Category: Sport News

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Gambia Clinch WAFU U17 Title After Defeating Senegal in Dakar

Gambia has won the WAFU A U17 championship, defeating Senegal 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in the final in Dakar.

The Baby Scorpions displayed strong defence, holding off Senegal’s pressure and converting all five penalty kicks. Senegal’s Cheikh Thior missed his penalty, which proved decisive, while goalkeeper Assane Sarr could not make the crucial saves.

Both teams had already qualified for the next U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with Guinea securing the third WAFU A spot by defeating Liberia 2-0 earlier on Sunday.

In the final, Senegal, playing at home, created several chances but could not score due to Gambia’s solid defense. Senegal’s situation worsened when Mahamet Ba was sent off in the 88th minute, leaving them with 10 players. Gambia couldn’t find a goal in regulation, so it went to penalties, which Gambia won 5-3.

Though Senegal had an excellent defensive record in the tournament, they couldn’t secure the title. Meanwhile, Guinea’s Boubacar Diallo scored twice to help his team beat Liberia and claim the last qualification spot.

Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea will all represent the WAFU A zone at the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

by Football Sierra Leone

Nuno Santos Nets Brace as Mamelodi Sundowns Beat Al Ahli

Nuno Santos scored two goals as Mamelodi Sundowns beat Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Pretoria on Saturday. This win helped Sundowns move forward in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

By winning the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, Sundowns will now face the winner of the match between Toluca from Mexico and a yet-to-be-named team from South America.

The winner of that game will move on to the Challenger Cup, where they could compete against European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

Sundowns took the lead in the 17th minute when Santos headed in a cross from Teboho Mokoena into the top corner, beating Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. This was Santos’ first goal of the 2026/27 season after he scored five goals and made 11 assists last season.

Al Ahli equalised just two minutes later when Ivan Toney crossed the ball to Firas Al Buraikan. Williams saved the initial shot, but the ball bounced back off him and went into the net.

Al Ahli continued to pose a threat, nearly taking the lead when Toney found Trincao, but Trincao’s shot went wide. They were given a penalty when Toney was brought down by Williams, but the referee overturned the decision after ruling Toney was offside.

Sundowns also had chances to regain the lead. Midway through the second half, Khulumani Ndamane sent a close-range free-kick from Aubrey Modiba over the bar.

The winning goal came in the 80th minute when debutant Thabang Matuludi crossed the ball to Santos, who headed it home to complete his brace and put Sundowns back in front.

Sundowns held on to win the game and continue their journey in the competition.

Last year, Paris Saint-Germain won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and received $5 million in prize money. Flamengo, the runners-up, got $4 million, while Pyramids FC, who were knocked out in the Challenger Cup, received $2 million.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chelle Drafts in Coventry Striker to Replace Injured Osimhen

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named Taiwo Awoniyi as a replacement for the injured striker Victor Osimhen ahead of Nigeria’s opening qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Osimhen sustained an injury over the weekend, which forced him to sit out Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon and potentially the upcoming two league fixtures.

While he hasn’t completely ruled himself out of the Super Eagles squad, concerns about his fitness are growing as Nigeria prepares for the crucial September qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 23, before heading to Guinea-Bissau for a match on September 27. Victor Osimhen will miss these matches as he continues to recover from a muscle strain.

Fans of the Super Eagles are hoping for some positive news regarding Osimhen’s condition. These AFCON qualifiers will represent Nigeria’s first competitive matches since the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Mohamed Salah Stars with Hat Trick Against Trabzonspor
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Salah Stars with Hat Trick Against Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah had a fantastic game on Saturday, scoring three goals and assisting another as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the Turkish Super Lig.

Salah opened the scoring just four minutes in and assisted Noah Saviolo for the second goal in the 39th minute. He scored again before half-time, making it 3-0. In the 80th minute, he completed his hat-trick with a calm finish after breaking through Galatasaray’s defense.

This win gave new manager Thomas Reis a great start after Fatih Tekke’s departure.

Galatasaray’s night worsened when Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off in the 87th minute after a VAR review, and coach Okan Buruk was sent off earlier for protesting a decision.

This loss was Galatasaray’s first of the season, but they still remain at the top of the table, while Trabzonspor has moved to 10 points. Salah now has seven goals in six Super Lig appearances.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brahim Hemdani unveils Algeria squad for Zambia and Burundi fixtures

New Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has announced his first squad, leaving out Houssem Aouar and Hicham Boudaoui as he prepares for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.

Hemdani’s team will kick off their campaign against Zambia on September 25th before travelling to take on Burundi on the 29th. Following that, they will face Niger in an international friendly match on October 6th.

He selected 26 players for the September international window, keeping veterans like Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nabil Bentaleb, Mohamed Amoura, and Amine Gouiri.

His decision to omit Aouar and Boudaoui is significant as it marks Hemdani’s first lineup since taking over from Vladimir Petkovic.

Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali are unavailable due to suspension, and Yacine Titraoui is out with an injury. Hemdani aims to implement his ideas while maintaining a strong squad foundation.

In goal, chosen players include Melvin Mastil, Abdelatif Ramdane, and Kilian Belazzoug. Bensebaini leads the defence alongside Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd, Jaouen Hadjam, and Ahmed Touba, totalling nine defenders.

This international window allows Hemdani to shape the team, focusing on the upcoming 2027 finals while balancing experience with new talent.

Algeria squad

Goalkeepers: Melvin Mastil, Abdelatif Ramdane, Kilian Belazzoug.

Defenders: Achref Abada, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd, Ramy Bensebaini, Samir Chergui, Jaouen Hadjam, Sohaib Naïr, Saâdi Radouani, Ahmed Touba.

Midfielders: Himad Abdelli, Adil Aouchiche, Nabil Bentaleb, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza, Adem Zagence.

Forwards: Mohamed Amoura, Monsef Bakrar, Bachir Belloumi, Adil Boulbina, Amin Chiakha, Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa, Ilan Kebbal.