'His situation is not good': Bafana coach Broos once again protects Tau from public scrutiny
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has shed light on his decision to leave Percy Tau out of the final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Africa Cup of Nations Sport News
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
Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship returns to Al-Ain for 11th edition
ABU DHABI: International Vision Sports Management has announced that the 11th edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship will take place on Nov. 14 in Al-Ain.
Aston Villa, Roma stunned in Europa League, Nottingham Forest wins under new coach Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche achieved in his first game what predecessor Ange Postecoglou couldn’t in eight matches in charge: win. Under its new coach, Nottingham Forest presented a concentrated display resulting in a 2-0 victory over Porto in the Europa League on Thursday. It was the first victory for Nottingham in the competition and only the second overall this season, while Porto was defeated for the first time this term. Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the penalty spot in the 19th minute at the City Ground. Igor Jesus doubled the advantage from another penalty in the 77th. Former Burnley and Everton manager Dyche replaced Postecoglou, who was fired in ruthless fashion on Saturday around 20 minutes after Forest’s 3-0 home loss to Chelsea that left the team in the Premier League relegation zone. Postecoglou had been in the job for only 39 days and didn’t win any of his eight matches in charge. Roma upset Czech team Viktoria Plzeň scored twice through Prince Kwabena Adu and Cheick Souaré within two minutes in the first half to stun Roma 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico. Paulo Dybala reduced the deficit from the spot early in the second half. Elsewhere, Braga.
Zimbabwe fire coach after poor World Cup qualifying campaign
HARARE: Zimbabwe have fired their German coach Michael Nees after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign and only two months before they play at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Zimbabwe Football Association said. Nees had been in the job for 14 months, ensuring Zimbabwe’s qualification for the Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Messi signs new Inter Miami contract through 2028: club
MIAMI: Lionel Messi has agreed a contract extension with Inter Miami which will see the Argentine superstar remain in Major League Soccer until the end of the 2028 season, the club confirmed on Thursday. Inter Miami’s X feed posted a video of Messi signing a contract sitting at a table in the middle of the club’s new Freedom Park stadium, which is under construction, with the simple caption: “He’s Home.”
NBA coach, player arrested in illegal gambling probes
NEW YORK: NBA head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday for alleged involvement in illegal gambling on a “mind-boggling” scale, US officials said. Billups, a former Detroit Pistons star and a member of the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame, was arrested in connection with rigged illegal poker games tied to Mafia crime families, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Rozier and a former NBA player and assistant coach, Damon Jones, were among six people arrested in a sports betting case, Patel said at a press conference in New York. “The fraud is mind boggling,” Patel said. “It’s not hundreds of dollars, it’s not 1000s of dollars, it’s not 10s of 1000s of dollars. It’s not even millions of dollars. “We’re talking about 10s of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation.”
Top seed Gauff rallies to reach WTA Montreal fourth round
MONTREAL: World No. 2 Coco Gauff battled through another tough three-setter Thursday, rallying from a set and a break down to beat Veronika Kudermetova and reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open.
UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah
DUBAI: The UAE will host Pakistan and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium from Friday, Aug. 29. The three teams will play each other twice in the six-match group stage. The top two teams will then compete in the final on Sunday, Sept. 7.