Mane makes Senegal World Cup squad despite injury scare
Senegal boss Aliou Cisse said Sadio Mane does not need an operation on the injury he sustained playing for Bayern Munich. PHOTO: BBCSports
Senegal Sport News
Hosts Qatar name fully home-based squad for World Cup
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez selected a 26-man squad World Cup on Friday exclusively made up of home-based players led by attacking trio Akram Afif, Almoez Ali and Hassan Al-Haydos. The tournament hosts are playing at the World Cup for the first time and face Ecuador in the opening match on November 20. Qatar will also meet Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A. Sanchez and his players have been staying together in near-lockdown since June while holding training camps in Spain and Austria. It is a similar approach to that of South Korea 20 years ago when the co-hosts made a shock run to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. Sanchez, who learned his trade over 10 years with Barcelona's youth teams, guided Qatar to a 3-1 victory over Japan in the 2019 Asian Cup final for the country's first major international title. "In 2019, it was difficult to imagine that Qatar could win the Asian Cup," Sanchez said recently in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca. "Obviously, I'm not talking about winning the World cup but to play at a good level against these three opponents is our challenge. Afterwards, it's football and anything can happen."
Argentina taking fewer forward than Brazil to World Cup
BUENOS AIRES: Argentina are taking nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forward to the World Cup in Qatar as coach Lionel Scaloni’s team aim to build on their Copa America success. Scaloni announced his 26-player squad — which contains two fewer forward than the roster for traditional rival Brazil — in a video on Friday. He is scheduled to speak about his choices on Monday.
Liverpool boss Klopp given one-game touchline ban
LONDON: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been handed a one-match ban after the Football Association appealed against the decision to only fine the German for his touchline tirade. Klopp was initially fined £30,000 ($35,000) by an independent regulatory commission following his rant at referee Anthony Taylor during Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on October 16. The FA felt that was too lenient and an independent appeal board has now suspended the German from the touchline with immediate effect.
World Cup-bound Callum Wilson faces race to be fit for Newcastle-Chelsea clash
NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has revealed Callum Wilson faces a late fitness test ahead of the visit of Chelsea to Tyneside. The Newcastle United frontman — called up to Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad this week — was withdrawn halfway through the 4-1 win at Southampton last weekend due to illness, and was absent altogether from the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in midweek. “We’ll wait and see,” said head coach Howe when asked whether the No.9 will be fit to face Champions League rivals, the Blues.
Attacking pair Ali and Afif spearhead Qatar World Cup squad
:Qatar's all-time top scorer Almoez Ali and Akram Afif are set to lead the attack for the World Cup hosts after coach Felix Sanchez named his 26-man squad for the tournament on Friday.
Qatar World Cup squad
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez named his 26-man squad for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup on Friday. Hosts Qatar are in Group A alongside Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands.
Europe’s World Cup stranglehold tested by Brazil, Argentina
DUBAI: When Gianni Infantino told a gathering of European soccer officials in Vienna he hoped the winner of the World Cup came from their continent, the FIFA President quickly stated — with a smile — he adapts the comment to whichever region he’s in. It’s no laughing matter for the rest of the world. Seven of the last eight World Cup finalists have come from Europe.