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Cameroon advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Sunday against South Africa’s expense with goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane, who scored twice from half-time.

Two minutes after half-time, Kofane, a young Bayer Leverkusen forward, scored the crucial second goal at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.

READ MORE: Diaz Brings Morocco to the AFCON Quarter-Finals

Evidence Makgopa rallied late from South Africa, but Cameroon was the one who prevailed, and the five-time champions now face Morocco in the heavyweight quarter-final on Friday.

They can relax before the match, knowing that Morocco will be under no pressure to defend their title in front of their own home supporters.

After a chaotic start, when the football federation’s president and Indomitable Lions legend Samuel Eto’o fired coach Marc Brys, David Pagou was appointed as his replacement and Cameroon’s AFCON was already a success.

Hugo Broos, who had resigned as South Africa’s head coach nine years after leading them to their final continental crown at the Cup of Nations in Gabon, had a bad reputation with the new coach.

Bafana Bafana, who finished third at the previous AFCON in the Ivory Coast two years ago, will experience a lot of disappointment, but they can at least make up for it by focusing on the upcoming World Cup.

Relebohile Mofokeng wasted a valuable opportunity in the seventh minute when South Africa had the chance to take the lead early.

Mofokeng was put on goal by Cameroon defender Che Malone after a simple pass from the left, but the Orlando Pirates forward blazed over.

After the offside flag, Lyle Foster then had the ball in the net, but Cameroon won just before the half-hour mark.

The ball fell to Carlos Baleba on the edge of the area when the South African defense could only partially clear a corner.

The London-born full-back with Stoke City rolled home from close range after he tried a shot that was deflected into Tchamadeu’s path.

The Cameroonian fans made up the majority of the 14, 127 crowd, with Eto’o, a two-time AFCON champion as a player, among those present. That goal was confirmed after a lengthy VAR check.

South Africa had anticipated a strong second half start, but Cameroon did not. Within two minutes of the restart.

Mahamadou Nagida’s substitution crossed from the left, and Kofane scored the tournament’s second goal.

Before Makgopa turned in a low cross by fellow substitute Aubrey Modiba in the 88th minute, Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy made good saves from Samukele Kabini and a Teboho Mokoena free-kick.

That resulted in a grandstand finish, but Cameroon resisted.

With a goal in the 94th minute, Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer earned Chelsea a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

City had a much-deserved half-time lead before Tijjani Reijnders lost center defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injuries in the second half, but they blew two points with Fernandez’s header in the dying seconds.

A point only leaves City six points adrift of leaders Arsenal in terms of second-place finish, beating Aston Villa by one point.

The Blues’ recent eight league victories, including one against the odds, gave them the chance to reclaim the lead thanks to a strong second-half performance to move three points clear of the top four.

Rodri returned to City for his first start since early October, and the Spaniard quickly demonstrated why he had already become the best player in the world before suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024.

Pep Guardiola’s side were only able to get their ninth straight win when they were only 0-0 drawn at Sunderland on Thursday, but they were also guilty of letting their rivals off the hook before the break.

After a slow opening 20 minutes, Bernardo Silva curled just over the bar before Phil Foden opened the scoring for the home side.

Due to Robert Sanchez’ injury, Filip Jorgensen made his Premier League debut with the Chelsea goal, which produced a brilliant save to divert Erling Haaland’s deflected effort.

Moments later, Haaland’s curling shot nearly flipped off the inside of the post, making him nearly wheel away in celebration.

Three minutes before the break, Reijnders wriggled clear inside the box before firing a powerful shot past Jorgensen at his near post. City’s pressure finally came out.

City nearly gave up on their excellent first-half work just before the restart.

As Chelsea broke forward and Pedro Neto spooned over the bar from close range, Gvardiol’s ankle injury made City undermanned at the back.

In their search for an equalizer, Chelsea targeted Abdukodir Khusanov, while City needed Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep Liam Delap out of a narrow angle.

With a remarkable stop from Fernandez, Donnarumma almost saved his side at the death, but the Argentine made the rebound first and headed in.

With a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz scored to keep his goal-a-game record at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Diaz became the first Moroccan to score in four consecutive AFCON matches when he scored once in each of the three group matches in 64th minute against the Tanzanians.

Read more about Senegal’s victory over Sudan in the AFCON Quarter-Finals in 2025.

Morocco added to its unbeaten run in friendly and competitive games by wasting numerous chances to score the winning goal. South Africa lost last at the AFCON in 2024, losing to them.

In the quarter-finals on Friday, Morocco will face South Africa or Cameroon, who will meet later on Sunday at a different Rabat location.

Achraf Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain defender, made his debut in the tournament by scoring the winner for Diaz in the final-16 match of the match last Monday.

The 2025 African player of the year was a serious ankle injury that PSG suffered two months ago when they played Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

However, Azzedine Ounahi, who was wearing a medical boot on his left foot when he arrived at the stadium, was unarmed. In the middle, Bilal El Khannouss replaced him.

Morocco were the favorites for a number of reasons, including having a large fan base and being 101 places above Tanzania in the world rankings.

First chance –

However, Saimon Msuva misconnected with a Selemani Mwalimu cross in the third minute to give Tanzania the first chance.

After 15 minutes, Hussein Masaranga’s goalkeeper was denied by Ismael Saibari who headed a free-kick from Abdessamad Ezzalzouli into the net.

The assistant referee raised his flag for offside right away, and a VAR analysis revealed that the PSV striker had veered too far forward.

The Moroccan who came closest to hitting Masaranga was Ayoub El Kaabi, who was the next to suffer a broken leg. After receiving treatment, both players resumed.

As the host nation continued to look for the opening goal, but the first half ended goalless, Diaz’s shot was too high from the edge of the box and El Kaabi headed wide.

Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi made a lively first period start, and Feisal’s “Fei Toto” Salum fired over in a remarkably Tanzanian raid with only goalkeeper Yassine Bounou on the scoresheet.

On the hour mark, Hakimi rifled a free-kick past the crossbar just outside the box as Moroccan pressure increased.

A goal came thanks to Hakimi and Diaz, which seemed unavoidable given the host nation’s relentless pressure.

Fulham held Liverpool to a dramatic 2-2 draw on Sunday when Harrison Reed scored a stunning stoppage-time equalizer just before Cody Gakpo had given it.

In stoppage time, Gakpo’s fourth goal in stoppage time appeared to have set Liverpool on the right path to victory at Craven Cottage.

However, Reed’s superb long-range effort allowed Fulham to fall short of Liverpool’s goal of placing in the top four of the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s side had a 2-0 lead before Harry Wilson’s first-half goal on a contentious afternoon in west London.

After VAR rejected Wilson’s initial offside decision, Fulham’s opener had been given.

Although Florian Wirtz’s leveller appeared to be the right choice, much more was in doubt.

Fulham’s players were so confident that the decision was made that they almost stopped before Wirtz fired his shot because the German had originally been ruled offside.

Even though Wirtz’ foot appeared to be offside, the VAR official disagreed, saying that the player was onside by the narrowest of margins.

Before making a trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday, fourth-placed Liverpool are currently unbeaten in their last nine games overall.

Following their goalless draw with Leeds on January 1st, the Reds produced yet another far from convincing performance.

With Hugo Ekitike out with a hamstring injury and Mohamed Salah with an injury to the Africa Cup of Nations, Slot used Wirtz, Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai in his makeshift attack.

Drama at the passing

Liverpool immediately appeared out of sync after the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes as a result of a medical emergency at Craven Cottage.

With a deflected strike that sailed wide before making a quick finish on Curtis Jones’ pass, Gakpo wasted two early opportunities.

Raul Jimenez’s pass to Fulham offside prevented Liverpool from fumbling their way into the 17th minute.

Wilson sprinted onto the through ball to send a composed finish past Alisson Becker while Virgil van Dijk was flat-footed.

Before a VAR check, Wilson was able to celebrate scoring against his former club, the goal was initially denied for offside.

Early in the second half, Alexis Mac Allister’s thumping header from Szoboszlai’s corner almost put an end to Liverpool’s malaise.

Liverpool’s 57th-minute equalizer was inspired by that.

Conor Bradley slipped a pass to Wirtz, who slotted into the far corner from six yards out, breaking through the Fulham defense’s cage.

The German celebrated his second goal since joining Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, but his celebrations were initially halted by the offside flag.

When Jimenez couldn’t finish, Wilson chipped the rebound onto the bar before Van Dijk cleared the follow-up off the line, giving Liverpool an incredible escape.

When Gakpo prodded Jeremie Frimpong’s cross from close range in the final moments, they looked determined to make the most of that let-off.

Real Madrid defeated Real Betis 5-1 on Sunday to stay in the La Liga lead, Barcelona, for a hat-trick.

After 20 minutes, Spanish striker Garcia opened the scoring, filling in for Kylian Mbappe, who was injured, before volleying home a superb second.

Before Cucho Hernandez curled one back for Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors, sixth, Raul Asencio extended Xabi Alonso’s side’s lead.

Garcia, a product of the Madrid youth academy, scored a clever flicked hat-trick to delight the Santiago Bernabeu crowd in the final minute.

After the champions defeated Espanyol 2-0 in a Catalan derby on Saturday, Madrid, second, restored Barca’s lead by four points.

READ MORE: Cunha Saves Man Utd In Draw With Rivals Leeds

Alonso was put under more pressure after reporting that he was in danger of losing after a run of inconsistent form, but he managed to survive until 2026.

Alonso turned to Garcia, a 21-year-old forward, to take his place after Mbappe was sidelined with a knee sprain during the Club World Cup last summer.

Garcia proved himself once more in the United States, but his opportunities have been limited this season.

He declared to reporters, “These were three very special goals, my first hat-trick here at the Bernabeu, and my first goals this season,” before revealing he still faces a minute-long debate.

“It’s obvious that I have the best players in the world right next to me, like Vinicius, Rodrygo (Goes), and Jude Bellingham,” he continued.

“I just keep working on myself, which means taking opportunities that my coach gives me, like today, and ensuring that I can give my teammates every minute I get.”

  Academy talents strike

With Garcia’s looping header from Rodrygo’s free kick, Madrid quickly took the lead.

Although they were unable to put pressure on Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Betis fought back and were the more dangerous team for the rest of the first half.

After a superb finish from Garcia, who controlled Fede Valverde’s long ball on his chest and fired home from the edge of the box, Madrid extended their lead early in the second half.

One of Alonso’s more impressive performances came from Asencio, who also graduated from Madrid’s youth academy. Rodriguez headed home Rodrygo’s corner before the hour mark for Madrid’s third.

Madrid relaxed and Betis created some danger with Giovani Lo Celso and Rodrigo Riquelme rounding Courtois before drilling home with the points.

With a stunning flick from Arda Guler’s cross, Garcia restored Madrid’s three-goal lead to applause from the watching Mbappe.

Fran Garcia, who played for Real Madrid at the youth level before transferring to Rayo Vallecano, fired home Valverde’s cross with the nearly final kick of the game.

“We had a tough game, one to forget, and we need to turn the tables as quickly as we can,” said Betis midfielder Marc Roca.

Fourth, Atletico Madrid travels to Real Sociedad later.

In Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Real Madrid will square off against Atletico in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.

Matheus Cunha saved Manchester United from a rare defeat against fierce rivals Leeds as the Brazilian’s equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at Elland Road on Sunday.

Rubem Amorim’s side trailed to Brenden Aaronson’s second-half strike before Cunha dragged them level moments later.

In a bitter rivalry keenly felt among two feuding fan bases, Leeds have now gone eight matches without a win over United since an FA Cup triumph at Old Trafford in 2010.

United’s failure to take all three points cost them a chance to move into the Premier League’s top four.

Amorim’s men sit in fifth place after winning just one of their last five league games.

After a disappointing 1-1 draw against lowly Wolves on Tuesday, this was another frustrating result for United.

Daniel Farke’s team moved eight points clear of the relegation zone after extending their impressive unbeaten run to seven matches.

Still without injured captain Bruno Fernandes, Amorim sent United out in his preferred 3-4-2-1 shape after finally tinkering with his much-derided tactics for the recent win over Newcastle, then revering to type against Wolves.

Amorim’s chopping and changing is especially intriguing against the backdrop of his comment that he is starting to realise United’s sporting directors might give him the right players for his system.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in Yorkshire, Leeds thundered into a series of bone-crunching tackles, a bid to seize the momentum in the opening minutes.

Sound, Fury

Leeds hadn’t beaten United at Elland Road since 2002, and the urgency to end that drought meant there was little sign that they had 48 hours less than their opponents to recover from their previous match.

Despite their attempts to rattle United, it was the visitors who took control amid the sound and fury in the stands.

Benjamin Sesko should have put United ahead from Casemiro’s pinpoint pass, but the striker hesitated too long, allowing Pascal Struijk to make a vital block.

Diogo Dalot scuffed high over the bar from a good opportunity inside the Leeds area.

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was inches away from breaking the deadlock with a glancing header that cannoned off the far post from Anton Stach’s cross.

Leny Yoro was denied by Lucas Perri’s superb save after the United defender nodded goal-wards from Casemiro’s header into the six-yard box.

Heaven’s Gaffe

United keeper Senne Lammens had to be alert to keep out Gabriel Gudmundsson’s low drive at the near post after the interval.

But teenage defender Ayden Heaven’s lack of experience was exposed when Leeds went in front after 62 minutes.

Heaven was far too casual when Leeds played a long ball over the centre-back, and Aaronson took full advantage, accelerating into the United area before sweeping a clinical finish past Lammens.

Amorim responded by sending on Joshua Zirkzee, a move that proved inspired as he played a crucial role in United’s 65th-minute equaliser.

Zirkzee slipped a perfectly weighted pass towards Cunha, and the Brazilian stretched to poke past Perri from 12 yards.

It was Cunha’s third goal in his last five games as he finally emerged from a poor start to life with United after his summer move from Wolves.

Noah Okafor’s overhead kick was palmed away by Lammens before the out-of-form Sesko wasted a good chance at the other end.

Zirkzee’s cutback found the Slovenian just eight yards from goal, but he shot narrowly wide.

Cunha’s curler clipped the post in the closing stages to leave United exasperated.