Sports

End of a Dream: France ends fairy-tale Morocco run, to meet Argentina in World Cup final

Published

4 years ago

December 14, 2022

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France will play Argentina and Lionel Messi in the 2022 World Cup final after beating Morocco 2-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday night. It was an end to a history-setting run for the Africans.

France, who won the World Cup in Russia four years ago, were tipped to beat underdogs Morocco – but this tournament has been full of shocks. Goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani ensured Didier Deschamps’ side weren’t the latest victims of an upset.

Morocco performed admirably after losing Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss to injury and, on another day, could’ve won the semi-final. In the end, France took their chances and Morocco were left to rue theirs. Here are the main talking points from a tense affair.

France needed just five minutes to register their first goal. Manchester United defender Raphael Varane played Antoine Griezmann in behind the defence before he found Kylian Mbappe in the middle, allowing the Paris Saint-Germain striker to get a shot off.

Mbappe’s effort was deflected, but the ball squirmed into the path of Hernandez. Goalkeeper Bono tried to put the pressure on the AC Milan defender by racing out of his net, yet Hernandez produced a calm finish to give France the perfect start.

The defending champions were expected to dominate after their early goal and came close to doubling their advantage when Olivier Giroud hit the post. Yet Morocco didn’t give up and almost equalised thanks to Jawad El Yamiq’s moment of magic.

The Real Valladolid defender forced Hugo Lloris into a desperate save after producing an outrageous overhead kick just before half-time. The Tottenham goalkeeper tipped El Yamiq’s attempt on to the post before France managed to scramble the ball away.

Morocco thought they should’ve had a penalty during the first half when Sofiane Boufal went down under Hernandez’s challenge. The defender won the ball but caught the former Southampton star with his follow-through. The incident has divided people’s opinions.

Former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: “Not [a penalty] for me, Hernandez actually gets the ball. He gets the ball there.”

Yet fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand disagreed. He replied: “He does, but then he catches the legs. Anywhere else on the pitch and it’s a foul, so why’s it not a penalty?”

Sofyan Amrabat has been one of the stars of the World Cup after helping Morocco achieve wins against Canada, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The Fiorentina midfielder produced another superb display against the French – and one tackle will live long in the memory.

The challenge unfolded when Mbappe flew into acres of space on the left flank. Just as France’s talisman was about to cut into the box, Amrabat produced a perfect sliding tackle to save the day. No wonder Liverpool are reportedly after the Moroccan midfielder.

Morocco matched France throughout Wednesday night’s game and came close to an equaliser when Abderrazak Hamdallah danced passed several defenders. The Al-Ittihad striker failed to shoot, however, and Morocco were punished moments later.

France got their crucial second goal when Mbappe picked up the ball in the box and danced past a couple of defenders. He failed to test Bono, but the ball squirmed into the path of substitute Kolo Muani for a tap in. It was a tough end to Morocco’s terrific World Cup campaign – yet France’s ability to take their chances proved to be the difference.

Sports

Nine African teams in World Cup last-32 round

Published

2 weeks ago

June 28, 2026

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Following the conclusion of the group stage, nine African countries have confirmed their places in round 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Algeria and DR Congo are the latest teams from the continent to seal their last-32 ticket at the ongoing competition.

They join Morocco, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana and Senegal in the business end of the competition, breaking the previous record of just two African teams at a World Cup knockout round.

Tunisia is the only country on the continent to qualify for the World Cup, but failed to progress beyond the group stage.

DR Congo qualified after earning their first-ever World Cup victory, 3-1 over Uzbekistan, in their last group stage match on Saturday in Atlanta. Yoane Wissa’s brace and Fislon Mayele’s strike helped the Leopard turn around a game that started disastrously for them.

The victory takes DR Congo to the top of the eight best third-placed teams, and they will face England next on Wednesday.

Algeria also managed to squeeze into the last 32 through the best losers’ route. A 3-3 draw against Austria in their final group game ensured they displaced Iran for the final slot.

Ghana also clung to the third-placed ladder to advance despite their 2-1 loss to Croatia in their last Group game. The Black Stars will face Colombia in the next round on July 3.

ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (All Nigerian time)

South Africa vs Canada — June 28 — 8 pm — Los Angeles Stadium

Brazil vs Japan — June 29 — 6 pm — Houston Stadium

Germany vs Paraguay — June 29 — 9:30 pm — Boston Stadium

Netherlands vs Morocco — June 30 — 2 am — Estadio Monterrey

Ivory Coast vs Norway — June 30 — 6 pm — Dallas Stadium

France vs Sweden — June 30 — 10 pm — New York New Jersey Stadium

Mexico vs Ecuador — July 1 — 2 am — Mexico City Stadium

England vs DR Congo — July 1 — 5 am — Atlanta Stadium

Belgium vs Senegal — July 1 — 9 pm — Seattle Stadium

United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — July 2 — 1 am — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Spain vs Austria — July 2 — 6 pm — Los Angeles Stadium

Portugal vs Croatia — July 3 — 12 am — Toronto Stadium

Switzerland vs Algeria — July 3 — 4 am — BC Place, Vancouver

Australia vs Egypt — July 3 — 7 pm — Dallas Stadium

Argentina vs Cape Verde — July 3 — 11 pm — Miami Stadium

Colombia vs Ghana — July 4 — 2:30 am — Kansas City Stadium

Sports

Athletics Open: Amusan wins gold, sets new record in Taiwan

Published

1 month ago

June 6, 2026

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Nigerian and world women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan,on Saturday won the women’s 100m hurdles gold at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan.

Amusan struck gold ahead of Taiwanese duo Bo Ya Zhang, who settled for second place in 13.17s, and Yi Po-an took third place in 13.37s.

The 29-year-old’s winning time of 12.72s is also a new meeting record, chalking off 0.08s off the previous mark of 12.80s held by Nia Ali, US Olympic silver medalist and former world champion.

Amusan was dominant in the qualifiers for the final, blowing away the field in Heat 2, and continued the form in the final to deliver a swashbuckling race that thrilled the crowd.

She took the lead outright after the fourth hurdle, leaving Zhang behind.

The three-time Senior Africa Athletics Championship winner crossed the finish line before the last competing athlete cleared the final hurdle, to the amazement of screaming spectators.

It is the second consecutive race Amusan will break a meeting record this athletics season, she also broke her meeting record in the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Rabat Diamond League.

She has won three of five races this season, and has not failed to claim a podium finish.

Sports

Arsenal win EPL title after 22 years

Published

2 months ago

May 19, 2026

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Arsenal are English Premier League (EPL) champions after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to hand Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining to the end of the season.

The Gunners win the EPL title for the first time in 22 years, since the legendary Invincible side won it in the 2003/04 season.

In the club’s 100th season without relegation from the EPL, the club will celebrate its centenary participation with a league title won on the back of a record 28 EPL wins that surpassed the 26 wins recorded by the Invincibles. The defence prevented opponents from registering a shot on target in six matches, equaling a 23-year league record, and also scored a record 17 goals from corner kicks.

Mikel Arteta’s tough side has led the table for most of the season before a late mini-collapse, and Man City’s late surge in form nearly threatened their title ambition for a second season in a row.

City’s late resurgence, however, was initially stunned by Everton in early May and completely collapsed against Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s side visited the Vitality Stadium aware that any result other than a victory would seal Arsenal’s title. But they lacked the execution for the mission after falling to a wonderful strike from Junior Kroupi in the first half.

City were only kept in the game by Bournemouth’s profligacy in front of goal. When Erling Haaland’s equaliser was squeezed home in the eleventh hour of the game, even the most faithful City supporter knew it was too little, too late.

Arsenal and Arteta secured the league earlier than they would have predicted, giving City a prodigious title run-in.

The league triumph is Arteta’s second major title with the North London club since joining in December 2019, adding to the English FA Cup trophy won within six months of his tenure in May 2020.

The 44-year-old Spaniard wins his fourth title overall and can win his fifth — and third major trophy — with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.