Category: Sport News

Koeman hails Morocco's technical quality ahead of World Cup Round of 32 clash
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Koeman hails Morocco’s technical quality ahead of World Cup Round of 32 clash

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has called Morocco the toughest team his side has faced so far at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He praised Morocco’s skill ahead of their important Round of 32 match in Monterrey, Mexico.

During his pre-match press conference, Koeman said the Dutch are preparing for one of their hardest games of the tournament. He acknowledged that Morocco deserves to be considered one of the top teams in the world.

Although the Netherlands topped Group F, Koeman did not consider his team the favourites against the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions.

“I’m not sure if we are the favourites in the match against Morocco,” Koeman said.

Koeman expressed disappointment that two of the highest-ranked teams are facing each other so early in the knockout rounds.

“It’s a big thing for this game to take place now because we are both teams that ought to go further than this stage,” he added.

Koeman praised Morocco’s playing style, calling the Atlas Lions one of the most skilled teams left in the competition. He pointed out that Morocco plays confidently, attacks well, and combines quickly when they have the ball, making it a dangerous team.

According to Koeman, Morocco does not just defend; they try to control matches through their technical skills and attacking style.

“They want to attack,” he said. “They have a lot of football quality, and they can score easily.“

Koeman also highlighted captain Achraf Hakimi, saying he is one of Morocco’s key players because he can play in different positions and help drive the team forward.

DR Congo could provide a stern test for England in Atlanta
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo could provide a stern test for England in Atlanta

Starting their World Cup knockout campaign on Wednesday night against DR Congo at the Atlanta stadium, Thomas Tuchel’s England side may face a challenge. A victory for either side will guarantee a spot among the 16 against Mexico.

In a competition that begged many issues, Thomas Tuchel’s team came out on top Group L. Starting with a 4-2 win over Croatia, they then had a goalless draw with Ghana and finished with a shaky 2-0 victory over Panama.

Before this tournament, the Three Lions had fierce competition from African teams and so know not to underestimate DR Congo. The group-placed Congolese team drew with Portugal, played strongly against Colombia, and won 3–1 against Uzbekistan. This game is the first time these two teams will face off.

Head Coach Sébastien Desabre probably will go back to the 5-3-2 lineup he used in the group stage; for the vital game against Uzbekistan, he had a back four.

Leading the attack together with Cédric Bakambu is Yoane Wissa, who scored three of DR Congo’s four group stage goals. Four defenders have close relationships to the Premier League: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, and Arthur Masuaku. From Sunderland, Noah Sadiki is a midfielder. Desabre’s team has no reported injury problems.

England and DR Congo’s first meeting 

Fifty-two years after their debut in 1974, when the nation was known as Zaire, the Leopards are competing in their second World Cup ever.

Thanks to a goal by Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, they came behind Senegal in their qualification group but progressed after beating Nigeria on penalties and 1-0 in extra time.

Since 2022, Sébastien Desabre has served as the head coach. Coaching teams in Uganda, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon, he has African football knowledge. In 2023, he guided DR Congo to the African Cup of Nations semi-finals.

With Cedric Bakambu’s four qualifying goals helping him, Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa will provide a major menace. Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and captain Chancel Mbemba will offer excellent protection on defence.

“It ramps up now, doesn’t it? It’s a proper phase of football. One game at a time. There are lads who have won Champions Leagues, lads who have been in youth tournaments with England. Everyone knows the pressure of it and I think that is where you will see us thrive.” Jordan Pickford, England goalkeeper

“England next is gonna be a different game, a tough, tough game against top players, top opponents. We need to enjoy this type of game. We deserve to play against England, one of the best teams in the world, so I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.“ Yoane Wissa, DR Congo striker

Predicted lineups:

England’s predicted team (4-2-3-1 formation): Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.

DR Congo’s predicted team (5-3-2 formation): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Kapuadi, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Kayembe; Bakambu, Wissa.

England v Congo DR

Round of 32

Wednesday, 1 July | Atlanta Stadium

Kick-off time

12:00 (Atlanta) | 17:00 (London) | 17:00 (Kinshasa)

Amad Diallo proud of Côte d'Ivoire's achievement despite elimination
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Amad Diallo proud of Côte d’Ivoire’s achievement despite elimination

Rising elephants star Amad Diallo discusses Côte d’Ivoire’s incredible FIFA World Cup 2026 trip and what it means to score in their tight 2-1 defeat against Norway at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday.

Though their ambition at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is gone, Côte d’Ivoire leaves North America with dignity. This was their fourth World Cup appearance, and this time they made history by making the knockout stage for the first time.

At Dallas Stadium, they lost 2-1 to Norway in the Round of 32, but they kept supporters entertained along the way. Despite the letdown, Amad Diallo valued what the developing Côte d’Ivoire side achieved.

Diallo told FIFA, “We are really proud of what we achieved.” The youngest team in this tournament, we can be proud. This is a success for us since we never advanced from the group stage in our last three competitions.

Entering in the second half, Diallo had an instant effect. After a fast one-two with Nicolas Pépé, he scored a brilliant goal in the 74th minute to tie the score.

Following his group stage goal versus Ecuador, which gave the 23-year-old some relief, Diallo scored his second World Cup goal.

“Scoring that goal is a great relief; it’s a dream come true,” Diallo added. “Playing on the grandest stage has always been my goal; therefore getting this goal was remarkable. Losing would still feel like a win to us, even if it happened.

Morocco stun the Netherlands after a penalty shootout to reach the last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Salah faces race to be fit for Egypt’s last-32 tie

Egypt’s captain, Mohamed Salah, is doubtful for Friday’s World Cup match against Australia in Dallas due to a hamstring injury. He has scored 68 goals in 119 games for Egypt.

Salah was taken off the field during Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran. Team doctor Mohamed Abou said Salah felt pain, and scans showed he has a hamstring strain.

The Egyptian Football Association stated that Salah has started treatment but did not say whether he will be ready to play against Australia in Dallas on July 3 at 19:00 BST.

“I spoke with Salah, and it seems, God willing, the injury is not serious,” said Egypt coach Hossam Hassan after the Iran match. “He told me he thinks it will be fine.”

Salah previously missed three weeks due to a hamstring issue in late April but returned to play in Liverpool’s final two matches of the season.

During this World Cup, Salah has scored once and provided two assists, helping Egypt secure second place in Group G.

Morocco stun the Netherlands after a penalty shootout to reach the last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco stun the Netherlands after a penalty shootout to reach the last 16

Following a 1-1 tie, Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Their triumph would not have been possible without Yassine Bounou.

Cody Gakpo’s 72nd-minute goal gave the Netherlands the lead first, but Issa Diop tied it with a header in stoppage time, sending the game into overtime.

Morocco converted three penalties in the shootout but missed two, and Bounou saved a crucial one from Justin Kluivert.

Having defeated South Africa 1-0, Canada will now play Morocco in the following round. This win highlights Morocco as a World Cup powerhouse.

The game started sluggishly, but Morocco grew more active. Early opportunities for Hakimi were saved, including a strong header from Nael El Aynaoui. The Netherlands battled to generate opportunities until Gakpo scored against the run of play.

Morocco persisted and used changes that changed the flow of the game. Diop scored the equaliser in stoppage time to set off celebrations.

Following a 1-1 tie, Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Their triumph depended much on Yassine Bounou.

Though Cody Gakpo’s goal in the 72nd minute gave the Netherlands the lead, Issa Diop equalised for Morocco with a header in stoppage time, forcing the game into extra time.

Morocco made three penalties in the shootout, but Bounou stopped a crucial penalty from Justin Kluivert, even if two were missed. Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 and will now play Morocco in the next round.

This victory highlights Morocco’s World Cup prowess as a formidable team. Though the game began sluggishly, Morocco got more active. Early opportunities for Hakimi were saved, including a strong header from Nael El Aynaoui.

The Netherlands struggled to create opportunities until Gakpo scored against the run of play. Morocco persisted and made game-changing substitutions. Diop tied the score in stoppage time, setting off festivities.

Morocco had chances during extra time but couldn’t convert; therefore, they went to penalties. Though Rahimi and Talbi scored, El Aynaoui missed Morocco’s first penalty.

Bounou’s save and Saibari’s perfect penalty helped Morocco advance to the next round.

Achraf Hakimi calls for discipline ahead of the Netherlands
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Achraf Hakimi emphasises discipline ahead of the Netherlands clash

Morocco’s skipper Achraf Hakimi is encouraging his squad to maintain attention and discipline for their crucial Round of 32 FIFA World Cup game against the Netherlands at the Monterrey Stadium on Monday night. 

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi knows Morocco is up against a good Dutch squad. He stresses that little details will determine the result of the game.

Hakimi told ABtalks that “it will be a difficult game against the Netherlands. Their calibre and players are well-known to everybody. The captain remarked that there isn’t much room for mistakes in knockout football. He thinks game-long focus will be essential.

Hakimi’s remarks suggest Morocco honours the Netherlands but is hopeful going into this crucial game. Though they had a fantastic group-stage record, he underlined that prior results against the Dutch do not count.

The squad is concentrating on sound defence and attacking effectiveness. One of the tournament’s top players, Hakimi, is anticipated to significantly impact defence and attack by providing speed and assistance from his right-back position.

Hakimi makes it obvious that Morocco honours the Netherlands, but the game will rely on focus, discipline, and little details instead of history or reputation.

Bo Rangers Clinch Fourth Sierra Leone Premier League Title
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Bo Rangers Clinch Fourth Sierra Leone Premier League Title

Sierra Leone’s Southern regional city-based soccer giants, Bo Rangers Football Club, have secured their fourth national top-flight title after edging Diamond Stars FC 1-0 on Sunday at the Southern Arena Mini Stadium in Bo.

It was defender Lamin Kargbo who emerged as the hero for the hosts after scoring the decisive goal in the 75th minute to seal the championship and earn the Man of the Match award.

The victory confirms Bo Rangers as champions of the 2025/26 Leone Rock Premier League with two matches still remaining.

This means, “The Elephants ” now hold an unassailable seven-point lead over the league’s current second-place side, Star Sport Academy FC.

Haven displayed remarkable consistency, team discipline, and resilience throughout the campaign. In five seasons 2021-2026, Bo Rangers FC have once again underlined their dominance in Sierra Leonean football.

Impressively, Head coach Alhaji “Abedi” Foray also etched his name into the club’s history books by guiding the Bo-based side to another league crown, with his tactical discipline and effective squad management proving crucial to the team’s success.

According to League board, Bo Rangers are scheduled to conclude their league campaign against Abacha City FC and Mighty Blackpool FC before being officially presented with the league trophy following their final fixture.

As reigning champions, the Elephants will represent Sierra Leone in the 2026/27 edition of the CAF Champions League, where they will seek to improve on their previous continental campaigns.

Meanwhile, the recent triumph makes Bo Rangers the first club from outside the capital, Freetown, to win Sierra Leone’s top-flight title four times, having previously lifted the trophy in the 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2025/26 seasons.

While their recent achievement further cements their status among Sierra Leone’s most successful clubs, it also shows the ambitious leadership of Bo Rangers Executive Chairman Joe Thomas, under whose stewardship the club has evolved into a dominant force in the national game.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Reaches New Heights
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Reaches New Heights

Record attendance for the first 72 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached 4.6 million fans. This tournament, held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, features 48 teams, the most ever, according to FIFA.

In just 17 days, the tournament turned 72 matches in 16 host cities into a global celebration of football. According to FIFA, 4,644,549 fans attended, and a staggering 300,000 hot dogs were sold. If you lined up those hot dogs, they’d stretch about 28 miles (45 kilometres) from New York New Jersey Stadium to JFK International Airport.

The tournament has seen 1,248 players from 48 nations, with 999 participating in the group stage. The first 17 days set a strong tone for the rest of the event. Here are some key facts and figures from this historic World Cup.

Tickets

The most requested matches included Portugal vs. Colombia (Miami, June 27), the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final (New York/New Jersey, July 19), and Mexico vs. Korea Republic (Guadalajara, June 18). The top countries buying tickets were the USA, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and France.

FIFA Fan Festivals™

Over 5.5 million fans attended FIFA Fan Festivals across the three host countries during the group stage. They consumed nearly 2 million soft drinks and water and over 2 million alcoholic beverages. On June 24, a record 527,402 people attended the festivals, with Mexico City’s festival seeing a single-day high of 201,500 on June 18. Kansas City’s festival attracted fans from 157 different countries, and on the day Scotland played Brazil in Miami, festival-goers drank 32,000 beers.

Canada Celebrates the FIFA World Cup 2026™

Canada’s passion for football is evident in the Canada Celebrates program, which welcomed 94,250 fans across 22 of its 40 stops. From coast to coast, Canadians have come together for live match screenings, football activities, music, and local culture. By the end of the celebration, Canada Celebrates will have reached every province and one territory, showcasing football’s power to unite Canadians.

Music and Entertainment

The Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album has achieved great success with 374 million streams by June 22. The Official Song, ‘Dai Dai’ by Shakira and Burna Boy, ranks 2nd on Spotify’s Top 50 Global Chart and 5th on Shazam’s Global Top 200. This album is also at number 152 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, a first for a FIFA soundtrack.

This week, ‘Dai Dai’ and ‘Champions’ by IShowSpeed rank one and 14 on YouTube’s Top 100 Music Videos Global chart. The FIFA YouTube channel now has 30 million subscribers and has received 459 million views of the album songs.

In addition to the official music program, there are over 750 music features at the stadiums. These include more than 350 approved tracks for team warm-ups, goal celebrations, and post-match moments.

Broadcast

More than 50 million viewers tuned in to the opening matches featuring the host nations across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The Mexico vs. South Africa match had 7.2 million viewers on Fox, the highest for a FIFA Men’s World Cup opening match ever broadcast in English in the US.

10 million viewers watched Brazil vs. Morocco on Fox, setting a new record for the most-watched non-USMNT group stage match in English-language US television history.

Canada’s first FIFA World Cup victory drew an average audience of 5.3 million, making it the country’s most-watched group-stage match and the highest-rated national team broadcast.

Brazil’s match against Morocco recorded the highest ratings of the tournament with an average of 28.9 million viewers. Globo reached 49.9 million unique viewers for this match across its platforms.

In China, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already attracted 205 million unique viewers on CCTV channels after 41 games. The match with the highest number of unique viewers was Tunisia vs. Japan.

Canada reach FIFA World Cup last 16 with last-gasp winner over South Africa in Los Angeles
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Canada book World Cup last-16 spot with last-gasp winner over South Africa in Los Angeles

Canada secured their place in the World Cup’s last 16 with a stunning last-gasp 1-0 victory over South Africa! Stephen Eustaquio scored a dramatic goal in stoppage time, giving Canada the victory they so desperately needed.

Both sides showed excellent talent and drive, making the game very close. Canada, however, always produced more scoring chances across the game.

Eustaquio rose to the occasion when the situation called for a standout moment, firing a strong shot that guaranteed the team’s victory just as the game was about to end.

This game was a historic event as neither Canada nor South Africa had ever made it to the tournament’s knockout rounds.

With this victory, Canada can now look forward to finishing their World Cup run against either Morocco or the Netherlands in the following round.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe Hails Nine African Teams in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe Hails Nine African Teams in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32

Africa recored 90% of 100 from the World Cup 2026 group stage as nine of ten teams made the last 32 of the USA, Canada, and Mexico showcase

“The hard work and investments in youth football development, coaching, professional football leagues and football infrastructure in each of CAF’s 54 Member Associations and in the CAF Competitions are bearing fruit, Dr Motsepe vehemently noted.

“I want to congratulate the National Teams and coaching staff of Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 32.

They have made their countries and the 1.6 billion people in Africa and in the Diaspora proud. The achievements of these nine teams show that African football is becoming more competitive and recognized worldwide.

The hard work put into developing youth football, coaching, professional leagues, and infrastructure in each of the 54 CAF Member Associations is paying off.

New governance and financial practices have attracted sponsors and partners, helping the growth of African football. I also congratulate the 9 CAF Member Association Presidents and their teams and thank the African Governments for their support of these Associations.

CAF wishes all nine teams the best as they compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and we believe they will continue to make their countries and Africa proud.”