Sports
PSG Unhappy With France Over Players Injuries
Paris St-Germain have accused the France national team of ignoring risks around Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue that led to the pair sustaining “avoidable” injuries during their World Cup qualifying win over Ukraine.
Dembele has been ruled out for around six weeks with a serious hamstring injury, while Doue is sidelined for about four weeks, according to the French club.
They are set to miss several key matches, including the opening fixture in the defence of their Champions League title.
In a statement, the European champions said they had sent a letter to the French Football Federation calling for a more transparent and collaborative coordination on medical protocol between clubs and the national team.
PSG added they had sent the federation concrete medical information, even before the French national team began training, on the acceptable workload and injury risks for its players.
The statement said: “The club regrets that these medical recommendations were not taken into account by the French national team’s medical staff and that there was a total lack of consultation with its medical teams.”
PSG hoped the “regrettable events” would lead to exchanges between clubs and France’s medical team being documented and a “precautionary principle” followed for players who are called up while undergoing treatment.
“The recent serious and avoidable events must give rise to rapid and immediate corrective measures,” added the statement.
Forward Dembele replaced the injured Doue at half-time of the 2-0 win on Friday, only to be substituted himself in the 81st minute.
France boss Didier Deschamps defended his decision to play Dembele, saying: “I was sure that he was capable of playing a high level match, otherwise I would not have played him.
“This time, it’s the other thigh. He was fit. It is unfortunate for him but could have happened to another player.”
Speaking on yesteday, Deschamps said Doue wanted to play and while he understood the club’s frustration he added: “the desire to play takes precedent over a lot of things”.
Speaking to Tidesports source, he added: “From the moment the player is on the pitch, there is no such thing as zero risk.”
PSG begin the defence of their Champions League title at home to Atalanta on 17 September before they travel to Spain to take on last season’s semi-finalists Barcelona on 1 October.
Both players played a significant role as PSG won the Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Champions League treble last season, with Doue scoring and named man of the match in their 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the European final.
They were later named in Uefa’s team of the tournament.
Dembele is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony taking place on 21 September.
PSG have started their league season with three wins from three and sit top of the table, with their next match against Lens after the international break.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on an emotional night for Portugal as they thrashed Armenia 5-0 in their first match since Diogo Jota died.
A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in tribute to Liverpool’s Portugal forward Jota and his brother Andre Silva after they were killed in a car crash in July.
Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the World Cup qualifier before 40-year-old Ronaldo made it 2-0 when he scored in the 21st minute – the same number that Jota wore for Portugal.
“We’re all very happy because it shows he’s [Jota] with us, that he was there, and that moment, Ronaldo’s goal, was made possible,” left-back Nuno Tavares said.
“He’ll always be with us, as was clear today.”
Joao Cancelo made it 3-0 before Ronaldo got his second with a stunning long-range strike to take his international record to 140 goals.
Felix rounded off the big win with his second goal just after the hour mark.
Sports
Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Sports
Para Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes
Sports
Ondo Women Shine At Gov Diri Wrestling Classics
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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