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National teams 19 March 2024, 17:36

2024 Olympics, Nations League… What's ahead for our internationals!

2024 Olympics, Nations League… What's ahead for our internationals!
Between preparation matches for Euro 2024 or the Olympics, the finals of the Nations League and a big debut, the program is busy for the 18 Monegasque internationals who have joined their coutries -- here is their schedule in detail.

It’s becoming a (nice) habit. As they have during each international break, many AS Monaco players will join their countries’ teams. This time they are 18 in number, and many of them will play friendly matches, in order to prepare for summer competitions such as the Euros (Youssouf Fofana, Denis Zakaria), Copa America (Guillermo Maripán) or the Olympic Games (Maghnes Akliouche).

A second title for Folarin Balogun?

For others, however, the stakes will be much more important, like those for Folarin Balogun. The latter will indeed be playing in the finals of the CONCACAF Nations League. Qualified for the semifinals with the United States, he will face Jamaica — the American striker is only two steps away from winning another title, just one year after having won this competition.

A reunion for Wilfried Singo

For his part, Takumi Minamino, with Japan, will play two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup against North Korea, and could already reach the next round in the event of two wins. As for Wilfried Singo, he will return to the Ivorian national team for the first time after winning the Africa Cup of Nations last February. Ismail Jakobs will once again wear the jersey of Senegal.

Photo: Icon Sport

Eliesse Ben Seghir, a big debut

But these meetings scheduled for the end of March will have a very special meaning for one player: Eliesse Ben Seghir. Called up for the first time with Morocco, he could then make his big debut with the Atlas Lions against Angola or Mauritania, just like Yanis Benchaouch and Ilyes Belmokhtar in the youth teams.

The Academy on deck

Speaking of youth, five other members of the Academy will also join their countries to compete in the Elite Group, serving as  qualifying for the next Euros. This is without forgetting Kassoum Ouattara and Edan Diop who will represent the French U20 team. In detail, here is the program for our 18 Rouge et Blanc internationals during the break. Here’s what’s ahead! 🌍

🔜 What’s ahead for our internationals:

Zone Europe 🇪🇺

🇫🇷 Youssouf Fofana – France

Friendlies

  • Saturday March 23 (9 p.m.): France – Germany at Groupama Stadium (Lyon)
  • Tuesday March 26 (9 p.m.): France – Chile at the Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)

🇨🇭 Denis Zakaria – Switzerland

Friendlies

  • Saturday March 23 (8 p.m.): Denmark – Switzerland at Parken Stadium (Copenhagen)
  • Tuesday March 26 (8:45 p.m.): Ireland – Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

Africa 🌍

🇲🇱 Eliesse Ben Seghir – Morocco

Friendlies

  • Friday March 22: Morocco – Angola at the Stade Adrar in Agadir (11 p.m.)
  • Tuesday March 26: Morocco – Mauritania at the Stade Adrar in Agadir (6 p.m.)

🇸🇳 Ismail Jakobs – Senegal

Friendlies

  • Friday March 22: Senegal – Gabon at the Stade Licorne in Amiens (8:30 p.m.)
  • Tuesday March 26: Senegal – Benin at the Stade Licorne in Amiens (8:30 p.m.)

🇨🇮 Wilfried Singo – Côte d’Ivoire

Friendlies

  • Saturday March 23: Ivory Coast – Benin at the Stade Licorne, Amiens (5 p.m.)
  • Tuesday March 26: Uruguay – Ivory Coast at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens (8:30 p.m.)

The Americas 🌎

🇺🇸 Folarin Balogun – United States

CONCACAF Nations League Finals

  • Friday March 22: United States – Jamaica at AT&T Stadium, Arlington (1 AM)

🇨🇱 Guillermo Maripán – Chile

Friendlies

  • Friday March 22: Chile – Albania at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma (8:45 p.m.)
  • Tuesday March 26: France – Chile at the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (9 p.m. on TF1)

Asia 🌏

🇯🇵 Takumi Minamino – Japan

2026 World Cup Qualifying

  • Thursday March 21: Japan – North Korea at the New National Stadium, Tokyo (11:23 a.m.)
  • Tuesday March 26: North Korea – Japan at Kim Il-sung Stadium, Pyongyang (9 a.m.)

France U-21s 🔋

🇫🇷 Maghnes Akliouche – French Olympic team

  • Friday March 22: France U23 – Ivory Coast U23 at Stade Gaston Petit, Châteauroux (6:30 p.m.)
  • Monday March 25: France U23 – United States U23 at the Stade des Alpes, Grenoble (9:05 p.m.)

Youth team players 👶

🇫🇷 Edan Diop and Kassoum Ouattara – France U20

Friendlies

  • Friday March 22 (3 p.m.): France – Germany at the Oliva Nova Sports Center (Valencia)
  • Monday March 25 (3 p.m.): Germany – France at the Oliva Nova Sports Center (Valencia)

🇲🇦 Yanis Benchaouch – Morocco U20

Friendlies

  • Wednesday March 20 (7 p.m.): France – Belgium in Assen (Netherlands)
  • Saturday March 23 (4 p.m.): Netherlands – France in Assen (Netherlands)
  • Tuesday March 26 (7 p.m.): France-Lithuania in Assen (Netherlands)

🇫🇷 Mayssam Benama and Lucas Michal – France U19

Elite Group – Euro U19 Qualifying

  • Wednesday March 20 (7 p.m.): France – Belgium in Assen (Netherlands)
  • Saturday March 23 (4 p.m.): Netherlands – France in Assen (Netherlands)
  • Tuesday March 26 (7 p.m.): France-Lithuania in Assen (Netherlands)

🇫🇷 Pape Cabral and Jules Stawiecki – France U17

Elite Group – Euro U17 Qualifying

  • Wednesday March 20 (9 p.m.): Hungary – France at St George’s Park (Burton upon Trent)
  • Saturday March 23 (8 p.m.): France – Northern Ireland at St George’s Park (Burton upon Trent)
  • Tuesday March 26 (8 p.m.): France – England at St George’s Park (Burton upon Trent)

🇧🇪 Samuel Nibombé – Belgium U17

Elite Group – Euro U17 Qualifying

  • Wednesday March 20 (5:30 p.m.): Finland – Belgium
  • Saturday March 23 (12 p.m.): Belgium – Italy
  • Tuesday March 26 (12 p.m.): Belgium – Netherlands

🇲🇦 Ilies Belmokhtar – Morocco U-16

Friendlies

  • Thursday March 21 (12 p.m.): Morocco – Nigeria
  • Tuesday March 26: Morocco – Nigeria
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