On the eve of the World Cup, the most medalled footballer from Africa showered his fellow Africans with anticipated prizes. Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon, Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker who now presides over his country’s Football Federation, forecast a grand slam.
“All five African teams will reach the knockout rounds,” Eto’o predicted. He went further. He imagined three nations out of Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia would top their groups and even that two countries from his continent might be in the final. Eto’o is never shy of making grand claims but even by his standards a clean sweep was excessively optimistic.
Yet, there is still the possibility that a significant new landmark for African presence in the later stages may be set.
In no previous World Cup - a tournament with at least five starters from the Confederation of African football since 1998 - have more than two from the continent survived the group stage.
Ghana and Cameroon can set an improvement on that on Friday, although the Ghanaians, second in Group H, will target progress from a more promising position - in their highly-charged fixture against bottom-placed Uruguay - than Cameroon, who take on Brazil from third position in Group G.
Both nations have known, in previous generations, what it is to reach a quarter-final, as have Senegal, who will take on England for a place in the last eight on Sunday.
Significantly, the coaches of Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon have all experienced as players for those countries the anxieties of a make-or-break eliminator at a World Cup. Qatar 2022 is a rarity: Each of the five African countries arriving there are coached by a citizen of that country.
It’s a striking contrast with the first 32-team World Cup, in France in 1998, when all the African squads were managed by foreigners, reflecting a long-term habit of federations, and leading African clubs, to turn repeatedly to coaches from abroad, mostly from Europe.
In 2010, when the World Cup was hosted in Africa for the first and only time, there were two Swedes, a Frenchman, a Brazilian and a Serbian in charge of countries supposedly celebrating African football’s coming-of-age.
Senegal beat Ecuador to qualify for last 16
Ghana, managed in 2010 by Milovan Rajevac, at least thrived that year, reaching the quarter-finals, where they were cruelly knocked out when Uruguay’s Luis Suarez deliberately used his hand to prevent a match-winning shot from crossing the line. Suarez was sent off, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan failed to convert the subsequent penalty and Uruguay progressed via shoot-out.
Otto Addo, who as a player had been part of Ghana’s thrilling journey to the last 16 at the previous World Cup, was watching that night, as agonised as any Ghanaian. But speaking on Thursday as coach of Ghana, whose staff he joined from a management position at Borussia Dortmund, Addo defused the rancour around Suarez and Uruguay.
“I watched [the 2020 semi] and felt so sad,” he recalled, “but it’s about perspective. It’s normal for a player to do everything he can to be in a World Cup semi-final. For us, it’s not a big topic. We look forward.”
So does Aliou Cisse, the Senegal coach, who captained his country to the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup. In the last 11 months he has overseen his country’s first triumph at an Africa Cup of Nations and the successful negotiation, via wins over Qatar and Ecuador, of World Cup Group A.
His status as a player has a bearing on his current job, but so does his connection to the country, says Cisse. “If you don’t understand a country’s past, it’s difficult to talk about its future.” A hero from that past was made very present in the crucial win over Ecuador, tributes paid to Cisse’s former midfield partner Papa Bouba Diop, who died, aged 42, two years earlier. Cisse has also skilfully managed a major setback, the withdrawal with injury of Sadio Mane, on the eve of the tournament.
Meanwhile Rigobert Song, the former Cameroon captain who played in four World Cups, will deliver the rousing speech designed to make his players believe a victory against Brazil - which would need to be coupled with Switzerland dropping points against Serbia for Cameroon to progress - is possible. Song has made bold decisions in his short period as head coach, notably dropping star goalkeeper, Andre Onana, during this World Cup.
Beating Brazil looks a tall order. But this is already a World Cup of eye-catching results. Walid Regragui guided Morocco to a 2-0 defeat of Belgium and Jalel Kadri, of Tunisia, to Wednesday’s win over champions France. Africa’s own coaches have already made their mark in Qatar.
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The five pillars of Islam
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
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Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
