by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chelle Drafts in Coventry Striker to Replace Injured Osimhen

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named Taiwo Awoniyi as a replacement for the injured striker Victor Osimhen ahead of Nigeria’s opening qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Osimhen sustained an injury over the weekend, which forced him to sit out Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon and potentially the upcoming two league fixtures.

While he hasn’t completely ruled himself out of the Super Eagles squad, concerns about his fitness are growing as Nigeria prepares for the crucial September qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will host Madagascar in Uyo on September 23, before heading to Guinea-Bissau for a match on September 27. Victor Osimhen will miss these matches as he continues to recover from a muscle strain.

Fans of the Super Eagles are hoping for some positive news regarding Osimhen’s condition. These AFCON qualifiers will represent Nigeria’s first competitive matches since the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Mohamed Salah Stars with Hat Trick Against Trabzonspor
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Salah Stars with Hat Trick Against Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah had a fantastic game on Saturday, scoring three goals and assisting another as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the Turkish Super Lig.

Salah opened the scoring just four minutes in and assisted Noah Saviolo for the second goal in the 39th minute. He scored again before half-time, making it 3-0. In the 80th minute, he completed his hat-trick with a calm finish after breaking through Galatasaray’s defense.

This win gave new manager Thomas Reis a great start after Fatih Tekke’s departure.

Galatasaray’s night worsened when Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off in the 87th minute after a VAR review, and coach Okan Buruk was sent off earlier for protesting a decision.

This loss was Galatasaray’s first of the season, but they still remain at the top of the table, while Trabzonspor has moved to 10 points. Salah now has seven goals in six Super Lig appearances.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brahim Hemdani unveils Algeria squad for Zambia and Burundi fixtures

New Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has announced his first squad, leaving out Houssem Aouar and Hicham Boudaoui as he prepares for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.

Hemdani’s team will kick off their campaign against Zambia on September 25th before travelling to take on Burundi on the 29th. Following that, they will face Niger in an international friendly match on October 6th.

He selected 26 players for the September international window, keeping veterans like Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nabil Bentaleb, Mohamed Amoura, and Amine Gouiri.

His decision to omit Aouar and Boudaoui is significant as it marks Hemdani’s first lineup since taking over from Vladimir Petkovic.

Luca Zidane and Rafik Belghali are unavailable due to suspension, and Yacine Titraoui is out with an injury. Hemdani aims to implement his ideas while maintaining a strong squad foundation.

In goal, chosen players include Melvin Mastil, Abdelatif Ramdane, and Kilian Belazzoug. Bensebaini leads the defence alongside Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd, Jaouen Hadjam, and Ahmed Touba, totalling nine defenders.

This international window allows Hemdani to shape the team, focusing on the upcoming 2027 finals while balancing experience with new talent.

Algeria squad

Goalkeepers: Melvin Mastil, Abdelatif Ramdane, Kilian Belazzoug.

Defenders: Achref Abada, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd, Ramy Bensebaini, Samir Chergui, Jaouen Hadjam, Sohaib Naïr, Saâdi Radouani, Ahmed Touba.

Midfielders: Himad Abdelli, Adil Aouchiche, Nabil Bentaleb, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza, Adem Zagence.

Forwards: Mohamed Amoura, Monsef Bakrar, Bachir Belloumi, Adil Boulbina, Amin Chiakha, Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa, Ilan Kebbal.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Ouahbi Selects Morocco Squad for AFCON Qualifiers

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has named three uncapped players in his first senior squad as the Atlas Lions prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho. The newcomers are Abdellah Ouazane, Soufian El Faouzi, and Yassir Zabiri.

Morocco will host Gabon in Rabat on September 25 and then travel to Bloemfontein, South Africa, to face Lesotho. They will also play a friendly against Ghana in Tangier.

Seventeen-year-old Ouazane stands out among the newcomers. Zabiri impressed at Racing Santander, while El Faouzi has played well for Schalke 04. The squad features a mix of experienced players and young talents, including forwards like Brahim Diaz and Soufiane Rahimi.

Ouahbi has recalled players like defender Nayef Aguerd, who recently joined Olympique de Marseille, and goalkeeper Alaa Bellarouch from Dinamo Bucharest. Established international players, including captain Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui, remain in the team.

Ouahbi’s selections include 10 defenders and eight midfielders, enhancing competition. One notable absence is Younès Ebnoutalib, who was called up by Germany. Morocco will now prepare for its first competitive match under Ouahbi against Gabon, followed by the match against Lesotho and the friendly with Ghana.

Morocco squad

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Bellarouch.

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Marwane Saadane, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Ali Maamar.

Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Soufian El Faouzi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismaël Saibari.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Abdellah Ouazane, Soufiane Rahimi, Tawfik Bentayeb, Yassir Zabiri.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone Turn to Alex Bangura After Samadia Pulls Out

The Sierra Leone Football Association has confirmed the recall of defender Alex Bangura after US-based left-back Emmanuel Samadia withdrew ahead of the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Bangura last featured for Sierra Leone in 2022, in the Leone Stars’ 2-0 defeat to DR Congo in an international friendly played in Morocco. He has not been part of the national team setup since then.

He was born in Sierra Leone and also has Dutch citizenship. He played his first game for the Sierra Leone national team in a friendly match against Togo, which ended in a 3–0 loss on March 24, 2022.

The matches mark the start of a crucial campaign as Sierra Leone look to secure a return to Africa’s biggest football tournament under new boss Gomes.

Sierra Leone will face Zimbabwe on September 24, 2026, in El Jadida, Morocco, with kickoff set for 8 PM. Following that, Equatorial Guinea will take on Sierra Leone on September 28 at Stade Omnisports in Cameroon, starting at 5 PM.

Having failed to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and the 2025 finals in Morocco, expectations are high for Gomes Da Rosa to guide the national team back to the continental stage.

His first squad blends experienced internationals with emerging talent, with several UK-based players featuring prominently in the 25-man selection.

The new coach will hope the fresh-look squad can make a strong start to the qualifiers and build momentum in Sierra Leone’s bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa.