SPORTS

KANSAS CITY, United States | Xinhua |  Lionel Messi equaled the record for the most FIFA World Cup goals by scoring his first World Cup finals hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J on Tuesday. Messi put the reigning champion ahead with a long-range strike in the …

MIAMI, United States | Xinhua | Dick Advocaat wept as Curacao’s anthem echoed around Houston Stadium before the island team’s first World Cup match. The veteran Dutch coach later spoke of the “joy of the people” on the island of around 150,000 at seeing their team make history. Barely 24 …

PRAIA | Xinhua | “We are small, yes. But our hope is as vast as the sea.” The words, written in Portuguese on a hand-held placard, rose above a crowd in Praia on Monday night as Cabo Verdeans celebrated a result that already felt larger than football. Around the woman …

  Kampala, Uganda | PHILLIP CORRY | In-form Joseph Cwinyaai and top lady golfer Martha Babirye claimed the titles at the NCBA Bank Golf Series at Uganda Golf Club on Saturday. Cwinyaai returned an impressive 2 under par 70 to beat a huge field of 220 golfers while Martha Babirye, …

  COMMENT | UROS KOVAC  | Global football body Fifa is branding the World Cup 2026 – and global football in general – as a celebration of inclusivity and diversity. It’s presented as a harbinger of peace and hope, and even somehow a saviour of African migrants who drown while attempting to …

NEW JERSEY, United States | Xinhua | Brazil forward Vinicius Jr. said he was not satisfied with his performance despite scoring in a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their World Cup Group C opener on Saturday. “I believe I can improve a lot. I managed to score, but I wasn’t …

NEW JERSEY, United States | Xinhua | Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said his side had laid down an early World Cup marker after a 1-1 draw with Brazil on Saturday, declaring his team was capable of more. Morocco led through Ismael Saibari’s early goal and created several problems for the …

Kapchorwa, Uganda | URN | For many athletes, crossing the finish line marks the pinnacle of achievement. For Uganda’s Olympic and World Marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich, however, the greater challenge begins after the medals have been won and the cheering crowds have gone silent. In an exclusive interview with Uganda …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) is bringing the excitement closer to Ugandan football fans through its Cheers to Bars campaign, an initiative designed to transform local bars into vibrant centres for football viewing and shared fan experiences. …

  Entebbe, Uganda | PHILLIP CORRY |  MTN Uganda are back to sponsoring the Uganda Professional Golfers Association, bringing back memories from 2006-2008 when they supported monthly mugs. MTN has unveiled a quarterly sponsorship for the professional golfers under their body, UPGA, at East Africa’s oldest golf facility, Entebbe Club. …