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Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Hopes Dealt Major Late Blow; Egypt, Morocco Move Closer 

Morocco's Brahim Díaz celebrates after scoring the second goal during the World Cup group E qualifying soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania at the Stade municipal d'Oujda, Morocco, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP) 
Morocco's Brahim Díaz celebrates after scoring the second goal during the World Cup group E qualifying soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania at the Stade municipal d'Oujda, Morocco, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP) 
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Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Hopes Dealt Major Late Blow; Egypt, Morocco Move Closer 

Morocco's Brahim Díaz celebrates after scoring the second goal during the World Cup group E qualifying soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania at the Stade municipal d'Oujda, Morocco, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP) 
Morocco's Brahim Díaz celebrates after scoring the second goal during the World Cup group E qualifying soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania at the Stade municipal d'Oujda, Morocco, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP) 

Nigeria conceded a last-minute goal in a major blow to its World Cup qualifying hopes on Tuesday, when Egypt and Morocco all but booked their places at next year's tournament.

Zizo’s goal was enough for unbeaten Egypt's 1-0 win over Sierra Leone in Cairo, while Morocco looks assured of qualifying with a nine-point lead over its rivals after a 2-0 win over Tanzania.

Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz scored a penalty after Nayef Aguerd broke the deadlock on a rebound for Morocco’s fifth win from five games in Group E.

Zizo struck just before the break for Egypt to maintain a five-point lead over Burkina Faso, which had defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-1 on Monday in Group A.

Nigeria's nightmare

Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa scored in the final minute to silence the home fans in Uyo, Nigeria as the visitors claimed a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria star Victor Osimhen put the Super Eagles on course to claim just their second win in Group C after Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda had rekindled Nigeria's qualification hopes.

But the 21-year-old Chirewa, a late substitute, equalized in the 90th to earn Zimbabwe's draw.

Meanwhile, South Africa defeated Benin 2-0 to consolidate the top spot. Bafana Bafana leads with 13 points from six rounds, five clear of Rwanda (which drew with Lesotho 1-1) and Benin. Nigeria stayed fourth in the group with just seven points.

Only the nine group winners secure automatic qualification. The four best-placed runners-up will compete to be the African contender in FIFA's six-country playoff for the last two qualification spots at the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Algeria makes a statement

Wolfsburg forward Mohammed Amoura scored a hat trick as Algeria defeated Mozambique 5-1 to open a three-point lead over the visitors in Group G. Guinea's qualification hopes are all but over after a 1-0 loss to Uganda, the team's third defeat leaving it eight points behind Algeria in fifth.

Cape Verde remained top of Group D with a 2-1 win in Angola, though Cameroon responded with Vincent Aboubakar scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Libya. Cape Verde stayed a point ahead of Cameroon.

Sudan's missed chance

Sudan lost control of Group B with David Sebit scoring in stoppage time to earn South Sudan a 1-1 draw.

It allowed both Congo and Senegal to take advantage, which they did with 2-0 wins over Mauritania and Togo, respectively.

Congo moved top of Group B on 13 points, one ahead of unbeaten Senegal and Sudan. Sudan dropped to third on goal difference.

Black Stars twinkling

Ghana moved atop Group I by scoring a total of eight goals in back-to-back wins over Chad and Madagascar, helping ease the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in November.

Otto Addo’s team eased to a 5-0 rout of Chad in Accra on Friday, then enjoyed a 3-0 win over Madagascar on Monday to seize control of the group.

Comoros, the surprise early leader, stayed three points behind Ghana on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Chad.

Elephants hold on

Ivory Coast needed goalkeeper Yahia Fofana at his best as it held on for a 1-0 win over Gambia on Monday to stay a point above Gabon atop Group F.

Sébastien Haller’s early goal was enough for the Elephants to win in Abidjan, keeping the team top after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored twice for Gabon to beat Kenya 2-1.

Ivory Coast, the reigning Africa Cup champion, had previously beaten Burundi 1-0 in Morocco on Friday, while Gabon had a 3-0 win over the Seychelles on Thursday.

Tunisia consolidated top spot in Group H on Monday with two late goals to beat Malawi 2-0.

Four rounds of qualifiers remain.

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Sports

Iran Negotiating with FIFA to Move World Cup Games to Mexico from US

The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
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Iran Negotiating with FIFA to Move World Cup Games to Mexico from US

The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, 14 March 2026. (EPA)

Iran's football ‌federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.

Iran's sports minister said last week it was not possible for ‌the Iranian ‌players to participate in ‌the ⁠tournament after the ⁠US launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran, killing the country’s supreme leader.

US President Donald Trump has said Iran were welcome to participate but suggested it might ⁠not be appropriate for ‌them to play ‌in the US “for their own life ‌and safety”.

"When (US President Donald) Trump has ‌explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel ‌to America," said Taj in a post on the Iranian ⁠embassy ⁠in Mexico's X account.

"We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's World Cup matches in Mexico."

Iran has qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Sports

Man City Must Be ‘Perfect’ to Stun Real Madrid, Says Guardiola

Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Man City Must Be ‘Perfect’ to Stun Real Madrid, Says Guardiola

Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 11, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. (Action Images via Reuters)

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have to play a "perfect" game when they face the "massive" task of overturning a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Guardiola's side are on the brink of elimination after the last-16 first leg loss in Madrid last week.

City must produce one of the greatest fightbacks in the history of the Champions League to avoid being knocked out by Real for a third successive season.

It is a daunting challenge against the 15-time European champions and City boss Guardiola knows only a sublime display in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium will give his team a chance of a miraculous escape.

"I have to admit the task is massive. To score more than three goals against Madrid is not easy," Guardiola told reporters on Monday.

"The result in the first leg was not the perfect one but at the same time we are here. It's a football game, everything can happen.

"We have to create as much momentum as possible with our people. It has to be a perfect game in many, many departments.

"Always we can create chances, we know that, but this season we're not finishing. If we are able to be clinical there and defend well, always we will be in the game."

Guardiola called on City to emulate the spirit of one of their most memorable fightbacks as they seek inspiration against Real.

City came from 2-0 down with three goals in the final 14 minutes against Aston Villa in the last game of the 2021-22 season to win the Premier League title.

- 'You never know' -

"Aston Villa, the last game to win the Premier League - 74 minutes 0-2 and we made three goals in in 12 minutes," Guardiola said.

"Of course we have to take more risk in terms of trying, but even if the results are not good in the first half we have to keep going, carry on, go, because you never know."

City captain Bernardo Silva echoed Guardiola's belief that the tie is not over yet.

"This sport has taught us that a lot of things can happen in a football game," he said.

"Even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end.

"After a big defeat, on the day you feel like everything is very dark, then it gets brighter and brighter. We know what this team is capable of."

City's preparations for the match have been unusual as Guardiola opted to give his players a day off on Monday and not train the day before the game.

That decision could potentially risk censure from tournament organizers UEFA as clubs are obliged to allow media access to a training session or match preparation for 15 minutes.

Guardiola's said the team's recent heavy schedule was behind his decision, with a lackluster 1-1 draw at West Ham on Saturday dealing a major blow to their Premier League title hopes.

"I prefer today everybody be at home. We'll train tomorrow," Guardiola said.

"Repetition for training will not make us play better in the game against Madrid because today in modern football, in the top teams, training doesn't much improve a lot."

Sports

Asian Football Confederation Says Iran Is Still Set to Play at the World Cup

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
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Asian Football Confederation Says Iran Is Still Set to Play at the World Cup

A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble

A leading football official in Asia says Iran is still set to play at the World Cup which kicks off in June in the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

Also on Monday in Tehran, a government spokesman again stressed it was for FIFA to explain why US President Donald Trump suggested last week Iran players' “life and safety” could be at risk by playing at the World Cup. 

In a social media post last week in reaction to comments from Trump, Iran’s football team said “no one can exclude” it from the global tournament where it should be a strong contender to advance to the knockout rounds. 

On Monday, Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John said it had heard nothing to suggest Iran won't contest the World Cup. 

“They are our member. We want them to play,” he told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, where the AFC is based. “As far as we know, Iran is playing. 

“It's a very emotional moment, everybody is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day it’s the (Iran football) federation who should decide if they’re playing and, as for today, the federation … has told us that they're going to the World Cup.” 

Trump posted on social media that the Iran team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war with Iran but that “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.” It followed Trump's previous comment that “I really don’t care” if Iran plays. 

No team in the past 75 years has refused a World Cup qualifying place it earned on the field. 

Iran is set to play all three of its World Cup group games in the US, twice in Inglewood, California and then in Seattle. 

The regional war has put doubt on Iran’s ability to fulfil its World Cup entry, and sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that the current circumstances meant it was not possible to play. 

But the Iran team’s riposte on Instagram confirmed it still wants to participate, and pointed out that the tournament is run by FIFA, not Trump or the US. 

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that “FIFA must respond” to the doubt cast by Trump. 

“FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup," Baghaei said. "When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event.” 

FIFA has not commented in recent days beyond an Instagram post by President Gianni Infantino after meeting Trump at the White House last Tuesday. Infantino wrote that he got assurances Iran was welcome. 

Iran is scheduled to against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26. 

Iran is a power in Asian football, ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and has qualified for its fourth straight World Cup. 

Before the World Cup, Iranian football officials are due to attend FIFA’s annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. The Iranian federation was unable to attend meetings in Atlanta this month to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament.