عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

It Is Going to Be Tough for Champions Senegal, Warns Mane

Senegal star Sadio Mane with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after winning the 2022 final against Egypt. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File
Senegal star Sadio Mane with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after winning the 2022 final against Egypt. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File
TT
TT

It Is Going to Be Tough for Champions Senegal, Warns Mane

Senegal star Sadio Mane with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after winning the 2022 final against Egypt. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File
Senegal star Sadio Mane with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after winning the 2022 final against Egypt. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File

Senegal captain Sadio Mane predicts that "a really difficult group" lies ahead for the Africa Cup of Nations holders when they face Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea.
"The match against Cameroon is going to be very tough and we dare not underestimate our other opponents," the two-time African Player of the Year told reporters.
"While accepting that none of these matches will be easy, we have the ability and determination to reach the knockout stage," he said ahead of the tournament kick-off on Saturday.
Senegal defeated Cameroon 34 years ago in a group match in Algeria when they first met in the African football showpiece.
But Cameroon have had the upper hand since, winning a quarter-final, then the 2002 final and another quarter-final after penalty shootouts.
Senegal have beaten Guinea twice, but only drew 0-0 against them in the group stage two years ago en route to winning the Cup of Nations for the first time.
The Group C clash between the title-holders and surprise 2022 quarter-finalists Gambia will be the first in the tournament.
Mane, one of several Senegalese stars who joined the lucrative Saudi Pro League this year, admits that while winning two years ago was difficult, retaining the title will be even harder.
"I believe the 2024 Cup of Nations will be the toughest to win because the line-up is the strongest."
The 31-year-old, who reportedly wed his long-time sweetheart Aicha Tamba at a private ceremony this month, was referring to the fact that the top 15 ranked teams have qualified.
'Plotting to dethrone us'
Among the top 20, only Gabon, Uganda and Benin failed to make it to a tournament that will feature 12 former champions, including record seven-time winners Egypt.
"I cannot recall a stronger field. All the giants are going to be in the Ivory Coast and all of them will be plotting to dethrone us," added Mane.
He has won the Club World Cup, Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, but says none of those triumphs compare with lifting the Cup of Nations trophy in Yaounde two years ago.
"Winning the last AFCON was the greatest moment of my career. No other success compares with it," said Mane, who converted the winning penalty in the final shootout against Egypt.
"It was a special achievement and one I dreamt of since childhood. Our victory had a massive impact on all Senegalese."
Since the Cup of Nations success, Senegal have also won the African Nations Championship for home-based players and the African under-17 and under-20 titles.
Cameroon, whose five titles makes them the second most successful country in the Cup of Nations, are among the most unpredictable qualifiers.
After a draw and loss to minnows Namibia in qualifying, they defeated modest Burundi to scrape through after being lucky not to trail by several goals at half-time.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday -- one day before Cameroon face Guinea in their opening match in Yamoussoukro.
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song will rely on 2022 Cup of Nations leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi for goals after leaving out Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Guinea hope star forward Serhou Guirassy, scorer of 17 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart this season, recovers from a thigh injury sustained in a warm-up win over Nigeria.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Man City Host Liverpool, Arsenal Chase Treble in FA Cup Quarter-Finals

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with a fans smartphone as he celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with a fans smartphone as he celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
TT
TT

Man City Host Liverpool, Arsenal Chase Treble in FA Cup Quarter-Finals

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with a fans smartphone as he celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with a fans smartphone as he celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)

Liverpool face a daunting trip to Manchester City in the standout tie of the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend as Mohamed Salah seeks to end nine spectacular seasons at Anfield on a high.

Arsenal and Chelsea will expect to reach the semi-finals at Wembley against lower tier opposition, while West Ham and Leeds put their battle for Premier League survival on hold in a bid to reach the last four.

AFP Sport examines what to look out for in the four ties:

Manchester City v Liverpool, Saturday

City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break.

They remain in the running to match their feat as the only English side to ever win the domestic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League in 2018/19.

Liverpool face a defining 10 days for their season and possibly Arne Slot's future at Anfield.

Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the FA Cup and Champions League are the Reds' only remaining hope of glory.

After visiting the Etihad, Slot's men face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs on April 8 and 14.

Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, Slot is under huge pressure to end a difficult second season on a high if he is to remain in the job.

The rest of Liverpool's season will also be marked by a long farewell to Salah.

The Egyptian announced over the international break that he will leave at the end of the campaign having netted 255 goals so far for the club.

"Hopefully he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend," said Slot.

Chelsea v Port Vale, Saturday

Chelsea can ill afford to add a massive cup upset to a maelstrom of discontent on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Four consecutive defeats have plunged manager Liam Rosenior's future into doubt less than three months into his reign.

Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella have spoken out publicly in recent weeks, criticizing the decision to sack Enzo Maresca in January.

Chelsea then announced a Premier League record pre-tax loss of £262.4 million ($349.3 million) for the year to June 30 on Wednesday, sparking speculation over who the Blues may have to sell this summer.

A Port Vale side rooted to the bottom of League One and headed for the fourth tier should still pose little problems for the Premier League giants.

But Vale have won as many games in the FA and League Cup this season (seven) as they have in 38 league games.

Southampton v Arsenal, Saturday

Mikel Arteta's team selection will be scrutinized at St. Mary's after most of his key players pulled out of international duty with injuries.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were among the 10 Gunners to withdraw from action with their nations.

Arteta is seeking a reaction after Arsenal's six-year wait for a trophy was prolonged by City at Wembley.

But they remain in pole position for a first Premier League title in 22 years and also have a favorable Champions League quarter-final draw against Sporting Lisbon.

West Ham v Leeds, Sunday

The priority for both sides may be Premier League survival, but the draw has handed them a rare chance to make the last four.

Leeds have not reached the FA Cup semi-finals since 1987, while West Ham last made it that far 20 years ago.

West Ham sit in the Premier League relegation zone, four points adrift of Leeds, but have used the positive momentum of a cup run to turn their season around.

Since ending a 10-match winless run against QPR in the third round, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have lost just three of 13 games.

Sports

Barca Need Yamal at Best without Raphinha for Atletico 'Trilogy'

Barca winger Lamine Yamal could be crucial in the triple-header against Atletico Madrid over the next fortnight. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP
Barca winger Lamine Yamal could be crucial in the triple-header against Atletico Madrid over the next fortnight. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP
TT
TT

Barca Need Yamal at Best without Raphinha for Atletico 'Trilogy'

Barca winger Lamine Yamal could be crucial in the triple-header against Atletico Madrid over the next fortnight. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP
Barca winger Lamine Yamal could be crucial in the triple-header against Atletico Madrid over the next fortnight. ANDER GILLENEA / AFP

Barcelona winger Raphinha's untimely injury heaps further pressure on teenage star Lamine Yamal ahead of the club's triple-header against Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish champions visit Atletico on Saturday as they bid to maintain or even extend their lead at the top of La Liga, before two further games against Diego Simeone's team in the Champions League quarter-finals, said AFP.

Barca have already faced Atletico three times this season, beating them in La Liga in December but falling in the Copa del Rey semi-final over two legs.

Without Raphinha, out with a hamstring injury until May, the onus will be on 18-year-old winger Yamal to provide the magic Barca need to proceed on two fronts in the approaching inevitably intense battles with Atletico.

Barca hold a four-point lead on Real Madrid, who visit Mallorca earlier on Saturday, at the top of the table.

Yamal played for Spain this week in a goalless draw against Egypt in Cornella at Espanyol's stadium.

Yamal has shown maturity beyond his years since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, including starring for Spain as they won Euro 2024 and blossoming further still as Barca claimed a domestic treble last season.

The youngster, often compared to another graduate from Barca's La Masia youth academy, Lionel Messi, seems to save his best performances for the biggest occasions.

Yamal netted six times for Barca in his last seven matches across all competitions, and the Catalan giants will hope he can continue that form into the final phase of the season.

He admitted in February that he has not been happy this season, in part due to a long-running groin injury, but lately feels better.

"I have that desire to smile on the pitch that I haven't had for a long time and I'm very happy, now I'm happy playing," said Yamal after scoring the first hat-trick of his career, against Villarreal.

In recent weeks Barca have been dependent on the forward in attack and goalkeeper Joan Garcia at the other end.

Strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have struggled for consistent form, while Marcus Rashford has fallen somewhat out of favor.

Raphinha's injury opens the door for the England international, on loan from Manchester United, to start on the left again.

Yamal's pressing and off-the-ball work is an excellent example for Rashford, who despite his strong contribution in terms of assists, sometimes lacks the relentless energy and focus Flick wants from his forwards.

As well as Raphinha, Barca are also likely to be without Frenkie de Jong at the weekend, but Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde may be able to return after injury.

Simeone's Atletico, fourth by a distance from fifth-place Real Betis, have little to play for in the league but will want to build momentum before Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Camp Nou.

Player to watch: Largie Ramazani

Valencia have risen to mid-table in recent weeks, largely thanks to the form of Belgian forward Ramazani. The 25-year-old, on loan from Premier League side Leeds, has scored five goals in his last nine appearances. Los Che host Celta Vigo on Sunday looking to add to their run of three wins from their last four matches.

Sports

Napoli and AC Milan Face Off as Italy Licks its World Cup Wounds

Napoli and AC Milan will be looking to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Fayez Nureldine / AFP/File
Napoli and AC Milan will be looking to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Fayez Nureldine / AFP/File
TT
TT

Napoli and AC Milan Face Off as Italy Licks its World Cup Wounds

Napoli and AC Milan will be looking to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Fayez Nureldine / AFP/File
Napoli and AC Milan will be looking to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Fayez Nureldine / AFP/File

Napoli and AC Milan will face off on Monday with Serie A leaders Inter Milan in their sights, but the return of domestic football over Easter has been completely overshadowed by the fallout from Italy failing to reach yet another World Cup.

Leading Milan by six points with eight matches remaining in the season, Inter would ordinarily be confident of claiming a 21st league crown ahead of the visit of Champions League chasers Roma on Sunday.

But Napoli and Milan have re-ingnited what had looked to be a dead title race, helped by Inter picking up just two points in their last three matches before a traumatic international break for Italian football fans.

Napoli are a point behind Milan after having won their last four matches following the end of a near season-long injury crisis, but will be without Romelu Lukaku after the Belgium striker incurred the wrath of the reigning champions for staying in his home country for treatment on a hip problem.

But that row, Saturday's showdown and the title battle all fade into the background when faced with the national team's latest humiliation, failing to reach a third straight World Cup.

The reaction to Tuesday's play-off defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Hercegovina has been the same to the previous two that cost Italy a place at the world's biggest football tournament: rip it up and start again.

Football federation chief Gabriele Gravina was the first to fall on his sword, his resignation coming on Thursday afternoon, two days after saying he would wait a week before making a decision.

He was followed by the national team's general manager Gianluigi Buffon, with coach Gennaro Gattuso also expected to step down over the coming days.

Now the talk is of how to bring Italian football back to the top table after years of flops from the national team and the slow decline of the country's top clubs on the European stage.

Inter were the one club that had stayed with the best on the continent but even they have helped contribute to the doom, gloom and despondency after being dumped out of the Champions League by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt.

Cristian Chivu's team has also become a sort of symbol of Italy's failure, with defender Alessandro Bastoni being sent off in the first half against Bosnia and academy product Pio Esposito smashing over the first penalty in the shoot-out.

And on Saturday Roma will be hoping to lift a depression of their own by staying in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Knocked out of the Europa League by Bologna and wobbling in Serie A, Roma have an awful record against the division's top teams and trail fourth-placed Como by just three points.

But with Como at Udinese on a run of five straight wins Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, sixth and level on 54 points with Juventus, risk falling further off the pace.

Player to watch: Lautaro Martinez

Inter's recent wobble coincided with Martinez's injury absence but the Argentina striker should start at the San Siro on Sunday night.

Martinez has not played since his muscular problems began in Inter's home humbling at the hands of Bodo and in the five league matches that Inter have played in that time the Milanese giants have picked up eight points.

The 28-year-old leads the Serie A scoring charts with 14 goals and Inter will be hoping that he can stay fit in the final weeks, while he, unlike Italy, has one eye on the World Cup.