Nigeria upset the form book in 2013 to win a third Africa Cup of Nations after a 19-year wait, while Egypt’s Al Ahly extended their dominance at club level.
The Super Eagles further underlined their resurgence by qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil with Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Algeria.
At the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Ivory Coast’s so-called “Golden Generation”, led by the inspirational Didier Drogba, were again favourites to win a second trophy.
But Nigeria, who had struggled in the early stages of the competition and even failed to qualify for the 2012 edition, beat them 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
The Super Eagles went on to pip surprise finalists Burkina Faso 1-0 to be crowned champions 19 years after their last triumph in 1994.
“I have made true my dream to return Nigeria to the top,” Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said afterwards, as he became only the second person to win the tournament both as a player and coach.
The future also looked bright for Nigeria as the country’s junior team won a record fourth Fifa under-17 World Cup in November.
As in 1994, Nigeria will be at the World Cup finals as African champions.
The “Black Stars” of Ghana qualified for their third straight World Cup after a 7-3 aggregate win over Egypt, who again failed to reach football’s showpiece tournament.
Ghana were Africa’s most successful team at the 2010 edition after they reached the last eight, equalling the performance of Cameroon and Senegal in 1990 and 2002 respectively.
But they face a tough first round group in Brazil that includes Germany, the United States and Portugal.
“We have a good team and with proper preparation and support, we will make Africa proud in Brazil,” said Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah.
“We have the experience and youth having gained a lot of experience at the last two World Cups.”
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure meanwhile is poised to win a third straight Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Footballer of the Year on the back of his exploits with Manchester City.
The 30 year old is vying for the award with the likes of Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike and John Obi Mikel as well as Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan of Al Ain and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Gabon.
The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on January 9 in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
In Africa’s premier club competition, Egypt’s Al Ahly won their eighth CAF Champions League, defeating Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the final.
The legendary Mohamed Aboutrika scored in both legs of the final, foiling Pirates’ attempt to secure their second continental trophy after winning in 1995.
But they faced more experienced campaigners who knew what they needed to do to win.
In Africa’s second-tier competition, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia ended 2013 with their third CAF Confederation Cup after they edged past TP Mazembe of DR Congo 3-2 on aggregate.
Morocco also made history by becoming the first African country to host the 2013 Fifa Club World Cup, which had previously been hosted by Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
