JOHANNESBURG: Aishi Manula, the goalkeeper of Tanzanian club Simba, was struck by a policeman after a stormy CAF Confederation Cup qualifier in Libya on Sunday, an official from the visiting team told AFP.
The second round, first leg against Al Ahly Tripoli ended 0-0 in a packed 45,000-seat Tripoli stadium and Simba players dashed for cover at full-time as plastic bottles were flung at them.
“It was scary. I saw Aishi being struck for no reason by a policeman and bottles and other objects hurled at our players,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
“Aishi is shaken but okay. He is receiving treatment in the changing room. I also witnessed some Ahly players attacking the referee and his assistants.”
Both clubs are regular CAF competition campaigners with Ahly making a ninth appearance in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League and Simba a seventh.
Simba are considered potential title challengers in the Confederation Cup, which has been dominated by north African clubs with 16 titles from 21 editions.
Zamalek of Egypt are the current title-holders after edging Renaissance Berkane of Morocco on away goals in the last final.
South African coach Fadlu Davids recently took charge of the Dar es Salaam outfit after being assistant coach of Moroccan league and cup double winners Raja Casablanca last season.
Another first leg in Libya produced a thriller with Al Hilal Benghazi snatching a 3-2 victory over Al Masry of Egypt after trailing twice in the eastern city.
Salah Mohsen put Masry ahead in each half, but two goals from Mohammed al Shiteewi, either side of one from Faisal al Badri, set up an intriguing September 22 return match in Alexandria.
Dynamos of Zimbabwe look set to reach the group stage for the first time, at the third attempt, after a 1-0 win over Orapa United of Botswana in Francistown.
But the most popular club in the southern Africa nation left it late to build an aggregate lead as Valentine Kadonzvo scored with just two minutes of regular time remaining.
Zimbabwe have no international-standard stadium so Dynamos must play Orapa twice in neighboring Botswana.
Burundi outfit Rukinzo are in a similar situation to Dynamos with no suitable venue in the landlocked central African nation.
They opted to face record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien twice in Tunisia, and did well to restrict the home side to a 1-0 win through an early Mohamed ‘Cristo’ Dhaoui goal.
Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya
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Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya
- “It was scary. I saw Aishi being struck for no reason by a policeman and bottles and other objects hurled at our players,” said the official
- “Aishi is shaken but okay. He is receiving treatment in the changing room“
Beterbiev beats Bivol to become undisputed light heavyweight champion
- The 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) had won all 20 of his previous fights by knockout
The 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) had won all 20 of his previous fights by knockout but was forced the distance by his fellow Russian rival in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday morning in a fight that had several swings of momentum and was almost too close to call.
“I feel not bad,” Beterbiev said to DAZN after the fight. “I wanted to box with more quality. I’ll be better one day. It was a little bit uncomfortable.”
“Of course, it was a tough fight because Dmitry is a tough champion and he has tough skills, better than me.”
Throughout the bout there was never much between the two dominant fighters of the division as Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) used his speed to land early blows, while Beterbiev warmed to the task in the middle rounds before a late flurry in the final rounds appeared to clinch it.
“During the fight, we always try to change something,” Beterbiev said. “I didn’t deliver more punches, I don’t know. Today I am lucky too.”
In the end, two judges scored it 115-113, 116-112 for Beterbiev, with a third judge scoring it as a 114-114 draw.
“I am a warrior. I have no explanation because it looks like excuses. I am a warrior,” Bivol told DAZN. “I don’t know, I did my job but I felt like I could do better but it was just the opinion of some judges.
“Congratulations to Artur. He is powerful, very powerful. I have a bruise from my hand, he hit it and it was so hard.”
It was the first undisputed title fight in the division since 2002 and was the first time all four major world titles — WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC — have been up for grabs in the four-belt era.
They now all belong to Beterbiev.
He came into the bout with the WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles after defeating Callum Smith by knockout in January, needing just Bivol’s WBA belt — which Bivol won with a shock upset points decision over Canelo Alvares in May 2022 — to complete the set.
Both Russians showed patience in the opening rounds before Bivol went to work with his left jab and right hook as his speed began to trouble Beterbiev.
The tide began to turn through the fifth and sixth rounds as Beterbiev began landing his right hook, forcing Bivol onto the defensive.
The bout spurred to life in the seventh as both fighters attacked. A big left by Bivol forced Beterbiev against the ropes, but Beterbiev responded with a heavy jab and short left hook as both fighters ended the round showing damage.
Beterbiev had only been beyond round seven five times in his 20 previous fights, but Bivol was going to make this go the distance here as he was again the more assertive through rounds eight and nine.
But Beterbiev came back again in the 10th with a strong round to leave the fight in the balance and continued the assault into the 11th as a right hook to Bivol’s body was followed by an uppercut in a rare clear round win.
The final round saw Beterbiev up the tempo even more as he sought to extend his incredible record of winning every bout inside the distance. Bivol held on to deny his compatriot a knockout blow but hadn’t done quite enough to clinch it.
Earlier, Australian WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson beat Britain’s Raven Chapman by a unanimous points decision in the first-ever women’s world title fight in Saudi Arabia.
Women’s World Cup: Pakistan braces for Kiwi challenge as S. Africa, NZ enjoy wins
- New Zealand take on Pakistan in last group match on Monday
- Pakistan lost to Australia by 9 wickets earlier this week
DUBAI: South Africa and New Zealand enjoyed easy wins at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday to boost their bids for semifinal spots.
South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Dubai and finished with six points from three wins and a loss in Group B. England and West Indies have four points each in the same group. England has two games left, West Indies one.
Earlier, New Zealand had an emphatic eight-wicket win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Group A at Sharjah.
Two teams advance from each group.
Opening batter Tazmin Brits top-scored with 42 runs off 41 balls as South Africa cruised to 107-3 with 16 balls to spare.
Bangladesh spinner Fahima Khatun (2-19) had skipper Laura Wolvaardt (7) stumped in the third over but Brits was well supported by Anneke Bosch, who scored a run-a-ball 25 as they put on a key second-wicket partnership of 53 runs.
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp (1-10) and the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Nonkululeko Mlaba(1-11), both in four overs, set up South Africa’s victory by restricting Bangladesh, which won the toss, to 106-3 on a slow surface of Dubai International Stadium.
Bangladesh batters couldn’t score freely against fast bowlers Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka and were restricted to 21-1 in the first six overs. Sobhana Mostary (38) and captain Nigar Sultana (32 not out) tried to push the scoring rate, but South African bowlers always looked in control in the latter half of the innings. Mostary hit four boundaries before she was bowled by Mlaba in the 18th over.
Bangladesh, which beat first-timer Scotland in the opening match of the tournament, lost three matches in a row and bowed out of the event with two points.
PLIMMER LEADS NZ CHASE
New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer led the chase with 53 and Amelia Kerr was brilliant with an unbeaten 34 and two wickets. New Zealand reached 118-2 with 15 balls remaining after limiting Sri Lanka to 115-5.
Asian champion Sri Lanka crossed the 100-run mark for the first time in the tournament but rounded off its below-par campaign with four straight losses in Group A.
Unbeaten group leader and defending champion Australia has all but secured one semifinal berth. The other spot depends on if India beats Australia on Sunday then New Zealand’s last group match against contending Pakistan on Monday.
In an intense heat of 38 degrees, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu made 35 off 41 balls with five fours, but once Kerr bowled her in the 14th over, Sri Lanka struggled to hit boundaries in the death overs.
New Zealand struck through spinners Kerr (2-13) and Leigh Kasperek (2-27).
Plimmer’s second T20 fifty came off 44 balls. Her and Suzie Bates (17) shared a 49-run opening stand. Plimmer holed out in the outfield and gave Athapaththu a consolation wicket.
Kerr scored better than a run-a-ball 34 with three boundaries, and captain Sophie Devine knocked off the winning runs with the only six of the game.
South Africa and New Zealand enjoy easy wins at Women’s T20 World Cup
- South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Dubai and finished with six points from three wins and a loss in Group B
- New Zealand had an emphatic eight-wicket win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Group A at Sharjah
DUBAI: South Africa and New Zealand enjoyed easy wins at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday to boost their bids for semifinal spots.
South Africa beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Dubai and finished with six points from three wins and a loss in Group B. England and West Indies have four points each in the same group. England have two games left, West Indies one.
Earlier, New Zealand had an emphatic eight-wicket win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Group A at Sharjah.
Two teams advance from each group.
Opening batter Tazmin Brits top-scored with 42 runs off 41 balls as South Africa cruised to 107-3 with 16 balls to spare.
Bangladesh spinner Fahima Khatun (2-19) had skipper Laura Wolvaardt (7) stumped in the third over but Brits was well supported by Anneke Bosch, who scored a run-a-ball 25 as they put on a key second-wicket partnership of 53 runs.
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp (1-10) and the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Nonkululeko Mlaba(1-11), both in four overs, set up South Africa’s victory by restricting Bangladesh, who won the toss, to 106-3 on a slow surface of Dubai International Stadium.
Bangladesh batters couldn’t score freely against fast bowlers Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka and were restricted to 21-1 in the first six overs. Sobhana Mostary (38) and captain Nigar Sultana (32 not out) tried to push the scoring rate, but South African bowlers always looked in control in the latter half of the innings. Mostary hit four boundaries before she was bowled by Mlaba in the 18th over.
Bangladesh, who beat first-timer Scotland in the opening match of the tournament, lost three matches in a row and bowed out of the event with two points.
Plimmer leads NZ chase
New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer led the chase with 53 and Amelia Kerr was brilliant with an unbeaten 34 and two wickets. New Zealand reached 118-2 with 15 balls remaining after limiting Sri Lanka to 115-5.
Asian champions Sri Lanka crossed the 100-run mark for the first time in the tournament but rounded off their below-par campaign with four straight losses in Group A.
Unbeaten group leaders and defending champions Australia have all but secured one semifinal berth. The other spot depends on if India beat Australia on Sunday then New Zealand’s last group match against contending Pakistan on Monday.
In an intense heat of 38 degrees, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu made 35 off 41 balls with five fours, but once Kerr bowled her in the 14th over, Sri Lanka struggled to hit boundaries in the death overs.
New Zealand struck through spinners Kerr (2-13) and Leigh Kasperek (2-27).
Plimmer’s second T20 50 came off 44 balls. Her and Suzie Bates (17) shared a 49-run opening stand. Plimmer holed out in the outfield and gave Athapaththu a consolation wicket.
Kerr scored better than a run-a-ball 34 with three boundaries, and captain Sophie Devine knocked off the winning runs with the only six of the game.
India sweep series against Bangladesh with 2nd highest T20I score powered by Samson’s ton
- India hit the most runs in boundaries in a T20I game, that included 22 sixes, their highest total in a T20 game, and 25 fours
- Samson put on 173 runs in 11 1/2 overs for the second wicket with Yadav that was India’s third highest partnership for any wicket in T20s
HYDERABAD, India: Sanju Samson smacked his first Twenty20 century off 40 balls as India beat Bangladesh in the third and final match by 133 runs to sweep the series 3-0 on Saturday.
Samson was out for 111 off 47 balls, including eight sixes and 11 fours.
He had help in Hyderabad from skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who hit a 35-ball 75. Hardik Pandya smacked 47 off only 18 as India finished at 297-6, the second highest total in T20 internationals and exceeded only by Nepal’s 314-3 against Mongolia in the 2023 Asia Cup.
India hit the most runs in boundaries in a T20I game. That included 22 sixes, their highest total in a T20 game, and 25 fours.
In reply, Bangladesh was restricted to 164-7. Towhid Hridoy was 63 not out off 42 deliveries, and Litton Das hit a 25-ball 42. Wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 3-30 in four overs.
Opting to bat first, India lost opener Abhishek Sharma (4) early once again. It didn’t deter Samson though, who got going for once.
Samson raced to 50 off 22 balls, hitting two sixes and eight fours. His next 50 came off 18 deliveries — including another six sixes and three fours — in the second quickest T20 hundred by an India batter after Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball ton against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Samson put on 173 runs in 11 1/2 overs for the second wicket with Yadav. It was India’s third highest partnership for any wicket in T20s.
“The team management has backed me. I could have done much better (in previous matches), and it can get frustrating,” Samson said. “When you are playing for the country, it comes with a lot of pressure. But with experience, I learnt how to deal with pressure.”
The Tigers’ brief respite came from a floodlight failure in the ninth over, but it wasn’t enough. On resumption, player-of-the-match Samson smacked five sixes — 30 runs – off the next over bowled by wrist spinner Rishad Hossain.
Samson was finally caught in the 14th over, while Yadav had reached 50 off 23 balls. Overall, the India captain hit eight fours and five sixes, before falling in the next over.
India was then at 206-3 in 14.3 overs and it accelerated further thanks to a rapid 70-stand between Riyan Parag and Pandya.
Parag scored 34 off 13 but it was in-form Pandya who stole the show hitting four sixes and four fours.
In reply, Bangladesh was down to 59-3 in 5.2 overs. The top three didn’t contribute much, while Das propelled the innings. He hit eight fours.
Bishnoi became the second quickest Indian bowler to 50 T20I wickets, when Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) was caught behind. He also had Das out caught in the 12th over.
Das and Hridoy added 53 off 38 balls for the fourth wicket.
India had already sealed the series win with an 86-run victory in the second T20 on Wednesday. India won the first T20 in Gwalior by seven wickets. India swept the two-match Test series against Bangladesh 2-0.
Pogacar emulates icon Coppi with fourth straight Il Lombardia triumph
- World champion Pogacar capped an astonishing year in which he claimed a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia double by matching Coppi
- Saturday’s triumph, his 25th in 2024, gives the Slovenian star a good claim to have had the greatest ever season in the history of road cycling
COMO, Italy: Tadej Pogacar won Il Lombardia for the fourth time in as many years on Saturday to equal a record streak of victories set by cycling great Fausto Coppi over seven decades ago.
World champion Pogacar capped an astonishing year in which he claimed a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia double by matching Coppi, who won five times in total, including four victories between 1946 and 1949 at the last “Monument” of the season.
Pogacar made his widely predicted move on the decisive Colma di Sormano climb, 48.5 kilometers from the end of the 255km “Race of the Falling Leaves” whose course had been modified following heavy rain and landslides in northern Italy.
After being guided through the race by his strong UAE support team Pogacar surged to his second victory in as many races since donning the rainbow jersey in Zurich a fortnight ago with a trademark solo attack.
“We planned it like this... I knew that if I had a decent gap there, I can come to the finish,” Pogacar said.
Pogacar finished over three minutes ahead of double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel who returned to the site of his horror crash from four years ago which left him with a fractured hip when he plunged into a ravine.
Local fans were cheered by Lidl-Trek’s Giulio Ciccone completing the podium, 4:31 off the pace.
The 26-year-old held his bike aloft in delight on the finish line just as he did eight months ago when he began his near-perfect season with victory at another big Italian race, the Strade Bianche.
“Like I started the season, I also finished it. Yeah, the same celebration. It’s nice to lift the bike. I hope for a nice photo,” Pogacar told reporters.
Pogacar was already the first-ever cyclist to win the triple crown of the Tour, Giro and worlds with at least one Monument victory in the same season.
And Saturday’s triumph, his 25th in 2024, gives the Slovenian star a good claim to have had the greatest ever season in the history of road cycling.
Also in Pogacar’s long list of wins this year were a second Liege-Bastogne-Liege, six stages in each of his victories at the Tour and Giro, the Tour of Catalonia, the Montreal Grand Prix and last weekend’s Giro dell’Emilia.
Those triumphs have made him the heir not just to seven-time Grand Tour champion Coppi but also Eddy Merckx, the greatest to ever sit on a bike.
No one since Merckx’s heyday of the 1970s has anyone expressed the sort of dominance Pogacar has over the rest of the field this year.
Pogacar has only been beaten twice this year, at Milan-San Remo where he finished third, while his seventh place at the Quebec Grand Prix was his worst finish of the season.
But he refused to put himself on the same level as Merckx, saying when asked if he realized the magnitude of his achievements: “Let’s see where we will be after the career.”
Pogacar’s task was made easier on Friday night by Ineos dropping Tom Pidcock who had finished second behind Pogacar at the Giro dell’Emilia.
Sensing an opportunity to maybe hold off Pogacar, an early breakaway group of 21 riders extended their lead to over four minutes heading toward the long Sella di Osigo and Madonna del Ghisallo climbs after the halfway point.
But UAE began pushing to get Pogacar in position to make his move, with less than two minutes separating the two groups come the descent back down toward the world-famous lake.
And 6.5km before the summit Pogacar charged off on his own with a timid response from his rivals, although Evenepoel desperately tried to follow him up the road.
Belgian Evenepoel went out on his own in pursuit of Pogacar on the descent but with over a minute separating the pair at the bottom the gap was too big.
Pogacar somehow looked fresher than his chasers and added even more time on Evenepoel, breezing through the final kilometers and going on a victory parade through the streets of Como.
