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CAF Champions League Semi-Finals: Stars to Watch 

Wydad's Senegalese forward Sambou Junior (L) fights for the ball with Simba's Congolese defender Henock Inonga Baka during the CAF Champions League quarter-final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Tanzania's Simba SC at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on April 28, 2023. (AFP)
Wydad's Senegalese forward Sambou Junior (L) fights for the ball with Simba's Congolese defender Henock Inonga Baka during the CAF Champions League quarter-final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Tanzania's Simba SC at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on April 28, 2023. (AFP)
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CAF Champions League Semi-Finals: Stars to Watch 

Wydad's Senegalese forward Sambou Junior (L) fights for the ball with Simba's Congolese defender Henock Inonga Baka during the CAF Champions League quarter-final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Tanzania's Simba SC at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on April 28, 2023. (AFP)
Wydad's Senegalese forward Sambou Junior (L) fights for the ball with Simba's Congolese defender Henock Inonga Baka during the CAF Champions League quarter-final football match between Morocco's Wydad AC and Tanzania's Simba SC at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on April 28, 2023. (AFP)

An all-star CAF Champions League semi-finals cast pits Esperance of Tunisia against Al Ahly of Egypt and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

The first legs are set for this Friday in Rades, behind closed doors due to recent crowd trouble, and Saturday in Casablanca with the return matches next weekend in Cairo and Pretoria.

Sundowns were the last sub-Saharan club to lift the trophy, in 2016, and Wydad, Esperance and record 10-time title-holders Ahly have won the premier African club competition twice each since.

If Wydad and Ahly progress, there will be back-to-back finals between the same clubs for the first time since Ahly met Asante Kotoko of Ghana in 1982 and again one season later.

AFP Sport looks at four of the stars who could play vital roles in deciding which teams advance to the two-leg final during June as well as the pedigree of the top nations.

Powerful Sambou

Bouly Sambou of Wydad is the frontrunner to win the Champions League Golden Boot having scored seven goals in his first African campaign with the Moroccan giants.

He shares first place with Fiston Mayele from Young Africans of Tanzania, who have been eliminated, while Sambou can play at least two more matches, and possibly four.

Sambou is typical of so many west African forwards -- tall, physically strong, powerful in the air and capable of retaining possession under pressure until support arrives.

Creative Zwane

Captain Themba Zwane may have scored only two of Sundowns' 35 goals in 10 matches en route to the semi-finals, but his creativity is a key asset.

A master at keeping possession when surrounded by several rivals, his delicate touches often great space where none appears to exist.

He is the only player set to start against Wydad who was involved in the second leg of the 2016 final, which Sundowns lost 1-0 to Zamalek in Egypt, but finished 3-1 winners on aggregate.

Clinical Hammouda

Esperance have reached the penultimate stage despite netting only 10 times in 10 matches -- the worst scoring record of the four title contenders.

Four of those goals have come from Mohamed Ali Ben Hammouda, a 24-year-old who often operates as the lone forward in the 5-4-1 formation of coach Nabil Maaloul.

He scored both goals in the quarter-final triumph over Algerian outfit JS Kabylie, with the second in Tunisia a masterclass as he struck the ball into the tightest of far-post spaces.

Tormentor Tau

It was widely forecast that Percy Tau would leave Ahly after fellow South African Pitso Mosimane resigned as coach having lost the 2022 Champions League final to Wydad.

But the winger remained, silenced the doubters and has given a series of superb displays on the right side of midfield as Ahly recovered from a poor start to move within sight of the final.

His two Champions League goals included a special one against former club Sundowns in Pretoria as he sprinted toward goal before unleashing an unstoppable shot from close range.

Last-four repeats

Esperance and Ahly have clashed three times in the Champions League semi-finals with the Cairo club winning two ties.

Away goals earned Ahly success in 2001 and Esperance in 2010 before a one-sided match-up two years ago saw the Egyptian outfit winning both legs to qualify 4-0 on aggregate.

Wydad and Sundowns have met 10 times, but only once in the semi-finals, with Wydad winning narrowly at home and drawing away to reach the 2019 title decider.

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Sudan Dream of AFCON Glory as Conflict Rages at Home

Sudan's players pose for the team picture before the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
Sudan's players pose for the team picture before the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
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Sudan Dream of AFCON Glory as Conflict Rages at Home

Sudan's players pose for the team picture before the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)
Sudan's players pose for the team picture before the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP)

When war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, Ammar Taifour was in a training camp with his club Al Merrikh in Khartoum.

"I just remember the surprise, the shock of the first gunshots. It was very surprising," the 28-year-old midfielder with the Sudan team at the Africa Cup of Nations tells AFP.

"Then in the days after that there were power cuts and constant gunshots. It was just unbelievable.

"I just pray for peace and for everyone who's in this situation to be safe and make it out."

Taifour, who was born in the United States, is among the lucky ones. He says he is "grateful and blessed" that family members in Sudan were able to leave the country.

Goalkeeper Mohamed Al Nour, meanwhile, had to deal with the anguish of his brother being taken prisoner by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

"Luckily I have not lost any members of my family but my brother was taken prisoner for nine months by the RSF before being released," says Al Nour.

"We have experienced terror, people being killed. We just hope things improve."

The war that erupted close to three years ago between the country's army and its former allies the RSF has had a devastating impact on the population.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and 11 million driven from their homes in what the UN has declared "the world's worst humanitarian disaster".

Despite that backdrop, Sudan's national football team qualified for the ongoing AFCON in Morocco and on Sunday they beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca.

It was just their second win at the Cup of Nations in 18 matches across six tournament appearances since they lifted the trophy in 1970.

They play Burkina Faso in their final group game on Wednesday and do so with the pressure off because they are already assured of progressing to the last 16.

That is a remarkable achievement regardless of the current off-field context, given Sudan have only once made the knockout stages at an AFCON since 1970 -- they reached the quarter-finals in 2012.

- 'Big responsibility' -

"It's a big honor," says Taifour. "But also we have big expectations and we want to make it as far as possible and even to win the tournament, make our country happy."

"Obviously it's a big responsibility. I think each one of us as individuals, we know the situation that's going on, we all can relate to it, we all have someone involved.

"So whatever we can do to help, whatever we can do to bring some happiness, we try our best to do so."

Al Nour, also known by his nickname Abooja, adds: "Of course the team has been impacted. Everyone has just tried to get through this period but it has been difficult with the tension all over Sudan."

"In the end our results on the pitch are what make the people happy and boost their morale."

The impact of the conflict on Sudanese football has been enormous, leading to the domestic championship being halted and the country's two biggest clubs going into exile.

Al Hilal and Al Merrikh of Omdurman played in the Mauritanian league last season. A domestic elite league did make its return in July, but now the two rivals are playing in Rwanda.

Some players have moved to different countries like Taifour, who departed Al Merrikh for Libya and is now plying his trade in Tunisia.

Despite that the national team has flourished under Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah.

They qualified for the competition at the expense of Ghana and put in some good showings in their World Cup qualifying group, beating the Democratic Republic of Congo and drawing with Senegal en route to finishing third.

In August they got to the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship -- a competition for locally-based players -- and they also appeared at the recent FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.

"We have tried to use every match as preparation and to build chemistry within the group," says Taifour.

Al Nour, meanwhile, describes Appiah as "an exceptional person. We have learned a lot thanks to him."

It has all led to this, with Sudan now building towards a Cup of Nations knockout tie this weekend and hoping to put smiles on the faces of supporters back home.

Sports

Prince Abdul Mohsin Airport Receives First Dakar Rally 2026 Arrivals

This comes as part of ongoing preparations to host the global sporting event - SPA
This comes as part of ongoing preparations to host the global sporting event - SPA
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Prince Abdul Mohsin Airport Receives First Dakar Rally 2026 Arrivals

This comes as part of ongoing preparations to host the global sporting event - SPA
This comes as part of ongoing preparations to host the global sporting event - SPA

Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Yanbu has received the first arrivals of competitors participating in the Dakar Rally 2026, as part of ongoing preparations to host the global sporting event.

Cluster2 Airports, the operator of Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, stated that arrivals will continue from December 28 to December 31, with approximately 17 flights, both private and commercial, designated for the arrival of competitors and participating teams, SPA reported.

The process is being handled with a high level of operational readiness and full coordination among the relevant authorities.

Cluster2 Airports affirmed that operational and service preparations at the airports have been completed to ensure smooth passenger movement and the provision of high-quality services to participating delegations, reflecting the efficiency of the affiliated airports and their ability to accommodate major international events.

Sports

Knee Injury for Shaheen Shah Afridi Forces Early Exit from Big Bash League

Pakistan’s ODI’s team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi attends a press conference, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)
Pakistan’s ODI’s team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi attends a press conference, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)
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Knee Injury for Shaheen Shah Afridi Forces Early Exit from Big Bash League

Pakistan’s ODI’s team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi attends a press conference, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)
Pakistan’s ODI’s team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi attends a press conference, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

A knee injury has forced fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to return home after playing four games for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.

“Due to an unexpected injury; I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the fields soon,” Afridi wrote on X on Tuesday.

Afridi limped off the field when he picked up the injury on his right knee while bowling against Adelaide Strikers last Saturday, The AP news reported.

Apparently the Pakistan Cricket Board has called back Afridi as a precautionary step with T20 World Cup due to start from February 7.

“I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support,” Aridi said, while adding: “Meanwhile, I will be cheering for the amazing team.”

Afridi had a challenging short stint at Brisbane Heat where he picked up just two wickets in four matches at an expensive economy rate of 11.19. In his first game of the season he was removed from the attack in the 18th over when he bowled to waist-high full tosses to Melbourne Renegades’ batters Tim Seifert and Oliver Peake.

It is not the first time that Afridi has hurt his right knee. He sustained an injury on that knee while fielding during a test match in Sri Lanka in 2022 that also ruled him out from the early stages of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

He returned at the later stages of the tournament, but again picked up injury on the same knee during the death overs of the final against England that let the title match slip away from Pakistan.

Pakistan didn’t name Afridi for next month’s three-match T20 series in Sri Lanka as a rotation policy, but he remains one of the key players for the T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India.