#africa-cup-of-nations

#africa-cup-of-nations

Two former Africa Cup of Nations champions, Algeria and Sudan, face off in Rabat on Wednesday in a Group E fixture that could be crucial in the pair's qualification hopes. After suffering consecutive group-stage exits at the last two AFCON tournaments, Algeria enter the 2025 edition under pressure to make a strong opening statement against a Sudan side without a win at the finals since 2012.

Marmoush, 26, is admired by Spurs for his flexibility across the front line. Capable of operating both out wide and through the middle, he offers the kind of tactical adaptability Tottenham are keen to introduce as they look to improve consistency in the final third. His ability to carry the ball at speed, link play between midfield and attack, and contribute goals has long caught the eye of recruitment staff across Europe.

The midfielder is yet to play for his club this season and has almost certainly played his final game for Spurs. Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet is confident the 29-year-old will be available before the tournament ends. We have assurances that Yves will be ready during the tournament, Saintfiet said. When the matches get tougher, we'll be glad to have him with us.

Much of the spotlight will fall on Mohamed Salah, who is contesting his fifth AFCON and third as captain, aware that this edition could represent his final opportunity to claim continental glory with his country. The Liverpool forward was part of the squads that reached the finals in 2017 and 2021 and will be eager to finally get his hands on the trophy and cement his legacy in African football.

But they have been so attacking and Morgan Rogers is absolutely flying. They just never seem to lie down.

In losing Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique) and Habib Diarra (Senegal), Sunderland will be without players who have played a cumulative 4,412 minutes and 61 appearances in the Premier League this season a higher total than any other side. Sadiki has missed just 26 minutes in the league this season and looks to be their biggest miss of all.

It has been a hectic few weeks for the 33-year-old, first being benched for three consecutive games by Liverpool boss Arne Slot, before the winger himself blew the story open by telling journalists he'd been thrown under the bus. That led to the winger being omitted from the Reds' travelling squad to face Inter Milan, before crunch talks between the head coach and Salah saw him readmitted to the first team.

After Bournemouth had equalised almost straight from the restart, the Brazilian conceded the free-kick from which James Tavernier scored to put the visitors 3-2 up. To compound matters even further, Casemiro was shown a yellow card for his foul on the Cherries forward. With that being his fifth individual booking of the season, the midfielder must now serve his second suspension of the campaign.

There's lots of potential with Tawanda and hopefully we can get the best out of him,