Morocco’s African Cup Qualifier Postponed in Wake of Deadly Earthquake

 A view shows a damaged building on the road between Amizmiz and Ouirgane, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows a damaged building on the road between Amizmiz and Ouirgane, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)
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Morocco’s African Cup Qualifier Postponed in Wake of Deadly Earthquake

 A view shows a damaged building on the road between Amizmiz and Ouirgane, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows a damaged building on the road between Amizmiz and Ouirgane, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)

Morocco's qualifying game for the African Cup of Nations was postponed on Saturday in the wake of the earthquake that struck the country, killing more than 1,000 people.

Morocco had been scheduled to play Liberia in Agadir on the country's western coast, but the Moroccan soccer federation said the game had been postponed indefinitely after an agreement with the Confederation of African Football.

The earthquake that struck late Friday night also damaged buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech.

Agadir is roughly 170 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of the epicenter of Friday’s tremor near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province.

The Gambian national team was in Marrakech during the earthquake ahead of a decisive qualifying game against Congo on Sunday. Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet told BBC World Service that he initially thought an airplane had crashed into the team's hotel.

"It seems it was only 30 seconds but it felt endless. It was really scary," Saintfiet said. "The walls were really shaking and things were falling down from the ceiling and the walls. I never in my life saw a building moving like that. When it stopped, I started running and checking if my team members were also out of their rooms."

No team members were reported injured.

Marrakech was hosting the game because of stadium problems in Gambia. CAF did not immediately respond to an email about the status of Sunday's match.

Morocco star player Achraf Hakimi took to social media to offer his condolences to victims of the earthquake.

"It is time to help each other to save as many lives as possible. My condolences to all who lost a loved one," Hakimi wrote on Instagram.

The magnitude-6.8 quake was the biggest to hit the North African country in 120 years.

On Friday morning, the Morocco team arrived in Agadir and then trained at Adrar Stadium in the afternoon.

The Atlas Lions made a historic run at last year's World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals, where they lost to France.

Morocco has already qualified for the 24-team African tournament, which begins in January in Ivory Coast.

The team was also scheduled to play a friendly match in France against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.



Mbappe Scores Brace as Real Madrid Get 4-1 Victory Over Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
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Mbappe Scores Brace as Real Madrid Get 4-1 Victory Over Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on September 12, 2026. (AFP)

Kylian Mbappe ‌scored twice as Real Madrid enjoyed a 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Mbappe got his sixth goal of the season in the 14th minute, from a penalty, after Rayo defender Florian Lejeune fouled Alvaro Carreras in the box.

Three minutes later Carreras exchanged passes with Mbappe, after Lejeune had gifted the ball to Vinicius Junior, and sent a shot into the net.

Wingers Vinicius and Yan Diomande, making his first start for Real since joining in August, found ample space to operate ‌in and after ‌34 minutes the Brazilian raced down the ‌left ⁠before picking out ⁠Jude Bellingham, just inside the box, who side-footed into the bottom corner with minimal fuss.

Mbappe hit the post late in the first half but the only danger to Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois's clean sheet came from a long-range strike by Andrei Ratiu which the Belgian pushed away.

The lack of tension was evident early ⁠in the second period, with Rayo's Pedro Diaz ‌hitting the post. The visitors pulled a ‌goal back after 51 minutes when, after a cheap giveaway, Sergio Camello ‌sneaked the ball through Ibrahima Konate's legs and into ‌the corner of the net.

Rayo were now enjoying comfortable possession in the Real Madrid half and were keeping Courtois busy. On the Real Madrid bench, manager Jose Mourinho's anger was mirrored by whistles from the ‌crowd.

With 13 minutes to go, Real's Denzel Dumfries drew a spectacular save from goalkeeper Emil ⁠Audero after ⁠connecting with substitute Arda Guler's cross.

Real Madrid closed out the game with a second goal from Mbappe on the counter-attack in the 91st minute, moving him on to seven goals in six games in all competitions.

The result put Real Madrid on 12 points, level with leaders Barcelona who play Levante on Sunday.

Espanyol beat Osasuna 2-0 with an early brace from Roberto Fernandez, while Racing Santander came from behind to defeat in-form Alaves 2-1.

Elche went ahead at San Mames through a second-half penalty from Facundo Buonanotte, but Athletic Club captain Inaki Williams found an equalizer with 11 minutes remaining and the game finished 1-1.


Arteta Angry Over Penalty Decision Despite Arsenal Win at Sunderland

 Referee John Brooks, right, shows a yellow card to Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Arsenal in Sunderland, England, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP)
Referee John Brooks, right, shows a yellow card to Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Arsenal in Sunderland, England, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP)
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Arteta Angry Over Penalty Decision Despite Arsenal Win at Sunderland

 Referee John Brooks, right, shows a yellow card to Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Arsenal in Sunderland, England, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP)
Referee John Brooks, right, shows a yellow card to Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta during the English Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Arsenal in Sunderland, England, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta labelled ‌the decision to award Sunderland a penalty "unacceptable" on Saturday after watching his side grind out a 2-0 win to maintain their 100% start to the season and move clear at the top of the Premier League.

As it was, keeper David Raya pushed Enzo Le Fee's spot kick against the post in the 55th minute and two minutes later Bruno Guimaraes scored his first goal for the club.

Bukayo Saka wrapped it up deep in stoppage time from the penalty spot to make it four leagues wins out of four for the reigning champions.

It could have been different had Le Fee found the net, but Arteta ‌blasted the decision ‌by referee John Brooks to award a penalty ‌when ⁠Ezri Konsa was penalized ⁠for pulling down Dan Ballard as a corner was played in.

"It was a huge win, but it could have been something very different," an angry Arteta told TNT Sport when referring to the penalty award.

"It's unacceptable at this level, this can change the course of a season and the championship. It's not acceptable. I've seen it 10 times to make sure and it's not possible ⁠at this level that it can be a penalty. It ‌cannot happen.

"It's not a penalty in any ‌context, in any league."

It was far from a vintage Arsenal display against a tenacious ‌Sunderland, who deserved something for their endeavor, but they dug deep and ‌showed the resilience that helped them win a first title for 22 years last season.

They have now kept four clean sheets in their five games since the start of the season, including in the Champions League win at Napoli in midweek.

Summer signing ‌Guimaraes replaced Myles Lewis-Skelly at halftime and made a stunning impact.

After receiving a pass from Declan Rice, he sent ⁠a right-footed curler ⁠into the top corner.

Arsenal were forced to defend desperately at times as Sunderland's physicality rattled them, but Saka netted his third goal of the season when he beat Robin Roefs with his spot kick after being fouled by Reinildo Mandava who was sent off.

"It's unbelievable the spirit and the courage we have to go again and again and again," Arteta said. "So pleased in one sense and so worried in another.

"David Raya was unbelievable. He is a player that decides football matches when we need it.

"Sunderland deserve a lot of credit for the way they make it so hard for you."

Manchester City, the only other side not to have dropped Premier League points this season, can join Arsenal on 12 points if they beat Manchester United on Sunday.


Defiant Sabalenka Motivated by US Open Defeat

 Aryna Sabalenka is interviewed after being defeated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Aryna Sabalenka is interviewed after being defeated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Defiant Sabalenka Motivated by US Open Defeat

 Aryna Sabalenka is interviewed after being defeated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Aryna Sabalenka is interviewed after being defeated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Aryna Sabalenka, denied a third consecutive US Open title and toppled from the world number one spot she had held for 99 weeks, vowed to come back stronger after a season of disappointment.

"I think overall I should be happy with the level I played, and there's lots of things to take from this tournament," said the 28-year-old Belarusian, who had looked more than capable of salvaging her Grand Slam season before she ran into the buzzsaw of Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina, already assured of ascending to number one before they took the court for Saturday's final, triumphed 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a dominant display.

It was a massive comedown for Sabalenka, who had looked at her powerful peak when she blew past world number four Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.

But for the first time since 2022, she will end the year without a Grand Slam title.

Rybakina beat her in the Australian Open final, and she fell in the quarter-finals of the French Open before a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon.

In fact, it has all been a slog for Sabalenka since she won the prestigious Indian Wells-Miami double in March.

"As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger, but definitely going to motivate me for the next year to do (a) better job."

Sabalenka was grateful for the support she received from the crowd on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court, who were willing her on as she clawed back a set against Rybakina and encouraging her even as the third set was slipping away.

"It felt amazing," Sabalenka said. "Actually, at some point I felt like, 'Oh, my God, I feel American.'

"I just wish I could, you know, win it and feel the support even more."

Despite the defeat, and her fall from number one, Sabalenka said she doesn't think much will change in how her opponents consider her.

"I think anyway when you go out there, you have target on your back. Doesn't matter if you are No. 1, No. 2, 3, 4, whatever it is.

"I'll just keep working hard and keep improving my tennis, my level. Hopefully I will win some more tournaments," she said.

And she'll take pride in a reign at number one, a place she has held for a total of 107 weeks -- including the stretch of 99 straight weeks that will end on Monday.

"Ninety-nine? Well, that's amazing," she said. "Let's see if Elena can beat me in that."