Latest news with #Kouka
Al-Ahram Weekly
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian striker Kouka defends appearing in anti-homophobia match after offensive messages - Talents Abroad
Le Havre Egyptian striker Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan defended his situation after participating in Saturday's 3-2 win over Strasburg in the final day of the league despite of receiving offensive messages urging him not to play before the game and even after it. The final day of Ligue 1 witnessed the league's annual anti-homophobia campaign and despite his rejection for the issue, Kouka gave his club the priority amid its critical situation in the competition. 'I have received a lot of offensive messages to not play yesterday's game and even after the game,' Kouka said via X on Sunday night. 'But Yesterday's match was incredibly important for our club, our fans and I couldn't abandon my team mates in the most important game of the season, I gave everything on the pitch for the team, as I always do, but I also had to find a way to stay true to my personal and religious beliefs,' the Egyptian international added. The 32-year-old Kouka, who joined Le Havre last January from Portuguese side Rio Ave, found his new team struggling at the bottom of the table upon his arrival, but things improved with time. On Saturday, Kouka came off the bench in the 63rd minute to score for Le Havre, but VAR disallowed the goal, ending the game in a 2-3 win for his team, which avoided relegation and ensured a place in the top flight competition next season. French giants PSG secured their fourth successive Ligue 1 title this season, ending the competition with 84 points from 34 games. Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed, who plays for French side Nantes was in the same situation, but unlike Kouka and as usual for him, he refused to play on the same match day for the third successive season. Mohamed was fined by his club for after his early announcement that he will not play Saturday's game against Montpellier. Moreover, Aurore Bergé, the French Minister for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, has called for sanctions against Mohamed. From his side, Kouka said that he had his way of rejection regardless of abandoning the game. 'The league chose to impose a logo that represents a cause I respectfully do not support due to my faith. I made the decision to cover the logo, not out of disrespect toward anyone but to protect my conscience and remain true to my principles,' Kouka explained. 'I believe that support for any cause should come from the heart and be a matter of personal choice, not a forced obligation,' he added. Kouka finally called for mutual respect regardless of differences of orientation. 'Respect must go both ways. just as we are asked to respect others, we ask for our beliefs and values to be respected too,' he said. 'I know some people will disagree with my decision, but I acted with sincerity, respect, and a clear conscience. 'Let's keep working to create a world where we can live together peacefully, even when we don't all agree,' the former Ahly player concluded. Since his arrival last winter, Kouka has made 16 league appearances for the team, netting three goals, including two crucial ones, in two decisive games against Lens and Monaco. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Asharq Al-Awsat
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lille Follows French Cup Exit with more Humiliation against Le Havre in the League
Four days after its humiliating French Cup exit, Lille completed a week to forget on Saturday with a 2-1 loss at home to last-placed Le Havre in the French league. Goals in each half from Egypt forward Kouka and Senegalese striker Issa Soumaré – his first for the club – helped Le Havre end its nine-game winless run across all competitions and climb off the bottom of the table until Sunday at least, when fellow struggler Montpellier visits Strasbourg, The Associated Press reported. Lille substitute Chuba Akpom scored on his league debut in the seventh minute of stoppage time but it was too little, too late for the home team. Lille has exceeded expectations in the Champions League, where it last week thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 to qualify directly for the knockout phase. It followed that by rallying from a goal down to beat St. Etienne 4-1 in the French league's 20th round last weekend. On Tuesday, the team squandered a 2-0 lead against second-tier Dunkerque in the French Cup, before losing the penalty shootout. Lille dropped to fifth in the French league on Saturday after its fourth defeat of the season. Earlier Saturday, Nice capitalized on Monaco's defeat the night before to move third with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lens. Ill-discipline cost the visitors dearly as Adrien Thomasson conceded an early penalty for a foul on Hicham Boudaoui. Gaëtan Laborde duly scored from the spot. Lens defender Fucundo Medina was sent off with his second yellow card in the 57th and Jonathan Clauss sealed the win against his ex-club seven minutes later. Monaco lost 4-1 at league leader Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. Rennes back in business under Beye Rennes substitute Mahamadou Nagida scored late to seal a 2-0 win at Saint-Etienne in the late game, giving the team's new coach, Habib Beye, two wins from two games in charge. Nagida, a 19-year-old defender from Cameroon, scored almost immediately after entering in the 84th minute for his second goal in as many appearances. He didn't play in the win over Strasbourg last weekend, but scored the previous weekend in a 3-2 loss at Monaco. Arnaud Kalimuendo's early goal got Rennes off the mark at Saint-Etienne. Beye is the ambitious Brittany club's third coach this season after Jorge Sampaoli and Julien Stephan. Sampaoli, the former Argentina coach, had to go after the loss to Monaco stretched the run of defeats to five across all competitions. Rennes spent more than 70 million euros ($73 million) in the winter transfer window. The win over Saint-Etienne lifted the team from 15th to 11th with the rest of the 21st round to be played Sunday.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lille follow French Cup exit with more humiliation
Four days after their humiliating French Cup exit, Lille have completed a week to forget with a 2-1 loss at home to last-placed Le Havre in the French league. Goals in each half from Egypt forward Kouka and Senegalese striker Issa Soumare helped Le Havre end their nine-game winless run across all competitions and climb off the bottom of the table until Sunday at least, when fellow strugglers Montpellier visit Strasbourg. Lille substitute Chuba Akpom scored on his league debut in the seventh minute of stoppage time but it was too little, too late for the home team. Lille have exceeded expectations in the Champions League, where they last week thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 to qualify directly for the knockout phase. But on Tuesday, the team squandered a 2-0 lead against second-tier Dunkerque in the French Cup, before losing the penalty shootout. Lille dropped to fifth in the French league on Saturday after their fourth defeat of the season. Earlier Saturday, Nice capitalised on Monaco's defeat the night before to move third with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lens. Ill-discipline cost the visitors dearly as Adrien Thomasson conceded an early penalty for a foul on Hicham Boudaoui. Gaëtan Laborde duly scored from the spot. Lens defender Fucundo Medina was sent off with his second yellow card in the 57th and Jonathan Clauss sealed the win against his ex-club seven minutes later. Monaco lost 4-1 at league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. Rennes substitute Mahamadou Nagida scored late to seal a 2-0 win at Saint-Etienne in the late game, giving the team's new coach, Habib Beye, two wins from two games in charge. Nagida, a 19-year-old defender from Cameroon, scored almost immediately after entering in the 84th minute for his second goal in as many appearances. Arnaud Kalimuendo's early goal got Rennes off the mark at Saint-Etienne. Beye is the ambitious Brittany club's third coach this season after Jorge Sampaoli and Julien Stephan. Rennes spent more than 70 million euros in the winter transfer window. The win over Saint-Etienne lifted the team from 15th to 11th.
Associated Press
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lille follows French Cup exit with more humiliation against Le Havre in the league
LILLE, France (AP) — Four days after its humiliating French Cup exit, Lille completed a week to forget on Saturday with a 2-1 loss at home to last-placed Le Havre in the French league. Goals in each half from Egypt forward Kouka and Senegalese striker Issa Soumaré – his first for the club – helped Le Havre end its nine-game winless run across all competitions and climb off the bottom of the table until Sunday at least, when fellow struggler Montpellier visits Strasbourg. Lille substitute Chuba Akpom scored on his league debut in the seventh minute of stoppage time but it was too little, too late for the home team. Lille has exceeded expectations in the Champions League, where it last week thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 to qualify directly for the knockout phase. It followed that by rallying from a goal down to beat St. Etienne 4-1 in the French league's 20th round last weekend. On Tuesday, the team squandered a 2-0 lead against second-tier Dunkerque in the French Cup, before losing the penalty shootout. Lille dropped to fifth in the French league on Saturday after its fourth defeat of the season. Nice beats 10-man Lens Earlier Saturday, Nice capitalized on Monaco's defeat the night before to move third with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lens. Ill-discipline cost the visitors dearly as Adrien Thomasson conceded an early penalty for a foul on Hicham Boudaoui. Gaëtan Laborde duly scored from the spot. Lens defender Fucundo Medina was sent off with his second yellow card in the 57th and Jonathan Clauss sealed the win against his ex-club seven minutes later. Monaco lost 4-1 at league leader Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. St. Etienne hosted big spending Rennes later Saturday. ___
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lille follows French Cup exit with more humiliation against Le Havre in the league
LILLE, France (AP) — Four days after its humiliating French Cup exit, Lille completed a week to forget on Saturday with a 2-1 loss at home to last-placed Le Havre in the French league. Goals in each half from Egypt forward Kouka and Senegalese striker Issa Soumaré – his first for the club – helped Le Havre end its nine-game winless run across all competitions and climb off the bottom of the table until Sunday at least, when fellow struggler Montpellier visits Strasbourg. Lille substitute Chuba Akpom scored on his league debut in the seventh minute of stoppage time but it was too little, too late for the home team. Lille has exceeded expectations in the Champions League, where it last week thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 to qualify directly for the knockout phase. It followed that by rallying from a goal down to beat St. Etienne 4-1 in the French league's 20th round last weekend. On Tuesday, the team squandered a 2-0 lead against second-tier Dunkerque in the French Cup, before losing the penalty shootout. Lille dropped to fifth in the French league on Saturday after its fourth defeat of the season. Nice beats 10-man Lens Earlier Saturday, Nice capitalized on Monaco's defeat the night before to move third with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lens. Ill-discipline cost the visitors dearly as Adrien Thomasson conceded an early penalty for a foul on Hicham Boudaoui. Gaëtan Laborde duly scored from the spot. Lens defender Fucundo Medina was sent off with his second yellow card in the 57th and Jonathan Clauss sealed the win against his ex-club seven minutes later. Monaco lost 4-1 at league leader Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. St. Etienne hosted big spending Rennes later Saturday. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
