Nibret Melak from Ethiopia and Teresiah Muthoni Gateri from Kenya claimed wins at the 90th edition of the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona – the 11th Gold level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
Nibret won for the second consecutive year, becoming the second Ethiopian athlete in the history of the men’s race to win at least two consecutive editions after Fita Bayisa, who triumphed four times in a row from 1992 to 1995. Muktar Edris is the only other Ethiopian athlete to have won twice, but not in consecutive years.
The lead pack was whittled down to six athletes during the second lap. Kinyanjui took the initiative, going through the second lap mark in 11:49, closely followed by Worku, Melak, Levy, Takele and Chelimo.
Tedesse Worku stepped up the pace during the fourth lap and only Melak, Kibet and Takele were able to keep up with the 20-year-old. The leading quartet went through the bell in 23:06 and battled it out over the final lap.
Nebret unleashed his kick in the final 150m to cross the finish line in 28:33, holding off Kibet by two seconds. Tadesse completed the podium, finishing third in 28:36.
Nebret made his breakthrough last March when he finished second at the Campaccio race in San Giorgio su Legnano one week before claiming the win at the Cinque Mulini. During the summer season the 22-year-old Ethiopian runner improved his PB to 12:54.22 in the 5000m at the Ethiopian Olympic Trials in Hengelo, qualifying for the Olympic Games. In the current World Cross Country Tour Gold series, Nebret Melak finished third in Seville and second in Venta de Banos.
Nibret Melak claims back-to-back wins at Cinque-Mulini
AFCON Top Scorer Vincent Aboubaker in shock move to Premier League
2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, top scorer, Vincent Aboubakar, is set for a shock move to the Premier League, with West Ham United and Leicester City said to be interested in his services.
According to Fichajes, West Ham United and Leicester City are among the clubs keeping close tabs on Aboubakar following his exploits in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
The Cameroonian captain currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC but has now emerged as a potential target for West Ham and Leicester.
Both Premier League clubs are said to be closely following the progression of Aboubakar and are expected to make a move in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Aboubakar, who netted eight goals at the 2021 AFCON, enjoyed the best years of his career in Portugal during his time at FC Porto. The 30-year-old scored 58 goals in 125 competitive appearances while adding 16 assists during his six-year spell at Porto.
The striker left Porto in 2020, joining Besiktas before eventually ending up at Al-Nassr last summer. Aboubakar scored five goals in 15 league games for Al-Nassr in his maiden season at the club.
AFCON 2021 final: Prize money for Senegal, Egypt, and Cameroon revealed
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will pay Senegal $5 million for winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, ahead of Egypt.
CAF will also pay Egypt $2.75 million for losing the AFCON 2021 final to Senegal and Cameroon $2.2 million for winning the third-place final (Bronze medal), according to The Sportsgrail.
Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the AFCON final on Sunday night in Yaoundé’s Olembé stadium in Cameroon.
The AFCON 2021 final match ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.
Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty for the Teranga Lions to ensure they win their first-ever AFCON.
Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the 2021 AFCON, Mane was named Player of the Tournament.
His teammate, Edouard Mendy, won the best goalkeeper award as the Chelsea shot-stopper conceded only two goals during 2021 AFCON and blocked a penalty in the shootout against Egypt.
Cameroon captain, Vincent Aboubakar, won the Golden Boot after scoring a tally of eight goals in the tournament.
Egypt’s Gabaski, Cameroon’s Aboubaker Nigeria’s Moses named in Best XI
Egyptian goalkeeper, Gabaski has been named in the Best XI for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) team of the tournament.
Gabaski, alongside Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, Nigeria’s Sadio Mane, was named in the Best XI following the conclusion of the 2021 AFCON tournament on Sunday night.
Recall that Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout to win the 2021 AFCON for the first time in their country’s history.
In a 4-4-2 formation, the football statistics website, Whoscored, published the Best XI for AFCON team of the tournament and Simon is deployed as an attacking midfielder with Morocco’s Sofiane Boufal (SCO Angers) and Ivory Coast stars, Ibrahim Sangaré (PSV Eindhoven) and Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal) completing the midfield four.
Gabaski (Egypt/Zamalek) starts in goal and the back four contains Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Abdou Diallo (Senegal/PSG) and Saliou Ciss (Senegal/Nancy).
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool) and Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon/Al-Nassr) are the two strikers upfront.
