🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Carapaz targets King of the Mountains jersey after Tour de France stage win
via The Namibian4 min read
Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz, representing the EF Education – EasyPost team, secured victory in the 18th stage of the Tour de France, a 185.2km race from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette in the French Alps. Following his win, Carapaz stated his intention to pursue the King of the Mountains polkadot jersey. He is currently seven points behind overall race leader Tadej Pogacar in the competition. Carapaz, who previously won both a stage and the mountains jersey two years ago, acknowledges the challenge ahead, especially with two demanding mountain stages, including the iconic Alpe d’Huez climb. He noted that the general classification is not his priority, having lost significant time earlier in the Tour, but aims to secure the polkadot jersey. Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre is also a strong contender for the polkadot jersey, being just one point behind Pogacar. Pogacar himself encouraged Paret-Peintre to continue fighting for the jersey, emphasizing the many points available in the upcoming Alps stages.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadThe 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Wafcon is set to begin in Morocco, featuring a record 16 nations competing for World Cup qualification spots and a US$2 million first prize. Nigeria, the 10-time title-holders and defending champions, are considered the team to beat. Their last victory saw them overcome a two-goal deficit against Morocco to win 3-2, with Jennifer Echegini scoring the late winner. Coach Justine Madugu stated that Nigeria's primary goal is to reach the semi-finals to secure one of Africa's four automatic World Cup berths, followed by defending their trophy. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and youth from various international clubs, though Ashleigh Plumptre is absent due to injury. Midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade will captain the team, which also features goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. Nigeria is in Group C with Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi. Other contenders include South Africa in Group B and Morocco in Group A, who will face Algeria in a politically charged match. Group D includes Ghana, Cameroon, and newcomers Cape Verde. The tournament will host 34 games across three stadiums in Rabat and two in Casablanca, with play-off slots for the inter-continental World Cup also at stake.
Must ReadKing Charles III officially opened the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, launching a 10-day event designed to control costs. Approximately 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports and six para-sports. The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, addressed the athletes, stating, "As we gather, we celebrate the dedication and talent of every athlete and team. Your perseverance inspires us, and we eagerly anticipate your achievements in the coming days." He then declared the Games open. This marks the first-ever indoor opening ceremony for the event, which underwent a major restructuring after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in 2023 due to spiraling costs. Glasgow stepped in, hosting the Games at a quarter of the cost of its previous hosting 12 years ago, and with the sporting program nearly halved. George Black, Chair of Glasgow 2026, commented on Glasgow's readiness to host. Attendees included UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney. The Falkland Islands' team received a significant ovation. Key sports include athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls, and 3x3 basketball. The largest-ever para-sport program features athletics, swimming, track cycling, powerlifting, bowls, and wheelchair basketball. Notable athletes include Scotland’s Josh Kerr, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, India’s Neeraj Chopra, England’s Adam Peaty,
Must ReadThe Democratic Alliance DA entered into a confidential contract with Dubai-based advisory firm Consulum, led by Ryan Coetzee, to manage its operations within the Government of National Unity GNU. This agreement, valued at over $470,000 approximately R7.8 million for six months, ran from September 2024 to February 2025 and was subsequently extended. Consulum's responsibilities included developing strategies for DA ministers, managing communications, training political staff, and chairing meetings of the DA's GNU caucus. Ryan Coetzee, who was CEO of Consulum at the time, played a key role in negotiating the DA's entry into the GNU. He was still marketed as Consulum's CEO more than three months into the DA contract, with his directorship formally ending in June 2025. This arrangement has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the DA's relationship with lobbyists, particularly given Consulum's past work for controversial clients like the Saudi regime and the Hong Kong government. DA MPs have expressed concern over Coetzee's influence, which reportedly extends beyond coordination to conducting performance reviews of ministers and interviewing prospective executive appointees. While the DA, through spokesperson Jan de Villiers, denied any conflicts of interest and stated that few individuals in the party would have an issue with Coetzee, some insiders suggest his authority has expanded significantly beyond his unelected status. Coetzee himself stated he was cont