by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 16, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has claimed that other African nations are envious of the Pharaohs’ record seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles following his side’s semi-final defeat to Senegal on Wednesday.
The Pharaohs were edged out in a tightly contested encounter, with former Liverpool star Sadio Mané scoring the decisive second-half goal to send the Teranga Lions into the final.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Hassan launched a scathing attack on the tournament organisers, accusing AFCON of unfairly treating his team, particularly with regard to fixture scheduling.
“Egypt does not need excuses and apologies. Egypt is great and no one will dare to win seven titles like us,” Hassan said.
The outspoken coach argued that Egypt were disadvantaged by having less recovery time than their opponents and questioned the decision to schedule matches in a way he believes worked against his team.
“We just needed fairness like Senegal. We played the day after the Senegal match, who are playing in the semi on the same field, and I’m surprised by that.
“By what FIFA law is what happened to the Egypt team done? When a team reaches the semi-finals, do you honour it or torture it?
“It is expected that teams will be given rest fairly among them to see a great semi-final, but what happened is that the other teams got more rest,” he added.
Hassan also addressed the atmosphere in the stadium, stating that he instructed his players to ignore chants from the stands and remain focused during the match.
“We are Arabs of Africa, and Egypt is great — the mother of the Arabs and the mother of Africa in terms of history and titles.
Everyone is jealous,” he declared.
Despite the disappointment, Egypt still have the opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note when they face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Interestingly, Hassan’s side defeated Nigeria 2–1 in a pre-AFCON friendly match in Cairo earlier this year, a result they will hope to replicate as they seek a bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2025.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 16, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian winger Kelvin Ofori (24) has joined Olimpija Ljubljana on loan from Slovan Bratislava for the remainder of the season, with the Slovenian club holding an option to make the move permanent.
Ofori arrived at Slovan just six months ago from rivals Spartak Trnava, but struggled to establish himself at the Tehelné pole. With limited fixtures scheduled for the spring and intense competition on the flanks, Slovan opted to send the winger out on loan to ensure regular game time.
Slovan CEO Ivan Kmotrík Jr. explained that while Ofori showed promise when called upon, consistent minutes were hard to guarantee due to squad depth. He added that the loan deal suits all parties, either allowing Ofori to return more experienced in the summer or enabling Olimpija to activate the permanent transfer option, which reflects the player’s current market value.
Olimpija Ljubljana have since confirmed the agreement, although neither club disclosed the financial details of the purchase option.
From Promise to Frustration in Bratislava
Ofori joined Slovan last summer after an impressive stint at Trnava, where he had become one of the league’s standout attackers. He revealed at the time that discussions with head coach Vladimír Weiss Sr. played a key role in his decision, with expectations of competing for major honours in European football.
However, his time in Bratislava proved challenging. He made no appearances in European competitions and was frequently omitted from matchday squads, even as Slovan progressed into continental tournaments. Competition from players such as Tigran Barseghjan and Vladimír Weiss Jr. limited his opportunities further.
Tensions reportedly grew behind the scenes, fuelled by frustration over limited playing time and disciplinary concerns. Ofori’s situation worsened as the season progressed, eventually leading to his departure as Slovan reshaped their squad during the winter transfer window.
A Career of High Expectations
Ofori is a product of Ghana’s famed Right to Dream Academy, where he was regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation. Former Fortuna Düsseldorf sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel revealed that top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, had shown interest in the winger during his youth career.
After spells in Germany with Fortuna Düsseldorf, Ofori found his best form at Spartak Trnava, scoring 24 goals and providing eight assists in 101 matches. His performances earned him a lucrative offer to remain at the club, reportedly the highest salary in Trnava’s history, but he chose a new challenge with Slovan instead.
Now in Slovenia, Ofori will be aiming to revive his career, regain confidence, and prove his quality with Olimpija Ljubljana as he seeks stability and regular football.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 16, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Three Ghanaian footballers — David Atanga, Godwin Abgevor, and Emmanuel Nana Agyemang — have traveled with Wolfsberger AC to Spain for a pre-season training camp ahead of the second half of the Austrian Bundesliga season.
The camp will provide the trio with an opportunity to regain full match fitness, settle into the team’s tactical framework, and fine-tune their performances as the club prepares for the challenges of the league’s second round.
Their inclusion underlines Wolfsberger AC’s growing confidence in the Ghanaian contingent, with the players expected to play key roles in the club’s ambitions for the remainder of the campaign.
Supporters will be keenly observing how Atanga, Abgevor, and Nana Agyemang perform during training sessions and friendly matches in Spain before competitive action resumes in Austria.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 16, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
As the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draws to a close on Sunday at the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, history awaits either Senegal or host nation Morocco.
For Senegal, victory would mean repeating their AFCON 2021 triumph and lifting the continental trophy for a second time. For Morocco, it would crown years of steady progress with a first AFCON title since 1976, further underlining their rise following an unforgettable run to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where they became the first African nation to reach that stage.
Beyond the silverware, Sunday’s final carries deeper significance: the long-standing rivalry between West Africa and North Africa for continental football supremacy will be put to the ultimate test.
Fittingly, both finalists share the nickname “Lions”—Senegal’s Teranga Lions and Morocco’s Atlas Lions—setting the stage for a fierce battle of pride, power, and pedigree. And as football purists often say, when two lions fight, it takes a fair and firm hand to judge the contest.
Historically, Senegal were not considered a traditional West African powerhouse, unlike Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon (often linked to West Africa). Yet the Teranga Lions’ steady rise has reshaped that narrative.
Since AFCON began in 1957, West African nations—Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon—have won the competition 16 times out of 34 editions, accounting for 47.06% of the titles.
Excluding Cameroon, “substantive” West Africa has claimed 11 titles (32.35%), a figure matched exactly by North Africa—represented by Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria.
That statistical parity highlights why Sunday’s final is more than just a match—it is a battle for regional bragging rights, expected to unfold before nearly 70,000 fans in Rabat.
Senegal arrive with confidence built on consistency. From the golden generation of El-Hadji Diouf, Henri Camara, Tony Sylva, Khalilou Fadiga, and the late Papa Bouba Diop—who shocked the world by defeating France at the 2002 World Cup—to their recent AFCON triumph, the Teranga Lions have grown into a continental force.
After losing the 2019 AFCON final to Algeria, Senegal bounced back to win the next edition in Cameroon and now stand on the brink of another historic achievement on Moroccan soil.
Morocco, however, have their own powerful motivation. Buoyed by massive investment in football infrastructure under King Mohammed VI and inspired by their World Cup heroics, the Atlas Lions are determined to keep the trophy at home. Their dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in the semi-finals only strengthened belief that destiny may be on their side.
While suspicions of host-nation advantage in officiating persist in some quarters, Morocco’s performances—led by world-class talents such as Achraf Hakimi—have largely spoken for themselves.
Backed by passionate home support and national pride, the Atlas Lions are aiming to end a nearly 50-year wait for continental glory.
Fireworks are guaranteed on Sunday. History beckons—either Senegal will reinforce West Africa’s dominance, or Morocco will restore Maghreb pride by lifting the AFCON trophy on home soil.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 16, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Ghana football legend Asamoah Gyan has compared the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to the FIFA World Cup, highlighting the tournament’s immense value and emotional significance for African players.
Although AFCON remains the continent’s biggest football competition, it has frequently attracted criticism due to its scheduling, as the tournament is often staged in the middle of the European club season.
Speaking in an interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, Gyan, who represented Ghana in multiple AFCON tournaments, described the competition as the ultimate stage for African footballers.
“Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is like a World Cup to me,” the former Sunderland striker said.
Gyan used the opportunity to call on football authorities to reconsider the timing of the tournament, suggesting it be moved to the European off-season to reduce its impact on clubs.
“It is something I have thought about all these years because it affects most of the clubs with African players. I believe it should get to a time that FIFA or CAF should make a decision that it should be played off-season,” he explained.
The Black Stars legend pointed out that clubs often suffer when key players leave in January for AFCON duty, which can affect league form and results.
“You can see clubs at the top of the league table, and their players leave for AFCON in January, and they start dropping points. However, AFCON is like a World Cup to me, and that is what every African footballer thinks,” Gyan added.
As Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, Gyan featured in the 2010 and 2015 AFCON finals, losing to Egypt and Ivory Coast respectively, and finishing as a runner-up on both occasions.
Meanwhile, the 2025 AFCON final will be contested by Morocco and Senegal on Sunday, January 18.
