Earlier this week, Egyptian officials said they were pulling out of the tournament for African players based in their domestic leagues because of a timing clash.

“We sent an official reply to Caf that we will not be able to play CHAN,” said Egypt FA (EFA) executive director Tharwat Sweilam.

Caf says it has not received any correspondence from the EFA ahead of January’s finals.

“Nothing official (has been) received from the EFA in that regard,” a Caf spokeperson told BBC Sport on Tuesday.

At a meeting in Lagos earlier this month, the African body’s Emergency Committee re-installed Egypt into the CHAN after Morocco had been designated as the tournament’s new hosts.

The Moroccans, who replaced Kenya following preparation delays in the East African nation, had knocked the Egyptians out of qualifying in August.

However, Sweilam indicated that the EFA is not prepared to halt the Egyptian league – which is one of Africa’s strongest – for the CHAN.

“We cannot stop the Premier League, especially as the tournament is being played outside the Fifa international calendar,” he explained.

Egypt has never played in the 16-team CHAN, whose fifth edition is scheduled to take place in four Moroccan cities – Agadir, Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangier – from 12 January to 4 February 2018.

By contrast, Egypt’s full international side is the continent’s most successful – having won a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles.

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Source: BBC

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Morocco, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia all bid to replace Kenya who had their right to host withdrawn by Caf due lack of preparations.

The international tournament for locally-based players only is due to kick off in January.

The choice will be made at an emergency Caf executive committee meeting.

Caf had originally said a decision may have come as early as the weekend of 07-08 October.

During a meeting of the Africa Cup of Nations organizing committee on Wednesday meanwhile, Caf president Ahmad reaffirmed that Cameroon are still set to host the 2019 finals.

“At no time had any consideration been given to revisiting decisions already taken in conformity with the provisions of the Statutes and leading to the designation of Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Guinea, as host country of the next three editions in 2019, 2021 and 2023,” a statement read.

“Our role is to best accompany Cameroon, which organizes in 2019, in a new format, to properly fill in the list of requirements of the host agreement,” Ahmad said.

In August, Ahmad had said that Cameroon still needed “to convince Caf of its ability to host” the 2019 Nations Cup finals.
–
By: BBC

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The FA believes the country lacks the requisite finances to properly host two competitions in one year, with Ghana already committing to host the 2018 Women’s Afcon.

Contrary to the FA’s position, the Sports Ministry believe that based on the country’s success in hosting the recently ended Fox WAFU competition and the availability of multiple venues, hosting the CHAN tournament should not be complicated.

Original hosts of the competition, Kenya were stripped of hosting rights after it was revealed that they were behind schedule with regards to stadia readiness and other adjoining facilities.

This position was made clear by the GFA’s Director of Communications Ibrahim Saani Daara when he spoke on Citi Fm’s Sports Panorama.

“It is true that hosting the tournament will yield a lot of benefits for the country.

“But it becomes a little troubling when you factor in the fact that the host nation will have to shoulder for instance the travelling expenses for all participating countries.

“We can also talk about accommodation and feeding as well as everything associated with the tournament.

“We are not sure if the country is in the financial state to shoulder the burden of hosting two tournaments in one year,” he revealed.

–

By: Benjamin Nketsia/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Elsewhere on Sunday, Namibia overturned a first-leg deficit against Comoros to progress.

On a weekend of shocks, the holders Democratic Republic of Congo were eliminated on the away goals-ruling by neighbours Congo Brazzaville, as Mali, Algeria, Egypt and South Africa also suffered exits.

Ghana, who drew the first leg 2-2, failed to make the most of home advantage in Kumasi, suffering defeat to Burkina Faso in front of their own fans.

The hosts were rocked by Burkinabe goals from Mohammed Sylla and Herman Nikiema inside 30 minutes at the Baba Yaro Stadium.

Felix Addo pulled one goal back for Ghana just before the hour, but could not find the second goal they desperately needed to force a penalty shootout.

Burkina Faso qualified 4-3 on aggregate and will join 15 other countries at the biennial tournament, which Kenya will host from January 12 to February 4.

Also on Sunday, Namibia secured a place for the first time after a second-half brace from Muna Katupose earned a 2-0 victory over Comoros in Windhoek.

The substitute struck after 54 and 80 minutes as the Namibians overturned a 2-1 first leg loss.

2018 hosts Kenya and Equatorial Guinea, who qualified after Gabon withdrew, will also be making maiden Nations Championship finals appearances.

–

Source: BBC

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DR Congo could only draw 1-1 with their rivals in Kinshasa, having drawn the first leg of their qualifier 0-0.

It put Congo Brazzaville through on the away-goals ruling.

Also on Saturday, Zambia knocked out South Africa with a 2-0 win in Ndola to progress 4-2 on aggregate.

In other results on Saturday, Uganda progressed 3-2 overall despite a 2-0 defeat in Rwanda, and Nigeria overturned a 1-0 first leg deficit against Benin to qualify 2-1 overall thanks to a 2-0 win at home in their second leg.

On Friday, Morocco and Libya knocked out Egypt and Algeria respectively as they booked their places at Kenya 2018.

Morocco beat Egypt 3-1 in Rabat on Friday to win the tie 4-2 overall.

Libya held Algeria to a 1-1 draw in Sfax to go through to the finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

In Sunday’s qualifiers, Namibia host Comoros looking to come back from a shock 2-1 defeat away from home.

Also, twice runners-up Ghana will aim to reach the finals for the fourth time in five attempts by overcoming Burkina Faso in Kumasi.

Ghana led twice in the first leg only for Iliase Sawadogo to snatch a 2-2 draw five minutes from time.

Despite CHAN matches only featuring locally-based footballers the games have full international status and count toward the monthly Fifa rankings.

–

Source: BBC

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At a press conference in San Francisco, they said their ultimate goal was to “cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the century”.

The funds will be distributed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which they created in December 2015.

Tech leaders are increasingly turning their attention to health.

Earlier in the week, Microsoft said it intended to “solve” cancer by using artificial intelligence tools.

Google’s DeepMind unit is working with the NHS to find a way to use computers to more accurately diagnose diseases.

And IBM and MIT announced a tie-up earlier this week to develop AI-based systems that could help clinicians improve the care of elderly and disabled patients.

Even so, the Chan Zuckerberg plan is marked by its ambition.

Biohub projects

Mr Zuckerberg said that at present 50 times more money was spent on treating people who are sick than on curing the diseases that would stop them getting ill in the first place, and added that this needed to change.

He outlined three principles that will guide the couple’s investments:

• to bring scientists and engineers together
• to build tools and technology that advance research
• to grow the movement to fund more science around the world

Ms Chan added that they had already committed $600m to creating a new research centre called the Biohub, which will bring together engineers, computer scientists, biologists, chemists and other innovators.

The Biohub will initially work on two projects.

The first is the Cell Atlas, a “map” that describes the different types of cells that control the body’s major organs.

The second is the Infectious Disease Initiative, which will try to develop new tests and vaccines to tackle HIV, Ebola, Zika and other new diseases.

Mr Zuckerberg predicted that by 2100 the average life expectancy would be beyond 100 years.

But he cautioned that it would take years before the couple’s fund led to the creation of new medical treatments and further time before they could be applied to patients.

Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates – who has funded his own health research via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – appeared at the event to praise the announcement.

He described it as “very bold and ambitious” but added that “we desperately need this science”.

Long-term goals

Mr Zuckerberg and Ms Chan announced in December 2015 that they planned to give away 99% of their shares in Facebook to fund good causes following the birth of their daughter.

The organisation’s stated mission is to make long-term investments in work that advances human potential and promotes equality.

They had previously announced investments in education-related start-ups.

One expert said that dealing with all disease was “clearly ambitious” but added that deep-pocketed philanthropists were defined by the fact they could take such risks.

“The Chan Zuckerberg announcement is unusual in size but is in keeping with trends amongst today’s biggest donors who want to achieve transformational change, prefer funding prevention over cure and tend to invest in causes and organisations with which they have prior connections,” commented Dr Beth Breeze, director of the centre for philanthropy at the University of Kent.

“Most donations reflect the ‘philanthropic autobiography’ of the donor and this is no exception.

“Chan is an alumna of the University of California, San Francisco.

“So, the couple will already know and trust the people who will spend the money.

“She is trained as a paediatrician and recently became a mother so is aligning her professional and personal experiences with her philanthropic priorities.”

–

Source: BBC

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Show details

– Sacked Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw headlines today’s edition in an exclusive interview – he says Nigeria cheated their way to the 2014 World Cup!

– We get updated on the short-list for the Ethiopia job (with Jerry Kwame Ayensu & Betemariam Hailu in Addis Ababa)

– Another big interview with German coaching legend Ottmar Hitzfield as he talks African player stereotypes, his top 4 African players of all time, thoughts on Berti Vogts, the uniqueness of Giovane Élber and the Mario Basler problem.

– Plus, big-name footballers debate administrators on the sense in sending WAGs to the World Cup.

– And also, the ‘Africans Abroad’ staple with Nathan Quao.

Presented by Gary Al-Smith and produced by Nathan Quao/Gary Al-Smith for Citi FM & Supersport.com. Aired: April 04, 2014.

**Soundtrack details**
Song Title: Someway Bi
Artist Name: M.anifest
Produced by: Yung Fly
Singitdamnit Music/Cumbancha Music Publishing (BMI) 2013

More detail: www.facebook.com/FCAfricaRadio

Follow @FcAfrica

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