SPORTS

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Glistening with sweat, Satoko Yamanouchi’s biceps ripple and the veins in her neck throb as if about to pop as she strikes a fearsome pose at the Japan bodybuilding championships. An hour later, the pint-sized Nagoya housewife is close to tears after narrowly failing to retain …

Gelsenkirchen, Germany | AFP | Schalke 04 are a sleeping giant in the German league, yet their youth academy is one of Germany’s most successful, producing World Cup winners, Bundesliga stars and Premier League exports. Germany has just qualified for Russia 2018, where they will defend the World Cup title …

Panama City, Panama | AFP | Panama president Juan Carlos Varela declared a national holiday in celebration at the central American country’s first ever qualification for the World Cup. “It’s a historic day for the country. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a national holiday for public and private sector workers,” Varela said …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona must remain in Spain’s La Liga, club general director Oscar Grau said on Wednesday following the signing by Catalan leaders of a declaration of independence. “The budgets are based on participation in La Liga. I think that La Liga and Barca must continue together,” Grau …

The Bugatti Chiron shifts from 0-400kph in just 42 seconds Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Cristiano Ronaldo has a new car in his already stunning collection. The latest addition to his collection is a Bugatti Chiron. The Real Madrid football star shelled out $3 million (Approx.Shs11 billion or over half …

Quito, Ecuador | AFP |  Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador here Tuesday. Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentina’s World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito. …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | English Football League clubs are risking bankruptcy by chasing promotion to the Premier League where they face “economic exhaustion” trying to compete with established sides, financial experts said on Tuesday. Between the 2008-09 and 2015-16 seasons, 19 clubs gained promotion from the Championship to the …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Tunisia, Senegal and Morocco are well placed to complete in November the five-nation African line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Nigeria and Egypt secured places at the weekend with home victories over Zambia and Congo Brazzaville respectively, leaving eight countries hunting the other …

Standings Group E ??EGY – 12pts ??UGA – 8pts ??GHA – 6pts ??CGO Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah converted a stoppage-time penalty to give Egypt a dramatic 2-1 win over Congo Brazzaville Sunday and a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Salah put Egypt ahead …

Kampala, Uganda | FIBA BASKETBALL |   City Oilers maestro Jordin Mayes was massive at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup 2017 Zone 5 qualifiers that ended on October 8 when he was named the Most Valuable Player. The American-born Mayes was also the highest points scorer at the regional basketball tournament with an average …