MENA Sports Wrap: Morocco knock out CHAN champions Senegal

This week, Morocco knocked out defending champions Senegal on penalties to advance in the African Nations Championship, Cristiano Ronaldo reached 100 goals for a fourth club despite Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup defeat, and the Olympic Council of Asia insisted Saudi Arabia’s 2029 Asian Winter Games remain "on schedule" amid mounting doubts over its $500 billion NEOM project.

Morocco trumps CHAN champions Senegal on penalties

Morocco defeated defending African Nations Championship (CHAN) title holders Senegal 5-3 on Penalties on Tuesday evening, securing a record third attempt at securing the title.

The Teranga Lions took the lead over Morocco at 16 minutes in, with Libasse Gueye firing a corner kick to Layousse Samb, who headed the ball in.

However, it would not be long before Sabir Bougrine took advantage of a poor clearance outside the box, netting a volley in the 23rd minute.

Just ten minutes into the second half, the Atlas Lions almost went one man down after Marouane Louadni was handed a red card for a tackle on Vieux Cisse. A VAR review later reduced the red to a yellow.

The two sides were held to a 1-1 draw at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, where neither were able to convert their chances to win in normal time.

Morocco netted five out of five shots in the shootout, while Senegal's Senyi Ndiaye's miss put the titleholders behind from their first shot.

The Atlas Lions' win means they will now face Madagascar at Kenya's Moi National Stadium on 20 August.

Olympic Council of Asia says Saudi Winter Games 'on schedule'

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) insists preparations for the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia are "on schedule" despite reports suggesting the desert kingdom is struggling to deliver on its ambitious plans.

Saudi Arabia won the right to host the games in 2022, with the OCA unanimously approving its bid to stage the event at NEOM, a $500 billion megacity still under construction. The project includes Trojena, a planned year-round mountain resort designed to host winter sports. Environmental groups have criticised the decision to hold a winter competition in a desert nation reliant on artificial snow.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that Saudi Arabia had considered delaying the games by four years and sounded out South Korea and China as potential replacements.

Yonhap news agency said the OCA approached Korean Sport & Olympic Committee president Ryu Seung-min to gauge South Korea’s interest in stepping in. Both South Korea and China have extensive experience hosting major winter events, including the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, and China’s northern city of Harbin hosted the Asian Winter Games earlier this year.

On Sunday, the Kuwait-based OCA dismissed concerns, praising Saudi organisers for "strong progress" and describing NEOM’s Trojena venue as "a bold ambition" that will create "a new winter sports destination serving the future of sport in Asia".

China’s foreign ministry also signalled support, with spokesperson Mao Ning saying: "I haven’t heard of the situation you mentioned. We support Saudi Arabia in hosting the next Asian Winter Games."