On Thursday, Iraq international Nashat Akram underwent MRI testing and evaluation for his thigh injury which revealed full recovery. Akram has been undergoing rehabilitation with physiotherapist Marcel lately and expected to join Twente’s training squad next week.

Nashat Akram suffered an early injury during the exhibition game that took place between FC Twente and Anderlecht during the training camp that was held in Spain earlier this week. Akram left the game in the 25th minute with an injury status unclear. After returning home to Enschede, Akram went through an MRI examination that revealed a torn muscle in his right thigh that will put him out of action for the next 6-8 weeks.

Iraq’s national player Nashat Akram was selected sixth as the best player in the Arab world of 2009 in a public voting referendum organized by the Arab News newspaper Al Ray News. Algerian Karim Ziani was crowned as the best player holding the first place in the poll. Akram totaled 11881 votes from half a million votes which resulted sixth in the referendum.  

FC Twente's 18th week match against FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie has been called off due to the winter conditions that took place earlier this Sunday. The match has been postponed till further notice.

Nashat Akram dismissed rumors that he is linked with Al Rayyan on a possible move. Akram denied that there has been any connection with Al Rayyan side, refusing all the circulating rumors from the media and online websites. Akram stated the following regarding the rumor," I'm not aware of this subject, and I'm currently with FC Twente and not considering a move to any other club.

The International Federation of Football Association,FIFA, has suspended Iraq from engaging in any international football activities due to "government interference" in the national federation. FIFA established the following statement on their official site regarding the suspension, "In accordance with FIFA Statutes, the clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive." The suspension came as a result of the Iraqi Olympic Committee decision, which was to dissolve the IFA due to corruption and violation of laws.

Iraq has been previously suspended in 2008 from international football when the government dissolved the national Olympic Committee, but was later restored after the government declared that the IFA was not involved.

Iraq's national team secured a 1-0 victory over UAE on Wednesday's night to win the Friendly International Cup title. Iraq right midfielder, Mahdi Karim, headed a bouncing ball over UAE's goalkeeper Majed Naser 20 minutes into the match to put Iraq in the lead. Both sides exchanged attacks but it was Iraq who outplayed the youthful UAE side. Iraq striker Mustafa Karim was nearly going to extend the lead when he faced the goalie with a shot that was blocked during the second half. With UAE trying to equalize, Iraqi playmaker Nashat Akram provided his back line with excellent cover whenever needed and showed good part of his offensive game. Furthermore, Iraq has never suffered a lose just yet under Nadhim Shakir, who replaced Bora Milutinovic as Iraq's coach after the Confederation Cup last summer. Following this further, Iraq has played four exhibition matches since the Confederations Cup. Together, the team has a record of 4-0-0 and zero goals conceded under Shakir. On a different note, Akram will head back to Enschede to join his club after the international break.

In the first match of UAE’s International Cup, a four-team friendly tournament, that’s being held in Al Ain city of UAE; Iraq overcame Azerbaijan 1-0 earlier on Sunday to reach the final. The first half of the match witnessed total domination from the Azerbaijanis, who reached Mohammed Kassid’s goal many times but failing to finish. On the other side, Iraq lacked team chemistry and balance in the first half; who haven’t played since July friendlies. Starting the second half, Iraq came out more revived and stable in creating chances to start the score sheet. Through fresh legs coming in later in the second half, Iraq earned a PK in the 63th minute through Alaa Abdul Zahra who was brought down inside the box. However, substitute striker Emad Mohammed missed the redo when Kamran Aghayev pushed out the ball to keep it draw at the 65th minute. Iraq broke the deadlock one minute prior to the final whistle when defender Bassim Abbas fired a powerful left shot from 25 yards ending the game in Iraq’s favor. Likewise, UAE edged the Czech 3-2 on penalty shootout to reach the final. Czech Republic will meet Azerbaijan for third place meanwhile Iraq and UAE meet for first place on Wednesday.

Iraq's national team will kick-off the first match of UAE's International Friendly Cup against Azerbaijan on Sunday. The tournament consists of four teams including Czech Republic and the hosts, United Arab Emirates. The hosts will face Czech Republic and the winners of both matches will meet at the finals stage of the cup on Wednesday, the 18. Iraq will participate in this tournament with its first team.

In a decisive game that was looked at as a battle match between the current Dutch league leaders and the runners- up Ajax, FC Twente managed to impress once again in the Eredivisie to stay top in the standings. Bryan Ruiz scored the only goal of the match two minutes into the second half with Theo Janssen’s free- kick heading it into the visitors net. With this victory falling under their belt, Twente has now won eight consecutive league games. Ajax earned their first defeat of the season and now trail the leaders by six points standing 3rd in the table with PSV Eindhoven 2nd trailing Twente by two points. The league competition will resume on the 21st of November as the FIFA World Cup 2010 Play-offs and International friendlies take place during this week.

Iraq international player Nashat Akram has been called to join the Iraqi National Team who will participate in UAE Four Nations Friendly Tournament which will be held from the 15-18 of November in Al-Ain, UAE. Akram will join the team’s squad on the 12th of this month.

FC Twente added another significant victory at De Grolsch Veste over FC Sheriff of Tiraspol to move a step closer in reaching the last 32 of the Europa League. Twente started the match pressuring the visitors side, which led to an early goal. Miroslav Stoch found the net in the 7th minute with a right-footed shoot to put Twente ahead. Sheriff, who won the first leg in Moldova 2-0, continued to make most of their chances in hopes of equalizing the game. Nashat Akram came in the 56th minute for Wout Brama. In his first appearance in a UEFA match, Akram played a critical tactic role on both sides of the field. Tiraspol side leveled halfway through the 2nd half when Twente’s substitue Cheikh Ismael Tiote added an own goal. Stoch struck his second goal of the night in the 89th minute to give his side a valuable win in reaching the knock-out stage of the UEFA. Twente currently stand second in Group H with 7 points and Fenerbahce of Turkey holding the first spot with 9 points.

The undefeated Dutch league leaders continue to show good performance in the local league of Holland. FC Twente secured a 2-1 win over Roda FC on Saturday's evening to stay ahead in the Eredivisie table with 32 points and second rank PSV Eindhoven chasing with 30 points. The match kicked off with both teams attacking and creating chances but failing to start the scoring sheet in the first thirty minutes. It took the visitors another four minutes to break the deadlock through Bryan Ruiz, who broke the offside trap and chipped the ball to put Twente ahead. Slovakian talent Miroslav Stoch doubled the lead six minutes later through a shot inside the penalty box, ending the first half with a 2-0 advantage. The host team, Roda FC, came in stronger in the second half to cut down the lead in the 56th minute through Belgian Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo. That was it for the night for both teams. On a relative note, after 72 minutes of the game; Nashat Akram was fielded for the Danish Kenneth Perez to register his second "Twenty-Minute" game with the first selection of Twente in the league matches. FC Twente will look to bounce back after their loss against the Moldovan champions in the Europa League. FC Twente will host FC Sheriff of Moldova in the second-leg of Group H on Thursday.