International Soccer

DOUALA, Cameroon - Nicolas Pépé scored a superb solo goal as Ivory Coast thumped Algeria 3-1 to send the defending champions crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday following a disastrous Group E campaign.

Algeria's 35-game unbeaten run was ended by Equatorial Guinea in a stunning upset in their last match, and they were outplayed again by the impressive Ivorians, who might have had more goals with better finishing.

LIMBE, Cameroon - Sierra Leone’s veteran striker Kei Kamara missed a late penalty to scupper their chances of reaching the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.

Pablo Ganet’s 38th-minute strike ensured Equatorial Guinea finished second in Group E and progressed, but Sierra Leone might have gone through as one of the best third-placed finishers if they had forced a draw.

They were awarded a last-minute penalty, but Kamara’s effort was saved by Equatorial Guinea’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesús Owono.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are now favorites at the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 on Wednesday to become the only team to make it through the group stage in Cameroon with a perfect record. 

The form of Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has sent a message across Africa — he scored the match-winner against Egypt and provided a beautiful assist on Wednesday's opening goal — but the player to watch has been Nantes winger Moses Simon.

UEFA Futsal Euro 2020 began Wednesday in Amsterdam with Portugal — the defending European and world champion — beating Serbia 4-2 after trailing 2-0 to show that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.  

Argentina has left Lionel Messi out of their squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia as the Paris St. Germain forward continues his recovery from COVID-19 infection.

The twice World Cup winners and current Copa America champions have qualified for the finals in Qatar and sit second in the 10-team South American group.

The 34-year-old Messi was omitted from Argentina’s 27-man squad after not playing for PSG since Dec. 22 against FC Lorient in French Ligue 1.

Comoros, making its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations appearance, has knocked out four-time champion and enemy of the USMNT Ghana after scoring its first three goals in tournament history during an insane 3-2 victory. 

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.