Category: International Sports

Sudan’s impressive run in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup continued as a nation affected by civil war held Senegal to a 0-0 draw on neutral turf.

Sadio Mane came closest to a winner for the visitors late on in Benina, Libya, but saw an attempted chip saved by Sudan keeper Mohamed Mostafa before his follow-up effort was blocked by a defender on the line.

Mostafa then pulled off a stunning low stop to keep out a header from Cherif Ndiaye.

Sudan could have taken all three points themselves as Walieldin Khedr sent a shot flashing past the post earlier in the second half.

The Falcons of Jediane sit a point clear of DR Congo at the top of Group B halfway through the African campaign, with Senegal a point further behind.

Only the group winners are assured of a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup finals next year. The four best-placed sides from across the nine groups will enter play-offs for a spot at an intercontinental tournament which will provide the final qualifiers.

Elsewhere in Group B, Togo and Mauritania drew 2-2 in an entertaining contest in Lome.

Those four sides are all back in action on Tuesday when Sudan host South Sudan, Senegal welcome Togo and DR Congo travel to Mauritania.

The final four group fixtures will be split across September and October.

Sudan tame Teranga Lions

Almost two years on from the start of the civil war, and with the country’s top two domestic clubs now playing in Mauritania, Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah has got supporters dreaming of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time.

In the nine-month hiatus since the last qualifying fixtures the Sudanese had remarkably booked a place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations – eliminating four-time continental champions Ghana along the way.

But, returning to their bid to reach the United States, Mexico and Canada, Sudan almost made a disastrous start as goalkeeper Mustafa missed a clearing kick within the first 30 seconds.

However, he managed to recover and scramble the loose ball behind with Boulaye Dia set to pounce and slot into an empty net.

The hosts were not overawed by a side ranked as the second best in Africa, and 96 places above them, and Aboubaker Eisa missed a chance to slot Sudan in front in the 20th minute before Dia sent a header off target.

After the break Sudan midfielder Adbel Raouf tested Edouard Mendy with a low strike before having appeals for a penalty waved away as he challenged the keeper for the rebound.

Mane had sent an overhead kick narrowly wide before the former Liverpool forward was denied twice with 10 minutes remaining.

The West Africans remain unbeaten after five games in Group B but, with only two wins, have work to do to reach a third successive World Cup finals.​​​​​​​

Togo and Mauritania share points

Earlier on Saturday, Mauritania scored their first goals of the campaign as they secured a draw in Togo.

Thibault Klidje headed the hosts ahead in Lome in the fourth minute, and Mauritania came close to an equaliser when Aboubakary Koita hit the right-hand upright 10 minutes before the break.

The game sparked into life in the second half as the visitors scored twice in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head.

First Koita levelled with a fine curing shot across goal and then Abdallahi Mahmoud was presented with a simple tap-in at the back post from Sidi Bouna Amar’s low cross.

Kevin Denkey dragged Togo level in the 69th minute when he dispossessed Lamine Ba in the box and rifled in a low shot.

After that both sides had chances to win it as Mauritania striker Pape Yade struck a post after capitalizing on an error from Sparrowhawks goalkeeper Malcolm Barcoa and then Togo substitute Kwame Mawuena narrowly missed the target with a header.

Christian Eriksen expects to leave Manchester United this summer and does not anticipate signing for another Premier League club.

The 33-year-old Denmark midfielder joined on a free transfer in July 2022.

He had previously had a short spell at Brentford after resuming his football career following a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020.

Eriksen has played 66 matches in the Premier League for Manchester United, though game time this season has been limited to 16 top-flight appearances.

His contract expires in the summer and he said there have not been any discussions over a new deal.

“I haven’t heard anything from the club, and therefore I assume that the collaboration will stop – that’s how I interpret it,” said the Dane.

“I am prepared to find something new. I am fine with that. Where it will be, I haven’t decided yet.”

After starting his career at Ajax, Eriksen spent seven years at Tottenham before moving to Inter Milan.

Spurs had been interested in bringing Eriksen back to the club before he joined Manchester United.

“The intention is not to stay in England,” added Eriksen.

“I am not going to the USA – we are not going that far. We would like to stay in Europe, but it is too early to go home to Denmark.

“I feel like I have some good years abroad left.”

Coach Steve Kerr said the Golden State Warriors were “awful” as their seven-game winning run came to an end against the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco.

Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 38 points in a 105-114 win for the Nuggets, who were without star centre Nikola Jokic.

It is Gordon’s highest points haul since joining the Nuggets from the Orlando Magic in 2021.

“We played poorly out of the gate and never found rhythm and they played great,” said Kerr.

“The right team won. We didn’t deserve anything. We were awful.”

Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, secured his 203rd by scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds and 16 assists.

Jimmy Butler III scored 23 points and Stephen Curry 20 in reply for the Warriors, who lost for just the second time in 14 matches.

Denver remain fourth in the Western Conference, with Golden State occupying the final play-off place in sixth.

The Los Angeles Lakers, still without the injured LeBron James, are just behind the Nuggets in fourth after beating the San Antonio Spurs 125-109.

Austin Reaves top-scored with 30 points for the Lakers, with Luka Doncic adding 21 points with nine rebounds and 14 assists.

The Houston Rockets overturned a 25-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 144-137 in overtime and stay second in the Western Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves also needed overtime to beat the Indiana Pacers 132-130, with Obi Toppin scoring 34 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

The New York Knicks won 116-95 against the Miami Heat to stay third in the East, while the Detroit Pistons are sixth after beating the New Orleans Pelican 127-81.

Substitute Fafa Picault scored his first goal for Inter Miami in the 89th minute, Lionel Messi also scored his first of the regular season and Inter Miami earned a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Atlanta United.

Miami triumphed despite six saves from Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who played an integral role in Atlanta’s playoff upset of Messi’s squad in a best-of-three, round one MLS Cup series last year.

Messi’s goal on Sunday came in just his second regular-season appearance for Miami, who have already played eight matches because of Concacaf Champions Cup play. The Argentinian star forward had missed three games due to muscle fatigue before coming off the bench on Thursday night in a 2-0 win at Cavalier FC of Jamaica.

Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his 60th career goal in the 11th minute to give Atlanta an early lead.

Messi’s goal in the 20th minute left the match in a 1-1 stalemate until the diminutive Picault’s game winner one minute from full time – an unlikely header that somehow wrong-footed Guzan and nestled inside the far-left post – secured the three points for Miami.

It was Picault’s first goal for his sixth MLS club, having moved to Miami from Vancouver this off season.

Inter Miami now have three wins and one draw, elevating the side to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference on 10 points through four games. Atlanta dropped to one win, one draw and two losses for the season.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes says he could have left the club last summer.

The 30-year-old was United’s hero on Thursday night, scoring a hat-trick as they beat Real Sociedad to move into a Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.

He was also singled out for praise by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in an interview with BBC Sport on Monday.

But Fernandes said there had been an offer to sign him in the summer and he’d held talks with the club about his future.

“I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave,” he said. “We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying.

“They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with (Erik) Ten Hag also.

“He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful.”

The Portugal international now has 15 goals this season. None of his team-mates have got into double figures.

In a campaign that has been bad enough for United, who are 14th in the Premier League and on the brink of their worst domestic campaign since the 1973-74 relegation season, it is not hard to imagine the strife they would have been in had talks with Fernandes in the summer taken a different turn amid interest from Bayern Munich among others.

After Ten Hag was sacked in October, Fernandes’ fellow countryman Ruben Amorim came in as replacement – but a bleak situation has got no better.

Last month legendary former captain Roy Keane blasted Fernandes, saying “talent is not enough” and that he was not “a fighter”.

Even Amorim, in the wake of Fernandes’ Europa League exploits said his captain needs to “trust” his team-mates more.

“Roy Keane was an amazing captain for the club, one of the best as everyone says,” said Fernandes.

“I didn’t have the chance to see much from him, only the last few years, but he was a great player that won everything for the club. He’s massively respected from everyone and has all my respect.

“He has to give his opinion in a programme and this is what he thinks about me.

“I don’t want to copy anyone. I try to be the best captain that I can for my team-mates and help everyone in the best way I know.”

The Europa League remains a route back into the Champions League for United despite their poor season.

Fernandes, who is under contract until 2027, says he wants to stay at Old Trafford for as long as they are competing for trophies.

He said: “We can’t relax at this club. We need to prove ourselves every day in training and every day that we have a game.

“I’m in the same boat as my team-mates. It doesn’t matter how much you do, how much you score, how much you assist… It’s about the team.

“I’m very happy at the club. Obviously, I want to win trophies. I want to be in the biggest competitions, I want to fight for the big trophies. That’s what I said to the club. That’s what the club said to me that they want to do.”

Ratcliffe said this week some players he has inherited are “not good enough” and “overpaid”.

Midfielder Casemiro, striker Rasmus Hojlund, goalkeeper Andre Onana, and wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho – who are on loan at other clubs – were namechecked by the billionaire in an interview with BBC Sport.

Fernandes said: “I don’t think any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you’re not good enough or you’re overpaid or whatever.

“But everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to the contracts and it’s about proving that you can be important for the club.”

Brazil have called up teenage forward Endrick to replace Neymar for this month’s World Cup qualifiers after the Santos attacker picked up a muscle injury.

Neymar was due to make his Selecao return after a 17-month absence because of a knee injury which he sustained against Uruguay in October 2023.

But the 33-year-old has now had a further setback, ruling him out of the qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

“The return seemed so close, but unfortunately I won’t be able to wear the most important jersey in the world for the moment,” he wrote on Instagram.

“We had long conversations and everyone knows of my desire to return, but we agreed that it’s best not to take any risks and prepare as best as possible to completely eradicate the injury.”

Following a difficult spell at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Neymar moved back to boyhood club Santos in January and has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven appearances in the Brazilian top flight. Only Cafu (142) has more caps for Brazil than Neymar (128) – who is his country’s record scorer with 79 goals, two more than Pele.

Brazil head coach Dorival Jr has also called up Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri for Manchester City’s Ederson and Flamengo defender Alex Sandro to replace team-mate Danilo.

Endrick, 18, has made 28 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions this season, scoring six goals.

He has made 13 senior appearances for Brazil and scored three goals.

England manager Thomas Tuchel says he has to “earn the right” to sing the national anthem.

Tuchel, 51, named his 26-man squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia on Friday and said he will not sing God Save the King before those matches.

“I feel that it is not just a given. You cannot just sing it. That’s why I decided that I will not sing it in my first matches,” the German said.

After his appointment in October Tuchel said he had “not decided” whether or not to sing the anthem.

The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss officially became England manager on 1 January but will make his debut in the Three Lions dugout against Albania on 21 March.

“I think, first of all, you have a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem and I could not be more proud to be on the sidelines and be in charge of the English national team,” Tuchel said. “It means everything. It means a lot to me, I can assure you, but I can feel because it is that meaningful and it is that emotional and it is so powerful, the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it.”

Lee Carsley was criticised during his interim spell in charge of England last year for not singing the anthem.

Tuchel joked in his news conference following the squad announcement that he does know the words to the anthem, but plans to earn the right to sing it with “results, building the group and doing my job properly”.

“Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like ‘he should sing it now, he’s one of our own, he’s the English manager, he should sing it’,” he said.