Morocco make history and reach World Cup Round of 16 for second time

Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Canada. (AP Photo)
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Updated 02 December 2022
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Morocco make history and reach World Cup Round of 16 for second time

  • Atlas Lions reached the knockout stages in 1986 and are the only Arab team to do so at Qatar 2022

Morocco made history on Thursday, defeating Canada 2-1 to top Group F and become the sole Arab team to make the second round of the 2022 World Cup and also the first from the region to do so for a second time, 36 years after doing so back in 1986.

This time was more impressive. After that famous 2-0 win over Belgium on Sunday, the Atlas Lions needed just a point against the already-eliminated North Americans and raced into a 2-0 lead by the midway point of the first half.

They spent much of the second half on the backfoot but can now look forward to playing in the last 16 against Germany, Spain or Japan.

It was almost a perfect group stage with seven points collected. The opening game against the talented Croatians ended goalless, a solid result that provided the platform for the victory over Belgium, the team ranked second in the world. It meant that, barring slip-ups, Morocco could start to think about the last 16.

Going through was not just celebrated by the many thousands of fans at the Al-Thumama Stadium and millions back home, but it was vindication for the decision to dismiss Vahid Halilhodzic as head coach in August. In came Walid Regragui who has not only restored Hakim Ziyech to the team but tightened up the defense to an impressive degree.

The own goal that came off the boot of Nayef Aguerd just before the break that gave the Canadians a chance to get back in the game was the first that Morocco had conceded in seven games under Regragui. Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi may get many headlines, but Romain Saiss has been a rock in the middle and Sofyan Amrabat adept at spotting opposition danger. The positioning and commitment of the backline and those sitting just in front have been excellent.

Welcoming Ziyech back into the fold may not exactly have been a difficult decision for Regragui, but the wideman has grown more influential in every game in Qatar, and his fourth-minute goal was harder than it looked.

Poor Canadian defending left goalkeeper Milan Borjan stranded outside his area, and a first-time chip from Ziyech from around 30 meters out found the net with the kind of cool finish that only a player at the top of his game can produce.

It took the sting out of the game and Morocco were well on top, extending the lead as Youssef En-Nesyri fired home emphatically. The game looked to be as good as over, but just before the break came Aguerd’s own goal, a low cross diverted past Yassine Bounou in goal. If that was frustrating, so was a disallowed goal moments later as Aguerd was ruled to have been in the line of the goalkeeper’s vision from an offside position as En-Nesyri shot home. 

So, instead of 2-0 or 3-1, it was a little closer. It was not time for panic stations, but the scoreline did give Canada, playing for pride after two defeats and looking for a first-ever World Cup point, hope.

They came firing out of the traps in the second half and spent a great deal more time in the Moroccan half. After 72 minutes, a Canadian header hit the bar and bounced right on the goal line. In some ways, this was the Africans’ toughest game, and the pressure they were put under in the second half may stand them in good stead for the tests ahead.

It meant that instead of thinking about which of his players to bring off and rest ahead of the second-round clash, coach Regragui had to stay focused on ensuring that his team did not do anything silly and kept their focus.

Yet thoughts of the next stage were surely never that far away. Winning the group is welcome symbolically, is good for confidence and means a second-round game on Tuesday as opposed to Monday. Their opponents remain to be seen, but after their first stage performance, there is no reason to fear Spain, Germany, Japan or anyone else. 

It should be remembered that this group was seen as a tricky one. It contained the runner-up and third-placed team from Russia 2018, and Canada finished top of CONCACAF’s qualification stage. 

Morocco deserved to finish top of the standings and to take all the plaudits. History has been made, but there is surely more to come from this talented team especially now that they are flying the flag for Arab football.


Pakistan Cricket Board announces full ticket refunds for rain-washed Champions Trophy matches

Updated 02 March 2025
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Pakistan Cricket Board announces full ticket refunds for rain-washed Champions Trophy matches

  • The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan
  • Ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a Champion Trophy match is abandoned before toss

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a full ticket refund for Champions Trophy matches that were abandoned without a ball being bowled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium last month, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday. 
The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa on Feb. 25, and Bangladesh and Pakistan on Feb. 27, but rain washed out both games in Rawalpindi.
According to the PCB Ticket Refund Policy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a match is abandoned before the toss.
“Ticket holders can claim their refund between 10th to 14th of this month [March],” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The purchaser will have to visit a designated outlet along with the original ticket.”
Hosts Pakistan crashed out of the tournament after a humiliating six-wicket loss to archrivals India.
The winner of Sunday’s match between India and New Zealand will play Australia in the semifinal, with the loser taking on South Africa.
Irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday after they refused to travel to Pakistan because of political tensions.
New Zealand will leave for Lahore after Sunday’s match, with the second semifinal to be played at Qaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.


Champions Trophy: Kohli falls to ‘superman’ Phillips’ catch in 300th ODI

Updated 02 March 2025
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Champions Trophy: Kohli falls to ‘superman’ Phillips’ catch in 300th ODI

  • Kohli fell for 11 runs off 14 balls after New Zealand invited India to bat first in Dubai
  • The result of the match to decide the semifinal line-up of the 50-over tournament

DUBAI: New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss India great Virat Kohli in the batsman’s landmark 300th ODI in the final group match of the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
Kohli fell for 11 off 14 balls after New Zealand invited India to bat first in Dubai with the result of the match to decide the semifinal line-up of the 50-over tournament.
But it was Phillips’ fielding marvel that brought the match alive as he dived full stretch to his right at backward point and held on to the ball traveling at a fast pace from Kohli’s bat off fast bowler Matt Henry.
Kohli, 36, stood in disbelief for a few seconds before trudging back to the pavilion as the fans went silent.
Social media, however, was soon abuzz with reactions to the catch: “The Superman of the tournament,” wrote one fan on X.
The winner of the match will play Australia in the semifinal, with the loser taking on South Africa.
Irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday after they refused to travel to hosts Pakistan because of political tensions.
New Zealand will leave for Lahore after the match, with the second semifinal to be played at the Qaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.


Third-time lucky for Tsitsipas as he overcomes Auger-Aliassime to take Dubai title

Updated 02 March 2025
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Third-time lucky for Tsitsipas as he overcomes Auger-Aliassime to take Dubai title

  • No. 4 seed triumphs over tour’s most in-form player in straight sets at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium to seal a maiden ATP 500 title and return to world’s Top 10

DUBAI: Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas made it third time lucky at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday night, defeating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 to claim his maiden ATP 500 title in front of a jubilant Centre Court under the lights at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Making his first Dubai appearance since 2020, when he was defeated in the final by Novak Djokovic, and playing in his third final in four trips to the tournament, the World No. 11’s straight-sets victory ensured he became the first Greek player to claim glory in Dubai.

After eclipsing Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, and Tallon Griekspoor en route to the Auger-Aliassime showdown, Tsitsipas delivered a stunning array of booming serves, powerful baseline winners, and delicate dropshots to dismantle his under-par opponent in an hour and 28 minutes.

Tsitsipas started slowly, forced to save two breakpoints early on and winning only three points across his opponent’s first three service games. Yet it was the No. 4 seed who secured the crucial breaks, first for 4-3 — helped by an Auger-Aliassime double-fault — and again to take the opening set. Crucially, again at 4-3 in the second, he secured the break that would ultimately lead to what he later dubbed his “final redemption” in Dubai.

“This is something that I have been fighting a long time for and it’s great to finally win here in Dubai,” Tsitsipas said after sealing a 12th career title. “My game kind of clicked and things seemed to work really well right from the beginning (of the match). It’s a big relief to finally hold the trophy at the third attempt. It was definitely something in the back of my mind, and I am very happy to have finally accomplished it. I’m proud I managed to handle the pressure and perform in those crucial moments.”

After failing to clinch a hat-trick of 2025 titles following wins in Adelaide and Montpellier earlier this season, a visibly dejected Auger-Aliassime was full of praise for his Greek rival: “It wasn’t to be for me, but congratulations to Stefanos; it’s well deserved. He played at a very high level tonight.

“This is my second time in Dubai, and I will definitely be back,” added the Canadian, who is expected to return to the world’s Top 20 players when new ATP rankings are released on Monday.

In the men’s doubles final, crowd favorites Yuki Bhambri of India and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin — a former ball kid at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship — edged out second seeds Harri Heliovaara of Croatia and Great Britain’s Henry Patten 3-6, 7-6, 10-8 in a marathon two-hour tussle on Centre Court.

Having lost the first set, Bhambri and Popyrin bravely battled back, defending four match points en route to winning a tense second set tiebreak before eventually sealing a super tiebreak win courtesy of a Popyrin ace on the pair’s fourth championship point.

“We were so close to losing in the first round, so it’s unbelievable to be in the final and win it — I don’t think I would ever have dreamt of this,” said Bhambri, before partner Popyrin added: “I’ve been coming to this tournament since I was a kid. I grew up in Dubai, played a lot of junior tournaments here, so it’s always good to come back, and to win a title whether in singles or doubles is always special. It’s been an unbelievable week.”


Australia or South Africa will return to Pakistan from Dubai for semifinal

Updated 02 March 2025
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Australia or South Africa will return to Pakistan from Dubai for semifinal

  • India and New Zealand’s Sunday group match to decide semifinal line-up
  • Irrespective of outcome, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Mar. 4

DUBAI: Australia and South Africa have been forced to travel to Dubai from Pakistan, the International Cricket Council confirmed Sunday, due to a tangled schedule at the Champions Trophy.
India and New Zealand play the final group match on Sunday in Dubai and the result of the game will decide the semifinal line-up.
Australia are in Dubai and will train in the afternoon, when South Africa are expected to fly in from Karachi where they hammered England to get top spot in Group B.
The winners of the India-New Zealand clash will play Australia, who finished second to South Africa in their group.
But irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on March 4 after they refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
That will leave New Zealand and either Australia or South Africa, hours after landing in Dubai, to head back to Pakistan for the second semifinal scheduled on March 5 in Lahore.
Pundits and ex-cricketers had called out the one-venue “farce” at the 50-over tournament after India were allowed to play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium.
The rest of the seven teams in the eight-nation competition had to shuttle between three Pakistan venues — Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore — and the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips said his team were not thinking about India staying at one venue for the course of the tournament.
“No, for us there’s no focus on anything like that,” he said on Saturday.
“We have a ‘no-excuses’ mindset.”
The final on March 9 will be in Dubai if India go the distance.
Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium will be the venue if India miss out.


Australia or South Africa will return to Pakistan from Dubai for semifinal

Updated 02 March 2025
Follow

Australia or South Africa will return to Pakistan from Dubai for semifinal

  • Australia and South Africa have been forced to travel to Dubai from Pakistan, the International Cricket Council confirmed Sunday

DUBAI: Australia and South Africa have been forced to travel to Dubai from Pakistan, the International Cricket Council confirmed Sunday, due to a tangled schedule at the Champions Trophy.
India and New Zealand play the final group match on Sunday in Dubai and the result of the game will decide the semifinal line-up.
Australia are in Dubai and will train in the afternoon, when South Africa are expected to fly in from Karachi where they hammered England to get top spot in Group B.
The winners of the India-New Zealand clash will play Australia, who finished second to South Africa in their group.
But irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on March 4 after they refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
That will leave New Zealand and either Australia or South Africa, hours after landing in Dubai, to head back to Pakistan for the second semifinal scheduled on March 5 in Lahore.
Pundits and ex-cricketers had called out the one-venue “farce” at the 50-over tournament after India were allowed to play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium.
The rest of the seven teams in the eight-nation competition had to shuttle between three Pakistan venues — Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore — and the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips said his team were not thinking about India staying at one venue for the course of the tournament.
“No, for us there’s no focus on anything like that,” he said on Saturday.
“We have a ‘no-excuses’ mindset.”
The final on March 9 will be in Dubai if India go the distance.
Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium will be the venue if India miss out.