Ben Cabango keeps Haaland quiet as Wales beat Norway and takes his shirt
October 2, 2026 14:30
Cabango, 26, produced an “outstanding display” in marking the Manchester City striker and said he asked Haaland for his shirt after the final whistle. “He was just there, so I thought, 'Why not?' He just gave me the shirt... but he didn't take mine.”
WHAT HAPPENED
Goals from Dan James and Neco Williams overturned an early strike from Oscar Bobb to secure Wales' win. The match was Wales' first ever victory in Nations League A and their first win in seven games. Cabango earned his 18th senior cap and had been recalled to the starting line-up following the 2-0 defeat by Denmark.
KEY CONTEXT
Cabango had featured earlier in the campaign against Portugal in Lisbon, where he faced Cristiano Ronaldo. Reflecting on the experience of facing two of world football's best, he said: “It is surreal to play against Ronaldo and Haaland in the same camp... You've got to be concentrated throughout the game and you can't switch off at any moment. That probably brings out the best side of me and it's been good.”
HEAD COACH ON DEFENCE
Head coach Craig Bellamy praised the defensive work of Cabango and captain Ben Davies in limiting Norway's attacking threat. Bellamy highlighted the team's gameplan: “But the key part of that, which we mentioned before [the game] and the work we had done, was to keep them away from our box. It's easier said than done but that's why we were constantly pushing, constantly working to keep them as far away as we can.”