NINE AFRICAN COUNTRIES RECORDED THE HIGHEST CANADIAN VISITOR VISA REVECTION RATES AHEAD OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

Highest visa rejection rates (2026 World Cup)

 1. 🇨🇩 DRC - Refusal Rate: 96.1% - Approved: 15 - Refused: 370 - Total Processed: 385

2. 🇰🇪 Kenya - Refusal Rate: 91.1% - Approved: 20 - Refused: 205 - Total Processed: 225

3. 🇬🇭 Ghana - Refusal Rate: 89.3% - Approved: 185 - Refused: 1,540 - Total Processed: 1,725

4. 🇨🇲 Cameroon - Refusal Rate: 87.0% - Approved: 15 - Refused: 100 - Total Processed: 115

5. 🇳🇬 Nigeria - Refusal Rate: 86.0% - Approved: 110 - Refused: 675 - Total Processed: 785

6. 🇸🇳 Senegal - Refusal Rate: 85.3% - Approved: 25 - Refused: 145 - Total Processed: 170

7. 🇪🇹 Ethiopia - Refusal Rate: 78.6% - Approved: 30 - Refused: 110 - Total Processed: 140

8. 🇩🇿 Algeria - Refusal Rate: 73.5% - Approved: 65 - Refused: 180 - Total Processed: 245

9. 🇪🇬 Egypt - Refusal Rate: 59.1% - Approved: 225 - Refused: 325 - Total Processed: 550

Source: CTVNews/Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

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KIPYEGON, LYLES AMONG SIX CROWNED AT EXPANDED WORLD ATHLETICS AWARDS

Faith Kipyegon. Reuters 

Six athletes - Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, Tigist Assefa, Kelvin Kiptum, and Yulimar Rojas - were all named World Athletes of the Year on Monday after the awards were expanded into three categories.

The 2023 World Athletics Awards have been divided into track, field and out of stadia categories following feedback received during the voting process, the organisers said.

"The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

"Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records ... in 2023, as well as a host of world titles and major wins, so it is only fitting that they be recognised as the athletes of the year in their respective fields."

DENSE FOG CAUSES DELAY IN ETHIOPIA-SIERRA LEONE GAME AS WORLD CUP QUALIFYING IN AFRICA BEGINS

EL JADIDA, Morocco (AP) — Ethiopia and Sierra Leone played to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying game that was delayed several times because of dense fog.

The halftime break lasted about one hour as the fog lingered, and the referee stopped play twice in the second half before the match ended after 15 minutes of stoppage time.

The game was played at El Abdi Stadium in the port city of El Jadida on the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

ETHIOPIA'S ASSEFA SMASHES WOMEN'S MARATHON WORLD RECORD

Reuters 

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday, lopping off more than two minutes from the previous best to clock an official time of two hours 11 minutes and 53 seconds.

Assefa, who had set a course record with a personal best last year, set a blistering early pace, gradually shaking off any competition to pulverise Kenyan Brigid Kosgei's record of two hours 14 minutes and four seconds set in 2019.

Remarkably, her splits were faster after the halfway mark.

"I knew I wanted to go for the world record but I never thought I would do this time," said the 26-year-old, a former 800-metre runner. "It was the result of hard work."

With her time she set a marker for next year's Paris Olympics while also almost certainly nailing down a spot on the Ethiopian Olympic team for 2024.

"I have set a mark now. The decision does not lie with me but with officials. It is up to the National Committee to select me for the team."

UGANDA'S KIPLANGAT TAKES MARATHON GOLD

AP

Uganda's Victor Kiplangat won the men's marathon at the World Athletics Championships on Sunday, while Maru Teferi of Israel finished with silver despite taking a tumble.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kiplangat broke away on his own with about 4 km (2.5 miles) to go, crossing the finish line with a time of two hours, 8 minutes, 53 seconds - 19 seconds ahead of Teferi.

The race had appeared to be heading for a close finish, with Kiplangat and Ethiopia's Leul Gebresilase enjoying a sizeable lead as they entered the final 10 km lap, but Gebresilase faded late and was left behind by the 23-year-old Ugandan.

ROAD TO BAL | GROUP C | DAR ES SALAAM | TANZANIA 🇹🇿