Strike 7,854 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Our boy Mamadou Sarr came in for Koulibaly and put a solid shift in the semifinal and final Vesper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laylabelle 9,754 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Did well keeping hold of it! Vesper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laylabelle 9,754 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 On 18/01/2026 at 21:27, Vesper said: insane game Senagal scored a lte goal and it was VAR chalked off 8 added minutes and there was a pen given with 97 minutes played (pen given to Morocco) then there was ultra violence in the stands and Senegal pulled their team 15 minutes later Mendy saved the pen with Brahim Diaz crazily did a Panenka now in extra time Senegal has scored their first ever final goal from open play and now lead Morocco now been awarded the win!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero 1,902 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 WTF Vesper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,871 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Don't walk off the pitch, simple as that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 African clowns. No way will this stand. CAS will overturn it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 If this stands I will NEVER watch another African match that CAF oversees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikkiCFC 8,529 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 If Moroccans have any integrity they will reject this title. whats happening and Vesper 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said: If Moroccans have any integrity they will reject this title. they will not, but CAS is going to reverse the African shitbaggery What I fear for are the likely deaths of multiple queer folk in Senegal, as this will be framed by right wing hate-mongers as a set-up to punish Senegal for their newly-minted (and horrific) anti LGBTQ laws that just went into effect from their right wing (and fundie Islamic) government, aided by RW fundie Christian American anti-gay, pro Trump/MAGA hate groups. NikkiCFC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyikolajevics 2,851 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 7 hours ago, Nero said: WTF What a shity day for Sarr, what a great day for Achraf Hakimi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,871 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 Senegal won't give the trophy up🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 11 hours ago, Special Juan said: Senegal won't give the trophy up🤣 good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Africa Cup of Nations: CAS confirms Senegal appeal after controversial decision to strip them of AFCON title CAS have confirmed Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the AFCON title; the appeal seeks to overturn the decision; CAF crowned Morocco champions two months after the final due to Senegal exiting the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a contentious stoppage-time penalty https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13961/13524339/africa-cup-of-nations-cas-confirms-senegal-appeal-after-controversial-decision-to-strip-them-of-afcon-title The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have confirmed an appeal from Senegal which aims to overturn the controversial decision to strip them of their AFCON title. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision on March 17 to crown Morocco champions two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament. Therefore, Senegal have been stripped of their title for leaving the pitch, and it has been declared that they forfeited. Tournament hosts Morocco are now considered 3-0 winners of the final, which took place on January 18, ending a 49-year wait for their second AFCON title. Senegal's appeal to CAS seeks to set aside CAF's decision to overturn their title ruling to reinstate their victory. A statement from the Secretary of State to Senegal's Prime Minister claimed the ruling "contradicts" the principles of sporting ethics. Sky Sports News has approached CAF for comment. A statement from CAS confirmed an arbitral panel would be appointed to assess the matter. Senegal have 20 days to file their legal arguments and CAF then have a further 20 days to submit their statement of defence. Matthieu Reeb, CAS director general, said: "CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators. "We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing." What happened in the AFCON final? Senegal triumphed 1-0 after extra-time, after controversially exiting the field in protest after hosts Morocco were awarded a contentious stoppage-time penalty, delaying the game for 17 minutes. Brahim Diaz missed from the spot, his panenka comfortably saved, when play eventually resumed after Sadio Mane convinced his team-mates to return and Senegal won the final thanks to Pape Gueye's goal in extra-time. CAF says Senegal infringed on article 82 of AFCON's regulations, which states if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the end of regulation time without the refereee's authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition. Article 84 states any team that violates article 82 will be permanently eliminated and lose the match 3-0. In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said it had "never been about challenging the sporting performances of the teams involved". "Following the decision by the CAF Appeal Board, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomes a ruling that upholds respect for rules that are necessary for the proper functioning of international competition. "From the moment the final was interrupted, the FRMF has been clear in its position and goal: the application of regulations governing the competition. "It has never been about challenging the sporting performance of the teams involved, but solely to ensure that the tournament rules are respected." Senegal brand decision 'unacceptable' Senegal will now appeal to CAS which typically takes about a year to reach a verdict. Responding via a statement on X, the Senegal federation branded the decision "iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable", saying it "threw discredit on African football". "For the defence of the rights and interests of Senegalese football, the federation will engage, with the shortest delay, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne," the statement added. The Senegalese football federation's secretary general called the decision a "shame for Africa" in an interview with public broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise. The result is an outcome of an appeal made by Morocco's football federation, which welcomed the verdict in an initial response. Morocco said the appeal was never "intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams" only "to request the application of the competition's regulations". Among the Senegal players to lose their champion status are former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, Everton pair Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, Chelsea's Mamadou Sarr and his on-loan team-mate Nicolas Jackson, West Ham's El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr. Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui, meanwhile, can savour a belated triumph alongside PSG's Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid's Diaz. Some of Senegal's Premier League stars mocked the ruling on social media on Tuesday night. West Ham's Diouf, Crystal Palace's Sarr and Sunderland's Habib Diarra all posted laughing emojis on their Instagram stories, as well as pictures of them with the AFCON trophy and celebrations. Analysis: How many will accept this 'extraordinary' ruling? Sky News sport correspondent Rob Harris: "Senegal are now preparing to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest court in sport in Switzerland. So for that, they have to get the appeal in, then you'd have to form a panel and assess what grounds they can appeal successfully on. "As it stands now, Morocco lost the game 1-0 on the pitch, but the record books technically show they are 3-0 winners of that final, champions for the first time of Africa since the 70s. "This is a tournament they were hosting, there was so much [build-up] on could they win it for the first time in about five decades. But how many will accept this? "You've got Senegal still posting their celebrations. What will happen to the medals? Are they going to have to return the medals? Will they want to? What happens to the trophy? "Think even beyond that. What if people had a bet on the game? I've been hearing from some of them. Well, if you had it in cash, it'd be hard for the bookies to take your cash back if you had it on Senegal. "But if you had [a bet on] Morocco, you might want to get your winnings in now. So there are all sorts of ramifications for this widely. "This is just completely extraordinary. You can't really think of anything like it at this level. A continental final, the match finishing, sanctions being imposed already on it, the fines for so much that happened. "But here we are, extraordinarily, 58 days later, forget that result we're being told. Actually Morocco were the 3-0 winners over Senegal in the African Cup of Nations final." What's the reaction been to the decision? African football expert Mimi Fawaz speaking on Sky Sports News: "It's quite sad to see how things have developed and some of the reactions because for such a long time, there's been a big debate about AFCON and African football getting the respect that it deserves. "Let's not forget they are big-name players of African football, who play in the Premier League across Europe and beyond in the world. So nobody wants to see the stain on African football and the controversial and dramatic images from the final. "And now the decision taken two months later to put a stain on African football. But reading the reaction from a lot of the African football fans, that's the argument that they're making, some of them, that it has put a stain on African football. "They have criticised the decision that was made, especially coming two months after the final where Senegal were awarded the winners. "The referee let the game go on to carry on playing until the final, when the players came back on the pitch. "But of course, there's the side where you see some Moroccan fans who themselves are saying that they're actually happy with the result. They feel that it's justified. "But there are so many reactions on social media that are criticising the decision." What happened in the final? Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot in stoppage-time of January's final following a VAR check for Malick Diouf's challenge on Brahim Diaz, which prompted Senegal boss Pape Thiaw, who was already unhappy with a late disallowed goal for his side, to send his players to the dressing room. Former Liverpool winger Mane ordered his Senegal team-mates to return to the pitch, and when they did after a 17-minute delay, Morocco's Diaz saw his Paneka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the final to extra-time. Gueye then struck the winner for Senegal in extra-time but there was unrest in the crowd and recriminations in the aftermath. What was said after? After the game, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui said the image of Africa is "shameful" after Senegal boss Thiaw led his players off the pitch. "The image we've given of Africa is shameful," he said. "A coach who asks his players to leave the field...what Pape did does not honour Africa. "Thiaw wasn't classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants. We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes." Thiaw said he regretted taking his players off the pitch. "I don't want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the football," he told BeIN Sports. "After reflecting on it, I made them come back [on the pitch] - you can react in the heat of the moment. "We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn't have done it, but it's done and now we present our apologies to football." The Confederation of African Football said they condemned the "unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials" during the final. Meanwhile, Mane, who played a key role in the Senegal players coming back onto the pitch to finish the match, added: "It would have been really a shame and sad to see this kind of thing, this kind of scenario happen. Imagine, just imagine for a second, going into the locker rooms and the football match stopped there. I think that would convey a negative image of our football; I think Africa today does not deserve that. "African football has evolved in an incredible way and the proof is that it is followed all over the world. So, on my side, I did what I had to do, after I think we also had a bit of luck to have a goalkeeper like Edouard Mendy, who saved us once again, so, I think otherwise overall in the match, Senegal deserved to win." Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara revealed the role Mane played in restarting the match. "We knew that today it was important to win this trophy, we were all determined to win it thanks to Sadio and we saw what he did today, it is just incredible," he said. "Well, we were in the dressing rooms, I was thinking of going with the 10 others, I think it was only him (Mane) who came in shouting, shouting at us to get out and go finish the match, so at the end he was right, we went out, we listened to him because when Sadio speaks everyone listens, we listened to him and finally it went well for us." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 World Cup 2026 qualifiers Viktor Gyökeres hits hat-trick as Sweden and Graham Potter see off Ukraine https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/26/ukraine-sweden-world-cup-qualifying-playoff-semi-final-match-report Sweden's Benjamin Nygren and Yasin Ayari (top) celebrate with Viktor Gyökeres (bottom right) after the Arsenal forward completed his hat-trick. Photograph: Jonas Ekströmer/TT/Shutterstock Graham Potter may be in it for the long haul but the immediate outlook looks pretty bright too. This was his third game in charge of Sweden and the biggest compliment to pay is that they looked like themselves. A strong, diligent defensive performance nullified a lightweight Ukraine and it helped that, at the other end, they could call upon a centre-forward head and shoulders above anyone else on view. That was Viktor Gyökeres, a talisman for his country even if Arsenal fans are yet to be fully enamoured. An object lesson in No 9 play brought a deserved hat-trick and ensured Sweden will reach the World Cup if they beat Poland at home on Tuesday. It is some turnaround from the directionless, disconsolate side Potter inherited; virtually ignored by a meagre travelling support when they were routed by Switzerland on his debut in November, this time they were serenaded by a jubilant yellow mass of 3,000 in the north-east corner. There is no mistaking that Potter, who signed a contract extension to 2030 this month, has knocked them into shape but he preferred to marvel at the input of Gyökeres. “To score a hat-trick was one thing,” he said. “But I thought his overall performance, his hold-up play, his defensive responsibility to the team, was incredible.” A goal within six minutes meant Sweden could believe. Serhiy Rebrov lamented how easily Ukraine, adopting Levante’s stadium as their latest makeshift home, were picked apart down their left but Benjamin Nygren’s devilish cross was a dream for Gyökeres. It was duly converted from a matter of feet, the matchball winner deserving credit for staying onside, and even at that point there was a sense Sweden would ease away. For all their possession, a Ukraine side hit by injuries and suspensions barely laid a glove on Sweden until Matviy Ponomarenko’s late consolation. At least the majority of a spirited crowd, largely drawn from the 338,000 Ukrainians resident in Spain, had their moment to cheer. Rebrov had hoped his team, nomads for the past four years, could match Sweden in the duels and give relief to those who continue to suffer terribly back home. They never wavered but, physically and between the ears, were thoroughly outdone. “We anticipated the game was going to be a bit more on the counterattack for us, also acknowledging that our front players are as good as any in the world at attacking big spaces,” Potter said. Exhibit B came at the same point of the second half, both sides having threatened in a fast restart. This time it was a quick kick from the keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt that sent Gyökeres away, although there was still plenty to do. He barrelled into the penalty area familiarly but then, benefiting from the absence of any Ukrainian challenge, delivered a gossamer touch. The right-footed finish, slid around Anatoliy Trubin with scant backlift, was delightful. “I liked the look of the team, the way they acted together,” Potter said. “They executed what we asked them to do.” He had selected three centre-backs and, even though the departure through injury of Isak Hien presented a disturbance before the interval, Ukraine were crowded out repeatedly. They were exposed a final time when Gyökeres got away once again, attempted to round Trubin and was clipped. He converted the penalty emphatically, via a snick of glove, and that familiar mask celebration could make yet another appearance. Maybe Gyökeres is best suited to assignments like this, when running and formidable work rate are the primary drivers for reward. Anthony Elanga also probed busily in attack but at times Gyökeres was a rampaging one-man band. For Rebrov, the regret was clear. “We lost tonight because we couldn’t show our maximum as a collective,” he said. “Sweden didn’t let us play in the final third, it was a very intense defence and very hard to open them.” If Viktor Tsygankov had not sidefooted at Nordfeldt shortly before Gyökeres’s final flourish, perhaps they would have summoned a ferocious final 20 minutes. But a team missing the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Artem Dovbyk appeared diminished in comparison to the unit that should have beaten Wales in their playoff four years ago. Rebrov’s contract is soon to expire; he answered questions about his future gruffly and the chances of his continuing beyond this summer appear remote. Nobody sitting in his seat should be judged too harshly given the overwhelming context. There is no danger of Potter facing much opprobrium for now. Poland’s visit to Stockholm promises to be a dogfight but, in short order, he has created the kind of throwback that traditionally earned Sweden such acclaim. Given Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski are still to return, it is not hard to see why his eyes lit up at an extended stay. “We’re still at the start of our journey together,” he said. A transatlantic leg may soon be added. Graham Potter's side are now just one win away from securing a place at the World Cup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,871 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 England getting ran ragged here, show the video of the energy of Japan players to our lot and they wouldn't get near them, should be 0-3 Palmer hauled off, fucking garbage again, this England side are absolute shite, I'm not having them winning the WC one bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyikolajevics 2,851 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Potter did it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 3 2 Sweden the wizard Potter got us to the World Cup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Italy crash out first WC winners to ever miss out on 3 straight finals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 31,181 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Czechia knock out Denmark in Prague Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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