Sports

Ronaldo helpless as Al Nassr keeper blunder dents Saudi title dream

What was Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento doing there?

Nobody could write this script.

Cristiano Ronaldo could not believe it. Al Nassr fans inside Al Awwal Park could not believe it. Honestly, almost nobody watching the Riyadh derby could believe what had just happened.

Al Nassr were literally seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League title for the first time since 2019 and handing Cristiano Ronaldo his first major domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia. It was the 8th minute of added time. Al Hilal launched one final long throw into the box and Bento came off his line to claim it with his defender already covering the situation.

But instead of collecting it comfortably, the Al Nassr goalkeeper completely made a howler and spilled the ball behind him and into his own net.

That was it. Final whistle. 1-1.

One bizarre moment completely changed the mood inside the stadium and suddenly the title race was alive again.

Ronaldo looked devastated after the match. Cameras showed him still sitting on the bench while members of the coaching staff tried to comfort him following the dramatic collapse.

“The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take!” Ronaldo posted on Instagram and X after the match.

“Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!” he added.

The match itself was not really an out and out entertainer to be honest. There were not many big chances created by either side as both teams played with caution knowing what was at stake. But there were still some interesting moments.

Bento was already under scrutiny in the first half when he rushed out of his box trying to deal with a dangerous situation at 0-0. Al Nassr escaped there unpunished.

Ronaldo had one early chance, but it was quickly pulled back for offside, while Al Hilal also had a Benzema goal ruled out by VAR after Milinkovic Savic set him up. That Benzema offside decision also sparked debate online. Many fans on X argued that the ball came off an Al Nassr player deliberately before reaching the crosser and claimed it should not have been given offside. But those debates will now be left to the fans.

Mohamed Simakan eventually gave Al Nassr the lead in the 37th minute after reacting quickest to a loose ball from a corner, sending Al Awwal Park into eruption.

Kingsley Coman was gifted a huge opportunity in the first half that he could not take to make it 2-0. People are even saying that is the miss of the season. He had only keeper to beat but he hits the post rather.

Ronaldo had another decent chance after the break but fired over the crossbar. The big man did not really have a great game overall, but while getting subbed off later in the match, he handed over the captain’s armband, turned towards the fans and started cheering them up, urging them to raise the noise inside Al Awwal Park. You could clearly see the passion and the crowd answered with incredible noise around the stadium.

Still, Simakan’s goal looked enough for most of the night. Al Nassr protected the lead well and the score stayed intact until the final seconds.

Now the equation is simple.

Al Nassr remain top on 83 points and if they beat Damac at home in their final game, they can lift the title.

Al Hilal, meanwhile, still have two matches left. They must win both and hope Al Nassr drop points against a Damac side still fighting for survival.

Sports

UAE Cycling Federation and AB Investment Sign Partnership to Support National Teams and Emerging Talent

Agreement reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting sport and advancing cycling development

Dubai, 1 September 2026: The UAE Cycling Federation and AB Investment have signed a strategic partnership and sponsorship agreement aimed at supporting national teams and clubs, developing athletes’ capabilities, and nurturing emerging Emirati talent to further strengthen the UAE’s presence in cycling competitions at local, regional, and international levels.

The agreement reflects the importance placed by the UAE and its wise leadership on sport and the continued support provided to national federations and teams. It also recognises the role of sport in developing individuals, empowering young people, and promoting the values of discipline, determination, teamwork, and national pride.

The agreement was announced during a press conference held at Palazzo Versace Dubai in the presence of H.E. Eng. Mansoor Juma Bu Osaiba, Chairman of the UAE Cycling Federation; Dr Butti Al Marri, Founder and Chairman of AB Investment; and Mohammed Butti Al Marri, Vice Chairman of AB Group.

The event was also attended by members of the Federation’s Board of Directors, representatives of cycling clubs, athletes, supporting organisations, partners, and members of the media.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Eng. Mansoor Juma Bu Osaiba and Mohammed Butti Al Marri, marking the beginning of a new phase of cooperation to support the Federation’s programmes and plans.

Bu Osaiba said the agreement represents an important addition to the Federation’s efforts to develop cycling, support national teams and clubs, and provide an environment that enables Emirati athletes to improve their capabilities and compete across various championships.

He added that the progress achieved by UAE cycling in international rankings, together with its results in overseas competitions, reflects the significant support provided to sport in the country and the continuous efforts of national teams, clubs, athletes, coaches, and administrators.

He said the partnership with AB Investment would support the Federation’s plans to expand participation in cycling, identify promising talent, and strengthen national team development programmes, enhancing the competitiveness of Emirati athletes and their ability to achieve further success.

Dr Butti Al Marri said the partnership stems from AB Investment’s belief in investing in people, supporting young talent, and contributing to the continued development of sport in the UAE.

He said the UAE has established a leading model for supporting athletes and providing them with the resources and opportunities required to succeed, noting that supporting national teams and clubs helps build generations capable of representing the country with distinction.

Dr Al Marri added that the partnership aims to support the Federation’s future plans and assist Emirati cyclists in achieving further success, strengthening the UAE’s position on the regional and international sporting stage.

Mohammed Butti Al Marri said the agreement reflects AB Group’s commitment to supporting sporting and community initiatives, as well as its belief in the role of sport in developing future generations and promoting ambition, excellence, and national pride.

He added that the Group looks forward to a long-term collaboration with the UAE Cycling Federation to support national teams and clubs, empower emerging talent, and help athletes transform their ambitions into tangible achievements.

During the event, Dr Butti Al Marri was named Honorary President of the UAE Cycling Federation in recognition of his support for the Federation and its future plans. Dr Anwar Al Hammadi was also granted honorary membership of the Federation in recognition of his contributions and support for sporting initiatives.

Dr Al Marri expressed his appreciation for the honorary appointment and reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Federation’s Board and its partners to support the continued development of cycling in the UAE.

The conference included a presentation highlighting the UAE Cycling Federation’s journey, key milestones, and achievements, as well as the progress made by national teams in strengthening the UAE’s presence in regional and international cycling.

Memoranda of Understanding were also signed with several supporting organisations, including Dermamed Clinic, represented by its Founder and Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Anwar Al Hammadi; VT & K Consultancy, represented by its Founder and Chairman, Vagif Tariverdiyev; Aqua Carpatica UAE, represented by Dr Hassan Mokdad; The Mister Holding Group, represented by its Founder and Chairman, Mohammed Al Maqoudi; and The Top Group, represented by its Co-Founder and CEO, Ragheed Al Tahan.

Representatives of the supporting organisations emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts to advance UAE sport, create further opportunities for athletes, and support initiatives and programmes that contribute to the continued development and success of cycling.

The press conference concluded with a media question-and-answer session addressing the partnership’s objectives, future plans, and role in supporting national teams, clubs, and emerging cycling talent.

Sports

Harry Kane breaks Ronaldo’s record

Harry Kane produced another captain’s performance as England came from a goal down to beat DR Congo and book their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After falling behind, Thomas Tuchel’s side responded through their skipper, who struck twice to complete the turnaround.

Kane’s first goal came from a superb Anthony Gordon cross, with the England captain powering a header into the net. His second was even better. Gordon, who had replaced Marcus Rashford in the second half, slipped a pass into Kane’s path, and the striker unleashed a thunderous first time strike that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

The brace took Kane to 12 goals in FIFA World Cup finals, further cementing his place among the tournament’s greatest goalscorers.

It also marked another remarkable milestone in what has become one of the greatest individual goalscoring seasons in football history.

Kane has now scored 72 goals for club and country during the 2025 and 26 season, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s best ever goalscoring campaign.

Only Lionel Messi has ever produced a better goalscoring season among football’s modern greats.

The highest scoring campaigns are now:

Lionel Messi (2011 and 12): 82 goals in 69 games
Harry Kane (2025 and 26): 72 goals in 62 games
Lionel Messi (2012 and 13): 69 goals in 62 games
Cristiano Ronaldo (2011 and 12): 69 goals in 69 games

England will now face Mexico in the Round of 16 as they continue their quest for World Cup glory. With Kane in the form of his life and rewriting the record books almost every game, the Three Lions will be confident of going even deeper into the tournament.

Sports

Can Morocco win the World Cup?

Just past midnight in Monterrey, Achraf Hakimi had already missed his penalty, and Morocco’s World Cup looked like it might be sliding into another so-near-yet-so-far story. Then goalkeeper Yassine Bounou flung himself to his right, Crysencio Summerville’s spot-kick was gone, and Ismael Saibari stepped up to thump in the winner.

Morocco had beaten the Netherlands on penalties. Another major European side undone from 12 yards, and across Africa and the Arab world, the same question grew louder. Can Morocco actually win the World Cup?

It is not a fanciful question anymore. No African nation has ever won the tournament, and before Morocco’s run in 2022 none had even reached the semi-finals. Yet here they are again, deep into the knockouts and refusing to play the underdog.

A shootout to remember

A quick note on the format, because 2026 is different. This is the first World Cup with 48 teams rather than 32, which adds an extra knockout round, the last 32, before the competition reaches its more familiar stages.

After finishing second in Group C behind Brazil, drawing with the Brazilians and beating Scotland and Haiti, Morocco met the Netherlands in that last-32 tie. It looked to be slipping away when Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead on 72 minutes. It was an emotional goal for Gakpo, who had taken to the pitch just days after he and his partner shared the news that they had lost their unborn son.

Morocco refused to fold. In the first minute of stoppage time, defender Issa Diop climbed highest to glance in an equaliser and drag the tie to extra time. Soufiane Rahimi nearly settled it there and then, only for Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to produce a stunning save at point-blank range.

So it went to penalties, and penalties have quietly become Morocco’s speciality. They even missed two of their own, Neil El Aynaoui clipping the bar and Hakimi failing to convert, but Bounou’s save from Summerville handed Saibari the chance to win it. He took it, 3-2. The whole thing echoed Qatar four years ago, when Morocco knocked out Spain in exactly the same nerveless fashion, with Bounou the hero then too.

How they finished fourth in Qatar

To understand why belief runs so high, you have to go back to 2022. That run remains the proudest chapter in African and Arab football history.

Under coach Walid Regragui, Morocco topped a tough group that included former finalists Croatia and a strong Belgium side. They drew 0-0 with Croatia, then beat Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 to go through.

The knockouts turned them into a phenomenon. They beat Spain on penalties, then edged Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-0 thanks to a towering Youssef En-Nesyri header, becoming the first African or Arab team ever to reach a World Cup semi-final. France, the defending champions, ended the dream 2-0, and Croatia won the third-place play-off 2-1. Morocco finished fourth, and back home the scenes did not look like those of a beaten team.

New coach, same belief

The twist this time is the man in charge. Regragui, the architect of the Qatar miracle, stepped down in March 2026. In his place came Mohamed Ouahbi, previously the head coach of Morocco’s under-23s and stepping into a senior role for the very first time.

The timing, just months before a World Cup, unsettled plenty of fans. The ambition, though, has not dimmed. “We have all the ingredients that we need to become the best nation,” Ouahbi told reporters after the Haiti win, pushing his players to believe in the title itself rather than settle for another respectable run.

It is the same drum Regragui banged in Qatar, when he asked simply, “Why shouldn’t we dream of winning the World Cup?”

The players carrying the dream

Every great run needs a talisman, and Morocco’s is Hakimi. The captain plays his club football for Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he won the Champions League last season, and he is widely rated among the best right-backs on the planet. “I think we are capable of doing it,” he told the talk show ABtalks before the Netherlands game, adding that an African winner would send the country “crazy with joy.”

He is far from alone. Brahim Díaz, a gifted playmaker at Real Madrid who switched his international allegiance from Spain to Morocco, supplies much of the creativity. Saibari, a midfielder in superb form, arrived at the tournament with three group-stage goals and then buried the winning penalty. And in Bounou, Morocco have the shootout specialist that opponents have learned to dread.

A deeper bench this time

Perhaps the most important difference from 2022 is what sits on the bench. Tournaments are long and gruelling, and squads win them as much as starting elevens do.

Where Regragui leaned on a settled core, Ouahbi can summon genuine game-changers. Against the Netherlands it was the substitutes who turned the tie. Rahimi almost won it in extra time, and Chemsdine Talbi coolly scored his penalty in the shootout. Younger midfielders such as Ayyoub Bouaddi and El Aynaoui give the team fresh legs in the closing stages, something Morocco simply did not have last time.

Hakimi puts the team spirit down to something less tactical. “We have fun, dance, laugh, play cards,” he said, describing a dressing room he calls one big family.

Next match

The reward for beating the Dutch is a last-16 meeting with co-hosts Canada in Houston on 4 July, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line. Facing one of the host nations means a partisan crowd and a little extra pressure, but it is a tie Morocco will fancy.

Beyond that, the tournament’s heavyweights start to appear. Nobody in the Moroccan camp seems remotely fazed. “We came here for a reason,” Ouahbi said. “We can play against anyone.”

After Spain, after the Netherlands, after a fourth-place finish that once looked like the ceiling, fans are now hoping history will be made.