Geneva, Oct 10 (AP/UNB) — Former FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali is taking his charity project worldwide to build on its work of bringing soccer to Syrian refugees in Jordan.

The prince detailed plans Tuesday for the Association Football Development Program Global to fund projects, donate equipment and provide expert management at a launch at Arsenal's home stadium in London.

The NGO's partners include War Child UK, which helps former child soldiers in Africa, the UEFA Foundation For Children, streetfootballworld and the Spanish league.

The prince's original focus was in Asia, with funding from FIFA payments as a member of its executive committee from 2011-15. He decided to go global after meeting soccer officials on his FIFA election campaigns in 2015 and '16.

"I realized you could really broaden the work to the entire world where there are so many similar challenges," Prince Ali told The Associated Press in a telephone interview ahead of the launch event.

Central Africa is a target with the War Child Football Club project aiming to kick off in seven countries with help from AFDP Global.

Prince Ali said he is open to working with professional clubs who can apply to partner on projects.

"We are not going to limit ourselves to anything," he said. "There is absolutely no politics involved. And it's not limited to any place — it could be a project with inner-city kids in the U.K."

The Zaatari refugee camp of 80,000 people displaced from Syria has been the program's core work with 5,000 children now playing soccer, including on a field for girls opened in recent weeks.

"It's an unfortunate situation but I'm very proud of what it has become," said Prince Ali, who has no immediate plans to work with FIFA.

"We want to work independently but if we are asked to, then sure," he said. "Any work we do has to be really physically tangible on the ground."

UEFA has supported the Zaatari camp, and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, praised AFDP for "giving these children opportunities that they otherwise would not have had."

After losing FIFA elections first against Sepp Blatter and then in a five-candidate contest won by Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali does not expect to try a third time.

"My focus is on this project," said the Jordanian soccer federation president, who also heads the West Asian group of FIFA member federations.

Cox’s Bazar, Oct 9 (UNB) – Tajikistan smartly reach the final of the six-nation 5th Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament eliminating the Philippines by 2-0 goals in the first semifinal in a rain-soaked 12,000-capacity Birshrestha  Ruhul Amin Stadium here on Tuesday.

They will play final on Friday (Oct 12) at 6:30 pm at the country’s premier sports venue--Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka-- against the winners of Palestine and hosts Bangladesh, who meet each other in the 2nd semifinal on Wednesday (Oct 10) at 2:30 pm at the Birshrestha  Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox’s Bazar.

In the day’s first semis, forward Tursunov Kamron put Tajikistan ahead in the 32nd minute by a good volley shot (1-0) while Nazrov Akhtam sealed the fate of the match scoring the 2nd goal for Tajikistan in the 8th minute of the stoppage time (98th minute), also by a brilliant shot (2-0).

Tajikistan earned the deserving victory playing a good brand of football all through dominating over the Philippines for most of the proceedings. However, the beauty of the match was marred due to muddy and slippery ground following rain.

From very beginning, Tajikistan took the control of the match and maintained it most of the first half and took its fruit in the 32nd minute to a take 1-0 lead.

After the conceding goal, the Philippines reorganized themselves and the match became exciting one with attacks and counter attacks till the minute of the first half, where Philippines spoiled two good opportunities.

Tajikistan again got rhythm in the last few minutes of the match and doubled the margin in the 8th minute of the stoppage time.

Palestine clinched the Group A title to reach the semis with all-win record beating Tajikistan 2-0 and holders Nepal 1-0 while the Philippines emerged Group B champions also with all win-run beating Laos 3-1 and Bangladesh 1-0.

Bangladesh managed a berth in the last four stage beating Laos 1-0 after conceding 0-1 defeat against the Philippines while Tajikistan also managed semifinal berth beating Nepal 2-0 and after suffering 0-2 defeat against favourite Palestine.

Paris, Oct 8 (AP/UNB) — Kylian Mbappe scored four goals, earned a penalty and also hit the post in a memorable performance for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-0 league rout of Lyon on Sunday.

PSG became the first team ever to win its first nine games of a season in Ligue 1.

A foul on Mbappe set up Neymar's early penalty before Mbappe scored four times over a 13-minute span of the second half.

Mbappe hit the post shortly after the break and then scored in the 61st, 66th, 69th and 74th minutes — the first with his left foot and the next three with his right.

The 19-year-old star of France's World Cup title run this year, Mbappe became the youngest player to score four goals in a French league match in 45 seasons.

PSG was reduced to 10 men when defender Presnel Kimpembe was sent off with a straight red midway through the first half.

But then Lyon was also left with 10 men when Lucas Tousart picked up a second yellow for a foul on Mbappe in first-half stoppage time.

With its ninth win in nine matches, PSG moved back to eight points ahead of second-place Lille, which beat Saint-Etienne 3-1 on Saturday.

Also, third-place Marseille beat Caen 2-0 with goals from Kostas Mitroglou and Florian Thauvin.

Rennes defeated 10-man Monaco 2-1 with Hatem Ben Arfa scoring the winner. Damien Da Silva had put Rennes ahead before Radamel Falcao's equalizer. Andrea Raggi was sent off in first-half added time.

Bordeaux beat Nantes 3-0 with a brace from Francois Kamano and another goal from Yann Karamoh.

Chicago, Oct 8 (AP/UNB) — Midfielder Weston McKennie injured his right adductor muscle and will miss the United States' exhibition games against Colombia and Peru.

McKennie, a 20-year-old Texan, scored his first two professional goals in the past week for Schalke, against Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League and Fortuna Duesseldorf in the Bundesliga.

He has been replaced on the 23-man roster by Toronto midfielder Marky Delgado.

The U.S. also is missing midfielders Christian Pulisic (torn calf muscle) and Tyler Adams (back spasms) for the matches against Colombia on Thursday at Tampa, Florida, and versus Peru on Oct. 16 at East Hartford, Connecticut.

The revised roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge, Belgium), Zack Steffen (Columbus)

Defenders: John Brooks (Wolfsburg, Germany), Reggie Cannon (Dallas), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea, England), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Nantes, France), Antonee Robinson (Wigan, England), Ben Sweat (New York City), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle, England)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado), Jonathan Amon (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Marky Delgado (Toronto), Julian Green (Greuther Fuerth, Germany), Fafa Picault (Philadelphia), Kenny Saief (Anderlecht, Belgium), Wil Trapp (Columbus), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

Forwards: Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Bobby Wood (Hannover, Germany)

Dhaka, Oct 7 (UNB) – Bangladesh clinched the six-nation maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s crown with all-win record beating Nepal by 1-0 goal in the final at the floodlit Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Sunday.

This was the 2nd consecutive victory for Bangladesh team against Nepal in the ongoing SAFF Championship after beating the Himalayan nation by 2-1 goals in group match.

Masura Parvin scored the match-winner for Bangladesh in the 49th minute by a header from close, off a long free kick of his team mate (1-0) to score the 24th goal for Bangladesh in the just concluded meet.

Siraj Jahan Shopna of Bangladesh was adjudged the highest scorer of the tournament scoring eight goals.

With the day’s feat, Bangladesh women’s team somehow got relieved from their shocking defeat to India in the SAFF U-15 Championship final at the same venue last August. 

Bangladesh reached the final eliminating hosts Bhutan 4-0 goals in the 2nd semifinal last Friday while Nepal reached the final denying the South Asian giant India beating them by 3-1 goals in a penalty shootout in the 1st semifinal after 1-1 draw in the stipulated period and also in the extra time.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid congratulated the girl’s team over their victory.

In a message he said, “This victory will remain as a glittering start in our history and will take the country’s football forward.”