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Football: Cameroon and Namibia share points in tight AFCON qualifier battle

Football: Cameroon and Namibia share points in tight AFCON qualifier battle

Namibia held already-qualified Cameroon to a goalless draw in their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The match, which saw Namibia’s Brave Warriors playing for pride, ended 0-0 as both teams failed to break the deadlock despite some close attempts.

Namibia, who are out of the running for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualification, came out with determination, almost catching Cameroon off guard just seconds into the game.

In the opening minute, Prins Tjiueza’s shot was blocked, and Aprocius Petrus sent a follow-up effort over the bar.

The Brave Warriors continued to push, with striker Peter Shalulile testing Cameroon’s goalkeeper, André Onana, who was forced to make a crucial save in the 42nd minute.

Cameroon, having already secured qualification, fielded a slightly altered lineup and maintained possession throughout the match without taking too many risks.

Vincent Aboubakar, usually the focal point of their attack, had a quiet game but saw his only shot fly high in the 83rd minute.

The second half saw Namibia come closest to scoring when Tjiueza struck the post twice in the 58th minute, giving the Indomitable Lions a scare.

Moments later, substitute Georges-Kévin N’Koudou provided a rare shot on target for Cameroon, which was easily saved.

Despite late pressure from both teams, neither side could break the deadlock.

Cameroon remains at the top of Group J, while Namibia’s spirited display earned them their first point of the qualifying campaign.

The Brave Warriors will look to finish the qualifying campaign with their heads held high, having managed to hold one of Africa’s top teams to a draw.

Source: CAF

Martinez Zogo Trial: Amougou Belinga, Maxime Eko Eko to remain in detention

Martinez Zogo Trial: Amougou Belinga, Maxime Eko Eko to remain in detention

The November 11 hearing at the Yaoundé Military Tribunal lasted approximately 20 minutes, with the court rejecting all objections raised by the defense.

The tribunal, led by Colonel Missé Njonè, denied the defense team’s request for a reenactment of events related to the case of businessman Amougou Belinga. The court also dismissed requests to dismiss certain preliminary investigation and case file documents.

The judges further rejected a proposal to reclassify charges against some defendants and denied the application of a contested referral order from December 1, 2023, which had previously ordered the release of Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga and Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former head of the Directorate General of External Research (DGRE).

The court reaffirmed its decision to include the DGRE as a civil party in the case, a status the intelligence agency has sought to avoid since the trial began in March.

The next hearing is scheduled for December 2, when the parties hope to initiate substantive deliberations.

Source: Sbbc

Football: Lineker to stop hosting BBC Match of the Day

Football: Lineker to stop hosting BBC Match of the Day

The BBC has confirmed that Match of the Day host Gary Lineker is to step down from the flagship football show at the end of this season, but will host BBC Sport’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

He will also front the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup 2025/2026.

“The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup,” the BBC said, while confirming his Match of the Day tenure was ending.

Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

Who could replace Lineker as host?

He will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast and the BBC will also now host the popular The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

The podcast features Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards discussing the latest football news along with stories from their careers, and is part of Goalhanger productions, co-founded by Lineker.

This marks the first time it will also be made available on the BBC’s own audio platform; it is currently available on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Apple.

The BBC said there will be one episode per week of The Rest is Football on BBC Sounds from next month.

Goalhanger also produces popular shows including The Rest is History, The Rest is Politics and The Rest is Entertainment.

Lineker, whose contract was coming to an end, entered negotiations with the BBC’s new head of sport in October.

BBC News understands that Lineker was open to staying on at Match of the Day, but the BBC did not offer him a new contract for the show.

However, it’s understood both parties are now happy with the new agreement.

“With 33 million viewers last season across the Premier League and FA Cup, Match of the Day remains part of the staple diet of football fans who still get a huge buzz from hearing that iconic theme tune on a Saturday night,” the BBC said.

“The show continually evolves for changing viewing habits bringing its unique and unmatched analysis and commentary across all platforms. Future plans for Match of the Day will be announced in due course.”

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport described Lineker as a world-class presenter.

“We’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup,” he said.

“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week.

“He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”

Former BBC director general Greg Dyke told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Lineker was “the outstanding sports presenter of his time”, but added: “Life moves on, presenters don’t stay forever.”

The 63-year-old has hosted Match of the Day since 1999. He will have held the post for 26 years when he leaves at the end of the Premier League season in May 2025.

Dyke, who was director general when Lineker first began hosting the football show in 1999, did not speculate on whether Lineker had been “offered a new contract or not”.

He also said he did not know whether the recent controversy over the presenter’s social media use was connected with his departure.

“Whether this is anything to do with that I don’t know. It’s one of the few times I’ve disagreed with the BBC since I left,” he said.

“I thought that he was a sports presenter, and therefore what he was saying about politics was irrelevant to his performance as as a presenter.

“But it’s there in the background. So it must have been a thought in the mind of of whoever took the decision.”

Dyke said losing the presenter was “a big loss”, but “in the end people watch Match of the Day for the football”.

‘Very hard act to follow’

Lineker told Esquire magazine in an interview published earlier this month that he accepted he will “have to slow down at some point”.

Dyke also said the BBC is “in difficulties financially”, referring to recent job cuts being made as part of wider BBC efforts to save £700m a year, adding that losing Lineker “would be a saving on a sports budget, which you could use elsewhere”.

Lineker is one of the corporation’s best-known presenters and its highest-paid star, of those whose salaries are declared, earning more than £1.3m a year.

He has also presented coverage of major tournaments like World Cups and European Championships for the BBC, as well as BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremonies.

Lineker has worked for other sports networks during his time at the BBC, including US network NBC and BT Sport (now TNT Sport).

Alastair Campbell, who co-presents The Rest Is Politics podcast, said Lineker would be “a very hard act to follow”, Sky News reported.

“He is an excellent broadcaster and a very good guy,” Campbell said.

Lineker’s new contract has now been agreed and he will leave on a high at the biggest tournament in world football. But replacing a star presenter on a high profile show is always a risk.

Lineker was briefly suspended by bosses last year after an outcry over his social media post about the UK’s asylum policy.

The incident led to a review of BBC social media guidelines, which concluded that high-profile presenters should be allowed to express views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning.

Lineker described the new rules at the time as “all very sensible”.

Before becoming a TV presenter, Lineker had a hugely successful career as a striker for England as well as Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.

Source: BBC

CPDM Crime Syndicate: China Construction Bank pulls out of CFA33bn urban surveillance project

CPDM Crime Syndicate: China Construction Bank pulls out of CFA33bn urban surveillance project

The China Construction Bank Corporation (CCBC) has canceled its CFA33 billion funding for phase two of Cameroon’s intelligent urban surveillance system extension project, according to the National Sinking Fund (CAA).

The agreement, signed in 2021 for the project’s expansion, is now in the process of being canceled due to the withdrawal of the initial financial partner. The CAA mentioned this in its latest public debt report at the end of September 2024.

Although the CAA did not explicitly name the bank, it is known that, on December 29, 2021, the President of Cameroon signed a decree authorizing the Minister of Economy to contract a loan of CFA33 billion from China Construction Bank for the proposed project. The reasons behind the bank’s withdrawal have not been disclosed. “Negotiations are ongoing to finalize an agreement with another financial partner,” the CAA added, without providing further details.

However, another CFA33 billion is already being negotiated with Banco Santander, a subsidiary of Hong Kong. According to the terms of a presidential decree from March 13, 2024, this loan will be used for “partial financing of the second phase of the national urban intelligent surveillance system project.” This suggests that the new funding being negotiated, in place of the one previously agreed with CCBC, will complement the funds to be provided by Banco Santander.

The intelligent surveillance system aims to equip Cameroonian cities with surveillance capabilities to better combat insecurity. Phase one, funded by the Bank of China for CFA46 billion, has already been deployed. It involved the installation of 1,500 surveillance cameras in various cities and the provision of 2,000 handheld communication devices for better territorial surveillance by the Cameroonian police.

Among the cities covered in phase one are the capitals of the country’s ten regions and strategic locations such as the coastal city of Kribi, which houses the largest port in Cameroon; Kyé-Ossi and Garoua-Boulaï, which are located near the borders with Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic. The project also includes cities like Waza, Fotokol, Kousseri, and Amchidé, located in Cameroon’s Far North region, which has faced attacks by the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram since 2013.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Yaoundé to host the 15th edition of the Fashion and Design Careers Forum

Yaoundé to host the 15th edition of the Fashion and Design Careers Forum

Yaoundé will host the 15th edition of the Fashion and Design Careers Forum from November 16 to 23, 2024, marking a major milestone for Cameroon’s largest fashion event. Sponsored by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy, and Handicrafts, and organized by the Cameroonian fashion designers’ association  CCMC (Centre des créateurs de mode du Cameroun), this annual forum has become a key cultural fixture, showcasing Cameroonian and African talent in fashion, textiles, and design since its inception in 2010.

This year’s forum will celebrate the event’s 15th anniversary, highlighting the CCMC’s contributions to training and supporting young Cameroonian designers and recognizing the progress made by those who have emerged from its programs. Set in an elegantly transformed venue designed to showcase the sophistication of local creations, the anniversary edition promises a magical atmosphere, offering participants an immersive experience in the vibrant world of Cameroonian design.

The event will open on November 16 with an urban parade at the National Museum Gardens in Yaoundé, where visitors can explore a variety of innovative, avant-garde designs and gain insight into each designer’s creative vision. Throughout the week, the Forum will feature exhibitions retracing the journeys of Cameroonian designers, celebrating their achievements and the challenges they have overcome. Panel discussions will also provide a platform to address current trends, challenges facing African designers, and solutions for advancing the continent’s fashion industry. Additionally, festive events will bring fashion closer to the public, creating a friendly, accessible atmosphere.

The Forum’s highlight will be a grand fashion show on November 23 at the Hilton Hotel, showcasing collections from CCMC designers as well as internationally acclaimed creators. During this prestigious show, an awards ceremony will honor outstanding talents, with a jury of fashion professionals—including designers, journalists, and entrepreneurs—evaluating entries based on originality, technique, innovation, and sustainability.

This 15th edition offers a chance to celebrate and encourage young Cameroonian designers who have persevered through financial and logistical challenges to pursue their passion. For the Ministry of SMEs, the forum is a vital platform for developing the local fashion industry and inspiring young talent to embark on creative entrepreneurship.

Source: Sbbc

Putin offers African countries Russia’s ‘total support’

Putin offers African countries Russia’s ‘total support’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered what he called “total support” for Africa, including in the struggle against terrorism and extremism.

The speech was read out at a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to his African counterparts.

Several African governments have cut ties with traditional Western allies and are looking to Moscow for help in tackling frequent attacks by jihadists.

During the summit, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said Russia was a more suitable international partner than the former colonial power, France.

It is a view shared by several of France’s former colonies – and was reiterated by Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, who contrasted the Kremlin’s “sincere” partnership to the “neo-colonial” relationship of Western powers.

He said that as well as military co-operation, Mali was exploring other joint projects in the energy, telecommunications, technology and mining sectors.

“Russian companies are working in all these areas with the Malian government and [private] partners in Mali to provide solutions to the challenges facing the Malian people. The two parties have agreed to step up the pace to ensure rapid results,” he said on the second and final day of the conference of African foreign ministers.

Wagner mercenary fighters – now rebranded under the Africa Corps banner by Russia’s defence ministry – were the preferred choice for the military leaders who ordered French and UN troops to leave.

Russia’s help, often in exchange for access to raw materials, also comes with a promise that there will be no meddling in a country’s internal affairs or lessons on how to run an election.

However, Russia’s military expeditions to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have helped protect the junta leaders there, but have failed to make much progress in the fight against Islamist militants.

Nonetheless, the Kremlin is trumpeting about these new-found friends, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying the conference had dashed Western hopes for Russia’s isolation.

The conference taking place on Saturday and Sunday comes after two Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023

And Lavrov said Russia’s relations with Africa were strengthening “more and more” with progress “on all axes”.

Putin’s speech underlined this point.

“I would like to reiterate that our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors: ensuring sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters,” it said.

Emanuela Del Re, the EU special representative for the Sahel region of West Africa, told the BBC the West needed to accept the shifting sands of allegiances.

While Russia was “certainly a very malicious actor”, the Italian diplomat explained it had a strong bond with Africa going back to before independence and was not alone in its interest in the Sahel.

“It’s largely a desert but in reality the region is very crowded: because at the moment you see Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran… all member states of the EU and the UK,” she said.

In fact, African leaders were pragmatic about their need to “diversify their partnerships”, Ms Del Re said, adding it was not a time for the EU to abandon what she called the “three difficult countries” of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have all experienced coups in recent years.

Her point was that it should not be seen as a competition.

Rwanda, which has strong ties with the UK and the West, is one of several African countries that have already signed deals with Moscow to get help building a nuclear power plant.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, who is also in Sochi, told the AFP news agency hundreds of Rwandan students had graduated from Russian universities, including “those who specialise in nuclear science”.

“We hope to be able to train a certain number of scientific managers specialising in this field,” he added.

Five years ago, Putin promised to double trade with Africa – this has not happened.

But using other means, which the West sees as destabilising the continent, Russia’s influence has grown significantly.

Source: BBC

ICC announces investigation into chief prosecutor Karim Khan

ICC announces investigation into chief prosecutor Karim Khan

The International Criminal Court has announced an external investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against its chief prosecutor.

Karim Khan said he would engage in the process and continue in his role while the investigation was ongoing. He denies the allegations.

The chief prosecutor had requested an investigation by the court’s watchdog, but on Monday the ICC’s governing body said it would pursue an “external investigation”.

The announcement followed media reports about a document outlining accusations against Mr Khan, understood to include unwanted sexual touching and “abuse”.

In a statement, Mr Khan said he “had previously called for an investigation in relation to this matter”.

“I welcome the opportunity to engage in this process,” he said, adding he would continue “all other functions as prosecutor” while the investigation is ongoing.

Any issues relevant to the investigation into allegations against him would be handled by deputy prosecutors not reporting to him, “so as to ensure that the rights of all persons are fully respected,” he said.

ICC prosecutor denies sexual misconduct allegations

According to the Guardian newspaper, a female lawyer who claims to have been subjected to unwanted sexual advances by Mr Khan had raised concerns about the competence of the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM), the ICC’s watchdog.

The paper also reported that Khan responded to a formal sexual misconduct complaint against him by trying to persuade the alleged victim that she should deny the claims, despite having been advised to avoid one-to-one contact.

Mr Khan denied asking the woman to withdraw any allegations, the Guardian reported.

Paivi Kaukoranta, the president of the body charged with overseeing the court, last month said the IOM had been in contact with the alleged victim, but said it was not in a position to proceed with an investigation at that stage.

In a statement on Monday, she defended the IOM’s ability to carry out the investigation but said that “given the particular circumstances,” she did not object to “exceptionally resorting to an external investigation”.

“An external investigation is therefore being pursued in order to ensure a fully independent, impartial and fair process,” she said.

It comes amid intense scrutiny of the ICC and Mr Khan after the prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants linked to the conflict in Gaza.

In May, Mr Khan said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh bore criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity from the day of Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October onwards.

Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh have all since been killed by Israel.

In an earlier statement, Mr Khan did not explicitly blame Israel, but did juxtapose the sexual misconduct allegations and efforts to undermine his position when he described this as “a moment in which myself and the International Criminal Court are subject to a wide range of attacks and threat”.

But the sexual misconduct allegations are understood to pre-date his request for arrest warrants linked to the conflict in Gaza.

A panel of three ICC judges is currently considering the arrest warrants requested by Mr Khan.

Source: BBC

Dschang Landslide: Dion Ngute should go and go now!

Dschang Landslide: Dion Ngute should go and go now!

Four days after a deadly landslide claimed about a dozen lives along the Dschang cliff in the West region, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute expressed the “condolences of the government of the Republic.” The Prime Minister issued his statement on November 9 via social media, including X (formerly Twitter) while the landslide occurred on November 6.

The delay in his response drew sharp criticism from social media users, who accused him of a lack of urgency. “Your condolences come too late, Mr. Prime Minister. Sadly, I thought you were different from the others. Finished celebrating? Enjoy your digestion. This is lacking in humanity. Truly sad,” one user commented. Another remarked, “A disaster like this, and you didn’t even bother to comfort the victims’ families. Instead, you chose to celebrate. We already knew the lives of Cameroonians mean little to you, and now everyone can see it. Shame on you.”

Criticism of Dion Ngute began on the day of the disaster itself. As the landslide unfolded and the governor of the West region initially reported five deaths, the Prime Minister was posting on social media about the 42nd anniversary of the Renouveau (the “New Deal”) and reflecting on his journey since President Paul Biya took office.

This focus on the anniversary struck many as insensitive, given the unfolding tragedy. “Cameroonians are buried in Dschang, and this is your priority?” questioned one user.

The landslide, which occurred in two waves along the Dschang cliff—a major route linking Douala with several towns in the West and Northwest regions, including Dschang, Mbouda, and Bamenda—initially cut off traffic. As crews worked to clear the road, a second landslide struck, bringing the official death toll to five. Later searches revealed several more bodies, with unofficial reports now putting the toll at 12. Authorities have directed travelers to an alternative route as work to reopen the main road continues.

Source: Sbbc

Paul Biya at 100 years old: it is Swiss life expectancy that counts

Paul Biya at 100 years old: it is Swiss life expectancy that counts

Paul Biya’s faithful supporters celebrated his 42 years in power in Cameroon this week. An official statement praised both his record and his discreet style of leadership, while also hinting at a potential candidacy for the 2025 presidential election.

With 91 years on this planet, 42 of which have now been spent in Etoudi Palace, the world’s oldest sitting elected leader continues to celebrate the anniversary of the day he took office – on 6 November 1982 – after the resignation of Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Born Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, Cameroon‘s head of state is both elusive and anything but elusive.

In terms of longevity, he has certainly built a lengthy tenure that almost rivals that of his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose reign has lasted over 45 years. But unlike Obiang, Paul Biya operates under the radar, like a stealth aircraft, hard to track and difficult to find.

This political trademark may well explain Biya’s long political life. According to an editorial in Cameroon Tribune on 4 November, the “Biya Code” is defined by “absence, distance and silence.” While the lack of images of the president – between the China-Africa summit in early September and 21 October – had sparked much speculation, Paul Biya’s return has been as well publicised as the anniversary of his reign.

A low-profile workaholic?

While international media often refer to the president as the “lazy king”, the deputy secretary of the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) interviewed this past weekend instead described him as a leader who “works tirelessly for his country” and “knows the issues well”.

It is a narrative that continues to unfold during this anniversary period. A letter from the ruling party praises a “fantastic record” as a guarantee of “stability and progress”; a documentary screened in the provinces is titled “Paul Biya, a great statesman with a remarkable destiny”; and the latest edition of Temps des Opportunités, the magazine published by the presidential civil cabinet, speaks of “intense” diplomatic activity with “Paul Biya as a metronome”.

Even the most robust cannot escape the wear and tear of time, and the burning question is: What happens next? Although the name of his son Franck was at one point circulating as a potential successor to the presidency, the issue remains taboo. Meanwhile the symphony of praise is not without calls urging Biya to run for an eighth term in the 2025 presidential election.

A motion signed by dozens of activists and supporters invites “all Cameroonians, regardless of their political views, to join us in our call for the candidacy of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.”

When mentioning the President’s 92nd birthday in 2025, the RDPC letter responds that the Cameroonian people are “a people of respect for age and elders” and that they must “continue under the leadership” of the head of state. If he were to stand as a candidate and be re-elected, Paul Biya would be expected to complete his next term in his 100th year.

Culled from  The Africa Report

Russia jails soldiers who killed entire family in Ukraine

Russia jails soldiers who killed entire family in Ukraine

A Russian court has sentenced two Russian soldiers to life in prison for killing a family of nine in occupied Ukraine, in a rare example of the country holding its troops to account for alleged war crimes.

The entire Kapkanets family were killed in their home in the Donetsk region in October last year by Anton Sopov, 21, and Stanislav Rau, 28, prosecutors said. Among the victims were two children aged five and nine.

The family had been celebrating a birthday at the time, Ukraine’s ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said a day after the killings.

Some details of the case are unclear, such as whether the soldiers pleaded guilty, as the trial was held behind closed doors due to military secrecy, Russian media reported.

Sopov and Rau were convicted of killing 53-year-old Eduard Kapkanets, his wife Tatiana, their adult sons with their wives, a nine-year-old granddaughter, a four-year-old grandson and a more distant relative of the family.

Ukrainian officials at the time said they believed the family was murdered for refusing to give up their house to the Russian troops.

State news agency Tass reported that the men had been convicted for murder “motivated by political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred”.

The Ukrainian city of Volnovakha was captured by Russian forces just weeks after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Most of the town has been destroyed.

Russia denies all allegations of war crimes in Ukraine, despite well-documented evidence to the contrary.

This includes the bombing of a theatre in Mariupol which had been sheltering hundreds of people in March 2022 and the killing of hundreds of people in the town of Bucha that month.

Russian forces are also accused of running a network of torture chambers across occupied Ukraine, where civilians and prisoners of war are tortured and in some cases killed.

The UN has accused Russian forces in Ukraine of rapes, “widespread” torture and killings and the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin’s arrest.

Source: BBC

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