Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: Al Shamal, last season's Qatar Stars League runners-up, said Sunday that it had signed Tunisia international Mohamed Ali ben Romdhane from Egyptian club Al Ahly. In a statement, Al Shamal added that the Tunisian footballer had successfully passed his medical examination and is poised to join the team's training sessions ahead of the new season, which is set to kick off on Aug. 20 with the opening round of the Doha Bank Stars League. Romdhane, 21, joined Al Ahly in the summer of 2025 from Hungarian Ferencvarosi TC and made 33 appearances in various competitions during the 2025-26 season, scoring two goals and helping the team win the Egyptian Super Cup. The upcoming season is particularly significant for Al Shamal, which will make its historic debut in the AFC Champions League Elite. The club has already signed Frenchman Wesley Said, Uruguayan Federico Bais, and Ibrahim Coulibaly.

Football

Johannesburg, South Africa: A triumphant night for North Africa ended on Saturday with hosts Morocco and Algeria reaching the Women's Africa of Nations (WAFCON) semi-finals and the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. They took contrasting paths to quarter-finals success as Morocco built a two-goal lead, then defended resolutely against South Africa for a 2-1 victory in Rabat. Algeria fell behind against the Ivory Coast in Casablanca, then took advantage of their opponents having a player sent off to score twice and emerge 2-1 winners. In the semi-finals on Wednesday, Morocco will face defending champions Nigeria or Cameroon while Algeria tackle Ghana or giant killers Malawi. No north African nation has won the marquee African women's football tournament, which has been dominated by Nigeria with 10 titles. The only other countries to became WAFCON champions since its debut in 1998 were Equatorial Guinea twice and South Africa once. Morocco, runners-up to South Africa four years ago, led after 31 minutes thanks to a second goal of the tournament from Sakina Ouzraoui. Hanane Ait El Haj increased the lead six minutes into the second half by converting a penalty. South African star Thembi Kgatlana then netted on 67 minutes to set up a tense finish. In Casablanca, Ines Konan put the Ivorians ahead on 29 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 players before half-time when teenager N'Sira Ouedraogo was sent off. Algeria struck twice within six minutes just before and after the hour mark through substitute Ines Khiri and Amira Braham to turn the match in their favour. Between the Algerian goals, Ivory Coast squandered a chance to regain the lead when Rebecca Elloh struck the post from a penalty. The red-carding of 18-year-old Ouedraogo, for kicking Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazi in the face, proved pivotal as her team lost the ascendancy they established during the opening half. After barely threatening to score during the first 45 minutes, Algeria took control after the break and created enough chances to have won more decisively.

Football

Doha: Qatar U-20 team recorded a convincing 7-0 win over Austrian side Kapfenberger today in a friendly during their training camp in Slovenia. The team is preparing for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled from August 25 to September 6, with the finals set to be held in China in 2027. Qatar are in Group Five with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Hong Kong, with Doha hosting the matches. The 32 teams in the qualifiers have been divided into eight groups. The eight group winners and seven best second-placed teams will join hosts China in the finals.