Michael

Juventus

Cape Verde have been a decent side for a while, but Mozambique have really surprised with their performances against Egypt and Ghana.

R.I.P.

Qatar managed to beat China 1-0 in their match today, this is despite Qatar fielding their reserve side. Qatar had already qualified having won both their first two matches in the group. However, even their reserves managed to defeat a China side that needed to win today to ensure qualification. Qatar's goal was scored by their striker Hassan Al-Haydos. Qatar finish top of the group with a 100% record, as they won all 3 group games and they advance to the next round. Qatar 1-0 China Tajikistan defeated Lebanon 2-1 to seal their qualification to the next round. Lebanon took the lead early in the 2nd half thanks to a goal by Bassel Jradi. But Lebanon then had Al-Zein sent off. Tajikistan who had 2 goals disallowed after VAR was reviewed, managed to equalise through Umarbayev in the 80th minute. Then in injury time, Khamrokulov scored the decisive winner. The win see's Tajikistan finish 2nd in the group behind Qatar and qualify for the next round. Tajikistan 2-1 Lebanon

Equatorial Guinea destroying the hosts Ivory Coast 4-0, has to be the shock of the tournament so far. Equatorial Guinea ended up top of the group, ahead of even Nigeria on goal difference. Nigeria also managed to win 1-0 in their match against Guinea-Bissau, thanks to an own goal. Ivory Coast 0-4 Equatorial Guinea Nigeria 1-0 Guinea-Bissau

Dovbyk is now the leading scorer in the La Liga and he is also has the 3rd most assists in the La Liga. Not bad for a player who is new to the league and who has missed some matches this season. Dovbyk has really excelled this season and is living up to his potential as this clinical all round centre forward.

Girona continued their impressive form by thrashing Seville 5-1 and move back into 1st place in the La Liga standings ahead of Real Madrid. Girona's star player Dovbyk scored an impressive hattrick to inspire the win, while his Ukrainian compatriot Tsyhankov also scored for Girona. Seville took an early lead when Isaac Romero slotted the ball into the net after a cross was cut back for him in the penalty area. But it wouldn't take long for Girona and their talisman Dovbyk to equalise. Less than 3 minutes after Seville scored, Dovbyk scored with a towering header from a cross, that beat the Seville keeper Dimitrov to equalise for Girona. Only 2 minutes later, Dovbyk scored his 2nd goal to give Girona the lead. Dovbyk shot home a low cross in the area past Dimitrov to score his and Seville's 2nd goal of the match. Dovbyk completed his hattrick just 4 minutes later, as he superbly controlled a long ball punted up-field, Dovbyk then went on a run, beat the Seville defender and then unleashed a rocket of a shot from outside the area past the Seville keeper to complete his hattrick! It was a superbly executed goal by the Ukrainian forward. Dovbyk scored a hattrick in the space of 7 minutes, which just goes to show how important he is for Girona. Tsyhankov, Dovbyk's Ukrainian team-mate at Girona would score their sides 4th goal in the 2nd half. Tsyhankov met a low cross on the run in the penalty area and he shot it past Dimitrov and into the net. In the dying moments of the match, the veteran Uruguayan Stuani, who'd come on as a substitute, would score Girona's 5th goal, as he scored from close range, after a cross was pulled back for him. In the end it was a very convincing win for Girona, as they once again lead the La Liga table.

In the most recent matches played Oman drew with Thailand 0-0. Despite dominating the match with 70% possession and creating many chances, the Oman national team didn't manage to put the ball into the back of the net. The draw means Thailand move into 2nd place in the group after they defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in their opening match. Oman will now need to beat Kyrgyzstan in their final match and preferably score a few goals as well in the process. Oman 0-0 Thailand In the other match of the day, Saudi Arabia beat Kyrgyzstan 2-0. Saudi Arabia took the lead in the 35th minute after a long range thunderbolt of a shot by Abdulellah Al-Malki crashed against the inside of the Kyrgyzstan post, the rebound fell to Saud Abdulhamid who crossed the ball for Mohamed Kanno to emphatically volley the ball into the net in style. 22 year old midfielder Faisal Al-Ghamdi scored Saudi Arabia's 2nd goal, when his powerful shot from outside the area found the back of the net, as his shot couldn't be stopped by the Kyrgyz keeper Tokotayev, despite him getting his fists to the ball. This win was Saudi Arabia's 2nd win in a row, meaning they now go top of the group with 6 points and have sealed their place in the Round of 16, with a group game in hand to play. One would imagine that they will rest quite a lot of their key players for their final group game against Thailand, seeing as Saudi Arabia have already qualified from the group. Saudi Arabia 2-0 Kyrgyzstan

Morocco could only manage to draw with Congo 1-1. Achraf Hakimi gave Morocco an early lead in the 6th minute, as he volleyed a cross from a corner into the back of the net. However Congo managed to equalise, when Stuttgart's Silas calmly slotted a low cross home, after he found himself some space in the penalty area. Morocco 1-1 Congo Zambia and Tanzania also drew 1-1, as Msuva gave Tanzania an early lead in the 11th minute, only for Zambia to equalise very late in the 88th minute of the match through Patson Daka. But this draw, means that Morocco and Congo still remain ahead of Zambia and Tanzania in the group/ Zambia 1-1 Tanzania In the other match of the day, South Africa thrashed their neighbours Namibia 4-0. Tau gave the South Africans an early lead through a goal from a penalty in the 14th minute. Then two very well taken goals by Zwane and then a 4th goal by Maseko completed the scoring. After getting a shock win in their opening match against Tunisia, Namibia were brought back down to earth by the South Africans in this match, as they were really outclassed. South Africa 4-0 Namibia

Algeria equalised against Burkina Faso deep into injury time. Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso

In the last match of the day, Bahrain defeated Malaysia 1-0 thanks to a goal by Ali Madan. Bahrain 1-0 Malaysia

There is an incredible 11 minutes of injury time in the South Korea v Jordan match and South Korea equalise in the 1st minute of injury time through an own goal. The South Koreans will be relieved to get the equaliser, while the Jordanians will be gutted that they couldn't hold on to their lead. There is still an extra 10 minutes of injury time to be played for either of these sides to find the winner. South Korea 2-2 Jordan

They've played well, but I wouldn't necessarily say that they have been the best team so far. With all due respect, they have beaten Lebanon and Tajikistan in their first 2 matches, who are both decent sides, but as good as the better teams in Asia. I think it's pretty open as to will win it. Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Uzbekistan and Jordan all have the potential to win it. It all depends on how they turn up on the matchday. But these sides are all closely matched and have played some good football in this competition.

Yes, I know that, it's quite obvious. Back in 2019 he was playing in the weak Cypriot league, now he is actually shinning in the French League, one of the top 5 best leagues in Europe. He is a real talent and it will be interesting to see how far this Jordanian team can go, as they've played very well so far in this competition.

Jordan have a surprise lead over South Korea at half-time. South Korea took an early lead through a Son penalty, but then an own goal and a goal by Al-Naimat has given Jordan a 2-1 lead at the break. Jordan were very impressive in their first match against Malaysia where they trounced then 4-0 and now they are continuing their good form by leading against the Koreans. Jordan 2-1 South Korea

"it"???? lol Yeah, he looks a very talented player and he is clearly the key player for his national team.

Senegal have a very strong team and they have looked good. But to be fair, I think they've been given a relatively easy group. Gambia are a weak side, Cameroon have been very disappointing and have not played well. Cameroon played more than 45 minutes with a man advantage against Guinea, after Guinea had a man sent off. But Cameroon couldn't even get a win against 10 man Guinea, as they could only draw 1-1. Guinea have been the 2nd best team in the group and they will be Senegal's next opponents. However, Guinea have played all their matches so far without their star striker Serhou Guirassy who has been injured. Guirassy though could very well play some minutes against Senegal when Guinea play them in their final group match.

In the last match of the day, Guinea beat Gambia 1-0 thanks to a goal by Camara. Guinea move to 2nd place in the group with this win, behind group leaders Senegal. Guinea 1-0 Gambia

I doubt that will happen, as Japan are very likely to beat Indonesia in their last match. Even if Japan draw against the Indonesians, it would be enough to see Japan qualify and advance from the group. In reality though, Japan should beat Indonesia comfortably, given that Japan are by far the stronger team. If Japan win or even draw in their last match, they will finish 2nd in the group, meaning their next match in the Round of 16 will be on the 31st of January. They will probably play their neighbours and the other powerhouses in East Asia South Korea. As that potential match is like a 50/50 as to who wins, it could very well be Japan who lose. But yeah, realistically, the earliest you'll get Endo back is for your matches in February.

In the last match of the day, Iran defeated Hong Kong 1-0 thanks to a well executed and accurate goal by Mehdi Ghayedi. After a comfortable win in their opening match against Palestine, Iran were made to work hard for the narrow win today, as Hong Kong surprisingly created several dangerous chances to score. But Iran were deserved winners in the end and they move top of the group. Iran 1-0 Hong Kong

Pina scores Cape Verde's 3rd goal as they surely seal the win against Mozambique. Cape Verde 3-0 Mozambique

Ryan Mendes scores Cape Verde's 2nd goal, as he tackled the the Mozambique defender and forced the mistake from him before slotting the ball home past the keeper and into the net. Cape Verde look like they will win their 2nd AFCON match in a row here, after beating Ghana 2-1 in their opening match of the competition. Cape Verde have to be the most overachieving side in Africa, their national team always looks a threat in the AFCON Cup, well certainly in recent years. Not bad for a country with a population of around only half a million people. Cape Verde 2-0 Mozambique

Japan pull a goal back from a header by their Liverpool player Wataru Endo deep into injury time. The Iraqi keeper Hasan blundered by coming out for a cross from a corner but completely missed it and Endo was on hand to head the ball into the back of the net. Iraq 2-1 Japan

Muhannad Ali Al-Shammari creates a chance all by winning a header and then pulling off a shot at goal that goes narrowly wide of the far post. Big chance that and it could have been Iraq's 3rd goal. Iraq have played very well today, they've worked excellently as a team. Iraq 2-0 Japan

Harry Kane is clearly needing more company in Munich, as another of his English mates who used to play for Spurs could be joining him. It would be amusing having that English contingent in Munich. With Kane banging in the goals and the other two as back-up players.