Author: Lehlohonolo Scheepers

Spain booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, 10 July. Mikel Merino was once again Spain’s knockout-stage hero, scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold a long-range effort from Pau Cubarsí. The result sends Spain into a blockbuster semi-final against France, while Belgium’s promising World Cup campaign ends in painful fashion. Spain Take Control in Los Angeles Spain entered the quarter-final as one of the tournament favourites and immediately attempted to control…

France Book Their Place in the Last Four France continued their impressive 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by defeating Morocco 2–0 in a highly anticipated quarter-final at Boston Stadium on Thursday, 9 July. Kylian Mbappé once again produced the decisive moments for Les Bleus, scoring the opening goal before creating the second for Ousmane Dembélé. The victory sent Didier Deschamps’ team into the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium. Morocco entered the contest hoping to continue their historic run, but France’s quality, aggressive pressing and control of midfield proved too difficult to overcome. The result also repeated…

Swiss Make History in Vancouver Switzerland booked their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a tense 0-0 draw after extra time at BC Place in Vancouver. It was a historic night for the Swiss, who reached the last eight of the World Cup for the first time since 1954. The match itself was tight, nervous and often short on clear chances, but Switzerland showed the kind of discipline and mental strength that knockout football demands. After 120 minutes without a goal, the contest was decided from the penalty spot, where Ruben Vargas…

Argentina kept their FIFA World Cup dream alive with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in the Round of 16 on 7 July 2026. The defending champions looked close to elimination after falling 2-0 behind, but late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández rescued them in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament. The game, played at Atlanta Stadium, had everything: missed chances, VAR drama, Egyptian heartbreak and another unforgettable Messi moment. Egypt were brave, organised and dangerous on the counterattack, but Argentina showed the fighting spirit of champions when it mattered most. Egypt…

Two heavyweight clashes lit up the FIFA World Cup 2026 this weekend, and while no African nation was directly involved, the results carry significant weight for the tournament’s evolving narrative – one that South African supporters have been following with intense interest since Bafana Bafana’s own group-stage exit. England Edge Mexico in a Classic at Mexico City In front of a raucous home crowd that shook the Mexico City Stadium to its foundations, England survived a fierce Mexican fightback to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory on Monday. It was the kind of game that reminded everyone why knockout football at…

South Africa’s Under-19 side endured a difficult day at The County Ground in Beckenham on Monday, falling well short of England’s imposing total as the hosts claimed a convincing victory in the opening Youth ODI of the 2026/27 series. England Set the Platform England’s young batters proved too strong for a South African bowling attack that struggled to contain the home side across their 49.4 overs. The hosts posted a challenging 271, building momentum through the middle overs and capitalising on any loose deliveries on offer. It was the kind of innings that put South Africa’s batters under immediate pressure…

The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final stage is almost upon us, and what a set of fixtures it promises to be. From an Iberian derby that could light up Dallas to a tantalising North African challenge in Boston, the coming days will separate the contenders from the pretenders – and South African fans will have plenty of reasons to stay glued to their screens through the early hours. The Iberian Derby – Dallas Beckons The pick of the bunch arrives on Monday night when Portugal face Spain at Dallas Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 local time. Two of football’s…

The focus shifts to the future this week as South Africa’s most promising young cricketers take the field in England, with a two-match youth series at The County Ground in Beckenham offering a glimpse of the Proteas pipeline in action. It is a series that carries more weight than the scorecards alone will suggest – this is about character, adaptability, and the ability to perform on foreign soil under genuine pressure. Youth ODI – Monday 6 July, 12:00 (SA Time) The series gets underway on Monday with a Youth One-Day International, and Beckenham will provide an early examination of South…

Saturday’s World Cup action in the United States delivered a pair of contrasting stories – a nervy French escape in Philadelphia and a commanding Moroccan masterclass in Houston that sent African football fans into a frenzy. For the continent watching closely, it was Morocco’s performance that truly stole the headlines. France Grind Past Paraguay in Philadelphia Les Bleus were far from their scintillating best at Philadelphia Stadium, but they did what great tournament sides often must do – they found a way. Paraguay came into this fixture with genuine defensive organisation, sitting deep and looking to frustrate a French side…

The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final and last-eight rounds are upon us, and what a spectacular spread of fixtures awaits fans across North America. For South African supporters, the tournament has always carried a special emotional weight since our own hosting in 2010, and with Morocco still flying the African flag, there is plenty to shout about from Johannesburg to Cape Town this week. Sunday Night Opener – Brazil vs Norway The action kicks off on Sunday 5 July at 22:00 (SA time) when Brazil face Norway at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The Seleção have long been the…