Spurs face injury blow as midfielder stretchered off

"The international break is a time when managers will cross their fingers and hope their star players come back from their travels unscathed. And this issue has been somewhat exacerbated during the current break, given the fact that the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup is entering the final straight. With 48 teams qualifying for next summer's expanded tournament, more teams than ever are fighting for a place, which in turn means more players are facing crucial international fixtures over the current break."

"One of these players was Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma, who has missed the start of Spurs' season with a knee injury, but has been stepping up his recovery of late and was able to be called up by Mali, who were looking to qualify from CAF Group I. Bissouma was deemed fit enough to make his first appearances of the 2025/26 campaign on Sunday when Mali hosted Madagascar and came on as a second-half substitute in the 66th minute with his side 3-0 up."

"However, just six minutes after his introduction, the 29-year-old was tackled by an opposition player after intercepting the ball and hit the turf. Bissouma was seen holding his left ankle and beating the ground out of frustration with his other hand as medical staff came onto the pitch to tend to him. He then pulled his shirt over his head as his team-mates came to console him before he was taken off on a stretcher."

The international break has intensified player risk as the 2026 World Cup qualification reaches its final stages, with 48 teams qualifying and more crucial fixtures scheduled. The CAF qualification campaign is concluding with final group-stage matches that include several Premier League stars. Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma missed the season start due to a knee injury but returned to fitness and was called up by Mali for their Group I qualifier. He entered as a 66th-minute substitute with Mali leading 3-0, was tackled six minutes later, appeared to injure his left ankle, and was stretchered off. The extent of the setback remains unknown and Bissouma is in the final year of his Spurs contract.

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