Ivory Coast secures surprise win against France in World Cup warm-up
via The Namibian2 min read
Amad Diallo scored a late goal to give Ivory Coast a 2-1 victory over France in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes. France captain Kylian Mbappe played in his 97th appearance but was substituted at half-time, remaining on 56 goals. Rayan Cherki initially put France ahead in the first half, but Guela Doue equalized for Ivory Coast in the 53rd minute. Diallo, a second-half substitute, sealed the win six minutes from time. France, considered a World Cup favorite, will play Northern Ireland before starting their campaign against Senegal on June 16. In other warm-up matches, a largely second-string Spain drew 1-1 with Iraq, with Ferran Torres scoring for Spain and Merchas Doski equalizing for Iraq. Iran defeated Mali 2-0 in Turkey as part of their preparations. Switzerland forward Breel Embolo received his US visa and will join his teammates for the tournament.
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The Namibia National Olympic Committee has announced a team of 23 athletes and 16 support staff to represent the nation at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This marks Namibia’s eighth participation in the Games since its debut in 1994, with a historical total of 24 medals. The team, led by chef de mission Joseph Amakali, comprises athletes from six sports, including Paralympian Ananias Shikongo, one of the four bronze medalists from the 2022 Birmingham Games. Most of the selected athletes will be competing in their first Commonwealth Games. NNOC President Ndeulipula Hamutumwa expressed optimism for the team's success, recalling Namibia's previous performance in Glasgow in 2014. British high commissioner to Namibia, Neil Bradley, highlighted the Games as a celebration of shared Commonwealth values and anticipated Glasgow's warm welcome for Team Namibia. The event will feature 11 days of competition across 10 sports, including 6 para-sports, held at four venues.
Liverpool has named Andoni Iraola as their new manager, replacing Arne Slot, who was sacked after a disappointing Premier League title defense. Iraola, 43, expressed excitement about joining Liverpool, calling it a "special club" and one of the biggest in the world. He highlighted the attractive aspects of the club, including the atmosphere, supporters, and the opportunity to coach top-level players and compete for titles. British media reports indicate Iraola has signed a two-year deal. He is expected to bring a more urgent and aggressive style of football, reminiscent of former manager Jurgen Klopp, following criticism of Liverpool's performances under Slot. Iraola previously managed Bournemouth, leading them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League this season and their first qualification for Europe. His tenure at Bournemouth saw consistent improvement, with the team finishing 12th, ninth, and sixth in successive seasons. Before Bournemouth, he managed Raya Vallecano, Mirandes, and AEK Larnaca. Iraola's appointment comes as Liverpool faces a crossroads after Slot's failure to maintain the club's position at the top of English football. Slot, who replaced Klopp, initially led Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English league title but saw the team's performance decline in the 2025/26 season, finishing fifth without a trophy. The season was also impacted by the death of forward Diogo Jota and a reported deterioration in Slot's relationship with Mohamed Salah.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are anticipated to challenge Kimi Antonelli's winning streak at the Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc, who recently extended his contract with Ferrari, won his home race in 2024 and has secured pole position three times in the last five years. Hamilton, who finished second in Montreal, is looking forward to returning to Monaco, a circuit where power is less critical and car performance is key. Antonelli, the current championship leader, acknowledged that Ferrari's car might be better suited for the Monaco street circuit, where Mercedes has historically faced challenges. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff downplayed their prospects, emphasizing the unique nature of Monaco and the small margins involved. Ferrari aims for their first win since Carlos Sainz's victory in Mexico in 2024. Qualifying will be crucial, and the new 'overtake mode' could lead to more overtaking opportunities during the race. McLaren, the most successful team in Monaco, hopes to celebrate their 60th anniversary and 1000th race start by competing against Ferrari and Mercedes, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar also expected to contend. Cadillac will make their debut race appearance at the event.
The upcoming Tour de France is anticipated to feature a significant yellow jersey battle, with four-time champion Tadej Pogacar aiming for a record-equalling fifth victory. He is expected to face strong competition from two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard and Paul Seixas. However, a notable aspect of this season is that these top riders have largely avoided each other in pre-Tour stage races. Pogacar, 27, and Vingegaard, winners of the last six Tour de France editions, have only competed against each other once since last year's race, at the one-day European Championships in October. Vingegaard, having recently won the Giro d’Italia, will not race again before the Tour. Pogacar is preparing for the Tour by participating in the week-long tours of Romandie, which he won last month, and Switzerland. Seixas is heading to the Criterium du Dauphine and has raced Pogacar twice this year, finishing second to him in two one-day races. This contrasts with previous years where top contenders frequently met in pre-Tour events. Other riders like Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel are also opting for different or fewer warm-up races. Despite this, the Tour of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes will see strong competition among riders like Oscar Olney, Isaac del Toro, Juan Ayuso, and Joao Almeida, who are expected to contend for top-five finishes.