CK Updates
AFCON preview – Wounded Benin, Botswana to battle for crucial win – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Benin players warming up during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between DRC and Benin in Rabat, Morocco on 22 December 2025 ©Samuel ShivambuBackpagePix
Friday Dec 26, 2025. 13:00
Benin and Botswana will both be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they meet in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fixture on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 2:30 pm CAT.
The matchday two Group D match is scheduled to be played at the Rabat Olympic Stadium in Rabat, which is the capital city of Morocco and the country’s seventh-largest city.
The Cheetahs started their AFCON campaign with a 1-0 defeat to DR Congo on December 23 and the loss extended their winless run to three matches across all competitions.
Benin are placed third in the Group D standings and a victory over Botswana would see the Cheetahs enhance their chances of progressing to the Round of 16.
“We need to prepare well for the Botswana match. The advantage is the return of our suspended players. We will count on our captain, Steve Mounié, and behind Mohamed Tijani,” Benin head coach Gernot Rohr said.
“Today the young people who played like (Rodolfo) Aloko, (Romaric) Amoussou showed that they have their say in this team. Our future in the competition is outlined on the calendar that opposes us to Botswana and Senegal. You have to win the next match to qualify.”
Meanwhile, Botswana also began their AFCON campaign with a 3-0 loss to Senegal on December 23 and they are now winless in their last nine matches across all competitions in regulation time.
The Zebras are placed fourth in the Group D standings and a victory over Benin would see Botswana boost their hopes of advancing to the knockout phase for what would be for the first time.
“It was a very competitive match [against Senegal] and dealing with the experienced Senegal players on the wings gave us a lot of problems, as we struggled to cope with their pace,” Botswana head coach Morena Ramoreboli said.
“We did very well to contain them in many areas, especially knowing that they were seen as the favourites for the match. We will correct our mistakes to ensure we improve in those areas before the next game.”
Benin and Botswana will be meeting for the first time across all competitions.
CK Updates
Ludek Miklosko: Ex-West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 64
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
CK Updates
US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton for second Grand Slam title
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
CK Updates
Erling Haaland goal: Was Haaland’s derby winner a VAR error?
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”

