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AFCON

Former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah reunite this Wednesday, 14 January, as Senegal square off against Egypt in a monumental AFCON semi-final in Tangier, Morocco.



While the Pharaohs are chasing a record-extending eighth title, the Lions of Teranga aim to defend their 2021 crown.



History favours Senegal, who defeated Egypt in both the 2021 final and the 2022 World Cup playoffs via penalty shoot-outs. Mane, who scored the winning spot-kick in the 2021 final despite missing a penalty earlier in the same match, admitted the mental burden was immense.&nbsp;



“Thinking about this penalty, I can say it was one of the hardest things in my life,” Mane told an international publication on Tuesday, 13 January.



Egypt enter the match in clinical form, having scored six goals during the knockout stages. Salah, currently on four tournament goals, remains their primary threat, while Mane has proven vital as a playmaker, creating a tournament-high 14 chances.



Beyond the veterans, Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye is confident, stating: “We played very well, and it shows that we are improving match after match.”



As both legends are now 33 years old, this clash may be their final international encounter before the final against Nigeria or Morocco this Sunday, 18 January.



Image Credit: <a href="https://imgresizer.tntsports.io/unsafe/2560x1440/filters:format(jpeg)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2022/03/29/3346554-68411348-2560-1440.jpg">Source</a>

Mane and Salah Face Off in High-Stakes AFCON Semi-Final

Manchester United’s campaign has hit a new low after a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton &amp; Hove Albion on Sunday, 11 January, confirmed their earliest exit from both domestic cups – The Football Association Challenge Cup and the Carabao Cup, since 1981-82.



Brajan Gruda’s opener set the tone 12 minutes into the match, followed by former striker Danny Welbeck haunting his old club with a thunderous strike at the 64-minute mark. Despite Benjamin Sesko’s late header five minutes before stoppage time, the match ended in tears for teenage substitute Shea Lacey, who was sent off for dissent on his debut.



The loss leaves United with a projected 40-game season, their lowest tally since the onset of the First World War. Interim boss Darren Fletcher, who concluded a winless two-match tenure, has identified the team’s defensive frailties as a primary concern.&nbsp;



Following the draw with Burnley last week, Fletcher remarked: “As a team, we need to improve in defending and not conceding as many goals.”



With no silverware left to play for, director of football Jason Wilcox is accelerating the search for a permanent successor. Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have both been interviewed, with Carrick reportedly impressing bosses with his tactical vision.



The new appointment is expected within 72 hours, as the club desperately chases a Champions League spot. United currently sit seventh with 32 points, trailing fourth-placed Liverpool by three points.



Image Credit: <a href="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt6de8b5a8161c2689/Casemiro_sad_Manchester_United_Brighton.jpg">Source</a>

Historic Lows at Old Trafford as Brighton Oust United

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has issued an apology following a controversial clash with Liverpool’s Conor Bradley during their 0-0 draw on Thursday, 8 January.



In stoppage time, Conor Bradley suffered a serious knee injury near the touchline. Believing the Reds defender was time-wasting, Martinelli threw the ball at, then shoved him while he was on the ground, sparking a pitch-side melee.



While pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane branded the 24-year-old winger an “idiot” for his “absolutely disgraceful” behaviour, managers from both sides offered a more measured perspective.&nbsp;



Liverpool’s Arne Slot suggested the sport’s culture of feigning injury influenced the reaction, stating: “I’m 100 per cent sure if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn’t do that.”



Mikel Arteta agreed, noting there was “zero intention” from the Gunners star to cause harm.



Martinelli later apologised via Instagram, admitting he did not realise the severity of the injury. Bradley was eventually taken off on a stretcher and later seen on crutches. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai defended his teammate’s distress, saying: “I think the health of a player is much more important than something else.”



The Football Association may still take retrospective action for violent conduct.



Image Credit: <a href="https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4747,h_2670,x_239,y_891/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/si/01keh28t815by5kdn1d9.jpg">Source</a>

Martinelli Apologises After Pushing Injured Bradley

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that forward Hugo Ekitike faces a race against time to be fit for their crucial English Premier League (EPL) clash against leaders Arsenal.



The 23-year-old forward missed the 2-2 draw with Fulham last weekend due to a minor hamstring issue and has yet to return to full first-team training.



“He has not trained with us until now,” Slot revealed during his pre-match press conference. “I have said… he won’t be out for long, but the games come fast… It might take him one or two days extra.”



The injury leaves the 47-year-old Dutch head coach with a significant selection headache. With Mohamed Salah representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and Alexander Isak sidelined, the Reds’ attacking depth is being severely tested.



Currently trailing the “complete package” of the Gunners by 14 points on the EPL table – the Reds have 34 points – Slot admitted that his side must find consistency to spark a revival.



Should Ekitike fail his late fitness test, the goal-scoring burden will fall on Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz to breach the EPL’s most miserly defence tonight, Thursday 8 January.



Image Credit: <a href="https://image-service.onefootball.com/transform?w=840&amp;h=560&amp;dpr=2&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Ficdn.empireofthekop.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F01%2Fekitike-injury-latest.jpg">Source</a>

Arne Slot Sweats Over Hugo Ekitike Fitness

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is Africa’s most prestigious tournament, showcasing top talent from across the continent and, since 1957, bringing its inhabitants together from every walk of life.



With such a rich melting pot brought together, it stands to reason that many impressive displays of sporting excellence are bound to happen and secure a place in the history books.



Here are five AFCON records:



Top Goalscorer &#8211; Samuel Eto’o (18)



Samuel Eto’o was not only a talented football player from Cameroon, but also eventually solidified himself as one of the African continent’s finest sportsmen.&nbsp;



He plied his trade for several European clubs, but really shone with his appearances in several AFCON tournaments. Across six editions – 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 – he scored 18 goals in 29 matches, which cemented him as the competition’s overall top goalscorer.



Most Medals Won &#8211; Nigeria (16)



Winning titles doesn’t necessarily equate to achieving status and renown, but sometimes just showing up proves a point. Such is the case with Nigeria: despite finishing third multiple times, the West African nation has graced the podium a record 16 times by winning three gold medals, five silver medals and eight bronze medals.



Most Title Wins &#8211; Egypt (7)



It should come as no surprise that the country that won the first tournament has also chalked up the most titles since then. Egypt were the inaugural champions in 1957 and in the following decades, the North African nation has secured the AFCON title a record seven times.



Most Consecutive Appearances &#8211; Tunisia (17)



Their ratio for winning might not be as impressive, but Tunisia understands what it means to consistently show up! They have appeared 17 times since 1994. For their efforts, they have won the tournament once in 2004, and were runners-up twice (1965 and 1996) and finished third in 1962.



First Ever Tournament Goal &#8211; Raafat Attia (Egypt vs Sudan, 1957)



There’s no greater thrill than that strike that sends the ball past the goalkeeper and straight into the back of the net.



The very first AFCON goal was scored by Raafat Attia, during the semi-final between Sudan and Egypt on 10 February 1957. Egypt had been awarded a penalty at the 21-minute mark. Attia found the back of the net, cementing his place in history.

Five AFCON Records

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