Musician Bien-Aimé Baraza has criticised the government over the amount of money spent on the construction of Talanta Stadium.In an interview on Monday, November 2, he questioned the inflated cost of constructing the stadium, saying the funds could have been directed towards supporting local sportsmen and women, and paying footballers their allowances.
Category: Sports
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Carrick provides Manchester United injury update ahead of Champions League clash with Roma
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has delivered an update on his squad ahead of Tuesday’s, November 3, 2026 UEFA Champions League meeting with Roma at Old Trafford.The English tactician confirmed that Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu has resumed full training after recovering from a hamstring problem sustained while representing Denmark on international duty.
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Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel dies after on-field collision
Listen to articleDe Miguel suffered cardiac arrest following the collision and was rushed to Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, where he was placed in intensive care.A Spanish footballer has died after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division match, leading to the postponement of several football fixtures in the country.
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Jason Wilcox tipped Russell Martin as future Man Utd boss during manager search
Jason Wilcox had backed Russell Martin as potentially a future Man Utd manager(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United chief Jason Wilcox gave a ringing endorsement of Russell Martin when the club were on the lookout for a new manager in 2024.
Wilcox, who moved to Old Trafford off the back of his work at Southampton, was involved in the brains trust that came together and considered who to appoint if Erik ten Hag was axed after the FA Cup final – which he would go on to win, thus saving his job.
Before that he had presided over a poor Premier League season and United bosses were drawing up a list of potential replacements. Wilcox banged the drum for Martin, whom he had appointed at Southampton before he led them to the Premier League via the play-offs.
The Athletic reports that Wilcox accepted that Martin, at that stage of his career, would not be suitable for the United job. Nevertheless he earmarked him as a manager to keep tabs on.
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Martin was ultimately sacked by the Saints 16 games into the 2024/25 season with the club bottom of the Premier League having lost 13 of their 16 games following promotion.
Wilcox had put huge faith in Martin when he was at St Mary's. Initially Southampton struggled to click but then went on a club-record 25-match unbeaten run. The United director of football has always been a fan of possession-based managers who stick by their principles and was happy to appoint Martin despite him never finishing higher than 10th in a table before landing the Saints job.
Since leaving Southampton Martin lasted just 17 games at Rangers before being sacked. He's since been appointed at Leicester, now in League One, but has the Foxes sitting in tenth.
Russell Martin is currently in charge at League One Leicester City(Image: Richard Hammersley/Shutterstock)
Ten Hag's victory at Wembley, where United shocked Manchester City to win their second domestic cup in as many seasons, saw the Dutchman retain his role. He was even handed a new contract but then lasted just nine games of the following season before he was shown the door.
He was the first manager axed by the Ineos hierarchy, who have since hired and fired Ruben Amorim. They then appointed Michael Carrick, who is a man under pressure and facing the chop as the club's bosses faced continued scrutiny over their decision making.
Wilcox himself was called out by Lisandro Martinez in the aftermath of the defeat to Atletico Madrid recently. The defender said: "I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest. And also, as a player, we have to do more. It's also important to build a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night."
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James Trafford now has the swagger and saves to take Jordan Pickford’s England No.1 position
It might seem strange to be talking about James Trafford replacing Jordan Pickford as England's number one after the Leeds goalkeeper's error gave Bournemouth the lead in Saturday's 2-0 defeat.
Even more so after Pickford bagged another clean sheet against Newcastle, silencing his Geordie haters and milking the 'Jordan Pickford is Dynamite" chant from his travelling fans.
But his manager Daniel Farke has talked up Trafford's 24-year-old's "swagger" and "aura" this season – something that is harder to measure in pure footballing data than his Premier League high save ratio of 80.5 per cent.
Ahead of Thomas Tuchel's England squad announcement on Friday and next week's Nations League games, a radio discussion on the topic of English goalkeepers challenged pundits to name one England game where Everton stopper Pickford had "won or saved the game for his country". Maybe the Colombia penalty shoot-out in 2018?
We asked four of our experts to take up the England goalkeeper debate.
Has Trafford now added enough personality and consistency to his game? And is he ready to take Pickford's England No1 spot ahead for the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign?
Isaac Johnson, Leeds correspondent
Daniel Farke is clear on James Trafford’s quality. “For me, he’s the most promising young goalkeeper in the UK and he has all potential to be England’s number one, one day.”
The Leeds United boss was desperate to sign the “top class” goalkeeper over the summer and boardroom chiefs paid special attention to make sure his club-record £40m transfer got over the line, aware of the high interest in him.
Trafford himself is just pleased to play football again. It is no secret that he re-signed for Manchester City in 2025 expecting to be number one before the Blues swooped for Gianluigi Donnarumma, dashing those hopes.
But Trafford was the man in goal when Man City lifted two trophies last season, which is why he rightly still denotes the last campaign as a success. Farke has more than once referenced the “aura” the 24-year-old exudes onto the pitch and into teammates.
Bosnian centre-back Tarik Muharemovic, another very promising Leeds summer signing, has eulogised over his quality, stating he instils confidence into the defence and is already his own personal choice for England number one.
Thomas Tuchel clearly has one eye on the prospect of this, having given him the nod against champions Spain during the last international break. His two starts, the other coming in a 2-0 win over Czechia, were to test the waters and see how far off Jordan Pickford he is.
Trafford is now seriously contesting Pickford for England's No.1 jersey(Image: Getty)
Trafford – who has a Premier League high save ratio of 80.5% so far this season – is not yet quite at the level to become the Three Lions number one and is not yet the complete package, as seen against Bournemouth this weekend.
His pass straight to Justin Kluivert, who set up Evanilson for the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat, was reminiscent of a similar give-away while featuring for Man City against Tottenham Hotspur 14 months ago.
Farke described it as an "own goal". But he does not want Trafford – whose pass accuracy sits at a moderate 65.1% – to alter his ways. “He shouldn't change too much just after a mistake, because then he also takes away many strengths of his game,” he said afterwards.
“It's the life of a football player that the sun is not always shining, and especially in the life of a young goalkeeper.”
Indeed, one notable difference between Pickford and Trafford is age. By the time the home European Championships come around, Trafford will be 26 and Pickford, 34 – not ancient in the lifespan of a goalkeeper, but hardly in his prime like his England colleague.
It’s worth noting there is a healthy rivalry between the two goalkeepers, the pair getting on well while away on international duty. In fact, Trafford is a much-loved character anywhere he goes.
James Trafford swapped Man City for Leeds(Image: Getty Images)
As seen in his TV interviews, his genuine demeanour is a delightful change from the usual media-trained humdrum and this has endeared him even more to Leeds fans. He has also clearly struck up a bromance with third choice goalkeeper Alex Cairns, 10 years his senior.
The pair have a pre-match routine of sharing a huge embrace before kick-off amid the air that all of the goalkeeping department – including back-up Michael Zetterer and coach Ed Wootton – wish to help him on his way to that England no.1 jersey.
Simon Bajkowski, Manchester City correspondent
Manchester City saw that James Trafford had the potential to be their No.1 when they let him leave for a record-breaking spell at Burnley and, despite it not working out last year, that feeling has not changed. Just as City matched the fee that Newcastle offered last year, so too they will be alerted if anybody comes knocking at Elland Road in the future.
It was sad to see Trafford last year.
Footballers are human beings and for somebody who was so happy as he spoke to a few of us in pre-season dreaming of being No.1 for club and country for a decade, in came Gianluigi Donnarumma behind his back and effectively stopped him playing for a year.
Some City fans would rather have Trafford in goal now and see him as the better keeper, but what he didn't have last year was the swagger that Farke now talks of. It was there at times of course, as it had been on loan at Bolton, but it went missing and more worrying than him making mistakes against Spurs in his first home game was how it affected him afterwards as his confidence visibly dropped.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has struggled since Trafford's exit this summer(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
That ability that the best in the business have in every position, to be able to forget mistakes instantly and move on to the next action, is not only something that Donnarumma has (as does Jordan Pickford for England) but it was something that City badly needed in a team that had lost the experience of several senior stars.
Trafford could have perfectly dropped into the Treble-winning team or the one that had won four leagues in a row, but in a summer of so much churn City needed a more experienced head at the back.
There were no doubts that Trafford would thrive at Leeds though and relish the crowd, and it's brilliant to see him shining. He can be one of the best goalkeepers in world football and is still young, so there is plenty of time.
City may well come calling for him again in the next few years should they avoid serious sanctions in the 115 case and others surely will as well, but Leeds looks to be the perfect place for him to push Pickford for England selection.
Connor O'Neill, Everton correspondent
St James' Park has not always been a happy hunting ground for Jordan Pickford.
It wasn't that long ago that he played a major role in his side's collapse after they raced into a 2-0 lead. While under Carlo Ancelotti, Pickford once watched from the bench as Robin Olsen was handed a surprise opportunity.
There is also no love lost between Pickford and Newcastle supporters, and it was no surprise that his name was booed when the teams were read out on Monday night and he himself was booed throughout the game.
However, the Everton man had the last laugh.
Substitute Yoane Wissa managed to find space inside the box in the 85th minute, but Pickford blocked his low effort. With that, it was another three points for the Blues and another clean sheet for the England international.
Jordan Pickford in action for England
Since David Moyes returned to Everton in January 2025, only Arsenal (31) and Manchester City (28) have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than the Blues (20).
But while that stat is impressive, it is also fair to say that Blues supporters have, at times this season, had concerns about Pickford's form, and a drop off in the impressive standards he has set.
On more than one occasion so far this season, Everton have conceded and straight away fans have been left questioning whether their No.1 could have done better.
The 2-0 defeat to Chelsea is a prime example. On that afternoon, both of Pedro Neto’s goals left supporters questioning whether Pickford should have saved both efforts. There is also no denying that Pickford is facing serious competition for his England No.1 spot for the first time in eight years.
James Trafford was open and honest when he told the Everton star last month: “It’s obviously a goal of mine to be England’s No1. My dream’s always been to play for England and it’s something you work towards everyday.”
But if Pickford is feeling the pressure then he has shown no signs of showing it in Everton's last two matches, which have ended in victories over the Magpies.
Trafford is a very good goalkeeper who may well replace Pickford as England's No.1, but given how well the former Sunderland man has started to play, that might not happen just yet.
Mirror chief football writer John Cross
There should be no doubt in how Thomas Tuchel views James Trafford. The England manager regards the Leeds keeper as having the potential to be his next No1 and successor to Jordan Pickford.
Tuchel’s job share between Pickford and Trafford – they got two games each in the last round of Nations League fixtures – was no empty gesture.
It was a full dress rehearsal for Trafford to show what he can do, prove himself against top opposition (Spain and then Czech Republic) and he played well in both games. There is genuine competition now.
Trafford is not just a good shot stopper, he is seen as being good with his feet, being able to play out and build play from the back and is regarded within the Football Association as the next big hope. Good reflexes, starting position, reading of the game, concentration and focus.
James Trafford was chosen to start England's games vs Spain and Czechia(Image: David Ramos/UEFA)
And yes, there will be errors and missteps along the way, like Trafford’s howler at Bournemouth. But that is part of the learning process. John Stones came through it and is now remembered as one of England’s best ever defenders.
Trafford spoke in the summer at the World Cup about his need to be a No1 at a Premier League to actually challenge Pickford and that is why he left Manchester City to join Leeds.
Let’s be clear: Pickford had a decent World Cup. He rarely lets England down. But could he have done better against Argentina? What about that goal against Norway? And DR Congo?
I’m not sure any were deemed as howlers that would see Pickford get dropped. But if you speak to coaches or people within the game (and I’m sure this would be the case for the England set-up) then Trafford is seen as better technically.
It’s now up to Trafford to prove it on the pitch. Pickford remains No1 for now.
Of course Dean Henderson got the nod for England’s third place play-off against France in the World Cup. Is he actually back-up? No. One well-placed source tells me that Trafford is next in line for the long term.
If I was a betting man, I’d be putting a few quid on Trafford being England’s No1 in time for Euro 2028.
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Tanzania receives surprise backing from EPL influencer to stage Arsenal vs Man United match
A popular English Premier League influencer has backed Tanzania to stage a high profile international friendly between Manchester United and Arsenal to officially inaugurate the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha.The influencer Haneefah, under the Instagram username lfc_girl7, has asked the Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to see the deal done, as the facility is among the venues earmarked to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in the East African country.
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Mo Salah to receive two rare honours in Turkey after ‘unprecedented surge’
Mo Salah is set to receive two rare honours in Turkey just months after moving to the country.
In the summer, after his glittering nine-year stint at Liverpool came to an end, Salah turned down offers elsewhere to sign for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Joining on a free transfer, Salah became one of the highest-paid players in the league after signing his two-year contract with the seven-time Turkish champions.
Salah has shown no signs of slowing down on the pitch since joining Trabzonspor, scoring eight goals and registering three assists in 10 appearances in the Turkish top flight.
He hit a hat-trick against Galatasaray back in September to become an instant hero.
But his presence in the division has also had a transformative impact in Trabzon, with new direct flights between the Egyptian capital of Cairo and the city beginning in August.
The club have also gained millions of new followers on social media following the capture of Salah, highlighting his position as one of the biggest names in world football.
Now, it's emerged that Salah is to be recognised by the country of Turkey following his summer switch.
According to Mohamed Kaoud, a journalist for BBC Arabic, Salah is to be awarded Turkish citizenship alongside his family.
He is also poised to receive the State Medal for Distinguished Service – a high-level honour to reflect an "unprecedented surge" in the sports and tourism sectors in Turkey in recent times.
On Facebook, Kaoud wrote: "I have learned that Mohamed Salah will "definitely" be granted Turkish citizenship. Officials from Trabzon are currently working with Turkish state authorities to expedite the naturalisation process for the Egyptian football icon, as well as his wife and their three children.
"Furthermore, Salah is set to be awarded the 'State Medal for Distinguished Service' during a major ceremony, and will receive a high-level honour in recognition of his contribution to an unprecedented surge in both the sports and tourism sectors in Turkey—all achieved in record time."
In a response, Masrawy, citing a source, claimed that “there has been no official contact with Salah from Turkish officials regarding his obtaining Türkiye citizenship" but clarified that he is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the near future.
Trabzonspor, who also have Fabinho, Andre Onana and Stefan Savic in their ranks, are currently third in the Turkish Super Lig – three points behind leaders Galatasaray after taking 22 points from 10 games.
Salah has done the business on the pitch, but his arrival at Trabzonspor has been seismic – with a reported 116,000 shirts sold as of late September.
The 152% increase brought in around £8 million in revenue, with Turkiye Today reporting that Salah takes 20 per cent of the funds on products with his name on.
The figures are expected to increase to a record-breaking level by the end of the campaign.
The club's president Ertugrul Dogan claimed that 70% of Salah's yearly salary was covered by season ticket sales after they ramped up.
In addition, it's been reported that a countryside location where Salah took a photograph has grown into a tourist hotspot, while travel agencies are selling packages around the former Roma star.
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FIFA experiment with three new rules at under-15 World Cup that would change the sport forever
FIFA made a series of bold changes at the under-15 World Cup, with three new rules being introduced to 'promote fast-paced football' and allow more touches of the ball.
The inaugural under-15 World Cup & Festival took place in Azerbaijan last month, a tournament that featured 189 teams from six confederations: UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC.
Spain were eventually crowned champions as goals from Tiago Polo, Bruno Fernandez and Adrian Bielsa sealed a 3-0 win over Czechia 3–0 in the Tier A final.
Overall, the week-long tournament proved to be an entertaining spectacle. In total, 4,505 goals were scored across 932 matches, which equates to an average of 4.83 goals per game.
FIFA were intent on delivering attacking, fast-paced football, with three experimental rules being introduced to make matches more free-flowing.
One of those changes was the ability to use unlimited substitutions rather than being restricted to five changes, allowing more players to feature while giving coaches the chance to rotate and manage fitness levels.
Throw-ins were also replaced by kick-ins in a bid to encourage faster, more fluid football while giving players more touches of the ball and opportunities to develop technically.
Finally, the offside rule was modified so that players could only be penalised once they entered a designated attacking zone, marked by a line 14 metres from the opposition's goal.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is FIFA's chief of global football development, explained the rule changes ahead of last month's opening game.
“At this age, the most important thing is to play. Young players need meaningful matches, different opponents and different football experiences in order to develop," he said.
"Talent exists everywhere, but the opportunities available to young players are not always the same. This tournament gives players from across the world the chance to compete, to learn and to grow."
He added: "Giving every talent a chance means helping promising players be found, trained and given the opportunity to play, so they can reach their full potential.”
The tournament featured players born in 2011 or 2012, with eight-a-side matches played over two 20-minute halves on smaller pitches measuring 68 by 47 metres, although full-size goals were used.
Each team was allowed a squad of 14 players and up to six staff members, while the competition was divided into an initial round-robin qualification stage and a subsequent tournament stage, with six separate tiers each producing a winner.
FIFA also shared an insight into their motives behind making such drastic changes.
"To deliver on the central football development philosophy behind the tournament, FIFA have designed a format that will promote fast-paced football with more touches and interactions on the ball, allowing each player to focus on and develop their technical skills," they said.
"A small-sided format, unlimited substitutions and kick-ins will help achieve this, while shorter matches will allow for more experience against varied opposition.
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Goalkeeper breaks down following tragic death of opponent and social media abuse
Jesus Owono was involved in a challenge with Jesus De Miguel.(Image: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has 'broken down' following the death of opponent Jesus De Miguel. The two players were involved in a challenge during a match in the Spanish second division, leaving De Miguel requiring medical attention.
He was taken to hospital, but his condition deteriorated, with his tragic death confirmed on Tuesday morning. In a statement, Tenerife confirmed: "Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing, this Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., of Jesús de Miguel Alameda.
"There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness. We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones, alongside all of tinerfeñismo that today weeps for this cruel outcome.
"The family of Jesús de Miguel thanks each and every one of the expressions of support received, and likewise requests, from the heart, the utmost respect for their privacy in these terrible moments."
Reports in Spain from AS say that Pwono was 'crying and praying' in the dressing room after the match. It's added that he was 'visibly shaken' throughout the journey back to Andorra.
He has since deleted his Instagram account after reportedly being flooded with messages of abuse. It's stated that Owono's intention was to contact De Miguel and his family to apologise and offer his support before making any public statement, but the 30-year-old's death has changed the situation.
The club have confirmed that the collision was unintentional, with Owono not intending to hurt his opponent. Video footage shows the goalkeeper turning to check on the player while others turned away, clearly in distress.
Reports in Spain claimed that De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch and was resuscitated before being rushed to hospital and cared for in intensive care.
In a statement of their own, Andorra said: "With broken hearts and devastated, we want to send our most sincere condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, to all his teammates, friends, and to CD Tenerife."
There will be more to follow on this breaking news storyand Mirror Sport will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible.Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story.Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.
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Mikel Arteta handed huge William Saliba injury boost before Arsenal Champions League clash
William Saliba made his return to Arsenal team training on Tuesday(Image: Arsenal)
Arsenal have been handed a huge injury boost with long-term absentee William Saliba back in team training. The central defender has been recovering from a back injury that was aggravated at the World Cup and is close to returning after nearly five months out.
Following Sunday's huge win over Liverpool, the Gunners squad headed out for open training at London Colney on Tuesday morning ahead of travelling to the Czech Republic for their Champions League clash against Slavia Prague on Wednesday.
Though Bukayo Saka was not spotted – because of a thigh problem – Saliba was in attendance as he steps up his recovery having trained individually over the last few weeks.
Christos Tzolis was also out on the grass having made his return from a hamstring injury this past Sunday. Eberechi Eze was another present despite being an unused substitute at the weekend with Arteta revealing that it was impressive he even made the bench.
Having missed a significant period, it is unlikely that Saliba goes straight back into the starting XI, particularly with summer signing Ezri Konsa impressing in his absence.
He was key to the clean sheet picked up at Anfield with that 1-0 victory seeing Mikel Arteta's side go three points clear of Manchester City following their defeat to Brighton.
The Premier League champions can increase that advantage over their rivals this weekend as they face Hull City at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. If he does not feature in Europe, Saliba could return to action in that clash but may be saved until after the November international break.
William Saliba last played at the World Cup
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Speaking on his injury back in mid-October, Arteta said: "I think next week we have another MRI with him to see how the healing process is at the moment. But every sign so far has been very, very positive, and yeah, it will be great to have him."
The Arsenal boss will be speaking to reporters in Prague later today where he will almost certainly be asked for the latest updates on Saliba.
An indication of his availability will likely arrive a few hours earlier when Arsenal either announce their travelling squad or pictures emerge of him getting onto the plane.
Max Dowman could also feature against Slavia Prague despite being in the middle of a three-game ban for his red card in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The suspension only applies to domestic matches which means he will be unavailable for the game against Hull and the trip to Newcastle United following the international break.