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Algeria Crash Out of Cup of Nations as Cameroon Qualify for Last 16

Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah reacts after defeat by Mauritania sent the 2019 champions packing from the Africa Cup of Nations. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah reacts after defeat by Mauritania sent the 2019 champions packing from the Africa Cup of Nations. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
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Algeria Crash Out of Cup of Nations as Cameroon Qualify for Last 16

Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah reacts after defeat by Mauritania sent the 2019 champions packing from the Africa Cup of Nations. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
Algeria's Baghdad Bounedjah reacts after defeat by Mauritania sent the 2019 champions packing from the Africa Cup of Nations. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

Former champions Algeria crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the group stage on Tuesday after a shock defeat against Mauritania, but Cameroon secured a last-16 place with a dramatic victory over Gambia.
Algeria won their second AFCON title in Egypt in 2019 but were then sent packing in the group stage at the last edition in Cameroon two years ago with just one point and one goal scored.
This campaign has been equally miserable for Djamel Belmadi's team, who drew their first two matches in Group D against Angola and Burkina Faso but would have qualified for the knockout phase with a point against Mauritania in Bouake.
Yet Mauritania, who had lost their opening two matches in Ivory Coast and had never won in eight previous attempts at the AFCON, ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a 37th-minute goal by captain Mohamed Dellah Yaly, who plays his club football in Iraq.
The result relegated Algeria -- who started the game with off-form Riyad Mahrez on the bench -- to bottom spot in their group and they head home having now gone six Cup of Nations matches without winning since beating Senegal 1-0 in the 2019 final.
Mauritania make history
Mauritania, meanwhile, are now certain to advance to the knockout phase for the first time in their history as one of the four best third-placed teams.
"Nobody was thinking about Mauritania, but football is like that, full of surprises, and we have been rewarded for all the hard work we have put in," Mauritania coach Amir Abdou told broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique.
Angola finish top of Group D ahead of Burkina Faso after beating the Stallions 2-0 in Yamoussoukro thanks to a goal in each half from Egypt-based striker Mabululu and Zini of AEK Athens.
The Angolans are through to the knockout phase for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, and will now play a best third-placed team in Bouake in the last 16.
Runners-up in 2013 and semi-finalists two years ago, Burkina Faso will head to the northern city of Korhogo for a tie next Tuesday against the winners of Group E, which will be Mali, South Africa or Namibia.
Earlier on Tuesday, five-time champions Cameroon secured qualification for the next round with a 3-2 win over Gambia in an extraordinary match in Bouake.
Both teams needed a win to stand a chance of going through from Group C, and Cameroon took the lead early in the second half from a Karl Toko-Ekambi header.
Yet Gambia, quarter-finalists two years ago, drew level on 72 minutes when the unmarked Ablie Jallow finished past Fabrice Ondoa, preferred in goal to Manchester United's Andre Onana.
Ebrima Colley then put Gambia ahead five minutes from time, meaning the Indomitable Lions were heading out.
However, James Gomez turned a cross into his own net two minutes later to make it 2-2, and Christopher Wooh then headed in Cameroon's winner in stoppage time.
"It is in our DNA, it's just what we are like," Cameroon coach Rigobert Song said when it was put to him that his team never know when they are beaten.
They will now head to Abidjan for a heavyweight last-16 tie against Nigeria on Saturday, while Gambia go home with three defeats in as many games.
Perfect Senegal, Ghana out
Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet confirmed after the match that he would be leaving his position, despite having a contract until 2026.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Senegal beat Guinea 2-0 in Yamoussoukro to top Group C with a 100 percent record, Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye scoring their goals in the second half.
They will stay in Yamoussoukro for a last-16 tie next Monday against one of the best third-placed teams, and there is a good chance they will end up playing hosts Ivory Coast who remain in contention to qualify despite coming third in Group A.
Cameroon's comeback relegated Guinea -- who had star striker Serhou Guirassy back from injury -- to third place, but they will go through to the next round.
However, those results condemned four-time champions Ghana to elimination.
The group stage concludes on Wednesday, with South Africa playing Tunisia and Namibia facing Mali in Group E, while Tanzania take on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia meet Morocco in Group F.

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Florentino Pérez Faces First Election for Real Madrid Leadership in 20 Years

Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez presents his campaign for the club's elections, under the slogan "A lot of history yet to be made", in Madrid, Spain, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez presents his campaign for the club's elections, under the slogan "A lot of history yet to be made", in Madrid, Spain, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
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Florentino Pérez Faces First Election for Real Madrid Leadership in 20 Years

Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez presents his campaign for the club's elections, under the slogan "A lot of history yet to be made", in Madrid, Spain, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez presents his campaign for the club's elections, under the slogan "A lot of history yet to be made", in Madrid, Spain, 27 May 2026. (EPA)

For the first time in 20 years, Florentino Pérez's Real Madrid reign will be challenged at the ballot box.

The world’s most valuable and most successful football club will hold elections on Sunday.

Pérez, the 79-year-old executive who for the past two-and-a-half-decades has made Madrid the global powerhouse to beat, will face an upstart rival half his age who is making big promises to convince the club's 98,000 members to consider a change.

Enrique Riquelme, 37, was still a boy when Pérez first took over. He remained unknown to most Madrid fans until he stepped forward as a rival candidate after the incumbent called early elections last month in a press conference dominated by Pérez's claims the Spanish media is trying to "kill" his presidency.

"Why do they want to kill me?" an agitated Pérez told reporters on May 12. "Why? Because there are some kids out there saying they want to run? Well, let them. I would love them to."

Riquelme, a renewable energy executive, has surprisingly been able to mount a credible threat. That's thanks to the backing of former Madrid players like Raúl González and promising huge, and arguably far-fetched, signings like that of Manchester City star Erling Haaland.

Riquelme has the names, but does he have the clout? Riquelme got a big boost when Madrid great Raúl, its record holder for games played, former goalkeeper Iker Casillas and ex-defender Fernando Hierro joined his campaign.

Raúl would be Riquelme’s sports director, a role that doesn’t exist now, while Hierro would oversee its youth academy. Casillas’s exact role was not defined.

Riquelme also said he wanted to sign Spain midfielder Rodri, who has one year left on his contract with City.

But Riquelme’s big lure dangled to voters this week, his claim that "Haaland wants to come to Madrid," prompted City to dismiss any chance of negotiating for the sale of its top-scoring striker who is under contract until 2034.

That didn’t stop Riquelme going on Spain’s state broadcaster TVE and doubling down on his pledge.

"If I am made president of Real Madrid on Sunday, Haaland will play for Real Madrid," he said on Thursday.

Then it was the turn of Haaland's entourage to shoot it down.

"All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections," Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, told the AP in a short statement on Friday.

"It must be a bluff," was Pérez's opinion.

Pérez has earned status as top dog

Not to be outdone, Pérez said Thursday that next week — after the election — he would announce the "most expensive transfer in the history of Real Madrid," worth, he said, at least 150 million euros ($173 million).

He knows a thing or two about promising apparently impossible signings — and then making them come true. He won his first elections in 2000 when he swore he would sign then-Barcelona forward Luis Figo. And that he did.

Now, Pérez has promised to bring back José Mourinho, Madrid’s coach from 2010-13, and sign Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté, a free agent, and Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, if he is given another four years.

While those names are unlikely to thrill all of Madrid’s members, Mourinho’s abrasive style left the fanbase divided, Pérez’s pledges do have the value of being completely credible.

Besides Figo, he has consistently delivered on his transfer targets, from Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham, to Cristiano Ronaldo and, most recently, after years of trying, Kylian Mbappé.

And, regardless of his plans, Pérez's wildly successful record is his best pitch.

In his two stints, from 2000-2006 and from 2009 until now, Madrid has won seven of its record 15 European Cups, along with a slew of other titles, including seven La Liga crowns and three Copa del Reys.

That all has been fueled by healthy finances as it was transformed into a global brand under Pérez, who also runs a major international construction company: Madrid has topped the Forbes Money League of the world’s most valuable football clubs for five consecutive seasons.

But Pérez also has weak spots

Pérez's Super League project meant to transform European soccer and replace UEFA’s Champions League with a club-run competition flopped in the face of backlash from some fans, many smaller clubs, and UEFA.

And so far his bet on Mbappé has not panned out. In the star’s two seasons at Madrid it has won no major titles, while Pérez has parted ways with three coaches in Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa.

Riquelme is also taking aim at the idea

Pérez floated last year to sell 10% of the club to private investors, a move that would break with 124 years of the member ownership model.

Pérez ran unchallenged when elections were to be held in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025. His latest term was set to expire in 2029.

Riquelme has reiterated previous complaints that changes Pérez's board made to the club statutes in 2012 made it more difficult for members to present a candidacy for the presidency.

Since then, a presidential candidate has had to be a club member for 20 years and have collateral equivalent to 15% of the club budget.

"The most important thing is that after 20 years, due to a complete lack of democracy and impediments year after year so that other members of Real Madrid can run, now the moment to vote has arrived," Riquelme said.

Pérez stepped down in 2006 following a bad season but returned to power in 2009.

Sports

Barcelona Teenager Yamal Wins LaLiga Player of the Season Award

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
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Barcelona Teenager Yamal Wins LaLiga Player of the Season Award

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been named LaLiga Player of the season, the Spanish league announced on Friday.

The 18-year-old helped Barca retain their domestic crown, became the first player to win the league's Player of the Month award three times in one season and finished as the club's top scorer in La Liga with 16 goals and 11 assists.

Barcelona's Hansi Flick was named the Coach of the Year on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Regarding Yamal, Barca said in a statement: "He is the proverbial headache for opponent defenses, who have to make a real effort to try to stop the blaugrana's attacking threats.

"Beyond the intangibles, the young Catalan scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists, with no other LaLiga player providing that many passes leading to goals."

Yamal, who has been sidelined with groin issues multiple times this term, is expected to be fit for Spain at the World Cup starting next week in Canada, Mexico and the US.

He missed the last six games of the season for Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.

Yamal exploded onto the scene at 16 and was an integral part of Spain's record fourth European Championship triumph in 2024.

Sports

FIFA Cancels Dozens of World Cup Tickets Issued for Free by Mistake

04 June 2026, Canada, Toronto: A General view of the Toronto Stadium, during a media tour one week ahead of the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
04 June 2026, Canada, Toronto: A General view of the Toronto Stadium, during a media tour one week ahead of the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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FIFA Cancels Dozens of World Cup Tickets Issued for Free by Mistake

04 June 2026, Canada, Toronto: A General view of the Toronto Stadium, during a media tour one week ahead of the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
04 June 2026, Canada, Toronto: A General view of the Toronto Stadium, during a media tour one week ahead of the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

FIFA canceled World Cup tickets for about 60 fans who mistakenly received them for free because of a website error.

The governing body's acknowledgment of the glitch adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding the ticketing program for the tournament in North America, which begins next week.

The tickets were issued at no charge "due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process," FIFA said in a news release on Thursday. The tickets were sold through the official World Cup site on May 21.

"FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused," the statement said, adding that "the tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount."

The high price of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on Thursday in Mexico City, has been a hot topic since they went on sale. The costs are considerably higher than any previous World Cup.