Morocco Defeats Ghana 5-2 in AFCON Beach Soccer

Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane (RSB) defeated South African club Stellenbosch 3-1 on Sunday in an away game at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, as part of African Champions League Group B’s 2nd matchday.

RSB advanced thanks to a brace from Youssef Zghoudi (5′, 15′) and a strike from Reda Hajji (83′), while the hosts saved face through Haytam Manaout’s own goal scored at 87′.

The Moroccan club had previously beaten Angola’s CD Lunda Sul 2-0 on the first day.

In the group’s other match, Stade Malien were held to a 1-1 draw by CD Lunda Sul.

At the end of the matchday, RSB leads the group with 6 points, ahead of Stade Malien (4 pts). Desportivo Lunda-Sul are third with one point, while Stellenbosch are last with no points.

On the next matchday, scheduled for Sunday, RS Berkane faces Stade Malien (8:00 p.m.).

Casablanca’s Wydad will kick off its 2025 Club World Cup with a game against England’s Manchester City on June 18 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, according to the program unveiled on Saturday by FIFA.

On June 22 at the same stadium, Wydad will face Juventus (Italy), before finishing the first round of Group G on June 26 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. against Soufiane Rahimi’s Emirati club Al Aïn, FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA opted for bringing forward the opening match to June 14, where Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will host Al Ahly of Egypt. The tournament final is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 13, 2025.

For the first time, the Club World Cup brings together 32 teams, including 12 European clubs, 6 from South America, 4 from Africa, 4 from Asia, 4 from North America and one from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing at the top two places in each of the eight groups will qualify for the knockout phase.

FIFA also confirms the initial phase of ticket sales for the 48 group stage matches will open on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. GMT+1) exclusively on FIFA.com/tickets, where fans can already register their interest in purchasing tickets.

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca will compete in Group G alongside Manchester City, Juventus, and Al Ain during the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following Thursday’s draw held in Miami.  

This revamped tournament features 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Africa, Asia, and North America, and one representative from Oceania.

The 16 clubs finishing in the top two spots of each of the eight groups will progress to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.  

The draw ceremony took place in Miami, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several football legends.  

The tournament is set to be hosted in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, with the final scheduled to take place at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New York.

Here is the breakdown of all groups for the tournament:
Group A

    Palmeiras (Brazil)
    Porto (Portugal)
    Al Ahly (Egypt)
    Inter Miami (USA)

Group B

    Paris Saint-Germain (France)
    Atletico Madrid (Spain)
    Botafogo (Brazil)
    Seattle Sounders (USA)

Group C

    Bayern Munich (Germany)
    Auckland City (New Zealand)
    Boca Juniors (Argentina)
    Benfica (Portugal)

Group D

    Flamengo (Brazil)
    Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
    Chelsea (England)
    Club Leon (Mexico)

Group E

    River Plate (Argentina)
    Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
    Monterrey (Mexico)
    Inter Milan (Italy)

Group F

    Fluminense (Brazil)
    Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
    Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea)
    Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Group G

    Manchester City (England)
    Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
    Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
    Juventus (Italy)

Group H

    Real Madrid (Spain)
    Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Pachuca (Mexico)
    Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Morocco’s AS FAR on Tuesday secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Egypt’s FC Masar to reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Touted as favorites, the defending Moroccan champions showed their determination to continue their journey. From the first whistle, they displayed sharp focus, leaving no room for chance.

Their intensity quickly paid off. In the 11th minute, Safa Banouk opened the scoring for the Rabat-based team.

However, a momentary lapse nearly cost them. Sandrine Niyonkuru, brought down in the box by Hajar Said, was awarded a penalty. But Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi rose to the occasion, brilliantly denying the Burundian striker’s attempt.

AS FAR came close to extending their lead with several dangerous chances, but FC Masar’s defense held firm. Doha El Madani and Sanaa Mssoudy showed promise in attack but lacked precision in front of goal.  

In the second half, the Moroccan side, led by the composed and experienced Nouhaila Benzina, managed the game well. Despite FC Masar’s persistent efforts, their attacks failed to break through AS FAR’s aggressive and compact defensive line. The Moroccan midfield dictated the tempo, thwarting Egyptian advances and creating counterattacking opportunities.

In stoppage time, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyuwa, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty to FC Masar. Maya Ehab converted to equalize, seemingly tilting the momentum.  

But AS FAR struck back instantly. Just seconds later, Doha El Madani delivered a decisive blow, converting a spectacular left-sided free kick to seal the victory.  

AS FAR will now face TP Mazembe in the final, led by Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi. The two teams met in the group stage, with AS FAR claiming a 3-1 victory.  

This marks AS FAR’s second final appearance, the first being in Morocco in 2022, the year they claimed their maiden title. A win in this final would see them equal the record for most titles (2) held by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially unveiled on Monday the shortlist of five finalists nominees in each of the men’s categories at CAF Awards 2024, including Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, shortlisted for African Player of the Year.

In addition to Moroccan and French club Paris Saint-Germain’s right-back, other contenders for the prestigious African Player of the Year award include Ivorian Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).

In the “Young Player of the Year” category, Moroccan international Eliesse Ben Seghir, who plays for French club AS Monaco, is in the running alongside Karim Konaté (Côte d’Ivoire/Salzburg), Oumar Diakité (Côte d’Ivoire/Reims), Yankuba Minteh (Gambia/Brighton and Hove Albion) and Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco).

As for the Club of the Year category, the list of five finalists includes Berkane Renaissance alongside South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Zamalek as well as Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

The prestigious CAF Awards 2024 ceremony will take place in Marrakech on December 16.

The Clubs Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), meeting on Wednesday to discuss the match between Renaissance Sportive of Berkane and USM Alger in the semi-final second leg of the CAF Cup, confirmed RS Berkane’s qualification for the final of this continental competition, following the withdrawal of the Algerian club.

In a press release, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said on Thursday it had received a copy of the CAF Clubs Committee’s decision concerning the USM Alger-RS Berkane match in the CAF Cup semi-final second leg, in which the Committee officially confirmed RS Berkane’s qualification for the 2023-2024 CAF Cup final.

According to FRMF, the Committee unanimously decided to sanction USM Alger with a 0-3 forfeit, and to submit the case to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions.

In the CAF Confederation Cup final, RS Berkane will face Egyptian club Zamalek on May 12 in Berkane for the first leg, and on May 19 in Cairo for the second leg.