The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially appointed Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of the France men’s national team, ending years of speculation over who would eventually succeed Didier Deschamps.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, just two weeks after France concluded their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a fourth-place finish.

Deschamps’ final match in charge ended in a dramatic 6-4 defeat to England.

Zidane will officially take charge ahead of France’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.

His first match as head coach will come against Turkey, before Les Bleus host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

The appointment marks Zidane’s return to coaching after his highly successful spell with Real Madrid.

Deschamps leaves the France job after an extraordinary 14-year tenure.

During his time in charge, he managed 185 matches, recording 120 victories, while guiding France to several major honours.

His achievements include winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup, ifting the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League title, reaching the Euro 2016 final and finishing as runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Zidane is no stranger to success with the French national team.

As a player, he formed part of the legendary France squad alongside Deschamps that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil before lifting the UEFA Euro 2000 title two years later.

His coaching credentials are equally impressive. During his spell at Real Madrid, Zidane guided the Spanish giants to an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, while also winning multiple domestic and international trophies.

Former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, has declared that no amount of harassment, intimidation or blackmail will force him to abandon his opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

He also commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for reportedly choosing a Christian as his running mate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Vatsa, an APC chieftain, said Governor Sani’s reported decision to pick a Christian from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District as his deputy reflected political maturity, fairness and religious sensitivity.

Speaking to journalists in Minna, the former APC Publicity Secretary in Niger State said the governor had distinguished himself from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, by embracing what he described as a “faith-balanced” ticket.

According to him, the decision would promote peaceful coexistence, strengthen political inclusion and reassure Christians in Kaduna State of their place in governance.

“I want to commend Governor Uba Sani for this singular gesture towards the Christian community in Kaduna State.

He has distinguished himself from those who profess love for Christians publicly but sideline them when it comes to appointments and elective offices,” Vatsa said.

He urged Christians in Kaduna State to rally behind Governor Sani, insisting that the governor deserved their support for what he described as an inclusive approach to leadership.

Vatsa, however, reiterated his opposition to the Muslim-Muslim tickets adopted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, describing the arrangement as politically insensitive and unacceptable.

“I stand by my earlier condemnation of the same-faith ticket at the federal level and in Niger State. These decisions are politically insensitive and unacceptable,” he stressed.

Vatsa insisted that no amount of harassment, intimidation or blackmail would make him change his position, stressing that speaking against any form of marginalisation was a moral obligation.

“Even if you don’t like the messenger, you should take the message. You don’t go to church to sing choruses and dance with Christians and when it comes to appointments or elective offices, you marginalise them,” he said.

Vatsa maintained that he would continue to speak out regardless of threats, adding that as a pioneer member of the APC who sacrificed for the party ahead of the 2015 elections, nobody could intimidate him.

“Anything anybody thinks he has acquired to harass and intimidate others is temporary because when the time comes, we shall all leave with empty hands,” he further added.

Dutch giants Ajax are on the verge of signing Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare from Wolverhampton Wanderers after the two clubs reportedly reached an agreement over a season-long loan move.

The Amsterdam club has identified the Super Eagles forward as its top attacking target and is now putting the finishing touches on the transfer.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ajax have agreed to a loan deal that includes a €22 million option to buy, although the clause is not compulsory.

The Eredivisie club will reportedly pay a loan fee and cover the striker’s full salary during his stay in the Netherlands.
Only the final contractual details remain before the transfer is officially completed.
The move comes after a challenging period for Arokodare at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 25-year-old found himself at the centre of controversy after reports claimed a confrontation occurred during training when the club’s new manager informed him that he was no longer part of the first-team plans.