The Premier League schedule reached its halfway mark last month on December 28 with a day of surprises. No team in the top four positions won.
It was probably not the shape of things to come, though, which is supported by a look at the individuals who influenced several of the outcomes of an unusual Premier League matchday 19.
Many of them will be absent for much of January and early February.
The fact that seven of the 17 goals scored in nine matches during the Premier League’s 19th round came from African internationals would be eye-catching on any weekend.
That it happened on one of the last days that most of them are available for a while is even more striking.
The African Cup of Nations begins on January 17, eight days after the Asian Cup, another tournament that will deprive clubs involved in domestic challenges of significant manpower.
But the African Cup of Nations, to be staged in Equatorial Guinea, has a greater impact on the Premier League in terms of numbers.
At present 16 footballers from top-flight English squads will be away – 17 if Cameroon are successful in their late bid to bring West Ham United’s Alex Song into their squad.
The impact of that on the aspirational teams of the upper half of the table on the basis of recent form is enough to have many managers break out in a cold sweat.
The next Newcastle United boss, the man chosen to replace the departed Alan Pardew, must plan without Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse, the club’s leading scorer. Cisse’s ninth goal of the season laid the foundation for the 3-2 victory over Everton on December 28.
Southampton’s Ronald Koeman must do without Cisse’s compatriot Sadio Mane, although, as things have turned out, he would have had to do so anyway.
Mane scored goals against Chelsea on December 28 and then Arsenal on New Year’s Day, but a calf injury picked up in the 2-0 win over Arsenal has ruled him out of action for four weeks – although Senegal have not given up hope as his name remains in the squad for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Senegal are also hoping that West Ham’s Diafra Sakho can play a part despite a back injury and plan to assess the injury themselves, though they will have his club-mate Cheikhou Kouyate at the tournament.
Senegal are taking the most players from the Premier League with five, as Stoke City will also be missing Mame Biram Diouf in their forward line.
Senegal’s final Group C match on January 27 will be against Algeria, who will have Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez on the wing.
Mahrez cheered the Leicester supporters in the team’s last game of an eventful 2014 by scoring the goal that gave them a first win in eight matches.
The club remain bottom of the table and the bad news for Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is that the African Cup of Nations threatens to clip both his wings.
Mahrez and Ghana’s Jeff Schlupp, whose country are also in Group C, are both important members of Leicester’s squad and will be missed.
Yannick Bolasie contributes incisively in the same way for Crystal Palace, but he will, to the struggling club’s detriment, be joining the Democratic Republic of Congo squad in Equatorial Guinea.
The best African player to have in a Premier League squad at the time of the biennial tournament is one who has retired from international football.
Didier Drogba, once a totem for Ivory Coast, is now exclusively committed to Chelsea.
By contrast, his successor as Ivory Coast skipper, Yaya Toure, will be absent for up to five-and-a-half weeks from Manchester City’s duel with Chelsea for the Premier League title and most likely from the vital clash between the clubs in London on the last day of this month.
Everton have no problems with Samuel Eto’o (ex of Cameroon) and Steven Pienaar (no longer active with South Africa) as retired internationals, and would be relieved that a return to fitness and goalscoring form by Ivorian striker Arouna Kone – he struck in his first start of the campaign against Newcastle – did not make him a candidate for a recall to his national squad.
The Ivory Coast, however, has a broad choice of experienced forwards, spearheaded by Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony, who has scored more Premier League goals than anybody in 2014.
He will be in Equatorial Guinea and, so admired is he in English football, he will set off with reports of strong interest in him from other Premier League clubs ringing loudly in his ears.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
The%20specs
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:
6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m
SPECS
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