Briefs

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Coach dies

MOHAMED ALI, Egypt's coach during the 1997 Under-12 World Cup which Egypt hosted, died on Saturday after a long illness. He was 46.

Ali steered Egypt to a quarter-final place in the tournament before going down to Spain. Brazil, which featured the future superstar and world's best player Ronaldinho, eventually won the championship ahead of Ghana.

Mansoura, Ali's hometown, declared three days of mourning.

Ali is the second prominent Egyptian sports figure to pass away in the past few weeks. Sabet El-Batal, a star goalkeeper for Ahli and the national squad in the 1970s and 80s, died of cancer last month at 53.

New Mali coach

FRENCHMAN Pierre Lechantre has agreed a short-term deal to be the new coach of Mali. The 54-year-old signed an eight-month contract with the Mali Football Federation in Bamako. He replaces national Mamadou Keita who goes back to his old job as technical director.

Keita had taken charge of the Eagles when another Frenchman, Alain Moizan, was sacked after a disastrous three-month spell.

Lechantre has been tasked with reviving Mali's fortunes as the West Africans have picked up just two points at the halfway stage of World Cup qualifying.

"The king of sports is ill and the people are suffering," Mali Sports Minister Moussa Balla Diakite said at the signing ceremony.

Lechantre, who will earn $26,500 a month under the contract, set out his plans for the team. "The main aim is to qualify for the African Nations Cup and to rebuild a competitive team that will give their maximum for the five matches to come.

"I will meet Mali players in Europe this week before I name my first squad. We are not in a good position for the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers but if we win the next five games then we will qualify for the Nations Cup."

Mali are due to resume their 2006 Nations Cup campaign with a Group One tie at home to Togo on 27 March.

Lechantre has coached in Africa before, leading Cameroon's Indomitable Lions to victory in the 2000 Nations Cup.

No 1 again

TIGER WOODS reclaimed his place as world No 1 after beating Phil Mickelson by one shot to win the Ford Championship title in Florida.

Woods trailed Mickelson by two strokes going into the final round in Miami but carded a 66 to end on 24-under- par.

Mickelson was still one up at the turn but Woods fired an eagle at the 12th and a birdie at the 17th to take the lead.

Woods had held top spot for a record 264 straight weeks before losing the honour to Vijay Singh last September.

Singh, who was No 1 for 26 weeks, fired a final-round 68 to end on 19 under with Zach Johnson.

Master champion Mickelson did not roll over for his playing partner, and his back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th brought the two rivals level.

Both players carded their only bogeys of the day at the 16th, before Woods took control with a brilliant 28-foot birdie putt at the 17th.

There was yet more drama at the last as Mickelson's superb chip -- a shot that could have forced a play-off -- lipped out of the hole.

Woods held his nerve to stroke in a six-foot putt for a thrilling win.

The victory was Woods' second tournament win of the season after his January triumph at the Buick Invitational. "The whole day, we were going at each other," said Woods. "It was fun to be a part of that.

"I just felt like I had to keep making birdies -- pars just weren't going to get it done.

"Starting out the day, Phil had all the pressure on him. He's got a two-shot lead and he's been playing well all year. Everyone was kind of looking at him to go out and win the tournament.

"But he was going to have to play really well and I went out there and played really well myself."

Woods earned $990,000 (£515,000) and a sports car for the win, but promised to give the car to caddie Steve Williams after he recovered from injuries sustained in a car accident.

Mickelson, who has lost every time he has gone up against Woods in a final round, was annoyed he let the tournament slip. "It was great for him, he won, but it sucks for me, I lost," said Mickelson.

"I really thought I was going to win, I could have won, I should have won. I just hope I have another shot soon.

"I loved the competition -- I'm just a little ticked at myself that I didn't win. I loved the fact he was playing his best. I wanted the chance to beat him at his best, I'm just disappointed I didn't do it.

"This was probably the best thing that could happen to me heading to the Majors because I felt like I was playing better than everybody and just knew I was going to win today.

"When I didn't it was a great slap in the face because I'm going to work my tail off to salvage a couple of more shots."