International Football
Cameroon release World Cup play-off squad against Algeria 
Cameroon’s recently appointed coach has handed a first invitation to the country’s senior men’s national team to German-based holding midfielder Gaël Bella Ondoua. Rigobert Song has released a 38-man provisional squad for the Indomitable Lions’ Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff double-header later this March.
Ondoua is the only player preselected for the first time in the list of players dominated by TotalEnergies 2021 AFCON Bronze Medalists.
AFCON 2021 Golden Boot winner Vincent Aboubakar, spearheads the squad which also includes current UEFA top scorer Karl Toko Ekambi of Olympique Lyonnais in France.
The squad of four goalkeepers has 2017 AFCON winner and goalkeeper of the tournament Fabrice Ondoa alongside substitute goalkeeper of the 2021 competition. They are complemented by Congo-based Simon Omossola of AS Vita and Devis Epassy who has featured twice for Cameroon in the current FIFA World cup qualifier.
In defense, Song has picked 14 players, most of whom were at the last with the exception of Jean Claude Billong of Clermont in France and Sacha Boey of Turkish giants Galatasaray. Both players missed the AFCON because of injuries and return to compete for a spot with the likes of; deputy captain Michael Ngadeu, AFCON 2021 revelation Jean-Charles Castelletto, US-based Olivier Mbaizo, Jerome Onguene among others.
There is a bigger competition for spots in the midfield as all seven midfielders Song’s predecessor picked for the AFCON have new company in Jeando Fuchs who has been out of the team for over a year. Swansea City midfielder Olivier Ntcham who turned down a previous invitation in November 2019 is another of the returning options plus newcomers Gaël Bella Ondoua who is having a stellar season at German second tier side Hannover 96.
Cyprus base Arnaud Djoum- one of the midfield propeller of Cameroon’s fifth AFCON success in 2017, in Gabon is another notable figure returning to the team after as a midfield option.
Napoli’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Martin Hongla, Samuel Oum Gouet are the more established midfielders in the the squad.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar leads the eleven forward in the initial squad with Kevin Soni who is hoping to stay this time around, after he was left out of the AFCON squad.
Eight players in the team came through Song’s Under-23 squad of three years ago, seven of which participated at the 2019 Under-23 AFCON tournament in Egypt.
Record participants – Cameroon with seven appearances at the FIFA World cup face Algeria targeting a fifth appearance, on March 25 at the Japoma Stadium in the first-leg game before jetting to Algeria to face coach Djamel Belmadi’s Desert Foxes in the return game four days later, at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
Ondoa Josep Fabrice (FK Auda, Lituania); Devis Epassy (OFI Crete, Greece); Simon Omossola ( Vita Club, DR Cong); Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland)
Defenders:
Onguene Jerome ( RB Salzburg,Austria); Fai Collins (Al-Tai,Saudi Arabia); Moukoudi Harold (Saint Etienne, France); Sacha Boey (Galatasaray,Turkey); Tchamba Duplex (SønderjyskE, Danmark); Mbaizo Olivier (Union Philadelphia,USA); Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders,USA); Enzo Ebosse(SCO Angers;France); Jean Claude Billong (Clermont-France); Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Gent, Belgium); Jean Charles Castelleto (FC Nantes, France);
Midfielders:
Zambo Anguissa (Napoli, Italy); Neyou Yvan (Saint Etienne, France); Onana Jean Emile (Bordeaux-France); Djoum Arnaud (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus); Oum Gouet (KV Mechelen-Belgium); Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona-Italy); Kunde Malong (Olympiakos-Greece); Lea Siliki (Middlesbrough– England); Jeando Fuchs (Peterborough United, England); Olivier Ntcham (Swansea,England); Gaël Bella Ondoua- (Honnover 96-Germany)
Forwards:
Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon,France); Kévin Olivier Soni (Asteras Tripolis, Greece); Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys, Switzerland ): Leandre Tawamba (Al Taawoun, Saudi Arabia); Aboubakar Vincent (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Stephane Bahoken (SCO Angers, France); John Mary (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia); Njie Clinton (Dynamo Moscow, Russia); Ignatius Ganago (RC Lens, France); Eric Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich,Germany); Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenshua – China)
International Football
Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.
The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.
U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.
However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.
The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.
The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.
-Reuters
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
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