Ibrahima Konate and his Liverpool team-mates have blown hot and cold collectively this season, but the French centre-back has still been able to have fun with his colleagues
Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has joked about team-mate Hugo Ekitike working harder after being warned by the defender about his place in the France squad. Konate and Ekitike are both part of Les Bleus’ selection for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Ukraine but competition for places is fierce.
Ekitike was uncapped when he joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt over the summer but has made all three of Didier Deschamps’ squads since arriving in the Premier League. He made his first senior start in October, setting up Kylian Mbappe’s opener in a 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan, and has also featured three times as a substitute.
Konate is more established in the French setup, having made the squad for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. Speaking to Canal Plus, he has spoken about an early interaction with Ekitike at club level.
“One time, I told him off a bit, but it was funny,” Konate said. “We were supposed to go to the gym after training. He was tired because we put a lot of intensity into sessions, it is really hard.
“I go and see him to tell him to come to the gym, and he tells me, ‘But I’m shattered’. We don’t have to go to the gym, but it is better. So I looked at him and said, ‘Do you want a call-up to the France national team or what?’ Then I leave. One minute later, he is in the gym.”
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France still have work to do to make sure of their spot at next summer’s World Cup. Deschamps’ side have 10 points from their first four qualifiers, but defeat at home to Ukraine on Thursday would see their rivals draw level on points.
Deschamps has recalled Al-Ittihad midfielder N’Golo Kante to his squad for the upcoming fixtures. “He’s back to his best, judging by the games I’ve seen him play. He has status and experience. When I call him, it’s to play an important role,” the manager said.
Tottenham striker Randal Kolo Muani was also recalled for the November internationals, only to pull out through injury. His place has been taken by Lens’ Florian Thauvin, while Ekitike will hope to start against Ukraine with Kolo Muani and Inter star Marcus Thuram both ruled out.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele is another unavailable for the upcoming fixtures, though France still have other attacking options including Kylian Mbappe and Jean-Philippe Mateta. “I’m especially sad for Ousmane because last season he was spared, and now he’s having a run of injuries. Not having him with us is not a good thing,” Deschamps said.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
