Football

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.

Calicut FC emerged victorious in their Super League Kerala match against Malappuram FC, securing a 2-1 victory at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode. This triumph marked Calicut's first home win, propelling them to the top of the table with 13 points from seven matches.The match began with Calicut dominating possession but struggling to find the net. However, their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Thoi Singh's cross from the right found Gani Ahmmed Nigam inside the box. Nigam, under pressure from two defenders, swiftly passed the ball to Kervens Belfort, who unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner.Calicut's second goal came just nine minutes later, once again initiated by a move from the right. Muhammed Riyas and Andres Nia combined effectively, setting up Belfort for a neat header that beat goalkeeper Tenzin Samdup.Malappuram, who had won their opening match against Forca Kochi but had struggled since, managed to reduce the deficit in the 80th minute. Pedro Manzi, who had just entered the game, converted a penalty to give his team a glimmer of hope.However, Calicut held on to their lead, securing a crucial victory that boosted their title aspirations. The win also marked the first time Calicut had defeated Malappuram in the Super League Kerala.

Germany's Nations League hopes received a boost on Friday as Deniz Undav's brace secured a 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The win puts Germany on the cusp of the quarter-finals, while the Netherlands salvaged a 1-1 draw in Hungary despite playing with 10 men.Undav, making his second international start, opened the scoring for Germany in the 30th minute, tapping in a backheel assist from Florian Wirtz. The Stuttgart forward doubled his tally in the second half, converting Maximilian Mittlestaedt's cross. Bosnia responded with 20 minutes remaining through Edin Dzeko's header, but Germany held on for the victory.In Budapest, Hungary took the lead against the Netherlands through Roland Sallai's close-range finish. However, the Dutch equalized in the 83rd minute when Denzel Dumfries headed in a free-kick from Cody Gakpo, despite Virgil van Dijk's red card four minutes earlier.Elsewhere, Wales squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Iceland in Reykjavik. Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson gave Wales a comfortable advantage at the break, but Iceland fought back in the second half with goals from Logi Tomasson and Danny Ward's own goal.Turkey defeated Montenegro 1-0, while Sweden and Slovakia drew 2-2 in Bratislava. The Czech Republic earned a 2-0 home win over Albania, and Ukraine defeated Georgia 1-0.

Former Manchester United legend Gary Neville will grace India with his presence to support the Apollo Tyres grassroots football programme, United We Play. Neville, renowned as one of the greatest right-backs in football history, will attend the grand finale of the programme's fourth edition in Chandigarh on October 18, 2024.Neville's illustrious career boasts eight English Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League triumphs with Manchester United. He spent nearly two decades with the club, making 602 appearances and becoming a symbol of loyalty and dedication. Neville also represented England with distinction, earning 85 caps over a 12-year international career.The United We Play programme aims to nurture young football talent in India by providing a platform to showcase their skills and introduce them to global training methodologies. Supported by Manchester United, the initiative has reached over 15,000 young footballers across 18 cities in India.Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial, India and SAARC, Apollo Tyres Ltd, expressed his excitement about Neville's visit: "We are thrilled to welcome a player of Gary Neville's stature to India. His presence will inspire young footballers and offer valuable insights into his remarkable career."The fourth edition of United We Play was launched in Kolkata last year by former Manchester United and French footballer Louis Saha. The programme has expanded to include cities in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, reaching out to young footballers in Kathmandu, Bangkok, Dhaka, and Dubai.Neville's visit to India is expected to motivate aspiring footballers and further enhance the impact of the United We Play programme. His presence will provide a unique opportunity for young players to learn from a footballing icon and gain inspiration for their own journeys in the sport.

Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign hit a roadblock as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela, despite Lionel Messi's return. Messi's free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi's early opener, but Salomon Rondon's header equalized for Venezuela. Argentina remain atop the standings, but the draw dents their hopes of a comfortable qualification.Meanwhile, Brazil got their campaign back on track with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Chile. Eduardo Vargas gave Chile an early lead, but Savinho and Igor Jesus equalized for Brazil. Luiz Henrique's late strike secured the win, moving Brazil into fourth place.Bolivia boosted their World Cup hopes with a gutsy 1-0 win over Colombia in the thin air of El Alto. Miguel Terceros' stunning individual goal lifted Bolivia into the automatic qualification positions. Bolivia's move to play qualifiers in El Alto has paid off, with two wins in two games at the high-altitude venue.Ecuador and Paraguay played out a goalless draw in Quito, leaving Ecuador in fifth place. The top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying competition will earn a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.