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South Africa: Race for Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals tightens
The race for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals tightened further in round five, with the defending champions, Suzuki Griquas, underlining their status as front-runners, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers producing a stirring comeback in Johannesburg, the Airlink Pumas continuing their upward curve in Mbombela, and the Toyota Cheetahs winning a thriller in Pretoria to stay in the top two.
It was the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers who delivered a strong second-half performance to triumph 38-29 over the Fidelity ADT Lions at Wits Rugby Stadium in the first match of the weekend on Friday afternoon, ending their two-game away losing streak. Suzuki Griquas then flexed their muscles in the next game, outplaying the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 55-21 in Kimberley. truewildgame.com
On Saturday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the Airlink Pumas defeated DHL Stormers XXIII 29-7 to remain in contention for a semi-final spot. The round was completed on Sunday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, where the Toyota Cheetahs held out in a 114-point thriller to beat the Vodacom Bulls XV 62-52 after leading 47-17 at half-time.
With five rounds now completed and just two remaining, Griquas remain top of the standings on 21 points, with the Cheetahs on 21 points, but the Free Staters are on points difference. The Pumas (third on 17 points) and Boland (fourth on 16 points) also remain firmly in the playoff mix after bonus-point victories.
The top four are followed by the Fidelity ADT Lions (fifth, 13 points), DHL Stormers XXIII (sixth, 11), Hollywoodbets Sharks XV (seventh, 10) and Vodacom Bulls XV (eighth, four points).
The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers recovered from 17-0 down in the opening quarter to claim a vital away win and strengthen their playoff push. The Lions started brightly through Sam Francis’ early penalty goal and converted tries by Keagan Smith and Jarod Cairns, but Boland worked their way back through Mthokozisi Gumede and Gift Dlamini before half-time.
After the break, tries by Sibusiso Sangweni and Jeandré Leonard pushed the Kavaliers ahead, and although Smith and Rynhardt Jonker kept the hosts in range, Gumede’s second try and a late James Tedder penalty goal sealed the result for the men from Wellington as they bounced back from last weekend’s loss to the Sharks XV.
In Friday’s second encounter, Suzuki Griquas produced the most emphatic result of the round, turning a narrow 26-21 half-time advantage into a commanding 55-21 bonus-point victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Kimberley. The victory followed last week’s success over the Lions, also on home soil.
The Northern Cape outfit outscored their visitors from Durban by eight tries to three, with Tiaan Lange and Dylan Maart each scoring three tries.
The Sharks XV scored three converted first-half tries but were kept scoreless after the interval. Tim Swiel scored a try and slotted three conversions for a personal tally of 11 points for the black-and-white jerseys.
In the only fixture staged on Saturday in Nelspruit, the Airlink Pumas delivered a composed effort, using their physicality and control at Mbombela Stadium to subdue the DHL Stormers XXIII and record a 29-7 victory.
The hosts built on last week’s narrow two-point win over the Bulls XV, while the Cape outfit were hoping to bounce back from their five-point loss to the Cheetahs. The Pumas scored four tries and added three conversions and a penalty goal, while the Capetonians could only reply with one converted try.
A 15-0 half-time lead gave the Mpumalanga outfit a solid platform, and they maintained scoreboard pressure after the break to secure a bonus-point win. The Stormers XXIII found a late converted try, but by then the Pumas had done enough to move into second place on the log. Nevaldo Fleurs scored nine points through his three conversions and a penalty goal.
In the final encounter of the round, played on Sunday in Pretoria, the Toyota Cheetahs survived a remarkable Vodacom Bulls XV fightback to win a 17-try humdinger by 62-52 at Loftus Versfeld.
The visitors were electric in the opening half, racing to a 47-17 lead as Michael Annies and Prince Nkabinde both completed first-half braces, while Zander du Plessis, Neels Volschenk and Cohen Jasper also crossed the whitewash.
Jasper and Victor Sekekete added further tries after the restart as the Bloemfontein side stretched the lead to 59-17 before the Vodacom Bulls XV launched a stirring comeback.
The home side, who had earlier scored through Riyaad Bam and Junior Boks Siphosethu Mnebelele and Kebotile Maake, finished strongly through further scores by Marnus Rademeyer, Brooklyn Newman, Nizaam Carr and Devon Williams.
However, Tiaan Swanepoel’s long-range penalty after the hooter denied the hosts a losing bonus-point as the Cheetahs finished the game with 13 players on the field.
In next weekend’s penultimate round of league fixtures, three games will be staged on Friday and the remaining one on Sunday afternoon.
Round six will kick off at Mbombela Stadium when the Airlink Pumas host Suzuki Griquas from 15h00; the Vodacom Bulls XV then take on DHL Stormers XXIII in Pretoria, where the action at Loftus Versfeld starts at 17h05; and the third Friday fixture sees the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV entertain the Fidelity ADT Lions at 19h15 at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
The Toyota Cheetahs and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers complete the round on Sunday at 15h00 in Bloemfontein.
Scorers:
Fidelity ADT Lions 29 (17), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 38 (14)
Lions – Tries: Keagan Smith (2), Jarod Cairns, Rynhardt Jonker. Conversions: Sam Francis (3). Penalty goal: Francis.
Boland – Tries: Mthokozisi Gumede (2), Gift Dlamini, Sibusiso Sangweni, Jeandré Leonard. Conversions: James Tedder (5). Penalty goal: Tedder.
Suzuki Griquas 55 (26), Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 21 (21)
Griquas – Tries: Janus Venter, Penalty Try, Dylan Maart (3), Bobby Alexander, Tiaan Lange (3). Conversions: George Whitehead (2), Liam Koen (2).
Sharks XV – Tries: Tino Mavesere, Tim Swiel, Johan Momsen. Conversions: Swiel (3).
Airlink Pumas 29 (15), Stormers XXIII 7 (0)
Pumas – Tries: Thomas Bursey, Banie Britz, Jan-Henning Campher, JJ Scheepers. Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (3). Penalty goal: Fleurs.
Stormers XXIII – Try: Mfundo Ndhlovu. Conversion: Kyle Smith.
Vodacom Bulls XV 52 (17), Toyota Cheetahs 62 (47)
Bulls XV – Tries: Riyaad Bam, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Kebotile Maake, Marnus Rademeyer (2), Brooklyn Newman, Nizaam Carr, Devon Williams. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (5), Newman.
Cheetahs – Tries: Michael Annies (2), Zander du Plessis, Prince Nkabinde (2), Neels Volschenk, Cohen Jasper (2), Victor Sekekete. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (7). Penalty goal: Tiaan Swanepoel.
The post South Africa: Race for Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals tightens appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.
Rennie: All Blacks scrum will stand up to Boks
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says his side is ready to face the Springboks in a four-Test series that will be tougher than a World Cup.
The tourists head into Saturday’s first Test at Ellis Park having beaten the Stormers, Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, but Rennie knows facing the back-to-back world champions will represent a significant step up.
“We’re well aware of the quality of the side that we’ll play against and the pressure that they’ll bring,” Rennie told the media on Monday.
“Certainly the line speed will be a hell of a lot higher than what we faced on the weekend [against the Bulls], especially, and in any of those games, and then the intensity throughout.
“We’ve got a number of guys who have played a lot of footy here in South Africa and we know we’re going to have to be really good.
“We’re going to have to play at our best and force them to be below their best.”
TUIPULOTU: This feels like a final for us
Rennie believes the All Blacks have benefited significantly from their three tour matches despite the quality of the opposition.
“We’ve played a lot of players – all bar three of the touring party have played and got good minutes, which has been good for us.
“There have been some genuinely high-quality performances from individuals and that’s put a lot of pressure on us.
“When we name our side, we’re going to leave out some really good players. But in four Tests, I think we’ll end up using 30-odd players anyway.
“It’s a hell of a series, isn’t it? Playing the world champions in South Africa over four Tests, massive interest all over the world, a huge amount of Kiwis coming over here to travel and embrace it.
“We’re really excited and we’ll definitely be ready.”
MORE: Rennie sweats on injured All Blacks
Rennie expects the Boks to stick to what they’re good at.
“You play to your strengths. They’ll see [the scrum] as a strength. I think our scrum will bar up.
“I think what they’ve been good at is applying a lot of pressure. Back-to-back penalties, put you in a corner, and they’re the best in the world at turning that pressure into points down there.
“They lead a lot of key metrics against all the other teams in the world.
“Our discipline will be really important, our accuracy will be really important, our set-piece will be massive.
“But that’s exciting. We get an opportunity to measure up against the best in the world, so the boys are looking forward to it.”
ALSO: Peyper shuts down ‘slow down’ talk
And when asked whether playing four consecutive Tests against the Springboks would be tougher than navigating a World Cup, Rennie was unequivocal.
“A lot tougher than a World Cup.
“But it’s great, isn’t it? Both sides will be about a year out from a World Cup by the time we finish the series, so we’ll certainly learn a lot while we’re here.”
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The post Rennie: All Blacks scrum will stand up to Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Et dire que les Vertes avaient éliminé les … Championnes d’Afrique !
Beaucoup l’ont peut-être oublié : si la Confédération africaine de football n’avait pas décidé d’augmenter le nombre de sélections participantes à la CAN-2026 de 12 à 16, le Cameroun n’aurait pas participé, ni sacré car tout simplement il a été éliminé lors des qualifications par … l’Algérie !
Dans le football, il y a toujours des histoires à rappeler car elles sont édifiantes, dont celle de la sélection camerounaise sacrée dimanche 16 août, pour la première fois, Championne de la Coupe d’Afrique des nations (CAN) – Maroc 2026, en s’imposant largement face au Malawi (3 – 0).
Pourtant, les Lions Indomptables auraient pu ne pas être championnes si la Confédération africaine de football (CAF) n’avait pas décidé, en novembre 2025, d’augmenter le nombre de sélections participantes à 16 au lieu de 12, comme ce fut le cas lors de la précédente édition (2024).
Et pour cause : lors du dernier tour des éliminatoires de cette CAN-2026, les camerounaises ont été tout simplement éliminées par … les algériennes lors d’une double confrontation en aller et retour.
En effet, dans le cadre de son match-aller contre le Cameroun, pour le compte du 2e et dernier tour de ces éliminatoires, la sélection nationale avait pris le meilleur le 23 octobre 2025 au stade Miloud Hadefi à Oran (2 – 1) avant son déplacement trois jours après à Douala.
Les algériennes ont encaissé un but assassin sur un penalty plus que douteux dans le temps additionnel sifflé par l’arbitre Burkinabé Awa Alphonsine Ornella Ilboudo pour une main plutôt … camerounaise ! La réduction du score par la capitaine Ajara Nchout Njoya (90e+3e), malgré le bon plongeon de la gardienne N’Gazi, a redonné espoir aux Lionnes Indomptables et provoqué la colère des algériennes qui ont longtemps contesté cette décision au coup de sifflet final.
Auparavant, les Vertes avaient la possibilité de creuser l’écart et profiter de l’avantage numérique après l’expulsion de la défenseure centrale Claudia Valounia Dabda à l’heure de jeu suite à une faute sur Melissa Bethi qui se dirigeait seule vers les buts.
Sur le coup-franc, à la limite de la surface de réparation, Marine Dafeur du pied gauche inscrit admirablement le second but (35e), imitant sa coéquipière, Ghaoutia Karchouni qui, elle, du pied droit avait signé l’ouverture du score sur un coup de pied arrêté à la (23e). C’est d’ailleurs la première fois que le Cameroun tombe, après 15 ans d’invincibilité face à l’Algérie.
Les Vertes ont fait mieux que les hommes : battre le Cameroun en aller et retour !
La sélection nationale féminine a poursuivi sa – bonne – dynamique de la dernière Coupe d’Afrique des nations (CAN) 2024 au Maroc, où elle s’est hissée pour la première fois de son histoire aux quarts de finale de cette compétition, en se qualifiant pour la 14e édition 2026 au Maroc.
C’est la seconde qualification de rang et la septième pour l’Algérie qui ambitionnait déjà de faire mieux que durant l’été 2025, en visant le dernier carré et une qualification pour la … Coupe du monde de 2027 qui aura lieu au Brésil.
Chose confirmée sur un terrain complètement trempée en raison des pluies diluviennes qui n’ont cessé de tomber durant la rencontre disputée à huis-clos au stade Japoma à Douala, rajoutant davantage de rudesse aux duels et au travail défensif des algériennes, surtout après le but-surprise de Marine Dafeur qui a profité d’un mouvement offensif bien mené sur le flanc droit, pour adresser une frappe de mule à ras-de-terre qui a trompé la gardienne Michaely Bihina en raison d’une pelouse glissante (24e). Laquelle portière camerounaise désignée la meilleure de la CAN-2026.
Ces résultats, ajoutés à la troisième place hautement décrochée à la CAN-2026, donnent davantage d’épaisseur à la qualité et aux progrès de la sélection nationale féminine drivée par Farid Benstiti pour avoir tout simplement battu les championnes d’Afrique, quelques mois seulement auparavant.
D’ailleurs, l’élimination des Lionnes Indomptables face à leurs homologues algériennes, leur a sérieusement servi car une fois repêchées, elles ont rectifié le tir et tiré les enseignements utiles pour revenir en force, lors de la CAN et l’emporter au final.
La stabilité et le travail acharné, clés de la réussite des Vertes
Enfin, l’autre paramètre important à souligner, c’est cette stabilité de l’effectif maintenue par Benstiti et le travail acharné sur le double plan technique et tactique pour améliorer les automatismes et implémenter dans l’état d’esprit des camarades de Lina Boussaha la façon de jouer de l’équipe.
Pour la petite histoire, voici la dernière équipe qui a battu le Cameroun à Douala (1 – 0), le 28 octobre à Douala : Chloé Yamine N’Gazi, la capitaine Sofia Guellati (remplacée par Laura Abadou, 74e), qui, finalement, n’a joué que six minutes lors de la CAN-2026 avant de rechuter pour blessure, Inès Belloumou, Roselene Khezami, Mélissa Bethi, Morgane Belkhiter, Lynda Bendris (remplacée par Wissem Bouzid, 67e), Amina Ould Braham, Ikram Adjabi (remplacée par Laura Carine Taleb Muller, 67e), Inès Boutaleb (remplacée par Melline Jeanne M. D’Oria, 82e), et enfin Marine Dafeur.
C’est cette même équipe qui est montée dimanche sur la troisième marche du podium africain avec l’ambition de faire encore mieux à l’avenir : décrocher cette première CAN qui ne semble plus loin à atteindre.
L’article Et dire que les Vertes avaient éliminé les … Championnes d’Afrique ! est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.
IHF Trophy Seniors Dames 2026 : La Côte d'Ivoire logée dans le groupe B
Le Liberia, le Togo puis le Bénin tels sont les pays que les Eléphantes de Côte d'Ivoire devront affronter pour s’ouvrir les portes du dernier carré de la première édition de l’IHF Nations Trophy Seniors Dames, du 2 au 6 septembre 2026 à Ouagadougou.
Au-delà d’une qualification en demi-finales, le tournoi offre surtout au vainqueur de la Zone III un billet pour le prochain Championnat d’Afrique des Nations en Tunisie (en décembre prochain).
Le premier rendez-vous des ivoiriennes sera face au Togo. Dans la foulée, elles seront face au Bénin puis termineront par le Libéria.
Trois matches en trois jours, donc, mais surtout trois occasions pour les Eléphantes de se positionner dans un tournoi pensé par l’IHF comme une passerelle vers le haut niveau. La Nations Trophy vise précisément à offrir davantage de compétition internationale aux sélections émergentes. En Afrique, le vainqueur de chaque zone accède directement au Championnat d’Afrique.
Chamade YAH
Rappel des groupes constitués :
Groupe A : Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana
Groupe B : Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, Togo, Libéria
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round: Latest Results and Play-Off Fixtures
The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round has produced most of the clubs heading into the 2026/27 play-offs. The final qualifying stage will be played over two legs on 20 and 27 August, with the winners qualifying for the Europa League league phase.
The third-round draw was split into Champions Path and Main Path ties. Clubs that fell short in this round move into the UEFA Conference League play-offs, while the teams that progress now have one more hurdle before the league phase.
Europa League third qualifying round results
Champions Path
| Tie | Aggregate result | Team through |
| Lincoln Red Imps vs Omonia | 1-2 | Omonia |
| KuPS Kuopio vs Universitatea Craiova | 2-3 | Universitatea Craiova |
| Thun vs Víkingur Reykjavík | 5-3 | Thun |
| Shamrock Rovers vs Egnatia | 4-6 | Egnatia |
| Lech Poznań vs Klaksvík | 5-0 | lech Poznan |
Main Path
| Tie | Aggregate result | Team through |
| Ferencváros vs Górnik Zabrze | 2-1 | Ferencváros |
| Jagiellonia Białystok vs Rangers | 3-2 | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs CSKA Sofia | 3-4 | CSKA Sofia |
| Salzburg vs Pafos | 4-3 | Salzburg |
| Hradec Králové vs Beşiktaş | 0-2 | Beşiktaş |
| PAOK vs Anderlecht | 2-4 | Anderlecht |
| Benfica vs Hearts | 7-2 | Benfica |
UEFA Europa League play-off fixtures
The play-off draw has set the following ties:
| First leg, 20 August | Second leg, 27 August |
| Kairat Almaty vs Anderlecht | Anderlecht vs Kairat Almaty |
| Jagiellonia Białystok vs Iberia Tbilisi | Iberia Tbilisi vs Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Mjällby vs Salzburg | Salzburg vs Mjällby |
| Trabzonspor vs Ferencváros | Ferencváros vs Trabzonspor |
| Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia | Ararat-Armenia vs Universitatea Craiova |
| Egnatia vs Lillestrøm | Lillestrøm vs Egnatia |
| Beşiktaş vs Kauno Žalgiris | Kauno Žalgiris vs Beşiktaş |
| Sint-Truidense vs Omonia | Omonia vs Sint-Truidense |
| Crvena Zvezda vs Viktoria Plzeň | Viktoria Plzeň vs Crvena Zvezda |
| OFI Crete vs CSKA Sofia | CSKA Sofia vs OFI Crete |
| Benfica vs Aarhus | Aarhus vs Benfica |
| Lech Poznań or Klaksvík vs Thun | Thun vs Lech Poznań or Klaksvík |
What is at stake in the play-offs?
The 12 play-off winners will qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase. The defeated clubs will transfer to the UEFA Conference League league phase.
The Europa League league-phase draw is scheduled for 28 August 2026. The competition uses a 36-team league phase rather than the previous group-stage format.
Follow Europa League updates
For live scores, fixture alerts and football statistics across the European season, use the SP Score App.
FAQs
When are the UEFA Europa League play-off matches?
The first legs are scheduled for 20 August 2026, with the return fixtures on 27 August 2026.
What happens to Europa League play-off winners?
They qualify for the 2026/27 Europa League league phase.
What happens to teams that lose in the Europa League play-offs?
They enter the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Does the Europa League still have a group stage?
No. UEFA now uses a 36-team league phase.
Conclusion
The Europa League play-offs are the final qualifying test before the league phase begins. Benfica, Anderlecht, Ferencváros, Beşiktaş and Salzburg are among the clubs still competing for a place in the 2026/27 competition. 18+ only. Bet responsibly.
