Sports
Morocco outshines Egypt, clinches men’s Olympics men’s football bronze medal
The prolific Soufiane Rahimi scored twice and captain Achraf Hakimi netted a stunning free-kick as Morocco hammered Egypt 6-0 on Thursday to take Olympic men’s football bronze.
Rahimi’s brace took him to eight goals at the Olympics, cementing his status as the tournament’s top scorer, while Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss and Akram Nakach also scored in a comprehensive win at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Hakimi’s late strike put the icing on the cake as Morocco claimed a first Olympic football medal and a first for North Africa.
Morocco, who beat Argentina in their opening group game and were eventually beaten by Spain in the semi-finals, had already defeated Egypt in the final of last year’s Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
That success was what allowed them to qualify for the Olympics, and they secured a medal in rampant fashion with Ezzalzouli, of Real Betis in Spain, putting Morocco ahead from a superb strike just inside the box midway through the first half.
Rahimi made it 2-0 shortly after when he headed in a cross by Ezzalzouli before the Atlas Lions ran away with the game in the second half.
El Khannouss curled a low shot into the bottom-right corner from just outside the box for the third goal, and Rahimi got his second to make it 4-0 when he controlled a pass by Ilias Akhomach before firing in.
Striker Rahimi, who has at least four more goals than any other player in the tournament, then turned provider for defender Akram Nakach to make it five.
However, Hakimi saved the best for last by finding the net with a missile of a free-kick from 30 metres three minutes from the end. That was Morocco’s 17th goal in six matches at the Games.
Hosts France play Spain in the gold medal match in Paris on Friday.
Al Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed an extension to his contract with the club, which will see him remain the “highest-paid player in history”, according to Goal.Com
It is believed that Ronaldo is close to agreeing terms on a deal worth £173 million per season.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s current contract is set to expire in the summer.
But it appears Ronaldo is willing to continue playing with Al Nassr.
The 39-year-old has been linked with a few clubs, including Al-Hilal – where Neymar Jr is currently playing.
It is, however, being claimed that Ronaldo wants to compete with them, rather than represent them.
Ronaldo is now seeking assurances that Al Nassr will spend big in the summer transfer window.
Ronaldo has scored 81 goals in 90 appearances for Al-Nassr.
He has already become a centurion in the goal department at previous clubs Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Former Manchester City captain and manager Tony Book has died at the age of 90, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
Right-back Book captained City as they won four major trophies, including the English top-flight title and European Cup Winners’ Cup, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He later led them to League Cup success as manager in 1976.
Tony made 315 appearances for City in total between 1966 and 1974, scoring five goals. Credit: X/@ManCity
Book was subsequently named as an honorary president at City as well as life president of the official supporters club.
“For nearly sixty years Tony helped to shape Manchester City,” said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
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“Not just in what he contributed as a player, captain and manager, but in the way he conducted himself. His hopes and ambitions for his club were matched only by his incredible humility regarding his own significant achievements.”
He added: “Tony’s devotion to his club meant he was still fulfilling club duties earlier this season I will miss seeing him at our games enormously.”
AFP
Former Cameroon coach Rigobert Song has been appointed the new Central African Republic manager, the country’s sports minister said late Monday.
Song will aim to guide the country to qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in its history.
The Wild Beasts missed out on the 2023 tournament after losing their last two qualifiers.
Cameroon chose not to renew the 48-year-old former Liverpool and West Ham defender’s contract after the Indomitable Lions crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the last 16 stage in January last year, when they were beaten 2-0 by Nigeria.
Song also guided Cameroon to qualification for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, with a goal late in extra time in a qualifier against Algeria sealing their spot.
In Qatar, they were eliminated in the group phase despite a 1-0 win against Brazil.
In 23 matches in charge of Cameroon, Song won six games, with nine defeats and eight draws.
As a player, Song made 137 appearances for Cameroon.
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