Morocco step up preparations with Burkina Faso friendlies
As preparations continue for upcoming international competitions, the Morocco women’s national football team will face the Burkina Faso women’s national football team in two friendly matches in Rabat.
The fixtures are scheduled for February 27 and March 3 and will both be played at the Prince Heir Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with kick-off set for 10:00 p.m.
Led by head coach Jorge Vilda, the matches form part of Morocco’s ongoing preparation program as the team builds rhythm ahead of future international assignments.
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The friendlies offer an opportunity to assess squad depth, refine tactical structure and maintain competitive sharpness as the Lionesses of the Atlas continue their development.
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, trainers of Arctic Glamour, are keeping close tabs on Sydney’s weather patterns because of her struggles on wet tracks prior to her expected engagement in the Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick.
The five-year-old has zero wins from six efforts on yielding ground, prompting Ryan to note they would opt for a backup without hesitation if Randwick turns sloppy on the day to preserve her chance.
“We will know on Saturday morning at 7.30 (AEDT),” Ryan said.
“If she doesn’t run Saturday, she will go to Newcastle. But she won’t be running on rain-affected ground.”
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While the Newcastle Stakes (1400m) at the Hunter circuit on March 6 offers a viable Plan B, Ryan hopes local conditions cooperate for Arctic Glamour to begin in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m).
Arctic Glamour has a sharp first-up profile, including success in the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) last spring resumption, and her trainer rates her just as well now.
“As good as ever. Her fresh record is great, she’s had seven goes for two wins, a second and a third, and there was one race first-up at Randwick you could just put a line through,” Ryan said.
“Her first trial was good. She probably ran out of a bit of puff.
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Then the other day we went back and rode her quiet and she hit the line really well – I didn’t want her to have a hard trial, I wanted her to run home for 300 or 400 metres, and she did that really well.”
Tom Sherry draws barrier four aboard Arctic Glamour, and strong showing could lead straight to the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks’ time.
Discover premier betting sites with competitive sports betting on the Guy Walter Stakes.
Former India captain Anil Kumble reckons that the Men in Blue will retain the playing combination that featured in the T20 World Cup 2026 game against Zimbabwe for the do-or-die clash against the West Indies. Admitting that India should ideally have not changed their combination midway through the tournament, he explained that circumstances forced them to do so.
India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26 in a crucial Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. Sent into bat, the Men in Blue posted 256-4 on the board and then held Zimbabwe to 184-6. India made a key change at the top of the order, bringing back Sanju Samson as opener, pushing Ishan Kishan down to No.3 and Tilak Varma to No. 6.
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During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Kumble opined that the Men in Blue must stick to this combination for their remaining games in the T20 World Cup 2026 and stop chopping and changing the playing XI. He commented:
“Nobody expected Abhishek Sharma to get out three times not scoring a single run. Then, suddenly off-spinner becoming a major hindrance to the batters at the top. The squad had only one [additional] top order batter. So, I guess you have made that decision, now you have to stick to it. You can’t keep changing. I think this combination will continue.”
Opening the batting, Samson got India off to a rapid start, smashing 24 off 15 balls. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, while Hardik Pandya (50* off 23), Varma (44* off 16), Kishan (38 off 24) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 13) all chipped in.
“Why not keep the same team?” – Faf du Plessis backs India to retain playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026 match against West Indies
Former South African captain Faf du Plessis also reckons that India must retain the same team that beat Zimbabwe for the must-win clash against the West Indies. Du Plessis opined that having Samson at the top of the order definitely makes the side stronger and also helps with the left-right combination. He explained:
“They had all these lefties. So, Sanju came in today and gave them a better look. They had a right and a left at the top. It wasn’t as obvious where the holes are. If you lose a couple of wickets, Tilak Varma can come in and play that anchor innings. You’ve got Hardik, so there’s options. It’s a very flexible batting line-up. They’ve played so well today, so why not keep the same team?”
Samson and Abhishek added 48 for the first wicket against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup match. Abhishek and Ishan then featured in a 72-run stand for the second wicket. Towards the end, Varma and Pandya were part of a rollicking 84-run unbeaten partnership, which came off just 31 deliveries.
As the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Benin City enters its closing day today, hosts Edo have taken an unassailable lead in the overall medals table.
Team Edo State have so far garnered a total of 102 medals comprising 50 Gold, 30 Silver, and be 22 Bronze.
Neighbours, Delta State trail in distant second spot with 91 medals, made up of 34 Gold, 26 Silver, and 31 Bronze.
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Winners of the first edition of the Games in Uyo, last year, Bayelsa are in 3rd position with 66 medals consisting of 23 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze while Akwa Ibom are 4th with 47 medals: 12 gold, 15 silver and 20 bronze.
Abia are 5th with 41 medals: 8 gold, 17 silver and 16 bronze , Cross River occupy 6th place with 35 medals: 7 gold, 6 silver and 22 bronze, Rivers State are 7th with 41 medals: 6 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze.
Ondo are 8th with 32 medals: 6 gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze as Imo are rooted in bottom place with 29 medals: 4 gold, 8 silver and 17 bronze.
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Though the medals table will be updated with few Final events to be decided today on the last day of competition, it seems it may not affect the standings of the teams significantly.
Some the final events today are scrabble, football and relay races.
The 2nd Niger Delta Games which got underway last Thursday, February 19 climaxes tonight with the closing ceremony billed for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin from 5pm.
Nigeria’s senior women’s team, the Super Falcons, now have 15 players in camp as preparations intensify for their upcoming friendly matches against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in Yaoundé.
The latest arrivals are the AS Roma pair of Rinsola Babajide and Shukurat Oladipo, alongside Folashade Ijamilusi and Kafayat Shittu. They link up with 11 players who reported earlier in the week when camp officially opened.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was among the early arrivals, together with Gift Monday, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Oluwatosin Demehin and Christy Ucheibe. Their early presence allowed the coaching staff to begin light sessions before the squad grew in number.
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The team held their first full training session at the Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo, where the technical crew focused on tactical organisation and fitness drills. Team media officer Mary Catherine confirmed that training began at 6:00pm, signalling the start of serious on-pitch work ahead of the double-header.
The two friendly matches are fixed for February 28 and March 3. They form part of Nigeria’s build-up to the next edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Falcons will aim to defend their title. The coaching team is expected to use the games to test combinations, evaluate new options and assess the overall strength of the squad.
More players are still expected in camp as the team continues to take full shape in Cameroon.
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Meanwhile, the Indomitable Lionesses head into the fixtures amid uncertainty. The Cameroonian side has been without a permanent head coach since the dismissal of Jean-Baptiste Bisseck in October 2025 following their qualification loss to Algeria. The football authorities are yet to name a substantive replacement.
Despite the situation, Cameroon remain focused on preparations for the forthcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The team secured a place at the tournament after the Confederation of African Football expanded the competition from 12 to 16 teams.
Nigeria won their 10th continental title in Morocco last year and will be determined to retain the trophy. Cameroon, on the other hand, are still chasing their first WAFCON triumph after finishing as runners-up on three occasions.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Shubham Pundir celebrates his century (PTI Photo)
Ranji Trophy finals are often marathon affairs, and the ongoing summit clash between Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka is following that script. After J&K posted a commanding 584 in their first innings, Karnataka reached 35 for one at lunch on Day 3 but slipped to 98 for four in the second session.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!With plenty of time left but a large deficit to overcome, a draw remains a possibility. Unlike league matches, however, the Ranji Trophy final must produce a winner. Thankfully, one key rule provides clarity: the first-innings lead determines the champion if no outright result emerges.
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Essentially, if neither side can bowl the other out twice or chase the target, the team with the higher first-innings total claims the trophy. This ensures that sustained performance over the longer format is rewarded, particularly in multi-day matches where weather or pitch conditions can prevent a definitive finish.Here’s how the current final could play out:Scenario 1 – Karnataka take the first-innings lead:If Karnataka surpass J&K’s 584 by scoring 585 or more, they will gain the crucial first-innings advantage. Even if the match ends in a draw afterward, Karnataka will be crowned Ranji Trophy champions. This is the simplest path to the title for the southern side, though it demands overcoming a massive deficit.Scenario 2 – Jammu & Kashmir retain their lead:Should Karnataka fall short of 584, J&K will maintain the first-innings advantage. In that case, irrespective of remaining time or a drawn result, Jammu and Kashmir will be declared champions. Their strong batting performance and early bowling control currently put them in a commanding position.Scenario 3 – External interruptions:In the unlikely event of rain or other factors preventing Karnataka from completing their innings and no first-innings lead is established, tournament rules can default to group-stage points or prior performance. Nonetheless, the first-innings lead is typically decisive in finals.Jammu and Kashmir’s 584 was built through disciplined partnerships and lower-order resistance, giving them a strong platform. Their bowlers have also applied early pressure in Karnataka’s reply, removing key batsmen KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Smaran Ravichandran, and Karun Nair.Also See: IND vs ZIM
NEW DELHI: Strike rate 331.58. Seven fours. Five sixes. That is not just a stat line — it is a statement. And it had the unmistakable stamp of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all over it. The young India star once again lived up to his reputation of taking bowlers apart from the very first ball, hammering a breathtaking 19-ball 63 for DY Patil Blue against Indian Navy in the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup. With IPL 2026 just over a month away, the timing of this assault could not have been more ominous.
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Chasing 220, Vaibhav wasted no time settling in. Sixteen runs came off the first four deliveries he faced. By the end of just 12 balls, he was already on 43 — bowlers scrambling, fielders scattered, and the tempo of the game firmly hijacked.His half-century arrived in the fifth over — a six followed by a four — in just 14 deliveries. He added another towering maximum before walking back for 63 off 19 balls, striking at a staggering 331.58.For those who have followed his rise, this is hardly surprising.Vaibhav first shook the IPL in 2025 when he blasted a 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans, becoming the youngest centurion in the league’s history and the fastest Indian to a century in the tournament. That innings announced the arrival of a new-age aggressor — fearless, unapologetic, and relentlessly attacking.His dominance continued in the Under-19 circuit. In 25 Youth ODIs, he piled up 1,412 runs at an average of 56.48 and a remarkable strike rate of 165.72. Four centuries and seven fifties followed, including a stunning 175 off just 80 balls in the U19 World Cup final — an innings that sealed India’s triumph.Even off the field, Vaibhav has done things differently. He made headlines for skipping his Class X board exams to prioritise cricket — a decision that now seems vindicated by the numbers.In 18 T20s so far, he has amassed 701 runs at a strike rate of 204.37, crossing 150 in 12 innings — a testament to his consistency in high-tempo cricket.At the DY Patil T20 Cup, he simply carried that momentum forward.While Kuwar Pathak’s 87 and Nitin Tanwar’s unbeaten 57 powered Indian Navy to 220, the spotlight inevitably swung back to Vaibhav. Yash Dhull (12 off 8), Sarfaraz Khan (27 off 19), Shashank Singh (20 off 12), Anand Bais (35* off 24) and Arjun Tendulkar (55* off 29) all chipped in — but it was Vaibhav’s blitz that set the tone.And if this was meant to be a warm-up ahead of IPL 2026, bowlers across franchises would be watching closely.Also See: IND vs ZIM Live Score
“Benfica categorically denies that player Prestianni communicated to the squad or the club’s management that he had uttered a racist insult against Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior,” said a statement.
“As has already been made public, the player apologised to his team-mates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting its magnitude and consequences and assuring everyone, as he has done from the very beginning, that he is not racist.”
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Prestianni was provisionally suspended for Wednesday’s Champions League play-off defeat against Real after Vinicius alleged he was racially abused by the Argentinian in the first leg.
Vinicius Junior, who alleged Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him, scored the winner at the Bernabeu as the Portuguese club were eliminated from the Champions League 3-1 on aggregate (Manu Fernandez/AP)
The Brazilian left the field and refused to return, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes in Lisbon.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was roundly criticised for his comments about the incident after appearing to intimate the winger had brought any abuse upon himself with his goal celebration, saying “a stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always”.
On Wednesday evening, Vinicius Jr scored the winner as Real Madrid beat Benfica 2-1 on the night.
Benfica had levelled the tie when Rafa Silva bundled home from close range after 14 minutes.
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But the lead lead lasted only two minutes as Aurelien Tchouameni swept home superbly from the edge of the box for his first Champions League goal.
The contest was still finely balanced when Vinicius broke through 10 minutes from time and stroked the ball home for a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Real Madrid fans displayed anti-racism banners before kick-off – and ultimately it was the Brazilian who had the final word as the Spanish giants reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
There is a 10-game NBA schedule on Thursday night, perfect for claiming the newest Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS, which offers new users a $10 cash bonus after $10 in trades. One of the biggest games of the day is Suns vs. Lakers in a Western Conference showdown at 9 p.m. ET. Phoenix is without its top two scorers due to injury, giving other players an opportunity to step up. One of those players is shooting guard Jalen Green, who is still trying to find his role after missing most of the season thus far.
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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 on a sizzling 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its advice could have seen huge returns.
Jalen Green, Suns, 20 points or more ($0.58 per share)
Phoenix is currently playing without its top two scorers in Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, who are averaging a combined 45 points per game. This has created a huge opportunity for Green, who has finally been able to get healthy after missing extensive time over the last few months. He has played in four straight games after playing in just seven other games this season. Green averaged 21 points per game for Houston last year before landing in Phoenix, and he will be relied upon heavily on Thursday night. SportsLine’s model has Green finishing with 24.4 points in its latest simulations, providing cushion at this price.
Miles Bridges, Hornets, 6 or more rebounds ($0.56 per share)
Bridges has been Charlotte’s second-leading rebounder this season, averaging 6.1 boards per game. He also plays a team-high 32 minutes per game and is coming off a 7-rebound performance against Chicago on Tuesday. Bridges only played 22 minutes in his return from a suspension, but he made a significant impact. His minutes should be significantly higher against Indiana on Thursday night, and the model has Bridges finishing with 7.2 rebounds.
Josh Giddey, Bulls, 6 or more assists ($0.64 per share)
Giddey is averaging a team-high 8.4 assists per game for Chicago this season, sitting well ahead of teammate Tre Jones (5.4 apg). This is a chance to expect positive regression for Giddey after he finished with six assists or fewer in each of his last four games after returning from a hamstring injury. He was on a minutes’ restriction in those outings, playing 27 minutes or fewer. The model has Giddey playing 28 minutes and recording 7.0 assists on Thursday night against Portland.
The men’s team was criticised after several players appeared to laugh when Trump made his comment, but Knight said: “I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect. That’s being overshadowed by a quick lapse.
“The guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and [is] overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”
Knight, 36, ended her Olympic career with 15 goals, the most by any US male or female player.
She said she hopes the Trump controversy proves to be a “really good learning point, to really focus on how we talk about women, not only in sport but in industry”.
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She said: “Women aren’t less than, and their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”
Victor Osimhen has explained why he chose not to celebrate after scoring a vital goal for Galatasaray in their dramatic Champions League clash against Juventus on Wednesday night.
Juventus claimed a 3-2 win after extra time at the Allianz Stadium, but Galatasaray progressed to the Round of 16 with a 7-5 aggregate victory.
The Turkish side travelled to Italy with a strong 5-2 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul. However, Juventus responded impressively in Turin.
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Despite being reduced to ten men, the Italian club stormed into a 3-0 lead on the night, forcing the match into extra time and threatening a remarkable comeback.
Only minutes into extra time, Osimhen scored the decisive goal to restore Galatasaray’s aggregate lead and seal qualification. Instead of celebrating wildly, the Nigerian forward calmly exchanged handshakes with teammates.
After the match, Osimhen explained that his reaction was out of respect for Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, whom he worked with at SSC Napoli.
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“No, I don’t need to, I don’t need to,” Osimhen said. “I think it’s important to respect a man I love and who has played an important role in my career — I’m obviously talking about Spalletti. I didn’t feel the need to celebrate.”
While happy that Galatasaray reached the knockout stage for the first time in 12 years, Osimhen admitted he was not pleased with his team’s performance.
“We played very poorly, even when they were a man down, so there was no reason to celebrate,” he added.
“Even when we had the opportunity to score the decisive goal, the one to make it 3-1, I didn’t feel the need to celebrate. I’m not that kind of player, someone who tries to hide his emotions, or who does things like that. I saw all these people applauding the Juventus players for their performance, and I can say I’m happy…”
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Galatasaray will now wait for the draw to find out whether they will face Liverpool FC or Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Round of 16.
