• Cameroon manager Rigobert Song celebrates after his team beat Algeria to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar. AFP
    Cameroon manager Rigobert Song celebrates after his team beat Algeria to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar. AFP
  • Cameroon players celebrate after scoring against Algeria at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida on March 29, 2022. EPA
    Cameroon players celebrate after scoring against Algeria at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida on March 29, 2022. EPA
  • Cameroon midfielder Martin Hongla under pressure from Algeria's Ismail Bennacer. AFP
    Cameroon midfielder Martin Hongla under pressure from Algeria's Ismail Bennacer. AFP
  • Cameroon's defender Nouhou Tolo celebrates after the win. AFP
    Cameroon's defender Nouhou Tolo celebrates after the win. AFP
  • Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli is challenged by Karl Toko Ekambi and Collins Fai of Cameroon. AFP
    Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli is challenged by Karl Toko Ekambi and Collins Fai of Cameroon. AFP
  • Cameroon celebrate after beating Algeria. AP
    Cameroon celebrate after beating Algeria. AP
  • Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli is challnged by Samuel Gouet of Cameroon. AFP
    Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli is challnged by Samuel Gouet of Cameroon. AFP
  • Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o, right, with manager Rigobert Song. AP
    Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o, right, with manager Rigobert Song. AP
  • Cameroon's Tawamba Leandre and Youcef Atal of Algeria battle for the ball. EPA
    Cameroon's Tawamba Leandre and Youcef Atal of Algeria battle for the ball. EPA
  • Cameroon players celebrate after beating Algeria. AP
    Cameroon players celebrate after beating Algeria. AP

Road to Qatar: how Cameroon qualified for World Cup 2022


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A last-gasp extra-time winner from Karl Toko Ekambi earned Cameroon their place at the Qatar World Cup via the away goals rule.

It was a dramatic end to what had been a tense affair over two legs against Algeria, who held a 1-0 advantage going into the second match in Bilda.

Eric Choupo-Moting's first-half goal had taken the match into extra-time but Algeria looked to have booked their spot in Qatar when Ahmed Touba headed home with three minutes remaining.

Cameroon, though, were not to be denied and Toko Ekambi swept home the winner to secure an African record-extending eighth appearance at the World Cup.

It capped a dream start for new manager Rigobert Song who had only been in the job a month after Antonio Conceicao was sacked following Cameroon's failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

Cameroon had finished top of their qualifying group to set up the decider against Algeria, after winning five out of six matches and edging out Ivory Coast by two points.

In Qatar, Cameroon have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland.

Cameroon's fixtures in Qatar

November 24 Switzerland v Cameroon – Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

November 28 Cameroon v Serbia – Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

December 2 Cameroon v Brazil – Lusail Stadium (11pm)

Cameroon striker Choupo-Moting celebrates with teammates after scoring in the World Cup qualifer against Mozambique. AFP
Cameroon striker Choupo-Moting celebrates with teammates after scoring in the World Cup qualifer against Mozambique. AFP

Qualifying results

Second round (Group D)

September 3, 2021 Cameroon 2 (Aboubakar 9', Ngadeu-Ngadjui 22') Malawi 0

September 6, 2021 Ivory Coast 2 (Haller pen 20', 29') Cameroon 1 (Ngamaleu pen 61')

October 8, 2021 Cameroon 3 (Choupo-Moting 28', 51' Toko Ekambi 63') Mozambique 1 (Catamo 81')

October 11, 2021 Mozambique 0 Cameroon 1 (Ngadeu-Ngadjui 68')

November 13, 2021 Malawi 0 Cameroon 4 (Aboubakar pen 22', Zambo Anguissa 42', Bassogog 85', 87')

November 16, 2021 Cameroon 1 (Toko Ekambi 21') Ivory Coast 0

Third round

First leg: March 25, 2022 Cameroon 0 Algeria 1 (Slimani 40')

Second leg: March 29, 2022 Algeria 1 (Touba 118') Cameroon 2 (Choupo-Moting 22', Toko Ekambi 120+4'). Cameroon won on away goals

MATCH INFO

Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')

Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')

Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)

THE SPECS

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Power: 518bhp

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%3Cp%3EYe%20%E2%80%94%20the%20rapper%20formerly%20known%20as%20Kanye%20West%20%E2%80%94%20has%20seen%20his%20net%20worth%20fall%20to%20%24400%20million%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20That%E2%80%99s%20a%20precipitous%20drop%20from%20Bloomberg%E2%80%99s%20estimates%20of%20%246.8%20billion%20at%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3Cbr%3EYe%E2%80%99s%20wealth%20plunged%20after%20business%20partners%2C%20including%20Adidas%2C%20severed%20ties%20with%20him%20on%20the%20back%20of%20anti-Semitic%20remarks%20earlier%20this%20year.%3Cbr%3EWest%E2%80%99s%20present%20net%20worth%20derives%20from%20cash%2C%20his%20music%2C%20real%20estate%20and%20a%20stake%20in%20former%20wife%20Kim%20Kardashian%E2%80%99s%20shapewear%20firm%2C%20Skims.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Biggest%20applause
%3Cp%3EAsked%20to%20rate%20Boris%20Johnson's%20leadership%20out%20of%2010%2C%20Mr%20Sunak%20awarded%20a%20full%2010%20for%20delivering%20Brexit%20%E2%80%94%20remarks%20that%20earned%20him%20his%20biggest%20round%20of%20applause%20of%20the%20night.%20%22My%20views%20are%20clear%2C%20when%20he%20was%20great%20he%20was%20great%20and%20it%20got%20to%20a%20point%20where%20we%20need%20to%20move%20forward.%20In%20delivering%20a%20solution%20to%20Brexit%20and%20winning%20an%20election%20that's%20a%2010%2F10%20-%20you've%20got%20to%20give%20the%20guy%20credit%20for%20that%2C%20no-one%20else%20could%20probably%20have%20done%20that.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

Score

New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs 

New Zealand win by 47 runs

New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0

Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

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Price: From Dh1,700,000

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Updated: September 28, 2022, 8:35 AM