City players on international duty - Musaba and Maghoma eye DR Congo debuts

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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Paris Maghoma and Anthony Musaba are among 10 Norwich City players initially selected to represent their nations during this extended international period.

The pair have earned their first senior call-ups for DR Congo, having previously represented England and the Netherlands respectively at youth level.

They will join up with the Leopards for the second half of the international window, with a double-header of friendly fixtures against Uganda.

Anis Ben Slimane will look to put Tunisia’s disappointing World Cup campaign behind him after being named in new boss Mouin Chaâbani’s first squad.

Anis Ben Slimane has been named in new Tunisia boss Mouin Chaâbani’s squad (Image: Mike Egerton/PA)

The midfielder has two important Africa Cup of Nations Group H qualifiers, at home to Uganda and away at Botswana, as well as a friendly against Mali.

New recruit Darlin Yongwa is set to be involved with Cameroon in AFCON qualifying, with the Indomitable Lions facing Comoros in Garoua and Congo in Brazzaville in two Group G qualifiers. They will then round off the break with a friendly against Ivory Coast.

Andre Brooks is hoping for another taste of international football after making his Jamaica debut in March, playing 45 minutes against New Caledonia.

The winger’s fast start in yellow and green - with six goal involvements in 10 games across all competitions - has been rewarded with a place in Rudolph Speid’s squad for four CONCACAF Nations League Group B League A fixtures.

The Reggae Boyz will face Guatemala in Kingston, El Salvador in San Salvador and Honduras twice.

For the European contingent, Nations League duty awaits. Defender Ruairi McConville is included in Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for four Group B2 fixtures.

They take on Georgia home and away, as well as Hungary in Belfast and Ukraine in the Slovakian city of Trnava.

Kenny McLean has withdrawn from the Scotland squad (Image: PA)

Kenny McLean had been named in new Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli’s selection for four Group B1 fixtures, alongside former Canaries Angus Gunn, Jon McCracken and Billy Gilmour.

The Tartan Army host Slovenia and Switzerland, with trips to Ljubljana to meet Slovenia and Skopje to face North Macedonia also on the agenda.

However, City skipper McLean has since withdrawn, having limped off against Bolton with an ankle injury. His replacement is Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery.

Ben Chrisene is another who went down late in Sunday’s defeat to the Trotters after his shoulder popped out.

The full-back had been selected alongside team-mate Kellen Fisher for England Under-21’s three EURO qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Slovakia on home soil, before travelling to Cork to take on Ireland, but his availability is now uncertain.

Lee Carsley’s young Lions lead Group D with 19 points from their opening seven games, the latest of which was a 4-1 victory over Moldova at Carrow Road in March.

On the theme of shoulder issues, Mo Toure was forced off inside the opening 15 minutes against Bolton.

The striker had been in line to face Carlo Ancelotti’s five-time World Cup winners Brazil twice, but the Socceroos confirmed on Monday afternoon that he has withdrawn from the squad. FC Ingolstadt forward Nishan Velupillay has been called up as his replacement.

Jose Cordoba faces a long trip to India during the international break (Image: PA)

Panamanian Jose Cordoba faces a long journey to Bangalore first during the break for a friendly meeting with India before coming up against New Zealand on Thursday, October 1.

Young defender Vatan Ozcan has been a regular for Turkey at youth level and has earned a call-up to the Under-19s squad for the International Friendship Tournament in Croatia. He will face Italy, France and hosts Croatia respectively.

FULL INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE INVOLVING NORWICH CITY PLAYERS

Thursday September 24

Tunisia v Uganda (8pm) – Anis Ben Slimane

Cameroon v Comoros (8pm) – Darlin Yongwa

Friday September 25

India v Panama (3pm) – Jose Cordoba

Georgia v Northern Ireland (5pm) – Ruairi McConville

England U21 v Kazakhstan U21 (7.30pm) – Kellen Fisher, Ben Chrisene

Saturday September 26

Jamaica v Guatemala (1am) – Andre Brooks

Monday September 28

Italy U19 v Turkey U19 (2.30pm) – Vatan Ozcan

Northern Ireland v Hungary (7.45pm) – Ruairi McConville

Botswana v Tunisia (8pm) – Anis Ben Slimane

Tuesday September 29

Jamaica v Honduras (1am) – Andre Brooks

Congo v Cameroon (8pm) – Darlin Yongwa

Thursday October 1

Panama v New Zealand (7.10am) – Jose Cordoba

France U19 v Turkey U19 (11.45am) – Vatan Ozcan

Friday October 2

DR Congo v Uganda (TBC) – Paris Maghoma, Anthony Musaba

England U21 v Slovakia U21 (7.45pm) – Kellen Fisher, Ben Chrisene

Ukraine v Northern Ireland (7.45pm) – Ruairi McConville

Saturday October 3

Tunisia v Mali (TBC) – Anis Ben Slimane

El Salvador v Jamaica (3am) – Andre Brooks

Ivory Coast v Cameroon (8pm) – Darlin Yongwa

Sunday October 4

Turkey U19 v Croatia U19 (11am) – Vatan Ozcan

Monday October 5

Uganda v DR Congo (TBC) – Paris Maghoma, Anthony Musaba

Northern Ireland v Georgia (7.45pm) – Ruairi McConville

Tuesday October 6

Honduras v Jamaica (3am) – Andre Brooks

Ireland U21 v England U21 (5pm) – Kellen Fisher, Ben Chrisene