Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono has withdrawn from the national team squad ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Zimbabwe following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The 30-year-old striker died on Monday after suffering a serious injury in a collision with Owono during a Spanish second-division match.

Owono, 25, described the incident as “the most difficult days of my life” in a statement released by his club, FC Andorra, on Wednesday.

The goalkeeper also admitted that it was “very hard to come to terms with what has happened” as he continues to grapple with the emotional impact of the tragedy.

Equatorial Guinea’s football federation, Feguifut, confirmed that Owono had asked to withdraw from the squad named by head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese for the upcoming fixtures.

Feguifut president Venancio Tomas Micha had earlier expressed the federation’s support for the goalkeeper, promising “all our human and professional backing” to help him through the difficult period.

Owono has been Equatorial Guinea’s first-choice goalkeeper since November 2020 and has represented the country at the last three AFCON tournaments. His withdrawal is therefore a significant setback for the National Thunder as they prepare for their two meetings with Zimbabwe.

Equatorial Guinea will host Zimbabwe in Bata on Thursday, November 12, before travelling to Harare for the return leg on Monday, November 16.

Both sides have earned three points from their opening two Group E matches and are currently level in the standings.

DR Congo lead the group with six points, while Sierra Leone sit at the bottom without a point.

The two-match encounter offers Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe an opportunity to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the tournament. However, the National Thunder will now have to prepare for the fixtures without their established first-choice goalkeeper.

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), has announced his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in next year’s election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tashima said his ambition is to promote integrity, transparency and high ethical standards in global football, drawing inspiration from the principles that have guided Japanese football over the years.

“I believe it is important to clearly communicate to the world of football the integrity, soundness, and high moral standards that Japanese football has cherished and built up over the years,” he said.

“I have decided to run for Fifa presidential election in order to convey this philosophy to the world and contribute to a better future for football.

“I will take on this challenge with strong determination, making use of the experience I have cultivated so far, and contributing to the further development of world football.”

Tashima’s declaration comes amid growing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership, particularly following the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

FIFA reportedly abandoned the proposal in late July after facing widespread opposition from stakeholders across the football community.

However, Infantino’s re-election campaign received a boost after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endorsed his bid, following a change of position by its president, Sheikh Salman.

In October, Infantino also told BBC Sport that he had the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football as he seeks a fourth term in office.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega was the first candidate to announce his intention to challenge Infantino in October. Tashima has now joined the contest.

JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto welcomed Tashima’s decision, describing it as an opportunity to contribute to the development of world football and showcase the values of Japanese football.

Candidates have until November 18 to declare their intention to contest the election. However, Tashima and other aspirants must obtain nominations from at least five FIFA member associations to qualify for the presidential race.