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Coach Ouahbi Confident in Morocco's Future after 1-1 Draw with Brazil

Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Brazil and Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Brazil and Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
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Coach Ouahbi Confident in Morocco's Future after 1-1 Draw with Brazil

Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Brazil and Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Brazil and Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

Morocco are hungry to go beyond the semi-finals at the World Cup, coach Mohamed Ouahbi said after his side earned a 1-1 draw with powerhouse Brazil in their opener on Saturday.

Ouahbi had said ahead of the match that Morocco were prepared to shed their underdog image, four years after they knocked out Spain and Portugal to become the first African team to reach the final four in Qatar.

While their fans were outnumbered at the sold-out New York New Jersey stadium, Morocco gave them ⁠plenty to cheer ⁠for with a strong performance against the five-times champions.

Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the first-half lead against the disjointed Brazilian team on Saturday, before Vinicius Jr levelled it in the 32nd minute.

Second-half substitutions brought "freshness" to the team as mistakes began to pile up in the ⁠intense contest, Reuters quoted Ouahbi as saying.

"I don’t know if 20% of the crowd were Moroccans, but we could hear them very loudly. If it was only 20%, they fooled me into thinking there were many more of them there," said Ouahbi. "I hope they had great fun watching a good match tonight, and I hope this will continue."

"For the future of Moroccan football, we are confident. We drew; we’re happy. I’m not sad. We would have wanted to ⁠win, obviously, ⁠but I’m not sad," said Ouahbi. "What I’m really proud of is that we’re bold enough to play and ask for the ball under pressure. This is a great quality that we have."

The draw sees the two teams each earn one point with Haiti playing Scotland in the second Group C match on Saturday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

"I want to go beyond the semi-finals but it was a good match," Ouahbi told reporters. "One is good enough and we'll improve."

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Sports

Australian F1 Great Alan Jones Dies Aged 80

Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
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Australian F1 Great Alan Jones Dies Aged 80

Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
Australian Formula One 1980 champion Alan Jones at the funeral of Jack Brabham in 2014. PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP

Alan Jones, one of only two Australians to win the Formula One world championship, died on Thursday days after his 80th birthday.

Jones won 12 grands prix across his career and became world title-holder in 1980, joining Jack Brabham as the only Australians to have done so.

Jones -- whose birthday was on Monday -- died after a brief illness.

"He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by those closest to him, as well as the many fans whose support he was always grateful for," said a statement released on behalf of his wife Amanda Butler-Davis, according to national broadcaster ABC.

"Alan dedicated his life to motorsport, building a legacy that will live on through the countless people he touched along the way.

"Through his achievements, passion and unmistakable character, both on and off the track, Alan left an enduring mark on the sport both nationally and across the globe."

Jones, whose father Stan was a racing driver and winner of the 1959 Australian Grand Prix, moved to Britain in 1970 to pursue his F1 dreams.

Racing for Williams, the Melbourne-born Jones became world champion a decade later.

After retiring from the sport in 1986 he went into broadcasting.

In a tribute, the Australian Grand Prix said Jones "holds a special place in the history of our sport".

"His 1980 world championship inspired a generation of Australian motorsport fans," it said in a statement.

"His victory at the Australian Grand Prix that same year remains the last time an Australian driver has won their home grand prix.

"He leaves an extraordinary legacy in Australian motorsport and will be deeply missed by the motorsport community around the world."

Sports

Nadal Says Las Vegas Event Will Test Body After Pain-Free Retirement

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 17, 2023 Tennis player Rafael Nadal in the stands before the match. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 17, 2023 Tennis player Rafael Nadal in the stands before the match. (Reuters)
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Nadal Says Las Vegas Event Will Test Body After Pain-Free Retirement

Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 17, 2023 Tennis player Rafael Nadal in the stands before the match. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - September 17, 2023 Tennis player Rafael Nadal in the stands before the match. (Reuters)

Former world number one Rafa Nadal is enjoying life after tennis and is largely free of the daily pain that marked the final years of his career, but says an upcoming Las Vegas exhibition will test whether his body can again withstand serious preparation.

Nadal, who retired from professional tennis two years ago, has stepped up his training ahead of February's MGM Slam while juggling business commitments and family life with his two young children.

"Life is treating me well," Nadal told Reuters from his home in Mallorca, Spain.

"I'm enjoying this new chapter, travelling more than expected, working more than I expected, to tell you the truth, but in a good way."

The 22-times Grand Slam ‌champion said he ‌had been concerned about his physical condition after retirement, having endured years ‌of ⁠injuries and pain ⁠during his career.

"After two years of being retired, I can say that most of the time I am in good shape," Nadal said. "I am not going through a lot of pain on a daily basis, something that for me is very important because I suffered enough for so many years."

The Spaniard said the chance to return to the court in Las Vegas appealed because he knew the venue and organizers, though he had to think carefully before agreeing to play.

"For me it will be a test ⁠that will tell me things, so let's see," he said. "I am just ‌excited to be back on court in front of ‌an amazing crowd."

Nadal also competed at the event in 2024 where he faced Carlos Alcaraz.

FEDERER FRIENDSHIP

Organizers have yet ‌to reveal the rest of the field, but Nadal did not rule out playing with or ‌against longtime rival and close friend Roger Federer at the MGM Slam or another exhibition.

"We talk very often," Nadal said of Federer. "If we find the right place, the right moment, I think we'll be excited to play against each other, or to play together in doubles."

Turning to the current generation, Nadal singled out Alcaraz and ‌Jannik Sinner as the young players he would most have liked to face more often.

He also praised the potential of American Ben Shelton, ⁠though he said the ⁠US Open runner-up was not yet fully consistent.

Nadal cautioned against comparing Alcaraz and Sinner's developing rivalry with the era defined by his matches against Federer and Novak Djokovic.

"They need time. They need to create their own stories," Nadal said. "They are doing amazing things in terms of results. Let's give them time."

GRUELING TENNIS SCHEDULE

Alcaraz and Sinner both missed significant periods through injury this season, while three of the year's four Grand Slam tournaments were played in brutally hot conditions.

Nadal reiterated his long-held concerns about the demands of the men's tennis calendar, particularly the number of mandatory tournaments and the prevalence of hardcourt events.

"The problem is not how long is the calendar," Nadal said. "The problem is how long is the calendar in terms of mandatory tournaments."

He said players should have greater freedom to skip events without suffering a substantial rankings penalty and suggested that tournaments after the US Open could be reduced or count towards the following season.

The MGM Slam will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 28.

Sports

Bayern Show Steel to Underline Champions League Credentials

Bayern's Lennart Karl, third from right, scores the opening goal past Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak, second from right, during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP)
Bayern's Lennart Karl, third from right, scores the opening goal past Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak, second from right, during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP)
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Bayern Show Steel to Underline Champions League Credentials

Bayern's Lennart Karl, third from right, scores the opening goal past Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak, second from right, during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP)
Bayern's Lennart Karl, third from right, scores the opening goal past Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak, second from right, during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP)

Bayern Munich strengthened their ‌case as Champions League contenders with Tuesday's 2-0 victory at Atletico Madrid, combining defensive discipline with clinical finishing at the stadium that will host the final in June.

Facing a determined Diego Simeone side and a partisan crowd, the Bundesliga champions produced a controlled performance despite missing several attacking players and manager Vincent Kompany, who is recovering after collapsing at training.

Bayern had drawn 2-2 with Arsenal and 3-3 against Viking in their previous two European matches, leaving victory important ‌to their prospects ‌of finishing in the top eight of ‌the ⁠league phase and ⁠qualifying directly for the last 16.

Last season's semi-finalists Atletico were on a nine-game unbeaten run which included eight wins, but struggled to create clear chances against a compact Bayern defense.

Bayern had conceded at least four goals across the two legs in each of their last four Champions League eliminations, ⁠but their defensive cohesion allowed them to ‌control the game until Lennart ‌Karl capitalized on a Robin Le Normand error to open the ‌scoring.

"The way we defended together as a group to ‌get the clean sheet, we were really pleased with the whole team performance," Bayern assistant manager Aaron Danks told a press conference.

"Tonight was about the collective group, about the spirit of this ‌group, to come together in adversity and get a result in a difficult ground."

Harry Kane's ⁠pass and ⁠the power of Konrad Laimer's finish stood out in Bayern's second goal, but it was their coordinated pressing that forced Atletico into surrendering possession in a dangerous area.

Without relying on decisive individual performances or fluid attacking play, Bayern kept the Spanish side at bay with relative ease.

Led by Ballon d'Or holder Kane, Bayern possess a squad capable of competing with Europe's leading sides.

Paris St Germain's blend of attacking quality and collective discipline has been central to their two Champions League triumphs and Bayern showed at the Metropolitano that they also have the cohesion needed to challenge.