Morocco’s coach Said Chiba has paid glowing tribute to his players for executing their tactical plan to the latter, as they edged out Mali 6-5 on post-match penalties in Constantine on Sunday to qualify for the final of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Atlas Cubs held on for a barren draw in regulation time, shutting out a potent Malian attack, before goalkeeper Taha Benrhozil’s heroics saw them triumph on penalties.

“We knew that we were going into a difficult game and we needed to manage it well and to ensure Mali, which is a very high-level team, does not find its rhythm and channels to attack. We played compact as to how we had planned,” the coach noted.

He added; “We were patient and very organized and this was the only solution for us to win. We executed our plan really well and these players have demonstrated a lot of tactical discipline beyond their age.”

Morocco have had one of the meanest defenses in the tournament so far, and they have only conceded twice, against Zambia, in their last Group B match in which they changed almost the entire team as qualification to the quarter final was already confirmed.

Morocco have made it to the final for the first time ever, as their best performance prior to this was a fourth-place finish when they hosted the tournament in 2013.

“I am proud of the players and proud of this team. We have made everyone at home proud and now we hope for one more beautiful story,” Chiba added.

Morocco switch attention to next Friday’s finale when they take on Senegal, who have also qualified into the final for the first time ever.

Senegal’s head coach Salio Dia was an elated man after guiding the team to their first ever TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, following their semi-final win over Burkina Faso in Annaba on Sunday.

Senegal prevailed 5-4 on post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time. This is their third participation at the tournament and in the previous two editions they have played in, the Teranga Cubs have not made it past the group stages.

“I congratulate my players who fought hard to achieve this objective of going into the final. I also congratulate Burkina Faso because it was a great quality match between the two sides,” the tactician said.

He adds; “playing the final for the first time ever is a great achievement for Senegal and we are all proud as a team.”

Looking back to the match against Burkina Faso, the coach said it was a difficult duel, with tactical and physical prowess going head to head.

“We had two opposite styles with Burkina Faso. For us we try to progress with the ball from the back while Burkina Faso play with the long balls and attacking the second balls. They were also very strong in midfield. But as a team we put in a great effort,” Dia noted.

Meanwhile, he has paid a glowing tribute to academies and youth training centres in Senegal, saying this achievement was down to the work they have put in, to nurture talent from an early age.

“I want to thank the coaches of these players from all over Senegal as well as their training centres. We are trying to put things in place as a country and to give players the Senegalese identity from a young age, instill the values in them and we are now seeing the fruits,” Dia further added.
Senegal will now face off with Morocco in the final at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Friday, where they hope to follow in the footsteps of other Senegalese national teams in winning continental titles.

Most recently, Senegal won the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) hosted here in Algeria, while they won the U20 crown in Egypt. In 2021 they won the senior AFCON and the Beach Soccer AFCON.

Can they make it five in a row?

The dismantling of the three remaining Floodlight Masts at the National Stadium, Surulere, has commenced following the advice from experts for safety reasons.

It will be recalled that last month heavy rain windstorm broke one of the four floodlight masts by half on April 19.

The ministry explained that the unfortunate incident occurred due to the decay and abandonment of the stadium for close to 19 years, hence, experts were brought in to advise accordingly.

Ministry of Sports led by Sunday Dare ordered immediate closure of the 51-year-old edifice and also dispatched its Director of Facilities, Engineer Analamu, from Abuja to Lagos to access the situation.

Though the exact cost of the damage is yet to be determined, the ministry has directed that the three other floodlight masts be pulled down to avert similar collapse or tragedy at the Lagos Sportscity.

After the inspection by the Sports Minister, he said: “Thank God, there was no casualty. I also inspected the three other light masts, and the effects of age and weather elements were visible… clearly, they are also suspect after 51 years.”

And so the dismantling of the three of Floodlight Mast, which has started, is aimed at averting another incident with a view of finding solution to the four floodlights.

Recall that the Adopt Initiative of the Ministry led to the support given by Chief Kessington Adebutu, who assisted to kick-start the revival of the stadium abandoned for close to two decades.

The repairs covered three areas notably the pitch, tartan tracks and the digital scoreboard. Several troubled areas are still awaiting attention to put the stadium back to shape.

Arsenal’s fading title hopes were dealt a devastating blow after losing to Brighton to leave leaders Manchester City one win from a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

The Gunners needed to respond after City’s 3-0 win over Everton earlier on Sunday left Mikel Arteta’s side trailing by four points in the race for the title.

On a deeply frustrating day for Arsenal, Leandro Trossard hit the bar against his former club while Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both went close before Julio Enciso’s close-range header put Brighton ahead.

Substitute Deniz Undav doubled the lead after lobbing Aaron Ramsdale in the 86th minute before Pervis Estupinan added to Arsenal’s misery with Brighton’s third in the 96th minute.
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City will win the Premier League title next Sunday in front of their own fans if they beat Chelsea at home (16:00 BST), even if Arsenal defeat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday (17:30).

However, City will be confirmed champions without playing on Saturday if the Gunners lose at Forest.

In a game littered with niggly fouls, Arsenal lost Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli to injury in the first half after a foul by Brighton’s Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, who the Gunners tried to sign in January.

Brighton, who are chasing a place in Europe for the first time, had gone close through Enciso before the Paraguay forward stunned the Emirates with his 51st-minute goal.

The win lifted the Seagulls above both Aston Villa and Tottenham into sixth on 58 points, four behind fifth-placed Liverpool with one game in hand.

The maximum number of points Arsenal can score is 87, while City have 85 with matches against Chelsea (home), Brighton (away) and Brentford (away) to come.

Manchester City require two victories to retain the Premier League title after despatching relegation-threatened Everton at Goodison Park.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be guaranteed their third title in a row with six points from their remaining games against Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford.

But the Toffees were made to pay a heavy price for Mason Holgate’s glaring miss when unmarked at the far post, the defender somehow hooking over from a couple of yards.

City were second best up until that point but showcased how clinical they are in front of goal by going to the other end and netted twice in the space of two minutes.

Ilkay Gundogan was the star of the show, involved in all three of City’s goals with a sublime flicked finish before providing the cross for Erling Haaland’s close range header.

The midfielder curled in a glorious free-kick from the edge of the area in the second half as City moved four points clear at the top, though Arsenal can claw back the deficit with victory over Brighton later on Sunday.

The loss for Everton leaves them looking nervously over their shoulders with two games remaining, hovering just one point above the relegation zone.

Rhasidat Adeleke led a University of Texas clean sweep of the 400m medals at the Big 12 Championships Sunday at the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex in Norman, Oklahoma

All eyes were on the 20 year old Irish girl to break the 50 seconds barrier for the second time in under one month but could not fulfil expectations.

Adeleke however ensured she mounted the podium as the Big 12 Championships champion (50.58) after finishing third (50.70) last year at the Terry and Linda Fuller T&F Complex in Lubbock, Texas.

She also broke the 51.24 facility record set by Jessica Beard of Texas A&M University in 2009.

Adeleke had earlier helped University of Texas’ 4x100m relay team to set a new 41.89 collegiate in storming to victory at the championships.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s former World U20 400m champion, Imaobong Nse Uko came in fifth in 52.13.

The Nigerian also came in seventh (23.64) in the 200m event while her fellow country woman, Rosemary Chukwuma did not start the race.

Saint Lucia’s Julieen Alfred won the race in 22.28 to successfully complete a sprint double after running a wind leChukwuma was fifth in that race in 11.21.

Former Nigeria star, Ezinne Abba ran an 11.04 lifetime best to place third in the race.