Antoine Semenyo’s UEFA Champions League debut ended in defeat as Manchester City fell 3-0 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The Black Stars forward started the game and lasted for 70 minutes before making ways for Rayan Cherki.

Semenyo’s inclusion in the starting lineup marked a significant milestone in his career, becoming the second player to feature in the Champions League, all four divisions of English football, and non-league football, after Steve Finnan achieved the feat in 2005.

Semenyo had been impressive since joining Manchester City in January, scoring seven goals in 12 matches in all competitions.

Real Madrid dominated the match, with Federico Valverde scoring a hat-trick, including two goals in the first 27 minutes.

Manchester City struggled to contain the Spanish giants, and Semenyo’s debut, although promising, wasn’t enough to change the scores of the game.

Semenyo completed 21 of his 26 passes, representing an accuracy rate of 81%.

He registered two shots on target and successfully completed both of his dribbles. Defensively, he produced one block and won half of his ground duels but failed to secure any aerial contest. Performance data platform Flash Score rated his display at 7.2.

Manchester City will look to bounce back in the second leg, which takes place on March 17 at the Etihad Stadium.

Semenyo will be hoping to build on his debut experience and contribute to a potential comeback.

The match was a significant test for Semenyo, and while it didn’t go as planned, it provides valuable experience for the young forward.

Manchester City’s focus now shifts to the return leg, where they’ll be looking to turn the tie around.

The second leg promises to be an exciting encounter, with Semenyo likely to play a key role in City’s pursuit of a place in the quarterfinals.

Iran has officially confirmed that their Senior Soccer National team will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pointing to the ongoing conflict involving host nation the United States as the reason behind the decision.

The announcement was made by Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamal, who explained that the prevailing geopolitical climate makes it impossible for the country to take part in the global tournament. Iran’s involvement in the competition had already been in doubt following a sharp escalation in military tensions last month.

According to reports, the situation intensified after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran. The attacks reportedly led to the death of the country’s supreme leader and prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran against US-allied states in the Gulf region, further deepening the crisis.

When previously asked about the issue, US President Donald Trump told Politico that he was not concerned about Iran’s potential participation in the tournament. However, even before the official withdrawal was confirmed, the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehdi Taj, had hinted that the country’s presence at the World Cup appeared unlikely given the rising political tensions.

Speaking during a televised interview reported by RTÉ, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamal confirmed that Iran would not compete under the current circumstances.

“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” he said.

“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iran had been drawn in a group alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, with their matches set to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Earlier, FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed that he had received assurances from President Trump that Iran would be welcomed to compete in the tournament despite the strained relations. Infantino said he had discussed preparations for the competition during a recent meeting with the US leader, reiterating FIFA’s hope that the World Cup would serve as a platform to unite people around the world.

Iran had secured its place at the tournament after finishing top of Group A in the Asian qualifiers, marking what would have been the nation’s fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.

Plans had also been made for the team to set up a training base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, but those arrangements are now effectively cancelled following the government’s decision to withdraw from the comp

Ghanaian midfielder Foster Apetogbor has completed a move to Norwegian top-flight side Sandefjord FC after signing a three-year contract with the Eliteserien lads.

The 18-year-old midfielder joins the club as they continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming new season in Norway.

Sandefjord enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, finishing fifth in the Norwegian top division, and the club is now aiming to build on as they push for a place in European competitions.

Apetogbor arrives in Norway after progressing steadily through the ranks in Ghanaian football. He began his development at Yejiman Academy before moving to Achimota Olympiakos, where he continued to refine his game.

The promising midfielder later joined Nsoatreman FC, where he gained wider recognition for his performances in domestic competitions.

During his time at the club, he was part of the team that won the Ghana FA Cup, marking a major achievement early in his career.

Before sealing his move to Norway, Apetogbor also had a stint with African Viking FC, further building his reputation as a promising midfielder with strong technical ability and an impressive work rate.

Sandefjord believe the young Ghanaian’s energy, versatility and potential will add depth to their squad as they prepare for a demanding campaign in the Norwegian top flight.

Apetogbor’s move represents a significant step in his development as he begins a new chapter in European football with Sandefjord.