Maghreb athletes rack up Med Game medals

2009-07-01 Oussama Mellouli won his fourth gold medal at the Mediterranean Games on Tuesday (June 30th) in the men's 200m freestyle event. Fellow Tunisian Ahmed Mathlouthi grabbed the silver in the same race. Dhouha Ben Othmane won another gold for Tunisia in the women's karate -55 kilos category, while fencer Sarra Besbes won silver in women's individual epee.

Algerian Khaled Zoubeidi won the silver medal in accuracy shooting, Kenza Dahmani won a bronze in the women's 10,000m of the athletics competition and Ilhem El Djou took the bronze medal in the women's -55 kilos event.

Morocco also grabbed its first medal, after runner Khalid Zougari Idriss came in third in the men's 200m race.

Meghni cleared to play for Algeria

2009-07-01 French-born Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni completed the necessary paperwork to represent Algeria on the national level, Goal.com reported on Wednesday (July 1st). Meghni, who played for France's U-21 team, will be one of the first footballers to benefit from FIFA's recent rule change. Before June 3rd, when FIFA adopted the Algerian Football Federation's plan, dual-nationals who had played for a country's junior team could only join another country's national team before age 21. Meghni, who has the support of national team star Karim Ziani, is likely to be included in Algeria's squad for the next African/World Cup qualifier.

CRB recognised for Algeria Cup victory

2009-07-01 Algeria Cup winners Chabab de Belouizdad were honoured on Tuesday (June 30th) at a ceremony presided over by Algiers wali Addou Mohamed Kebir, APS reported. CRB players and the technical staff received a check to reward them for an outstanding football season.

Libya advance to Med Games football semi-finals

2009-06-30 Libya beat Montenegro 4-2 on penalty shootouts at the Mediterranean Games on Monday (June 29th) to qualify for the semi–finals.

In other sports, Tunisian Olympic swimmer Oussama Mellouli finished first in the men's 400m medley in 4:10.53, beating his previous Med Games record. Tunisia's handball team beat Italy 26-25, registering their third straight victory. Tunisia's volleyball team beat Turkey 3-1 in sets.

Algeria entered the medal table with a bronze medal by swimmer Nabil Kebbabi in the 100m freestyle. In volleyball, the men's squad lost to Italy 3-0 and the women's team fell to Croatia 3-0. Algeria narrowly lost their handball match to Serbia 29-30.

Zaki to replace Lemerre as Morocco coach

2009-06-30 Wydad Casablanca coach Badou Zaki is expected to replace Roger Lemerre at the helm of Morocco's national team Morocco national coach, the Atlas Lions reported on Tuesday (June 30th). Dismayed by the team's poor performance in the African/World Cup qualifiers, the national football federation reportedly decided to terminate Lemerre's contract, The French coach, howver, is seeking a 2-million euro payout. Zaki led the Atlas Lions to the 2004 African Cup of Nations final and to an outstanding qualifying run in 2006.

Hadj Aissa eager to re-join Les Fennecs

2009-06-30 ES Setif midfielder Lazhar Hadj Aissa regrets his dismissal from Algeria's national squad, Goal.com reported on Tuesday (June 30th). Coach Rabah Saadane cut Hadj Aissa for disciplinary reasons following Hadj Aissa's protest over being benched during the Greens' historic qualifier win against Egypt on June 7th. In an interview with Le Buteur, Hadj Aissa said he had apologised to Saadane and voiced hope that he would be given another chance to play for Algeria.

Wydad Casablanca advances to Throne Cup quarter-finals

2009-06-29 Wydad Casablanca qualified for the quarter-finals of the Throne Cup on Sunday (June 28th) after defeating Moghreb Fès 2-0. In the quarter-finals, to be played June 30th-July 1st, the team will face FAR Rabat.

Algeria slam Albania in Med Games table tennis

2009-06-29 Algeria beat Albania in the singles and doubles table tennis events at the Mediterranean Games Sunday (June 28th) in Pescara. Algerian tennis player Eddy Chala beat Mohamed Gamal Butrtur of Libya 6-0, 6-2 to move to the second round

In other Maghreb squad action, Tunisia's handball team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 26-24, while Morocco lost their first men's basketball game to Croatia 63-75.

Morocco mulls sacking Lemerre

2009-06-29 Moroccan football officials want to terminate the contract of national coach Roger Lemerre, MTNfootball.com reported on Saturday (June 27th). Lemerre reportedly demanded a 2m-euro buyout. After their goalless draw with Togo on June 20th, the Atlas Lions are four points behind Group A leaders Gabon. Morocco must win their away match against Togo on September 5th to have any shot at making it to the World Cup.

Algerian football great denied Canadian visa

2009-06-29 Algerian football star Lakhdar Belloumi was denied an entry visa to Canada, AFP reported on Sunday (June 28th). Belloumi, 50, was set to join Zizou for a series of friendly matches. While Canadian customs authorities offered no explanation for the decision, some reports suggest that the action may have been prompted by an international arrest warrant issued against Belloumi in 1990 following an assault conviction in Egypt. The Interpol warrant was lifted in April. Belloumi, who played in two FIFA World Cups and was once named African Footballer of the Year, retired in 1999.