945 Metro Sports

Finals |
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Saturday | August 15, 2026

3RD PLACE FINAL
19:00 CAT
Morocco vs Algeria
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Sunday | August 16,2026

FINAL
21:00 CAT
Cameroon vs Malawi
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World number one Jannik Sinner set to miss Cincinnati Open with knee injury
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World number one Jannik Sinner has been ruled out of the Cincinnati Open after he revealed that he is struggling with a right knee injury, in what is a major scare just weeks ahead of the US Open.

Sinner hasn't returned to action since winning Wimbledon back in July, missing a second consecutive Masters 1000 tournament following the ongoing Canadian Open.

"After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said. “My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet.

“I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati and wish Bob and his whole team a great and successful event. I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open.”

Sinner started the year by winning five straight Masters titles, becoming just the second player alongside Novak Djokovic to clinch every single ATP 1000 crown. The Italian triumphed in Cincinnati back in 2024.

He will be eyeing a full return to fitness for the final Grand Slam of the year at the US Open, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 final. The pair have won 10 of the last 11 majors.

The Cincinnati Open begins on August 13th and will now be without both Sinner and Alcaraz. However, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic is set to participate for the first time since 2023.

[Tolga Akdeniz]

Fixtures | Quarter-Finals |
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Sunday | August 09, 2026

19:00 CAT
Cameroon vs Nigeria

22:00 CAT
Malawi vs Ghana
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Follow us for more updates ✅

Kenyan Commonwealth silver medallist Kihu suspended over doping
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Kenya's Commonwealth Games 10,000m race walk silver medallist Stephen Ndangiri Kihu has been provisionally suspended for a doping violation, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) said.

Kihu, 20, broke the national 10,000m race walk record when he won silver behind Australia's Isaac Beacroft at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, with Canada's Evan Dunfee taking bronze.

ADAK said Kihu tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a banned blood-boosting substance that increases red blood cell production and oxygen delivery to muscles.

The tests were conducted on June 30th while the Kenyan team was training for the July 23rd - August 2nd event.

The provisional suspension took effect on August 5th, and he could face a four-year ban if found guilty.

Kenya has provisionally suspended about 21 athletes for doping-related offences in 2026 alone, according to a list published by ADAK.

More than 140 Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) since 2017 - more than those from any other country.

[AFP]

Jorge Martin extends championship lead with British Grand Prix sprint victory
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Jorge Martin led from start to finish to win the British Grand Prix sprint at Silverstone on Saturday, extending his ⁠MotoGP championship lead as the Italian manufacturer locked out the podium in dominant fashion.

The Spaniard converted pole position into a commanding 10-lap sprint win, with Trackhouse ‌rider Ai Ogura finishing second and Martin's team mate Marco Bezzecchi completing an all-Aprilia podium in third.

Martin's victory ‌moved him to 220 points in the championship standings, opening up a 17-point ‌gap over second-placed Ogura while Bezzecchi leapfrogged Marc Marquez to move up to third, 27 ‌points behind.

Marquez's title aspirations suffered a significant blow as the Ducati rider slumped ‌from sixth on the grid to ninth at the chequered flag after suffering from tyre wear. He now sits 29 points behind Martin ahead of Sunday's race.

"A lot of work during summer, finally, all ‌the work we did was worth it. So I'm ⁠really, really happy. Today, what can I say? ‌Incredible job," Martin said.

The polesitter, who smashed the lap record in qualifying, made a perfect ​getaway but had to manage his resources carefully as tyre degradation became a significant factor.

"I tried to be as fast as possible, trying to manage. At ​the end, I had no rear tyre (grip)," he added. "So I thought Ai would catch me, but I was able to manage the distance and another sprint victory is ⁠always amazing."

Ducati riders had won ​the last three sprints at Silverstone but the best they could manage was Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez finishing fourth, while VR46 Racing rider Fabio Di Giannantonio was fifth.

While Martin controlled proceedings at the front, the drama unfolded behind as Marquez made contact with Bezzecchi at ‌the start before recovering to move up to fourth.

Marquez suffers with grip
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However, the Aprilias' superior corner speed soon proved decisive, with Bezzecchi overtaking the reigning champion on lap five and pulling clear.

Marquez's afternoon went from bad to worse as tyre wear hampered his pace, allowing his brother Alex to move past him before KTM's Pedro Acosta, Joan Mir and Franco Morbidelli also found their way through.

The reigning world champion barely held on to ninth place as Diogo Moreira closed in during the final moments, with Ducati mechanics immediately examining his rear tyre upon his return to the pits.

But the day ‌belonged to Aprilia and, while Martin was elated, an emotional Bezzecchi was in tears ​after securing a podium on his return from collarbone surgery, with the Italian ‌still not fully fit and riding through pain.

"It was a tough period, as you probably can imagine. So it was very important to come back and enjoy on the bike. We did a very good job," Bezzecchi said.

"It's difficult for me to say what I'm feeling right now. But I want to say ⁠just a massive thanks to all the ⁠team and all the people that ‌stayed close to me. They worked hard with me."

[Reuters]

Fixtures | Quarter-Finals |
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Saturday | August 08, 2026

19:00 CAT
Ivory Coast vs Algeria

22:00 CAT
Morocco vs South Africa
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Follow us for more updates ✅

This Saturday we take part in the Immigration Cup 2026 at Woodlands Stadium 🏟️🔥

Kick-off is exactly 08:00hrs!
It’s going to be a BIG event 💪
Come one, come all and be part of the action!

📺 Catch us LIVE on all our social media platforms
📻 Also live on 94.5 Metro Sport FM

FIFA president Infantino receives unanimous support from CAF leadership
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday "unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino" after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

On the day UEFA said it is committed to boycotting future World Cups at all levels while Infantino remains in office, CAF's top decision-making body sided with the FIFA president as he seeks re-election in March next year.

CAF makes up 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, and is a powerful voting bloc that has largely supported Infantino since he took office in 2016.

"The CAF EXCO unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years," CAF said in a statement.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe welcomed FIFA’s pledge to review the processes that led to the controversy which sparked the fiercest revolt of Infantino's tenure as national federations complained they had been sidelined over the abandoned proposal to sell a slice of the World Cup's commercial future.

"CAF welcomes and endorses the "Joint Update" by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom," Motsepe said, but stressed the need for good governance and transparency in global football.

"We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its member associations, other football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practises and to contribute to the development and growth of football worldwide."

CAF’s support will provide some relief to Infantino, who has faced near-global condemnation for his aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and sell commercial rights to the World Cup.

Earlier this week, five of Africa’s most influential football leaders issued statements in support of Infantino, while also welcoming the decision to drop his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenue.

CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa from Morocco and fellow FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger) and Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) all pledged to support Infantino.

Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and former CAF general secretary, also lent his voice in support.

Motsepe was also effusive in his praise for Infantino days before the World Cup sell-off scandal broke.

"I personally support Gianni Infantino," he said. "He's not just a good friend. He's a loyal friend. He's loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back."

[Reuters]

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek move on with comfortable wins at Toronto Masters
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Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Thursday by defeating China's Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.

The 28-year-old reigning US Open champion from Belarus, a four-time Grand Slam winner, dropped only seven points on her first serve to advance in 76 minutes.

Sabalenka, with a 38-6 record and three titles this year, struggled to find a rhythm in her return games early.

"I was trying to step in and then I would step back and nothing really clicked," she said. "In the end I finally started moving a little bit better and finding my rhythm so I'm really happy at the end it really clicked."

Sabalenka said she enjoys being atop the rankings, a spot she has held for more than 100 weeks in her career.

"I love it. It just means I'm ahead and they have to come up with something crazy to play such tennis and I'm only getting better from that," Sabalenka said.

"I enjoy being the one being chased. It's really fun. It's tough challenges but I love to go through it and it makes me stronger."

Sabalenka next plays against Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who eliminated Australian Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

Sabalenka leads their personal rivalry 5-4 thanks to a victory this year on Berlin grass, but Alexandrova won their most recent hardcourt match in a third-set tie-breaker last year at Doha.

"Great player. Super aggressive. Fast game. Always have to stay low," Sabalenka said. "It's always great battles and a lot of things to work on."

American third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in 68 minutes.

Pegula will play for a quarter-final berth against Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider, who eliminated compatriot Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3, in 77 minutes.

Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Swiss Viktorija Golubic in 66 minutes, landing 18 winners and losing only 14 points on her serve.

"For sure it was a good day and I'm really happy with the way I played," Swiatek said.

Swiatek countered Golubic's versatile shots by forcing the match tempo.

"I played back her slice pretty well so the change of rhythm didn't bother me that much," Swiatek said. "I tried to pick the right balls to attack because I was controlling the pace. It was just about the decision making."

She next faces 10th seed Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched US 19th seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1 in 72 minutes.

[AFP]

Fixture | Quarter Finals |
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Saturday 08.08.2026

19:00 CAT
Ivory Coast vs Algeria

22:00 CAT
Morocco vs South Africa
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Sunday 09.08.2026

19:00 CAT
Cameroon vs Nigeria

22:00 CAT
Malawi vs Ghana
-
Follow us for more updates ✅