The Atlas Lions edged out Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a tense, goalless 120 minutes to book their place in the AFCON 2025 final on home soil. They’ll face Senegal in Sunday’s showpiece at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat — a massive chance for the hosts to claim their first continental title since 1976.

The semi-final on January 14, 2026, was a classic defensive battle. Morocco dominated possession and created the better chances (hitting the bar through Nayef Aguerd and testing Stanley Nwabali), but Nigeria’s rock-solid backline — led by Calvin Bassey — kept them at bay.

Victor Osimhen was withdrawn late in extra time, and the Super Eagles managed just two shots all game — their lowest in AFCON history since 2010 stats began. It all came down to the shootout, where Yassine Bounou (Bono) was the absolute hero again — saving two Nigerian penalties to swing the momentum. Achraf Hakimi converted with authority, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri stepped up to fire home the decisive spot-kick.

This marks Morocco’s first AFCON final since 2004 (when coach Walid Regragui was actually playing!). They’re on an incredible 26-match unbeaten run and have kept five clean sheets this tournament.

Nigeria, the leading scorers coming in, were blunted completely — a heartbreaking end for the Super Eagles, who’ll now face Egypt in the third-place playoff. The final on Sunday (January 18, 2026) pits the hosts against 2021 champions Senegal (who beat Egypt 1-0 in the other semi). With home advantage and momentum, many are tipping Morocco to lift the trophy — but Sadio Mané and co. won’t go down easy.

Real Madrid is reportedly eyeing Jürgen Klopp as a potential long-term solution following Álvaro Arbeloa’s shocking and immediate exit from the Copa del Rey in his debut match as head coach.

The drama unfolded rapidly: Just days after sacking Xabi Alonso (following a Supercopa de España final loss to Barcelona), Real Madrid appointed former player and Castilla boss Arbeloa as interim manager. His first game? A humiliating 3-2 defeat to second-division strugglers Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on January 14, 2026 — a classic giant-killing that has sent shockwaves through the Bernabéu.

Here are some intense moments from that chaotic night, capturing the disappointment on the pitch and in the dugout:

Arbeloa, a club legend as a player (winning multiple titles including Champions Leagues), defended his heavy rotation (resting stars like Mbappé, Bellingham, and Courtois due to injuries and fatigue), but the loss — sealed by a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Albacete’s Jefte Betancor — has intensified scrutiny.

Many see him as a short-term fix, with reports suggesting his “fate is sealed” and the club already planning for summer 2026. Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool mastermind who’s been out of club management since 2024 and currently serves as Red Bull’s global head of soccer.

Fresh reports (including from reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg) indicate Klopp is seriously considering a return to the dugout — but only for select dream projects, with Real Madrid high on that list if “everything fits” perfectly.

The German icon has long been fascinated by the club, and this chaos could be the perfect storm to lure him back. Check out these iconic shots of Klopp’s legendary energy and that famous grin — the kind that could ignite the Bernabéu:

Klopp has given mixed signals in recent interviews — downplaying immediate interest right after Alonso’s exit but not fully closing the door, especially for a club of Madrid’s stature. Other names like Zidane are floating around (with Mbappé reportedly favoring him), but Klopp stands out for his proven trophy haul, high-intensity style, and ability to manage superstars.Real Madrid’s season is still alive in La Liga (trailing leaders Barcelona) and the Champions League, but this early cup exit has cranked up the pressure. Could Klopp be the man to restore order and chase more glory?

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea as the center referee for the highly anticipated AFCON 2025 semifinal between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and host nation Morocco’s Atlas Lions.

This blockbuster clash is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, kicking off at 8:00 PM GMT (following the first semifinal between Egypt and Senegal at 6:00 PM GMT in Tangier).

Key Match Officials

• Center Referee: Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea (Ghana) – A highly experienced official known for his composure in high-pressure games. This is his second assignment at AFCON 2025 (he previously refereed a group-stage match and served as VAR in Morocco’s quarter-final win over Cameroon).
• Assistant Referees: Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela (South Africa) and Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho).
• Fourth Official: Arsenio Chadreque Maringule (Mozambique) (some sources mention Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda in a similar role).
• VAR Team: Led by Abongile Tom (South Africa), assisted by Haythem Guirat (Tunisia) and Stephen Onyango Yiembe (Kenya).
• Referee Assessor: Lidya Tafesse Abebe (Ethiopia).

This appointment reflects CAF’s confidence in Laryea’s ability to manage a tense, high-stakes encounter — especially with Morocco enjoying passionate home support and Nigeria boasting a perfect record and strong attacking form so far in the tournament.

The match is being billed as a potential “final before the final,” with the winner advancing to the title decider on January 18 in Rabat.

Ghanaian pride is high with Laryea’s selection, and it’s generating plenty of buzz across social media, with some fans joking about the cross-border dynamics (e.g., Ghana-Nigeria rivalry) while others focus on the excitement of the game itself.Who do you think will win this one -Super Eagles or the hosts?