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Cash-strapped Zamalek eye record CAF Cup winners prize

JOHANNESBURG: Financially-embattled Egyptian club Zamalek will pocket a record four-million-dollar CAF Confederation Cup prize if they beat Algerian outfit USM Alger in the two-leg final. USM host the first match on Saturday in front of a 50,000 crowd and the return game is set for Cairo on May 16 in a showdown between former winners of the competition. Zamalek lifted the trophy, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, in 2019 and 2024. USM won in 2023. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced 100 percent increases in the prizes for the winners and runners-up to four and two million dollars respectively. The decision was a timely boost for Zamalek, the second most successful club in CAF competitions with 13 titles, but battling with reported debts of $6.5 million. Egyptian media say the team, popularly known as the White Knights, owe clubs in Africa and Europe for players they brought to Cairo. Ukrainian club Oleksandriya say they sold Brazilian striker Juan Bezerra to Zamalek, but some transfer fee instalments are overdue. Former coaches, including Swiss Christian Gross and Portuguese Jose Gomes, are also owed money.

Ancelotti set for Brazil contract extension: federation

SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to be handed a four-year contract extension taking him through to the 2030 World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said Thursday. Italian legend Ancelotti took over as Brazil coach last year and oversaw the five-time world champions’ successful qualification for next month’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 66-year-old former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Chelsea coach has been in negotiations with the CBF for months concerning a possible extension to his existing deal. CBF President Samir Xaud said Thursday he is “certain” Ancelotti’s extension will be officially confirmed “before the World Cup.” Xaud, speaking at the FutPro Expo conference in Fortaleza, said the CBF and Ancelotti’s legal advisers were working through aspects of the Italian’s new contract. Ancelotti has repeatedly expressed his willingness to continue in his current role after this year’s World Cup. He is due to announce his final squad for the tournament on May 18 in Rio de Janeiro before Brazil gather for a World Cup send-off against Panama at the Maracana Stadium on May 31. The Brazilians will be based in New Jersey during the World Cup, and face Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in Group C.

Algeria turn to ‘retired’ goalkeeper after injuries deplete World Cup choices

ALGIERS: Algeria face a goalkeeping crisis for the ‌World Cup that they are hoping to alleviate with the return of a player from retirement. Oussama Benbot, retired from the national team after being an unused substitute at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the end of the year, could prove the solution to a dilemma that has befallen the side after injuries left Melvin Mastil and Luca Zidane doubtful and Anthony Mandrea ruled out. The 31-year-old Benbot’s form played a large part in his club USM Alger reaching the African Confederation Cup final, where they host Egypt’s Zamalek in the first leg on Saturday. Algerian media reports said he ‌had provoked ‌the ire of Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic with outbursts ‌over ⁠his lack of ⁠playing time with the Algerian side. However, the need for a goalkeeper for the World Cup has seen him return to contention for a place in the squad that will be named later this month. Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, was Algeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the Cup of Nations but turned in several undistinguished performances and then last month ⁠suffered fractures to his jaw and chin in a ‌Spanish second-tier match with his club Granada. Mastil, ‌who plays in Switzerland and won a first cap in March, has since undergone ‌hernia surgery, while Mandrea dislocated his shoulder in training with his ‌French club Caen and will miss the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US Mandrea had been Algeria’s first choice over the past five years but when Caen were relegated to the French third tier last year, Petkovic said he would not ‌consider selecting a player from as low a league level. The 27-year-old Zidane, who, like his three brothers, won ⁠caps for ⁠France at

NZ add Haiti friendly to World Cup warm-up schedule

May 6 : New Zealand will face Haiti in a friendly in Florida in early June four days before they take on England to conclude their preparations for the World Cup, NZ Football said on Wednesday.

Bencharki leads Al Ahly to 3-0 win over Zamalek in Cairo derby

CAIRO: ‌Forward Achraf Bencharki scored twice and set up another goal as Al-Ahly beat Zamalek 3-0 in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday. The Moroccan opened the scoring with a header in the Cairo derby in the 18th minute but did not celebrate against his former club. Al-Ahly doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Bencharki ‌provided the ‌assist for Hussein El Shahat, ‌who ⁠chipped the ball ⁠over Zamalek goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman. “It was a poor match for us and an even worse result,” Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal told reporters. “I am sad for Zamalek’s supporters.

Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

VANCOUVER: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer. Infantino confirmed he ‌would run ‌for the 2027–2031 term in the ‌closing ⁠moments of the ⁠FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup. The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup. Infantino said ⁠he was “honored and humbled” to have ‌the chance to run ‌for a fourth term. The Italian-Swiss took office in ‌2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected ‌unopposed in 2019 and 2023. Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the ‌first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has ⁠been ⁠expanded to 32 teams. Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December. Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year old if he decided to seek another term.

Bencharki leads Al Ahly to 3-0 win over Zamalek in Cairo derby

Cairo, May 1 : Forward Achraf Bencharki scored twice and set up another goal as Al Ahly beat Zamalek 3-0 in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday.

Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Alysha Newman banned after missed drug tests

Fox News correspondent Christina Coleman joins ‘Fox News @ Night’ to report on the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory over Canada in the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

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Cash-strapped Zamalek eye record CAF Cup winners prize

Ancelotti set for Brazil contract extension: federation

Algeria turn to ‘retired’ goalkeeper after injuries deplete World Cup choices

NZ add Haiti friendly to World Cup warm-up schedule

Bencharki leads Al Ahly to 3-0 win over Zamalek in Cairo derby

Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

Bencharki leads Al Ahly to 3-0 win over Zamalek in Cairo derby

Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Alysha Newman banned after missed drug tests