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The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England vs Senegal prediction: Three Lions to end international break with a win
England vs Senegal betting tips England take on Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground on Tuesday, as Thomas Tuchel's side look to improve on a disappointing performance against Andorra last time out. The Three Lions' 1-0 win over the team ranked 173rd in the world provoked plenty of questions after an insipid display despite fielding a strong team, and Tuchel will be hoping for a statement win this week as his World Cup preparations continue. England face a Senegal side that drew with Republic of Ireland last week, with the Lions of Teranga well-placed in their own World Cup qualifying group while also preparing for the 2025/26 African Cup of Nations. And Pape Thiaw's side won't be an easy opponent for England, with several top quality players including Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson. Nevertheless, the Three Lions are the strong favourites, with football betting sites pricing them at 9/20 to win versus 10/3 for a draw and 6/1 for a Senegal victory. England vs Senegal betting tips A disappointing display from Thomas Tuchel's side at the weekend does not stop England being touted as heavy favourites for this one, with the Three Lions having won all of their last five matches with a combined aggregate score of 14-0. While it didn't quite click in attack against Andorra, Senegal are less likely to completely sit back than Andorra, with Tuchel expected to experiment again at the City Ground. As for Senegal, they have won just two of their last five matches – against Liberia and Togo – and drew 1-1 with Ireland last Friday, though they have kept clean sheets in three of their last five. Recent draws to Sudan, Liberia and Ireland show that the Lions of Teranga can be weak at the back at times though, and their attack may struggle against a more stern England defence. As such, we're going for England to win to nil, which is offered by most betting sites at around 11/8. England vs Senegal prediction Many were surprised when former Brentford striker Ivan Toney was called up to Thomas Tuchel's squad, with the 29-year-old having plied his trade with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli since last summer. However, the striker has impressed during his time abroad and certainly brings a different dimension to the England attack, as shown at various points including during Euro 2024. With Kane having scored against Andorra and this match being a friendly, Toney could well be given a chance to lead the line as he aims to play his way into Tuchel's thinking ahead of the World Cup next year. Toney has 23 goals in 30 appearances for Al-Ahli this term, including four goals in the final five matches of the season, and he ended the season as an AFC Champions League Elite winner too. As well as having hit some form in the final few matches of the season, he'll be desperate to impress England's new manager as he returns to the country, and we think he'll have ample opportunity to do so. With that in mind, a wager on Ivan Toney to score anytime could offer value at 23/20 with William Hill. William Hill Responsible gambling If you're having a bet on England vs Senegal, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies if you're using slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
CTV News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ivory Coast's Elephants look forward to facing Canada, New Zealand in Toronto
Ivory Coast 's coach Emerse Fae gives instructions to his players during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) TORONTO — Ask Ivory Coast soccer coach Emerse Fae about Canada and he is quick to praise — and reel off names. 'I like this team because the Canada team has very good players — good players like Jonathan David, like (Cyle) Larin, a good striker. Alphonso Davies, (Derek) Cornelius, (Moise) Bombito from Nice. (Ismael) Kone from Rennes,' Fae said from France. 'So it will be a good team with good organization, a good attacking team. A good challenge for Ivory Coast to play and to see how the team is one year before the World Cup.' Fae is bringing firepower of his own to the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament, where the 41st-ranked Ivorians face No. 86 New Zealand on Saturday after No. 30 Canada plays No. 25 Ukraine in the early game at Toronto's BMO Field. Ivory Coast and Canada, which will be without the injured Davies, then meet June 10 after New Zealand plays Ukraine. Canada has never faced Ivory Coast before and has played Ukraine just once, a 2-2 draw in Kyiv in an October 2010 friendly. The Ivory Coast roster draws on players from clubs in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. Fae's squad includes winger Amad Diallo, who joined Manchester United in January 2021 at the age of 18 in a package worth 37.2 million pounds ($69 million) from Italy's Atalanta. Midfielder Franck Kessié, formerly of AC Milan and Barcelona, plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro league while defender Odilon Kossounou is currently with Atalanta, on loan from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, and forward Nicolas Pépé, formerly with England's Arsenal, plays for Spain's Villarreal. Diallo made headlines recently after a photo showing him apparently making an obscene gesture to fans during a Manchester United tour to Asia. He later said he was reacting to 'insulting words directed at my mother.' At 5-0-1, the Ivorians lead their 2026 World Cup qualifying group by one point over Gabon (5-1-0). Group F also includes Burundi, Kenya, Gambia and the Seychelles. The group winner qualifies for the World Cup with the runner-up moving to the second round of qualifying. 'I'm happy with the way that we are winning,' said Fae. 'Even if I expect more quality from the team. Because we have many good players who play in the best clubs in Europe … Even when we didn't play well, we won. It's a good thing to be able to win the game, but we have to improve the way we play.' After Toronto, Ivory Coast plays its four remaining World Cup qualifiers — against No. 140 Burundi, No. 79 Gabon, the 203rd-ranked Seychelles and No. 111 Kenya — in September-October. The team then shifts its focus to defending its African Cup of Nations title in December in Morocco, where Ivory Coast has been drawn with No. 50 Cameroon, Gabon and No. 96 Mozambique in Group F. The Ivorians posted a pair of 1-0 wins in March, defeating No. 126 Gambia and Burundi in World Cup qualifying play. Ivory Coast appeared at the World Cup in 2006, 2010 and 2014, failing to advance to the knockout round after finishing third in its group each time. It missed out on the 2018 tournament in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Fae expects Ivory Coast to build on it 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title by qualifying for the World Cup while also pointing to the expanded 48-team FIFA field. Nine African teams take part in the 2026 soccer showcase, with a shot at a 10th side via the FIFA Playoff Tournament. 'It would be a shame for our country not to be qualifying for the next World Cup,' said Fae. Football is huge back home, so there is pressure to succeed. Fae also knows that winning will help more Ivory Coast players earn contracts to further their development abroad. Ivory Coast is ranked fifth in Africa, behind No. 12 Morocco, No. 19 Senegal, No. 32 Egypt and No. 36 Algeria — after jumping five places in the latest FIFA numbers. It reached No. 12 in early 2013. Born in Nantes, Fae was a French youth international and won the Under-17 World Championship in 2001 — beating Nigeria in the final. He played for his hometown club before switching his international allegiance to Ivory Coast, the land of his parents, in 2005. He went on to play for Reading, then in England's Premier League, and Nice before he retiring in 2012. Fae coached Nice's youth teams and the reserve side of French Ligue 1 club Clermont before being appointed as Jean-Louis Gasset's assistant with Ivory Coast in May 2022. Gasset was fired midway through the 2023 Africa Cup, after a record 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, with Fae named interim head coach. The Ivorians advanced as the last of the four best third-placed teams and Fae rallied the team to wins over defending champion Senegal, Mali, DR Congo and Nigeria, in the final. That earned Fae Confederation of African Football (CAF) Coach of the Year honours in 2024. Fae was given the permanent coaching job in February 2024. The trip to World Cup co-host Canada marks his first visit to the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Emmanuel Kunde dead at 68: Samuel Eto'o leads tributes as Cameroon World Cup star, who scored against England at Italia 90, passes away
Samuel Eto'o has led tributes following the death of former Cameroon star Emmanuel Kunde at the age of 68. Kunde was part of Cameroon's squad at two FIFA World Cups, featuring at the tournaments in Spain in 1982 and Italy in 1990. The midfielder scored Cameroon's equalising goal against England from the penalty spot in the quarter-finals of Italia 90. Eugene Ekeke put Cameroon ahead in the second half, before a penalty from Gary Lineker forced extra time. Lineker scored again from the spot in extra time to eliminate Cameroon, who were the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals at the World Cup. Kunde had also played a key role for Cameroon in two triumphs at the African Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988. The midfielder scored the only goal of the 1988 final against Nigeria, netting from the penalty spot. Cameroon legend Eto'o, who now leads the national federation, offered a glowing tribute to Kunde on social media. 'I'm just learning of the demise of the Elder Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé, an iconic figure in Cameroonian football, who died at the age of 68,' Eto'o wrote. 'Oh the sadness! It is a certain value of our heritage that is thus cruelly taken away from us. 'I keep with him the memory of a discreet and affectionate man, a figure of moderation and consideration. 'He was a fantastic footballer, the control tower in the midfield, the defensive wall the opponent crashed into but also a great playmaker when the team had possession. 'Individually, it was a fine passer and a gun with phenomenal power and goldsmith precision. 'In fifteen years as a national team (127 selections), he took part in the two legendary epics of the Indomitable Lions in the World Cup (1982 and 1990), twice winner of the CAN (1984 and 1988).' 'Praying for the great football family to keep him in your thoughts and my deepest condolences to his family.' Kunde is best remembered for his international career having played 102 times for the Indomitable Lions, scoring 17 times. He spent much of his club career in Cameroon, but had two years playing in France for Laval and Reims.
