Can AFCON 2015 make the headlines for the right reasons after Ebola fears, absent big guns and a change of host?

By Steven Oldham

There has been that much event and controversy surrounding the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations it could be easy to forget the tournament has yet to begin.

Ebola, a late change of host and high profile absentees have all kept the tournament in the headlines without a ball being kicked -  it starts with Equatorial Guinea taking on Congo tomorrow.

The Ebola epidemic that's decimated parts of West Africa has in turn led original hosts Morocco to forfeit the right to hold the tournament after requests to postpone it were refused.  CAF have looked very unfavourably on this and the North African team have been banned from the next two editions of the Cup of Nations.

After several countries ruled themselves out of replacing Morocco - including Egypt and Ghana - Equatorial Guinea, co-hosts of the 2012 tournament with Gabon, was announced as the unlikely replacement venue.

Credit has to go to the country for stepping in to fill the breach, but there remain concerns about how ready they are given the short notice given to prepare themselves for the continent's biggest sporting event - there are still questions surrounding stadia, infrastructure and logistical problems like hotel space and facilities for visiting teams, media and so on.

That CAF chose Equatorial Guinea suggest there were few other countries willing to go ahead with the tournament. The country were thrown out of qualifying in the first round despite beating Mauritania 3-1 on aggregate, having fielded Thierry Fidieu, a player deemed illegal by CAF.

Equatorial Guinea were just one of a number of teams whose on the pitch results were rendered null and void by the authorities. Rwanda were also thrown out of qualifying for fielding an illegal player, despite beating Congo on penalties in the second round. The Seychelles had to forfeit their fixture against Sierra Leone after the visiting team were banned from entering the islands over fears Ebola could spread further.

The Seychelles themselves benefitted from a walkover victory in the first round after Gambia were banned from all CAF competitions for two years, having fielded overage players in qualifying for the CAF U-20s Championships. Eritrea, meanwhile, withdrew from the preliminary round without even taking to the pitch, giving South Sudan a bye in their first attempt to qualify for the Cup of Nations.

Who will win AFCON 2015? Vote on my poll on the homepage here



Estadio de Bata will host the tournament's opening game (nussli.us)

Reigning champions Nigeria failed to qualify, alongside Egypt, the most successful nation in the tournament's history, with seven victories, the last being in 2010. Whether the absence of these big names will be a detriment to the tournament remains to be seen. Even though AFCON has a reputation for being unpredictable, this could be the most open tournament in years.

The bookies' favourites are Algeria, who qualified easily and gained many admirers for their performances in Brazil last summer, when they made history by making the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. They may be lamenting the decision by their North African neighbours to rescind their right to host however, given the vast changes in climate to the tropical temperatures they can expect in Mongomo, where they will play two group games.

Burkina Faso were the surprise package of the last tournament, finishing runners up to Nigeria. They continued this good form into World Cup qualifying and only missed out on a place in Brazil on away goals, having drawn 3-3 with Algeria. They will get the chance to avenge the defeat to Gabon that cost them the chance to win their qualifying group, as the two teams have been paired in Group A along with the hosts and Congo.

Both Ivory Coast and Ghana have flattered to deceive in this tournament despite their undoubted talent, and both have been drawn into the tougher two groups. Ivory Coast are paired with Mali, Cameroon and Guinea, while Ghana take on Algeria, South Africa and Senegal. Neither group will be easy to escape, and you have to think any nation that can make it into the knockout phase from these groups has a good chance to win the trophy.

Whether the country is ready or not, Equatorial Guinea will hope the on-pitch action will take attention away from any criticism heading their way. Little is expected of the hosts, but there are plenty of countries here who can play decent football and challenge for victory.

The quality of football at this tournament is sometimes questionable, but it is rarely boring. Players like Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) , Yacine Brahimi (Algeria) and Sadio Mané (Senegal)  all have the talent to light up a tournament like this.

Hopefully, the tournament will be a success and banish the bad headlines that have relentlessly dogged the build up. Will there be a surprise package like Burkina Faso, or Zambia one year before them? Or perhaps a breakout star who could persuade clubs to splash the cash on them in the transfer window. Who knows? There's one way to find out.

MORE FOOTBALL READING:

 

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Can Yaya Toure lead Ivory Coast to glory?

 

Glasgow 2014: DAY 4: South Africa shock New Zealand in rugby sevens, Australia break record in pool, Laura Trott seals gold in the velodrome

South Africa's history-making rugby sevens team (@Glasgow2014)

By Steven Oldham  MISS DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS? CLICK HERE

Something unheard of today in the rugby sevens tournament, as the reigning and four-time Commonwealth champions New Zealand were beaten by South Africa in the final.

The All Blacks had never lost a match in any Commonwealth tournament since the sport debuted in 1998 and were seen as huge favourites to retain their title.

South Africa beat the Kiwis 17-12 in the final at Ibrox to secure a historic win and a glimmer of hope to the rest of the world that New Zealand are not a shoe-in to win the first Olympic title in sevens when it debuts at the Rio 2016 Games. The Springboks had twice previously won bronze but proved to be the better team today.

They also won gold in lawn bowls, as their women's fours team beat Malaysia in the final.



James Magnussen on his way to gold (BBC Sport)

Medal table leaders Australia had another day to remember in the pool, with the highlight coming in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay where they set a new world record and finished ahead of the second place team, Scotland.

James Magnussen (100m freestyle), Belinda Hocking (200m backstroke), and Ben Treffers (50m backstroke) also claimed individual gold on yet another day of success for the team from Down Under.

In the first day of athletics, Michael Shelley took the men's marathon.

England's Commonwealth champion cyclist Laura Trott (Getty Images)

England also had a good day in the pool with both Fran Halsall and Siobhan O'Connor picking up gold.

Halsall picked up the 50m butterfly title to add to her freestyle medal over the same distance. O'Connor finally won gold in the 200m medley ahead of Australia's Alicia Coutts, who was the most decorated athlete in any sport at the last Games in Delhi. O'Connor had previously won two silver medals in Glasgow.

In the final day of track cycling, Laura Trott added a Commonwealth title in the points race to her two Olympic titles from London 2012. The 22-year-old led a Home Nations podium, with Welsh rider Elinor Barker second and Scotland's Katie Archibald took bronze.

Steve Scott and Charlotte Kerwood also secured a successful day at the Barry Budden Shooting Range with both taking gold medals in the double trap.

Singapore's women won the team event in table tennis (@tdysports)

Singapore convincingly won the women's' team table tennis tournament, beating Malaysia 3-0 in the final.

They beat India and Canada en-route to the final and are a team who regularly do well in table tennis - at the last Games in Delhi, six of their eleven gold medals came in this sport.

The team also have a chance to win a medal in badminton tomorrow as they play India in the bronze medal match of the mixed team event after losing to Malaysia earlier today.

Kenya's marathon winner Caleb Ndiku (@eaofficialpage)



Kenya had a strong first day in the athletics, picking up gold in both the women's marathon and men's 5000m.

Flomena Daniel won the women's marathon ahead of compatriot Caroline Kilel, and Caleb Ndiku took the 5000m title, again leading a Kenyan 1-2 from Isiah kiplangat Koech.

CLICK HERE FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOMEPAGE

DAY 4 DIGEST IN 60 SECONDS...

• India and Nigeria shared the spoils in weightlifting today, both picking up one gold and one silver each
• Malaysia's world number one Nicol David made the final of the squash tournament where she will face Laura Massaro of England
• The Bahamas won their first medal - in the pool, with Adrianna Vanderpool Wallace winning silver behind Fran Halsall in the 50m butterfly.
• Malta are still without a medal, but they came close in shooting, with Nathan Xuereb losing out by just two points in his bronze medal match in the men's double trap.  

Glasgow 2014: DAY 3: Scotland equal best gold medal haul already, Isle of Man secure first medal, Wales beat Canada in gymnastics

Scottish flagbearer Euan Burton (@JudoScotland)

By Steven Oldham    MISSED YESTERDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS? CLICK HERE

Scotland have already equalled their best ever gold medal haul at a Commonwealth Games in just three days.

The host nation now have 11 gold medals, the same amount they managed from the entirety of the Melbourne Games in 2006.

They won three golds in judo today, including flagbearer Euan Burton's last ever competitive match as a judoka.

35-year-old Burton went out on a high by beating Pakistan's Shah Hussein Shah in the -100kg weight class final, while Sarah Adlington (+78kg) and Chris Sherrington (+100kg) also won their competitions as the judo tournaments came to a close.

The home nations have been dominant in judo, with Scotland and England both winning six gold medals.

Para-cyclist Neil Fachie and pilot Craig Maclean won their second gold medals of the Games in the velodrome, coming from behind to beat the Australian riders Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett 2-1 in the tandem sprint.

Wales' Frankie Jones won her country's first gold (Getty Images)

 Wales waited two days for gold and then won two on the third day of competition.

Rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones took a third medal in as many days, and it was also her country's first gold, as she won the individual ribbon event ahead of Malaysia and Canada.

A second gold followed in judo, as Natalie Powell denied Scotland a husband-and-wife pair of gold medals by defeating Olympic silver medallist - and Mrs Euan Burton - Gemma Gibbons in the final.



Isle of Man's silver medal winner Peter Kennaugh (Adam Gerrie)



Cyclist Peter Kennaugh helped the Isle of Man onto the medal table by winning silver in the men's points race.

Kennaugh - an Olympic champion two years ago as part of the British team pursuit - came second to New Zealand's Thomas Scully.



Australia's Commonwealth skeet champion Laura Coles (@InsideWAIS)



Australia now lead the medal table thanks to winning five more bronze medals than England.

Both nations have 17 golds and 14 silvers so the race is still very tight with strong events still to come for both nations.

The team from Down Under won their first shooting medals today, with Laura Coles taking the women's skeet and Daniel Repacholi winning the 10m air pistol event.

They also had further success in swimming and cycling and will look to sports like hockey, athletics and rugby sevens to boost their medal tally further.

New 100m breastroke champion Adam Peaty (@BBCmtd)

Despite being bumped down into second in the medal standings, England again had a good day.

The country's domination of triathlon in Commonwealth circles continued as they won the first ever mixed team event.

Fran Halsall and Adam Peaty both took gold and new Games records in the pool, in the 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke respectively.

There was also success in weightlifting with Zoe Smith also taking a Commonwealth record in the -58kg weight class. The diminutive 20-year-old managed to lift an unbeaten total of 210kg.

CLICK HERE FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOMEPAGE

DAY THREE DIGEST IN 60 SECONDS...

• Mauritius win their first medal of Glasgow 2014, with Annabelle Laprovidence taking bronze in the +78kg judo competition.
• India lock out gold and silver in two shooting competitions, with seven of their seventeen medals coming in this sport
• New Zealand's all-conquering rugby sevens team were given a scare by the hosts before winning 17-14 on the way to topping their group
• The first bowls gold medal went to South Africa who won the para-sport mixed pairs event ahead of Scotland
• Malaysia's world number one squash player Nicol David is through to the semi finals after beating England's Jenny Duncalf

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Swimming

By Steven Oldham

Click HERE for Commonwealth Games homepage

Swimming is an original Commonwealth sport and has not missed any edition to date since the first British Empire Games in 1930.

It is also the sole mandatory aquatic sport at the Games. Diving and synchronised swimming are optional, while water polo is only a recognised sport and can not yet be included in the Games.

The sport has grown into one of the event's biggest draws in terms of spectators, media coverage and TV viewing figures.

WHEN?

Swimming takes place in the first half of the Games, from July 24-29.

WHERE?

All action in the pool happens at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, in Glasgow's East end. The facility has been upgraded for the Games, with a new 50m six-lane pool for training and warm ups, in addition to the existing 10-lane 50m competition pool.

Part of Glasgow 2014's legacy will be a world-class aquatics facility for both professionals and the public, and an opportunity to bid for further world-class events.

WHO?

Australia have made the biggest splash, taking home the most swimming medals since the Commonwealths began. They kept this trend going four years ago in Delhi, claiming a massive 54 medals, with 22 of those gold. To put that into context, South Africa and England were next best and claimed 7 wins.

Alicia Coutts ended the Games as the most successful athlete across all sports, with golds in five events both individually and in two team relays. She went on to win five medals at London 2012, including relay gold in the 4 x 100m freestyle. She's back for more this year but repeating her Indian exploits will be tough.

The Australians dominated the women's events but the men's competitions were more evenly fought, with Canada, England and South Africa sharing 13 gold medals from an available 22.

The last Commonwealths also gave the world it's first glimpse of Chad le Clos. The South African went on to win both Olympic gold and become world champion, but his first major titles came in Delhi. He won the 200m butterfly and 400m medley and set new Games records in both disciplines. Who will follow in le Clos' footsteps this summer and become swimming's next breakthrough star?

Top young talent from across the Commonwealth will be on display in Glasgow, but reigning champions including Liam Tancock (England), Hannah Miley (Scotland), Ryan Cochrane (Canada) and Cameron van der Burgh (South Africa) will be looking to keep the younger swimmers firmly in check.

LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• Para-sport events for both men and women are included in the swimming programme - look out for London 2012 heroine Ellie Simmonds
• Medley events include all four standard swimming strokes - breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and freestyle.
• Open water swimming doesn't appear on the Commonwealth programme.  
• Race distances last from just 50m up to 1500m.
• Such is the dominance of the likes of Australia, Canada and England, only 11 countries have ever medalled in swimming at the Commonwealths.

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Can South Africa's Chad le Clos win more Commonwealth titles? (rnw.nl)

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Netball

By Steven Oldham

Click HERE for Commonwealth Games homepage

Netball is another one of the ten 'core sports' at the Commonwealth Games and has been ever present since debuting at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur.
 
Along with rhythmic gymnastics, netball is one of the only sports solely competed by women at the Games.
 
The Commonwealths is the sport's biggest platform, as it has never been included in the Olympic programme.
 
WHEN?

The netball tournaments spans the length of the Games, with group matches kicking off on July 24. The medal matches are on August 3.
 
WHERE?

Netball happens across two locations - group matches are located in the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre, while the medal matches will take place in the new 13,000 capacity Hydro Arena next door, which has been open less than a year.

WHO?

Australia and New Zealand have shared the spoils equally since netball debuted at the Commonwealth Games 16 years ago in Malaysia. They both have two gold and two silver medals from four tournaments. England have often been bridesmaids, picking up three bronze medals, with Jamaica the only other country to take a top three placing,

New Zealand have the momentum in Commonwealth terms, having upset the hosting Aussies in Melbourne in 2006 then retaining their title in Delhi four years ago. However, the team from Down Under have won the World Championships in both 2007 and 2011 so it really is cat and mouse between the two nations.

Twelve nations from across the Commonwealth will take part in netball this year.

LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• Netball games last for an hour, split into quarters. There are seven players on each team.
• Positions mean something in this sport, with only attacking players allowed to score. Players stick to their role and are restricted to where they move on court
• The court is split into three - one third for each of the team's rings, and the centre
• Players are not allowed to hold the ball for more than three seconds at a time, or dribble the ball around the court
• After a goal, play resumes from the centre zone with teams alternating taking 'centre passes'; regardless of which team has conceded the goal.

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Can Malawi win a first medal in netball in Glasgow?
(faceofmalawi.com)

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Rugby Sevens

By Steven Oldham
 
Click HERE for Commonwealth Games homepage
 
Rugby sevens is a fast developing sport globally and the Commonwealths have stolen a march on the Olympics with this one; it's been featured since 1998, while it will only make it's debut on the biggest stage of them all at the next Games, Rio 2016.
 
With the introduction of women's boxing for this edition, rugby sevens is the last sport at the Commonwealths only played by men.
 
WHEN?
 
The rugby sevens tournament is done and dusted in two days, July 26-27.
 
WHERE?
 
The tournament will be held at the Rangers' Ibrox stadium.
 
WHO?
 
New Zealand are the dominant force in sevens, and have won every Commonwealth gold medal since the sport was introduced in 1998. They will again go into the tournament as favourites to secure another win. They are also reigning World Series and World Cup champions. It would be a huge surprise if they didn't add to their bulging trophy cabinet in Glasgow this summer.
 
So what about the other countries? Traditional rugby powers are likely to contest the remaining medals. South Africa, Australia and England all have claims to do well this summer. South Africa were runners up in the World Series this season, while England were World Cup finalists last year, albeit well beaten. Australia were runners up in Delhi four years ago.
 
Sixteen countries will take part in the tournament in groups of four with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter finals. Scotland, Kenya, Wales and Samoa will be looking to progress.
 
LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...
 

• Sevens follows the rulebook of rugby union, with changes mainly due to fewer players being on the pitch - so look out for three man scrums and two-minute sin bin punishments.
• As the name suggests, teams play with seven players rather than fifteen.
• The other main difference is that games only last 14 minutes - two halves of seven minutes with a minute's break in between.
• Eliminated countries still get the chance to win some silverware in the classification events - there's a Bowl and Shield to be won.
• Despite being seen as a new idea by many, sevens dates way back to 1883.

 
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Can New Zealand continue their domination of rugby sevens?
(odt.co.nz)

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Hockey

By Steven Oldham

Click HERE for Commonwealth Games homepage

At the Commonwealths, hockey is one of the 'core' sports that must be included in every edition of the Games - it's been a fixture since 1998.

WHEN?

Hockey is one of the first sports to get underway on the opening day of competition, July 24 with two women's group matches. The men start a day later. The hockey tournament spans the whole eleven days of the Commonwealths with the gold medal matches happening on the final two days, August 2 and 3.

WHERE?

Much like the London 2012 Olympic Games, hockey will take place in a newly built arena at the National Hockey Centre on Glasgow Green. Hosting two synthetic pitches, it will accommodate up to 5,000 fans during the Games and will continue to hold domestic and international hockey having opened its doors last year.

WHO?

Ten nations split into two groups of five will compete in both the men's and women's competitions in a round robin format. The top two from each group advance to the semi finals while the teams in third, fourth and fifth will play their corresponding team in the other group to settle the final classifications.

The ten countries competing are Australia, Canada, England, India, Malaysia New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa,  Trinidad & Tobago and Wales. All countries will field both male and female teams.

Australia have been the dominant force in Commonwealth hockey since 1998, with seven of eight available gold medals going to the teams from Down Under. Only the Indian women have broken their hold, defeating hosts England at the 2002 edition. The Aussies will once again be favourites in Glasgow having won gold and silver at the World Cup last month.

Host nation Scotland have yet to medal in hockey at the Commonwealths with a best finish of 7th in 2006.

MAKE ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• Teams of eleven compete in two halves of 35 minutes. The aim is simple - score more goals than your opponents. Substitutes are allowed with few restrictions. Players are not allowed to strike the ball with their feet if it gains them an advantage.
• Players often play more than one position depending on the state of gameplay at that time. The one exception are goalkeepers.
• Corners follow the same rule as football - if the last touch is off a defender once the ball is out of play behind the back line, the attacking team gets a corner. Similarly, free hits are like free kicks in that they are awarded for foul play - obstruction, using your body too much when tackling and so on.
• Hockey follows a three-stage disciplinary system - a green card is the least severe (a football yellow card), leading to a yellow card (a rugby union or ice hockey sin bin) followed by the most serious red card. Players can be issued with more than one yellow or green card, but not for the same offence. Repeated offences are punished by a more serious card.  

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Yes - click here 
 

#450652872 / gettyimages.com

Australia's men on their way to World Cup success in The Netherlands last month.

Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Lawn Bowls

By Steven Oldham

Click HERE for Commonwealth Games homepage

One thing that sets the Commonwealth Games apart from the Olympics is the sports contested at the events.

Lawn bowls, squash and netball are not on the Olympic  programme, yet are all part of the core programme for the Commonwealths.

Bowls has been on every Commonwealth schedule bar 1966, but swiftly returned in 1970. This year sees the introduction of para-sport bowls introduced alongside the regular game.

WHEN?

Bowls runs throughout the majority of the Games with action on every day from July 24 to August 1. Para-sport mixed pairs will be the first gold medal decided on July 26. 

WHERE?

All bowls competitions will take place at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre, just under two miles away from Glasgow city centre. The facility has been upgraded for the games and has additional seating across five reconstructed bowling greens.

WHO?

Last time out in Delhi, South Africa topped the medals table with three golds, in the men's pairs and triples, and also a triples gold for the ladies. England and Wales also won gold medals.

Nearly half of the competing nations will enter at least one team in to the bowls competitions, and the host nation boast current men's singles world title holder Darren Burnett amongst their squad.

Commonwealth nations are traditionally the strongest in bowls, so the quality is there this summer for a global audience to see world-class action on the bowling green. England, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand will be the countries to watch.

LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• The aim of the game is to get your bowls nearer to a small white ball - the 'jack' - than your opponents.
• Points are awarded after all bowls have been taken, with points scored for every bowl closer to the jack than your opponents.
• In singles, the first to 21 points or 'shots' wins. In the team disciplines, it's decided by sets.
• Bowls at tournament level is played in singles, pairs, triples and fours. All four disciplines will be played in Glasgow. The parasport events debuting this year are mixed pairs and open triples.

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Yes. Click here

England's Ellen Falkner will be in action in Glasgow (@BowlsEng)