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Salah: Egypt not Among AFCON Favorites but Will Keep Fighting

Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the 3-1 goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Round of 16 match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, 05 January 2026. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the 3-1 goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Round of 16 match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, 05 January 2026. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
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Salah: Egypt not Among AFCON Favorites but Will Keep Fighting

Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the 3-1 goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Round of 16 match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, 05 January 2026. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the 3-1 goal during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Round of 16 match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, 05 January 2026. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah said his team was not among the favorites to win the Africa Cup of Nations title, but insisted they would give their best to go deeper in the tournament in Morocco.

Liverpool forward Salah scored the third goal to secure Egypt's spot in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin on Monday.

Hossam ⁠Hassan's side are bidding to win the title for the first time since 2010 and a record eight times overall.

"I don't think we are a favorite at all (to win the title)" Salah told reporters.

"We have young ⁠players, and most of them play in Egypt. We just fight for our country... but everybody gives their best and you could see today".

According to Reuters, the 33-year-old said there were no easy games in AFCON.

"The level is quite similar, I told the team yesterday that no side loses by four or five goals. (Benin) have a good team ⁠and a good coach... I'm glad we managed to win in the end". Salah has scored 10 goals in 22 games in the AFCON, two fewer than Hassan El-Shazly, Egypt's all-time top scorer in the tournament and one fewer than his current coach Hassan.

Egypt will face defending champions Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals in Agadir on Saturday.

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Manchester United Signs Andrey Santos from Chelsea to Fill Midfield Hole Left by Casemiro

The then-Chelsea’s player Andrey Santos celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wiggleswort, File)
The then-Chelsea’s player Andrey Santos celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wiggleswort, File)
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Manchester United Signs Andrey Santos from Chelsea to Fill Midfield Hole Left by Casemiro

The then-Chelsea’s player Andrey Santos celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wiggleswort, File)
The then-Chelsea’s player Andrey Santos celebrates after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham in London, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wiggleswort, File)

Manchester United has a Brazilian presence in central midfield again after signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea on Monday to replace the departed Casemiro.

Santos joins United on a five-year contract, weeks after Casemiro left when his contract expired.

He featured as a substitute when Chelsea won the Club World Cup last year and played 43 times in all competitions for the team last season, The AP news reported.

“Everything about Manchester United is special; it is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented,” Santos said in a statement.

“As a midfielder, I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn from (former midfielder) Michael Carrick, he is the perfect coach to help me take the next step in my career and push to achieve my dreams."

Santos has played six times for Brazil but was left off its squad for the World Cup, which ended with a last-16 loss to Norway.

His arrival comes amid speculation United is about to make another significant midfield transfer in Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans.

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Former Athens Olympic Hall Gutted by Fire

A firefighter sprays water from an aerial platform onto the roof of the Badminton Theater as smoke rises following a fire, in Athens, Greece, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas
A firefighter sprays water from an aerial platform onto the roof of the Badminton Theater as smoke rises following a fire, in Athens, Greece, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas
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Former Athens Olympic Hall Gutted by Fire

A firefighter sprays water from an aerial platform onto the roof of the Badminton Theater as smoke rises following a fire, in Athens, Greece, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas
A firefighter sprays water from an aerial platform onto the roof of the Badminton Theater as smoke rises following a fire, in Athens, Greece, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Fire has severely damaged a badminton hall built for the Athens 2004 Olympics, causing the roof to cave in.

The fire department said it sent nearly 40 firefighters and 13 vehicles to contain the fire, which started late Sunday, inside the hall, which had not been used for several years.

It took until early Monday to control the flames, AFP quoted the department as saying.

There were no injuries reported. The badminton hall is situated in a park popular with local residents.

The complex, originally built as a temporary venue, cost over 20 million euros ($23 million). It was leased as a private concert hall after the Olympics at a cost of another 16 million euros, hosting shows including Cats, Mamma Mia! and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Greece's highest administrative court in 2012 ruled that the venue contravened building regulations and should be demolished. The venue's 20-year lease had expired in April, the city of Athens said.

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Cruz Hewitt Sets Sights on Playing Australian Open after Losing Wimbledon Boys' Final

Cruz Hewitt of Australia returns the ball to Jordan Lee of the United States in the boy's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Cruz Hewitt of Australia returns the ball to Jordan Lee of the United States in the boy's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
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Cruz Hewitt Sets Sights on Playing Australian Open after Losing Wimbledon Boys' Final

Cruz Hewitt of Australia returns the ball to Jordan Lee of the United States in the boy's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Cruz Hewitt of Australia returns the ball to Jordan Lee of the United States in the boy's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

After being beaten by American Jordan Lee in Sunday's Wimbledon boys' final, Lleyton Hewitt's son Cruz said his next goal is to make the men’s main draw of the Australian Open.

Nearly a quarter of a century after his father won the Wimbledon title in 2002, Cruz lost 4-6 6-4 7-5 ⁠to Lee at ⁠the All England Club.

The 17-year-old was looking to become the first Australian boys' champion at Wimbledon since Luke Saville in 2011.

“I feel like I played ⁠some really good tennis and it was just a great battle today. Jordan played better and deserved to win," Reuters quoted Hewitt as saying after his defeat.

"I am feeling very disappointed but I am proud of my effort to make the final. Obviously I grew up around this ⁠tournament ⁠and I have seen my dad play here. It's been a privilege to play here.

"That is the dream (playing in the Australian Open main draw). That is a big goal of mine to have that... I look forward to coming back here (Wimbledon) in the future for the men’s.”