Ivory Coast made a winning start to FIFA World Cup qualifying on Friday. Ghana and Nigeria were less successful, both held 0-0 by minnows at the beginning of their campaigns to reach Russia 2018.
As Africa’s top teams enter the qualifying competition, Cameroon won 3-0 in Niger under new coach Alexandre Belinga, Senegal drew 2-2 away to Madagascar and South Africa beat Angola 3-1.
Without injured striker Wilfried Bony, and with Yaya Toure still on a sabbatical from international duty, Ivory Coast edged Liberia 1-0 with Gohi Bi Cyriac’s goal just before half-time. That gave the African champions a slim advantage to take back home for the second leg of the tie next week.
Andre Ayew and his Ghana teammates failed to score away to the small Indian Ocean island of Comoros, but still hold the advantage ahead of their home leg.
Nigeria also could not break down Swaziland, with young Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho making his debut for Nigeria and Obafemi Martins returning for his first international in two years.
Cameroon’s three goals against Niger came in a four-minute spell before half-time, starting with captain Stephane Mbia’s header in the 36th minute. Vincent Aboubakar scored with a free-kick in the 39th and Edgar Salli got the third a minute later, capping a good start for coach Belinga.
Senegal have the advantage of two away goals after their draw in Madagascar, but Mame Biram Diouf and Sadio Mane had to score in the last 20 minutes to rescue the Senegalese from 2-0 down. Tunisia also avoided a big upset with second-half goals by Wahbi Khazri and Yassine Chikhaoui to win 2-1 after trailing in Mauritania.
Cape Verde could not avoid a surprise loss, though, as Michael Olunga headed in Kenya’s goal for a 1-0 win.
Angola took the lead over South Africa when teenager Gelson dribbled through the defense to score inside two minutes. South Africa responded through Tokelo Rantie and Thamsanqa Gabuza to lead after 20 minutes. Rantie won a late penalty and Andile Jali converted it for a big advantage for South Africa ahead of the second leg.
Libya beat Rwanda 1-0, with Libya’s home leg played in neutral Tunisia.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
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Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.” The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB