Football

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condemned the "inhumane treatment" faced by its national team in Libya ahead of a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The team was held at an abandoned airport for over 20 hours after their chartered flight landed on Sunday.The NFF outlined a series of grievances in a 20-point statement, alleging that the Libyan authorities and football federation had "relegated the keenly-anticipated match to a fiasco." The team was initially scheduled to land in Benghazi but was diverted to Al Abraq, 230km away.Captain William Troost-Ekong expressed safety concerns and refused to travel by bus to Benina, where the qualifier was to be played. "We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security," he stated. "We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us if we continued."The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into the incident, condemning the "disturbing and unacceptable experiences" of the Nigerian team. CAF has been in contact with both the Libyan and Nigerian authorities and has vowed to take appropriate action against those responsible for violating its statutes and regulations.The Libyan football federation has denied any wrongdoing, claiming it has "utmost respect" for Nigeria. However, former African footballer of the year Victor Ikpeba, who accompanied the team, has called for strict sanctions against Libya and supported the decision to boycott the match."If CAF know their job, Libya ought to be banned from international football," Ikpeba said. "This is a high-risk country and one really wonders who approved for Libya to be playing their games at home."The incident has raised concerns about the safety of teams traveling to Libya for international matches. The Nigerian team's ordeal has highlighted the need for CAF to ensure that host countries meet minimum standards of hospitality and security.

France and Germany secured crucial victories in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, thanks to the contributions of stand-in forwards.In Brussels, France overcame fierce rivals Belgium 2-1, with Randal Kolo Muani scoring both goals for the visitors. Kolo Muani, who has started only two games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, has now scored in all three of his appearances for France against Belgium.Belgium, who have lost their last three matches against France, took the lead through Loïs Openda's header in the 38th minute. However, Kolo Muani equalized just before halftime, heading in Lucas Digne's cross.The Paris Saint-Germain striker then grabbed the winner in the 62nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to slot home from close range. France held on to their lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute.In Munich, Germany defeated the Netherlands 1-0, with Jamie Leweling scoring the only goal of the game in the 64th minute. Leweling, who was making his debut for Germany, fired a powerful drive into the bottom corner from outside the box.The victory was a welcome boost for Germany, who have been struggling for form in recent months. It was also a fitting farewell for four players who recently retired from international duty: Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, and Ilkay Gundogan.Italy and Hungary also recorded victories in the Nations League on Monday. Italy defeated Israel 4-1 in Udine, with Mateo Retegui, Giovanni Di Lorenzo (2), and Davide Frattesi getting on the scoresheet. Hungary, meanwhile, beat Bosnia 2-0 in Sarajevo, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Martin Adam scoring the goals.With two group games remaining in November, France, Italy, and Germany are all on the verge of clinching a top-two finish and spots in the quarterfinals.

French football star Paul Pogba expressed his eagerness to return to the pitch after his doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months. In an interview with L'Equipe television, Pogba stated that football was "the strawberry cake that was taken out of my mouth."Pogba, who plays for Italian giants Juventus, will be eligible to return to competitive football on March 11, 2024, just days before his 32nd birthday. The 91-time France international tested positive for testosterone in August 2023 after a match between Juventus and Udinese.Initially suspended for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal, Pogba's representatives argued that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor in the United States. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) subsequently reduced the ban to 18 months."The nightmare is over," said Pogba, expressing his relief and anticipation for his return. When asked about a potential move to Ligue 1, where he has never played professionally, Pogba responded with a positive "why not?"Pogba played a pivotal role in France's 2018 World Cup victory in Russia. He also won four Serie A titles during his first stint at Juventus. However, his return to the club in 2022 was marred by injuries and off-field issues, including an alleged extortion attempt involving his brother Mathias.Pogba's return to football will be a welcome boost for Juventus and the French national team. His experience, skill, and leadership will be invaluable as they aim for success in the upcoming seasons.

Christian Pulisic Rested by US National Team Ahead of Mexico FriendlyChristian Pulisic, the star striker for AC Milan and the United States national team, has been rested ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Mexico in Guadalajara. The decision was announced by US Soccer on Sunday, citing the need to manage Pulisic's workload after a busy period for both club and country.Pulisic played a pivotal role in the United States' 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday in Austin, Texas. He set up the first American goal, marking a successful debut for new coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, the 26-year-old winger has accumulated a significant number of minutes in recent weeks, prompting the decision to release him back to AC Milan.In addition to Pulisic, four other players have been sent back to their clubs due to minor injuries. Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, and Zack Steffen will undergo evaluation and treatment before rejoining the national team."As we have said, we are always going to make decisions that are in the best interest of our players and respect the relationship we have with their clubs," said Pochettino.The United States will not add any additional players to their roster before Tuesday's match against Mexico. The rivalry between the two nations is one of the most intense in international soccer, and the friendly is expected to draw a large crowd in Guadalajara.Pulisic's absence will be a blow to the United States, but Pochettino has a number of talented players at his disposal. The team will be looking to build on their victory over Panama and continue their preparations for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments.

In a thrilling Super League Kerala encounter at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Forca Kochi FC fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Kannur Warriors FC in the dying moments of the match.The visitors, Kannur, took the lead in the 17th minute through midfielder Pragyan Sundar Gogoi. A fine cross from Munmun Timothy found Adrian Sardinero inside the box, who quickly relayed the ball to Gogoi. The midfielder sent a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner, leaving Kochi goalkeeper S. Hajmal helpless.Kochi responded with determination, launching a series of attacks down the right flank. However, Kannur goalkeeper P.A. Ajmal made several impressive saves to keep the home side at bay. The visitors' defense also played a crucial role in thwarting Kochi's attempts to equalize.As the match entered its final stages, the tension mounted. With just three minutes remaining, Kochi striker Dorielton Gomes raced into the box and was brought down by Ajmal. The goalkeeper failed to gather the ball cleanly, and Gomes pounced on the rebound to score the equalizer.The goal sent the Kochi crowd into a frenzy, while Kannur was left to rue their missed opportunity to regain the lead in the league table. The draw leaves Kannur level with Calicut FC at the top of the standings, but Calicut has a superior goal difference. Kochi, meanwhile, climbed to third place, leapfrogging Thiruvananthapuram Kombans.

PT Usha, the esteemed president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), has raised grave concerns regarding the conduct of All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey. Usha alleges that Chaubey has "impersonated as the acting CEO of the IOA" and issued an "unauthorised agenda" for the Special General Meeting (SGM).Bhaichung Bhutia, a legendary former India forward, has expressed his dismay over the situation, stating that the credibility of the AIFF has plummeted under Chaubey's leadership. Bhutia believes that Chaubey's actions have damaged the reputation of the IOA as well."I feel sorry for PT Usha ma'am and the IOA," Bhutia said. "We have all seen what Kalyan Chaubey has done to the football federation. The credibility of the federation has taken a huge hit during his tenure."Bhutia highlighted a series of questionable decisions made by Chaubey, including withdrawing India's bid to host the Asia Cup and awarding it to Saudi Arabia, as well as moving the Santosh Trophy to Saudi Arabia. He also criticized Chaubey's comments about North Eastern players being too short."These are all very dumb statements that he's making," Bhutia said. "He's already ruined the Football Federation, and now he's trying to damage the Indian Olympic Association as well."Usha's allegations stem from a circular issued by Chaubey on official IOA letterhead, listing 26 agenda items for the SGM to be held on October 25. One of the items was a vote of no confidence against Usha, and Chaubey signed the circular as IOA's joint secretary and acting CEO. However, Usha maintains that Chaubey does not hold the acting CEO's post.Bhutia believes that Chaubey should step down from his position and call for elections in light of the corruption allegations that have surfaced."You have a lawyer (Nilanjan Bhattacharjee) of the federation accusing him of corruption; you have the former general secretary (Shaji Prabhakaran), who was appointed by you and then removed within a couple of months, putting serious accusations on the president," Bhutia said. "When you have those kinds of allegations, it's time to step down, accept the new constitutions, and call the elections."The AIFF's former principal legal advisor, Nilanjan Bhattacharjee, has previously made serious "corruption allegations" against Chaubey. In a letter addressed to PM Narendra Modi, Bhattacharjee raised concerns about Chaubey's non-transparent tender process, preferential allotment of tenders, and attempts to "syphon off money from the federation's exchequer." Bhattacharjee's contract was later terminated by Chaubey.

Farukh Choudhary's return to the Indian national team after a three-year absence was marked by a goal in a 1-1 draw against Vietnam in an international friendly. The midfielder's strike in the second half canceled out Vi Hao Bui's first-half opener for the hosts.Choudhary, who was sidelined for three years due to a knee injury, expressed his delight at being back in the national team setup. "Personally, I feel great. I've not been a part of the national team for a long time, but this is where I wanted to be. I worked hard at my clubs and I knew in my heart that I deserved to be here," he said.The last time Choudhary played for India was in October 2021, when he provided an assist in a 1-0 victory over Nepal. He admitted that he was disappointed that India could not find a winning goal against Vietnam. "I'm glad that I could make a difference for the team, but I feel that we could have scored another," he said.Despite the draw, head coach Manolo Marquez was positive about his team's performance. "In the first half, it was practically all Vietnam. Then we discussed at half time how we have enough quality to play, and finally, we started executing our plans in the second," he said.Marquez praised the efforts of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Saandhu and defender Anwar Ali, who played exceptional games in defense. "Sure, Vietnam could have scored in the last minutes when we were tired, but we could have scored too with our last chance. But overall, I am satisfied with this. It was a friendly game, after all."Choudhary's return to the national team is a testament to his hard work and determination. He is now hoping to help India achieve success in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Morocco and Guinea Dominate in Africa Cup of Nations QualifiersMorocco and Guinea showcased their dominance in the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Saturday, securing emphatic victories over Central African Republic and Ethiopia, respectively.Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, cruised to a 5-0 triumph in Oujda. Azzedine Ounahi netted a brace, while Abde Ezzalzouli, Achraf Hakimi, and Soufiane Rahimi each contributed a goal. The hosts led 4-0 by halftime, highlighting the vast gap in quality between the two teams.Guinea, under the guidance of veteran coach Michel Dussuyer, also impressed with a 4-1 victory over Ethiopia in Abidjan. Serhou Guirassy, born in France to Guinean parents, stole the show with a hat-trick. His pace and power proved too much for the Ethiopian defense. Seydouba Cisse added the fourth goal for Guinea.Morocco's victory equals the biggest winning margin in 2025 qualifying, matching South Africa's 5-0 drubbing of Congo Brazzaville. Despite being the tournament hosts and automatically qualifying, Morocco opted for competitive match practice to prepare for the AFCON, which will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.In Group H, DR Congo remains atop the standings with nine points, while Tanzania and Guinea trail with four and three points, respectively. Their November meeting will likely determine who joins DR Congo in qualifying for the tournament.

Mohamed Salah Released Early from International Duty, Will Miss Mauritania QualifierLiverpool star Mohamed Salah will not feature in Egypt's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania next week, as confirmed by his club on Saturday. The 32-year-old forward has been released early from international duty amid concerns over playing on artificial turf and injury risks.On Friday, Salah played a pivotal role in Egypt's 2-0 victory over Mauritania, scoring the second goal to seal the win. However, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan expressed concerns about the potential impact of playing on Mauritania's artificial turf on Salah's fitness.Egypt, the record seven-time African champions, currently sit atop Group C with a perfect record after three rounds. They need just a single point in their next match to secure qualification for the tournament.Liverpool also confirmed that Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk has been released early from international duty after receiving two yellow cards in the Netherlands' 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw with Hungary.Both Salah and van Dijk will not participate in any further international matches this month, as Liverpool seeks to manage their workload and minimize the risk of injuries.