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• Preview: Continental giants, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, battle for egos in Group F

  Ivory Coast and five-time winners Cameroon meet in a pivotal clash where the victor will secure an immediate spot in the AFCON knockout rounds. Defending champions Ivory Coast face off against five-time winners Cameroon this Sunday in a high-stakes encounter that could determine the leader of Group F. Both African heavyweights entered the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with narrow 1-0 victories in their opening fixtures. With three points already secured, a win for either side at the Marrakech Stadium would officially confirm their progression to the tournament’s knockout stages. Ivory Coast, led by Emerse Fae, arrives with a disciplined, possession-based style that mirrored their successful 2023 campaign. Manchester United forward Amad Diallo provided the decisive goal in their opener against Mozambique, and he is expected to lead the attack again. The “Elephants” boast an impressive defensive record, having conceded only once in their last six competitive matches, and remain unbeaten in their last five meetings with the Indomitable Lions. Cameroon overcame significant off-field turbulence to defeat Gabon in their first match, thanks to an early strike from Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong. Under head coach David Pagou, the team has adopted a compact, resilient structure anchored by Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba. Despite the absence of veteran figures like Vincent Aboubakar and the continued omission of goalkeeper Andre Onana, the squad demonstrated a clinical edge that underlines their enduring tournament pedigree. Tactically, the match is expected to be a battle of experience versus youthful reorganization. Ivory Coast will rely on the midfield stability of Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare to dictate the tempo, while Cameroon aims to exploit the pace of Mbeumo on the counter-attack. Both managers have reported fully fit squads, allowing for maximum tactical flexibility in what many experts consider the most significant group-stage match of the competition so far.

• Tanzania coach Gamondi: Beating Nigeria like winning AFCON

  Tanzania coach Miguel Gamondi believes defeating Nigeria in their AFCON opener would be as significant as winning the entire tournament for the winless Taifa Stars.

  Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi believes his side can end their long wait for a maiden Africa Cup of Nations victory when they face Nigeria on Tuesday.

  The Taifa Stars have played nine matches across three previous tournament appearances without recording a single win.

  As they prepare for their tenth AFCON game at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, the Argentine tactician remains optimistic about breaking the historic winless streak against the continental giants.

  The coach acknowledged Nigeria’s superior pedigree but emphasized that his team is motivated by the prospect of an upset.

  “It’s our dream, and nobody can stop us from believing and dreaming,” Gamondi stated during a pre-match press conference.

  He admitted that while the Super Eagles are heavy favorites on paper, the unpredictable nature of football gives his side a fighting chance to make a significant impact in their opening Group C encounter.

  Gamondi highlighted that a victory over the three-time champions would be a monumental achievement for Tanzanian football.

  “I am confident we can do something. If we do what we need to do and are able to win, beating Nigeria would feel like winning the AFCON for us, especially at the start of the tournament,” he said.

  Following this clash, Tanzania is scheduled to face regional rivals Uganda and North African powerhouses Tunisia.

• Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying failure spells drawing board return

  Nigeria’s national football team will miss successive World Cups after a chaotic qualifying campaign marked by managerial changes, player boycotts, and a crucial play-off loss.

  READ MORE FROM BBC SPORT

• Brazil’s Estevao and Casemiro sink Senegal 2-0

  Brazil secured a 2-0 victory over Senegal in an electrifying friendly at Emirates Stadium, with goals from Estevao and Casemiro before halftime delighting the passionate crowd.

  Brazil claimed a 2–0 win over Senegal in an international friendly at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, sealing the result before half-time. Estevão opened the scoring after 28 minutes, pouncing on a deflected Casemiro effort and curling his finish beyond Edouard Mendy. Casemiro doubled the advantage nine minutes later, meeting Rodrygo’s free-kick at the back post and firing across goal after a VAR review confirmed he was onside.

  Brazil dominated early chances, with Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha and Rodrygo all testing Mendy. Senegal responded with pressure at the end of the first half, but Ederson kept out efforts from Ismail Jakobs and Antoine Mendy to preserve the lead.

  The second half brought a setback for Brazil as defender Gabriel went off injured with a suspected groin issue. Senegal pushed forward late on, but Brazil held firm to close out the match.

  Brazil face Tunisia next in France, while Senegal meet Kenya in their final fixture before the Africa Cup of Nations.

  READ MORE AT ARSENAL

• Alex Iwobi ready to beat his ‘Big Brother’ in World Cup qualifiers playoff

  Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi states their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes have been revived despite a poor start, as they prepare for a crucial play-off against Gabon and former teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

  New Liverpool manager Arne Slot is facing a critical tactical challenge to restore the “right balance” to his team following a deeply “disjointed” and disappointing defeat against rivals Manchester United, according to a report from BBC Sport analysts.

  The weight of expectation is pressing heavily on new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who must urgently address systemic issues that were ruthlessly exposed during the recent loss to Manchester United.

  According to a report from BBC Sport analysts, the defeat was a stark demonstration of a side lacking cohesion across the pitch, with multiple pundits highlighting a lack of connection between the midfield and attack.

  Data from the fixture showed a significant drop in high-intensity sprints compared to previous matches this season, raising questions about the team’s signature pressing identity under the new regime. This tactical shortfall has led to an over-reliance on individual moments rather than collective fluency.

  Pundit Troy Deeney emphasized the critical task ahead for the Dutch manager, noting the difficulties in transitioning away from a highly successful era. “Slot has inherited a fantastic team, but they look ‘disjointed’ from back to front,” Deeney said.

  “The defense isn’t protected, and the forwards look isolated. He needs to find the ‘right balance’ quickly, or this season could unravel before Christmas.”

  The report suggests that Slot may need to drop one of his established attackers to reinforce the central midfield, a move that would be unpopular but perhaps necessary to stabilize performances.

  Liverpool’s next three fixtures—two in the Premier League and one in the Champions League—will be crucial in determining whether the new manager can successfully implement his philosophy and halt the current decline in form.

  The pressure is mounting on the players to deliver a performance that shows both commitment and tactical clarity on the pitch.