Connect with us

CK Updates

LIVE: AFCON 2025 – 30 December 2025 – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Published

on

by
Staff Reporter

Tuesday Dec 30, 2025. 23:01

Join AfricanFootball.com for LIVE updates from all 52 matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as 24 teams battle for glory in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.

Today’s matches:

18h00 – Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia

Advertisement

18h00 – Uganda 1-3 Nigeria

21h00 – Benin v Senegal

21h00 – Botswana v DR Congo

 

Updates:

90+10’ – Full time. Benin 0-3 Senegal. Done and dusted in Tangier, with the Teranga Lions claiming a victory to finish top of Group D.

Senegal will therefore play in the first round of 16 match, set for Saturday evening in Tangier, against the third-place finisher from Group E (either Burkina Faso or Sudan), while Benin will take on Egypt in Agadir on Monday.

Advertisement

90+7’ – GOAL! Benin 0-3 Senegal. Cherif Ndiaye cracks home the spot kick!

Full-Time: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo (Mbuku 31′ Kakuta 41′ 60′). The Leopards progress to the Round of 16 as Group D runners-up and they will face Algeria at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium on January 6. However, the Zebras, who came into the match having already been eliminated, returned home after finishing fourth in the Group D standings.

90+4’ – Penalty to Senegal! Abdoul Moumini trips up Ibrahim Mbaye and it’s a spot kick to the Teranga Lions.

90+1’ – There will be eight minutes of added time.

86’ – Closing in on full time in Tangier, where Senegal remain 2-0 up against Benin and on course to secure top spot in Group D.

85′ – Michel-Ange Balikwisha dribbles past several Botswana defenders, but he is denied by Goitseone Phoko makes his fourth save tonight.

79’ – Senegal are looking to control the game with possession, hoping to draw a mistake from the Cheetahs.

Advertisement

75′ – The Zebras refresh their midfield as Gape Mohutsiwa is going off and South African coach Morena Ramoreboli gives the last tactical orders to Godiraone Modingwane.

71’ – Red card! After a VAR review, Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly is shown a straight red for a studs up challenge on the Achilles heel of Aiyegun Tosin. That’s a huge blow for the Teranga Lions, who will be without the key defender and captain for at least the round of 16!

67’ – Midway through the second half in Tangier. As things stand, Senegal will finish top of the group on goal difference ahead of DR Congo.

69′ – Fiston Mayele, who is arguably the best striker based in Africa, thought he had netted his sixth international goal, but it is disallowed after a VAR Check due to a handball.

63’ – GOAL! Benin 0-2 Senegal. The Teranga Lions double their lead via Habib Diallo, who beautifully sweeps home a fine assist from Sadio Mane.

60′ – GOAL! Botswana 0-3 DR Congo. Guess who? It’s Gael Kakuta with his second goal of the night and his fifth goal for the Leopards. That is a brilliant finish by the experienced attacker. Inspired-substitute Theo Bongonda with the assist.

60’ – We’ve hit the hour mark, with Senegal dialling up the pressure in search of a second goal.

Advertisement

51’ – Habib Diarra tries to curl one into the top corner from long range, but his radar is just a little off.

54′ – It gets worse for Botswana! The Zebras have lost their captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe due to an injury and he is replaced by Tebogo Kopelang.

46’ – Back underway in Tangier. Senegal make two changes, with Ibrahim Mbaye and Habib Diarra replacing Iliman Ndiaye and Lamine Camara, while Rodolfo Aloko is swapped in for Doukou Dodo for Benin.

46′ – The second-half is underway in a match between Botswana and DR Congo.

45+8’ – Half time. Benin 0-1 Senegal. The Teranga Lions lead in Tangier and they are on course to finish on top of the group.

Half-Time: Botswana 0-2 DR Congo (Mbuku 31′ Kakuta 41′). The Leopards are leading at the interval and as things stand, they will face Algeria in the Round of 16 on January 6 in Rabat.

45+4’ – Steve Mounie with a shooting chance for Benin, but his effort is smothered by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Advertisement

45′ – Six minutes added as the Zebras look to pull one back before the half-time break.

45+1’ – There will be seven minutes of added time.

43 – After a lengthy check, the goal is given the green light by VAR, with Seck’s effort appearing to have made contact with the elbow.

41′ – GOAL! Botswana 0-2 DR Congo. Gaël Kakuta fires past Goitseone Phoko from the spot-kick for his fourth international goal in DR Congo colours. Make that a goal and an assist for the former France under-21 international tonight.

38’ – GOAL! Benin 0-1 Senegal. Abdoulaye Seck heads home with impressive power and precision after meeting a free kick from Krepin Diatta.

39′ – Penalty for DR Congo. Thabo Leinanyane is adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. A chance for the Leopards to double their lead.

37’ – Lamine Camara shoots from long range and forces Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou into the first notable save of the match.

Advertisement

31′ GOAL! Botswana 0-1 DR Congo. 23-year-old Nathanaël Mbuku Wa Mbuku pokes the ball home for his second international goal after a beautiful team move by the Leopards. Gaël Kakuta with the assist – a sublime backheel pass.

28′ – Fiston Mayele jumps for a cross in the goal area, but his header goes narrowly wide of the left post! A decent chance for the Leopards of DR Congo.

23’ – The first notable effort at goal comes from Benin’s Mohamed Tijani, who hits a long-range shot high and wide.

15′ – Botswana doing most of the defending as DR Congo push for an early goal. Meschack Elia is denied by Goitseone Phoko, who pulls off a comfortable save.

15’ – A pause in play while Lamine Camara received treatment for an injury.

9′ – Fiston Mayele latches onto a pull back in the box right in front of goal, but the DR Congo striker’s shot towards the bottom left corner is pretty weak and Goitseone Phoko makes an easy save.

8’ – Plenty of possession for Senegal in the early minutes, but no clear scoring chances just yet.

Advertisement

1′ – The match between Botswana and DR Congo is underway in Rabat.

1’ – Kick-off. Benin 0-0 Senegal. We are underway in Tangier. The Cheetahs wear all yellow, while the Teranga Lions are in all green.

Botswana v DR Congo Lineups:

Botswana: Goitseone Phoko – Thabo Leinanyane, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Mothusi Johnson, Gilbert Baruti, Mothusi Cooper, Segolame Boy, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Gape Mohutsiwa, Thabang Sesinyi

DR Congo: Lionel M’Pasi N’Zau – Joris Kayembe, Rocky Bushiri, Chancel Mbemba, Gedeon Kalulu Kyatengwa, Charles Pickel, Meschak Elia, Gaël Kakuta, Nathanael Mbuku, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Fiston Mayele

20h45 – Benin and Senegal have met 10 times, dating back as far as 1961. The Teranga Lions have claimed seven wins compared to one for the Cheetahs, while two games have been drawn.

The teams last met in an international friendly in Amiens in March 2024, with Senegal winning 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Sadio Mane.

Advertisement

20h35 – Line-ups:

Benin: M. Dandjinou, T. Ourou, O. Verdon, M. Tijani, Y. Roche, D. Dodo, A. Samadou, H. Imourane, A. Tosin, S. Mounie, J. Olaitan

Senegal: E. Mendy, K. Diatta, A. Seck, K. Koulibaly, M. Diouf, P. Sarr, I. Gueye, L. Camara, I. Ndiaye, H. Diallo, S. Mane

20h30 – Group D wraps up in this late evening slot, with Benin taking on Senegal at the Tangier Grand Stadium.

As things stand, Senegal tops the log with four points – level with DR Congo (who play already-eliminated Botswana in a concurrent match in Rabat) and one point ahead of third-placed Benin.

The good news for the top three is that they are all guaranteed to progress to the last 16, either as group winners, runners-up, or as one of the best third-place finishers. Only their final order in the group needs to be decided.

Full-time – Uganda 1 (Mato 75′) Nigeria 3 (Onuachu 28′, Onyedika 63′, 67′). A comfortable win in the end for Eric Chelle’s side, who were aided by Salim Magoola’s sending-off on 57 minutes to score twice more and maintain their perfect record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Advertisement

Full-time: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia – The Taifa Stars and Eagles of Carthage share the spoils in their final Group C fixture. Both sides have now booked their spot in the tournament’s Round of 16.

90’ – Four minutes of additional time between Tanzania and Tunisia.

74’ – Tunisia begin to probe on the edge of the Tanzania area, Tanzania sitting tight for the time being.

67′ – Goal! Uganda 0-3 Nigeria. It’s game over now as Onyedika scores again. The Club Brugge midfielder is played in by Chukwueze and tucks his shot past Alionzi.

64′ – Alionzi is called into action moments later after Osimhen receives a pass inside the box and tests the third-choice goalkeeper with a low shot.

63′ – Goal! Uganda 0-2 Nigeria. The Super Eagles take immediate advantage of the extra man as Chukwueze finds Frank Onyeka in space inside the box and he tucks his shot between the legs of Alionzi to make it 2-0.

61′ – Samuel Chukwueze fails to test Nafian Alionzi from the resulting free-kick which clears the crossbar by some distance. Poor attempt!

Advertisement

60’ – Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia: Tense conditions between the two sides as both actively search for their second goal, while Tanzania crank up the pressure.

57′ – Uganda are really in trouble now after Salim Magoola handles the ball outside his area and receives his marching orders after Osimhen attempted to dink the ball over the goalkeeper’s head.

50′ – Early chance for Nigeria after the restart as Chidozie Awaziem misses the target by a whisker after directing the ball narrowly past the left post from close range.

48’ – Goal! Tanzania draw level in stunning fashion as Feisal Salum hits a right-footed shot from outside the box.

46′ – Nigeria get the ball rolling in the second half.

46’ – As summoned by the referee, we’re back with the second-half between Tanzania and Tunisia.

45’ – Four minutes added on at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium between Tanzania and Tunisia.

Advertisement

45′ – The fourth official indicates four minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.

42’ – Goal! Tunisia take the lead via the penalty spot as Gharbi sends the goalkeeper in the opposite direction.

41’ – Penalty to Tunisia! Ibrahim Hamad penalized for a foul inside the 18-yard-area.

39′ – Onyango goes down for the third time with what appears to be an injury, but Put might just wait until half-time before making a change in goal.

38’ – Penalty check for Tunisia! The referee heads to the pitch side monitor to investigate a possible infringement inside the Tanzania area.

29′ – Goal! Uganda 0-1 Nigeria. Nigeria make the breakthrough just seconds later as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru finds Onuachu with a neat pass inside the bnox after Onyango came ruishing out and the Trabzonspor striker slots home into an open net.

28′ – Victor Osimhen makes his way into the box and cuts the ball back for Paul Onuachu, who forces Denis Onyango into a smart with his a well-struck shot.

Advertisement

26’ – Daring effort by Gharbi who attempts to score within a few meters inside the Tanzania half. After spotting the goalkeeper off his line, Gharbi’s lofted effort sails over the crossbar.

25′ – Just past the midway point in the first half and the Super Eagles have yet to fashion an attempt at goal despite enjoying 60 per cent of the possession.

25’ – Still goalless between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat as they battle to make the most of their attacking advancements.

18′ Another chance for Uganda sees a cross come out to Denis Omedi inside the box, but he takes a heavy touch instead of attempting a shot at goal and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

13′ – The Cranes go close to the opener as Mato climbs highest to head a cross narrowly past the right post.

14’ Tunisia press on and produce the first notable chance of the game as Ismael Gharbi hits the woodwork with a left-footed shot from the right-side of the box.

10′ – A subdued start from both teams in Fez. There have been no clear-cut chances in the opening 10 minutes, with Rogers Mato having horribly over-hit a free-kick that cleared the crossbar on five minutes.

Advertisement

5’ Timid start by Tanzania and Tunisia while the latter are moving up the pitch more frequently.

4′ – Calvin Bassey will have to tread lightly for the rest of the game after picking up an early yellow card for a late challenge.

1′ – Uganda get proceedings underway at the Fez Stadium.

1’ We’re off between Tanzania and Tunisia at Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Sportif Prince Abdellah!

What the managers said:

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle: “I’m happy, once again, with the intensity we showed for 75 minutes. I’m pleased with how we recovered the ball both very high up the pitch and very deep.

“We were able to move forward quickly, but also to keep possession for long periods of the game. We created a lot of chances and opportunities to score.

Advertisement

“We deserved this win, and I think we were the better team in every area of the game. Of course, it would be nice to finish a match without having to suffer so much.”

Uganda head coach Paul Put: “I think we didn’t deserve a draw. I think we had more opportunities. If you look at the ball possession, we had more of it. We also missed a penalty which is very painful but that is a part of football.

“We have a very young team so my responsibility is also to build a team for 2027 because we are the host country.

“I spoke to the players and informed that they we need to keep the belief. You have to play until the last game. Yes we are disappointed, but we need to reset the mindset and prepare for the match against Nigeria which we know will not be easy.”

Tanzania vs Tunisia: The Taifa Stars and Eagles of Carthage have met on two occasions in the past, with Tunisia recording a 1-0 win in November 2020, while they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the following encounter.

It could turn out to be a gamble though, as the West African giants have failed to beat Uganda in three previous attempts. The last meeting between the two teams, a friendly on 20 November 2018, finished goalless.

The Cranes must win in Fez to keep their AFCON adventure alive after picking up just one point from the opening two matches. Paul Put’s side were beaten 3-1 by the Eagles of Carthage on December 23 before playing out to a 1-1 draw with East African neighbours Tanzania four days later.

Advertisement

Tanzania vs Tunisia: Tanzania and Tunisia will battle it out for second-place in Group C and ultimately, a position among the last 16 of the tournament.

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle makes sweeping changes to his team, with Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi and Victor Osimhen the only players retained from the 3-2 win over Tunisia three days ago. The Super Eagles are already guaranteed top spot in Group C and Chelle has opted to give other squad members crucial minutes in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Tanzania vs Tunisia starting line-ups:

Tanzania: Masalanga, Job, Nondo, Hamad, Husseini, Msanga, Morishi, Mnoga, Salum, Msuva, Samatta

Tunisia: Dahmen, Abdi, Talbi, Valery, Skhiri, Bronn, Mejbri, Tounekti, Achouri, Mastouri, Gharbi

Uganda v Nigeria starting line-ups:

Uganda: D. Onyango, K. Semakula, T. Sibbick, J. Obita, A. Kayondo, B. Byaruhanga, T. Mutyaba, B. Alhassan, D. Omedi, U. Ikpeazu, R. Mato.

Advertisement

Nigeria: F. Uzoho, R. Alebiosu, I. Ogbu, C. Bassey, B. Onyemaechi, F. Dele-Bashiru, R. Onyedika, S. Chukwueze, P. Onuachu, V. Osimhen, M. Simon.

CK Updates

Kick It Out calls for tougher sanctions as football discrimination reaches new high

Published

on

Kick It Out logo

The statistics are not a surprise to Umar Ali, who plays for Route One Rovers – a semi-professional team in Bradford.

During Ramadan last year, he was racially abused by a group of opposition spectators as he was waiting to come on as a substitute.

“It was our first game playing while we were fasting,” he said. “So obviously we were hungry that day and I was a bit less patient.

“Then when I was getting ready to come on, one of the fans said I should shave my beard off and that I looked like a paedophile.

“One of them picked up a child who was about six, seven years old, and said ‘I bet your wife’s the same age as this child’.”

Umar described the men as in their sixties.

“It’s quite distressing, because they’re older than my dad,” he added. “They’re my grandad’s age, and they felt comfortable enough to stand there and make comments like that.”

Advertisement

Umar said the assistant referee heard the comments and told the referee, who he claims did not take any action.

The police were eventually contacted and the spectators identified. Umar has not been informed of an outcome.

His manager Mohammed Patel was in the dugout during the match and said – while the opposition coaching staff apologised on behalf of their fans – he felt the officials fell short and should have removed those spectators shouting racist and Islamophobic abuse at his players.

Patel said: “It was a really emotional day for us, because the question we asked ourselves after that game is ‘Why is it still happening?’ Some of the things that were said were absolutely horrific.

“In my opinion, more needs to be done from the top down. We’re actively engaging and working with local FAs to try and navigate this problem, but it absolutely needs to be mandated.”

The Northern Counties East Football League fined the opposition club £300 and gave them nine disciplinary points. But Patel says that does not address the real problem.

“We’ve seen harsher punishments for violent conduct on the pitch or red cards, even administrative mistakes,” he added.

Advertisement

“Something as serious as this, we were absolutely not happy with the result.”

Patel has been lobbying the Football Association, but has not yet received a response.

He said: “Precedents need to be set, harsher sanctions need to be introduced. This comes from the top down.”

The FA said in a statement: “We have introduced tougher sanctions for clubs and individuals, a new behaviour improvement programme, and penalty points accumulation charges in the grassroots game.

“This builds on the steps taken to allow for deductions of league points from clubs that are repeated offenders of serious misconduct.”

Continue Reading

CK Updates

Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales

Published

on

Ruby Evans in her gymnastic routine

Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.

Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.

Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.

Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.

It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.

There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.

Continue Reading

CK Updates

Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating

Published

on

Tech Billionaire Takeover

An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.

A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.

It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.

Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.

“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.

“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”

Advertisement

Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.

Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.

Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.

The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.

The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.

Continue Reading

Trending

© 2025 - CK Sports UG. All rights reserved.