🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Youssef Zalal loses to Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night, Moroccan fighters dominate at Glory 107
via Le Matin2 min read
Youssef Zalal, ranked 7th in the featherweight division, faced former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, losing by unanimous decision after five rounds. Despite a five-fight winning streak, Zalal was unable to overcome Sterling's tactical wrestling and ground control. While Zalal showed promising striking in the third round, Sterling's experience stifled his efforts. This defeat means Zalal must reassess his approach against elite competition, though he remains close to the top 5 and maintains his world title aspirations. Meanwhile, Moroccan fighters delivered a strong performance at Glory 107 in Rotterdam. Nabil Khachab secured a victory in a challenging heavyweight bout against Errol Koning, winning in a decisive extra round. Mohammed Boutasaa also delivered a convincing performance, demonstrating precision to win authoritatively. Mo Touchassie and Mohammed Hamdi dominated their respective fights, further establishing their presence on the international scene. Mohamed Amine was the only Moroccan fighter to lose, falling to Luis Tavares, but this did not diminish the overall collective success of the Moroccan contingent at the event.
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Driss Lachgar, First Secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces USFP, delivered a political address in Marrakech, emphasizing the need for profound electoral reforms and territorial justice. Ahead of the party's national congress, Lachgar stressed the importance of reforming political practices and governance mechanisms. He explained that preparations for the national congress involve extensive organizational mobilization, including provincial congresses, to renew party structures and foster debate on national issues. These meetings occurred during a challenging period for political action, yet the party maintained its focus on "territorial justice" and electoral system reform. Discussions highlighted the need to combat electoral corruption and ensure equal opportunities for political actors, aiming for elections that accurately reflect citizens' will. Lachgar noted that the recent Royal Speech outlined two major directives: electoral system reform and anti-corruption efforts, alongside strengthening territorial justice for balanced development. He mentioned that the Ministry of Interior has consulted with political forces on electoral reform, revealing both convergences and divergences. The USFP has clearly stated its positions, supporting some proposals and rejecting others deemed contrary to democratic reform. Lachgar insisted on strengthening anti-electoral corruption measures, including prohibiting candidates involved in illegal practices to restore public trust.
The Special Commission for the Accreditation of Election Observers has announced the launch of the application process for national and international observers for the independent and neutral observation of the election of members of the House of Representatives, scheduled for September 23, 2026. This decision is based on articles 11 and 161 of the Constitution, Law No. 30.11 on the conditions and procedures for independent and neutral election observation, and Law No. 76.15 on the reorganization of the National Human Rights Council CNDH. The Commission, chaired by Amina Bouayach, president of the CNDH, set the timeline for the observation process. Applications for accreditation opened on April 27, with a deadline of May 22 for submission. Files will be reviewed by June 17 at the latest. Eligible organizations include national institutions authorized by law to conduct election observation, active civil society associations recognized for their work in human rights and promoting citizenship and democracy, and international non-governmental organizations interested in election observation, recognized for their independence and objectivity. Applications can be submitted by downloading the accreditation form from the Commission's website observationelections.cndh.ma or the CNDH website cndh.ma and sending it via email to email protected, or by submitting a sealed envelope to the CNDH office in Rabat by 4:00 PM GMT+1 on Friday, May 22, 2026. National observers must not be candidat
Paris Saint-Germain secured a significant victory against SCO Angers 3-0 on Saturday, moving closer to the league title. The French capital club is now preparing for the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. However, the participation of key players, including Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez, and Fabian Ruiz, remains uncertain after they left the field prematurely during Saturday's match. Hakimi, who started as captain, exited at halftime after experiencing discomfort following a 30-meter sprint in the 35th minute. He discussed his condition with the Parisian staff before being substituted, followed by Ruiz and Hernandez. During the post-match press conference, coach Luis Enrique was questioned about Hakimi's and his teammates' health but chose to be evasive. He stated, "This is not the time to give information to Bayern. Everyone is ready. Everything is fine. No worries... There was a bit of everything. But it must be said, the semi-final against Bayern has begun: I am not giving information... It became a match without history because we did our job well. The sun, the upcoming Bayern match, it's the typical match where you can have problems. But there weren't any, and that shows we are ready to play the semi-final." Despite Enrique's reluctance to provide details, the manner of Hakimi's substitution, approximately ten minutes after the discomfort appeared, and the calm demeanor of the Parisian staff during the changes, suggest that the situation
Neil El Aynaoui delivered a standout performance for AS Roma in their Serie A match against Bologna, contributing a goal and an assist. This double contribution helped AS Roma secure a victory and climb to sixth place in the league standings with 61 points, boosting their pursuit of European competition. El Aynaoui's decisive play began in the seventh minute when he assisted Donyell Malen for the opening goal. He then scored his first league goal of the season just before halftime, in the 45th minute. This strong showing marks a significant return to form for the midfielder, who had experienced a period of reduced playing time and struggled to regain his rhythm after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations CAN 2025. AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged that the events surrounding the CAN had impacted El Aynaoui, stating, "The history of Morocco, with the controversy and all these events, weighed heavily on him, and he paid the price." However, Gasperini praised the young player's resilience, noting, "We had to wait a bit for him to recover the energy spent during this tournament, but today, he really played a high-level match." El Aynaoui's resurgence is timely for AS Roma as they approach the final stages of the Serie A season, and it also provides a boost for the Moroccan national team, where his role is crucial, ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.