World Cup
Liberia coach, Ansu Keita misses World Cup qualifier after death threats
Head coach Ansu Keita missed Liberia’s most recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier after receiving death threats made by angry supporters.
He was absent from the 1-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in Monrovia on Monday – a result which was Liberia’s sixth consecutive loss, leaving the Lone Stars winless in seven matches under Keita.
Some fans demanded the 63-year-old’s resignation after Liberia opened their qualifying campaign in Group H with a 1-0 loss to Malawi on Friday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex, the same venue which hosted the subsequent defeat by Equatorial Guinea.
Supporters broke a glass shield at the media centre and prevented a post-match news conference from taking place by barricading Liberia’s dressing room, with Keita and his players taking refuge inside for more than two hours.
Several Liberia Football Association (LFA) officials, including president Mustapha Raji, were also forced to remain within the complex for fear of reprisals.
Keita subsequently received a call from LFA vice president Adolphus Dolo on Saturday morning advising him to skip Monday’s game for his own safety.
“I told him that I would still go to the game,” Keita told BBC Sport Africa.
“If Liberians want to kill me for football, then let them kill me.”
However, Keita changed his mind after an LFA committee visited his hotel.
“I knew what the outcome of the meeting was when they came,” said Keita, who called for patience when he succeeded former international Thomas Kojo in January.
“So I told them, ‘I will not go for the game. I will recuse myself.’
“I didn’t want to be part of the match, for my own safety and in the best interests of the country. I am still the national team head coach because I have a two-year contract.”
Liberia’s deputy sports minister, Andy Quamie, said Keita had been threatened because of the team’s winless run.
“His life is very, very important,” added Quamie.
“It was important that he stayed away to save him from attacks.
“The LFA will decide whether Keita’s contract will be reviewed, he will be dismissed, or they will reach a mutual understanding. The government will support whatever decision they will reach.”
Keita has more than 15 years’ experience as a technical director and coach and was given an initial target of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in neighbouring Ivory Coast in 2024.
The Lone Stars were in contention to achieve that aim after a comeback 2-2 draw in South Africa in Keita’s first game as manager in March, but finished on one point following subsequent defeats to the same opponents and then Morocco.
“Death threats are not welcome and an investigation into [Keita’s] protection has got to take [precedence],” said former LFA vice president Wilmot Smith.
Charles Massaley, president of Liberian top-tier side FC Kallon, has given his backing to the under-fire boss, claiming youth projects were Keita’s “destiny”.
“Liberia needed him to build a foundation where we could all build the roof afterwards,” he said.
“I feel for him but I think he will be axed like others. He is not the national team’s problem. He is leaving the problem behind.”
Liberia are not scheduled to play again until they resume their qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup in June next year.
-BBC
World Cup
Uruguay’s Suarez bids farewell in goalless draw with Paraguay
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Paraguay held Uruguay to a goalless draw in their South American World Cup qualifier on Friday, with striker Luis Suarez bringing his 17-year international career to an end at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.
The 37-year-old forward reached 143 appearances for his country, finishing as their all-time leading scorer with 69 goals.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who finished third in the Copa America, played without five players from their starting line-up, including Darwin Nunez, who were suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following the defeat to Colombia in the continental showpiece in July.
Uruguay wasted several chances, most notably a first-half right-footed volley from Suarez that struck the post after Facundo Pellistri’s cross.
Paraguay also created clear-cut opportunities, with Miguel Almiron coming closest only to be denied by goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, but neither side managed to capitalise.
Uruguay remain second in the World Cup qualifying standings on 14 points, four behind leaders Argentina. They face Venezuela on Tuesday, while Paraguay take on Brazil.
-Reuters
World Cup
Brazil return to winning ways with dreary win over Ecuador
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Brazil got back to winning ways in the South American World Cup qualifiers with a drab 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Friday thanks to first-half goal by Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
After its first streak of losses in three successive qualifiers, Brazil did just enough to earn the win that lifted the struggling five-time World Cup champions to fourth in the standings with 10 points.
They are eight points behind leaders Argentina and only two points over Ecuador in sixth, the last spot guaranteed a berth at the 2026 finals.
Playing their first match after a disappointing Copa America defeat to Uruguay in the quarter-final, Brazil had another lacklustre performance, dominating possession but failing to create clear chances throughout the match.
Brazil misplaced too many passes and struggled to connect up front, out of ideas on how to beat Ecuador’s rock solid defensive block.
Ecuador were relentless while applying a physically aggressive pressure high with three hardworking forwards, making the locals uncomfortable when putting the ball in play. They Brazil almost no room to get inside their box either, forcing them to roam the ball horizontally around their penalty area and resort to strikes from long range.
Brazil’s only two shots on target on the first half were made by Rodrygo, who, after stinging the goalkeeper’s hands from a free kick early, were lucky to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. His effort fired from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and arched around the wrong-footed goalkeeper before hitting the right post and finding the back of the net.
Ecuador almost levelled in a counterattack right before the break, but defender Gabriel Magalhaes denied Moises Caicedo’s effort with a last-minute goal-line clearance.
Brazil came back even worse in the second half, with an uninspired Vinicius Jr creating their only shot on target in an absolutely morose 45 minutes, with boos greeting the final whistle.
“We needed this win, doesn’t matter if it was ugly or not. I’m happy with the victory and to have scored, and I hope it helps us getting better and progressing to the level that we want to reach moving forward,” Rodrygo told Brazilian TV Globo. Brazil will face Paraguay at Asuncion on Tuesday while Ecuador is set to host Peru in Quito on Monday.
-Reuters
World Cup
Home grounds of Barcelona, Real Madrid among 11 proposed World Cup 2030 venues
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Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF) has proposed 11 stadiums as candidates to host matches during the 2030 World Cup, including the home arenas of LaLiga clubs Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Spain, who will co-host the tournament with Portugal and Morocco as well as centenary hosts Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, will also have 45 additional grounds as team bases, the RFEF said on Friday.
Other LaLiga clubs whose home arenas have made the list include Sevilla, Malaga, Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Las Palmas and promoted Espanyol.
Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium, despite being the fifth-largest stadium in LaLiga with a capacity of 49,430, was not included in the list of potential venues.
“In order to define the venues, all the possibilities have been analysed, including the option of expanding to 13, an option that must be taken unanimously by the three federations,” the RFEF said in a statement.
The tournament will have a maximum of 20 venues, the RFEF added.
Co-hosts Morocco last year announced plans to build a stadium near Casablanca and upgrade six others before the World Cup.
-Reuters
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