Sports

Guardiola slams EFL rule as Guéhi is ruled out of Carabao Cup final

Published

2 months ago

February 5, 2026

Pep Guardiola has called on the English Football League to change its rules to allow Manchester City defender Marc Guéhi to play in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Guéhi is currently ineligible for the final at Wembley on March 22 after joining City from Crystal Palace following their 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the first leg of the semi-final.

As reported by BBC on Thursday, Carabao Cup regulations state that players must be registered prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or before the first leg of the semi-final, whichever comes sooner, in order to be eligible to play in the competition.

As a result, the England centre-back missed both legs of City’s 5-1 aggregate win over Newcastle and is also set to miss the final.

Speaking after Wednesday’s second-leg victory, Guardiola questioned the logic of the rule and confirmed the club would ask the EFL to reconsider Guéhi’s eligibility.

“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final.

“I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play because of a rule I don’t understand,” Guardiola said.

City’s other January signing, Antoine Semenyo, was eligible for the semi-final after arriving from Bournemouth four days before the first leg, and went on to score in that match.

“Antoine arrived before the first game so he could play. “Now it’s the final. Why should Marc not play? We pay his salary, he is our player,” he added.

Guardiola also pointed to the fact that City have already benefited from a rule change this season that removed traditional cup-tying restrictions, allowing players to represent more than one club in the competition.

That amendment allowed Semenyo and defender Max Alleyne to feature in the semi-finals despite having appeared for Bournemouth and Watford earlier in the tournament.

Asked whether he expected the EFL to grant City’s request, Guardiola said he was doubtful but confirmed the club would still make an approach.

“No,” he said. “But we will try.”

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Sports

World Cup boost as late goal earns Australia 1-0 win over Cameroon

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Jordan Bos snatched a late winner as a lacklustre Australia edged Cameroon 1-0 for a confidence-boosting victory as they fine-tune preparations ahead of the World Cup.

There were few opportunities in the dour friendly at Sydney’s Stadium Australia until the Feyenoord midfielder pounced with five minutes left.

Ajdin Hrustic missed a penalty in the much-needed win for a side that suffered two losses in the previous international window, falling 1-0 to Venezuela and 3-0 to Colombia.

The clash was part of the FIFA Series 2026, a mini-tournament that also features fellow World Cup qualifier Curacao, who were beaten 2-0 by China in an earlier match at the same venue.

“First half we couldn’t really break through, and then second half we kept on coming,” Bos said.

“We had some chances and it was coming down to the last 10 minutes, and I got the goal in and we got the win. So that’s important.”

The Socceroos will be at a sixth straight World Cup and coach Tony Popovic used the match to run his eye over some inexperienced players.

With a host of places in his World Cup squad still up for grabs, he handed debuts to 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington and Poland-based striker Deni Juric.

Neither player showed nerves in a lively opening as the hosts pressed for an early breakthrough.

But they struggled to keep control against a young Cameroon side rebuilding after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Chances in the first half were few and far between on a slippery pitch, with both sides missing a creative spark.

Popovic replaced Juric and Martin Boyle with Awer Mabil and Nestory Irankunda up front for the second half and the intensity lifted.

It culminated with Cameroon debutant Oliver Kamdem conceding a penalty with 20 minutes left, but goalkeeper Devis Epassy went the right way to deny Hrustic.

Irankunda twice went close as the clock ticked down before Bos’s late heroics, beating a defender after being fed the ball by Paul Okon.

Australia are in World Cup Group D with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and a yet-to-be-determined European nation.

AFP

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Sports

Osimhen may wear arm protective gear, see why

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen will reportedly wear new protective gear on his arm when he returns to action for the club after undergoing surgery for a fracture, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 27-year-old forward suffered a hand fracture following a collision with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté during their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash last week.

Following the incident, Osimhen underwent surgery earlier this week, with his recovery projected to take about six weeks. While he is expected to return to the pitch towards the end of the season, he may need to wear special protective gear on the arm.

Turkish journalist Arda Özkurt revealed this via Winner Galatasaray:

“If Victor Osimhen’s treatment process progresses as planned, he can wear the jersey with a special protective splint if needed,” Özkurt was quoted.

The striker already wears a protective mask on his eyes, which has become symbolic following a cheekbone surgery in 2021. This specialised device is designed to immobilise the forearm and wrist to support the bone during the healing process. It reduces pain and prevents further damage by restricting unnecessary movement, typically featuring adjustable straps for compression and breathable padding for comfort.

Turkish media reports suggest the Super Eagles striker could return in time for the Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe on April 26 at the earliest, depending on the progress of his rehabilitation. If he returns later than expected, he would likely feature only in the final two league matches—against Antalyaspor at home and Kasımpaşa away.

Osimhen will also hope the club progresses to the final of the Turkish Cup, where they are currently in the quarter-finals with a match-up against Gençlerbirliği.

This season, he has scored 19 goals and provided seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions, helping Galatasaray to a four-point lead in the league. He also recorded seven goals and three assists in 10 UEFA Champions League matches before their exit.

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Sports

Morocco Captain, Hakimi Rejects AFCON Title After CAF Ruling

Published

7 days ago

March 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Paris Saint-Germain defender insisted that Morocco did not deserve the trophy after losing the final to Senegal on the pitch.

Achraf Hakimi, captain of the Morocco national team, has declined to accept the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title granted to Morocco after a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender insisted that Morocco did not deserve the trophy after losing the final to Senegal on the pitch.

Morocco had lost the final to Senegal, but the CAF Appeal Board on March 17, 2026, overturned the 1–0 result, awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory after ruling that Senegal’s walk-off constituted a forfeiture.

The decision has since generated debate, with Senegal’s football federation already indicating plans to challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Reacting to the development, Hakimi distanced himself from the decision, stating that he could not accept a title he did not earn competitively.

“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do same. We had a chance but failed to win,” he said.

He maintained that Senegal deserved the victory based on their performance in the final.

“That’s football, sometimes you win and lose. Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hardwork,” Hakimi added.

The Moroccan captain emphasised respect for fair play, noting that accepting the trophy under such circumstances would undermine the spirit of the game.

“I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again,” he said.

Hakimi’s decision represents a rare moment in football, where a player publicly declines recognition in favour of sporting integrity.

Morocco had entered the tournament as one of the favourites but fell short in the final, while Senegal’s performance was widely regarded as deserving of the title before the post-match controversy.

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