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AFCON 2025: Emerse Fae Recalls Zaha Returns… Pepe, Adingra Dropped
Ivory Coast head coach, Emerse Fae has revealed his squad for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, with notable inclusions and some surprising omissions.
Among the major headlines is the return of star winger Wilfried Zaha, who had previously been in a strained relationship with Fae.
Zaha, who missed the 2023 tournament, extended an apology for past issues, paving the way for his inclusion in the squad.
However, the squad also sees some unexpected absences, with Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra, Wilfried Singo, and Bénie Traoré left out.
The exclusion of Adingra is particularly shocking, given his pivotal role in the team’s triumph in 2023.
Semi Ajayi fights for the ball with Simon Adingra. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)
His absence has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
The Elephants, current AFCON champions, have been placed in Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
With expectations high, the Ivorian squad is under pressure to defend their title, especially following their successful FIFA World Cup qualification.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers:
Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Koné, Alban Lafont
Defenders:
Emmanuel Agbadou, Boly Willy, Ousmane Diomandé, Guela Doué, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Christopher Operi, Armel Zouhouri
Midfielders:
Seko Fofana, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Christ Inao Oulaï, Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Jean-Michael Seri
Forwards:
Vakoun Bayo, Oumar Diakité, Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande, Sébastien Haller, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Bazoumama Touré, Wilfried Zaha
The Ivory Coast will kick off their defense of the AFCON title against Mozambique, before facing Cameroon, and wrapping up group play against Gabon.
Also read: Uganda Coach Criticizes FIFA’s Decision on Player Release Deadline for AFCON
With the team’s strong squad and high expectations, all eyes will be on the Elephants as they aim to make history once again.
As reigning champions, Ivory Coast’s squad is poised to make a deep run in the tournament, with the blend of experienced players, including Wilfried Zaha, Sébastien Haller, and Franck Kessié, putting them in a strong position to defend their crown.
After securing their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Elephants are expected to not only advance deep into the AFCON tournament but also make a statement by defending their title.
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Inter Milan vs Liverpool – Champions League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Ibrahima Konate has a goal disallowed for Reds plus action from the other European games – as Chelsea and Tottenham both lead
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Inter Milan vs Liverpool – Champions League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Ibrahima Konate has a goal disallowed for Reds plus action from the other European games – as Chelsea and Tottenham both lead
Ivory Coast have surprised many by recalling Wilfried Zaha to their squad as they prepare to defend their Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.
Wilfried Zaha, 33, last played for the Elephants three years ago and was left out of the side that lifted the trophy on home soil.
The winger, who began his international career with two appearances for England before switching allegiance, is now with Charlotte in Major League Soccer.
Coach Emerse Fae said the decision followed long discussions and a need to add experience to his forward line.
“We saw that we need experienced players. In Zaha’s case, his ability to beat defenders and his current form worked in his favour,” Fae said on Ivorian television after naming his final 26-man squad. He added that he has been in contact with Zaha “for several months” over a possible return.
There is also a return for 34-year-old midfielder Jean-Michael Seri. The former Fulham and Hull City player has been out with a long-term injury and has not featured for the national team since October last year. He is currently playing in Slovenia and is seen as another experienced figure in the squad.
The coach has made several bold omissions. Simon Adingra, one of the standout performers during the triumphant campaign two years ago, has been dropped, along with forward Nicolas Pepe.
“Simon has faced fierce competition for his position. He’s struggling to earn a starting spot (at his club Sunderland). We had to do without his qualities when making our selection,” Fae said. Defender Wilfried Singo misses out because of injury.
Ivory Coast begin their title defence on 24 December, facing Mozambique in Marrakech in their opening Group F match. They will also meet Cameroon and Gabon in the group stage.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has confirmed that three players will not be available to play against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arteta revealed this on Tuesday during his pre-match press conference.
Max Dowman has suffered an ankle injury, while William Saliba is still not available.
Declan Rice is ill and Leandro Trossard who came on as a sub against Aston Villa last weekend, is injured the same area again.
Arteta said: “With Max [Dowman], unfortunately he picked an injury last weekend and he had to come off. So we did some scans and he’s going to be out for a while, for weeks.
“And then we have the situation of Gabi [Jesus], which we’re expecting to be training with us by the end of December. But Gabi’s been pushing. Every single day, and he kept telling everybody, ‘I’m going to be earlier, earlier, earlier,’ and he’s done it.
“So thanks to his work and all the work that the medical staff have done with him throughout these months, we had the possibility to make a swap there. We’ve done it. Once you see obviously Max and his situation, and once you see obviously the joy and how happy Gabi is to be back in this competition with us.
“So Declan [Rice]was ill, so he was quite sick after the game already. And he hasn’t traveled with us. William [Saliba] is still not available. And Leo [Trossard], again, he picked another knock in an area where he had the previous issue. And I don’t expect that it’s going to be long. But unfortunately, he cannot be with us.”
Captain Mbwana Samatta and experienced forward Simon Msuva has been named in Tanzania’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Samatta returns to lead the side after rediscovering his form with French Ligue 1 club Le Havre.
Several standout performers from the Tanzanian Premier League — including Feisal Salum, Pascal Msindo, Yakoub Suleiman and Mohammed Hussein — have been retained, while young talents such as Kelvin Nashon and Novatus Dismas also make the squad.
Defender Haji Mnoga, who plays for Salford City in England, is among the most notable overseas inclusions.
The Taifa Stars will be making their fourth AFCON appearance in Morocco.
Read Also:Babangida: Super Eagles Must Win AFCON Title After World Cup Disappointment
Miguel Gamondi’s side are drawn in Group C with Nigeria, Tunisia and regional rivals Uganda.
Tanzania open their AFCON campaign against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on 23 December before facing Uganda four days later and concluding the group phase against Tunisia on 30 December.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
Yakoub Suleiman (Simba SC)
Hussein Masalanga (Singida BS)
Zuberi Foba (Azam FC)
Defenders
Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans)
Shomari Kapombe (Simba SC)
Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam FC)
Mohamed Hussein (Young Africans)
Nickson Kibabage (Simba SC)
Alphonse Mkabule (Shamakhi, Azerbaijan)
Wilson Nnang (Simba SC)
Novatus Dismas (Göztepe FC, Turkey)
Kelvin Nashon (Tanda Jiji)
Pascal Msindo (Azam FC)
Haji Mnoga (Salford City, England)
Dickson Job (Young Africans)
Midfielders / Forwards
Ibrahim Abdulla (Young Africans)
Habibu Iddi (Singida BS)
Tarrryn Allouche (Rochdale AFC, England)
Charles Mombwa (Floriana FC, Malta)
Morice Abraham (Simba SC)
Feisal Salum (Azam FC)
Ahmed Pipino (Azam FC)
Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC)
Iddi Selemani (Azam FC)
Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre, France)
Elias Maguli (Azam FC / Ufaransa)
Shomari Lawi (Aalborg BK, Denmark)
Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba, Iraq)
By Adeboye Amosu
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Philip Rivers to sign with the Indianapolis Colts as 44-year-old grandfather QB makes shock NFL return
The Indianapolis Colts are signing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday and has 10 kids, last played in 2021 for the Colts in their playoff loss to Buffalo Bills. After that defeat, he said it was time to call it a day.
Earlier this year, Rivers signed a one-day contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team who drafted him, to bring the curtain down on his career and officially retire at the place where it had all started.
But now the eight-time Pro Bowler is back to help the Colts, who are in deep trouble with Daniel Jones out for the season with a torn Achilles and backup Riley Leonard straining a ligament in his knee.
It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Rivers, who is older than Colts head coach Shane Steichen, worked out with the team on Monday night. It’s unclear whether he will be ready to play at Seattle if the Colts need him.
Rivers was the Colts’ quarterback when they last made the playoffs in 2020. They are sat at 8-5, on the outside of the AFC playoff picture and in freefall after losing four of their last five games.
Indianapolis Colts are signing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad
The Rivers family pictured on a family vacation, at a time when they had eight children
Rivers has is a devout Catholic and has spoken before of the challenges he and his wife Tiffany have faced in raising such a large family. Rivers’ oldest child, 23-year-old daughter Halle, is the same age as new teammate Leonard, the quarterback he could be replacing soon.
‘I think it’s a challenge, and I’m by no means perfect at it, nor is anybody, but I think what I would always tell other dads is to try to be present. Just try to be there,’ Rivers said in an interview with the Chargers in 2019.
‘I think from a dad standpoint, children want our time. Sometimes it might just be five minutes, and sometimes it can be a lot more, but I think they want our time and to be engaged with them and present.’
Rivers’ 10th child was born in October 2023 and is one year older than his grandson.
‘It doesn’t matter if it’s the first child or the 10th child. It’s an awesome miracle every time,’ Rivers told AL.Com at the time. ‘Everyone is home now, and everyone is good.’
Since retiring from the NFL, he had been coaching high school football with St. Michael Catholic Cardinals in Fairhope, Alabama.
The Rivers first eight children in age order: (R-L) Halle, Caroline, Grace, Gunner, Sarah, Peter, Rebecca, and Clare
Rivers has 10 kids, the oldest of which is the same age as Colts quarterback Riley Leonard
No 1 Colts quarterback Daniel Jones saw his season ended with an Achilles tear on Sunday
The Colts organization, meanwhile, were coy over the extent of Leonard’s knee problem on Monday.
There was no signal he had hurt himself after he came in to replace Jones on Sunday against Jacksonville Jaguars, which they lost 36-19.
Coach Shane Steichen said of Leonard on Monday that he is simply ‘working through’ the injury and that he has ‘hope’ he can lead the team against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday but ‘we’ll see how it goes’.
The Colts also have journeyman quarterback Brett Rypien on the roster and whatever happens with Rivers, they could be forced to consider other free agents if Leonard struggles with his recovery.
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Philip Rivers to sign with the Indianapolis Colts as 44-year-old grandfather QB makes shock NFL return
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will spend the next phase of his recovery in Morocco as he battles to regain full fitness ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The right-back, who injured his ankle during PSG’s Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on 4 November, is still undergoing rehabilitation after a heavy challenge from Luis Díaz.
PSG have approved a plan that allows Hakimi to continue his re-athletisation at home, with a member of the club’s medical team travelling with him. The club want him closely monitored so the work done in Morocco fully aligns with their own medical standards.
RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins confirmed the arrangement, saying: “Achraf Hakimi will travel to Morocco to continue his rehabilitation and prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations. A member of PSG’s medical staff will accompany him to monitor his progress. The idea is that the Moroccan will be ready to play for PSG as soon as he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations. There is a good relationship between the PSG staff and the Moroccan national team.”
Hakimi, who recently won the African Ballon d’Or, is expected to arrive on Tuesday and hopes to be ready for Morocco’s opener against Comoros on 21 December. With the tournament only 12 days away, there is still uncertainty about whether he will start the first match, although the defender is said to be confident.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui has already made it clear that Hakimi remains central to his plans on and off the pitch. Speaking last month, he said: “We will do everything for him to be 100% against Comores, but if he isn’t, he will be with us no matter what. He’s the most important player for me, whether on the pitch or in the locker room.”
Hakimi is expected to make the final squad list even if he is not fully fit.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Chippa United manager, Vusumuzi Vilakazi has expressed doubt over Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s chances of taking part in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco.
Vilakazi explained that Nwabali is still recovering from an injury he sustained while on international duty with the Super Eagles in Morocco.
He added that the shot-stopper needs to undergo a hand operation.
“I don’t think he [Stanley] will make it [to the 2025 AFCON ] but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon,” Vilakazi told SuperSport.
“It is an ankle injury, but then also the hand needs an operation because he is been playing with that [injured] hand for a while now and he aggravated the injury while he was in Morocco.”
Nwabali has been Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper even before Eric Chelle was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles some months ago.
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Liverpool fan charged with racially abusing Antoine Semenyo four months after wheelchair user season ticket holder, 47, was escorted out of Anfield
A Liverpool fan has been charged by police for allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League match in August.
The incident occurred on the opening day of the Premier League season, as Semenyo went to take a throw in.
TV footage appeared to show him having an exchange with a fan who was in a wheelchair in the disabled section, and who pushed himself toward the player before turning and spinning away.
The Ghanaian player, who scored a brace in the game, brought the incident to the attention of match referee Anthony Taylor and the game was briefly halted while both managers and captains were spoken to.
At half time an announcement was made to the crowd asking for no racist abuse and pictures on social media showed a man in a wheelchair being escorted along the touchline and out of the ground.
Merseyside Police later announced the man had been arrested and then was bailed for three months pending further investigations.
Merseyside Police have confirmed a Liverpool fan has been charged for allegedly racially abusing Antoine Semenyo back in August
Mark Mogan, the disabled Liverpool fan (pictured right with Emile Heskey) has been charged for allegedly shouting racist abuse at Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo
Mogan pictured with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. If found guilty of racism, the fan will be banned by Liverpool for life
In an update, police have now confirmed the fan has been charged over the incident.
‘We can confirm that a Liverpool man has been charged in connection with an incident during a Liverpool FC match at Anfield in August,’ a Merseyside Police statement read.
‘Mark Mogan, 47, of Templehill Close, Dovecot, has been charged with Racially Aggravated Section 5 Public Order against AFC Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo, during the Premier League match on Saturday 16 August.
‘Mogan has been conditionally bailed and will next appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday 22 December.’
The Daily Mail reported in August that eyewitnesses and stewards had pointed Mogan out along the touchline following the incident.
Mogan, a Liverpool season ticket holder, is single with no children and lives in a social housing bungalow in the city with his mother.
He has been in a wheelchair since being born with a medical condition and receives disability benefits.
As part of his bail conditions he has been forbidden to attend any football match.
If found guilty of racism, Mogan will be banned by Liverpool for life.
Pictures on social media showed Mogan playing wheelchair basketball for a team called the Greenbank Meteors while other images show him posing with Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey.
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Liverpool fan charged with racially abusing Antoine Semenyo four months after wheelchair user season ticket holder, 47, was escorted out of Anfield
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen could carve out another chapter in his career tonight when Galatasaray travel to face Monaco in the UEFA Champions League at 9 p.m. later tonight.
Osimhen has been in ruthless form on Europe’s biggest stage, scoring six goals from just three appearances this season. His finishing has been the difference for the Turkish champions, who have won every match he has played and lost the two he missed through injury.
Before Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt, Osimhen was level with Burak Yilmaz’s mark of scoring in six straight European matches for the club in 2012. His brace against the Norwegian side pushed him clear, extending the run to seven and setting a new record for consecutive European goals for the Istanbul giants.
The 26-year-old also became Nigeria’s leading scorer in Champions League history after overtaking Obafemi Martins during the group stage win over Liverpool two months ago.
Osimhen has developed a habit of breaking records, from his time at Lille to his history-making spell at Napoli. A goal at the Stade Louis II tonight would place him alongside some of the great Galatasaray forwards who have shone in Europe.
The former CAF Player of the Year has scored 12 times in his last eight matches for the club across all European competitions. That puts him level with Shabani Nonda and Milan Baros, and another strike would take him ahead of both. He is also closing in on Galatasaray legend Hakan Sukur, sitting just one goal behind his tally of 13 in the Champions League.
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Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida believes the Super Eagles can redeem themselves by winning the title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Eric Chelle’s side lost to Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the African playoffs.
Babangida, however, believed winning the title in Morocco will erase the pains of the World Cup disappointment.
“I think that after the unfortunate experience of missing the FIFA World Cup back to back, it is still very painful to digest this reality,” the former Ajax winger said in an interview with Tribal Football.
“However, the next target is the AFCON tournament, which can be used to redeem the image of Nigeria football.”
The Super Eagles will be looking to win a fourth AFCON title when hostilities start in Morocco next weekend.
They were runners-up at the last edition of the competition hosted by Morocco.