ALGIERS: Algeria on Sunday stepped in to host matches involving the Palestinian football team due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Algeria has agreed to stage “all official and non-official matches involving the Palestinian team’s preparation for qualification to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup and to assume all associated costs,” an Algerian football federation statement announced.
The move came after a request to the Algerian authorities by Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian football federation.
The first of these games comes next month when Palestine will ‘host’ Australia in Algeria on November 21 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Palestine are in World Cup Asian preliminary qualifying Group I with the Australians and Lebanon.
The 2023 Asian Cup starts in January with Palestine set to face the UAE, Iran and Hong Kong in Qatar.
At least 2,670 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip in a blistering air assault launched by Israel last week after Hamas carried out a bloody attack on Israel that left more than 1,400 people dead.
Algeria to host Palestinian football team’s matches
https://arab.news/4u38n
Algeria to host Palestinian football team’s matches
- The move came after a request to the Algerian authorities by Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian football federation
AC Milan prolong France ‘keeper Maignan deal by five years
- Italian media reported that Milan have almost doubled Maignan’s annual salary to five millions euros
- “AC Milan is pleased to announce the extension of Mike Maignan’s contract until June 30, 2031,” said Milan
MILAN: Mike Maignan signed a new deal with AC Milan that will keep the France goalkeeper at the San Siro until 2031, the Serie A giants confirmed on Saturday.
Italian media reported that Milan have almost doubled Maignan’s annual salary to five millions euros, ensuring their captain will stay.
“AC Milan is pleased to announce the extension of Mike Maignan’s contract until June 30, 2031,” said Milan, currently second in Serie A.
Maignan says he enjoys working with coach Massimiliano Allegri, who joined Milan in May 2025.
“He’s experienced and level-headed, he knows how to manage his group of goalkeepers. Working like that is much easier. I don’t want to make comparisons, but we get along well and he knows how to handle me,” Maignan said in December.
The deal comes after the 30-year-old rediscovered the form which earned him the nickname “Magic Mike” when he replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma between the sticks in 2021.
Just a few months ago he had looked sure to leave come the end of this season when his contract had been due to expire, with poor displays and a clutch of injuries playing their role in a breakdown of communication with the Milan hierarchy.
The only remaining star of the team that won Milan’s most recent league title in 2022, his time in red and black looked to be up as the seven-time European champions slumped to eighth in Serie A last season and failed to qualify for continental football.
But Maignan is back to his best and Milan went into the weekend five points behind league leaders and local rivals Inter Milan in the race for the Scudetto.
Milan have conceded 17 goals in 22 league matches. Maignan has nine clean sheets and has saved two penalties.
Allegri’s side face Bologna on Tuesday.
