New Werder Bremen signing Boubacar Sanogo was called up to the Ivory Coast team for next week's friendly against Egypt in Paris, the forward replacing the injured Aruna Dindane.
Sanogo, who moved to Bremen from Hamburg in a 6 million euro deal last month, joins fellow German based players Guy Demel and Steve Gohouri in a return to the team after missing June's African Nations Cup qualifiers against Madagascar.
The 24 year old forward has picked up only one cap for a team where Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou lead the attack and where Olympique Lyon's Abdelkader Keita and Arouna Kone of PSV Eindhoven also struggle for regular action.
Also back in the team named by coach Uli Stielike Friday, is Swiss based midfielder Gilles Yapi Yapo.
Both Egypt and the Ivorians are using the match as preparation for decisive African Nations Cup qualifiers next month.
Squad:
Goalkeepers, Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany)
Nancy preserved their 100% start to the Ligue 1 campaign Thursday with a 2-1 win over Nice at the Stade Marcel-Picot.
Sebastien Puygrenier broke the deadlock for the Lorraine side 5 minutes after the interval and Pascal Berenguer notched the 2nd shortly after Habib Bamogo had briefly restored parity from the spot.
The triumph sees Nancy move joint-top of the table with 3 wins from 3 along with Le Mans, whilst Nice remain 13th.
The visitors had the 1st sight of goal in the 2nd minute, however Bamogo's neat effort was kept out by the fists of goalie Gennaro Bracigliano.
Bamogo went even closer in the 13th minute when his mazy run finished with a left footed shot which brushed the outside of the post.
The woodwork again denied the away team 6 minutes later, when Honorato Ederson's superb volley from Cyril Rool's corner hit the crossbar.
Nancy had to wait until 4 minutes before the break to have their 1st opportunity of note, however Youssouf Hadji's lob was kept out by Hugo Lloris and the sides went in at half time level.
The hosts made their intentions plain after the interval and soon asserted their authority.
Benjamin Gavanon's corner in the 49th minute was met by Hadji, whose header beat Lloris however again was kept out by the crossbar.
A minute later and Nancy were ahead. Gavanon again provided the corner and, amazingly, Hadji again headed against the bar, however this time Puygrenier followed up and slotted home the rebound.
Nice were given a penalty on the hour mark after Ederson was brought down by Bracigliano. Bamogo sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
But 5 minutes later Nancy had taken the lead for a 2nd and decisive time. Youngster Chris Malonga provided the cross from the right, and Berenguer powered a stunning header past Lloris, who was rooted to his spot as the winner flew past him.
12 August 2007
Lille needed a late header from substitute Marko Maric to win 2-1 at promoted Metz in Ligue 1 Sunday.
Croatian midfielder Maric headed home from a corner one minute from time to give Lille their 1st triumph after a 0-0 home draw with Lorient in their opening match.
Brazilian defender Michel Bastos had put Lille ahead when he surprised Metz keeper Richard Trivino by curling a corner kick directly into the net on 20 minutes.
Metz, who lost 1-0 at Le Mans on their return to the top flight last weekend, had hoped for their 1st point of the season when Senegalese forward Momar N'Diaye put them level with a deflected shot on 84 minutes.
Paris St Germain were away to Racing Lens in the last game of the 2nd round of games later Sunday.
Olympique Lyon, chasing a 7th successive title, slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Toulouse on Saturday.
12 August 2007
Johan Elmander grabbed the winner a minute from time as 10 man Lyon were sunk by Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
It looked like the champions were going to survive the 1st half sending off of Kim Kallstrom, for foul and abusive language, when Elmander struck late on, the Sweden forward pouncing on Achille Emana's short pass and stroking home from close range.
Marseille failed to find a cutting edge for the 2nd week in succession as Rennes claimed a deserved point at the Stade Velodrome.
After starting the campaign with a stalemate against Strasbourg last weekend, OM would have been hoping for much more a week later.
But their strikeforce malfunctioned once again, lone forward Djibril Cisse again failing to receive any service, and by the end of the match it was Rennes who were more likely to score.
The point means the Brittany club get off the mark following their disppointing 2-0 home defeat to Nancy a week ago.
Le Mans overcame an early setback to move top with a convincing 3-1 away triumph at Sochaux.
Rudy Garcia's side collected their 2nd successive triumph thanks to a fantastic hat trick from Brazilian forward Tulio De Melo, after Valter Birsa had fired the hosts ahead.
It was sweet revenge for the visitors against a team now managed by Frederic Hantz who left Le Mans to take the Sochaux position in the summer.
Nancy also moved into the leading group at the top of the table with a 1-0 triumph over Caen.
Brazilian forward Kim scored the only goal after 7 minutes as Nancy earned their 2nd triumph of the season, keeping a 2nd clean-sheet in the process.
And Bordeaux made it 2 wins out of 2 after a pair of goals from Wendel da Silva sent them to a comfortable 2-0 win over Auxerre at the Stade l'Abbe-Deschamps.
The Brazilian winger scored either side of half time, however the game will also be remembered for another double, 2 missed penalties from Auxerre forward Toifilou Maoulida.
Pascal Feindouno scored twice as St Etienne defeated Valenciennes 3-1 to claim their 1st win of the season.
St Etienne troubled Valenciennes with their pace as Feindouno found the net twice in the 2nd half after Bafetimbi Gomis' 1st half strike. Substitute Johan Audel replied for the visitors.
2 goals from Rafik Saifi helped Lorient claim their 1st 3 points of the campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Monaco at Le Moustoir.
Christian Gourcuff's side preserved their unbeaten start to the campaign in impressive fashion, however rode their luck in the closing stages as the visitors came close to rescuing a point after Serge Gakpe had pulled one back.
Vincent Hognon scored an 86th minute winner for Nice to secure a narrow 1-0 win over 10 man Strasbourg at the Stade de Ray.
Hognon managed to wrongfoot keeper Stephane Cassard by deflecting David Hellebuyck's free kick into the net in the closing stages to leave the visitors reeling.
It had looked as though they had secured a brave point after Manuel Dos Santos was sent off only seconds after the interval for collecting a 2nd yellow card.
The win moved Nice on to 3 points from their opening 2 games, whilst newly-promoted Strasbourg still remain stranded without a win.
23 June 2007
Mali midfielder Alphousseyni Keita has joined French Ligue 1 side Le Mans.
The 21 year old from local side Djoliba for an undisclosed fee.
Keita signed a 3 year contract with the Ligue 1 campaigners.
He plays alongside Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra in the national team.
22 June 2007
Olympique de Marseille have made Gaël Givet their latest new recruit with the AS Monaco FC centre back committing for 4 seasons at the Stade Velodrome.
The 25 year old France defender had spent his whole career at Monaco, notably representing them in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final defeat by FC Porto, however would not resist the chance of a return to European football's premier club competition.
Capped 12 times by his country, Givet will be on familiar ground with the Ligue 1 runners up as he was born in nearby Arles.
Marseille have also signed 27 year old defender Laurent Bonnart on a 3 year contract from Le Mans UC 72, adding him to a growing list of new recruits that already features Benoît Cheyrou, Jacques Faty and Vincent Gragnic.
12 June 2007
Mali forward Modibo Maiga signed a permanent deal with French side Le Mans.
The 19 year old sealed a 2 year deal following successful 6 month loan spell at the Ligue 1 club.
Maiga joined Le Mans from Moroccan club Raja Casablanca in February with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Le Mans have now been taken up after he impressed in the last part of the season, scoring twice in the club's shirt.
Thje club finished 12th in the French top division last season.
