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Emiliano Sala: The Search Continues; Police Resume Search For Missing Footballer

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The search for Cardiff’s new signing Emiliano Sala resumed on Wednesday, 36 hours after the light aircraft he was flying on disappeared in the English Channel.

“We have resumed searching,” Guernsey police said. “Two planes are taking off and will search a targeted area we believe has the highest likelihood of finding anything, based on review of the tides and weather since it went missing.”

Reports on Wednesday morning said Sala had sent a WhatsApp voice message to his family, saying he was “really scared… I’m on a plane that looks like it’s going to fall apart.”

After an extensive search of the area over the English Channel, Guernsey Police said a number of floating objects had been seen in the water, but were unable to confirm whether any were from the missing aircraft.

“We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim. Two planes and a lifeboat are still searching. A decision about an overnight search will be taken shortly,” said Guernsey Police.

“During the course of the 15-hour search, which used multiple air and sea assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, a number of floating objects have been seen in the water. We have been unable to confirm whether any of these are from the missing aircraft.”

“17.00 update..search and rescue operations have been suspended as the sun has now set. The current plan is for it to resume at sunrise tomorrow. There will be no further updates tonight.”

A frantic search began with a lifeboat launched from Alderney at 8.50pm last night.

There is “genuine concern” at Cardiff over Sala’s safety and, shortly before Tuesday lunchtime, the French Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that Sala was on-board the aircraft when it departed France on Monday evening.

The Argentine, who scored 13 goals this season for Nantes to earn his move to Cardiff, failed to report at his new club on Monday night. He signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Premier League club.

Sala scored 13 goals for Nantes this season to earn his move to Cardiff

 

“The PA 46 Malibu, a single turbine engine aircraft was on route from Nantes in France, to Cardiff in Wales, with two people on board when it was lost off radar as Jersey ATC was attempting to make contact.

“A search model was created on SARIS, based on the likely ditching position, and all search and rescue assets were tasked to the area.

“The search was terminated at 02:00, with all search and rescue assets being stood down, due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility.

“At this time no trace of the missing aircraft had been found.

“The aircraft departed Nantes at 1915 for Cardiff. The aircraft was flying at 5000 feet. The aircraft on passing Guernsey requested descent. Jersey ATC lost contact whilst it was flying at 2300 feet.

“Air Search 1 and a French rescue helicopter based in Cherbourg, resumed the search of the area at 08:00.”

SPORTS

Benin & Sudan Qualify For AFCON As Ghana, Nigeria & Tunisia Exit

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AFCON: Benin & Sudan Qualify | fab.ng

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.

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.

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.

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SPORTS

AFCON 2025: What Rwanda, Benin & Libya Have To Do To Qualify Like Nigeria

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AFCON 2025: What Rwanda, Benin & Libya need to qualify | fab.ng

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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SPORTS

Nigeria Seal Qualification For 2025 AFCON As Osimhen Equals Odegbami’s Goal Tally

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2025 AFCON: Nigeria secures qualification | fab.ng

Nigeria has secured its qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with two games to spare. This is all thanks to Libya’s 1-0 away victory over Rwanda on Thursday.

Prior to their clash against the Cheetahs in Abidjan, the Super Eagles, led by coach Augustine Eguavoen, needed just one point to confirm their spot in the tournament set to take place in Morocco.

However, Nigeria clinched their qualification even before facing Gernot Rohr’s Cheetahs, who are also on track for a potential return to the competition.

In their encounter in Abidjan, Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw. The hosts initially took the lead through Mohamed Tijani in the first half. However, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen rose to the occasion, scoring the equalizer with just nine minutes left on the clock.

With that crucial goal, Osimhen matched the legendary Segun Odegbami’s international tally, as he now shares the second spot with 23 goals in 37 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Osimhen is now only 14 goals away from breaking Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.

Meanwhile, Libya’s qualification hopes took a major hit after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed sanctions on them.

The disciplinary board awarded Nigeria a 3-0 victory and fined the Libyan Football Federation $50,000 (£38,500) due to the poor treatment experienced by the Nigerian squad during their visit. Despite this setback,

Libya showed resilience as they defeated Rwanda in front of a lively crowd at Stade Amahoro in Kigali. Although Rwanda dominated possession, Libya managed to seal the win with a decisive goal in the 84th minute.

Fahd Saad Mohamed, who had just entered the game four minutes earlier, made an immediate impact by scoring past goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, thanks to an assist from Nouradin Elgelaib.

However, Libya is not ready to give up just yet. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has announced that they plan to appeal the sanctions, hoping to reverse CAF’s decision.

They intend to pursue the matter to the highest levels of legal channels in a bid to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.

As Nigeria looks forward to making its 21st appearance in the continental tournament, its history in AFCON remains impressive. The Super Eagles made their debut in 1963 in Ghana, finishing sixth after a group-stage exit.

Since then, they have claimed the AFCON title three times—in Nigeria (1980), Tunisia (1994), and South Africa (2013).

Additionally, they have finished as runners-up five times and hold the record for the most bronze medals in AFCON history, having secured third place on eight occasions.

In their last outing at the tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria narrowly lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final despite taking an early lead, with William Troost-Ekong being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Looking ahead, Nigeria is determined to close out its qualifying campaign on a high note when they face Rwanda’s senior national team on Monday.

With only one game left, the Super Eagles are the sole team to have secured qualification from Group D. The battle for the second spot in the group remains wide open.

Furthermore, the Benin Republic, Libya, and Rwanda set to fight for a ticket to Morocco. As the final day of qualifiers approaches, fans can expect an intense showdown among these nations.

Besides Nigeria, several other nations have also booked their spots in the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Alongside hosts Morocco, countries such as Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda have all punched their tickets.

With these teams already qualified, the stage is set for another thrilling edition of Africa’s biggest football spectacle – 2025 AFCON!

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