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Sane: Senegal can fill Koulibaly void

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Friday May 08, 2026. 11:00

Former Senegal international Lamine Sane has faith that Pape Thiaw will be able to find a suitable replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly should injury rule him out of the 2026 World Cup.

The Lions of Teranga captain suffered a freak thigh injury on April 8 when he collided with a team-mate in training with Al Hilal and hasn’t featured in the Saudi Pro League since then.

Koulibaly is set to miss the King’s Cup of Champions final against Al Kholood on Friday as he’s still unable to run which leaves him with just over a month to prove his fitness ahead of the global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

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Thiaw’s side will face Saudi Arabia in a warm-up match on June 9 before getting their Group I campaign underway against France seven days later.

However, Sane – who played alongside the 34-year-old centre-back against Madagascar in November 2015 just prior to his international retirement – believes there is enough talent to call upon if Koulibaly doesn’t recover in time.

“We have players capable of filling his absence and Senegal has what it takes to compete in the World Cup. We mustn’t be afraid, that’s football. You can’t control injuries,” the Senegal Under-17 coach told the Agence de Presse Senegalaise.

“If Kalidou Koulibaly doesn’t come, it will be a huge disappointment. He’s the captain, he’s the key player for the national team.

“There are plenty of Senegalese players around the world. If the coach makes choices and Kalidou is unavailable, there will be replacements.

“It’s like when Kalidou Koulibaly joined the team; he replaced some players. I have faith in the coach and the team. I think they will achieve great things.”

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US Open 2026 results: Alfie Hewett wins fifth men’s wheelchair singles title in New York

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Alfie Hewett kisses the US Open trophy

Britain’s Alfie Hewett beat Tokito Oda to clinch a fifth US Open men’s wheelchair singles title and prevent the Japanese top seed from completing a clean sweep at the Grand Slams in 2026.

A 6-0 7-6 (7-5) victory meant Hewett added to the doubles title he won alongside fellow Briton Gordon Reid on Friday.

Hewett, 28, lost to Oda in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, winning only two games in a 6-1 6-1 defeat at SW19, while the Japanese also triumphed at January’s Australian Open.

Hewett told BBC Sport that his loss to Oda at Wimbledon made him “look in the mirror” and a period of reflection led to him wanting to “be a little bit more like me” as he pursued an 11th Grand Slam singles title.

“I’m known for being just as fearless, brave and courageous in big moments and I felt I was everything but that in Wimbledon,” Hewett said.

“I was quiet, I was timid, I was a shell of myself.

“I think I have had six weeks of champing at the bit to come out and prove to myself that I can be more like that person.”

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Hewett described his first-set performance as “possessed” as, after saving a break point in the opening game, he produced a dominant display, clinching the opener with a superb backhand return winner.

The Briton secured victory in a second-set tie-break, having fought back from a double break down and saved three set points for Oda to level the match.

Oda, who had won the past six Grand Slam singles titles, said on court: “Definitely I was trying to get the calendar year [Grand Slam] this year.

“This was the last part of it so it’s really tough for me, but I think Alfie deserved it today.”

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England vs Pakistan player ratings: Has Jordan Cox given selectors food for thought?

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Joe Root makes a half-century for England at Edgbaston

Emilio Gay – 6 – A gritty Test-best of 60 in tricky batting conditions in the first innings looked to have gone some way towards securing his place on the plane for a winter tour of South Africa, only for a duck next time round to bring back some uncertainty. (Series – 6)

Ben Duckett – 2 – A miserable end to the summer for the opener who will now come under some scrutiny. Made 11 and zero in this match and finishes this three-Test series well down the averages with a disappointing 44 runs at 8.8. (Series – 2)

Jordan Cox – 7 – A cheap dismissal in the first innings but made a nerveless unbeaten 59 to take the sting out of Pakistan after a wobble in the chase. A particularly impressive effort with the gloves – taking five dismissals – after being called upon to keep following Jamie Smith’s injury may have given the selectors food for thought in the role. (Series – 7)

Joe Root – 7 – Question marks over his captaincy during Pakistan’s second innings, but got England over the line with 62 not out. A 10th lbw in 14 innings suggests a technical tweak which still needs to be ironed out by England’s all-time leading run-scorer. (Series – 7)

Harry Brook – 7 – Batted with real discipline and focus at a time when Pakistan had a foothold in the game on day one. His most mature Test knock this year. Ran himself out on 75 when a century beckoned but forgivable given the application he showed earlier. Finishes as leading run-scorer in the series with 215 runs at 53.75. (Series – 8)

Dan Lawrence – 7 – Having been shunted around the order the Surrey all-rounder batted with the kind of confidence to suggest he might deserve a sustained run in the middle during a measured 65. Bowling underused but a not-too-shabby batting average of 46.75 will help his winter touring prospects. (Series – 7)

Jamie Smith – 6 – Not quite back to his fluent best but will be satisfied to notch up useful half-centuries in consecutive Tests. Kept reasonably well in Pakistan’s first innings before a finger injury kept him off the field in the second. (Series – 6)

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Gus Atkinson – 6 – Wicketless in the first innings and it initially looked like it was going to be another hard-luck tale. However, he shook off the weariness and a change to the City End allowed him to pocket three wickets to lighten his mood. (Series – 5)

Jofra Archer – 7 – Took a bit of tap in the second innings but bowled with plenty of zip and aggression throughout. A brutal ball to dismiss Saud Shakeel was a reminder of his menace. England will be desperate to keep him fit and firing during a pivotal 12 months. (Series – 8)

Ollie Robinson – 8 – Is their anyone better with a Dukes ball in English conditions? Another masterclass in control. England’s tone-setter finishes the series with 21 wickets at a miserly 8.76. A breezy half-century on day two also entertained the crowd. (Series – 9)

Josh Tongue – 7 – Mopped up the tourists’ lower order in the first innings with 4-42. Healthy returns in all three Tests – 19 wickets in all – and continues to look a vital cog in the machine. (Series – 8)

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Garcia vs Benn: WBC welterweight title fight predictions from fighters and pundits

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Daniel Dubois faces off with Fabio Wardley

Conor Benn returns to welterweight for the first time since April 2022 to challenge WBC champion Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old Briton is bidding for the crowning moment of his 10-year professional career at T-Mobile Arena.

Benn has won 25 of his 26 fights as a professional and would emulate his father, Nigel, by claiming a WBC title with another victory.

Garcia, 28, is making the first defence of his belt after beating Mario Barrios by decision in February.

The American has picked up 25 victories in his 28-fight career, earning 20 of those wins by knockout, while losing two, with one no-contest.

Live text commentary will begin on Sunday, 13 September at 03:00 BST on the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing world to get their predictions for the bout.

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