Nigeria’s Hakeem Olajuwon opened the doors for Africans in the National Basketball Association (NBA) four decades ago and three more young centres with links to the continent are set to follow his path this season.

Cameroon international Ulrich Chomche was the youngest player picked in June’s NBA Draft while Yves Missi also grew up in the Central African nation and Adem Bona was born in Lagos, Nigeria.

The trio, on the rosters of Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers respectively, join an estimated 10% of current NBA players that were either born in Africa or have one parent who was born on the continent.

“You’re seeing an incredible amount of talent coming out of the continent,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told BBC Sport Africa.

“Two of the last three Most Valuable Players were Joel Embiid, from Cameroon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo who has Nigerian roots.

“Victor Wembanyama, the number one draft pick and the Rookie of the Year this past year, again, has African roots.”

As the 2024-25 season tips off, five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher believes Embiid, who opted to represent the USA, could help the 76ers win their first title since 1983.

“Joel has spoken about wanting to stay healthy specifically for the NBA play-offs,” Fisher told BBC Sport Africa.

“We’ve never seen Joel healthy in the play-offs before. If that happens, I do think that makes the 76ers a team to watch in the Eastern Conference.”

The FIA is confident it has an option to present to the World Motor Sport Council to improve and “simplify” the World Rally Championship’s radical points system for next year.

This year’s all-new points structure has proved a hot topic among competitors and fans thanks to its complexity and weighting that many feel has devalued the overall rally victory.

In 2024, points have been split across Saturday and Sunday, with drivers able to claim provisional points for their overall position at the end of Saturday’s leg which are then banked if they reach the end of the rally.

A sliding scale of 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 is awarded to the top 10 at the end of Saturday, but only to those crews who reach Sunday’s event finish.

In addition to this, Sundays offer up a separate points allocation [7-6-5-4-3-2-1] to the top seven fastest crews across Sunday’s stages on top of the 5-4-3-2-1 system for the top five times on the rally-ending Power Stage.

While the new system was designed to improve the action on Sunday and has been highly effective at creating excitement, drivers and teams have been highly critical of the points weighting of the system that has been derided on several occasions.

The ire seems to stem from the fact that a rally winner can quite easily leave the weekend without scoring the most points. This happened once again last weekend as Elfyn Evans, who finished second at the Central European Rally walked away with two more points than event winner Ott Tanak.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Advertisement

As previously reported the FIA has been evaluating four new proposals to make improvements to the system for next year.

Speaking at last weekend’s Central European Rally the FIA has confirmed that it has a proposal that it will present to the World Motor Sport Council which could be in place for next year.

Motorsport.com understands that the weighting of the points to ensure the rally winner is rewarded more is part of the proposal.

“We have different options, we have been talking about this all season. Every two weeks we have a sporting working groups and different options are on the table coming from the driver’s representative Scott [Martin] and from the manufacturers and from the WRC Promoter.

“Finally, we think we have an option to be presented to the next commission that more or less all agree with,” said FIA WRC category manager Marina Dunach.

“It will go to a vote at the World Motor Sport Council and maybe we will have a new points system for next year.

“After looking at the different options presented we have been testing with Excel files what would happen using the different options and thinking what is the best for the championship. We all feel more or less that this is more fair, maybe.”

FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley added: “The key priority for the [original] rule change was to try and ensure that we had less of a discussion about Sunday, it created other discussions which is normal, and now the proposal is to try and tweak to simplify it [the points system].”

ARSENAL hero Lukas Podolski is being investigated by German police shortly after his final ever match.

Podolski, 39, rolled credits on his 18-year career that saw him playing for the likes of Bayern Munich, Germany and of course the Gunners.

3

3

Advertisement

3

The winger hung up his boots while playing for Polish outfit Gornik Zabrze and bid farewell to football in a testimonial match that was put together in Cologne two weeks ago in front of 50,000 fans.

The ex-Germany international put together his own team he dubbed Team Poldi, which beat a Koln XI 5-3 at the RheinEnergieStadion.

The ex-Galatasaray star received a standing ovation from the crowd after the match which led to him breaking down in tears.

An emotional Podolski then joined the crowd in the stands and was pictured holding a burning pyrotechnic flare as he bid farewell to his fans.

According to Kolner Stadtanzeiger, as per Bild, that landed the German in hot water with the Cologne police as it is prohibited to set off flares in German stadiums.

In fact, that is considered an administrative offence and thus Podolski is facing a pyrotechnics fine.

The same source claims the city is responsible for collecting the fine and the Koln legend will probably receive a hearing notice in the mail within the next few days.

Former police director and head of operations at the Cologne stadium Volker Lange didn’t mince his words about the forward as he dubbed him a “bad role model”.

Lange said: “Firstly, it is forbidden, secondly, he is a bad role model. And thirdly: Someone who will take on responsibility at FC should be a role model – also in such points.”

A number of football greats honoured Podolski during his testimonial match, such as Manuel Neuer, Joachim Low, Mats Hummels and ex-Arsenal team-mate Per Mertesacker.

The ex-Inter Milan star enjoyed immense success as he won the Bundesliga with Bayern, the World Cup with Germany and the FA Cup with Arsenal, where he amassed 31 goals and 15 assists in 82 games.

And Podolski has proven to be successful off the pitch as well thanks to his ice cream and kebab business.

It has been reported that the former Arsenal ace, who spent three years at the Emirates before his departure in 2015, has seen his net worth rise to £177.5million thanks to his investments.

Merab Dvalishvili already convincingly beat Sean O’Malley. But if they fight again, Dvalishvili is confident he can do even better.

It took five rounds for Dvalishvili to best O’Malley and win the bantamweight championship this past September at UFC 306. While O’Malley has disputed the result, he spent the majority of the contest defending against Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling, so there was little controversy surrounding the scoring.

Dvalishvili’s first title defense is yet to be booked, though he and O’Malley have both spoken about the possibility of an immediate rematch. The champion gave his reasoning for a second O’Malley fight on an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show.

“I’m in, 100 percent,” Dvalishvili said. “When I saw the first time he wants to do rematch, I said let’s fight in November. Even though I’m here, I’m working with UFC, I can fight him—I know he’s not ready now, but that’s why I told him let’s fight in November. We already fought, and I know his game, his power, everything, no problem. I can fight him back and now I will not kiss him, I will finish him, and I will take care of him. I go easy on him the first time, so now this time I will destroy him.”

O’Malley is unlikely to return to action soon, with the fighter recently announcing that hip surgery could keep him sidelined until summer 2025. At best, he hopes to be back in March.

Should they eventually rematch, Dvalishvili vowed to not take it easy on O’Malley and promised a finish.

“Actually, I wanted to finish him fifth round, but [referee] Herb Dean, when I took [O’Malley] down, I was waiting,” Dvalishvili said. “Sean was supposed to move and I either choke him or punch him hard and try to finish him, Herb Dean told me to work and I let go. I changed the position and he told me again, ‘You’ve got to work,’ and then I let go, what should I do, and I let him get up. Then I took a long time to take him down again in the fifth round, otherwise I was going to finish him fifth round, but Herb Dean made me let go.”

“This time, I’m going to try finish him early. I was trying to finish him fifth round, but it doesn’t work out that way. This time, I will finish him early. Now he’s saying he wants to finish me or he will do better, OK, that’s interesting me more if he will do it. If people are interested, I’m in.”

A Dvalishvili-O’Malley rematch became more likely following rumors that undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov is in talks to fight Song Yadong rather than challenge for the title. Nurmagomedov was in attendance at UFC 306 seemingly to build to a matchup, but Dvalishvil’s team has been reluctant to anoint Nurmagomedov as the No. 1 option, a situation that has generated criticism.

Dvalishvili wants it to be clear that he will fight Nurmagomedov or anyone else if that’s what the matchmakers call for.

“I have no problem,” Dvalishvili said. “Whoever the UFC will offer me, I will fight. I never choose my opponent, and I’m going to continue same. I never have an option like this to say I’m going to fight him or him, I was never in this situation before and I don’t think any different now.”

Sigh. Tatiana Suarez is out of her UFC 310 fight against Virna Jandiroba.

Giant. Francis Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick breaks down the heavyweight star’s PFL debut.

Rankings. Does Ngannou regain the No. 1 spot at heavyweight after his win?

Spoiler? Is Max Holloway about to bring an abrupt end to Ilia Topuria’s title reign?

Imitation Game. Conor McGregor calls out Ilia Topuria for biting his style.

Tapes. Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad are both saying they had a physical confrontation that was filmed, but is yet to be released.

Air Khamzat. Khamzat Chimaev shows off his hops on the first episode of UFC 308 Embedded.

Hate. Bruno “Blindado” Silva really, really, really cannot stand Chris Weidman.

Why Not? ONE Championship fighter “wins” boxing match with extremely illegal head kick.

Mike Heck chats with Coach Nicksick.

Get to know the slappers.

“Mighty Mouse” breaks down Saturday’s main event.

Severe MMA. Sean Sheehan and Graeme McDonnell break down PFL Battle of the Giants and take a victory lap over Paul Hughes’ impressive performance.

Anik & Florian. Jon Anik and Kenny Florian chat with Daniel Cormier and Dan Ige, plus coaches Eric Nicksick and Ray Longo.

Back to the ring?

PFL has a star in Paul Hughes.

Hard work, but someone’s gotta do it.

Underground.

Why not?

Ageless.

Pain.

Are there any UFC champions right now properly building up their rightful contenders? Dvalishvili is playing coy with all the Nurmagomedov talk, Julianna Peña is trolling Kayla Harrison, Ilia Topuria is feuding with Belal Muhammad (?) and barely hyping up the fight that’s just days away, and let’s not even get started on Jon Jones.

These folks at the top have earned their spots, but all of this anti-promotion gets exhausting after a while.

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.

The Honda MotoGP factory team is finalising a deal with Castrol to replace Repsol from the 2025 season, Motorsport.com has learned.

Although it was an open secret for months, Repsol executives formally informed Honda of their intention not to extend their sponsorship deal – which expires at the end of this season – on the Sunday of this year’s San Marino Grand Prix.

With a brief statement sent just after the MotoGP race, the Spanish company put an end to 30 years of a relationship that began losing strength following the departure of Marc Marquez from the Japanese squad at the end of last year.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Advertisement

Repsol’s financial contribution to HRC was considerably reduced once the Spanish rider’s departure to Gresini was confirmed, a circumstance that was reflected in the evident loss of the oil company’s logo on the RC213V, going from occupying a central place to moving to the underside of Joan Mir and Luca Marini’s bikes.

In fact, if the Honda manufacturer’s factory squad has continued to identify itself as the Repsol Honda Team, it has been thanks to a gesture of goodwill from the Japanese brand, which, in any case, has raced with its bikes decorated mainly in the corporate colours (red, blue and white), rather than black.

The Honda/Repsol partnership began in 1995 and has since produced a total of 15 riders’ titles, 10 constructors’ titles and 183 race victories.

With the break-up now just a few months away, Motorsport.com has learned that Honda has already agreed a deal with Castrol for the British oil company to fill the gap left by Repsol from next season onwards.

Castrol is one of the main partners of the LCR team, owned by Lucio Cecchinello, which has the fuel and lubricant company as a main sponsor on the side of the garage currently occupied by Johann Zarco.

The new partnership with the factory team does not, however, jeopardise the existing one with LCR.

While the relationship between Castrol and the Tokyo-based manufacturer’s factory team will not reach title sponsor status by 2025, the relationship could go further depending on a number of factors.