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Al-Ittihad to Meet New Zealand’s Auckland City in First Match of 2023 FIFA Club World Cup

(FILES) Ittihad's French forward #09 Karim Benzema reacts during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd stadium in Riyadh on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
(FILES) Ittihad's French forward #09 Karim Benzema reacts during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd stadium in Riyadh on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
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Al-Ittihad to Meet New Zealand’s Auckland City in First Match of 2023 FIFA Club World Cup

(FILES) Ittihad's French forward #09 Karim Benzema reacts during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd stadium in Riyadh on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
(FILES) Ittihad's French forward #09 Karim Benzema reacts during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd stadium in Riyadh on August 24, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Al-Ittihad football team of Saudi Arabia is set to meet on Tuesday evening, December 12, Auckland City Football Club of New Zealand, in the opening of the 20th edition of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, to be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, SPA said on Tuesday.
Led by French striker Karim Benzema and his compatriot N’Golo Kante, Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad enters this confrontation armed with prominent and distinguished players with great experience, local and regional record and a high technical level.
The Saudi fans in general, and Al-Ittihad in particular, are looking forward to Tuesday’s match, in view of the constellation of stars who represent them on the field, technically led by Argentine coach Gallardo, and with the advantage of playing at home. Indeed, the Saudi sports fans wish their team achieve a positive result, enabling it to make further progress in the event which witnesses the participation of seven teams: England’s Manchester City, Egypt’s Al-Ahly, Japan’s Urawa Reds, Brazil’s Fluminense, Mexico’s Club Leon, and New Zealand’s Auckland City.

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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Break after Sinking Villa

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, north west England, on November 5, 2024. ( AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, north west England, on November 5, 2024. ( AFP)
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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Break after Sinking Villa

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, north west England, on November 5, 2024. ( AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, north west England, on November 5, 2024. ( AFP)

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has been excused from Africa Cup of Nations duty after creating the first goal and scoring the second for Liverpool in a 2-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa.

The record seven-time African champions play Cape Verde away and Botswana at home on November 15 and 19, having already qualified from Group C for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

In his absence, Egypt will look to in-form Omar Marmoush for goals. He took his season tally to 11 in the Bundesliga with one in a 3-2 win over Stuttgart.

Here, AFP Sport highlights some African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

Salah took his tally for the season to 10 goals and 10 assists with one of each in Liverpool's win over Villa on Saturday. Darwin Nunez raced on to the Egyptian's touch to open the scoring before Salah broke clear late on to set the seal on a victory that moves Liverpool five points clear at the top of the Premier League. The 32-year-old's eighth league goal of the campaign also moved him in to a share of second place in the race for the Golden Boot behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland, who has 12.

YOANE WISSA (Brentford)

Wissa is averaging a goal every 81 minutes in the Premier League this season after scoring twice in Brentford's thrilling 3-2 victory over Bournemouth. The Democratic Republic of Congo international headed in the first of two Bees equalizers before scoring the winning goal with a deft chip over on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Wissa is up to seven goals in eight league appearances, either side of an ankle injury that sidelined him for just over a month.

AMAD DIALLO (Manchester United)

Diallo was handed a start by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy for United's 3-0 win against Leicester as a reward for his double to beat PAOK in the Europa League in midweek. The Ivorian played a key role in the Red Devils' opening goal with a backheel assist for Bruno Fernandes to fire home from outside the box.

ITALY

HASSANE KAMARA (Udinese)

A thunderous strike from the Ivory Coast international gave Udinese the lead on the stroke of half-time at Atalanta, who recovered to win 2-1 and lie second behind Serie A leaders Napoli. "I could have had a brace today," said the midfielder. "When our backs are up against the wall, as was the case in the second half today, we have got to be tighter in defense and more direct in attack."

GERMANY

OMAR MARMOUSH (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Marmoush extended his astonishing run of early-season form with a goal and an assist in Eintracht's win over Stuttgart. Marmoush set up Hugo Ekitike for the opener before curling in a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards out just after the hour mark. He is level with Bayern Munich's Harry Kane at the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts, with 11 goals and seven assists.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy won and converted a penalty in the 40th minute, but it was not enough as 10-man Borussia lost 3-1 at Mainz. Emre Can's early red card put pressure on struggling Dortmund. The Guinea international's form has been a rare bright spot in a challenging campaign for last season's Champions League finalists. The 28-year-old has nine goals and four assists in 13 matches.