Daily Archives: December 30, 2025

Senegal conclude Group D with comfortable win over Benin as both progress to Round of 16

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“Senegal underlined their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title credentials with a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin in their final Group D encounter, in an entertaining contest played in Tangiers on Tuesday evening. The former African champions made a purposeful start and were rewarded in the 38th minute, when Abdoulaye Seckrose highest to power home a header from Krépin Diatta’s well-delivered set piece, giving Senegal a deserved lead at the interval. Benin showed greater urgency after the restart, testing Édouard Mendy through efforts from Aiyegun Tosin and Junior Olaïtan, but Senegal remained well organised at the back and clinical in their attacking play. Senegal doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute, with star forward Sadio Mané turning provider, slipping a neat pass into the area for Habib Diallo, who made no mistake with a composed left-footed finish from close range. …”
CAF
NY Times/The Athletic: AFCON, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and the flow of talent out of South Africa
YouTube: Benin vs Senegal | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
YouTube: Botswana vs DR Congo | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AFCON 2025
YouTube: Uganda vs Nigeria | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AFCON 2025
YouTube: Tanzania vs Tunisia | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AFCON 2025

The Chicago Fire-bound South Africa defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Cédric Bakambu’s gesture

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“When Cédric Bakambu scored to give the Democratic Republic of Congo the lead against Senegal he once again reinforced his position as Congo’s favourite son. The goal took his tally to 20 for The Leopards, just two behind the nation’s top goal scorer ever, Dieumerci Mbokani. But it’s not Bakambu’s goal scoring that has made him the idol that he is in Congo, rather what he did after scoring. Every goal, for club and for country, that Bakambu scores is followed by a now iconic celebration. He stands tall, covers his mouth with one hand, and with the other he makes a gun pointing at his head. It’s a powerful symbol of communion with Bakambu’s compatriots in Eastern Congo who have guns to their heads while the world stays silent. And nowhere is Bakambu more loved than in Eastern Congo. …”
Africa Is a Country

Three footballers walk into a stadium

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CAF President Patrice Motsepe during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 24 December 2025
“Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappé and Riyad Mahrez walking into the same stadium sounds like the opening line of a bad joke, yet it is exactly what the Africa Cup of Nations is bracing for on Sunday night, when Algeria face Burkina Faso at the Stade Moulay Hassan. Mahrez will be there as Algeria’s captain, the standard-bearer for a team riding his early-tournament brilliance. Zidane will take his seat in the stands as a father first, watching his son Luca marshal Algeria’s defence from goal. Mbappé, in Morocco during the La Liga winter break, is there to support his closest friend, Achraf Hakimi, but his presence will also be felt in solidarity with Les Fennecs. …”
Africa Is a Country

Dear fellow Nottingham Forest fans, there’s no excuse for poverty chanting

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Nottingham Forest fans before their team’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday
“Just seven minutes had elapsed when the songs started, but if you’re familiar with the dynamic, the only surprise was that it took that long. ‘Feed the Scousers…’ came the song from the Nottingham Forest fans during their game against Everton at the start of December. At games between Forest and clubs from Merseyside, and to a slightly lesser extent Yorkshire, there is a distinct background tension from the start — the sense that this sort of chant will probably come at some point. It doesn’t necessarily happen in every single game, but you can feel it in the air. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Two overhead kicks in eight days: Which of Ayoub El Kaabi’s outrageous AFCON goals was better?

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“Ayoub El Kaabi stood in the middle of the pitch with his arms out wide, imploring the officials to rule in his favour and gift 62,532 fans inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat a moment they would never forget. A stunning acrobatic finish from El Kaabi in the 50th minute of Morocco’s 3-0 victory against Zambia was initially ruled offside. When it was then given by referee Issa Sy, the striker was mobbed by his team-mates and shook his head, almost in disbelief at what he had done. The 32-year-old, who plays for Greek top-flight side Olympiacos, had opened the scoring against Zambia with a header — but this was a totally different kind of aerial finish. It is one we have already become used to seeing from him at this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)

El Kaabi brace powers Morocco to win, Bafana brave fightback, Egypt top group and Mali reach knockout stage

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“Morocco responded emphatically to the pressure of a decisive final group match, producing a commanding 3–0 victory over Zambia on Monday night to finish top of Group A at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025. The hosts set the tone early, playing with urgency and clarity from the opening exchanges. Their dominance was rewarded inside nine minutes when Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring. A cleverly worked short corner from the right saw Azzedine Ounahi float an inviting delivery to the far post, where El Kaabi rose unchallenged to head home from close range. The second goal arrived in the 27th minute, once again highlighting Ounahi’s creative influence. The midfielder slipped a perfectly weighted pass down the left to Abde Ezzalzouli, whose low cross evaded El Kaabi but fell invitingly to Brahim Diaz. The winger showed composure to guide a left-footed finish past goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata Mwanza, doubling the lead before half-time. …”
CAF
YouTube: Zambia vs Morocco | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AFCON 2025
YouTube: ZIMBABWE 🆚 SOUTH AFRICA 2-3 | All Goals | Extended Highlights
YouTube: ANGOLA 🆚 EGYPT 0-0 | All Action & Saves | Extended Highlights
YouTube: Comoros vs Mali | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS AFCON 2025

Cameroon had a chaotic AFCON build-up, but they have proved they are not to be underestimated

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“When the uncapped Valerenga midfielder Brice Ambina withdrew from the Cameroon squad on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations, new coach David Pagou responded with a surprise call-up. Arnold Mael Kamdem, a 25-year-old midfielder, was a vaguely familiar name to Cameroonians, but only those with a decent memory, seeing as he had left the country for a career in Brazil in 2020. Kamdem has since bounced around so many clubs that even the teamsheet from Sunday night’s game against the Ivory Coast was out of date. …”
NY Times/The Athletic