Morocco crushed Angola to lift Africa’s top futsal trophy, while things heat up in Qatar as the AFC U23 Asian Cup enters the quarter-finals.
Morocco won the AFCON indoor trophy without losing a game in Rabat this week, while Uzbekistan joined the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and hosts Qatar as they became the last team to book their quarter-final place AFC U23 Asian Cup.
The Saudi Pro League could add another European talent to its ranks, with Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard, currently manager of Al-Etifaq, pouncing on his former club Glasgow Rangers to captain the side James Tavernier.
Morocco dominate the AFCON indoor final
Morocco’s futsal team lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Sunday, defeating Angola 5-1 in a thrilling match in the capital, Rabat.
The Moroccan team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, scoring more goals than any other team, with a total of 37 finishes.
The Moroccan side had already faced Angola earlier in the tournament, beating them 5-2 in a group stage match.
The team, supported by their home crowd, had won many other accolades.
The best player of the event was Bilal Bakkali, while the award for the best goalkeeper was given to Abdelkrim Anbia.
Soufian Harawi, together with Chico and Helber from Angola, were among the top scorers of the competition with 7 goals.
The Moroccan team, nicknamed the Atlas Lions, are ranked eighth worldwide, making them the highest-ranked team in both the African continent and the Arab world.
The Libyan side also dismantled the Egyptian giants on penalties to secure third place in the competition, following a 2-2 draw.
Following their victory, the Atlas Lions will now prepare for the Futsal World Cup, scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan in September.
The AFC U23 Asian Cup heats up as the top teams advance to the quarter-finals
Uzbekistan’s 3-0 win over Vietnam at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha this Tuesday finalized the remaining matches for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter-finals scheduled for later this week.
Uzbekistan are set to return to the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday to face 2018 champions Saudi Arabia, who secured second place in Group C.
Saudi Arabia were leading their group until a surprise defeat in the final group game by a rejuvenated Iraqi side.
Iraq, having initially lost their opening match to Thailand, staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Tajikistan, setting the stage for a crucial group final.
Thursday’s quarter-finals will begin with hosts Qatar facing 2016 champions Japan, followed by 2020 winners South Korea against debutants Indonesia on the same day.
On Friday, Uzbekistan play Saudi Arabia, with Iraq playing Vietnam in the last quarter-final. The top three teams will qualify for the Paris Olympics with the fourth team advancing to an intercontinental playoff against Guinea for a place at the 2024 Games.
Al-Ettifaq’s Steven Gerrard will attack former club Rangers
Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard is ready to make a shock move for current Rangers captain James Tavernier.
Gerrard worked with Tavernier during his three-year spell at the Glasgow giants, with the Liverpool legend reportedly remaining a huge fan of the 32-year-old Englishman.
According to Saudi media Slaati, Gerrard is ready to launch a bid to bring Tavernier to the Saudi Pro League.
Gerrard has reportedly “demanded” Al-Ettifaq bosses to provide the necessary funds to lure Tavernier away from Rangers, a request that has now been approved for the summer.
Tavernier is the second top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season, with 17 goals, an amazing achievement for a right-back. With 131 goals, the Englishman is the all-time top-scoring British defender.
Although the Rangers captain is among the club’s highest earners, Al-Etifaq could easily double or even treble his wages, in addition to paying a significant fee for his services.
Tavernier’s signing could be a much-needed shot in the arm for Gerrard, with his Al-Ettifaq side sitting 7th in the league and failing to find consistency this season.
There were reports that the club considered sacking Gerrard due to his poor form. However, if true, Tavernier’s deal being approved suggests the club believe they can turn things around next season.