December 2024 news roundup from Africa Daily Dispatch

December brought a mix of sport, business moves and weather drama across our coverage. You’ll find quick summaries here so you know what mattered this month and why it affects fans, customers and readers across Africa and beyond.

Sports highlights

Arsenal vs Ipswich grabbed attention late in the month. Arsenal hosted Ipswich at the Emirates on December 27, riding confidence after a 3-2 EFL Cup win over the same opponent. Gabriel Jesus featured in the attacking plan and manager Mikel Arteta looked to keep momentum, though Bukayo Saka’s fitness created a selection question. Kick-off was at 20:00 GMT with streaming on Amazon Prime Video — useful if you needed to catch the match live.

Women’s cricket produced a standout result: Australia crushed India by 122 runs in the 2nd ODI at Allan Border Field. Australia posted 371/8 thanks to strong batting from players like Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll, and India could only reach 249 despite late contributions from Richa Ghosh and Minnu Mani. That win gives Australia control of the series and keeps their form sharp ahead of future fixtures.

Not all fixtures went ahead as planned. The big Merseyside clash, Everton vs Liverpool, was postponed because of Storm Darragh. Local safety teams made the call after an amber wind warning and a Safety Advisory Group review. Fans and broadcasters had to reshuffle plans — a reminder that weather can still disrupt even the most anticipated matches.

Business moves and transfers

On the business front, Nigeria’s Access Bank moved to expand into South Africa with a R2.8 billion bid for Bidvest Bank Holdings. This is more than a headline deal — it’s a strategic push to gain a foothold in South Africa’s market, especially in foreign exchange and corporate banking where Bidvest is strong. The deal still needs regulatory approvals, but if cleared it will broaden Access Bank’s African network and product reach.

In transfer chatter, AC Milan looked at Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller to shore up midfield depth while Ismael Bennacer recovers from injury. Milan’s interest signals a search for reliable options to balance the midfield, with names like Warren Bondo and Morten Frendrup also linked in wider reports. For fans tracking squad building, it’s a reminder clubs prepare early for injury gaps and long-term balance.

If you followed these stories this month, you know why they matter: match outcomes shift momentum, big bank deals reshape regional banking, and storms can reshape fixture lists at a moment’s notice. Keep checking back for follow-ups — fixtures, approvals and transfer moves from December will keep evolving into the new year.