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Confident Senegal look to blow Botswana away – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

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Moussa Niakhate of Senegal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 match between Sudan and Senegal at Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Libya on 22 March 2025 /BackpagePix

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Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Dec 22, 2025. 12:00

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Senegal will be confident of securing a win when they square off with Botswana in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 5:00 pm CAT.

The Group D fixture is set to be played at the Tangier Grand Stadium in Tangier, which is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lions of Teranga returned to winning ways in style when they hammered Kenya 8-0 in an international friendly match on November 15, after Brazil had ended the West African giants’ five-game winning streak under head coach Pape Thiaw.

Senegal is one of the favourites to win the AFCON title for what would be the second time, due to their exceptional squad depth, immense talent, impeccable experience, and consistent high-level performances.

“No, I think this is the first AFCON where there won’t be any surprises,” Senegal defender Moussa Niakhate told the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) media.

“The conditions will be so close to what we experience on a daily basis (in Europe), that it will really favour the big nations. Everyone had always hoped for a luxury final four and I think that will be the case for this edition.”

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Botswana, on the other hand, extended their winless run to eight matches across all competitions in regulation time when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tunisia in an international friendly game on December 18.

The Zebras are making their return to the biggest football tournament in Africa, having featured in the 2012 tournament as debutants and they are hoping to reach the knockout phase for the first time.

“We have achieved our objective. The first thing was to make sure we come here to build a team that will represent us well at the Africa Cup of Nations,” Botswana head coach Morena Ramoreboli told the Botswana Football Association media.

“We have done that in terms of preparations and I believe that we are waiting for the first match to try and do our best.”

In a Head-To-Head record, Senegal and Botswana have met twice across all competitions since their maiden meeting in September 2014.

The Lions of Teranga won both matches with their most recent game ending in a 3-0 win in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2024.

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Ludek Miklosko: Ex-West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 64

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Ludek Miklosko wearing a West Ham scarf and waving

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.”

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US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton for second Grand Slam title

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Alexander Zverev celebrates with the US Open trophy

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.

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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.”

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Erling Haaland goal: Was Haaland’s derby winner a VAR error?

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Erling Haaland scores for Man City

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.

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“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.”

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