CK Updates
AFCON Report – Egypt edge Ivory Coast in five-goal thriller – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Mohamed Salah of Egypt celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON Quarterfinal match between Egypt and Cote Ivoire at the Adrar Stadium, Agadir on the 10 January 2026 ©Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix
Saturday Jan 10, 2026. 22:43
Egypt have completed the semifinal line-up at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after claiming a thrilling 3-2 win over outgoing champions Ivory Coast at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir on Saturday night.
The Pharaohs established 2-0 and 3-1 leads, and the Elephants struck back twice to ensure a tense battle right to the death, but ultimately the North Africans clung on to enhance their hopes of a record-extending eighth AFCON crown – while also ending the championship reign of their opponents.
Egypt got off to an absolute flyer, claiming the lead in just the fourth minute. Omar Marmoush used his speed and aggression to beat Odilon Kossounou to Emam Ashour’s through ball, before striking a low shot beyond goalkeeper Yahia Fofana for 1-0.
Ivory Coast responded well to going behind, dialling up the pace and intensity of their play to put Egypt under pressure. Amad Diallo had a great chance to draw his team level in the 17th minute after great work from Yan Diomande, but his shot on goal was heroically blocked by a combination of Rami Rabia and Ahmed Fatouh.
Further half chances went the way of Yan Diomande and Evann Guessand, before the North Africans doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark: Mohamed Salah’s corner kick found the head of Rami Rabia, whose looping header arched beyond the reach of Fofana before dropping into the back of the net for 2-0.
Ivory Coast needed a response before the interval and they forced a goal in the 40th minute, with Diomande’s in-swinging free kick delivery flicked on by Kossounou before being bundled into his own net by the unfortunate Fatouh.
However, the North African giants restored a two-goal advantage just seven minutes into the second stanza, with Salah stabbing home at close range for 3-1 after a brilliant outside-of-the-foot assist from the left flank by Emam Ashour.
Ivory Coast pulled another goal back in the 73rd minute, with substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso’s header from a corner kick causing mayhem in the Egypt goalmouth, before Guela Doue poked home from close range to make it 3-2.
The Elephants laid siege to the Egypt box in the dying minutes in search of an equaliser, but they were left frustrated.
The Pharaohs will face Senegal in the first semifinal on Wednesday 14 January, set for the Tangier Grand Stadium.
Egypt (2) 3 (Marmoush 4’, Rabia 32’, Salah 52’)
Ivory Coast (1) 2 (Fatouh OG 40’, Doue 73’)
Egypt: M. El Shenawy, M. Hany, Y. Ibrahim, R. Rabia, A. Fatouh, M. Attia, H. Abdelmaguid, H. Fathy, E. Ashour (Trezeguet 79’), M. Salah, O. Marmoush (M. Mohamed 90+2’)
Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana, G. Doue, O. Kossounou, E. Ndicka, G. Konan, C. Inao Oulai (S. Fofana 90’), I. Sangare, F. Kessie (J. Krasso 70’), A. Diallo, E. Guessand (V. Bayo 80’), Y. Diomande (B. Toure 90’)
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.”

