Africa Cup of Nations

ROBERTO LOPES is starring for Cape Verde at the Africa Cup of Nations after being called up via LinkedIn.The Shamrock Rovers defender was first approached by the national team in 2018.
Roberto Lopes, centre, received an international call-up via LinkedInCredit: Sportsfile
The defender is now starring for Cape Verde at his second Africa Cup of NationsCredit: Sportsfile
Then manager Rui Aguas reached out to Lopes, who is eligible for Cape Verde through his dad, on LinkedIn.
The Dublin-born centre-back made his debut the following year and now has 19 caps to his name.
He is also a part of the Blue Sharks’ Afcon squad after playing at the previous edition in 2022.
Ahead of the 2022 tournament, he told Sky Sports: “I started the account for college years ago and used it sparingly.
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“You would get these spam messages and I just thought this was another one. Thankfully, he wrote back in English. That is what set me off on this incredible adventure.”
On his journey in international football, Lopes added: “I am going to places that I would never have gone to on holiday.
“Seeing the appreciation they have for what they have, it has opened my mind. I am eager now to try new things.
“I am so eager to learn the language and the culture, learn about Africa as a continent.”
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Dublin-born Lopes is eligible for Cape Verde through his dadCredit: Sportsfile
The former Irish under-19 international played all four of Cape Verde’s matches as they reached the round of 16 two years ago.
He also started Sunday’s tournament opener against Ghana as his side snatched a dramatic late victory thanks to a 92nd minute winner.
Cape Verde, whose squad includes former Manchester United winger Bebe, will also take on Mozambique and Egypt during the group stage.
At club level, Lopes has been with Shamrock Rovers since 2017, making 241 appearances for the club, including several as captain.
The 31-year-old has also won four league titles and an Irish Cup since joining the Hoops from Bohemians seven years ago.
The 31-year-old plays his club football in Ireland for Shamrock RoversCredit: Sportsfile More

ANTOINE SEMENYO intends to elbow his way on to the global stage after learning the dirty arts in Bath.The exciting winger has helped transform Bournemouth’s season by taking on defences with his searing pace and strong runs.
Antoine Semenyo is hoping he can fire Ghana to Afcon gloryCredit: Rex
And Semenyo, 23, is ready to light up the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast this month with Ghana.
The Black Stars, managed by Chris Hughton, face Cape Verde in their first group match tomorrow.
On the eve of the tournament, Semenyo suggested his bruising non-league loan days had conditioned him for the task ahead.
Semenyo, who was loaned out to Bath City by Bristol City in 2018, revealed: “That was one of the toughest parts of my career.
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“As an 18-year-old getting elbowed every week, it builds you. As you step up, you realise the quality gets better, so you have to step up another level.
“Every loan I learnt and it got tougher as it went on and that was so beneficial for me.”
Semenyo also had loan spells at Newport and Sunderland before the Cherries paid Bristol City £10million for the player last January.
But it was his gladiatorial days with the Bath “Romans” in the sixth tier which made him battle-hardened.
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Semenyo said: “I think it builds you, character-wise, playing in the National League.
“The first five games there I struggled so much because everyone else was so experienced.
“I had all the physical attributes. I knew I could get on the ball and get past players, but they used their bodies well and were a lot smarter.
“They had the tendency to read what I was doing before I had even done it, so it was all about taking bits and bobs from the older players I was playing with and adding that to my game.
“Now, I can use my body well and if the defender’s stepping one way, I go the other — it’s just little things like that.
“Those loans definitely helped me and I’ve come a long way.”
Semenyo is as happy as Larry to play for his country … his dad Larry played in the Ghana Premier League but didn’t quite make the national side.
The Cherries star went on: “Ghana is beautiful and football is everything, so I am glad to be representing them.
“For my family, too, it’s everything. My dad dreamed to play for Ghana, so I’m living that dream for him.
“Hopefully, God willing, there are many more caps to go because it means so much to me.”
Semenyo can always rely on dad and younger brother Jai, who plays for Cardiff, for support.
He added: “Whenever I’m down or I’m struggling he always gives me advice and that’s the same with my brother Jai.
“They’ve always got my back and, even when things are going great, they have my best interests at heart.”
Semenyo scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 defeat at Anfield in August, when a certain Mo Salah was on the scoresheet for Liverpool.
The pair will go head-to-head again next week when Ghana meet Egypt.
Semenyo shed tears when he scored Ghana’s winning goal in an Afcon qualifier against Angola in front of his old man.
He recalls: “I remember looking up and seeing my dad in the crowd and I saw him celebrating with all his uncles.
“I had tears in my eyes because it was such a great moment.
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“I want to keep reliving those feelings because it’s great scoring for your country because I never thought I’d ever be doing that.”
Watch this week’s brilliant episode of the Tap In – SunSport’s exclusive new football show.
Antoine Semenyo has been capped eight times by GhanaCredit: Getty More

THE Africa Cup of Nations sees some of the biggest stars playing in Europe’s elite leagues leave their clubs for international duty.The tournament gets underway on Saturday as hosts Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau in the opener.
Mo Salah has been an AFCON runner-up twiceCredit: Reuters
Riyad Mahrez will captain AlgeriaCredit: Getty
Superstars like Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen will all be dreaming of glory in the final on February 11.
Morocco are the favourites to lift the tournament – with the bookies expecting Senegal, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Nigeria to push them all the way.
Ahead of the tournament kicking-off, SunSport have made a combined XI from all the players involved in this year’s Afcon.
Morocco shocked the world when they made the semi-final of the World Cup a year ago.
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Yassine Bounou, aka Bono, stunned in between the sticks as the Atlas Lions formed one of the toughest defences around.
The Al-Hilal keeper is joined in the ultimate XI by PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd.
Defensively, the side is completed by Bundesliga duo Ramy Bensebaini and Edmond Tapsoba.
The left-back plays for Borussia Dortmund and Algeria, while the centre-back represents Burkina Faso and top of the table Bayer Leverkusen.
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These 11 players could take AFCON by storm
Napoli and Cameroon star Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Tottenham and Senegal ace Pape Matar Sarr anchor the midfield.
The attack is stacked with talent, coming via Liverpool’s Egyptian king Salah and Napoli’s Nigerian goalscorer Osimhen.
Ex-Premier League, now Saudi-based stars Sadio Mane of Senegal and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria complete the incredible team.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is snubbed after making high-profile errors since joining the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus and Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson are unlucky not to make it.
A host of Premier League stars will be in action over the next month More

THE African Cup of Nations is set to begin in the country of Ivory Coast.The tournament will kick off for the 34th time on January 13 and will take place in six different stadiums.
The Stade de la Paix is the third-largest stadium for AFCONCredit: AFP
The six stadiums are spread out across five cities in the African nation and will host some of the best Premier League players.
One stadium in particular has a bloody history connected to it.
The Stade de la Paix is a multi-use ground in Bouake, the second largest city of the Ivory Coast.
The stadium holds a maximum of 40,000 people and was recently renovated in 2020.
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It was originally built and opened in 1984 for the year’s Afcon competition.
It hosted seven games during the tournament including the 3rd place match, Ivory Coast however did not make it past the group stages.
The stadium was unused for sporting events between October 2002 and March 2007.
This was down to the occupation of the Forces nouvelles de Côte d’Ivoire (New Forces) in the First Ivorian Civil War.
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Didier Drogba insisted that a match be played at the ground after the civil warCredit: AFP
During the conflict, it has been alleged that the stadium was used as an execution site.
Testimonies from residents in Bouake claim that police officers and military soldiers from the government’s forces were killed by the occupiers.
The ground saw football return in July 2007 as Ivory Coast played Madagascar after peace was declared.
The match took on great significance for national reconciliation and gathered great interest as part of the Ouagadougou Agreement signed by president Laurent Gbagbo and soro secretary-general Guillaume Kigbafori.
The agreement brought peace to the country and merged the forces to create a united army.
Ivory Coast won the match 5-0 thanks to goals from stars such as Saloman Kalou, Yaya Toure, Arouna Kone (brace) and Didier Drogba.
The match was played at the Stade de la Paix after an intervention from Drogba who insisted that the game take place in Bouake.
It will be the third-largest stadium in this year’s competition and the first match that will feature there is Algeria vs Angola before five more group games.
The ground will also host a round-of-16 match, a quarter-final and one of the two semi-finals. More

MANCHESTER UNITED supporters have hailed Andre Onana for agreeing to play Tottenham 24 hours before Cameroon’s first Afcon fixture.United negotiated Onana’s departure for the tournament with Cameroon following the club’s dismal start to the season.
Andre Onana agrees to play Tottenham game ONE DAY before Cameroon’s first Afcon gameCredit: Alamy
Though other Afcon stars have left their domestic clubs, United secured permission to keep Onana for their FA Cup third round tie at Wigan on January 8.
United have also now reached an agreement to keep Onana for their crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham on January 14.
This means Onana will leave Old Trafford immediately after facing Ange Postecoglou’s side, which kicks off at 4.30pm.
He will then take a seven-hour flight to Cameroon’s camp before their match with Guinea starts at 5pm the following afternoon.
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He will be available for the clash with Guinea.
The club understood he would not be going to Afcon when they paid Inter Milan £47million for him in the summer.
But Cameroon persuaded him to change his mind.
Boss Erik ten Hag was adamant that Onana’s original promise that he would be available throughout his first English campaign should be honoured at least to some extent.
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Throughout his absence, United are expected to use summer signing Altay Bayindir.
The Turkish shot stopper is yet to make his debut since joining from Fenerbahce.
But many United fans have praised Onana for his devotion to the club.
One wrote: “That’s crazy though.”
Another said: “It’s good to see how dedicated he is to the team.”
A third wrote: “Fair play to him.”
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Onana left the squad camp before their tournament exit after falling out with manager Rigobert Song.
But he was recalled for the September internationals after impressing during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final last season.
If Cameroon do not manage to qualify from their group which also includes Senegal and Gambia my may not miss any club fixtures thanks to the deal that now been struck. More