African Players in Europe: Salah off to AFCON amid Uncertainty 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah looks on during 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 looks on during 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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African Players in Europe: Salah off to AFCON amid Uncertainty 

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

Mohamed Salah heads for Morocco this week to captain Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) amid uncertainty over his future at Liverpool.

Salah came off the bench midway through the first half and set up the second goal in a 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton at the weekend.

After the match, manager Arne Slot said there was "no issue to resolve" with his star forward, but speculation continues to rumble over the Egyptian's future after his outburst last weekend.

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

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The 33-year-old came on as a substitute and seized his chance by setting up Liverpool's second goal for Hugo Ekitike. Salah had been left out of Liverpool's squad for Tuesday's Champions League victory at Inter Milan after his explosive rant about Slot following the recent draw at Leeds. That was the third successive game that Salah had been left on the bench and his furious claim that he had been "thrown under the bus" hinted at a potential departure from the troubled Premier League champions during the January transfer window.

CALVIN BASSEY (Fulham)

The Nigeria defender scored in his side's 3-2 win at Burnley. Bassey grabbed Fulham's second goal to put them 2-1 up in the 31st minute en route to their first victory at Turf Moor since 1951. The 25-year-old's close-range header from Harry Wilson's cross was his first goal since an FA Cup tie against Manchester United in March.

IBRAHIM SANGARE (Nottingham Forest)

The Ivory Coast midfielder capped his side's 3-0 victory over Tottenham with the final goal. Sangare netted in the 79th minute at the City Ground, bending a superb strike in off the post with the outside of his foot. The 28-year-old's second goal this season -- and his first in seven matches -- helped boost Forest's bid to avoid relegation.

SPAIN

AKOR ADAMS, CHIDERA EJUKE (Sevilla)

Nigerians Adams and Ejuke celebrated AFCON call-ups with a goal each as Sevilla hammered Real Oviedo 4-0 in La Liga. Adams opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Ejuke completed the rout with one minute of regular time remaining.

GERMANY

MOHAMED AMOURA (Wolfsburg)

Amoura scored for the second straight match in Wolfburg's 3-1 Bundesliga win at Borussia Moenchengladbach. With the teams level after 34 minutes, Amoura was on the spot to blast in a deflected Christian Eriksen cross, putting the visitors back in front. The 25-year-old has six goals and two assists for Wolfsburg in the league this season.

RAMY BENSEBAINI (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia defender Bensebaini scored his side's only goal in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Freiburg. With Dortmund teammate and Guinea international Serhou Guirassy struggling in front of goal and missing chances, Bensebaini took matters into his own hands with 31 minutes gone. The Algerian latched onto a Yan Couto free-kick and blasted home from close range.

FRANCE

HIMAD ABDELLI, HAROUNA DJIBIRIN (Angers)

Algerian Abdelli converted an early penalty and Cameroonian Djibirin restored a two-goal lead on 85 minutes as mid-table Angers trounced lowly Nantes 4-1 in Ligue 1. Both Africans were scoring their second goals of the league campaign.



Bayern Keeper Neuer’s Masterclass Reignites National Team Discussion

07 April 2026, Spain, Madrid: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu. (dpa)
07 April 2026, Spain, Madrid: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu. (dpa)
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Bayern Keeper Neuer’s Masterclass Reignites National Team Discussion

07 April 2026, Spain, Madrid: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu. (dpa)
07 April 2026, Spain, Madrid: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu. (dpa)

Bayern Munich's veteran keeper Manuel Neuer delivered ‌a five-star performance in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg win at Real Madrid, reigniting a discussion about his potential return to the national team ahead of the World Cup starting in June.

The 40-year-old World Cup winner, who retired from international duty in 2024, has been on many German fans' minds with Oliver Baumann currently the first choice keeper for Germany, and Jonas Urbig and Alexander Nuebel as his likely replacements at the tournament. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out of the mix following consecutive injuries.

Tuesday's performance saw Neuer, who was Germany's starting keeper for 14 years, make a string of spectacular saves throughout the pulsating encounter, including ‌repeatedly stopping Real ‌top scorer Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in one-on-ones, ‌to ⁠protect the visitors' ⁠slim lead and earn man-of-the-match honors.

He was heaped with praise by German pundits, many of whom called for his World Cup squad inclusion, and even Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa highlighted Neuer's performance.

"I think Neuer was MVP," Arbeloa said. "We had so many chances to score more goals, but we didn't do it."

The Germans never had a shortage of world class keepers to choose from for international tournaments but the ⁠national team has seen little keeper consistency since Neuer's retirement.

With ‌the World Cup starting in the United States, ‌Canada and Mexico in June, and Germany eager to do well after consecutive first ‌round exits in 2018 and 2022, calls for Neuer's return are growing louder.

A ‌lot has also been said about the relationship between the veteran keeper and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, which at times appeared to be strained.

The coach, when asked in an interview days ago if he had congratulated the player for his 40th birthday, said he ‌had no idea Neuer had turned 40. He has also repeatedly ruled out any possibility of luring him out ⁠of international retirement.

But ⁠on Tuesday, following Neuer's stellar performance, the keeper was asked about a possible national team return once more.

"We don't need to bring that up at all," Neuer told reporters.

"Where did we play today? That was a sensational game. We're not talking about the national team now. I've said my piece and I'm concentrating on Bayern here."

While Neuer wants to focus on club football with Bayern still in the running for three titles, performances such as these will only pile more pressure on Nagelsmann.

"To be honest, I am not surprised by his performance," said Bayern's director of sport, Max Eberl. "Manuel has been playing at this level for the entire season. He saved us today on several occasions."

Asked about a potential return to the national team, Eberl said: "I am not in charge of the national team coach."


'He Has the DNA': Amad Backs Carrick for Man Utd Top Job

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 25, 2026 Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after the match with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 25, 2026 Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after the match with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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'He Has the DNA': Amad Backs Carrick for Man Utd Top Job

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 25, 2026 Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after the match with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - January 25, 2026 Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates after the match with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Manchester United's interim manager Michael Carrick is the right man to take charge of the Premier League club on a permanent basis, winger Amad Diallo said.

Since taking charge following Ruben Amorim's dismissal in January, Carrick has guided the club to seven wins in 10 matches, with just one defeat.

Under the former United and England midfielder, the Old Trafford club appear poised for a return to ⁠the Champions League ⁠next season and are third in the Premier League with seven games remaining in their campaign.

"From a personal view he's the right man. He has a lot of experience, he knows the club and ⁠has the DNA. His relationship with every player is very good," Ivory Coast international Amad told reporters on Tuesday.

"Sometimes this kind of manager can bring the club where they belong. It's not the players who decide but my honest opinion is we're really happy to have Michael Carrick as a manager."

Forward Bryan Mbeumo, signed from Brentford ⁠last ⁠year, echoed those sentiments, saying United's players had had a "good experience" working with Carrick, Reuters reported.

"He knows how to talk to us and we're going to try to take as much as we can from him. It's been easier because he knows the place. It's been great to work under him," he added.

Manchester United next host Leeds United in a league game on April 13.


Havertz Hails Arsenal Turnaround in Champions League Win Over Sporting

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Havertz Hails Arsenal Turnaround in Champions League Win Over Sporting

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring the 0-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal's 1-0 win over ‌Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final was a big turnaround for the English club after the back-to-back defeats in the FA Cup and League Cup, attacker Kai Havertz said.

Havertz scored the winning goal against Sporting in the tie after coming on as a substitute to give Arsenal an advantage heading into next week's return leg in London.

"Definitely a ‌big turnaround ‌for us because we lost the ‌last ⁠two matches. So ⁠we wanted to get a turnaround today and we made that happen," the German told Amazon Prime.

Arsenal's "quadruple" hopes have been downgraded to a "double" this season following their defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup ⁠final and shock loss to Championship ‌side Southampton in the ‌FA Cup on Saturday.

However, Havertz said the north ‌London club can still end the season ‌with trophies.

"We stick together as a group, we have so much more to come this season. Seven weeks to go, we can win big titles, ‌and we're going to go for that," he said.

Havertz was also full ⁠of ⁠praise for goalkeeper David Raya, who was the player of the match in the Champions League tie as he was forced into making several crucial interventions.

"For me, the last two seasons, the best keeper in the world. He's (David Raya) outstanding, he's saved us so many times, and we're very glad to have him."

Arsenal, who are top of the standings with 70 points, host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.