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Arsenal ruined Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior’s first home game as they moved closer to Wembley with a 3-2 win in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Rosenior’s side had beaten second-tier Charlton 5-1 in his debut in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

But Arsenal ensured his first game on the Stamford Bridge bench was significantly less enjoyable.

Ben White put the Premier League leaders ahead in the first half and Viktor Gyokeres punished a blunder by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to score their second after the interval.

Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to pull one back for Chelsea before Martin Zubimendi grabbed Arsenal’s third goal.

Garnacho gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope with his second goal in the closing stages.

But Arsenal will go into the second leg at Emirates Stadium on February 3 as firm favourites to reach the Wembley final in March.

Manchester City won 2-0 at Newcastle in the first leg of the other semi-final on Tuesday.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions as they try to win their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had claimed his players were motivated by their 4-0 aggregate defeat against Newcastle in the League Cup semi-finals last season.

They also lost in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions League, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.

Top of the Premier League and Champions League, and through to the FA Cup fourth round, Arsenal may never have a better chance to end their silverware drought.

Rosenior, sacked by Hull in 2024, was hired by Chelsea last week to replace Enzo Maresca after earning plaudits for leading French club Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish last season.

The 41-year-old’s introduction to Stamford Bridge was hampered by the absence of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Malo Gusto due to a combination of injuries, illness and suspension.

READ ALSO: Martinelli’s Hat-Trick Fires Arsenal Past Portsmouth In FA Cup

Despite saying he had been focused on playing Arsenal since the moment he took charge last week, Chelsea looked completely unprepared as they were caught cold in the seventh minute.

Arsenal’s set-piece prowess has become their most essential attacking quality over the last two seasons and Rosenior became their latest victim in the seventh minute.

Declan Rice curled a corner into the six-yard box and when Sanchez mistimed his attempt to catch the ball, the unmarked White had time and space to guide a downwards header into the net.

White’s first goal since 2024, when he netted against Chelsea, was Arsenal’s 24th from set-pieces — including 18 at corners — in all competitions this season, the most by any club in Europe’s top five leagues.

Chelsea tried to respond but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Enzo Fernandez and Estevao Willian.

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 49th minute thanks to Sanchez’s howler.

White’s low cross should have been easy for Sanchez, but he let it slip through his grasp and Gyokeres tapped into the empty net for his first goal in open play in 16 games.

It was a rare moment of vindication for the much-maligned Sweden striker, who has scored just eight times in 26 appearances since arriving from Sporting Lisbon last year.

Rosenior sent on Garnacho for Marc Guiu and the change made an immediate impact.

Garnacho struck in the 57th minute, drilling home from close range after Arsenal failed to clear.

Zubimendi restored the Gunners’ two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.

The Spain midfielder took Gyokeres’ lay-off and cleverly worked space for a clinical finish from 10 yards.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are taking on Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Nigeria, runners-up in the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire are aiming to reach and equal that milestone against the Atlas Lions.

For Morocco, they are aiming for another title since their first one in 1976.

Channels Television will bring live updates about the semi-final match. Kindly refresh this page for that.

The first half of the extra time is in progress

90+3: It is full and still scoreless between Nigeria and Morocco

66: Morocco are pressing for a goal

46′ Second half has started

45′ It’s half-time and the game is goalless

40′ Stanley Nwabali makes a save to deny Morocco

20′ Twenty minutes gone and no team leading yet. The game is balanced and played cautiously.

26′ Morocco with some chances but they have failed to threaten Nigeria despite some dominance

14′ Ademola Lookman shoots but his effort is parried away!

8′ Brahim Diaz fires narrowly

Sadio Mane scored a 78th-minute winner to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over Egypt on Wednesday in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Tangiers.

Former champions Senegal dominated possession against cautious Egypt and will face hosts Morocco or Nigeria on Sunday in the final.

The result maintained the dominance of Senegal over Egypt. The Teranga Lions beat the Pharaohs in the 2022 AFCON final and in a 2022 World Cup play-off. Both victories came after penalty shoot-outs.

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was well contained by the Senegal defence. This was his fifth AFCON and the closest he has come to a winners’ medal is finishing a runner-up twice.

Veteran Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly was yellow-carded after 17 minutes for fouling Egypt striker Omar Marmoush.

It was his second booking in as many matches and ruled him out of the final. The second semi-final will be played later on Wednesday.

Worse was to follow for the 34-year-old based in Saudi Arabia as he sustained an injury six minutes later and had to be replaced by Mamadou Sarr.

Senegal did more attacking in a cagey first half without seriously threatening 37-year-old Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

An attempt by Nicolas Jackson flew over and, soon after, teammate Pape Gueye was on target with a low angled shot, but it lacked power and was comfortably saved.

– Heated exchanges –

The rival benches became involved in heated verbal exchanges and some pushing as half-time approached, leading rival head coaches Pape Thiaw and Hossam Hassan to appeal for calm.

Thiaw and Hassan were then addressed by the referee and order was restored in the rival dugouts.

Egypt threatened the Senegal defence for the first time in added time at the end of the opening half when awarded a free-kick close to the touchline.

But the set-piece delivery from Salah slipped through a crowded goalmouth and out of play beyond the far post.

Both teams made changes for the second half. Egypt replaced Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh with Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Senegal introduced Lamine Camara for Habib Diallo, who had been cautioned.

As the semi-final passed the hour mark, the pattern of the opening half continued. Egypt were content to let Senegal have more possession, confident they would snuff out any threat to El Shenawy.

With 15 minutes of regular time remaining, Egypt had not had a goal attempt on target nor had they forced a corner.

Finally, with 12 minutes remaining, the Senegalese pressure was rewarded with two-time African player of the Year Mane scoring.

An ambitious long-range effort by Camara was deflected to Mane, and his low shot flew past El Shenawy and into the net.

Tottenham signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth a reported £34.7 million ($46.6 million) on Wednesday.

Gallagher agreed a long-term contract with the Premier League club that reportedly runs until 2031.

Tottenham won the race to sign Gallagher after Aston Villa also expressed interest in the former Chelsea player.

The 25-year-old was keen to leave Atletico for more regular action in a bid to secure a place in England’s squad for the World Cup later this year.

READ ALSO: Man United Appoint Carrick As Interim Manager

“I’m so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club,” Gallagher said.

“I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the club felt the same. It was very easy, it happened very quickly and I’m ready to get on the pitch.

“I know how great the fans are, I’m really happy to be a part of it here and want to create special moments and memories together.”

Gallagher’s signing is a boost to under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.

Frank is fighting to save his job after a dismal run of five victories in 20 matches, including seven defeats in 13 after last weekend’s FA Cup third round exit against Aston Villa.

Only seven months after arriving from Brentford to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, pressure has mounted on Frank, who has been booed on multiple occasions by frustrated fans.

Gallagher’s signing will fill a void in Tottenham’s midfield after Rodrigo Bentancur had surgery on a hamstring injury on Tuesday, while Lucas Bergvall is also sidelined and Pape Sarr is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad,” Frank said.

“He is still young, so has plenty of room for improvement, but also has huge experience across the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team.

“Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room, while his running power, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.

“I’m excited about working with him every day and I know the fans will love what he will bring to the team.”

Gallagher, who scored 10 goals in 95 appearances for Chelsea, was linked to Tottenham before joining Atletico in 2024.

The Federal Government has rallied the Super Eagles ahead of their semi-final tie with hosts Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), asking the team to go all out for victory.

“As you prepare to face Morocco in the AFCON semi finals, I want you to know that the whole of Nigeria stands firmly with you,” Information and National Orientation Minister, Idris Mohammed, said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“Your journey so far has been inspiring. Match after match, you have shown discipline, courage, and belief, reminding us why the Super Eagles remain one of Africa’s most respected teams.”

Nigeria will take on Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 AFCON, pushing for a second consecutive appearance in the final of the competition after they lost to Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 edition.

To reach this stage, the West Africans beat Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final in a dominant display that has put Nigeria as one of the favourities for the title.

Describing the Super Eagles run at the 2025 AFCON as historic, Mohammed told the players that their victories so far were not by accidents.

“They came from teamwork, confidence, and a fighting spirit. You have shown that same spirit in this tournament,” he wrote in the open letter addressed to the three-time AFCON winners.

As Eric Chelle’s led team file out against the Atlas Lions, the minister wants the Super Eagles to remember that they are not alone.

“You carry the hopes of millions of Nigerians. They believe in you and draw strength from your performances. Play with the confidence of champions, the unity of brothers, and hunger. Know your history and your worth.

“Stay focused, trust one another, and give your best from the first whistle to the last. Win every ball and fight for every chance. Never doubt what you can achieve together. You have earned your place at this stage. You possess the qualities to take it even further. Tonight, go out there and write another proud chapter in our football story. Play with heart. Play with pride. Play for Nigeria.”

Nigeria go into Wednesday’s game off the back of a winning run in the championship. They have scored 14 goals — the highest tally by any team at the AFCON.

All eyes are on Rabat as two continental giants — Nigeria and Morocco — clash in a blockbuster game in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

READ ALSO: 2025 AFCON: CAF Appoints Ghanaian Referee For Nigeria Vs Morocco Showdown

The high-flying Super Eagles of Nigeria, parading the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman among other game-changers, will face their biggest test yet in the tournament against the host nation.

Morocco, on the back of a long-running unbeaten streak, are under pressure to deliver the AFCON trophy, having only won it once in 1976.

With Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz leading the way for the Atlas Lions, Wednesday’s cracker promises to be a game that could define the 2025 AFCON.

Nigeria, three-time African champions, come into Wednesday’s match after what pundits have described as a seamless run.

Coach Éric Chelle’s team has a 100 per cent record in the competition, having won all five games so far.

Their commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-final drew applause from fans and commentators alike, who credit Nigeria with playing their best football in decades.

With 14 goals to their name, the West African giants have bulldozed their way into the last four of the competition and will be targeting another appearance in the final after they lost the 2023 edition to Côte d’Ivoire.

Stars In The Spotlight

The hosts will bank on the in-form Brahim Diaz, who has five goals to his credit at the 2025 AFCON, the highest tally in the continental battle.

The Real Madrid star’s goals have been instrumental to Morocco’s run.

He and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi bring attacking fluidity and defensive width to the 1976 champions.

The home crowd is also expected to be on hand to provide an electrifying atmosphere for the North Africans.

That home support is critical if they are to stop Nigeria’s attacking threats.

Osimhen and Lookman, past winners of the African Player of the Year prize, are firing from all cylinders.

Together, they have seven goals — three for Lookman and four for Osimhen.

The former also leads the tournament with four assists.

With Fulham’s Alex Iwobi dictating the pace with his precision passes, the Super Eagles are difficult to contain when in their element.

Team News: Nigeria Vs Morocco

While Nigeria have no major injury worries, they will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the win over Algeria.

Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika will most likely replace him in midfield.

Morocco is expected to have a full complement of players to pick from.

Nigeria vs Morocco: Head-To-Head History at AFCON
Morocco have historically had the upper hand, winning three of their five AFCON meetings.

The first match between them was in 1976, which the Maghreb nation won 3-1.

Nigeria lost again (2-1) to them in the final group stage of that same tournament.

The last time the two sides met at the AFCON was in 2004, where Nigeria lost 1-0 in Tunisia.

Nigeria vs Morocco: AFCON 2025 Kick-Off Time, Other Match Details

Match:                        Nigeria vs Morocco
Competition:             2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
Venue:                        Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco
Kick-Off time/Date: Wednesday, January 14, at 9 pm (WAT)

Who Will Emerge Victors?

When the lights come on in Rabat, the Moroccans will be taking another shot at history while the Super Eagles chase another appearance in the final.