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Spurs’ Kane Targeting Shearer’s All-Time Goalscoring Record

28 August 2022, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground. (dpa)
28 August 2022, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground. (dpa)
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Spurs’ Kane Targeting Shearer’s All-Time Goalscoring Record

28 August 2022, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground. (dpa)
28 August 2022, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground. (dpa)

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has set his sights on chasing down Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League goalscoring record after his two goals against Nottingham Forest moved him up to joint-third in the scoring charts.

Kane missed a penalty but netted twice to surpass 200 league goals in his career as Spurs maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory at the City Ground on Sunday.

The England captain, 29, joined Andy Cole on 187 Premier League goals. Only Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) have scored more goals in the competition's history.

"It's still a long way away, for sure, but I still feel fit, I feel I have many more years left in the locker," Kane told media.

"Every season I want to score goals, I want to be amongst those names, and I'm excited for the challenge.

"Alan and Wayne are two of the best strikers England have ever had so to even be in that category is nice for me. But I want to keep pushing myself, see how far I can go. So far, it's been a good start to the season."

Tottenham's third victory in four games left them third in the league standings on 10 points, two behind north London rivals Arsenal.

Kane has scored four goals this season and his form has been key to Tottenham's best start to a Premier League campaign since 2009-10, when they opened with four straight wins.

Last week, Kane set a Premier League record for the most goals for a single club, moving clear of Sergio Aguero's tally for Manchester City.

"Harry has to be our point of reference on the pitch at every moment, he has to be the leader for this team and I think he is working very well," Spurs manager Antonio Conte told reporters.

"He's totally involved in this project, and I am really happy for him."

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Sports

Morocco Opens 35th Africa Cup of Nations with 2-0 Win over Comoros

Morocco's forward #20 Ayoub El Kaabi scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) group A football match between Morocco and Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 21, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)
Morocco's forward #20 Ayoub El Kaabi scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) group A football match between Morocco and Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 21, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)
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Morocco Opens 35th Africa Cup of Nations with 2-0 Win over Comoros

Morocco's forward #20 Ayoub El Kaabi scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) group A football match between Morocco and Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 21, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)
Morocco's forward #20 Ayoub El Kaabi scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) group A football match between Morocco and Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 21, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

A spectacular bicycle kick earned royal approval for Ayoub El Kaabi as host Morocco opened the 35th Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 win over Comoros on Sunday.

Home fans including Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, who greeted the players before kickoff, had endured a frustrating game as island nation Comoros, ranked 108th in the world, stubbornly held out against one of the tournament favorites.

Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor even saved an early penalty from Soufiane Rahimi.

Brahim Díaz finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, setting off relieved celebrations around the stadium, before El Kaabi sealed the win with an overhead kick in the 74th, The Associated Press reported.

The prince, watching from his royal box, was unable to conceal his delight as he applauded.

The only blemish from a Moroccan point of view was an early injury to team captain Romain Saïss, who wiped away tears as he left the field.

“He felt something behind his knee but we don’t know if it is muscular or something else,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said. “We hope it’s not too serious and that we can get him back later.”

Morocco’s regular captain, Achraf Hakimi, remained among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury.

"We are being very careful with him,” Regragui said.

Hakimi was well enough to show his African Footballer of the Year trophy to fans before kickoff.

Excitement had been building for hours Sunday and wintry showers failed to dampen the mood. Beninese artist Angélique Kidjo, Moroccan singer Jaylann and French-Moroccan rapper Lartiste performed the tournament’s official song for the first time during a spectacular light show for the opening ceremony.

But the highlight for the Moroccan fans – judging by the sea of smartphones to capture the moment – was the appearance just before kickoff of the king's eldest son beside Infantino and Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football. Prince Moulay Hassan shook hands with the Comoros players and then posed for a photo with the Morocco team, seemingly unperturbed by heavy rainfall.

Morocco is backed by many to lift what would be just its second Africa Cup title 50 years after the first in 1976. The final is Jan. 18 next year.

Morocco is the highest-ranked African team at No. 11. The Atlas Lions, as the team is known, became the first from Africa to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022.

Morocco still relied on goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou to deny Comoros' Rafiki Saïd a prompt equalizer after Díaz's opener.

“I am very proud of my players,” Comoros coach Stefano Cusin said of his team's battling performance. “We have a lot of youngsters. I think we gave a good image of Comoros.”

The opening match was played in Rabat’s renovated almost 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, one of nine venues across six cities that were constructed or renovated for the tournament.

The tournament mascot is a lion named Assad, inspired by the barbary lions that once prowled the mountains of north Africa.

Sports

First Win for Under-fire Celtic Coach Wilfried Nancy

Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 21, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy celebrates their third goal scored by Celtic's James Forrest REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 21, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy celebrates their third goal scored by Celtic's James Forrest REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
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First Win for Under-fire Celtic Coach Wilfried Nancy

Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 21, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy celebrates their third goal scored by Celtic's James Forrest REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 21, 2025 Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy celebrates their third goal scored by Celtic's James Forrest REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Under-fire Celtic coach Wilfried Nancy has achieved his first win at the storied Scottish club to reduce some of the pressure on the Frenchman.

Midfielder Benjamin Nygren scored near the end of the first half for host Celtic, which still needed late goals from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest for a 3-1 victory over 10-man Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Nancy left Columbus Crew for Celtic but had lost his first four matches in charge — including a shock defeat in the Scottish League Cup final.

“I don’t believe in luck but since I’ve been here I haven’t had luck,” The Associated Press quoted Nancy as saying. “We have hit the post in almost every game, but the most important thing is the resilience of my players."

Nancy also said he could have delayed his early December arrival but wanted to assess his squad ahead of the January transfer window.

“That’s why I came at this moment,” he said. “I could have come a little bit later but, with the club, we decided that it was the right moment because I needed time to assess the team and to evaluate."

Aberdeen defender Dylan Lobban was shown a straight red card just before the break for fouling Celtic forward Daizen Maeda. Kenan Bilalovic scored for Aberdeen in the 74th.

Celtic is six points behind leader Hearts, which beat Rangers 2-1 earlier Sunday. Celtic has a game in hand on Hearts.

Sports

Salah Unaffected by Liverpool Turmoil Ahead of AFCON Opener, Says Egypt Coach

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP)
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Salah Unaffected by Liverpool Turmoil Ahead of AFCON Opener, Says Egypt Coach

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP)

Mohamed Salah has shown no signs of being distracted by the uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool as he prepares to lead Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations, Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan said on Sunday.

"Salah's morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country," Hassan told reporters ahead of Egypt's opening AFCON game against Zimbabwe in Agadir on Monday.

"I feel his motivation is very, very strong. Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does," Hassan added.

Salah did not start any of Liverpool's last five games before departing for the Cup of Nations in Morocco and things came to a head following the recent Premier League draw at Leeds United when he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by his coach at Anfield, Arne Slot.

That suggested a move away from the troubled Premier League champions during the January transfer window was a real possibility.

"I don't consider what happened to him to be a crisis. These things often happen between players and coaches," Hassan added.

"We've been in contact with him by phone from the beginning, and I met with him when he joined the national team camp. His focus is entirely on the tournament."

Salah, 33, is aiming to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth AFCON title in Morocco. He has never won the continental title, but ended up on the losing side in final defeats by Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022.

His goals this year have already helped Egypt qualify for the World Cup.

"Whenever Salah's performances dip with his club, he regains his strength with the national team and becomes even better, whether by contributing to goals or scoring himself. Then he returns to his club even stronger," Hassan added.

"He needs to win the cup by helping us and by helping himself."

Egypt will also face South Africa and Angola in Group B at the Cup of Nations, with all three of their games in the first round being played in Agadir.