Since taking the reins of the Falcons of Jediane, Appiah has guided the squad through a notable transformation, fostering discipline, belief, and renewed ambition.

As Sudan prepare to face Algeria in their opening match at Stade Moulay Hassan today, the focus is on making an impact and setting a new benchmark in the nation’s football history.

In an interview with CAFOnline, Appiah discussed his team’s aspirations and the determination driving his players as they kick off their tournament campaign.

“Sudan is well prepared for the competition, and we hope to present ourselves in the best possible way during the finals,” he said.

Reflecting on their group, which includes Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Burkina Faso, Appiah added, “It’s a strong group, but Sudan is also a good team, and I am confident that we will progress beyond the group stage in this tournament.”

The Falcons arrive at AFCON off the back of their participation in the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar.

Sudan has been in the grip of conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with around 150 000 people killed and almost 14 million displaced, creating the largest displacement crisis in the world.

Ghana-born coach Appiah, however, succeeded in steering the team to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations despite having to play all their qualifying matches away from home.

“I’m happy that Sudan is part of such a big tournament,” Appiah told a press conference on Tuesday, on the eve of their Group E game against Algeria.

“We all know there’s a war in Sudan, and I believe this tournament will put some smiles on the faces of all Sudanese.

“We are here to make sure we do our best to entertain everyone who comes to the stadium.”

The coach said that even as he carries out his tactical job, sometimes they learn that a team member has lost someone in their family due to the conflict. But they remain patient, he said, as they aim to make every Sudanese proud.

“We all know there has been no league in Sudan for the past three years, but we make sure the team represents itself very well.”

Sudan’s biggest teams – Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, as well as Al Ahli Wad Madani – will participate in the Rwandan league next season.

Sudan captain Bakhit Khamis said that while the situation at home was catastrophic, the side were happy to be in Morocco for the tournament.

“The situation Sudan is going through is truly disastrous in every sense of the word. Thank God we managed to qualify,” he said.

One aspect of Mbappe’s legal victory raised eyebrows – PSG were told they must hand over 1.5m euros (£1.3m) in “ethics bonus” payments to the France forward.

For football fans in the UK an ethics bonus might sound a little strange, but in France it is a normal part of a professional athlete’s contract.

The “ethics bonus” has made headlines before, primarily when details of Neymar’s PSG contract were revealed by Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

The Brazil forward’s deal stipulated a monthly ethics payment of 541,680 euros (£475,876). For Mbappe the bonus was worth 500,000 euros (£438,000) a month.

Reports picked up on clauses that required Neymar to show “courtesy, friendliness and availability to supporters”. He was also expected to “greet fans before and after each game”.

The truth behind the ethics bonus is very different.

What is an ‘ethics bonus’?

In English football, clubs are able to fine a player up to two weeks’ wages for a misdemeanour.

French law forbids any deductions from a worker’s salary. Sports teams therefore make a small portion of it an ethics bonus. The base wage and the ethics bonus are in effect a player’s total salary.

In 2021 it was claimed in some reports that Neymar received extra money for clapping the fans, but the details paint a different picture.

Neymar was expected to behave responsibly to sponsors and referees. He had to turn up to training on time and was barred from placing bets. In effect, it was a moral code.

“Clubs are very keen to protect their image,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport.

“They don’t want anybody going nuclear and criticising the club, which means that they call them good behaviour clauses.

“We saw similar with Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong [who had morals clauses with sponsors]. So behavioural clauses are quite common within sport.”

In 2018, Marco Verratti had part of his ethics bonus withheld after being caught drink-driving.

Hatem Ben Arfa also lost the bonus when he failed to attend PSG’s mid-season training camp in Qatar.

In 2023, Lionel Messi was punished by PSG after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Rugby union club Racing 92 took action against winger Teddy Thomas by “retaining his ethics bonus for February” after an incident following a Six Nations match between France and Scotland.

Neymar’s ethics clause

Source: El Mundo

Star players can earn ‘another 40%’ in bonus payments

Bonuses are now a large part of a player’s contract. They cover loyalty payments, received each year on the anniversary of a player joining a club, through to image rights and goal bonuses.

“The contract which used to be written on the back of a napkin is now an investment by a series of stakeholders,” Maguire said.

“You’ve got the club, you’ve got the agent, you’ve got the management company, you’ve got the player. And quite often the player’s intellectual property rights company as well.

“I’ve seen some of the big six contracts, and there are 25% uplifts for Champions League participation.”

The world’s best players are in such high demand they could earn huge top-ups through their image rights, as high as “60% basic and another 40% on top of that”, Maguire added.

According to sources, City have made positive progress in recent days and now believe they are well-placed to sign the 25-year-old.

Sources with knowledge of the situation say four other Premier League clubs also made enquiries, to varying degrees, about Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause.

Those clubs are understood to be Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.

United’s interest cooled because they expect Semenyo to join Pep Guardiola’s side, while Chelsea opted not to pursue a deal.

Liverpool have also checked on the conditions of a deal and it remains to be seen if they accelerate their initial interest in light of Alexander Isak’s broken leg.

Tottenham are believed to be outsiders for the signature of the Ghana international, who joined the Cherries in 2023 from Bristol City.

Semenyo’s release clause is only active for the first 10 days of January – and was necessary to keep him at Bournemouth when he agreed a new contract in July.

The price, though, will drop slightly in the summer window.

Bournemouth accept they are vulnerable to losing their key player and willing to negotiate with any club prepared to allow him to stay with them until the end of the season.

From a financial perspective, well-placed sources insist interested clubs are all willing to pay a very similar remuneration package to Semenyo, whose final decision will be made with an emphasis on his personal sporting ambitions.

He turns 26 on 7 January and there is a recognition he is entering the prime of his career.

“I know there is lots of noise around him,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. “[It is] not my concern, my concern is it doesn’t affect his performances. It is not doing, he is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him here.

“[A] situation we cannot control, but Antoine right now is our player, going to continue playing for us. If you ask me, I don’t want to lose him, definitely don’t. But every time the market opens, you never know what is going to happen.”

With that in mind, it is understood Semenyo will prioritise a club he believes can provide him with what he views as the most suitable project to compete for major trophies on a long-term basis.

The location and impact on his family will also be a contributing factor to his decision and it is understood he does not want the saga to become a long drawn-out process.

The Super Eagles took the lead in the 36th minute when defender Semi Ajayi glanced home a header from Alex Iwobi’s inviting right-wing cross.

Nigeria largely controlled proceedings in the first half and went close to doubling their advantage before the break, only for Samuel Chukwueze’s deflected effort to be tipped over the bar by Tanzania goalkeeper Zuberi Foba.

Tanzania responded shortly after the restart, drawing level in the 50th minute as Charles M’Mombwa side-footed in a lofted left-wing delivery from Novatus Miroshi.

Just two minutes later, former African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman restored the lead for the West Africans, cleverly shifting the ball from his right to his left before firing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner to secure all three points for Eric Chelle’s side.

Nigeria will now look to seal early qualification for the round of 16 when they face Tunisia in their next Group C fixture in Fes on Saturday, while Tanzania travel to Rabat for an all–East Africa encounter against Uganda.

Nigeria have not lifted the Afcon trophy since 2013 and, after finishing runners-up at the last edition in Ivory Coast, the country’s football federation launched a campaign dubbed “Naija 4 the Win”.

Yet this year’s finals in Morocco come quickly off the back of the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The Super Eagles dominated possession from the outset and Akor Adams could have given them a commanding early advantage, but Foba produced two fine saves within the opening 12 minutes to deny the Sevilla forward.

West Brom’s Ajayi finally eased the frustration of Nigerian supporters after a tense opening half-hour with his second international goal. Soon after, Tanzania had Bakari Mwamnyeto to thank for clearing a Victor Osimhen effort off the line.

Tanzania emerged with renewed belief after the break, although Osimhen thought he had extended Nigeria’s lead soon after the restart only to have his effort ruled out for offside.

Yet, after the East Africans drew level, former England youth international Lookman struck to make it 2-1.

His moment of quality proved enough to seal victory, much to the delight of the majority of the 11,444 fans in attendance.

The Super Eagles will now hope history repeats itself, having beaten Tanzania in their opening match on home soil in 1980 before going on to lift their first-ever continental title – while the East Africans are still awaiting their first victory at the Afcon finals.

Much of the Group D encounter in Tangier was played in torrential rain, with Botswana struggling to cope as the 2021 champions launched wave after wave of attacks.

Zebras goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko made an early bid for player of the match in the opening half hour, keeping out efforts from the likes of Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye.

But five minutes before the break, Jackson swept home a pinpoint left-wing cross from full-back Ismail Jakobs after being left unmarked in the area.

The Chelsea striker, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, grabbed his second with a neat finish in the 58th minute, before substitute Cherif Ndiaye wrapped things up in the final minute of normal time.

Botswana, who have never won a match at Afcon, never threatened their opponents and will need to improve against Benin in Rabat on Saturday (12:30 GMT) if they want to change that unwanted statistic.

Senegal moved top of the Group D on goal difference above DR Congo, who they face back in Tangier on the same day (15:00 GMT).

Mikel Arteta’s side could not find a way past inspired Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez until Maxence Lacroix prodded into his own net on 80 minutes with the FA Cup holders failing to cope with a corner-kick.

But Oliver Glasner’s side unearthed an equaliser in five minutes of nine added to the contest when Marc Guehi swept home from close range after Jefferson Lerma had headed into the traffic from Adam Wharton’s set-piece delivery.

The first 15 penalties were perfect until Lacroix saw his effort halted by Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Arsenal keeper dived low to his right to the delight of the home fans.

Semenyo, 25, has been linked with Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and, most recently, Chelsea, amid speculation of a potential January transfer.

Speaking about Semenyo’s situation, Iraola said: “Antoine Semenyo right now is with us. He’s playing very well. My concern is that it doesn’t affect him. He’s committed to the team, and I hope we can keep him. But there are things happening out of our control.”

The Spanish coach praised Semenyo’s consistency: “For me, Antoine has been performing very well. The level of consistency has been excellent since the start of the season. He’s very valuable for us – not just in numbers, but in many ways. You never know what is going to happen. In the summer, there were a lot of movements, and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the winter. At the end, you sign a contract and both parties need to be happy. I hope we don’t lose him, but I can’t control what’s going to happen.”

Semenyo recently signed a contract extension until 2030, which includes a £65 million release clause that becomes active in January. The winger has enjoyed a strong start to the 2025-26 season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 16 Premier League appearances.

He will look to continue his fine form when Bournemouth face Brentford at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

According to The Athletic, the Premier League club initially planned to sign a new forward in the summer but have now approached Semenyo’s representatives to explore moving the deal forward.

The 25-year-old Bournemouth forward is attracting interest from several top English clubs, including Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Semenyo’s current contract runs until 2030 and includes a £65 million release clause, which becomes active in January.

Semenyo has enjoyed a strong start to the 2025-26 season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 16 league appearances.

Bournemouth had valued the player at £70 million during the summer, but the January release clause reduces the figure to £65 million. The clause has a specific activation date, giving the Cherries a brief window to find a replacement for their key forward.

If Bournemouth rejects offers in January, a similar clause may be triggered in the next transfer window, potentially at an even lower price.

The three-time champions begin their Group campaign against Tanzania later today at the Fez Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 GMT.

Nigeria arrived at the tournament with defensive setbacks, missing several key players. Former captain William Troost-Ekong has retired from international football, while Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina and highly rated 20-year-old centre-back Benjamin Fredrick are also absent from the squad.

Despite the challenges, Chelle remains unfazed, insisting he has complete faith in the players available to him.

“I am not worried. I am trusting my guys. Of course, I would have preferred all the other guys to be here, but now I am with my guys here, and I trust them so much. We have a strong defence, and we work a lot on that,” Chelle said, as reported by ESPN.

The Nigerian tactician also stressed that defending is a collective responsibility, not just the duty of the backline.

“When you want to defend, this is not a question of only the defenders but a question about all the players on the pitch. Definitely, we are ready to play this game,” he added.

The Super Eagles will be aiming for a strong start to their AFCON campaign as they pursue a fourth continental title.

The Desert Foxes will kick off their campaign at Moulay Hassan Stadium at 15:00 GMT.

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, the Bosnian tactician highlighted his belief in the squad’s quality and collective ambition, insisting Algeria have the tools to progress beyond the group stage.

“I am confident. I sincerely believe that we have what it takes to qualify for the second round. My role is to pass that conviction on to the players and show them that we can achieve good things together,” Petkovic said, as reported by CAF.

He also assessed Algeria’s Group E opponents, warning that Sudan are energetic, well-organised, and dangerous with the ball. He added that Burkina Faso are among the favourites in the group due to the depth of their squad, while Equatorial Guinea remain familiar but challenging opponents.

“As for Equatorial Guinea, we have already faced them and encountered difficulties. That obliges us to prepare very rigorously, while remaining faithful to our identity,” Petkovic added.

Reports had circulated suggesting the 50-year-old coach had not received payment for several months.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Adams acknowledged that some national team coaches were owed outstanding payments but emphasized that steps are being taken to establish a more structured payment system.

“That’s true, we owed a number of the coaches, and we are looking for a structured system for payment of the coaches. In the past, before I became minister, some of these coaches, especially the expatriate coaches of the women’s national team, were paid from the sponsorship fund that goes to the FA,” he said.

He added that the funding mechanism has since shifted, placing full responsibility on the government, and that payments have now been approved by the Ministry of Finance.

“That has since changed now, all that has been offloaded onto government, and so we have submitted the details. The finance minister has since approved the payments, and the payments, even per the contract, are supposed to be in arrears,” Adams said.

The minister also clarified that Addo’s contract stipulates that 50% of his annual salary is paid upfront.

“For the head coach, we pay him 50% ahead of time. So, at the beginning of the year, 50% of his salary was paid ahead. What he is owed is actually 50%, not the full salary. So, what you pay him is just 50% also for every other month. It is not the full salary that is owed to the head coach.”

Adams further explained that payments were made from March, covering half of Addo’s annual salary for the first three months.

“So, we paid after March and also paid him 50% of the 12-month salary that is due him. What you now owe him is post-March 50% of salary because the other 50% for January, February, and March has already been paid,” he added.

Under the expanded 48-team World Cup format, each qualifying nation will earn a minimum of $10.5 million, made up of $9 million in prize money for group-stage participation and an additional $1.5 million to support preparation costs.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Adams explained that expected World Cup earnings were a major motivation behind the creation of the Sports Fund, which has been laid before Parliament.

“If you observe the justification for the agency of the bill we took to Parliament, one of the things we indicated was the period, and that we wanted to take advantage of the period we found ourselves in. What is the period? Preparation for the FIFA World Cup. We want to insist that the bill, as it is now, when signed by the President, becomes an act,” he said.

The minister further outlined how revenues from international competitions would feed into the fund.

“One of the sources is proceeds from competitions and tournaments. For example, what FIFA is going to give us as a country is $9 million. The $1.5 million is for preparation, so that will go into preparation.

“But the $9 million would go into the fund, for example, unless we incur some other cost that we just have to deduct from it. If we don’t, we are going to put everything into the fund.”

According to Adams, channelling the money through a structured fund will allow Ghana to make long-term investments in sports infrastructure and development.

“Once it goes into the fund, there will be structured utilisation. So we can, for the first time, have infrastructure or edifices that we can point to, that out of the World Cup, this is what we were able to do.”

He added that the government is keen on leaving a tangible legacy from Ghana’s participation at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“So we intend to have projects that we can show that in our participation in the USA, Canada and Mexico World Cup 2026, this is what we were able to do,” he stated.

Adams also highlighted the financial incentives tied to progressing further in the tournament and expressed confidence in the Black Stars’ ability to go deep into the competition.

“And I believe that we are in good shape to go very far. You know, if you qualify for the next round of the 32 teams, you get an additional $3 million. And if you move further to the 32, you get an additional $4 million.

“So the further you go, the better it will be for you. We just have to perform, and I believe that we can be among the top four,” he added.

Speaking ahead of the Teranga Lions’ Group C opener against Botswana later today, the veteran defender described AFCON as a competition close to his heart and one that deserves greater respect on the global stage.

“The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the most beautiful competitions in the world. Maybe some people don’t respect it, but I respect it deeply. I know what a victory at the AFCON represents. I would never trade winning the AFCON for qualifying to the World Cup,” the former Chelsea and Napoli defender said.

Koulibaly also called on the media to play a stronger role in promoting the tournament and highlighting its cultural significance, stressing the need for Africans to protect and celebrate their flagship competition.

“I also hope the press will help shine a light on this beautiful competition. Despite everything that has happened before, we must put it aside and play football, think about the joy of life that is unique to Africa. It is up to us, Africans, to defend our competition,” he added.

Senegal head into the tournament as one of the leading contenders for the title and will be hoping to build on their previous AFCON success, with Koulibaly expected to provide leadership both on and off the pitch throughout the campaign.

The incident is alleged to have happened at the Liverpool vs Bournemouth Premier League fixture on 15 August, Merseyside Police previously said.

Semenyo reported being racially abused by a spectator during the first Premier League game of the season in which he scored two goals. Match referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the 29th minute and a man was ejected from the Anfield stadium.

Mark Mogan of Templehill Close, Dovecot, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to an offence of racially aggravated disorderly behaviour against the Bournemouth forward.

The 47-year-old, who appeared in person, spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter his plea.

His trial is scheduled to take place on 22 April next year, with Semenyo expected to attend the proceedings, the court heard.

Mr Mogan was released on bail on condition that he does not contact Semenyo directly or indirectly, or make reference to him on social media.

He was also banned from attending any regulated football grounds as part of his bail conditions, the court was told.

A spokesperson for Liverpool Football Club said in August it was aware of the allegation of racist abuse and that “we condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society, or football”.

The Football Association said it was “concerned” about the allegation of racism towards Semenyo and that it would ensure “appropriate action” would be taken.

Isak sustained a fracture to his left leg following a sliding tackle from Van de Ven as he scored for the Reds in a 2-1 win at Spurs.

The Sweden international had an operation on what Liverpool described as “an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture”.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” said Slot. “It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.”

On Van de Van’s challenge, he added: “This was for me a reckless challenge. The tackle of Van de Ven – if you make that tackle 10 times – I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the tackle from Van de Ven was “a challenge I’d probably make”.

“There’s a lot been made about a lot of the challenges in the game from Tottenham players and a lot of them weren’t clever,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“I put myself in Van de Ven’s position and that’s a challenge I’d probably make.

“He’s trying to block it – it’s just the follow through. I don’t know where else anyone thinks his foot’s going to go. He has to make that challenge. You can’t let the striker just get a shot away in that situation.

“It’s just really bad luck for Isak. It’s probably one of the first glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt.”

“It’s a huge blow because I think Liverpool were actually one attacker short anyway.

Osimhen was part of the Super Eagles side beaten by Ivory Coast in the 2023 final.

The West Africans suffered a further setback this year when they lost to DR Congo on penalties in the final of Africa’s play-offs for the 2026 Fifa World Cup – meaning they will be missing from the global showpiece for the second time in a row.

However, the 26-year-old insists the squad must put their regrets behind them and shift their focus to the challenge ahead as they target success at Afcon.

“I think the penalty is a game of luck,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.

“Life has happened, we just have to keep it moving.”

However, the Galatasaray striker insists the squad is already putting in the work to go one step further, as Nigeria set their sights on returning to the final in Morocco and winning their fourth Afcon title.

“I want to say thank you to the Super Eagles fans all over the world that have stuck with us through the good times and the bad times,” he said.

“The Afcon is an opportunity for us to win our fans over [and] make sure we actualise our dreams of winning [the tournament].”

Nigeria begin their Group C campaign against Tanzania in Fes on Tuesday (17:30 GMT) before facing Tunisia on Saturday and Uganda on 30 December.

‘Mutual respect’ between players

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Nigeria lost 2-1 to Egypt in a friendly game ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations

While Osimhen has been a key figure for Nigeria in recent years, they have often struggled for goals and results in his absence.

He says he “appreciate the love and support” of Nigerians who “believe” in his ability and commitment to the national team.

With attacking options such as Akor Adams, Paul Onuachu and Cyriel Dessers also in the squad, Osimhen insists any player called upon is capable of delivering when it matters most.

“I just try to give my everything. We have so many talented players in this squad,” Osimhen admitted.

“I’m part of them. If we don’t see some of us, the others can also play. That’s one of the qualities.”

Osimhen’s importance to the Super Eagles has been clear during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Nigeria failed to register a single victory in the five matches he missed, underlining his influence on the team’s performances and results.

Head coach Eric Chelle will be hoping his talismanic striker can remain fit and available as Nigeria aim to claim a first Afcon title since 2013.

“I’m trying to give everything because everyone knows me like this. I try to run, get goals [and] fight for my team-mates,” Osimhen explained.

“I appreciate all my team-mates for giving me this opportunity to try to get goals for them.

“They try to listen to me, and I also listen to them, it’s a mutual respect between us.”

Ekong an ‘incredible leader’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong earned 83 caps for Nigeria

Meanwhile, Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey says he was saddened by the international retirement of William Troost-Ekong before the finals.

The former Super Eagles captain, who was named Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Afcon finals, had formed a formidable centre-back partnership with Bassey during the tournament in Ivory Coast.

“He [Ekong] was an incredible player, an incredible leader, a good friend of mine,” Bassey told BBC Sport Africa.

“People leave and people come, so it’s just about trying to get a group together that can help.”

However, the Fulham man says the squad remains in safe hands, describing Wilfred Ndidi as an “amazing” captain capable of leading the team forward.

Bassey is expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s bid for the title, and the 25-year-old believes the bond between himself and club colleagues Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze will have a positive impact on the Super Eagles.

“Me and Alex have played with each other for a long time. We have a great understanding of each other [and] know each other’s strengths,” he said.

“Chukwueze has also been playing with him so hopefully we can bring that chemistry into the national team.”

The Liverpool forward’s trophy cabinet is stuffed with silverware from his time at Anfield but he is yet to lift the Afcon trophy with the Pharaohs, and for large parts of the game in Morocco it looked as if this campaign was likely to get off to an inauspicious start.

While Salah is nicknamed the Egyptian King, it was Prince Dube’s first-half strike which handed the Warriors the lead against the run of play in Agadir.

A combination of poor Egypt finishing and good goalkeeping from 40-year-old Washington Arubi gave the southern African side hope of pulling off a shock before Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush hammered home in the 64th minute to level things up.

And as the clocked ticked into stoppage time it was Salah who latched on to a loose ball in the penalty area to poke home and seal three points for the seven-time champions.

Egypt will hope to improve their finishing when they face South Africa in their next Group B encounter back in Agadir on Friday, while Zimbabwe travel to Marrakesh to take on Angola.

Brazilian winger Neres, 28, opened the scoring for the Serie A champions with a superb curling effort, and doubled their lead after the break when Bologna were caught out trying to play out from the back.

“We came here as champions of Italy, we wanted this trophy and we showed it with a great performance,” Napoli forward Matteo Politano told Mediaset.

“We could have scored a few more goals but we are happy with the victory.”

Napoli have now won the Super Cup for the third time, with Neres finishing with three goals after also scoring in Thursday’s semi-final win over previous holders AC Milan.

Traditionally featuring the Serie A and Italian Cup winners, the competition was expanded in 2023 to include the runners-up from the league and cup.

The four-team tournament is contracted to be held in Saudi Arabia until 2029.

The ‘Out of Bounds’ innovation is one of a series which were tested in three Intercontinental Cup matches in Qatar this month.

Fifa has also expanded ‘Real-time 3D Recreation’ to make line-of-sight judgements for offsides quicker and clearer.

There are two virtual feeds, available to the video assistant referee (VAR) and TV viewers, which replicate the perspectives of both goalkeepers.

The new technologies have been developed by Fifa and Hawk-Eye Innovations. It remains to be seen if they would become available to domestic leagues.

How the new technology could clear up controversies

The Premier League has produced many controversial incidents in recent seasons which this technology could have helped resolve.

Two seasons ago Arsenal were furious when VAR ruled Joe Willock had kept the ball in play before Anthony Gordon scored the only goal of the game for Newcastle. The VAR did not have the necessary camera angle to prove the ball was out.

There have been several ‘line of sight’ offside incidents this season. When Eberechi Eze scored for Arsenal against Tottenham last month there were claims Leandro Trossard was blocking Guglielmo Vicario’s view of the ball.

The ‘Out of Bounds’ technology uses the same tracking data points and configurations as advanced semi-automated offside.

It is still only in offline testing but was provided with the opportunity to show how reliable it was in Qatar.

Paris St-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz had a goal ruled out through VAR in the Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo because the ball had gone out.

Fifa also held further trials of immediate offside audio alerts sent to assistants, which debuted at the Club World Cup in the summer.

This is intended to reduce the number of delayed offside flags in obvious situations.

In May, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was placed into an induced coma after colliding with a goalpost after play continued from a clear offside.

Fifa hopes quicker notifications of offside will prevent such injuries occuring.

The club are yet to outline a timescale on Isak’s recovery but the Sweden striker is expected to be sidelined for at least a few months.

Liverpool said the 26-year-old “successfully underwent surgery” on an “ankle injury that included a fibula fracture”.

Isak came off the bench to score for Arne Slot’s side at Tottenham on Saturday but was injured by a challenge from Micky van de Ven just after getting his shot away for the goal and was unable to continue. He was in visible discomfort and helped off the pitch by medical staff.

The forward, who signed for a Premier League record £125m in the summer, has scored three goals in 16 appearances for Liverpool since making the move from Newcastle in September.

The injury is the latest setback in a difficult period for him.

This summer he was left out of the Newcastle squad for their pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a “minor thigh injury”, while it was understood he wanted to explore a move away.

He then trained alone at his former club Real Sociedad before eventually joining Liverpool on deadline day.

He made his Reds debut in a Champions League win against Atletico Madrid on 17 September and scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Southampton but has struggled for form and fitness since.

His first league goal for Slot’s side came at West Ham on 30 November before his strike against Tottenham.

Slot is next due to speak at his press conference on Tuesday morning (09:00 GMT).

Schmid replaces Frimpong Manso, who was dismissed following the club’s first-leg CAF Champions League loss to Algerian side JS Kabily.

In a statement, the club welcomed Schmid, highlighting his extensive experience at top levels of football.

“Coach Fritz comes with deep experience at the highest levels of the game. He has previously worked as an assistant coach with Tottenham Hotspur, FC Basel, and the Austria National Team, and later served as Head Coach of the New Zealand Men’s National Team. More recently, he played a key role in guiding Kotoku Royals to promotion into the Ghana Premier League.

“He now joins the Miners as we begin an exciting new chapter focused on ambition, steady growth, and long-term success.”

The statement added that Schmid joins Bibiani GoldStars as the team looks to enter a new era of ambition and sustained growth.

“Welcome to the family, Coach Fritz. We’re glad to have you with us .”

Schmid will begin his tenure as the Miners prepare to host Dreams FC at DUN’s Park in Matchday 16, with Bibiani currently sitting third in the Ghana Premier League standings.

The Yellow and Mauve outfit hosted the Matchday 15 Ghana Premier League encounter at the TNA Park, with hopes of maintaining momentum at home.

However, they fell behind midway through the first half when Moses Author fired Holy Stars into the lead after 30 minutes.

Determined to respond after the break, Medeama increased the tempo and pushed relentlessly in search of an equaliser.

Their task was made harder in the 61st minute when Yussif Mubarik saw his penalty effort saved, leaving the visitors still in front.

Basake Holy Stars were later reduced to ten men after Koffie Hagan, who had already been booked in the first half, was shown a second yellow card in the 87th minute.

Medeama capitalised on the numerical advantage late on, as substitute Kingsley Braye struck in the 90th minute to rescue a point for the hosts.

The draw keeps Medeama second on the league table, trailing leaders Aduana FC, with a trip to Heart of Lions next on their schedule. Basake Holy Stars will turn their attention to their upcoming fixture against Hohoe United.

Having claimed third place at the 2024 edition of the tournament, South Africa will be confident in their chances of a deep run in Morocco as they aim to win AFCON for the second time.

However, they needed a late effort from Foster to get over the line against Angola at Stade de Marrakech on Monday.

Foster fired home in the 79th minute to put South Africa back in front, with Angola having equalised through Show’s clever finish in the 35th minute.

South Africa, who also hit the woodwork through Mbekezeli Mbokazi, had struck first in the 21st minute as Oswin Appollis kept up his fine form for his country with a crisp effort into the bottom-left corner.

The victory took South Africa, at least temporarily, top of Group B, ahead of Mohamed Salah’s Egypt taking on Zimbabwe.

The Eagles dominated the first half and created the clearest chances but failed to convert their advantage.

El Bilal Touré missed a crucial opportunity from the penalty spot, with goalkeeper Willard Mwanza producing a superb save to keep the score level at halftime.

Mali eventually broke the deadlock after the break when a loose ball in the box fell to Lassine Sinayoko, who reacted quickest to fire a powerful shot off the crossbar and into the net, giving the West Africans a deserved lead.

However, just as Mali appeared poised to secure victory, a lapse in concentration in stoppage time allowed Patson Daka to head home unmarked, snatching a late point for Zambia and leaving the Casablanca crowd stunned.

“The equaliser was very painful. We were aiming to score three goals in this match. Our difficulties began after the missed penalty. We must not let emotions take over,” Saintfiet said after the game.

“I would have preferred to take all three points against Zambia, especially after controlling the game for 90 minutes. This equaliser felt like a victory for Zambia and a defeat for us. Now we have to prepare properly for the next matches.”

Saintfiet also identified Zambia’s midfield as a key factor in disrupting Mali’s rhythm but remained confident in his team’s ambitions.

“Zambia have good players in midfield, and they prevented us from achieving our objectives. Now we will need at least a point against Morocco in the next match. We have to finish second in the group.

“We said we want to reach the final, and that is still possible,” he added.

Mali will look to secure their first win of the tournament when they face hosts Morocco on Friday, December 26, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Mali had looked set to claim all three points after dominating long spells of the contest, but a late lapse in concentration allowed Zambia’s talisman to strike at the death and earn the Chipolopolo a valuable point.

The Eagles started brightly and imposed themselves from the opening exchanges, controlling possession and pushing Zambia deep inside their own half. Mamadou Sangaré and Lassine Sinayoko were at the heart of Mali’s attacking play, while El Bilal Touré tested the Zambian back line with his movement.

Despite Mali’s dominance, clear chances were limited, with Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza producing a series of important interventions to keep his side in the contest. His most significant moment came when he saved a penalty from Touré, preserving parity at a crucial stage of the match.

Mali’s breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark. A loose ball inside the area fell to Sinayoko, who reacted quickest and smashed a powerful effort beneath the crossbar to give the West Africans a deserved lead.

Zambia responded by increasing the tempo and committing more bodies forward. Fashion Sakala led the counter-attacks with pace and direct running, but Mali’s defence, marshalled effectively by Diaby, held firm for much of the second half.

With twenty minutes remaining, Mali coach Tom Saintfiet sought to protect the advantage by introducing fresh defensive legs, replacing Dorgeles Nene and Touré with Doumbia and Diarra. Sinayoko nearly sealed the contest moments later, his curling effort shaving the top corner.

However, Zambia refused to relent. Deep into stoppage time, a lapse in marking proved costly as Daka rose highest in the box to power home a header, silencing the Casablanca crowd and rescuing a dramatic draw.

The final whistle confirmed a frustrating outcome for Mali, who had controlled much of the contest but failed to capitalise fully. Zambia, meanwhile, showed resilience and belief, underlining their capacity to remain competitive until the very end.

The year-end ranking reflects a slight improvement on December 2024, when the Black Stars were placed 77th globally.

Spain finished the year as the world’s top-ranked national team, followed by Argentina and France in second and third places, respectively. England and Brazil occupy fourth and fifth positions, with Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia completing the top ten.

In Africa, Morocco continues to lead the continental rankings, with Senegal second, and Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria rounding out the top five.

Looking ahead, the Black Stars are scheduled to reconvene in March for an international friendly against Germany in Stuttgart as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Bournemouth attacker has emerged as one of the division’s most sought-after forwards following a string of impressive performances in recent seasons.

His form has reportedly drawn the attention of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, all of whom are monitoring his situation closely.

Semenyo, 25, has a £65 million release clause in his contract, which is active only during the first two weeks of the January transfer window.

Tottenham, who failed in their pursuit of the forward during the summer, were reportedly willing to trigger the clause and offer a lucrative wage package.

However, the former Bristol City forward is said to be “politely focusing on other options,” with his ambitions aligned towards clubs higher up the league standings. Spurs have struggled for consistency this season and currently sit 13th in the table, level on points with Bournemouth and ahead of the Cherries only on goal difference.

With Tottenham seemingly out of contention, the race for Semenyo’s signature now appears to be between Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs.

The versatile forward has enjoyed a strong campaign so far, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions.

Ghana, four-time African champions, will be making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece after qualifying for the tournament despite missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars have been drawn into Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia for the competition, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

After suffering group-stage exits at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2022 edition in Qatar, Paintsil is confident the current squad can turn the tide.

“We have good players and a higher chance of qualifying for the next round if we do well. It all depends on the players and management coming together as a team to deliver for the country,” he told Citi Sports.

“Sometimes you don’t have to talk about it; you just have to know this is the job we have to do. We must give everything we have for Ghanaians and for the badge,” he added.

Ghana will open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, face England on June 23 in Boston, before concluding the group-stage fixtures against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

Ghana, making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, have been drawn into Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama, a section widely regarded as one of the tournament’s toughest.

After suffering group-stage exits at the 2014 and 2022 tournaments in Brazil and Qatar respectively, Paintsil says the current squad is determined to represent the nation with pride and renewed purpose.

“We have to give everything, especially for Ghanaians and the badge,” the LA Galaxy forward told Citi Sports.

“It’s going to be an amazing group stage for us playing against England and Croatia. We will do whatever we have to do, but we will leave the rest to God and see what will happen at the tournament,” he added.

Paintsil described the chance to face elite opposition as a memorable experience, stressing that the team is highly motivated to rise to the occasion.

The 27-year-old recently enjoyed success at club level, winning the MLS Cup with Los Angeles Galaxy during the 2024 season. However, injury setbacks limited his involvement in the 2025 campaign as Galaxy missed out on the playoffs and finished third in the Leagues Cup.

Despite the challenges, Paintsil recorded 10 goals and two assists in 25 appearances across competitions.

Ghana will open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England on June 23 in Boston. The Black Stars will conclude their group-stage fixtures against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

Playing in front of a buoyant home crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the Atlas Lions dominated proceedings but were initially frustrated. They were handed a golden chance to take the lead in the 11th minute when Brahim Díaz was fouled inside the penalty area, only for Soufiane Rahimi’s spot kick to be brilliantly saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.

Despite sustained pressure and a flurry of chances, Morocco went into the break level, with Comoros holding firm in defence.

The breakthrough arrived 10 minutes after the restart, as Díaz made amends by calmly finishing from close range following a precise assist from Noussair Mazraoui. The goal settled the hosts, who continued to press for a second.

That decisive moment came in spectacular fashion when Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the win with an acrobatic bicycle kick, sparking celebrations around the stadium and confirming a deserved opening-day victory.

The result lifts Morocco to the top of Group A with three points, while Comoros remain rooted at the bottom.

Head coach Walid Regragui and his side will return to the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Friday, December 26, to face Mali, as Comoros turn their attention to a must-win clash against Zambia at the Stade Mohammed V.

Bechem United continued their steady rise on Saturday with a convincing 2-0 victory over Swedru All Blacks at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park. First-half goals from Augustine Okrah and Darlvin Yeboah proved decisive as the Hunters maintained control throughout the contest.

Sunday’s action saw Dreams FC dominate Berekum Chelsea at the Tuba Astro Turf, cruising to a 3-1 win. Adams Aminu struck early in the seventh minute to give the home side a first-half lead. After the break, Dreams turned on the style, with Abdul Razak Salifu and Seidu Suraj extending the advantage in the 55th and 73rd minutes respectively, before Kofi Patrick Ansu pulled one back for Chelsea late on.

At the Hohoe Sports Stadium, Hohoe United were edged out 1-0 by defending champions Bibiani United. Richard Kotey’s 33rd-minute effort separated the sides in a tightly contested encounter.

Karela United also left it late at the Aliu Mahama Stadium, grinding out a narrow 1-0 victory over Vision FC. After a goalless first half, Malik Abubakar’s strike in the 56th minute secured maximum points for the hosts.

Nations FC made home advantage count at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Stadium, claiming a 1-0 win over Young Apostles. Emmanuel Annor’s first-half penalty was enough to settle the tie.

Meanwhile, FC Samartex recorded a slim 1-0 victory against Heart of Lions at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with Emmanuel Mamah finding the net in the 44th minute.

At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, Aduana FC and Hearts of Oak shared the spoils after playing out a goalless draw.

Attention now turns to the remaining fixtures, with Medeama SC set to host Basake Holy Stars at the TNA Park on Monday, December 22, before Asante Kotoko travel to face Eleven Wonders at the AAK Park on Wednesday, December 24.

At the summit, Aduana FC, Medeama SC, Hearts of Oak and Bibiani GoldStars occupy the top four places on the table, while Vision FC, Berekum Chelsea and Eleven Wonders currently find themselves in the relegation zone.

Full Fixtures:

Bechem United 2-0 Swedru All Blacks

Dreams FC 3-1 Berekum Chelsea

Hohoe United 0-1 Bibiani GoldStars

Karela United 1-0 Vision FC

Nations FC 1-0 Young Apostles

FC Samartex 1-0 Heart of Lions

Aduana FC 0-0 Hearts of Oak

Medeama SC v Basake Holy Stars [MONDAY]

Eleven Wonders v Asante Kotoko [WEDNESDAY]

In an interview with Graphic Sports, Wilson said that if the duo are willing to commit to Ghana, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) should seriously consider adding them, citing the potential boost in both depth and competitiveness.

“I think their addition could make the team stronger. It gives competition for places and brings strength in depth,” he said. “Between now and the World Cup is a long time, and what if a player gets injured? The Premier League is very demanding, and if Antoine Semenyo or Mohammed Kudus gets injured, then you have a couple of players who can step in and play in those positions.”

Wilson emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with the players and the GFA, but noted that their presence could elevate the Black Stars’ overall performance.

“The interesting thing for Ghana is potentially bringing in players such as Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi if they are eligible and willing,” he noted.

“If they decide to represent Ghana and the GFA also decides to bring them in, then I think that team becomes even stronger.

“Ghana has a good knack for playing at the level of the opposition they face, so I think they will raise their game and Ghana has a good chance of progressing from the group.”

Highlighting their limited opportunities with England, Wilson said Ghana offers them a viable path to regular international football.

“It’s a personal decision for them and what they feel is best for their career,” he said. “I think Nketiah has represented England about three times and Hudson-Odoi once, or vice-versa, which is very few and it’s a shame to lose such talent.

“Unfortunately, neither player has been selected by England for a long time. They both have good links with Ghana, so if they want to represent the country and play regularly, then why not? It makes sense.”

He acknowledged the challenges of integrating the players with time running short before the World Cup but remained optimistic.

“I think it depends on whether the GFA want to take them on and whether they can integrate them into the squad with the time left,” he said.

“There isn’t much time before the World Cup, but if the FA want to bring them in, then why not?” he added. 

Ghana head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce his final World Cup squad on June 1.

The seven-time champions have been drawn into Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

Ahead of their opening match on Monday, Hassan, a three-time AFCON winner as a player, emphasised that the team has both the experience and mentality needed to claim the trophy, which has eluded them since 2010.

“Everyone in the Egyptian national team already has a winning mentality, which is fantastic. Thank God, I managed to win titles with the Egyptian national team as a player in 1998, 2006, and 2008,” he told CAF Media.

“We will do everything possible to reach the top and lift the trophy again this year. Achieving that requires tremendous effort from every member of the team.

Hassan highlighted Egypt’s standing in African football, noting the team’s storied history in the tournament.

“Egypt is always among the favourites in any competition because of its rich history, particularly in the Africa Cup of Nations, where we hold the record with seven titles.”

While acknowledging the strength of their group rivals, Hassan insisted that his team is focused on winning every match.

“I have great respect and admiration for them. All teams in the group are strong and have important, professional players. African football has developed a lot in recent years, but we will give our all to win the title and make the Egyptian people happy.”

Egypt’s campaign kicks off against Zimbabwe at Stade Adrar, with the match set for 20:00 GMT.

The Swede came off the bench to break the deadlock for Arne Slot’s side, but was challenged by Micky van de Ven just after he got his shot away, and was ultimately unable to continue.

The 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle in a record Premier League £125m deal in September, went for MRI scans on Sunday to determine the extent of the damage.

It is understood those scans will determine an exact timeframe on how long Isak will be sidelined.

Liverpool boss Slot is next due to speak at a news conference on Tuesday.

Asked about the injury on Saturday, he said: “We’ll have to wait and see.

“But if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn’t try to come back on the pitch, that’s usually not a good thing.”

Isak, who scored only his second Premier League goal of the season on Saturday in 10 appearances, has struggled since arriving at Anfield.

Earlier this summer, he was left out of the Newcastle squad for their pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a “minor thigh injury”, while it was understood he wanted to explore a move away.

Isak then trained alone at his former club Real Sociedad before joining Liverpool on deadline day.

Without a proper pre-season, he arrived short of match fitness and has started just 10 times in all competitions.

Liverpool are also without Mohamed Salah, who is with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the injured Cody Gakpo.

Fellow forward Hugo Ekitike, who joined in the summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, was also on target at Spurs and expected to continue to lead the line for the Reds.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has scored 11 times this term, with five in the last three league games a factor in Isak starting on the bench.

Portugal full-back Dalot said he did not know the extent of the injury that forced his team-mate for club and country out of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at half-time.

But his assessment couldn’t have been clearer.

“It’s massive,” Dalot told Sky Sports. “We don’t know how bad it is but for him to come off, we know how tough he is.”

To put that into context, in his entire time at United, Fernandes has missed two games due to injury towards the end of 2023-24, when he was managing a knee complaint so he could play in the FA Cup final. He has also missed one match through illness.

Fernandes is United’s talisman and most creative force. Even dropping into a deeper role this season, he has five goals and seven assists. Until the game at Villa Park, there had been only four Premier League matches in which United had scored and he he had failed to be involved in at least one goal.

Little wonder Amorim didn’t want to dwell on his captain’s impending absence for too long.

“I don’t what to talk about matters you can’t control,” he said.

“It’s a soft tissue, I think he’s going to lose some games, I don’t know for sure. He is a guy who is always fit so he might recover quite well.”

However, Amorim did confirm Fernandes would miss the Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle at Old Trafford after initially pulling up towards the end of the first-half, feeling his hamstring.

He continued to half-time but did not reappear for the second half and when he eventually made his way to the visitors dugout, he was moving very slowly.

‘We are going to struggle’ – Amorim’s squad looking thin

The problem for Amorim is two-fold.

First, how on earth does he replace Fernandes? Secondly, how long will he be sidelined?

After the Newcastle game, United have four games in a fortnight, culminating in the FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton. Beyond that are Premier League meetings with Manchester City and Arsenal.

Amorim’s squad has barely suffered an injury so far this season. Now he is losing his most important player just as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui begin Africa Cup of Nations campaigns that might not end until the day after the home game with Manchester City on 17 January.

In addition, experienced defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire show no immediate sign of returning from injuries that have kept them out for four and six matches respectively.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Kobbie Mainoo – whose frustration at not starting a league game this season is well known – missed the Villa trip with a calf problem, which Amorim said would “probably” rule him out of the Newcastle game.

“We must find different situations,” he added.

The one bit of good news is the return of Casemiro from a one-match ban.

Manuel Ugarte should be fit, although a statistic released at the end of the game showed United had not won any of the last nine league games in which the Uruguay midfielder has started – a record at United beaten only by Brazilian Kleberson – will not fill supporters with much confidence.

Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was Fernandes’ direct replacement against Villa and did a decent enough job. However, last month Amorim said he would only use the Argentina international in midfield as an ’emergency’ which underlines the issue.

England youth international Jack Fletcher – son of former United title winner Darren – was given his debut as a substitute but, at 18, expectations have to be tempered.

The lack of bodies will heighten demands among the club’s support for United to bolster Amorim’s squad with new arrivals in the January transfer window.

On Friday the former Sporting coach said he was not prepared to panic buy and would only go after pre-existing targets.

There is interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, while former Wolves skipper Ruben Neves – thought to be seeking a move back to Europe from the Saudi Pro League next month – fits the template for the type of midfield player United need.

However, even though they have only taken 10 points from their last eight games and have dropped below Liverpool to seventh in the table, and four points above 14th spot, Amorim said he will not abandon the long-standing plan.

“What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency, make mistakes and then [it’s] ‘here we go again’ with a lot of mistakes,” he added.

“I’m not going to get [together] with [technical director] Jason [Wilcox] and [chief executive] Omar [Berrada] and say, ‘We need a lot of players’.

“We have a plan. If we have to suffer, the club comes first.

“Of course, we are in a moment where we need points, but we need to find solutions, and we are going to continue with our plan.

“You can feel in this moment we are going to struggle, but we will see.”

The tournament will see 24 teams battling for the continental crown across the next couple of weeks.

Fulham midfielder Iwobi will represent his home country of Nigeria in the competition, where they will be hoping to clinch the title after missing out in a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in 2023’s final.

“With Afcon, you get to celebrate Africa through football,” he tells BBC Newsbeat.

“You get to see different cultures, you get to see how different people dress, how people from Nigeria, the way we walk into the changing rooms.

“When some of the other countries walk into the changing rooms, we play music, so we’re celebrating our music through that as well.”

Nigeria will be hoping to redeem themselves after failing to qualify for a second successive World Cup.

Iwobi says it was a “big disappointment”, but the team will be using it to fuel them in the Afcon tournament.

“We owe it to ourselves to make it right, and there’s no better way from the last Afcon to improve (than) just to win this one,” the 29-year-old says.

Afcon is typically held every two years and this time Morocco is hosting.

Nigeria have won the competition three times over the years, the last being back in 2013.

Their most recent loss to Ivory Coast is still prominent in Iwobi’s mind as he says it “shattered” their dreams.

However, he feels the moment was “written” for striker Sébastien Haller, who scored the winning goal after overcoming testicular cancer.

“It was a tough loss, but you give credit when credit due, they deserved it,” Iwobi says.

“But it’s also fuelled us and we’ve been working hard to get into the Afcon again and, hopefully, this is our story.”

Getty Images: Alex Iwobi made his debut for Nigeria’s national team in 2015

The Fulham midfielder was born in Lagos, but moved to London as a child. His talent was spotted early and he was selected to represent England up to under-18 level.

After many years with the Three Lions, he made his debut for Nigeria’s national team in 2015 as he says he felt more “at home” with the team.

“England treated me with a lot of respect and they loved me,” he says. “But at the same time, I felt more of a connection with my roots in Nigeria.”

He has since made 91 appearances, making him the fourth most capped player for the Nigerian Super Eagles.

Iwobi says he never thought he would play for Arsenal, Fulham, or Nigeria growing up, but he is “honoured and grateful” for his achievements.

Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Iwobi’s school friend Ola Aina are also among the players on the Nigerian national team who were not raised in the country.

They have been affectionately nicknamed the “innit boys”, and Iwobi hopes they have helped open the door for others to represent their home country.

“You’re Nigerian at the end of the day and you will get loved regardless,” he says.

Getty Images: Iwobi says he never thought we would play for Arsenal, Fulham, or Nigeria in his career

There has been debate over whether Afcon gets the respect it deserves.

Earlier this year, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher caused a stir when he suggested Afcon was not considered a “major tournament”, when discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the coveted Ballon d’Or.

Iwobi feels there is still more work to be done.

“It’s obviously getting recognised a lot more,” he says. “There’s a lot of great talents, great nations representing.

“In the Premier League there’s a lot of players in each team that are going to be represented so the awareness is growing, but it definitely deserves a lot more respect, in my opinion.”

If he wins the tournament, the Fulham player says he will be on the phone to his parents and sister straight away, while his extended family will be dancing.

“I’ve heard from previous people that when they win it, it’s like everything just stops, you become like a king, you’re just royalty,” he says.

“Just going to the final we got treated like royalty anyway, so I can’t imagine winning it.

“It would just be crazy, but I want to experience that.”

Despite entering the game on a nine-match winning streak, Villa started the match slowly, and United grew into the game as the first half wore on.

Benjamin Sesko had two half chances to give the visitors the lead, who were looking to close in on the Champions League spots, but was denied by Emi Martinez on his injury return.

It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock, just before the break.

Rogers cut inside from the left flank and curled an effort into the top corner from the corner of the box, well beyond a helpless Senne Lammens.

But United bit back immediately, when Matheus Cunha pounced on an error from Matty Cash to slot past Martinez.

Late on in the first half, Bruno Fernandes appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was replaced at the break, as United’s midfield got stretched even more thinly.

However, ten minutes into the second half, Rogers retook the lead for Villa, gathering the ball just inside the area after Ollie Watkins held it up well.

Rogers took two touches to steady himself before curling past Lammens again, though this time the Belgian keeper would feel he could have got a hand to it.

United dominated the ball for much of the second half but did not create many chances, coming closest when Cunha put a free header wide from six yards out.

The win means Unai Emery’s side spend Christmas just three points behind Arsenal at the top, while United miss out on the chance to go fifth and remain seventh, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Villa have two crucial trips to London coming up over the festive period, taking on Chelsea then Arsenal, while United stay home to host mid-table Newcastle and winless Wolves.

The 2025 edition was originally due to be a mid-year tournament, to reduce scheduling conflicts with European clubs and competitions.

The summer event was supposed to boost tourism and highlight what Morocco has to offer, before the country co-hosts the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

But it was shifted to December to make way for Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup, held in the summer.

The move to a start in December rather than January will avoid conflicts with the Champions League and Europa League, which restart on 20 and 22 January respectively.

It will be the first time Afcon has been held at this time of year, with matches played in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez.

There will not be matches on 25 December.

Players participating in Afcon were released from clubs on 15 December.

This means teams have only had a week to prepare before the tournament begins, sparking anger from coaches who have been left with a short window in which to prepare their teams.

Angola’s coach Patrice Beaumelle said the situation was “nonsense” and that “you can’t prepare a serious team in just two or three sessions”.

The last time Afcon was held in summer was the 2019 edition, hosted by Egypt.

In recent years, the tournament has been played between January and February.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: 2023 hosts Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final to win the trophy

Why is Afcon traditionally held in the winter?

Afcon is traditionally held in the winter months, primarily in January and February, because of the variable African climate.

Summer in some nations can include rainy seasons and extreme heat conditions, which can affect football pitches and playing conditions.

The winter period instead provides drier conditions and stable temperatures, making for ideal playing conditions.

The 2023 edition held in the Ivory Coast was due to be held in the summer of 2022, but it was moved to early in the following year because of the weather conditions.

Being held in winter also means Afcon can avoid clashes with other international football tournaments that traditionally take place in the summer.

But this has caused conflict with European clubs who now have to release players mid-season.

Why has Afcon been staged every two years?

The Africa Cup of Nations has traditionally been held biannually. When it first began in 1957, a place at the World Cup was not guaranteed for African teams.

Over the years, more African nations have participated in the World Cup.

But the regularity of Afcon ensures there has been a consistency in revenue from tournaments and tourism.

It also provides regular opportunities for teams and players to compete.

However, in future Afcon will take place once every four years instead of every two years, to fit in with other international football tournaments.

In 2020, Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed this idea to the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

He also suggested streamlining Afcon to be held between September and November.

On Saturday, 20 December, the eve of this year’s Afcon, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced the tournament will be held every four years from 2028.

The Atlas Lions, who are staging the 35th edition of Africa’s flagship tournament, begin their campaign against Comoros at the iconic Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, with expectations high among home supporters.

Addressing the media ahead of the opener, Regragui stressed that success will depend as much on mentality as it does on talent.

“We have been working for two years. It will be a big day at home. Our objective has always been to win the AFCON and to give everything. Our supporters are with us,” he said.

The Moroccan coach also provided an update on Achraf Hakimi, who is nursing an injury picked up during a match against Bayern Munich, suggesting a cautious approach to his involvement.

“He may start, or he may not. Every match is important. We will have to manage emotions and play with confidence and humility.”

Morocco will be eager to make a strong start on home soil before turning their attention to Mali in their second Group A fixture and concluding the group stage against Zambia.

In a breathless opening, Hansi Flick’s side took a 12th-minute lead against the run of play when Raphinha converted from the penalty spot after being brought down in the penalty area by Santi Comesana.

Villarreal, who had won their last six La Liga games, were reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute when former Chelsea youngster Renato Veiga was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge from behind on Lamine Yamal.

The Barcelona teenager all but ended the game as a contest in the 63rd minute, poking home calmly from close range after a scramble in the penalty area.

Fourth-placed Villarreal will have been frustrated not to have taken an early lead at the Estadio de la Ceramica after creating several early opportunities prior to Raphinha’s opener.

Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe headed wide from close range, while ex-Newcastle frontman Ayoze Perez had a goal-bound strike deflected off target before sending a tame shot into Joan Garcia’s arms from the edge of the box.

Raphinha was unfortunate not to double his – and Barcelona’s – tally in the first half when he rattled the crossbar with a venomous effort from the edge of the penalty area.

However, the home side thought they had restored parity before half-time when Jules Kounde turned Sergi Cardona’s low cross into his own net – only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against the Villarreal full-back.

Pepe also struck the bar in a one-on-one with Barcelona goalkeeper Garcia, but that goal too would have been disallowed after the Ivorian mistimed his run from Dani Parejo’s pass.

The second period was a less frantic affair as Barcelona looked to press home their numerical advantage, and Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior needed to be at full stretch to prevent Fermin Lopez from finding the bottom corner not long after the restart.

Yamal settled the outcome, however, poking the ball into the far corner for his ninth goal of the season in all competitions.

Georges Mikautadze was then denied in a one-on-one with Garcia with 13 minutes remaining, but Barca comfortably saw out the final stages to stretch their winning La Liga run to eight games.

They return to action after the winter break against city rivals Espanyol on Saturday, 3 January (20:00 GMT), while Villarreal travel to Elche earlier that day (17:30 GMT).

The announcement was made on Saturday following a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) in Rabat, Morocco, a day before the kick-off of the tournament. 

The Prize Money for the winner represents a 43% increase from the 2023 edition, when hosts Cote d’Ivoire pocketed USD 7 million.    

The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Cameroon 2021 received USD 5 million and with the figure having doubled to USD 10 million in 2025, it marks an astonishing 100% increase over a four-year period.

Historic increase in AFCON Prize Money

• AFCON Cameroon 2021: USD 5 Million
• AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023: USD 7 Million
• AFCON Morocco 2025: USD 10 Million

The runners-up at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will receive USD 4 million, while the two semi-finalists each receive USD 2.5 million.

Motsepe made the announcement on Saturday, December 20, while addressing the media ahead of the opening of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, which kicks off on Sunday.

The decision marks a significant shift for Africa’s flagship football competition, which has been staged every two years since 1968.

The new format will come into effect after the 2027 edition, scheduled to be hosted in Eastern Africa. The 2028 tournament will still be played before the four-year cycle officially begins.

According to Motsepe, the change forms part of a broader strategy aimed at reshaping African football.

“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” he said.

CAF believes the revised calendar will enhance the overall quality of the competition, give host countries more time to prepare, and ease the growing scheduling burden on players and clubs.

In addition, the continental body has announced plans to introduce an African Nations League, with the new competition expected to kick off in 2029.

The Hunters welcomed the Premier League returnees to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Saturday and made their early dominance count in the first half.

Augustine Okrah opened the scoring in the 16th minute, breaking the deadlock with a composed finish before James Yeboah doubled the advantage eight minutes later to put the hosts firmly in control at the interval.

Bechem United continued to dictate proceedings after the break, maintaining their superiority but failing to add to their tally despite creating several chances.

Swedru All Blacks were unable to mount a meaningful comeback as the hosts comfortably saw out the contest.

The victory moves Bechem United up to 12th on the league table with 16 points, while Swedru All Blacks remain 10th with 18 points.

Bechem United will next face a stern test away to Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium in Matchday 16, while Swedru All Blacks return home to take on Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium next weekend.

It looked a long way back for Chelsea at a raucous St James’ Park after a well-taken double from Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in control at half-time.

But no side have dropped more points – 13 – from winning positions in the Premier League than Newcastle.

So the stadium suddenly felt a little nervy when Chelsea captain Reece James pulled one back with a pinpoint 25-yard free-kick just a few minutes into the second half.

It then turned a little hostile when Newcastle were denied a penalty after Trevoh Chalobah bodychecked Anthony Gordon inside the box before Chelsea equalised.

Joao Pedro, who opted to move to Chelsea ahead of Newcastle last summer, drew his side level. The Brazilian raced through on goal and slotted the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after capitalising on a slip from defender Malick Thiaw.

It set up a grandstand finish as the game became increasingly stretched and Harvey Barnes had a glorious opportunity to win it for Newcastle late on, but the substitute fired wide on the volley to leave head coach Eddie Howe covering his face with his hands on the touchline.

Chelsea remain six points clear of Newcastle in fourth while Howe’s side are in 11th for the time being.

Manchester City overhauled the Gunners with a comfortable victory against West Ham United before this match, putting the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta’s side on the return to his former club.

Arsenal’s cause was helped when Everton defender Jake O’Brien needlessly handled Declan Rice’s 27th-minute corner, with Viktor Gyokores hammering home the resulting penalty in emphatic fashion.

Arsenal were not at their best but could have extended their lead after the break, Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi both hitting the woodwork when they should have done better.

The win means Arsenal go two points above Manchester City at the top of the table, and six points clear of third-placed Aston Villa, who host Manchester United on Sunday.

Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute but was injured in the act of scoring, before Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead 10 minutes later.

Richarlison came off the bench to pull a goal back for Spurs but the visitors held on to inflict further pain on Thomas Frank, whose side had Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off and have now won just one of their past eight league games.

After a cagey start, Simons was sent off for a foul on Virgil van Dijk in the 33rd minute following a VAR review.

Referee John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled it was “serious foul play” after Simons raked his studs down the calf of Van Dijk – his captain for the Netherlands.

With the game there for the taking, Slot sent Isak on at half-time after Conor Bradley suffered a knock – and the £125m British record signing finished coolly past Guglielmo Vicario after being fed by Florian Wirtz for his first Premier League assist.

However, as Isak got his shot away he was floored by Micky van de Ven and was unable to celebrate his goal.

The Sweden forward looked in serious pain and he was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong just 15 minutes after coming on.

Spurs came close to equalising when Randal Kolo Muani’s deflected effort hit the bar, but Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Frimpong’s deflected cross was met by France forward Ekitike, who headed in his fifth goal in his past three league games.

Spurs were furious that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming Ekitike had fouled Romero – with the Tottenham captain subsequently booked for his protests.

Frank introduced Richarlison for Kolo Muani in the 80th minute and three minutes later, the Brazil attacker was on hand to finish past Alisson in a crowded penalty box after Liverpool failed to clear their lines.

The visitors looked nervy as 10-man Tottenham hunted for an equaliser late on, but the hosts had another player sent off when Romero was given a second yellow card in injury time for lashing out at Ibrahima Konate after Spurs won a free-kick.

Liverpool managed to hold on for a victory which moves them up to fifth in the league – and they are now unbeaten in their past six after a run of nine defeats in 12.

Real took the lead seven minutes before the break when Jude Bellingham leaped above Lucien Agoume and glanced a header from a Rodrygo free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Sevilla had opportunities to equalise, although Real’s task was made easier after the break when Marcao was shown a second yellow card for a rash foul on Bellingham.

Mbappe, celebrating his 27th birthday, then converted from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after Rodrygo was clumsily fouled by Juanlu Sanchez to equal Ronaldo’s record from 2013.

City are one point clear of Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta’s side can reclaim top spot later on Saturday if they win at Everton (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham needed a positive start to take anything from their game at Etihad Stadium, but that went out of the window inside five minutes when Haaland converted at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by Alphonse Areola.

The Hammers were cut open all too easily and, shortly after scoring, Norway striker Haaland somehow sent a free header wide from close range, while Tijjani Reijnders forced Areola into a sharp save low down.

The Dutch midfielder did get on the scoresheet seven minutes before half-time, collecting Haaland’s pass before jinking forward and hammering a finish into the roof of the net.

West Ham tried to claw something back in the second half, but Jarrod Bowen could only find the side netting from an acute angle and dragged another shot wide.

Haaland’s second goal then ensured a joyless Christmas for the Hammers who are anchored inside the relegation zone.

Ghana, appearing at the World Cup for the fifth time, will face Panama in their opener on June 17 in Toronto, before taking on England on June 23 in Boston and closing the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

In an interview with Sporty FM, Boateng described Ghana’s group as challenging but emphasised the importance of the first match against Panama.

“I feel like that’s a tough group. We all know how England plays—some of our players compete in the English league, so we know their style,” he said. “Croatia also always perform well in tournaments, and people respect them a lot; they have very good players who work hard.”

He highlighted Panama as a team not to be underestimated, pointing to the influence of their captain, who plays alongside him at San Diego.

“Here comes Panama, who we don’t know much about, and their captain plays in our team. I watch him every day in training; he is not a guy who runs a lot, but when the game starts, he has more brains than anyone on the field. He picks passes that can destroy your defenders in one move. They qualified because they play well—they are really good—and we face them in our first game,” Boateng said.

He insisted that a win against Panama would build confidence for the matches against England and Croatia.

“Everything starts from the first game. If we beat Panama, England and Croatia won’t seem as tough. England is afraid of us because we have quality players—Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana have matched them before. In every tournament, the first game is the most important; it gives you a foundation for the rest of the matches. We must focus on that game,” he added.

After early exits in 2014 and 2022 in Brazil and Qatar, Ghana will be aiming for a deeper run in the expanded 2026 World Cup, beginning with a statement victory in Toronto.