<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="540" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-820x540.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-416165" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-820x540.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-300x198.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-137x90.jpg 137w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-768x506.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HQTINHRREJJEFL2NLDS4IMQVZM-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football &#8211; World Cup &#8211; African Qualifiers &#8211; Egypt v Senegal &#8211; Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt &#8211; March 25, 2022 Egypt&#8217;s Mohamed Salah in action with Senegal&#8217;s Nampalys Mendy REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



CAPE TOWN, March 30 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The final night of African qualifying for the World Cup produced high drama and upsets on Tuesday, though the continent&#8217;s line-up in Qatar will have a familiar look about it.



Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia participated at the last finals in Russia in 2018, while Cameroon and Ghana were at the finals four years before that.



Both Cameroon and Ghana produced unexpected away success to qualify, eliminating the more fancied Algeria and Nigeria.



Cameroon secured their place with the last kick of the match, deep in extra time in Blida, as Karl Toko Ekambi swept home a speculative cross.



It left Algeria, who were African champions in 2019 and had breezed through the earlier stages of the World Cup preliminaries, crestfallen.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL2N2VW2XS&amp;linkedFromStory=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full story</a>



“We were only 10 seconds away from the World Cup. We collapsed,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said after the 2-1 home loss.



“We put our lives on hold for this match and this success and we only had qualification on our minds. It is going to be hard to get through the next days.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2021/doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in/">Doubts hang over Cameroon Cup of Nations finals as CAF head flies in</a></h3>



Ghana profited from a goalkeeping error to also advance on the away goals rule, their 1-1 draw in Nigeria setting off rioting by home fans in Abuja.



“We had a bit of luck in a really tough match and had to fight our way through. But our defensive line was excellent,” said former international Otto Addo, appointed coach just one month ago.



Nigeria’s failure to qualify is likely to see wholesale changes to their football leadership. The team dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge and looked a spent force before the final whistle.



Senegal repeated their penalty shootout success over Egypt as Sadio Mane again got the better of his Liverpool team mate Mohamed Salah.



Dakar’s new stadium was filled to capacity hours before the clash which saw Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 for a 1-1 draw on aggregate after extra time.



That set up another shootout between the teams, some six weeks after Mane had netted the decisive kick to win the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.



He was again the talisman as he fired home to give Senegal a 3-1 shootout victory. Salah had put Egypt’s first effort well wide of goal.



Tunisia denied Mali a first World Cup finals appearance with a 1-0 aggregate triumph while Morocco enjoyed an emphatic 4-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Casablanca after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.



(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

FILE PHOTO: World Cup – African Qualifiers – Egypt v Senegal

Familiar look about Africa’s World Cup line-up

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-820x429.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-415689" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-820x429.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E-1536x804.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Athletics &#8211; Great CityGames Manchester 2015 &#8211; Manchester &#8211; 10/5/15 South Africa&#8217;s Stephen Mokoka finishes second in the men&#8217;s Morrisons Great Manchester Run Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers</figcaption></figure>



March 6 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Africa&#8217;s Stephen Mokoka, who had never run a 50km race before, broke the world record on home soil in Gqeberha on Sunday.



Mokoka, 37, crossed the finish line in two hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds, beating the record set by Ethiopian Ketema Bekele Negasa (2:42:07) at the same event last year.



&#8220;I&#8217;m tired,&#8221; Mokoka, a three-times Olympian, said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a long way and I don&#8217;t know how I&#8217;m going to feel later, but I enjoyed it.&#8221;



Ethiopia&#8217;s Amelework Fikadu Bosho dominated the women&#8217;s race to finish in a time of 3:04:58, nearly four minutes ahead of the rest but 34 seconds short of the world record.



(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

6JKVKNMVGFPFFCCA4PZCKJET4E

South Africa’s Mokoka breaks world record in first 50km race

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="493" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unnamed-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-415141" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unnamed-2.jpg 750w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unnamed-2-300x197.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unnamed-2-137x90.jpg 137w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption>Soccer Football &#8211; Africa Cup of Nations &#8211; Final &#8211; Senegal v Egypt &#8211; Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon &#8211; February 6, 2022Senegal&#8217;s Kalidou Koulibaly lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani</figcaption></figure>



DAKAR, Feb 6 (Reuters) &#8211; Senegal erupted in celebration on Sunday night after its soccer team overcame Egypt to win the Africa Cup of Nations, giving the West African country its first tournament win after decades of heartbreaking near misses.



Cheers, car horns and fireworks greeted the final whistle in the seaside capital Dakar after a hard-won victory in a penalty shootout that in an instant erased Senegal&#8217;s reputation as one of Africa&#8217;s underachieving footballing nations.



Thousands took to the streets. People waved flags from the sunroofs of speeding cars. Onlookers hugged and cried. Dozens ran onto a beach in a northern suburb, screaming to the night sky.



&#8220;Senegal has lost so many trophies in the final. This is a relief. Finally, we have it!&#8221; said Pape Malick Diba, a 31-year-old trader who danced with friends at a fanzone in Dakar where supporters struggled to see the screens through the crowds.



These were rare scenes of collective rapture for Senegalese soccer fans who have seen their fair share of sporting heartache, and who in the last two years have suffered the restrictions and economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Senegal lost to Algeria in the final of the last tournament in 2019, but entered this year&#8217;s competition as favourites.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-cameroon-latest-host-nation-to-fail-at-cup-of-nations">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2022/cameroon-latest-host-nation-to-fail-at-cup-of-nations/">Cameroon latest host nation to fail at Cup of Nations</a></h3>



Their squad is full of stars from some of Europe&#8217;s top clubs, most famously Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, who scored the winning penalty in Sunday&#8217;s shootout in Cameroon&#8217;s capital Yaounde after missing a chance from the spot during regular time.



The victory ends a storied history of tough losses. In 2002 Senegal narrowly missed the opportunity to become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, losing to Turkey in extra time. That year it also lost in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.



In the 2018 World Cup it was eliminated at the group stage under a new rule that penalised it for receiving more yellow cards than group rival Japan.



On Sunday those old memories were forgotten.



&#8220;Joy, tears, because it is a historic victory,&#8221; said Senegal President Macky Sall when asked for his reaction on national television.



&#8220;For 60 years our country has been seeking this. Well, we have done it today.&#8221; 



(Additional reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Chris Reese)

unnamed-2

Senegal in party mode after Africa Cup of Nations victory

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report-820x462.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-415102" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report-820x462.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report-768x433.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report.jpg 830w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Soccer Football &#8211; Africa Cup of Nations &#8211; Semi Final &#8211; Cameroon VS Egypt &#8211; Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon, February 3, 2022 Egypt&#8217;s Mohamed Salah in action REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany </figcaption></figure>



YAOUNDE, Feb 4 (Reuters) &#8211; Cameroon added their name to an increasingly long list of hosts who have failed at the Africa Cup of Nations, eliminated at the semi-final stage on Thursday on post-match penalties.



Not since 2006, when Egypt were hosts, has the home team been able to win the tournament as Cameroon stretched the unsuccessful sequence to eight successive tournaments as they bowed out.



Egypt beat them 3-1 on kicks following a goalless draw after extra time with coach Toni Conceicao admitting they had run out of steam and captain Vincent Aboubakar accusing his teammates of trying too much on their own.



&#8220;It&#8217;s a big disappointment, in football, you reap what you sow. We have a big team and every time we play as a team, we win,” Aboubakar said.



“In this game, everyone wanted to show what he was capable of and here is the pay off. Whenever we are collectively strong, we win but the moment everyone tries to do what they want, we miss out.”



The coach felt the side had run out of steam, playing a sixth game in 26 days and on a heavy pitch which sapped at the players&#8217; energy levels.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-tunisia-upset-nigeria-to-book-cup-of-nations-last-eight-place">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2022/tunisia-upset-nigeria-to-book-cup-of-nations-last-eight-place/">Tunisia upset Nigeria to book Cup of Nations last-eight place</a></h3>



“For 90 minutes the team played well and looked to score. We had some three to four chances without being able to score,” said Conceicao.



“In the second half, we started to have imbalances in the game and suffered fatigue. My team tried, but Egypt managed to control our offensive abilities and countered them. That&#8217;s why we were forced to penalties. This is the harsh reality of sport.”



Cameroon were also semi-final losers when they hosted the finals 50 years with the 1972 edition being won by Congo.



This year’s tournament has been overshadowed by a deadly stadium crush last week when Cameroon played their first knockout stage match, with eight killed people and seriously injured seven.



Thursday’s semi-final marked a first game back at the newly built Olembe Stadium, amid increased security and crowd control.



It will host Sunday’s final between Egypt and Senegal. 



(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Robert Birsel)

2022-02-04t063213z_1_lynxmpei13069_rtroptp_3_soccer-nations-cam-egy-report

Cameroon latest host nation to fail at Cup of Nations

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="756" height="426" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/soccer-8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414790" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/soccer-8.jpg 756w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/soccer-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/soccer-8-160x90.jpg 160w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" /><figcaption>Photo: via Reuters</figcaption></figure>



Jan 23 (Reuters) &#8211; Captain Youssef Msakni scored with a long-range shot to hand COVID-hit Tunisia an improbable 1-0 win over 10-man Nigeria in Garoua on Sunday to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.



He powered home a low shot from outside the penalty area two minutes into the second half to bundle Nigeria out of the tournament.



Nigeria had been the only side to win all three of their games in the group phase and were overwhelming favourites as Tunisia battled without seven players, who were isolating because of COVID-19.



But Tunisia, who also had to do without coach Mondher Kebaier because of COVID-19, advanced to meet Burkina Faso in next Saturday’s quarter-final in Garoua.



There were few chances in the game with Tunisia producing a stout defensive performance and looking for counter attacking opportunities.



Nigeria were unable to get any flow to their play, despite having beaten Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau in their earlier games.



They were reduced to 10 men when Alex Iwobi was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the 66th minute, seven minutes after coming on.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2021/doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in/">Doubts hang over Cameroon Cup of Nations finals as CAF head flies in</a></h3>



The referee originally handed him a caution but was encouraged to review the sanction on the pitchside VAR screen, before changing his mind and sending Iwobi off.



The 31-year-old Msakni, competing in his seventh Cup of Nations finals but starting his first match of the tournament, was given time to line up his shot and it swerved to catch out the Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who only managed to get a hand to it.



“We got punished for one mistake,” said Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen.



“Alex should not have been given a red card but the referee saw it differently. But congratulations to Tunisia.”



It was a remarkable turnaround for the north Africans, who had lost two of their three opening round games, including an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to tiny Gambia three days ago.



They managed to get some players back out of isolation ahead of Sunday’s match but assistant coach Jalel Kadri had to take over for the game.



Nigeria threw players forward near the end and substitute Umar Sadiq might well have forced a stoppage-time equaliser but his effort went agonisingly wide of the goal. 



(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)

soccer-8

Tunisia upset Nigeria to book Cup of Nations last-eight place

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="564" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-820x564.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414644" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-820x564.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-300x206.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-131x90.jpg 131w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-768x528.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-1536x1056.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RSTJDIYXDVJ5TEEAJSOOAQMAYI-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic walks in Melbourne Airport before boarding a flight, after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa to play in the Australian Open, in Melbourne, Australia, January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott</figcaption></figure>



SYDNEY, Jan 17 (Reuters) &#8211; Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has left the door open for Novak Djokovic to compete at next year&#8217;s Australian Open despite the tennis superstar facing an automatic three-year ban from entering the country.



The world number one player left Australia late on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country&#8217;s COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status.



Under immigration law, Djokovic cannot be granted another visa for three years unless Australia&#8217;s immigration minister accepts there are compelling or compassionate reasons.



&#8220;I&#8217;m not going to precondition any of that or say anything that would not enable the minister to make the various calls he has to make,&#8221; Morrison told 2GB radio on Monday as Djokovic was en route to Dubai.



&#8220;It does go over a three-year period, but there is the opportunity for (a person) to return in the right circumstances, and that will be considered at the time.&#8221;



The unanimous ruling by a three-judge Federal Court bench dealt a final blow to Djokovic&#8217;s hopes of chasing a record 21st Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, dismaying his family and supporters.



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/key-moments-novak-djokovics-australian-saga-2022-01-14">In a rollercoaster ride, the world&#8217;s top men&#8217;s player was first detained by immigration authorities on Jan</a>. 6, ordered released by a court on Jan. 10 and then detained again on Saturday pending Sunday&#8217;s court hearing.



Djokovic, 34, said he was extremely disappointed by the ruling but he respected the court&#8217;s decision.



&#8220;I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and the tournament I love,&#8221; Djokovic said in a statement before flying out of Melbourne.



The player was filmed by Reuters wearing a mask and taking selfies with fans at the arrival gate in Dubai as he waited for his entourage to follow him off the plane.



Djokovic was escorted by airline staff on a terminal buggy to the departure gate for a flight a few hours later to Belgrade, where he checked in alone.



The saga caused a row between Canberra and Belgrade, with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic calling the court decision &#8220;scandalous&#8221;.



Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday that she and Morrison had been in touch with Brnabic during the legal process last week.



&#8220;I am absolutely confident that the very positive relationship, bilateral relationship between Australia and Serbia will continue on the strong footing that it currently enjoys,&#8221; Payne told reporters.



Immigration Minister Alex Hawke had said Djokovic could be a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amidst Australia&#8217;s worst coronavirus outbreak.



The Federal Court judges noted their ruling was based on the lawfulness and legality of the minister&#8217;s decision, but did not address &#8220;the merits or wisdom&#8221; of the decision. They have yet to release the full reasoning behind their decision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-political-touchstone">POLITICAL TOUCHSTONE</h2>



The Serbian tennis player&#8217;s visa troubles fuelled global debate over the rights of people who decline to get vaccinated as governments take measures to protect people from the two-year pandemic.



Djokovic had been granted a visa to enter Australia, with a COVID-19 infection on Dec. 16 providing the basis for a medical exemption from Australia&#8217;s requirements that all visitors be vaccinated. The exemption was organised via Tennis Australia and the Victoria state government.



That exemption prompted widespread anger in Australia, which has undergone some of the world&#8217;s toughest COVID-19 lockdowns and where more than 90% of adults are vaccinated.



The controversy became a political touchstone for Morrison as he prepares for an election due by May, amid wrangling over responsibility between his centre-right federal coalition government and the centre-left Victoria state government.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2022/australian-government-cancels-djokovic-visa-again/">Djokovic races to avert deportation after Australia cancels visa again</a></h3>



Morrison on Monday defended his handling of the situation and differentiated Djokovic&#8217;s case from vaccine sceptics within his own government.



&#8220;If you’re someone coming from overseas, and there are conditions for you to enter this country, then you have to comply with them,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is about someone who sought to come to Australia and not comply with the entry rules at our border.&#8221;



The men&#8217;s tennis governing body ATP said the decision &#8220;marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events&#8221;, adding it respected the decision, a comment echoed by Tennis Australia.



On the tennis circuit, fellow players have become impatient for the media circus to end.



&#8220;The situation has not been good all round for anyone. It feels everything here happened extremely last minute and that&#8217;s why it became such a mess,&#8221; said former world number one Andy Murray.



(Reporting By Jane Wardell; editing by Diane Craft and Michael Perry)

Novak Djokovic federal court hearing, in Melbourne

Australia leaves door open for Djokovic to play at next year’s Open

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-820x429.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414640" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-820x429.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM-1536x804.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Tennis &#8211; Australian Open &#8211; Third Round &#8211; Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia &#8211; January 24, 2020 Serbia&#8217;s Novak Djokovic in action during the match against Japan&#8217;s Yoshihito Nishioka REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach</figcaption></figure>



MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) &#8211; Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic said in a statement on Sunday that he was &#8220;extremely disappointed&#8221; with the decision to cancel his visa to enter Australia, but would cooperate with the authorities in relation to his departure from the country.



The Serbian champion said he hoped the focus would now return to tennis and the Australian Open Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne on Monday.



Djokovic had appealed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke&#8217;s decision to cancel his visa on the grounds that he was a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amid Australia&#8217;s worst COVID-19 outbreak.



&#8220;I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this,&#8221; the 34-year-old said in a statement after the court dismissed his case.



&#8220;I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister&#8217;s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open.



&#8220;I respect the Court&#8217;s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-all-to-play-for-as-djokovic-returns-to-immigration-detention-hotel">Read more: <a href="http://All to play for as Djokovic returns to immigration detention hotel">All to play for as Djokovic returns to immigration detention hotel</a></h3>



Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, was granted a medical exemption to compete at the Melbourne Park major, a tournament he has won nine times including the last three editions.



His fate was finally decided after a rollercoaster 10 days that saw him detained by authorities, released and then detained again ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.



Rafa Nadal, who is tied with Djokovic on 20 major titles, said &#8220;too many questions&#8221; still needed to be answered concerning the Serb&#8217;s bid to play the tournament, while other leading players lamented how Slam has been overshadowed by the saga.



&#8220;I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love,&#8221; Djokovic said, while also thanking those that supported him.



&#8220;I would like to wish the players, tournament officials, staff, volunteers and fans all the best for the tournament.&#8221;



(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney and Sudipto Ganguly, editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

CVUT356AAZKPRMYXXZVYNLEZWM

Djokovic ‘extremely disappointed’ with cancellation of visa

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414634" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Z733RVUVYNJXZFLYDZLX3ZD654-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, January 11, 2022. Kelly Defina/Pool via REUTERS</figcaption></figure>



MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) &#8211; Clinging to his dream of winning a record 21st major title at the Australian Open, tennis world number one Novak Djokovic returned to an all too familiar immigration detention hotel on Saturday, waiting for a court to decide if he should be deported.



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-tennis-australia-djokovic-hotel-idUKKBN2JH0LO">Djokovic arrived at Melbourne&#8217;s Park Hotel</a> around 3:30 pm (0430 GMT), according to a Reuters witness. It is the same immigration detention hotel where the unvaccinated Serbian superstar was held last week over visa problems related to a COVID-19 medical exemption.



About a dozen refugee activists chanted &#8220;stop the torture &#8230; let them out&#8221; as Djokovic and Border Force guards drove into the underground garage of the hotel, which is also being used to hold 33 asylum seekers and travellers in COVID-19 quarantine.



A man cycling past the hotel shouted: &#8220;Go home, Novak!&#8221;



A Border Force spokesperson confirmed that Djokovic has been detained.



The saga that has dominated headlines worldwide for the past week could climax on Sunday, when a Federal Court convenes to hear the 34-year-old&#8217;s appeal against the Australian government&#8217;s second attempt to boot him out.



The tournament, which Djokovic has won nine times previously, starts on Monday.



The build-up has been virtually eclipsed by the controversy over Djokovic&#8217;s visa, his treatment by immigration officials, and the government&#8217;s handling of the case.



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/novak-djokovics-bid-stay-australia-goes-before-courts-2022-01-09">Detained on arrival Djokovic spent his first four nights in hotel detention</a> before a judge freed him on Monday after finding a decision to cancel his visa on arrival had been unreasonable.



Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled Djokovic&#8217;s visa again on Friday night, prompting another appeal by the star player&#8217;s lawyers.



Court documents released after an initial hearing in the Federal Court on Saturday showed the minister had justified his decision on the grounds that Djokovic&#8217;s presence could whip up more anti-vaccination sentiment in Australia at a time that the country is in the midst of its worst outbreak of the virus.



&#8220;Although I&#8230; accept that Mr Djokovic poses a negligible individual risk of transmitting COVID-19 to other persons, I nonetheless consider that his presence may be a risk to the health of the Australian community,&#8221; Hawke said in a letter to Djokovic and his legal team.



This explanation in Djokovic&#8217;s affidavit was more detailed than the brief statement Hawke released on Friday, saying his decision was based on &#8220;health and good order grounds&#8221;.



Justice David O&#8217;Callaghan set a hearing on Djokovic&#8217;s appeal for 9:30 a.m. Sunday (2230 GMT Saturday). Three judges will hear the appeal and their decision will be final, the court said.



Djokovic&#8217;s lawyers said they would argue deportation would only further fan anti-vaccine sentiment and would be as much a threat to disorder and public health as letting him stay.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-locker-room-rumblings">LOCKER ROOM RUMBLINGS</h2>



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/players-tired-djokovic-circus-de-minaur-2022-01-15">Djokovic&#8217;s leading rivals have become increasingly impatient</a> with the uncertainty hanging over the draw and the cloud hanging over their sport.



&#8220;Honestly I&#8217;m little bit tired of the situation because I just believe that it&#8217;s important to talk about our sport, about tennis,&#8221; Spaniard Rafa Nadal, who is tied on 20 major titles with Djokovic, told reporters at Melbourne Park, where the event will be played.



German Alexander Zverev, the world number three, said Djokovic had been treated unfairly and that the Serb might have been used as a political pawn by Australian authorities, something Canberra has denied.



&#8220;This is obviously not a nice thing for everyone, for him especially. But don&#8217;t question his legacy because of this,&#8221; Zverev said.



A Croatian tennis coach, who was among a handful of visitors granted a medical exemption for the Australian Open, told The Australian newspaper he had to leave the country because Djokovic had become a political target.



&#8220;Nobody can get politically stronger using my name, but Djokovic is such a high-profile player – that is why all of this is happening,&#8221; Filip Serdarusic, the brother and coach of world number 246 Nino Serdarusic, was quoted as saying from Zagreb.



Djokovic&#8217;s medical exemption from vaccine requirements to play the Open prompted widespread anger in Australia, which has undergone some the world&#8217;s toughest COVID-19 lockdowns and where more than 90% of adults are vaccinated, but hospitalisation rates continue to hit record highs.



With global scientists and policymakers focussed on vaccinating as many people as possible to end the pandemic, the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/djokovics-australian-visa-row-fuels-vaccination-debate-serbia-2022-01-12">refusal of Djokovic to get the jab has fuelled the anti-vaccination movement</a>, especially in his native Serbia and surrounding countries.



The controversy over the tennis player has become a political touchstone for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he prepares for an election due by May.



His government has won support at home for its tough stance on border security during the pandemic, but it has faced criticism for its handling of Djokovic&#8217;s visa application.



Djokovic, who is scheduled to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovi in the first round of the Open, is hunting a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title. He could still withdraw and leave Australia of his own accord rather than suffer the humiliation of being deported.



&#8220;Australian Open is much more important than any player,&#8221; said Nadal, whom Djokovic considers his greatest rival.



&#8220;If he&#8217;s playing finally, OK. If he&#8217;s not playing, Australian Open will be great &#8230; with or without him.&#8221;



(Reporting by Sonali Paul, Sudipto Ganguly, Ian Ransom and Kirsty Needham; additional reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Leela de Kretser, Daniel Wallis and William Mallard)

Novak Djokovic practices on court ahead of 2022 Australian Open

All to play for as Djokovic returns to immigration detention hotel

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="545" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-820x545.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414624" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-820x545.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/F3C3RZZKIRL27BU25PC4RVLJ3A-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park as questions remain over the legal battle regarding his visa to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott</figcaption></figure>



MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) &#8211; Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic on Friday asked an Australian court to block his deportation ahead of the Australian Open after the government cancelled his visa for the second time over COVID-19 entry regulations.



The government nevertheless ordered that he return to pre-deportation detention at 8 a.m. (2100 GMT Friday) on Saturday, albeit with permission to meet his lawyers at their offices.



Djokovic&#8217;s legal team submitted their request for an injunction late at night, less than three hours after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used discretionary powers to revoke the visa.



The world tennis number one, bidding for a record 21st Grand Slam trophy in defending his Australian title, had been told on arrival on Jan. 5 that his visa, granted on the basis of a medical exemption from a vaccination requirement for visitors, was invalid.



The 34-year-old Serbian spent several days in immigration detention, in a hotel also used for asylum-seekers, before that decision was revoked on procedural grounds.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-tennis-star-djokovic-wins-court-battle-to-stay-in-australia">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2022/novak-djokovic-to-be-released-from-detention-as-australian-judge-revokes-visa-cancellation/">Tennis star Djokovic wins court battle to stay in Australia</a></h3>



Hawke said on Friday that he had &#8220;exercised my power under Section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so&#8221;.



Under Section 133C, Djokovic would not be able to secure a visa to Australia for three years, except in compelling circumstances.



Judge Anthony Kelly said the government had agreed not to deport Djokovic before the case concluded.



The player&#8217;s legal team said Hawke had argued that allowing Djokovic to stay would excite anti-vaccination sentiment.



Although Djokovic has publicly opposed compulsory vaccination, he has not campaigned against vaccination in general, and his lawyers called Hawke&#8217;s decision &#8220;patently irrational&#8221;. They said they hoped their challenge could be heard by Sunday, the day before the tournament starts.



The controversy has intensified a global debate over the rights of the unvaccinated, and become a tricky political issue for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he campaigns for an election due by May.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;MANY SACRIFICES&#8217;</h2>



While Morrison&#8217;s government has won support at home for its tough stance on border security during the pandemic, it has not escaped criticism for the seemingly inconsistent handling of Djokovic&#8217;s visa application.



&#8220;Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected,&#8221; Morrison said in a statement.



&#8220;This is what the minister is doing in taking this action today. Our strong border protection policies have kept Australians safe,&#8221; he said.



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/australian-open-draw-delayed-djokovic-visa-decision-awaited-2022-01-13">Djokovic was included in the draw </a>as top seed and due to face fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday in his opening match.



Looking relaxed, he had practised serves and returns with his entourage on an empty court at Melbourne Park earlier on Friday, occasionally resting to wipe sweat from his face.



Hawke said he had carefully considered information from Djokovic and Australian authorities, adding the government was &#8220;firmly committed to protecting Australia&#8217;s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic&#8221;.



Australia has endured some of the world&#8217;s longest lockdowns, has a 90% vaccination rate among adults, and has seen a runaway Omicron outbreak bring nearly a million cases in the last two weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;NOT GREAT&#8217;</h2>



Greek world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas, speaking before Hawke&#8217;s decision, said Djokovic was &#8220;playing by his own rules&#8221; and making vaccinated players &#8220;look like fools&#8221;.



British star Andy Murray told reporters at the Sydney Classic tournament that the situation was &#8220;not great for the tennis, not great for the Australian Open, not great for Novak&#8221;.



An online poll by the News Corp media group found that 83% favoured deportation for Djokovic.



&#8220;Scott Morrison made the rational decision to send the wealthy tennis star home after calculating the enormous political cost of giving him special treatment,&#8221; wrote David Crowe, chief political correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and Age newspapers.



Anti-vaxxers have hailed Djokovic as a hero while his family and the Serbian government have portrayed him as a victim of persecution.



In Belgrade, some appeared resigned to Djokovic missing the tournament.



&#8220;He is a role model to all of us, but rules must clearly be set,&#8221; Milan Majstorovic told Reuters TV. &#8220;I am unsure how big the involvement of the politics is in that.&#8221;



Another passer-by, Ana Bojic, said: &#8220;He can either vaccinate to remain world number one &#8211; or he can be stubborn and end his career.&#8221;



Djokovic&#8217;s cause was not helped by an incorrect entry declaration, where a box was ticked stating he had not travelled abroad in the two weeks before leaving for Australia.



In fact, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/djokovic-travelled-across-europe-before-australia-trip-odds-with-declaration-2022-01-11">he had travelled between Spain and Serbia</a>.



Djokovic blamed the error on his agent and acknowledged he also should not have done an interview and photoshoot for a French newspaper on Dec. 18 while infected with COVID-19.



(Reporting by Sonali Paul, Kirsty Needham and Ian Ransom in Melbourne and Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade; Writing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel and Kevin Liffey Editing by Gareth Jones)

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic practices at Melbourne Park as questions remain over the legal battle regarding his visa to play in the Australian Open

Djokovic races to avert deportation after Australia cancels visa again

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="558" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4-820x558.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414497" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4-820x558.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4-132x90.jpg 132w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4-768x522.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>A supporter of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rallies outside the Park Hotel, where the star athlete is believed to be held while he stays in Australia, in Melbourne, Australia, January 7, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



MELBOURNE, Jan 10 (Reuters) &#8211; World number one Novak Djokovic was released from Australian immigration detention on Monday after winning a court challenge to remain in the country to pursue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title at the upcoming Australian Open.



Judge Anthony Kelly ruled the federal government&#8217;s decision last week to revoke the tennis star&#8217;s visa was &#8220;unreasonable&#8221; and ordered Djokovic be released.



News of the ruling was greeted with noisy celebrations of drum beating and dancing by a group of around 50 supporters, many draped in the Serbian flag, outside the Melbourne court.



Lawyers for the federal government, however, indicated the fight may not be over, telling the court Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was reserving the right to exercise his personal power to again revoke Djokovic&#8217;s visa.



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After confirming that such a step, if taken, would bar 34-year-old Djokovic from the country for three years, Kelly warned the government lawyers that &#8220;the stakes have now risen, rather than receded.&#8221;



Hawke&#8217;s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.



Djokovic&#8217;s plight has been closely followed around the world, creating diplomatic tensions between Belgrade and Canberra and sparking heated debate over national vaccination rules.



Kelly also ordered the federal government pay legal costs for Djokovic, who spent several days in an immigration detention hotel, noting that his lawyers argued his &#8220;personal and professional reputation and his economic interests may be directly affected&#8221;.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SLEEPLESS NIGHT IN BELGRADE</h2>



Djokovic, who was present in his lawyers&#8217; chambers for the hearing, did not immediately appear in public or make a statement after the ruling. The Australian Open starts on Jan. 17.



&#8220;It was a sleepless night for the family,&#8221; his brother, Djordje Djokovic, told Belgrade&#8217;s TV Prva. &#8220;Novak showed his perseverance and trust in himself. He showed he&#8217;s a great man.&#8221;



However, Djordje Djokovic said the family was concerned at the potential his brother would again be detained and ordered to leave Australia.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in">Read more: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2021/doubts-hang-over-cameroon-cup-of-nations-finals-as-caf-head-flies-in/">Doubts hang over Cameroon Cup of Nations finals as CAF head flies in</a></h3>



Kelly said he had quashed the government decision to block Djokovic&#8217;s entry to Australia because the player was not given enough time to speak to tennis organisers and lawyers to respond fully after he was notified of the intent to cancel his visa.



Kelly noted that officials at Melbourne&#8217;s airport made the player switch off his phone from midnight until around 7.42 a.m. local time, when the decision to cancel his visa because of problems with his medical exemption was made.



Officials also reneged on an agreement to give Djokovic until 8.30 a.m. to speak to tournament organiser Tennis Australia and lawyers, the judge said.



Djokovic was instead woken up by officials at around 6.00 a.m. after a brief rest and said he felt pressured to respond. The player, a long-term vocal opponent of mandatory vaccination, told border officials he was unvaccinated and had had COVID-19 twice, according to a transcript of the interview.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MEDICAL EXEMPTION</h2>



Kelly earlier told the court it appeared Djokovic had sought and received the required medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination on the basis that he had contracted the virus last month. He had presented evidence of this before he travelled to Melbourne and when he landed on Wednesday evening.



&#8220;What more could this man have done?&#8221; Kelly said.



Kelly&#8217;s ruling did not directly address the issue of whether the exemption on the grounds of an infection in the past six months was valid, which the government had disputed.



Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/australian-open-chief-says-conflicting-changing-advice-led-djokovic-fiasco-2022-01-09">earlier that his organisation had spoken with federal and state officials for months to ensure the safe passage of players</a>. Tennis Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



It was not immediately clear if the ruling would affect<a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tennis-player-voracova-left-australia-after-visa-issues-czech-foreign-ministry-2022-01-08"> Czech player Renata Voracova</a>, who was detained in the same detention hotel as Djokovic after having her visa revoked after issues with her vaccine exemption. Voracova left the country on Friday without challenging her status, the Czech Foreign Ministry said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">POLITICAL BACKLASH</h2>



Djokovic&#8217;s case had caused anger in Australia, where more than 90% of the adult population is double vaccinated and public opinion has been largely against the player.



Emotions run particularly high in Melbourne, which experienced the world&#8217;s longest cumulative lockdown.



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/australia-covid-19-infections-hit-1-million-omicron-drives-record-surge-2022-01-09">The country&#8217;s COVID-19 cases surpassed 1 million on Monday</a>, with more than half of them recorded in the past week, driving up hospitalisation numbers, straining supply chains and overloading testing facilities.



Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd accused current leader Scott Morrison&#8217;s centre-right coalition government of bungling the situation.



&#8220;Total incompetence! If they seriously didn&#8217;t want him, why on earth did they give him a visa to fly here?&#8221; Rudd said. &#8220;This was conceived as one giant distraction strategy when out in the real world people can&#8217;t get tested.&#8221;



The saga kicked off when Djokovic posted a photo of himself leaning on his luggage on Instagram last Tuesday, telling the world he was headed to Australia to compete in the Open with a vaccination exemption.



(Reporting by Sonali Paul and Ian Ransom, additional reporting by Byron Kaye, Cordelia Hsu, Loren Elliott and John Mair; Writing by Jane Wardell; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Alex Richardson)

OTSBGC5BZFK67LHZKURL2G3AI4

Tennis star Djokovic wins court battle to stay in Australia

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-414290" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1234735619-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Patrice Motsepe, CAF President, delivers his introductory speech during the draw ceremony for the 2022 African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Yaounde, Cameroon, on August 17, 2021. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



YAOUNDE, Dec 20 (Reuters) &#8211; The fate of January&#8217;s African Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon hung in the balance on Monday on concerns over the country&#8217;s readiness to host the tournament, as Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe flew in to Yaounde for talks.



A CAF executive committee meeting on Sunday resolved to go ahead with the 24-team event only if Motsepe was able to secure guarantees from Cameroon over its readiness.



Concerns have been voiced over a lack of organisation, incomplete building work and the threat of coronavirus outbreaks among the large number of players and staff set to descend on the under-resourced country in the next few weeks.



Several members of the committee called for the tournament to be postponed, insiders have told Reuters, but the majority voted for Motsepe to make an emergency trip to engage with the Cameroon government.



&#8220;We are clear in terms of our commitment to make the Afcon a success in Cameroon, and I’m confident after our meetings today and tomorrow we can come out of here and give Africa and the world the confidence,&#8221; Motsepe told reporters in Yaounde on Monday.



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Last week CAF sent its general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba to urge the speedy completion of building work at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, scheduled to host the opening game on Jan. 9 and the final on Feb. 6.



But Sunday’s executive committee meeting was told there was a major risk of the tournament failing, with construction work incomplete after contractors were not paid, with insufficient accommodation and training facilities for the 24 teams, and with several key organisational staff quitting.



Cameroon was originally awarded the hosting of the 2019 finals but the tournament was switched to Egypt when CAF found the central African country was not ready. Cameroon was then handed the 2021 tournament, which has since been delayed by 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



CAF said last week that it would be importing its own laboratory, bypassing local healthcare facilities, to test players during the tournament.



Clubs in Europe, where most of the players in the tournament play regularly, are concerned over the healthcare arrangements as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly. 



(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

FBL-AFR-CAN-2022-DRAW

Doubts hang over Cameroon Cup of Nations finals as CAF head flies in

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="583" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/download-27.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-413756" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/download-27.jpg 800w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/download-27-300x219.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/download-27-123x90.jpg 123w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/download-27-768x560.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>FIFA PHOTO: President Gianni Infantino visits Venezuela &#8211; Universidad central de Venezuela stadium &#8211; Caracas, Venezuela &#8211; October 15, 2021 FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends a news conference. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria</figcaption></figure>



CAIRO, Nov 26 (Reuters) &#8211; FIFA president Gianni Infantino accused those opposed to altering the frequency of the World Cup to every two years of being scared of change and wanting to keep their elevated status in the game as Africa on Friday backed the plans.



In a veiled dig at confederations in Europe and South America, who have come out against the plan to change the current four-year-cycle, Infantino said they did not want things to change because they were at the top of the sport.



He was speaking at the Confederation of African Football congress in Cairo, where African countries on Friday unanimously voted for a resolution backing his plan to change the hosting of the World Cup to every two years.



“Those who are against it are those at the top. It happens in every sector of life when there are reforms and changes, those who are at the top don&#8217;t want anything to change because they are at the top,” said Infantino.



“And they are afraid maybe that if something changes, their leadership position is at risk.



“We understand that and we compliment and applaud them for having been so successful in reaching the top. This is fantastic, and they are an example for everyone.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-more-asian-and-european-countries-alarmed-by-new-covid-variant-tighten-curbs">Read more: <a href="ore: Asian and European countries, alarmed by new COVID variant, tighten curbs">Asian and European countries, alarmed by new COVID variant, tighten curbs</a></h3>



“But at the same time, we cannot close the door, we need to keep the door open, we need to give hope and opportunities,” he added.



Infantino insisted increasing the frequency of the hosting of FIFA’s flagship event would offer more opportunities to countries outside of the top tier of the world game.



“We need to offer more chances for world football, for African football to shine at the world stage.”



Infantino said he would continue to consult opinion on his proposal but gave no timeline for its possible implementation.



UEFA has said a new schedule would have an adverse impact on the balance between local, domestic, continental, and international competitions.



CONMEBOL, the South American body, said the project &#8220;turns its back on almost 100 years of world football tradition&#8221;.



The World Cup will increase its number of finalists from 32 to 48 at the 2026 edition, which is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. 



(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Giles Elgood and Toby Davis)

download-27

Soccer-Infantino says those opposed to World Cup change scared

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="578" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY-820x578.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-413082" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY-820x578.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY-300x212.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY-128x90.jpg 128w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY-768x542.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>South Africa&#8217;s Quinton de Kock in action in a Twenty20 match against England at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa, November 27, 2020 REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



Oct 28 (Reuters) &#8211; Quinton de Kock has apologised for pulling out of Tuesday&#8217;s Twenty20 World Cup match against the West Indies after rejecting a Cricket South Africa (CSA) directive that players must &#8220;take a knee&#8221; in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the game.



De Kock, who has revealed he has mixed race family, said he meant no disrespect and &#8220;would love nothing more than to play cricket for my country again&#8221; in a statement released via CSA on Thursday.



&#8220;I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example,&#8221; De Kock said.



&#8220;If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so.



&#8220;I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone. I&#8217;m deeply sorry for all the hurt, confusion and anger that I have caused.&#8221;



De Kock says his change of heart came after the players had a meeting with the CSA board on Wednesday evening.



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&#8220;I was raised to understand that we all have rights, and they are important. I felt like my rights were taken away when I was told what we had to do in the way that we were told.



&#8220;Since our chat with the board, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions. I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided.&#8221;



De Kock also revealed for the first time that he is from a mixed race family.



&#8220;My half-sisters are Coloured and my step mum is Black. For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement.&#8221;



The wicketkeeper-batsman hopes to return to the team for Saturday’s third group game against Sri Lanka.



&#8220;I love every one of my teammates, and I love nothing more than playing cricket for South Africa. I just want to thank my teammates for their support, especially my captain, Temba (Bavuma).



&#8220;The Proteas men’s team has agreed to align and unify in taking the knee for the remaining fixtures of the World Cup,&#8221; it said in a statement.



&#8220;Cricket South Africa welcomes all of these developments.&#8221;



(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Chopra, Robert Birsel)

K6L5EUVSZRP25EQP2L2NXDVCZY

De Kock apologises for BLM snub, says he will take a knee in future

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-412948" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1347939331-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>AUSTIN, TEXAS &#8211; OCTOBER 21: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 21, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Sutton &#8211; Pool/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Oct 21 (Reuters) &#8211; Seven times Formula One world champion Lewis&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;on Thursday welcomed the sport&#8217;s expansion in the United States but called also for a return to South Africa.



Formula One last raced at the Kyalami circuit, north of Johannesburg, in 1993 but there have been talks about a return.



Chloe Targett-Adams, the sport&#8217;s head of race promotion, said in February that racing in Africa L4N2KV3ZH was a priority.



Miami is meanwhile scheduled to become the second U.S. race next year, along with Austin, Texas, and there has been talk of an eventual third grand prix in Las Vegas.



&#8220;The place that I really feel is dear to my heart and most important for me is to get a race back in South Africa,&#8221;&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;told reporters at Austin&#8217;s Circuit of the Americas ahead of Sunday&#8217;s grand prix.



&#8220;I think there&#8217;s a great following out there and it would be great to be able to highlight just how beautiful the motherland is,&#8221; added the sport&#8217;s only Black driver.



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Formula One last week published a record 23-race calendar L4N2RB2R7 for next year, with Miami in May and Austin in October.



&#8220;The U.S. Grand Prix is fantastic and it is such a huge country, having just one race here for sure isn&#8217;t enough to really be able to tap into the sporting culture here,&#8221; said&nbsp;Hamilton.



&#8220;I think definitely you need to have at least two. But there are so many great cities to have a grand prix. Miami is incredible as is Austin. I don&#8217;t know about the next one but I&#8217;m not opposed to that.&#8221;



Ferrari&#8217;s Charles Leclerc, who joined&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;in the round of driver press conferences, said he would also like to see three U.S. races in future.



&#8220;I think Formula One is getting bigger and bigger in the last years thanks to the Netflix season here and I can definitely feel it and see it,&#8221; he said, referring to the popular &#8216;Drive to Survive&#8217; documentary series.



&#8220;It&#8217;s great to be here and I would be very happy to have a third race here. And I agree with Lewis on Africa in general.&#8221; 



(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)

F1 Grand Prix of USA – Previews

F1 champ Lewis Hamilton wants Formula 1 return to Johannesburg

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="580" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY-820x580.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-412839" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY-820x580.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY-300x212.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY-127x90.jpg 127w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY-768x543.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Athletics &#8211; World Athletics Championships &#8211; Doha 2019 &#8211; Women&#8217;s 10,000 Metres &#8211; Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar &#8211; September 29, 2019 Bronze medalist Kenya&#8217;s Agnes Jebet Tirop during the medal ceremony</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, Oct 18 (Reuters) &#8211; A Kenyan court on Monday allowed police to hold the husband of long distance runner Agnes Tirop for 20 days over her killing, the KTN News channel reported.



Tirop&#8217;s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was arraigned on suspicion of her murder during his first appearance before the court in the Rift Valley town of Iten, close to the home they shared.



Police told the court they would use the time to complete investigations and to carry out tests on the suspect to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial.



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Detectives arrested Rotich on Thursday in the coastal city of Mombasa, saying he was trying to flee the country. Neither Rotich, nor his representatives, have made any public comments on the case.



Tirop was found dead the month after she broke the women&#8217;s 10-km world record in Germany.



On Oct. 3, Tirop finished second in the Giants Geneva 10K race. She claimed bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships in the 10,000 metre race, and won the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. 



(Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Alison Williams and Andrew Heavens)

A2VKCVUXDBNIRKQAZVX2IYUOQY

Husband in court over killing of Kenyan athlete Tirop

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="582" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-820x582.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-411703" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-820x582.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-300x213.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-127x90.jpg 127w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-768x545.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-1536x1090.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1075385446-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>TOPSHOT &#8211; This picture shows the trophy prior to the draw of the Confederation of African Football&#8217;s (CAF) Confederation cup at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cairo on December 28, 2018. (Photo by MOHAMED EL-SHAHED / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



CAIRO, Aug 26 (Reuters) &#8211; The Confederation of African Football has appealed to the British government to grant exemptions to African footballers who are hoping to return to their home countries next week to compete in World Cup qualifiers.



The call follows the collective decision by the clubs of Premier League to refuse to release players headed to countries on the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 ‘red list’ because of the quarantine measures they would face on their return from international duty.



“CAF, on behalf of all African member associations, African players and fans, has urged the British Government to urgently provide the required exemptions to enable African players to compete for their countries in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers,” said a statement.



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“CAF notes that similar exemptions were granted by the British Government to enable the attendance of delegations and officials, among others, at the finals of the European Championship held less than two months ago.



“It is further noted that the circumstances in the African countries on the red list in many cases are in fact less severe than other countries not currently on this list or for which exemptions were previously provided.”



There are 25 African countries on the ‘red list’, which is expected to be updated on Thursday.



CAF said all next month’s World Cup qualifiers in Africa, which will be played from Wednesday Sept. 1 through to Tuesday Sept. 7, would be under strict health conditions.



“The upcoming matches will be delivered under the strict protocols developed by FIFA and applied across the world, as was the case in previous windows and continental tournaments successfully delivered without any incidents.



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“These protocols have now proven beyond a doubt that they mitigate the risks involved, reflecting the success of commensurate protocols applied domestically in England and other parts of the world.



“In light of the above, CAF has appealed as a matter of urgency, to the Football Association (FA) and the British Government that the same treatment previously applied to Europe now be extended to Africa under the principles of solidarity and equal treatment,” the statement added.



It followed a similar appeal for solidarity on Wednesday from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose organisation had previously allowed clubs to refuse call-ups to players who face quarantine on return for international assignments but cancelled that temporary ruling in June. 



(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Giles Elgood)

TOPSHOT-FBL-AFR-C2-DRAW

African football urges UK to give footballers travel exemption

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-410845" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-120x80.jpg 120w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1331379604-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>TOKYO, JAPAN &#8211; JULY 30: Gold medalist Tatjana Schoenmaker of Team South Africa celebrates after the medal ceremony for the Women&#8217;s 200m Breaststroke Final on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) &#8211; Ryan Murphy lost the second of his Rio backstroke titles to Russian Evgeny Rylov at the 2020 Olympics on Friday and the U.S. swimmer then suggested doping had played a part in his demise as events took an acrimonious turn at the Tokyo pool.



Another morning of memorable racing saw Tatjana Schoenmaker win the women&#8217;s 200m breaststroke in a world record 2:18.95 to deliver&nbsp;South&nbsp;Africa&#8217;s first gold medal of the Games, while China won their first men&#8217;s swimming gold in Tokyo, Wang Shun coming home first in the 200m medley.



There was no easing up from Australia&#8217;s gold medal greedy swimmers, with Emma McKeon winning the women&#8217;s 100m freestyle for her country&#8217;s sixth Olympic title in the pool.



But the celebratory mood at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre changed after Murphy relinquished the 200 backstroke crown, as Rylov, who also won the 100, touched first in an Olympic record.



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&#8220;It is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year, that I am swimming in a race that&#8217;s probably not clean and that is what it is,&#8221; Murphy told a reporter in the post-race &#8216;mixed zone&#8217; after finishing second to the Russian with Britain&#8217;s Luke Greenbank taking bronze.



But at a later news conference the American, who took bronze in the 100m, backed away from any suggestion that his rivals in the race had cheated.



&#8220;I need to be clear, I&#8217;ve never made&#8230; , my intention is not to make any allegations here. Like, congratulations to Luke and Evgeny. They did an incredible job, they&#8217;re both very talented swimmers,&#8221; he said.



&#8220;At the end of the day &#8230; I do believe it (doping) is still big in swimming and it is what it is.&#8221;



Instead of reliving his thrilling victory at his post-race news conference Rylov found himself defending his doping record.



&#8220;I always do the doping tests &#8230; I would not be able to forgive myself if I had taken something. I don’t know how to react to this. I haven’t been accused of anything,&#8221; he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cast-a-cloud">CAST A CLOUD</h2>



The exchanges cast a cloud over what had been another excellent session, which began with&nbsp;Africa&#8217;s second gold medal of the Games.



Schoenmaker, who had claimed silver in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday, powered home to finish 0.97 seconds ahead of American Lilly King, with Annie Lazor of the United States in third.



The 24-year-old&#8217;s victory came after Tunisian Ahmed Hafnaoui&#8217;s success in the men&#8217;s 400m freestyle on Sunday.



King led until the 150m turn when Schoenmaker went in front and then delivered a powerful final length to smash the world record and grab gold.



&#8220;It still hasn&#8217;t sunk in,&#8221; Schoenmaker said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t wish my Olympic dream over, but I am excited to go and celebrate even just being at the Olympics.&#8221;



Australia&#8217;s McKeon led at the turn in the 100m free and held off Hong Kong&#8217;s Siobhan Haughey down the final straight to win by 0.31 seconds, with team mate Cate Campbell taking bronze.



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“I can’t believe it,” McKeon said. &#8220;I can just feel my emotions bubbling up now. I feel like this week has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster &#8212; just getting up for your races and trying to relax again.&#8221;



The 29-year-old Campbell has three gold medals from relays to her name but had been looking for a first individual title to go with her bronze in the 50m freestyle from Beijing.



Although she had to settle for another bronze, Campbell said her tears were of joy.



&#8220;Honestly, it means the world to me. It’s been a really long journey to get here. I’m incredibly proud of that performance. These aren’t sad tears at all,&#8221; she said.



Wang overtook American Michael Andrew in the final freestyle leg to win the 200m medley with a time of 1:55 with Britain&#8217;s Duncan Scott taking silver and Switzerland&#8217;s Jeremy Desplanches the bronze.



Andrew had led at the final turn but faded to finish fifth, while Hungary&#8217;s Laszlo Cseh, in his fifth Olympics at the age of 35, had been second at the halfway stage but ended seventh.



Wang said he had taken a more focused approach in Tokyo.



“I was just a kid at the London Olympics and it was easier, more of a fun feeling. When I was in Rio I wanted to compete with my team mates and also get a medal,&#8221; he added.



&#8220;This time I just wanted to focus on myself.&#8221;



(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Soccer-Infantino says those opposed to World Cup change scared

De Kock apologises for BLM snub, says he will take a knee in future

F1 champ Lewis Hamilton wants Formula 1 return to Johannesburg

Husband in court over killing of Kenyan athlete Tirop

African football urges UK to give footballers travel exemption

Schoenmaker wins women’s 200m breaststroke gold in world record time

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Sport

Familiar look about Africa’s World Cup line-up

South Africa’s Mokoka breaks world record in first 50km race

Senegal in party mode after Africa Cup of Nations victory

Cameroon latest host nation to fail at Cup of Nations

Tunisia upset Nigeria to book Cup of Nations last-eight place

Australia leaves door open for Djokovic to play at next year’s Open

Djokovic ‘extremely disappointed’ with cancellation of visa

All to play for as Djokovic returns to immigration detention hotel

Djokovic races to avert deportation after Australia cancels visa again

Tennis star Djokovic wins court battle to stay in Australia

Doubts hang over Cameroon Cup of Nations finals as CAF head flies in

Soccer-Infantino says those opposed to World Cup change scared

De Kock apologises for BLM snub, says he will take a knee in future

F1 champ Lewis Hamilton wants Formula 1 return to Johannesburg

Husband in court over killing of Kenyan athlete Tirop

African football urges UK to give footballers travel exemption

Schoenmaker wins women’s 200m breaststroke gold in world record time

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