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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Liverpool Back to Top

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Liverpool Back to Top

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Mohamed Salah took Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League with the winning goal as the Reds came from behind to defeat Brighton 2-1 at the weekend.

It was the ninth goal of the season in all competitions for the 32-year-old Egypt captain and two-time African Player of the Year.

The goal came amid continuing speculation over the future of Salah, with his contract due to expire at the end of this season.

Here, AFP Sport highlights some African headline-makers in the major European leagues.

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The forward struck in the 72nd minute with a superb curling finish from the edge of the area. Liverpool are two points clear of second placed Manchester City after winning eight of their first 10 league games.

JORDAN AYEW (Leicester)

The Ghana forward was the Foxes' last-gasp hero again as he rescued a 1-1 draw at Ipswich. Steve Cooper's side were in danger of losing to winless Ipswich until Ayew came off the bench to strike from close-range deep in stoppage time. Ayew's third goal this season was his first since netting a stoppage-time winner in Leicester's 3-2 victory at Southampton in October.

ANTOINE SEMENYO (Bournemouth)

Ghana winger Semenyo helped the Cherries claim a shock 2-1 win against champions Manchester City. The 24-year-old netted in the ninth minute with a composed finish from Milos Kerkez's cut-back. It was the hosts first win against City at the 22nd attempt.

SPAIN

MUNIR EL HADDADI (Leganes)

Morocco international El Haddadi scored a brilliant goal against Girona in his team's 4-3 defeat. The 29-year-old Spain-born former Barcelona forward cut in from the right and launched a shot into the top corner from distance after 77 minutes having come off the bench just moments earlier. It was his second goal in two matches after netting for Leganes against Ciudad de Lucena in the Copa del Rey.

ITALY

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)

The London-born Nigerian international grabbed two goals as Atalanta stunned Serie A leaders Napoli 3-0 in the sunshine at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium. Lookman's second goal, a curled shot after shaking off two Napoli defenders, was particularly memorable.

GERMANY

OMAR MARMOUSH (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Marmoush was on fire again in Eintracht Frankfurt's 7-2 demolition of Bundesliga tailenders Bochum, with the Egyptian named man of the match after scoring one goal and creating two. The 25-year-old Egyptian international curled home a free kick on 18 minutes. He has scored 10 goals this season, one less than Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy scored the winner as Borussia inflicted a first Bundesliga defeat of the season on RB Leipzig with a 2-1 home win. Probably the only Dortmund player who can hold his head high after recent poor form, Guirassy was a constant threat up front. With the match locked at 1-1 and half an hour remaining, the Guinea international headed in Maximilian Beier's looping cross.

FRANCE

ABDOULAYE TOURE (Le Havre)

Toure played a captain's role by scoring the only goal as Le Havre defeated Montpellier 1-0 in a battle of Ligue 1's bottom two clubs. The France-born Guinea international, who was key in the club's promotion to the top flight for this season, struck from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after Mali international full-back Falaye Sacko was penalized for handball.

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Sports

IOC Eases Restrictions on Russians Before 2028 as Anthem, Flag Ban Remains

Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 05/08/2016. Flagbearer Sergey Tetyukhin (RUS) of Russia arrives for the opening ceremony. (Reuters)
Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 05/08/2016. Flagbearer Sergey Tetyukhin (RUS) of Russia arrives for the opening ceremony. (Reuters)
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IOC Eases Restrictions on Russians Before 2028 as Anthem, Flag Ban Remains

Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 05/08/2016. Flagbearer Sergey Tetyukhin (RUS) of Russia arrives for the opening ceremony. (Reuters)
Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 05/08/2016. Flagbearer Sergey Tetyukhin (RUS) of Russia arrives for the opening ceremony. (Reuters)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday lifted restrictions on Russian athletes allowing them to compete in team events and in qualifying competitions for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

However, the IOC, meeting in Lausanne, kept in place the ban on the Russian national anthem being played and the flag being displayed, for the time being, but stipulated returning Russian athletes would have to pass "multiple" doping tests before being allowed to participate.

The accompanying statement, laying out a host of conditions, said individual sports could decide whether to allow the flag and anthem at their own events or stage competitions in Russia.

As for the Games, with the Los Angeles Olympics two years away, the IOC said it "will take a decision in relation to the display of the Russian flag, anthem, colors or any identifications for the Olympic Games at the appropriate time."

Russia welcomed the decision.

"The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics," Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding Russia planned to participate in qualifiers for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Russia's return remains more limited than that of Belarus, which was allowed back by the IOC in early May without any restrictions on national anthem or colors.

The IOC said to address "the lack of confidence" after a series of Russian doping scandals, "all athletes newly coming back to international competition must have been tested multiple times prior to their return".

The ban was imposed in October 2023, more than 18 months after the invasion of Ukraine, when the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) decided to include sports organizations in annexed territories as members.

"The ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories," said the IOC statement adding it will "closely monitor the situation".

The statement added: "The IOC condemns wars, armed conflicts and violence that cause human suffering wherever they occur."

Sports

Belgium’s New Approach without Big Names Pays Dividends

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) battles for the ball with United States' Antonee Robinson (5) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)
Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) battles for the ball with United States' Antonee Robinson (5) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)
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Belgium’s New Approach without Big Names Pays Dividends

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) battles for the ball with United States' Antonee Robinson (5) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)
Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) battles for the ball with United States' Antonee Robinson (5) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)

Belgium look to have found their best playing style at the World Cup after thrashing co-hosts the US 4-1 on Monday, but the successful tinkering of coach Rudi Garcia has come at a cost to his top players.

Belgium had been on the brink of elimination in the first knockout round against Senegal, coming back from two goals down with five minutes to play to advance to the round of 16, where Garcia made significant changes to the side.

Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku ‌were all benched, ‌with De Bruyne, so long the talisman of the team, ‌not ⁠even used in ⁠the clash in Seattle.

Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana and Dodi Lukebakio replaced Hans Vanaken, De Bruyne, and Doku, with Charles De Ketelaere moving to a center forward role that reaped immediate reward with two first-half goals to set the Belgians on their way to a comfortable victory.

Before kickoff, Garcia said his selections were logical given the players' training form and tactics for the day, and they worked out perfectly as the Belgians ⁠produced their best football of the tournament.

Their approach left the ‌hosts looking listless and overawed, as a more ‌aggressive midfield with captain Youri Tielemans pushed higher repeatedly won the second balls and regained possession ‌quickly.

They also used the space out wide to stretch a brittle and static ‌US defense.

ONANA'S LOSS TO KNEE INJURY DID NOT HAMPER BELGIUM

Not even the loss of Onana to a knee injury in the first half put them off their stride, with Vanaken taking over his role in front of the three defenders.

Garcia said he had been sure of ‌his line-up until hours before kickoff on Monday but knew how he wanted to play.

“We wanted to take control of ⁠the game from the ⁠start," he said.

“The plan was to bring Kevin in if we needed him, but once we scored, it was no longer necessary,” Garcia explained.

“And when Onana was injured, we turned to Hans with his stature. By the way, I am very happy with his goal because at that age (33) to score at a World Cup, after not always being called up to the national team.”

Garcia had been the subject of much criticism in Belgium as they struggled through the first round, drawing their opening two games before a comprehensive 5-1 win over New Zealand meant they topped the group.

Against Senegal, they only survived courtesy of their opponent’s defensive folly, winning with a penalty late in extra time after being on the brink of elimination.

Belgium, however, will now consider themselves serious contenders ahead of Friday’s quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles.

Sports

Mbappe Fires Back at Paraguayan Senator’s Racist Attack After France Victory

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at Bentley University in Waltham, near Boston, on July 07, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at Bentley University in Waltham, near Boston, on July 07, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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Mbappe Fires Back at Paraguayan Senator’s Racist Attack After France Victory

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at Bentley University in Waltham, near Boston, on July 07, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at Bentley University in Waltham, near Boston, on July 07, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a "despicable woman" on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay's elimination from the World Cup.

Mbappe's penalty proved the difference in a bruising and ill-tempered match as France won 1-0 in Philadelphia on Saturday to advance to the quarter-finals.

Celeste Amarilla wrote a long, racist tirade on X, describing Mbappe as a "colonized Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French," and as a "brute" who had not learned to write.

Paraguay's players should have slapped him after the match, she added.

Mbappe, the France captain, responded with a strongly worded statement defending not ‌only himself but ‌also the Paraguay players.

"Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and ‌unworthy ⁠of your position. ⁠You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition," he wrote.

"Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

"I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

The French Football Federation (FFF) escalated the matter, announcing ⁠plans to file a criminal complaint, describing her remarks as "utterly abhorrent and ‌unacceptable".

"These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted ‌here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor's office with a view ‌to legal proceedings," it said.

"These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who ‌disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted."

The Paraguayan government said it "deplores and rejects the statements" made by Amarilla, saying they are "contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes."

"The statements of ‌the aforementioned legislator correspond exclusively to the exercise of her individual responsibility as a member of the Legislative Branch and in no way ⁠represent the position of ⁠the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people," it said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron's office said the Paraguayan president had written to him to express support and condemned the remarks.

Macron on Tuesday offered words of support for the captain. "Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity," he said in a post on X.

Basilio Nunez, the leader of the South American country's legislature, said the comments do not represent the "genuine values" of Paraguayans.

"As President of the National Congress, I strongly reject racist, xenophobic messages and those that incite violence against any person," Nunez said.

"The Paraguayan national team gave their all with honor and grit at the World Cup. Politics and sports should be kept separate."

France's assistant coach Guy Stephan said: "We haven't spoken with Kylian yet, haven't had the opportunity.

"But in three words: it's disgraceful, vile, outrageous."