Kolo Muani double fires France to win in Belgium

Randal Kolo Muani of Paris Saint-Germain scored twice as France again won in the absence of Kylian Mbappe on Monday, beating Belgium 2-1 away in the UEFA Nations League.

Kolo Muani’s opener from the penalty spot in the 35th minute at the King Baudouin Stadium was cancelled out by Lois Openda in first-half stoppage time.

But Kolo Muani, who has had a difficult start to the season with his club, then headed in the winner just after the hour mark.

France, who saw Belgium’s Youri Tielemans squander an early spot-kick, held on with 10 men after stand-in captain Aurelien Tchouameni was sent off late on.

The result was France’s second win in as many games in this international break, despite them being minus skipper Mbappe, who was allowed to sit out the matches following a recent thigh injury.

France had few problems beating Israel 4-1 in Budapest without him last Thursday, but Mbappe’s shadow still hung over this game.

As Les Bleus took to the field in the Belgian capital, newspaper reports in Sweden emerged claiming that Mbappe was being investigated for rape following a visit to Stockholm last week.

It remains to be seen if the Real Madrid star will be back for the last Nations League group games next month, when France can secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Winners of the Nations League in 2021, France are second in Group A2 with nine points, one point behind Italy, who defeated Israel 4-1 on Monday.

The French are also five points better off than Belgium in third place, with the top two in each group advancing to the last eight next March.

READ ALSO: Mbappe says victim of ‘fake news’ after ‘rape’ report in Sweden

Belgium were missing their own captain and talisman, as Kevin De Bruyne was absent just as