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      Ademola Lookman looked like another failed Prem wonderkid.. now he’s reborn and outshining world’s best striker at Afcon

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      NIGERIA went into the Africa Cup of Nations boasting the best striker in the competition — maybe even the world.Yet Napoli star Victor Osimhen has been outshone for the Super Eagles by another forward who was once of this parish.
      Ademola Lookman has been one of the best performers at AfconCredit: Getty
      Victor Osimhen has not found his shooting boots at the tournamentCredit: Reuters
      Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth, came through at Charlton after being unearthed playing Sunday League, earned a big-money move to Everton and had loans to Fulham and Leicester.
      He also won 11 caps for the England Under-21s. But in 2022 he switched allegiances to Nigeria, where his parents are from, and has not looked back since.
      After netting both goals in the last-16 victory over Cameroon and then the winner against Angola in the quarter-finals, the 26-year-old has become a talisman for his adopted country.
      He will be even more crucial for today’s semi-final against South Africa if Osimhen, 25, is ruled out with an abdominal complaint.
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      It is some rise for a player who may never have turned pro had he not been spotted by scouts when playing for Waterloo ten years ago.
      He quickly worked his way into the Addicks first team, making his senior debut less than a fortnight after his 18th birthday, yet could not save the club from relegation from the Championship.
      There was plenty of transfer buzz about him that summer but it was not until the following January that he earned a dream, £11million switch to the Prem with Everton.
      Ricky Holmes, 36, battled with Lookman for a spot on the wing for half a season in League One and remembers an undeniable natural talent, albeit not a humble one.
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      Holmes, who is still playing with non-league Farnborough, told SunSport: “He thought he had already made it — but he still had a lot to learn.
      “But he’s kicked on and had one hell of a career. I could only dream of achieving what he has.”
      Top 10 highest-paid players at Afcon revealed with Chelsea flop earning more than Mo Salah
      One of Lookman’s feats includes netting within a minute of coming on for his Toffees debut in a 4-0 victory over Manchester City in 2017, inflicting the joint-worst defeat of Pep Guardiola’s Etihad career.
      Lookman’s story has been one of ambition, always looking for a chance to get game-time.
      That is happening right now for his country and also for his club Atalanta in Italy’s Serie A, where he has scored 22 goals in 56 games.
      He revealed last week how he still wants “to play at the highest level”, claiming in an interview how he is a “different player” to the one the Premier League recalls.
      In training he’d do something and you’d think, ‘Wow, this kid is special’.Ricky Holmes
      Lookman has certainly come on leaps and bounds since those early days at Charlton — just like another of Holmes’ old team-mates.
      Holmes added: “He could do something out of the ordinary, similar to Ivan Toney. I played with Ivan when he was a young lad at Northampton.
      “In training, they would just do something and you’d think, ‘Wow, this kid is special’.
      “Ade would pick the ball up, dribble past two players and put it in the top corner and you’d think ‘How have you just done that?’
      “You just knew, with that ability he was going to step up to bigger and better things and ultimately he has done.
      “So has Ivan. Those kinds of players don’t come around often.”
      One man backing Lookman to return to the top is Scott Parker – his boss during his time at Fulham.
      Parker told SunSport: “Ade is an unbelievable human being, grounded and respectful.
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      “He is someone who is always trying to improve and get better. It goes without saying he is a massive talent and has big quality.
      “But for me it is his general professionalism and his attitude to want to constantly improve his game which makes him stand out.”
      Lookman scored on his Everton debutCredit: AFP or licensors
      He is now impressing in the Serie A with Atalanta this seasonCredit: Getty More

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      Nigeria vs South Africa – Afcon 2023 semi-final: Super Eagles look to book spot in huge final – stream, TV, team news

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      NIGERIA will face South Africa in the semi-final of Afcon 2023 on Wednesday night.The Super Eagles booked their place in the last four with a 1-0 win over Angola on Friday.
      Ademola Lookman was the difference maker against AngolaCredit: GETTY
      Ronwen Williams was the hero for South Africa against Cape Verde with four penalty saves in the shootoutCredit: AP
      Former Premier League star Ademola Lookman was the difference maker with a thumping strike on 40 minutes.
      Nigeria have won the Nations Cup three times, with their last tournament triumph coming in 2013 when they beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
      The Super Eagles will face South Africa in this year’s semi-final after the latter booked their spot in the last four with a win over Cape Verde.
      Bafana Bafana shot-stopper Ronwen Williams was the hero after he became the first goalkeeper to save four penalties in an Afcon shootout.
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      When is Nigeria vs South Africa?

      Nigeria vs South Africa will take place on Wednesday, February 7th.
      The match will kick off at 5pm GMT.
      The Stade de la Paix in Bouake will host.

      What TV channel is Nigeria vs South Africa on and can it be live streamed?

      Nigeria vs South Africa will be broadcast live on BBC Two and Sky Sports Main Event.
      You can live stream the match for FREE on BBC iPlayer, providing you have a valid TV license.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

      Team news
      Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen was taken off late on against Angola on Friday night with an apparent injury.
      However, the Napoli striker was pictured walking freely away from the stadium after the match.
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      Hugo Broos will be hoping his South Africa side came through their gruelling 120-minute quarter-final unscathed.
      What are the odds?
      Match result

      Nigeria – 3/5
      Draw – 5/2
      South Africa – 6/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Bizarre moment commentator sings SHAKIRA song before crucial final kick of penalty shootout at Afcon

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      FOOTBALL fans were left in stitches after a commentator began singing a Shakira song before Cape Verde were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations.South Africa booked their place in the semi-finals for the first time in 24 years with a penalty shoot-out victory on Saturday night after a goalless 120 minutes.
      Commentator Mohamed Barakat left fans in hystericsCredit: BEIN SPORTS
      The hilarious piece of commentary came moments before South Africa clinched victoryCredit: AP
      It was a bizarre homage to Shakira’s song from 2010Credit: Youtube @Shakira
      Keeper Ronwen Williams proved to be the hero as he saved four of Cape Verde’s five spot kicks with a remarkable set of stops – including one from Manchester United flop Bebe.
      And it was before Patrick Andrade’s decisive miss that the superb piece of Qatar-based beIN Sports commentary took place.
      Bizarrely, broadcaster Mohamed Barakat broke out in song and began performing “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” by Shakira.
      The clip went viral on social media following South Africa’s victory as fans reacted to the unique commentary.
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      One said: “I love how unhinged Arabic commentary is. Feels real and connected rather that whatever s*** they spew in EPL.”
      Another added: “This is Afcon heritage.”
      A third replied: “More of this please, commentators!”
      While a fourth responded: “Honestly, the best thing about BeIN is the Arabic commentators. They’re absolutely GOAT’ed lol.
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      “I don’t envy those who see the games without Arabic commentary.”
      South Africa will now face Nigeria on Wednesday as they eye a first Africa Cup of Nations final since 1998.
      In the other semi, hosts Ivory Coast take on DR Congo, with the final set to take place on Sunday. More

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      Tottenham star Yves Bissouma has been playing with MALARIA at Afcon after falling ill, confirms coach

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      YVES BISSOUMA has been playing at the Africa Cup of Nations despite suffering from MALARIA.The Tottenham star suffered heartbreak in the quarter-finals as host nation Ivory Coast knocked out Mali.
      Yves Bissouma has been suffering from malaria at AfconCredit: Getty
      Eric Chelle confirmed the Tottenham star’s conditionCredit: AP
      Ivory Coast knocked Mali out of Afcon in the quarter-finalsCredit: AFP
      Mali were beaten despite leading going into the closing stages of the match.
      Brighton and Hove Albion star Simon Adingra equalised for Ivory Coast in the 90th minute to force extra-time.
      The match looked set to be decided on penalties until Oumar Diakité fired the winner in the 122nd minute.
      Ivory Coast’s achievement was even more remarkable as they were reduced to ten men in the 43rd minute as Odilon Kossounou was sent off for two bookable offences.
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      After the winning goal both teams had players see red as Diakité followed his goal with wild celebrations that saw him given his marching orders.
      Mali’s Hamari Traoré was also sent off for his complaints to the referee.
      Mali head coach Eric Chelle confirmed that Bissouma as well as Moussa Diarra had been playing in the tournament with malaria.
      The coach insisted that Bissouma’s case was “not so serious” due to him being born in West Africa.
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      This meant that the midfielder was able to play, but Diarra’s case was different.
      Chelle said: “You know Yves and Moussa were suffering from malaria, regarding the blood tests.
      “It’s not so serious, because someone born in West Africa is used to malaria, he could play but for Moussa it was different.
      “It was the first time he contracted malaria, so he started some light training.
      “We’ll take things carefully, but there’s no outbreak or anything.”
      Ivory Coast will face DR Congo in the semi-final.
      DR Congo reached the final four after a brilliant win against Guinea.
      During the game, former West Ham star Arthur Masuaku scored a stunning replica goal from his time in the Premier League.
      South Africa have also reached the semis after beating Cape Verde on penalties in which Manchester United flop Bebe missed from the spot and will face Nigeria. More

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      Man Utd flop Bebe suffers Africa Cup of Nations nightmare with blunder before Cape Verde side crash out in quarters

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      BEBE saw his penalty saved as Cape Verde was dumped out of Afcon after a shootout against South Africa.The two sides could not be separated in regular time as the scores were stuck at 0-0 during the quarter-final at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

      Bebe saw his penalty saved against South AfricaCredit: AFP
      The former Man United ace crashed out of Afcon with Cape VerdeCredit: AP
      It was the same in extra-time as both teams failed to hit the back of the net.
      Cape Verde and South Africa had plenty of chances, as there were 41 shots in the match.
      However, their accuracy let them down with only eight shots finding the target throughout the game.
      It was not meant to be for Bebe and Cape Verde, as four of their takers missed penalties.
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      Former Manchester United flop started the shootout for his side but saw his effort saved by Ronwen Williams.
      The South African stopper went on to save all but Bryan Silva Teixeira Jr’s effort.
      Williams was the first-ever goalkeeper to save four penalties in an Afcon shootout.
      He credited his success to the team’s analysts, who sent him “many penalties to study”.
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      Ronwen Williams denied Bebe’s penaltiesCredit: EPA
      He saved three other efforts in the shootoutCredit: AP
      He has already kept four clean sheets in the tournament and is making a name for himself with his performances.
      South Africa will now face Nigeria in the semi-finals, which will be played on Wednesday at the Stade Bouaké.
      In the other semi-final, the host nation Ivory Coast take on DR Congo on the same day.
      Bebe, 33, joined Man United in 2010 from Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Guimaraes and was expected to be the next big thing.
      However, the attacker only managed two appearances for the club during his four-year spell.
      He left on a permanent deal in 2014 as he returned to Portugal and joined Benfica.
      During Afcon, he did score a brilliant 45-yard free kick against Mozambique. More

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      Mali star refuses to celebrate after scoring worldie in rarely-seen moment at Afcon but there’s a sweet reason why

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      NENE DORGELES refused to celebrate despite scoring for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations – for a very classy reason.The exciting playmaker, 21, produced an incredible moment of magic to fire Mali ahead in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
      Nene Dorgeles refused to celebrate after scoring for Mali against Ivory CoastCredit: AFP
      The playmaker let fly from distance to break the deadlock in the Afcon quarter-finalCredit: Twitter @SkyFootball

      Dorgeles cut inside from the left flank – dropping a defender on to his backside – before unleashing a superb strike from 25 yards that flew into the top corner to break the deadlock on 71 minutes.
      The Red Bull Salzburg star immediately ran off in excitement at his wonder goal against the hosts.
      But within moments he suddenly pulled up and lifted his hands to show he was not celebrating his goal-of-the-tournament contender – despite the excitement of his team-mates.
      And there is a very valid and sweet explanation for the unusual reaction following such a phenomenal goal to put Mali ahead and within 20 minutes of the Afcon semis.
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      That is because although Dorgeles was born and raised in Mali, his parents were born in Ivory Coast.
      And therefore he wanted to be respectful to his parents’ homeland where he regularly visits.
      Fans on social media praised Dorgeles for his thoughtful reaction with emotions clearly running high.
      One said: “I still can’t get over Nene Dorgeles refusing to celebrate. I’ve seen players refuse to celebrate against their former club, but never after scoring against his parents’ country.”
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      Another simply wrote: “Respect.”
      And a third added: “Nene Dorgeles joins Breel Embolo as the only players in my mind who’ve apologised for scoring against the country of their parents. #classy”
      Embolo reacted similarly at the 2022 World Cup when he scored for Switzerland against Cameroon, the country of his birth.
      Normally the lack of celebration is reserved for club football when a player scores against their former team.
      The Dorgeles goal, though, was just a fraction of the incredible drama.
      In the first half, Adama Noss Traore saw his golden chance to put Mali in front from the penalty spot denied by a smart Yahia Fofana save.
      Odilon Kossounou then picked up his second yellow card of the first half to reduce the Elephants to ten men.
      Then just as it looked as though Ivory Coast’s chaotic run was going to end, they equalised through Simon Adingra in the 90th minute to force extra-time.
      Sebastien Haller crashed a header against the crossbar in the added half an hour, while at the other end Willy Boly came within a whisker of scoring an own goal.
      And as penalties looked inevitable, sub Oumar Diakite grabbed a winner in the 122nd minute with a clever flick to send the hosts into the final four and spark pandemonium in the Stade Bouake.
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      However, there was still time for Diakite to get sent off as Ivory Coast – managed by interim boss Emerse Fae after Jean-Louis Gasset’s mid-tournament sacking – finished with nine men while Hamari Traore also saw red for heartbroken Mali.
      Ivory Coast will play DR Congo in the semis after a wondergoal from Arthur Masuaku fired them through against Guinea.
      Dorgeles’ parents are IvorianCredit: Twitter @oluwashina
      He was in tears at the full-time whistle after the heartbreaking exitCredit: Getty
      Ivory Coast scored their winner in the 122nd minuteCredit: AP More

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      Fans stunned as ex-Premier League star scores wonder goal at Afcon… and eagle-eyed viewers spot he’s done it before

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      ARTHUR MASUAKU has scored a stunning goal at the Africa Cup of Nations for the Democratic Republic of Congo – and fans have proved it was no fluke.The spectacular free-kick left supporters stunned, but some noticed it’s not the first time he’s pulled off the jaw-dropping effort.
      Arthur Masuaku scored a stunning goal for DR Congo in the Afcon quarter-final vs GuineaCredit: Getty
      The full-back looked to be floating a free-kick into the box for someone to attackCredit: X @SkyFootball
      Instead he was aiming for the near post to beat the out-of-position goalkeeperCredit: X @SkyFootball
      The effort flew into the top corner and DR Congo went 3-1 upCredit: X @SkyFootball
      Masuaku celebrated with his teammatesCredit: Reuters

      Masuaku, who used to play for West Ham, helped book DR Congo a spot in the Afcon semi-finals.
      The full-back scored the third goal for the Leopards as they brushed Guinea aside with a 3-1 victory.
      Masuaku took a free-kick from wide on the left-hand side in what appeared to be a crossing position.
      DR Congo players lined up on the edge of the box anticipating a cross into the corridor of uncertainty.
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      But Masuaku had other ideas, spotting Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone slightly out of position, the Besiktas star aimed for goal instead.
      He floated an effort towards the near post and saw it fly into the back of the net, booking DR Congo a place in the last four.
      Fans were blown away with the goal with one taking to social media to post: “WOW! THAT WAS INSANE!”
      While another added: “Goal of the tournament for sure!”
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      Other fans were quick to point out that the sneaky finish is something Masuaku has done before.
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      The 30-year-old found the back of the net in an almost identical fashion back in 2021 while playing for West Ham.
      In open play Masuaku caught out Eduoard Mendy, who was in goal for Chelsea at the time, by aiming for the near post when the Blues keeper was anticipating a cross.
      One fan wrote: “He knew what he was doing!”
      While another added: “The Masuaku signature. The near post cross goal.”
      A third joked: “Is that Mendy in goal? As I’ve seen that before in a past life!”
      Masuaku scored a similar goal against Chelsea in 2021
      He caught Edouard Mendy out by floating it into the top corner at the near post More

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      Viral Afcon fan apologises to wife and children after awkward moment he asked for woman’s number caught on camera

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      AN IVORY COAST fan apologised to his wife and children after he was seen in a viral video asking another woman for her number during the Africa Cup of Nations.Anselme Santos attended his host country’s crunch Last 16 clash with reigning champions Senegal at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium on Monday.
      An Afcon fan apologised to his family after he was seen asking another women’s numberCredit: Life TV
      Anselme Santos appeared on TV to speak about the incident
      The two African giants drew 1-1 after Ivorian star Franck Kessie cancelled out Habib Diallo’s opener.
      But it was Emerse Fae’s side that punched their ticket to the quarter-finals where they will face Mali after eliminating Sadio Mane and co on penalties.
      Kessie scored the winning penalty but it was Santos who became the talk of the town after the dramatic Afcon encounter.
      The fan was spotted speaking closely to a woman in the stands whilst other Ivorian supporters celebrated around them.
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      The lady clearly looked disinterested by the approach but he insists it was only friendly banter during the “euphoria” of Ivory Coast’s triumph.
      Santos later revealed he is “saddened” and “really upset” with himself after watching the viral video and went on to apologise to the woman as well as her entire family.
      The father also asked for forgiveness from his own family who watched him at the stands.
      Santos told Life TV: “Since we were at the hotel we were with the Senegal fans, having fun, we danced, we ate, we got the bus to the stadium, everyone was having fun.
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      “We arrived at the stadium, we had the first goal, Senegal fans were trying to tease us but that’s the game.
      “At the stadium we’re having fun, everyone is happy. If you went to the stadium to be sad it’s not good, if Senegal fans sat one side and us the other there would be no atmosphere.
      “So that’s how you saw it in the video, I was sitting further up [away from the woman] and I was walking down when I saw her waving the Senegalese flag.
      “In the euphoria, we’re having fun, we’re teasing each other, I told her, ‘Give me your number’.
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      “I didn’t insist and when she didn’t want to I went back to my friend nearby in the stands. I didn’t see her again.
      “I don’t think it was insisting, it was just fun at the stadium, we were teasing, I didn’t go to the stadium to pick up a woman.
      “When I say, ‘Give me your number, give me your number’, it’s not necessarily because I wanted their number, we were having fun, it’s all good.
      “When I got back to the hotel, I saw the video on all of the social networks. When I saw it, frankly, it saddened me.
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      “I am a father, I have a family, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise [to] my family, my children, my wife.
      “And then I take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from this lady, her family, her community, her husband, her children, we were having fun and it happened but, frankly, I’m really upset about what happened.”
      Ivory Coast beat Senegal and made it to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalsCredit: AP More