- Tweeter
republish
2020 will obviously be marked by the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as by the Euro football tournament. RFI offers a selection of ten sporting events to follow over the next few months, especially on the African continent.
Conor McGregor's return to MMA
The superstar of mixed martial arts (MMA) will return to the octagon on January 19 in Las Vegas (western United States), facing the American Donald Cerrone. It will be the comeback of the Irishman after his defeat against the Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov, in October 2018, in the lightweights of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. "The Notorious" will try to improve its image after having multiplied the escapades since its very lucrative (but lost) boxing fight, against the American Floyd Mayweather in August 2017. At 31 years old, can Conor McGregor become again the king of the MMA?
Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury, act II
The two heavyweights find themselves fifteen months after a world championship which had led to a draw as spectacular as controversial. The American had kept his belt after temporarily sending Fury to the mat. However, the Briton had dominated part of the fight. The two rivals, still undefeated among the pros, will settle their account on February 22 in Las Vegas, after weeks of provocation. Act II promises to be explosive.
The Rwanda Cycling Tour
This 2020 edition, scheduled from February 23 to March 1, looks promising, despite a slightly less prestigious plateau than expected. But it may be decisive in the history of African cycling. It is indeed next September that the International Cycling Union (UCI) will designate the host country for the 2025 Worlds promised to Africa, the first World Championships organized on the continent. Despite the recent setbacks of the Rwandan Cycling Federation, the organization of this Tour of Rwanda will have to be particularly successful to convince the UCI.
Africa League Basketball
It is in March that the final phase of this brand new competition, created and co-organized by the NBA and the International Basketball Federation, will begin. Twelve clubs from the continent will compete in two pools (East and West), before a final round which will designate the four qualified for the Final Four scheduled in Kigali. African basketball should come out larger from this unique event.
CHAN 2020 football
Cameroon will host this sixth edition of the African Cup, reserved for local players, from April 4 to 25. The Moroccan team, defending champion, will defend their crown there. This CHAN 2020 will also be a mini-test for the country, in preparation for CAN 2021 in the country of Samuel Eto'o. The quality of the organization will be scrutinized by the African Football Confederation (CAF).
Kenya rally
Passion should be there for the Safari Rally 2020. Kenyan racing is making a comeback on the World Championship calendar after eighteen years of absence. Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta had made it a major issue for Kenyan sport. Appointments are made from July 16 to 19.
The African Rugby Union Cup
The African Rugby Confederation has launched a new formula for its African Cup of Nations. No more CAN contested each year in three divisions (Gold, Silver and bronze). Starting this season, sixteen teams will play the final phase, between June and August next. An opportunity for many selections from the continent to progress quickly.
Euro 2020 football
This gigantic final phase will take place in twelve cities in different European countries, from Baku in Azerbaijan to Bilbao in Spain, via Saint Petersburg in Russia and Dublin in Ireland. This second Euro with 24 teams promises to be particularly exciting with a pool F including the European champion (Portugal), the European vice-champion and world champion (France) and Germany. The tournament will run from June 12 to July 12 with a final in London.
Copa America 2020 football
On the same dates as Euro 2020, the Copa America, co-organized by Colombia and Argentina, will be contested. Will Lionel Messi finally lift the trophy at 33 (he will have them on June 24)? This may be the last time that the FC Barcelona striker has participated in this competition, after being beaten by Brazil (future winner) in the 2019 Copa semifinals and many other frustrations. The next edition will indeed take place in 2024 only.
2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Tokyo will be the world capital of sport from July 24 to August 9 (Olympic Games) then from August 25 to September 6 (Paralympic Games). The Olympic Games in particular, planned in the heat wave, look like an endless puzzle for the Japanese authorities. " I have never seen an Olympic host as well prepared as Tokyo ," said the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. All the elements necessary for the success of the Olympic Games are already in place ”. The organizers said that the final budget for Tokyo 2020 should be 1,350 billion yen (11.5 billion euros).