Category: Football Africa

Sadio Mane's powerful strike fires Senegal to AFCON 2025 final
by Football Sierra Leone

Sadio Mane’s powerful strike fires Senegal to AFCON 2025 final

Senegal reached the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Egypt 1-0 in the semi-final at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Wednesday.

Their strong dominance continues against Egypt, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning goal that sends them to this year’s AFCON final.

This marks the fourth time Senegal has reached the final of this tournament. They are currently on a 17-match unbeaten streak in the Africa Cup of Nations. This is the second-longest streak in the tournament’s history, after Egypt’s 24-match streak from 2004 to 2017.

Sadio Mane has been involved in 11 goals and 9 assists in the Africa Cup of Nations, setting a record for the tournament in the 21st century. Senegal has qualified for the final in 3 of the last 4 editions of the tournament.

In their last 28 matches in the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal has kept a clean sheet 19 times. The Senegalese team has never lost a game in which Sadio Mane scored, with a record of 38 wins and 6 draws.

Sadio Mané iwas name the TotalEnergies Man of the Match
Sadio Mané iwas name the TotalEnergies Man of the Match
Meet the African Coaches raising their profile at AFCON 2025
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Meet the African Coaches raising their profile at AFCON 2025

For the first time in the history of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, four of the semi-finals coaches are from AFRICA! A significant improvement to the development of the African football coaching system.

Senegal Pape Thiew took over from Aliou Cisse after serving as an interim in 2024 and is known for his direct attacking football.

Speaking ahead of their contest with Egypt, he said, “We are preparing for this match with great focus, fully aware of the strong Egyptian side we will face. They are tactically disciplined and experienced.

We respect this challenge but are determined to win and reach the final. We remain committed to our playing philosophy, which we believe will make a difference.”

Egypt’s Hossam Hassan – If you know African football story and history well, you should know Hossam Hassan. A twin & a prolific goal poacher in his playing days. He scored 66 goals in 177 games for the Pharaohs of Egypt.

If Egypt go past Senegal, it will be their 10th appearance in the AFCON finals.

He was respectful when talking about his opponent on Tuesday. He said, “Senegal is not considered a bogey team for the Egyptian national team, which has won the African championship seven times. The players believe opponents play with fear against them. The team is approaching the semi-final with respect and thorough preparation, feeling mentally ready and aware of both their own strengths and those of their opponent.”

Nigeria Eric Chelle is a former Malian International, a centre-back, who enjoyed tackling attackers. Born in the Ivory Coast, Chelle guided Mali to the AFCON 2023 quarter-final.

Over time, since he was appointed as the Super Eagles head coach, he has slowly transformed the West African side into a dominant force to reckon with.

Morocco is a strong team with both strengths and weaknesses. Brahim Díaz is a talented player, and the team as a whole is impressive. We are prepared for any situation. We will give our all and treat every match like it is our last,” Chelle said when answering media questions on Tuesday.

Host Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is a prominent name in African football for many reasons. Today, he told journalists in the post-match conference that Morocco is about a positive result.

One of his highs was when he guided Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup!

“Coaching the Moroccan national team means every result is closely examined. I dedicate myself entirely to my country and accept the criticism that comes with it.

An AFCON semi-final is distinct from a World Cup semi-final. Previously, we were considered a surprise, but now expectations are higher. Our goal is to reach the final and lift the continental trophy.”

History- Only two African legends – Mohamed El-Gohary and late Stephen Keshi, have won the AFCON both as players and coaches. Hassan Hassan could join the list.

AFCON Morocco 2025 Semi-Final Fixtures (All times in GMT)
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
17h00: Sénégal vs Égypt – Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier
20h00: Morocco vs Nigeria – Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
Nigeria and Morocco set for a mouthwatering AFCON 2025 semi-final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria and Morocco set for a mouthwatering AFCON 2025 semi-final

Nigeria will face off against host nation Morocco in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the winner earning a spot in the final.


On Wednesday, January 14, two of the tournament’s most formidable contenders, Nigeria and Morocco, will meet in Rabat for a highly anticipated semi-final clash.

Both teams have dominated their opponents on their path to the final four, but this match is expected to pose the toughest challenge for either side thus far.

Morocco will rely on 68,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as they face Nigeria, who come in as favourites with five wins from five matches and 14 goals scored, just two shy of the tournament record.

Nigeria’s success largely stems from forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, who have contributed significantly to the team’s goal tally. The Super Eagles aim for their ninth AFCON final but will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi due to suspension.

Morocco has reached the semi-finals by winning four of five matches, with coach Walid Regragui counting on Brahim Diaz, who has scored in five straight matches. Defensively, Morocco has been solid, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament and seeking their third final appearance, having won in 1976.

In their head-to-head, this will be the sixth AFCON clash, with Morocco leading the series 3-2. Key players include Lookman, who has been involved in seven goals this tournament, and Díaz, who could break a 58-year scoring record if he scores again.

Preview: Egypt and Senegal set for AFCON semi-final battle
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Preview: Egypt and Senegal renew AFCON rivalry

Both teams have had similar success in the tournament, winning four out of five games, but the way they won is different.

They’ll face each other on Wednesday at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco, for a place in the finals.` kick off at 6 pm (17:00 GMT).

Senegal, currently ranked second in Africa behind the hosts Morocco, aims to reach their third AFCON final in four editions and reclaim the top spot on the continent.

Since the competition began, Senegal’s performance has been strong, with two wins and a draw in their group. In the knockout phase, they easily beat Sudan 3-1 in the Round of 16 and narrowly defeated Mali 1-0 in the quarter-final.

With eleven goals in five matches, Senegal shows their strength in attack, but their defence deserves praise too, as it kept three clean sheets and conceded only twice in its last five matches.

The Lions of Teranga have a good record against Egypt, winning three of their last five meetings, including their most recent match, which eliminated Egypt from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan should be concerned that his team has only scored one goal against Senegal in their last five meetings.

Like Senegal, Egypt also won two games and drew one in the group stage. However, their wins were less convincing. Egypt needed a last-minute goal to win 1-0 against Zimbabwe and relied on a penalty to beat South Africa, while they drew 0-0 with Angola.

In the knockout round, Egypt needed extra time to defeat Benin and narrowly won against Côte d’Ivoire 3-2 after leading 3-1 at one point.

Breakdown of Egypt Statistics
  • Aiming to become the first team to participate in 10 AFCON finals, currently sharing the record of nine with Ghana.  
  • Egypt has made it to the AFCON finals in the years 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, and 2021, with its last final appearance being in 2021.  
  • They have never reached an AFCON final in North Africa unless they were the hosts.  
  • This is the deepest Egypt has advanced in a tournament held in North Africa that is not on home soil.  
  • They were knocked out in the group stages in the years 1988, 1990, and 2004, and they made it to the quarter-finals in 1994.  
  • If they make it to the final, it will be their third final in five tournaments and their first since 2021.
Recap Senegal stats
    • Successfully defeated Mali 1–0, advancing to the semi-finals for the first time since 2021.  
    • They have netted goals in their last nine AFCON encounters.  
    • The last time they did not score was during their 0–0 draw with Egypt in the 2021 final, which resulted in a victory for them on penalties.  
    • Currently, they are on a 16-match unbeaten streak at AFCON, with their last defeat occurring in the 2019 final (W11 D5).  
    • In the ongoing tournament, they have achieved four victories, with their previous record being five wins in 2019.  
    • They have completed their first five matches at an AFCON without a loss for the second time, alongside 2002, when they went through six matches without defeat (W4 D2).  
    • They have tallied 11 goals in this edition, marking the highest number they have scored in a single tournament.  
    • Senegal is making their sixth appearance in the semi-finals, having previously done so in 1990, 2002, 2006, 2019, and 2021.  
    • They have reached the finals three times in total, in 2002, 2019, and 2021.  
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Semi-Final Fixtures (All times in GMT)
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
17h00: Sénégal vs Égypte – Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier
20h00: Morocco vs Nigeria – Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
AFCON blow for Nigeria as skipper Wilfred Ndidi to miss semi-final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON blow for Nigeria as skipper Wilfred Ndidi to miss semi-final

The Super Eagles will be missing their captain, Wilfred Ndidi, for the semi-final showdown against Morocco at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations due to a suspension.

Ndidi received his second yellow card of the tournament during Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Algeria on Saturday, which automatically triggered a one-match ban. He had previously been cautioned in the group-stage victory against Mozambique, putting him just one booking away from suspension.

While Ndidi was on the disciplinary radar alongside Calvin Bassey and Frank Onyeka, he was the only one among the trio to be cautioned again during the match against the Desert Foxes.

Consequently, he will be sidelined for the semi-final clash with Morocco but is expected to be available for either the final or the third-place playoff, depending on how the Super Eagles fare in the last-four encounter.

African giants collide in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

African giants collide in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals

Following Egypt's victory over Ivory Coast yesterday, the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 are set. The matchups feature some of the best teams in Africa.

Following Egypt’s victory over the Ivory Coast yesterday, the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 are set. The matchups feature some of the best teams in Africa.

With a combined twelve AFCON titles among the four semi-finalists, the competition has been intriguing and fierce. Who will advance to the finals in their quest for continental glory?

Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Senegal made it through after their matches on Saturday night. Hosts Morocco will play Nigeria, while Senegal will face Egypt.

Both semi-final matches will take place on Wednesday. Egypt secured their spot by beating defending champions Côte d’Ivoire 3-2 in a close match, ending their title defence and setting up a thrilling semi-final against Senegal. Earlier, Senegal earned their place with a 1-0 win over Mali, thanks to Iliman Ndiaye’s goal in a tense match.

Morocco also continued their strong run, winning 2-0 against Cameroon, with goals from Brahim Diaz and Ismaël Saibari. This puts them in a good position for their first continental title in 50 years.

Completing the semi-final lineup is Nigeria, who won 2-0 against Algeria in Marrakech. Victor Osimhen opened the scoring, and Akor Adams secured the win late in the match, bringing Nigeria back to the last four to face Morocco.

These results show how close the matches are at this stage of the tournament, where experience matters.

The semi-finals will happen on Wednesday, January 14, with Senegal playing Egypt and Morocco taking on Nigeria. The final will take place in Rabat on January 18.

Côte d’Ivoire coach Émerse Faé is disappointed after the defeat to Egypt
by Football Sierra Leone

Côte d’Ivoire coach Émerse Faé is disappointed after the defeat to Egypt

Émerse Fae, the coach of Côte d’Ivoire, expressed his frustration after their 3-2 loss to Egypt in the 2025 Cup of Nations quarter-finals. He lamented the mistakes made at crucial moments and the early goals conceded, which put them at a disadvantage.

Mohamed Salah was pivotal for Egypt, scoring and assisting in their dramatic victory. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring early, and Ramy Rabia doubled the lead with a header from a Salah corner. Côte d’Ivoire managed to pull one back just before halftime with an own goal by Fatouh.

After the break, Salah scored again, extending Egypt’s lead to 3-1. Guéla Doué pulled one back for Côte d’Ivoire, but despite their attacking efforts, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

“We are frustrated by tonight’s result. We prepared well to face the Egyptian team, but we made too many mistakes at crucial moments. Those mistakes hurt us the most.

We took time to get into the match. I regret conceding the first goal so early, and the second one too. We reacted well and got back to 2-1 before halftime, but the third goal put us in trouble. It’s tough to explain these lapses in concentration. We will keep working to prepare for the World Cup.”

Salah, named Man of the Match, praised his teammates and highlighted their determination. Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, emphasised their strategy and preparation against the defending champions, expressing pride in their performance despite some mistakes.

Osimhen and Okor Adams on target as Nigeria reach Cup of Nations Semis
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen and Akor Adams on target as Nigeria set semi-final date with Morocco

Nigeria's Super Eagles maintained their strong performance at the 2025 African Cup of Nations by defeating the Desert Warriors of Algeria 2-0 at the Grand Stadium in Marrakech on Saturday.

The West African side started the game brightly and scored immediately after the break with star striker Victor Osimhen jumping above the Algerian defender to score the first goal.

Nigeria had a great start to the second half! Onyemaechi sent a cross deep into the Algeria box for Osimhen. He soared in the air and headed the ball across the goal, beating the goalkeeper Zidane.

The Super Eagles scored a second goal ten minutes later to strengthen their hold on the match.

Iwobi played a key role by creating the opportunity. The Fulham midfielder passed the ball to Osimhen. Just as it seemed Osimhen would take on the defender, he selflessly passed it to Akor Adams, who rounded the keeper and kicked the ball into an empty net.

The Algerians attempt to break into the game, but Nigeria’s superiority overshadows their attempts, and ultimately, the Super Eagles emerge as the clear victors.

They will now face the 1976 winners and host Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 14 as they pursue another Continental title.

Morocco's Brahim Díaz leads Cup of Nations 2025 scoring chart
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Brahim Díaz leads Cup of Nations 2025 scoring chart

Brahim Díaz has extended his lead in the Golden Boot race at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after scoring in Morocco's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Cameroon.

With this goal, Díaz now has five goals in five matches, marking him as the tournament’s top scorer.

The win secured Morocco’s spot in the semi-finals, following Senegal’s narrow 1-0 victory over Mali. Ismael Saibari also scored for Morocco, but Díaz’s scoring streak makes him the standout player.

Second on the list is Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen after his goal against Algeria in their quarter-final contest at the Grand Stadium in Marrakech on Saturday.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles maintained their strong performance at the 2025 African Cup of Nations by defeating the Desert Warriors of Algeria 2-0, and Victor Osimhen scored the opener.

Behind them, seven players, including Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, are tied with three goals each. Many players have two goals, while 61 have scored once, reflecting the competitive nature of the AFCON 2025 tournament.

As the tournament approaches its final stages, Díaz’s skill and timing have set him apart from the rest.

AFCON 2025 Top Scorers 

5 goals

  • Brahim Díaz (Morocco)

4 goals

  • Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

3 goals

  • Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
  • Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco)
  • Lassine Sinayoko (Mali)
  • Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
  • Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Briam Diaz instrumental as host Morocco advance to AFCON semifinals
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Brahim Diaz instrumental as hosts Morocco advance to AFCON semi-final

Morocco enters this quarterfinal matchup after a rollercoaster performance throughout the tournament, knowing that only their best display of resilience and agility will carry them through.

On Friday, they played against Cameroon and started the game strongly. Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari scored goals in each half, which helped Morocco reach the semifinals for the first time since 2004.

The hosts’ triumph against Cameroon came on the heels of Senegal’s earlier win over Mali in Tangier, where the former African champions narrowly secured a 1-0 victory against their opponents.

Díaz has been a key player for Morocco, scoring four goals in the tournament. He scored against Comoros, Mali, and Zambia before starting the scoring in the quarterfinals at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Morocco secured their first AFCON semifinal appearance in 22 years with a second goal from Saibari, assisted by Ezzalzouli’s set-piece.

The team managed the final minutes calmly as the crowd cheered. They now await the winner of the Algeria vs. Nigeria semifinal on January 14 as they pursue their first continental title since 1976.