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The Standard
Audio By VocalizeMorocco's King Mohammed VI has pardoned the Senegalese football supporters jailed after violence at the 2025 AFCON final in Rabat for "humanitarian reasons", a royal court statement said on Saturday. …
Morocco king pardons jailed Senegal football fans for 'humanitarian reasons'Saudi Arabia's Football Federation expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and welcomed his joint statement with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom acknowledging mistakes and abandoning a plan to bring private financing into the World Cup, which had triggered global opposition.
27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Saudi Arabia's Football Federation expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and welcomed his joint statement with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom acknowledging mistakes and abandoning a plan to bring private financing into the World Cup, which had triggered global opposition.
27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA is "likely" to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after the two conditions it sought from FIFA following president Gianni Infantino's failed attempt to secure private investment in the World Cup have been met, according to a source.
26 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Former footballer Emmanuel Petit and others have called for "change" in FIFA's leadership following the failed plan to open the World Cup to private investors, saying "power has blurred the current leadership's ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football."
24 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has departed after breaking ranks with senior FIFA directors and criticizing Infantino's plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including World Cups. Lamour had refused to sign off on the deal and described it as "the project of one person."
18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the WAFCON final in Rabat on Sunday to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after finishing runners-up on three occasions. Cameroon, who failed initial qualification but were added as one of the four highest-ranked losers after the tournament expanded from 12 to 16 teams, defeated Malawi with goals from Marie Ngah (twice) and Naomi Eto.
17 August 2026 · The Standard →
Marie Gisele Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto added one goal as Cameroon defeated debutant Malawi 3-0 in the African Women Cup of Nations final on August 16 in Rabat, Morocco, claiming the continental title for the first time after losing three previous finals to Nigeria.
17 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Morocco lost 3-2 to Algeria on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff on Saturday, with the hosts missing three consecutive penalties. Despite the loss, Morocco qualified for the 32-nation Women's World Cup in Brazil next year by reaching the semi-finals.
15 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga led Malawi to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, where they face Cameroon and goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who saved four penalties in the semi-final.
15 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, beat Algeria 3-1 in the WAFCON semi-final on Wednesday in Rabat to reach the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final. Tabitha Chawinga scored twice and sister Temwa once in the victory.
12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Malawi's women's football team plays Algeria in the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco. The match represents Malawi's chance to reach a historic World Cup tournament, with the other semi-final pitting hosts Morocco against Cameroon.
12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of UEFA after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup was withdrawn following global backlash. Despite support from US President Donald Trump and withdrawing the controversial proposal, Infantino's position remains precarious as three confederations have criticized his style of leadership.
11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino withdrew his plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary to run World Cup operations after global backlash. UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC released an open letter criticizing his leadership style, despite calls for unity.
10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Myriam Nyadjou scored a free-kick goal in the 19th minute to give Cameroon a surprise 1-0 quarter-final victory over defending champions Nigeria at WAFCON in Casablanca on Sunday, sending Cameroon to a semi-final against Morocco and qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.
10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Malawi qualified for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals and the 2027 World Cup by coming from behind to defeat Ghana 2-1 in a quarter-final in Morocco. The 153rd-ranked Malawi, who had never previously qualified for WAFCON, will face Algeria in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
10 August 2026 · The Standard →
Morocco advanced to the African Women's Cup of Nations semifinals with a 2–1 victory over South Africa in the quarterfinals on August 8, with goals in the 31st and 50th minutes securing their place and a chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Algeria also qualified for the semifinals.
9 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino received backing from South American football figures during a visit to Colombia, where he attended the inauguration of the Colombian president. The visit comes as Infantino faces a crisis at world football's governing body, including loss of confidence from UEFA following backlash against his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup.
8 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Colombia on Friday and received backing from leading South American football figures including CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and Colombian federation president Ramon Jesurun. The visit comes as Infantino faces criticism over a scrapped plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
8 August 2026 · The Standard →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino lost UEFA's "confidence" after withdrawing a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, prompting the European body to reiterate a boycott threat. While the Confederation of African Football backed Infantino, CONMEBOL and UEFA criticized him over the cancelled financing scheme.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
South American football's governing body CONMEBOL welcomed FIFA's withdrawal of its private investor plan but expressed concern about FIFA's repeated unilateral actions.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he will not challenge FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in Rabat next March, though UEFA is locked in a bitter dispute with FIFA over Infantino's scrapped private investor plan.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a plan to bring private finance into the World Cup after UEFA threatened to boycott tournaments, but UEFA said on Thursday that not all of its conditions have been met and reiterated the boycott threat. CAF backed Infantino while CONMEBOL criticized him.
7 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's women's national football team has been eliminated from the 2026 WAFCON after finishing bottom of their group without a point. They will now focus on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, beginning their campaign against Seychelles in October.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received "full support" from senior directors following a crisis meeting in Morocco, though the organisation apologised for errors made in handling a now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, which had faced widespread criticism.
6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA's leadership has given "full support" to president Gianni Infantino following his decision to shelve a controversial plan to open the World Cup to private investment, while acknowledging "errors" were made in how the proposal was handled after it was leaked to media.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
Malawi, the lowest-ranked of 16 tournament qualifiers, advanced to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after losing 2-1 to Zambia in Rabat on Wednesday, finishing first in Group C alongside Nigeria and Zambia on six points. Nigeria also qualified by defeating Egypt 6-2, and the two will face Ghana or Mali and Cameroon respectively in the quarter-finals.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on August 5, 2026, amid criticism over his shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, with calls for his resignation growing since he abandoned the proposal.
5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost UEFA's confidence after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup triggered global backlash and calls for his resignation, despite FIFA withdrawing the proposal. His previously unopposed path to a fourth term in March's election has been significantly weakened.
5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya was knocked out of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after losing 2-0 to Algeria in the group stage. Morocco and Algeria advanced to the quarter-finals from Group A, with Morocco topping the group despite a 0-0 draw with Senegal, while Senegal was also eliminated.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino came under fire from within the governing body and externally over his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, appointed by Infantino as FIFA's chief of global football development, said the withdrawal of the project was "absolutely necessary," while FIFA secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom distanced himself from Infantino in an internal email, describing the plan as "a sad and reproachable series of events."
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday as pressure mounts over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luis Figo publicly called for Infantino to step down, writing in the Daily Mail that he represents "the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour" in football.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →