N’Golo Kanté named in France squad for Ukraine and Azerbaijan games after one-year absence

Former Leicester City and Chelsea star N’Golo Kanté has been named in the France squad for the upcoming games against Ukraine and Azerbaijan, marking his return to the national team after almost one-year absence.

Kante, who plies his trade for Saudi Arabia giants Al-Ittihad has been rewarded with a call up following an outstanding display in the current campaign for his side.

The 34-year-old defensive midfielder last appearance for the France national team came in November 2024 during the Nations League clash against Israel, where he captained the Les Blues.

He is expected to solidify the midfield of the 2018 World Cup champions as they seeks for maximum points against Ukraine and Azerbaijan respectively.

Kanté made his debut for France in 2016 and has since earned 64 caps, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists.

Kanté was one of Didier Deschamps’ key players during the triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign.

Currently, Kanté plays for Saudi club Al-Ittihad, having joined from Chelsea as a free agent in 2023. His contract with the Saudi side runs until the summer of 2026.