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Category: Soccer

Cote d’Ivoire Names 26-man Squad For AFCON 2025

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Cote d’Ivoire coach Emerse Faé has named his 26-man squad for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with Wilfried Zaha making a surprise return and Simon Adingra missing out of the squad. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon as the defending champions confirmed the squad they will take to Morocco. The returning Zaha, now 33, is included for the first time in nearly two years after impressing with Charlotte FC in MLS, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists this season. His recall comes as Faé looks to balance experience with emerging talent in a squad tasked with defending the title they won on home soil in 2024. Faé said discussions with Zaha had been ongoing “for several months” and that the forward’s recent club form and profile fit what the Elephants needed in attack. Jean-Michaël Seri, also recalled, returns after a long injury lay-off. Several younger players have also been retained, including Yan Diomandé, Amad Diallo and Bazoumana Touré, reflecting Faé’s intention to refresh the squad while keeping its competitive core intact. However, the absence of Brighton winger Simon Adingra is one of the headline omissions. Adingra, who was a breakout figure at the 2023 AFCON, has struggled for playing time at Sunderland this season, featuring only nine times. Faé said competition for his position was “very strong” and that he had to prioritise players with greater continuity in club football. Nicolas Pépé, another high-profile absentee, also misses out despite regular appearances for Villarreal. His omission continues a trend from recent international windows in which the winger has been overlooked. Jérémie Boga and Clément Akpa are also excluded, while Torino defender Wilfried Singo misses the tournament through injury. The 26-man squad will be supported by two reserves, Parfait Guiagon and Evann Guessand, who will be on standby in case of pre-tournament withdrawals. Côte d’Ivoire enter the tournament in Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. After their dramatic title win in 2024, Faé hopes the blend of youth and senior players will allow the Elephants to compete strongly again in Morocco. SQUAD GOALKEEPERS: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi SC, Belgium), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos, Greece) DEFENDERS: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Boly Willy (Nottingham Forest, England), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP, Portugal) Guela Doué (RC Strasbourg, France), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta BC, Italy), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma, Italy), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Başakşehir, Turkey), Armel Zohouri (FC Iberia 1999, Georgia) MIDFIELDERS: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais, France), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FC Metz, France), Christ Inao Oulaï (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, England), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor FC, Slovenia) FORWARDS: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese Calcio, Italy), Oumar Diakité (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Amad Diallo (Manchester United, England), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Germany), Sébastien Haller (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC, France), Bazoumana Touré (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC, United States) STANDBY: Guessand Evann (Aston Villa, England), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium)

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Super Eagles Foes, Tanzania Unveils AFCON 2025 Squad

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Taifa Stars of Tanzania Head coach, Miguel Gamondi has named his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Gamondi picked a invite a mix of players from the Tanzanian domestic league and a few overseas-based stars, as the team aims for a good performance in Morocco. The Taifa Stars are already in Egypt for a series of friendly matches, where they will fine-tune their squad before heading to Morocco for the tournament. At this year’s tournament, they’ve been placed in Group C, alongside Nigeria, Uganda, and Tunisia. Tanzania’s first match will be against Nigeria on January 23rd. Super Eagles are unbeaten in all past encounters against Tanzania winning five wins and three draws. Tanzania’s second match is against regional rivals Uganda on January 27th, followed by their final group match against Tunisia on January 30th. All matches will be played in Fez, Morocco. For the Taifa Stars, this tournament represents a chance to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their AFCON history. In their three previous appearances (1980, 2019, and 2023), Tanzania was eliminated at the group stage. The team is hopeful that this will be the year they break that barrier and make a deep run in the competition.

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Atalanta Rally To Beat Chelsea 2–1 After Second-Half Fightback

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Atalanta came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2–1, overturning a first-half deficit in a match played at a high tempo and backed by a vibrant home atmosphere. The hosts started strongly, driven by constant noise from the stands, and nearly scored within the opening minutes as Ademola Looman caused early problems. Chelsea absorbed that pressure — helped by key defensive work from Acheampong — and soon settled into the game. Their first meaningful attack produced the opener midway through the half. Reece James, kept onside by a tight call, found João Pedro in the box, and the forward finished with a low toepoke between the goalkeeper’s legs. Chelsea grew more comfortable as the half progressed, and Neto almost added another before the interval, but the visitors held their 1–0 lead at the break. Both teams exchanged chances early in the second half. James missed from a promising position, while Lookman had an effort correctly ruled out for offside. Atalanta equalised moments later when Scamacca, left unmarked, headed in from close range. The hosts pushed for a second and eventually found it in the 83rd minute. De Ketelaere advanced into the area and struck a shot that took a deflection, leaving Sánchez unable to react. Chelsea’s late response lacked urgency. João Pedro had a final opportunity deep into stoppage time, but his shot from close range went straight at the goalkeeper, confirming Atalanta’s win.

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Carragher Calls Salah’s Blast At Liverpool Boss A Disgrace, Future At Club Uncertain

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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher on Monday slammed Mohamed Salah after the Egypt forward publicly criticized Reds manager Arne Slot following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds. Salah claimed he had been “thrown under a bus” and described his relationship with Slot as nonexistent after being left on the bench for the third consecutive game amid a dip in form this season. Liverpool responded by dropping the 33-year-old from the squad for their UEFA Champions League clash against Inter. On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, said: “I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game. Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he has done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position.” “He’s chosen this weekend to do this now, and he’s waited, I think, for a bad result… Everyone involved with the club [feeling] like they’re in the gutter, and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try to get him sacked,” Carragher added. Salah, a two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner, signed a new contract in April, but hinted he could have played his last game for Liverpool as he prepares to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations after Saturday’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. Linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, Salah’s future at Anfield remains uncertain. Carragher said: “What he’s done off the pitch, I think the club have made the right decision in terms of him not going abroad. Whether he will play for Liverpool again, I don’t know. I hope he does, because he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had, but if you continue like that, and statements like that, if he doesn’t play, who knows.”

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Pre-AFCON Friendly: FIFA Regulation Pushes Nigeria, Egypt Game to Tuesday, 16 December

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The decision by world football-governing body, FIFA that Clubs can hold on to their players until Monday, 15 December 2025 before they are released for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has necessitated the postponement of the pre-AFCON friendly between Nigeria and Egypt. Seven-time winners Egypt and three-time winners Nigeria were scheduled to clash in a tune-up game in Cairo on Sunday, 14 December, in line with an earlier regulation that ruled that players be released earlier. The game has now been moved to Tuesday, 16 December as a result of the regulation. Aside from the postponement, the game will now be a practice match in order to allow the two teams to make use of more than five substitutes in the encounter, which will kick off at 8pm Egypt time (7pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo Stadium. The Super Eagles are in Group C of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, 1978 runners-up Uganda, and Tanzania. Nigeria’s first match is on Tuesday, 23 December against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, where they will also tackle Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles (Saturday, 27 December) and the Cranes of Uganda (Tuesday, 30 December). The Pharaohs, who hosted the finals in 2019, are in Group B alongside 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, 2010 hosts Angola, and Zimbabwe. Their matches will be at the Stade d’Agadir.

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Mohamed Salah Admits Liverpool Relationship Has Collapsed As Future Remains Uncertain

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Mohamed Salah has lifted the lid on deepening tension at Liverpool, admitting he now feels isolated at the club and has lost all connection with head coach Arne Slot. The Egyptian forward was again left watching from the sidelines during Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, marking the third match in a row he has started on the bench. For a player who has delivered 250 goals in 420 appearances, the situation has become increasingly difficult to accept. After the match, Salah spoke with raw emotion about how events have unfolded. “I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling.” Despite the frustration, the Liverpool icon made it clear his love for the club remains strong. “This club, I will always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I always will,” he added. Still, he insisted the current situation is unacceptable. “It is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don’t get it. It’s like I’m being thrown more under the bus. I don’t think I’m the problem. I have done so much for this club.” Salah also addressed the idea that he must constantly prove himself to earn game time. “I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.” With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching on December 15, the 31-year-old revealed that his future at Anfield is now uncertain, even though he only signed a new two-year deal with the club back in April.

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Buendia’s Last-Gasp Strike Secures 2-1 Aston Villa Win Over Arsenal, Ending 18-Match Unbeaten Run

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Arsenal’s 18-match unbeaten run came to a dramatic end on Saturday as Emiliano Buendia’s last-gasp strike secured a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa over the Premier League leaders. The Gunners fell behind at Villa Park when Matty Cash put the hosts ahead in the first half, but Leandro Trossard pulled Arsenal level after coming off the bench following the interval. Both teams had opportunities to take the lead, but it was Argentine winger Buendia who capitalised on sloppy defending from Arsenal to score the winner in the dying moments of the game. This defeat marks Arsenal’s first loss in all competitions since a 1-0 setback at Liverpool on August 31, the only other defeat they had suffered this season. Aston Villa have repeatedly troubled Arsenal in recent seasons, taking key points at pivotal moments in the title race. Saturday’s win was yet another painful encounter for Mikel Arteta’s side, this time against Villa under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, whose team have emerged as surprise title contenders with a streak of seven consecutive wins in all competitions. The result leaves Arsenal just three points ahead of second-placed Villa, while third-placed Manchester City can cut the gap to two points if they defeat Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium later on Saturday.

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Manchester City Move Within Two Points Of Arsenal With Convincing 3-0 Win Over Sunderland

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Manchester City kept the Premier League title race alive by taking full advantage of leaders Arsenal’s shock defeat, cruising to a 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium. After seeing the Gunners lose late to Aston Villa earlier on Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side ensured there was no repeat slip-up, moving to within two points of the top. City initially struggled to break down Sunderland’s compact five-man defence, but the game turned in a whirlwind four-minute spell before half-time, courtesy of goals from the hosts’ centre-backs. Ruben Dias struck first, curling a thunderous 30-yard effort that took a deflection off Dan Ballard and swerved into the top corner. The visitors’ defensive caution backfired spectacularly. On 35 minutes, Josko Gvardiol rose highest to meet Phil Foden’s inswinging corner with a powerful header, doubling City’s advantage and giving them a comfortable lead at the break. The second half saw City continue to press. Jeremy Doku’s curling effort rattled the post, and Foden’s follow-up was brilliantly blocked. Erling Haaland’s hooked strike was cleared off the line by Lutsharel Geertruida, before Rayan Cherki provided a sublime assist for Foden to head home City’s third goal. Sunderland had few chances in the first half, with Enzo Le Fee firing wide. Their prospects improved after the break, as Gianluigi Donnarumma made a crucial save to deny Wilson Isidor, and Granit Xhaka’s low drive cannoned off the post. The match ended on a sour note for Sunderland as Luke O’Nien was sent off in injury time for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Matheus Nunes. After a pitchside VAR review, his yellow card was upgraded to red. City’s victory puts them firmly back in the title hunt, capitalising on Arsenal’s unexpected stumble.

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