Sports
Appollis’ Penalty Sends South Africa Past Zimbabwe Into AFCON Last 16
Oswin Appollis converted a late penalty to give South Africa a 3-2 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakesh on Monday, and qualification for the knockout stage.
Bafana Bafana must wait until Wednesday to know who they will face on Sunday in the round of 16. It is likely to be either defending champions Ivory Coast or five-time winners, Cameroon.
Egypt, which rested stars like captain Mohamed Salah with first place already assured, topped Group B with seven points after a 0-0 draw against Angola in Agadir.
South Africa finished with six points, Angola two and Zimbabwe one. Angola could squeeze into the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed teams.
In Marrakesh, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, South African Patrice Motsepe, was among a small but boisterous crowd that saw Bafana Bafana establish an early foothold.
Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi reacted late to a low sixth-minute shot from Appollis and grasped the ball just before it crossed the line.
A minute later and South Africa were ahead thanks to rising star Tshepang Moremi in the clash of southern Africa neighbours.
The ball was played across the pitch just outside the box to Moremi. He unleashed a goal-bound shot that took a deflection off Divine Lunga and looped over 40-year-old Arubi into the net.
Falling behind motivated Zimbabwe, and they deservedly levelled on 19 minutes thanks to the individual brilliance of Tawanda Maswanhise from Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.
Maswanhise gained possession inside the South African half, dribbled past two opponents and fired the ball wide of captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner.
The equaliser rattled South Africa. Bronze medallists at the 2024 AFCON, they were fortunate not to fall behind as the match reached the half-hour mark.
A Zimbabwe free-kick was floated into the goalmouth and unmarked Munashe Garananga should have done better than head over from close range.
South African frustrations at being unable to dominate flared just before half-time. Already-cautioned Sipho Mbule argued with the Moroccan referee, risking another yellow card and a red.
As was the case in the first half, South Africa began the second period aggressively. They regained the lead on 50 minutes through Burnley striker Lyle Foster.
The Premier League player raced after a headed back pass to slow-reacting Arubi, then outjumped the veteran goalkeeper to nod the ball into the net.
It was the second goal of the tournament for the 25-year-old after his winner against Angola. He is the only South African currently playing in a major European league.
Maswanhise was a constant threat and came close to scoring again midway through the second half. He bent a shot from the edge of the box on to a post.
After soaking up pressure for some time, Zimbabwe equalised on 73 minutes when Aubrey Modiba conceded an own goal.
A superb long pass from substitute Tawanda Chirewa found Maswanhise, whose shot was parried by Williams. The ball rebounded, struck Modiba and rolled into the net.
Appollis then netted from an 82nd-minute penalty to give Bafana the lead for the third time, which they successfully retained.
AFP
Former Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, has been banned from driving for six months after failing to identify the person driving his Rolls-Royce when it was caught speeding in Cheshire, United Kingdom.
Court documents reported by the BBC showed that the vehicle was recorded travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone in Wilmslow on March 27.
Salah, 34, failed to respond to a notice issued by Cheshire Constabulary requiring information about the driver and did not enter a plea.
He was prosecuted at Warrington Combined Court under the Single Justice Procedure, which allows magistrates to deal with certain cases without a public hearing.
A court spokeswoman said Salah was convicted of failing to provide information relating to the identification of the driver of the vehicle.
He was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay £1,044.
The incident occurred three days after Salah announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the 2025/26 season, bringing his nine-year spell at the club to an end.
Liverpool had described Salah as oneof the greatest players in the club’s history when it announced his departure on March 24.
Salah scored 257 goals in 442 appearances for Liverpool before leaving the club for Turkish side Trabzonspor after the 2025/26 season.
He currently plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after surviving a thrilling Sunderland fightback to claim a 5-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City capitalised on Arsenal’s shock 3-0 defeat to Brighton but were pushed all the way by a Sunderland side that refused to surrender despite falling behind three times.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring with his first Premier League goal since his £125 million ($167 million) move from Chelsea, curling a free-kick that caught Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs off guard at his near post.
Sunderland, who had defeated AZ Alkmaar in Europe during the week, showed no signs of fatigue as Brian Brobbey levelled after converting Enzo Le Fee’s pass.
Rayan Cherki restored City’s lead with a composed finish, only for Brobbey to respond again four minutes later after a slick Sunderland move.
Antoine Semenyo put the hosts back in front before half-time and appeared to have settled the contest when he struck again with an accurate left-footed finish shortly before the hour mark.
But Brobbey completed his hat-trick when Nilson Angulo raced onto a ball over the top and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma before setting up the Sunderland striker.
City were forced to withstand further pressure, with Donnarumma involved in a couple of nervous moments and Ruben Dias clearing the ball off his own goal line.
Erling Haaland eventually ended Sunderland’s hopes of a comeback by adding City’s fifth goal, while also maintaining his record of scoring against every Premier League opponent he has faced.
The victory extended Enzo Maresca’s perfect start as he takes on the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.
Liverpool Edge Bournemouth
Liverpool also secured an important victory, beating Bournemouth 1-0 on Andoni Iraola’s return to the south coast.
Iraola received a warm reception from Bournemouth supporters after previously guiding the Cherries into Europe for the first time in the club’s history.
His success eventually earned him the Liverpool job, but his start at Anfield has been inconsistent, making Saturday’s victory particularly valuable before the three-week international break.
Liverpool were far from their best but found the decisive breakthrough when Cody Gakpo’s cross fell perfectly for Alexander Isak, who fired home his fourth goal of the season.
The result lifted Liverpool to sixth place, just one point behind third-placed Brighton.
Leeds Held by Palace
Leeds missed the opportunity to climb into third place after being held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at home.
Palace thought they had taken the lead in the second half when Tyrick Mitchell found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside during the build-up.
United Under Pressure
Manchester United will look to ease the pressure on manager Michael Carrick when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Fulham.
United have collected just four points from their opening four league matches and were knocked out of the League Cup by Brighton in midweek after surrendering a 2-0 lead at home for the first time in 50 years.
Defending champions Rangers, Inter Lagos and Abia Warriors recorded away wins on Matchday Four of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, on Sunday.
Inter Lagos stunned nine-time champions Enyimba 1-0 in Aba.
Ezekiel Moses scored the decisive goal for the visitors in the 18th minute.
Rangers beat Kun Khalifat FC 4-2 in the Oriental derby at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
Preye Seikorowei, Ayuba Umar, Temitope Folarin and Waheed Adebayo scored for Rangers, while Chimobi Igwilo netted twice for Kun Khalifat.
Abia Warriors recorded their first win of the season, edging past Sporting Lagos 2-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
Ikoi Etta and Emeka Obioma got the goals for Imama Amapakabo’s side.
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