Bayern Munich kembali mendapat pukulan telak akibat cedera setelah kabar bahwa Alphonso Davies harus absen lagi. Pelatih kepala Vincent Kompany mengonfirmasi kabar tersebut dalam konferensi pers prapertandingan menjelang laga tandang Bundesliga melawan Wolfsburg.
Impian Bayern Munich di kancah Eropa berakhir dengan kekecewaan setelah mereka dikalahkan telak oleh Paris Saint-Germain dalam dua leg semifinal Liga Champions. Meskipun tim asal Bavaria ini mendominasi kompetisi domestik, kekalahan tersebut memicu kritik tajam terhadap pendekatan taktis dan pemilihan pemain yang dilakukan Vincent Kompany di panggung tertinggi.
Legenda Liga Premier Nicky Butt telah memperingatkan Arsenal bahwa Paris Saint-Germain akan hampir mustahil dikalahkan saat kedua tim bertemu di final Liga Champions akhir bulan ini. Butt berpendapat bahwa Mikel Arteta harus mempertimbangkan untuk mencoret striker Viktor Gyokeres dan menggantinya dengan pemain yang lebih cepat guna memanfaatkan kelemahan pertahanan juara Prancis tersebut melalui serangan balik.
Lothar Matthäus mendesak Vincent Kompany untuk tetap berpegang pada filosofi permainannya yang menyerang, meskipun Bayern Munich tersingkir dari Liga Champions oleh Paris Saint-Germain. Legenda sepak bola Jerman itu meyakini bahwa gaya permainan Bayern yang menghibur tidak boleh diubah, meskipun kelemahan pertahanan mereka terungkap akibat kekalahan agregat 6-5 di babak semifinal.
Pelatih kepala Paris Saint-Germain, Luis Enrique, secara mengejutkan tidak hadir dalam perayaan ulang tahunnya yang ke-56, meskipun ia sendiri yang menyelenggarakan jamuan makan malam mewah untuk para pemainnya di sebuah restoran mewah di Paris. Pelatih asal Spanyol itu memilih untuk menghilang tanpa kabar dari para pemainnya hanya 24 jam setelah membawa raksasa Ligue 1 itu ke final Liga Champions untuk kedua kalinya secara berturut-turut.
Egypt are the team who have won the most AFCON titles in history, with seven to their name. It was in 1957, the inaugural edition of AFCON, where Egypt attained glory. They would go on to add three more trophies before the turn of the century (1957, 1986, 1998), before completing a threepeat in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
How many teams are in the AFCON?
The first-ever AFCON featured just three teams. Between 1968 and 1990, eight teams featured in the tournament. An expansion in 1992 saw 12 teams feature in AFCON, and 16 from 1998. The latest expansion in 2019, though, sees 24 teams fight for glory.
Who has made the most AFCON appearances ever?
Cameroon legend Rigobert Song set the record of most AFCON appearances in 2010, playing in his 36th game in the tournament. That record was equalled by Ghanaian icon Andre Ayew in 2024.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the AFCON?
Cameroon icon Samuel Eto'o leads the all-time goalscoring charts with an impressive 18 goals over the course of 29 matches during six different tournaments.
Who is the oldest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?
Egypt's Essam El Hadary is the oldest player ever to play in AFCON at the age of 44 years and 21 days. He achieved this feat in 2017 during Egypt's 2-1 loss to Cameroon.
Who is the youngest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?
Former Ghana defender Joseph Odoi made his AFCON debut in 1984 at the age of 15 years and 164 days, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the African Cup of Nations.
Which famous players have played in the AFCON?
Samuel Eto'o, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sadio Mane, Roger Milla, Ahmed Hassan, George Weah, etc, are some of the biggest names to have featured in the African Cup of Nations.
Which famous managers have managed in the AFCON?
Charles Gyamfi, Hassan Shehata, Herve Renard, and Avram Grant are some of the most famous coaches to have led their respective teams at AFCON.