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Morocco to host CAF play-off for final 2026 World Cup spot 

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Morocco has been chosen as the venue for the CAF Play-off Tournament that will determine Africa’s final qualification spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to an announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The tournament is set to run between November 13th and 16th, 2025, bringing together the top four runners-up from the continent’s qualifying groups.

READ ALSO: Super Eagles will finish world cup qualifiers strong -Troost-Ekong

The matches are anticipated to be held at one of Morocco’s premier sporting venues, with facilities constructed for the Africa Cup of Nations emerging as likely options.

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Hosting this event will provide Morocco with valuable preparation ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament it will stage in December.

The competition structure includes two single-leg semifinal matches followed by a championship match.

Should any fixture remain level after the standard 90-minute period, play will continue with two 15-minute extra-time periods. A penalty shootout will determine the victor if deadlock persists.

Participating nations may make five player changes during the regulation period, with one additional substitution available should the match reach extra time.

The team that emerges victorious from the final will advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off, where they will meet a representative from a different continental confederation in a decisive qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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Diallo’s stunning volley earns United late 2-2 draw on Amorim’s anniversary 

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Manchester United salvaged a point against Nottingham Forest with Amad Diallo’s spectacular volleyed 2-2 equalizer in the closing stages, marking exactly one year since Ruben Amorim took charge of the club.

The visitors opened the scoring through Casemiro’s header following a disputed corner decision.

READ ALSO: United secure back-to-back EPL victories with a dramatic 4-2 win over Brighton 

Officials ruled that Nicola Savona’s clearance of Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery had crossed the touchline, though video evidence appeared inconclusive about whether the entire ball had gone out of play.

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Despite holding their interval advantage, United’s hopes of climbing to second place evaporated early in the second period. Forest overturned the deficit within five minutes through Morgan Gibbs-White, who converted Ryan Yates’ cross, before Savona capitalized on defensive confusion to put the hosts ahead—ending their four-game scoring drought.

Rather than collapse, Amorim’s men responded with 81 minutes played when Amad struck brilliantly from distance after Forest partially cleared a set piece. United nearly snatched victory in stoppage time, but Amad’s goal-bound effort was hacked away on the goal line.

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Palace end winless run with dominant victory over Brentford

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Crystal Palace snapped their winless streak with a convincing 2-0 triumph over Brentford, who had been enjoying strong form.

Jean-Philippe Mateta broke the deadlock with an exquisite arcing header that sailed beyond Caoimhin Kelleher’s reach into the far corner, adding spark to an otherwise dull opening period.

READ ALSO: Palace edge Liverpool in shootout to win Community Shield 

The striker had previously netted three times in Palace’s thrilling stalemate with Bournemouth two weeks earlier.

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Despite defeating Liverpool in their previous outing, Brentford struggled throughout the first half. Their best opportunity to level came when Mikkel Damsgaard stepped up to take a free kick from a promising position after Daichi Kamada’s foul, but he blazed his attempt well over.

Brentford’s misery deepened shortly after halftime when Nathan Collins deflected Jefferson Lerma’s long delivery past his own goalkeeper, doubling Palace’s advantage.

Collins nearly compounded his error by surrendering possession to Ismaila Sarr in a dangerous area, though the Senegalese forward’s shot struck the woodwork.

Reiss Nelson tested Dean Henderson late on with a curling strike, but Oliver Glasner’s side comfortably preserved their clean sheet.

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Relentless Arsenal cruise past Burnley to seal ninth straight win 

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Arsenal maintained their perfect winning streak with a dominant away performance against Burnley, extending their run to nine consecutive victories across all competitions.

Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice found the net as the league leaders secured their fifth straight league triumph, establishing a seven-point gap at the summit, though some rivals have matches in hand.

READ ALSO:  Eze shines as Arsenal claim shock victory over Palace at Emirates

Mikel Arteta’s men overcame a Burnley outfit known for defensive resilience and riding high after successive wins. Arsenal’s set-piece prowess—league-leading this campaign—proved decisive when Gyokeres tapped home from Rice’s corner delivery.

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Martin Dubravka denied Bukayo Saka with an acrobatic stop before Leandro Trossard saw his attempt cleared off the line. Rice then doubled the advantage before halftime, meeting Trossard’s lofted pass with a powerful header.

The hosts enjoyed greater possession after the restart and threatened through Florentino Luis, whose close-range header sailed over, while Marcus Edwards rattled the frame of the goal with a late free kick.

Beyond that brief scare, Arsenal cruised through their eighth victory in ten league matches this season. The 2-0 defeat leaves Burnley hovering just four points above the relegation zone in seventeenth position.

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