Sport Sunday

From: Speed o Rex

 Lots of football today from around the world:  Association Football, the Total Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, and American Football:  the NFL playoffs.  A few other sports also make today's mix. 

In Gabon

Opening day yesterday in the Total Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon 2017, was what non fans call a typical day in Soccer, both games ended in a 1-1 tie.  This afternoon features two matches, from Group B, Algeria vs. Zimbabwe first, followed by Tunisia vs. Senegal.  Both matches will be played at the Stade de Francevillle, Franceville, Gabon.

 In the USA

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs continues today with two games:  First, the Green Bay Packers will visit the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC Divisional game. With Aaron Rodgers throwing 4 TD passes last Sunday to dismantle the New York Giants, the Packers earned a matchup with the Cowboys, the NFC's top seed. Dallas won an October meeting at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, 30-16.  Play continues with the matchup of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Divisional game. Andy Reid's Chiefs bid for their first home playoff win in 23 years.

Fabian Gomez

 Also in the USA

PGA Tour Golf features final-round play in the Sony Open in Hawaii at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.  Argentina's Fabian Gomez captured this event last year after a two-hole playoff with Brandt Snedeker.

In South Africa

Golf.  Final-round play in the South African Open at Glendower GC in Gauteng. South Africa's Brandon Stone was last year's winner at 14-under-par.

 In Abu Dhabi

Yesterday the Desert T20 Challenge began at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, with Hong Kong vs. Scotland, Scotland winning by 24 runs, and Afghanistan vs. Ireland, Afghanistan winning by 5 wickets.  Today action continues in Abu Dhabi,  with more Group A action, first Oman vs. the Netherlands, and then United Arab Emirates vs. Namibia.  Action continues in Abu Dhabi until Tuesday, and then moves to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the rest of the competition.  There is a great story on the young studs to watch in Cricket here:   Eight names to watch out for at the Desert T20 Challenge

Scotland's Craig Wallace

 Spain

 In La Liga play, Sevilla FC v Real Madrid.  Sevilla can make a move to gatecrash the LaLiga title race on Sunday but to do so they must end Real Madrid's record-breaking unbeaten run.  Seville lost to Real Madrid in an exciting Copa del Rey clash earlier this week.  Madrid have not lost since April 2016 - a run of 40 matches.  Coach Zinedine Zidane admitted his side had been given a thorough test in the Copa clash, and expects more of the same on Sunday``Our plan is to keep the ball, but Sevilla will make life hard for us.''

Gerhard Erasmus

Vivian Kingma

 In England

Premier League Soccer: Manchester United vs. Liverpool.  As the season is progressing, Manchester United seems to have the advantage. Overall, however, Liverpool seems to be the better team, with better players in key positions. Man U's Mou is the better coach, of course, fighting on four fronts.  His team looks balanced and hungry with everyone looking to impress. In the end, Man U seems the favorite to take this one.

Cristiano Ronaldo

In Australia

Australian Open: First-round Play gets underway in the year's first Grand Slam, from Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. (Monday in Australia, Sunday in the Western Hemisphere)