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Seychelles national team confronts a player boycott due to club interference and Gacon test disputes ahead of the Harambee Stars match.
Seychelles national team head coach Rapl Jean Louis is grappling with a player boycott crisis just days before their vital 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Kenya.
The Pirates are scheduled to open their Group F campaign against Ivory Coast on Friday, November 17, followed by a clash with Kenya just four days later.
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07:04 - 13.11.2023
FKFPL Zdravko Logarusic believes Kenya is ‘a sleeping giant’ in football that needs ‘waking up’
Logarusic believes that Kenyan football can fulfill its untapped potential which has yet to be exploited after his Kenya Police side beat Ulinzi Stars in front of a sizable crowd.
However, as the clock ticks down to these crucial matches Seychelles is yet to announce its national team squad and coach Louis has expressed deep concerns over the situation.
Louis revealed that most of selected players failed to turn up for training, citing the interference of their respective club commitments and concerns about the entry criteria for the national team.
"A good number of selected players did not turn up for training, with most of them not on their own free will, but rather based on instructions from their clubs, while some were not comfortable with the entry criteria," he stated as in a press conference on Friday.
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19:24 - 12.11.2023
FKFPL Matasi bullish after receiving Harambee Stars call-up ahead of crunch World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi remains confident after receiving a call-up to the Harambee Stars squad for the crunch FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Gabon.
One of the challenges the selected players had to endure was the Gacon test, an intermittent analysis of a player's speed, involving 45 seconds of running with 15 seconds of rest, and incrementally increasing running distance.
In a surprising turn of events, Seychelles had planned to host three friendly matches involving foreign players competing in national leagues to prepare for the qualifiers.
However, local clubs obstructed the release of their players, compounding the challenges faced by coach Louis and his team.
14:03 - 10.11.2023
FOOTBALL Eric Johana returns as Engin Firat names Harambee Stars squad for World Cup qualifiers
Firat has named Eric Johana in his 28-man squad for the first time since taking over as head coach but also handed debut call-ups to three other players.
The Pirates are scheduled to face the formidable Côte d'Ivoire at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, also known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, on Friday.
This daunting fixture will be followed by a matchup against Kenya on Monday, November 20, at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny.
Interestingly, the game against Kenya will be considered a home match for Seychelles due to the non-compliance of facilities at Stade Linite.
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17:26 - 07.11.2023
FOOTBALL Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left out as Gabon name squad to face Harambee Stars
Gabon have excluded star striker Aubameyang from World Cup qualifier squad.
Despite the setbacks, Coach Jean-Louis remains optimistic and commended the players who chose to stay and represent Seychelles in these two vital qualifiers.
Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) has provisions in its by-laws to sanction teams or individuals who refuse to participate in national team duties.
However, in this case, no punitive measures will be taken against the players, respecting their right to decide their involvement.
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10:56 - 04.11.2023
FOOTBALL Harambee Stars set for West African sojourn against Gabon and Seychelles in World Cup qualifier quest
Kenya's Harambee Stars to play 2026 World Cup qualifiers in West Africa against Gabon and Seychelles, hosted in Ivory Coast.
The African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will consist of two rounds.
The first round is structured as a group stage with nine groups, each comprising six teams. Each team will face their opponents twice, once at home and once away.
The top finisher from each group will secure a spot in the World Cup in 2026.
In the second round, the four best runners-up from the group stage will compete in two one-off semi-finals, followed by a final. The winner of this second round will advance to the FIFA playoff tournament.
Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.
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