All posts tagged: AFCON

CAF to investigate post-match violence at Africa Cup of Nations | Football News

CAF to investigate post-match violence at Africa Cup of Nations | Football News

Violent confrontations at the conclusion of two of the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the weekend are to be investigated with possible sanctions to be imposed, the Confederation of African Football said. Opposing players jostled with each other after Morocco beat Cameroon in Rabat on Friday and when Nigeria overcame Algeria in Agadir on Saturday. Video on social media showed the referee being pursued down the tunnel by Algerian players after their 2-0 defeat, and altercations among journalists from the two countries in the mixed zone, an area where reporters can interview players after the match. “CAF has collected recent match reports and video evidence indicating potentially unacceptable behaviour from some players and officials and has opened an investigation,” a statement said. “CAF has referred the matters to the Disciplinary Board for investigation and has called for appropriate action to be taken if the identified persons were to be found guilty of any wrongdoing. “CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers. Appropriate …

What Mo Salah said after guiding Egypt into AFCON semis post a 3-2 win over Ivory Coast | Football News

What Mo Salah said after guiding Egypt into AFCON semis post a 3-2 win over Ivory Coast | Football News

Mo Salah was in roaring form as he helped secure the decisive goal in a 3-2 win for Egypt against the Ivory Coast in the AFCON. En.africatopsports.com reported his joy after he helped clinch a tougher against the reigning champions.  “I am very happy and proud to play with these guys,” he said. “We always want to bring joy to the Egyptian fans, and we believe we can win every match with this mindset.” The winger also spoke of the challenge Egypt faced when having to close out the game under pressure after getting a two goal cushion after halftime, adding: “It was a difficult match. The Ivorians won the AFCON last time at home. They played like champions today as well.” Liverpool’s No.11 elaborated on the responsibility he carries for Egypt, saying: “I always give my all for my team. I try to bring my experience to help us achieve great things.” Mohamed Salah has scored in every game he has played at AFCON 👑🇪🇬 🏟 4 Games ⚽️ 4 Goals 🅰️ 1 Assist pic.twitter.com/NEWAPk986m …

Gabon government suspends national team, sack captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and coach after dismal AFCON showing | Football News

Gabon government suspends national team, sack captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and coach after dismal AFCON showing | Football News

After Gabon was eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations without recording a single win, the government announced the immediate suspension of the national team and sacking of coach Thierry Mouyouma as well as kicking captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Ecuele Manga off it. After losing their opening two encounters against Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon, who were already out of the Round of 16 contention for the AFCON, played the last Group stage match against Ivory Coast without Aubameyang as well as Manga. Former Arsenal player Aubameyang had already left the national squad to his French cub Olympique de Marseille, a day before the Ivory Coast encounter for treatment on a thigh injury. Gabon’s Minister of Sports announced on television the suspension of the national team after they finished last in their ‍group ⁠and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco. “Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team until ​further notice, and exclude players Bruno ‌Ecuele Manga and …

WATCH: DR Congo fan stands motionless for full 90 mins in country’s AFCON matches | Football News

WATCH: DR Congo fan stands motionless for full 90 mins in country’s AFCON matches | Football News

The African Cup of Nations tournament has always thrown up a lot of incidents that you don’t see in regular football matches and the 2025 iteration, which was a little lacking in these moments, finally found one through a DR Congo fan. In a video that quickly went viral on social media, the fan nicknamed Lumumba because of his pose resembling Patrice Lumumba, the ex-Prime Minister of Congo, stood motionless throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes of the match between his country and Botswana. The fan had done the same thing in Congo’s opening match against Senegal as well. Senegal, Congo and Benin were already sure of progressing before their final group D games late Tuesday. In the end, Senegal topped the group on goal difference after its 3-0 win over Benin, while Congo finished second after a 3-0 win over Botswana. Botswana had already lost to Senegal and Benin and was certain of finishing last. This DR Congo fan stayed on his feet for the full 90 minutes of the match 😱 Don’t …

South Africa coach Hugo Broos blasts lack of ‘AFCON vibe’ at Africa Cup in Morocco | Football News

South Africa coach Hugo Broos blasts lack of ‘AFCON vibe’ at Africa Cup in Morocco | Football News

South Africa coach Hugo Broos isn’t getting that usual Africa Cup of Nations feeling in Morocco. Broos, who led Cameroon to the title in 2017 in Gabon and took South Africa to third place at the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast, said Sunday there was a lack of enthusiasm for the 35th Africa Cup. “In the Ivory Coast and in Gabon, every second of the tournament you felt that you were in a tournament,” Broos said. “The people were – when we went with the bus to train – the people were waving and they were with flags, and here you see nothing. So, I don’t know, but yeah, there is no vibe, there is no typical AFCON vibe. I don’t feel it here.” The Belgian coach was speaking in Marrakech ahead of South Africa’s final group game against Zimbabwe on Monday. The Bafana Bafana opened with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Angola in Marrakech and then lost 1-0 to Egypt in Agadir. Egypt is already through to the last 16 from Group B with …

AFCON 2025: Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi asks fans to stop whistling the team at Africa Cup | Football News

AFCON 2025: Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi asks fans to stop whistling the team at Africa Cup | Football News

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has appealed for the host nation’s supporters to stop whistling the team at the Africa Cup of Nations. “It’s not normal for the supporters to whistle,” Hakimi said Sunday before Morocco’s final group game against Zambia on Monday. “We need that 12th man.” The Moroccan players were subjected to whistles from the home fans at half time and again at full time after their disappointing 1-1 draw against Mali on Friday. “We need the fans,” Hakimi said. “But we have to respect our rivals. They’re not easy opponents.” Morocco, the highest ranked African team at No. 11, is considered the favorite for the 35th edition of the tournament after reaching the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup. The Atlas Lions have all their group games in the near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the capital, where they will also play their first knockout game should they finish top of their group. “We know the fans want us to win all the time. Since the World Cup, there’s a new …

Exclusive: Nora Fatehi is dating a footballer, visits Morocco to attend AFCON 2025 games

Exclusive: Nora Fatehi is dating a footballer, visits Morocco to attend AFCON 2025 games

Nora Fatehi is currently grabbing all the attention as she balances her international music collaborations with her thriving Bollywood presence. But it seems her personal life might be hitting equally high notes. Nora has found herself at the center of a romance speculation after being spotted in the company of one of football’s most celebrated footballers. A little birdie told us; whispers have reached a fever pitch as Nora has made a special trip to Morocco to attend the Afcon 2025 football game. Clearly, she was there for reasons more than her love for the game.  A source confirms that Nora is attending the game, and the observers have connected the dots. The rumour mills started when they were spotted out and about in Dubai and now in Morocco, which has set tongues wagging. Sources hint that both parties value their privacy immensely, especially Nora, who is particularly keen on focusing on her work commitments. Recently, Nora teased her upcoming single at Sunburn Festival in Mumbai at David Guetta‘s concert. The much-awaited musical banger will …

South Africa To Face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt In AFCON, Nigeria Draw Tunisia

South Africa To Face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt In AFCON, Nigeria Draw Tunisia

South Africa will face Mohamed Salah-captained Egypt while Ademola Lookman-inspired Nigeria must tackle Tunisia after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage draw was made in Rabat on Monday. Hosts Morocco face giantkillers Comoros in the opening match of the 24-team tournament on December 21 while title-holders Ivory Coast will come up against five-time winners Cameroon. Sudan, a country ravaged by civil war, drew Algeria, and the clash of Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to be another group-stage highlight.    Prolific scorer Salah has won multiple honours with Liverpool, but victory in the AFCON has eluded him. He came closest by finishing a runner-up in 2017 and 2022. Apart from South Africa, the record seven-time champions will take on two other countries from the south of the continent, Angola and Zimbabwe, in Group B.  Nigeria, runners-up to the Ivory Coast last year, are blessed with outstanding forwards, including African Footballer of the Year Lookman and his predecessor Victor Osimhen.  Tunisia, making a record 17th consecutive AFCON appearance, and …

Sebastien Haller Hits Winner As Ivory Coast Beat Nigeria To Take AFCON Title

Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as hosts Ivory Coast fought back to beat Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final and complete the most remarkable of major tournament turnarounds by claiming their third continental title. Nigeria looked set to repeat their 1-0 victory over the Ivorians here at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium during the group stage when captain William Troost-Ekong — who had netted a penalty to decide that first meeting — rose to head in the opener late in the first half. However, Franck Kessie equalised just after the hour mark and Haller turned in Simon Adingra’s cross in the 81st minute to spark wild celebrations among the sea of orange in the Abidjan stands. Ivory Coast’s success sees them add this year’s title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while this win also allows them to join Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall. Spearheaded by reigning African player of the year Osimhen, the Nigerians had looked the most formidable team in the …

Nigeria Set Up AFCON Final Against Hosts Ivory Coast

Substitute forward Kelechi Iheanacho and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali played key roles as Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties on Wednesday in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final thriller. The three-time champions will face hosts Ivory Coast, who dominated the Democratic Republic of Congo but had to settle for a 1-0 win in Abidjan, in the final on Sunday. Nigeria triumphed after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Bouake in the latest of many dramatic matches at this biennial African football showpiece. “Our team has a huge state of mind. The team fights together, There are 25 of us (in the squad and) it’s difficult to beat us,” said Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro. “Deep down, thinking about that second cancelled (Nigerian) goal and the (South African equaliser), a lot of teams would have given up. “I am very happy, the players are happy, they deserve it, we deserve it, the Super Eagles deserve it, the Nigerian people deserve it.” South Africa coach Hugo Broos said: “Football can be cruel. You play a …