Sports
AFCON paradox in plain sight: Why Africa rallied against Morocco
When Senegal beat host nation Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations final, the reaction across much of the continent was immediate and unmistakable.
From Dakar to Dar es Salaam, from Harare to Lagos, the mood was less about Senegal’s triumph and more about Morocco’s defeat.
On social media, a blunt verdict trended: African football won. Morocco lost.
I called one of my friends from the relatively small nation of Lesotho, and he was ecstatic. Yes, he is a football fanatic, but this time his happiness was rooted in something more than just love of the game. It was personal. He uttered the words, “Real Africans have won.”
I paused. What did he mean by “real”? Aren’t Moroccans Africans, too? After all, the reigning African Footballer of the Year is Moroccan, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Achraf Hakimi.
At face value, the statement comes across as blatant racism. Moroccans may be light-skinned, but let’s be honest, it can’t be that simple. A pause for perspective is advised before rushing to judge the sentiment behind his words.
It quickly became clear there was far more to unpack. Many others shared the same sentiment. I decided to explore it further. Morocco’s relationship with African football, it turned out, has long existed in a state of tension, admired for excellence, resented for distance, and mistrusted for motive. The AFCON final did not create that hostility. It merely exposed it.
Long memory in African football
African football, perhaps more than any other regional game, carries history on its back. Results are remembered, but so are absences.
Morocco’s withdrawal from the Organization of African Unity in 1984, in protest of the admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, marked a turning point. For more than three decades, Rabat removed itself from Africa’s primary political forum, sending a message many countries never forgot.
When Morocco rejoined the African Union in 2017, it returned not as a prodigal son but as a powerful outsider seeking influence. Fifteen member states openly opposed its readmission. In football corridors, that skepticism translated into quiet resistance, in CAF politics, hosting votes and regional alliances. Morocco had come back. Trust had not.
The Ebola episode
Few moments hardened opinion against Morocco more than its refusal to host the 2015 AFCON.
Citing fears over Ebola, which was devastating parts of West Africa at the time, Morocco asked CAF to postpone the tournament. CAF refused. Morocco withdrew. Sanctions followed.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, the move was seen not as caution but as rejection, a stigmatizing act that treated African bodies as a risk rather than a responsibility. For countries already marginalized in global health narratives, it cut deeply. That incident lingers. In African football, memories are not erased by apologies or appeals.
Western Sahara: The political undercurrent
No issue has done more to politicize Morocco’s presence in African football than Western Sahara.
The African Union recognizes the Sahrawi state. Morocco does not. That contradiction plays out repeatedly, in diplomatic votes, hosting bids and increasingly in football controversies.
When Moroccan club RS Berkane was sanctioned for displaying a map that included Western Sahara, the ruling was legal.
The reaction, however, was emotional. To many Africans, it confirmed a long-held suspicion: Morocco uses football not just to compete, but to legitimize political claims.
For supporters of Sahrawi self-determination, cheering against Morocco is no longer simple sporting rivalry. It is symbolic resistance.
Europe, identity and the question of belonging
Morocco’s deep economic and political alignment with Europe adds another layer to the resentment.
Its failed attempt to join the European Community in 1987, its “advanced status” partnership with the European Union, and its upcoming co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal have fueled perceptions that Morocco looks north for validation and south only for competition.
During moments of success, including its historic 2022 World Cup run, Morocco was embraced as African. But when tensions rise, the old question returns: If you don’t fully claim Africa, why should Africa claim you? That identity tension is not universal, but it is persistent. It resurfaced loudly at AFCON.
Hosting without harmony
AFCON 2025 was Morocco’s chance to reset the narrative. Instead, it magnified every fault line. Opposing teams complained of hostile stadium atmospheres, inadequate treatment and subtle advantages tilted toward the hosts.
Refereeing decisions, particularly in knockout matches, were scrutinized with unusual intensity. Social media revived a familiar accusation: MAROCCAF.
Whether fair or not, perception mattered more than evidence. By the time Senegal reached the final, Morocco had stopped being just the host. It had become the symbol of everything many Africans felt excluded from in their own game.
The towel incident(s)
Then came the moment that crystallized everything and unfortunately, it did not help the already tainted Atlas Lions’ image.
In rainy conditions, opposing goalkeepers repeatedly lost access to their towels, removed by ball boys, stewards and eventually players. In the final, cameras caught Hakimi throwing Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel away. On its own, it was petty. In context, it was devastating.
Across Africa, the image spread as proof of a deeper accusation: that Morocco was willing to win by any means, however small, however undignified.
Senegal’s reserve goalkeeper physically guarding the towel became an unlikely folk hero, a symbol of resistance against perceived manipulation.
Remember, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Moroccan ball boys pulled the same stunt on Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who was clearly not having any of it. He fired back with a bold counter-gesture aimed at the stands. Football rarely turns on towels. Narratives do.
Uneasy leadership
Morocco’s dominance in CAF infrastructure is undeniable. It hosts tournaments because it can. It influences decisions because it invests. But leadership without trust breeds suspicion.
To supporters, Morocco is modernizing African football. To critics, it is controlling it.
AFCON 2025 ended with Senegal crowned champions and Morocco isolated, not defeated for lack of talent, but rejected for what it represents to many on the continent.
A team, a nation, a mirror
Morocco is not universally opposed. Its footballing rise is real. Its players are elite. Its ambition is legitimate.
But African football is not played in a vacuum. It reflects history, politics, identity and memory.
Until Morocco confronts those layers with the same seriousness it applies to facilities and results, it will remain African football’s most uncomfortable paradox: successful, powerful and profoundly divisive.
Galatasaray will convene its regular February meeting of the board on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as the club’s senior oversight body gathers to examine finances, sporting performance and governance matters at a key stage of the season.
The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Özhan Canaydın Conference Hall inside the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park.
It is part of the club’s routine monthly governance process and brings together former presidents, long-serving members and senior figures who serve in an advisory and supervisory role between the general assembly and the board of directors.
Financial review
The main agenda item is the presentation and discussion of Galatasaray’s audited financial statements covering the first six months of the 2025-26 season, from June 1 to Nov. 30, 2025.
Prepared in line with Turkish Financial Reporting Standards and adjusted for inflation accounting, the reports reflect the consolidated performance of Galatasaray Sportif Sınai ve Ticari Yatırımlar A.Ş. (Galatasaray Sports, Industrial and Commercial Investments Inc.), the publicly listed company overseeing professional football operations.
According to recent disclosures on the Public Disclosure Platform, consolidated revenue for the period reached approximately TL 9.7 billion ($222.3 million), an increase of around 60 percent compared to the same period last season.
The group reported a net profit attributable to the parent company of roughly TL 1.4 billion, while shareholders’ equity stood near TL 15.35 billion.
Despite the strong headline figures, underlying pressures remain.
Analysts note that core football operations continue to face structural challenges, while total liabilities and borrowings remain high, around TL 11 billion, reflecting transfer spending, wage commitments and broader economic conditions in Türkiye.
Sporting and administrative activity report
Club executives will also present a comprehensive activity report covering both administrative and sporting developments during the period.
The presentation will include updates on performances in the Süper Lig, Turkish Cup and UEFA competitions, progress within the youth academy, results across other branches such as basketball and volleyball, as well as infrastructure projects and commercial initiatives.
Following these presentations, the club’s Audit Board will deliver its findings and opinions on the financial statements and activity reports, providing independent oversight and ensuring compliance with regulations and club statutes.
Board presidency election on the horizon
An additional and closely watched agenda item concerns the upcoming board presidency election, scheduled for March 14, 2026.
Potential candidates will be given the opportunity to address the assembly and outline their views and priorities ahead of the vote.
The role of board president is regarded as one of the most prestigious positions within Galatasaray, carrying significant influence in club oversight, mediation and the protection of institutional tradition.
Monthly meetings of the board are a cornerstone of governance at Galatasaray and other major Turkish clubs, promoting transparency, accountability and member participation.
The timing of this session is particularly significant as the club balances midseason sporting pressure with financial scrutiny linked to its publicly listed status.
Serena Williams took another step toward a possible return to professional tennis on Monday, with the sport’s drug-testing body listing her as eligible to compete again starting Feb. 22.
The move comes six months after the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion first registered with the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
Williams, now 44, appeared on the ITIA’s reinstatement page, a development first reported by Bounces.
What remains unclear is if, when or where Williams might step back onto the court and whether this milestone will lead to an actual comeback.
When it was revealed last year that Williams had signed up with the ITIA to return to the drug-testing pool, she wrote on social media: “OMG y’all, I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.”
Her agent did not immediately return a request for comment Monday. Neither did a spokesperson for the WTA Tour.
Last year, when word emerged that Williams had made an initial move required for a return, U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said: “If Serena decides to return and compete at the professional level, together with her fans, we will enthusiastically welcome the return of one of the greatest champions in the history of our sport.”
Williams, one of the greats of the game, has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she did not want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.
Athletes returning to testing must provide information on their whereabouts, including details on their location when they are not at an official event and times when they are available to give samples. Someone who retires while on the list and later returns must be available for testing for six months before being allowed to compete again.
Williams’ older sister, Venus, returned to competition last July at age 45 after nearly 1.5 years away from the tour. She had never announced her retirement. At the U.S. Open, Venus became the oldest player to compete in singles at the American Grand Slam tournament since 1981.
When Venus, a seven-time major singles champion, came back at the DC Open, she spoke about wishing Serena would join her on tour again. The sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together.
“I keep saying to my team, the only thing that would make this better is if she was here. We always did everything together, so of course I miss her,” Venus said at the time when asked about a social media video showing Serena swinging a racket. “But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.”
Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün said sharing good news with Türkiye means as much to him as the honor itself after earning his second straight NBA All-Star selection.
Speaking at the Rockets’ training facility, the 23-year-old described the back-to-back nod as a moment of pride not only for his career but for his country, especially during a difficult period back home.
“Recently, there have been earthquakes in Türkiye and very bad things have happened,” Şengün said. “That’s why I’m always happy to bring good news.”
Şengün emphasized the responsibility he feels representing Türkiye on the NBA’s biggest stage, calling it a source of motivation throughout the season. “I am proud to carry the name of Türkiye on my shoulders,” he said. “That’s great, my friend.”
Şengün was officially added to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 8 as an injury replacement for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Commissioner Adam Silver naming him to Team World.
The selection makes Şengün the first Turkish player to earn consecutive All-Star appearances.
Mehmet Okur remains the only other Turkish player to be named an NBA All-Star, earning a single selection in 2007.
The Rockets’ center has backed up the honor with one of the most complete seasons of his young career.
Through 44 games, all starts, Şengün is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 49.6% from the field.
His assist average is a career high and highlights his evolution into one of the league’s most versatile playmaking big men.
This season, he is one of only a handful of players averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Şengün’s production has helped keep Houston competitive in the Western Conference and further cemented his status as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend will be held Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, with the 75th All-Star Game played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
This year’s event will debut a new USA vs. World format, featuring a round-robin tournament among three teams playing four 12-minute games. The All-Star Game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. ET and air on NBC and Peacock.
Rıza Kayaalp marked his long-awaited return to competition in emphatic fashion, capturing the Greco-Roman 130 kg. gold medal at the Zagreb Open and reminding the wrestling world why his name still carries weight at the very top of the sport.
The tournament in Croatia’s capital, part of United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of 2026, was Kayaalp’s first official appearance in 610 days.
The 36-year-old Turkish heavyweight had not competed since June 2024, yet he looked untouched by the layoff, dominating every bout on his way to the title.
Kayaalp opened his campaign by overwhelming American Aden Ikaika Hammar Attao in the elimination round, winning 9-0 by technical superiority.
He followed with another lopsided victory in the quarterfinals, again posting a 9-0 technical fall against Georgia’s Rati Talikishvili.
The semifinals brought a sterner test, but Kayaalp remained in full control, shutting out Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Syrlybay 4-0 with disciplined defense and sharp work from par terre.
In Sunday’s final, he faced American Cohlton Michael Schultz and delivered a composed, authoritative performance, pulling away for a 7-1 victory to secure the gold medal.
Across four matches, Kayaalp conceded just one point.
The Zagreb Open also marked Kayaalp’s return following a doping case that sidelined him for much of 2024 and 2025. An out-of-competition test in May 2024 detected trimetazidine, a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Kayaalp maintained the substance came from the prescribed medication Vastarel, which he used to treat severe tinnitus and related symptoms.
While an initial ruling imposed a four-year ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced the sanction to 18 months, allowing him to resume competition on Jan. 1, 2026.
Kayaalp’s comeback adds another chapter to one of Greco-Roman wrestling’s most decorated careers.
He owns three Olympic medals, five world titles and a record 12 European championships, a mark he currently shares with Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin.
Gold at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships in April would make Kayaalp the most successful European champion in history.
Türkiye enjoyed a strong showing overall in Zagreb, finishing the event with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Alongside Kayaalp, Yüksel Sarıçiçek and Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu claimed gold, while Nesrin Baş took silver and Ömer Halis Recep earned bronze.
Turkish short-track speed skater Furkan Akar says he feels prepared, confident, and hungry for a medal as he gets set to compete at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, aiming to turn experience into a podium finish.
Speaking from the Olympic Village in Milan, Akar described a smooth build-up to his second Games and said years of racing at the highest level have sharpened both his mindset and his belief.
“I gained experience with a sixth place and a bronze medal, then raced many more international events,” Akar said. “This is my second Olympics. I feel very ready and very motivated. I believe I can finish on the podium.”
Akar arrives in Italy with a growing resume. He finished sixth in the 1000 meters at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the best Olympic result ever for Türkiye in short track speed skating.
A year later, he claimed bronze at the 2023 European Championships in Gdansk, delivering Türkiye’s first European medal in the discipline.
Those milestones, he said, helped shape his confidence heading into Milan.
The atmosphere has already left a mark. Akar was one of the Turkish flag bearers at the opening ceremony, an experience he described as overwhelming and unforgettable.
“Carrying the Turkish flag in front of 80,000 people was incredibly exciting,” he said. “The energy here is completely different from Beijing. It was intense, emotional, and special. We are still training twice a day, fitness and ice sessions, right up to the 16th. The excitement keeps building.”
On the ice, Akar knows where the biggest challenge lies. He pointed to Canadian skaters as the strongest contenders in the men’s 500 meters but made it clear he is not intimidated.
“I think the Canadians are strong in the 500,” he said. “Other than that, I trust myself. I will give more than my best and represent my country in the strongest way possible.”
The Olympic environment, he added, carries a unique weight.
“Racing against the best athletes in the world is a very different feeling,” Akar said. “I worked hard for this, sacrificed a lot, and now I am seeing the reward. I want to thank everyone who supported me, from the federation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I am getting so many messages from across Türkiye, and that support means everything.”
Türkiye will be represented by two skaters in short track at Milano-Cortina for the first time. Denis Örs will join Akar in competition, with Örs also saying he feels strong and focused ahead of the races.
Akar and Örs are scheduled to compete in the men’s 500-meter heats on Monday, Feb. 16, at 1:17 p.m. local time. The event is known for its explosive pace, tight margins, and unpredictability, often producing dramatic finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo still waits for his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr hope their longest-running drought ends with his return to the pitch this week in continental competition.
The Riyadh club faces Arkadag of Turkmenistan on Wednesday in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, a two-match tie that offers Al-Nassr a clear path toward silverware.
The return leg will be played in Saudi Arabia next week, with a quarterfinal place at stake.
Ronaldo, now 41, has missed Al-Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League matches amid reports of frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and funding structure.
Those concerns surfaced after rivals Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema during the January window, reigniting debate over how Saudi football’s biggest clubs are backed despite all four being majority owned by the Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi Pro League moved quickly to address the issue, stressing that clubs operate independently within a shared framework.
In a statement, the league said Ronaldo has played an important role in Al-Nassr’s growth but emphasized that no player holds influence beyond their own club.
Transfer funding, the league added, comes from a centralized acquisition pool and individual club resources, not personal preference.
Despite the noise, Al-Nassr have shown resilience without their marquee name.
They beat defending league champions Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday, their second straight win without Ronaldo, easing immediate pressure ahead of the Arkadag trip.
Al-Nassr’s continental campaign unfolds as Saudi clubs continue to dominate the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Hilal sit comfortably atop the West Zone with six wins from six matches, allowing coach Simone Inzaghi room to rotate his squad.
Al-Ahli have also secured progression after claiming their first continental title earlier this year.
Al-Ittihad remain the only Saudi side yet to confirm a place in the knockout stage.
Sixth in the standings with two matches left, they can secure advancement by defeating Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday, even after losing Benzema to Al-Hilal.
Elsewhere in Asia, Vissel Kobe are the only East Zone team already through, while Japan could send three clubs into the round of 16 if Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Machida Zelvia deliver wins this week.
Chinese teams face mounting pressure, with Shanghai Port rooted to the bottom and Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua clinging to qualification hopes.
For Al-Nassr, however, the focus is narrower and more urgent. Ronaldo has elevated the club’s profile since arriving in January 2023, but a major trophy remains missing from his Saudi chapter.
Turkish FM meets ‘Board of Peace’ director amid Gaza discussions
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Kurtulmuş: Türkiye-Kyrgyzstan relations have entered a new era
President Erdoğan to hold talks with DEM Party delegation
Turkish FM meets ‘Board of Peace’ director amid Gaza discussions
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Kurtulmuş: Türkiye-Kyrgyzstan relations have entered a new era
President Erdoğan to hold talks with DEM Party delegation
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