Coupe du monde 2026 – Équipe d’Espagne : Luis de la Fuente poursuit s…

Sacré champion du monde 2026 dimanche face à l’Argentine, Luis de la Fuente confirme qu’il est bien plus qu’un simple sélectionneur de transition. Depuis son arrivée à la tête de la Roja en 2022, le technicien espagnol construit un projet solide et s’inscrit déjà parmi les entraîneurs marquants de l’histoire du football espagnol.

Une impressionnante collection de titres

Luis de la Fuente est en train d’écrire une page majeure avec les sélections espagnoles. Son palmarès parle pour lui : champion d’Europe U19 en 2015, champion d’Europe U21 en 2019, vainqueur de la Ligue des Nations en 2023 avec l’équipe A, puis champion d’Europe en 2024 et champion du monde en 2026. sweetbonan.org

Cinq trophées majeurs remportés avec différentes générations de joueurs, mais toujours avec une même philosophie basée sur la maîtrise collective et la qualité technique.

Une régularité exceptionnelle

Depuis sa nomination à la tête de la sélection espagnole en 2022, Luis de la Fuente affiche un bilan impressionnant avec seulement deux défaites. Une régularité remarquable alors que la Roja a disputé et remporté les plus grandes compétitions internationales ces dernières années.

Lors de la Coupe du monde 2026, l’Espagne n’a jamais été menée au score, illustrant la maîtrise tactique et la solidité mentale insufflées par son sélectionneur.

Un entraîneur déjà entré dans l’histoire

Avec ce sacre mondial, Luis de la Fuente réalise un exploit rare : réussir à triompher avec les équipes de jeunes puis avec la sélection A. Son doublé Euro-Coupe du monde le place désormais aux côtés des entraîneurs ayant marqué leur époque.

À 63 ans, il n’a pas seulement accumulé les trophées. Il a également installé une nouvelle dynamique au sein de la Roja et posé les bases d’une génération appelée à durer.

The post Coupe du monde 2026 – Équipe d’Espagne : Luis de la Fuente poursuit son incroyable série appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana rising star Mduduzi Shabalala has joined the PUMA South Africa football family and features in the campaign for the new PUMA ULTRA 7 football boot.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who made his Bafana debut in October 2025, joins a glittering PUMA football lineup which includes Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners, Bathusi Aubaas, Malibongwe Khoza, Patrick Maswanganyi, Thapelo Morena, Sailor Mudau, and Mfundo Vilakazi.

“Mdu’s performances last season were impressive, and we believe that we are signing a player that will be at the forefront of SA football for many years to come, and who will drive on-pitch visibility of our ULTRA football boots,” said PUMA SA’s Tshepo Mashishi.

“He is a player that has the talent to be a part of the SA national team and become one of the leaders when we are back on the world stage at the 2030 World Cup.”

Mdu delighted to join PUMA

Shabalala is excited to join the PUMA football family. “My decision was based on how well PUMA’s values, vision, and commitment to athletes align with my own goals and journey as a footballer. I push myself every day to improve, compete at the highest level, and make an impact on and off the pitch. I believe my ambition, work ethic, and passion for the game align perfectly with the brand.”

Looking forward to the new season, he said: “I want to improve my consistency, contribute more goals and assists, and continue developing all aspects of my game to help the team succeed.”

Shabalala will open the new season playing in the new PUMA ULTRA 7. “It’s lightweight, comfortable, and built for speed, which suits my style of play perfectly,” commented Shabalala.

Chiefs will kick off their 2026/2027 Betway Premiership season with an away match against newly-promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on 1 August.

Le mercato estival s’accélère pour les Lions de l’Atlas. Auteur d’une Coupe du monde 2026 très convaincante sous les couleurs du Maroc, Issa Diop est sur le point de poursuivre sa carrière en Premier League, mais sous un nouveau maillot. Un accord a été trouvé entre Fulham et Ipswich Town, fraîchement promu dans l’élite anglaise. […]

L’article Mercato : Issa Diop quitte Fulham et se rapproche d’Ipswich Town ! est apparu en premier sur Shoot Africa.

The Springboks have made a promising start to the 2026 internation season, wining all four games they have played so far.

They beat the Barbarians 80-31 in a friendly season-opener towards the end of June and then won all three Nations Championship matches this month – against England (45-21), Scotland (42-28) and Wales (43-0).

Ahead of the one-off away Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August and the four Test series against the All Blacks in August and September, here are five things we’ve learned about the Boks so far this season.

Unreal depth in all positions

Coach Rassie Erasmus has built quality depth across his squad, giving a number of players a chance to show what they can do. If you factor in the men who played for the SA A team against Zimbabwe, Erasmus has had a good look at several men over the four matches.

In some positions the Boks are four players deep. Erasmus also picked four different teams this season, and no matter who started or played off the bench, the Boks still won well.

The find of the season so far is flanker Paul de Villiers, but U20 stars Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams also got their shots, as did several fringe men who grabbed their chance.

No Kolisi, Etzebeth and Sacha, no problem

Continuing on from the above point, it is quite scary to think the Boks beat all-comers to South Africa over the last month without the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the mix. They were injured.

But, there are more … Lood de Jager didn’t play, neither did RG Snyman, Bongi Mbonambi, Jean Kleyn, Jaden Hendrikse and Morné van den Berg. Ethan Hooker only played for a few minutes, as did Canan Moodie.

Despite missing all these players, the Boks were pretty okay. But, the good news is, many of them will be back in action soon.

Veteran World Cup winners still tops

There was a time after the 2023 World Cup when questions were asked about the longevity of several of the older double cup winners, such as Kolisi, Etzebeth, De Jager, Mbonambi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard and Franco Mostert. Well, as we’ve seen, most of them are still going strong.

And with many of them injured and not playing currently they’ve added years to their careers so it’s all worked out pretty well for Erasmus and Co.

The only vets who’ve given up or aren’t really in the picture anymore include Willie le Roux, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vemeulen, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff.

Boks have yet to be properly tested

The Boks have won all the matches they’ve played this year without too much of a fuss. They easily got the better of the Barbarians and were never really troubled by England. Wales hardly fired a shot, while Scotland were the toughest team to face and asked a few questions, but there was never really any doubt the Boks would win.

So, we don’t quite know how they’ll respond under real pressure, or when behind on the scoreboard.

Not once were they forced into considering kicking a penalty or two to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

And we don’t know how that chosen kicker would respond. This season Cheslin Kolbe, Quan Horn, Pollard, Moyo and Manie Libbok have handled the goal kicks.

Basic Boks, so what’s Rassie hiding?

While the Nations Championship competition is new and pretty cool and something the Boks would like to win, the Greatest Rivalry series is really what matters this season.

Up to now, the Boks have played solid, decent rugby. Their set-pieces have generally been good, they’ve contested well at the breakdowns and their attacking play has been encouraging. Defensively they’ve not been too bad, though they have leaked some tries.

It’s been standard fare though. There have been no gimmicks or wild experiments, or something out of the ordinary, like we’ve seen before at times, so it almost feels un-Rassie like.

Is he then perhaps holding something back for the Tests against the All Blacks? I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 20, 2026 – The Motorcycle Sports Federation of Kenya (MSFK) hosted Round 1 of the 2026 Kenya National Motocross Championship at Jamhuri MX Track on Sunday.

The event brought together junior and senior riders from across the country, marking a new chapter for the sport in the country.

It was the result of collaboration between MSFK, its appointed promoter BladeDoc Network, Enduro and Motocross Sports Club; the managers of Jamhuri MX Track, affiliated clubs, parents and the Ministry of Sports — whose continued facilitation has been instrumental in bringing all parties together in the spirit of growing the sport for Kenya’s riders and athletes.

“This is what happens when we work together. Our riders are our purpose, and every decision we make is for them,” MSFK president Renzo Bernardi said.

The event featured nine competitive classes, from MX Peewee to VMX Masters, with riders showcasing their skills on the challenging Jamhuri MX Track.

The provisional results saw top riders emerge, including Arie Maina Kamau, Zane Ngoru, and Kigen Mutuma, who dominated their respective classes.

“We are building a community, not just a championship. MSFK is committed to building the systems and pathways that give every rider the chance to go as far as their talent takes them,” MSFK sporting director Julie Wahome said.

The MSFK National Motocross Championship is also a qualifying round for the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN) 2026, to be held in Namibia in August.

RESULTS:

– MX Peewee: Arie Maina Kamau (1st), Amalia Chelagat (2nd), Allen Ngoru (3rd)

– MX 50: Zane Ngoru (1st), Amir Rutto (2nd), Mozelle Momanyi (3rd)

– MX 65: Armani Amani (1st), Wachira Mahinda (2nd), Thang’a Kihungi (3rd)

– MX 85: Kigen Mutuma (1st), Lemayian Mugo (2nd), Dylan Hatanga (3rd)

– MX 125: Ngengi Kamau (1st), Aidan Carl Stanley (2nd), Chemain Kangogo (3rd)

– MX 1: Apollo Mbuki (1st), Rohan Gandhi (2nd)