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Mondial 2026 : L'Espagne s'impose sur le fil face à la Belgique et rejoint les Bleus en demies
L'Espagne s'est imposée à la toute fin du temps réglementaire face aux Diables rouges (2-1), sauvée par un but de Mikel Merino, à la toute fin du temps réglementaire. La Roja a encaissé son premier but sur ce tournoi et affrontera l'Equipe de France mardi 14 juillet en demi-finale de la Coupe du monde.Qui de l'Argentine, la Suisse, l'Angleterre ou la Norvège se qualifiera pour l'autre demie ?Réponse ce samedi soir après Angleterre-Norvège et Argentine-Suisse. mwafrika.life
Matthieu Jalibert an attacking giant as France make World Cup statement in Australia
Matthieu Jalibert, playing at fullback for France, produced a stunning attacking display against Australia in the Nations Championship.
Matthieu Jalibert
Jalibert was consistently outstanding for Bordeaux in their defence of the Investec Champions Cup. He played seven of the eight matches and, along with captain and scrumhalf Maxime Lucu, was the most influential halfback combination in the competition.
The duo were superb in the 34-32 Nations Championship defeat against the All Blacks in Christchurch.
None of the players from the Top 14 finalists, Toulouse and Montpellier, were considered for the Test against the All Blacks, but France coach Fabien Galthie had no hesitation in introducing the very best from the two sides, to combine with the best of Bordeaux and Pau to make a 2027 Rugby World Cup statement.
Australia hosts the 2027 World Cup and France, the back-to-back Six Nations Champions, sent the most emphatic message to the rugby world of their potency when they pick a near full-strength squad.
Bordeaux’s wing sensation Louis Bielle-Biarrey was rested for the Nations Championship Tests in July. Bielle-Biarrey was the Six Nations Player of the Year and the Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year.
Toulouse and French captain Antoine Dupont was picked to play Australia but did not travel to Australia following a calf strain in Toulouse’s winning Top 14 final against Montpellier.
Toulouse and France fullback Thomas Ramos was also rested.
For the rest, this was France, with the core of their most prominent internationals available. It is rare for France to travel to the Southern Hemisphere with a first-choice squad, but WOW what a difference to the occasion when they do.
The Nations Championship has been electric in the opening fortnight, and France has been at the front of the queue of those teams making all the right noises.
The French pack, especially in the second half, went into another gear. Their backs, with Lucu and Toulouse flyhalf Romain Ntamack in total control, flourished.
Jalibert, playing fullback, was the pick of a back division in which each player could have made a claim for back of the match.
Jalibert, who made 19 carries against the All Blacks as a flyhalf, made 17 carries against Australia as a fullback.
His attacking control was top notch and he combined with Ntamack as a playmaker from phase play and always influenced the threat of France’s transition play.
Montpellier’s captain and No 6 flanker Lenni Nouchi was the best French forward. He carried 17 times for 57 attack metres, made two line breaks, beat three defenders and added two effective offloads to his attacking contribution. Defensively, he made 14 tackles.
Nouchi is just 22 years-old.
Marko Gazzotti translated his Investec Champions Cup form for Bordeaux to the Nations Championship. He is one of the best loose-forwards in the world. Defensively, he is a trojan, and he led the French tackle count with 17.
| No. | Player | Top 14 club |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Matthieu Jalibert | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 14 | Théo Attissogbe | Pau |
| 13 | Fabien Brau-Boirie | Pau |
| 12 | Yoram Moefana | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 11 | Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang | Pau |
| 10 | Romain Ntamack | Toulouse |
| 9 | Maxime Lucu (c) | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 8 | Marko Gazzotti | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 7 | Oscar Jégou | La Rochelle |
| 6 | Lenni Nouchi | Montpellier |
| 5 | Emmanuel Meafou | Toulouse |
| 4 | Florian Verhaeghe | Montpellier |
| 3 | Demba Bamba | Racing 92 |
| 2 | Peato Mauvaka | Toulouse |
| 1 | Moses Alo-Emile | Clermont |
Replacements
| No. | Player | Top 14 club |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Maxime Lamothe | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 17 | Jefferson Poirot | Bordeaux-Bègles |
| 18 | Tevita Tatafu | Bayonne |
| 19 | Hugo Auradou | Pau |
| 20 | Tom Staniforth | Castres |
| 21 | Killian Tixeront | Clermont |
| 22 | Nolann Le Garrec | Racing 92 |
| 23 | Kalvin Gourgues | Toulouse |
Club representation (Match 23)
| Club | Players |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux-Bègles | 6 |
| Pau | 4 |
| Toulouse | 4 |
| Montpellier | 2 |
| Racing 92 | 2 |
| Clermont | 2 |
| La Rochelle | 1 |
| Bayonne | 1 |
| Castres | 1 |
Angleterre – Norvège : Le grand défi des Three Lions : vaincre le démon des quarts de finale
Les Three Lions retrouvent les quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde avec l’ambition de poursuivre leur parcours.
Opposée à la Norvège ce samedi à partir de 21h00 GMT, l’Angleterre tentera d’améliorer un bilan historiquement peu flatteur à ce stade de la compétition. En dix quarts de finale disputés avant cette édition, elle n’en a remporté que trois.
Un historique peu favorable
L’Angleterre affiche un bilan de trois victoires pour sept défaites en quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde. Une statistique qui rappelle combien cette étape s’est souvent révélée difficile pour les Three Lions.
Les éliminations se sont succédé au fil des décennies : face à l’Uruguay en 1954 (2-4), au Brésil en 1962 (1-3), à l’Allemagne de l’Ouest en 1970 (2-3 après prolongation), à l’Argentine de Diego Maradona en 1986 (1-2), au Brésil en 2002 (1-2), au Portugal en 2006 (0-0, 1-3 aux tirs au but), puis à la France en 2022 (1-2).
Trois qualifications qui ont marqué les esprits
L’Angleterre a toutefois su franchir cet obstacle à trois reprises. En 1966, elle élimine l’Argentine (1-0) avant de décrocher le seul titre mondial de son histoire.
En 1990, elle vient à bout du Cameroun (3-2 après prolongation) pour rejoindre les demi-finales. Enfin, en 2018, elle domine la Suède (2-0) et retrouve le dernier carré pour la première fois depuis 28 ans.
Une nouvelle page à écrire face à la Norvège
Face à la Norvège, l’Angleterre a l’occasion d’améliorer ses statistiques et de confirmer les ambitions de cette génération.
Une victoire lui ouvrirait les portes des demi-finales et renforcerait un peu plus l’espoir de conquérir un deuxième titre mondial, soixante ans après le sacre historique de 1966.
The post Angleterre – Norvège : Le grand défi des Three Lions : vaincre le démon des quarts de finale appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Mngqithi:’Someone blocked my move to Kaizer Chiefs’
Young Africans head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed that Kaizer Chiefs tried to appoint him on more than one occasion.
The 54-year-old coach made the revelation after his unveiling by the Tanzanian giants on Friday. He spoke during an interview with Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000.
Mngqithi said he held cordial talks with Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung Snr. However, he claimed the move never progressed because someone blocked it.
MANQOBA MNGQITHI OPENS UP ON KAIZER CHIEFS INTEREST
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach added that the talks never reached the stage of negotiating personal terms. Even so, he said he has no hard feelings and is fully focused on his new job.
Speaking on Radio 2000, Mngqithi insisted the interest from Chiefs was genuine. “Kaizer Chiefs did have interest in me. But someone blocked the move and I know who it is,” said Mngqithi.
“I have had very cordial talks with Chiefs, even with Kaizer Motaung Sn. It is not a lie. But it never reached any fruition because there are people who block these moves.”
He said negative opinions from certain people stopped the deal. “There are people who always find ways to speak negatively about a person. Kaizer Chiefs never got to the point of negotiating terms because someone blocked it.”
NO REGRETS FOR MNGQITHI
Mngqithi also revealed that Kaizer Chiefs wanted him before he joined Mamelodi Sundowns. He believes the club’s interest lasted for several years. However, he accepts that the move never happened.
“I’m fortunate to know that the person who blocked it I am not even worried about. But it’s true there was interest recently,” he continued.
“Kaizer Chiefs even wanted me before I joined Sundowns. I’ve had very cordial talks with senior Kaizer Motaung. I know they have always shown interest in me. But for whatever reason it never happened.”
The experienced coach said he has no regrets. He added that there are many coaching opportunities in football.
WHO DO YOU THINK BLOCKED MANQOBA MNGQITHI’S MOVE TO KAIZER CHIEFS?
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Roger De Sa leaves Ghana role
South African coach Roger De Sa has confirmed that his time with Ghana’s national team has come to an end after his short-term contract expired following FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 61-year-old served as assistant coach to Carlos Queiroz during the tournament, but revealed that his agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) covered only the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
“I was only contracted until the end of July, so that’s it,” De Sa told KickOff Magazine.
“My contract was just for the World Cup, and it ends on 31 July.”
Uncertainty over Carlos Queiroz’s future
Roger De Sa also addressed speculation surrounding the future of head coach Carlos Queiroz, saying he was unaware of any official decision regarding the veteran Portuguese tactician’s position.
Reports have suggested Queiroz could be set to leave the Black Stars, but De Sa said he had received no confirmation.
“I don’t know if that’s official that he has left; I have only seen it on social media. But I don’t think that is from him because he would have told me if that’s the case.”
Ghana’s World Cup campaign
Ghana’s World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32 after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The Black Stars had advanced from Group L as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams.
Their group-stage results included:
- A 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto
- A goalless draw with England in Boston
- A 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Philadelphia
Travel biggest challenge
Looking back on the tournament, Roger De Sa said the biggest obstacle facing the squad was not their opponents but the extensive travel required across the three host nations.
“If there was one difficulty, I think it was the travel. The cities were quite distant sometimes, different time zones. So, that does have an effect on all the teams. The travel is a bit taxing on the players.”
Focus shifts to AFCON qualifiers
With the World Cup now behind them, Ghana’s attention turns to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars are scheduled to resume competitive action in September, when they take on continental rivals Ivory Coast in a crucial AFCON qualifier.
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gambia and Somalia have been in Group C.
The top two sides following the qualifiers will reach AFCON 2027 to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Meanwhile, Roger De Sa’s next coaching move remains uncertain following the conclusion of his World Cup assignment with the four-time African champions.