MOSCOW: A French cyclist detained after trying to enter Russia’s Far East will be held in jail until at least next month, Russian state media reported Wednesday, citing a local court.
French media reported that Sofiane Sehili was arrested after crossing the Russian border with China illegally while attempting to break the record for the fastest endurance cycle from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported that a court in Russia’s Primorye region had ordered him held in pre-trial detention until October 4.
Citing the court’s press service, it did not say what Sehili had been charged with.
It said the hearing took place at the start of September, but was reported by Russian officials only on Wednesday.
A member of a government-linked prison monitoring body who visited Sehili in jail told AFP the cyclist had a Russian e-visa but had “tried to cross the border on foot at a checkpoint only accessible for Russian and Chinese citizens.”
“Then he went to another crossing, where it is forbidden to cross on bike, you need to go on train or bus,” Vladimir Naidin from the Primorye region’s public monitoring commission told AFP via telephone.
He said Sehili was in good health but was struggling to communicate with officials in the prison facility given the language barrier.
He was being held in a cell with another inmate.
“We are monitoring everything closely and are treating him the same way we would any Russian citizen,” Sehili said.
French cyclist jailed until October in Russia’s Far East: state media
https://arab.news/n6nkp
French cyclist jailed until October in Russia’s Far East: state media
- Sofiane Sehili was arrested after crossing the Russian border with China illegally while attempting to break the record for the fastest endurance cycle
- Citing the court’s press service, it did not say what Sehili had been charged with
Morocco include injured captain Hakimi in AFCON squad
- Regragui said: “We hope he (Hakimi) will be available for our first match against the Comoros“
- Hosts Morocco face the Comorans on Dec. 21 in Rabat
JOHANNESBURG: Morocco included injured captain Achraf Hakimi in a 26-man squad named on Thursday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old full-back sprained his ankle after being fouled playing for Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich last month in the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking after the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington last Friday, head coach Walid Regragui said: “We hope he (Hakimi) will be available for our first match against the Comoros.”
Hosts Morocco face the Comorans on December 21 in Rabat in the opening match of the biennial African football showpiece.
Referring to recently crowned 2025 African player of the year Hakimi, Regragui added: “He is doing better. He is improving. He wants to be here (Morocco). He is our leader, our captain.”
Morocco are in Group A with the Comoros, Mali and Zambia. Group winners and runners-up qualify automatically for the knockout phase, along with the best four of the six third-placed teams.
Other Atlas Lions stars, including goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and striker Youssef En-Nesyri, have been selected.
Morocco are seeking to win the AFCON a second time. They drew with Guinea in 1976 in Ethiopia to finish first in a tournament consisting only of mini-leagues.
Only three of the 13 AFCON hosts this century — Tunisia, Egypt and the Ivory Coast — have been crowned champions.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/KSA), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca)
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA, capt), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/EGY), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma/KSA), Romain Saiss (Al Sadd/QAT), Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal (Rennes/FRA), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille/FRA), Adam Masina (Torino/ITA), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester Utd/ENG), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/NED)
Midfielders: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord/NED), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/ESP), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma/ITA), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart/GER), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona/ESP)
Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/ESP), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal/ESP), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland/ENG), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce/TUR), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos/GRE), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain/UAE), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/ESP), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)
Standby: Youssef Belammari (Raja), Hamza Igamane (Lille/FRA)
