African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[GiftedMAN]

Who understands that Mo Salah is actually going to win the AFCON golden boot to prove a point to Arne Slot.

Unfortunately, the English media do not care much for the AFCON so Mo Salah wins the golden boot, it wouldn’t affect his reputation in English football. Also I feel like Arne Slot has a personal vendetta against Mo Salah and there is nothing Salah can do in this tournament that will secure him as a starter on Slot’s team. It is very possible that his time at Liverpool will soon come to an end.

Mo Salah winning the golden boot in the AFCON may not affect his reputation in EPL but it will also send a strong signal to his coach who is hating him for speaking up against his unfair treatment towards him which is why he has decided to see Mo Salah as the problem of his team and a player that is after his sack in the team. Mo Salah may not end up becoming a starter in Liverpool under Arne Slot but there are chances that next season he will leave the team that's it Arne Slot is not fired before the end of the season.

[Rruchi man]

Also I feel like Arne Slot has a personal vendetta against Mo Salah and there is nothing Salah can do in this tournament that will secure him as a starter on Slot’s team.

I don't think Arne Slot has anything against Salah. If he did have something against Salah, Salah would have left the club already when he had the chance to and not been convinced to stay another season with Liverpool. Salah has not been at his best for the club this season, so it is understandable why Slot has kept him on the bench in some games. Which is normal; we should stop pushing the bad narrative.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Watching the last AFCON game tonight made me understand that whenever a team host any competition it mount a lot of pressure on them, just like Morocco who host the ongoing Nations Cup, they are covered with so much pressure to always get to the final winning the title too and they are always trying to make their games to always bring the 3pt but tonight it wasn't as they planned.
I saw them playing a desperate football against Mali which I find impressively interesting from Mali because had it been that the Malians let Morocco play their normal game it would have been them the host all over the game tonight, now the group A is not a comfortable zone for Morocco and I feel they might also struggle in their next group game.

[EL MOHA]

Mo Salah winning the golden boot in the AFCON may not affect his reputation in EPL but it will also send a strong signal to his coach who is hating him for speaking up against his unfair treatment towards him which is why he has decided to see Mo Salah as the problem of his team and a player that is after his sack in the team. Mo Salah may not end up becoming a starter in Liverpool under Arne Slot but there are chances that next season he will leave the team that's it Arne Slot is not fired before the end of the season.

Wait this whole Mo Salah situation with Liverpool am I the only one reading it wrongly or what’s happening. Everyone is simply saying that Arne Slot hate Salah and that’s why he fell out with him while the player himself in the interview is actually saying different thing. He stated clearly that he was having a good relationship with the manager until he suddenly dropped him which he himself related to been from the top and not an Arne Slot decision and immediately after the interview he was dropped from traveling and definitely that’s wasn’t surprising and it was also the most right thing to do, because you don’t actually go into the next game with a player carrying such an heavy heart.

If at all the player is actually after proving someone wrong it’s those at the top of the Liverpool board and most importantly Jamie Carragher who said his legs were no longer there again. But also Salah performance in this AFCON tournament doesn’t add anything to his already established record in the EPL, this AFCON performance is just simply to tell others he still can deliver for both club and country

[Iamgoat]

The second rounds of games in the group stage of the African nations cup will be a bigger test than the first rounds of games, I think the South Africa vs Morocco game will be interesting and also the Nigeria and Tunisia game will be entertaining as well.
In general there will be more difficult games for the bigger nation than they received in the first rounds of games. .so far the African nations cup has done well and already the club football are missing this players.

The second leg in group stages is always tougher than the first leg because teams that lost three points in the first leg of group stages will want to win their second match so that they will not be eliminated in the group stages. The South Africa vs Morocco and Nigeria vs Tunisia matches will be interesting matches, and we can't tell which teams that will emerge as winner of these matches.

The second round of the games are definitely going to be toucher because the team who lost earlier would want to fight back while those who did won would want to lock it once more and this is what brings about the competition which becomes tighter. The games between Nigeria and Tunisia and of Morocco and South Africa like you mentioned are a good example of what we are saying, but once the teams who won earlier are able to stand on their feet, they won't allow themselves to be defeated by the opponents in their second rounds but it is the beauty of football because nothing is guaranteed especially between big clubs or national teams like this.

[SatoPrincess]

Also I feel like Arne Slot has a personal vendetta against Mo Salah and there is nothing Salah can do in this tournament that will secure him as a starter on Slot’s team.

I don't think Arne Slot has anything against Salah. If he did have something against Salah, Salah would have left the club already when he had the chance to and not been convinced to stay another season with Liverpool. Salah has not been at his best for the club this season, so it is understandable why Slot has kept him on the bench in some games. Which is normal; we should stop pushing the bad narrative.

Salah is human like us and can’t see the future, who would have thought things would turn out this way. Last season was Arne Slot’s first year at Liverpool. He won the league with Klopp’s team and now wants to make a mark with his own squad. Agreed, Salah isn’t performing at top level this season but other players on the team aren’t doing so well either yet they are playing games.

[Mayor of ogba]

Also I feel like Arne Slot has a personal vendetta against Mo Salah and there is nothing Salah can do in this tournament that will secure him as a starter on Slot’s team.

I don't think Arne Slot has anything against Salah. If he did have something against Salah, Salah would have left the club already when he had the chance to and not been convinced to stay another season with Liverpool. Salah has not been at his best for the club this season, so it is understandable why Slot has kept him on the bench in some games. Which is normal; we should stop pushing the bad narrative.

If Mohamed Salah not leaving Liverpool right now is the reason for you to believe that Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot don't have anything, you have to understand that it isn't possible for Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool when the transfer window is not open. From Mohamed Salah's statement before he went for the African Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah will likely not play for Liverpool next season.

[SatoPrincess]

From Mohamed Salah's statement before he went for the African Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah will likely not play for Liverpool next season.

That’s what everyone thinks. Mo may be going to the Saudi league in the summer or even January window. If Mo joins Al-Nassr, he will be playing alongside former teammate Sadio Mane. I’d love to see thr duo play again.

Also, I don’t think Arne Slot’s job is guaranteed next year, especially if Salah leaves and the team is still shit.

[Futurexxx]

Salah is human like us and can’t see the future, who would have thought things would turn out this way. Last season was Arne Slot’s first year at Liverpool. He won the league with Klopp’s team and now wants to make a mark with his own squad. Agreed, Salah isn’t performing at top level this season but other players on the team aren’t doing so well either yet they are playing games.

The problem mo salah is having at Liverpool is that he thinks that he is still the mo salah a few years back, he doesn't know that he has past his best playing form, and the limited playing time he is now getting at Liverpool shouldn't be a problem for him to make that speech that makes him to have problems with the club.
 Football is a collective game, and as long as the team is doing well in his absence, he shouldn't be mad because he is not in his best form either, he is now a 33 year old that has refused to accept that his best days are behind him, so the livelihood of him moving to Saudi Arabian this January transfer window is very high, but since now one knows what the future holds, we shouldn't be so certain about it, after the afcon, that's when things might be a bit clearer, concerning his future at Liverpool.

[Abbatty]

After that kind of performance yesterday I will really feel very bad for Mali if at the end of the group stage match they failed to qualify, though they are now second in the standing and their last game will be against Comoros which should be a walk in the park for them. Zambia is third in the Standing and their last game will be against the host nation Morocco which I think will be a very difficult game for them.

Honestly I was really impressed by Mali yesterday, they way they chase of ball is just mind blowing, you when you want to win the AFCON you have to have that African kind of football in you and I see that in this mali team. They posses that strength we Africans are known for. It was a good game from them and I really hope they qualify for the Knockout stages.

[Futurexxx]

After that kind of performance yesterday I will really feel very bad for Mali if at the end of the group stage match they failed to qualify, though they are now second in the standing and their last game will be against Comoros which should be a walk in the park for them. Zambia is third in the Standing and their last game will be against the host nation Morocco which I think will be a very difficult game for them.

Honestly I was really impressed by Mali yesterday, they way they chase of ball is just mind blowing, you when you want to win the AFCON you have to have that African kind of football in you and I see that in this mali team. They posses that strength we Africans are known for. It was a good game from them and I really hope they qualify for the Knockout stages.

I believe that they will qualify if they can beat the comoros team, because they will have five points after that game and the possibility of Zambia beating Morocco is very low, added with the fact that the Morocco team knows that if they fail to win the Zambian national team as a host nation, they might come out second or even be knocked out of the competition if they lost the game, so winning this game is a must if the Morocco team really want to prove themselves as the favourite in this competition.

As for the game yesterday between Morocco and Mali, it was really an interesting game, and to be honest the Morocco team really needs to improve if they want to go all the way in this tournament because they can't afford to put in a performance like that against teams like Egypt, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal or Algeria in a knockout encounter, if not they will definitely be kicked out of the competition because these teams I made mentioned are a level above this Malian team, so they really needs to improve if they want to go all the way.

[IjawMan]

And then out of curiosity I searched to know the head-to-head of Nigeria - Tunisia previous matches in the AFCON and from the image the two nations has met 6 times in the AFCON with Nigeria having the reins in the meetings losing just once to the Tunis.

But let concentrate on present nation's form in this tournament, do you all project that Nigeria can extend their dominance by defeating Tunisia in today's match judging by the head-to-head.

[Jegileman]

Mo Salah winning the golden boot in the AFCON may not affect his reputation in EPL but it will also send a strong signal to his coach who is hating him for speaking up against his unfair treatment towards him which is why he has decided to see Mo Salah as the problem of his team and a player that is after his sack in the team. Mo Salah may not end up becoming a starter in Liverpool under Arne Slot but there are chances that next season he will leave the team that's it Arne Slot is not fired before the end of the season.

No Salah has stayed too long in the team and should have left last season like a hero, but he decided to sing a new contract and remained in the club till now. His differences with the manager can only be better of when he’s able to perform optimally in the African cup of nations by showing his best of form in the competition once more. He has being sidelined for not being productive anymore in the team despite is great form last season that led them to winning the title. Arne Slot may have his own issues with the player but if the management love for the player overrides that which they have for the manager, then the manager will definitely have his days numbered in the team.

[Wakate]

Watching the last AFCON game tonight made me understand that whenever a team host any competition it mount a lot of pressure on them, just like Morocco who host the ongoing Nations Cup, they are covered with so much pressure to always get to the final winning the title too and they are always trying to make their games to always bring the 3pt but tonight it wasn't as they planned.
I saw them playing a desperate football against Mali which I find impressively interesting from Mali because had it been that the Malians let Morocco play their normal game it would have been them the host all over the game tonight, now the group A is not a comfortable zone for Morocco and I feel they might also struggle in their next group game.

I don't really know why Morroco played a draw match with Mali. This was unbelievable and they spoilt my ticket when I thought Morocco is going to beat Mali without them stressing themselves. Sometimes African matches can be unpredictable and hard for people to predict accurately even with team that are supposed to beat there opponent without wasting time.

[Spaceman1000$]

I see Nigerians are dragging Rigobert Song on X for saying Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are not world class players. Song had picked other African players like Mbuemo, Wan Bissaka, and others as world class but none of the Nigerian players. Song had backed his opinion saying that the players he mentioned are playing in the World Cup. Personally, I think this is an attempt to gain relevance and trend on social media, nothing more.

Congratulations on your new rank. What Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have done at club level and what they are still doing for their clubs is better than what Bryan Mbeumo and Wan Bissaka havd done at club level, and what they are still doing for their clubs. For Robert Song not to see Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman as world class players, he is just jealous of what Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have achieved in their career and he just made that comment to make Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman look like people that did nothing for their country and club.

I watched Robert Song during his time as Cameroon captain, what he has just said is pure hatred for the Super Eagles that he has carried in his mind for a long time, trust me, even though they qualified for the World Cup, he would have still looked for another excuse to voice out his sentiment. Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen have both won the prestigious African player of year award respectively, unlike Mbuemo and Wan Bissaka that hasn't gotten such recognition, yet Song still wants to talk down on World class players that have gone far ahead of time to prove their worth, it just shows that he harbor's wickedness in his heart.

[Ronsbit]

And then out of curiosity I searched to know the head-to-head of Nigeria - Tunisia previous matches in the AFCON and from the image the two nations has met 6 times in the AFCON with Nigeria having the reins in the meetings losing just once to the Tunis.

But let concentrate on present nation's form in this tournament, do you all project that Nigeria can extend their dominance by defeating Tunisia in today's match judging by the head-to-head.

These records were when the Eagles were in full formation then, and if you check the score line or records, the goal margin/gap was very big compared to the recent matches both teams had. Although there seems to be improvement on the side of the Tunisia team, I believe the current Eagles are much better in formation to win the Tunis team if they meet again, and it would be a clean record this time that the Tunis team could not be able to win the Eagles in their AFCON league.

[Odusko]

Also I feel like Arne Slot has a personal vendetta against Mo Salah and there is nothing Salah can do in this tournament that will secure him as a starter on Slot’s team.

I don't think Arne Slot has anything against Salah. If he did have something against Salah, Salah would have left the club already when he had the chance to and not been convinced to stay another season with Liverpool. Salah has not been at his best for the club this season, so it is understandable why Slot has kept him on the bench in some games. Which is normal; we should stop pushing the bad narrative.

If Mohamed Salah not leaving Liverpool right now is the reason for you to believe that Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot don't have anything, you have to understand that it isn't possible for Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool when the transfer window is not open. From Mohamed Salah's statement before he went for the African Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah will likely not play for Liverpool next season.

What we should know about players is that, in as much as we see the pay and bonuses as most criteria for players to move from one club to the other, it quite important and to also note the place of players own attachment and career goals in the current club, if Salah sees that those things have not been recorded, he may decide to remain in the club despite any offers he is getting right now.

[Coyster]

I don't really know why Morroco played a draw match with Mali. This was unbelievable and they spoilt my ticket when I thought Morocco is going to beat Mali without them stressing themselves. Sometimes African matches can be unpredictable and hard for people to predict accurately even with team that are supposed to beat there opponent without wasting time.

If you think that in a tournament like this, one team would come unprepared and make themselves whipping boys, then you have to think again. African football is now at a very high level and even the so-called underdogs are now bearing teeth and they can get good results on their own day. Mali is also a pretty decent side okay.

That said, Nigeria v Tunisia is obviously the big game today. I am fully behind the Super Eagles and i cannot wait to cheer them on in this game. A victory for us today would guarantee qualification, so hopefully we get it right.

[Wakate]

That said, Nigeria v Tunisia is obviously the big game today. I am fully behind the Super Eagles and i cannot wait to cheer them on in this game. A victory for us today would guarantee qualification, so hopefully we get it right.

I will be very careful when betting on African games or expecting a good outcome because most of the countries that are involved  would mostly play draw matches so we should not expect too much from a match that supposed to have a clean win.
Nigeria Tunisia is going to be a good match but I am not expecting Nigeria to win this match, maybe a draw.

[SatoPrincess]

I don't really know why Morroco played a draw match with Mali. This was unbelievable and they spoilt my ticket when I thought Morocco is going to beat Mali without them stressing themselves. Sometimes African matches can be unpredictable and hard for people to predict accurately even with team that are supposed to beat there opponent without wasting time.

If you think that in a tournament like this, one team would come unprepared and make themselves whipping boys, then you have to think again. African football is now at a very high level and even the so-called underdogs are now bearing teeth and they can get good results on their own day. Mali is also a pretty decent side okay.

That said, Nigeria v Tunisia is obviously the big game today. I am fully behind the Super Eagles and i cannot wait to cheer them on in this game. A victory for us today would guarantee qualification, so hopefully we get it right.

I don’t believe that there are any underdogs when it comes to the AFCON. Sure, some teams have quality players than others but as we have seen in the past, they didn’t always guarantee success in the tournament.

For the Nigeria vs Tunisia match, I don’t think there will be a lot of goals. I predict a 2-1 victory for Nigeria.