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Category: Sports

Egypt Set For Blockbuster AFCON Quarterfinal Against Cote d’Ivoire

Fola Badmus02 mins

Egypt’s route to the AFCON semi-finals has been locked in for a heavyweight quarter-final against defending champions Cote d’Ivoire. Cote d’Ivoire swept aside Burkina Faso in the round of 16. The Ivorians’ win was built on an impressive display by Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, who opened the scoring and assisted the second before half-time. For Egypt, the tie is the next test of a knockout run that has already been tough. The Pharaohs edged Benin 3–1 after extra time in the round of 16. Following a long-range strike from Marwan Attia, Egypt needed a looping header from Yasser Ibrahim and a late breakaway finish from Mohamed Salah in extra time to qualify. Beyond the immediate stakes, the matchup carries history. Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire will face each other for the 12th time in the AFCON. Egypt has a strong track record, having won all five of its knockout matches against the Ivorians, including three victories decided by penalty shootouts. However, Hossam Hassan’s preparation is complicated by injury concerns, especially at left-back. Mohamed Hamdy was forced off against Benin after suffering an ACL injury early in the match. If Egypt plans to manage risk and win the moments, Cote d’Ivoire arrive as the kind of opponent that can punish even brief lapses. Diallo has been one of the tournament’s standout attackers, scoring three times and assisting once so far in the AFCON. The quarter-final is scheduled for Saturday, 10 January 2026, in Agadir, with kick-off at 21:00.

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Aruna, Goda Begin 2026 Campaign at WTT Champions Doha

Fola Badmus04 mins

After the disappointment of missing out on the end-of-year WTT Cup Finals for the first time, Africa’s table tennis stars Quadri Aruna of Nigeria and Hana Goda of Egypt will open their 2026 campaigns on Thursday, January 8, at the WTT Champions Doha in Qatar. For the first time in the history of the WTT Cup Finals, no African player featured in the 2025 edition, as both Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar missed qualification based on their overall performances last season. Aruna, the only African to have consistently featured in the Cup Finals since its inception in 2021, ended 2025 as the continent’s highest-ranked male player but failed to make the top 16 cut. Goda, Africa’s top-ranked female player, also missed out after falling short of the top-16 threshold required for entry into the lucrative tournament. Now, both players will look to bounce back at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, where they face tough Asian opposition in the opening round of the singles event. Aruna will renew his rivalry with China’s Liang Jingkun, while Goda faces a stern test against former World No. 1 Zhu Yuling of Macao. Aruna and Jingkun share a competitive history. The Nigerian famously defeated the Chinese star at the 2021 WTT Cup Finals, but their first encounter at the 2018 Korean Open saw Jingkun dominate with a 4-1 victory. Their clash in Doha will mark their third meeting, with both players eager to tilt the head-to-head record in their favour. For Goda, the duel against Yuling will be their first-ever meeting on the international stage. The Egyptian prodigy will be aiming to upset the established order at a tournament where players battle for crucial ranking points and a share of the $500,000 prize purse. Meanwhile, Assar endured a disappointing start to the year. His new partnership with Austrian coach and former world champion Werner Schlager began with defeat, as the Egyptian surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 against Japan’s Shunsuke Togami in the first round of the men’s singles. Despite the setback, Assar has signalled his intent to challenge the sport’s elite in 2026. This marks the first time the Qatari capital will host the purple WTT Champions, adding further prestige to the season-opening event.

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DR Congo’s Fan, Kukah Mboladinga Becomes Africa Cup Of Nations’ Iconic “Human Statue”

Wale busari02 mins

The Democratic Republic of Congo exited the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, but Michel Kuka Mboladinga, known as the “human statue,” stole the spotlight. Draped in bright, colorful clothing, Kuka stands completely still during matches, eyes lifted to the sky, right arm raised, palm open. On Tuesday, he was joined by hundreds of Congolese fans, whose trip to Morocco was funded by the government, for the last-16 match against Algeria, which the Leopards lost 1-0 in extra time. Kuka’s pose honors Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s independence leader and first prime minister, whose statue stands in Kinshasa. Lumumba was assassinated in 1961 by Katanga separatists and Belgian mercenaries, leaving one of the darkest marks in Congo-Belgium history. Fans at the tournament praised Kuka’s tribute. “He is our brother,” said 30-year-old Laetitia Malula in Casablanca before the Algeria game. “He chose to imitate Lumumba, our hero. That is why we chant his name.” DR Congo’s Cup of Nations campaign comes amid ongoing conflict in the east along the Rwandan border, where fighting has continued since 2021 involving the Rwandan-backed M23 group. Kuka avoided the media, but Jered Bitobo, 35, head of communications for his supporters’ group, described the pose as “a sign of peace.” “He sends a strong message at home and abroad. The open palm represents the peace our country needs,” Bitobo said. Kuka first performed the pose years ago at matches for AS Vita Club, and it has since become his signature at every game.

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Erik ten Hag Returns To FC Twente As Technical Director

Wale busari02 mins

Erik ten Hag has returned to familiar territory after being named technical director of FC Twente, the club where both his playing and coaching paths began. The former Manchester United manager is taking on the new role months after his short-lived stint at Bayer Leverkusen ended. Ten Hag was dismissed by the Bundesliga side in September after only three matches in charge, having collected just one point from his first two games before being sacked following the third. Reacting to his appointment, the 55-year-old expressed deep emotional ties to the club, saying: “I think it’s wonderful and special to return to FC Twente, where I’ve been a supporter at Het Diekman since I was a young boy. My football and coaching careers began here.” Ten Hag joined Twente as a player in 1989 and spent over a decade at the club before retiring there in 2002, making his latest move a significant homecoming.

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Algeria, Nigeria To Face Off In AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals

Wale busari01 mins

Algeria and Nigeria are set to meet in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Fennec Foxes booked their place in the last eight with a late 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. After a tense 90 minutes that ended goalless, it looked like the match would be decided by penalties. However, in the 118th minute, Adil Boulbina cut in from the left and fired a stunning strike to secure victory. The Super Eagles advanced on Monday following an emphatic 4-0 victory against Mozambique in Fez, setting up the eagerly anticipated clash with Algeria. The quarter-final showdown will take place on Saturday, January 10, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm local time.

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Morocco 2025: No Rumpus in Eagles’ Camp -Team Administrator

Fola Badmus03 mins

The camp of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has shot down insinuations and dark innuendoes of a rumpus in the team following Monday night’s 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique’s Mambas, which progressed the three-time champions to the last-8 of the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.   Striker Victor Osimhen was seen making gestures to fellow forward Ademola Lookman just before a corner kick, and conjectures of various complexions have followed in the legacy and digital media.   “There is no problem whatsoever in our camp. Whatever people saw as a crisis between two brothers was easily resolved a couple of hours later. All is good and we are presently at training,” Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor confirmed on Tuesday evening.   Achor also dismissed reports that striker Jerome Akor Adams – who scored his first ever AFCON goal on the night – abandoned the team camp. “He took permission to go and see his mother who was hospitalized here in Fès, and returned in less than an hour.”   Deputy captain Osimhen netted a brace in the encounter to move to 34 goals in 50 matches for Nigeria – only three less than the Nigeria senior record of 37 goals by ‘Goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory).   Ademola Lookman, who had two goals and two assists before the match, having played in the games against Tanzania and Tunisia while sitting out the encounter with Uganda, added another goal and three exquisite assists on the night.   All the 26 available players (young defender Ryan Alebiosu continues on his recovery path) were involved in Tuesday evening’s session at the Sardienne Complex.   The three-time champions will on Thursday move to the city of Marrakech, where they will play the winner between Algeria’s Fennecs and DR Congo’s Leopards in Saturday’s quarter-final duel scheduled to kick off at 5pm.

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Breaking: Akor Adams Leaves Super Eagles’ Camp in Morocco

Fola Badmus01 mins

Super Eagles’ stricker, Adams Akor has been granted to leave the national team’s camp in Morocco. The Sevilla forward was released to be with his mother who is currently receiving treatment in Morocco for an undisclosed ailment. “I’m very focussed. I have my family here. My mum is here, though in the hospital but I’m really focussed,” Akor revealed on Monday. Akor Adams scored his first AFCON goal and his third for Nigeria, when he hammered into the roof of the net for goal number four, after a textbook pass by Ademola Lookman. The player is expected back in the team’s camp ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal clash against Algeria or Democratic Republic of Congo.  

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AFCON 2025: Super Eagles’ Osimhen, Lookman Resolve Rift

Fola Badmus01 mins

Super Eagles’ duo of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have resolved fued that ensued in the Round of 16 tie against The Mambas of Mozambique on Monday. A heated exchange between the two attackers caught the attention of the Nigerian football faithful despite the Super Eagles’ dominant display. Osimhen appeared visibly frustrated for not getting a pass from the former Fulham star during the exchange and went on to stress the importance of collective play. On his Instagram field, Lookman with accompany photographs with Victor Osimhen wrote; “Together we can.” According to camp sources, the imbroglio has been put to rest as they team prepare to depart Fez for Marakech venue of their quarterfinal clash against Algeria or Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.

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