful conversions, and additional tries came from Abbi Church (two), Keilee Joseph (two), Tamika Upton (two), Sariah Paki, Kezie Apps and Keeley Nizza. Even as the scoreline ballooned to 100-0 in Australia’s favour, the travelling Welsh side earned a landmark, wildly celebrated moment when winger Paige Travis chased down a clever grubber kick from halfback Tayla Preston to dot down, making Wales the very first team to score against the Jillaroos in the entire World Cup campaign. The 118-point winning margin stands as the largest ever recorded in a women’s international rugby league fixture, though the French men’s side still holds the all-time overall record for a winning margin, after their 120-0 shutout of Serbia in 2003. Speaking after the full-time whistle, Wales captain Dainton emphasized the historic significance of her side’s maiden World Cup run: “We just wanted to create a legacy back home for young girls coming through, and I think we did that. The scorelines haven’t been in our favour but no one gave up and I am so proud of the girls.” The 2024 Rugby League World Cup runs from October 15 to November 15, hosted across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, with full live audio coverage of all men’s fixtures and key women’s matches available via BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport digital platforms.
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‘Un-Australian’ – Warner tears into former side after SA charge to win
In a high-stakes final day of the third and deciding Test at Cape Town, South Africa delivered a dominant all-round performance to crush Australia by 176 runs, sealing a 2-1 series triumph that catapults the Proteas back to the top of the men’s Test cricket world rankings. Chasing a target of 288 to claim the series themselves, Australia’s batting line-up unravelled spectacularly within the first hour of play, as South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets in his very first over before adding the prized scalp of Travis Head later in his opening spell, etching his name in history as the fastest bowler ever to reach 350 Test match wickets. The hosts’ spin department then ran riot, with Simon Harmer delivering a career-best haul of 6 wickets for just 16 runs in the second innings, complemented by his first-innings scalps to finish with exceptional match figures of 10 for 120. The Australian collapse was compounded by unforced errors, including a bizarre run-out that dismissed Josh Inglis after a reckless call from Cameron Green, and a string of ill-advised shot selections that left the visitors reeling at 60 for 7 by the lunch break. Former Australian Test opening batter David Warner, who retired from international red-ball cricket in January 2024, did not mince words in his scathing on-air assessment of his former teammates during a Fox Sports broadcast, branding the performance “terrible”, “utterly disgraceful” and “un-Australian” for the total lack of fight displayed by the top order across the entire three-match series. In a surreal post-lunch phase of play, Australia abandoned all pretence of chasing the remaining runs, playing out a 50-minute stretch that yielded only a single scoring shot, with captain Pat Cummins facing 40 consecutive deliveries before notching his first run. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon emerged as an unlikely top performer for the visitors, finishing unbeaten on 33 as the rest of the batting line-up crumbled around him. The result marks a historic turnaround for South Africa, who were staring down a heavy defeat at 40 for 4 in the second Test after going 1-0 down in the series, before a monumental century from skipper Temba Bavuma kickstarted their comeback. Prior to this series, lingering doubts remained over South Africa’s status as a top-tier Test side, despite their 2025 World Test Championship final victory over Australia at Lord’s, after a relatively soft run of opponents in the lead-up to that tournament. This emphatic series win has fully erased those scepticisms, while also lifting the Proteas to second place in the ongoing World Test Championship standings, putting them in prime position to defend their title. For Australia, the humiliating defeat lands on the cusp of a gruelling stretch of red-ball cricket, including four home Tests against New Zealand, a five-Test tour of India, a commemorative 150th anniversary Test against England, and the next Ashes series, putting immense pressure on the side to rebuild their fragile batting line-up. Analysts have hailed the three-match contest as one of the most compelling Test series of the modern era, a gripping back-and-forth battle that, while free of the infamous 2018 Sandpaper gate controversy, delivered more than its share of thrilling momentum swings.
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Why has Caf abandoned plans to hold Afcon every four years?
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally scrapped a previously announced 2025 plan to shift the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to a four-year cycle starting in 2028, opting instead to retain the tournament’s longstanding biennial format that has defined African football since its 1957 debut. The dramatic policy U-turn, announced by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, is framed as a move to prioritize the long-term interests of the continental game, following widespread pushback from national football associations across the 54 member nations. The initial four-year cycle proposal, unveiled on the eve of the 2025 Morocco-hosted Afcon finals, was pitched as a measure to align African football’s calendar with global scheduling norms and reduce recurring conflicts with European top-flight clubs that often resist releasing African international players mid-season. The announcement came alongside a high-profile appearance from FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, leading critics to argue the policy disproportionately favored FIFA’s global calendar priorities rather than African football’s unique needs. The original restructuring plan also included the launch of an annual Africa Nations League, designed to diversify CAF’s revenue streams beyond its flagship Afcon tournament, which alone is projected to generate $114 million in profits from the 2025 edition, up from $75 million recorded at the 2023 Ivory Coast finals. CAF officials had hoped the new league would build a more sustainable commercial ecosystem, after its ambitious 2022 Africa Super League project collapsed after a single season, failing to hit its projected $200 million annual revenue targets when promised commercial partners fell short of agreed funding terms. Controversy quickly erupted over the original four-year cycle decision, which was approved by CAF’s executive committee in December 2025 without a formal debate or vote at the continental governing body’s general assembly, where all member nations hold representation. Following feedback from national associations, CAF ran a formal consultation process across all 54 member federations before the executive committee voted to reinstate the traditional two-year schedule. Motsepe acknowledged that the proposed Nations League would require multiple years of development before it could deliver meaningful financial returns to support grassroots football across the continent, making a full shift away from Afcon’s reliable revenue stream unfeasible for the foreseeable future. The policy reversal also comes amid broader geopolitical shifts in global football, as FIFA president Gianni Infantino campaigns for re-election and seeks to shore up support from African member states. Multiple football analysts and industry insiders note the decision appears to be the product of a mutual quid pro quo: African federations offered their backing for Infantino’s re-election and his 48-team expanded World Cup format, which increases African representation at the global tournament, in exchange for FIFA concessions that allowed CAF to revert to the biennial Afcon model that serves as the financial backbone for nearly all national football associations across the continent. For many underfunded African national bodies, Afcon revenue is a critical lifeline: the 2025 Morocco tournament alone is projected to generate $192 million, accounting for 66% of CAF’s total cross-competition revenue, covering costs for men’s, women’s, and youth national team programs that rarely receive consistent government or private corporate sponsorship. Moving forward, the 2027 Afcon, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will run from June 19 to July 17 as scheduled, followed by an accelerated 2028 edition, with subsequent tournaments set for 2031 and 2033 to avoid scheduling clashes with the men’s FIFA World Cup. The proposed Africa Nations League is now slated to launch in September 2029, with Motsepe indicating it will likely shift from its original annual format to a biennial schedule, sparking new debates over how to carve out fixture space in an increasingly congested international football calendar. The U-turn preserves Afcon’s decades-old cultural and sporting legacy as Africa’s most beloved continental sporting showcase, but also lays bare the ongoing structural challenges facing African football as it seeks to balance its own domestic development priorities against the competing demands of the global football governance ecosystem.