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2021 CHAN: It’s hosts Cameroon vs holders Morocco, Mali vs Guinea for places in the final

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Hosts Cameroon will face a tough hurdle against defending champions Morocco when they lock horns in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), semifinal on Wednesday at Limbe Omnisport Stadium.

Cameroon brushed aside two-time champions DR Congo 2-1 in the quarter-final, while Morocco humbled Zambia 3-1.

However, this semifinal presents yet another anticipated thriller as Morocco Coach, Houcine Ammouta, has made it clear that the Atlas Lions are well prepared for the semi-final clash.

“We are a good team ready to play good football and win. I know it will be a tough game because we are playing against the hosts who also have a good team,” he said.

Ammouta added that although most of his players are new to the team, he is impressed with their work rate and hunger to play good offensive football.

“This tournament is also helping us build the team,” he noted.

The Atlas Lions will hope that their leading striker at the tournament with three goals, Soufiane Rahimi, together with skipper, Ayoub El Kaabi, will find their scoring boots in this crucial match.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions will be led by Salomon Charles Banga, Yannick N’Djeng and Felix Oukine Tcheoude to get the goals, hoping to sink the defending champions.

In the group stage Cameroon beat Zimbabwe 1-0 before they settled for a 1-1 draw against Mali and went on to draw goalless against Burkina Faso.

Morocco who netted six goals in the group stage beat Togo 1-0 before they settled for a goalless draw against Rwanda, and humbled Uganda 5-2.

This is the first time Cameroon will appear in CHAN semi-final. They will also face Morocco for the very first time in the competition.

In the other semifinals, Mali  and Guinea will meet in a neighbors’ derby with one ticket to the final

West African neighbors Mali and Guinea lock horns in an exciting derby on Wednesday at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.

Reaching CHAN 2020 semi-finals is surely no accident for either Mali if Guinea. Before the start of the tournament, the Eagles were among the favorite teams for the title, while the Syli National were considered serious underdogs.

Both teams reach the semifinals for the second time in their CHAN history, and ironically the first time for both sides was in Rwanda 2016.

Mali reached the final and finished second, while Guinea lost in the semis to eventual champions that year, DR Congo.

The pressure will be a little more felt on the Malian shoulders. The Eagles did not hide it from Day 1 that they are in Cameroon to play for the title.

“We want to play the final at all costs. We will do everything to be able to get there,” Mali coach Nouhoum Diane said.

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Transfer: Gabriel Jesus Could Leave Arsenal as Napoli Show Interest

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Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus could leave the club this summer, with Italian side Napoli reportedly interested in signing the Brazilian forward.

According to Sky Italia, Napoli’s new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is a long-term admirer of Jesus and is keen to explore the possibility of bringing him to Serie A.

Jesus and Allegri share the same agent, Giovanni Branchini, who was reportedly spotted at Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro on Friday.

A meeting could reportedly take place to discuss a potential move for the Arsenal forward.

Napoli’s interest could depend on their ability to offload one of their existing strikers. The club would reportedly need to find new destinations for Lorenzo Lucca, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, or Romelu Lukaku before making a move for Jesus.

Arsenal are reportedly willing to consider offers of around £18 million for the 29-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract with the Gunners.

Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and could now be heading for a new challenge in Italy if Napoli’s interest develops into a formal transfer.

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Transfer: Liverpool Agree Loan Deal for Barcelona Defender Araujo

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Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Uruguay international Ronald Araujo on loan.

According to Sky Sports, the deal could be completed this weekend, with the 27-year-old defender set to move to Anfield on a straight loan arrangement.

Araujo renewed his Barcelona contract last year, extending his stay at the Catalan club until 2031.

However, the defender endured a difficult campaign last season and was subsequently granted an extended leave of absence from the team.

The proposed move to Liverpool would give Araujo an opportunity to revive his career in a new league and country.

The Uruguay international joined Barcelona from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018 before making his first-team breakthrough a year later.

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LaLiga: Mourinho Introduces Four New Rules at Real Madrid

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Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly introduced a series of new rules at the club after identifying what he considered bad habits within the dressing room.

Mourinho returned to the Spanish giants for a second spell this summer and has already begun implementing changes to improve discipline and professionalism within the squad, according to AS.

One of the new measures concerns players’ diets. The Portuguese manager has reportedly ended the freedom for players to eat whatever they choose, with the club’s nutritionist now responsible for overseeing their meals.

Under the new system, menus will be carefully structured and determined according to the nutritional needs of the players.

Mourinho has also introduced a disciplinary measure for players who arrive late to training. Such players will reportedly be required to undergo individual gym sessions.

Another rule concerns injury rehabilitation. Players recovering from injuries will now be expected to complete their rehabilitation at the club’s training ground under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical and fitness staff rather than working independently with external personnel.

The changes are part of Mourinho’s reported efforts to establish greater discipline and control within the Real Madrid squad following his return to the club.

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