France staged an impressive comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 in their Nations League match, with Zinedine Zidane's team maintaining their unbeaten start under his leadership. Dodi Lukebakio gave Belgium the lead after a brilliant 60-yard through ball from Romeo Lavia, beating France debutant keeper Guillaume Restes. However, France equalized when Desire Doue's low shot from outside the box beat Maarten Vandevoordt, who was making his debut in the Belgium goal.

France took the lead through Rayan Cherki, who was picked out with a cutback from fellow substitute Michael Oliseh. Oliseh then scored two late goals, both from Doue passes, to seal the win and maintain his fine form for his country. The Bayern Munich player has now been involved in 17 goals in 16 games for France in 2026. His performance helped France top Group A1 with 10 points from four games.

Belgium, under Mark van Bommel, are third in the group on six points. Italy moved up to second place with a 3-1 home win over Turkey. Gianluca Scamacca put Roberto Mancini's side ahead before Aral Simsir levelled. Riccardo Calafiori headed Italy back into the lead, and Pio Esposito made the points safe with a late goal. This result helped Italy to move up the group standings.

The match was a significant setback for Belgium, who had been hoping to cause an upset against France. Despite Lukebakio's early goal, they were unable to hold off France's late surge. The win was a boost for Zidane, who has been working to rebuild the French team since taking over as coach.

Oliseh's performance was a key factor in France's comeback win. His two late goals sealed the victory and took his tally to 17 goals in 16 games for France in 2026. This impressive form has made him a key player for France, and he will be looking to continue his scoring run in future matches.

The Nations League match was played on 5 October 2026, with France coming from behind to secure a convincing win. The match was a significant test for both teams, and France's late comeback will give them confidence ahead of future matches. They will be looking to build on this result and continue their unbeaten run under Zidane.

In related news, other matches in the Nations League saw various teams battling for points. The competition is heating up, and teams will be looking to secure wins to advance to the next stage. France's win over Belgium was a significant result, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in future matches.

Key points

  • Michael Oliseh scored twice in France's 4-1 comeback win over Belgium.
  • France maintained their unbeaten start under coach Zinedine Zidane.
  • The win helped France top Group A1 with 10 points from four games.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.