
Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 on Saturday, July 4, 2026, to secure their place in the World Cup quarterfinals. The Atlas Lions dominated the match, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice and Soufiane Rahimi adding a third goal late in the game. The first half ended goalless, but Morocco broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when Achraf Hakimi assisted Ounahi's opening goal from a free kick. Despite attempts from Canadian players Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou maintained a clean sheet. Ounahi scored his second goal in the 82nd minute, assisted by Brahim Diaz. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the 3-0 victory in the 90+8 minute. As a 2022 World Cup semi-finalist, Morocco continues to demonstrate its ambitions in the 2026 tournament. They will face the winner of the match between France and Paraguay in the next round.
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Must ReadThe General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces FAMa announced on Saturday, July 4, 2026, that a series of terrorist attack attempts against several FAMa positions were successfully repelled. The attacks targeted military positions in Aguel-Hoc, Anéfis, Gao, Sévaré, and Kénioroba. The army stated that the situation is "totally under control" across all affected sites. Preliminary reports from aeroterrestrial operations conducted by FAMa with partner support indicate 26 terrorists were killed. In Sévaré, 20 assailants on motorcycles and in equipped vehicles were neutralized. In Gao, one Malian soldier was killed and four others were injured and received care. The army also reported neutralizing six terrorists and destroying one vehicle in Gao. The General Staff confirmed that all attacks were "vigorously repelled" and that ground and air search operations are ongoing to track assailants and secure the areas. The communiqué concluded that the situation remains under control at all attacked positions.

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, will host the AfroBasket U18 Zone 3 qualifiers from July 6 to 11, 2026. The national organizing committee held a press conference on July 3, 2026, to outline the event. Four countries – Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Liberia, and Benin – will compete for qualification to the U18 African Championship, scheduled for August in Abidjan. Matches will take place at the Ouaga 2000 Sports Palace. Delegations are expected to arrive starting July 5, 2026. The tournament will feature both women's and men's teams, with only one team from each category advancing to the African Championship. Abraham Bayili, communications officer for the Burkinabè Basketball Federation, stated that hosting the competition is an honor and demonstrates FIBA-Africa's confidence in Burkina Faso's ability to organize international events. Burkina Faso will participate with both male and female selections, which have been in preparation for two weeks. Bayili confirmed that final arrangements for accommodation and other logistical aspects are underway, with sites meeting FIBA standards prepared for delegations. The U18 African Basketball Championship will be held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from August 3 to 16, 2026, featuring twelve men's and twelve women's national teams. In conjunction with the press conference, the organizing committee also conducted a training session for journalists on basketball terminology to enhance media coverage.
Must ReadSouth Africa recently experienced a day of national shutdown, with police, the army, and private security forces mobilized to prevent violence and looting against migrants. The ANC government had allocated $36 million to intensify expulsion operations, aiming to preserve its public image. Organizers of "Operation Dudula" and March & March celebrated the closure of many shops and reduced traffic in major cities, viewing it as a success for their anti-migrant agenda. Since 2008, political entrepreneurs have scapegoated African migrants for South Africa's post-apartheid social issues, including unemployment, crime, rising prices, and housing shortages. This xenophobia, distinct from racism, targets individuals based on their origin rather than race. For the past four months, migrants in several provinces have faced harassment and death threats if they do not leave. Accusations against migrants include drug dealing, taking jobs from South Africans, and over-utilizing medical services. Approximately 25,000 migrants have recently left the country, with Ghana repatriating 300 citizens and planning for 800 more. Former President Thabo Mbeki questioned whether 300 new jobs were created after the Ghanaians' departure, highlighting the futility of such actions in solving real problems. Despite these campaigns, migrants constitute only 5-6% of South Africa's population 3 million out of 62 million, a proportion lower than in many less affluent African countries. The success of these xenop