Morocco and Kenya reach quarterfinals of Africa contest
NAIROBI: Co-hosts Kenya held their nerve to beat Zambia 1-0 on Sunday and reach the African Nations Championship quarterfinals on their tournament debut.
Morocco Sport News
World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final
CINCINNATI: Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in a match played in sweltering summer conditions. Poland’s Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina — who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. Swiatek, a former world number one now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semifinal stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity. She will vie for the title on Monday against either seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova. “It was a tough match,” Swiatek said. “At the beginning it was crazy, so hot and we were playing so fast.” The six-time Grand Slam champion recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games. Swiatek jumped to a 4-1 lad in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina’s serve. But Kazakhstan’s Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later. “I was playing with intensity and quality,” Swiatek said.
Guinea name Duarte as new national coach
CONAKRY :Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Prosecutors call for PSG’s Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial
NANTERRE, France: French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Moroccan international denies.
After stadium delays, African Nations Championship kicks off
NAIROBI, Kenya: After severe delays in stadium renovations, east Africa is finally ready to co-host the much-awaited African Nations Championship (CHAN), kicking off on Saturday. It is a historic moment for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, whose “Pamoja” — meaning “together” in Swahili — bid two years ago gave birth to the first Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament in the region since 1976, and the first to be jointly hosted by three countries. The CHAN tournament, which runs to August 30, acts as a precursor to the continent’s main event, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, also co-hosted by the three countries. CHAN features only players from domestic clubs, and cannot include anyone playing for teams abroad. Getting the five stadiums ready has been a struggle, with CAF delaying the tournament from its planned dates in February to give them more time to prepare. On a final inspection tour in Nairobi last week CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba celebrated the three nations’ progress and co-operation. “I think we in Africa need to learn from this model. Three countries have pooled their efforts and resources to successfully deliver,” he told reporters.
As women's sports grows, so do the threats to racialized athletes
This past weekend, both the Women's Euros and the Women's African Cup of Nations crowned new champions, with England and Nigeria, respectively, emerging victorious.
Nigeria’s women’s football team rise above poor management to clinch continental trophy
LAGOS: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday hosted and splashed gifts on the triumphant national women’s football team who overcame poor preparations and missing payments to win their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.