12/01/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | JAN 12, 2026

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STRIKERS Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams grabbed second-half goals as Nigeria powered to a deserved 2-0 victory over Algeria in yesterday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal to set up a meeting with hosts Morocco in the last four. Osimhen steered home a long cross from the left by Bruno Onyemaechi two minutes into the second half as Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane made a bizarre jump to try and stop the effort but ended up getting his angles wrong and conceding an easy goal. Adams increased Nigeria’s lead 10 minutes later as Osimhen unselfishly fed him the ball and he took it round Zidane before placing it into an empty net. “A very big congratulations to the whole

Super Eagles soar to comfortable win

“I don’t want to go into too many details, but Nigeria were better,” said Algeria coach Victor Petkovic. “The Nigerian team showed the individual skills they possess, and physically we were behind. We tried to come back in the second half, but we couldn’t reach the level we needed in attack.” Nigeria, who have reached the last four 17 times in the last 20 tournaments they have qualified for, will take on Morocco in Rabat in the semifinals on Thursday (4am). – Reuters/AFP

and denying their opponents a single scoring chance. “The victory was deserved. The match was fantastic, and I am very happy with the win,“ said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle. Algeria had been forced to play extra-time before winning their last-16 clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo last week and the exertion could have been the reason many of their key players turned in listless performances. In contrast, Nigeria had a comfortable 4-0 win over Mozambique on Monday.

team for the kind of performance they put in against a very good Algeria team,“ said Osimhen after collecting the man-of-the-match trophy. “For me I just did my job. I tried to fight for the team and to get goals or assists, but the whole squad deserves praise.” It was an impressive performance by Nigeria, who two months ago missed out on World Cup qualification, as they overwhelmed their opponents from the start at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, looking more determined, quicker around the field and stronger in the challenges,

Salah closer to Afcon glory Egypt dethrone champions Ivory Coast, set up semifinal clash with Senegal

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11/01/2026 (SUN)

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Draw Date: 11/01/26 (Sun)

Draw No: 6021/26 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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Egypt’s Mo Salah celebrates after the victory over Ivory Coast at the 2026 Afcon quarterfinal in Agadir yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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M OHAMED SALAH scored as Egypt won 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling quarterfinal yester day. Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia netted for Egypt, then Ahmed Aboul Fetouh conceded an own goal before half-time. Salah then edged closer to a first Africa Cup of Nations winners medal by doubling the lead soon after the break before Guela Doue pulled a goal back for Ivory Coast, but it wasn’t enough for the holders. The jubilant Egyptians will face Senegal on Thursday (1am Malaysian time) in Tangiers with the winners meeting hosts Morocco or Nigeria four days later in the final. “It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country,” Salah said. “Hopefully we go through the next game as well, it’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best. “We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything. We are just carrying on,” he added. “I’m so happy with this win and reaching the semifinals,” said Salah. “I am proud to wear the Egyptian national jersey and all the players know the responsibility that comes with it.” Salah, 33, said Egypt is not “100% the favourite” to win the title, with Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all having players competing in European leagues. “Most of our national team players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country,” he told beIN Sports . “The game (against Senegal) will be

difficult, they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory.” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan thanked his players, calling them “true Egyptians who fight for the happiness of their people”. He added: “The success belongs to the players, starting with Salah and Marmoush, who lead the press from the front. We know there will be spaces, and our players can exploit them.” The triumph in Agadir confirmed Egypt’s Afcon dominance over Ivory Coast since they first met 56 years ago. The Pharaohs have won 11 times and the Elephants just once. Ivory Coast become the eighth consecutive title-holders to fail to successfully defend the title since Egypt achieved the feat in 2010. Salah has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup, in its previous format, but the most prized African medal has eluded him. The 33-year-old has twice been a runner-up after losses in the Afcon final to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal five years later. Now he is two matches away from realising his long-time dream of helping Egypt win the Afcon a record-extending eighth time. Salah arrived in Morocco amid uncertainty over his future at Liverpool after a post-match outburst following a draw at Leeds when he was demoted to the substitutes’ bench. But he has been back to his predatory best at the Afcon, scoring the winning goals against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the group stage, then the goal that sealed a last-16 victory over Benin. – AFP/Agencies

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HSSB 1+3D J1 RM599,885.10 & J2 RM549,771.80 won on 10/1/26!

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