Injured Salah led Egypt to victory after defying Liverpool

Johannesburg (AFP) – Injured Liverpool star Mohamed Salah defied his club and captained Egypt to a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Guinea in Cairo at the weekend, according to national coach Ehab Galal. "Salah was hit by an injury, but played through it," said Galal following his debut after Portuguese Carlos Queiroz […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – AS Roma teenager Felix Afena-Gyan, 19, scored as Ghana cruised to a 3-0 win over Madagascar on Wednesday and claimed the leadership of Group E as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying kicked off. Angola came from behind to edge the Central African Republic 2-1 in the same section and lie […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Another venue row involving Morocco is brewing, this time over qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ivory Coast.     Liberia have no international-standard stadium and Group K rivals Morocco say the west Africans can stage their three home fixtures in the kingdom. But group rivals South Africa […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal will begin their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title defence at home to Benin during June, according to the 2023 qualifying calendar released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).  Senegal will also visit Rwanda during June, face Mozambique at home and away in September, and play return matches […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former Ivory Coast star Salomon Kalou believes his country have "a good chance to win" the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they host the tournament during June and July next year. Kalou and former South Africa star Lucas Radebe made the draw for the 2023 qualifying groups at the studios of […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Kenya and Zimbabwe will be included in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw on Tuesday in Johannesburg despite being banned by FIFA over government interference. "We have included the two countries in the hope that the bans will be lifted not later than two weeks before the first matchday in […]

Abidjan (AFP) – The Confederation of African Football president, Patrice Motsepe, said he was "reassured" by the progress made by the Ivory Coast on a visit to the next Africa Cup of Nations hosts on Monday. "We are confident that the AFCON you will organise here will be the best," Motsepe said after meeting Ivorian […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Forwards based in Finland and Bolivia scored in Mauritius on Sunday to take minnows Sao Tome e Principe to the group stage of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Ricardo Cardoso from Helsinki outfit Klubi 04 netted twice and recent Guabira signing Luis Leal once in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Mauritius […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Luis Leal shrugged off a 15,000km journey and a big time difference to score and give Sao Tome e Principe a 1-0 win over Mauritius on Thursday in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.    The 34-year-old forward and best known Sao Tomean footballer struck after 36 minutes in the […]

On February 6, Senegal won its first AFCON title by beating Egypt on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes. Among the storylines going in was the duel between Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah. Many consider Salah the greatest African talent of the last five to 10 years. However, it his Anfield teammate takes […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – There have been 55 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals from 1957 when Egypt defeated hosts Sudan 2-1 in the first and AFP Sport highlights five facts: — Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida scored the quickest goal just one minute into a 2-0 triumph over South Africa in Lagos 22 years ago. Babangida, then […]