Real Madrid have been handed a major injury concern after Kylian Mbappe was forced off during France’s clash with Türkiye with an apparent knee problem.

The France captain scored the only goal of the game with a brilliant low-driven finish but was unable to continue after appearing to hurt his knee, with Zinedine Zidane confirming that the forward will return to Madrid for further assessment.

France struggled to break down a determined Türkiye side before Mbappe provided the decisive moment midway through the first half.

The Real Madrid star was set up by Michael Olise after France won possession high up the pitch, with Mbappe producing a powerful low finish from a tight angle to put his side ahead.

However, the goal quickly became secondary when the 27-year-old appeared to injure his knee during the action. Mbappe initially attempted to continue despite the problem, but he was eventually forced off minutes later as concern grew over the severity of the injury.

Debutant France coach Zinedine Zidane subsequently provided an update on the France captain during an interview admitting that the early signs were worrying.

“Unfortunately, it’s not looking good. I think he will have to return to Madrid. We are not going to take any risks. He has a knee hyperextension from the impact. This is not encouraging. We are not going to take any risks.”

The decision to withdraw Mbappe means France will now wait for further medical examinations to determine the extent of the damage.

Real Madrid sweating over Mbappe

The injury will also be a major concern for Real Madrid, who have come to rely heavily on Mbappe since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024. The France captain has scored 94 goals in 111 appearances for the Spanish giants, including eight goals in eight games this season.

His current form has also placed him among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, alongside Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

For Real Madrid, however, individual accolades will be secondary while they wait to discover whether Mbappe has suffered a serious setback.

Zidane’s decision not to risk the forward further suggests France are taking the injury seriously, with Mbappe now expected to return to Madrid.

The extent of the knee problem remains unclear, but Real Madrid will be hoping the hyperextension does not result in a lengthy spell on the sidelines for their most important attacking player.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, says Nigerian politicians steal public funds every minute.

He spoke in Abuja at the 80th birthday celebration of former Attorney-General, Kanu Agabi.

Olukoyede said the anti-graft agency receives over 20,000 corruption petitions every year, adding that most of the cases are shocking.

“I receive over 20,000 petitions in a year in respect to public corruption, all terrible. What is going on? Like every minute, public officers take money, and if you go through some of our case files you will weep.

“The way people take national resources and Nigerians are victims of these fraudulent activities. And we must come together for once in our lifetime and say no to the activities of some of our leaders,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC boss said some public officers resume office with less than N100,000 in their account, but after three years, EFCC will trace millions of dollars to them.

He said some of them build hundreds of houses while still in office, noting that corruption is killing Nigeria.

Olukoyede said public officers must explain what they did in office, stressing that accountability and transparency must guide public service.

The Ogun State Police Command says, it has arrested 43-year-old Edebiri Temitope, who allegedly beat his neighbour to death with a bamboo stick for hugging his son in Bluestone Treasure Estate, Mowe-Ofada area of Ogun State.

The deceased, 38 years old Micheal Oje, a Guidance and Counselling graduate of Benue State University, was accused of hugging and playing rough with the 3-year-old child .

According to Peter Adum, a younger cousin to the deceased, Micheal had just returned from work and the child who lived with them on the same street, ran towards him and hugged him.

He stated that Michael hugged the boy and threw him playfully in the air and caught him, before going into his room to sleep.

Adum said, “While he was sleeping, Adebiri, the father of the boy, came outside and knocked on his door. When Mike came out, the man accused him of playing roughly with his child. Mike explained that he had only hugged the boy and lifted him into the air.

“That was how the man then started slapping Mike. He picked up a bamboo stick from the ground and hit him about three times. Mike fell and died on the spot.”

The suspect was reported to have gone into hiding with his family.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi on Friday, said the suspect had been arrested and transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

“Edebiri Temitope, ‘M’, aged 43 years, who was earlier reported to be at large, has been arrested in connection with the death of Oje Michael Eje, ‘M’.

“The suspect has been transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation,” Babaseyi stated.