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Colombia, fueled by a debut goal from Gustavo Puerta, defeated New Zealand 2-1 on Saturday in a friendly clash between World Cup-bound teams in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Puerta, 22, opened the scoring in the third minute and Johan Carbonero sealed the win in the 88th — eight minutes after Benjamin Old had pulled New Zealand level.

Puerta’s early strike, off a precise cross from Jhon Arias, disrupted New Zealand, who struggled to find an immediate response.

They regrouped in the second half and were able to capitalise on lax Colombian defending to grab the equaliser.

Old, who had come on in the 64th minute, received a cross and only needed to tap in to level the score.

READ ALSO: Estevao, Casemiro On Target For Brazil In Senegal Win

New Zealand had threatened moments earlier as Jesse Randall, Storm Roux and Sarpreet Singh combined only for the final shot to sail wide.

“New Zealand had a good strategy and competed very well physically,” Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo said. “They challenged us several times.”

Colombia pressed quickly for a winner. A long ball from Yerry Mina landed at Carbonero’s feet and he eluded two defenders to score just 10 minutes after entering the game.

Carlos Alcaraz said Saturday that Jannik Sinner is the favourite to retain his ATP Finals title at home after the new world number one set up a blockbuster finale with his Italian rival in the prestigious season-ending tournament.

Alcaraz cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 in Turin to set up the title match with Sinner all tennis fans wanted to see after a series of thrilling battles between the pair this year.

The Spaniard has had the better of his clashes with Sinner 10-5, and has won four of this season’s five meetings which have all come in the final of top-level tournaments.

Alcaraz triumphed in the finals of the US Open and Roland Garros, the latter after roaring back from two sets down and saving three match points, but lost the Wimbledon final to Sinner.

READ ALSO: Sinner Wins Paris Masters, Reclaims World No. 1 Ranking

And he believes that Sinner, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Alex de Minaur earlier on Saturday, is favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday in front of his home fans.

“I mean, I’m the number one… and he’s playing the best on indoor court. We’re playing in front of his home crowd, so I would say he’s the favourite,” Alcaraz told reporters.

“Don’t want to believe it, but I would say he’s the favourite for tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final has extra spice due to Alcaraz pipping Sinner to the top spot in the men’s rankings at the end of 2025 and him contesting his 11th final of the season in front of a partisan Italian crowd.

“Well, I expect at least three or four people in the crowd cheering for me,” Alcaraz joked.

“Obviously, the people are going to be cheering for him but I will try to be really, really focused on my game and on the things that I have to do.”

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime is an indoor specialist, having won seven of his eight titles on indoor courts but even he could not handle Alcaraz who took control of the match by breaking serve in game four of the first set with a brilliant hooked volley.

Alcaraz breezed into a one-set lead with another break of serve and then completed his victory without much difficulty and without having to play his most spectacular tennis.

Sinner Awaits

Sinner has yet to drop a service game but will have a much tougher test against Alcaraz after the second seed racked up his 13th straight win over De Minaur.

“Honestly every matchup (with Alcaraz) is different. We saw it in Rome and Paris, even if it’s the same surface (clay), it can change,” said Sinner.

Sinner has won his last 18 sets played in Turin, and the four-time Grand Slam champion is on a 30-match winning streak on indoor hard courts.

The 24-year-old has not dropped a set at the ATP Finals since losing the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic, while De Minaur ends his year in a more upbeat mood than the one he had after losing to Lorenzo Musetti in the group stage.

De Minaur admitted that he had been in a “dark place” after that loss, which almost cost him a place in the last four, before he beat Taylor Fritz to set up Saturday’s clash with Sinner.

“I had a little shift in perspective. Of course, like, sitting here right now, I feel like I should have finished my Turin campaign having won two matches instead of one,” De Minaur told reporters.

De Minaur fought off two break points in the opening game of the semi-final but then failed to convert any of the three he carved out in Sinner’s first service game.

The Australian resisted again when Sinner threatened to break in the seventh and ninth games, but the second seed eventually struck the key blow at 5-5 and snatched the first set.

Brazil beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Senegal 2-0 at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from teenager Estevao and veteran Casemiro.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team, featuring a mouthwatering attacking combination of Estevao, Matheus Cunha, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, dominated the first half of the friendly in London.

Manchester United’s Cunha headed against the bar as Brazil took a firm grip on the game but Chelsea’s Estevao gave the South Americans the lead they deserved in the 28th minute.

The 18-year-old was fortunate that the ball fell to his feet on the right side of Brazil’s attack but he produced an unerring finish across Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into the far corner.

READ ALSO: Osimhen Seeks More Goals As Nigeria Eye World Cup Qualification

It was his fourth goal in his 10th game for Brazil and another reminder that he could be one to watch at next year’s World Cup in North America.

Captain Casemiro, 33, doubled Brazil’s lead in the 35th minute, beautifully controlling a free-kick from Rodrygo and curling the ball into the top corner after finding space at the back post.

Iliman Ndiaye should have pulled one back for the West African team shortly after the break after sloppy play from Brazil goalkeeper Ederson but hit the outside of the post.

Two-time African player of the year Sadio Mane was unable to provide the spark his team needed and was withdrawn in the 75th minute, one of a number of changes for both teams.

Five-time world champions Brazil reached next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a lacklustre campaign in which they finished fifth in South American qualifying.

Senegal, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, beat Mauritania last month to seal their spot at the World Cup.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s African playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The clarification puts to rest concerns among Nigerian fans following reports that Ndidi would miss the crucial encounter due to yellow-card accumulation.

A statement posted on the Super Eagles’ official X handle on Saturday said that CAF confirmed that yellow cards accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs. It noted that only confirmed suspensions apply.

READ ALSO: Osimhen Seeks More Goals As Nigeria Eye World Cup Qualification

“CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo.

“Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply,” the statement read.

TEAM NEWS UPDATE

CAF has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles in Sunday’s playoff clash against DR Congo.

Cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoffs; only confirmed suspensions apply. pic.twitter.com/hJNYMxdr64

Ndidi was one of Nigeria’s standout performers in Thursday’s 4–1 semi-final win over Gabon, delivering a commanding display in midfield.

Wearing the captain’s armband, he capped an energetic outing by providing the assist for Chidera Ejuke to score Nigeria’s second goal.

The Super Eagles will now lock horns with DR Congo on Sunday at 8 p.m. Nigerian time in a decisive showdown.