Latest news with #Levante
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
JDT hold La Liga side Levante to a draw
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) continued their impressive preseason form in Spain by holding newly promoted La Liga side Levante UD to a goalless draw in a friendly on Saturday. The match, held at Levante's training centre in Bunol, saw the Segunda Division champions pile continuous pressure on the 11-time Super League champions. However, JDT, guided by Xisco Munoz, showed defensive steel throughout the match. Leading the JDT charge was Arif Aiman Hanapi, who showcased his trademark flair and agility, creating several chances and forcing the Levante defence to stay on high alert. The draw against Levante follows JDT's earlier 2-2 stalemate with English Championship side Cardiff City, reinforcing the Johor club's growing reputation as more than just a domestic powerhouse. The Southern Tigers will wrap up their Spanish tour with a final friendly against Valencia's reserve team, Valencia Mestalla, at the Camilo Cano Olympic Stadium tomorrow.
CAF
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Ghizlane Chebbak, the unforgettable conductor of a fiery evening
Published: Wednesday, 09 July 2025 It was her evening. Her scoring. Her tempo. Ghizlane Chebbak, armband on her arm, delighted the crowd at the Stade Olympique in Rabat on Wednesday like never before. A hat-trick of masterful moves and a constant presence: the captain of the Atlas Lionesses single-handedly embodied the Moroccan revolt in this wild match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (4-2), on Matchday 5 of the group stages of the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024. History may remember the numbers—a hat-trick for a national team in a high-stakes match is no small feat—but those who watched this match will long speak of the manner in which this was achieved. Sharp touches, eagle-like vision above the rest, and above all, the feeling that every time she touched the ball, something could happen. And often, something did. The Fire After the Storm And yet, things had not started out as dreamy for the Moroccans. Trailing 1-0 in the sixth minute thanks to a goal from Merveille Kanjinga, Chebbak's teammates had reason to doubt. Sloppy on the restart, sometimes disorganized in the heart of the game, they struggled to impose their rhythm against a Congolese team that was well-positioned, united and playful. It took a spark. It came, as it often does, from the right foot of the Moroccan number 7. In the 25th minute, a pass from Ibtissam Jraidi, the Levante player found the top corner with a sumptuous shot. The crowd cheered. Morocco was able to breathe again. 20 minutes later, the captain doubled the lead, before concluding her performance by victoriously turning in a slick cross to the far post (75th minute). Three goals, three different signatures. Tailor-made. "She transcended the team." "When Ghizlane is in that frame of mind, it is impossible to stop her," said Moroccan coach Jorge Vilda after the match. "She transcended the team, led the way. She was everywhere: recovering, creating, finishing. Tonight, she played like a boss." In her fine form, the Lionesses rediscovered their signature style. Chebbak, a name that spans generations of Moroccan Women's Football, once again made an impression. Not just with her goals, but with what she represents: a player with a sense of duty, character and a way of speaking up when the situation demands it. And against the DR Congo, a strong voice was needed to get the team back on track. It is worth noting that with her three goals, the Atlas Lioness takes the lead in the scoring charts with four goals so far.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Chelsea wonderkid who was tipped to be 'next Eden Hazard' and fell out with Cesc Fabregas retires aged 28 with shock statement
A former Chelsea wonderkid who was seen as a potential successor to Eden Hazard has hung up his boots aged 28 after a career ravaged by injuries. The Belgian joined Chelsea's youth system in 2012 with his two older brothers after being linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid. Hazard was a mentor and a 'good friend' to the young winger growing up but he would only go on to make seven senior appearances for the Blues. Chelsea sent him out on loan to Real Betis, Celtic, and Vitesse before he eventually left for Spanish second-tier Levante in 2022 - and made a first outing in over 1,000 days there. The player in question is Charly Musonda, whose last game was in January last year for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta. Despite being tipped for big things, he only managed 74 appearances and two goals across his career. Knee injuries and surgery him ruled out for a total of three years and stunted his growth, which had begun so promisingly as he represented Belgium at under-21s level. Sometimes his talent even got him on the wrong side of his own team-mates. In 2015, when he was 19, he got involved in an alleged training ground bust-up with none other than Cesc Fabregas. The Spain midfielder reacted angrily after Musonda flicked the ball over his head before nutmegging him in training. Fabregas then unleashed a heavy challenge on him which sparked a melee among the squad and forced heated words between the two. Announcing his retirement on Monday, Musonda told the Rising Ballers podcast: 'I've got a big announcement today. 'It's not easy but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time. After reflecting on my experiences and who I am, I've realised I want to live with purpose to inspire and motivate others.' He also said on his Chelsea exit: 'The exit killed me. It killed me mentally. It was the worst thing. 'I was obviously with the reserves at that time so the plan was to pick up with the reserves, get some training in and if there were a few games where I could fit in toward the back end of the season, that was the plan. 'Because I literally had just gotten better. I came back in December-January and was training with the reserves. 'Feeling amazing, happy to be back - obviously it was a long way for me to be fully fit, but just being able to train was amazing. 'The first team was doing really well. It was COVID, so the buildings were split and you wouldn't really see the first team. 'Then toward the back end of the season in the car park I ran into Thomas Tuchel, the manager. 'They were getting ready for the semi-final of the Champions League and he just said, 'How are you feeling? How are things going?. 'It was my first time meeting him. He said, 'I'm looking forward to seeing you back and I said, 'Don't worry, I'll be back for pre-season. 'Because in my mind, it was always pre-season and I'd be back with the first team and we'd see from there. Whistleblowers, brought to you by the Mail and Wickes TradePro, is football's most original new podcast, lifting the lid on the parts of the game no one else talks about 'So I came back for pre-season and that's where things got tricky. That was the end of my time at Chelsea.' He also wrote on Instagram: 'This is not goodbye, but a new beginning, one where hopefully I can help play a small part in making the world better for footballers.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Stellantis Squashes Rumors of Plan to Sell Maserati
Maserati may be struggling, but its parent company, Stellantis, says it's not ready to cut ties. The automaker reaffirmed its commitment to the historic Italian brand this week, responding to renewed speculation that Maserati could be on the chopping block. The denial came after Reuters reported that Stellantis had hired McKinsey & Company to help chart a course forward amid sluggish sales and mounting external pressures, including new U.S. import tariffs. Two sources told Reuters that all options-including a potential divestment of Maserati-were on the table. But a Stellantis spokesperson pushed back firmly. "Respectfully, Maserati is not for sale," the company said, signaling it still sees long-term value in Maserati despite recent turbulence. While Stellantis says it isn't shopping Maserati around, it has engaged consultants to take a hard look at the brand's future. According to sources familiar with the talks, McKinsey is still early in its review process and has yet to deliver any formal recommendations. One source noted that Stellantis instructed McKinsey to consider "all possibilities," suggesting that even internal discussions may be more open-ended than the company lets on publicly. Meanwhile, there are reported disagreements among Stellantis's leadership. Some board members believe Maserati holds unique value as the company's only true luxury marque, while others question whether Stellantis can afford to give the brand the support it needs. Part of the problem is Maserati's product pipeline-or lack thereof. The brand discontinued two of its best-selling models, the Ghibli sedan and Levante SUV, with replacements not scheduled until 2028 and 2027, respectively. That's an eternity in a rapidly evolving auto market. For now, the $80,000 Grecale compact SUV is Maserati's only utility vehicle-a risky position given ongoing consumer demand for crossovers. The GranTurismo and MC20 supercar round out the lineup, but neither is likely to generate meaningful volume in today's market. Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares acknowledged last year that Maserati was "in the red," and the company's performance hasn't improved. Through the first quarter of 2025, sales are down nearly 50% compared to the year before. The broader issue might be strategic confusion. Maserati is supposed to be Stellantis's halo brand, but it's increasingly caught in a tug-of-war with Alfa Romeo. Both companies are Italian, performance-focused, and eyeing premium segments-but they can't cannibalize each other. That makes lineup planning even more complicated. If Stellantis is serious about turning Maserati around, it will likely need to invest heavily and clarify the brand's role within the conglomerate. But that kind of long-term bet is hard to square with short-term financial losses, especially as Stellantis faces headwinds on multiple other fronts. For now, the automaker is holding the line. But unless sales turn around or the strategy sharpens, the rumors are unlikely to go away. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Morocco World
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Jorge Vilda Names Morocco Women's Squad for 2024 WAFCON Campaign
Marrakech – Jorge Vilda, head coach of Morocco's women's national football team, has unveiled his final squad for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024. The announcement came during a press conference held Tuesday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé. The Atlas Lionesses, silver medalists in the 2022 continental tournament, will compete in Group A alongside Zambia, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As hosts, Morocco will play the opening match against Zambia at the recently inaugurated Olympic Stadium in Rabat on July 5. The tournament, scheduled to run from July 5-26 across Morocco, features 12 teams divided into three groups. Group B includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana, while Group C comprises South Africa, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania. Vilda's 26-player squad features a mix of domestic and foreign-based talent. The team is anchored by key players, including captain Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante/Spain), goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), and forward Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR). The squad selection follows Morocco's recent preparation matches against Cape Verde and Malawi, which ended in 1-0 and 4-1 victories, respectively. Full squad list Goalkeepers: Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), Ines Arouaissa (Saint Malo/France), Fatima Ezzahra El Jabraoui (Wydad Casablanca), Hind Hasnaoui (AS FAR) Defenders: Hanane Ait Elhaj (Valencia CF/Spain), Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Sabah Seghir (FC Basel/Switzerland), Aziza Rabbah (AS FAR), Nouhaila Benzina (AS FAR), Siham Boukhami (AS FAR), Yasmin Mrabet (Valencia CF/Spain), Soumia Hady (Wydad Casablanca) Midfielders: Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante/Spain), Najat Badri (AS FAR), Elodie Nakkach (Al Ahly/Saudi Arabia), Salma Bouguerch (Wydad Casablanca), Anissa Lahmari (Levante/Spain), Sarah Kassi (Fleury 91/France), Imène El Ghazouani (Servette FC/Switzerland), Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR) Forwards: Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (UD Tenerife), Rania Boutiebi (Bruges/Belgium), Imane Saoud (Servette FC/Switzerland), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al Ahly/Saudi Arabia), Kenza Chapelle (Strasbourg/France) 'Our players will give everything' Vilda, who led Spain to the 2023 Women's World Cup title before taking charge of Morocco last November, spoke about his squad in a recent interview with CAFOnline. He noted the development of women's football across Africa. 'African football has immense potential,' Vilda stated. 'Everything is more and more balanced. The teams are preparing better, the national competitions are improving, the teams have better technical staff who help them to progress. We see more organized teams and, above all, with enormous physical potential.' The 43-year-old coach discussed his approach to building team cohesion despite having players from various leagues. 'The players are the ones who make things easy, because they arrive with a total commitment and commitment to the jersey, the coat of arms, the country. They come very motivated.' Regarding Group A, Vilda acknowledged the challenge ahead. 'I think it's the toughest group, because it's very balanced. We know Zambia well, we faced each other in Olympic qualifying. It's a team that has progressed a lot in the last year.' Rather than feeling pressure as tournament hosts and 2022 runners-up, Vilda sees opportunity. 'More than pressure, it's above all a great desire to do well. Of course, we put a certain amount of pressure on ourselves on a daily basis to work well. But it's not a negative pressure: it's a privilege to have that pressure.' His message to Moroccan fans was clear: 'We are not going to disappoint them. What I can guarantee 100% is that our players will give everything, fight for every ball, not just to win games, but for every action. That's the identity of this Moroccan team.' Read also: Jorge Vilda: 'Morocco Has the Best Squad I've Coached So Far' Tags: Jorge vildaWAFCONwomen national football team
