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African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
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African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP

Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah turned creator at the weekend, setting up Trent Alexander-Arnold to equalize and force a 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester City.

Defending champions City are second and Liverpool third behind leaders Arsenal in a tight title race with only two points separating the top three.

It was a profitable weekend for Nigerians with Ademola Lookman scoring in Italy, Umar Sadiq in Spain and Terem Moffi in France.

The Egypt forward provided the assist as Jurgen Klopp's side escaped with a 1-1 draw from their meeting with Manchester City. Liverpool kicked off at the Etihad Stadium in second place behind City and it was Pep Guardiola's men who drew first blood when Erling Haaland fired home for his 50th Premier League goal in the first half. But Salah helped Liverpool peg back the treble winners in the closing stages when his pass found Alexander-Arnold, who drilled a low shot into the far corner to ensure the two title heavyweights finished level, AFP report highlighted.

- UMAR SADIQ (Real Sociedad)

Sadiq netted his first goal of the season for Real Sociedad in their 2-1 win over Sevilla. The 26-year-old failed to find the net in his first 11 appearances for the club this season in La Liga, but ended his drought with a brilliant strike as he ripped an effort into the top corner from more than 25 yards.

- YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)

The Moroccan forward continued his good form with a fourth goal in seven league games, but it was not enough to rescue his team a point at Real Sociedad. The striker converted a downward header from close range, showing his predatory instincts in the box.

- ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING (Bayern Munich)

Handed just a second league start this season, the Cameroon striker provided impetus and energy in Bayern's 1-0 win over Cologne. While Choupo-Moting has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of England captain Harry Kane, he created the game's only goal. With 20 minutes gone, Bayern counterattacked and Choupo-Moting's shot was cleared off the line into the path of Kane, who slotted home.

- TEREM MOFFI (Nice)

The Nigerian was perfectly positioned in the 54th minute to score off a swift counterattack and give second-placed Nice a 1-0 home win over lowly Toulouse. It was the fourth goal of the Ligue 1 campaign for the 24-year-old, who played in Lithuania and Belgium before moving to France three years ago.

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Sports

Muchova Squeaks Out Win over Osaka to Reach China Open Quarter-Finals

Tennis - China Open - National Tennis Center, Beijing, China - October 6, 2026 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova signs autographs after winning her round of 16 match against Japan's Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Tennis - China Open - National Tennis Center, Beijing, China - October 6, 2026 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova signs autographs after winning her round of 16 match against Japan's Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
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Muchova Squeaks Out Win over Osaka to Reach China Open Quarter-Finals

Tennis - China Open - National Tennis Center, Beijing, China - October 6, 2026 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova signs autographs after winning her round of 16 match against Japan's Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Tennis - China Open - National Tennis Center, Beijing, China - October 6, 2026 Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova signs autographs after winning her round of 16 match against Japan's Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Karolina Muchova beat former world number one Naomi Osaka on her ninth match point to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open, triumphant in a tense tie-break on Tuesday in Beijing.

Muchova, the seventh seed, overcame 50 unforced errors across the two-hour-and-52-minute match to beat Osaka 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (9/7).

Osaka, the current world number 17, surrendered a three-game lead in the first set after a series of misfired shots in the seventh game.

The 28-year-old who represents Japan dropped just one game to win the second set and saved eight match points in the third but could not get past Muchova's match-winning volley.

"I think she played always great and steady," the 30-year-old Czech player told the crowd.

"I was shaking. I'm happy I made the last volley... Naomi could be standing here. It's me, and I'm really grateful for it."

She will play either fellow Czech player Nikola Bartunkova or Austria's Sinja Kraus.

Earlier, Russia's Mirra Andreeva beat Ukraine's Daria Snigur 6-2, 6-2 to book her quarter-final spot against fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Alexandrova, ranked 28th, upset Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-2, ending the Czech player's bid to return to the Beijing final that she reached last year.

In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic was due to play Alex de Minaur for the title.

Djokovic, 39, enters the final with six titles in Beijing -- although his most recent came in 2015 -- and 33 wins in as many matches.

He secured his spot in the final after a grueling physical battle with Daniil Medvedev on Monday ended with the Russian disqualified for hitting a spectator with a ball.

The China Open told AFP on Tuesday the fan was "OK" and "not badly injured".

Sports

Zidane Begins France Reign Unbeaten and Brimming with Optimism

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane gestures as he addresses media during a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Belgium at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on October 4, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane gestures as he addresses media during a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Belgium at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on October 4, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Zidane Begins France Reign Unbeaten and Brimming with Optimism

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane gestures as he addresses media during a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Belgium at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on October 4, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane gestures as he addresses media during a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Belgium at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on October 4, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Zinedine Zidane's first two weeks in charge of the French national team were eagerly awaited after 14 years under Didier Deschamps, and the new manager came through the international window unbeaten in the Nations League, with a few glimmers of promise.

The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner was the first France men's coach to win his debut game since Aime Jacquet in 1994, with a 1-0 victory in Türkiye, and the first to go undefeated in his first four matches since Raymond Domenech in 2004.

After a labored win over Türkiye, France beat Belgium twice and were held to ‌a 1-1 draw ‌by Italy on Friday in Zidane's first home game in charge, Reuters said.

"We ‌were ⁠pretty good in ⁠our matches even though we can always do better," Zidane told a press conference on Monday.

"We did this over 15 days, in a first international window. It's encouraging and I'm very optimistic for what comes next. We worked really well, and it was important to put in fifteen days of real quality," he added.

NOT MANY CHANCES

Les Bleus struggled with the same issues across their four games: plenty of control — an average of 62% possession — but too few chances ⁠and not enough cutting edge in the final third.

"Even if not ‌everything from the first half should be thrown away, ‌we lacked penetration in the final thirty meters, something that let us down in the other three ‌matches," Zidane said.

Playing without captain Kylian Mbappe for the last three matches after he ‌was injured after scoring the winner against Türkiye, France did not score in the first half during their last eight games.

But Zidane's squad have shown character, with Michael Olise snatching a late winner in Belgium and substitutes Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Olise turning the second clash against the Belgians ‌on its head in the final 15 minutes.

"I'm happy with the reaction from the whole team, and to finish these fifteen days ⁠on a very, ⁠very positive note. I think it's deserved given everything we've done," Zidane said.

Zidane has changed his line-up from one match to the next. He gave first international caps to six players: Guillaume Restes, Jeremy Jacquet, Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha, Esteban Lepaul and Leny Yoro.

"For this international window, it was planned. We played four matches in fifteen days and the players have only just started their season. I also wanted to see everyone," Zidane said.

Liverpool defender Jacquet and Como midfielder Da Cunha were among the players who staked a claim for the future, while Ousmane Dembele struggled. The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner failed to make an impact, whether used as a striker or on the right wing.

Olise was the attacking leader of the side, with four goals and two assists in four matches.

"What he's doing is just exceptional," Zidane said.

France visit Italy before hosting Türkiye next month with a Nations League quarter-final spot on the line.

Sports

Italian Police Target 22 'Ultras' after Violence at Torino-Juventus Match

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 20, 2026 Juventus fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 20, 2026 Juventus fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri
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Italian Police Target 22 'Ultras' after Violence at Torino-Juventus Match

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 20, 2026 Juventus fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 20, 2026 Juventus fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri

Italian police have imposed supervision orders on 22 hardcore soccer fans as part of an investigation into clashes before the Torino-Juventus derby match in May.

The 22 are members of "ultra" groups from Juve and Torino who clashed outside the Olimpico Grande Torino stadium in Turin on May 24, the final day of last season. They are ⁠accused of throwing ⁠bottles, stones and explosive devices as well as affray, Reuters quoted police as saying in a statement on Tuesday.

Nine police officers were injured as they tried to keep the rival groups ⁠apart. A 36-year-old Juventus fan suffered a serious head injury after he was hit by a tear gas canister during the unrest.

The precautionary measures, imposed in coordination with police across a number of cities in northern Italy, impose a ban on staying in Turin and an obligation to report ⁠regularly ⁠to the local authorities.

A further 20 fans accused of involvement in the clashes have also been given stadium bans.

May's match ended in a 2-2 draw. Juventus and Turin are scheduled to meet again in Serie A at the Allianz Stadium, the home of Juventus, on January 6, a national holiday in Italy.