Salah Returns To Liverpool Training After AFCON

Following the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool’s training on Tuesday following their Champions League clash with Marseille.

At the club’s training facility, the Egypt forward was gentle exercised while he was with the rest of the squad.

After attacking Liverpool in an enthralling interview at the beginning of the month, Salah’s return has become a hot button.

He claimed that he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot and that the club had “thrown him under the bus” after benching him three games in a row.

However, he made an assist-filled substitute appearance for Brighton in a 2-0 Premier League victory on December 13 and Slot later claimed the team had overcame the furore.

Last week, Slot declared that he was “happy” Salah would be returning, but he would not reveal the details of his conversations with the 33-year-old.

The Liverpool manager said he had no idea when the forward would face Marseille on Wednesday in France.

In the Champions League league phase, Liverpool is currently ninth.

Teams placed between ninth and twenty-fourth will face a play-off round, while the top eight automatically advance to the last 16.

As Liverpool won their 20th English league title last year, Salah scored 29 league goals to earn the Golden Boot, but he has only managed four goals this campaign.

Senegal Poised To Party With Parade Honouring AFCON Champions

Senegal’s football players will parade through Dakar on Tuesday after winning the Africa Cup of Nations, marking the end of their protracted journey at the country’s presidential palace.

The Senegal players were met by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and other government officials on a special flight from Morocco shortly before midnight on Monday.

After a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game, Senegal claimed the Africa Cup of Nations victory in Rabat on Sunday. Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sent Morocco home with a 1-0 win.

Read more about Senegal declaring a public holiday following the win of the AFCON.

As supporters celebrate their arrival in Dakar on January 20, 2026, the police escort the bus carrying Senegal’s national football team out of the airport.   (Photo by SEYLLOU / AFP)

The team’s “grand parade” will take them through Dakar’s streets, which are covered in national colors, with an official start time of 11:00 am local time and a duration of several hours.

The team’s late arrival at the airport on Monday, which was far behind schedule, may cause delays in the celebrations.

Tens of thousands of people are likely to turn out to watch the route, which will pass through both wealthy and working-class neighborhoods before passing along the city’s famous oceanside highway, the Corniche.

On January 20, 2026, Senegal’s national football team’s supporters celebrate their arrival in Dakar. (Photo by Carmen Abd Ali/AFP) &nbsp

In the late afternoon or evening, the players will be formally welcomed in front of the presidential palace.

After Senegal won, fans poured into Dakar on Sunday night, with loud car horns, fireworks, and the audible roar of vuvuzelas echoed through the city. The raucous celebrations continued for a second night on Monday.

The nation’s newspapers were opulent after the victory, with the headline “Heroic”! Le Soleil’s single-word title was used to describe the triumph, while L’Observateur’s was simply “Unforgettable.”

On January 20, 2026, Senegal’s national football team’s supporters celebrate their arrival in Dakar.   (Photo by SEYLLOU / AFP)

However, there were some issues with the game.

When, deep into normal play’s match-tied at 0-0, Morocco were awarded a spot-kick following a VAR check by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala for a challenge on Brahim Diaz, the showpiece event of African football was marred by the majority of the Senegal team leaving.

Senegal were already furious that a soft-looking foul minutes earlier had been used to deny a goal.

Senegal’s players eventually returned to the field to see Diaz drop a soft penalty into the arms of their goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as a group of their enraged fans fought with Moroccan security personnel at the other end of the stadium.

The Moroccan FA reported the incidents to FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, including the protests against Senegal players and supporters.

Senegal’s supporters, however, showed no signs of waning on Tuesday as a new chorus of vuvuzelas blared through the morning and residents of Dakar lined up along the parade route with music playing loud and waving flags.

Super Eagles Rise To 26th Spot In FIFA World Ranking

The Super Eagles moved up to 26th place in the most recent FIFA World Ranking, which the governing body released on Monday.

The ranking, which was made public on the FIFA website on Monday, represents a remarkable 12-place increase.

Additionally, the Eagles increased their score by +79.09 points.

Read more about Nwabali’s heroics helping Nigeria defeat Egypt to earn bronze at AFCON.

Nigeria’s rise from 38th place was a result of the team’s outstanding AFCON (African Cup of Nations) campaign in Morocco in 2025.

After defeating Egypt’s Pharaohs last Saturday, the Super Eagles came in third place.

A coordinated and collaborative campaign was carried out by the Eric Chelle side, which was widely regarded as excellent.

Following a penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morocco in the semi-final, Nigeria only lost one of their seven matches.

The Eagles were consoled by a third-place finish, though.

Regulars are currently in the top ten of FIFA’s most recent rankings.

Spain, Argentina, France, Brazil, Portugal, Portugal, Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany are among them.

Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tunisia, Congo DR, and Mali are the top 10 African nations.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is a vivid illustration of Nigeria’s ascent on the world football stage.

Their performance benefited Nigeria’s position at the AFCON by showcasing a team that has grown to be a powerhouse of African football, blending homegrown grit with international experience, and capturing the attention of football fans all over the world.

The Super Eagles have received praise from the Federal Government for their gallantry and admirable performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He claimed that the Super Eagles’ performance exemplified discipline, teamwork, and resilience, values that resonated strongly with the Nigerian spirit.

“Football has its highs and lows, but Nigerians at home and abroad have praised your efforts, commitment, and fighting spirit throughout this tournament.

Man City Announce Signing Of Defender Guehi

The Premier League side announced on Monday that Marc Guehi has signed for Manchester City from Crystal Palace on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

After suffering a severe injury crisis at center-half and confirmation of the move had been widely anticipated, City increased their pursuit of Guehi in a deal that is believed to be worth £20 million ($27 million).

In a statement from City, the centre-back said, “I’m really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player.

“It seems like the culmination of all the hard work I put in my career,” I thought. I’m now a member of an incredible squad that includes players from England’s best club.

That’s good to be able to say, I think. I know at this club that I want to develop both professionally and personally.

READ ALSO: FIFA, CAF, and &nbsp condemn “Unacceptable Scenes” in the AFCON Final to take appropriate action.

Guehi has been “one of the best defenders in English football for quite some time,” according to City director of football Hugo Viana.

He said, “I think we have signed a great talent who will help us improve.” Although he is only 25 years old, he has already demonstrated that he is a leader, a brilliant professional, and a striver for excellence.

Guehi, who completed the transfer deadline for Liverpool in September, is City’s second signing of the January transfer window following the signing of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo last week for about $65 million.

The defender has won 26 England caps and led Palace to FA Cup glory against City in May, the first major trophy in the London club’s history.

Other clubs that have reportedly expressed interest in the defender, including Bayern Munich and Liverpool, are thought to be pursuing moves until the end of the season when Guehi was expected to become a free agent.

Oliver Glasner, the manager of Palace, stated on Friday that he thought the deal was in its final stages.

Arsenal leads the Premier League by seven points, with Pep Guardiola’s City currently second.

John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol, the central defenders, were all injured for Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Morocco Report Senegal To CAF, FIFA Over AFCON Final Protests

Senegalese players and supporters protesting a penalty against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, according to the Moroccan Football Federation, which officially addressed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.

The match was halted for nearly 20 minutes as the players yelled at Senegal as they left the pitch in protest at extra-time during the regular game on Sunday night in Rabat.

At the opposite end of the stadium, some Senegalese fans attempted to climb onto the field of play while throwing chairs and other objects.

Read more about Senegal declaring a public holiday following the win of the AFCON.

Morocco missing the penalty that would have given them their first African title in 50 years, according to the AFCON hosts’ football federation, saying these actions “had a significant impact on the normal course of the game and on the players’ performance.”

The federation stated that it will use legal means in conjunction with FIFA and CAF, the organizing body of the tournament, to decide whether to remove the Senegalese national team from the field or not, as well as the circumstances that came with this decision.

The Atlas Lions were awarded a penalty by the referee, according to the statement that the decision was “deemed correct by experts’ unanimous opinion.”

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, criticized “some Senegalese players” for the “unacceptable scenes.”

After the players returned to the field after Sadio Mane’s star forward appealed, Senegal scored the game’s only goal just four minutes into extra time.

Senegal Declares Public Holiday After AFCON Win

In honor of Senegal’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal’s president Bassirou Diomaye Faye has authorized Monday to be a paid public holiday throughout the nation.

The Senegalese national football team’s victory in the AFCON 2025 final, which took place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Rabat, followed the team’s victory over Morocco.

The public sector workers were given fully paid salaries by the head of state to allow the country to celebrate the victory.

In a match marred by controversy, protracted stops, and players briefly leaving the pitch, Senegal won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday night after leading Morocco 1-0 after extra time.

Also, FINA and CAF Condemn ‘Unacceptable Scenes’ In AFCON Final To Take Proper Action

Late in regulation time, a contentious penalty decision awarded to Morocco following a VAR review caused protests from Senegal players.

Senegal players surrounded the referee, which caused chaos as the penalty was given well into stoppage time, and the game was stopped for a while.

‘Unacceptable Scene ‘

The “unacceptable scenes” that ruined Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat have been condemned by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF has pledged to take “appropriate action” against those found guilty.

With the score at 0-0, Morocco and Senegal were unable to win the AFCON final until late in the afternoon when referee Jean Jacques Mdala gave Morocco a penalty following a VAR review of a challenge on Brahim Diaz.

Most Senegalese players walked out of the stands in protest, and Moroccan security personnel and some Senegalese fans were involved in altercations.

In a statement released on Monday, CAF expressed regret for some players and officials while skipping to blame either team.

The organization stated that it is reviewing all the available footage and will take the matter to its disciplinary bodies.

The statement from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal read, “The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) condemns the unacceptable behavior of some players and officials in Rabat last night.”

The CAF firmly condemns any improper behavior that occurs during matches, particularly those that targets the refereeing team or the organizers.