Italy: Claudio Marchisio, Ignazio Abate and Alessio Cerci all resumed full training with the Italy squad ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Malta. Marchisio missed the 2-2 draw with Brazil after coming down with tonsillitis and a high fever, but has now recovered. Abate and Cerci also shook off knocks, while Alessandro Florenzi joined the squad yesterday from the Under-21 set-up.

Nigeria: Nigeria, crowned African Nations Cup champions six weeks ago, needed a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 home draw with bottom team Kenya in World Cup Group F qualifying yesterday. Substitute Nnamdi Oduamadi scored three minutes into stoppage time to save the Nigerians from an embarrassing defeat.

Alba: Spain left-back Jordi Alba is to return to Barcelona after suffering a hamstring injury in Friday’s World Cup qualifying draw with Finland, his club have confirmed. Alba will undergo tests on a right hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw, which is set to rule him out of Tuesday’s meeting with France in Madrid.

Sessegnon: Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon has withdrawn from the squad for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Algeria due to injury, his club Sunderland said. “Sessegnon has remained on Wearside for treatment on an injury during the international break,” the club said. Sunderland did not give any details of the injury although it is likely to be a groin problem.

Yemen: Yemen coach Tom Saintfiet has stepped down from his post. Saintfiet became a manager early in his 20s after a series of injuries and has also coached Namibia and Ethiopia. Saintfiet took over Yemen in October but after a string of poor results he leaves the team bottom of their 2015 Asian Cup qualifying group.