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Tag: Senegal

  • D’Tigress devour Senegal, roar into final of AfroBasket again

    D’Tigress devour Senegal, roar into final of AfroBasket again

    D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, on Friday in Yaounde defeated their Senegalese counterparts 73-63 to book a place in the final of the 2021 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship.

    In a highly-charged semi-final encounter between two West African rivals, Nigeria continued their unbeaten run in the competition with a dominant performance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D’ Tigress who are defending champions had beaten Senegal in 2005, 2017 and 2019 to lift the women’s Afrobasket trophy, thereby making Friday’s encounter more titanic.

    The Nigerian ladies started the game in impressive fashion, taking the first quarter 22-11 and second quarter 23-20 to head into the break.

    On resumption, D’Tigress slowed down the game but was still won 15-13 in the third quarter.

    The Senegalese rallied back in the fourth quarter to take it at 19-13, but it was too little too late as Nigeria prevailed 73-63 at the sound of the final whistle.

    Nigeria’s top performer, Victoria Macaulay, was outstanding with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal.

    Nigeria’s trio of Amy Okonkwo (16), Ify Ibekwe (14) and captain Adaora Elonu (12) gave Nigeria 42 points.

    Senegal forward and captain Mame-Marie Sy-Diop led all players in scoring with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks; enterprising swingman Yacine Diop and Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye contributed 14 and 11.

    Nigeria will now in the final on Sunday meet Mali who had earlier beaten hosts Cameroon in the first semi-final match.

    Nigeria are seeking to become only the second nation to win three straight AfroBasket crowns since Senegal did it in the 1970s.

  • 2021 Volleyball Nations Cup: Nigeria women crush Senegal 3-0 in first game

    2021 Volleyball Nations Cup: Nigeria women crush Senegal 3-0 in first game

    The Nigeria Women’s Volleyball Senior Team on Sunday defeated their counterparts Senegal 3-0 in their first game in the ongoing 202I African Seniors Nations Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria beat the Senegalese team in all the set 25-16, 25-18, 25-22 in their opening game on Sunday.

    The Head Coach of Nigeria women’s senior team, Samuel Ajayi, said his players played according to the match plan.

    Ajayi said the win against Senegal has built the confidence of the team, adding that Senegal played well in the third set but Nigeria got the deserved win.

    He said: “I am excited that the players were able to play according to the match plan and I thank God that he made our first win possible.

    “The last time we met at the World Cup qualifiers, the Senegalese beat us 3-2 in Lagos and this was ringing in my ear before the game and that is why we came all out being the first game.

    “The win will build our confidence in the championship and I am grateful to God and the volleyball community.”

    The NSCDC coach said Nigeria will be playing against Rwanda and the crowd, stating that his team can stage an upset.

    He said: “I know the match against host, Rwanda is going to be very tough, their fans will come out in their numbers to cheer them but we believe with today’s win, we will build on it and provide a shocker.”

    Nigeria takes on host, Rwanda, in their second match on Monday at the Kigali Arena.

    Nigeria is grouped along side with Morocco, Rwanda and Senegal.

    The 2021African Seniors Nations Championship, which started on Sept. 5, is expected to end on Sept. 20.

  • Chad’s ex-President, convicted of war crimes, dies in Senegal

    Chad’s ex-President, convicted of war crimes, dies in Senegal

    Chad’s former President Hissene Habre, an ally of the West during the Cold War, who was later jailed for war crimes and crimes against humanity, is dead.

    Spokesperson for the Senegalese Justice Ministry disclosed this on Tuesday.

    Habre fled to Senegal after being ousted in a 1990 coup.

    In 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison for rape and ordering the killing and torture of thousands of political opponents during his eight-year rule.

  • Former Senegal midfielder, Bouba Diop is dead

    Former Senegal midfielder, Bouba Diop is dead

    Former Senegal, Fulham and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has died aged 42.

    Bouba Diop made 129 appearances in the Premier League and also had spells in England with West Ham and Birmingham City.

    He played for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup and scored the winner in the tournament’s opening game as his country beat France 1-0.

    “Once a World Cup hero, always a World Cup hero,” Fifa posted on social media.

    A post on Fulham’s Twitter account said the club was “devastated” and, using Bouba Diop’s nickname, added: “Rest well, Wardrobe.”

  • Ex-Flying Eagles goalkeeper dies in Senegal

    Ex-Flying Eagles goalkeeper dies in Senegal

    The football fraternity in Nigeria has been hit with another devastating news as the death of a former junior international, John Felagha, has now been confirmed.

    The Nigeria Football Federation on their official Twitter handle confirmed the death of the 26-year-old goalkeeper on Monday.

    The NFF wrote: “Former National U17 and U20 goalkeeper John Felagha has died. Felagha died on Sunday in Senegal.

    “He was aged 26. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

    Though he was on the bench throughout the tournament as Nigeria won silver behind Switzerland, Felagha was a member of the 2009 Golden Eaglets squad.

    Felagha was also part of 2013 FIFA U-20 World cup but failed to play a single match in the tournament

    He later joined the Belgian side KAC Eupen in 2013 were he managed a few competitive appearances for the Jupiter League side.

    He was said to be awaiting airlifting back to Nigeria on holidays before the unfortunate incident.

     

  • New Malian authorities determine fate of ousted president

    New Malian authorities determine fate of ousted president

    The new Malian authorities that came to power after the recent coup are discussing with Senegal the possible deportation of detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to Senegal, a Malian military source told Sputnik.

    “There are talks with Senegal on his (Keita’s) deportation (to Senegal)” the source said on late Thursday.

    The coup began on Tuesday at the Kati military base near the Malian capital of Bamako.

    The rebels detained Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, and some other senior government officials.

    Keita then announced his resignation and dissolution of the parliament.

    The rebel leaders established the National Committee for the Salvation of the People as Mali’s new governing body.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Thursday plans to send a high-ranking delegation to Mali to help restore constitutional order in the country.
    ECOWAS wants to seek the reinstatement of Keita as the Malian president.

  • Senegal, Liberia presidents, others for UBA Africa Day forum today as Elumelu presides

    Senegal President Macky Sall, Liberia President George Weah and United States Senator Chris Coons will be part of a High-Level Leadership Panel to be moderated today by Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to discuss Africa’s economic recovery at the 2020 edition of UBA’s Africa Conversations.

    They will be joined by other global leaders, including the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah; President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer and President and Founder, Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed.

    The event with the theme, ‘Emphasising Economic Collaboration: Restructuring and Repositioning for the New African Order,’ is the second edition of the symposium organised yearly by UBA, in celebration of Africa Day.

    Head, External & Media Relations of United Bank for Africa Plc Ramon Nasir, in a statement, said the virtual event will be held at 3pm WAT, urging interested participants to register on the UBA website.

    Africa Day is celebrated worldwide on May 25th, to showcase the diversity and beauty of Africa and its people and at UBA with footprint in 20 African countries, the development, growth and unity of the continent remains the core of the bank’s focus.

  • Senegal reopens worship centres

    Senegal reopens worship centres

    Some Senegalese mosques opened their doors on Friday after the government eased coronavirus restrictions, but others judged the rate of infection too high and stayed shut.

    Senegalese President Macky Sall said this week that public prayers could resume in the West African country, provided that mosques obey social-distancing rules.

    More than 90 percent of Senegal is Muslim and most of the faithful follow Sufi brotherhoods, which retain considerable influence in the nation of 16 million people.

    In the seaside capital Dakar on Friday, according to AFP journalists, thousands of worshippers flocked to Massalikul Jinaan mosque — which is one of West Africa’s largest and belongs to the powerful Mouride brotherhood.

    Mosque spokesman Mor Daga Sylla told AFP that religious authorities had insisted the faithful wash their hands and keep one metre away from one another.

    “We were uncompromising,” he said.

    A similar scene played out in the Dakar suburb of Mbao, where water and soap were placed in front of the local mosque, and the majority of worshippers wore facemasks.

    Inside, the mosque’s imam, Pape Moussa Seck, preached a sermon calling the coronavirus a “divine ordeal” caused by religious infractions such as “the indecent clothing of young girls, assaults, and murders”.

    Senegalese authorities have recorded 2,310 cases to date, including 25 fatalities.

    The numbers are low compared to virus-stricken Europe and the United States.

    But as with other poor countries in the region, there are fears that it is ill-equipped to handle a large outbreak.

    Some religious institutions in Senegal have remained closed because of the still-present virus threat.

    Major mosques in the capital, such as the Dakar Grand Mosque and Cheikh Oumar Foutiyou mosque, said this week that they would not open again, for example, citing health risks.

    The Catholic Church in Senegal similarly said this week that masses would not resume.

    Despite the easing of restrictions on prayers, other anti-virus measures remain in place.

    Senegal has shut schools and borders, restricted travel, and imposed a night-time curfew in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

     

  • Senegal okays Madagascar’s anti-COVID-19 drug

    Senegal okays Madagascar’s anti-COVID-19 drug

    Senegal has approved Madagascar’s Covid Organics (CVO), an herbal potion for clinical trials that is said to cure coronavirus of COVID-19 pandemic patients, reported local media.

    “We are moving to use the Artemisia [the main component of the CVO]. On our side. We are evaluating it scientifically. We have given green light” Daouda Ndiaye, head of the Senegalese scientific committee told local Radio Futurs Medias, a local FM network on Thursday.

    “We will work on a protocol to see how to give it to Senegalese patients,” he said

    Top Senegalese scientist, however, cautioned people against self-medication or using the potion on their own without medical supervision.

    He said the coronavirus herbal remedy can be used both for prevention and to cure patients.

    Dr. Aloyse Waly Diouf, an official at the Senegalese Health Ministry said his country will begin clinical trials on Artemisia.

    “The work will start today,” he said.

    Senegal has 1,492 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, with 13 deaths, and 562 recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US based at Johns Hopkins University.

    Covid Organics was officially launched by Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina last month. The drug has been developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research.

    ”I salute Madagascar’s efforts in the search for therapeutic solutions which Senegal is following with interest,” Senegal’s President Macky Sall said following Rajoelina’s announcement.

    On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for clinical trials of Madagascar’s Covid Organics.

    “We are advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial and we are prepared to collaborate with them,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, told a media briefing.

    South Africa has also expressed willingness to assist Madagascar to undertake scientific analysis of Covid Organics. Madagascar has so far shipped the CVO to several African countries.

  • Two more African countries confirm first Coronavirus cases

    Two more African countries confirm first Coronavirus cases

    Two African countries, Senegal and Tunisia have confirmed cases of the deadly Coronavirus.

    Senegal’s Health Minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, said on Monday that the country has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.

    The patient is a French man who lives in Senegal and flew back from France on 26 February, Mr Sarr told a press conference in the capital, Dakar.

    The patient reported to a private hospital on 27 February with symptoms, including a headache.

    The authorities are monitoring everyone who travelled on the same flight as well as the patient’s family.

    The minister said the country was prepared to deal with the virus, pointing out that Senegal had the facilities to test for the coronavirus.

    This is the second case in sub-Saharan Africa after one was confirmed in Nigeria last week, BBC reports.

    Also, Tunisia confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, the country’s health minister told journalists on Monday.

    Abdelatif el-Maki said the patient was a 40-year-old Tunisian man, who arrived in the country by boat from Italy on 27 February.

    He and the other passengers had been advised to monitor themselves. When his fever spiked, he contacted emergency services.

    In Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Senrgal and Nigeria have all confirmed cases of the virus.