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Tchouameni And Thuram Score As France Beat Republic of Ireland
Substitute Marcus Thuram ensured a home victory early in the second half as the French made it five wins from five.
For the Republic, however, it is a third defeat in four games, leaving them fourth in the group.
Stephen Kenny’s side’s chances of qualifying for next summer’s finals in Germany are remote, but they must regroup quickly and look to revive their campaign at home to the Netherlands on Sunday.
When France visited Dublin in March, Didier Deschamps’ side escaped with a 1-0 win having been put under intense pressure by a spirited Republic team, with French goalkeeper Mike Maignan in inspired form.
But it was a different story in the French capital, with Thuram’s goal taking the sting out of the game and paving the way for a largely comfortable second half for Les Bleus.
While few expected a Republic victory, their latest defeat leaves them facing an almighty task in their quest to qualify for a tournament for the first time under Kenny.
“From our point of view it’s all about Sunday,” Kenny, who admitted France were “too good”, told RTE.
“That’s the main objective. Holland beating Greece tonight means that if we beat them on Sunday we’re all level [Republic, the Netherlands and Greece] in relation to second place.
“It is a big game and we need a victory.”
Ferguson-less Republic struggle
Already facing a daunting task away to the beaten World Cup finalists, the Republic’s preparations were hit on Tuesday by the injury-enforced withdrawal of in-form Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
The 18-year-old, fresh off scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle, was set to spearhead the Irish attack against France and the Netherlands, and with Michael Obafemi, Troy Parrott, Callum Robinson, and Mikey Johnston already out, the Republic’s attack struggled in Paris.
As for France, Kylian Mbappe fired a blank – as he did in Dublin – as the Paris St-Germain star fired a volley over the bar from an Antoine Griezmann corner before seeing a goal ruled out for offside. But while he failed to score, the 24-year-old was constantly involved in the home side’s attacks.
There were no such goalscoring frustrations for Tchouameni, though, who fired in a brilliant opener after being teed up by Mbappe.
The 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder lit up the first half with an unstoppable right-footed shot, but it was an avoidable goal from a Republic perspective with Nathan Collins only able to half-clear a cross to Mbappe.
From there, France largely dominated possession but were unable to double the advantage before half-time. Mbappe thought he had done just that six minutes before the break but Thuram was correctly flagged for offside before he found the France captain.
Thuram strike paves way for French domination
Unfortunately for the Irish, their defence was unable to hold firm for long in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Inter Milan forward Thuram fired high into Bazunu’s net on the turn inside the box after Mbappe’s shot had been blocked.
Kenny opted to introduce James McClean at half-time and the Wrexham player almost repaid his manager’s faith with an assist within minutes of Thuram’s goal, but Maignan – like he did in Dublin – showed impressive reflexes to keep Chiedozie Ogbene’s header out.
That was about as much as the Republic could muster up top, though, while France were unable to turn their second-half domination into a flurry of goals despite creating a succession of chances, with the dangerous Ousmane Dembele rattling the woodwork and Thuram squandering a golden chance to head his second.
The gulf in quality was evident throughout, however, and with three points in the bag, French sporting fans now turn their attention to the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in Paris on Friday with the Les Bleus taking on New Zealand.
Irish rugby fans, meanwhile, can only hope their side fare better than Kenny’s men in France.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
East Ham, East London — 8 August 2026: The vibrant Igbo community in the UK came together for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, culture and social connection at Igbotic Game Night, one of the biggest social gatherings celebrating the Igbo community in the United Kingdom.
Among the night’s standout moments was an electrifying performance by Afrobeats artist Obeena, who took the stage and immediately captured the attention of the crowd.
Obeena delivered performances of two of his hit songs, “Wara Wara” and “Banging,” bringing his energetic sound and distinctive stage presence to the event. From the opening moments of his set, fans responded with excitement, singing along, dancing and enthusiastically supporting the artist.
His performance of “Wara Wara” created an instant connection with the audience, while “Banging” took the energy to another level. Obeena’s ability to engage the crowd transformed his set into one of the most memorable entertainment moments of the evening.
Held in East Ham, East London, on 8 August 2026, Igbotic Game Night provided a unique platform for members of the Igbo community to celebrate their heritage while enjoying music, games and social interaction. Events such as this continue to play an important role in bringing together Nigerians and the wider African diaspora in the UK.
For Obeena, the performance was another opportunity to showcase his growing artistry and connect directly with fans. His energetic delivery, stage confidence and ability to command the audience demonstrated why his live performances continue to attract attention.
By the end of his set, Obeena had left the crowd amazed and added another memorable chapter to his journey as an Afrobeats artist. His appearance at Igbotic Game Night was not simply a performance—it was a celebration of Nigerian music, culture and community.
With performances like this, Obeena continues to demonstrate his ambition to take his sound beyond the studio and onto major stages, connecting with audiences through music, energy and an unmistakable African identity.
Igbotic Game Night brought the Igbo community together. Obeena gave them a performance to remember.
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