Latest news with #Elephants
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sri Pahang's M-League withdrawal a 'reset,' says club legend
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Jamal Nasir believes Sri Pahang 's withdrawal from the 2025-26 M-League should not be viewed as a failure but as a reset. The football legend, who starred for the Elephants in the 1970s, said the club must have had valid reasons to pull out of next season's competition and hopes it will allow them to regroup for a stronger return. While he admits the decision is deeply saddening, Jamal urged fans to remain calm and understanding. "It's heartbreaking, of course. This club once stood among the best in the Super League and even made it to the Malaysia Cup final. Now they're stepping away, and it's not easy to accept," he said. "I'm sad too, but what can we do? I'm sure there are unavoidable reasons behind this. Even though they obtained their national licence, perhaps there are internal issues that need to be resolved first." The Malaysian Football League (MFL) confirmed on Friday that Sri Pahang had submitted their withdrawal letter on June 16. The team's absence is a major blow to Malaysian football, considering their rich legacy in domestic competitions. The Elephants have won multiple titles throughout the years, including the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup. Their most recent silverware was the FA Cup in 2018, when they beat Selangor 2-0 in the final. Jamal highlighted the team's past financial struggles, including unpaid salaries, and urged fans not to point fingers. "Don't blame anyone. The management must've thought this through carefully. "Maybe taking one step back is necessary, so they can come back stronger later. I'm staying positive. This decision could be the beginning of something better for the club." Sri Pahang finished eighth in the 2024-25 Super League and were runners-up in the Malaysia Cup, making their sudden withdrawal all the more shocking. With their exit, only 13 clubs remain for the 2025-26 season — Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Penang, Kuching City, Sabah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan Darul Naim, KL City, Police, DPMM, Melaka and Immigration.
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Sri Pahang out, 13 teams in for 2025–26 M-League season
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Sri Pahang FC have confirmed that they will not participate in the Malaysia League (M-League) this season despite being granted a National License by the First Instance Body (FIB). The Malaysian Football League (MFL) announced in a statement that the 'Elephants' squad, which received the 2025/26 national license, has decided not to compete in the M-League by submitting a confirmation letter dated June 16. The decision will see 13 teams participating in the new season which will begin on August 8. 'All clubs have been granted the 2025-2026 National License by the independent First Instance Body (FIB) with the club from Brunei, DPMM FC, being granted approval from the International Football Association Board (FIFA) and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to compete in the 2025-2026 Malaysia League. 'However, Sri Pahang FC, which also received the 2025-2026 National License, have decided not to compete in the Malaysia League this season by submitting a confirmation letter dated 16 June 2025,' said MFL in a statement issued on its Facebook page today. According to MFL, the clubs competing in the championship this time are Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT), Selangor FC, Penang FC, Kuching City FC, Sabah FC, Terengganu FC, Negeri Sembilan FC, Kelantan Darul Naim FC, Kuala Lumpur City FC, PDRM FC and DPMM FC and two clubs from AFL A1, namely Melaka FC and Imigresen FC. Commenting further, MFL announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will begin with a clash between JDT, the Super League champion and Selangor, the Super League runners-up in the Charity Shield match on August 8, 2025, which is also the league's opening match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor. Meanwhile, the FA Cup tournament will begin in mid-August, the Malaysia Cup and MFL Challenge Cup in January 2026. MFL also announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will run for 10 months, after last season's adjustment which lasted 14 months to align the schedule with international leagues. 'MFL will release the 2025-2026 Malaysian League schedule soon as MFL is facing constraints in completing the full schedule for the season since the AFC will only hold its draw for the ACL Elite and ACL 2 competitions involving JDT and Selangor FC on August 15. 'Meanwhile, MFL is still waiting for the detailed date of the Asean Club Championship from AFF which also involves the participation of JDT and Selangor FC,' according to the MFL. — Bernama
Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada wins Canadian Shield Tournament despite penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast
TORONTO - Canada won the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament on Tuesday night despite losing to African champion Ivory Coast 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The game went to a shootout after it finished knotted at 0-0 after 90 minutes. The 30th-ranked Canadian men finished with four points, one ahead of No. 86 New Zealand and No. 25 Ukraine and two ahead of No. 41 Ivory Coast. Victory was assured for Canada just by getting to the shootout, given it would finish the night with at least four points — with two points for a shootout win and one for a shootout loss — while no one else had more than three. A regulation win was worth three points at the tournament. Jonathan David, Mathieu Choiniere, Derek Cornelius and Ismael Kone scored for Canada in the shootout. Badra Ali Sangaré stopped Tani Oluwaseyi and Luc de Fougerolles. Clement Akpa, Jereme Boga, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Franck Kessie and Mohamed Diomande scored for Ivory Coast in the shootout, beating Dayne St. Clair. Mory Gbane missed the target. Ukraine defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the early game Tuesday, leaving both teams at 1-1-0 with three points. That result meant Ivory Coast had to win by two goals to take the trophy. The Canadians defeated Ukraine 4-2 in the tournament opener Saturday while Ivory Coast lost 1-0 to New Zealand. Ivory Coast is currently ranked fifth in Africa by FIFA — behind No. 12 Morocco, No. 19 Senegal, No. 32 Egypt and No. 36 Algeria. But the Elephants are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions and have been ranked as high as No. 12 in the world. Ivory Coast looked dangerous, comfortably moving the ball around as drums resonated in its supporters' section at BMO Field. The Ivorian 'keeper had little to do in the first half other than watch his team from afar. Both teams managed just one shot on target before the break with Canada never really finding its rhythm. The second half was choppy and chippy with plenty of stops and starts before an announced crowd of 18,489 at BMO Field. As promised, Canada coach Jesse Marsch fielded almost an entirely different lineup with only centre back Cornelius retaining his spot from the Ukraine starting 11. Veteran forward Cyle Larin served as captain for the first time. Daniel Jebbison, a 21-year-old forward with England's Bournemouth, won his third cap in his first start. Vancouver Whitecaps winger Jayden Nelson also made his first start, earning his seventh cap. It was a more experienced group of starters, with a combined cap count of 369 going into the game compared to 241 for the starting 11 against Ukraine. Larin, Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea accounted for 226 of Tuesday's total. Osorio's 85th cap moved him into third place on the Canadian men's all-time list behind Julian de Guzman (89) and Atiba Hutchinson (105). Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio was honoured before the game for earning his 50th cap against Ukraine. St. Clair started in goal. The Minnesota United 'keeper is tied for the MLS lead in shutouts with eight and ranks second in goals-against average at 0.88. Joel Waterman put the ball in the Ivory Coast goal in the sixth minute only to see the offside flag go up. At the other end, St. Clair stopped a 21st-minute free kick whipped in by Nicolas Pepe, formerly of England's Arsenal and now with Spain's Villarreal. Canadas best chances of the first half came off a free kick and two corners as the clock wound down, but each time the final ball was off target. Three of Canada's back four — Cornelius, Waterman and Sam Adekugbe — were on yellow cards by the 48th minute. An unmarked Pepe wasted a glorious chance in the 52nd minute when his header was off target. Soon after, Waterman made a saving tackle to stop Pepe. Ivory Coast argued unsuccessfully for a penalty kick in the 61st minute after Ibrahim Sangare went down in the Canada box trying to get to a quick free kick as the game grew more physical. David and Tajon Buchanan, who accounted for three goals against Ukraine, came off the bench in the 76th minute as Canada looked for a goal. Adekugbe had to be helped off the field in the 83rd minute, favouring his leg after going down. Canada had never faced Ivory Coast before. The last time it faced an African side was at the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 when it lost 2-1 to Morocco in its final group-stage game. The Ivory Coast squad draws on players from clubs in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. Canada heads to the CONCACAF Gold Cup next, opening against No. 95 Honduras on June 17 in Vancouver before completing Group B play in Houston against No. 90 Curaçao and No. 81 El Salvador on June 21 and 24, respectively. Canada went into Tuesday's match with a 7-4-5 record under Marsch, with one of those ties turning into a penalty shootout loss to Uruguay and another into a shootout win over Venezuela. His previous three games in Canada — against Ukraine, Suriname and Panama — were all victories. Ivory Coast returns to World Cup qualifying play in September. It currently leads Group F in African qualifying with a 5-0-1 record, one point ahead of No. 79 Gabon in the six-country group that also includes No. 140 Burundi, No. 111 Kenya, No. 126 Gambia and the 203rd-ranked Seychelles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada wins Canadian Shield Tournament despite penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast
TORONTO – Canada won the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament on Tuesday night despite losing to African champion Ivory Coast 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The game went to a shootout after it finished knotted at 0-0 after 90 minutes. The 30th-ranked Canadian men finished with four points, one ahead of No. 86 New Zealand and No. 25 Ukraine and two ahead of No. 41 Ivory Coast. Victory was assured for Canada just by getting to the shootout, given it would finish the night with at least four points — with two points for a shootout win and one for a shootout loss — while no one else had more than three. A regulation win was worth three points at the tournament. Jonathan David, Mathieu Choiniere, Derek Cornelius and Ismael Kone scored for Canada in the shootout. Badra Ali Sangaré stopped Tani Oluwaseyi and Luc de Fougerolles. Clement Akpa, Jereme Boga, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Franck Kessie and Mohamed Diomande scored for Ivory Coast in the shootout, beating Dayne St. Clair. Mory Gbane missed the target. Ukraine defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the early game Tuesday, leaving both teams at 1-1-0 with three points. That result meant Ivory Coast had to win by two goals to take the trophy. The Canadians defeated Ukraine 4-2 in the tournament opener Saturday while Ivory Coast lost 1-0 to New Zealand. Ivory Coast is currently ranked fifth in Africa by FIFA — behind No. 12 Morocco, No. 19 Senegal, No. 32 Egypt and No. 36 Algeria. But the Elephants are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions and have been ranked as high as No. 12 in the world. Ivory Coast looked dangerous, comfortably moving the ball around as drums resonated in its supporters' section at BMO Field. The Ivorian 'keeper had little to do in the first half other than watch his team from afar. Both teams managed just one shot on target before the break with Canada never really finding its rhythm. The second half was choppy and chippy with plenty of stops and starts before an announced crowd of 18,489 at BMO Field. As promised, Canada coach Jesse Marsch fielded almost an entirely different lineup with only centre back Cornelius retaining his spot from the Ukraine starting 11. Veteran forward Cyle Larin served as captain for the first time. Daniel Jebbison, a 21-year-old forward with England's Bournemouth, won his third cap in his first start. Vancouver Whitecaps winger Jayden Nelson also made his first start, earning his seventh cap. It was a more experienced group of starters, with a combined cap count of 369 going into the game compared to 241 for the starting 11 against Ukraine. Larin, Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea accounted for 226 of Tuesday's total. Osorio's 85th cap moved him into third place on the Canadian men's all-time list behind Julian de Guzman (89) and Atiba Hutchinson (105). Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio was honoured before the game for earning his 50th cap against Ukraine. St. Clair started in goal. The Minnesota United 'keeper is tied for the MLS lead in shutouts with eight and ranks second in goals-against average at 0.88. Joel Waterman put the ball in the Ivory Coast goal in the sixth minute only to see the offside flag go up. At the other end, St. Clair stopped a 21st-minute free kick whipped in by Nicolas Pepe, formerly of England's Arsenal and now with Spain's Villarreal. Canadas best chances of the first half came off a free kick and two corners as the clock wound down, but each time the final ball was off target. Three of Canada's back four — Cornelius, Waterman and Sam Adekugbe — were on yellow cards by the 48th minute. An unmarked Pepe wasted a glorious chance in the 52nd minute when his header was off target. Soon after, Waterman made a saving tackle to stop Pepe. Ivory Coast argued unsuccessfully for a penalty kick in the 61st minute after Ibrahim Sangare went down in the Canada box trying to get to a quick free kick as the game grew more physical. David and Tajon Buchanan, who accounted for three goals against Ukraine, came off the bench in the 76th minute as Canada looked for a goal. Adekugbe had to be helped off the field in the 83rd minute, favouring his leg after going down. Canada had never faced Ivory Coast before. The last time it faced an African side was at the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 when it lost 2-1 to Morocco in its final group-stage game. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Ivory Coast squad draws on players from clubs in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. Canada heads to the CONCACAF Gold Cup next, opening against No. 95 Honduras on June 17 in Vancouver before completing Group B play in Houston against No. 90 Curaçao and No. 81 El Salvador on June 21 and 24, respectively. Canada went into Tuesday's match with a 7-4-5 record under Marsch, with one of those ties turning into a penalty shootout loss to Uruguay and another into a shootout win over Venezuela. His previous three games in Canada — against Ukraine, Suriname and Panama — were all victories. Ivory Coast returns to World Cup qualifying play in September. It currently leads Group F in African qualifying with a 5-0-1 record, one point ahead of No. 79 Gabon in the six-country group that also includes No. 140 Burundi, No. 111 Kenya, No. 126 Gambia and the 203rd-ranked Seychelles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
After loss to New Zealand, Ivory Coast has a point to prove against Canada
TORONTO - Still smarting from its 1-0 loss to No. 86 New Zealand on Saturday at the Canadian Shield Tournament, Ivory Coast has a point to prove Tuesday against Canada. 'We expect to win,' said Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae. 'A big team can lose one game but a big team doesn't lose two games in a row. We have to show people that we are able to beat countries of another region than Africa. 'It will be a game for us to show that we are able to win.' Canada, ranked 30th in the world, is coming off a 4-2 victory over No. 25 Ukraine in its tournament opener at BMO Field. Canada coach Jesse Marsch has said he will likely field an entirely different lineup against the 41st-ranked Africans, with veteran forward Cyle Larin leading the team out. 'We've been really clear internally that against Ukraine there were some good thing and some things to work on,' Marsch said before Canada's training session Monday. 'But that's behind us. And now the focus is entirely on this match.' Marsch said Ivory Coast comes with a lot of talent and could well be the top team in Africa. While Ivory Coast is currently ranked fifth in Africa by FIFA — behind No. 12 Morocco, No. 19 Senegal, No 32 Egypt and No. 36 Algeria — the Elephants are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions and have been ranked as high as No.12 in the world. Against New Zealand, Ivory Coast paid for a turnover later in the first half that led to the game's lone goal. The African side attacked throughout the second half but could not breach the All Whites defence. 'I was a little but disappointed, a little bit frustrated, because we had opportunities to score, to score first. But we didn't,' said Fae. 'We had some opportunities to come back in the game in the second half … If we played the same game 10 times, I think we're going to win nine and probably lose one,' he added. Fae's team was cheered on by a vocal pocket of orange-clad Ivory Coast fans in the stands. 'A defeat on the pitch, certainly, but a resounding victory in the stands, ' wrote the Ivorian newspaper Fraternite Matin. Canada has never faced Ivory Coast before. The last time it faced an African side was at the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 when it lost 2-1 to Morocco in its final group-stage game. With regular captain Alphonso Davies out injured, vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio led the team out Saturday against Ukraine. Forward Jonathan David, who scored twice Saturday, will captain the side at the CONCACAF Gold Cup later this month while Eustaquio is with his club Porto at the FIFA Club World Cup. But with both having played Saturday, Larin wears the armband for the first time. 'It's an honour to (serve as) captain and with the captains we have now, it's an honour to share it with them,' said Larin, who plays his club football in Spain for Mallorca. 'Because we have a great team.' The 30-year-old from Brampton, Ont., has 30 goals in 81 appearances for Canada. Only Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio, with 84 caps, has more Canadian experience on the current roster. Marsch paid tribute to Larin's savvy and insight into the Canadian team as well as his willingness to help younger players. 'Cyle is sometimes thought of as a quiet person and quiet leader, but he's like a rock in the team,' Marsch said. 'And a guy that is intelligent on the pitch, has quality, can score, does a lot of things that a lot of people don't see and is an example to all of the attacking players we have — for the work rate, the intelligence and the commitment to what we have.' Fae lost one of his star players before the Toronto tournament when Manchester United forward Amad Diallo withdrew. His squad draws on players from clubs in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. Midfielder Franck Kessié, formerly of AC Milan and Barcelona, plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro league while defender Odilon Kossounou is currently with Atalanta, on loan from Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, and forward Nicolas Pépé, formerly with England's Arsenal, plays for Spain's Villarreal. Ivory Coast currently leads Group F in African World Cup qualifying with a 5-0-1 record, one points ahead of Gabon in the six-country group that also includes Burundi, Kenya, Gambia and the Seychelles. Qualifying play resumes in September with the eventual group winner securing a berth in the World Cup. The four best runners-up from the nine African groups will participate in playoffs to determine a 10th qualifying team from the region. Ivory Coast appeared at the World Cup in 2006, 2010 and 2014, failing to advance to the knockout round after finishing third in its group each time. It missed out on the 2018 tournament in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
