Malawi’s success at an expanded 16-team tournament in Morocco is proving that women’s football in Africa has the potential to grow beyond the traditional big names.

Excluding the inaugural edition in 1998, they are the first debutant to reach the final.

But having already booked their place at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, courtesy of their run to the last four, the Scorchers are now on the verge of something very special – and anything looks possible with the Chawinga sisters firing on all cylinders in attack.

With Tabitha helping OL Lyonnes to another French title last season, and with Temwa winning a second golden boot and MVP award with NWSL side Kansas City Current, there was plenty of hype ahead of this campaign.

All of it now appears justified as the sisters have scored eight of their team’s 12 goals – with five for Temwa and three for Tabitha – and appear to have a level of pace, power and positional awareness which opposition defences struggle to cope with.

Tabitha’s opener in this match will be remembered for a long time.

When Asimenye Simwaka, who just two weeks ago was running in the 200m and 400m semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, headed a corner back into the middle of the penalty area, the elder Chawinga looked to pose little danger given she had her back to goal.

But the 30-year-old twisted to apply a clever left-footed overhead kick which beat Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi but not the crossbar.

As N’Gazi also twisted to avoid being struck by the ricochet, she probably thought she would be able to collect the ball on the bounce, but the backspin meant it could only end up in the back of the net.

Belkhiter’s red card, which had come midway through the first half, had looked harsh, even if replays clearly showed the defender catching Tabitha on the back of the heel.

The challenge came a long way from goal and Belkhiter’s team-mate Roselene Khezami, who was challenging from Chawinga’s other side, did get something on the ball as she lunged in at the same time.

Temwa Chawinga took advantage of the numerical advantage to round N’Gazi and stroke home to make it 2-0, but Kadzere’s deserved red card shortly after opened the door to the North Africans.

The Malawi midfielder just about made contact with the top of the ball before going over the top and catching Marine Dafeur above the ankle.

The challenge, however, came inside the Algeria penalty area and was totally unnecessary.

Algeria’s Melissa Bethi and Temwa Chawinga both missed glorious opportunities inside the opening minutes of the second period before Adjabi’s strike on the hour.

Two Malawi defenders made a mess of dealing with Dafeur’s deep free-kick, allowing the forward to fire back across goal on the volley to half the deficit.

Both sides looked to be running out of steam before Tabitha Chawinga settled the contest with her second goal, driving into the penalty area almost unchallenged to side-foot home from just outside the six yard box.

Ranked 153rd in the world, Malawi have taken Wafcon by storm.

One final hurdle remains in the form of Cameroon, after they saw off the hosts on penalties, but on this form the Chawinga sisters will feel anyone is beatable.

For most elite athletes, retirement marks the end of one chapter. For Peter O’Mahony, it’s been the beginning of several.

After calling time on an outstanding rugby career in 2025, the former Munster captain and Ireland international has wasted little time building a portfolio that stretches far beyond the game. From launching businesses to stepping into television, O’Mahony’s post-rugby career highlights a mindset that’s just as disciplined away from the pitch.

Alongside his wife Jessica, O’Mahony recently launched søw-sé, a home and garden brand that has reportedly been five years in development. He’s also co-founded Active Brewing Company, a non-alcoholic beer brand, while making his television debut this year as a rugby pundit for Virgin Media Ireland.

It’s a varied schedule that requires organisation, planning and attention to detail. Traits that helped define his rugby career continue to shape his life after sport.

That same philosophy is reflected in his partnership with Irish storage specialist RackZone.

Based in Ballinasloe, County Galway, RackZone has become one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of garage storage, shelving, workbenches and workspace solutions. O’Mahony has spoken about the importance of keeping everything in its place, with his own garage featuring heavy-duty shelving, organised storage and a dedicated workstation that mirrors the disciplined approach he became known for throughout his playing career.

While many people associate storage solutions with warehouses or commercial premises, they’re increasingly becoming an essential part of home businesses, workshops, garages and home gyms. RackZone’s range includes garage shelving, workbenches, storage boxes, plastic lockers, steel lockers and adjustable standing desks, helping homeowners and professionals create organised workspaces that improve productivity.

O’Mahony isn’t the only elite Irish sportsman relying on organisation behind the scenes.

RackZone’s other sporting ambassador, James Deane, has enjoyed one of the biggest months of his remarkable motorsport career.

The Cork driver, already a five-time Formula Drift champion and seven-time European Drift champion, recently made his FIA European Rallycross Championship debut at Mondello Park. Competing against vastly more experienced rallycross drivers with just four practice laps under his belt, Deane secured an impressive second-place finish in his class.

Speaking after the event, he admitted the podium exceeded expectations.

“To be on the podium is better than I could have hoped.”

The achievement came shortly after another landmark moment.

Earlier this summer, Deane won Round 4 of the Formula Drift PRO Championship at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, leading an historic all-Irish podium alongside Jack Shanahan and Conor Shanahan. The victory moved him to the top of the championship standings as he continues his pursuit of a sixth Formula Drift title.

Like O’Mahony, preparation happens long before the spotlight arrives.

Behind the scenes, Deane’s workshop is built around organisation, with RackZone shelving and workstation systems helping keep tools, components and equipment exactly where they’re needed.

Whether it’s preparing a Formula Drift car or building a successful business after professional sport, the same principle applies.

Everything has its place.

As more Irish homeowners, businesses and workshop owners look to maximise their available space, organised storage has become less about tidiness and more about efficiency, productivity and getting the most from every square metre.

RackZone delivers across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with next working day delivery available on eligible orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Thursday. The company is also rated Excellent on Trustpilot, serving thousands of customers looking to create more organised homes, workshops and workplaces.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Utah, which has played 924 games against regional foes, winning 532, losing 371, and recording 21 ties, for a winning percentage of .587.

The Utes have recorded the most wins (80) and played the most games (114) against Utah State, and lost the most games (34) against BYU.

Here is a breakdown of Utah’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Three Irish athletes were in competition on evening three of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Lauren Roy and Rhasidat Adeleke were in semi-finals two and three of the women’s 200m, while Nicola Tuthill contested the women’s hammer final.

Fifth Place Finish for Nicola Tuthill

Sarah Tuthill started her women’s hammer final in fine fashion, throwing 70.30m with her first attempt.

This left the Irish thrower in third position after the completion of round one which was led by the reigning champion from Italy, Sara Fantini, with Beatrice Nedberge Llano from Norway was second with a throw of 72.88m.

Ranked 10th coming into the event and eventually finishing fifth was definitely a positive Nicola Tuthill will take away from the European Championships #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/UaL15HgMmQ

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026

In the second round, Tuthill dropped to fifth place, as Silja Kosonen, took the lead with 76.28m. Fantini was second with 73.45m, with Llano third with 72.88m and Anita Wlodarczyk moved into fourth position with a throw of 71.81m.

Despite a foul throw in the next round, Tuthill achieved a best throw of the final with 70.33m in round 4 – ensuring she went ahead to the last two rounds.

An effort of 69.57m in the fifth round was followed by 69.78m which left Tuthill in fifth place overall in the women’s hammer final.

Adeleke second fastest qualifier for 200m Final

Rhasidat Adeleke won her semi-final of the women’s 200m in a season’s best time of 22.43 seconds. Her time was the second fastest of all the qualifiers – behind Britain’s 100m European Champion, Amy Hunt, who stopped the clock at 22.37 seconds.

‘Just having fun and enjoying the process has really brought me down to earth – now I’m just enjoying everything’ – a content Rhasidat Adeleke on reaching the 200m final at the European Athletics Championships #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/i9QbqeQrO8

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026

Lauren Roy, who contested the 100m heats on Monday, finished fourth in the semi-final Amy Hunt won. Roy’s time of 23.16 seconds saw her ranked in 12th place overall, and as a result, did not proceed to the women’s 200m final.

Lauren Rory felt ‘she really left it all out there’ as she narrowly missed out on a place in the women’s 200m final #rtesport #EuropeanAthletics pic.twitter.com/ABsGbBicpA

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2026

Advertisement

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Marcus Rashford has returned to Manchester United this week for pre-season training

Manchester United icon John O’Shea believes it’ll be a straightforward conversation between Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford about reintegrating into the first-team squad. The England international has spent the last 18 months playing his football away from United, but looks set to return to the fold this season.

Barcelona turned down the opportunity to sign Rashford on a permanent basis following his loan spell at the Nou Camp, and returned to pre-season training with the Reds earlier this week. There are still question marks over his long-term future at the club, but O’Shea believes his former teammate is the right man to get the best out of Rashford.

Speaking to ITV ahead of Man United’s pre-season friendly with Leeds United, O’Shea said: “Yeah, listen, it’s straightforward. I think it’ll be an honest conversation, straight up.

“Do you want to stay? If you do, great, let’s see what you’ve got again, and then start afresh. And listen, you know the fans, there’ll be question marks thinking, what are we doing, type of thing.

“But if he goes and struts his stuff at Old Trafford straight away, a lot will be forgiven, I think. [There’s] Still some questions to answer as well.”

Fellow pundit Michael Brown agreed, and said: “See, all those players we mentioned, we always have to come back down to Marcus Rashford.

“The reason it does, John, is because, as you know, he’s got everything, hasn’t he? He can change games. He’s electric, he’s got the pace. If you can get the best out of him, then it’d be a great sign.

“I think Michael Carrick is a great person to go and do that. He’s going to have to work, he’s going to have to earn it to get into the team, but imagine if he was firing this season.”

Xavi Hernandez has been named the new head coach of the Netherlands.

The 46-year-old Spanish manager has signed a deal to lead the national side until the 2030 World Cup.

He takes over from Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the Dutch were defeated by Morocco in the last 32 of this summer’s tournament.

As a player, former Barcelona midfielder Xavi won the 2010 World Cup with Spain alongside the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

He guided Barca to the LaLiga title in 2023, having previously started his coaching career with Qatari side Al Sadd.

“I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team,” he said in a statement released by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB).

“As someone who received his training at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football.

“You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football.”

Xavi’s appointment marks his first return to management since leaving Barcelona in 2024.

He took over the Catalan giants in November 2021, also succeeding Koeman, after making 767 appearances for the club.

“The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that also appeals to me enormously: attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion, and conviction,” he continued.

“Of course, the most important goal is and always will be to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics and that people can enjoy.

“The potential for this is there, as well as a solid foundation to build upon.”

Explaining Xavi’s appointment, KNVB director of football Nigel de Jong said: “As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working with top coaches who espouse a football vision that aligns very well with the way we want to play with the Dutch national team: taking initiative, dominant and attractive football, combined with the flexibility that modern elite football demands.

“Xavi believes in those basic principles, has embraced that vision, and made it his own. All of that, combined with his personality and the way he knows how to connect with players and get the best out of a group, makes him the right choice for the coming years.”

The debut Vikings depth chart is now live.

Albeit unofficial, the online roster hierarchy offers a glimpse as to how things are trending at the present moment. Much can (and will) change prior to the Week 1 game when the Green Bay Packers visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 13th. Even still, check out a trio of details that inspire a certain degree of curiosity.

Oh, and for the record, J.J. McCarthy is slotted in as the QB2.

Vikings Depth Chart — A Trio of Surprises

1: Caleb Banks Listed as a Backup

A towering, hulking presence, Caleb Banks boasts sky-high potential as a potential nightmare within the trenches. Why the backup spot?

The current starters are listed as Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Ty Ingram-Dawkins. All of those players are returners but only Redmond — a stud — is assured of a starting spot. Rodriguez is going to earn a hearty workload while Ingram-Dawkins is torn between being an edge rusher and a 5T.

Banks lost development time during the offseason recovering from his foot injury. He’ll need some time to work into the mix but is going to demand playing time. Opting for a DT at No. 18 means believing that he’ll create a ruckus before too long.

2: Jay Ward Overcomes Theo Jackson, at Least for Now

In Jay Ward, the Vikings boast a young safety who is long and rangy. He’s a good blitzer and has the capacity to play center field. Still, it’s somewhat surprising to see him listed over Theo Jackson.

Jackson has been in town since 2022. Since then, he has steadily risen, solidifying himself as a nice backup before earning a payday to become a starter last year. Toward the end of 2025, Jackson got demoted for Ward. Apparently, that trend could continue rolling into the upcoming season. Ward’s background at LSU and early usage in Minnesota inspires some belief that Brian Flores can move him around liberally.

Is Jackson a trade candidate? The Vikings have him under contract for two more years but may not want to pay medium money for a backup.

3 — Pair of O-Line Notes

Walter Rouse is a massive guy who got scooped up in the 6th Round of the 2024 NFL Draft. So far, the Vikings have used him sparingly, but kicking him inside to guard could be a nice development for him. The OG3 job is wide open.

Next up is the Vikings sticking Caleb Tiernan at offensive tackle. A criticism going into the most recent draft was that he had short arms, which can be an issue when trying to hold off the long-and-strong pass rushers seeking to wallop the QB. Tiernan is a huge guy at nearly 6’8″ and he boasts great feet. Can the Vikings use him at offensive tackle? If so, then the Vikings did well landing him in the late 3rd.

A touch obvious, perhaps, but getting a bounce back season out of the o-line will go a long way in making Kyler Murray’s season a success. Rouse and Tiernan could end up being useful depth at a remarkably rugged and physical position.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.