People spotted Leicester City players partying in Copenhagen. This happened just hours after Chelsea defeated them. The night out came only a day before the club announced the sacking of their manager, Steve Cooper, aged 44.

On Saturday, the Foxes suffered a Premier League defeat against their former boss Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side. Despite the disappointing result, many players seemed unaffected and boarded a flight to Copenhagen shortly after the match.

According to reports from the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, the group included Jannik Vestergaard, Victor Kristiansen, Harry Winks, and Conor Coady.

We have parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 24, 2024

They were seen enjoying themselves in a lively late-night session in the Danish capital. Fan-recorded footage even showed one player humorously holding up a sign. The sign read, “Enzo I miss U,” seemingly a nod to their former coach.

The timing of the celebration raised eyebrows, especially given Leicester’s ongoing struggles. The team currently sits in 16th place in the Premier League, facing mounting pressure.

Their defeat against Chelsea only intensified scrutiny, and the players’ partying session added fuel to the fire of discontent among fans.

The club officially dismissed Steve Cooper on Sunday, just a day after the Copenhagen outing. The decision came as the Foxes continued to falter in the league, struggling to escape the lower half of the table.

The management cited poor results and lack of progress as key factors behind the move.

Fans and pundits have questioned the players’ commitment and focus, given the timing of their late-night escapades.

With Leicester facing a challenging season, the responsibility now falls on the team to regroup and prove their dedication on the field.

The next few weeks will be crucial as they search for a new manager and attempt to climb out of relegation danger.

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Benin and Sudan Secure AFCON Finals Qualification Amid Upsets

Benin and Sudan clinched spots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after securing 0-0 draws on the penultimate day of preliminaries.

However, the day also witnessed surprising home defeats for powerhouses Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia, adding unexpected twists to the qualifiers for the tournament in Morocco.

Benin Survives Group D Battle

Benin entered a three-way fight with Libya and Rwanda for the second spot in Group D, as Nigeria had already qualified. Playing in Tripoli, Benin held Libya to a goalless draw, which proved enough to edge past Rwanda on a superior head-to-head record.

Rwanda shocked the football world by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo. After trailing early, Rwanda struck back with late goals from Jimmy Mutsinzi and Innocent Nsuthi, who plays semi-professionally in the United States.

The defeat exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability under caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen, their third coach in 2024. Following a 1-1 draw with Benin last week, Nigeria’s performance intensified the urgency to appoint a foreign coach ahead of the AFCON.

Only 3️⃣ spots left. 👀#AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/mbVgKVH942

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 18, 2024

Sudan Secures Second Spot in Group F

Sudan needed a point from their final two matches to qualify behind Angola in Group F. After suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Niger, Sudan redeemed themselves with a hard-fought draw against Angola in Benghazi.

The result confirmed their AFCON berth, but Niger kept the pressure on with a stunning 2-1 victory over Ghana in Accra.

Niger’s upset relegated Ghana to the bottom of the group, ending their streak of 10 consecutive AFCON appearances.

⏰ Full-Time in Accra.

🇬🇭 Ghana 1️⃣-2️⃣ Niger 🇳🇪

⚽️ Jerry Afriyie 67’ | Ousseni Badamassi 22’, Oumar Sako 90+2’ #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/tUCOhlmN25

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 18, 2024

Despite debutant Jeremia Afriyie scoring an equaliser, Ghana conceded a late header by Oumar Sako in stoppage time. Mohammed Kudus added to the home side’s misery by missing a penalty in a forgettable campaign for the Black Stars.

Tunisia Loses Top Spot in Group A

Although Tunisia had already qualified, they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Gambia in Tunis. Abdoulie Ceesay’s 17th-minute goal toppled Tunisia from the top of Group A.

Earlier, Tunisia also suffered a defeat at home to the Comoros Islands, who clinched first place after defeating Madagascar 1-0. These results highlighted the growing competitiveness of African football.

Morocco Completes Perfect Campaign

AFCON hosts Morocco demonstrated dominance in Group B by finishing with a flawless record. Brahim Diaz led the charge with a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Lesotho. Morocco scored 26 goals in six matches while conceding only two, showcasing their readiness for the tournament.

Final Qualifiers to be Decided

Thirteen matches remain in the qualifiers, but only four hold significance for the final three spots in the 24-team tournament.

With several unexpected results already shaping the competition, the final day promises more drama as the remaining teams battle for their place in Morocco.

The unexpected upsets and competitive performances underscore the evolving landscape of African football, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 AFCON.

Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Libya: A Tight Race for AFCON 2025

Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Libya are currently battling intensely for a single spot at AFCON 2025, set to take place in Morocco.

As the qualifying series for Group D heads into its final matchday, the competition remains wide open. The Cheetahs, Amavubi, and the Mediterranean Knights are all still in the race for a coveted spot at the tournament.

However, only one will join Nigeria, who have already secured their qualification with a 1-1 draw against Gernot Rohr’s side at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

With Monday’s decisive matches quickly approaching, each team has a realistic chance of booking their ticket to AFCON 2025.

However, in the end, only one team will succeed in advancing alongside the Super Eagles to Morocco.

Let’s dive into what each country needs to clinch the final qualification spot.

What Result Does the Benin Republic Need to Qualify?

Benin Republic finds itself in a strong position heading into the final matchday. Currently, they hold second place with seven points, thanks to two wins and a draw. To secure a spot at AFCON 2025, Benin has several possible pathways.

A win or even a draw against Libya in Tripoli would guarantee their place in Morocco. However, if Benin suffers a loss, they must ensure that the defeat is by no more than a two-goal margin while also managing to score at least once.

This is crucial because, despite losing the reverse fixture 2-1 to Libya, a similar scoreline in Tripoli would still see Benin qualify based on overall goal difference.

On the other hand, if Benin loses by two clear goals, their hopes of reaching AFCON 2025 after a six-year absence would be dashed.

In that scenario, Libya would likely qualify on goal difference in head-to-head encounters among the tied teams.

Since their first AFCON appearance in Tunisia in 2004, Benin has reached the finals four times, with their best showing being a quarter-final finish at Egypt in 2019.

What Does Rwanda Need to Secure AFCON 2025 Qualification?

For Rwanda, the path to AFCON 2025 is clear but challenging. A win over Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo would secure their spot, provided Benin fails to win against Libya.

Torsten Spittler’s side will draw confidence from their recent 1-0 away triumph over Lesotho during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With Nigeria already qualified, Rwanda hopes that coach Eguavoen might field a weakened squad.

However, if Rwanda manages to defeat the Super Eagles and Benin draws against Libya, Rwanda would still miss out on AFCON 2025 due to goal difference in head-to-head matchups with Benin.

The Amavubi endured a heavy 3-0 defeat against Benin in Abidjan but later secured a crucial 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in Kigali. Thus, to secure their AFCON 2025 ticket, Rwanda must first overcome Nigeria and then hope that Benin loses in Tripoli.

Since their debut at AFCON 2004, where they finished ninth, Rwanda has yet to qualify again for Africa’s most prestigious tournament. Overcoming Nigeria in Uyo would certainly be a historic feat for the Amavubi.

How Can Libya Qualify for AFCON 2025?

Libya faces a tough but not impossible path to AFCON 2025. Coach Nasser Al-Hadiri’s team must secure a win over the Benin Republic by at least two goals while hoping Rwanda fails to pull off a victory in Nigeria.

Libya’s qualification hopes appeared slim after the Confederation of African Football sanctioned them, resulting in the loss of three points and three goals due to the mistreatment of the Nigerian national team.

Despite this setback, Libya’s recent 1-0 away win against Rwanda and Benin’s draw with Nigeria have revived their chances. They now sit at the bottom of Group D with just one win from five matches.

If Libya manages to snatch the AFCON 2025 ticket from both Benin and Rwanda, it would mark one of the most dramatic turnarounds in African football.

Historically, Libya has qualified for the AFCON three times, with their best performance being a runners-up finish in 1982 when they hosted the tournament. Should they qualify for AFCON 2025, it would be their first appearance in over a decade.

Finally…

As the final day of the qualifiers looms, fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome. The battle for the remaining spot in AFCON 2025 is far from settled. Benin, Rwanda, and Libya each have strong reasons to believe they can secure that last ticket to Morocco.

Whether it comes down to goal difference, head-to-head matchups, or a last-minute surge, only one of these teams will join Nigeria in representing Group D at AFCON 2025.

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