FAR and FUS vie for Throne Cup

2009-11-18 Rabat-based teams FAR and Fath Union Sport will clash for the Throne Cup final on Wednesday (November 18th), MAP reported. The capital derby coincides with celebrations marking the 54th anniversary of Morocco's independence. FUS enter the match with four Cup wins, the most recent of which was in 1995. The Militaires hope to win their 11th title and third in a row.

Olympian Ramzi stripped of gold medal over doping

2009-11-18 Moroccan-born Olympic running champion Rashid Ramzi has been stripped of his Beijing Games medal, international press reported on Wednesday (November 18th). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce that, as a result of last April's positive test for blood-boosting drug CERA, the 29-year-old Bahraini national lost his 1500m gold medal. Ramzi will also be banned from the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Under his original name, Rachid Khoula, the Safi native won a silver medal for Morocco at the 1999 African Juniors. Ramzi became a citizen of Bahrain in 2001 and won his adopted country its first-ever Olympic medal.

Moroccan cyclist wins Tour du Rwanda first stage

2009-11-17 Moroccan cyclist Adil Jelloul on Monday (November 16th) won the Tour du Rwanda first stage between Kigali and Gisenyi, MAP reported. The 8-day Tour of Rwanda gives qualification points for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Chamakh, Ziani nominated for top African footballer award

2009-11-17 Algerian Karim Ziani of Wolfsburg and Moroccan Marouane Chamakh of Bordeaux are among ten nominees for an annual best African football player award, MAP reported on Monday (November 16th). The winner of Moroccan sports newspaper al-Mountakhab's annual "Lion d'Or" prize will be chosen by international sports journalists, African football experts and internet voting.

Greens feel good in Sudan, Saifi says

2009-11-17 The Algerian national football team feel at home in Sudan and are optimistic about the upcoming tie-breaker match with Egypt, Tout sur l'Algerie quoted Rafik Saïfi as saying in an interview for French radio channel RMC on Monday (November 16th). Speaking about the violent incidents which accompanied the match in Cairo, Saifi said that a game on neutral ground will be completely different. In Sudan on Wednesday, he added, Les Fennecs will be able to show their true abilities and give happiness to Algerian fans.

Free tickets for the match at El Merrikh stadium will be available to Greens' supporters on Tuesday. In Khartoum, meanwhile, the atmosphere is already festive, with many locals observed singing ''One, Two, Three, Viva l’Algerie", APS reported.

In related news, Mouloudia's Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche joined the Algerian squad as a substitute goalkeeper in Khartoum.

Algeria junior girls win world karate title

2009-11-16 Algeria beat Egypt and Germany to snatch the junior girls' team title on Sunday (November 15th) in Rabat at the 6th World Junior and Cadet Karate Championships, MAP reported.

Tunisia, Algeria swap handball friendly wins

2009-11-16 Tunisia defeated Algeria 29-24 in a friendly handball match on Sunday (November 15th), TAP reported. The first friendly clash in Sfax ended in a 29-21 win for Algeria on Saturday. The week-end games were part of both teams' preparations for CAN 2010 in Egypt.

Rwandan runner wins Laayoune international half-marathon

2009-11-16 Rwanda's Dieudonne Disi won the 11th International Half-Marathon of Laayoune on Sunday (November 15th), MAP reported. Kenyan Pamela Lizouring won the women's title, while host country Morocco's Asahsah Malika came in second.