Category: Sports

Barcelona midfielder Bonmatí was voted The Best FIFA Women’s Player for the second time in a row after the 26-year-old followed up her World Cup-winning year with another trophy-laden 12 months for club and country.

“I am grateful to receive this award. As I always say, this is a team effort. It was a great year, very difficult to repeat. I am grateful to the people who help me to be better every day, from the club, to my teammates, who always help me to be better,” said Bonmatí, who won a domestic treble and the UEFA Women’s Champions League with the Catalan giants in 2024.

Vinícius Júnior scored Real Madrid’s second goal in the final, one of 24 strikes in 39 competitive club appearances in the 2023-24 season, as the Spanish club claimed a record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title in June.

He was also part of the Brazil squad that reached the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América quarter-finals in the USA and added the La Liga title, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Super Cup to the European crown en route to succeeding FIFA World Cup 2022™ winner Lionel Messi as The Best FIFA Men’s Player.

“I don’t even know where to begin. It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who only played football barefoot on the streets of São Gonçalo, close to poverty and crime. Getting here is something very important to me,” Vinícius said.

“I’m doing it for many children who think that everything is impossible and who think they can’t get here,” added the 24-year-old after receiving the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a gala dinner to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 final, where Real Madrid will encounter Mexican side CF Pachuca.

Like the two main individual honours, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper awards were decided by a vote equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams and media representatives.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who was runner-up two editions ago, was presented with The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award. Ancelotti started as a professional player in 1976.

Meanwhile Emma Hayes was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2024. Hayes led the US women’s national team to Olympic gold at Paris 2024 just weeks after crowning her 12-year stint at Chelsea with the English domestic league title.

Aston Villa and Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez came out on top in the vote for The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, winning the award for the second time, following his triumph in the 2022 edition, largely on the back of his major role in his country’s run to 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América glory.

Placing third in 2020, Alyssa Naeher was crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper. Her saves, notably in the semi-final shoot-out win against Germany, helped to propel the United States women’s national team to Olympic gold.

The Chicago Red Stars player also stood out as her country won the inaugural 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup and her club reached the US National Women’s Soccer League play-offs.

Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award, which honour the best goals scored in women’s and men’s football, respectively, was split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.

Brazil’s Marta won the inaugural award bearing her name for the last of her 119 international strikes while Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskás Award for his sensational overhead kick against Everton in the Premier League in November 2023.

The winner of the FIFA Fan Award, based entirely on the votes of registered users of FIFA.com is Guilherme Gandra Moura. A devoted fan of Vasco da Gama, the young Brazilian suffers from a rare genetic condition known as epidermolysis bullosa.

He was placed into a coma after falling ill with pneumonia, waking 16 days later, and the touching video of his reunion with his mother went viral. He was helped in his recovery by Vasco da Gama’s then-star player Gabriel Pec. He met the team and was chosen as mascot for a match in August 2023 after having left hospital.

Internacional’s Thiago Maia earned the FIFA Fair Play Award, which was decided upon by an expert panel, for his efforts to help people suffering in the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil after it was hit by devastating floods in late April and early May 2024.

For the first time, fans participated in the vote for The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11, choosing from a list of 77 nominees for each line-up, with their choices weighted equally with those of an expert panel.

The Best FIFA Men’s 11 2024: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Argentina), Rúben Dias (Manchester City/Portugal), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid/Germany), William Saliba (Arsenal/France), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Spain), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany), Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil)

The tournament, which provided points for the International Cricket Council (ICC) monthly rankings, saw Uganda defeat Nigeria by six wickets in the final.

Nigeria, having won the toss, opted to bat first and aimed for a high score. However, Uganda’s bowlers dominated, dismissing Nigeria for just 89 runs after 17.3 overs.

In their chase, Uganda proved their prowess, surpassing the target in just 17.2 overs with six wickets remaining.

Key contributions came from Riazat Ali Shah and Henry Senyondo, who played pivotal roles in Uganda’s victory. Uganda ended the tournament unbeaten, winning all 10 of their matches, including games against Nigeria, Botswana, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Riazat Ali Shah was named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional performance at the international Gahanga Cricket Ground. Last year, Uganda also emerged victorious in Nairobi, defeating Kenya in the final.

Rwanda’s team played nine matches, winning three and finishing third with six points, while Botswana placed fourth.

Verstappen participated in a grassroots motorsport development program organized by the Rwanda Automobile Club on Friday, December 13, 2024, during his visit to Kigali to collect his fourth consecutive Formula One World Championship trophy.

The initiative, though part of a disciplinary measure imposed by the FIA following inappropriate remarks made during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix, offered Verstappen a chance to engage directly with aspiring drivers and engineers.

For the Red Bull driver, the experience was much more than fulfilling a penalty.

Speaking afterwards, Verstappen expressed his enthusiasm for the potential of motorsport in Africa and the power of such programs to break down barriers faced by young drivers in developing nations.

“In the whole world, everything is getting more and more expensive, so the more you can build [motorsports] in your own country, the more you make it affordable for kids,” the 63-time Grand Prix winner said.

“I think it’s great to have that possibility, and I hope it stimulates all these kids so that they want to be a racing driver, an engineer, in the future.”

He emphasized his belief in the transformative potential of initiatives like this one.

“It has massive potential and that is what I think everyone is working on… trying to make everyone very enthusiastic. It doesn’t matter where in the world you come from, anything is possible,” he added.

“That’s why I also think it’s important that we’re here. I’m very excited to see that hopefully in five to ten years, there are more people coming through [into motorsports].”

After a day focused on community service, Verstappen made his way to the iconic BK Arena for the FIA Prize-Giving Gala, where he was awarded his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship trophy.

This achievement places him among the sport’s all-time greats, tying him with legends such as Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel.

Reflecting on his impressive accomplishments, Verstappen stayed true to his characteristic humility.

“As a kid, when you grow up, you don’t think about these things. You look at the names and think, ‘Wow, that’s really impressive. I hope one day I can be on the podium!’” he said during the ceremony.

He noted that his success has been a combination of preparation and seizing opportunities.

“But, sometimes you get lucky in life… you’re in the right place at the right time! Luckily, I’ve been able to do that. It’s amazing. Four titles is incredible,” he added, a smile lighting up his face.

Looking to the future, Verstappen remains driven both on and off the track.

“Winning four titles is incredible, but I hope it’s just the beginning. For now, it’s important to celebrate what we’ve achieved as a team and keep pushing for more success—not just for us, but for the sport worldwide.”

The 2024 FIA Prize-Giving Gala in Kigali was a historic event, marking the first time the ceremony was held in Africa.

Earlier, President Paul Kagame had confirmed Rwanda’s formal bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, a move that would bring the thrill of racing back to the continent for the first time in three decades.

The awards cover major competitions, including Formula 1, World Rally-Raid Championship, Formula 2, World Rally Championship, Formula E World Championship, World Endurance Championship, World Rallycross Championship, and World Karting Championships.

In addition to the athletes, FIA will also recognize outstanding teams and organizations for their contributions to motorsport innovation and excellence.

Below are the top athletes and achievements to be celebrated at BK Arena in Kigali on Friday night, December 13, 2024:

Formula 1: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) leads the list with 437 points, followed by Lando Norris (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, will be awarded for leading the best team of 2024.

World Rally Championship: Thierry Neuville (Hyundai Motorsport) is the champion, with 242 points, and will be honored alongside his co-driver, Martijn Wydaeghe.

World Endurance Championship: André Lotterer, Kévin Estre, and Laurens Vanthoor will share the award after tying with 152 points each.

World Rallycross Championship: Johan Kristoffersson (Sweden), a seven-time champion, will be recognized for his stellar performance, securing 240 points.

World Rally-Raid Championship: Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and co-driver Edouard Boulanger will receive the award for dominating this off-road endurance series.

Formula 2: Gabriel Bortoleto clinched the championship with 214.5 points across 11 races, outperforming 28 other competitors.

World Karting Championships: British racer Ethan Jeff-Hall will be awarded in the senior category, Kenzo Craigie in juniors, and Giuseppe Palomba for the 15-year-old category.

Apart from these disciplines, FIA will also honor motorsport legends for their significant contributions to the sport.

During an interview with the national broadcaster, Sulayem discussed the preparations and highlighted his own election as FIA President in 2018, emphasizing that he made history as the first president outside of Europe to make it.

“I am the first president of this organization who was elected outside of Europe. This means that the doors are open, and they are open to the entire world. This is where everyone can find their place,” he said.

The history was supposed to continue, as he sought to ensure that these doors would also open to Africa, specifically Rwanda, thanks to the leadership of President Paul Kagame. However according to him, some individuals attempted to block this idea, questioning the country’s security.

“I have learned a lot from President Kagame. He has a wealth of experience, and I can say he doesn’t represent just Rwanda but the whole of Africa. I asked these people, ‘What evidence do you have to suggest that other members should not attend?’” he said.

“If you don’t trust the security there, at least trust the FIA. Concerns about the Marburg virus outbreak were better left to health authorities to address,” he added.

Ben Sulayem also emphasized that people should change the perception that motorsport is only for the wealthy, as the cost of participating is not as prohibitive as some might think.

He gave the example of a car made in Rwanda, demonstrating that there are no excuses for claiming that race cars are too expensive, as they are now more accessible.

This is the first time the FIA General Assembly is held in Africa, and it will also celebrate 120 years of the FIA, with awards presented to outstanding athletes in the federation’s sports.

In the sixth-day match, Botswana won the toss and opted to bowl first, which meant Rwanda had to set a target. Rwanda posted a total of 168 runs in 20 overs (120 balls), losing eight wickets. In response, Botswana began their chase for 169 runs with strong early momentum, scoring 80 runs off the first 32 balls without losing any wickets.

However, from the 9th over (ball 49) onward, Rwanda’s bowlers regained control, steadily taking wickets. The match ended with Botswana managing only 143 runs in their 20 overs, with Rwanda dismissing nine of their batsmen.

Rwandan player Rukiriza Emile was named Player of the Match, having taken four wickets for 24 runs from 24 balls. He also contributed 29 runs in the batting innings, including seven runs off four balls.

In another match on Wednesday, Uganda defeated Nigeria by 23 runs. Uganda set a target of 151 runs in their first innings, with Nigeria managing only 128 runs in their chase. Uganda dismissed nine Nigerian batsmen during the match.

The tournament is still ongoing, with Rwanda set to face Uganda at 3:15 PM on Thursday, followed by Botswana taking on Nigeria at 7:30 PM.

Currently, Uganda leads the standings with 14 points, while Rwanda is in second place with 6 points. Both Nigeria and Botswana are tied with 4 points each.

The competition, held in Gahanga, will run until December 14, 2024, and will contribute points to the International Cricket Council (ICC) monthly rankings. In the latest ICC standings, Uganda is ranked 22nd globally, Nigeria is 36th, Botswana is 50th, and Rwanda is ranked 63rd.

The announcement was made during an extraordinary FIFA Congress on Wednesday. The tournament will be held in 15 stadiums across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and Neom.

In addition to Saudi Arabia’s victory, FIFA revealed that Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will jointly host the 2030 World Cup, with special centenary games taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, marking the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup.

Uruguay held the first World Cup in 1930. The decision to award the 2034 and 2030 tournaments was unanimous, with no competing bids.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the increased number of teams, stating that it would enhance the quality of the tournament while allowing more countries to participate.

This global expansion signifies FIFA’s commitment to bringing football to a wider audience, with 2034 set to be another milestone for the sport’s international appeal.

Balinda reflected on the significant progress that East Africa has made in professionalizing its sports sector, noting that governments, private sector partnerships, and institutions have worked hard to create better infrastructure, opportunities, and training for athletes.

However, he believes that there is still work to be done to elevate the region’s sports potential on a global scale.

“A key factor that will take East African sports to the next level is embracing diversity. Diversity will not only improve the quality of play but also encourage a more inclusive sporting culture,” he said.

He emphasized that sports are a powerful tool for breaking barriers and creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender identities.

By promoting diverse representation, from grassroots to elite competition, he believes that East Africa can continue to nurture talent in a fair and balanced environment.

Balinda also stressed the importance of involving women in sports leadership and decision-making roles, an area where East Africa has room for improvement.

“In order to truly progress, we must ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate and lead within the sports ecosystem,” he said.

As the games continue in Mombasa, the call for diversity and inclusion echoes across the region, urging policymakers, athletes, and communities to work together in building a more inclusive, professional, and sustainable sports sector.

East African countries are increasingly recognizing the value of sports as a vehicle for social change, economic growth, and diplomatic engagement. With more voices advocating for a more inclusive future, the region is poised to continue making strides in the global sports arena.

Among the new appointments are Célestin Nsabimana, who has been selected as a center referee, and Emmanuel Habumugisha, appointed as an assistant referee. They replace Nsoro Ruzindana, who has been a center referee for eight years, and Raymond Nonati Bwiliza, who had been an assistant referee for 12 years, both of whom have been removed from the list.

In another key appointment, Henriette Byukusenge steps in as a new FIFA-approved female center referee, taking over from Mukansanga Salima, who transitioned to a role as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

This makes a total of 17 referees now officially recognized by FIFA, well-represented across various categories. Rwanda’s representation on the international stage in 2025 will include the following;

Male Center Referees: Abdoul Karim Twagirumukiza, Jean Claude Ishimwe, Samuel Uwikunda, Patience Fidèle Rulisa and Célestin Nsabimana.

Male Assistant Referees: Saïd Hamisi Ndayisaba, Eric Mugabo, Justin Karangwa, Dieudonné Mutuyimana, Didier Ishimwe, and Emmanuel Hamugisha.

Female Center Referees: Aline Umutoni and Henriette Byukusenge.

Female Assistant Referees: Sandrine Murangwa Usenga, Alice Umutesi, Régine Mukayirangwa and Juliette Akimana.

Addressing reports suggesting Kenya’s unpreparedness and the possibility of Rwanda stepping in as a replacement co-host, Murkomen stated that such claims are unfounded.

“The truth is that we are hosting CHAN from February 1 to February 28, 2025. While the schedule and team allocations are yet to be finalized, we are burning the midnight oil to ensure our facilities are ready,” Murkomen told Kenya’s NTV on Monday night, insisting that plans are in top gear to expedite the arrival of essential materials by air to meet the tight deadline.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by delays in infrastructure development, particularly at the Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums, but assured the public that efforts are underway to meet the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) requirements.

“I receive updates three times a week from contractors, who have assured us they will do everything humanly possible to meet the deadline,” he stressed.

Murkomen also highlighted Kenya’s commitment to hosting CHAN and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), clarifying that the bids for the two tournaments are independent of each other.

“Unfortunately, some have conflated the two. For CHAN, we committed to providing two stadiums, and we are on track to fulfil this obligation,” he explained.

In response to reports claiming CAF’s dissatisfaction and the potential relocation of CHAN matches, Murkomen stated: “There has never been a discussion about shifting hosting rights from Kenya to any neighbouring country. CAF officials are in constant communication with us, and their feedback has been constructive. President Patrice Motsepe will visit Kenya next week to inspect progress, which underscores their support.”

Murkomen acknowledged Kenya’s historical struggles with sports infrastructure but framed the current situation as a wake-up call.

“We need nearly Ksh7 billion (about Rwf70 billion) to bring our facilities up to the required standards. Despite competing national priorities, we are mobilizing resources and working with contractors to ensure readiness,” he said.

The minister also praised CAF for their collaborative approach and urged Kenyans to remain optimistic and patriotic.

“This is a critical moment for our nation to reclaim its place as a leader in African sports. Hosting CHAN and AFCON will leave a lasting legacy for our sports infrastructure and inspire future generations,” he noted.

Murkomen’s reassurances come amid heightened public scrutiny and concerns over Kenya’s ability to deliver on its hosting commitments.

CHAN 2025 is scheduled to begin on February 1, 2025. CAF initially awarded co-hosting rights for CHAN 2025 to three countries from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) zone including Tanzania and Uganda.

With Kenya struggling to meet the necessary requirements, reports emerged over the weekend that Rwanda was being considered as a replacement co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenyan media reports indicate that CAF delegates visited Kenya last week and expressed dissatisfaction with the state of preparations. The delegates reportedly issued a deadline of December 31, 2024, for Kenya to complete the required work or lose its hosting rights.

Currently, Kenya has no CAF-approved stadiums for the tournament. Kasarani Stadium, one of the proposed venues, is only 30% complete, while Nyayo Stadium lags even further behind.

In contrast, Rwanda’s infrastructure is well-prepared. Stadiums such as Amahoro Stadium, Kigali Pelé Stadium, and Huye Stadium all meet CAF standards and are capable of hosting CHAN matches. Rwanda previously hosted the entire tournament in 2016, demonstrating its capability.