Champions Liverpool played well in the opening half-hour with Mohamed Salah wasting an early chance, but once Haaland had scored from the spot in the 37th ​minute after a foul on Nico O’Reilly, their resistance crumbled.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk conceded ​the penalty with a rash challenge, and there was little the Dutch defender could ⁠do as City played scintillating attacking football for the remainder of the game.

His blond hair swinging ​behind him in a ponytail, Haaland netted his second two minutes into first-half stoppage time with a ​well-placed header from an excellent Antoine Semenyo cross.

Semenyo got on the scoresheet himself five minutes after the break, latching on to a ball in behind from Rayan Cherki and chipping it beautifully past Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Haaland completed his treble ​with a shot off the underside of the crossbar in the 57th minute.

Liverpool’s woes continued when ​Mohamed Salah, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season, capped off a poor performance ‌by ⁠having his penalty saved by James Trafford, snuffing out any faint hopes Liverpool might have had of a comeback

As the game turned into a victory parade, many Liverpool fans started heading for the exits, and City manager Pep Guardiola rang the changes, replacing Haaland with Omar Marmoush, the Norwegian striker receiving a ​standing ovation as he ​left the field.

In the ⁠other quarter-finals, Chelsea take on Port Vale and Southampton host Arsenal later on Saturday, with Leeds United travelling to West Ham United on Sunday.

The semi-finals ​will take place at Wembley, and Haaland is relishing a return to the ​stadium.

“First half, ⁠we struggled a bit, but then we after around 30 minutes we kept going and in the end it’s an amazing game. Another Wembley trip for us is amazing and important,” he told broadcaster TNT.

“I think (my ⁠form this ​season) has been a bit too much up and down, ​which is not good enough. I cannot keep on thinking about what I could have done differently or what didn’t happen, ​or what happened. I have to think about the next game.”

-Reuters

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The recent appointment of Samson Adamu as Acting General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football has sparked fresh conversations about legacy, influence, and the quiet emergence of dynasties in global sports administration.

For the first time in its 69-year history, CAF’s administrative nerve centre is being led, albeit in acting capacity, by a Nigerian and indeed a West African, marking a significant geopolitical shift in African football governance.

Yet beyond the symbolism of regional representation lies a deeper narrative: the possible birth of another administrative dynasty, echoing the long-standing dominance of Egypt’s Fahmy family.

From Father to Son: The Adamu Trajectory

Samson Adamu’s rise within CAF is not an isolated story of personal ambition; it is rooted in a powerful lineage. His father, Amos Adamu, was one of the most influential figures in Nigerian and African sports administration for over two decades.

Between 1992 and 2013, Dr Amos Adamu occupied multiple high-profile roles, ranging from Director General of the National Sports Commission to Executive Committee member of both CAF and FIFA.

He also played a pivotal role in landmark events such as the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2003 African Games. Notably, his era coincided with Nigeria’s historic qualification for its first FIFA World Cup in 1994.

Samson’s career path appears to mirror and modernise that legacy. Widely credited as the pioneer of modern beach soccer in West Africa, he transformed what was once a recreational pastime into a commercially viable sport.

Through his company, Kinetic Sports, he founded Copa Lagos in 2011—sub-Saharan Africa’s first international beach soccer tournament.

The event blended elite sport with entertainment, attracting global teams such as Brazil, England, and Spain, while earning recognition from FIFA and Beach Soccer Worldwide.

His growing influence became even more evident in 2016 when Nigeria successfully hosted the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. That milestone further cemented his reputation within continental football administration, paving the way for his steady rise within the Confederation of African Football—from Director of Beach Soccer Competitions to Director of Tournaments and Events, culminating in his latest elevation.

Former CAF executive member Amos Adamu expressed pride in his son’s achievements, noting in an interview with Sports Village Square that excellence in sports runs deep in the family. He added that Samson’s brother, Ezekiel, has also carved a niche in the industry as a professional boxing promoter.

The Fahmy Blueprint

To understand the significance of the Adamu ascent, one must revisit the most enduring administrative dynasty in African football—the Fahmy family of Egypt.

The lineage began with Mourad Fahmy, who served as CAF General Secretary from 1961 to 1982. He was succeeded by his son, Mustapha Fahmy, who held the position for nearly three decades until 2010 before moving to FIFA.

The dynasty extended into a third generation when Amr Fahmy took over the role in 2017, effectively maintaining the family’s grip on CAF’s administrative machinery for over half a century. It was a case of from grandfather to son, then to grandson.

The Fahmy Dynasty at CAF: Three generations of leadership—Mourad Fahmy (1961–1982), his son Mustapha Fahmy (1982–2010), and grandson Amr Fahmy (2017–2019)—who shaped the administrative backbone of African football across nearly six decades.

This continuity was not merely symbolic; it shaped policies, competitions, and governance structures across African football for decades.

Dynasties Beyond Africa

The Fahmy model is not unique. Across global sports, familial networks have often influenced governance and administration.

One notable example is the Brazilian axis involving João Havelange and his son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira. While not a direct bloodline succession, their combined leadership of FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation created a powerful transnational influence over the game.

Such dynasties, whether rooted in lineage or strategic alliances, highlight a recurring theme in sports governance: continuity often breeds influence, and influence can evolve into legacy.

A New Chapter for Africa?

Samson Adamu’s appointment does not yet constitute a dynasty in the classical sense. However, it represents the early contours of one that converges legacy, expertise, and institutional familiarity.

Unlike previous eras, his rise is also shaped by modern sports marketing, commercialisation, and global connectivity. His work in beach soccer demonstrated an ability to innovate within the system, not merely inherit it.

RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2017/11/17/grandfather-son-grand-son-fahmy-family-sets-dynasty-caf/

For African football, this could signal a transition, from traditional bureaucratic continuity to a hybrid model where legacy meets innovation.

Whether the Adamu name will come to define another era in CAF’s administrative history remains to be seen. But for now, the parallels with the Fahmy dynasty are unmistakable, and the story of succession in African football has entered a compelling new phase.

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Despite the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams, several high-profile nations—including some ranked within the top 30 globally—will not feature at the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, underlining the increasingly unforgiving nature of modern qualification.

The most striking absence is the four-time world champions Italy national football team, who failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs.
Once a permanent fixture at the global showpiece, Italy’s continued absence has triggered widespread criticism at home, with many describing the situation as a national sporting crisis.

Europe’s Big Casualties

Italy are not alone among Europe’s elite in missing out. Countries such as Denmark’s national football team, Poland’s national football team and Serbia’s national football team, all of whom have consistently hovered around the top tiers of FIFA rankings in recent years, also failed to make the cut.

Poland’s elimination is particularly significant, as it likely marks the end of World Cup ambitions for veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, while Denmark’s absence comes after years of steady progress on the international stage.

Serbia, boasting a generation of technically gifted players, were also among those eliminated during the qualification process.

African Heavyweights Left Out

Africa will send a record number of teams to the expanded tournament, yet notable absentees remain.
Three-time African champions Nigeria national football team and five-time AFCON winners Cameroon national football team both failed to qualify after disappointing campaigns.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions are among Africa’s big names missing at the World Cup.

Nigeria’s absence is particularly glaring given the quality of players such as Victor Osimhen, while Cameroon fell short despite a squad featuring several Europe-based stars.

South American Decline

In South America, the Chile national football team continue their dramatic fall from grace. Once Copa América champions, Chile finished bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifying table, extending their World Cup absence to three editions.

Emerging Pattern: Expansion Without Guarantees

The absence of these established football nations highlights a key reality: even with 48 slots, World Cup qualification remains fiercely competitive.

While debutants such as Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan have secured historic places at the finals, traditional powers have faltered under pressure.

Analysts note that this shift reflects a broader trend in global football—greater parity, improved development structures in smaller nations, and declining dominance of traditional heavyweights.

A World Cup Without Familiar Faces

The 2026 tournament will therefore present a unique landscape—one where emerging nations share the stage while several established powers watch from home.

For fans, it promises freshness and unpredictability. For the absent giants, however, it serves as a stark reminder that reputation alone is no longer enough to secure a place at football’s biggest event.

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A remarkable storyline is emerging ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as no fewer than seven countries have secured returns to the global football showpiece after prolonged absences spanning decades.

Leading the list are Haiti and DR Congo, both of which are back on the World Cup stage after an astonishing 52-year absence. Haiti last featured at the tournament in 1974, the same year DR Congo, then known as Zaire, made their only previous appearance.

European sides Scotland national football team, Norway national football team and Austria national football team are also ending 28-year waits.

Scotland’s last outing came in 1998, while Norway and Austria have similarly endured long spells away from the competition despite periods of promise in European football.

South America will see the return of the Paraguay national football team, who are back after a 16-year hiatus, having last appeared at the 2010 finals in South Africa.

On the African continent, the South Africa national football team will make a long-awaited comeback after 16 years, their previous participation coming when they hosted the tournament in 2010.

The wave of returning nations highlights the expanding opportunities created by the enlarged 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

For many of these countries, qualification marks not just a sporting achievement but a generational milestone, rekindling national pride and offering a new era of players the chance to perform on football’s biggest stage after decades in the wilderness.

With traditional powers and returning underdogs set to collide, the 2026 tournament is already shaping up to be one of the most diverse and unpredictable in World Cup history.

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The ​provisional rule, known as an “alternative offside law” by world football authorities, will be tested ‌in the Canadian Premier League’s season opener on Saturday in Hamilton, Ontario, between hosts Forge FC and reigning champions Atletico Ottawa.

“Just having that idea that most of those times you’re not going to be offside now, I think ​it just adds a bit more confidence in players making the runs, whether it’s ​wingers, strikers or attacking midfielders,” Forge FC forward Tristan Borges told reporters on ⁠Friday.

“Defenders are going to be a little bit more wary of it and watch it a ​little bit more, which ultimately will add more excitement to the game.”

FIFA says the rule has evolved ​from ideas designed “to enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting,” as well as to promote a more attacking style of play.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, called the Canadian test “an important pilot”.

“By testing this new ​interpretation in a professional competition, we can better understand its impact,” he added.

Few developments in world ​soccer have provoked more controversy in recent years than protracted video‑assisted offside decisions that disallow goals and interrupt ‌play over ⁠marginal infringements.

Matches were often halted for several minutes as VAR reviewed offside decisions, dulling goal celebrations for players and fans and disrupting the game’s flow.

The proposed FIFA rule is designed to make calls clearer and faster, reducing controversy and delays. Critics in Europe have resisted the rule for a ​number of reasons, with some ​believing it will ⁠cause defenders to play too defensively and bog down the game.

The trial in Canada is taking place with a young league, launched in 2019 and ​quickly hit with pandemic shutdowns. It now has eight teams in a ​country where the ⁠popularity of soccer is soaring, but the professional infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

Interest in football has grown in a country traditionally associated with ice hockey, driven by the popularity of the English and Spanish leagues and ⁠the prospect ​of hosting the World Cup alongside the United States ​and Mexico.

Although small by global standards, the CPL drew worldwide online attention when its 2025 final was played during a blizzard, ​producing a spectacular bicycle kick that became known as the “icicle kick.”

-Reuters

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Goda’s landmark achievement, recorded on Friday in Macao, China, also saw her equal the feat set by Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, who became the first African to reach the last eight of the competition in 2014.

It has taken 12 years for Africa to produce another World Cup quarterfinalist, but Goda’s accomplishment carries even greater significance as she becomes both the first Egyptian and the first African woman to reach this stage of the tournament.

The 16-year-old announced her arrival in style during the group phase, dominating Group 14 with commanding 3-0 victories over Macao’s Leong On Na and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching to advance to the knockout rounds.

Her defining moment came in a thrilling round-of-16 clash against France’s Jia Nan Yuan. After narrowly losing the opening game 11-9, Goda showed remarkable composure to fight back and level the contest before taking the lead. The experienced French opponent responded to push the match into a decisive seventh game.

In a dramatic finale, Goda trailed 7-10 but mounted a stunning comeback, saving match points to win 13-11 and secure a historic victory. Overcome with emotion, she collapsed to the floor in celebration after sealing her place in the quarterfinals.

“It is a joy and feeling that I can’t describe,” Goda said after the match. “It was a very strong match… we arrived at 3-3, and in the last game I was down 7-10 but fought back to win 13-11. Our Lord is generous.”

She also paid tribute to her coach, Hisham Ismail, for his unwavering belief throughout the contest.

Goda’s breakthrough represents a significant milestone for African table tennis, particularly for women’s participation in the sport, and signals a promising future for the continent on the global stage.

Her next challenge, however, will be formidable, as she is set to face world No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China in the quarterfinals.

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Italy lost Tuesday’s playoff final in Bosnia on penalties, and the ‌four-time champions have now missed out on three consecutive World Cups.

Gattuso’s departure came a day after FIGC President Gabriele Gravina resigned, and national team delegation head Gianluigi Buffon stepped down from his role.

“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my time in charge of the national ​team to be over,” Gattuso said in a statement.

“The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset in football, which is why ​it is right to facilitate future technical assessments with immediate effect.

“It has been an honour to lead the ⁠national team, and to do so with a group of lads who have shown commitment and loyalty to the shirt.”

The FIGC thanked Gattuso ​for his work.

“The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Gennaro Ivan Gattuso have mutually terminated the contract that bound the Calabrian coach to the helm of ​the Italian national football team,” the FIGC said in a statement.

“The FIGC thanks Gattuso and his entire staff for the professionalism, dedication and passion with which they have worked over the past nine months and wishes them every success in their future careers.

GATTUSO APPOINTED ON ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

Gattuso was appointed in June on a one-year contract, ​replacing Luciano Spalletti who was sacked following Italy’s 3-0 defeat by Norway in their opening group game, although he remained in place for the 2-0 ​win over Moldova the next day.

Italy won their next five group games under Gattuso, but given Norway’s far superior goal difference, they were resigned to another ‌World Cup ⁠playoff before the final group game, which Norway won 4-1 at the San Siro.

Italy had lost at the playoff stage of the last two World Cups, but looked on course to make it this time after a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in the semi-final, before it all fell apart in Bosnia.

Gattuso’s 10-man team let slip a 1-0 lead and crumbled in the penalty shootout.

After the loss in Zenica, Gattuso said ​it was not the time to ​speak about his future, but ⁠once Gravina made his decision to step away, it was a matter of when Gattuso would follow.

WHO NEXT FOR ITALY?

Gattuso, 48, was a member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, but the country ​has failed to come anywhere close to replicating that success in the sport’s biggest tournament.

Italy won ​just one game over ⁠the next two editions, exiting at the group stage on both occasions. While there was a spark of recovery with their Euro 2020 triumph, their continued absence from the World Cup underlined their decline.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and Napoli manager Antonio Conte are names being mentioned as Gattuso’s ⁠successor.

Conte ​has managed Italy, taking charge in 2014 and leading them to Euro 2016 where ​his last game was a loss on penalties to Germany in the quarter-finals, having already announced he would leave after the tournament.

Italy’s next game is a friendly in ​Greece on June 7, and they begin their Nations League campaign in September when they host Belgium.

-Reuters

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Madueke was among the 11 Arsenal ​players who withdrew from international duty last month over injuries and fitness ​management, as the club eye their first Premier League title ⁠since 2004.

“When you have to communicate the state of every player, we ​are always honest and a medical decision had to be made. That was ​clear what the conclusion was,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.

“It makes us so proud that we had that many players in the national team. Players are desperate to play for ​their nation. I know how important it is to them. We are ​fully supportive of that and when we can do it, we do it.”

Madueke picked up a ‌knee ⁠injury during England’s friendly with Uruguay, missing the game against Japan. But Arteta said his condition was not as bad as a knee injury that kept him out for six weeks.

Martin Zubimendi, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Timber, Leandro Trossard, ​Eberechi Eze, Bukayo ​Saka and Declan ⁠Rice were unavailable for their countries.

Arteta did not disclose how many of them will be available for Saturday’s game, ​as Arsenal look to shake off last month’s League Cup ​final loss ⁠to Manchester City with a return to Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.

“We’re in a position right now where we need to make the strongest line-up ⁠we possibly ​can to win every competition,” he said. ” We ​are two or three games away from the FA Cup and we know how important that ​competition is for us.”

-Reuters

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City beat Arsenal to win the League Cup before the international break, and Guardiola is hoping his team maintain the momentum as they fight to add the ​FA Cup and Premier League to this season’s trophy haul.

“Once you finish one, ​it is the next one,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“Tomorrow we have ⁠the chance to reach an incredible milestone, to make eight semi-finals in a row. ​It’s never happened… it is a prestigious competition, and one of the toughest, special opponents ​for all of us, Liverpool.”

City have dominated English football with six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups since Guardiola joined in 2016, but Liverpool have been a constant thorn in his ​side throughout his coaching career.

As a coach, Guardiola has only nine victories and seven ​draws in 26 matches against Liverpool, his worst win rate against a Premier League club.

City have beaten ‌Liverpool twice ⁠in the Premier League this season, but had to dig deep for a late comeback when they won 2-1 at Anfield in February.

“So many times they have been the rival, the biggest, biggest one… top contender, top class players, all of them. Hopefully we have to ​perform in the ​level we did against ⁠Arsenal to reach the next step,” Guardiola said.

The manager also praised Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who has announced his departure in the summer.

“Absolutely. ​One of the greatest. The numbers, the consistency. What a player… ​absolute legend, ⁠of course for Liverpool, but (also) for the Premier League,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola, however, avoided commenting on his own midfielder Rodri, who said he was open to a move to Real Madrid when his ⁠contract with ​City runs out at the end of this season.

“No ​clue, no opinion… because I know the intention of the club, I know the intention, I think, of him, ​but I don’t know,” Guardiola said.’

-Reuters

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Salah, who has scored 255 goals for Liverpool and helped them win two Premier League titles, ​one FA Cup, two League Cups and one Champions League trophy, announced last week he would ​depart at the end of the season.

Slot said Salah was available for Saturday’s ⁠FA Cup quarter-final clash at Manchester City.

“He trained with us yesterday and today, and he’s ​available for the game tomorrow,” he told reporters on Friday, heaping praise on the club’s third-highest goalscorer ​of all time.

“It’s been unbelievable what he did for this club, for so many years, every three days, scoring the goals he did, having the assists, having the impact that he had on this club, winning the trophies… ​I can only hope that he can add two extra trophies to it towards the end ​of the season.”

Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League, 21 points below leaders Arsenal, but have reached the Champions ‌League ⁠quarter-finals and face Paris St Germain away on Wednesday.

ALISSON OUT WITH LONG-TERM INJURY

Slot’s side are without first-choice keeper Alisson Becker as they enter the final two months of the season, with the Brazilian sidelined due to injury.

“Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit,” Slot said.

Striker Alexander ​Isak has rejoined the team ​after missing over three ⁠months due to a broken leg.

“It would definitely be too fast to expect him in the starting line-up. He’s trained with us yesterday for the ​first time… after exactly 101 days,” the manager added.

Liverpool have lost both Premier ​League games ⁠against City this season, but Slot said their improved performance in February’s 2-1 home defeat showed his team can be competitive against Pep Guardiola’s side.

“First half at Anfield, City dominated possession… how impressive was it that ⁠we dominated ​possession in the second half? Because how many teams ​can dominate possession against City?” Slot asked.

“Now we have to show this as well in their stadium, which is more difficult ​than having 60,000 people at Anfield helping you.”

-Reuters

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