World Cup
Jalal, the Moroccan referee of the Rwanda-Nigeria match flashed 13 yellow cards in two games!
Caution should be a watchword for the Rwandan and Nigerian players when they file out for a World Cup qualifying duel on Friday 21 March.
The Moroccan referee for the match, Jayed Jalal, is very assertive. He controls matches with an iron hand, bringing sanity to the game.
The 37-year-old could be recalled issuing a whopping 13 yellow cards in two of his last international engagements.
In Namibia’s scoreless draw with Cameroon in last November’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, he flashed the yellow card five times.
Before that, he had handled the Angola 2-1 win over Sudan where eight yellow cards were issued.
The Super Eagles should be accustomed to the referee for his stern control.
Jalal was the referee of the Ghana versus Nigeria friendly match at the Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, almost exactly to the forthcoming duel with Rwanda.
The Moroccan issued four yellow cards, two to each side and a straight red card to a Ghanaian, Jerome Opoku in the 56th minute.
In another match involving the Nigeria U-20 side with Senegal last year, February, Jalal issued four yellow cards, one of which was a second caution to Nigeria’s Ahmed Abdulahi leading to the player’s expulsion in the 90th minute of the match.
Jalal will travel to Kigali with fellow Moroccans, Mostapha Akarkad and Hamza Nassiri who will serve as first and second assistant referees respectively.
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Eric Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ final 23 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
In the squad are two home boys, Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole and Niger Tornadoes’ Papa Daniel Mustapha.
Both were also in the Nigerian squad that qualified for the African Nations Championship.
The others are the regulars except for the return of some previously exempted ones like Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain) who is being recalled after his last-minute drop out of the AFCON 2023 squad and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England).
The first squad of Chelle include goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as well as defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina.
In the midfield are Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses.
Also in the final list are defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forward, Samuel Chukwueze.
Czech Republic-based defender Igoh Ogbu makes the final cut, alongside Belgium-based forward Tolu Arokodare.
Nigeria will confront group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE GAMES
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
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Benin coach Gernot Rohr handed a first call up to Italian based teenage striker Candas Fiogbé as he named a 25-man squad to take on Zimbabwe and South Africa in the 2-26 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.
The 19-year-old Fiogbe has yet to play a senior match but has been competing for Atalanta’s under-20 team in Italy’s Primavera 1 league and their under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League, where he has netted six goals.
There is also a recall for defender Brandon Agounon, who was in the squad one year ago but has yet to win a cap.
But Benin must do without the injured French-based pair of Aiyegun Tosin and Cédric Hountondji while Olivier Verdon has been left out for disciplinary reasons, Rohr told a press conference on Monday.
Verdon, 29, competed for Benin at the 2019 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
There are only two home-based players in the squad with the rest drawn from clubs in 17 different countries.
Benin play away against Zimbabwe in Durban, South Africa on March 20 and then travel to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast where they are hosting their game against Bafana Bafana on March 25.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Saturnin Allagbé (Botev Vratsa, Bulgaria), Marcel Dandjinou (JDR Stars, South Africa), Serges Obassa (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders: Moise Adilehou (Laval, France), Brandon Agounon (Châteauroux, France), Rodrigue Fassinou (Coton Sport Benin), David Kiki (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Rachid Moumini (Ayéma), Tamimou Ouorou (Hatta, United Arab Emirates), Yohan Roche (Petrolul 52, Romania), Rabiou Sankamao (Wydad Fès, Morocco), Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland)
Midfielders: Mattéo Ahlinvi (Arsenal Tula, Russia), Mariano Ahouangbo (Soliman, Tunisia), Gislain Ahoudo (Gabès, Tunisia), Samadou Attidjikou (Al Masry, Egypt), Sessi d’Almeida (Apollon Limassol. Cyprus), Dodo Dokou (Smouha, Egypt), Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers Zurich, Switzerland)
Forwards: Jodel Dossou (Victoria Rosport, Luxembourg), Candas Fiogbé (Atalanta, Italy), Andréas Hountondji (Standard Liège, Belgium), Steve Mounié (FC Augsburg, Germany), Junior Olaitan (Grenoble, France), Steve-Waren Traoré (Haka, Finland)
-CAF
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Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore has returned to the national team for the first time since November after recovering from a knee injury.
The Ajax forward headlines a 25-man squad named by coach Brama Traoré for the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau later this month.
The squad also sees the return of several key players, including first-choice goalkeeper Hervé Koffi (Lens), defender Mohamed Ali Yabré (PSV Eindhoven), and midfielder Ismahila Ouédraogo (Atromitos), all of whom were absent in recent international windows.
Coach Brama Traoré will be looking to build momentum as Burkina Faso push for qualification to their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
The Stallions currently sit in a competitive qualifying group and will aim to take maximum points in the double-header against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.
Alongside Bertrand Traoré, other major returnees include defender Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven), midfielder Ibrahim Blati Touré (Pyramids FC), and winger Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth).
Their presence bolsters a team that struggled with absences in previous fixtures.
Goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, who has been Burkina Faso’s first-choice shot-stopper for several years, is back to take command between the posts.
His return provides stability in goal as the Stallions prepare for two crucial matches in their qualifying campaign.
New Faces in the Squad
Three players have earned their first national team call-ups. Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger) joins the squad for the first time, while France-based duo Arsène Kouassi (Ajaccio) and Cyriaque Irié (Troyes) also receive their maiden selections.
Their inclusion highlights the coach’s intent to expand the talent pool and test fresh options ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Josué Tiendrébéogo (Annecy), who made his international debut last November, keeps his place in the squad. Established names such as Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol), and Cédric Badolo (Spartak Trnava) also feature prominently.
Aziz Ki Left Out Again
Notably absent from the squad is Stéphane Aziz Ki (Young Africans), who is left out for the second consecutive international break.
His omission comes after he made headlines following his marriage to Tanzanian singer Hamisa Mobetto. The reasons for his continued absence remain undisclosed by the coach.
Squad Balance and Strength in Key Areas
Burkina Faso’s squad features a mix of experience and emerging talent across all positions. In goal, Koffi is supported by Sofiane Ouédraogo (AS Vita Club) and Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag).
The defence is led by Bundesliga star Edmond Tapsoba, alongside Wolverhampton’s Yacouba Djiga, Werder Bremen’s Issa Kaboré, and RS Berkane’s Issoufou Dayo.
The midfield is packed with creative and defensive options, with Blati Touré, Cédric Badolo, and Mohamed Zougrana expected to play crucial roles.
In attack, Traoré’s return strengthens an already talented frontline, which also includes Dango Ouattara and Mohamed Konaté (Al-Riyadh).
Burkina Faso will look to make a statement in these qualifiers as they continue their quest for a historic place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Burkina Faso Squad
Goalkeepers: Hervé Koffi (Lens, France), Sofiane Ouédraogo (AS Vita Club, DRC), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands)
Defenders: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Yacouba Djiga (Wolverhampton, England), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Issa Kaboré (Werder Bremen, Germany), Mohamed Yabré (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Arsène Kouassi (Ajaccio, France), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane, Morocco)
Midfielders: Mohamed Zougrana (MC Alger, Algeria), Ismahila Ouédraogo (Pansekairos, Greece), Saïdou Simporé (Al Masry, Egypt), Ibrahim Blati Touré (Pyramids FC, Egypt), Cédric Badolo (Spartak Trnava, Slovakia), Raouf Memel Dao (Sonabel, Burkina Faso), Josué Tiendrébéogo (Annecy, France), Salou Dramane (Hapoel Haifa, Israel)
Forwards: Dango Ouattara (AFC Bournemouth, England), Hassane Bandé (HJK Helsinki, Finland), Cyriaque Irié (Troyes, France), Lassina Traoré (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Mohamed Konaté (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Bertrand Traoré (Ajax, Netherlands)
-CAF
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