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17 local players from South Africa were added to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad on Monday, according to South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who will travel to Morocco on December 21.

Most of the 24 contenders will rely heavily on European footballers, with Senegal’s former champions unlikely to include any from their domestic league.

A 28-man list for the world’s biggest football tournament, which includes two reserving spots on the road, Tylon Smith and Shandre Campbell, and three others who will remain in South Africa, was released by the 73-year-old Belgian tactician.

Both Smith and Campbell play for Belgian top-flight outfit Club Brugge, while Campbell plays for English second-tier club Queens Park Rangers.

In an interview with public broadcaster SABC, Broos stated, “Neither player is likely to participate in the tournament, but I want them to experience life as an international football.”

READ MORE: Guardiola’s uncertainty over Rodri’s return

While playing in the north African kingdom, teams can choose up to 28 players for the biennial event, but only 23 will receive funding from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) while there.

Broos has backed South African Premiership stars in the same way he did for the 2024 World Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where Bafana Bafana (The Boys) finished third.

The top two spots are currently held by the national league’s halfway-highs of nine teams, including the Orlando Pirates and the Mamelodi Sundowns, who are currently in the top two.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi, a 20-year-old center-back, is reportedly planning to join Chicago Fire after the AFCON.

Only one of the top five European leagues includes Burnley striker Lyle Foster.

In a quarter-final victory over Cape Verde, the 2024 AFCON squad had 10 survivors, including captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four penalty shootout kicks.

Broos stated to the SABC that he hopes to “at least reach the semi-finals once more” from his Belgian home.

In Group B, South Africa squares off against Egypt and Zimbabwe, who are seven-time world champions, and record. The top four of the six third-placed sides, along with the winners and losers, advance to the knockout phase.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Capt. Melodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi (both pirates), Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau (both sundowns), Samukele Kabini (NOR), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), and Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB/ROM).

Oswin Appollis, Thalenthe Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng (all Pirates), Bathusi Aubaas, Teboho Mokoena (both Sundowns), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem/KSA), and Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/POR) are the midfielders.

Forwards: Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster, Evidence Makgopa, and Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq/KSA), both from Burnley/ENG.

Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers/ENG), and Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge/BEL) are frequent guests.

Non-traveling companions: Mduduzi Shabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Iqraam Rayners (Sundowns), and Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch).

Hugo Broos (BEL) as the coach

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, stated on Monday that he was unsure about Rodri’s fitness until he was fully recovered from action.

Due to a hamstring issue, Rodriguez missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, appearing only once in City’s final 10 games before retiring.

The 29-year-old is unable to play in the home match against Sunderland on Saturday because of his absence from Tuesday’s Premier League game against Fulham.

When asked if Rodri was available for a press conference on Monday that lasted just a few minutes, Guardiola replied, “No, not yet.”

Guardiola responded, “I don’t know, I’m not sure if I could play this weekend.” ”

Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was booked for a fourth time in his short City career in the final-gasp 3-2 victory over Leeds on Saturday, was another subject of conversation from Guardiola.

Donnarumma was accused of feigning injury, which allowed Guardiola to deliver a crucial team talk by Leeds manager Daniel Farke. The Italian is currently only one yellow card away from a suspension.

Also READ: Barca is happy to welcome players back for the Atletico Clash.

He has many bookings, Guardiola said, and yes, he has many. It is what it is, he said. ”

When asked if he had spoken to Donnarumma about it, he replied, “No. ”

After their impressive 2-1 victory over Tottenham, Guardiola was more interested in discussing Marco Silva’s work as manager of Fulham.

Guardiola remarked, “Marco has spent many, many years there and always (when we have been there) — really, really tough games, difficult.”

The organization is exceptional, and I always feel like the ball is coming out on top. A tough, tough opponent.

It’s always so, so difficult for the opponents to break them apart, I recall watching the games yesterday and today against Chelsea, Arsenal, and the final games against SunderlaI. In this stunning stadium in London (Craven Cottage), things have always been like that. ”

Before Tuesday’s crucial match against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his relief at seeing some injured players recover from injury.

With a 3-1 defeat of Alaves on Saturday, Barca moved to the top of La Liga, while Atletico is only three points clear.

After missing more than a month with a hamstring issue, Pedri made his first appearance for the team on Saturday as a substitute.

Frenkie de Jong, who missed the Alaves game due to family reasons, and he and Diego Simeone are in line to start against Diego Simeone’s rugged outfit.

READ MORE: Arsenal Strikes Hard to Refuse Point From Resilient 10-Man Chelsea

“I’m really happy,” he declared. We are returning, so maybe we can raise our game. Flick acknowledged that Uruguayan center-back Ronald Araujo is out, but he said that this was the most crucial factor on Monday.

The German has been criticized for a number of abominable displays, not least of which came in the Catalans’ most famous games, including 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and 2-1 reverses against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Flick acknowledged that Barca needs to improve despite being the top club.

He admitted, “I am aware that we are not in top form like we were last season.” However, we have potential. And we must raise our bar.”

Italy’s tennis federation announced on Monday that Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time champion of the French Open, had passed away at the age of 92.

Italian tennis is mingling a legendary player. The FITP announced that Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian to be inducted into the world tennis hall of fame, had passed away.

Prior to the arrival of current world number two Jannik Sinner, Pietrangeli was widely regarded as the country’s greatest tennis player. He was born in Tunis in 1933, raised in an Italian family and raised in Russia.

Sinner also explains how “Amazing” ATP Finals triumphed over Alcaraz.

In addition to his two victories at Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960, Pietrangeli has won 44 other singles titles throughout his career.

In 1961 and 1964, he also lost to Manuel Santana in the final of the French Open, and he also won his second French Open title in the process.

The Organizers of the Italian Open tournament, which he won twice, said, “We say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis.

Pietrangeli also won the Davis Cup twice, playing 164 games for Italy and leading his nation to its first title in 1976 as the captain.

In a heavyweight title fight between Chelsea and Arsenal, Mike Merino saved the team.

Moises Caicedo, a Chelsea midfielder, was sent off in the 38th minute at Stamford Bridge after being caught by a crude foul on Merino.

Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea in the 48th minute from Reece James’ corner despite Caicedo being sent off.

However, Arsenal escaped a bruising encounter between the title rivals with Merino’s close-range header from Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 59th minute.

Read more about Isak’s first Premier League goal as Liverpool sink West Ham HERE.

Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City, who defeated Newcastle on Saturday, and are six points ahead of Chelsea, who are third.

The Gunners are still the favorites to win their first Premier League title since 2004, but Chelsea’s aggressive display suggested they might pose the greatest threat to the team’s title ambitions.

Chelsea have won their first seven games without losing in all competitions, while Arsenal have won all 17 of those games, winning 14 of those.

In a crucifying 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for troubled Liverpool.

Since making a record-breaking £125 million ($165 million) move from Newcastle in September, Isak had not scored in his five top-flight appearances.

With just his second goal in 11 games for the Reds, the Sweden forward’s maiden goal came in a League Cup win over second-tier Southampton, ending that drought at the London Stadium.

In stoppage time, Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s second goal to earn their first win of the season overall.

“There is definitely a sense of relief because winning is crucial if you have lost so many times.” Reds manager Arne Slot praised how few chances were given and how many were created by us.

“It helps if you don’t go down by one point after five because you’re more receptive.” We engaged in the game that I had planned. Both our players and our supporters were profoundly affected by what I saw.

“This is a good first step for us,” he said. We won and the sheet was clean.

READ MORE: Foden Scores Late Winner In Man City’s 3-0 victory over Leeds.

After missing the pre-season due to his protracted transfer saga and injuries, Isak hit the league for the first time since scoring for Newcastle against Brighton in May, but injuries and a lack of match fitness prevented him from scoring.

In the midst of a disappointing campaign, Liverpool’s 26-year-old’s 10-game goal drought for the club and nation was a sigh of relief.

According to Slot, “I think it does feel significant.”

Liverpool’s third successive defeat by three goals or more following 3-0 defeats against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in the Champions League came in midweek with a 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool’s worst run since 1953-54 saw them lose nine of their previous 12 games, including six defeats in seven league games.

This sluggish victory helped Liverpool move up to eighth place as the pressure began to mount on Slot.

Slot insists that despite losing the support of his players, Mohamed Salah has struggled to get the best out of him since the season’s final months.

Salah has scored just five goals overall this year, but Slot responded by benching the Egypt forward for the third time this year.

Isak delivers &nbsp.

Billy Bonds, a legendary former team captain and manager, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79, was the subject of a minute’s worth of applause in West Ham’s emotional tribute.

West Ham’s energetic start would have impressed Bonds, but Liverpool eventually took control.

When Isak woefully crossed from the edge of the field in the opening minutes, he looked like he was on to another frustrating afternoon.

Alphonse Areola’s superb save, which kept out his close-range bicycle kick, then thwarted him.

Isak’s second league goal this season was only his second.

On the hour mark, Isak finally scored his long-awaited goal.

Gakpo brought Isak back after cutting the ball past Areola inside West Ham, and he then brought the celebration to his knees.

When Isak was substituted, Slot greeted him on the touchline with a handshake before the day was over.

When Lucas Paqueta was unnecessarily sent off in the 84th minute, West Ham’s frustration increased.

After Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai, Paqueta argued with referee Darren England, who later issued a second yellow card, and he was then forced to accept a second yellow card after refusing to leave the official.

In the final moments, Gakpo swiveld to smash the ball past Areola from 12 yards after West Ham made a hash of clearing the area, before putting the outcome beyond question.