I will only play for Napoli until 2025 – Lukaku tells Belgian federation

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku has informed the Belgian federation that he won’t play for his national team until the new year as he’s entirely focused on his new club.

Lukaku won’t play for the Belgium national team again in 2024. The striker has reportedly informed his federation that he wants to focus solely on his new club, Napoli, until 2025.

Lukaku has not been included in the Belgium squad for upcoming Nations League games against Italy and France.

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lukaku decided not to play international games until the new year as he needed time to settle in at his new club.

Lukaku joined Antonio Conte’s Napoli on a permanent transfer from Chelsea last summer and has scored two goals in five appearances across all competitions this term, providing three assists.

The 31-year-old, a former Inter and Roma striker, has 85 goals in 119 appearances with the Belgium national team

I will only play for Napoli until 2025 – Lukaku tells Belgian federation

Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games

France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team’s UEFA Nations League matches this month after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named his squad.

The Real Madrid star returned from a short spell on the sidelines, with a thigh injury, to appear as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

However, the 25-year-old will play no part in France’s games against Israel and Belgium, a decision clearly made in order to allow Mbappe to rest and work on his fitness.

“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps told reporters in Paris.

France play Israel on Thursday, October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.

Les Bleus, Nations League winners in 2021, will then take on Belgium in Brussels on Monday, October 14.

France have three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.

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Thursday’s squad announcement was the first by Deschamps since vice-captain Antoine Griezmann retired from international football at the beginning of this week.

“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of losing Griezmann, who quit aged 33 after winning 137 caps.

“I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”

Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year, returns to the squad, from which midfielder N’Golo Kante is also left out.

France squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani (all Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea/ENG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)

Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games

Eguavoen gives conditions to accept permanent S’Eagles job

Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has hinted at the possibility of taking on the role of head coach on a permanent basis, provided certain conditions are met.

Eguavoen, who has been entrusted with leading the Nigerian national team through the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya, shared his thoughts during a recent interview.

Eguavoen, who helped secure four points in the first two matches of the qualifiers, emphasized that for him to consider a long-term position, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) would need to offer a long-term contract.

He also stressed the importance of patience and continuous support from the football authorities to build a strong and competitive team.

“The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly. If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply because it’s not a small task.

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“It’s going to be tough. I’d need a long-term contract, patience, and clauses in the deal because you don’t win every day. It takes time to build a team,” Eguavoen told Brila FM.

Eguavoen, who has had three previous stints as head coach, lamented that he was never given enough time to truly implement his vision for the team.

“In 2006, I was in charge for six months. Every other time, it was just two months or two to three games. Clemens Westerhof had five years. Gernot Rohr had six years. They got time, but I never had two straight years,” he noted.

He reiterated that to succeed as the substantive coach, he would need long-term assurances, contractual clauses, and a show of confidence from the NFF.

Eguavoen gives conditions to accept permanent S’Eagles job