These African athletes who could make the difference in 2021!

African football in the spotlight

If the irresistible Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool), Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria / Manchester City), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco / Chelsea), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon / Arsenal), Nicolas Pepe (Côte d’Ivoire / Arsenal) or Ismaël Bennacer (Algeria / AC Milan) are the flagship African footballers to follow this season, other players will continue to brilliantly animate the European football scene every week, like Édouard Mendy (Senegal / Chelsea), Franck Késsié (Ivory Coast / AC Milan), Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria / Borussia Mönchengladbach) or Kalilou Koulibaly (Senegal / Naples).

Finally, some could soon register their name at the highest level: Sébastien Haller (Ivory Coast / Ajax Amsterdam), Krépin Diatta (Senegal / Club Bruges), Boulaye Dia (Senegal / Stade de Reims) or Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon / Besiktas Istanbul). Especially since 2021 will be the ideal year for African players to shine. The calendar will be rich with the qualifications for CAN 2022, then those for the World Cup in Qatar. A full article will soon be devoted to African footballers to follow in 2021.

Ons Jabeur, best African hope on the courts

A quarter-finalist at the last Australian Open, Ons Jabeur begins the year 2021 with great ambitions: to integrate the top 10 and win titles.

If almost a year ago, the Tunisian became the first tennis player from an Arab country to reach the quarterfinals of a grand slam, she has since established herself as a candidate at the very highest level, by making four other quarter-finals in 2020 (Ostrava, Cincinnati, Lexington and Doha) and reaching the round of 16 at Roland Garros. A year rich in experience which should allow Ons Jabeur to feel better on the court and have a great season.

Chad Le Clos, the fastest swimmer on the continent

The most decorated South African athlete in the history of the Olympic Games, Chad Le Clos remains the great safe bet in African swimming. In Rio, the swimmer won two silver medals, including one shared with Michael Phelps.

Four years earlier, he had created one of the most beautiful sensations of the London Games by dropping the American giant on the 200-meter butterfly. Despite a year 2019 marked by injuries and a year 2020 hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the swimmer wants to return to do better in 2021 in Tokyo and regain gold. Answer this summer!

Joel Embiid and Serge Ibaka on the floors of the NBA

Spearhead of the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid (26) is the African NBA player who should be the most irresistible this season. The Cameroonian pivot has also started the year 2021 and continues to string together excellent performances in the elite of American basketball.

At the Clippers, the arrival of Serge Ibaka, from the Raptors in 2020, has kept all its promises.

The Congolo-Spaniard was expected as the recruit who was to allow Los Angeles to take a step forward. He is now firmly established in Ty Lue’s starting five.

Biniam Girmay traces his route by bike

A great hope for African cycling, Biniam Girmay should be talked about in the coming years. At just 20 years old, the Eritrean became the youngest rider to win the African Cyclist of the Year trophy. In 2020, the rider of the Nippo Delko One Provence training shone and progressed both in Africa and in Europe. And with its potential, the future looks even better!

Springboks Women to transform the test

The year 2021 will also be the opportunity for rugby fans to follow the 9^e edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which will take place in New Zealand from September 18 to October 16. First team to qualify through regional tournaments for the Rugby World Cup 2021 – after winning Rugby Africa’s first Women’s Cup at home -, South Africa (13^e in the IRB ranking) will sign its fourth participation in the competition this year (after 2006, 2010 and 2014). Under the orders of Stanley Raubenheimer, the Springboks Women hope to do better than in previous editions where they had finished 10^e !

Ilunga Makabu, roi du ring

Sacred WBC light heavyweight world champion on January 31, 2020, after defeating Pole Michel Cieslak in front of his audience in Kinshasa (Congo), Junior Ilunga Makabu (28-2, including 25 KOs) signed in December last sat 28^e victory in 30 professional fights against the African champion Olanrewaju Durodola. A successful year 2020, despite 11 months outside the rings, which predicts an exceptional year 2021. The native of Kananga should try to unify the belts. For this, he will have to dominate the French Arsen Goulamirian (WBA champion) or the Latvian Mairis Briedis (IBF champion), while the WBO belt remains vacant. Junior Ilunga Makabu is in contention for the 2020 WBC Boxer Title and was also named in the Best KO categories. and best comeback of the year.

Africa in the Octagon

In mixed martial arts (MMA), Africa is also illustrated. Thanks to Nigerian fighters Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, the continent has two championship belts at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). UFC welterweight champion, the first (17-1). With a streak of 16 straight wins including 12 in the UFC where he has reigned since his victory over Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. The powerful Nigerian has since successfully defended his belt against Colby Covington at UFC 245 and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. At UFC 258 scheduled for February 13, Kamaru Usman is expected to defend his welterweight title against Brazilian Gilbert Burns (19-3).

UFC middleweight world champion, the second goes in 2021 to conquer the light heavyweight belt. 2020 World MMA winner at an event honoring the most outstanding fighters of the year, Israel Adesanya (20-0, including 15 KOs) remains undefeated. “The Last Style Bender” will then try to become champion in two categories simultaneously by facing the Polish Jan Blachowicz (27-8, including 8 KOs) during UFC 259, scheduled for March 6.

Finally, the Franco-Cameroonian wrestler Francis Ngannou (15-3, including 11 K.-O.), will try to win the heavyweight belt against the American Stipe Miocic (20-3, including 14 K. -O.). The two met for the first time in January 2018, and Ngannou lost by unanimous decision. But since then, the Franco-Cameroonian has come back stronger by chaining no less than four victories by KO. from the first round. What to afford the first place in the classification of heavyweights.

The stars of African athletics

Reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in the marathon, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge is looking for a new gold medal next summer at the Tokyo Olympics. The African runner was crowned at the Rio Olympics in 2016 before breaking the world record for the marathon in Berlin in 2:01:39, becoming the first man to pass the 2 hours and 2 minutes mark on the 42,195 km. He remains the big favorite of the event. His compatriot Kibiwott Kandie should shine in the half marathon, a race in which he holds the world record in 57 ’32’ ‘.

On the women’s side, another Kenyan athlete should host the long-distance races this season: Brigid Kosgei. Holder of the world record for the marathon for women in a mixed race since October 13, 2019 with a time of 2:14:04, the Kenyan is now focusing on the Olympics and is a big favorite.

Lamya Matoub, Karate Kid

Gold medalist at the 2017 World Games and bronze medalist at the 2018 World Championships, the Algerian hopes to be part of Tokyo for the first appearance of her sport, karate, on the program of the Olympic Games. The year 2021 promises to be rich in competition anyway, between the African Championships in Tangier (February 7-9) and the World Championships (November 17-22) in Dubai.

Jordy Smith, storming the waves

Like karate, this is the first time that surfing will be dedicated to the Olympics. A sure bet on the World Surf League, South African surfer Jordy Smith will be the main African chance for a medal in Tokyo in this discipline. Often placed but rarely a winner, this year Smith will have the opportunity to enter fully into the legend of his sport.