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USM Alger and Zamalek in the mix for another title

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Friday Apr 10, 2026. 12:52

There are just four teams left standing in the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup as USM Alger and Zamalek bid for title honours once more.

The first-leg ties of the semi-finals take place this weekend, starting with the clash between CR Belouizdad and Zamalek at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Friday.

The Reds are featuring in this stage of the competition for the first time after overcoming Al Masry on away goals in the quarter-finals.

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Lofti Boussouar’s all-important 91st-minute equaliser at the Suez Stadium on March 14 clinched a 1-1 draw to see them progress following a goalless stalemate on home soil seven days later.

The White Knights won the trophy for a second time in 2024 and they are viewed as one of the favourites again after beating AS Otoho 3-2 on aggregate in the last eight.

Moatemed Gamal’s side also scored an away goal in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat on March 14 and they ran out 2-1 victors at the Cairo International Stadium the following weekend.

Then on Saturday, debutants Olympic Safi will look to spring another surprise when they lock horns with USM Alger at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers.

The Sharks dumped African giants Wydad Casablanca out of the competition in the previous round on away goals, having held on for a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stade Mohammed V on March 22 after an El Medhi Benabid own-goal on 86 minutes rescued a 1-1 draw at the El Massira Stadium seven days earlier.

USMA, whose solitary title came in 2023, also relied on away goals to get past Maniema Union in the quarters, with Ahmed Khaldi’s 53rd-minute penalty in a 2-1 defeat on March 15 keeping them in the tie before they triumphed 1-0 in the Algerian capital seven days later.

CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first-leg fixtures:

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Friday, April 10

21h00: CR Belouizdad v Zamalek

Saturday, April 11

18h00: USM Alger v Olympic Safi

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Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales

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Ruby Evans in her gymnastic routine

Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.

Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.

Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.

Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.

It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.

There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.

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Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating

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Tech Billionaire Takeover

An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.

A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.

It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.

Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.

“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.

“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”

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Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.

Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.

Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.

The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.

The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.

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West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell

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Steve Borthwick

First Test, Tarouba (day three of five)

West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)

Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)

West Indies lead by 155 runs

Scorecard

West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves took five wickets without conceding a run in an incredible spell of bowling on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.

Greaves, who is playing in his 17th Test, claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help dismiss Pakistan for 282 in response to West Indies’ first-innings total of 311.

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The 32-year-old Barbadian’s spell – five consecutive wicket maidens – was all the more remarkable given he had bowled six overs earlier in the day for 27 runs without taking a wicket.

“When I came on captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said.

“The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them [and] try to dig us out of situations.

“To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Greaves’ first wicket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad when he was bowled for 109 in the 64th over following a superb set-up.

Greaves had pushed the ball wide to the left-hander from over the wicket before he tailed a delivery back into Masood who played down the wrong line and inside edged on to his stumps.

Aamer Jamal had his middle stump uprooted in Greaves’ next over as the seamer speared one through his defences.

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Greaves then trapped Ali Usman lbw before he had Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas both caught behind as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.

West Indies reached stumps on day three on 126-7 in their second innings – a lead of 155 runs – to leave the match finely poised.

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