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CAF CL: Sundowns squeeze into quarters with nervy FAR draw

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• Sundowns' Peter Shalulile celebrating his goal

 Mamelo­di Sundowns secured the final TotalEn­ergies CAF Champions League quarter-final spot despite a late equaliser from AS FAR in a tense 1-1 draw at a packed Lof­tus Stadium on Sunday.

The South African giants needed just a point to progress from Group B, and Peter Shalu­lile’s early strike seemed to have set them on their way before Amine Zouhzouh’s 83rd-minute leveller ensured a nervous finale.

Shalulile struck in the 12th minute, capitalizing on excellent work from Riveiro to give the hosts a dream start. The Namib­ian’s composed finish reflected Sundowns’ early dominance as they sought to secure their knockout stage berth.

But FAR, already qualified and determined to main­tain their grip on top spot, emerged for the second half with renewed purpose. Their persistence finally paid off when Zouhzouh, fol­lowing smart play from Youssef El Fahli, silenced the home crowd with just seven minutes remaining.

The late equaliser set up a tense finish, with Sundowns knowing Raja Casablanca could still pip them to qualification. However, the ‘Brazilians’ held firm to secure the point needed to finish second in the group with nine points, behind FAR.

In the group’s other fixture, Raja’s 1-0 victory over 10- man Maniema Union secured through Ennafatti’s penalty deep in first-half stoppage time proved insufficient to overtake Sundowns. Maniema’s task was made harder by Simete’s 41st-minute dismissal.

The result means Sundowns join continental heavyweights including record champions, Al Ahly, Tunisia’s Esperance, and Sudan’s Al Hilal in the quar­ter-finals, keeping alive their dreams of a second Champions League crown.

For FAR, top spot represents a significant achievement in their return to the continent’s premier club competition, while Sundowns’ qualification ensures South Africa maintains two representatives in the knock­out stages alongside Orlando Pirates.

The quarter-final draw will determine the next challenge for both clubs as they aim to progress deeper into Africa’s most prestigious club competi­tion. -CAF

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Pitch Invader in Ghana-Chad Game Sentenced to 100 Days Imprisonment

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Mohammed Huzeinu, 21, has been sentenced to 100 days in prison by an Accra District Court for invading the pitch during Ghana’s match against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, 2022.

Huzeinu’s actions disrupted the game, an offense that has potential financial consequences for the Association (GFA), as the Association is likely to be fined whenever such incidents occur.

Pitch invasions are considered a serious breach of security and disrupt the smooth running of games.

The sentencing serves as a strong warning to fans to respect stadium regulations and maintain order during matches.

The FA has consistently urged fans to refrain from such actions, emphasising the importance of discipline and adherence to match day protocols to avoid fines and maintain Ghana’s reputation in international football.

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Queensland Intl Sch wins maiden Rising Star Rugby League tournament

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Rising Star Rugby League tournament

Queensland Inter­national School made history by emerging champions in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the inaugural Rising Star Rugby League Tournament U15 held at the Englebert School in Accra.

The event, organised by the Rugby League Federation Ghana (RLFG) in collaboration with Fu­turestars Charity and Salford Red Devils, provided a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and passion for rugby league.

The all-play-all format tourna­ment featured five schools, 100 children (50 boys and 50 girls), aged 9-15, and over 20 volunteers.

Queensland Boys began the tournament with a 2-2 drawn game with Future Leaders Boys before defeating Englebert Boys 4-0 and Twedaase Boys 2-1 to emerge victorious, with Twedaase School, Tema Cluster Boys, Future Leaders Boys and Englebert Boys follow­ing in that order.

The girls from Queensland followed in the footsteps of their male counterparts, beating both Future Leaders and Tema Cluster 2-1 before going down by the same scoreline to Twedaase Girls.

They, however, ensured the top spot with a 4-3 victory over Englebert Girls in the final game, leaving Twedaase, Future Leaders, Englebert and Tema Cluster Girls to follow in that order on the medal table.

Special guest of honour, Mr Keith McMahon, Deputy British High Commissioner, commended RLFG for the initiative, noting that the energy and talent on display were inspiring.

“The tournament is a fantastic platform for these young athletes to develop their skills and grow the sport in Ghana and I urge the RLFG to continue with their good works,” he added.

On her part, the president of RLFG, Madam Juliana Storey, congratulated all the participating teams for their stellar performance, adding that the passion, determina­tion, and talent on display confirm that her outfit is on the right path in its mission to grow the sport.

She promised to We continue investing in grassroots develop­ment to ensure a bright future for the young athletes.

RLFG General Manager, Mr Jafaru Mustapha, said the enthu­siasm from these young athletes during the tournament is proof that rugby league has a promising future and stated that they were going to expand the tournament and provide more opportunities for young players across Ghana to enjoy the game.

He thanked Mr Emmanuel Okyne-Tetteh, Futurestars Charity Country leader, for the opportuni­ty to partner with his outfit to hold a successful tournament.

 BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY

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PHOTOS: Black Stars hold training at Grande Stade Al Hoceima ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifier against Madagascar

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The Black Stars held their official training at Grande Stade Al Hoceima on Sunday in preparation for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Madagascar.

Otto Addo’s men appeared sharp and lively during training under the lights, following their arrival in Morocco on Saturday. All 23 players are in good condition ahead of the crucial Group I game, scheduled for Monday, March 24, 2025.

Ghana recorded a resounding victory against Chad on Friday, climbing to the top of the table with 12 points. They aim to cement their position with a victory over Madagascar.

The Group I fixture is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 Hrs at Grande Stade Al Hoceima, Morocco. Our Chief Photographer sent us back these photos:


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