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Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali were the first batch of players to arrive at the Super Eagles’ camp for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Uzoho, a returnee to the Nigerian team after months of absence, was the first to touch down at the Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday morning.

The Omonia of Cyprus man, who was a surprise inclusion in the 28-man roster for the continental showpiece, joins Nwabali as the team’s camp opened on Sunday.

A video on the Super Eagles’ official X handle showed Chippa United’s Nwabali alighting from a bus and checking into Nigeria’s hotel.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, arrived later in the day, while Igoh Ogbu, ⁠Bright Osayi-Samuel, ⁠Tochukwu Nnadi, ⁠Amas Obasogie, ⁠Ademola Lookman, and ⁠Semi Ajayi will come before the end of Sunday.

With Nwabali still recovering from injuries, Uzoho will fancy his chances of usurping the Chippa United goalkeeper as Nigeria’s first choice.

Amas Obasogie of Singida Blackstars in Tanzania completes the trio of Nigerian goalkeepers for the competition.

More players are expected to arrive at Nigeria’s camp in the coming days after this weekend’s actions, especially in Europe.

The Super Eagles will take on Egypt in a practice match on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Cairo Stadium.

After the match, the Coach Eric Chelle-tutored side will fly to Fes in Morocco, their base for the group stage of the tournament.

Nigeria are in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. They begin their campaign in the competition against the Taifa Stars on December, 23.

After that, the team will take on Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on the 27th before battling the Cranes of Uganda three days later.

The 2025 AFCON comes with added pressure for the Super Eagles following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the second time in a row Nigeria will be missing out on the competition.

Nigeria were runners up at the 2023 AFCON, losing out to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a keenly-contested final.

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Manchester City thumped Crystal Palace 3-0 on Sunday to climb back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Aston Villa twice came from behind to beat West Ham.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest demolished Tottenham 3-0, while Sunderland saw off local rivals Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal.

Arsenal, who have set the pace in this season’s Premier League, squeaked home on Saturday with a 2-1 win against bottom-club Wolves, thanks to two own goals.

That put the pressure back on City, who have been showing ominous signs that they are finding their feet in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola’s men braced for a tough task at Selhurst Park against high-flying Crystal Palace, and Oliver Glasner’s side was the more dangerous team in the first half.

But Palace failed to take their chances, with Yeremy Pino hitting the crossbar with only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat.

Erling Haaland had largely been on the periphery of the game but scored his 101st Premier League goal when he headed a pinpoint Matheus Nunes cross across Dean Henderson and into the net shortly before the break.

Palace again started the second half brightly but could not break through and paid the price when Phil Foden swept home from a distance after receiving the ball from Rayan Cherki.

It was the sixth goal in four Premier League games for the forward, being watched at Selhurst Park by England manager Thomas Tuchel.

City made certain of the three points when Haaland thundered a penalty past Henderson after Savinho was taken down by the goalkeeper following a surging run down the middle late in the game.

Villa Show Steel

Villa started their match at the London Stadium as the form team in the league, with nine wins in 10 league matches.

But they fell behind after just 29 seconds when Mateus Fernandes robbed Ezri Konsa and rifled home.

Unai Emery’s men were level just minutes later when John McGinn’s cross was headed into his own net by Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Jarrod Bowen put the Hammers back in front midway through the second half, but Villa again drew level early in the second period through Morgan Rogers.

Rogers fired Villa into the lead for the first time in the 79th minute, smashing home a dipping drive from outside the box to seal a 3-2 win.

The victory leaves Emery’s men just one point behind City and five clear of fourth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham travelled to Nottingham in desperate need of a win after just one victory in their past six league matches.

But Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice, and Ibrahim Sangare lashed home a superb third to increase the pressure on manager Thomas Frank, struggling in his first season at the club.

Sunderland were facing Newcastle in the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade after spending years out of the top division.

Their goal came from an unlikely source when Newcastle forward Woltemade headed Nordi Mukiele’s cross past his own goalkeeper in the opening moments of the second half.

The win lifted Sunderland to seventh in the table.

Brentford host Leeds in the late kick-off.

AFP

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Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.

The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes’ bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.

The home team, whose title defence has collapsed after a shocking run of results, was leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.

Brighton squandered several opportunities to level and Ekitike scored his second with half an hour to go, heading home Salah’s corner.

The Egyptian superstar now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League — 188 goals and 89 assists — a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney’s mark for Manchester United.

“Mohamed is a great, great professional,” Ekitike told the BBC. “I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in goals and assists.

“He is a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing. That’s the kind of player who makes us like to watch football.”

Saturday marked a dramatic change of mood for Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds — the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.

The 33-year-old winger also said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot in his extraordinary outburst and was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.

Slot said at his pre-match press conference that he would hold talks with Salah and there was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s match about what role the Egyptian would play.

Liverpool made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.

Brighton’s Diego Gomez squandered a good chance and Brajan Gruda went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.

Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike headed home Salah’s corner.

The Egyptian himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.

He was embraced by teammates at the final whistle and was applauded by fans.

The win — Liverpool’s first at Anfield since November 4 — lifts Slot’s men to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered coach.

Salah Departure

Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.

The forward, who has been linked with a move to the wealthy Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.

“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there,” he told reporters last week.

Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.

He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.