Kun Khalifat FC’s withdrawal from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is not justified. It is unprofessional and damaging to the image of Nigerian football.
Before judging the situation, it is important to understand the background of the dispute.
Background to the Dispute
In an official statement dated February 3, 2026, the owner of Kun Khalifat FC announced the club’s immediate withdrawal from the NPFL. He said the decision was taken with “great disappointment and frustration” after the league punished the club for failing to honour their Matchday 24 fixture against El Kanemi Warriors.
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According to the NPFL, Kun Khalifat FC breached the league’s Framework and Rules by not showing up for the match, which was scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026. As punishment, the league awarded El Kanemi Warriors three points and three goals. Kun Khalifat were also fined ₦10 million, although the fine was suspended for the rest of the season on the condition that no similar offence occurs. The club was given 48 hours to appeal the decision.
Reacting to the sanctions, the club owner described them as “outrageous and disproportionate”. He claimed the club had valid reasons for missing the match and insisted these reasons were ignored by the league.
In the statement, Kun Khalifat accused the NPFL of bias, lack of transparency and putting revenue above the welfare of clubs. The club said it could no longer continue in a system that, in its view, focuses on punishment rather than fairness. The statement also called on other clubs to demand reforms within the league, while thanking fans, players and stakeholders for their support.
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Why Kun Khalifat’s Action Is Wrong
Despite these claims, Kun Khalifat FC’s withdrawal from the NPFL cannot be defended.
A football club does not have the right to ask a league body to change fixtures because of financial problems. Kun Khalifat requesting match postponements and even suggesting new dates because they claimed they lacked funds is not professional. That is not how organised football works.
In Europe, the rules are clear and strict. When a club is found to be struggling financially, punishment follows. There is no pity and no special treatment.
Rangers were demoted to the fourth division in Scotland in 2012 after serious financial problems. Parma were declared bankrupt in 2015 and dropped to Serie D in Italy. Malaga were banned from European competition because they could not meet financial requirements. These clubs were not begged to stay. They faced the consequences of financial failure.
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That is how serious leagues protect their standards.
Nigerian leagues must also be firm. Clubs must meet all licensing and financial requirements or be removed. If this is not enforced, we will continue to embarrass ourselves with crises like the Kun Khalifat situation.
Kun Khalifat FC is wrong to demand sympathy. Football is a business before it is passion. If a club does not have money, the result is demotion, not emotional appeals. A club that cannot fund travel cannot be trusted to consistently pay players, officials and staff.
Clubs must operate only at levels their finances can sustain. Anything else is irresponsible.
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Failure to honour a fixture always has consequences. In this case, the NPFL applied its rules by awarding three points, three goals and issuing a fine.
Instead of accepting responsibility and using the appeal process, Kun Khalifat chose to walk away and say “ha gbachala”.
This is not injustice. This is regulation.
If Nigerian football wants respect, rules must be applied without emotion. Clubs must be ready before entering the league. If not, they should remain where their finances can carry them.
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So the real question remains simple.
Are we ready to run Nigerian football professionally, or will we continue to manage it with pity?
The UConn Huskies needed to dig themselves out of a hole in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils, and behind Braylon Mullins’ clutch 3-pointer and Tarris Reed Jr.’s high-percentage scoring, they were able to pull off an incredible comeback victory to advance to the Final Four.
The Huskies were able to effectively pressure the Blue Devils into a turnover with less than seven seconds left. Caden Boozer had his pass deflected and the ball got into Mullins’ hands.
UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) celebrates after a basket against Duke during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
UConn guard Braylon Mullins, right, celebrates his game winning basket with guard Malachi Smith (0) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
The freshman was well beyond the 3-point line when he chucked up the ball. His prayer was answered as the ball went through the back of the net. UConn’s 19-point comeback was complete as the Huskies’ bench jumped in jubilation.
UConn was able to get the ball into Reed many times over the course of the game and for nearly half of the second half, the Huskies were in the bonus. Reed finished with 26 points on 10-of-16 from the field with nine rebounds. He was 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Duke guard Dame Sarr celebrates a basket against UConn during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Duke was up three points with 28 seconds to go. UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. was fouled and went to the free-throw line for two shots. He missed the first and made the second. The second free throw enabled UConn to set up its press defense and force the turnover in the end.
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The Huskies outscored the Blue Devils 44-28 in the second half after being down 44-29 in the first half.
Cameron Boozer led Duke with 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
UConn forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) dunks during the second half against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
UConn is back in the Final Four for the third time in three years. The Huskies will be looking to get back to the national championship after winning two titles in the last three years. UConn will take on Illinois and Michigan will go up against Arizona in the Final Four.
Bubba Wallace was at the center of the biggest wreck of the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Fans online reacted strongly after a late-race crash triggered by the 23XI Racing driver caused a multi-car pileup and ended the race for three cars.
Wallace spent much of the race hovering around the middle of the field, struggling to move forward on a track where passing often comes down to tight, physical racing. Martinsville’s nature means bumpers are constantly in play, especially in congested traffic. But this time, what initially looked like routine contact escalated.
Thanks for the submission!
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Wallace made repeated contact with Carson Hocevar while entering Turn 4 and through the corner. With limited space on the outside lane, Hocevar was forced up into Zane Smith. The contact sent Smith hard into the outside wall and triggered a stack-up behind. Within seconds, the track had over a dozen cars piled in with nowhere to go.
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The crash involved Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Connor Zilisch, Riley Herbst, and others. Wallace spun in the incident, ending his race along with Herbst and Ty Dillon. Smith retired initially but returned later. The incident drew strong reactions from fans online, many of whom placed the blame squarely on the No. 23 driver.
Some comments on X did not hold back, pointing to what they felt was excessive aggression from Bubba Wallace in a tight corner.
“Bubba Wallace, what an F-ing joke,” a fan wrote.
Bubba Wallace, what an F-ing joke.
“Retard wrecks half the field bc he got passed,” another one commented.
Retard wrecks half the field bc he got passed.
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Others echoed the sentiments.
“Didn’t mean to?? He plowed him 4 times in 1 turn 🤣🤣,” someone wrote.
Didn’t mean to?? He plowed him 4 times in 1 turn 🤣🤣
“Bullsh*t, he hit him three times. What a disgrace,” another one chimed in.
Bullsh*t, he hit him three times. What a disgrace.
“Awww little man baby, trying to avoid a penalty. Nice try. Can’t wait to see what that penalty is,” a fan tweeted.
“Awww little man baby, trying to avoid a penalty. Nice try. Can’t wait to see what that penalty is.”
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Others questioned whether the move was avoidable, especially given the lack of space Carson Hocevar had on the outside. While the language varied, the overall sentiment remained consistent, as many viewed it as a preventable incident.
Bubba Wallace reacts after crash ends his race early: “I misjudged”
Bubba Wallace (23), Ross Chastain (1), and Carson Hocevar – Cook Out 400. Source: Getty
After being released from the infield care center, Bubba Wallace addressed the incident and accepted responsibility for the contact with Carson Hocevar. His explanation pointed to a misjudgment rather than intent, though the result had already reshaped the race.
“I misjudged. I didn’t appreciate the three-wide in (Turn) 1 fine, and then I misjudged the center of the corner. Didn’t mean to turn him… What a frustrating day, man,” he said.
“So much expectation coming here, favorite track, Hardee’s on the car. Just wasn’t the day we wanted. We really really have to figure out what it is at this place. We can win Saturday in practice, just don’t show up on Sundays. I hate it for our team,” he added.
It marked another setback for Bubba Wallace in what has otherwise been a strong start to the season. The 23XI Racing No. 23 finished inside the top 11 in the first five races. However, a DNF at Darlington followed by this crash at Martinsville has now dropped him nine places in the standings.
Liv Morgan showed off an impressive look ahead of tomorrow night’s edition of WWE RAW at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Judgment Day star won the Women’s Royal Rumble match earlier this year to earn a title shot at WrestleMania 42.
Ahead of this week’s episode of WWE RAW, Morgan took to social media to reveal that she was going on a date night. She showed off a bold look, and you can check out her message in the X post below.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Date night 🤭,” she wrote.
Liv Morgan selected Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer as her WrestleMania 42 opponent after winning the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Vaquer won the Women’s World Championship by defeating IYO SKY at Wrestlepalooza in September 2025.
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Morgan missed several months of action due to a shoulder injury last year before her return at Survivor Series 2025. She helped Dominik Mysterio win the Intercontinental Championship at the PLE last year, but Dirty Dom has since lost the title to Penta on RAW.
Liv Morgan reveals issues with popular WWE star
Liv Morgan recently disclosed that she wanted nothing to do with Danhausen.
In an interview with Brad Gilmore, the Women’s Royal Rumble winner reacted to Danhausen cursing Dominik Mysterio and suggested that the former AEW star stay far away from her. She added that she has no interest in Danhausen and hoped that he would never approach her.
“You know, Danhausen could have come in to WWE, and I would have been happy for him. Wow, what an opportunity. But right away, he wants to curse, Daddy Dom and cause all this friction and trouble and chaos and paranoia. So I want him away from me, I want him away from the Judgment Day. I want him 1000 feet away from the Clubhouse at all times. I have no interest in that man, and I hope he never approaches me. I hope he never comes up to me. I hope he never tries to look me in the eye. I hope he stays away from Daddy Dom, and that’s really it,” she said.
LIV MORGAN OFFICIALLY BANS DANHAUSEN FROM THE JUDGMENT DAY CLUBHOUSE 😭 “I have no interest in that man” “i hope he never approaches me” (The Collective With Brad Gilmore)
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It will be interesting to see if Liv Morgan can defeat Stephanie Vaquer to become the new Women’s World Champion at WWE WrestleMania 42.
Italy’s Marco Bezzecchi claimed victory in the United States Grand Prix to make it three wins in a row at the start of the MotoGP season.
Aprilia rider Bezzecchi, who won the first two rounds in Thailand and Brazil, took the lead on the opening lap at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and did not surrender first place after that.
Having also finished top of the podium in the final two races of last season, it was a fifth successive win for the 27-year-old as he also set a MotoGP record for consecutive laps led by taking his tally to 121 – beating the previous best of 103, set by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015.
“I’m happy. I’m very happy,” said Bezzecchi, who won on Sunday after having crashed out of Saturday’s sprint race. “Yesterday I made a mistake so it was very important to make a good race today.”
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Bezzecchi’s team-mate Jorge Martin, who won the sprint race, was second and Pedro Acosta finished third, while defending champion Marc Marquez ended up fifth.
Bezzecchi is top of the MotoGP standings on 81 points, four ahead of second-placed Martin.
The next round of the MotoGP season will take place in Jerez, Spain, from 24 to 26 April.
It was an incredible performance from Itauma in his first UK headlining spot, only cementing the narrative that he is heir to the heavyweight throne.
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Speaking on X post-fight, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri said he will now begin the process to have the 21-year-old installed as mandatory challenger.
“In light of Moses Itauma’s current position as the #1 WBO world-rated contender, and having defeated world-rated contender Jermaine Franklin by knockout in defense of his WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship, he has further affirmed his standing within the division as a rising star.
“Accordingly, I will formally recommend to the Championship Committee that Mr. Itauma be designated as the Mandatory Challenger in the WBO Heavyweight Division.”
Should Wardley retain, it is likely that Itauma goes another route – he is also number one contender with the WBA – given trainer Ben Davison’s work with both men. However, should Dubois hand the champion his first defeat and become a two-time world champion, there is an excellent all-British banger there to be made.
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Post-fight, Itauma said that he had been targeting Filip Hrgovic, though the Croatian is now booked to face Dave Allen on May 16. Itauma’s team may instead turn their attention to WBA Regular champion Murat Gassiev, who has already signalled his willingness to take the fight – one few in the division appear eager to accept.
Gary Woodland has dealt with more than his share of stressful situations. His back nine on Sunday did not appear to be the worst of them.
By the time he made the turn in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Woodland had stretched a one-shot lead to five and transformed his afternoon into what looked like a stroll through Memorial Park — even if it didn’t feel like that.
“It felt a lot closer than five in my head, I can tell you that,” Woodland said.
All that remained was a victory march — punctuated by the deep breaths that have become a central part of his routine — that carried him back to the winner’s circle for the first time since his U.S. Open triumph at Pebble Beach nearly seven years ago.
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“Anybody that is struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up,” a choked-up Woodland said moments after his final putt dropped.
“It’s just another day, right, that I’ve got to keep healing. Today was a good day. But I’m going to keep fighting. I’ve got a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud of myself right now.”
“I wasn’t alone today.”
Gary Woodland gets emotional talking about what this day means to him and the people who support him. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/imRTPG78Xl
The emotional release was the latest unburdening for a 41-year-old who has battled demons fiercer than most Tour pros ever face. Two and a half years ago, Woodland was sidelined for four months after surgery to remove a brain lesion. Upon his return, he acknowledged feelings of fear and anxiety, a revelation that only hinted at the full depth of his struggles. Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, a more complete picture emerged when Woodland disclosed to Golf Channel that he’d been diagnosed with PTSD following his surgery, and that doctors had told him that in “an ideal world,” he wouldn’t be competing on Tour at all.
He’d soldiered on anyway, with modest results. In his last 55 starts before this week, the best he’d managed was a pair of top-10s — one of them a runner-up finish at last year’s Houston Open.
Through the lean times, Woodland stayed open about his struggles, a transparency that only strengthened his bond with fans and elevated his standing among peers.
After a sluggish start to 2026, a T14 at last week’s Valspar hinted that something might be building. Central to Woodland’s return to form was a rekindled relationship with swing coach Randy Smith, whom Woodland first worked with in 2005. A business conflict ended their partnership. At his wife Gabby’s urging, Woodland had reconnected with Smith, who, Woodland said, got him to stop guiding the ball and start swinging freely again. Heading into this week, he led the Tour in driving distance.
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“Randy’s got me in a spot now, my game’s better than it’s ever been,” Woodland said.
“He’s more than a golf coach to me. He’s always been that way,” Woodland added. “I needed him for more than golf. He stepped up and he’s helped me get to this point right here.”
Gary Woodland began Sunday with a one-shot edge over Nicolai Højgaard and six over the third player in their group, Min Woo Lee, who had edged Woodland by a stroke at last year’s Houston Open. That lead doubled almost immediately when Højgaard bogeyed the first hole. From there, Woodland pulled away steadily, turning what could have been a tense afternoon into something closer to a coronation.
It wasn’t just the driver doing the work. Woodland navigated Memorial’s large, contoured greens without a three-putt all week. As he walked up the 18th fairway Sunday, his victory a mere waiting formality, his two playing partners stopped and applauded, with Lee amping up the atmosphere by urging the crowd to chants of “Gary! Gary.”
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“I tell you what, we play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said.
When his final putt went down for par, Woodland raised his hands, looked to the sky, then fell tearfully into Gabby’s arms.
His closing 67 left him at 21-under, a tournament record, five shots clear of Højgaard. But not all victories are measured in strokes.
“Just thankful. I’m blessed to be able to chase my dreams, there’s no doubt about that,” Woodland said, sitting next to the trophy. “I know it’s hard, but life’s hard, right? Everybody’s battling something. I’ve told myself the whole time, I wasn’t going to let this thing in my head win. From when I was diagnosed with this thing on my brain, the whole thing was, I wasn’t going to let it win. Today was evidence of that.”
There is little prospect of VAR being removed from the Premier League, or having its remit reduced.
In 2024, 19 out of 20 top-flight clubs voted to keep VAR, with only Wolves voting against, having proposed the poll themselves.
In order for VAR to be scrapped, 14 out of the 20 Premier League clubs would have to vote against it following a new proposal for abolition by a club.
The independent key match incident (KMI) review panel estimates there has been an accuracy rate of 96-97% for refereeing decisions made in Premier League matches since the introduction of VAR, while time delays caused by VAR have dropped by 25% in the past two seasons.
The Premier League said: “VAR delivers more correct decisions.
“In recent seasons, there have been around 100 correct VAR overturns per season – instances where goals would otherwise have been incorrectly awarded or disallowed, or red cards or penalties missed or wrongly given.
“The league applies a high threshold for VAR intervention, with the referee’s call taking precedence. As a result, VAR is less intrusive in the Premier League than in other European leagues, including the Champions League, where VAR intervenes almost twice as often.”
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But the FSA believes the results of its survey should be listened to and acted upon.
“Supporters naturally raise their concerns and they fall on deaf ears far too much,” Concannon says.
“That’s really disappointing, especially when all we hear is that the fans are the lifeblood of the game.
“Don’t just ignore what supporters are telling you in great numbers – that the enjoyment of football isn’t there any more in comparison to what it used to be.”
President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has praised Morocco for its strong commitment to hosting major football tournaments on the continent.
Motsepe said Morocco has continued to support African football at a time when many countries are reluctant to host competitions due to financial concerns.
“When we ask countries to host tournaments, no one steps forward because they are afraid of losing money. Morocco consistently steps in and saves the situation. Morocco has strong infrastructure and a clear willingness to host,” he said.
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Morocco has built a solid reputation in recent years, having hosted the latest editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The country is also set to host the next Women’s AFCON and the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, further strengthening its position as a dependable partner for CAF.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday he will “respect” the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision on Senegal‘s appeal against being stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations title.
“I will respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal opinion regarding the matter is irrelevant,” Motsepe told a press conference in Cairo after a meeting of CAF executives.
The Senegal appeal came after the CAF appeals body overturned a 1-0 win by Senegal over hosts Morocco in the Cup of Nations final last month.
Many Senegalese players, head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded an added-time penalty.
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After they returned, Brahim Diaz missed the penalty. Pape Gueye scored in extra time to win the title decider.
A CAF disciplinary committee later fined various figures from both teams, but did not alter the result.
Morocco then appealed and were awarded a 3-0 victory. Motsepe stressed that the appeal board consists of independent judges and lawyers.
Senegal then played in shirts with two stars — one for their first Cup of Nations triumph in 2022 and the other for their disputed February victory.
‘Changes and improvements’
Motsepe said he would visit Senegal and Morocco, without giving dates, to stress the importance of “working together to grow African football”.
A statement said CAF “is implementing changes and improvements to their statutes and regulations that will strengthen trust and confidence in (African) referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies.
“These changes and improvements to the statutes and regulations will also ensure that the incidents that took place at the final… do not happen again.”
Motsepe later announced that Nigeria-born CAF official Samson Adamu would become the caretaker general secretary of the Cairo-based organisation in place of retiring Veron Mosengo-Omba.
Mosengo-Omba, a former FIFA official born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 for CAF staff.
Mikel Arteta faces a mounting injury crisis with 12 Arsenal players now doubtful for their return to domestic action following the international break
19:41, 29 Mar 2026Updated 19:42, 29 Mar 2026
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Arsenal are in the midst of an injury crisis in the Premier League title race with Manchester City, with news emerging that the availability of 12 players is in doubt ahead of the club’s return to domestic action. It has been an international break to forget for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal as they prepare for a crucial run‑in rivalling City.
In terms of injuries, Guardiola has a healthier squad than their counterpart with only Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol sidelined. As for the north Londoners, Martin Zubimendi was the latest to withdraw from his national side in recent days, representing a significant worry.
A further injury setback emerged when Piero Hincapie pulled out of the Ecuador squad ahead of Tuesday evening’s fixture against the Netherlands.
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He featured in La Tri’s draw with Morocco on Friday night, before being substituted by Pervis Estupinan with 15 minutes remaining.
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Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all withdrew from the England squad and returned to Arsenal for medical attention, while Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, and Jurrien Timber all stepped back from their respective international commitments.
Here, the Manchester Evening News runs through all of Arsenal’s currently sidelined players in their title race with City…
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Martin Zubimendi
The worry surrounding Zubimendi marks the latest in a succession of devastating setbacks for Mikel Arteta’s team over the past 48 hours.
A statement from the Spanish FA, issued just hours after another injury setback, confirmed: “Martin Zubimendi has withdrawn from the Spanish national team camp due to discomfort in his right knee.
“To avoid any risk and to protect the player’s health, he has been removed from the squad. Arsenal FC’s medical staff have been informed of the situation.”
Piero Hincapie
Hincapie represents another injury concern for Arsenal and Arteta, withdrawing from Ecuador’s squad ahead of their clash with the Netherlands on Tuesday night. The defender has travelled back to the Gunners, though the full extent of his injury remains unclear at present.
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Leandro Trossard
Trossard pulled out of the Belgium squad for their international fixtures against the USA and Mexico owing to a hip injury.
In a statement, the Belgian FA confirmed: “This decision will allow him to continue their rehabilitation under optimal conditions.”
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka
Arteta faced another injury blow with both England internationals returning to Arsenal, leaving the Three Lions camp just a day after linking up with Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The seriousness of any possible injuries remains unclear at this stage.
An FA statement confirmed: “Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will also return to Arsenal for medical assessment, having arrived on Friday along with nine other players.
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“The rest of that group comprised of Dean Henderson, Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane.”
Noni Madueke
Madueke appeared visibly distressed as he walked past Thomas Tuchel on the touchline on Friday evening, with subsequent footage raising serious concerns over the winger’s fitness.
The 24-year-old, who sat out 15 games for the Gunners earlier this campaign with a knee complaint, was spotted wearing a brace on his left leg as he was filmed departing the stadium. Consequently, Madueke has been released from Tuchel’s squad with what England described as a ‘knock.’
When quizzed about which players would be departing the England camp ahead of next week’s fixture, Tuchel replied: “It’s too early. Now we have some injuries and there’s also a medical update on the players who came.
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“Not everyone is fully fit as I understood. We will take late decisions and maybe take the decision only tomorrow to have a squad against Japan to compete.”
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
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Eberechi Eze
Eze was absent from the Carabao Cup final after picking up an injury during Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month. Eze withdrew from the England squad due to the calf problem, and will now undergo further evaluation. It is understood that the attacking midfielder could be sidelined for approximately four-to-six weeks, representing a significant setback for Arsenal during such a critical stage of the season.
The Gunners face five fixtures within 15 days following the international break, meaning squad rotation will be vital to avoid further injuries and player fatigue. Despite this, they will likely be compelled to navigate the heavily congested schedule without Eze at their disposal.
William Saliba
Much like Eze, Saliba pulled out of this month’s international fixtures, with France scheduled to face Brazil and Croatia. While the centre-back featured in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, an ankle injury sustained during the match prompted his replacement by Maxence Lacroix for international duty.
The French Football Federation confirmed at the time: “William Saliba is unable to join the French national team’s training camp, which begins this Monday, March 23rd. The Arsenal centre-back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ten days.”
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Should France’s assessment prove correct, this suggests Saliba ought to be sufficiently recovered to feature against Southampton in the FA Cup next weekend.
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard was sidelined for last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final due to a knee problem. Having been unavailable for approximately a month, uncertainty remains over whether he will be ready for next weekend’s FA Cup fixture.
Gabriel Magalhaes
The Brazilian Football Federation issued a statement confirming that Gabriel would be absent from his country’s friendlies against France and Croatia due to “pain in his right knee.”
Scan results have also revealed an injury to the 28-year-old centre-half.
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Jurrien Timber
Timber sustained an injury during Arsenal’s victory over Everton earlier this month and has not appeared since.
The full-back has also pulled out of Netherlands duty for their friendlies against Norway and Ecuador, with a statement from the Dutch FA confirming: “Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida has been added to the Netherlands national team squad by national coach Ronald Koeman.
“This follows the withdrawal of Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), who has not yet sufficiently recovered from an injury and is therefore unavailable for this international break.” Speaking ahead of the international break, Arteta confirmed the defender would be assessed following the pause in club fixtures.
Mikel Merino
Although Merino is expected to have sufficiently recovered from his ankle injury in time to feature for Spain at this summer’s World Cup, it seems the adaptable midfielder’s contribution to Arsenal’s campaign this season has come to an end.
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The club are taking a careful approach to Merino’s rehabilitation, and the player was pictured on crutches and in a protective boot at Wembley last weekend.
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