RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Algeria defeated Morocco 3-2 on penalties to finish third at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday and leave its old rival with a bitter taste after failing to win any of the three editions in a row it has hosted.
Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina had the chance to seal victory in stoppage time with a penalty, but she struck the post and the match finished 1-1 to set up the shootout.
Benzina's spot kick was awarded after a VAR check penalized Algeria's Lana Smits for catching Sakina Ouzraoui in the face with a flailing arm. Ouzraoui stayed down and held her mouth as she waited for the referee's whistle.
Lina Boussaha had scored late for Algeria, canceling out Kautar Azraf's goal before the break for the hosts.
Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazin saved two penalties in the shootout, leaving Morocco coach Jorge Vilda – who won the World Cup with Spain in 2023 – nonplussed on the sideline.

#rabat #saturday

KL Rahul's condition after retiring hurt on the opening day of India's first Test against Sri Lanka is not a major concern, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak saying the senior batter is "fine now" after suffering cramps.

Rahul scored a patient 77 off 162 ******* before leaving the field during the final session. He had formed a crucial 150-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, helping India take control of the contest.

"KL batted really well, was getting cramps everywhere. fine now," Kotak told reporters after the day's play.
The biggest highlight of India's batting effort was Padikkal's unbeaten 131, his maiden international century. Returning to Test cricket after last playing against Australia in Perth in 2024, the Karnataka batter looked confident and composed throughout his innings.

Kotak praised the work Padikkal has put in over the past two years and also highlighted Sai Sudharsan's progress.

"Credit to Devdutt Padikkal for preparing & working hard in last 2 years. Both he, Sai are batting well. They are new ball batter," he added.

Padikkal reached his hundred from 134 ******* and struck a variety of shots against Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack. He was particularly effective against left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, using sweeps, punches and attacking shots to keep the bowlers under pressure.

"[To me] its important how they bat in different phases," Kotak said, underlining the importance of adapting to changing conditions during an innings.
India ended the day at 288 for two, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131 and Rishabh Pant on 27. Shubman Gill made a valuable contribution before being dismissed by Jayasuriya.

Rahul's departure was the only concern for India, although Kotak's update should ease worries about the batter's condition. Padikkal also battled dehydration late in the humid day but continued his innings.

With India firmly in control after the opening day, attention will now turn to whether Rahul is fit to return and how Padikkal and Pant build on the strong platform.
133264997

#test

Timesofindia.com in Galle: Quick single, a punch in the air followed by a jubilant jump before unleashing another punch. The helmet came off in a flash, and his arms spread wide to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room and the spectators braving the heat on the grass banks. It was a memorable moment for Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up his maiden Test hundred, and it couldn't have come at a better time, both for him and the country.

Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.

Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.

Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.

Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.

A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced a 16-member squad for the opening Test of their two-match series against India, with veteran wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan ******* wella making his return to the Test side.

Dhananjaya de Silva will captain the team, while Kamindu Mendis has been named his deputy. ******* wella has been included as the wicketkeeper after Kusal Mendis was ruled out of the first Test with an injury.

Batter Pathum Nissanka has also been left out of the squad for the opening match.

Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha make up the rest of Sri Lanka's batting options.

The hosts have three specialist spinners in Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha. Their pace department includes Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru ******* ara, Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.

The first Test will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19. The two-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

India, led by Shubman Gill, are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings. They have recorded four wins and four losses in nine matches, with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 48.150.

Sri Lanka are sixth in the standings, having registered one win, one draw and two defeats.

With home conditions expected to play a role in the series, Sri Lanka will look to their experienced players, including Chandimal and the returning ******* wella, as they prepare to take on India's Test side.

Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis (vc), Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan ******* wella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru ******* ara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

#fernando

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's position remains precarious, despite receiving support from his close friend US President Donald Trump, after three confederations tore into him in a joint letter.
It seems nothing the 56-year-old Swiss has done from shelving his much-criticised plan to raise private investment to run the commercial side of the World Cup to apologising for the manner in which it was launched is enough to ***** uage his critics.
In effect they have made plain the problem is him and his style of leadership.
He previously looked a shoo-in to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term in Rabat next March, but his opponents are circling sensing he has been fatally weakened by the constant onslaught.
AFP Sport highlights the pick of the reaction since Infantino's humiliating climbdown 10 days ago:

#sport

Algeria and Malawi have qualified for their first Women's World Cup, booking a place in Brazil next year by advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations this weekend. Morocco and Cameroon also secured qualification with their wins, the latter shocking ten-time WAFCON champions, Nigeria.
Morocco are heading back to the World Cup after making their debut in 2023, while Cameroon are set for their third World Cup appearance.
WAFCON hosts Morocco, who finished as runners-up in the prior two continental tournaments, will now take on Cameroon in the final four. The other semifinal will see a meeting between two first-time semifinalists, as Algeria face off against Malawi. Both semifinals will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Rabat.
With reigning champions Nigeria eliminated, there will be a new continental champion in Africa. None of the four semifinalists have ever lifted the trophy either.
The road to Brazil is not quite over for the defeated quarterfinalists. The losing quartet will have a chance to earn two berths to FIFA's inter-confederation play-offs in February 2027. On Thursday, Aug. 13, the two play-in matches will see Ivory Coast take on Ghana and, in a meeting between the previous two WAFCON champions, South Africa will take on Nigeria.

#cameroon #take #algeria

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Sakina Ouzraoui and Hanane Aït El Haj both scored and Morocco earned a spot in next summer's Women's World Cup with a 2-1 victory over South Africa in the quarterfinals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
Morocco will face the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between Nigeria and Cameroon in a semifinal match on Wednesday.
Thembi Kgatlana scored the lone goal for South Africa in the 67th minute. She had an earlier chance in the 22nd minute but her shot was just off target.
Morocco took the lead in the 32nd minute when Ouzraoui volleyed a shot over South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart.
Morocco was awarded a penalty in the 49th minute for Noxolo Cesane's challenge on Ghizlane Chebbak, who was later subbed out of the match with an injury. El Haj converted the penalty kick to give Morocco a 2-0 lead.

#morocco #africa #south #match

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino held off the potential of an internal revolt during a summit meeting in Morocco this week. A scathing response from European soccer's governing body on Thursday, however, showed that he still has a fight on his hands to hold onto power.
UEFA blasted Infantino and his organization again over his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, declaring it wants ***** urances that "attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again."
The reaction revealed the depths of animosity toward Infantino as he attempts to run for re-election next year while trying to quell outrage over the equity plan. FIFA issued an apology on Wednesday over the plan, and senior staff members at a crisis meeting in Rabat "reaffirmed their full support" for his presidency.
The UEFA response shows how the apology will not be enough to satisfy his fiercest detractors, who want a change at the top of FIFA.
That process will play out in the coming months with a vote in March among the 211 national member federations. Each nation gets a vote, and he needs a simple majority to retain his presidency.

#uefa

FIFA issued a statement following a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, admitting that "mistakes were made" with the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, a much-maligned and now-scrapped plan to sell minority stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors. That said, the statement also relayed that the senior leadership attending that meeting in Rabat "reaffirmed their full support" for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has been under fire because of the attempted scheme, which, notably, could have earned him a significant sum of money.
And, so, despite Infantino's apology, UEFA reportedly isn't budging on the head-turning threat it issued after news broke of the investment ploy. UEFA — European soccer's governing body, responsible for five of the past six men's World Cups — is still poised to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups.
The women's World Cup will take place in Brazil next summer. Eleven of the 32 slots in the tournament are reserved for UEFA.
"UEFA's ******* ociations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions," UEFA said in a statement on Thursday to ESPN and The Athletic.
"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, ******* urances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

#fifa #meeting

Confidence in Fifa is being restored. How do we know? Because Fifa has told us. And Fifa's integrity is such that attacks on it cannot be tolerated... Fifa, in between plotting to sell off the World Cup, has said it wasn't doing that. Not that many people in Fifa knew for sure, as Fifa didn't bother consulting them.
But then, as Fifa said a statement about a "constructive and positive meeting held in Rabat, Morocco", its only official elected by the 211 member ******* ociations is the president. Although, admittedly, many of those ******* ociations are calling for Gianni Infantino to go and plenty of others came out in opposition to what – according to the governing body, anyway – was called the "Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal".
And now that is off the table, again in Fifa's words, a statement that tested the boundaries of Orwellian doublespeak, the only remaining issues, in Fifa's world, are the horrible "attacks" on it.
Gianni Infantino showed minimal remorse in his letter after the Fifa crisis meeting (Getty Images)
A global sport was plunged into crisis by one man, Infantino, who either had an idea he forgot to fully communicate with virtually everyone – Fifa's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, its chief of global football development ******* ne Wenger, the various confederations, clubs, national ******* ociations, players, fans... – or tried to stage a coup against the sport as a whole.

#World #statement #meeting

FIFA issued an apology to its members over "errors" in handling its now-scrapped controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup but said its leaders reaffirmed their support for Gianni Infantino to remain as president, despite growing criticism and calls for his removal from world leaders and soccer legends.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) leaves Al-Madina Stadium in Rabat following the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations match between Malawi and Zambia.
In a statement issued after a crisis meeting in Morocco, FIFA said its secretary general Mattias Grafström and members of its management board "reaffirmed their full support" for Infantino.
Infantino also reiterated his support for FIFA's leadership and Grafström—who had publicly distanced himself from the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
In the statement, the soccer body acknowledged that mistakes were made in the process and "the process should have been handled differently."

#gianni #president #controversial

By Rohith Nair
Aug 5 (Reuters) - FIFA apologised to its members for mistakes made over its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup as the body's leadership reaffirmed its support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
The proposal to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial rights entity to private investors ‌in a deal that would have raised about $4.2 billion provoked a fierce backlash and was withdrawn last Friday.
Infantino bore the brunt of the criticism, including some from inside FIFA, which raised ‌questions over his re-election as president next March.
"Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA management board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino," the statement said.

#fifa #proposal

The Zambia women's national team have failed to reach the knockout stage of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations and will thus miss out on competing in the 2027 women's World Cup.
Despite beating regional rival Malawi 2-1 in their final WAFCON group-stage match Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, the Copper Queens were eliminated after Nigeria defeated Egypt in the other Group C match. Zambia was eliminated based on the total number of goals scored among the top three teams.
As a result, WAFCON debutants Malawi have reached the knockout stage of the continental tournament and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The final minutes of both fixtures were climactic. Malawi, Nigeria (who are 10-time and reigning WAFCON champions) and Zambia were all level on six points as both games progressed. This eliminated the head-to-head deciding factor between them in favor of the number of goals each of those teams scored against each other.
Malawi upset Nigeria with a 3-2 victory in their first WAFCON match on July 28, thrusting the Super Falcons in a nervy third-place position in their group following Zambia's 6-0 victory over Egypt the same day. Nigeria steadied themselves on Aug. 1 with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia, but still finished the second matchday in third place behind their opponents. Malawi secured their second victory of the tournament with a 1-0 win over Egypt that kept them top of the group heading into the final match day.

#malawi #wafcon #match #final

By Rohith Nair
Aug 5 (Reuters) - FIFA said on Wednesday it had apologised to its member ***** ociations for mistakes made over its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights linked to the World Cup, as the governing body's leadership reaffirmed its support for president Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco.
Following the meeting in Rabat, attended by Infantino, secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and members of FIFA's management board, FIFA said its leadership had reaffirmed its full ‌support for the president while acknowledging that the handling of the withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal should have been different.
In a statement, FIFA said a separate letter had been sent to FIFA Council members and the 211 member ***** ociations apologising ‌for the errors and promising a review.
It added that, with the proposal withdrawn, FIFA would "no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process" and would take all necessary measures to protect its reputation.

#support

FIFA's leadership has reaffirmed its "full support" for President Gianni Infantino, days after he was forced to abandon a plan to sell off World Cup commercial rights that triggered a rare revolt within world football's governing body.
The declaration followed a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, called after mounting pressure from UEFA and other confederations threatened to derail Infantino's expected re-election to a fourth term at FIFA's Congress in March.
In a statement, FIFA said Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom and members of its management board reiterated their backing for Infantino as "the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member ******* ociations".
Infantino reciprocated support for Grafstrom and FIFA's administration.
Football fans photograph a FIFA logo outside FIFA global headquarters on July 30, 2026, in Zurich, Switzerland [Robert Hradil/Getty]

#wednesday

Gianni Infantino will remain as Fifa president after he received the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco, despite world football's governing body admitting "mistakes" have been made.
Infantino summoned members of the management board to Fifa's Africa office in Rabat on Wednesday following mounting criticism of his aborted attempt to sell off stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors, with the organisation releasing a statement of support four hours after the meeting ended.
European football's governing body Uefa said at the weekend that it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a "shabby, back room, opaque deal".
Much criticism has come from within Fifa, including secretary general Mattias Grofstrom, who was at Wednesday's meeting. In an internal memo sent to Fifa staff on Tuesday, he wrote that the situation is "a sad and reproachable series of events".
However, in a statement following the meeting, Grofstrom and the managament board "reaffirmed their full support" for Infantino as president.

#infantino #grofstrom #body

President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within FIFA, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.
One of those believed to be at the meeting is FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday.
Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer -- who is holding the meeting in FIFA's Africa regional office in Sale close to Rabat -- was in Morocco to celebrate last week's Feast of the Enthronement.
Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.

#morocco #since #last

The transfer market is reaching boiling point while institutional football goes through turbulent times. This August 5 comes loaded with top-level meetings in Madrid and Morocco, tensions in Vallecas, moves involving young South American prospects heading to Serie A, and an emotional tribute that has broken the hearts of both Barça and Milan fans alike.
FC Barcelona sporting director Deco has urgently traveled to Madrid to hold a summit meeting with Julián Álvarez's camp. The Blaugrana club is looking to draw up the final strategy and try to sign the Argentine striker before the market closes, with the player's own approval to push for his departure.
Franco Mastantuono's move to Fiorentina is on the verge of being unblocked. Real Madrid views a loan or a transfer with an option to buy for the Argentine gem to a top-level Serie A club very positively, in order to guarantee his development in a highly competitive league.
Milan turned out in force for the final and emotional farewell to legend Franco Baresi. Thousands of fans packed the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio for a funeral where historic figures such as Maldini, Van Basten, and Baggio said goodbye through tears and applause to the eternal Rossonero captain.
Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting in Rabat alongside top FIFA executives and figures such as Arsène Wenger. Pressure is mounting on the organization's president following disagreements with member ****** ociations over commercial plans and the global calendar.

#madrid #franco #market

Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting of FIFA staff in Rabat on Wednesday following comments by ***** ne Wenger that ramped up the pressure on the president, the Press ***** ociation understands.
Former ***** nal manager Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, issued a statement saying he was "not involved" in the plan to seek private investment in a company to run the World Cup but that the decision to withdraw it was "absolutely necessary and beyond question".
PA understands the meeting in Morocco was called after the weekend and is also to include secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and the FIFA management board, which includes the organisation's chief of staff Daniel O'Toole, chief legal officer Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of member ***** ociations Elkhan Mammadov, HR chief Kimberly Morris, media director Bryan Swanson and communications director David Farrelly.
Grafstrom, the second most senior figure in the organisation after Infantino, is also understood to have contacted FIFA staff addressing the "sad and reproachable series of events" of the last week "which thankfully concluded with the project being permanently abandoned".
The plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company to run the commercial and operational aspects of FIFA's tournaments, first emerged in reports by The Times and the Financial Times last Tuesday, before FIFA issued confirmation of some of the details. The most controversial aspect was the idea to sell 20% of FFE to private investors.

#wenger #grafstrom #understands

Martine Medesse of Benin Republic's Amazons clears the ball as Nigeria's Super Falcons qualify for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 after playing a 1-1 draw (3-1 aggregate) with Benin Republic's Amazons in the second leg of the WAFCON 2026 qualifying match at MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on October 28, 2025. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped last month, and with it went 39 days of the kind of moments that make a tournament unforgettable: a teenage phenom stealing highlight reels with his flair, a scrappy underdog nation refusing to go home, a 40-year-old goalkeeper turning in the performance of his career, a nine-figure transfer rumor before the confetti had even settled. For four weeks, the entire sports world organized itself around this single competition. But the appetite for those storylines didn't end when the final whistle blew, and it doesn't need a men's tournament to be satisfied. Right now, in stadiums and arenas across the world, women's sports are producing the exact same arcs: breakout stars, Cinderella runs, veteran redemption stories, record-breaking numbers, and transfer fees rewriting what the sport is worth. They're just not getting the same attention. Here are five World Cup moments and the women's sports stories playing out in real time that deserve to be next on your watchlist.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Liked Lamine Yamal's flair? Watch Morocco's Atlas Lionesses at WAFCON.
Yamal spent this World Cup as one of the most-watched players on the planet, a teenager with more than 50 million Instagram followers turning every touch into a moment. Morocco is hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for a third straight edition, running through August 16 across Rabat and Casablanca, and the Atlas Lionesses have opened their campaign in commanding form. They beat Kenya 4-0 to open the tournament, then beat Algeria 1-0 to move to two wins from two matches, sitting atop Group A with five goals scored and none conceded. The breakout to watch is Barcelona Femení prospect Kautar Azraf, flagged by CAF as one of the country's brightest young talents ahead of her first senior call-up, the same "unproven teenager announces herself on the biggest stage" arc that made Yamal a global name this summer.
Liked Cape Verde's underdog run? Watch WAFCON's debutant nations.
Cape Verde's men's team was one of the World Cup's most beloved stories, a nation of fewer than 600,000 people holding its own against the sport's giants. Their women's game has its own version unfolding right now. Cape Verde and Malawi are both playing in their first-ever Women's AFCON this year

In the 73rd minute of a scoreless match, Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga shot down the field like an arrow to receive a long pass from midfield. The ball dropped into the pocket between the opponent's backline and goalkeeper, a ripe scenario for an attacker whose pace is as blistering as her decision-making.
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, nudged the ball with her chest to the goalkeeper's left, ran around her right, and found a half volley to begin an extraordinary new chapter of firsts in her career: not only her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, but also her country's.
Malawi defeated 10-time champions and current continental ***** le holders Nigeria in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory on Tuesday, thanks to two goals from Temwa and one from her older sister and OL Lyonnes forward, Tabitha, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential.
"We are going (to WAFCON) to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before she departed for Morocco.

#temwa #current #goal #city

Sunday the fifth of July, 2026 will forever be a poignant date for Moroccan football, as MAS Fes ended an agonising 41-year wait for domestic glory. With their 2-0 win over Olympique Dcheira on the final day, the Yellow Tigers finally got their hands on a fifth league **** le, and excitedly re-announced themselves amongst the Maghrebi sporting establishment.
Now, while regaining their seat at the Moroccan big clubs’ table was a formidable reflection of team spirit, one man in particular stood above the rest, and that was striker Soufiane Benjdida.
The poised 24-year-old’s chart-topping 20 league goals played a crucial role in powering Pablo Franco’s team to the league summit. However, as somewhat surprised followers of Belgian football will tell you, this confident hitman is far beyond the shadow of a player they witnessed in the lowlands.
Soufiane Benjdida began his football career with steady progression at the Mohammed VI Football Academy. He then moved on through the youth ranks of both Fath US and FAR in the Moroccan capital Rabat, before being picked up by giants Raja Casablanca from his home city.
Here, two years were enough to see his tenacious style turn heads in Europe. Under former Belgian national team boss Marc Wilmots, Benjdida registered eight goals in 17 games in the 2021-22 Botola Pro campaign as the Green Eagles finished second to bitter rivals Wydad.

#soufiane #belgian #fifth

"Morocco have the potential to be a powerhouse of world football."
It is a bold statement, but Neil Ward has witnessed the country's passion and plans first hand.
The Welshman served as director of technical operations at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF).
He was in Rabat when Morocco became the first ever African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 - losing 2-0 to France - and saw how "it took over all the city right through until the early hours of the morning, with the king out celebrating as well".
The Atlas Lions are now bidding to make history once more as they face France again on Thursday (21:00 BST) for a place in the last four.

NORTH SOUND, Antingua (AP) — Justin Greaves and Shai Hope compiled centuries and guided West Indies to 406-5 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 549-9 declared on the fourth morning of the second test on Monday.
Greaves was 131 not out at lunch beside captain Roston Chase on 8. The West Indies trailed by 143 runs.
The Sri Lanka bowlers continued to toil on a placid pitch and prised out only Hope, who was stumped on 112 in bizarre fashion close to lunch.
Hope tried to pad away left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha’s length ball down the leg side but missed and in the process came out of his crease. Wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis couldn’t collect the ball cleanly but it ricocheted onto the stumps after hitting his gloves.
Hope hit 10 boundaries and dominated not only the pacers but also Prabath Jayasuriya by using his feet well against the spinner.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (AP) — Opening batter John Campbell struck his fourth test half century before falling to a short delivery as West Indies reached 132-2 at lunch on Day 3 of the second test, still trailing Sri Lanka by 417 runs on Sunday.
Campbell made 72 off 154 **** with nine fours and two sixes but holed out to mid-wicket close to lunch off Asitha Fernando's short ball to give Sri Lanka its breakthrough after West Indies had resumed on 58-1.
Kavem Hodge, who had plenty of dot **** and successfully overturned an lbw decision, stayed unbeaten on 25 off 114 **** with Amir Jangoo 8 not out at the interval.
West Indies, which has a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, trails heavily on a wicket which still looks perfect for batting and there's hardly any turn for Sri Lanka's premier spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka had gone past 500 for the first time in the West Indies when it declared at 549-9 after Lahiru Udara scored 188 while Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis and Sonal Dinusha also made half centuries.

Your club-by-club guide to the summer 2026 transfers in Scotland's top tier.
Who has your Premiership club brought in & let go? - January 2026
In: Tony Yogane, forward (Brentford, undisclosed); Ayoub Mouloua, forward (Rabat); Connor Ronan, midfielder (Colorado Rapids); Alexander Briedl, midfielder (Blau-Weiss Linz); Brad Lyons, midfielder (Kilmarnock); Lewis Mayo, defender (Kilmarnock); Dan Happe, defender (Leyton Orient); Toyosi Olusanya, forward (Houston Dynamo, loan to permanent).
Out: Graeme Shinnie, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Per Kristian Bratveit, goalkeeper; Ryan Duncan, midfielder; Vicente Besuijen, forward; Tom McIntyre, defender; Elvis Bwomono, defender; Conner Douglas, goalkeeper; Oliver Green, defender; Tristan Stephen, forward.
Loan ended: Dennis Geiger, midfielder (Hoffenheim); Lyall Cameron, midfielder (Rangers); Liam Morrison, defender (Queens Park Rangers).