Ilyas Houira, the 15-year-old FC Copenhagen midfielder, is being monitored by a number of major European clubs, with several Premier League sides among those tracking his progress.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all following the Morocco-born youngster, according to Tipsbladet. Borussia Dortmund and Ajax are also keeping watch on his development, while clubs in both France and Spain have expressed an interest.

Some of the clubs monitoring Houira have travelled to England to assess him in person, as interest in the midfielder continues to grow.

Houira is currently under contract with FC Copenhagen. However, because he does not have a Danish passport, he is currently in Morocco, where he has recently been selected for the Morocco Under-17 national team.

His emergence has attracted attention beyond Denmark despite his age. Before he moved from AGF to FC Copenhagen at the start of the year, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and FC Barcelona had already shown an interest in the technically gifted midfielder.

FC Copenhagen ultimately secured his signature during the winter break. Since then, the competition for his services has intensified.

Houira left AGF during that winter break and signed a three-year contract with FC Copenhagen in March, when he celebrated his 15th birthday. The agreement marked the next stage of his development after the Copenhagen club won the race to recruit him.

Since moving to FC Copenhagen, Houira has continued to progress while working alongside older and talented players. His performances have helped maintain the attention of clubs across Europe, including four of the Premier League’s biggest sides.

Tipsbladet reported the growing interest in the teenager and the visits made by several clubs to watch him in England. Alongside Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax remain interested in following his development. Several clubs from France and Spain are also understood to be monitoring his situation.

FIFA has selected 12 African match officials for the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, with the continent represented by four central referees and eight assistant referees.

The tournament will take place from 19 November to 13 December, with 27 central referees and 54 assistants appointed to oversee the matches.

Morocco and Cameroon will each have two officials at the competition. Cameroon’s representatives are central referee Ngah Willy and assistant referee Vincent Ngimdoh Nkemazem.

Morocco will be represented by central referee El Baroudi Mohamed and assistant referee Abertoune Abdessamad.

Officials from Senegal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso will also be involved in the Under-17 World Cup.

The African officials selected are:

Central referees

Assistant referees

Ismael Saibari has strengthened his case for a more prominent role at Bayern Munich after scoring his first Bundesliga goal shortly before the international break.

The Morocco international already had three assists for the German champions, and his latest contribution has increased expectations in the German media. Saibari, who joined from PSV, is confident he can meet those demands as he continues to build his fitness.

His start to life in Munich was affected by an injury sustained while representing Morocco at the World Cup. As a result, he began the season at Bayern short of full fitness.

“During the World Cup, he looked agile, alert and powerful,” German football magazine Kicker wrote. “It is therefore understandable that Saibari was unable to show his full potential during his first weeks in Munich, but his fitness is now improving.”

Kicker also highlighted the attacking midfielder’s output, describing his numbers as impressive.

“Four direct contributions to goals in relation to his playing time is a respectable figure,” it said. “It remains to be seen where and how Saibari will find his place in the first team.”

The German media have subsequently suggested that Saibari’s versatility could play an important part in determining his role. He has already demonstrated that he can operate in three attacking positions, giving Bayern another option as the schedule becomes more demanding.

“October promises to be a busy month for Bayern,” Kicker added. “A fully fit Saibari, capable of playing in three attacking positions, would undoubtedly be an advantage. His goal points towards a promising future.”

While Bavaria enters one of its busiest periods of the year, Saibari has taken a different approach to the celebrations surrounding the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Millions of tourists travel to the city for the festival, but Saibari has missed it entirely. Instead, he used the opening days of the event to continue working on his fitness. He will return to duty with the Morocco national team only after the festivities have ended.

The decision does not appear to trouble him.

“It is not really my thing because I do not drink anyway,” Saibari said. “But when you are from Munich, when you are Bavarian, there is always a reason to celebrate, isn’t there? Maybe next year?”

Saibari also alluded to the awards ceremony at the end of this season.

German Football Association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf has strongly criticised Gianni Infantino’s proposed FIFA reforms, describing them as a “transparent manoeuvre” and questioning the FIFA president’s credibility.

Infantino wrote to all 211 FIFA-affiliated national associations on Monday, calling for discussions with the confederations and national federations about changes to the organisation.

The FIFA president also proposed an independent investigation into the governing body’s decision-making process.

“I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an external, independent inquiry into FIFA’s current governance framework concerning its major strategic initiatives,” Infantino wrote in the letter, seen by news agency ANP.

Neuendorf said the proposal suggested FIFA had finally recognised the need for change, but rejected Infantino’s involvement in leading any reform process.

“In principle, FIFA now appears to have understood that changes are necessary,” Neuendorf told German news agency dpa.

But he added: “Gianni Infantino is absolutely not the right person to lead a reform. He has lost all credibility.”

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is also calling for changes within FIFA. It previously proposed an international football summit in Amsterdam to discuss potential reforms.

The FIFA Council is due to meet on 15 October, when Infantino’s proposals could be presented.

Lionel Messi will play his final international match for Argentina wearing a specially designed shirt when the 39-year-old forward faces Benin on 6 October.

The farewell fixture will take place at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental, with Messi himself revealing the one-off kit on Instagram.

Argentina’s traditional sky blue and white remain the shirt’s main colours, while several additional details have been included for the occasion. The Sol de Mayo features in the design and the lettering is finished in gold.

The most distinctive feature appears on Messi’s famous number 10. Two horns have been added as a reference to “GOAT” - an acronym for Greatest of All Time.

“The last match, one last time on the pitch in a shirt for life,” Messi wrote while presenting the kit.

The shirt has been created for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s final appearance in Argentina colours, following his announcement at the end of August that he would bring his international career to a close.

Argentina will also play Bolivia and Burkina Faso in October before Messi’s farewell against Benin on home soil.

The 2022 World Cup winner has made 207 appearances for Argentina to date.

Mohamed Salah has been disqualified from driving for six months and fined £1,044 after being convicted of failing to tell police who was driving his Rolls-Royce when it was caught speeding in Cheshire.

The former Liverpool player’s car was recorded travelling at 58 km/h (36 mph) on a road in Wilmslow with a 48 km/h (30 mph) limit on 27 March, according to court documents.

Salah did not respond to a notice issued by Cheshire Police requiring information about the driver and did not enter a guilty plea. A court spokesperson said the 34-year-old was convicted of refusing to provide details that could identify who was driving the Rolls-Royce.

The case was heard at Warrington Magistrates’ Court under the single justice procedure. The process allows cases to be considered privately without the defendant attending an open court hearing.

Salah, who is captain of the Egypt national team, received the six-month driving ban in addition to the financial penalty, the court spokesperson confirmed.

The offence came only days after Liverpool announced that Salah would leave the club at the end of the 2025-2026 season, ending a nine-year spell at Anfield.

In a statement released on 24 March, Liverpool said Salah had “firmly established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of Liverpool”.

He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances for the club before moving to Turkish side Trabzonspor after the 2025-2026 campaign.

Salah’s departure marked the end of his time with Liverpool, where he had become one of the club’s most prominent attacking players. His final season was followed by the Cheshire speeding case, which concerned the failure to provide the identity of the person behind the wheel rather than a guilty plea to the speeding charge itself.

Manssita Traore has described the mental health struggles that have affected her life and football career, saying she is gradually beginning to recover while continuing psychological support.

The Strasbourg forward opened up in an interview with L’Equipe after writing on Instagram on her 23rd birthday, 9 September: “I am destroying myself because I am suffering inside, I am suffering in silence and I continue to cling to emptiness.”

Asked about what she has been going through for several years, the former PSG player spoke about a difficult childhood, unresolved emotional wounds and anxiety attacks.

“I experienced some very complicated things during my childhood,” she said. “I left home very early, even though I was very close to my family. The wounds had not healed and being separated did not make things any better.

“When I was first separated from my family, I was at INSEP, 10 minutes from home, but I cried every night. I pretended to be injured so I could go home.

“I also struggled with my first selections. I began to suffer and experience depression. I had anxiety attacks. I was not well, but I did not tell anyone.

“When I went to football, I showed nothing. But at some point, when you keep forcing yourself to carry on while deep down you are really not well, it starts to show. I am not superhuman.

“I began to lose a lot of weight, I was absent and I even fainted. That alerted my family. That was when I began receiving support. It is difficult, but I am slowly starting to come back.”

Traore said the issues have also influenced her decisions about football. At the end of each season, she considers stopping in order to give herself time to recover.

However, the 23-year-old said her determination to continue has remained stronger than the thoughts that have encouraged her to walk away.

“I have made a lot of sacrifices to get where I am,” she said. “The attachment I have to football is so strong that it outweighed the things that could have made me want to stop.”

Traore remains hopeful as she continues with psychological care, insisting that her experiences can eventually help her move forward.

“I am convinced that all these ordeals have not happened for nothing and that I am capable of overcoming them, and that something better is waiting for me,” she said.

Cameroon host Comoros at Garoua’s Roumde Adjia Stadium on Thursday in the opening round of Group G in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Indomitable Lions impressed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year but have since undergone major changes. They face a Comoros side still capable of causing problems, although the hosts will start as clear favourites.

Group G also includes Congo and Namibia. Cameroon’s next fixture is against Congo, while Comoros will meet Namibia in the coming days.

Cameroon reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after finishing second and unbeaten in a group containing Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Gabon. Despite changing their coach only days before the tournament, they beat South Africa 2-1 in the last 16 before losing 2-0 to hosts Morocco.

David Pagou then named a heavily altered squad for the FIFA Series in March. Cameroon lost 1-0 to Australia before beating China 2-0. In June, Pagou opted to rest his players during the final FIFA dates of the 2025-26 season.

The hosts have a strong record on home soil. Bryan Mbeumo’s side won all three of their home matches in the previous Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and four of their five home games in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

Roumde Adjia has also proved fortunate for Cameroon. They secured qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations there with a 3-0 victory over Burundi, before beating Namibia 1-0 at the start of the previous qualifying campaign.

Comoros enter the match with less momentum. They were eliminated in the group stage of the last Africa Cup of Nations without scoring, drawing 0-0 with Zambia and Mali and losing 2-0 to Morocco. That campaign led to Stefano Cusin being replaced by Frenchman Hubert Velud.

Velud’s first tournament in charge, the March FIFA Series, brought a 0-0 draw with Namibia, followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat, a 1-0 loss to Kazakhstan and a 1-0 win against Equatorial Guinea.

The Coelacanths have lost their past two meetings with Cameroon: 3-0 in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and 2-1 in the last 16 of the 2021 tournament. The latter match was played in controversial circumstances during the pandemic, with defender Chaker Alhadhur forced to play in goal.

Cameroon have left out Andre Onana, Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Nouhou Tolo, Devis Epassy, Christian Bassogog and Christopher Wooh. Carlos Baleba is injured, while Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has retired from international football. Karl Etta Eyong withdrew and was replaced by Ivan Cedric Bikoue Embolo.

Five players could make their debuts: Lilian Njoh, Bill Nsongo, Harouna Djibirin, Roy Nyengue and Merlin Lako Wendeu. Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Blondy Nna Noukeu and Wendeu are competing for the goalkeeper’s position, with Mbeumo, Christian Kofane and Arthur Avom among the remaining headline names.

Probable line-ups

Cameroon: Noukeu; Tchamadeu, Keben, Kotto, Yongwa; Monyebe, Avom, Namaso; Mbeumo, Kofane, Djibirin.

Comoros: Yannick Pandor; Bendjaloud Youssouf, Toibibou, Kari, Abdallah; Yacine Bourhane, Iyad Mohamed, Zaydou Youssouf; Zakouani, Ali Abdallah, Adel Mahamoud.

Comoros are also rebuilding, with Youssouf M’Changama, Faiz Selemani and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane absent since the last Africa Cup of Nations. Bendjaloud Youssouf returns alongside Adel Mahamoud.

Cameroon have lost only one of their past five competitive matches and, with their home record and Comoros’ recent scoring problems in mind, are expected to begin their 2027 qualifying campaign with victory.

Mali’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cape Verde is a “50-50” contest, according to former international Gaoussou Diallo, known as “Malatini”.

The Eagles face the Blue Sharks at the Stade du 26-Mars de Yirimadio on Friday at 19:00 GMT, in a match that will mark Anthony Da Silva’s first game in charge of the Mali national team.

Diallo, a former SC Fribourg and Mali player who is now assistant coach at Binga FC, told Africafoot that the meeting should live up to expectations. His assessment comes as Mali begin their campaign at home against a Cape Verde side they have encountered only twice in competitive football.

Da Silva begins Mali tenure

Da Silva recently took over the national team and will oversee his first match in charge against Cape Verde. His initial squad includes four players who have received their first call-ups for this fixture.

They are Ange Martial Tia of Stade Reims, Adama Camara of Paris FC, Emile Doucoure of KRC Genk and Alimami Gory of Abha.

The introduction of those players forms part of the new manager’s first selection as he prepares Mali for the opening round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Diallo believes the occasion should provide a demanding first test for Da Silva and his squad.

Mali will be looking to use home advantage at the Stade du 26-Mars de Yirimadio, where they begin their bid to reach the tournament. Cape Verde will arrive with the memory of the teams’ previous meetings, although those matches produced contrasting results.

Mali seeking home victory

The two nations first met in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Cape Verde won the first encounter 1-0 in Praia in September 2010.

Mali responded in the return fixture in Bamako, winning 3-0 in October 2011. That remains the most recent meeting between the sides, with Friday’s match providing their first contest since then.

Diallo is hoping Mali can draw on that home success and begin the 2027 qualifying campaign with three points. The match also represents an opportunity for Da Silva to make a positive start in his new role.

Pre-match betting odds list Mali as favourites at 1.85. A draw is priced at 3.10, while a Cape Verde victory is listed at 3.90 by 1xbet.

Cameroon begin their CAN 2027 qualifying campaign against Comoros at 20:00 on Thursday, 24 September, with new head coach David Pagou taking charge of the Indomitable Lions at home for the first time.

The match will be played at the Stade Roumde Adjia in Garoua, where Cameroon will be expected to start their campaign with victory. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Pagou has previously led the team during training camps held outside Cameroon, but this fixture will give him his first opportunity to manage the national side in front of a home crowd. He is also coach of local club Coton Sport, making the match particularly significant in northern Cameroon.

The priority for Pagou and his players is to make a winning start and build confidence in their qualifying group. However, Comoros are unlikely to provide an easy opening opponent.

Comoros pose a serious threat

The Cœlacanthes have developed a reputation for troubling some of Africa’s bigger nations. Their squad includes players based in Europe, while their organised approach and speed on the counter-attack make them difficult to contain.

Comoros will arrive in Garoua without intimidation and with the aim of taking at least one point. They are a very different side from the team seen more than a decade ago.

The previous meeting between the countries came at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Despite being reduced to 10 men and having no recognised goalkeeper available, Comoros pushed Cameroon hard before losing 2-1 at the Olembe Stadium. That match reinforced the view that the Cœlacanthes remain competitive until the final whistle.

Cameroon will take encouragement from their last appearance in Garoua, when they beat Burundi 1-0 in a tightly contested match. Vincent Aboubakar scored the decisive goal, while the Stade Roumde Adjia played a key role in helping the Lions secure the result.

Cameroon’s expected line-up

Pagou is expected to retain the 3-5-2 formation that helped Cameroon reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Simon Ngapandouetnbu is likely to start in goal, behind a three-man defence of Samuel Kotto, Che Malone and Stephane Keller. Junior Tchamadeu is expected to operate on the right, with Mahamadou Nagida on the opposite flank.

Arthur Avom, Ryan Fosso and Danny Namaso are the leading candidates for the midfield, with Carlos Baleba unavailable through injury and Zambo Anguissa having retired.

Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Kofane are expected to form the front two.

Expected Cameroon XI: Ngapandouetnbu; Che Malone, Kotto, Keller; Tchamadeu, Avom, Fosso, Namaso, Nagida; Mbeumo, Kofane.

Former Cameroon Under-20 and Under-23 international Sobze Henri Bayano, who previously played for Phitsanulok FC, also expects a narrow home win.

“Cameroon start as favourites, but they will have to be very careful against this Comoros team, who caused them problems a few years ago,” he told Africafoot.

The match preview refers to a 3.6 quote for the qualifier. The listed prices are 1.30 for a Cameroon win, 6.00 for a draw and 16.00 for a Comoros victory.

Tunisia open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Uganda on Thursday, 24 September 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT in Group H.

The match will be played at the Stade olympique Hammadi-Agrebi de Rades. It will be broadcast by beIN Sports, Canal+ Afrique, SuperSport and SABC Sport.

The fixture presents Tunisia with an opportunity to respond after a difficult run of results. Their 2026 World Cup campaign ended with three defeats, including a 5-1 loss to Sweden, a 4-0 defeat by Japan and a 3-1 reverse against the Netherlands. They conceded 12 goals across those matches.

The results continued a poor sequence that had already included a 5-0 defeat by Belgium and a 1-0 loss to Austria during their preparations. Tunisia also failed to win during the previous Africa Cup of Nations, losing to Nigeria and drawing with Tanzania and Mali.

Their most recent victory came on 29 March against Haiti. The 3-1 win over Uganda in December remains their only convincing performance in recent months.

Tunisia have, however, dominated this particular fixture. The Aigles de Carthage have won all six of their previous meetings with Uganda, giving them a perfect record against the Cranes. Their latest success came at the previous Africa Cup of Nations, when they won 3-1.

Uganda will also arrive without much momentum. The Cranes were eliminated in the group stage of the last Africa Cup of Nations after collecting one point from three matches, having begun the tournament with defeat by Tunisia.

Since then, Uganda have won only once in five outings. That victory came in a friendly against Chad, which they won 2-1. Their other recent results have consisted of disappointing draws and expected defeats against stronger opposition.

The Cranes face a difficult task at the Stade olympique Hammadi-Agrebi de Rades, where they will need to produce a significant upset to reverse their current run and improve their record against Tunisia.

Tunisia are the clear favourites on the available evidence. Their home record, the six-match winning streak in this fixture and their technical advantage all point towards a positive start to their qualifying campaign, despite their recent struggles.

Africafoot’s prediction is a 3-0 victory for Tunisia.

The published betting odds list Tunisia at 1.41 to win, with a draw priced at 4.20 and an Uganda victory at 8.25.

The Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana meet in Bouake on Thursday as 48 teams begin their pursuit of places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which is nine months away. Kick-off at Stade de la paix is scheduled for 19:00 GMT on 24 September 2026.

Nasser Eddy, a consultant for NCI Sport and presenter of the European Champions League on radio Nostalgie, expects Cote d’Ivoire’s home advantage to prove decisive in this Group C opener. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be the first major assignment of a new cycle for the hosts.

New era for Cote d’Ivoire

Herve Renard has returned as head coach after winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with Cote d’Ivoire. He replaced Emerse Fae and his staff following a World Cup campaign that ended in the round of 16.

Renard’s first squad, announced on 16 August, included eight uncapped players, representing about one-third of the team. Among them are Parisien Patrick Zabi and Brighton player Malick Yalcouye, who has impressed at the start of the season. Their inclusion follows the international retirements of Jean-Mickael Seri and Seko Fofana.

The manager will still rely on established players including Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Ghislain Konan, Evan Ndicka and Nicolas Pepe. Amad Diallo and Wilfried Singo are unavailable through injury.

Cote d’Ivoire have lost only twice in 20 years in Bouake, against Guinea and Gabon during the difficult period of 2016-17. They will also have the backing of a passionate home crowd, which played an important role in the quarter-final against Mali at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts have scored at least once in each of their past 13 matches in all competitions, although they remain without a settled number nine.

Ghana seeking a result

For Ghana, avoiding defeat against their main Group C rivals is the immediate priority. A draw would also represent a positive result for the Black Stars, who missed the most recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after first-round exits at the previous two editions.

Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese, remains in charge after Ghana’s acceptable World Cup campaign, which ended with a 1-0 defeat by Colombia in the round of 16.

The squad includes most of the team’s established players, but Inaki Williams has retired from international football and Thomas Partey is also absent. Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Antoine Semenyo and Mohamed Kudus are expected to feature.

Despite their attacking options, Ghana have scored no more than once in each of their past 11 matches in all competitions.

Recent major meetings have favoured Cote d’Ivoire. The Elephants won the 1992 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals after both ended 0-0 and were decided by penalty shoot-outs. They also beat Ghana 4-2 in the 2008 third-place play-off and 3-1 in the 2010 group stage. Their most recent meeting, a friendly in June 2021, finished 0-0.

Yan Diomande and Antoine Semenyo are the leading attacking hopes. Diomande has had a slow start adapting to Real Madrid, while Semenyo has made an immediate impact at Manchester City, with two goals and three assists in five Premier League appearances.

The listed 1xBet odds make Cote d’Ivoire 1.67 to win, with 1.66 for both teams not to score. A 1-0 result is priced at 5, Nicolas Pepe to score at any time at 4.1, and a Cote d’Ivoire win on corners at 1.34.

The match will be shown live on NCI, La3 and Canal+Sports Afrique. Odds may change.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars and their technical staff have stopped training ahead of Saturday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea in a dispute over unpaid bonuses.

The unprecedented boycott reflects a breakdown in relations between the squad and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The players and staff are seeking payment of substantial sums dating back to last year, while also protesting against working conditions they consider unacceptable at international level.

They believe communication with FKF president Hussein Mohammed has effectively collapsed and are now calling for direct intervention from either Sports Minister or President William Ruto.

The dispute comes at a difficult time for Kenyan football, with the country preparing to co-host the continental tournament in 2027.

Unless the financial and institutional tensions are resolved quickly, Kenya’s preparations for the Eritrea match could be seriously affected.

Burkina Faso have their full squad together ahead of their opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Benin on 25 September.

All the players called up by national team coach Amir Abdou have now joined the group, allowing the Etalons to continue their preparations with the entire squad available.

Attention is now centred on the first fixture of the qualification campaign, which will be played at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou.

With the complete group at his disposal, Abdou and his technical staff can concentrate on final preparations and make their last adjustments before the important meeting with Benin.

Kylian Mbappe has openly expressed his hope of winning the Ballon d’Or and said he would dedicate the award to Africa, in comments made to RFI weeks before the result is announced.

The France captain, whose father is Cameroonian and whose mother is of Algerian origin, has long spoken about his connection with the continent. He visited Cameroon in 2023 and has regularly highlighted his African heritage.

However, the timing of his latest remarks has attracted attention because Africa accounts for 20% of the Ballon d’Or vote.

Asked about his relationship with his roots, Mbappe said: “I have always received an education with an African culture, even though I was born in France and have done everything there. I have never cut ties with my roots and my origins.”

The Real Madrid forward added: “Every time I go to Africa, I am always extremely well received. I feel the love of the people, and it is really gratifying to feel the support of an entire continent.”

Mbappe also recalled attending the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, where he went to support his close friend Achraf Hakimi. He stressed that he had attended another match as well, saying: “I also went to watch Cote d’Ivoire-Cameroon!”

He defended African football when asked about comments made by Rudi Garcia after Belgium-Senegal at the World Cup. Garcia had suggested African teams could lose their tactical structure late in matches.

“What I know is that playing against African teams is very difficult,” Mbappe said. “They have realised they can beat anyone.”

The interview then turned directly to the Ballon d’Or vote. After being reminded that 20% of the voters are from Africa, Mbappe was asked what message he wanted to send them.

“First, to thank them for the support they have given me over all these years,” he replied. He then added: “I hope I can leave with the Ballon d’Or and, in one way or another, dedicate it to them.”

Mbappe’s African roots are not in question, but his comments came as he has made clear his ambition to win the prize for the first time. He represents France internationally, having been born and developed there, and has chosen to play for the country with which he became a world champion and captain.

He made a similar point when asked about his brother Ethan, who could potentially represent Algeria or Cameroon. “When we talk about representing a country, we have to talk about the love and history we have with that country, not just a sporting project,” Mbappe said.

That distinction separates having African roots from choosing an African national team. The article argues that the latter carries greater sporting and symbolic weight, regardless of public statements.

A recent example may also be relevant. When Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, his Mauritanian mother promised to take the trophy to Africa, calling it “the Ballon d’Or of all Africa”.

Mbappe is now a candidate to succeed his compatriot and has entered the race as an open rival. His affection for Africa clearly predates this campaign, but his message - that the continent has supported him and would share in any victory - has come at a carefully chosen moment.

Whether African voters are persuaded remains to be seen.

Claude Leroy says some football agents have demanded up to 30 million CFA francs (£40,000) for their players to be selected by Congo during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Diables Rouges manager made the allegation at a news conference held to discuss Congo’s prospects in the qualifiers, describing the demands as an unacceptable commercial practice surrounding international football.

“This is the first time I have heard of this in my entire career,” said Leroy, who has previously managed Cameroon, Togo and Ghana.

“Some agents have asked for considerable sums of money for certain players to come. I think you will find it considerable when they ask for close to 30 million FCFA just to come and play one match for the national team. That is 40,000 euros,” added the 1988 African champion, known as the “White Sorcerer”.

Leroy said players should not require financial inducements to represent their country. In his view, the only support that should be provided should be what is necessary to help them perform at their best for the national team.

“I did not know this existed, but this is what is happening today,” he said. “Some players are very badly advised, with agents who are pimps of modern football.

“They are the ones who do not look after the player’s interests. They do not even think about the interests of a country because, often, they are not from the same country as the player. So they completely do not care about the Republic of Congo.”

The Congo manager then said he would leave immediately if the national team ever agreed to pay players to attend international matches.

“I can tell you one thing,” Leroy said. “The day we accept even 100 euros, separate from travel allowances and match bonuses; the day we give money to a player to come and play for the national team, I will leave immediately.”

Faouzi Ghoulam has joined a group of former professional players observing Italy’s training camp at Coverciano as he works towards a new career in football.

The former Algeria left-back, 35, attended a session involving Roberto Mancini’s Squadra Azzurra and coaching staff at the Italian technical centre. His visit was not linked to a surprise return to international football with Italy, but formed part of his preparation for life after playing.

Ghoulam is currently undertaking a course to obtain his UEFA A licence. Spending time at Coverciano has allowed him to study how a national team operates, from the planning of training sessions to the methods used by staff at the highest level.

He was joined by several other former professional players enrolled on the same course, including Riccardo Saponara and Stefano Sturaro. Both players, like Ghoulam, spent the final years of their playing careers in Turkey.

The experience offered Ghoulam an opportunity to observe an international set-up from close range and gain early practical insight into the work involved away from the pitch.

His decision to undertake the visit also reflects his strong connection with Italian football. Born in Saint-Priest, France, Ghoulam spent eight years at Napoli after joining the club from Saint-Etienne in January 2014.

During his time in Serie A, he established himself as one of the league’s most highly regarded left-backs at his peak. His progress was disrupted in November 2017 when he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee.

A succession of fitness problems followed, and Ghoulam was unable to consistently reproduce the level he had shown before that serious injury.

The 2017 calendar year also marked his last appearances for Algeria. Ghoulam had been an international since 2013, but gradually fell out of the Fennecs’ plans as injuries continued to affect his club career.

He left Napoli in 2022 and subsequently attempted to rebuild his career, including spells at Angers and Hatayspor in Turkey. Ghoulam has been without a club since ending his time with Hatayspor in 2024, and his attention now appears increasingly focused on coaching.

His time at Coverciano represents a further step in that process. Alongside working towards his coaching qualifications, observing an international staff on a daily basis will give the former defender valuable initial experience before he potentially takes charge from the technical area himself.

After playing for Saint-Etienne, Napoli and Algeria, Ghoulam is now preparing for his next role in football.

Younes Ebnoutalib has revealed that a personal phone call from Jurgen Klopp was the decisive factor in his decision to represent Germany rather than Morocco.

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker had been monitored by the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) for some time and previously represented Morocco at Under-15 level. However, he opted for Germany as his performances in the Bundesliga began to attract greater attention.

His decision prompted criticism from some Morocco supporters, with national team manager Mohamed Ouahbi also facing questions over how the player’s case had been handled. Ebnoutalib’s representatives had strongly criticised the coach’s approach.

But the 23-year-old, who was born and developed in Germany, has now offered a different explanation for his choice. Asked about discussions with Morocco, he said one intervention had proved impossible to resist.

“There were discussions with Morocco. But when Jurgen Klopp calls, you cannot say no,” Ebnoutalib said.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, had held lengthy talks with the forward in an effort to persuade him to join Germany. His direct involvement carried significant weight as Ebnoutalib considered which of his two countries to represent.

The decision has therefore added context to the criticism aimed at Ouahbi. The Morocco coach had previously said that Ebnoutalib had been followed well before his recent breakthrough and suggested Germany had not selected him during the previous season.

“He is a player we have been following for a long time. I do not think he was in Germany’s preliminary squad last season,” Ouahbi said, in comments that included a pointed reference to the Mannschaft. The remark prompted a vehement response from the player’s agent.

Ouahbi also said he had personally spoken to Ebnoutalib about Morocco’s plans, while making clear that no place in the squad had been guaranteed.

“We went to see him, we scouted him, I had a telephone conversation with him and explained the project without promising anything,” Ouahbi said.

That account was disputed by the player’s camp and helped fuel suggestions that the FRMF had mishandled negotiations. Ebnoutalib’s latest comments, however, indicate that Morocco did engage with him and that Germany ultimately possessed a particularly powerful advantage.

Ouahbi had already moved to end the matter, saying: “Morocco is not negotiated, it is earned. He earned the right to be called up, he would have been called up today [...] but he chose Germany. Good luck to him, the matter is closed.”

Ebnoutalib has now chosen his country of birth while enjoying a breakthrough campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt. The competition for places in Germany’s squad will be fierce, and selection alone offers no guarantee of a sustained international career.

His decision was made with that challenge in mind. He must now justify the confidence shown in him and ensure that the call which helped settle his choice does not eventually become one he regrets.

The Netherlands and Germany begin their Nations League campaigns against one another, with both sides entering a new phase after being eliminated in the World Cup round of 16.

The meeting also comes with significant changes to both squads and coaching benches. The Netherlands have made several notable selection decisions, while Germany are preparing for Jurgen Klopp’s first match in charge.

Netherlands

Xavi has left Memphis Depay out of his squad, while Frenkie de Jong is unavailable because of injury. Xavi Simons, De Ligt, Schouten and Maatsen are also missing from the Netherlands group.

There are, however, places for goalkeeper Verbruggen and captain Van Dijk, as well as Timber, Gakpo and Malen. Noa Lang is expected to complete the front three in the proposed line-up.

The Netherlands’ likely XI is:

Goalkeeper: Verbruggen

Defenders: Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van de Ven, Ake

Midfielders: Gravenberch, Reijnders, Koopmeiners

Forwards: Malen, Gakpo, Noa Lang

The match will be the Netherlands’ opening fixture of the Nations League, with the side looking to start the new campaign against one of their major European rivals.

Germany

Germany will be without Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav and Leon Goretzka for Klopp’s first game with the national team.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to take on a more prominent role in goal following Manuel Neuer’s retirement. In defence, Schlotterbeck and Jonathan Tah are both expected to start.

Gnabry and Havertz remain Germany’s main attacking options, while Karim Adeyemi is also included in the likely starting line-up. Musiala is set to feature in midfield alongside Kimmich and Pavlovic.

Germany’s probable XI is:

Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen

Defenders: Vagnoman, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown

Midfielders: Kimmich, Pavlovic, Musiala

Forwards: Gnabry, Havertz, Karim Adeyemi

The Nations League first-round fixture is due to take place shortly, with both teams beginning the competition against one another.

Pre-match betting odds from 1xbet give the Netherlands a price of 2.40 to win. A draw is listed at 3.80, while Germany are priced at 2.70.

The Netherlands and Germany meet at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as both sides begin their Nations League campaign.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:45 GMT. The match will be broadcast by beIN Sports, New World Sport and SuperSport.

The fixture brings together two ambitious national teams looking to make an immediate impression in the competition. Both will hope to start with a positive result and establish momentum on the opening matchday.

Germany have the better overall record in this fixture, with 18 victories, 18 draws and 12 defeats against the Netherlands. Recent meetings, however, suggest the Dutch will provide a difficult test. The Oranje have lost only once in the past seven encounters between the sides.

Their Nations League meetings have also produced closely fought matches. Two of the four previous games between the teams in the competition finished 2-2.

Different challenges for the two teams

The Netherlands are aiming to rediscover consistency after several years of disappointing results. Their plan will be to draw on their attacking qualities and experience as they attempt to begin this Nations League campaign strongly.

Germany arrive with a similar objective: to rebuild a positive run of form. The Mannschaft have a strong squad on paper and considerable experience of major fixtures, but they will need to show greater consistency if they are to take control of the group from the first round of matches.

The available probabilities make the Netherlands slight favourites. They are given a 42% chance of winning, compared with 30% for a draw and 28% for a Germany victory, pointing to a contest that is expected to be finely balanced.

Africafoot's prediction is a 2-1 win for the Netherlands.

Betting company 1xbet has priced a Netherlands victory at 2.40, with a draw at 3.80 and a Germany win at 2.70.