Latest news with #RenaissanceBerkane
Arab News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Chaabani believes debutants Berkane can win CAF Champions League
JOHANNESBURG: Renaissance Berkane coach Mouin Chaabani believes the Moroccan club could go one better than CAF Champions League title-holders Pyramids and win the competition at the first attempt. Cairo outfit Pyramids won the premier African club competition last Sunday in only their second appearance by beating South African rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 on aggregate. Berkane last month became Moroccan champions for the first time, finishing 13 points ahead of runners-up FAR Rabat. Called the Orange Boys as they are based in the citrus-growing northeast of Morocco, Renaissance will debut in the Champions League this year. It is a milestone for a club formed in 1938 and overshadowed for decades by Casablanca giants Raja and Wydad, both three-time African champions. Berkane finally conquered Morocco by winning 21 of 30 matches, drawing seven, losing just two, scoring 49 goals and conceding only 14 in a championship ranked the second toughest in Africa. While Berkane are Champions League debutants, they are no strangers to Africa having competed in the past eight editions of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, winning three finals. They were also runners-up twice to Egyptian opponents Zamalek, losing one title decider after a penalty shootout and another on away goals. Chaabani, a 43-year-old Tunisian, acknowledges that competing in the Champions League will be more challenging than the Confederation Cup. 'The Champions League is a tougher competition, with high-level opponents,' the coach who won back-to-back titles in the most prized African club competition with Tunis outfit Esperance told reporters. 'Thanks to repeated appearances in the Confederation Cup, I think Berkane have acquired continental experience. We have an ambitious squad capable of competing at the highest level. 'We will approach the Champions League campaign with great respect for opponents, but also with a desire to go far. Why not aim for the title? 'Our supporters can play a key role. Their unwavering backing, at home and away, has carried us through difficult times as well as joyful moments.' The Municipal Stadium in Berkane accommodates just 15,000 spectators, and their closeness to the pitch creates what many visiting coaches have called 'an intimidating atmosphere.' Berkane won 43 of 49 home Confederation Cup matches since debuting in 2015, drew the other six, scored 113 goals and conceded only 18. En route to the latest Confederation Cup triumph, they excelled at home, firing five goals past Dadje of Benin and Stellenbosch of South Africa and four past CS Constantine of Algeria in the semifinals. The Champions League is becoming increasingly competitive and unpredictable with the success of Pyramids not foreseen when the competition kicked off last August. The Cairo club boast a prolific scorer in Congolese Fiston Mayele, whose nine goals won him the Champions League Golden Boot. Pyramids, fellow Egyptian challengers and record 12-time African champions Al Ahly, Sundowns and Esperance of Tunisia will hope to claim the $4 million (EUR3.5 million) first prize. Mouloudia Alger of Algeria, who are poised to qualify, and FAR were quarter-finalists last season and capable of going further this time. Apart from the regular campaigners, there will be newcomers like Wiliete of Angola, Colombe of Cameroon and possibly Police, who need one point from two matches to become Kenyan champions. Originally due to kick off in August, the Champions League will be delayed as the African Nations Championship (CHAN) has been rescheduled for that month.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mane to miss friendlies with Republic of Ireland & England
Sadio Mane has not been included in the Senegal squad for the forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two matches. Mane, 33, is the only notable omission from a 26-man squad announced by coach Pape Thiaw on Tuesday. The former Liverpool player, now turning out for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, has won 111 caps for his country. "It's a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach," Thiaw told a news conference. Mane was the subject of criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, in which they drew with Sudan and beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers. Thiaw has included one newcomer in his squad - midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. Seven players return to the squad after missing the March fixtures, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye. Senegal play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Friday 6 June and then face England in Nottingham on Tuesday 10 June. Squad: Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw (Rodez), Yevhann Diouf (Stade Reims), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli) Defenders: Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi), El Hadj Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Moussa Niakhate (Olympique Lyonnais), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa) Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Monaco), Mamadou Lamine Camara (Renaissance Berkane), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Habib Diarra (Racing Strasbourg), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur) Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Idrissa Gueye (Metz), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Cherif Ndiaye (Red Star Belgrade), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Abdallah Sima (Stade Brest).
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Senegal squad: Sadio Mane to miss friendlies against Ireland, England
Sadio Mane will not play for Senegal in next month's internationals against Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two friendly matches. Mane is the only major absentee from a 26-man squad unveiled by coach Pape Thiaw on Tuesday. 'It's a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach,' Thiaw told a press conference. The 33-year-old Mane, who has won 111 caps for the West African country, has been subjected to criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, where it drew with Sudan but beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers. ALSO READ: Ancelotti's first Brazil squad - Neymar out, Casemiro back for 2026 Qualifiers Thiaw named one newcomer in midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. There are returns to the squad after missing the March qualifiers for seven players, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton. Senegal takes on Ireland in Dublin on June 6 and England in Nottingham on June 10. Squad Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw (Rodez), Yevhann Diouf (Stade Reims), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli) Defenders: Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi), El Hadj Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Moussa Niakhate (Olympique Lyonnais), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa) Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Monaco), Mamadou Lamine Camara (Renaissance Berkane), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Habib Diarra (Racing Strasbourg), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur) Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Idrissa Gueye (Metz), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Cherif Ndiaye (Red Star Belgrade), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Abdallah Sima (Stade Brest). Related Topics Sadio Mane / Senegal
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Sadio Mane to miss Senegal's friendly against the Republic of Ireland
Sadio Mane will not play for Senegal in next month's internationals against the Republic of Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two friendly matches. Mane is the only major absentee from a 26-man squad unveiled by coach Pape Thiaw on Tuesday. "It's a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach," Thiaw told a press conference. The 33-year-old Mane, who has won 111 caps for the west Africa country, has been subjected to criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, where they drew with Sudan but beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers. Thiaw named one newcomer in midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. There are returns to the squad after missing the March qualifiers for seven players, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton. Senegal take on Ireland in Dublin on June 6 and England in Nottingham on June 10. Senegal squad: Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw (Rodez), Yevhann Diouf (Stade Reims), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli). Defenders: Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi), El Hadj Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Moussa Niakhate (Olympique Lyonnais), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa). Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Monaco), Mamadou Lamine Camara (Renaissance Berkane), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Habib Diarra (Racing Strasbourg), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur). Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Idrissa Gueye (Metz), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Cherif Ndiaye (Red Star Belgrade), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Abdallah Sima (Stade Brest).
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Sadio Mane to miss Senegal's friendly against the Republic of Ireland
Sadio Mane will not play for Senegal in the upcoming internationals against the Republic of Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two friendly matches. Mane is the only major absentee from a 26-man squad unveiled by coach Pape Thiaw on Tuesday for the clash with Heimir Hallgrímsson's side at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, 6 June and the English in Nottingham four days later. "It's a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach," Thiaw told a press conference. The 33-year-old Mane, who has won 111 caps for the west Africa country, has been subjected to criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, where they drew with Sudan but beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers. Thiaw named one newcomer in midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. There are returns to the squad after missing the March qualifiers for seven players, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
