GERALD IMRAY

Uruguay’s World Cup elimination could be era-ending
It didn’t work at either end of the field for Uruguay in the World Cup quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera allowed Antoine Griezmann’s shot to bounce off his hands and into the net to give France a 2-0 victory.
 
Nigeria captain hid dad’s abduction, played World Cup match
Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel says he was told four hours before his country’s crucial World Cup game against Argentina that his father had been kidnapped back home and would be shot if the player reported it to authorities.
 
DeRozan, Embiid lined up for NBA Africa game in South Africa
The NBA will hold its Africa exhibition game in the South African capital of Pretoria on Aug. 4. The NBA has held two Africa games previously. They were both in Johannesburg.
 
‘Tired’ de Villiers retires while still at top of his game
AB de Villiers has retired from all international cricket. That will keep him from having one more go at winning a World Cup with South Africa. De Villiers is regarded as one of the best players of his generation.
 
The seismic cricket fallout caused by scratching a ball
Seldom in sport has such a seemingly innocuous incident, rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the side of a leather ball, had such severe consequences.
 
Tearful Australia coach Lehmann quits over cheat scandal
Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann says he will quit after the fourth and final test against South Africa, citing the emotional stress of the ball-tampering scandal.
 
Smith refreshed, de Villiers motivated for Aus-SA series
It should serve as a stark warning to South Africa that Steve Smith says he’s refreshed and ready to go again. The Australia captain and top-ranked test batsman had been feeling the effects of a long Ashes summer at home.
 
Steyn out of rest of 1st test and likely series vs. India
Dale Steyn won’t be able to bowl for the rest of the first test against India and could be out for the entire series after the South African team manager said he sustained a “freakish” foot injury while bowling in his comeback game.
 
World Cup qualifier to be replayed after match-fixing by ref
FIFA has ordered that a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal be replayed after the referee awarded a penalty for a non-existent handball and was banned for life for match manipulation.
 
3 giants, 1 outsider: African Cup semifinal lineup decided
The fallen giant of the African Cup of Nations is rising again as Egypt became the final team on Sunday to force its way into the semifinals amid late drama.
 
African Cup: Gabon gone & Algeria, Ivory Coast on the edge
Gabon is gone at the African Cup of Nations, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s team becoming the first host since Tunisia in 1994 to be eliminated in the group stages.
 
Remote Oyem passes 1st African Cup test, Ivory Coast doesn’t
Oyem passed its first test at the African Cup of Nations even if defending champion Ivory Coast didn’t, with one of Gabon’s two new stadiums holding up on its opening day of games.
 
African Cup of Nations: A look at Group D
 
Ennis-Hill gets silver, nearly certain about retiring
Jessica Ennis-Hill is nearly certain that this was her last ever heptathlon _ and it’s tough. Wiping away tears after losing her Olympic title to Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam on Saturday, Ennis-Hill wasn’t crying about losing.
 
Brief glimpse of Olympics, but all worth it for Dutee Chand
Dutee Chand pulled out all the stops to run at the Olympics, even taking the international track federation to court in her bid to get to Rio de Janeiro.
 
African discus champion out of Olympics for doping
African discus champion Victor Hogan has been dropped from South Africa’s Olympic team and banned for two years for doping.
 
British agency probes claims athletes were doping in Kenya
The UK anti-doping agency says it sent two investigators to Kenya to look into allegations that four British athletes were doping with the blood-booster EPO in a well-known high-altitude training region in the East African nation.
 
South African golfer Van Zyl chooses Olympics over majors
South African golfer Jaco van Zyl is bucking the trend and skipping two majors _ the British Open and the PGA Championship _ so he can be fresh for the Olympics.
 
Former Nigeria captain and coach Stephen Keshi dies at 54
Stephen Keshi, the Nigerian soccer player and coach known as “Big Boss” because of his charismatic leadership, has died. He was 54.
 
Mother of Pistorius’ girlfriend delivers daughter’s speech
“I’ve got no feelings of revenge,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt him, he is already a disabled person. I did not want him to be thrown into jail and suffering because I don’t wish suffering on anyone and that’s not going to bring Reeva back.
 
Former coach of banned runner Jeptoo has contract terminated
Kenya, a distance-running powerhouse for decades, has been hit hard in recent years by doping with over 30 athletes banned and authorities scrambling to find the reasons for the spike in cases. The country has been the subject of numerous allegations since German broadcaster ARD’s 2012 expose claime
 
Highlanders comeback beats Crusaders in Super Rugby
Halfway through the regular season, New Zealand’s unbeaten Wellington-based Hurricanes still lead after their weekend bye. Australia’s second-placed ACT Brumbies missed the chance to make up ground when they lost to the bottom-placed Blues on Friday.
 
Pistorius trial: Judge’s verdict explained
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Did Oscar Pistorius get away with murder?

Judge Thokozile Masipa’s decision to acquit Pistorius of murder has left many in South Africa asking that question.
 
Pistorius trial: Bullet trajectory examined
Capt. Christiaan Mangena said Pistorius shot at a slightly downward angle into the cubicle where Reeva Steenkamp was, with the bullet holes around a meter (3 feet) high in the wood door. Pistorius was about 2.2 meters (7 feet) away from the door when he shot, Mangena said.
 
Parts of Pistorius trial can be on live TV
The decision came two days after a Twitter site to be used by members of Pistorius’ family during the trial became active. It already has more than 20,000 followers.
 
Egypt ignores violence, Nigeria also wins
The victory will likely have gone unnoticed, however, amid the violence. Wednesday’s game ultimately went ahead after the Egyptian Football Association had considered canceling it because of the clashes, where riot police backed by armored vehicles stormed protesters’ camps and nearly 300 people die
 
Ethiopia stripped of win in World Cup qualifying
FIFA said Ethiopia forfeited its 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 because Minyahile Beyene played in that game when he was suspended for receiving two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers. FIFA has awarded the match to Botswana 3-0.
 
SAfrica Olympic body suspends own track federation
“We have engaged with the IAAF verbally, in writing and via a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on 15 June 2013,” SASCOC President Gideon Sam said. “It has been evident that the IAAF does not recognize SASCOC as a sports authority in South Africa. The IAAF would rather support ASA, which has no leade
 
Egypt moves closer to WCup, Cameroon slips up
Mohamed Salah’s hat trick in Harare helped Egypt to four wins from four in Group G, leaving the Egyptians as the only team with a 100 percent record out of Africa’s remaining 40 hopefuls. Egypt is five points clear of Guinea with two games to go and closer to a long-awaited return to the World Cup u
 
Pistorius brothers both have court dates next week
Oscar’s legal team filed an appeal against some of his bail conditions on March 7, objecting to him being not allowed to travel outside of South Africa even though a magistrate said he was not a flight risk when granting him 1 million rand ($108,000) bail last month. They’re also challenging an alco
 
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