Equipe de France : Mbappé et Kante, joueurs actuels les plus utilisés…

Equipe de France : Mbappé et Kante, joueurs actuels les plus utilisés par Deschamps durant son mandat

Pour son dernier match à la tête de l’équipe de France, le sélectionneur Didier Dechamps croisera la route de l’Angleterre pour la finale de la troisième place de la Coupe du monde 2026. sport-ipl.my

Pour son 185e match sur le banc, Didier Deschamps aura fait appel à 124 joueurs depuis ses débuts comme entraîneur national en 2012 et un premier match contre l’Uruguay (0-0).

Parmi les joueurs les plus capés, seul, deux d’entre eux sont toujours présents dans le groupe France. Loin derrière Antoine Griezmann et 137 sélections sous l’ère Deschamps, le capitaine actuel des Tricolores et meilleur buteur de la Coupe du monde avec 8 buts, Kylian Mbappé compte 105 sélections tandis qu’N’Golo Kanté, qui n’a pas encore joué de rencontres durant cette édition, totalise 69 sélections.

The post Equipe de France : Mbappé et Kante, joueurs actuels les plus utilisés par Deschamps durant son mandat appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit believes the Springboks’ latest crop of emerging players will be wearing the green and gold for years to come.

The world champions claimed a 43-0 Nations Championship victory over Wales at Kings Park, with debutants Vusi Moyo, Jaco Williams, Carlü Sadie and Ruben van Heerden putting in impressive performances.

RECAP: Seven-try Boks blank Wales again

While pleased with the result, Du Toit said the Boks’ satisfaction came from executing the key areas they had targeted during the week.

“We came into this game with a plan and we tried to focus on the set-phases – especially the scrum and lineout.

“I think our defence was good in stages as well, so we can be happy up to a certain point, especially having ticked some of the boxes we wanted to tick.”

DE VILLIERS: Physicality won it for Boks

The victory provided another glimpse of the depth Rassie Erasmus is building, with several younger players producing eye-catching performances alongside the squad’s established stars.

Du Toit believes the newcomers have shown they belong at Test level.

“The way they played today, there are some guys putting their hands up and I think a few of them are going to wear the jersey for a long time.”

MORE: Boks’ big bruisers take charge

Competition for places has become a hallmark of the Springboks under Erasmus, with every player knowing consistent performances are needed to stay in the Bok picture in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup.

For Du Toit, that internal battle is one of the squad’s greatest strengths.

“It’s wonderful. We love competition, especially knowing that the team’s going to go forward,” he said. “We always push each other and always want the best guy to play on a Saturday.”

PICK YOUR MVP: Boks vs Wales

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images

The post Pieter-Steph: Young Boks here to stay appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

South Africans Rulani Mokwena and Eric Tinkler will coach former African club champions Pyramids of Egypt and Asante Kotoko of Ghana, respectively, for the 2026/27 season, it was confirmed on Saturday.

Mokwena has had mixed fortunes with other north African teams since leaving Tshwane giants outfit Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024.

He flopped at Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, left Mouloudia Alger of Algeria just before they won the national league, then failed again with Al Ittihad of Libya.

Failed with both teams

His main target at Wydad and Ittihad was qualifying for the CAF Champions League, the elite African club competition, but he failed with both teams.

The 39-year-old succeeds Croat Krunoslav Jurcic at 2024/25 African champions Pyramids. His chief objectives will be to win the CAF Champions League again and the Egypt Premier League for the first time.

Combative midfielder

Eric Tinkler, 55, was a combative midfielder in the South Africa team that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, the sole major post-apartheid success by the senior national team.

He came closest to achieving success in Africa as a coach by finishing CAF Confederation Cup runners-up with Orlando Pirates in 2015 and SuperSport United two years later.

Orlando Pirates are among six top-flight clubs he has coached. He left Sekhukhune United as the 2025/26 South African season drew to a close.

Kotoko won the Champions League – then called the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1970 and 1983 – and hold an unwanted record of being losing finalists five times.

Failed to qualify for Africa

Known as the Porcupines, Kotoko failed to qualify for Africa next season after finishing eighth, 13 points behind champions Medeama.

Last weekend, another South African Manqoba Mngqithi took over at Tanzanian champions Young Africans.

The leading domestic rivals of Young Africans are Simba, and they are coached by a South African Steve Barker.

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has announced his starting line-up for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Cádiz CF in Marbella.

Kick off is at 18:45, with the match live on SuperSport 209 and Pirates TV on YouTube. The Buccaneers use the match as another important test ahead of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.

Ouaddou has made 11 changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw against Córdoba CF earlier last week. The coach has kept faith with the same combination as Pirates continue building match fitness during their Spanish training camp.

ORLANDO PIRATES XI

Sipho Chaine, Mpho Chabatsane, Cristian Derbyshire, Deon Hotto (captain), Kamohelo Sebelebele, Makhehlene Makhaula, Simphiwe Masilela, Matome Mmolai, Daniel Msendami, Tshepang Moremi, Boitumelo Radiopane.

Substitutes: Siyabonga Dladla (GK), Tapelo Xoki, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Neo Rapoo, Lebone Seema, Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Thalente Mbatha, Cemran Dansin, Bohlale Ngwato, Mpho Padime, Evidence Makgopa.

TOUGH TEST AWAITS

Orlando Pirates face another challenging opponent in Cádiz CF, a club with a proud history in Spanish football. The Andalusian side has built a reputation for its resilience and fighting spirit whenever it has competed in Spain’s top flight.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Cádiz became famous for repeatedly avoiding relegation with dramatic late-season escapes. Those achievements earned the club a special place in La Liga history.

The Spanish outfit is also known for its passionate supporters and strong connection with the Andalusian community. Saturday’s encounter will provide Orlando Pirates with another valuable examination as they prepare to defend the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles, while also returning to the CAF Champions League.