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Sports

DR Congo score extra-time winner to reach first World Cup in half a century

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The Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 after Axel Tuanzebe netted an extra-time winner to see off Jamaica 1-0 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday.

Former England under-21 international Tuanzebe bundled the ball over the line from ​a corner in ‌the 100th minute but was made to wait for more than a minute while it was ⁠checked for a possible handball before being confirmed as a goal.

It was as much as the Congolese deserved having dominated a fast-flowing match with few clear chances at Estadio Guadalajara – ‌one of three Mexican venues for the June 11 to July 19 World Cup which is also being ⁠co-hosted by the U.S. and Canada.

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“We’re happy, we’re really delighted,” said striker Cedric Bakambu after his team grabbed the second-last available slot at the tournament.

“Right now, I don’t think we fully realise it yet, but when we ​get back to Kinshasa, it’s going to be crazy … congratulations to my teammates and to all Congolese ‌people around the world.”

It is the second time DR Congo have qualified for the finals after their initial appearance 52 years ago when the country was known as Zaire.

They are the 10th African country to have qualified and will compete in Group K against Colombia, Portugal and ‌Uzbekistan.

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In other playoffs on Tuesday, Iraq defeated Bolivia to book a place in the same group as France, while Italy missed out on a third successive World Cup after losing a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia.

Read moreItaly’s World Cup nightmare deepens with shoot-out defeat to Bosnia

Pressure

Jamaica were on the back foot for much ​of the first 45 minutes but after veteran goalkeeper Andrew Blake made a sharp save to deny Bakambu at the start of the second half the ‘Reggae Boyz’ enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Leon Bailey had their best opportunity in the 67th ​minute but put his diving header wide after getting on the end of a cross from Tyreece Campbell.

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The Congolese regained control ​in the final 10 minutes and after both Theo Bongonda and Edo Kayembe had gone ​close they thought they had secured victory in the 85th minute butthe goal was ruled out for offside.

Blake then had to make another smart stop, this time from an audacious backheel ​from Bakambu after Yoane Wissa’s dribbling had set up a half-chance just metres out.

The pressure continued in extra time and despite some stout defending Jamaica eventually conceded from a corner, with Tuanzebe netting his first international goal.

“It’s very frustrating to lose like that, very frustrating,” said Jamaica striker Ephron Mason-Clark.

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“It’s tournament football – we’re just lacking a goal, that’s all. Right now, it’s difficult to take any positives from ⁠this experience …”

Nine minutes from the end, Argentine referee Facundo Tello pulled up with cramp and had to be replaced by fourth official Dario Herrera.

Jamaica were playing a ⁠second game in five ​days after beating New Caledonia 1-0 last Thursday in their semi-final tie, also in Guadalajara. DR Congo’s higher FIFA ranking meant they were seeded straight into Tuesday’s decider.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

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Buoyed by late-game heroics, Orioles shoot to extend Yankees’ skid

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MLB: New York Yankees at Baltimore OriolesMay 11, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Coby Mayo (16) connects on a three-run home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

The Baltimore Orioles want to make more out of the current three-game series after winning the opener against the visiting New York Yankees.

Maybe there will be more drama Tuesday night.

The Orioles won for just the fourth time in 12 games when Coby Mayo’s three-run homer in the seventh inning sparked a 3-2 victory on Monday. The blast completed a surprising turnaround, as Baltimore trailed 2-0 and didn’t have a hit until that inning.

New York took its fourth straight loss. The Yankees fell for the fifth time in six games since beginning May with a five-game winning streak that included a four-game wipeout of Baltimore.

Now the Orioles are feeling better.

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“It feels like I’ve been in that spot a lot over the last three seasons since I’ve been up here and haven’t come through much, as much as I wanted to,” Mayo said. “That was a spot where when I did come through, all that emotion came out and it just felt really good.”

The outcome provided the Orioles with a jolt of confidence. They were stymied by Ryan Weathers, but he exited after a single, a groundout and a walk in the seventh, and reliever Brent Headrick was taken deep by Mayo, the first batter he faced.

If the Yankees fall on Tuesday, they would match their longest losing streak of the season, a five-game skid from April 8-12.

“We’ve got to get some guys unlocked,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got a handful of guys that are scuffling. We’ve got to get a little bit more competitive up and down the lineup as we hit this little rough patch.”

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Will Warren (4-1, 3.46 ERA) will start for the Yankees on Tuesday. He held the Orioles to two runs, one earned, in 6 1/3 innings for a home victory on May 1, striking out nine and walking one. Pete Alonso tagged him for a solo homer. Warren’s only outing since then resulted in a loss to the Texas Rangers, when he allowed six runs in four innings on Wednesday.

The right-hander has struck out 53 and walked 11 in 41 2/3 innings this season.

Warren went 1-2 with 4.95 ERA in four matchups with Baltimore last year, giving up four home runs in those outings.

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The Orioles hadn’t announced their Tuesday pitching plans, but they are expected to have left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-3, 4.75 ERA) back from the injured list and available for a start any day now. Rogers hasn’t pitched in the majors since April 25. In four career outings vs. the Yankees, he is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA.

Baltimore catcher Samuel Basallo was scratched from the lineup on Monday, when he was set to be the designated hitter, because of a sore left knee. A day earlier, he was involved in a collision at home plate but held onto the ball for an out against the Athletics.

The Orioles made a move involving the pitching staff on Monday, calling up left-hander Josh Walker from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning right-hander Trey Gibson to Norfolk.

New York slugger Aaron Judge has reached base against the Orioles in 27 consecutive games after hitting a sixth-inning double in the series opener.

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The Yankees didn’t have shortstop Jose Caballero, who is batting .259 with 13 stolen bases, in the starting lineup on Monday because of a finger injury sustained a day earlier in Milwaukee. The plan was to have him evaluated by a specialist Tuesday in New York, though he was used as a ninth-inning pinch runner and caught stealing to end the Monday game.

“He’s as tough as they come, but he had a little hard time when he went to throw (on Monday),” Boone said. “He’s been such a good performer for us here to start the year, both sides of the ball. He’s been a key part of our team to this point.”

Max Schuemann was New York’s shortstop in Caballero’s absence.

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–Field Level Media

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Lewis Crocker v Liam Paro: Belfast boxer to defend IBF title in Brisbane in June

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Belfast’s Lewis Crocker will defend his IBF world welterweight title against Australian Liam Paro in Brisbane on 24 June.

The contest will take place at the Pat Rafter Arena, with the date and venue having been confirmed on Wednesday.

Crocker hopes that a victory over Paro would help open the door to a unification bout with another belt-holder in the division.

The 29-year-old won the title with a split decision verdict over Paddy Donovan at Belfast’s Windsor Park in September and his team had hoped to stage the defence against mandatory challenger Paro in his home city.

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However, with no agreement reached between the parties, the matter was resolved by a purse bid with No Limit outbidding Crocker’s promoter Matchroom by $27,000 (£20,000).

Crocker’s manager Jamie Conlan revealed in February that the Belfast fighter was recovering from a hand injury.

Paro is aiming to become a world champion for the second time, having upset Subriel Matias to clinch the IBF super lightweight crown in 2024.

The Australian beat Frenchman David Papot at the same Brisbane venue last September.

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“The rumors are true” – Paul Heyman after WWE RAW

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Paul Heyman appeared on the latest edition of WWE RAW alongside Austin Theory, Bron Breakker, and Logan Paul of The Vision. He kicked off the show and was at ringside for their six-man tag team match against Joe Hendry and the Street Profits.

Heyman, unfortunately, watched his clients lose the match after interference from Seth Rollins. After the show, he uploaded a picture of the Empire State Building on his X/Twitter account, claiming that the building was lit up dark green in his honor, since he was wearing a suit of the same color on RAW.

“Just landed back home a moment ago. The rumors are true. The Empire State Building is lit up dark green tonight in honor of my custom green suit on WWE RAW tonight. King of New York ( … and everywhere else)!” he wrote.

Real Reason why Jacob Fatu lost at Backlash – Check Here!

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It seems clear that Paul Heyman will have his hands full throughout the summer, as the feud between the two sides will continue following the tag team match on RAW.

Paul Heyman’s clients were booked in a title match for an upcoming WWE event

Angelo Dawkins rolled Austin Theory up for the pinfall during the six-man tag team match on RAW this past week. However, it wasn’t without shenanigans as Paul Heyman’s former client, Seth Rollins, interfered in the match, distracting Theory enough for Dawkins to get the victory for his side.

After pinning one-half of the World Tag Team Champions, the Street Profits will finally get a shot at the championship at an upcoming WWE special event.

Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIV is just two weeks away, and one of the first matches added to the card is a World Tag Team Championship match where Logan Paul and Austin Theory will defend their titles against Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins.

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The Street Profits have been featured regularly on RAW since their return, and have given Paul and Theory a tough time. Now, it remains to be seen whether they can end their title reign to send them on the back foot and gain a strong footing in the tag team division on RAW.