Sports
Diallo and Mahrez strike at AFCON as Ivory Coast, Algeria win | The Express Tribune
The three-time champions dominated against opponents 60 places lower in the world rankings
RABAT:
Amad Diallo and Riyad Mahrez starred as defending champions Ivory Coast and former winners Algeria had contrasting victories on Wednesday when the first round of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) group matches concluded in Morocco.
Manchester United winger Diallo struck early in the second half with a close-range shot to give the Ivorians a hard-earned 1-0 Group F victory over Mozambique in wet Marrakesh.
Earlier, Algeria cruised to a 3-0 Group E win over 10-man Sudan in Rabat with another winger, former Manchester City star Mahrez, becoming the third player to bag a brace at the tournament.
Elsewhere, an early Karl Etta Eyong goal gave Cameroon a tense 1-0 win over Gabon in Agadir and Burkina Faso scored twice deep in added time to beat Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in Casablanca.
Ivory Coast, who face Cameroon and Gabon in their remaining group matches, are aiming to become the first nation since Egypt in 2010 to successfully defend the premier African football title.
Defeat prolonged the Mozambican pursuit of an AFCON victory — they have drawn four matches and lost 12 since their 1986 debut.
Winger Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe came off the Mozambique bench on 67 minutes at the age of 42, making him the second oldest player to compete at an AFCON after 44-year-old Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.
Diallo ended the brave, well-organised resistance of the Mozambicans early in the second half, firing past Siluane from inside the box after a cross was headed into his path.
Cameroon needed only six minutes to score the lone goal of a fiery central African showdown with Gabon as Etta Eyoug slammed the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba.
Captain Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan.
Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Now with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Mahrez got his and his team’s second goal just after the hour mark and Ibrahim Maza wrapped up the win late on as Algeria started in the best possible fashion.
Zidane watches son
Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes.
His appearance on big screens in the ground drew huge cheers from Algerian supporters who will have been delighted to see their team produce a convincing performance.
Algeria were eliminated in the first round without a win at each of the last two AFCON tournaments but wasted no time in breaking the deadlock against the group outsiders.
The match was little over a minute old when Mohamed Amoura’s ball across the penalty box was met by a back-heel from Hicham Boudaoui to tee up Mahrez. He took a touch before firing in.
Zidane then did well to save at the feet of Sudan’s Yaser Awad Boshara but Algeria were by far the better side.
Sudan’s chances of getting back into the game were then severely dented when Salaheldin Adil was sent off six minutes before the interval for a second booking for chopping down Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Ramy Bensebaini had a goal disallowed for offside moments later but Mahrez made it 2-0 on 61 minutes as he connected with a lovely outside-of-the-boot assist from Amoura.
Mahrez, appearing at his sixth AFCON, now has eight goals at the tournament. He came off to an ovation from the Algerian fans late on.
Substitute Maza, of Bayer Leverkusen, finished from Baghdad Bounedjah’s knockdown with five minutes left to score Algeria’s 100th AFCON goal and make it 3-0.
Sudan have now won just once in 17 Cup of Nations matches since lifting the trophy in 1970.
Earlier in the same group, Burkina Faso came from behind to beat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 2-1 thanks to two goals deep in injury time.
Basilio Ndong was sent off just after half-time for Equatorial Guinea but they looked set to win the game when substitute Marvin Anieboh headed in on 85 minutes.
However, Georgi Minoungou equalised in the fifth added minute before Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba grabbed a dramatic 98th-minute winner.
Sports
BCB chief ‘arrives’ in Pakistan ahead of ICC meeting on India match boycott
- BCB president to attend ICC’s meeting: sources.
- Other board members likely to also attend emergency meeting.
- Aminul Islam to also meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
LAHORE: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s announcement to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has arrived in Pakistan, sources said on Sunday.
During his stay in Pakistan, the BCB chief, sources added, will attend the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) emergency meeting later today, with other board members also expected to participate.
Islam will also meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi before departing for Dhaka, the sources said.
Meanwhile, an ICC delegation led by its deputy chairman is also due to reach Pakistan at 4:30pm, to discuss the situation arising after Pakistan’s boycott of India match.
The development comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s decision to boycott its World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15, amid what the PCB has described as the ICC’s biased approach, with Bangladesh playing a central role in the dispute.
Tensions flared between the cricket boards of Bangladesh and India after Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the directions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking outrage in Dhaka.
Later, the BCB requested the ICC to shift its matches outside India, but the international cricket body rejected the plea. Following the BCB’s firm stance, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the February 7 start of the event.
Furthermore, the PCB has dismissed reports by Indian media claiming that it had offered dialogue to the ICC to resolve the issue surrounding its decision to forfeit the India match.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir issued the rebuttal after Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta claimed that the PCB had reached out to the ICC for dialogue on the India-Pakistan World Cup game.
Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative fixtures in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsorship and advertising revenue.
In commercial terms, the overall value of a single India-Pakistan T20 match is estimated at around $500 million, or approximately INR45,000 crore, when broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, ticket sales and downstream commercial activity are taken into account.
According to a report, advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match command between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh for a 10-second spot, significantly higher than even knockout matches involving India against other top teams.
The most immediate financial impact would be felt by the official broadcast rights holder, as advertising revenue from the India-Pakistan match alone is estimated at around INR300 crore, the Indian publication cited industry projections as suggesting.
The BCB chief’s reported arrival in Pakistan is also being viewed in the context of earlier Indian media reports claiming that the ICC was seeking back-channel talks with the PCB and had tasked its deputy chairman Imran Khwaja, to engage with the Pakistani board on the issue.
Sports
Key Super Bowl intel through the lens of NFL Next Gen Stats
Rewind to the beginning of September, when there were 32 NFL teams gearing up for a run to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — home of Super Bowl LX.
Now, only two remain — with the Seattle Seahawks set to take on the New England Patriots on Sunday for the Lombardi Trophy.
The last time the Seahawks played the Patriots in a Super Bowl 11 years ago, Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson to effectively end the game, a play that would go down as one of the most memorable in Super Bowl history.
Most of the players from that game are retired, but the ripple effect remains.
This year’s Seahawks defense is similar to that 2014 Super Bowl team — with both teams allowing the fewest points in the NFL in the regular season. On the other side of the ball, Seattle has leaned throughout the playoffs on quarterback Sam Darnold, who has diced up defenses to the tune of a 122 passer rating.
For the Patriots, they are led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. His regular-season success that led to him being an MVP finalist hasn’t fully translated to the postseason — where he has four touchdowns in three games and a 55% completion percentage, and he has also been sacked 15 times. In the regular season, Maye had 35 total touchdowns while leading the league in completion percentage (72%).
In the postseason, the Patriots defense has more than done its part. It has allowed 8.6 points per game in the playoffs — with the Los Angeles Chargers being the next closest team after giving up 16 points in their opening-round loss to New England.
Here’s a look at some NFL Next Gen Stats that could reveal what will decide the Super Bowl:
Darnold under pressure
Throughout the playoffs, the Patriots have generated pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Against the Houston Texans in the divisional round, quarterback C.J. Stroud went 2-of-16 passing for 13 yards with an interception when pressured.
In the wild-card round, the Patriots held Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to three completions on eight attempts with six sacks. In the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, quarterback Jarrett Stidham completed one pass for 4 yards on 10 attempts when under pressure.
Darnold, though, has avoided turnovers and remained poised under 21 pressured dropbacks through two postseason games. He has gone 7-of-16 for 117 yards and four touchdowns (five sacks). In the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, he threw three touchdowns under pressure (5-of-11 for 102 yards).
Sam Darnold completed 5-of-11 passes under pressure for 102 yards and a career-high three TDs against the Rams in the NFC Championship.
Across Darnold’s first two games against the Rams this season, Darnold threw zero TDs and three INTs under pressure.
Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/Qojbfl5htk
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 26, 2026
It has been a completely different tale from the regular season, as Darnold committed a turnover on a league-high 7.2% of his pressured dropbacks — including six interceptions and five fumbles lost. The Patriots have generated four turnovers caused by pressure through three postseason games after causing three such turnovers during the regular season (third fewest).
But protecting Darnold has been effective. Despite facing the second-highest blitz rate this season (35.1%), the Seahawks allowed just a 29.2% pressure rate (fifth lowest) and 38 unblocked pressures (seventh fewest). Every Seahawks starting offensive lineman finished in the top 12 at their position in pressure-rate allowed.
Protecting Maye
Maye was sacked on five of his 11 pressured dropbacks in the AFC Championship Game, resulting in his second-highest pressure-to-sack rate in a game in his career (45.5%), trailing only his 62.5% rate in the divisional round against the Texans (eight pressures, five sacks).
Maye has been sacked 15 times this postseason, which is the most by any player to reach a Super Bowl since the AFL-NFL merger 1970. He has taken a sack on 48.4% of his pressured dropbacks this postseason, more than double his 20.3% rate during the regular season.
The Seahawks defense this season, including playoffs, per @NextGenStats:
• 22.3% blitz rate (5th lowest)
• 38.1% pressure rate (4th highest)
• 48.2% pressure rate with blitz (3rd highest)
• 35.2% pressure without blitz (5th highest)Drake Maye passer rating by situation (QB…
— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 28, 2026
Patriots left tackle Will Campbell allowed five pressures on 30 pass blocks in the AFC Championship (16.7%) and has now allowed four or more pressures in every game this postseason. Campbell has been tasked with difficult matchups, going against both Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto (four pressures allowed) and Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (three pressures allowed, two sacks) 14 times each. Bonitto generated the second-highest pressure rate in the NFL during the regular season (20.2%, minimum 250 pass rushes) while Anderson ranked third highest (19.5%).
However, it won’t get easier against the Seattle defense which is ranked tied for seventh in sacks (47).
JSN’s dominance from all over the field
Having an answer for Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been tough for teams this season. The All-Pro wide receiver led the NFL in receiving yards (1,793); when aligned out wide, he also led the league with 1,378 yards after he led the league with 956 yards when aligned in the slot last season.
In the NFC Championship Game, Smith-Njigba totaled 153 receiving yards, including 105 from out wide, and he also caught his first career touchdown when aligned in the backfield. The Patriots will be on high alert trying to figure out where he is.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba totaled a league-leading 1,378 yards when aligned as an outside receiver this season after pacing the NFL with 956 from the slot in 2024.
He is the only player in the Next Gen Stats era to ever lead the NFL in both categories.#SEAvsNE | #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/Z4k90wBBl4
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 3, 2026
Smith-Njigba aligned out wide on 81.3% of snaps this season, but he was in the slot at a season-high 42.1% rate in the NFC Championship Game. This could be a factor if Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak decides to have his star receiver avoid All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Key matchup: Pats jumbo vs. Seahawks’ nickel personnel
The Patriots’ offense has used jumbo personnel on 18.4% of its snaps since Week 11 (115 of 624, including the playoffs). New England scored a league-high 13 touchdowns from the grouping during the regular season, while averaging 6.1 yards per play (third most). The biggest beneficiary is Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He ran for 225 yards and scored four touchdowns on 23 carries out of jumbo sets this season.
Stevenson’s 9.8 yards per carry out of jumbo was a full three yards more than any other player in 2025, and the most by any player with at least 20 such carries in a season during the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). The Patriots rushed for 10 touchdowns out of jumbo as a team, two more than any other offense (Steelers, eight).
What set the Patriots & Seahawks apart was their ability to effectively defend against heavy personnel.
Seattle stayed in nickel on 77.8% of plays against sub packages (no other team was above 60.5%), leading the league in defensive EPA.
New England also ranked top 10 in both. pic.twitter.com/Fd8r9ylDWJ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 4, 2026
The Seahawks rarely faced jumbo personnel throughout the regular season (26 plays, fourth lowest). But they matched jumbo looks with nickel personnel on 46.2% of those snaps.
More Maye
Maye’s downfield passes were among the best this season (10 or more air yards), leading the league with 112 completions while also posting a league-high 61.2% completion percentage. He also threw 19 touchdowns on downfield passes, tied with Darnold and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for the most.
But in the playoffs, Maye is 9-of-26 on passes traveling over 10 yards (34%). If Maye can’t let it rip, expect him to run — as he recorded the third-most scramble yards this season with 423. He was especially effective when tucking to run on early downs.
Drake Maye totaled 65 rushing yards, a career-high six first downs, and a TD on the ground in the AFC Championship against the Broncos.
Maye scored his touchdown and the game-sealing first down on designed runs while scrambling three times for 57 yards.
Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/3xdLHlKIVI
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 25, 2026
On first- and second-down scramble rushes, Maye led the NFL with 46 carries, 330 yards and 16 first downs (tied for the most with Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes). His scramble run rate of 10.7% on early downs was actually higher than his 9.1% rate on third down, making him one of 14 qualified quarterbacks to take off and run more often on first and second down than third.
Sports
Chaos ensues at UNC-Duke game after fans storm court too early, evacuate for final 0.4 seconds
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Chapel Hill was buzzing just a bit too early Saturday night.
The 14th-ranked Tar Heels hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds that everyone thought was a walk-off buzzer-beater over No. 4 Duke.
In their defense, the horn sounded, and the clock showed zeroes, so legions of Tar Heel blue stormed the court. Seth Trimble even did Stephen Curry’s “go to sleep” celebration after hitting nothing but net.
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North Carolina Tar Heels fans storm the floor after a win against the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center Feb. 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
However, officials reviewed the replay and decided to put 0.4 seconds back on the clock.
Hundreds of fans then had to clear the court, which had to be wiped down after food and drinks spilled everywhere.
Thankfully for them, the original court storm was not a jinx. Duke couldn’t handle the inbound pass, sealing a 71-68 victory for North Carolina.
It was UNC’s largest comeback win over Duke since 2001 after trailing by 13 points. The Tar Heels went on a 9-0 run over the final 2:25 and did not lead at any point until the final score.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble celebrates after defeating Duke at Dean E. Smith Center. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
RICK PITINO TO ST. JOHN’S STAR ZUBY EJIOFOR: ‘YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE ME RETIRE’
House of Pain’s classic “Jump Around” then played over the loudspeaker after the second court storm, and the place continued to go berserk.
For what it’s worth, UNC will be fined at least $50,000 for breaking ACC court-storming rules. The $50,000 fine is for a first offense, and that amount doubles after a school’s second. Technically, fans stormed the court twice.
It was UNC’s first win over Duke since March 9, 2024, after Duke swept all three games last year, including the ACC tournament. The loss was just the second of Duke’s season, while UNC improved to 19-4.

Seth Trimble of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after making the game-winning shot against the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center Feb. 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Their next meeting will be at Cameron Indoor Stadium March 7.
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