JOHANNESBURG: Sudan overcame the handicap of being unable to play at home due to a civil war by defeating Niger 1-0 when 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying kicked off on Wednesday.
They were the only victors with the other three matches, between Comoros and Gambia, Libya and Rwanda and Tanzania and Ethiopia, all drawn.
Fighting between the national army and a paramilitary force in Sudan erupted in April 2023, forcing the national team to train and play abroad since.
Sudan hosted Niger in Juba, capital of neighboring South Sudan, and a 51st-minute goal from Thailand-based Abo Eisa secured maximum Group F points.
Comoros were another country who could not play at home because there is no international-standard stadium in the country.
They hosted Gambia in the Moroccan Atlantic city of El Jadida and broke the Group A deadlock on 37 minutes through Youssouf M’Changama.
Saudi Pro League midfielder Musa Barrow levelled in first-half added time for the Gambians, and there were no further goals.
The Group D opener between Libya and Rwanda in Tripoli also finished 1-1 with Subhi al Dhawi netting after 17 minutes and Innocent Nshuli equalising two minutes into the second half.
Ethiopia did not manage one shot on target as they drew 0-0 with Tanzania in Group H in Dar es Salaam.
There are seven qualifiers scheduled for Thursday with four former African champions — Algeria, Congo Brazzaville, Ghana and Tunisia — among the nations in action.
Homeless Sudan begin AFCON campaign with victory
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Homeless Sudan begin AFCON campaign with victory
- They were the only victors with the other three matches, between Comoros and Gambia, Libya and Rwanda and Tanzania and Ethiopia, all drawn
- Sudan hosted Niger in Juba, capital of neighboring South Sudan, and a 51st-minute goal from Thailand-based Abo Eisa secured maximum Group F points
PSG coach Enrique warns his players about Liverpool’s ‘fighter jets’ in attack
- Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career with 30 goals in 39 games, and is well supported by Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in attack
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is worried about the speed of Liverpool’s “fighter jets” in attack and warned his team not to give the ball away in their Champions League clash.
PSG host six-time champion Liverpool in the first leg of the round of 16 at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
“Liverpool has one of the best counter attacks in Europe so we will try to keep the ball and be careful not to suffer too much from transitions,” Enrique said Tuesday at a pre-match news conference. “They have three fighter jets in attack and it’s not easy to stop these fighter jets.”
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career with 30 goals in 39 games, and is well supported by Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo in attack.
“We are facing the team that has played the best football in the group stage. They were the most consistent side,” Enrique said. “Arne Slot has done a great job. He has created a near-perfect team, which knows how to defend, knows how to press, which can attack either by holding the ball or accelerating.”
In a rare admission, Enrique conceded that Liverpool may have the slight edge.
“Liverpool is also able to create danger without the ball, maybe they don’t need it as much we do,” he said. “To impose ourselves we generally need to keep the ball.”
However, PSG are on a 22-game unbeaten run since a 1-0 loss at Bayern Munich in late November. PSG have won their past 10 matches with an eye-watering 40 goals scored in a successfully re-shaped attack since Kylian Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid.
“The advantage of our forward is that they can play in every position,” said Enrique, whose clever positional switch has allowed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola to play alongside Ousmane Dembele in attack.
PSG have much better teamwork in the post-Mbappe era, with Dembele scoring a career-best 26 goals in 33 games. The speedy 19-year-old forward Desire Doue and sharpshooter Gonçalo Ramos provide a threat from the bench. Enrique hopes Liverpool’s players will be rattled in Paris.
“It’s difficult for our opponents to play at Parc des Princes with the pressure,” he said. “The atmosphere is extraordinary and I hope we can profit from it.”
However, Liverpool’s Anfield stadium is one of the toughest places for a return leg, as Lionel Messi’s Barcelona found out in the 2019 semifinals, losing 4-0 after winning 3-0 at home.
Both sides are dominating their respective leagues.
Unbeaten PSG are coasting toward a record-extending 13th French title.
Liverpool are closing in on a record-equaling 20th Premier League title, while a seventh Champions League crown would move them level with AC Milan in second place outright.
PSG lost the only Champions League final in their history 1-0 to Bayern in 2020 in the Coronavirus-shortened campaign.
Swiss prosecutors seek suspended sentences for Blatter and Platini
- An Extraordinary Appeal Court sitting in Muttenz near Basel, will hand down its decision on March 25 in a long-running legal saga
- Prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand opted not to call for prison sentences for the 88-year-old Swiss and 69-year-old Frenchman
MUTTENZ, Switzerland: The Swiss public prosecutor on Tuesday requested suspended sentences of 20 months for both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini in an appeal against their 2022 acquittal in a corruption case.
An Extraordinary Appeal Court sitting in Muttenz near Basel, will hand down its decision on March 25 in a long-running legal saga which shattered the careers of Blatter, the former president of world football’s governing body FIFA, and Platini, ex-head of European body UEFA.
Prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand opted not to call for prison sentences for the 88-year-old Swiss and 69-year-old Frenchman.
The case began in 2015 when Blatter quit as head of FIFA in a corruption crisis. It stems from a delayed payment of two million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros) FIFA paid Platini in 2011 for consultancy services.
The pair were acquitted by the Swiss Federal Court in June 2022 of charges that included “disloyal management,” “breach of trust” and “forgery of securities.”
The court concluded that fraud was “not established with a likelihood bordering on certainty,” and therefore applied the general principle of criminal law according to which “the doubt must benefit the accused.”
The Swiss Attorney General’s office appealed.
In his three-and-a-half-hour argument on Tuesday, Hildbrand set out to dispel the defendants’ assertion that they had an “oral contract” to pay Platini in 2011 for work as a consultant between 1998 and 2002.
In 2011, Platini opted not to run against Blatter, who was then reelected as FIFA president.
Blatter and Platini had signed a written agreement in August 1999, before the Frenchman became UEFA president, providing for an annual payment by FIFA of 300,000 Swiss francs for consultancy work.
At the beginning of 2011, Platini presented an invoice for 2 million Swiss francs. Blatter approved it and presented it to FIFA as a late salary balance.
The defendants say they had agreed a yearly sum of one million Swiss francs but that this was too much for FIFA finances at the time.
Hildbrand said the argument was implausible. Even if FIFA had transferred one million Swiss francs to Platini in 1999, it would still have had “more than 21 million francs in cash,” and its reserves had reached 328 million in 2002.
To agree such a sum without a written record, without witnesses and without ever making provision for it in the accounts was, he said, “contrary to commercial practice” as well as to FIFA’s norms.
The appeal trial, which began on Monday, is due to continue until Thursday at the latest, with closing arguments from the defense.
Although FIFA, the civil party, has joined the public prosecutor’s appeal, it is not represented in Muttenz.
Bayern coach ‘not in the mood’ for question about Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz
- “I’m talking but it’s easier to say nothing. I’m trying to be respectful, but guys, other questions!” Kompany said
- Wirtz has been consistently linked with a move to Bayern
MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gave up trying to answer a question about what makes Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz special.
Ahead of the teams meeting in the Champions League on Wednesday, Kompany was asked what sets Wirtz and Bayern star Jamal Musiala apart and what they could learn from each other.
“You’ve obviously noticed I’m not in the mood to answer,” Kompany said Tuesday.
“From each other, I don’t know,” Kompany attempted at first before saying each player has to take his own path in his development.
He said it was a boon for Germany, before saying his players will need be at their best to counter Leverkusen in Munich.
Then he gave up.
“I’m talking but it’s easier to say nothing. I’m trying to be respectful, but guys, other questions!” Kompany said in the press conference before the first leg of the teams’ last 16 tie.
“It’s a good question,” he continued. “I would perhaps have asked it in your position, but still, perhaps you’d feel the same if you were sitting in my seat.”
Wirtz has been consistently linked with a move to Bayern, the speculation fueled by comments from Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeneß saying he would like to see the 21-year-old attacking midfielder play for the Bavarian powerhouse one day.
Kompany said midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović was sick and will miss the game.
Bayern haven’t beaten Leverkusen in three attempts so far this season. The teams most recently drew 0-0 in Leverkusen in the Bundesliga — a game the home team dominated from start to finish. Leverkusen previously knocked Bayern out of the German Cup, while they drew their first meeting 1-1 in Munich, where Bayern had been better.
Bayern have failed to beat Leverkusen in all six games they’ve played since their former player Xabi Alonso took over as Leverkusen coach in October 2022.
Virat Kohli leads India to Champions Trophy final with victory over Australia in Dubai
- They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday
DUBAI: Veteran batsman Virat Kohli rolled back the years with a polished 84 as India pulled off a tense chase to beat Australia by four wickets in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday.
Set 265 for victory, India lost the 36-year-old Kohli in the closing overs but KL Rahul’s unbeaten 42 steered the team home with 11 balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium.
They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Dubai with India playing all their matches at the venue after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan for the eight-nation event.
Lahore was the alternate venue for the final had India missed out.
Australia elected to bat and posted the highest total of 264 all out at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in this tournament after key knocks from skipper Steve Smith, who made 73, and Alex Carey, who hit 61.
In reply India lost two early wickets before Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who made 45, put the chase back on track in their partnership of 91.
Cooper Connolly, making the team in place of injured Matthew Short who was forced out of the tournament on Monday, trapped skipper Rohit Sharma lbw on 28 for his first ODI wicket.
Kohli and Iyer then took stock against an inexperienced Australian attack missing their top fast bowlers including Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries.
But the next line of bowlers stood up as leg-spinner Adam Zampa bowled Iyer before pace bowler Nathan Ellis rattled the stumps of Axar Patel for 27.
Kohli, known as a master chaser who recently hit an unbeaten 100 in India’s win over arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23, stood firm in another stand with wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul.
Kohli was dropped by Glenn Maxwell off Connolly on 51 but Zampa denied him another ton when he clubbed a googly to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on to leave India at 225-5 and Australia still hoping.
But Rahul kept calm and with Hardik Pandya, who hit three sixes in his 28, put on 34 off 31 balls to ease the pressure.
Ellis removed Pandya, another catch at long-on, but Rahul hit the winning six as a largely Indian crowd roared in delight.
Earlier, Australia lost regular wickets but kept coming back with partnerships including 50-plus stands between Smith and Labuschagne, who made 29, and then the captain and the left-handed Carey.
India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3-48 as Australia’s innings lasted 49.3 overs. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.
Left-handed opener Travis Head gave the team a quick start with his 39 after losing his partner Connolly for a duck.
India’s victory is a reversal of their last match against Australia when they lost in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
The second semifinal is on Wednesday in Lahore.
UAE-based youngsters target more caps after making bow at youth international level
- Manchester City Football Schools’ Zakariyya Zafarullah, Zack Johnstone have represented Sri Lanka, Scotland
- Zakariyya Zafarullah: I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer since I was 3 years old and I’m still going for the dream
ABU DHABI: Two Manchester City Football Schools players in the UAE have set their sights on winning more international caps after playing for their national teams at age-group level.
Zakariyya Zafarullah, 15, and Zack Johnstone, 14, part of CFS’ Talented Player Programme, supported by e&, have represented Sri Lanka and Scotland respectively, after being spotted by scouting teams.
And, having donned the jerseys on the international stage, they are eager to add to their caps tally and are dreaming of playing for the senior teams one day.
Midfielder Zafarullah, who has three international caps for Sri Lanka Under-17s to his name, made his debut on his 15th birthday against Bhutan in a South Asian Football Federation tournament.
He told Arab News: “It was one of the best moments to wear the shirt of Sri Lanka and there was a lot of pride in representing my country … I had to adapt quickly and understand how we play as a team with new teammates.
“I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer since I was 3 years old and I’m still going for the dream. Playing for your country is one of the biggest dreams and that has come true for me. I would love to do that again.”
Left-back Johnstone has five international caps for Scotland after playing for the under-14s and under-15s, and made his debut against Canada. He received the news of his first call-up by email on the day he moved to the UAE in August 2023. He travels regularly to Scotland for training camps and matches.
He said: “At first I was nervous when I made my debut because I didn’t want to make any mistakes, but those nerves gradually went as the game progressed and I became more confident.
“It’s a great feeling to have played for my country and I’m happy to still be part of the set-up. My goal is to play for Scotland’s senior team and in the World Cup one day. That would mean everything to me.”
CFS’ TPP gives talented players additional training sessions and matches to accelerate their learning and development, with a pathway to professional clubs in the UAE and within City Football Group’s global network.
Zafarullah joined CFS in early 2023 and progressed through the development and select squads before being admitted to the TPP. He has seen his game improve in the two years of training with CFS.
He added: “They have helped me on the field to the stage where I am now more versatile, playing in different positions that I hadn’t played before.
“The coaches have been really supportive and suggest different approaches that have helped contribute to my development, while I understand the importance of a positive mindset.”
Johnstone said: “Physically I have got a lot stronger and I feel I have improved on every single aspect of my game. As we’re with the TPP, we get the extra challenge of playing an opposition that’s an age group above us. Obviously that helps us in our development of becoming better players.”
CFS has been providing opportunities for girls and boys to play football since 2012. It now boasts 10 locations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ajman with the TPP one of five programs under its pathway structure.
Simon Hewitt, head of football operations MENA (Middle East and North Africa) for CFS, said the progress of Johnstone and Zafarullah showed that the UAE provided a strong base for producing future stars.
He said: “We are really pleased with how far Zakariyya Zafarullah and Zack Johnstone have come since joining City Football Schools.
“The pathway has been here for the last four years and has been carefully created to ensure it provides multiple opportunities for children to play and enjoy the game.
“Our methodology is the same that’s used by Manchester City Academy and the first team, so when players transition through our pathway and into the TPP it gives a great opportunity to open ways for professional clubs in the UAE and globally.
“We’re very proud to be able to deliver a comprehensive pathway here in the UAE.”
