Mixed UEFA Nations League fortunes for Cherki and Donnarumma | OneFootball

There were mixed fortunes for City duo Rayan Cherki and Gianluigi Donnarumma on a busy night of UEFA Nations League action.

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Cherki featured from the start to help France record a 1-0 victory away to Türkiye in what was a hard-fought opening League A Group 1 encounter in Izmit.

With Cherki featuring for 78 minutes, a 54th minute strike from skipper Kylian Mbappe ultimately ensured that new French head coach Zinedine Zidane’s reign got off to winning start.

However, there was disappointment for Italian skipper Donnarumma as his side went down 2-0 at home to Belgium in their League A Group 1 opener.

It was Belgium who struck first at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, Mika Godts on target on 20 minutes thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne assist.

Dodi Lukébakio then extended Belgium’s lead on 69 minutes to seal the three points

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Elsewhere, Ayyoub Bouaddi featured for the full 90 minutes as Morocco beat Gabon 2-0 in an African Cup of Nations Group A qualifier held at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.

Noussair Mazraoui was on target after 36 minutes to fire Morocco ahead and victory was then sealed by Soufine Rahimi’s 84th minute effort

Rayan Aït-Nouri was an unused substitute as Algeria beat Zambia 3-1 in a Group I AFCON qualifying clash staged at the Stade Hocine Aït Ahmed in Tizi Ouzou.

Jaouen Hadjam was on target after just two minutes for the hosts before Fashion Sakala levelled for Zambia just shy of the hour mark.

But Ibrahim Maza restored Algeria’s lead on 67 minutes and Anis Hadj Moussa struck seven minutes later to confirm victory.

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Meanwhile, Max Alleyne struck a crucial goal as England’s Under-21s overcame Kazakhstan 4-2 in a 2027 European Under-21 Championship qualifier.

The City defender, who is on a season-long loan at Burnley, started along with Rico Lewis and Stephen Mfuni (currently on loan at Coventry) in what was a highly entertaining clash.

In an action-packed tie played at Wolves’ Molineux ground, the visitors took a third minute lead through Artem Litosh.

However, an own goal from Ali Turganov allied to a Josh Achaempong strike got the young Lions ahead before Kazakhstan levelled again just before the breakthrough Seif Popov.

But Alleyne struck on the hour to put Lee Carsley’s defending champions back in front before an injury time effort from Will Lankshear sealed the win.