Three countries have already secured their tickets to the Round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Algeria becoming the latest side to confirm qualification following another gripping day of action on Sunday.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Algeria sealed their spot with a narrow 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Group E. Captain Riyad Mahrez kept his composure from the penalty spot to score the only goal of the match, steering the Desert Foxes to a second successive win.

That outcome lifted Algeria to six points from two games, placing them out of reach of the chasing pack. Burkina Faso and Sudan both remain on three points, while Equatorial Guinea are still searching for their first point of the campaign. Algeria have once again shown they know how to navigate the group stages. Recall they won the AFCON title in 1990 and 2019.

Their qualification means they join Nigeria and Egypt as the only teams so far to have mathematically confirmed a place in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

Away from the Algeria match, Sunday also produced a surprise in Group E as Sudan edged Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca. The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when Coco inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Sudan a crucial victory that keeps their qualification hopes firmly alive.

In Group F, Mozambique breathed new life into their campaign with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Gabon in Agadir. Gabon had taken the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just before the break. Still, goals from Bangal, Geny Catamo and Calila swung the contest in Mozambique’s favour despite a late Gabon response.

Attention later shifted to Marrakesh, where the Ivory Coast and Cameroon recorded a 1-1 draw in a high-profile Group F clash. This means that both sides currently have four points each in two games.

Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal made Cristiano Ronaldo laugh after picking up the Maradona Award.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal drew a laugh from the audience at the Globe Soccer Awards, which included Cristiano Ronaldo, as he made a joke during his acceptance of the Maradona Award.
Yamal at Globe Soccer Awards

Yamal, and by extension Barcelona, were big winners at the Globe Soccer Awards held in Dubai today, with the Spanish champions picking up eight awards, three of which went to Yamal.

The Spain international won the best U-23 Player of the Year for LALIGA and the best Forward overall. His most prestigious prize on the night, however, was the Maradona Award.

The criteria to win the Maradona Award are quite broad. The prize has been described as rewarding players with exceptional skill, impact, and performances, blending flair, influence and game-changing ability in the calendar year. Jude Bellingham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski were its most recent winners.
What Yamal said

Speaking after receiving the prize, the teenager eschewed comparisons with other greats while welcoming the pressure of leading Barcelona.

“Now I feel the pressure of being an important player for my club but everything has turned out well. I want to continue on the same path and I don’t want comparisons.”

One of the Gala’s presenters then asked Yamal to mention something about himself that people did not know, and his response drew a response from the audience, including Ronaldo, who received the Best Middle East Player Award.

“I want people to know that at home my mom is the boss,” Yamal revealed. His answer confirmed that his parents were still active participants in his upbringing, despite his meteoric rise.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakech.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

In a thrilling Group F encounter, five-time champions Cameroon fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against defending champions Ivory Coast.

After a cautious first half that saw Cameroon’s Christian Kofane rattle the crossbar, the match exploded into life following the interval.

Manchester United’s Amad Diallo broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, showcasing individual brilliance to curl an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.

However, the lead was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Stoke City defender Junior Tchamadeu restored parity with a powerful effort from the edge of the area that took a wicked deflection off Ghislain Konan, looping over the backpedaling goalkeeper.

The result leaves both heavyweights on four points at the summit of Group F, virtually guaranteeing them a place in the knockout stages.

While Cameroon will take confidence from their resilience, Ivory Coast remains a formidable force as they continue their title defence in Morocco.

FULL-TIME! 🇨🇮🇨🇲

A 1-1 draw in an entertaining Group F clash.#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/6YIgFn8Z5d

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 28, 2025