DOUALA - Esteban Obiang scored 20 minutes from time as Equatorial Guinea pulled off one of the great Africa Cup of Nations finals upsets with a 1-0 win over defending champions Algeria on Sunday.
The shock Group E result leaves Algeria bottom of the standings and needing a win in their last group game against the Ivory Coast on Thursday to stand any chance of advancing.
It was only a matter of time before Mohamed Salah found the back of the net for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Liverpool star hardly had a sight of goal in Egypt’s opener against Nigeria. He still had few opportunities in front of his opponent’s goal on Saturday, but Salah was the man to make the breakthrough as he and his side defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0.
Weston McKennie has now scored two headed goals in the span of three days for Juventus. The American netted a goal in the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday and was once again a menace in the air on Saturday against Udinese. The McKennie goal vs Udinese provided Juventus with some breathing space as the Italian giants won 2-0.
A player on the losing team receiving the Man of the Match award rarely happens in soccer. Despite the rarity of the situation, it was the only possible outcome after Friday’s AFCON game between Morocco and Comoros. Salim Ben Boina, the 30-year-old Comoros goalkeeper, had one of the most spectacular performances AFCON has seen during his side’s 2-0 defeat.
Morocco should have won Friday’s group stage game by a minimum of 6-0, however Boina consistently produced miracle saves to keep his country — ranked No. 132 in the world and competing in its first ever AFCON — in the game.
There is truly nothing like the Africa Cup of Nations, and this year’s edition is no different.
MUNICH, Germany — Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer and winger Leroy Sané are among several players to return for Saturday's trip to Cologne in the Bundesliga but Alphonso Davies will be out for some time with a heart muscle inflammation, said coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The league leaders suffered a 2-1 loss to Borussia Moenchengladbach last week which allowed Borussia Dortmund to close in to within six points. They now want to bounce back as players return following a string of COVID-19 infections.
The Canadian national team became notorious for its home-field advantage in World Cup qualifying after hosting Costa Rica and Mexico in the frigid cold of Edmonton. The Canada vs USA location for January’s qualifying game will once again have freezing temperatures as the Canucks host the Americans in Hamilton, Ontario.
Date: Jan. 30
Brazil coach Tite has left out Renan Lodi for their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay because the Atlético Madrid full back has not had a full course of COVID-19 vaccines.
"Renan Lodi was excluded from the possibility of being called up due to his non-vaccination," Tite, who recalled Dani Alves and Philippe Coutinho, told reporters on Thursday. "He missed the chance to compete (for a place)."
YAOUNDE - Hosts Cameroon overcame another hesitant start to crush Ethiopia 4-1 on Thursday and advance to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations with their second successive Group A victory.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko-Ekambi both scored twice as Cameroon turned in a strong second-half performance and advanced to six points after also winning their opening game against Burkina Faso.
The Africa Cup of Nations has been the gift that keeps giving in terms of content.