Senegal kicked off their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Botswana, powered by a brace from Bayern Munich striker Nicholas Jackson.
The Chelsea loanee opened the scoring in the first half and doubled the lead in the second, giving the Lions of Teranga a comfortable start to the tournament.
Second-half substitute Ndiaye wrapped up the win with a simple tap-in, sealing Senegal’s victory.
So far, Jackson is the only player to have scored twice in the competition, putting him in contention for the Golden Boot.
Senegal will face DR Congo in their next AFCON 2025 group-stage match on December 27, 2025. (Punch)
Venus Williams and Andrea Preti are married, the tennis great announced Tuesday on social media.
Williams and Preti became wife and husband over the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of a five-day celebration.
After becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in July, the 45-year-old Williams gave thanks to her fiance, who was in the stands at the DC Open. Preti is a Danish-born Italian model and actor, according to the website IMDB.
Williams hadn’t played in a tournament in 16 months until entering the event in Washington.
The seven-time Grand Slams singles champion plans to play in a 33rd straight season on the WTA Tour, starting in Auckland in January. (JapanToday)
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday.
Two-time world champion Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less experienced opponent, but finally made his superior size and power count in the later stages of the eight-round fight.
A mediocre contest at the Kaseya Center — with the two men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million — descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at Joshua’s legs.
At one stage even referee Christopher Young appeared to be losing patience, warning the fighters in the fourth round: “The fans did not pay to see this crap.”
As Paul tired, Joshua finally began to land punches with more regularity and after knocking down the American twice in the fifth round the end came swiftly in the sixth.
Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and after teeing up Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
“It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. “But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him.
“That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination.”
Joshua meanwhile praised Paul for lasting into the later rounds.
“I want to give him his props — he got up time and time again,” Joshua said. “It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that.”
Paul, meanwhile, his mouth bloodied from Joshua’s final assault, said he believed his jaw had been broken — but was satisfied with his performance.
“That was fun. I gave it my all,” Paul said. “I had a blast. I think my jaw is broken by the way. But Anthony’s one of the best to ever do it so. I’m gonna come back and get a world championship.
“I just got tired to be honest — like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard.”
Friday’s made-for-streaming contest, which came just over a year after Paul had fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a much-derided Netflix fight, had triggered alarm across boxing given the disparity in size and experience between the two men.
Yet the devastating first or second round knockout by Joshua that most had predicted failed to materialize as Paul scrambled desperately to stay outside of the 2012 Olympic champion’s range.
Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, always looked the more threatening fighter though, landing 48 of 146 punches thrown compared to Paul’s meagre total of 16 punches landed. (JapanToday)
Arsenal advanced to the Carabao Cup semifinals after a dramatic quarter‑final clash with Crystal Palace in the London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The match finished 1‑1 in normal time before heading to a penalty shootout, where Arsenal prevailed 8‑7 to secure their place in the last four of the competition.
Maxence Lacroix headlined the game scoring an own goal in the 79th minute.
He went on to lose the 16th penalty which the Spaniard, Kepa Arrizabalaga saved to give Arsenal the push.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi scored a late equaliser in stoppage time to force the shootout after Arsenal had taken the lead earlier in the contest.
The tie was also marked by a serious injury for Palace defender Chris Richards, who was stretchered off with a bleeding foot in the second half, forcing an early reshuffle for the visitors.
Despite Palace’s grit and late goal, Arsenal held their nerve in the penalty shootout to book a semifinal showdown, keeping alive their bid for silverware in the EFL Cup.
The tie saw Maxence Lacroix inadvertently put Palace behind in the 79th minute when he “stabbed the ball into his own net” under pressure from William Saliba, following a pinpoint corner from Bukayo Saka.
The own goal appeared to secure the win for Arsenal in normal time.
Arsenal players celebrate after winning in a penalty shootout the English Football League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace in London, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
However, Palace refused to go quietly. Deep into stoppage time, Marc Guéhi “stole in at close range to tuck the ball past Arrizabalaga after Lerma had headed down a deep free-kick,” forcing a nerve-wracking shootout.
The penalty drama saw both sides trading successful spot-kicks until Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Lacroix’s effort to clinch victory.
Arsenal’s post-match report noted, “Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Maxence Lacroix’s penalty at the end of an epic shootout to send us through to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.”
Arsenal dominated the early exchanges. Gabriel Jesus had a chance before the opener, while Noni Madueke, Martinelli, and Jurrien Timber were all heavily involved in creating opportunities.
The report highlighted Martinelli’s impact, saying, “Martinelli had created five chances in a fine first half, but ended it hobbling, after a clash of knees.”
After the interval, Palace grew into the game, forcing Kepa into several saves, including from Jefferson Lerma’s long throw. Mikel Arteta made tactical changes, introducing Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, with Ødegaard delivering a cross that Jesus narrowly missed with a header.
The penalty shootout sequence was intense. Arsenal scorers included Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Saka, Trossard, Merino, Calafiori, Timber, and Saliba, before Kepa’s decisive save sealed the win.
The report summarised: “It was enough to send us through to the League Cup semi-final for the 18th time in our history.”
Arsenal will now face Chelsea over two legs in the semi-final, with the first leg at Stamford Bridge in the week beginning January 12 and the return at the Emirates on February 3 or 4.
Before that, Arsenal hosts Brighton & Hove Albion on December 27 and Aston Villa on December 30 in their final Premier League fixtures of 2025. (Punch)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a 2-1 victory over Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Group C opener at the Complexe Sportif de Fes on Tuesday.
The match started at a lively pace, with Nigeria taking early control, though Tanzania threatened on several occasions.
The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when defender Semi Ajayi rose highest to head Alex Iwobi’s lofted cross into the back of the net, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Tanzania responded quickly in the second half.
Just two minutes after the restart, midfielder Charles M’Mombwa capitalized on a loose ball to level the score at 1-1, putting Nigeria under pressure.
However, Nigeria regained the lead in the 55th minute when Ademola Lookman struck a clinical left-footed shot from outside the box to make it 2-1.
The latter stages of the match saw Tanzania press aggressively, but Nigeria defended resolutely.
Goalkeeper Daniel Nwabali and defenders Bassey and Ajayi made crucial interventions to deny the Taifa Stars further chances.
Despite Tanzania’s late pressure, Nigeria held on to claim all three points.
The Super Eagles are currently leading Group C, with Tunisia and Uganda set to clash later on Tuesday (today) at 9 p.m.
The three points are expected to boost Nigeria’s confidence ahead of their next Group C fixtures: against Tunisia on Saturday, December 27, and Uganda on Tuesday, December 30. (Punch)
Mohamed Salah got Egypt off to a winning start in the Africa Cup of Nations by scoring late for a 2–1 victory against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Salah captained the side in his first start for nearly a month and fired into the bottom corner in stoppage time to spare Egypt embarrassment against a team ranked 129th in the world.
Egypt, the record seven-time champions, were thwarted for long periods in the coastal city of Agadir by Zimbabwe’s stubborn defending and an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Prince Dube stunned the favourites in the 20th minute when he took Emmanuel Jalai’s cross with his first touch, turned and flicked the ball past Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy with his next.
Salah tried to rally his team-mates, but Egypt suffered another blow shortly afterwards when Emam Ashour went off injured. The midfielder’s tears suggested his tournament could be over just as it had begun.
Arubi tipped over a fierce strike from Omar Marmoush, Trézéguet was booked for diving in an attempt to win a penalty, and Salah, Marmoush and Mohamed all had efforts blocked before the break.
The pattern continued after half-time until Marmoush finally found a way through, scoring from a difficult angle in the 64th minute to level the match.
Salah’s winner earned the Pharaohs three points in Group B. The Liverpool forward has never won Africa’s premier international competition.
In the other Group B match, Lyle Foster earned South Africa a hard-fought 2–1 win over Angola.
Bafana Bafana ended a six-game winless run against Angola, who had won three and drawn three of their previous meetings since a World Cup qualifier in November 2015.
South Africa’s Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in Marrakech with a low strike inside the left post in the 21st minute. Angola equalised minutes later when midfielder Show deflected Fredy’s free kick from the wing inside the near post.
Tempers frayed after a foul by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba before the break.
Tshepang Moremi thought he had scored a brilliant goal after half-time, but it was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. Mbekezeli Mbokazi then struck the crossbar with a powerful effort as South Africa kept pushing.
Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle refreshed his attack by introducing Mabululu and Milson in the 76th minute, but it was Foster who struck at the other end, curling the ball beyond Hugo Marques’ outstretched arm in the 79th.
Earlier, Patson Daka scored in stoppage time for 2012 champions Zambia to snatch a 1–1 draw against Mali in Casablanca.
Mali dominated for long spells and missed a penalty before the break when Willard Mwanza saved El Bilal Touré’s effort — the second spot-kick to be saved in as many games at the tournament.
Lassine Sinayoko eventually broke the deadlock around the hour mark, but Daka had the final say, heading home to earn Zambia a point in Group A.
Host nation Morocco lead the group with three points after opening with a 2–0 win over Comoros on Sunday.(Francce24)
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts Morocco overcame a nervy start to beat the Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday, after Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi scored second-half goals.
It was a far-from-convincing showing from the highly fancied Morocco, who are 97 places above the small Indian Ocean island nation in the world rankings and had to toil hard for the points in the rain at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Morocco squandered an early penalty and were goalless at halftime, despite dominating possession, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute, when Noussair Mazraoui did well to keep the ball from going out of play before passing it square for Diaz to side-foot home.
El Kaabi scored a trademark bicycle kick goal in the 74th minute, 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute, to ease the tension.
Morocco looked initially to be labouring under a heavy burden of expectation, and tiny Comoros comfortably held them at bay before the superior firepower of the hosts ensured victory.
The hosts could have been ahead as early as the 11th minute after a soft penalty was awarded for a challenge by Iyad Mohamed on Diaz. But Soufiane Rahimi hit the spot kick straight down the middle, striking the knee of goalkeeper Yannick Pandor and watching the ball loop away to safety.
But they eventually broke down the resistance, as Diaz got deserved rewards for his continual probing and El Kaabi’s goal ensured a respectable scoreline.
Pandor made several other good stops to keep down the score in the closing stages as his teammates began to tire, although Comoros had a chance for an equaliser four minutes after Diaz’s goal, but Rafiki Said shot straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in their first chance of the match.
“The opening game is always difficult, but we came good in the second half,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
Morocco extended their record-breaking run of successive victories by a national team to 19. In October, they went past the previous best of 15, set by Spain from 2008-09.
There will be concern in the home camp, however, after captain Romain Saiss limped off after 18 minutes, with the centre back leaving the field in tears. He spent the first half of the year sidelined by ankle surgery and only last month returned to the national side after a year’s absence.
Mali and Zambia meet on Monday in the next Group A clash in Casablanca on the second day of the monthlong tournament. There are also two Group B matches as Angola meet South Africa in Marrakesh, and Mohamed Salah leads Egypt against Zimbabwe in Agadir. (AlJazeera)
The winner of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will receive $10 million in prize money, the Confederation of African Football has announced.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed this on Saturday after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee in Rabat, Morocco, a day before the kick-off of the tournament.
The AFCON Morocco 2025 is scheduled to run from Sunday, December 21, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026.
According to a statement posted on CAF’s website, “The prize money for the winner represents a 43% increase from the 2023 edition, when hosts Cote d’Ivoire pocketed USD 7 million.”
The prize money has also doubled over a four-year period.
Winners of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Cameroon 2021 earned $5 million, before the figure rose to $7 million at the Côte d’Ivoire 2023 tournament and now to $10 million in 2025, marking a 100 per cent increase.
CAF said the runners-up at the Morocco 2025 tournament will receive $4 million, while the two semi-finalists will each earn $2.5 million.
The continental body described the increment as part of efforts to enhance the value, competitiveness and global appeal of Africa’s flagship football competition. (Punch)
African football is getting a major shake-up with the creation of the African Nations League and conversion of the biennial Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle.
Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, announced the changes Saturday during his news conference before the 2025 Africa Cup hosted by Morocco..
Motsepe said that the 2027 Africa Cup, to be hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, will go ahead as planned and that the following edition – originally scheduled for 2029 – will be moved forward to take place in 2028. The next Africa Cup after that will be in 2032.
This would allow the first African Nations League to take place in 2029. Motsepe said it would involve each of the continent’s 54 members, divided into four geographical zones, with games in September and October before the finals are held in November.
“What is new is that … in Africa there’s going to be a competition every year where the best African players who play in Europe and worldwide will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said.
CAF officials did not immediately specify if the African Nations League will be held on a biennial or annual basis. (AlJazeera)
Kylian Mbappé equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid with a late penalty in his side’s 2-0 home win over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday, the French forward celebrating his 27th birthday in style.
Mbappé missed several earlier chances before getting his chance from the spot four minutes from time and he made no mistake to net his 59th goal in as many games across all competitions in 2025 to level Ronaldo’s 2013 haul.
Jude Bellingham put Real in front with a header seven minutes before half-time and Sevilla went down to 10 men with 22 minutes remaining after Marcão received a second booking but the hosts had keeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for keeping them ahead.
“Today, and because of the record, it’s incredible, in my first year to be able to do what Cristiano did,” Mbappé said afterwards. “My idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid and a reference in world football. It’s an honour for me.”
Mbappé marked his goal by reproducing Ronaldo’s celebration, saying later: “I wanted to give him a little nod because he has always been affectionate with me. Normally I have my own celebration, but I wanted to share that with him, and like I said, he’s been my idol since I was a kid. I have a very good relationship with him, he’s a friend now.”
Real are second in the table on 42 points, one behind Barcelona who are away to third-placed Villarreal on Sunday, while Sevilla are ninth on 20 points.
Juventus kept themselves in the Serie A race with a 2-1 home win over AS Roma on Saturday, with Francisco Conceição and Loïs Openda netting the goals for the home side and Tommaso Baldanzi scoring for the visitors.
With the top three clubs all away at the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, Roma were looking to take advantage and move level on points with leaders Inter Milan. Instead, Juventus moved back into the title hunt, one point behind Roma who remain fourth on 30 points, with Juventus fifth. Milan are in second place, with Napoli third.
Roma continue to struggle against the top sides having already lost to Inter, Milan and Napoli this season.
Bayer Leverkusen scored twice in four minutes to earn a 3-1 comeback victory at RB Leipzig, snapping their hosts’ unbeaten run at home this season and climbing into third going into the Bundesliga’s winter break.
Leverkusen are on 29 points, three behind second-placed Borussia Dortmund, 2-0 winners against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday. Bayern Munich, leading on 38, are at Heidenheim on Sunday. Leipzig dropped to fourth on goal difference. (Guardian)
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