Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ronwen Williams saves the spot-kick of Mischack Elia

AFCON: South Africa secure third place after shootout

South Africa claimed third place in the Africa Cup of Nations, beating DR Congo 6-5 in a tense penalty shootout after surviving a second-half onslaught in a 0-0 draw.

Soccer • 11 Feb 24

Sebastien Haller scored the only goal of the game after spurning a number of earlier chances

AFCON: Haller strike sends hosts Ivory Coast to final

Sebastien Haller fired hosts Ivory Coast into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations and to within one match of the ultimate redemption after beating DR Congo 1-0.

Soccer • 07 Feb 24

Nigeria's players celebrate after their penalty shootout victory

AFCON: Nigeria beat South Africa in penalty shootout

Nigeria reached an eighth Africa Cup of Nations final after winning a drama-fuelled last-four clash with South Africa 4-2 on penalties.

Soccer • 07 Feb 24

Chris Hughton was less than a year in the Ghana job

Ghana fire Hughton after AFCON disappointment

Chris Hughton has been fired as coach of Ghana after their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations was confirmed.

Soccer • 24 Jan 24

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes (l) helped Cape Verde keep a clean sheet

AFCON: Pico, Cape Verde and Senegal coast into last 16

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes played his part as Cape Verde beat Mozambique 3-0 to book their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Soccer • 19 Jan 24

Mohamed Salah reacts after suffering an apparent hamstring injury

AFCON: Salah injured in draw between Egypt and Ghana

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was forced off with an injury before his side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Emilio Nsue scored a rare hat-trick in the competition as Equatorial Guinea roared to a 4-2 win over Guinea-Bissau.

Soccer • 18 Jan 24

Romain Saiss opened the scoring for Morocco

AFCON: Tournament favourites Morocco make winning start

Goals from Romain Saiss, Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri fired Morocco to a 3-0 win over Tanzania in a one-sided Africa Cup of Nations opener.

Soccer • 17 Jan 24

Lamine Camara (C) celebrates with Sadio Mane

AFCON: Senegal cruise to win, Cameroon and Algeria held

Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia.

Soccer • 18 Jan 24

Cody Gakpo has vowed to contribute goals while Mo Salah is away on international duty

Gakpo vows to step up during Salah absence

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is confident the forward line will step up to cover for the pending absence of Mohamed Salah.

Soccer • 27 Dec 23

It was a good day at the office for Pico Lopes

Lopes helps Cape Verde to seal AFCON qualification

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes played the full 90 minutes as Cape Verde beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to seal qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Soccer • 18 Jun 23

Mane missed an early penalty but earned redemption in the shootout

Mane on the spot in shootout as Senegal win AFCON

Sadio Mane scored the winning spot-kick as Senegal claimed a first ever Africa Cup of Nations title with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over seven-times winners Egypt following a 0-0 draw in the decider.

Soccer • 06 Feb 22

Senegal players celebrate at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde

AFCON: Mane on target as Senegal advance to final

Sadio Mane scored a record-equalling 29th goal for Senegal in a 3-1 win over Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Soccer • 02 Feb 22

Karl Toko Ekambi steals in at the back post for his second goal of the game

Toko Ekambi strikes twice as Cameroon ease past Gambia

Karl Toko Ekambi bagged a brace as hosts Cameroon defeated Gambia 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final to become the first side to book a place in the last four.

Soccer • 29 Jan 22

Sadio Mane suffered a head injury against Cape Verde.

Senegal accused of 'putting results ahead of safety'

Senegal have been accused of "putting results ahead of safety" after Sadio Mane was forced off with a head injury in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 win over Cape Verde.

Soccer • 26 Jan 22

The goal was the second by Hakimi (r) in as many games at the tournament

AFCON: Superb Hakimi free-kick sends Morocco through

Achraf Hakimi curled in a long-range free kick as Morocco came from behind to beat Malawi 2-1 in the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Soccer • 25 Jan 22

Lopes forced off early as Mane fires Senegal through

Roberto Lopes was withdrawn at half-time after a bout of vomiting as Cape Verde lost their last-16 match 2-0 against Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Soccer • 25 Jan 22

Tunisia celebrate Youssef Msakni's decisive goal.

AFCON: Iwobi sees red as Tunisia send Nigeria packing

Everton's Alex Iwobi was sent off just seven minutes after coming on as Nigeria crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the round of 16.

Soccer • 23 Jan 22

Fans flood onto pitch after Ivory Coast's win over Algeria in Douala

Updated AFCON: Holders Algeria exit at group stage

Defending champions Algeria have been knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations after losing 3-1 to Ivory Coast in their final group game.

Soccer • 20 Jan 22

Zimbabwe's forward Knowledge Musona scores the opening goal

AFCON: Zimbabwe exit despite shock win

Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations campaign came to a humiliating end as they were beaten 3-2 by debutants Comoros Islands at Garoua's Roumde Adjia Stadium to finish bottom of Group C with just a single point.

Soccer • 18 Jan 22

Roberto Lopes clears the danger as Harold Moukoudi goes on the attack for Cameroon

'A fighting chance' - top man Pico lauds team spirit

Roberto 'Pico' Lopes was proud of his side's endeavours to come back and draw with group winners Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Shamrock Rovers defender believes that it gives his side a fighting chance of progressing in the tournament.

Soccer • 17 Jan 22

Host nation Cameroon go through as group winners

AFCON: Lopes' Cape Verde likely to advance after draw

Roberto Lopes' Cape Verde fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations and now must wait to see if they one of the four best third-placed sides to advance.

Soccer • 17 Jan 22

It is not clear if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might return for next week's knockout stage.

Aubameyang returns to Arsenal to have heart assessed

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will return to Arsenal for medical tests after cardiac lesions were found in tests conducted in Cameroon after he was positive for Covid-19.

Soccer • 17 Jan 22

Equatorial Guinea players show their delight after the game

AFCON: Equatorial Guinea stun holders, Ivory Coast held

A goalkeeping error handed Sierra Leone a dramatic late equaliser that secured a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations Group E clash in Douala.

Soccer • 16 Jan 22

Pico Lopes (back centre) impressed in defence, but his side could not get back on terms during the second half

AFCON: Lopes' Cape Verde beaten, Cameroon advance

Roberto Lopes' Cape Verde were beaten in their second group game at the Africa Cup of Nations after Hassane Bande chested home the ball six minutes before half-time to give Burkina Faso victory.

Soccer • 13 Jan 22

Max-Alain Gradel (R) celebrates his goal for the Elephants

AFCON: Ivory Coast and Gambia earn narrow wins

Max-Alain Gradel's early goal was enough to secure the Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Gambia also beat Mauritania by a single goal.

Soccer • 12 Jan 22