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Who can be happy and who can be concerned after Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw?

GettyWinners: Nigeria

The Super Eagles can largely be content with their Group A draw, even if there are a few potential banana skins in there as the West African giants look to pick themselves up off the ground.

Sierra Leone are strong—and Nigeria weren’t able to beat them during the last qualifying campaign—but Guinea-Bissau were dispatched comfortably at the Nations Cup, and shouldn’t spoil the party.

Sao Tome e Principe are one of the continent’s minnows, and are unlikely to pose any problems for the Eagles.

AdvertisementBackpagePix.Losers: Kenya

As one of the weaker sides in Pot Two, everyone in the other pots will have been keen to be pitted against the Harambee Stars, while there are a few sides who Kenya will have wanted to have avoided.

Cameroon—who they’ve been pooled against from Pot One—are one of those sides, with the Indomitable Lions demonstrating their class to eliminate Algeria in the World Cup qualifying.

Namibia and Burundi, like Kenya, were both present at the 2019 Nations Cup, and their squads are full of players who know how to get over the line.

backpagepixWinners: South Africa

Morocco are tough opponents for Bafana Bafana, and they’ll definitely have been one of the sides they’ll be keen to have avoided from Pot One.

However, the presence of Liberia presents South Africa with two winnable fixtures, and the derby with Zimbabwe—even if that complicates matters—gives Hugo Broos a good opportunity to demonstrate the progress he’s overseeing with this talented squad.

Zim were undone by Malawi at the Nations Cup, and Bafana will only have themselves to blame if they can’t reach the Afcon.

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Getty ImagesLosers: Egypt

Top seeds Egypt are of course favourites to reach the Nations Cup from Group D, but the Pharaohs could have had things a little easier than the group they’ve ultimately ended up with.

All of Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia reached the last Nations Cup, with the Syli Nationale and the Flames both reaching the Last 16.

Egypt must ensure there’s no complacency as they look to progress.

The Argentina legend has become infamous for a raft of unsavoury incidents throughout his career as a player and coach, on and off the pitch

GettyHand with the GunIn the months leading up to the 1994 World Cup, Maradona was really struggling for form and fitness, and was being hounded by the press because of it. Maradona reacted to this in a way only Maradona can, by firing a compressed air-rifle at reporters outside his home. Some reporters who were hit with the pellets suffered minor injuries. AdvertisementGetty ImagesMaradona runs over cameraman & curses the manIt was the day when Maradona was to name his 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup. His stresses were made even worse when he ran over a cameraman as he was driving to his news conference. Instead of being apologetic and asking if the man was alright, he hurled abuse at him and blamed him for the accident. Witnesses close to the incident recalled how Maradona could he heard saying: "What an a**hole you are. How can you put your leg there where it can get run over, man?"Getty ImagesSuck it upA Maradona-led Argentina were under pressure through their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup but they eventually secured their place by beating Uruguay 1-0. Maradona could not hide his delight at this result and, after the game, was caught making a rather offensive gesture outside a window of their team bus, which can be named as a 'chupar'. Just as you thought it could not get any more controversial, during his post-match press conference he said: "They can suck it and carry on sucking it. This is for all Argentines, minus the journalists."ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesMaradona's curseMaradona and Argentina went into the 1990 World Cup full of critics, with no one apart from their own fans wanting them to do well because of their negative football. In their game with West Germany, Argentina's national anthem was roundly booed by the Germans. Maradona reacted furiously to this and could be seen mouthing the offensive Spanish phrase, “hijos de puta”, down the camera – which does not really need translating to understand what he is saying.

Harry Maguire is happy to stay back at Manchester United and fight for his place in Erik ten Hag's starting lineup.

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Maguire happy to stay back at Man UtdWest Ham wanted to sign the defender in the summerHas started in the club's last eight matchesWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite reported offers from West Ham to join them in the summer, Maguire decided to stay back at United and the defender now feels vindicated over his decision after starting in the Red Devils' last eight matches across all competitions.

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The 30-year-old became an outcast ever since Ten Hag joined the club last season, having appeared in 16 Premier League games and clocked just 759 minutes on the pitch. Yet the English international never gave up. Since Lisandro Martinez got ruled out of action at the end of September, Maguire has become a mainstay in the club's team sheet and he claimed that he is enjoying his football at the moment.

WHAT DID HARRY MAGUIRE SAY?

Speaking to , the former Leicester City player said, "I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and I felt like I performed really well in the games I played in, I just didn't play as many as I would have liked. On the other hand, Rapha [Raphael Varane] and Licha [Lisandro Martinez] were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets.

"I had to bide my time and be patient. I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager. I have got that now. I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high."

He added, "Working hard in training is the main thing and making sure you're ready. I started 16 or 17 games last year and felt like my form was there. There was a lot of talk about me because I wasn't playing games, but that is the way it is. I was playing well for my country, went to the World Cup and played well and always thought my form was there. But I am up against some top, top-level centre-backs and last year they were playing amazing, so I didn't get as many opportunities as I would have liked. This club demands competition for places and that is what we have in my position."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

The centre back will be next seen in action for the Three Lions as they take on Malta on November 17 in a Euro 2024 qualifying game.

Sachin Tendulkar will play his last domestic match under the captaincy of Zaheer Khan, during defending champions Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy season opener against Haryana

Amol Karhadkar16-Oct-2013Sachin Tendulkar will play his last domestic match under the captaincy of Zaheer Khan, during defending champions Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy season opener against Haryana, at Lahli from October 27.Tendulkar, who will retire at the end of the two-Test series against West Indies in November, will get an opportunity to spend some time at the crease going into the Test series. Zaheer, on the other hand, will be keen to put in an impressive performance and stake a claim for a Test comeback.Zaheer, however, was named captain only for the Haryana game, with Rohit Sharma being given the leadership for the season. Rohit had led Mumbai during regular captain Ajit Agarkar’s absences in the previous season.Despite the absence of offspinner Ramesh Powar, who moved to Rajasthan, and left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan, who was banned for life for his alleged role in IPL spot-fixing, young left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh hasn’t found a place in the squad for the first game.The Mumbai selection panel, headed by former India opener Sudhir Naik, preferred the left-arm spin duo of Iqbal Abdulla and Vishal Dabholkar. They are only two spinners in the squad because of the seamer-friendly conditions in Lahli.Harmeet, who was let off due to lack of evidence during the BCCI’s internal spot-fixing inquiry, has hardly had match practice. His anticipated move to Vidarbha was stalled and he ran drinks for Rajasthan Royals all through Champions League T20. He did not take a wicket in a Times Shield match for Air India last week either. However, on Wednesday, when the Mumbai team was picked, Harmeet took four wickets for Air India.Squad: Zaheer Khan (capt), Abhishek Nayar (vc), Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, Iqbal Abdullah, Vishal Dabholkar, Sufiyan Shaikh, Kaustubh Pawar, Siddhesh Lad, Javed Khan, Hiken Shah, Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Jr), Aditya Tare.

A round-up of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League quarterfinals that ended on November 25, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2014Strong performances from the bowlers and an unbeaten century from captain Usman Salahuddin helped State Bank of Pakistan rout Khan Research Laboratories by an innings and 47 runs to enter the semi-finals of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League.Pacer Rizwan Haider and left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar led the charge for State Bank in the first innings, taking four wickets apiece to dismiss KRL for 176. In reply, State Bank were reeling at 61 for 5 before Salahuddin strung together key partnerships to lift them to 394. His unbeaten 154 was supported by fifties from Mukhtar Ahmed (61) and Haider (54). Legspinner Usama Mir was the most successful bowler for KRL taking 4 for 133 in his second first-class match.KRL could neither wipe out the deficit nor could they better their first-innings score, folding for 171 as the left-arm spinners Gohar (3-48) and Kashif Bhatti (4-45) took seven wickets between them. In an innings dotted with single-digit scores, Ali Khan’s 73, Shoaib Ahmed’s 47 and Zulfiqar Jan’s 31 were the only substantial knocks.Pakistan International Airlines also made their way into the semi-finals, rallying around after a first-innings collapse to beat Bahawalpur Stags by six wickets in a low-scoring game. They will meet State Bank of Pakistan in the first semi-final from November 28.The bowlers forged PIA’s fightback after their batsmen had collapsed from 80 for 4 to 104 all out in response to Stags’ first-innings score of 137. Led by medium-pacer Kamran Sajid, who took four wickets in each innings, PIA skittled Stags out for 96 in the second innings.That left PIA a target of 130 and they were struggling at 47 for 4 before an 85-run partnership between Fahad Iqbal and Faisal Iqbal ensured their passage to the semis. Faisal struck an unbeaten 52 off 55 balls, while Fahad remained not out on 38 off 68 balls.The pace-bowling pair of Ansar Javed and Zahir Siddiqi had posed the biggest threat for PIA. They took four wickets apiece during PIA’s first-innings, the only Stags bowlers to take wickets, and struck again to put PIA’s chase in a precarious position.

While Dolphins might have fallen well short of the massive target set by Chennai Super Kings on Monday in Bangalore, the fact that they competed early on in the chase would give them a boost, batsman Cameron Delport has said

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2014While Dolphins might have fallen well short of the massive target of 243 set by Chennai Super Kings on Monday night in Bangalore, the very fact that they competed early on in the chase would give the South African franchise a boost, batsman Cameron Delport has said. Delport, who played a big role in Dolphins’ spirited start, slamming 34 off nine, said the team knew the only way they could possibly chase down 243 was by putting some pressure back on Super Kings and hoping they cracked.”It gives us massive confidence,” Delport told . “Today we played against Chennai Super Kings, who had a lot of Indian national stars and other reputed international cricketers. We know that if we can play well against them – either beat them or even just compete against them – it will help us mature as players. If we can handle these guys, we can definitely handle international cricket.”Super Kings had got to 242 for 6 having hit 16 sixes – eight of which came from Suresh Raina, who muscled his way to 90 off 43. Super Kings had got to 70 by the end of the six-over Powerplay, a Champions League T20 record that stood for just one innings; Dolphins smashed it, with their openers’ brief but blistering cameos getting them past 50 in the third over. That third over belonged to Delport, who hit 6, 4, 4, 2, 4 before playing too early at a Mohit Sharma slower one to be bowled off the final delivery.”We [he and fellow opener Morne van Wyk] knew that the wicket was really good and we wanted to get off to a really good start,” Delport said. “Our game plan was to take the attack to them and look for a couple of early boundaries and put them on the back foot right from the beginning.”We knew that their score was above average and our only chance of getting close was to put pressure on them. If we got boundaries off the first three balls of an over, the bowler would panic and it would be easier for us. We had a chat after the first innings and we said that if we get off to a good start, we had a good chance because we bat all the way down to No. 11. We did get that start but unfortunately the lower-middle order just collapsed there.”Delport said he had expected Mohit to bowl his signature slower ball at him, but still couldn’t quite get his timing right. “I knew he was going to bowl a slower one and I was telling myself to just wait for it. It kind of skidded off and hit the top of leg stump. I knew he was going to bowl it and I can’t believe I missed it.”Given his explosive cameo, Delport could well be on the radar of some IPL franchises, and that suits Delport. “I watch the IPL and the CLT20 every year and I have always wanted to be a part of these tournaments,” he said. “To finally be here in this country playing in these big stadiums is an experience that will help me grow as a cricketer. I want to continue to be part of these tournaments.”

Leicestershire’s Division Two game against top-of-the-table Northamptonshire at Grace Road, ended in a draw after rain reduced the final day’s play to just 36.1 overs

14-Jun-2013
ScorecardLeicestershire’s Division Two game against top-of-the-table Northamptonshire at Grace Road, ended in a draw after rain reduced the final day’s play to just 36.1 overs.In that time Leicestershire advanced from 142 for 3 to 238 for 6, leaving them 329 behind Northamptonshire’s mammoth first-innings score of 567 for 7 declared. But poor weather on the final two days denied Northamptonshire the chance of victory, and they had to settle for nine points from the match with Leicestershire collecting five.Despite two brief stoppages in the morning session, they bowled 30 overs claiming one wicket as Leicestershire added 81 runs. Australian Joe Burns was the man out, pinned lbw by Andrew Hall for 77 off 133 balls with a six and 10 fours.Michael Thornely joined Matt Boyce in a fifth-wicket stand of 77, twice hitting offspinner James Middlebrook for six – the first a slog-sweep and the next a sweetly timed straight drive.Leicestershire went into lunch on 223 for 4 but rain delayed the restart for 80 minutes. When play did get underway again Steven Crook struck with two wickets in two balls. Thornley, four runs short of a half- century, edged behind and the next delivery saw Rob Taylor provide wicketkeeper David Murphy with another catch. Jigar Naik prevented the hat-trick by clipping the next ball through midwicket for two runs.Crook then took the new ball, but bowled only one delivery before another deluge sent the teams off the field for the final time, with the game abandoned as a draw during the tea interval. Boyce finished 40 not out off 127 balls. It was bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire’s seventh draw in eight matches.

Brahim Diaz spoke highly of team-mate Jude Bellingham after netting the winner for Real Madrid against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

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Diaz scored Real Madrid's winning goalHailed Bellingham as world-classEmulated Bellingham's celebrationWHAT HAPPENED?

The former AC Milan player, who came into the starting lineup in place of the injured Jude Bellingham, turned hero for Real Madrid as he scored the winning goal for his team against RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash.

After netting the all-important goal, Diaz claimed he shares a very close bond with the English midfielder and hailed him as a world-class player.

AdvertisementWHAT BRAHIM DIAZ SAID

Speaking to after the match, Diaz said, "I love [Bellingham]," Díaz told Movistar. "From the first moment, we've got on really well. I'm helping him with his Spanish. He's a world-class player, I enjoy playing with him. Apart from the charisma he has, he's a great person. Despite the absences of Jude, who we missed, and of [Antonio] Rudiger, and all those [players] who are out injured for a long time, we keep showing that we're a great team, that we're Real Madrid."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After scoring in the 48th minute of the match with a brilliant solo effort, the 24-year-old emulated Bellingham's iconic open-arm celebration. The England international took to X to react to the Spaniard's celebration, posting "Oh my god Brahim!!!"

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Los Blancos will now return to La Liga action as they will aim to extend their lead at the top of the table by picking up another three points against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

More than 400 runs made for an entertaining start to the Twenty20 series – and a tough night for the bowlers – but Australia were more comfortable winners than the 13-run margin suggested in Hobart.

The Report by Andrew McGlashan29-Jan-2014Australia 4 for 213 (White 75, Finch 52) beat England 9 for 200 (Bopara 65*, Coulter-Nile 4-30) by 13 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:00

‘More futile runs for Bopara’

More than 400 runs made for an entertaining start to the Twenty20 series – and a tough night for the bowlers – but Australia were more comfortable winners than the 13-run margin suggested in Hobart.By the time Ravi Bopara went on a late six-hitting surge, England (who would dearly have loved one of those blows the other night in Adelaide) were out of contention although Australia will have been grateful that they had as many as 4 for 213 to work with.Their total, on a pristine pitch and with one boundary of barely 50 yards towards the building site, was set up by an opening stand of 106 in less than 10 overs between Aaron Finch and Cameron White. Who needs David Warner?For a while it looked like Finch would replicate his record-breaking hundred at the Ageas Bowl last year, when he slammed 156, so there will have been a degree of relief from England when he was cut-off for the small matter of 52 off 31 balls but considerable damage had already been done.White top-scored on his return to the international scene with 75 off 43 balls to strengthen claims for a place in the World Twenty20 squad. He was given a life on 11, when Joe Root was late to react to a low edge at slip off Broad and went on to produce a crisp innings, including four sixes, with his driving over extra cover a particular highlight. Again, a simple fielding error hurt England badly.England began positively through Alex Hales, who timed the ball beautifully square of the wicket and has good cause to be eyeing a top-bracket IPL deal, but when faced with a target over 200 every lean over sees the asking rate shoot up and the requirement to exploit the Powerplay comes with risks.Moises Henriques, who is on a plane to South Africa tomorrow, put Australia on course for victory by removing Luke Wright and Hales in his first over. When Eoin Morgan gave himself too much room against Glenn Maxwell it was quickly becoming a lost cause.It did not take long for Australia to get going after winning the toss. The first six of the innings went to White, when he swung Jade Dernbach over midwicket, but Finch’s soon followed and it was timing, as well as brute force, which allowed the ball to sail over long-on. After the six-over Powerplay, Australia were 0 for 52, which did not represent a disaster for England, but the major issue for them was the lack of wickets, which just gave already free-flowing batsmen even more freedom.Finch’s fifty came from 26 balls, the same number as it took him on that heady night in Southampton. Bopara’s first over cost 12 and Danny Briggs’ 14 as Broad’s plan to take pace off the ball had little effect. But it was not just bludgeoning, especially the way White played Briggs with deft deflections and strong sweeping.The hundred stand came up inside 10 overs – Australia’s sixth three-figure opening stand in T20s – and it ended as their third highest when Finch picked out deep midwicket. White had plenty of time to reach his own hundred, but fell in a curious two-ball period against Wright which firstly involved being caught off a waist-high no-ball – checked lengthily by the third umpire – before he was pinned lbw next delivery.Chris Lynn made a good impression on his Australia debut•Getty ImagesMaxwell appeared more interested in reverse rather than conventional hitting. He nailed one switch hit over deep point for six but fell trying a similar effort off Bopara in an over that cost just three to follow one from Broad that went for four.It was, perhaps, no surprise that Briggs and Dernbach were among the most expensive bowlers – neither have played any cricket of late. At the toss, Broad said he wanted to show faith in the players who had performed well last year, but the absence of Ben Stokes, especially, was a surprise. Dernbach’s first two overs had cost 25 and his last two cost the same (including another full-toss no-ball) as Australia found a late kick just as England threatened to pull them back.Chris Lynn, who was handed his debut alongside 20-year-old legspinner James Muirhead, launched his fourth ball into the stands and added two more to ensure there was no let-up as the total crossed 200. It was the type of striking that has made his name in the Big Bash League over the last couple of years and another example of the confidence surging through Australia’s young players at the moment.Muirhead, meanwhile, was given a gentler introduction than may have been expected when he was brought onto bowl with England’s top order but he had to contend with a boundary that was barely a drop-kick away. He still gave the ball a decent rip as he had done during his tour match appearances and had the joy of a first wicket when Tim Bresnan missed a slog.Bopara dented a few figures with some meaty blows – his seven sixes meaning both sides hit 11 in their innings – and kept a full house entertained with only the fifth half-century to come from No. 7 in a Twenty20 international but it came too late for England.

A round-up of HRV Cup matches that took place on January 5

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2014Canterbury rode on powerful performances from their middle order to post 201 for 6 and beat Auckland by 21 runs at the Hagley Oval. The win kept Canterbury alive in the HRV Cup. Peter Fulton was their top-scorer with 48 off 31 balls, while Brendon Diamanti was the most explosive batsman, smacking 25 off 10 deliveries at the finish. James Fuller and Colin de Grandhomme were the only Auckland bowlers to concede fewer than 10 runs an over. Auckland’s chase had a fast start with Anaru Kitchen making 44, and after a clutch of wickets fell, de Grandhomme launched his attack. Auckland had progressed to 120 for 3 in the 13th over and were on course when Kitchen was dismissed. De Grandhomme fell shortly after, for 65 off 33 balls, and the chase fizzled out. Canterbury seamer Andrew Ellis, who had contributed 23 off 15 balls with the bat, took 3 for 28.Otago’s top order complemented the restrictive work of their bowlers to secure a seven-wicket victory against Central Districts at Pukekura Park. After losing the toss, Otago’s attack struck frequent blows and controlled the run rate to reduce Central Districts to 28 for 4 in the seventh over. Kieran Noema-Barnett propped up the innings with 52 and Doug Bracewell contributed 35 off 20, but they were the only batsmen to make it past 20. Jacob Duffy took 3 for 29 for Otago, while James McMillian and Jimmy Neesham took two each to keep Central Districts to 147 for 9. Otago lost Neil Broom early in the chase but Aaron Redmond made 32 off 18 balls and Ryan ten Doeschate scored an unbeaten 50 off 32 to seal victory with 15 deliveries to spare.