Ivory Coast

Real Madrid has entered negotiations to sign 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, submitting a €100 million bid (€90M fixed + €10M add-ons) that Leipzig rejected, demanding over €100M and possibly up to €130M. Paris Saint-Germain also remains interested but has not made a convincing offer. Diomande, who scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists last season, has a contract until 2030. Real Madrid, under José Mourinho, has already signed several players this summer. A bidding war between the European giants is possible.

100 reports · 18 sources · Updated Aug 7, 04:36 AM UTC

Real Madrid is closing in on signing RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande after agreeing personal terms and preparing a new offer exceeding €100 million. Barcelona passed on a €100 million deal in May, while PSG, Liverpool, and Manchester City have been outmaneuvered. Diomande, who initially preferred PSG, now favors Real Madrid. The transfer fee may depend on whether he joins immediately or is loaned back to Leipzig for the 2026/27 season.

36 reports · 12 sources · Updated Aug 8, 01:55 AM UTC

Italian oilfield services company Saipem has secured contracts from Eni and its affiliates worth approximately €800m ($911m) for two projects. The first contract, awarded by Eni Côte d'Ivoire and partners, covers the third development phase of the Baleine oil and gas field offshore Ivory Coast, including engineering, fabrication, transport and installation of pipelines and subsea structures. Saipem will use its FDS and Shen Da construction vessels for this three-year project. The second contract, from Enilive (Eni's biofuels subsidiary), involves engineering, procurement and construction of a new deoxygenation unit at the Venice biorefinery in Porto Marghera, Italy, designed to process 70 tonnes per hour of biogenic feedstocks and increase hydrotreated vegetable oil biofuel output. This follows a previous award for biojet fuel production at the same site in June 2025. Saipem operates globally with five fabrication yards, 17 construction vessels and 12 drilling rigs.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 10:09 AM UTC

Real Madrid's board of directors is set to meet on July 28, 2026, to approve record revenues of approximately 1.3 billion euros, an unprecedented figure for any sports club. The club's financial stability is bolstered by new sponsorship agreements with Adidas and Emirates, making the Real Madrid jersey the most expensive in the world, generating 300 million euros annually. The board will also officially announce the signing of Ivorian international Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, the fifth acquisition for coach José Mourinho this transfer window. The club's youth academy has already contributed over 100 million euros in income this summer, with further player sales expected before the transfer window closes. Mourinho identified Diomande as a game-changing player to add speed to the squad.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 07:57 AM UTC

Manchester United officially announced that Amad Diallo and Altay Bayindir have returned to the Carrington training base for physical tests following the 2026 World Cup. Bayindir represented Turkey but did not play; Turkey was eliminated early after losses to Australia and Paraguay, though they beat co-host USA 3-2. Amad was a key player for Ivory Coast, scoring a last-minute winner against Ecuador to help them advance from the group stage for the first time. In the Round of 32, Amad scored again against Norway but Ivory Coast lost 1-2. Both players rested after the tournament and returned on Monday. Manager Michael Carrick's team has completed two of six pre-season friendlies, against Wrexham and Rosenborg. The next match is against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 27, 11:30 PM UTC

Ivory Coast, coached by Reynald Pedros, made a successful debut at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, easily defeating Burkina Faso 4-1. The Elephants scored three goals in the first 23 minutes, including a brace from Strasbourg striker Inès Konan (14th, 23rd) and a penalty from Rebbeca Elloh (6th). Nsira Ouedraogo added a superb direct free kick in the second half (56th) against a Burkina Faso side reduced to 10 men after their goalkeeper was sent off. In the same group, Tanzania surprised defending champions South Africa 2-1, winning their first-ever match at the AFCON thanks to a late solo goal from Hasnath Ubamba (87th). South Africa, winners in 2022 and semi-finalists in 2024, fired 24 shots but suffered an unfortunate defeat. Ivory Coast now tops Group B.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 27, 10:36 PM UTC

Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from signing Ivorian striker Yann Diomandé from RB Leipzig, citing excessive financial demands and agent misconduct. Real Madrid intervened with a higher offer, reportedly exceeding €100-130 million, hijacking the deal. PSG issued a rare public statement criticizing the inflated market and intermediaries, while Spanish media mocked PSG’s hypocrisy given its own high spending. The transfer highlights tensions between top European clubs over financial discipline and market influence.

9 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 28, 12:18 AM UTC

The 14th Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off July 26, 2026, in Morocco, running through August 16 after a postponement from March due to organizational issues. Expanded from 12 to 16 teams for the first time, the tournament features Nigeria as defending champions and record 10-time winners. Morocco, South Africa, and debutants Cape Verde and Malawi compete. Semi-finalists qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 27, 04:47 PM UTC

On July 22, the famous statistics website Squawka released a ranking of goalkeepers with the most clean sheets at the 2026 World Cup. Spain's Unai Simón tops the list with 7 clean sheets, far ahead of the rest. Colombia's Camilo Vargas and France's Mike Maignan are tied for second with 4 each. Mexico's Raúl Rangel has 3, while Matt Freese (USA), Yahia Fofana (Ivory Coast), Patrick Beach (Australia), Vozinha (Cape Verde), Alisson Becker (Brazil), and Maxime Crépeau (Canada) each have 2. The data was sourced from X and published by Hupu Soccer.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 11:02 AM UTC

On July 22, the statistics website Squawka released a ranking of the most successful dribbles in a single match at the 2026 World Cup. The top two matches, Brazil vs Morocco and Jordan vs Algeria, both recorded 59 successful dribbles during the group stage. Morocco vs Haiti followed with 55 dribbles. The list includes matches from the group stage, Round of 32, and the third-place match, featuring teams such as Germany, Paraguay, Turkey, Switzerland, France, England, USA, Australia, and Curacao. The data highlights high-dribble performances across various stages of the tournament.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 10:02 AM UTC

On July 22, the sports statistics website Squawka released a ranking of the most tackles in a single match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group stage match between Jordan and Algeria recorded the highest number with 55 tackles, placing first. Brazil vs Morocco and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan tied for second with 49 tackles each. The list includes several group stage matches and one Round of 32 game (Germany vs Paraguay), all featuring 45 or more tackles. The data was sourced from X (formerly Twitter) and reported by Hupu Soccer, a Chinese sports media outlet. The ranking highlights the physical intensity and defensive effort in various World Cup matches.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 09:43 AM UTC

A media compilation of dribbling attempts for players in the top five European leagues (including club and national team matches) for the 25-26 season has been released. Lamine Yamal of Spain tops the list with 270 attempts, followed by Jérémy Doku of Belgium with 211 attempts. Jean-Diomandé of Ivory Coast ranks third with 164 attempts, Vinícius Júnior of Brazil fourth with 155 attempts, and Michael Olise of France fifth with 150 attempts. The data was sourced from X and published by Hupu Football News on July 22.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 09:40 AM UTC

On July 22, Hupu News reported that statistics website Squawka released a ranking of matches with the most clear-cut chances created in a single game at the 2026 World Cup. The top match was the third-place playoff between France and England, which generated 11 clear chances. Following that, four matches tied for second place with 7 chances each: Norway vs Senegal (group stage), Scotland vs Brazil (group stage), England vs DR Congo (round of 32), and Argentina vs Egypt (round of 16). Five more matches recorded 6 chances each: Germany vs Ivory Coast, Portugal vs Uzbekistan, Turkey vs USA, Algeria vs Austria (all group stage), and Netherlands vs Morocco (round of 32). The data was sourced from X (formerly Twitter).

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 08:54 AM UTC

On July 22, the statistics website Squawka released a ranking of the most shots off target (wide or missed) in a single match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The list is topped by the Round of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal, which recorded 20 off-target shots. Following are Turkey vs Paraguay and Colombia vs Portugal, each with 18 off-target shots. Other matches on the list include Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, New Zealand vs Belgium, DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, Panama vs England, Spain vs Cape Verde, Haiti vs Scotland, and Australia vs Turkey, with totals ranging from 14 to 16. The data was sourced from Squawka and published by Hupu Football News.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 08:24 AM UTC

Former Valencia and Villarreal player Jorge López discusses his recent stint as sporting director of Al Ittihad in Tripoli, Libya. Hired in December 2025 with a short-term goal to win the league or cup, he left after failing to secure a title. He highlights the high salaries and aggressive transfer tactics in Libyan football, citing the signing of Libyan-Italian midfielder Ahmad Benali, whose salary jumped from 3 to nearly 20 (likely thousands of euros per week). López notes the quality of North African football (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast) but criticizes its disorganization. He also mentions hiring South African coach Rulani Mokwena and working with colleague Jaime Fernández. López is now awaiting his next project.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 04:26 AM UTC

Nottingham Forest are finalizing a deal to sign 22-year-old Ivorian center-back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for over €40 million, well below his €80 million release clause. New manager Oliver Glasner is driving the move, having previously targeted Diomande at Crystal Palace. Forest raised funds via the record £116 million sale of Elliot Anderson. Diomande, a World Cup participant, is expected to strengthen Forest’s defense as they aim to avoid relegation. Sporting is monitoring Ibrahima Ba as a replacement.

9 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 30, 04:05 AM UTC

The latest football transfer gossip roundup from BBC Sport, dated July 21, 2026, reports that Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal are all interested in Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, though United's hierarchy is reluctant to sell him to a domestic rival. Arsenal is also targeting Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, while Juventus is interested in Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Nottingham Forest is in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande. Juventus also wants West Ham's Jean-Clair Todibo. Manchester United remains keen on a central midfielder but has cooled interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Bournemouth's Alex Scott due to high price tags. Bournemouth is determined to keep Scott despite his contract rejection. Ipswich has agreed a deal for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda for £8m plus add-ons. Manchester United's young full-back James Overy is being monitored by Rangers and Australian clubs.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 09:36 PM UTC

FC Nantes coach Michel Der Zakarian has confirmed Maxime Dupé as the starting goalkeeper, pushing returning loanee Alban Lafont out of the lineup. Lafont, 27, who played for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, is now set to leave Nantes permanently for Turkish Süper Lig newcomers Amedspor in a €1 million transfer. Nantes was relegated to Ligue 2, and Lafont had one year left on his contract.

10 reports · 4 sources · Updated Jul 22, 06:29 PM UTC

Well-known media outlet BR has selected the most disappointing 11-player lineup and coach of this World Cup. The head coach is Portugal's manager Martinez. The squad includes goalkeeper Neuer (Germany), defenders Reece James (England), Gabriel (Brazil), Tah (Germany), and Digne (France); midfielders Valverde (Uruguay), Vitinha (Portugal), and Sane (Germany); and forwards Madueke (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and Diomande (Ivory Coast). The list was sourced from X and published on Hupu Soccer, a Chinese sports community platform, approximately 2 minutes ago.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:54 PM UTC

Arsenal and Liverpool have made fresh approaches to sign 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who recorded 23 goal contributions last season. However, the Ivory Coast international has his heart set on a move to Paris Saint-Germain, and his representatives have informed the Premier League clubs of his preference. PSG are currently negotiating a transfer and are prepared to pay around €110 million. Liverpool need to replace Mohamed Salah, while Arsenal seek more depth in wide areas. Manchester City are also monitoring the situation as they may lose Savinho to Tottenham.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 01:30 PM UTC

David Raum, 28-year-old left-back for RB Leipzig and the German national team (DFB), has launched a fashion label called 'Vorgrace' with friends from his hometown of Nuremberg. The collection, featuring hoodies, pants, long-sleeve shirts, and baseball caps in limited quantities, was worn by Raum during the World Cup, including when departing for a match against Ivory Coast. The label will go on sale this coming Friday via its Instagram channel. Raum describes the style as 'simplicity with an edge,' designed to be wearable by all ages. He emphasizes his role is behind the scenes, not to sell merchandise under his own name. Meanwhile, Raum is expected back at RB Leipzig next week for preseason, where contract extension talks are pending as his current deal expires next summer. The article highlights Raum's off-pitch ventures, including golf and DJing, alongside his football career.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 12:39 PM UTC

The delayed 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) is set to begin on July 26 in Morocco, hosted for the third consecutive time. Originally scheduled for March-April, the tournament was postponed by CAF just 12 days before its start due to unforeseen circumstances. The expanded 16-team tournament features 34 matches across five stadiums in Rabat and Casablanca, culminating in the final on August 16. This edition doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, with all four semi-finalists securing automatic spots. Defending champions Nigeria, record 10-time winners, are in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi. Hosts Morocco face Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya in Group A. South Africa, the 2022 champions, lead Group B, while Ghana heads Group D. The article provides full group details, kick-off times, and venue information.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 10:30 AM UTC

The International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism (AILCT) in Ivory Coast trains security forces from across West Africa to counter the growing terrorist threat in the Sahel region. The article describes realistic training exercises, including hostage scenarios and bomb disposal, and highlights evolving extremist tactics such as booby-trapping buildings and the rise of 'narco-terrorism' linking drug trafficking to terrorist financing. More than half of global terror deaths now occur in the Sahel. Recent attacks in Mali and Niger killed dozens of soldiers. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that the crisis is spreading to coastal states. The academy, founded after a 2016 attack, is described as one of the West's last prestige projects in the region.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 09:24 AM UTC

On July 20, Hupu News reported that WhoScored has selected the U23 Best XI for the World Cup. The lineup includes goalkeeper Beach (Australia, 6.93 rating); defenders Freeman (USA, 7.27), Cubarsi (Spain, 7.24), Chilcati (Australia, 7.16), and Brown (Germany, 7.11); midfielders Saliba (Canada, 7.53), Manzambi (Switzerland, 7.36), and Bellingham (England, 7.73); and forwards Diomande (Ivory Coast, 7.43), Enciso (Paraguay, 6.93), and Wirtz (Germany, 7.73). The article notes that many of these players may feature in future World Cup Best XIs.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 03:46 PM UTC

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Nottingham Forest is interested in Sporting CP's 22-year-old Ivorian center-back Ousmane Diomande. The interest is conditional on the potential departure of Forest defenders Murillo (currently injured) or Milenkovic. Discussions have occurred between the clubs, but no formal offer has been made. Sporting CP insists on a minimum transfer fee of €50 million to open negotiations, a stance reinforced by Diomande's contract renewal in January 2024, which runs until 2030 and includes an €80 million release clause. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner had previously attempted to sign Diomande over a year ago but was deterred by the €50 million asking price. Sporting's management is in a strong negotiating position due to the high release clause, and it is likely Diomande will remain at the club unless an offer reaches at least €50 million before the transfer window closes.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 06:09 AM UTC

Italian Serie A club Fiorentina has completed the permanent signing of 20-year-old Ivorian international midfielder Chris Inao Oulai from Turkish club Trabzonspor. The deal, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, is valued at approximately €25-30 million plus bonuses and a 10% sell-on clause. Oulai, who impressed at the 2026 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, has already traveled to Italy for his medical. He becomes Fiorentina’s seventh summer signing.

6 reports · 3 sources · Updated Jul 19, 07:50 PM UTC

Arsenal have made checks with the agents of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande to explore a potential transfer, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international had an impressive season, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists in 36 appearances. However, Diomande already has a personal terms agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, who are in active negotiations with Leipzig. Arsenal's interest is at an exploratory stage, with the club making calls to understand the situation. Diomande, whose contract runs until 2030, primarily plays as a right winger but can also operate on the left. The article suggests Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should pursue the young talent to add pace and firepower to the squad, noting his potential to become a future Premier League star.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 07:30 PM UTC

Manchester United have firmly rejected any transfer interest in winger Amad Diallo, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. Despite links with Newcastle United and Brighton, the club informed Diallo's representatives in June that he is not for sale. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international signed a contract extension until June 2030, giving United no financial pressure to sell. Manager Michael Carrick values Diallo's creative left-footed option on the right wing, which provides tactical balance. While Diallo's 2025/26 campaign was quieter than his breakthrough season, United see greater value in keeping him and supporting his development rather than generating a significant transfer fee. The article argues that selling him after one less productive season would be premature, and Carrick should give him a clear role to maximize his potential.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 11:44 AM UTC

The article analyzes Lionel Messi's dominant performance in the 2026 World Cup at age 39, leading Argentina to the final. It highlights his statistical superiority in goals (8), assists (4), chances created (25), and dribbles (24), instilling fear in opponents. The narrative frames his personal epic alongside Argentina's collective resilience, with comebacks against Egypt and England attributed to Messi's influence. The piece also previews Spain's defensive strategy to contain him, emphasizing a 2+3 block system. Messi's leadership in multiple categories (goals, assists, shots, through balls, recoveries) underscores his unique role as both architect and finisher.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 09:27 AM UTC

In an interview with Hupu, Ivorian forward Diomande recounts his journey from playing football barefoot in plastic sandals in Abidjan to becoming a professional player for La Liga side Leganés. He discusses his childhood idols (Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Drogba), his move to a football academy at age 9, and his relocation to the United States at 15. Despite failed trials at Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace, he remained determined. He made his professional debut against Real Madrid in March 2025, swapping jerseys with Mbappé. Diomande also reflects on his World Cup debut for Ivory Coast, where he was named Man of the Match against Ecuador. He emphasizes patience, faith, and gratitude for his rapid rise, noting that two years ago he was playing in the US fourth division.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 03:39 PM UTC