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Napoli to Sign African Players Only if They Sign AFCON Waiver, Owner Says

Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
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Napoli to Sign African Players Only if They Sign AFCON Waiver, Owner Says

Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Tuesday he would not sign African players any longer unless they agreed to not take part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly - now at Premier League side Chelsea - and Cameroon midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa missed several Napoli games while on international duty at this year's AFCON, which took place between January and February.

"Or they sign a waiver giving up their right to participate to the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments or between AFCON and the championships in South America ... I never have them (Napoli players) available," he said in a Wall Street Italia talk show.

He criticized the fact that clubs were agreeing to more and more games, suggesting a European tournament with the top clubs from the strongest five countries instead of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

"The world of football cannot self manage because we do the puppet show for others ... if we could play 100 games, it would be a happy ending for everyone and we (clubs) like cretins agree to that."

The Italian film producer also said he did not support the breakaway European Super League which folded less than 48 hours after it was announced last year as it was an elite club.

"You cannot create a super club of privileged members who invite others (to the league). You need to democratically keep the door open for everyone," he said.

He added he was tired of offers from investment funds for the club, adding that he was offered 900 million euros around four to five years ago by American investors.

"You (bidders) did not understand a thing (about me). I am a pure entrepreneur who enjoys doing business ... let me play," he said.

"I want to be the 12th player on the pitch. Actually the 12th player is the fan, I can be the 13th or even the 14th, as 14 is my favorite number."

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AFC Confirm Jeddah to Host Postponed Asian Champions League Matches

The Asian Football Confederation logo
The Asian Football Confederation logo
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AFC Confirm Jeddah to Host Postponed Asian Champions League Matches

The Asian Football Confederation logo
The Asian Football Confederation logo

Four Asian Champions League Elite ties that were postponed due to the conflict in the Middle East will be moved to Jeddah and played on a single-leg basis next month, the Asian Football Confederation said on Tuesday.

The ⁠last-16 encounters had originally been scheduled to be played in Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on a home-and-away basis in the first two weeks of March.

Defending champions Al-Ahli ⁠are due to take on Al-Duhail from Qatar while four-times winners Al-Hilal face Al-Sadd. Shabab Al-Ahli from the UAE play Iran's Tractor FC and Al-Wahda meet Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.

Those fixtures will now be held on April 13 and 14 as single-leg ties ahead of the tournament's finals stage.

Jeddah had already been slated to ⁠host ⁠the quarter-finals, semis and final on a centralized basis with matches running from April 16 to 25.

Last-16 matches on the Eastern side of the draw have already been concluded, with Japanese pair Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia joined in the quarter-finals by Thailand's Buriram United and Johor Darul Ta'zim from Malaysia.

The draw for the quarter-finals will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Sports

Netherlands Attacker Lang to Miss Norway Friendly After Surgery

Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang reacts on the floor after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang reacts on the floor after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
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Netherlands Attacker Lang to Miss Norway Friendly After Surgery

Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang reacts on the floor after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on March 18, 2026. (AFP)
Galatasaray's Dutch forward #77 Noa Lang reacts on the floor after cutting his thumb during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on March 18, 2026. (AFP)

Netherlands ‌attacker Noa Lang will miss Friday's friendly against Norway after having surgery on his hand but could return for their match against Ecuador next week, the team said.

Lang misses the first of the two World Cup ‌warm-ups after ‌suffering a deep cut ‌to ⁠his right thumb ⁠during Galatasaray's Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield last Wednesday, the Dutch football association confirmed.

The 26-year-old's hand was trapped between two ⁠advertising boards in a ‌freak accident ‌and was operated on at ‌an English hospital.

While Friday's match ‌in Amsterdam comes too soon for Lang, Dutch medical staff expect him to be available for ‌the friendly against Ecuador in Eindhoven, media reports ⁠on ⁠Tuesday said.

The Netherlands already have a long list of injuries as they prepare for the World Cup with Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Memphis Depay, Emmanuel Emegha, Justin Kluivert and back-up goalkeeper Robin Roefs all unavailable this month.

Sports

Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday, urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures.

With the specter of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, Gattuso knows his players must overcome the mental weakness that has plagued Italy's World Cup ambitions.

Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualification failure, the Italians ‌have managed only ‌one victory at a World Cup, a ‌2-1 ⁠group-stage win over ⁠England 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time.

"We must be able to make the players feel lighter," Gattuso told reporters at Italy’s Coverciano training base on Monday. "Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups... but there is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros ⁠and played in Champions League finals. They are accustomed ‌to these games."

"There are no excuses; ‌we must only think about Thursday’s game," Gattuso said. "We must have the ‌right mentality and serenity. We respect the opponents... but we must ‌be clear-headed and smell the danger."

Should they get past Northern Ireland they would face a final against Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 31 to qualify for the showpiece tournament in North America.

Gattuso confirmed that Liverpool forward ‌Federico Chiesa had left the camp.

"He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was ⁠useless for him ⁠to stay here," Gattuso said. "When I heard that he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s right to let him do it."

Gattuso revealed he personally chose the 23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for the clash, admitting he feared the "caustic" atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early.

"At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes," Gattuso explained. "I want to create a real cauldron-like atmosphere. Thursday’s game is the only target. All the rest is the past."