Maccabi Haifa Goalie Nir On May Return After Injury Layoff

Maccabi Haifa is preparing for the league's return and its upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem. Second-string goalkeeper Omer Nir On, who joined the club from Maccabi Netanya in the summer, is reportedly stepping up his training and may be included in the squad. Nir On has been sidelined since January due to a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. Prior to his injury, he was a key player for Netanya, starting in 20 of their 21 games and even captaining the team twice. He was acquired by Maccabi Haifa to serve as the backup to starting goalkeeper Omri Glazer. In Nir On's absence, 19-year-old Glenn Alwyn served as the second-choice goalkeeper, sitting on the bench for the first five league matches.

In other news, Maccabi Haifa midfielder Ali Mohamed played the full 90 minutes for Niger in their 2-0 loss to Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This defeat could complicate Niger's chances of advancing in the tournament. Niger is in a qualifying group with Lesotho, whom they previously defeated, and a strong Moroccan team. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the finals. Niger is scheduled to play a friendly match against Algeria on October 6th as part of their international break activities.