by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 13, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
The President of the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA), Hani Abu Rida, experienced a health scare during Egypt’s tense quarterfinal clash against Ivory Coast at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Pharaohs edged past Ivory Coast with a dramatic 3–2 victory on Saturday at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, booking a highly anticipated semifinal showdown against Senegal.
However, the high-stakes encounter took a toll on the EFA president. According to Mustafa Abu Zahra, a member of the Egyptian Football Association’s board, Abu Rida suffered a spike in blood pressure during the match.
“Hani Abu Rida experienced a rise in blood pressure when the score was 2–1, so he left the stadium and returned to the hotel to receive treatment. Contrary to reports, he did not go to the hospital,” Abu Zahra told ON Sport.
Egypt’s upcoming clash with Senegal is a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final in Cameroon, where the Teranga Lions defeated the Pharaohs to lift their maiden continental title.
The North African giants will be aiming to return to the summit of African football, having last won the AFCON in 2010 when they defeated Ghana 1–0 to secure a record seventh title.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 13, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Côte d’Ivoire’s hopes of retaining their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title have come to an end after a dramatic quarter-final exit at the 2025 tournament.
The 2023 champions were beaten 3–2 by record winners Egypt, with star forwards Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush playing decisive roles to send the Pharaohs through to the semi-finals. Marmoush opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter.
Salah later netted Egypt’s crucial third goal—his fourth of the competition—and was rewarded with the Man of the Match award for his influential display.
Egypt will now face Senegal in the semi-finals on Wednesday, January 14, at 17:00 GMT, in a highly anticipated clash that will see Salah come up against his former Liverpool teammate and Senegal captain, Sadio Mané.
Reacting to the defeat, Côte d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Faé, who masterminded the Elephants’ fairytale triumph at the 2023 AFCON, expressed his disappointment and pointed to costly errors by his side.
“We are frustrated by tonight’s result. We prepared well for this Egyptian team, but we made too many mistakes at key moments to hope to eliminate them,” Faé told CAF.
“I regret conceding the first goal so early, as well as the second. It’s hard to explain these lapses in concentration,” he added.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 13, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Gabon’s sports minister has announced sweeping decisions following the Panthers’ disastrous campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), including the initial suspension of the entire national team, the exclusion of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga, and the dismissal of the coaching staff.
Gabon’s poor showing was sealed by a heartbreaking 3–2 defeat to defending champions Ivory Coast, with Bazoumana Touré scoring a dramatic injury-time winner. The loss marked Gabon’s third defeat in three group matches, leaving them bottom of Group F behind Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique.
In a statement released by the Gabon Football Federation on Tuesday, it was confirmed that the government has now lifted the sanctions imposed after the tournament.
“The government measures suspending the national team have been lifted, as well as the exclusion of players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga following the unsatisfactory results of the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations,” the statement read.
Sports Minister Paul Ulrich Kessany also stressed the urgency of moving forward, pointing to key upcoming commitments, including the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, as Gabon seeks to reset and rebuild after the disappointing AFCON outing.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 13, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghana international Thomas Partey is expected to leave Villarreal at the end of his contract in June after being deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Marcelino García Toral.
Reports emerging from Spain reveal that Marcelino has already made it clear that the experienced midfielder does not feature in his plans for the upcoming season. Partey, 32, joined the La Liga outfit on a two-year contract ahead of the current campaign following a five-year spell at Arsenal.
However, his time at Villarreal has been challenging, with limited opportunities restricting him to just 18 appearances across all competitions. According to Transferfeed, the Villarreal boss has formally communicated his decision to the club’s hierarchy, confirming that Partey will not be offered a new deal.
As a result, the former Atlético Madrid midfielder is set to become a free agent when his contract expires on June 30, 2026. Despite his reduced role this season, Transfermarkt still values the Ghanaian at approximately €5 million.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 12, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Highly-rated Ghanaian forward Sumaila Wasiu has completed a move to Serbian Superliga club Zeleznicar Pancevo during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old attacker signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to finalise his switch, joining the Pancevo-based side after an impressive stint in Belgium with Lokeren.
Wasiu is expected to play an important role at Zeleznicar Pancevo as the club targets a strong league campaign and a potential push for qualification into next season’s UEFA Champions League.
A product of Ghana’s renowned Right to Dream Academy, the young forward believes the move to Serbia represents the right step in his developing career.
“I like how my teammates and the coaching staff welcomed me. My first impressions are very good, and I’m happy to be here,” Wasiu said. “I spoke with the coach, and he explained his plans and expectations. What I heard suits me perfectly, which is why I chose Zeleznicar. I believe this is the best decision for my career.”
“I’m here to use my qualities to help the team achieve the best possible results, and I can’t wait to play in front of our fans,” he added.
Before leaving Belgium, Wasiu scored two goals in 14 league appearances for Lokeren, underlining his potential ahead of this new chapter in Serbia.
