According to state media reports, Syrian government officials have spoken with the commander of the country’s top Kurdish-led force about how plans to combine it with the national army, but no “tangible results” have been reported.
A delegation led by Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani), a top commander and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement on Sunday that they had discussions with government officials in Damascus regarding the military integration process.
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The SDF’s ability to remain a cohesive unit within the new army or to be disbanded and its members absorbed by themselves has been a major sticking point. The main force that has yet to be absorbed into Syria’s military is the fighters, who have tens of thousands of them.
According to State TV, the parties agreed to hold additional meetings at a later time and that the meeting did not yield “tangible results.”
The SDF, which controls large swathes of Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, signed a deal with the leadership in Damascus in March. By the end of 2025, the Kurdish-led force and the Syrian army would be merged, but there are no certain plans for a solution.
Additionally, the agreement would place under the control of the central government all border crossings with Iraq and Turkiye, as well as airports and oil fields in the northeast. Around 9, 000 suspected ISIL (ISIS) members are expected to be housed in prisons.
The SDF and the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, have engaged in decades-long armed conflict on their soil, but a peace process is currently being pursued by Turkiye, who views them as “terrorists.”
The Kurdish forces are seen by Ankara as a threat to the country’s security, and it has publicly demanded that they be integrated into the state rather than as a separate unit.
The SDF demands a decentralized system of government that would enable it to continue exerting influence in the areas it controls. Violence has occasionally occurred as a result of tensions between the SDF and the government, which opposes decentralization calls.
During a visit to Syria by Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in late December, security forces and SDF fighters engaged in fighting in the northern city of Aleppo.
Victor Gao, a political analyst in China, claims that the US has accepted its growing power.
Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing, claims that the United States has come to the realization that it cannot continue to “try to control the entire world.”
Gao tells host Steve Clemons that improved Chinese-US relations are “inevitable,” but he cautions that some American policymakers still see China as the biggest threat and that Chinese officials “never underestimate what American neofascists will cook up next.”
Who: Mozambique vs. Nigeria What: CAF Africa Cup of Nations Where: Fez Stadium in Fez, Morocco When: Monday at 8pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.
Nigeria’s ongoing AFCON 2025 campaign is summarized by fun, flair, and fragility.
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Nigeria have set themselves as the tournament’s top attacking force, but they still need to shore up a sluggish defense despite boasting impressive squad depth.
The Super Eagles have recovered quickly from the agony of missing the FIFA World Cup and are now flying high in Morocco thanks to the work of a talented group led by Ademola Lookman, Raphael Onyedika, Victor Osimhen, and Alex Iwobi.
The former champions now face Mozambique, who for the first time advanced past the group stage and earns a spot in the quarterfinals, as one of only two teams with a perfect group-stage record.
Mozambique, who is ranked 102nd in the world, is prepared to make history by facing a team that is ranked 74th in the world.
Everything you need to know about Nigeria and Mozambique is listed below.
Nigeria’s progressed to the 16th round.
The African powerhouse defeated Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia to reach the knockout stages. With a perfect record, Nigeria became the first nation to reach the last 16.
How did Mozambique complete the 16th round?
One of the four best third-placed teams, Mozambique, advanced. The Mambas ended a 40-year quest for a title at the continental tournament by winning one of their two Group F games against Gabon. They are competing in the knockout stages of AFCON for the first time.
In the following round, who will face off?
On January 10, the winner of the match between Nigeria and Mozambique and the winner of the Algeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo will travel to Marrakech to face the winner of the quarterfinal.
[Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP] Fez Stadium has hosted all of Nigeria’s matches so far, and it will also host the match against Mozambique.
Who are the top footballers in Nigeria?
Forward Lookman has been one of Nigeria’s standout players at the tournament, scoring two goals and adding two assists. The 28-year-old played both as a playmaker and finisher and was a key part of the team’s victories in their opening two games.
Lookman is expected to unleash their full force against their East African foes after being rested for the final group match.
While Iwobi has been playing the midfield, and Osimhen, one of the most feared attackers in the competition, has scored twice in the previous match, midfielder Onyedika has also contributed a lot, and striker Osimhen has remained one of the most feared attackers.
Who are the top footballers in Mozambique?
Geny Catamo, the winger who helped Mozambique advance through history, has scored two of the team’s four goals during the competition. The net has also been found for right back Diogo Calila and forward Faisal Bangal.
Guidebooks are written by Nigeria and Mozambique.
Nigeria: W-W-W-L-L
Mozambique: L-W-L-L-D
Nigeria recorded the highest average possession rate (66%) and the highest tally in the group stage with eight goals, which is the highest total in the competition.
For the first time since 2021, Nigeria has won all three of their group games.
Only their 18 AFCON matches (D4 L13) have come from Mozambique, which defeated Gabon.
Mozambique has conceded in all 18 of their AFCON games but has yet to maintain a clean record.
Head-to-head
In five previous competitive and friendly games, Nigeria and Mozambique have played each other.
With four victories and a draw, Nigeria is the dominant team in the standings.
When did the last meeting between Nigeria and Mozambique occur?
The last friendly between the two organizations in Albufeira, Portugal, took place in October 2023 with a victory over Nigeria.
Stat attack: Nigeria vs. Mozambique
Their second AFCON game will be on Monday. Their previous AFCON encounter was when Nigeria defeated them 3-1 in the final group game of the 2010 competition.
Following its 16th consecutive defeat in 1982, Nigeria has failed to advance beyond the group stage.
Has Nigeria ever captured an AFCON title?
Nigeria has won the AFCON three times, winning it in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
Additionally, they came in fifth place overall. They will make their 21st appearance at the continental championship.
Has Zimbabwe ever captured an AFCON title?
No. They are already at their best finish in the 2025 edition of the tournament, which is their sixth.
News from the Nigerian team
Ryan Alebiosu, who made his debut in the previous game, and Cyriel Dessers, who hasn’t been named, are both expected to miss. Because neither of them is a regular starter, their absence is unlikely to have a significant impact.
After scoring twice in the previous game, Onyedika earned the player of the match award, which is still in play, coach Eric Chelle could keep him in midfield.
Nigeria’s lineup was anticipated
Stanley Nwabili (goalkeeper), Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, Onyedika, Iwobi, Osimhen, and Lookman
News from the Mozambique team
Calila, who was injured in the previous game after only 15 minutes, will miss Mozambique. Nene, who scored an own goal against Cameroon, also has injuries.
The UN is increasingly questioning its relevance and authority as global crises grow and trust in international institutions sag. Fortschritt is stalking, wars are roiling, and UN Security Council vetoes are paralyzing action after thirty years of pledges to end hunger and combat inequality.
At least 30 villagers were killed and abducted in a village in northern Nigeria’s Niger state as a result of the most recent deadly attack in the conflict-stricken area.
More than 30 people were killed in the attack, according to a statement from the Niger police on Sunday, Wasiu Abiodun.
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Abiodun added that the gunmen stormed the Demo village’s Kasuwan Daji market on Saturday, burning stalls and looting food items, at around 4:30 p.m. [15:30 GMT].
In Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, where dozens of rogue gangs – locally known as “bandits” – frequently target remote communities with little security and a government presence, these attacks are all too common.
According to the police, the attackers fled from the National Park Forest and headed for Kabe district, citing a common practice of large-scale forest reserves serving as a hideout for armed gangs.
Witnesses claimed they opened fire indiscriminately while driving motorcycles. Dauda Shakulle, who was hurt while fleeing, told Reuters, “Women and children were not spared.” Security personnel have not been stationed since the attacks started. We are currently resurrending corpses.
Another attack occurred in the Borgu local government area of Niger State in November, when more than 300 schoolchildren and their teachers were taken from a Catholic school. After almost a month in captivity, those victims were freed.
In recent months, the violence has been most severe in the Niger state. Despite ongoing operations, security forces have struggled to contain the violence.
The Nigerian government, which claims that Muslims make up the majority of attacks carried out by armed groups, threatened military action over what he described as targeted killings of Nigeria’s Christians.
Following Trump’s pledge to fight what he called a “Christian genocide,” the US carried out airstrikes against ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, December 25.
Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform that the US launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorists in Northwest Nigeria on Thursday.
