Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria edge Tunisia in five-goal thriller to reach AFCON knockout stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria edge Tunisia in five-goal thriller to reach AFCON knockout stage

Nigeria secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against Tunisia in Fez on Saturday night. This win allowed Nigeria to qualify for the Round of 16 in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Morocco in 2025.

In an exciting match, Nigeria took an early lead of 3-0, but Tunisia mounted a late comeback, pulling within one goal before Nigeria secured the win. Ademola Lookman was key for Nigeria, contributing two assists and a goal.

He assisted Victor Osimhen’s opening goal before Wilfred Ndidi doubled the lead with a header. Lookman scored in the 66th minute after a setup from Osimhen.

Tunisia fought back, with Montassar Talbi scoring a header from a free-kick and Ali Abdi converting a penalty after VAR ruled a handball. They nearly equalised in stoppage time, but Ferjani Sassi’s header missed wide.

With this win, Nigeria leads Group C with six points and will face Uganda next, while Tunisia, now with three points, plays Tanzania. Lookman, named Man of the Match, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and his own role.

Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, praised the team’s intensity and ball recovery. In contrast, Tunisia’s coach, Sami Trabelsi, acknowledged their disappointment but highlighted the positives in their late performance, emphasising the need to capitalise on chances in future matches.

AFCON 2025: Mane rescues Senegal in draw with DR Congo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON 2025: Mane rescues Senegal in draw with DR Congo

Ex-Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored the equaliser as Senegal avoided a DR Congo upset, while Benin beat Botswana in their Group D second matches on Saturday.

The Africa Cup of Nations continues this Saturday with an important match between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In their last first-round encounter, the teams concluded with a 1-1 draw.

Sadio Mané was awarded the TotalEnergies Man of the Match for his outstanding performance and goal against DR Congo.

Senegal started strong, dominating possession but struggling with final passes and missed chances, including from Jackson, Sarr, and Mané. DR Congo, while disciplined, had a disallowed goal for offside.

As the second half progressed, Senegal’s intensity dropped, allowing DR Congo’s Bakambu to score after a mistake by Mendy. However, Senegal quickly equalised when Ibrahim Mbaye set up Sadio Mané.

The match ended intensely, with both teams pushing for victory but ultimately drawing 1-1, each earning a fourth point in the tournament.

Earlier on, Benin recorded its first AFCON win in their history

Yohan Roche netted a deflected goal to secure Benin’s first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, leading to a 1-0 win against Botswana in their Group D match in Rabat on Saturday.

With this win, Benin now has three points after two games, putting them on equal footing with Senegal and the DRC, who are set to face off later on Saturday in Tangier.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, when Roche combined with captain Steve Mounie for a quick one-two inside the box. His shot from about 9 meters (10 yards) took a significant deflection off a defender, finding its way into the net.

Egypt first to reach knockout stage as Angola and Zimbabwe draw blank
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt first to reach knockout stage as Angola and Zimbabwe shared points

Egypt reached the round of sixteen after winning 1-0 against South Africa in their second match of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The match was tense at the Adrar stadium in Agadir, Morocco. Egypt scored first when a penalty was awarded to them after a VAR review.

Salah was fouled for the penalty after Mudau’s arm caught him. The referee initially let the game continue, but VAR reviewed the play for a long time.

Some pundits thought the call was too harsh, but the final decision was a penalty, scored by Salah just before halftime.

Later, the referee made another decision, showing Mohamed Hany a second yellow card for a poor challenge, stepping on Mokoena’s toe.

That was an unnecessary move by Hany. The momentum shifted to South Africa after the break, but the Pharaohs made it difficult for them.

However, South Africa thought they got a penalty of their own when Yasser Ibrahim clearly handled the ball in the area as he slid to attempt to block Mokoena’s shot.

Even with VAR getting involved, the referee’s original decision of awarding a free-kick just outside the box remains unchanged. As seven minutes of added time ticked away, Egypt managed to hold on and claim victory in the match.

Earlier, Angola and Zimbabwe played out a 1–1 draw in their Group B encounter at the Stade de Marrakech this Friday, leaving both sides still searching for their first victory in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.

In a competitive clash where both defences were tested, it was Angola who struck first, only for Zimbabwe to respond late in the first half to ensure the points were shared.

With the draw, both Angola and Zimbabwe remain without a win in AFCON 2025. Their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages now hinge on strong performances in their remaining group matches, as they look to build on this performance and secure vital points in the race for qualification.

South Africa v Egypt go head to head in heavyweights Cup of Nations tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa and Egypt go head-to-head in heavyweight Cup of Nations tie

South Africa and Egypt will compete in a significant match for the top position in Group B after both teams secured wins in their opening contests.


In their previous encounter at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), South Africa achieved a notable upset against Egypt.

At the Cairo International Stadium in 2019, Thembinkosi Lorch’s crucial goal shocked the home crowd of over 60,000, as Bafana Bafana eliminated Egypt in the Round of 16.

In a highly anticipated AFCON matchup, Egypt and South Africa are set to renew their rivalry after a six-year hiatus. Both teams head into this clash with momentum, having won their opening matches in Group B. South Africa arrives from Marrakech, while Egypt enjoys the advantage of playing at a familiar venue.

The Pharaohs began their campaign with a gritty 2-1 comeback against Zimbabwe, thanks to a last-minute goal from Mohamed Salah. Coach Hossam Hassan recognises the challenge posed by South Africa, having previously faced them in a victorious 1998 AFCON final.

South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, is confident after leading his team to a strong AFCON start with a 2-1 win against Angola. Key player Lyle Foster’s performance will be critical for the Bafana Bafana.

As both teams seek victory for advancement in the tournament, the match promises to add another exciting chapter to their enduring rivalry.

Coach Hossam Hassan emphasised South Africa’s strength, while Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet expressed the importance of the match for their group standing.

Broos acknowledged Egypt’s history and talent but emphasised his team’s confidence. Lyle Foster highlighted the team’s high morale and focus after their recent victory.

Historically, South Africa has had the upper hand in recent matchups, remaining undefeated against Egypt in their last six encounters since 2006.

The Group B standings after opening matches
The Group B standings after opening matches
Cameroon and Ivory Coast record opening AFCON wins
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cameroon and Ivory Coast record opening AFCON wins

Defending champions Côte d'Ivoire launched their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title defense with a solid 1-0 victory over Mozambique at Marrakech Stadium.

Meanwhile, Cameroon made history with a groundbreaking 1-0 win against Gabon in Agadir, marking their first-ever AFCON victory over their rivals.

The Indomitable Lions struck early, just six minutes in, when Bryan Mbeumo seized on a shaky Gabonese defence and set up Karl Etta Eyong, who finished low through goalkeeper Marius Mbamba’s legs.

Cameroon looked sharper initially, while Gabon struggled to gain momentum. Denis Bouanga came close, but a last-minute tackle prevented Darlin Yongwa from extending Cameroon’s lead.

As the match progressed, Cameroon adapted their defence smartly, keeping Gabon at bay even as it pressed late for an equaliser.

This disciplined victory puts Cameroon alongside Côte d’Ivoire at the top of Group F.

Bryan Mbeumo, Man of the Match: “I’m thrilled. We knew Gabon would be tough, but we need to be ready for Côte d’Ivoire next. We stayed focused, defended well, and earned this result.”

Cédric Moubamba, Gabon assistant coach: “Our slow start made the match challenging. Cameroon played well and defended their lead effectively. We’ll regroup and improve for the next game.”

David Pagou, Cameroon coach: “It was hard work. We secured the three points and showed flexibility in our play. There’s room for improvement, but we’ll continue to grow.”

Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Mozambique:

Côte d’Ivoire began their title defence with a 1-0 win over Mozambique, relying on patience rather than flair. After a tense first half, Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal just after the interval, finishing a setup from Kessié.

The Ivorians dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Mozambique side, who found it tough to test goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.

The narrow win positions Côte d’Ivoire atop Group F, while Mozambique leaves encouraged but still searching for their first-ever victory at the finals.

Scorer Amad Diallo, Côte d’Ivoire: “I’m proud to wear my country’s jersey; it’s a dream come true. While we won 1-0, I felt we could have scored more. We’ll focus on our next tough match.”

Chiquinho Conde, Mozambique: “We expected challenges against Côte d’Ivoire’s quality but managed to hold our ground. We’ll learn from this experience.”