United News of Bangladesh

Early league leaders Dhaka Mohammedan SC Ltd will play the even more unlikely high flyers in  2nd  ranked Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in a vital 7th round match of the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Friday (January 10). In the day’s another 7th round match, defending champions Bashundhara Kings will face lowly Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool at 5:30 pm at their home venue -–Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital. Format of SAFF Championship likely to change Brothers Union Club will meet Dhaka Wanderers Club in the day’s other match at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur. The traditional black and whites Mohammedan SC, which miserably eliminated from the ongoing Federation Cup Football before reaching the qualifiers, comfortably dominated the BPL table with all-win record securing full 18 points from straight six matches while the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS followed the leader neck and neck collecting 15 points from six matches, losing their only match to holders Bashundhara Kings by 4-1 goals. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani brighten chance to reach qualifying round beating Mohammedan 1-0 After the sixth round matches, six-time champions foreign booter-less Dhaka Abahani Limited are in the 3rd slot in the league table with 13 points, Brothers Union Club at the 4th place with 11 points while last season’s treble winners Bashundhara Kings are  struggling at the 5th place securing 10 10 points.  

West Ham hired Graham Potter as the coach on Thursday, a day after Julen Lopetegui was fired. Potter has been out of management since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job at Stamford Bridge. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. “It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United,” he said. Potter takes over a team that has won only three of its last 11 games and is 14th in the standings, seven points above the relegation zone. Former Real Madrid and Spain coach Lopetegui paid the price for that poor run when his departure was confirmed on Wednesday. He was hired last May to take the club to new heights after previous manager David Moyes ended West Ham's 43-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League in 2023. The 49-year-old Potter said West Ham had “everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.” "You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of,” he said. Potter enjoyed an impressive rise after beginning his coaching career at Ostersunds in Sweden in 2011. He took over at Swansea in 2018 and by 2022 was in charge of Premier League giant Chelsea after a stint at Brighton. But his reputation took a hit at Chelsea, which was undergoing a turbulent period following the takeover by U.S. owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. He lasted just six months after a run of just seven wins from 22 league games. West Ham said Potter was its “unanimous choice." His first game will be on Friday at Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.

Julen Lopetegui was fired by West Ham on Wednesday after less than a year in the job and with the Premier League club in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight. West Ham said the process to find a replacement was underway, with former Chelsea coach Graham Potter reportedly in talks to take over. Lopetegui paid the price for a run of just three wins in his last 11 games, with West Ham 14th in the standings and seven points above the drop zone. Costa Rica hires Miguel Herrera as coach for 2026 World Cup qualifiers “West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the club,” West Ham said in a statement posted on its official website. “The first half of the 2024-25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions and the club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.” The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced David Moyes in May and was expected to drive the club to new heights. But that has not materialized and recent heavy losses to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City sparked increased speculation about Lopetegui’s position. Uncertainty grew in recent days and, when West Ham canceled a scheduled news conference with Lopetegui on Wednesday to preview the upcoming FA Cup third round match against Aston Villa, confirmation of his departure was widely anticipated. Moyes left at the end of his contract last season having led West Ham to ninth in the standings. The previous season he ended the club’s 43-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa Conference League. Format of SAFF Championship likely to change The appointment of Lopetegui, who had previously managed Wolverhampton in England’s top flight, brought with it expectation that he could bring more success to West Ham. But 10 defeats in 22 games in all competitions brought an end to his reign before he could even complete a full season in charge. Most recently West Ham lost 4-1 against City, having previously been routed 5-0 by Liverpool. Potter has been out of work since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job. He previously managed Brighton in the Premier League.

Former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been hired as coach of the Costa Rica men's national team. The 56-year-old Herrera, who led Mexico to the 2014 World Cup, was appointed late Tuesday by the Costa Rican soccer federation. The veteran Mexican coach will fill the vacancy after Gustavo Alfaro resigned in August to coach Paraguay. Costa Rica has advanced to the third round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers alongside 11 other countries trying to secure three direct spots for the 2026 World Cup. The United States, Canada and Mexico are already qualified as host nations. The next round of qualifying matches begins next September. Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior banned for two matches after red card Herrera has coached six-first division teams in Mexico including America, where he won Apertura titles in 2013 and 2018. Under Herrera, Mexico won a playoff against New Zealand in 2013 to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, where the Mexicans were eliminated in the round of 16. He also helped Mexico win the 2015 Gold Cup and was fired soon after for allegedly fighting a TV journalist in a Philadelphia airport.

The traditional format of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, scheduled for a single central venue, is going to change after about 32 years. The biggest football event in the region, which began in 1993 in Pakistan under the banner of the SAARC Gold Cup, was later renamed SAFF Championship. The SAFF meeting, held in Kathmandu, Nepal on Wednesday, headed by its president Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, in principle agreed to hold the SAFF Championship on home and away basis instead of the traditional single venue format. Fed Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings to play Police FC on Tuesday However, the final decision in this regard was not taken at the day’s meeting. It will be finalized later after further discussion with member countries, said SAFF General Secretary Anwarul Haq Helal. The next SAFF Championship is scheduled for June 15 to July 5. The 6th round of BPL Football begins Friday The SAFF body will inform about the new format to each of the member countries. If all member countries accept the new format then the next SAFF Championship will be held on home away basis; otherwise, it will be held in the traditional format.

Nigeria has hired Éric Chelle to coach its men's national team, marking the latest appointment in a series of coaches as it risks missing out on the 2026 World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation said its executive committee had decided Tuesday to hire Chelle, who has international experience after coaching Mali from 2022 through last year. Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior banned for two matches after red card The 47-year-old Chelle takes over a team which has just three points from its first four World Cup qualifying games. Nigeria next plays Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Nigeria last qualified for the men's World Cup in 2018. Chelle is set to be the fourth coach in the last 12 months after Jose Peseiro, who left when his contract ended in February. Peseiro was succeeded by ex-player Finidi George, who stepped down after two games. Technical director Augustine Eguavoen then took charge. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani brighten chance to reach qualifying round beating Mohammedan 1-0 The NFF also announced German Bruno Labbadia as coach in September but he rejected the job. Labbadia said it was because he hadn't been able to visit Nigeria before his appointment was made public. The NFF said there was a disagreement over tax.

Real Madrid have been awaiting the verdict on Vinicius Junior’s red card from last weekend’s victory at Valencia, and it has now been passed down by the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee. It was expected that Vinicius would be banned for two matches, and that has been confirmed by the Federation, as per Diario AS. However, it is not a sanction that has been applied across all competitions, but only in La Liga. Read more: Real Madrid, PSG, and Man City under pressure to spark Champions League campaigns As such, it means that Vinicius will be available for Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, starting with Thursday’s semi-final against Mallorca. If Carlo Ancelotti’s side reach the final, which the 24-year-old scored a hat-trick in last season, he will also be able to face Athletic Club or Barcelona. Instead, Vinicius will be missing for Real Madrid’s next two league matches, which are against Las Palmas (home) and Real Valladolid (away). While that is a blow, there is no doubt that Los Blancos would have preferred it to be this way, as they should be able to win those matches rather comfortably without their talisman.

In a titans battle, Dhaka Abahani Limited, without any foreign booters, upset their traditional rivals Dhaka Mohammedan SC beating them by  1-0 goal in the Federation Cup Football at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla Tuesday afternoon. After a barren first half, forward Mohammad Ibrahim scored the match winning goal for sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 74th minute ((1-0)). With the day's well merited victory with the limited resources, Dhaka Abahani not only assured their berth in next round (qualifiers/eliminator),  but also took sweet revenge of their 0-1 goal defeat against Mohammedan in the 3rd round of ongoing BPL football, also in Cumilla last month. After the match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd are in the 2nd slot in Group B  with all- win record securing full six points from straight two matches while Rahmatganj MFS topped group list also with all-win run by better goal differences despite of collecting six points from two outings. With the day's debacle, the next round berth of traditional black & whites Mohammedan now became uncertain with three points from three matches. The day's other Group B match between two lowly teams--Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool and bottom ranked Chittagong Abahani Limited ended in 2-2 draw  at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Tuesday afternoon. Saiful and Sabuj scored for Chittagong Abahani one in each half while Akobir and Shanto Tudu netted for Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool, also one in each half. Fed Cup Football: Dhaka Mohammedan SC will lock horn with Dhaka Abahani Ltd in a vital Group A match on Tuesday Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.

In a titans battle, Dhaka Mohammedan SC will lock horn with Dhaka Abahani Limited in a vital Group B match of the Bashundhara Group Federation Cup Football Tournament at 2:45 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday. Two lowly teams-– Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool will play bottom ranked Chittagong Abahani Limited in the day’s other Group B match also at 2:45 pm at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Tuesday afternoon. The two teams yet to open their account playing one and two matches respectively. Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society dominated the Group B with all-win record securing full six points from straight two matches after beating Dhaka Mohammedan SC 1-0 and crushing Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool by 6-0 goals. Dhaka Mohammedan SC followed the group leader collecting three points from two matches outplaying Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 6-0 goals after conceding 0-1 defeat against Rahmatagnj MFS while Dhaka Abahani Limited are in the 3rd slot in the group with three points from one match beating their minnow Chittagong Abahani Limited by 3-0 goals . In Group A, Fortis FC topped list with unbeaten run securing seven points from three matches while last season’s treble winners Bashundhara Kings followed the leaders with six points from three matches. Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee cricket league.

Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time. PSG won the trophy, also known as the French Super Cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league. “The result reflects our domination,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said, while Monaco coach Adi Hütter conceded PSG played better. “A goal in the last minute always feels like a knife in the back,” Hütter said. “PSG deserved to win if we're being honest, they had more chances.” The match took place at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011. Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves. Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson. Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz's cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000. Marseille marches on Marseille strengthened its grip on second place in the French league, moving three points ahead of third-place Monaco after routing Le Havre 5-1 at home. Read: Jiménez scores twice as Fulham secures a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Ghana's Andre Ayew was on the wing for Le Havre against his former club. He scored 60 goals in 209 games for Marseille from 2007-15 and won two League Cups. His brother, Jordan Ayew, and his father — Abedi Pele — both played for the club. Marseille opened the scoring against 17th-place Le Havre in the 25th minute when midfielder Valentin Rongier drilled a low shot into the left corner from 20 meters out. Rongier's rare strike was followed by a first league goal for midfielder Bilal Nadir, who turned neatly before arrowing a shot in off the left post in the 39th. It was a special moment for Nadir, who ruptured his left ACL one year ago and was given a new contract by the club as a show of faith. Moments before halftime, striker Neal Maupay headed in from close range and Mason Greenwood broke down the right to set up substitute Elye Wahi midway through the second half. Ulisses Garcia added the fifth goal for coach Roberto De Zerbi's side. Home fans at Stade Velodrome chanted Ayew's name after he headed in a consolation goal in the 85th. Ayew applauded the fans back when he went off moments later. PSG is seven points ahead of Marseille after 16 rounds. Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference. Read more: BPL Football: Mohammedan maintain all-win run Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd. The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off. Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot. Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time. Strasbourg's goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.