KINGSTON, Jamaica — A milestone achievement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s national football team has triggered a wave of celebration and substantial rewards for the squad that secured its spot at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. In an official public statement, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi confirmed that every player who contributed to the national side’s successful qualification campaign will walk away with a trio of valuable incentives to honor their historic accomplishment. Beyond the prestige of representing their nation on the world’s biggest football stage, each team member will receive a brand-new automobile, allocated plots of land, and monetary cash bonuses. The unprecedented reward package marks the government’s recognition of the team’s hard work, unity, and achievement that has brought national pride to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with fans across the country already gearing up to support their side in the global tournament. The announcement comes as nations across the world are finalizing their preparations for the most-watched sporting event on the planet, with DR Congo’s qualification marking a new chapter for the country’s football program.
分类： sports
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Antigua and Barbuda swimmers claim four gold medals on Day 3 at CARIFTA Aquatics
On the third evening of finals at the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, the swimming team from Antigua and Barbuda turned in an outstanding, career-defining performance that has cemented the country’s status as one of the most improved competitors in this year’s tournament. The team left the block with one clear goal: to exceed expectations and collect hardware, and they delivered far beyond projections, wrapping up the night with four gold medals and two bronze medals – the strongest single-session result the nation has posted throughout the entire competition.
Leading the charge for the underdog Caribbean squad were three standout young competitors: Madison MacMillan, Ellie Shaw, and Anya DeGannes, each of whom not only claimed top podium spots but also rewrote the Antigua and Barbuda national record book by the end of the session. Beyond the six medals, the team set two new all-time national records and three new age-group benchmarks, with multiple swimmers hitting personal best times across their events.
MacMillan kicked off the medal surge for the team, claiming the top spot on the podium in the girls’ 1500-meter freestyle in a tightly contested race that came down to the final lap. It was Shaw, however, who delivered the most dominant performance of the night for Antigua and Barbuda, walking away with two gold medals in separate events. First, she claimed victory in the 200-meter individual medley, a race that saw her break both the long-standing national record and the age-group record while also clocking a new personal best time. She did not slow down after that win, returning to the pool shortly after to take another gold in the 50-meter breaststroke, further cementing her status as one of the tournament’s rising stars.
DeGannes added the team’s fourth gold of the night in the 200-meter butterfly, turning in a personal best performance that also earned her a new national age-group record. Even in her non-medal race later that evening, the 200-meter individual medley, DeGannes continued to push boundaries, finishing fourth overall while clocking another age-group record and another new personal best, a testament to the team’s depth of training and competitive drive.
The two bronze medals earned by the squad came from equally impressive efforts from Kaylee Warner and Alessandro Bazzoni. Warner finished third in the 100-meter freestyle, hitting a personal best time to secure her spot on the podium, while Bazzoni matched that result with a bronze of his own in the men’s 200-meter butterfly, also turning in a new personal best to round out the medal haul.
Beyond the podium finishers, several other Antigua and Barbuda swimmers turned in strong performances that contributed to the team’s overall successful night. Christopher Walter finished sixth in both the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley, holding his own against far more experienced competitors from larger regional nations. Selah Wiltshire placed eighth in the 50-meter breaststroke, and even outside the top three, she walked away with a new personal best time to cap her performance.
For Antigua and Barbuda, this historic medal haul is far more than just a one-night success: it caps off a string of strong results throughout the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, with the nation’s swimmers consistently delivering podium finishes and record-breaking performances across a wide range of events. As the tournament progresses, the team has proven that small Caribbean nations can compete at the highest level of regional aquatics competition.
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Saint Lucia finish 10th at CARIFTA Games
The Caribbean’s premier junior athletics showcase, the CARIFTA Games, wrapped up its 2025 edition on the evening of April 6 at Grenada’s Kirani James Stadium, with Saint Lucia matching its 2024 medal haul to finish 10th on the overall regional medals table. For the second straight year, the island nation left the competition with four podium finishes, all earned by its standout field event competitors.
Saint Lucia’s medal count got off to a blazing start on the competition’s opening days, when 16-year-old Destinee Cenac claimed gold in the Under-17 girls’ high jump. Clearing a new personal best height of 1.72 meters, the St Joseph’s Convent student and Morne Stars Athletics Club member improved on her bronze medal finish from the 2024 Games, kicking off a dominant run for Saint Lucia’s field athletes. Cenac’s win marked the 16th high jump medal the island has earned in CARIFTA Games history, making it the nation’s most successful individual discipline – a legacy built by previous CARIFTA record holders and Olympic athletes Levern Spencer and Jeannelle Scheper.
Naya Jules added a silver medal to Saint Lucia’s tally in the Under-20 girls’ pole vault, recording a clearance of 2.95 meters. This marked Jules’ fourth consecutive CARIFTA medal in the event, and her second straight silver after taking home gold in the Open girls’ division in both 2023 and 2024. Beyond pole vault, Jules also delivered a strong personal best performance of 41.59 meters in the Under-20 girls’ javelin throw, finishing just outside the podium in fifth place.
Opening night of the Games saw Denzel Phillips claim his third career CARIFTA medal, taking bronze in the Under-20 boys’ discus throw with a best throw of 53.24 meters. The Saint Lucia athlete finished behind Jamaican pair Kamari Kennedy and Joseph Salmon on the podium, and narrowly missed a second medal after spending most of the competition in top-three position for the shot put, ultimately dropping to fifth in the final standings.
The final medal of the competition for Saint Lucia came on Easter Monday, the event’s closing day, from Under-17 long jumper Randall Monroe. Making his CARIFTA Games debut just hours after finishing a narrow fourth in the Under-17 boys’ high jump, Monroe fought through challenging stiff headwind conditions to record a jump of 6.60 meters, good enough for bronze. The young athlete will remain eligible to compete in the Under-17 division when the next CARIFTA Games are held.
The 12-member Saint Lucian delegation included a number of young athletes who are expected to build on their 2025 experience in future editions of the meet. Fifteen-year-old thrower Eavan Edgar placed 11th in the Under-17 shot put and fouled out of the discus competition, but will be eligible to return next year. Similarly, long jumpers Barbara-Marie Maximin and Syesha Rogers placed ninth in the Under-17 and Under-20 divisions respectively, with Maximin moving up to the Under-20 bracket in 2026.
For the nation’s Under-20 male athletes, the 2025 Games marked their final appearance in the junior regional competition, as all will age out of the division ahead of 2026. Middle-distance runner Evann John delivered an impressive improved performance from his 2024 showing, qualifying for the 800m final and clocking 1:53.44 to finish fifth. Sprinter Joaqwan Alexander ran a faster time than he did in 2024 in the 400m event, but once again just missed out on a spot in the final round. Benique Mann placed 13th in the 1500m, Ryan Simeon finished 24th in the 100m, and triple jumper Darvin Forde placed 11th in his first and final CARIFTA Games appearance.
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Cooman wins in Antigua, eyes Commonwealth Games
A sold-out crowd packed Lucky Eddi’s venue in English Harbour, Antigua & Barbuda, on Saturday, April 4, to witness a thrilling display of boxing skill that ended with Saint Lucia’s Danaii Cooman claiming a standout win over local competitor Jeremiah Toussaint at Fight Night 2.
Hailing from Vieux Fort and competing in the 60kg Lightweight Elite division under the guidance of Saint Lucia’s senior national head coach Conrad Fredericks, Cooman turned in a performance that highlighted far more than just individual talent. Across every round, the young boxer showcased sharp technical precision, unwavering disciplinary focus, and remarkable resilience when faced with pressure from his Antiguan opponent. His consistent dominance in the ring has also drawn new attention to the growing strength of boxing development across southern Saint Lucia, marking the region as an emerging hub for elite athletic talent in the sport.
Beyond the immediate glory of a win in front of a packed international crowd, this victory holds major strategic significance for Cooman’s long-term career goals. It serves as a critical milestone in his multi-year preparation cycle for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he intends to earn a spot representing his home nation of Saint Lucia. The 2026 Games are scheduled to run from late July through early August in Glasgow, Scotland, giving Cooman just over two years to refine his craft and secure his place on the national squad.
Cooman will not pause his training momentum after this latest win. Just under two weeks from his Antigua & Barbuda victory, he is set to join a five-member Saint Lucian squad traveling to Martinique for the second annual Caribbean Golden Glove competition, which will run from April 17 to 19. The upcoming regional tournament will offer another high-stakes opportunity for Cooman to test his skills against top Caribbean talent and continue building momentum toward his 2026 Commonwealth Games goal.
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Barbados fourth at the CARIFTA Games
The CARIFTA Games, the Caribbean’s premier regional junior track and field competition, wrapped its 2024 edition with a historic final-day surge from Team Barbados that secured the nation its strongest result in eight years. Holding the highest medal total and placing fourth overall in the standings, Barbados amassed 17 total medals – six gold, three silver, and eight bronze – matching its 2016 medal haul when the Games were last hosted in St George’s, Grenada. The event’s crowning moment for the island nation came in the Under-20 Boys’ 4x400m relay, where the Barbadian quartet broke a 11-year-old meet record to claim the final gold medal of the competition.
After a slow start to the final competition day, the gold streak kicked off with Jayden Walcott’s unexpected shot put victory. Competing in his first ever Under-20 Boys’ Shot Put event amid intermittent rain showers, the tall Combermere School athlete threw 18.41 meters to take top place. Even his second-best effort would have outperformed Jamaica’s reigning discus champion Joseph Salmon, who took silver in the event.
Middle-distance runner Ashlyn Simmons continued Barbados’ winning momentum, claiming her second gold medal of the Games. The 17-year-old Alexandra School student had already secured the Under-20 1500m title earlier in the Easter weekend, having won the Under-17 1500m division three years prior. She crossed the finish line of the Under-20 800m in 2:09.07 to add a second gold to her personal haul, with teammate Danya Skeete following close behind to take silver in 2:10.50.
The McIntyre family earned its second medal of the Games when 17-year-old Luke McIntyre of Harrison College took bronze in the Under-20 Boys’ 5000m. Spurred on by cheers from traveling Barbadian fans along the final straight, McIntyre clocked a personal best of 15:42.51, just days after his sister won silver in the Girls’ Open 3000m event.
Barbadian relay teams delivered consistent podium results across age divisions on the final day. In the Under-17 Boys’ 4x400m, anchor runner Jalino Hamlett pulled off a dramatic late pass of Trinidad & Tobago’s Michal Paul on the final stretch, guiding teammates Khalil Bryan, Taje Coward, and Jakio Devonish to a bronze medal finish in 3:19.90. The Under-20 Women’s 4x400m relay team matched that result, with 400m silver medallist Kadia Rock splitting a blistering 51.20-second final leg after a strong setup from Kanedra Morgan, Ashlyn Simmons, and Danya Skeete to edge out Trinidad & Tobago and secure bronze in 3:40.68. Aaron Massiah added one more bronze before the final event, clearing 15.26m in the Under-20 Boys’ triple jump.
Indisputably, the standout performance of the Games for Barbados was the victory in the Under-20 Boys’ 4x400m relay. The four-person team of Nadal Seale, Aidan Moore, Jahkye Brewster, and Shamari Greenige-Lewis clocked a winning time of 3:05.49, breaking the previous Games record that had stood untouched since 2013. This gold capped off a historic medal haul for Barbados, matching the six golds the nation won at the 2016 CARIFTA Games hosted in Grenada, and pushing the total medal count to 17 – also the highest since that 2016 competition.
Team Barbados has earned double-digit medals at seven of the last eight editions of the CARIFTA Games, but officials and fans alike have called this 2024 performance the strongest in recent memory. Looking ahead, Barbados has formally expressed interest in hosting the 2028 CARIFTA Games at a newly renovated national stadium. No official decision has been announced regarding the host of the 2027 Games, but the Barbadian team has made clear its goal to carry the momentum from this 2024 performance into future competitions.
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Ministry of Sports Invites Public to Welcome Home CARIFTA Champions
The Jamaican Ministry of Sports has extended an open invitation to members of the public across the country to join in a joyous homecoming celebration honoring the nation’s standout CARIFTA Games champions, fresh off their dominant performance at the regional youth athletic competition.
CARIFTA, the Caribbean Free Trade Association Games, stands as one of the most prestigious annual track and field events for young athletes across the Caribbean region, serving as a launching pad for many future Olympic and world championship competitors. This year’s edition saw Jamaican young athletes deliver a record-breaking performance, topping the overall medal standings once again and cementing the nation’s reputation as a global powerhouse in youth track and field.
In a statement released to the media, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Sports noted that the public celebration is designed to recognize the hard work, dedication, and extraordinary achievement of every athlete who represented Jamaica at the games. Unlike closed private receptions, this event is open to all Jamaicans who wish to turn out and cheer on the next generation of sporting stars, allowing communities to connect directly with the young champions who have brought national pride to the country.
Organizers have confirmed that the homecoming event will include a formal motorcade through key areas of the capital Kingston, giving community members on both sides of the route the chance to wave flags, hold celebratory signs, and personally congratulate the athletes. A short official ceremony will follow the motorcade, where government sporting officials will address the crowd and highlight the role of these young champions in inspiring the next generation of Jamaican athletes.
The Ministry has encouraged members of the public to come out in large numbers, wear the national colors of black, gold, and green, and share their celebratory messages on social media using an official event hashtag to amplify the national pride surrounding the team’s historic win. This public welcome marks a long-standing tradition in Jamaican sports culture, where elite athletic achievements are celebrated as collective national victories rather than individual accomplishments.
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Nevis’ Kymarni Newton secures Team SKN’s lone medal at CARIFTA 2026
The 2026 CARIFTA Games, held over the Easter weekend in Grenada, delivered a historic moment for tiny Caribbean federation St. Kitts and Nevis, as 17-year-old Nevisian runner Kymarni Newton secured Team SKN’s sole medal of the regional youth athletics competition.
Competing in the hotly contested Under-17 Boys’ 800-meter race, Newton crossed the finish line to claim bronze with a stunning personal best time of 1:55.34. Beyond his spot on the podium, the young runner’s performance also broke a long-standing St. Kitts and Nevis Under-18 national record, marking a new high-water mark for his athletic career.
Newton’s road to the 2026 podium was years in the making, and punctuated by off-track drama that tested his grit just days before the race. He first earned a spot to compete at CARIFTA back in 2024, when the Games were also hosted in Grenada, and narrowly missed qualifying for the 800m finals at the 2025 iteration in Trinidad. This year, 11 Nevisian athletes earned qualifying spots for the regional meet, and 10 ultimately made the trip to Grenada — a group that almost did not include Newton.
In a recounting of the pre-race chaos that preceded his historic finish, the St. Kitts and Nevis Athletics Association revealed that Newton nearly missed his connecting flight from St. Kitts to Grenada after realizing he had left his passport at home. The last-minute scramble turned out to be a fitting metaphor for his entire 2026 Games journey, association officials noted.
“Kymarni has proven that no hurdle, on or off the track, is too high,” the association said in its official congratulatory statement, highlighting how the young athlete overcame early career setbacks and last-minute travel chaos to reach the podium.
Honourable Troy Liburd, Minister of Youth and Sports for the Nevis Island Administration, also joined in celebrating Newton’s win, noting that the runner has made his home community of Cherry Gardens, his alma mater Charlestown Secondary School, and the entire island of Nevis proud with his landmark performance.
Newton’s medal is more than a personal achievement: it underscores the growing strength and untapped potential of Nevis’ emerging generation of young track and field athletes, who continue to hold their own against top regional competitors at one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual youth sports competitions.
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PM says Antigua and Barbuda Will Invest Heavily in Tyra Fenton
Fresh off a historic three-medal performance at the regional CARIFTA Games in Grenada, teenage sprint prodigy Tyra Fenton of Antigua and Barbuda is set to receive substantial public investment from the country’s government to nurture her emerging athletic talent, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced. Speaking during his weekly public radio address just days after Fenton crossed the finish line first in the Under-17 girls’ 100-meter sprint, the prime minister made clear that his administration is prioritizing long-term support for the young star, emphasizing that the full weight of the government stands behind her burgeoning career. “But we’re going to invest heavily in her,” Browne affirmed, confirming the administration’s full backing for Fenton’s athletic and academic journey.
At the 2024 CARIFTA Games hosted at Grenada’s Kirani James Athletic Stadium, Fenton emerged as one of the most outstanding competitors across all youth events, turning in dominant displays across three different distance races to secure a spot on the podium every time she competed. After taking home top honors in the 100m, the 14-year-old speedster followed up with a second gold medal in the Under-17 200-meter sprint, before adding a bronze medal in the 400-meter event to round out an unprecedented three-medal haul for Antigua and Barbuda. Her consistent success across sprints and the mid-distance 400m has drawn widespread praise for her rare combination of raw explosive speed and impressive endurance, cementing her status as one of the top young track and field talents in the entire Caribbean region.
Prime Minister Browne added that Fenton has already been extended a full athletic scholarship to support her development, but the young athlete’s family has made the deliberate choice to keep her completing her secondary education in Antigua and Barbuda, rather than moving abroad for training and schooling immediately. According to Browne, Fenton is still roughly one year away from completing her high school requirements and making the transition to collegiate-level athletic and academic programs overseas. With her breakout performance at the 2024 CARIFTA Games, Fenton has cemented her place as a standard-bearer for the next generation of Antigua and Barbuda track and field athletes, with the government’s new investment package expected to clear the way for her to continue growing and competing at the highest international levels in coming years.
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World Cup Brazil 2027 Qualifiers : D-2 List of senior Grenadières convened
With just two matches remaining in the first round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup set to be hosted in Brazil, Haiti’s senior women’s national team, the Grenadières, has officially announced its full roster under newly appointed, world-renowned head coach Pia Sundhage. The two upcoming fixtures, both set to kick off at 2:00 p.m. local time at Guadeloupe’s Stade Roger Zami, will see Haiti face off against Anguilla on April 9, 2026, followed by a decisive clash against the Dominican Republic on April 17, 2026. Currently sitting atop Group D, with the Dominican Republic trailing behind them, the Grenadières enter these final matches in a strong position to secure progression to the next qualifying phase, and Sundhage has opted to mix fresh talent and returning experience to bolster the squad’s chances.
Among the new call-ups to the senior roster are young prospects Raphino Cyrenie and Océane Toussaint, who will get their first chance to compete at this critical qualifying stage alongside several familiar faces who have earned their way back into the national setup. Veterans Kethna Louis and Roselord Borgella mark their return to the Grenadières squad, while Alyssa Manassé Somer retains her spot in the roster after receiving her first call-up during the team’s most recent training camp.
The full 25-player roster spans top club leagues across North America, Europe, and Mexico, highlighting the global spread of Haitian women’s football talent. In goal, the squad features Kaina César V. Pietrus (Lipscomb University, USA), Océane Toussaint (Paris Saint-Germain, France), and Naila Louissaint (Concordia Stingers, Canada). The defensive line includes Kethna Louis (Montpellier Hérault SC, France), Jennyfer Limage (RC Lens, France), Betina Petit Frère (En Avant Guingamp, France), Amandine Pierre-Louis (AS Saint-Étienne, France), Tabita Dougenie Joseph (Olympique de Marseille, France), Claire Constant (DC Power FC, USA), and Alyssa S. Manasse (Blue/Somerset, USA).
In midfield, Sundhage has called up Deborah Bien-Aime (AS Saint-Étienne, France), Sherly Jeudy (RC Lens, France), Melchie D. Dumornay (OL Lyonnes, France), Maudeline Moryl (Olympique de Marseille, France), Anyssa Ibrahim (Le Mans FC, France), Dayana Pierre-Louis (Utah Royals FC, USA), and Josephine Vanuxeem (LOSC Lille, France). The attacking corps is made up of Chelsea A. Domond (En Avant Guingamp, France), Darlina Florsie L. Joseph (Toulouse FC, France), Cyrenie Raphino Brittany (Sporting CP, Portugal), Roseline Eloissaint (FC Nantes, France), Roselord Borgella (Club Tijuana, Mexico), Nerilia Mondesir (Seattle Reign FC, USA), and Lourdjina Etienne (FC Fleury, France).
For the Grenadières, these two matches are far more than routine qualifying fixtures: the team’s overarching goal is to secure a spot in the 2027 Women’s World Cup and mark a return to the global tournament after previous appearances. The current campaign has already seen positive results, including a 2-0 win over Suriname and a dominant 9-0 victory against Belize in earlier qualifying rounds, building momentum for the squad as they enter these final first-round matches under new leadership.
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WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda’s Tyra Fenton Dominates 200m At CARIFTA
The CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual youth athletic competitions, served up a stunning standout performance this year, as Antigua and Barbuda’s rising sprint star Tyra Fenton put on a masterclass of speed and dominance to claim top honors in the women’s 200-meter event.
Competing against a deep field of the region’s top young sprinters, Fenton controlled the race from the moment the starting gun fired out of the starting blocks. She exploded off the line, quickly gained an edge over her rivals through the curve, and extended her lead in the straightaway to cross the finish line well clear of the competition. Her commanding win has cemented her status as one of the most exciting young sprint talents coming out of the Caribbean this season.
For fans across Antigua and Barbuda, the victory sparked widespread celebration, highlighting the depth of young athletic talent emerging from the twin-island nation. CARIFTA has long served as a launching pad for future Olympic and world championship competitors, with many of the sport’s biggest sprint names getting their start at the regional event. Fenton’s dominant performance this year marks her as a name to watch in upcoming international youth competitions, as she continues to build her career and represent her country on the global athletic stage.