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Morocco crush 10-man Niger to seal 2026 World Cup spot

Morocco crush 10-man Niger to seal 2026 World Cup spot
(AFP)
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Updated 17 min 2 sec ago

Morocco crush 10-man Niger to seal 2026 World Cup spot

Morocco crush 10-man Niger to seal 2026 World Cup spot

Morocco trounced 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E and become the first African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Ismael Saibari scored twice in the first half after Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off and second-half goals from Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi completed the rout.
A sixth straight victory lifted Morocco to an unassailable lead with 18 points -- eight more than Tanzania -- and sealed a seventh appearance at the global showpiece with two matches to spare.
Morocco were shock semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, topping a group including Croatia and Belgium and eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout phase.
The stunning run came to an end in the semi-finals as they lost 2-0 to France.
Only Ounahi of the scorers against Niger was in the 2022 World Cup squad with coach Walid Regragui introducing new faces since, including Saibari from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
In Group A, Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Cairo with Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush converting late first-half penalties.
Egypt can join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico if they win away to second-placed Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
Newcastle United signing Yoane Wissa was among the goals as the Democratic Republic of Congo hammered South Sudan 4-1 in Juba to stay top of Group B.
Wissa moved from Brentford in a £50 million ($67 mn) deal after Sweden striker Alexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool in a British record move.
The Congolese are hoping to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the central African country was called Zaire.
- South Africa triumph -
Cedric Bakambu scored twice to help the visitors build a three-goal half-time advantage and Wissa added a fourth before Keer Majak claimed a consolation goal.
Senegal trail DR Congo by one point ahead of a top-of-the-table showdown in Kinshasa on Tuesday after beating Sudan 2-0 in Diamniadio through goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr.
South Africa maintained a five-point lead in Group C thanks to a comfortable 3-0 'away' victory over neighbours Lesotho in Bloemfontein.
The home fixture for Lesotho was moved to the central South African city, 145 kilometres by road from the border, because the mountain kingdom does not have a FIFA-approved stadium.
Mohau Nkota, who quit famed Soweto club Orlando Pirates last month to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ettifaq, scored his first international goal for Bafana Bafana (the Boys) on 15 minutes.
Lyle Foster from Premier League returnees Burnley and Oswin Appollis netted within four minutes midway through the second half.
Victory did come at a cost for South Africa, though, with defenders Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Moloisane retiring injured ahead of a key clash with Nigeria at the same venue on Tuesday.
South Africa have 16 points, five more than Benin, who edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in Abidjan through a Steve Mounie goal. Nigeria, nine points behind the leaders, host Rwanda on Saturday.
Clinical first-half finishing earned Gambia a surprise 3-1 win over Kenya in Nairobi with Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh scoring the second.
However, the result had no impact on the top of Group F, with reigning African champions the Ivory Coast away to Gabon on Tuesday in a match likely to decide who finishes first.
Serhou Guirassy, a prolific scorer for Borussia Dortmund with 38 goals in all competitions last season, bagged his first for Guinea in World Cup qualifying to set up a 3-0 win over Somalia.
But a disappointing campaign by Guinea -- they lie fourth eight points behind Group G leaders Algeria -- means Guirassy will almost certainly miss the World Cup.


Alcaraz downs Djokovic to reach US Open final

Alcaraz downs Djokovic to reach US Open final
Updated 06 September 2025

Alcaraz downs Djokovic to reach US Open final

Alcaraz downs Djokovic to reach US Open final

NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz beat 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to reach his second US Open final, where he could face reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz won 6-4, 7-6 , 6-2 to reel off his 36th victory in his last 37 matches. His only loss in that time came to Sinner in the Wimbledon final.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is seeking his sixth major and second in New York after winning the title in 2022. He will play top-ranked Sinner or Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in Sunday’s final.
“It’s a great feeling. Once again in the final here in the US Open, it feels amazing. It means lot to me,” said Alcaraz.
“It wasn’t the best level of the tournament for me, but I just keep a good level from the beginning to the last point. I served really well today, it was important.”
The defeat for Djokovic marked his fourth straight semifinal loss at a Grand Slam and foiled the 38-year-old’s bid to become the oldest major champion.
Alcaraz grabbed a break to open the match as Djokovic pushed a forehand long and the Spaniard had a chance to go a double break in front, cranking up the heat on the Serbian’s serve.
Djokovic escaped further trouble but the damage was done as Alcaraz secured the set with a couple of clutch serves as both players were still searching for their best level.
After sparring with the crowd during his quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz, Djokovic had the majority of those inside Arthur Ashe Stadium urging him on as he landed his first proper blow.
A fired-up Djokovic broke Alcaraz and surged into a 3-0 lead to start the second set, but a sublime flicked passing shot that drew applause from his rival offered a way back in for the Spaniard.
He pulled level at 3-3 before Djokovic ended a three-game skid. Alcaraz let an opportunity slip when he pegged Djokovic 0-30 down in the ninth game, with a tie-break eventually required.
Alcaraz ran up a 4-1 advantage and held Djokovic off, hitting a booming serve to earn two set points and strengthening his grip on the contest when the Serbian sent a looping backhand return wide.
Djokovic summoned the trainer between sets and his energy appeared to be waning.
Two double faults gifted Alcaraz a break for a 3-1 lead in the third set and the writing was on the wall for Djokovic, whose latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam ended with a whimper.
 


Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague
Updated 05 September 2025

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague
  • Match is part of a training camp for the Green Falcons ahead of their double header of Asian qualifiers next month for the 2026 World Cup

DUBAI: Ƶ defeated North Macedonia 2-1 on Thursday in a friendly match at FK Viktoria Stadion in Prague, as part of a training camp for the Green Falcons ahead of next month’s fourth round of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Herve Renard’s men fell behind to 41st-minute Aleksandar Trajkovski strike, but went into the break on level terms after Feras Al-Buraikan equalized in the first minute of stoppage time. They completed the comeback win thanks to a 78th-minute winner from Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

The Saudis dominated for long spells, ending up with 65.7 percent of the possession, according to the BBC, and 11 shots on goal, seven of them on target, compared with North Macedonia’s five shots, two of which were on target.

On Monday, Ƶ will take on the Czech Republic in their second friendly of the international break, before the double header of World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia on Oct. 8 and Iraq on Oct. 14. Both matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.


Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official

Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official
Updated 05 September 2025

Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official

Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official
  • The 38-year-old was sanctioned for spitting at a Sounders official after becoming embroiled in a melee following Miami’s 3-0 loss
  • Suarez’s Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets has also been given a two-match ban

NEW YORK: Inter Miami star Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension for his actions following last weekend’s stormy Leagues Cup final defeat to the Seattle Sounders, tournament disciplinary chiefs said on Friday.
The 38-year-old former Uruguay, Liverpool and Barcelona star was sanctioned for spitting at a Sounders official after becoming embroiled in a melee following Miami’s 3-0 loss.
A statement from the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee said Suarez’s suspension would only apply to next year’s edition of the tournament, although Major League Soccer “reserves the right” to impose additional punishment.
Suarez’s Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets has also been given a two-match ban. Another Inter player, Tomas Aviles, has been barred from three games.
Seattle coaching staff member Steven Lenhart has been suspended for five games.
The range of punishments followed chaotic scenes at the end of Miami’s defeat in Sunday’s final at Seattle in the joint competition for teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga-MX.
Immediately after the final whistle, Suarez rushed at 20-year-old Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas and put him in a headlock, sparking a melee involving multiple players and staff from both sides.
Officials scrambled to restore order, but cameras later caught Suarez spitting at a Seattle security staff member as he walked away from Vargas.
Suarez — who has previously been hit with suspensions for biting and racially abusing opponents in separate incidents earlier in his career — issued an apology for his behavior in a statement on Thursday.
“It was a moment of great tension and frustration, where right after the match things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but that doesn’t justify the reaction I had,” Suarez wrote on Instagram.
“I was wrong and I sincerely regret it... I feel bad about what happened, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge it and apologize to everyone who felt hurt by what I did,” Suarez added.
It marked the latest episode in Suarez’s chequered disciplinary career.
He was infamously kicked out of the 2014 World Cup after being handed a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
He has also been sanctioned for biting incidents in club play and in 2011 he was handed an eight-game ban by authorities in England for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United’s France star Patrice Evra.
He was also one of the villains of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when his cynical handball on the goal-line denied Ghana what would have been a late winner in the quarter-finals.


World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in Ƶ

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in Ƶ
Updated 06 September 2025

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in Ƶ

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in Ƶ
  • Pakistani legends Saqlain Mushatq, Yasir Shah among guests

RIYADH: The World Cricket Festival was launched in Riyadh on Friday night by Cricket Investment Co. in partnership with the Ƶn Cricket Federation.

The event aims to create a new ecosystem for cricket in Ƶ in cooperation with the SACF.

The launch event welcomed high-profile leaders and investors and unveiled the vision behind “cricketainment.” It also set the stage for various cricket tournaments to be played in the Kingdom, including the F2 Double Wicket World Cup 2025 in Jeddah.

Speaking to Arab News at the launch, SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al Saud thanked the CIC for its support of the sport.

“It’s our first strategic partnership between CIC, which is the investment arm of the federation, and the private sector. It’s part of our initiative to enable the private sector within Ƶ for the development of the game,” he said.

“This is the first investment between the two sides. It has multiple programs in multiple cities across the Kingdom and we look forward to getting started together.”

On the WCF claim that the festival was “where cricket meets culture,” he said: “We still haven’t finalized all the details but it’s going to be a unique experience. It will definitely help in the development of cricket, for sure.”

At the launch event, Infinix, an investment company that builds cricket grounds and academies in the UAE in partnership with Karwan Spots Club from Pakistan, said it would create the first ICC-standard cricket grounds in Ƶ within six months.

In partnership with the SACF, the company will build two stadiums, the first in Riyadh and later in Jeddah. These will be followed by several more in other cities, Prince Saud said.

The other tournaments under the banner of WCF include F20 Season-2, a T20 cricket league, Saudi Corporate Premier League and the Gulf Premier League, and soft ball cricket leagues.

Pakistani spinners Saqlain Mushatq and Yasir Shah and Indian test cricketer Waseem Jaffer attended the launch event and praised the SACF for its efforts in helping to develop cricket in Ƶ.

They said they hoped young cricketers would make their names in the Kingdom.

Saudi cricket team captain Hisham Sheikh said: “Born and brought up in Ƶ, it’s a wonderful achievement to lead the Saudi team, and as a captain I am glad to be here at WCF launch. It’s a great feeling.”


Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller
Updated 05 September 2025

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller
  • Afghanistan defend 170-4 as UAE fall short at 166-5 in Sharjah thriller
  • Afghanistan rest Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi before Pakistan final

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Pace bowler Fareed Ahmad kept cool in the last over Friday to foil Asif Khan’s aggressive hitting as a depleted Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by four runs in a tri-series match.

After Asif opened the final over with a four, a six and a two, Ahmad beat the bat with the next two balls. Asif needed to find the boundary off the last ball but was caught as Afghanistan held on to win at the Sharjah stadium.

Afghanistan, already sure of facing Pakistan in Saturday’s final, rested six of their main players including skipper Rashid Khan, veteran Mohammad Nabi and in-form opener Sediqullah Atal.

Afghanistan made a 170-4 before restricting UAE to 166-5 in their 20 overs.

Afghanistan’s stand-in skipper Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and batted.

With Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Zadran put on 98 for the first wicket in 12 overs.

Zadran hit 48 in a 35-ball knock that contained three sixes and as many fours.

Gurbaz smashed three fours and a six in his 38-ball innings before both the openers fell off successive deliveries.

Kariam Janat made a 14-ball 28 with three sixes and a boundary and Gulbadin Naib scored a 13-ball 20 not out as Afghanistan hit 56 runs in the last five overs.

Left-arm spinner Haider Ali was the best UAE bowler with 2-23.

For the hosts, Muhammad Waseem scored a 29-ball 44 with three sixes and two fours while Asif made a valiant 28-ball 40 with two sixes and four fours.