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Paris St Germain's Achraf Hakimi was named African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards in Rabat on Wednesday, the first defender to claim the prize in 52 years as he finished ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen in the voting, Reuters reported.

Moroccan right back Hakimi was rewarded for a trophy-laden 2025 with PSG in which he claimed the Champions League, Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and UEFA Super Cup.

He is the first Moroccan to win the award since midfielder Mustapha Hadji in 1998, and the first defender since Zaire centre back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973, according to Reuters.

Lumbini Lions are playing against Chitwan Rhinos in the only match to be played today under the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament.

This will be the first match of the tournament for Lumbini, led by Rohit Poudel, who is also the captain of the National Men's Cricket team of the country.

Meanwhile, Chitwan Rhinos led by Kushal Malla is playing their second match.

In the first match, Chitwan defeated Karnali Yaks by four wickets to collect two points.

The day-night match is scheduled to start at 4 pm at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and will be played under floodlights, installed for the second season of NPL 2025.

A stunning bicycle kick and two stoppage-time goals sealed Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait. Austria needed a late equalizer to also make it back to soccer’s showcase event for the first time since 1998, while top-ranked Spain clinched its spot after equaling Italy’s 31-match unbeaten record in competitive games in Europe.

Belgium and Switzerland also secured their places for the 2026 World Cup as European qualifying finished Tuesday. Five automatic spots were still available in Europe. Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C, with Scott McTominay scoring a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into the match, sending the Hampden Park crowd into raptures.

A draw would have given Denmark the group win and the Danes were in good position after Patrick Dorgu equalized in the 82nd, but Kieran Tierney put the hosts ahead again three minutes into added time. Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line.

“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how this is the opportunity we’ve waited for. What a night, eh?” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “This was the chance, one game. This was like a playoff final. We put everything on the line. There’s always one last step and it’s always the hardest.”

Denmark, which saw Rasmus Kristensen sent off in the 62nd, finished second in the group, two points behind Scotland. A 1-1 home draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, while Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland qualified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners qualified directly, while the runners-up will participate in playoffs along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that did not finish first or second in their groups. The playoffs will be played on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.

Sudurpashchim Royals clinched a 29-run victory over Kathmandu Gorkhas in the fourth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Wednesday.

Batting first after Kathmandu elected to field, Sudurpashchim were bowled out for 147 runs in 20 overs. The innings got off to a shaky start with three wickets falling for just four runs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee steadied the innings with 39 off 30 balls, while Harmeet Singh produced a blistering 53 from 20 deliveries, including six sixes, to lift the total.

Kathmandu’s skipper Karan KC led the bowling attack with four wickets for 30 runs. Rashid Khan and Milind Kumar picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Kathmandu managed only 118 runs in 16.5 overs. Despite a solid start from opener Aakash Tripathi, who scored 34 off 30 balls, the team struggled to build partnerships. John Simpson contributed 24, but regular wickets derailed the chase.

Sudurpashchim’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Harmeet Singh, Scott Kuggeleijn and Hemant Dhami taking two wickets each. Kathmandu collapsed from 96-5 to 118 all out, falling short of the target by 29 runs.

The Nepal Premier League continues on Thursday with Chitwan Rhinos set to face Lumbini Lions in Kirtipur.