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The January transfer window has taken a dramatic turn as Manchester City have emerged as shock contenders to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

Yasser Ibrahim put in a rock solid display at the back and then became the hero at the other end, scoring the goal that carried Egypt to a 3–1 extra time win over Benin in the AFCON 2025 Round of 16 in Agadir. The Pharaohs had to dig deep, but their experienced centre-back rose to the occasion when it mattered most.After a tense first half, Egypt finally broke the deadlock through Marwan Attia’s superb strike into the top corner midway through the second half. Benin refused to give up and hit back late on through Jodel Dossou, forcing the game into extra time and briefly silencing the Egyptian fans.Early in extra time, Ibrahim powered home a towering header from a corner, steering the ball into the top left corner to restore Egypt’s lead and swing the momentum back their way. In the dying seconds, Mohamed Salah settled any nerves with a precise left-footed shot from distance to make it 3–1.Ibrahim’s defensive composure, aerial dominance, and match-winning goal earned him Man of the Match, as Egypt booked their place in the AFCON quarterfinals.

Fiorentina are considering the arrival of Cyril Ngonge from Torino, taking over the loan from Napoli, but negotiations are said to be at a very early stage.

Quick take: Injury outlook: depth players may get minutes, but the knock could strain the side’s rhythm. Recovery timelines will guide expectations; international duty could also be impacted. Continental stakes raise the intensity, where away goals no longer apply but margins still feel razor thin. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.

France's Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

DR Congo forward Cedric Bakambu says morale in camp is very high ahead of their round of 16 clash against Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.In a high-stale clash on Tuesday, the Leopards of DR Congo will battle it out with the Desert Foxes of Algeria at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with both teams seeking for victory to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the continental showpiece.And the experienced forward has stressed that the morale in camp for the Algeria clash is very hard."The match against Algeria will be an opportunity for the Democratic Republic of Congo to show its worth and quality. We hope to continue improving our level tomorrow and to develop against strong teams.""We are well prepared to face Algeria and the players' morale is high before the match. We are not focusing on what is being said through the media and social media; our focus is solely on facing Algeria."The winner of that match will face the winner between Nigeria and Mozambique in the quarterfinals.

Quick take: Touchline talk: leadership changes often bring short-term energy but require time for structure. Watch for shifts in pressing triggers, build-up patterns, and set-piece routines. Continental stakes raise the intensity, where away goals no longer apply but margins still feel razor thin. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.

Medeama Sporting Club sit top of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League standings at the end of the first round of the campaign.The Yellow and Mauves over the weekend faced Hearts of Oak in a tough Week 17 fixture. In the contest played at the TnA Stadium, a solitary strike from Salim Adams secured all three points for Medeama SC.On a weekend where Aduana FC and Asante Kotoko lost their respective matches, Medeama SC capitalised on their slips to climb to the summit of the league table with 34 points.Defending champions Bibiani Gold Stars follow in second with 32 points, with Asante Kotoko and Aduana FC completing the top four.Hearts of Oak sit in the fifth position while Swedru All Blacks occupy the mid-table spot.Berekum Chelsea, Hohoe United, and Eleven Wonders find themselves in the relegation zone at the end of the first round of the ongoing league campaign.With a two-point lead at the top of the table, Medeama SC will be expected to put up a strong fight in the second round in their bid to emerge as champions at the end of the season.They will face fierce competition from Asante Kotoko, Gold...

Quick take: Injury outlook: depth players may get minutes, but the knock could strain the side’s rhythm. Recovery timelines will guide expectations; international duty could also be impacted. Continental stakes raise the intensity, where away goals no longer apply but margins still feel razor thin. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.

Napoli's Rasmus Hojlund in action with Udinese's Oumar Solet. (REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini)

Despite the denials of all concerned, the reports continue to come that Davide Frattesi is discussing a potential transfer from Inter to Galatasaray.

Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa is linked with a move away this month with European giants Juventus showing interest in bringing him back.

Benfica remain interested in Napoli centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca, with the idea of taking him on loan for the rest of the season.

Ghana have been handed a major blow ahead of the 2026 World Cup after AS Monaco confirmed that defender Mohammed Salisu has suffered a season-ending knee injury.The Ligue 1 club announced that the Ghana international tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the closing moments of their 3-1 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais.Medical examinations later confirmed the seriousness of the injury, ruling Salisu out for the remainder of the campaign. Monaco have indicated that the club will fully support the centre-back throughout his rehabilitation.The setback compounded a difficult evening for the Principality club, who not only dropped points in the race for European qualification but also saw other key players sidelined. Salisus injury was the most severe, coming at a time when he had become a regular starter due to the absence of Christian Mawissa and Eric Dier.This is the second ACL injury to hit Monaco in successive matches, following Takumi Minaminos similar setback against AJ Auxerre before the winter break.For Ghana, the development raises serious concern. Salisu now faces a lengthy recovery, which could affect his availability for the 2026 World Cup. The Black Stars are set to face England, Croatia and Panama in the group stage and will need their strongest squad if they are to make a meaningful impact at the tournament.

Atalanta's Marco Brescianini celebrates with Mario Pasalic. (REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo)