The Confederation of African Football (CAF) declared that Senegal had “forfeited” the January 18 final by leaving the pitch in protest over a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco — an incident that also prompted an attempted pitch invasion by furious Senegalese fans.
When the Senegalese players eventually returned to face the penalty 15 minutes later, Moroccan star Brahim Diaz inexplicably and controversially chipped the ball weakly into the goalkeeper’s hands, missing the chance to win the cup and sending the final to extra time — where Senegal went on to score the winning goal.
In the immediate aftermath, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had condemned “some Senegal players” for the “unacceptable scenes” and said: “It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.”
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At an initial disciplinary hearing, CAF imposed bans and fines totaling over $1 million on both Senegalese and Moroccan players for their roles in the farcical scenes — which also included on-field scuffles and attempts by Moroccan ball boys to steal the Senegal goalkeeper’s towel — but allowed the sporting result to stand.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw (gesturing in black coat) ordered his players to leave the pitchImage: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/picture alliance
AFCON: what did the CAF board say?
CAF’s Disciplinary Board rejected Morocco’s initial protest, but the appeals board has now ruled in their favor after finding that the conduct of the Senegal team fell “within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Those articles state that “if, for any reason whatsoever, a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered the loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”
With Senegal declared to have forfeited the match, their 1-0 win was annulled, and Morocco awarded a 3-0 victory by default, a result that sees the Atlas Lions crowned African champions for the first time in 50 years.
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In a brief statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said it “acknowledges the decision” but insisted that its appeal was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams involved. It said it merely requested the proper application of regulations for the “clarity of the competitive framework” and the “stability of African competitions.”
Champions of Africa: but Senegal have been stripped of their titleImage: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/REUTERS
‘They are mad’: Senegal to appeal to CAS
Senegal quickly announced that they would seek to overturn the decision at the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Defender Moussa Niakhaté, who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais following spells with Bundesliga team Mainz 05 and Premier League side Nottingham Forest, posted a photo on Instagram of himself holding the trophy and the words “Pour l’éternité” (for eternity) and, presumably referring to CAF, “Ils sont fous” (they are mad).
The whole affair has cast a shadow over what had otherwise been considered a successful and well-organized tournament in Morocco, which will also co-host the World Cup in 2030.
The country has seen widespread protests against preparations for the World Cup, with demonstrators arguing that government funds should be invested in Morocco’s ailing healthcare system, rather than new stadiums and hotels.
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Last week, the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to kick off in Morocco on March 17, was postponed until July, just 12 days before the opening match.
In a statement, CAF cited “unforeseen circumstances” but gave no details for the decision. “It is a combination of factors, and it is not a decision taken lightly,” Luxolo September, CAF’s head of communications, told DW.
Daniel Dye has been suspended by NASCAR and his team, Kaulig Racing, after he mocked a fellow driver’s voice as “gay” during a recent livestream.
Dye, a 22-year-old competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, was speaking on the Whatnot streaming platform when he launched into a mockery of David Malukas, a Team Penske IndyCar driver, using a high-pitched voice.
“He’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, yas, we race Indianapolis, too. Love Indianapolis. And Roger Penske,’” Dye said, according to The Athletic. “As soon as I start doing a David Malukas gay voice, I hit a gold. So let’s keep it going.”
After the video circulated on social media on Tuesday, NASCAR issued a statement saying that Dye had been “indefinitely suspended” over his “insensitive comments.” The racing organization said he “must complete sensitivity training before he may return to competition.”
Kaulig Racing released a similar statement, saying that the Florida-born racer had been indefinitely suspended from the team “after becoming aware today of comments he made on social media.”
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Daniel Dye has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR over ‘insensitive comments’ he made about a fellow driver during a recent livestream (Getty Images)
I chose my words poorly, and I understand why it upset people,’ Dye said in a post on X (Getty Images)
In a post on X on Tuesday evening, Dye apologized for his remarks, which he described as careless.
“I chose my words poorly, and I understand why it upset people,” he said. “I’m sorry to anyone who was offended. That’s not how I want to represent myself.”
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“I have some close friends in the LGBTQ+ community who I would never want to feel less of themselves because of what I said, and that’s exactly why I should hold myself to a higher standard,” he added.
Dye, who is from Daytona Beach, began his career in regional races, including at the New Smyrna Speedway, before moving up to national competition, becoming recognized as one of NASCAR’s promising young talents. He is currently 13th in the Truck Series standings.
This is not the first controversy to affect him.
While in high school in 2022, Dye was arrested after striking a fellow student in the groin, according to The Athletic. He was charged with battery, though the charge was ultimately dismissed.
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Malukas, who finished in second place in the 2025 Indianapolis 500, has not publicly commented on Dye’s remarks or suspension.
Mali have booked their place at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after a strong 97–74 win over South Sudan in Wuhan on Tuesday.
The team, known as the Aigles Dames, put in a calm and confident display on the final day of the qualifiers, showing their steady rise in international women’s basketball.
Their ticket to the tournament was also confirmed after Belgium defeated the Czech Republic, a result that ensured Mali’s qualification.
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Mali played five matches in total and won two of them, showing improvement and determination throughout the competition. While their performance highlighted their quality, it also showed areas they need to work on, especially in tactics and fitness, as they prepare to face top teams in the world.
With qualification secured, Mali will now turn their focus to getting ready for the tournament in Berlin, where they hope to make a strong impact.
Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned whether some players are actively involved in the public amplification of certain narratives in order to raise their brand value. Labelling the growing phenomenon as a “disease”, Ashwin raised eyebrows regarding the narratives that are discussed on social media, particularly questioning the influence of fan armies on the internet. He hinted at this possibly even being a business model. Ashwin – the second-highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket – also criticised the nature of star culture in Indian cricket.
“There’s something of a disease going around at this point. A lot of these opinions that show up on social media through fan armies – I’ve heard them before, first-hand,” Ashwin said, speaking at a RevSportz event.
“Sometimes, I’ve heard these same views at a breakfast table or a lunch table, and later they appear online under some other name. That’s when you wonder-how is this happening?” Ashwin added.
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While Ashwin did not specifically accuse players of being involved in such campaigns, he speculated on the possibility of it.
“I’m not saying players themselves are planting these opinions, but it is scary. Is there some sort of espionage going on? I’m not saying that’s exactly what’s happening, but there is surely some business structure involved.
“Today, every player is an entrepreneur, and pushing opinions outside can increase brand value or improve PR. I’m all for that. But speaking ill of another cricketer is something I would never do,” he stated.
Ashwin also revealed his feelings on Indian cricket revolving around superstars.
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“Where did all this begin? We started creating narratives around players. We started painting a superhero culture, a cinematic culture. Who even talks about cricket now? Nobody speaks about the game itself.
“Some time ago, I put out a Twitter thread about what Shubman was doing that was leading to his dismissals in a certain way. For me, it is always about the ‘what’ and the ‘why,’ never the ‘whom.’ But immediately it became about comparison-why only Shubman and not someone else? I was like, do you even follow what I do?” Ashwin said.
Pep Guardiola responds to a question about his failures in Europe with Manchester City after his side exited the Champions League following defeat to Real Madrid in the last 16.
Mar 17, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Howard Bison guard Cam Gillus (2) dribbles defended by UMBC Retrievers guard Jah’likai King (4) in the second half during a first four game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
DAYTON, Ohio — Ose Okojie scored 16 of his team-leading 21 points in the first half and Bryce Harris added 19 points and 14 rebounds as Howard held off a furious rally by UMBC 86-83 on Tuesday in an NCAA Tournament First Four contest in Dayton, Ohio.
As the shot clock was expiring, Harris hit a clutch turnaround jumper with 12.7 seconds left to give Howard (24-10) a four-point lead. The Bison held on to advance as the No. 16 seed and oppose No. 1 seed Michigan in a Midwest Region first-round game Thursday in Buffalo.
The Bison, who qualified for the 68-team field by capturing the MEAC tournament title, extended their season-best win streak to nine games.
Jah’Likai King had 19 and DJ Armstrong Jr. added 17 for the Retrievers (24-9), who had their program-record 12-game win streak snapped. The Retrievers, tournament champions of America East, were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since their historic 2018 upset of No. 1 seed Virginia.
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Caden Diggs added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench for UMBC. Armstrong’s 30-foot 3-point attempt was off the mark to the right as time expired.
Howard led by double figures for most of the second half, but Diggs converted two free throws with 53.8 seconds left to draw UMBC within 83-78. After the Bison’s Cam Gillus came up short on the front end of a 1-and-1 with 52.9 seconds left, Armstrong drained a long 3-pointer with 43.4 seconds left to cap a 9-0 run, and UMBC was within 83-81.
After UMBC opened with the game’s first four points, Howard scored the next nine points to take an early lead. The Bison used an 8-0 surge to take a 19-11 advantage on a layup by Okojie.
Trailing 21-13, the Retrievers went on a 9-3 spurt to draw within 24-22 on a King layup. UMBC cut the gap to 31-30 before Howard answered with a 12-0 run that gave them their biggest first-half lead after a three-point play from Alex Cotton.
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Cougar Downing’s layup with two seconds left in the half sent UMBC into halftime down 49-41.
Arsenal face competition for Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka, AC Milan look at Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott, while Brighton look to secure German international Said el Mala.
Arsenal will face competition from Juventus for the signature of Germany international Leon Goretzka with the 31-year-old midfielder set to leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires in the summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
AC Milan are looking at Republic of Ireland forward Troy Parrott with the 24-year-old available for around £25m from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. (Independent), external
Fulham have reached a verbal agreement to sign 23-year-old United States forward Ricardo Pepi from PSV Eindhoven with personal terms also agreed. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Xabi Alonso would target the signings of Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, 26, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, 22, and Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, 23, if he were to replace Arne Slot at Anfield in the summer. (Teamtalk), external
Real Madrid and Barcelona are ahead of Premier League clubs in the race to sign AZ Alkmaar’s 20-year-old Dutch midfielder Kees Smit because he wants to move to Spain to live in sunnier weather. (AS – in Spanish), external
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will extend his contract until 2028 after Joan Laporta was re-elected as the club’s president. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Terence Crawford has offered his verdict on the emergence of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
After spending over two decades turning mixed martial arts giant UFC into a global powerhouse, White has entered the boxing world to more mixed reviews, as he attempts to take the formula he’s created in MMA and bring it into another combat sport.
White has made some notable moves so far though, signing former long-term Matchroom fighter Conor Benn in a reported $15 million deal, with the promise of more big names in the future.
One big name that White did work with back in September was Crawford, as the UFC CEO acted as the promoter for the fight between ‘Bud’ and Canelo Alvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr scored twice as Manchester City lost 2-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League last-16
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr insisted he was not attempting to disrespect the Manchester City supporters but was responding to them ‘making fun of him’ on his last trip to the Etihad Stadium. Back in 2024, City fans unveiled a banner that read: “Stop crying your heart out,” with a picture of Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or.
This was in reference to Real Madrid boycotting the awards ceremony after they discovered the City midfielder would win the prestigious prize. Los Blancos felt Vinicius Jr was more deserving of the award and on his first visit back to the Etihad Stadium since, the Brazilian won the game for his side.
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After scoring his first of the night in front of the South Stand from the penalty spot, Vinicius Jr ran over to the away end to celebrate. Then, before making his way to the centre circle, the forward could be seen mimicking crying towards the City fans.
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When asked about the celebration on Prime Video, Vinicius Jr said: “The last time we came here, the Manchester City fans were making fun of me. I wasn’t disrespecting City fans but it was a way for me to prove myself to them.”
City were reduced to 10-men when the penalty was awarded after Bernardo Silva handled the ball on the line. However, the Blues put in a spirited performance and equalised just before the break through Erling Haaland. Jeremy Doku and Rayan Ait-Nouri had goals ruled out for offside before Vinicius Jr bundled in a second as he converted Aurelien Tchouameni’s cross.
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Reflecting on the result, Vinicius Jr’s manager Alvaro Arbeloa said: “I’m so happy; we have beaten Man City at home, and everyone knows how difficult that is. We won 5-1 in the end, and that’s not easy against a squad like that, with a coach like Pep, so I’m really happy.
“We knew City would press us and try to score in the first 15 or 20 minutes. And maybe we needed the ball a little bit more. But after the penalty, it changed and made it a bit easier for us.”
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This particular run of seven games will define City’s season on all four fronts – losing twice against Real means their trophy prospects have been reduced to three.
That could be down to two on Sunday with a huge clash against the Gunners, who are hungry to rid their tags of ‘nearly men’ by ending a trophy drought which stretches back to 2020.
“On Monday [after Carabao Cup final] hopefully we will wake up and it is a sunny day,” said Guardiola. “It is not crucial, it is a football game, we are going to try to win with a good performance.
“We will challenge against the best team in England so far, the best team in Europe because look at their results in the group phase, they were first and have lost three or four games all season. We will challenge them and we have to see how we are competing against them.”
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City were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at relegation strugglers West Ham, which has left them nine points off the pace in the Premier League with eight games to go – and a monumental effort is required to overturn that particular deficit.
And the FA Cup is no formality either, with City hosting rivals Liverpool in the quarter-final on Saturday 4 April after the international break, with league games immediately after against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Guardiola said: “After one or two weeks, we play against them in the Premier League and it is a good mirror to see what we have to do to achieve [like] them. I am old enough to see that one football game is not the big happiness or a loss is the end of the world, it’s just a game.
“In the end, the results have not been good except Newcastle but I have the feeling we are an extraordinary team with many, many, many good things that I love.
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“We are still not complete, we are not aware in certain moments and departments, we have to be more clinical but my feeling is it is a question of time.”
With 400 people killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, after airstrikes from Pakistan, the future of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is in doubt. The problems for the PSL have increased after travel disruptions caused by the Iran-Israel-US war. The question now is whether the PSL will see its entire foreign contingent play in the league. Several Australian players like Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell are set to play the 2026 PSL. The league will start on March 26, two days before the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) begins. Australian coaches like Tim Paine and Jason Gillespie are also part of the league.
Now, according to a report by Australian publication CODE Sports, as quoted by Times Now, the Australian government has granted permission for the players to travel to Pakistan, but they have been advised to stay away from Peshawar. The city is set to host a PSL match, but the Australian government has labelled it a “do not travel” zone due to the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This puts a question mark on the fixture between Peshawar Zalmi and Rawalpindiz at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on March 28. Both teams have Australian players. Aaron Hardie is with Zalmi, while Jake Fraser-McGurk was picked by Pindiz.
The report added that Australian players have been assured evacuation by private flights if needed.
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Afghanistan players withdrew their names from the first-ever players’ auction held ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). A franchise owner confirmed initially that players like Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Seddiqullah Atal, Mohammad Nabi, Waqar Salamkheil and Fazal Haq Farooqi had registered for the auction held in Lahore on Wednesday. But they withdrew their names following backlash over the direct signing of Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz by Peshawar Zalmi
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