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• Emerse Fae still haunted by loss to Egypt at AFCON 2006 ahead of quarter-final showdown

  Emerse Fae is drawing on personal heartbreak from 2006 to ensure his defending champions do not underestimate a resilient Egyptian side in their upcoming AFCON quarterfinal.

  Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has issued a stern warning to his squad ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Egypt.

  Recalling the 2006 final where he suffered a penalty shootout defeat as a player, the 41-year-old cautioned against complacency.

  Fae noted that the current Egyptian side mirrors the resilient teams of the past, stating, “This is exactly the Egypt I expected… that looks like it’s about to crack, but almost never does.”

  The defending champions enter the match following a dominant 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, highlighted by a standout performance from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.

  In contrast, Egypt required extra time to dispatch Benin. Despite their recent struggles, Fae emphasized that the seven-time champions remain master tacticians in knockout football.

  He observed: “Egypt absorbs pressure; they don’t control [games]. It’s about disrupting the opponent and, whenever they get a chance, punishing them.”

  The tactical battle will pit the Elephants’ momentum against an Egyptian attack featuring superstars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

  Fae insisted that mental discipline is the only way to overcome the North African giants, who have reached two of the last four finals.

  He concluded with a final warning regarding the opponent’s clinical nature: “You should never be overconfident against Egypt. If you arrive overconfident, you have no chance.”

• Mohamed Salah’s AFCON form gives Liverpool hope

  Mohamed Salah’s stunning 30-yard winner against Benin has sent Egypt to the AFCON quarterfinals and signaled a return to form that provides a major boost for both his national team and Liverpool.

  Mohamed Salah has propelled Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals after scoring a decisive goal in their round-of-16 victory over Benin.

  Deep into stoppage time, the Liverpool forward capitalized on a cleared long throw-in, sprinting from his own half to execute a 30-yard outside-of-the-boot finish.

  The goal secured Egypt’s progression and showcased a player who appears to have rediscovered his signature spark on the international stage.

  The Egyptian captain’s renewed joy stands in stark contrast to a difficult first half of the Premier League season under Arne Slot.

  After being benched following a dip in form—netting only five goals in 20 appearances—Salah now has three goals in three games at AFCON.

  Reflecting on his commitment, the forward expressed the honor he feels representing his nation, appearing unburdened by the recent complications of club soccer and transfer speculation.

  While Salah will miss Liverpool’s upcoming matches against Arsenal and Barnsley due to Egypt’s deep tournament run, his resurgence is a welcome sight for the Reds.

  Liverpool has struggled for attacking consistency in his absence, but his form in Morocco suggests he will return at his peak.

  As Egypt prepares for Saturday’s quarterfinal, supporters on both continents are hopeful that Salah’s “spark” will lead to a successful 2026.

• The Briefing: Pressure mount on Amorim, Dyche, Santo, while Arsenal couldn’t be happier

  Ruben Amorim has hinted at a power struggle with Manchester United’s leadership while Arsenal extended their Premier League lead following Manchester City’s dramatic late draw with Chelsea.  

  Ruben Amorim has signaled growing tension with the Manchester United hierarchy following a 1-1 draw at Leeds United.

  Despite being appointed as a “head coach” under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new sporting structure, Amorim pointedly asserted his desire “to be the manager of Manchester United” three times during post-match comments.

  The shift suggests a burgeoning power struggle over the club’s tactical direction, specifically regarding Amorim’s insistence on his signature 3-4-3 formation amidst a squad built for a back four.

  The dysfunction at Old Trafford contrasts with the clinical efficiency of Arsenal, who saw their Premier League lead extend to six points this weekend.

  Manchester City’s title defense stuttered after a 94th-minute Enzo Fernández equalizer earned managerless Chelsea a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

  City appeared fatigued following a midweek stalemate against Sunderland, allowing Arsenal to capitalize on their rivals’ inconsistency as they prepare for a high-profile home clash against Liverpool this Thursday.

  Chelsea’s resilient performance under U21 coach Calum McFarlane provided a morale boost ahead of the expected appointment of Liam Rosenior.

  The incoming boss will be encouraged by the displays of Reece James and Josh Acheampong, who helped exploit City’s uncharacteristic sloppiness.

  Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola must find solutions to his side’s sudden dip in form, having dropped four points in a week during the most congested period of the English football calendar.

  At the bottom of the table, West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo faces a precarious future.

  After suffering a 3-0 defeat to his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nuno is at risk of becoming a statistical anomaly by struggling at two different clubs in a single season.

  Although the club insists his position is not under immediate threat, a looming “relegation six-pointer” against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday has placed the Portuguese coach under immense scrutiny.

  Nottingham Forest arrives at the London Stadium under the guidance of Sean Dyche, who is facing his own crisis after four consecutive defeats.

  The match represents a collision of two embattled managers at clubs currently mired in institutional turmoil.

  With Forest sitting just four points ahead of third-bottom West Ham, the result could dictate whether either board decides to implement further managerial changes before the January transfer window closes.

• Benin edged Botswana to earn first-ever AFCON win

  Yohan Roche’s first-half goal secured Benin’s first-ever AFCON win and kept their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.

  Benin achieved a historic milestone in Rabat, securing their first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 win over Botswana.

  The decisive moment came in the 28th minute when defender Yohan Roche exchanged a neat one-two with the returning Steve Mounie before hitting a deflected strike that looped over the goalkeeper.

  The result marks the Cheetahs’ first win in normal time across five tournament editions and 16 total matches.

  The victory was a testament to the tactical adjustments made by manager Gernot Rohr, who welcomed back key figures including record scorer Mounie and goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.

  While Botswana threatened to level the score when Mothusi Johnson struck the crossbar with a brilliant free-kick, Benin remained the more dangerous side.

  Only a series of impressive saves from Botswana’s Goitseone Phoko prevented a more significant margin of victory for the West Africans.

  With three points now on the board, Benin has revitalized its campaign ahead of a final Group D showdown against Senegal on Tuesday.

  The team will be aiming to replicate or exceed their 2019 success, where they reached the quarter-finals without a regulation-time win.

  Botswana, conversely, faces a must-win scenario against DR Congo after suffering their second consecutive defeat of the group stage, leaving their progression hopes in jeopardy.

• Sadio Mane scores as Senegal draws with DR Congo in AFCON

  Sadio Mane’s equalizing goal maintained Senegal’s lead in Group D following a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, while Benin celebrated a historic first AFCON win.  

  Sadio Mane proved clinical once again as Senegal secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations.

  Playing in Morocco, the Teranga Lions found themselves trailing after Cedric Bakambu opened the scoring for the Congolese in the 61st minute.

  However, Mane responded just eight minutes later, netting his 51st international goal to ensure the tournament favorites remained at the top of Group D.  

  Both nations now sit on four points after two group fixtures, placing them in a strong position to advance to the round of 16.

  Senegal currently holds the top spot due to a superior goal difference, following their dominant 3-0 victory over Botswana earlier in the week.

  With only one group game remaining on Tuesday, both sides appear poised for a comfortable progression into the knockout stages of the continental competition.

  In the other Group D matchup, Benin secured a landmark result by defeating Botswana 1-0 in Rabat.

  Yohan Roche scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute via a heavy deflection, handing Benin their first-ever victory at an AFCON finals in 16 attempts.

  While no direct quotes were provided in the source text, the report noted that Mane’s equalizer helped Senegal “keep top place in Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.”