Sub-Saharan Africa

Two "shadow" teams could be added to the southern hemisphere's Super 12 this season, a leading South African official said on Tuesday.

African Games officials want to harmonise international sporting calendars to ensure their top athletes do not have to choose between lucrative overseas meetings and the continent's top event.

The lawyer of Hansie Cronje, South Africa's disgraced former cricket captain, has demanded the withdrawal by 4 pm (14:00 GMT) today of the life ban that is to be imposed on the player.

World champions France have abandoned plans to play friendly internationals in South America early next year and will instead play two games in Europe.

South Africa cricket chief Ali Bacher hopes his replacement will be appointed before the new season begins in two months - freeing him to concentrate on 2003 World Cup organisation.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has reacted bitterly to the failure of South Africa's bid to host the 2006 football World Cup, attributing it to a "globalisation of apartheid."

South Africa sighed with grief and hit out at European soccer powers on Thursday after losing out to rival Germany in its bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Later this week the FIFA executive committee meet to vote on which country will host the 2006 World Cup.

South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid committee officials will meet their Brazil counterparts next week to discuss a possible deal over Brazilian backing for South Africa's bid.

Brazil has told Asian nations that its bid for the 2006 World Cup combined passion and organisation and it deserved to host the tournament.

Romania and South Africa have signed a bilateral co-operation agreement in Pretoria to lay the foundation for practical relationships at the level of sport federations, clubs and schools.

A Moroccan official said he was surprised by the results of a poll of sports editors showing the country was bottom of the list of the five bidding to host the 2006 World Cup finals.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to take the 2000 African Nations Cup finals away from Zimbabwe.

The BBC has pulled its flagship Saturday sports show Grandstand from its schedules this weekend as a result of intense competition from its rival free-to-air channels.

Senegal lawyer Lamine Diack is present his case today to retain control of the world governing athletics body after the death of International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) president Primo Nebiolo this month.

Cameroon's suspension from world soccer has been lifted by FIFA following the intervention of the country's prime minister.