Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches
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Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria Beat Nigeria and Extend Unbeaten Run to 19 Matches

Algeria extended an unbeaten run to 19 matches with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria Friday in an international friendly between two of the top five ranked African countries.

In another high-profile warm-up match behind closed doors ahead of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying next month, Morocco triumphed 3-1 over a depleted Senegal.

Burkina Faso, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania and Tunisia also won while 2021 Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon drew 0-0 against Japan.

Cup of Nations title-holders Algeria needed less than six minutes to score the goal in the Austrian town of Sankt Veit an der Glan that sank Nigeria in a rematch of the 2019 semi-final at the flagship African competition.

Center-back Ramy Bensebaini ventured forward for a corner and after heading the ball downward, poked it into the net.

Nigeria gave a debut to Frankfurt-born Kevin Akpoguma who, like Bensebaini, plays in the Bundesliga, and represented Germany at under-age level before switching his allegiance.

The defender is the latest of many Europe-born footballers to represent the African country where parents or grandparents come from.

Algeria last lost in October 2018 away to Benin and now move to the Netherlands for a friendly against Mexico on Tuesday.

Senegal, the top ranked African national team ahead of Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco, suffered a series of major withdrawals from the squad.

Liverpool forward and 2019 African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane tested positive for Covid-19 and injuries ruled out goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

So a challenging task in Rabat for the Senegalese became that much harder and they trailed by three goals before Ismaila Sarr converted an 88th-minute penalty.

Selim Amallah put the Moroccans ahead after 10 minutes and Youssef en Nesyri and Youssef el Arabi added to the scoresheet in the second half.

On Tuesday, Morocco host a Democratic Republic of Congo team that will be smarting from a 3-0 drubbing by Burkina Faso in Moroccan city El Jadida while Senegal entertain Mauritania.

The Mauritanians will travel south to neighboring Senegal boosted by a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone in Nouakchott, where Hemeya Tanjy fired in the 79th-minute winner.

Mali shrugged off losing a number of players to injuries and positive coronavirus tests to wallop Ghana 3-0 in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

Hamari Traore put the Malians ahead inside three minutes and El Bilal Toure and Amadou Haidara netted early and late in the second half.

Tunisia were another nation to triumph 3-0 with all the goals against Sudan in Rades near Tunis coming during the first half.

France-based captain Wahbi Khazri was involved in all the goals, scored by Seifedine Khaoui, Ali Maaloul and Anis Ben Slimane.

In other friendlies, the Gambia edged Congo 1-0 in Portugal through an Assan Ceesay goal and a brilliant run and fierce shot from Cliff Nyakeya helped Kenya beat Zambia 2-1 in Nairobi.

The coronavirus sidelined African national teams from last November until late September when Sudan won two friendlies against Chad.



Williams Loses Golden Oldie Clash in Final Australian Open Warm-up

Venus Williams of the United States reacts during a press conference following her match against Tatjana Maria of Germany at the Hobart International tennis tournament in Hobart, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Chris Kidd/AAP Image via AP)
Venus Williams of the United States reacts during a press conference following her match against Tatjana Maria of Germany at the Hobart International tennis tournament in Hobart, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Chris Kidd/AAP Image via AP)
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Williams Loses Golden Oldie Clash in Final Australian Open Warm-up

Venus Williams of the United States reacts during a press conference following her match against Tatjana Maria of Germany at the Hobart International tennis tournament in Hobart, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Chris Kidd/AAP Image via AP)
Venus Williams of the United States reacts during a press conference following her match against Tatjana Maria of Germany at the Hobart International tennis tournament in Hobart, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Chris Kidd/AAP Image via AP)

Venus Williams was dumped out of the Hobart International in straight sets by Tatjana Maria Tuesday to dent her Australian Open preparations in a historic clash between two players with a combined age of 83.

It was the second consecutive tournament in which the 45-year-old Williams had crashed at the first hurdle after last week's Auckland Classic.

She survived 87 minutes in Hobart against German world number 42 Maria, who is 38, before slumping 6-4, 6-3, having gamely saved six of nine break points.

The first meeting between the pair set a new record for the highest combined age for a main draw match since the WTA Tour was founded in 1973.

Maria said her daughters Charlotte, 12, and Cecilia, four, were probably cheering for Williams, one of their favorite players.

"Everybody loves Venus. I love her too," said Maria.

"For me, to play her was such an honor because I never played her before. It was not easy with all the wind but it was amazing."

Maria last year became the oldest WTA Tour singles winner since Serena Williams in 2020 when she won at Queen's Club in London.

She moves on to a last-16 clash with Hungary's Anna Bondar.

American seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams will now head to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where she has been handed a wildcard five years after she last played there.

Williams, who has played only sporadically in recent years, will be the oldest woman ever at the opening Grand Slam of the year, which begins on Sunday.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejcikova also lost in the first round, needing treatment and strapping on her knee before tumbling out 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4) to American Peyton Stearns.

The Czech former world number two, now ranked 55, ended her season early last year because of a knee injury, but successfully got through three matches in the United Cup last week, picking up two wins.

Krejcikova, who won the French Open in 2021 and Wimbledon in 2024, missed last year's Australian Open with a back injury.


Slot Angered by 'Weird' Szoboszlai Error in Liverpool FA Cup Win

Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
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Slot Angered by 'Weird' Szoboszlai Error in Liverpool FA Cup Win

Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP

Dominik Szoboszlai produced a sublime goal and a ridiculous error as Liverpool eased to a 4-1 win over third-tier Barnsley to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hungarian international unleashed a rocket into the top corner from long range to open the scoring at Anfield on Monday before Jeremie Frimpong doubled the home side's lead.

But Szoboszlai gifted the League One side a route back into the tie when he fluffed an attempted backheel inside his own box and Adam Phillips gratefully smashed home.

Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane claimed Szoboszlai's lax move was disrespectful and not one he would have tried in a Premier League game, said AFP.

Arne Slot was also far from happy with his midfielder, who has been Liverpool's outstanding performer so far in a difficult season for the English champions.

"I don't think you should do that in a FA Cup game, or a League Cup game, or in a friendly game, or in a training session. It was a weird choice," said Slot.

"I also have my opinion about it but I prefer to keep that to myself and speak about that with Dom."

Hourihane was furious his side were not awarded a penalty midway through the second half for a trip by Szoboszlai on Reyes Cleary.

Slot was forced to empty his bench of key players as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch were introduced just after the hour mark.

Liverpool labored going forward for most of the second period until their star duo of attacking substitutes clicked to clinch victory in the final six minutes plus added time.

Ekitike's deft flick found Wirtz, who curled into the top corner for his third goal in five games since breaking his duck in his 23rd appearance for the Reds.

The roles were reversed in stoppage time as Wirtz unselfishly crossed for Ekitike to tap in.

"We scored nice goals but I think for too long the game was tight," added Slot.

"Two-nil up then giving a goal away like that made it difficult until 10 minutes before the end."

Liverpool's reward is a home tie against Manchester United's conquerors Brighton in round four.


Real Madrid Replaces Coach Xabi Alonso with B Team Manager Alvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
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Real Madrid Replaces Coach Xabi Alonso with B Team Manager Alvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)

Real Madrid replaced coach Xabi Alonso with B team manager Alvaro Arbeloa on Monday.

Madrid said in a statement that Alonso left by mutual agreement.

The announcement came a day after Madrid lost to Barcelona 3-2 in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. It ended a tumultuous stint that lasted less than eight months for the former Madrid and Spain midfielder.

“Real Madrid wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end,” Madrid said. “Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.”

The club thanked Alonso and his coaching staff for “their hard work and dedication throughout this time and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Alonso was under pressure as the team struggled to play well under his command. He had spats with players such as Vinícius Júnior and widespread media reports said he'd lost the locker room.

Madrid trails Barcelona by four points at the halfway point of La Liga.

Like Alonso, Arbeloa is a former player of the Spanish powerhouse, helping it win eight titles from 2009-16, including two European Cups and one Spanish league. Arbeloa also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

He had been coaching the B team since June. He had also coached youth teams at the club.

Alonso arrived in May with high expectations and a contract to June 2028. He led Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double in his first full season after taking over the team when it was in the Bundesliga relegation zone the season before.

As a midfielder, Alonso won six titles with Madrid from 2009-14 and a World Cup and Euros champion teammate of Arbeloa's.