Abdul Fatawu scored a 94th-minute volley to snatch a much-needed Championship victory for Leicester City against a dominant West Bromwich Albion on a tense night of fan protests at the King Power Stadium.
06 Jan 2026
A combination of freezing temperatures and the decision of some Foxes fans to boycott the match, in a public show of discontent at how owner Khun Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha has handled the club in recent years, meant there were swathes of empty seats at the 32,000-capacity ground.
Jordan Ayew gave the supporters who did show up an early reason to celebrate, linking up with Jordan James in the box to sweep home the opening goal from eight yards out.
Karlan Grant equalised for Albion before the break, racing into space on the counter-attack before picking out the bottom corner with a curling finish.
The visitors carved out numerous second-half chances - an Isaac Price effort deflected onto the post while Foxes keeper Jakub Stolarczyk made a string of fine saves after that – before Fatawu slammed home the winner against the run of play in the last minute of stoppage time.
Egypt are into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after two goals in extra time, including one from Mohamed Salah, saw the Pharaohs edge a tight last-16 tie against Benin.
06 Jan 2026
Clearcut chances were at a premium in Marrakesh, with Salah, who remains in the hunt for a first Afcon title with his country, largely a peripheral figure until his strike in the 124th minute.
After a goalless first half, Egypt midfielder Marwan Attia broke the deadlock with a fine hit from the edge of the penalty area which found the top corner with just over 20 minutes of normal time to play.
With Benin struggling to create, it looked like one goal would be enough, until Junior Olaitan's cross took a big deflection which goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy could only claw off his line and Jodel Dossou gobbled up the loose ball with seven minutes to go.
With both sides cancelling each other out in extra time, it was no surprise to see a set piece prove the difference, with Yasser Ibrahim's sinew-stretching effort from near the penalty spot looping past despairing Cheetahs goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.
Salah then added the gloss in the final minute, racing clear and using the outside of his left boot to curl exquisitely past Dandjinou from well outside the box.
The defeat means Benin will not replicate their 2019 run to the last eight, while Egypt's reward is a tie against either Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso, who meet on Tuesday, back in Agadir on Saturday (19:00 GMT).
Nigeria swept into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique in Fes.
06 Jan 2026
The Super Eagles were on top from the off, and talisman Victor Osimhen had an effort ruled out for offside within the first two minutes.
Their pressure eventually told in the 20th minute as Ademola Lookman curled home from Akor Adams' cutback to break the deadlock.
Five minutes later Osimhen doubled the advantage, turning in after Alex Iwobi's incisive play through midfield released Lookman and his ball across took a deflection off Adams.
Mozambique, making their first appearance in the knockout stage, struggled to contain Nigeria's relentless attack and offered little threat going forward.
Osimhen made it 3-0 early in the second half, tapping in from Lookman's clever ball across from the left at the back post to score his second of the night.
Adams then capped a fine individual display, firing in Nigeria's fourth in the 75th minute after more good work by Lookman.
Nigeria, who could have added more, now await Algeria or DR Congo in Saturday's quarter-final tie in Marrakech (16:00 GMT).
Gonzalo Garcia scored a brilliant hat-trick - his first La Liga goals - to help Real Madrid thrash Real Betis at the Bernabeu stadium.
05 Jan 2026
The 21-year-old forward, playing in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe, opened the scoring with a header after 20 minutes, and doubled the lead with a superb volley early in the second half.
Raul Asencio headed in from a corner to make it 3-0, but Betis pulled a goal back when Cucho Hernandez rounded Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois.
But after Betis had hit the woodwork and caused worries for the hosts, Garcia capped his successful afternoon with a sublime backheel from close range.
Fran Garcia added Madrid's fifth in stoppage time for a win that reduced the gap between second-placed Madrid and leaders Barcelona to four points while Betis stay in sixth place.
Madrid will not play in next weekend's round of La Liga matches because of their Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday, 8 January.
Enzo Fernandez scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Chelsea ended a tumultuous week by claiming a deserved Premier League point at title-chasing Manchester City.
05 Jan 2026
Calum McFarlane, usually Chelsea's under-21s coach, has taken charge of the first team on an interim basis following the departure of Enzo Maresca on Thursday.
His side frustrated City for large periods, even after going behind, before Argentine Fernandez poked in at the third attempt to rescue a draw.
The win looked to be heading to City following Tijjani Reijnders' first-half strike, but consecutive draws mean they have now fallen six points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea set up with a low block and it took until the 37th minute for the first shot on target when Erling Haaland's deflected shot looked to be looping over Filip Jorgensen, but the Chelsea goalkeeper recovered superbly to tip the ball wide.
A minute later the Norwegian striker cut inside and thumped an effort which rattled the post as City sensed a goal was coming their way.
It duly arrived just before half-time, as Reijnders picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and skipped past Benoit Badiashile before hammering a finish inside the near left post.
Chelsea started brightly in the second half and Pedro Neto should have equalised but scooped over from eight yards out, while substitute Liam Delap, formerly of City, smacked an effort into the chest of Gianluigi Donnarumma, before Fernandez's late leveller thrilled the travelling fans.