Les jihadistes du JNIM multiplient les incursions dans le nord du Bénin

Depuis 2022, les jihadistes du JNIM multiplient incursions et exactions dans le nord du Bénin. Pour ce groupe affilié à Al-Qaïda très présent au Mali, au Niger et au Burkina Faso, le territoire béninois sert notamment de voie de passage entre ses théâtres d’opérations. Deux grands parcs nationaux sont devenus des bases logistiques pour ces jihadistes. L’armée béninoise tente tant bien que mal de faire front.

After initially saying he would rotate the squad regardless of the result in Soweto, head coach Rassie Erasmus opted to make only two changes for Saturday’s fourth and final Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash in Baltimore. rocore.sbs

The Springboks lead the series 2-1 after their 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium, and are playing to prevent a series tie.

After using 30 players in the first two Tests, Erasmus said he expected to use about six more by the end of the series.

But as it happened, there were no new personnel in the third Test, and unless there is a late adjustment, there will be none for the fourth Test either.

Boks out to win series

Kurt-Lee Arendse, who had already featured at Ellis Park, came in for the injured Damian Willemse in the third Test. Willemse then returned for the injured Cheslin Kolbe in Cape Town, while the starting scrumhalf was also changed for the fourth Test.

“Peaking in games three and four was always the plan, trying to get continuity. Because it is not often that you get the opportunity to try and win a series against New Zealand,” Erasmus said after naming his team on Monday night.

Handré Pollard and Canan Moodie were among those expected to be selected for Baltimore, with Grant Williams also returning from injury.

Pollard and Moodie have each played twice for the Boks this year, while Williams has featured four times. Erasmus said the squad had already been largely rotated, but continuity was always going to be important for the third and fourth Tests against the All Blacks.

“So we felt gas in the tank is so important. That’s why we managed the guys so much in the Nations Championship, which only has six games [before the finals weekend].

“I think we’ve really chopped and changed this year.”

Springboks past their injury crisis

Erasmus referred to the injury woes the Springboks faced at the start of the season, when considering whether they have met their goal of expanding squad depth.

At the time, most of the Springbok locks and scrumhalves were either out injured or racing to return to fitness.

Meanwhile, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman and Ruan Venter would miss the whole international season.

“I think we’ve been depleted in areas without a doubt at some stage,” Erasmus said.

“We were down to [SA U20] Riley Norton and [flanker] Ben-Jason Dixon started playing lock. Now we’re in a healthy position.”

Lood de Jager returned from injury, and Franco Mostert and Salmaan Moerat are just about playable. All the scrumhalves are also available now.

“Ruan Nortjé has established himself as one of our solid No 5 locks who can play at any level. We gave Cobus Wiese a run there.

“Luckily, now most of the older guys are injury-free. I think Franco will get a game against Australia.

“Then at scrumhalf we weren’t too sure how the legs would hold up for Cobus Reinach. But at 35, he’s definitely doing the job.”

He said they had a look at Faf de Klerk in the Barbarians game, and gave Embrose Papier a run against Scotland.

“We’ve got three proper flyhalves. Damian [Willemse] can also play flyhalf, and a guy like Quan Horn is coming through with Fassi and the guys [at fullback].

“I don’t think there’s an area we are in trouble in. I think we are okay.”

Coup dur pour Naples à 24 heures du coup d’envoi de son match face à Arsenal. En conférence de presse ce mardi soir, Massimiliano Allegri a confirmé le forfait de Frank Anguissa pour la réception des Gunners et laissé planer le doute concernant David Neres. L’entraîneur napolitain devra donc composer avec un effectif diminué pour lancer sa campagne européenne.

Anguissa forfait, Neres incertain

Les nouvelles ne sont pas bonnes pour le milieu de terrain napolitain. « Anguissa manquera le match après avoir eu un problème à l’adducteur ce matin », a annoncé Allegri.

L’international camerounais, élément important de l’entrejeu du Napoli, sera donc absent face aux Gunners. Autre sujet d’inquiétude pour le technicien italien : David Neres. L’ailier brésilien est lui aussi touché au genou.

« Neres est une incertitude. Nous l’évaluerons demain : si son genou ne le gêne pas, il sera disponible, sinon, il sera absent lui aussi », a précisé Allegri.

Des choix à revoir face à Arsenal

Privé d’Anguissa et potentiellement de Neres, Allegri devra adapter son onze de départ pour ce premier rendez-vous de la phase de ligue de la Ligue des champions.

Face à une équipe d’Arsenal ambitieuse, Naples pourrait ainsi perdre deux joueurs importants, aussi bien dans l’impact au milieu de terrain que dans l’animation offensive. Le technicien italien devra donc s’appuyer sur les autres éléments de son effectif pour compenser ces absences et réussir son entrée en lice dans la compétition.

Allegri prudent sur les ambitions européennes

Interrogé sur les ambitions de Naples en Ligue des champions, Massimiliano Allegri s’est montré prudent.

« Il faudra voir comment l’équipe se porte en mars. Il y a des équipes très fortes. Je sais que ce n’est pas facile de la remporter. J’ai atteint la finale deux fois, mais je l’ai perdue à chaque fois. J’espère que les choses se passeront un peu mieux pour moi d’ici là, jusqu’à la fin », a-t-il déclaré.

Un discours mesuré de la part du technicien italien, qui espère néanmoins aller plus loin cette saison et connaître davantage de réussite dans la plus prestigieuse compétition européenne.

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Both Namibia and South Africa will be looking to make a bit of a statement when they clash in the first-ever ODI series between them, starting with game one in Windhoek on Wednesday.

The teams will clash in two more matches over the coming days, also in Windhoek.

While the Proteas and Namibia have clashed on a few occasions in the T20 format, and most recently also competed in a tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, this will be the first 50-overs a side series between them.

Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus said they were looking forward to the different challenge a longer version than T20 cricket would give them.

“The battles are longer … the contests don’t go away as quickly as they do in T20 cricket, and there’s certainly more skill involved,” said Erasmus. “It’s very different to T20 cricket … there are more events happening in 300 balls, and that’s the challenge now for us.”

He added the Proteas would be a stiff test. “Ja, they’ve got high-quality players, and are strong in all the departments. But what a great and awesome challenge.”

He said the fact this was the first ODI series between the sides would make the next three matches “even more special”.

“It’ll be memorable. We’ve played our best T20 cricket against the Proteas over the years, for some reason they bring out the best in us, so hopefully we can continue that in this series. This is a big stepping stone for us, as an associate member, with that tag.”

The South African team will again be led by spinner Bjorn Fortuin, following his guiding of the Proteas to the tri-series title at the weekend.

He said he, too, was expecting a competitive series against the country’s neighbours, as it was in the tri-series and in other matches between South Africa and Namibia in the past.

“Namibia are always competitive against us in T20 cricket and I’m sure they will be in the ODIs,” said Fortuin.

“They’ve got some great skills and I’m sure some players will stand up for them. They are a team improving all the time and this will be a big series for them.”

Following this series, South Africa will come up against Australia in ODIs, T20s and Tests.

Le LOSC lance sa campagne européenne ce mardi soir. Pour cette première journée de la phase de ligue de la Ligue des champions, Lille reçoit le Real Betis au stade Pierre-Mauroy, avec l’ambition de bien démarrer cette nouvelle aventure continentale. Le coup d’envoi est prévu à 21h.

Davide Ancelotti mise sur Mbappé et Ueda

Pour cette première européenne sur le banc lillois, Davide Ancelotti a décidé d’aligner une équipe avec plusieurs choix forts. Ethan Mbappé est notamment titularisé sur le côté, tandis que Gaëtan Perrin et Ayase Ueda complètent le secteur offensif.

Au milieu, Benjamin André porte le brassard et sera accompagné de Nabil Bentaleb. Derrière eux, Berke Özer prend place dans les buts, avec Tiago Santos, Nathan Ngoy, Alexsandro et Romain Perraud devant lui.

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Le LOSC doit toutefois composer avec l’absence de Hamza Igamane, toujours indisponible en raison d’une blessure. Lille aborde cette rencontre avec sept points pris lors de ses trois premières journées de Ligue 1.

Lille : Özer – Santos, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Perraud – André (c), Bentaleb – Mbappé, Haraldsson, Perrin – Ueda.

Pellegrini titularise Isco et Parrott

En face, Manuel Pellegrini aligne une équipe expérimentée pour le grand retour du Betis en Ligue des champions. Le club andalou retrouve la C1 après plus de deux décennies d’absence et compte notamment sur Isco, désigné capitaine, pour mener son jeu offensif.

Álvaro Vallés est titularisé dans les buts, avec Bellerín, Bartra, Natan et Firpo en défense. Au milieu, Bernal et Fornals auront la charge de l’équilibre, tandis qu’Antony, Isco et Riquelme évolueront derrière Troy Parrott.

Le Betis arrive avec confiance après sa victoire contre le Real Madrid en Liga, mais devra composer avec plusieurs absences, notamment celle d’Abde Ezzalzouli, touché au genou.

Betis : Vallés – Bellerín, Bartra, Natan, Firpo – Bernal, Fornals – Antony, Isco (c), Riquelme – Parrott.

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