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African Champions Pyramids Hit Back to Draw in Morocco

An aerial view shows Cairo's traffic with buildings and houses, through the window of a Turkish Airlines plane, in Cairo, Egypt March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
An aerial view shows Cairo's traffic with buildings and houses, through the window of a Turkish Airlines plane, in Cairo, Egypt March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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African Champions Pyramids Hit Back to Draw in Morocco

An aerial view shows Cairo's traffic with buildings and houses, through the window of a Turkish Airlines plane, in Cairo, Egypt March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
An aerial view shows Cairo's traffic with buildings and houses, through the window of a Turkish Airlines plane, in Cairo, Egypt March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Pyramids of Egypt preserved an unbeaten record in defense of the CAF Champions League title by coming from behind to draw 1-1 at FAR Rabat of Morocco late on Friday.

The home team were ahead after just eight minutes of the quarter-final first leg when Ahmed Hammoudan scored his first goal of the campaign.

Mahmoud Zalaka equalized in the seventh minute of the second half in a match staged behind closed doors due to crowd trouble during an earlier FAR match.

The second leg is set for March 21 in Cairo and the overall winners will face another Moroccan club, Renaissance Berkane, or Al Hilal of Sudan in the semi-finals during April.

Pyramids and FAR also clashed in the quarter-finals last season with the Cairo club winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Surprise winners of the premier African club competition last season, Pyramids have won eight matches and drawn three in pursuit of back-to-back titles.

They pocketed four million dollars (3.5 mn euros) after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the 2024/25 final.

This week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that first prize had been increased by 50% to six million dollars. The runners-up prize is unchanged at two million dollars.

FAR rattled Pyramids by taking an early lead amid the silence of the Olympic Stadium in the Moroccan capital, AFP reported.

A pass into space behind the Pyramids defense found Hammoudan, who raced in from the left flank and beat veteran goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy with an angled shot into the far corner.

Both sides had spells of territorial dominance in the opening half, but there were no further goals before half-time with few clearcut chances.

Pyramids pressed for an equalizer from the restart and were rewarded on 52 minutes when Zalaka claimed his second goal of the African campaign.

FAR goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti parried a close-range shot from Ahmed Atef after a corner and Zalaka reacted quickest to poke the loose ball into the net.

Mahmoud Mayele, the Democratic Republic of Congo striker and leading scorer in the Champions League last season with nine goals, was substituted after 83 minutes.

After scoring three goals in qualifiers this season, the 31-year-old has gone eight matches without adding to his tally.

The quarter-final in Rabat kicked off only at 2200 local time due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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Kingdom Holding to Acquire Majority Stake in Al-Hilal

The deal values the share capital of Al-Hilal at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. Photo: PIF
The deal values the share capital of Al-Hilal at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. Photo: PIF
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Kingdom Holding to Acquire Majority Stake in Al-Hilal

The deal values the share capital of Al-Hilal at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. Photo: PIF
The deal values the share capital of Al-Hilal at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals. Photo: PIF

Kingdom Holding Company has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 70% stake in Saudi Pro League soccer club Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said on Thursday.

The deal values the share capital of Al-Hilal at 1.4 billion Saudi riyals ($373.20 million). The agreement supports PIF's ⁠strategy of maximizing ⁠returns while recycling capital back into the local economy.

Since July 2023, the PIF has been the principal shareholder in Al-Hilal as part of a wider initiative aimed at accelerating ⁠the development of sports clubs and boosting the sports sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.

Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company Prince Al Waleed bin Talal said: “Al-Hilal Club represents a national symbol and a source of pride. Our acquisition reflects our deep belief in the role of sport as a developmental force for both the economy ⁠and ⁠society.”

Al-Hilal, who have been top-flight champions 19 times, are second in the Saudi Pro League on 68 points from 28 games, eight points off Al Nassr with a match in hand.

Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF Yazeed Al-Humied, said: “PIF has proudly helped drive the efforts to transform Saudi Arabia’s sports sector and increase its value proposition for investors while creating lasting results at every level, from players and fans to local communities.”

“PIF has set ambitious goals for the clubs, enabling them to become successful commercially and professionally and achieve long-term financial sustainability. Today’s announcement aligns with PIF’s strategy to maximize returns and redeploy capital within the domestic economy,” he added.

Completion of the transaction is subject to meeting certain conditions and receiving the necessary regulatory approvals as outlined in the agreement.

Sports

French Open Prize Money Increases 9.5%

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
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French Open Prize Money Increases 9.5%

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Prize money at this year's French Open will jump by 9.5%, taking the total purse to 61.7 million euros ($72.69 million), organizers said on Thursday.

The increase of 5.4 million euros compared to 2025 continues a steady rise in player earnings at the claycourt Grand Slam, Reuters reported.

The organizers have in recent years focused on boosting prize ⁠money across all ⁠rounds, not only for the champions but also for players eliminated in the early stages, amid growing calls within the sport for a fairer distribution of revenues.

The Paris major, ⁠staged annually at Roland-Garros, has maintained equal prize money for men and women.

The prize money increase comes as pressure mounts from players for a greater share of revenues, with discussions ongoing across the sport involving governing bodies and tournament organizers.

Despite the latest rise, Roland-Garros is expected to remain behind ⁠the ⁠other three Grand Slams in overall prize money.

The US Open offered the largest prize fund of the Grand Slams last year with $90 million, while Wimbledon paid out 53.5 million pounds ($72.40 million).

The Australian Open offered a record A$111.5 million ($79.92 million) in prize money this year.

Sports

Liverpool Confirm Ekitike Out for Season, Will Miss World Cup

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Liverpool Confirm Ekitike Out for Season, Will Miss World Cup

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk checks on Hugo Ekitike during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool followed France in confirming Thursday that forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat by European champions PSG at Anfield on Tuesday and had to be substituted, reported AFP.

A brief statement issued by Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday said scans had subsequently confirmed a "rupture of the Achilles tendon".

The statement added: "Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France."

Liverpool gave no timescale for Ekitike's recovery, saying only "further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC".

Liverpool's statement followed Wednesday's announcement by France coach Didier Deschamps that Ekitike was out of the World Cup.

"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.

"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.

"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer from German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.

"It looks really bad, but difficult for me to say how bad," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after Tuesday's match.

Injuries have been a major factor in a disastrous season for Liverpool as they sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the campaign without silverware.

"Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season," added Slot.