Tag: Congo

Morocco vs. Liberia African Cup of Nations qualifier postponed following massive earthquake

It is not clear when Morocco and Liberia will play, but Gambia vs. Congo is still scheduled for Sunday in Marrakech

An African Cup of Nations qualifier between Morocco and Liberia has been postponed in the aftermath of a horrific earthquake on Friday night.

The 6.8-magnitude quake’s epicenter was 47 miles from Marrakech, in the High Atlas mountain range. A 4.9-magnitude aftershock was recorded around 20 minutes later.

Morocco’s Interior Ministry told the Washington Post that over 1,000 people are dead, with thousands more injured. A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey said that it had been over 100 years since a quake of this strength had occurred in the region.

Morocco’s qualifier against Liberia, the final game in Group J, was set for Adrar Stadium in Agadir, a city on the Atlantic coast a little over 100 miles southeast of the earthquake’s epicenter.

“Following the earthquake that struck some areas in Morocco, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces the postponement of the match that was scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, September 9, 2023,” read a statement from the Moroccan federation. “After this great injury, the national football family extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured.”

The statement said that the qualifier would be played “at a later date” once the federation and Moroccan authorities could work out a suitable option with the African Football Confederation (AFC).

Gambia vs. Congo match in Marrakech to go ahead

The match between Morocco and Liberia was not the only game impacted by the earthquake. Gambia, obliged to play its home qualifiers in Morocco and Senegal after the AFC determined that no Gambian stadium was suitable to host, is due to take on Congo in Marrakech on Sunday in Group G’s final game.

Reuters reported on Saturday that both teams spent the night sleeping outdoors after evacuating their hotels, and that the AFC had confirmed that the game would go ahead as planned.

“We have been told our match on Sunday must go ahead. It’s quite strange that the Morocco game is off but ours is not… we think it is best this game is postponed because the mood among the players is understandably somber and everyone is a little scared.” said Gambia manager Tom Saintfiet.

“We are okay but still in shock,” added Paul Put, Congo’s manager. “Mentally it’s difficult to keep up the concentration. We had to sleep outside, near the swimming pool. It was very scary and even now a complicated situation for the players.”

[lawrence-related id=11534,11247]

Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga drops 18 points in international debut for DR Congo

Here’s a look at all the highlights from Jonathan Kuminga’s international debut with DR Congo.

Before the Golden State Warriors return to the court to prepare for their title defense in training camp, one member of the team is representing his home country in international play.

On Friday, Jonathan Kuminga made his debut for the Congolese national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Tunisia. Kuminga and DR Congo met Cameroon in the second round of the Group F qualifier bracket.

Although Kuminga struggled to find his jumper, shooting only 4-of-15 from the field, the soon-to-be second-year forward led Congo with a game-high 18 points. The former first-round draft pick missed all seven of his attempts from long distance but got to the free throw line, hitting 10-of-12 from the stripe. Kuminga added six boards, an assist, a steal and a block in 29 minutes.

Despite Kuminga’s 18 points, Congo DR fell to Cameroon, 71-69.

Here’s a look at all the highlights from Kuminga’s performance on Friday via @gswcba on Twitter:

Via @FIBAWC on Twitter:

Kuminga will be back on the floor with Congo DR on Sunday in Group F against Angola.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

[lawrence-related id=64764,64753,64750]

Ibaka Foundation: Very grateful to …

Anthony Joshua exploring possibility of fight in Congo

Anthony Joshua became interested in fighting in Africa after visiting Nigeria, the homeland of his ancestors.

The Rumble in the Jungle, Muhammad Ali’s stoppage of George Foreman in 1974, in what was then Zaire has taken on almost mythic proportions. It was the subject of an Academy Award-winning documentary, “When We Were Kings.” It’s remembered by authors, filmmakers and promoters wanting to make a buck.

It begs for a sequel, and one might be in the works.

There is interest in redoing a version of the legendary event, this time involving Anthony Joshua, according to Joshua manager Freddie Cunningham.

Cunningham told Sky Sports that Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn “is exploring an option” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the former Zaire.

“There has been an approach,’’ Cunningham said.

Joshua, a U.K. heavyweight champion of Nigerian descent, became interested in fighting in Africa after visiting Nigeria about a year ago. He traveled for his last two fights – an upset loss to Andy Ruiz on June 1 at New York’s Madison Square Garden and a rematch victory on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua’s immediate plan, however, is for a title defense in the U.K., perhaps against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham’s soccer stadium.

“For the next fight, Africa is not the right time,’’ Cunningham said. “But, at some point, he 100 percent wants it.

“It went so well in Saudi that they will want to be kept in the loop. And there are always options in the U.K. Tottenham’s stadium is great and local to where AJ grew up.”