11/01/2026

theSun on Sunday JAN 11, 2026

SPORTS 13 “Two things are clear – as it’s the tourna ment we’re playing for (now), it’s the most important,” said Alonso. “If you ask me about it in terms of order of priority in the season, it’s the fourth.” The Catalans beat Madrid four time in four encounters last season but Alonso’s side beat their rivals 2-1 in October in La Liga. “We have to win, we lost two finals against them last year,” urged Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “They have to win too, after losing the Clasico in La Liga, they’ll want revenge.” – AFP Ndiaye shines as Senegal get past 10-man Mali RECALLED Iliman Ndiaye scored in the first half to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over 10-man Mali in Tangiers yesterday in the first Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal. Mali hopes were dealt a severe blow in first half added time when captain Yves Bissouma was sent off after being shown a second yellow card. The only goal followed a blunder by Mali goal keeper Djigui Diarra, who then made a string of superb saves to prevent Senegal increasing their lead. Seeking a third final appearance in four edi tions, 2022 champions Senegal will face title holders Ivory Coast or record seven-time winners Egypt, who meet overnight, in the semifinals. “I am happy to have won the player of the match award, but the most important thing is we have progressed to the semifinals. “We played well and are constantly improv ing,” said Ndiaye. The 25-year-old Everton striker started in all three group matches, but was an unused substi tute in the last-16 victory over Sudan six days ago. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said: “It was not an easy match against a talented Mali team. Had we been more clinical in front of goal we could have scored more goals.” “It was a difficult match for us because we had to play (half) of it with 10 men,” said Mali coach Tom Saintfiet. “I am proud of the players for what they did, not only tonight but throughout the Afcon.” Bissouma was yellow-carded midway through the opening half for fouling Senegal striker and twice African player of the year Sadio Mane. Mali striker Lassine Sinayoko then broke clear only to be foiled by superb sliding tackle from fellow French Ligue 1 player Krepin Diatta. The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes on a cold, cloudy evening in the Mediterranean city thanks to Ndiaye.

Clasico final potentially crucial for Alonso

XABI ALONSO has steadied Real Madrid’s ship in recent weeks after a tumultuous period but the Spanish Super Cup Clasico final against Barcelona tomorrow (3am Malaysian time) seems a make-or-break moment for the Spanish coach. On the brink of the sack after a dire run of form, Alonso responded by leading Madrid to five consecutive victories, the fifth coming on Thursday against Atletico Madrid in the semi finals. Beating Super Cup holders Barcelona, who trounced Madrid 5-2 in last year’s final, also in

if the team lost against Manchester City in the Champions League on Dec 10, which they did, but the team’s improved performance bought the coach another chance. Lifting the Super Cup worked for Flick’s Barcelona last season, galvanising his team to claim La Liga and the Copa del Rey as well. In the three seasons prior to that, the Super Cup winners also went on to win the Spanish top flight.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, would bring Alonso a first trophy at the helm. A second victory in two matches against Barcelona would buy Alonso time and breath ing room. Succumbing to Hansi Flick’s side would give Real president Florentino Perez further excuse to oust a coach he hired in June but has never appeared convinced by. Spanish media reported Perez was set to sack Alonso

Five-star Diaz

Morocco’s Brahim Diaz (right) celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Cameroon in the Afcon quarterfinal at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat yesterday. – AFPPIC

Real Madrid winger scores again as hosts Morocco beat Cameroon to reach Afcon semis

BRAHIM DIAZ kept up his remark able Africa Cup of Nations scoring record and Ismael Saibari was also on target as hosts Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 in their quarterfinal showdown yesterday to keep their title dreams alive. Real Madrid winger Diaz got the decisive touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header in front of more than 64,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in capital Rabat. Diaz’s fifth goal in five matches at the tournament was followed by Saibari’s strike in the second half, with Morocco well worth their vic tory as they progress to a semifinal against the winner of the overnight clash between Algeria and Nigeria. “It is historic. Moroccans have not seen their team in the semifi nals of an Afcon for 22 years,” said coach Walid Regragui. “They deserve it but we need to keep our feet on the ground and make this even more historic.” “We need to just keep going one game at a time. We have not done anything yet,” Regragui insisted. “It was our best first-half per formance I think since the World Cup, with lots of pressing and inten sity, I think we deserved the win even though things evened out a bit in the second half.” Regragui was also full of praise for Diaz, adding: “Today he was the X-factor of my team. He has been

nation and World Cup semifinalists in 2022, are under enormous pres sure to win the trophy in front of their own fans, half a century after their last continental title. There have been doubts as to whether they can handle the weight of expectation, but they remain on course to achieve their objective – it is the first time Morocco have reached the Afcon semifinals since they lost the 2004 final to Tunisia. Morocco were beaten by Cameroon in the semifinals the last time they hosted Afcon in 1988, but a repeat outcome never really looked likely. The hosts went ahead on 26 minutes when Achraf Hakimi’s corner was

amazing during the competition. Tonight the way he ran and fought send out a message to the rest of the team.” The semifinal promises to be a stiffer test for Morocco than that posed by Cameroon, who were hop ing to spring an upset having already exceeded expectations in coming this far after a troubled build-up to the tournament. The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, created little with Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo struggling to make an impact. Recently-appointed Cameroon coach David Pagou was neverthe less proud of his side in defeat. “We are satisfied with the boys because they have given a lot of emotions to the Cameroonian peo ple and that was the aim,” he said. “We wanted to go as far as possi ble but this is a team that is pro gressing and there are millions of Cameroonians who can be pleased. “As a coach I will take away a lot of good things from this campaign.” Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked

He was involved three times in a move which ended with goalkeeper Djigui Diarra allowing a Krepin Diarra cross to slip under his body and Ndiaye struck the loose ball into the net.

While the goal was a gift, it gave Senegal a deserved lead as they had dominated possession in only the second Afcon clash between the coun tries. The first was drawn at the group stage in 2004. Then, just for the second successive knockout match, Mali

headed towards goal by Ayoub El Kaabi at the near post, and the ball went in off Diaz. That calmed a frenetic home support, who cheered their team off at the break and then saw Saibari seal the victory in the 74th minute. The PSV Eindhoven midfielder controlled Abde Ezzalzouli’s dead ball delivery at the back post before firing in, as Morocco march on to Wednesday’s semis. – AFP

Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Mali in the Afcon quarterfinal yesterday. – AFPPIC

were reduced to 10 men before half-time with Bissouma shown a second yellow card, followed by a red. Mali came close to levelling on 55 min utes when defender Abdoulaye Diaby advanced for a freekick. His close-range shot brought a reflex save from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. – AFP