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Mahrez to Captain Algeria at Africa Cup of Nations Finals

Mahrez (C) celebrates with teammates after winning the African Cup of Nations. (AFP file photo)
Mahrez (C) celebrates with teammates after winning the African Cup of Nations. (AFP file photo)
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Mahrez to Captain Algeria at Africa Cup of Nations Finals

Mahrez (C) celebrates with teammates after winning the African Cup of Nations. (AFP file photo)
Mahrez (C) celebrates with teammates after winning the African Cup of Nations. (AFP file photo)

Riyad Mahrez will captain Algeria as they defend their African Cup of Nations crown next month, named by coach Djamel Belmadi to lead his 28-man squad at the tournament in Cameroon.

The Manchester City attacker is one of 15 players from the squad that won the last finals in 2019 to return for the delayed 2021 edition, where Algeria compete in Group E against Equatorial Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.

Algeria begin the defense of their crown against Sierra Leone on Jan. 11 in Douala.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rais Mbolhi (Al Ittifaq), Alexandre Oukidja (Metz), Moustapha Zeghba (Damak)

Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice), Abdelkader Bedrane (Esperance), Houcine Benayada (Etoile Sahel), Djamel Benlamri (Qatar SC), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Ilyes Chetti (Esperance), Reda Halaimia (Beerschot), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal), Mehdi Tahrat (Al Gharafa), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Haris Belkebla (Stade Brest), Sofiane Bendebka (Al Fateh), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan), Yacine Brahimi (Al Rayyan), Sofiane Feghouli (Galatasaray), Adam Ounas (Napoli), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente Enschede), Adem Zorgane (Charleroi)

Forwards: Mohamed El Amine Amoura (FC Lugano), Youcef Belaili (unattached), Said Benrahma (West Ham United), Farid Boulaya (Metz), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Islam Slimani (Olympique Lyonnais).

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England Hand First Call-up to Bournemouth Defender Hill

Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Leeds United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 31, 2026 AFC Bournemouth's James Hill celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Leeds United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 31, 2026 AFC Bournemouth's James Hill celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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England Hand First Call-up to Bournemouth Defender Hill

Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Leeds United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 31, 2026 AFC Bournemouth's James Hill celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Leeds United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 31, 2026 AFC Bournemouth's James Hill celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

England have called up uncapped Bournemouth defender James Hill for their Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.

Hill has been added to Thomas Tuchel's squad after center-backs Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa were ruled out of Thursday's clash with Croatia at Wembley.

Guehi withdrew with an injury suffered in Manchester City's Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Newcastle defender Dan Burn was called up on Monday, while Arsenal star Konsa will not be fit to face Slaven Bilic's side at Wembley as he is following his own fitness program.

Konsa is expected to be fit for Sunday's game against world champions Spain in Madrid.

The unheralded Hill has enjoyed a rapid rise this season, playing 15 times for Bournemouth to catch Tuchel's eye.

Hill will be fighting for a spot in England's central defense along with Burn, Jarell Quansah and Jarrad Branthwaite.

"Bournemouth defender James Hill has received his first call-up to the England squad," a Football Association statement said on Tuesday.

"The 24-year-old, who represented his nation at under-20 and under-21 level, has joined England ahead of the forthcoming Nations League fixtures.

"Meanwhile, Ezri Konsa will not be in contention for Croatia at Wembley on Thursday as he continues to follow his own program but will return to full training later this week before Sunday's trip to Spain."

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Julian Alvarez Exit Comments Annoyed Atletico Players Says Alex Baena

LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - November 8, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - November 8, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Julian Alvarez Exit Comments Annoyed Atletico Players Says Alex Baena

LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - November 8, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - November 8, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Julian Alvarez's public expression ‌of his desire to leave Atletico Madrid did not go down well with his teammates, Spain midfielder Alex Baena said in a radio interview on Monday night.

The Argentine striker said publicly in June that he had discussed his future with the club and that "the best thing for everyone would be a transfer", adding that he was keen to fulfill his dream.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta confirmed in August that the club were interested ‌in signing ‌Alvarez, but Atletico refused to sell ‌him ⁠in a transfer ⁠saga that dominated sports headlines in Spain over the summer.

"It feels a bit strange when a teammate says publicly that he wants to leave. It didn’t sit very well with us," Baena told the radio station Cadena SER on Monday night.

"I can understand a player ⁠having doubts if a club like Barca ‌or Real Madrid comes ‌in for you, but, ultimately, it was the way he went ‌about it that really annoyed us at Atletico."

Alvarez ‌apologized to Atletico fans in October for his comments and, while the intense whistling reserved for him at the Metropolitano at the start of the season has subsided, there is ‌still audible hostility from the Atletico crowd.

"We would have supported him regardless of ⁠what he ⁠decided to do. The important thing is that he is with us now, and we need to show him all the affection in the world," said Baena.

Similarly, manager Diego Simeone told a press conference on Sunday that Atletico would wait for Alvarez to return to his best because "he's a great player and we love him".

Barcelona sporting director Deco confirmed in September that Barcelona had made an offer for Alvarez in the summer, but said that "Julian is in the past" as he looked to move on from the story.

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Mbappe in Good Spirits After Difficult Spell, Says Konate

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe gestures during a training session, third days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Italy, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, near Paris, on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe gestures during a training session, third days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Italy, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, near Paris, on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Mbappe in Good Spirits After Difficult Spell, Says Konate

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe gestures during a training session, third days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Italy, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, near Paris, on November 9, 2026. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe gestures during a training session, third days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Italy, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, near Paris, on November 9, 2026. (AFP)

France captain Kylian ‌Mbappe had put a difficult period behind him and is focused on helping his team ahead of Nations League fixtures against Italy and Türkiye, defender Ibrahima Konate said.

Mbappe has returned to the France squad after missing their last three matches through injury, having failed to win the Ballon d'Or award and ‌attracting criticism ‌in China over his comments ‌relating ⁠to Mao Zedong, ⁠modern China’s founding leader.

"He's in a very good frame of mind; you can see that from his recent matches," Konate told reporters. "He's been decisive. He's absolutely vital for us in Madrid."

The ⁠27-year-old Real Madrid forward finished ‌second to England ‌captain Harry Kane in the Ballon d'Or voting.

He ‌also had to apologize for remarks ‌made during an interview in which he referred to an online meme depicting his face on an image of Mao.

The episode ‌sparked backlash in China, prompting several brands to end commercial partnerships ⁠with ⁠Mbappe, while Spanish league matches were dropped from state broadcaster CCTV's schedule.

Konate, also Mbappe's club teammate at Real Madrid, said the World Cup winner had responded in typical fashion.

"He's a competitor, so of course not winning the Ballon d'Or when he thought he had a chance is difficult," Konate said. "But the next day he was fully focused in training."