Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the football fans!!! Football Festive Calendar delivered unrelenting drama across continents this week, from AFCON’s explosive group-stage clashes to the Premier League’s Boxing Day spectacles. Egypt and Algeria’s dominant performances, Aston Villa’s remarkable consistency, and India’s football governance crisis dominated headlines as 2025 approaches its conclusion with worldwide football reaching fever pitch.
🌍African Cup of Nations (AFCON)🌍
Salah’s late magic seals Egypt’s perfect start as Pharaohs top Group B
Egypt cruised to a perfect two-win start at AFCON 2025, dispatching Zimbabwe 2-1 before defeating South Africa 1-0 to secure pole position in Group B with maximum points. Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time winner against Zimbabwe and subsequent penalty conversion against South Africa showcased the Liverpool talisman’s decisive influence, with Omar Marmoush’s opening-match equalizer proving crucial. Egypt’s commanding performances underline their credentials as tournament favourites, with their attacking prowess and tactical discipline proving too much for their group rivals.
Hosts hold Mali to dramatic draw as AFCON pressure mounts
Morocco and Mali fought out a pulsating 1-1 draw in Rabat, with the hosts failing to capitalize on home advantage despite dominating large portions of the encounter. The fixture remained deadlocked after 90 minutes, highlighting Mali’s resolute defensive organization against the tournament hosts. Morocco’s failure to convert their dominance into victory places immediate pressure on their qualification prospects, with remaining fixtures proving crucial.
Mahrez’s Historic Brace Seals Desert Warriors’ Dominant AFCON Opener in Clinical Performance
Riyad Mahrez scored twice to become Algeria’s all-time AFCON leading scorer with eight goals, powering the Desert Warriors to a commanding 3-0 victory over Sudan at Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan. Mahrez opened the scoring after just two minutes from Hicham Boudaoui’s backheel assist before doubling his tally in the 60th minute following Mohamed Amoura’s sensational outside-of-the-foot pass. Ibrahim Maza sealed Algeria’s dominance with a late strike, with Sudan reduced to 10 men following Salah Adil’s red card for a second bookable offence, as Algeria dominated possession and chances.
Calila’s strike seals historic First AFCON victory for Mambas after 40-Year wait
Mozambique claimed a historic 3-2 victory over Gabon, securing their first-ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations after six previous tournament appearances spanning four decades of participation. Faizal Bangal’s 37th-minute header opened proceedings before Geny Catamo’s 42nd-minute penalty doubled Mozambique’s advantage, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 45th-minute response reducing the deficit before halftime. Diogo Calila’s 52nd-minute header sealed the memorable victory despite Moussounda’s 86th-minute late comeback goal, with Mozambique’s goalkeeper Ernan Siluane producing crucial saves to preserve the landmark triumph.
Lookman’s masterclass fires Super Eagles past Tunisia in a thrilling Group C battle
Nigeria secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tunisia in Fès, with Ademola Lookman’s dominant display earning Man of the Match honours after a pulsating encounter that showcased offensive firepower from both sides. Wilfred Ndidi’s opener and Lookman’s quickfire double gave Nigeria control before Tunisia’s penalty conversion and Montassar Talbi’s header mounted a second-half comeback. Victor Osimhen’s presence proved invaluable, with Nigeria’s resilience sealing a crucial win that places them top of Group C heading into final group matches.
🎄Premier League Festive Fixtures🎄
Dorgu’s stunning volley seals Boxing Day victory as United closes top-four gap
Patrick Dorgu’s spectacular opening goal volley proved decisive as Manchester United claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, moving back within three points of the top four. Dorgu’s first United goal showcased his quality as the makeshift right winger continues to impress despite unconventional positioning. United’s solid performance grounded out a clean sheet victory, essential for Amorim’s redemption after recent inconsistencies against lower-half opposition.
Watkins’ double seals Villa’s 11th consecutive victory in a stunning comeback at Stamford Bridge
Aston Villa completed a remarkable turnaround from 1-0 down to claim their 11th consecutive victory with a 2-1 success at Chelsea, with Ollie Watkins’ quickfire brace off the bench proving decisive. Chelsea’s first-half dominance proved futile as Reece James’ corner gave them the advantage, but Watkins’ introduction shifted the momentum decisively. Villa’s comeback victory, equalling their club record for consecutive wins, strengthened their title credentials and moved them within three points of Arsenal.
Cherki’s Masterclass ends Forest’s resistance as City claim sixth straight league victory
Rayan Cherki delivered a masterclass performance with a goal and assist to fire Manchester City to a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest, ending a 13-game drought from open play. Cherki’s sublime reverse pass found Tijjani Reijnders for City’s 48th-minute opener before Omari Hutchinson equalized through Igor Jesus’ assist. Cherki’s 83rd-minute first-time finish from Gvardiol’s set-piece knockdown proved decisive, securing City’s sixth consecutive league win while briefly moving them top of the table before Arsenal’s later victory.
Ødegaard’s first goal and Rutter’s own goal secure victory as Raya’s wonder-save proves decisive
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton, though they were made nervous by the visitors’ second-half comeback. Martin Ødegaard’s calm opening-minute finish from Saka’s assist gave Arsenal the advantage before Georginio Rutter’s near-post own goal from Declan Rice’s wicked corner doubled their lead. Diego Gómez’s 64th-minute rebound pulled Brighton back, but David Raya’s sensational full-stretch save denying Yankuba Minteh in the 76th minute ultimately preserved Arsenal’s position at the summit.
Wirtz’s maiden league goal seals victory as Liverpool move to fourth spot
Florian Wirtz’s first Premier League goal proved the winner as Liverpool edged rock-bottom Wolves 2-1 at Anfield, with Ryan Gravenberch’s opener setting the tone in a dominant first-half display. Wirtz’s poacher’s finish, arriving from his 21st Premier League shot, moved the German’s goal involvement to back-to-back games as Liverpool climbed temporarily fourth. Wolves’ continued resistance proved inconsequential, with the club maintaining their unwanted record as English football’s worst-ever Premier League start.
Schade’s Hat-Trick fires Brentford to emphatic victory in Festive feast
Kevin Schade’s sensational hat-trick powered Brentford to a commanding 4-1 demolition of Bournemouth at the Gtech Community Stadium, with the German winger’s three finishes showcasing his clinical prowess. Schade’s strikes, either side of Djordje Petrović’s own goal, gave Brentford complete control, with Antoine Semenyo’s consolation proving irrelevant to the hosts’ festive dominance. Brentford’s comprehensive victory ends 2025 in impressive form, signalling their ambitions for a sustained European spot pursuit.
Teenager Gray’s first senior goal ends 2025 on winning note for Frank’s struggling Spurs
Archie Gray’s maiden senior goal proved decisive as Tottenham edged Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park, providing relief for Thomas Frank’s under-pressure side with their second win in nine matches. Gray’s 42nd-minute close-range header from Richarlison’s flick-on capitalized on Palace’s defensive lapse at a corner, with the Portuguese winger twice wrongly flagged for offside in frustrating circumstances. Palace squandered multiple clear-cut chances through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Justin Devenny’s poor finishing, ending 2025 with three consecutive league defeats despite controlling large portions of the contest.
🇮🇹Serie A🇮🇹
Nkunku’s brace seal dominant victory as Rossoneri end 2025 trailing Inter at the top
AC Milan concluded their 2025 calendar year in emphatic fashion with a commanding 3-0 demolition of Hellas Verona at San Siro, with Christian Pulisic’s strike and Christopher Nkunku’s penalty-plus-follow-up brace proving decisive. Pulisic’s stoppage-time first-half opener set Milan’s rhythm before Nkunku’s clinical conversions within four second-half minutes sealed the victory, with the Frenchman ending a 306-day scoring drought since February 2025. Milan’s unbeaten streak extended to 15 consecutive matches while trailing just behind Inter heading into 2026.
Sørensen’s Header secures crucial victory in relegation battle as Viola goes winless again
Parma claimed an invaluable three points in their relegation battle with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, with Oliver Sørensen’s 48th-minute header from Mateo Pellegrino’s assist proving decisive. Fiorentina dominated possession despite creating minimal clear-cut opportunities, with Moise Kean’s tame efforts proving insufficient against a resolute Parma defence. The victory moved Parma clear of the drop zone heading into 2026, while Fiorentina’s poor form continues with only 1 victory in 17 league matches, leaving them battling serious relegation concerns.
Kalulu and Yildiz strike in second half as Juventus end 2025 on winning note
Juventus overcame a stubborn Pisa side with a clinical second-half performance, securing a 2-0 victory at the Arena Garibaldi to conclude their 2025 campaign with three points. Pierre Kalulu’s 52nd-minute breakthrough from a rebound after Openda’s saved effort broke the deadlock, with Juventus capitalizing on Pisa’s vulnerability in transition. Kenan Yildiz sealed the victory in injury time following David Miretti’s excellent penalty-box play, moving Juventus to fourth place as they prepare for 2026.
Hojlund’s brace moves Conte’s side closer to top as Inter maintains pressure atop table
Rasmus Hojlund’s clinical double powered Napoli to a commanding 2-0 away victory over Cremonese, moving the Partenopei level just behind AC Milan after a tight race. Hojlund’s 13th-minute opener from a goalmouth scramble and his composed 42nd-minute finish either side of halftime proved decisive against struggling Cremonese, with the Danish striker reaching six Serie A goals in 12 appearances. Napoli’s third consecutive clean sheet showcased their defensive solidity, while Hojlund’s prolific form, already two goals more than his entire Manchester United Premier League tally, underlines his transformative impact at the San Paolo.
Martínez’s Second-Half breakthrough seals Inter’s eighth consecutive victory in tight contest
Lautaro Martínez’s second-half strike proved the difference as Inter secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atalanta at the New Balance Arena, extending their winning streak to eight consecutive matches across competitions. The closely contested encounter remained goalless throughout the first half before Martínez’s decisive intervention after halftime broke the deadlock, with Inter demonstrating their resilience against top opposition. The victory moved Inter above Milan heading into 2026 as league leaders.
🇮🇳Indian Football🇮🇳
City Football Group Pulls Out of Mumbai City FC Amid ISL Uncertainty Following MRA Expiry
City Football Group announced its complete divestment from Mumbai City FC after six years of ownership, returning full control to the founding owners following a comprehensive commercial review amid ISL’s future uncertainty. CFG acquired the 65 per cent stake in 2019, helping Mumbai City FC win four major titles, including two League Winners’ Shields and two ISL Cups during their association. The exit reflects CFG’s disciplined approach following FSDL’s July announcement, keeping the league on hold due to unclear Master Rights Agreement renewal, leaving Indian football’s top tier in significant chaos heading into 2026. For more details, check out our article on City Football Group’s Exit.
AIFF proposes two ISL 2025-26 formats: Conference-Based Double-leg model vs Single-leg Swiss format amid Budget ambiguity
The All India Football Federation presented two competing short-term proposals for ISL 2025-26 following a December 20 AGM, with the first dividing 14 teams into East and West conferences playing double-leg matches within groups at two centralised venues, producing 42 matches per conference before top-four single-leg playoffs and bottom-three relegation battles. The second proposal offers a simplified Swiss-format single-leg system where all 14 teams play randomized home-and-away matches, with 91 total games and no playoffs, determining champions purely by final league position.
Clubs criticised both proposals for lacking critical budgetary frameworks, broadcast roadmaps, and commercial operational clarity, with club officials demanding cost specifications before commitment, expressing concerns about centralised venue accommodation expenses, and questioning financial responsibility distribution between AIFF and participating teams ahead of final stakeholder meetings on December 29.
📌Transfer Corner📌
- Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has chosen Manchester City as his preferred destination for the coming winter transfer window after relentless pursuit from the Mancunians.
- City Academy Graduate Oscar Bobb is seeking a loan move amid the Semenyo transfer saga. Borussia Dortmund has emerged as a potential suitor. Another City youngster, Claudio Echeverri, whose loan with Bayer Leverkusen will be terminated in favour of a temporary switch to Girona.
- Clubs from the Saudi Pro League are looking to sign Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton in the January transfer window.
- Manchester United have made contact with RB Leipzig’s hotly sought-after forward Yan Diomande.
- Manchester United is also interested in signing Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal for £18-20m, but his huge weekly salary is a concern. They are also interested in Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for around €30m (£26.2m), with Manchester United preferring a loan deal.
- Kobbie Mainoo looks set to leave United in search of game time & Napoli remain favourites to sign him.
- Q. Timber, the brother of Jurrien Timber, is set to leave Feyenoord as his contract is expiring this summer.
- Martinelli is desperate to leave Arsenal in order to gain match fitness for the World Cup & is willing to join Fenerbahçe on loan.
- Sancho is in talks with Turkish Super giants Galatsaray, Besiktas, & Fenerbahçe to join them on loan.
- Wolves are looking to sign Kalvin Phillips in this winter window.
- Ben White is allowed to look at other clubs as the English Centerback is looking for game time ahead of the World Cup.
- Federico Chiesa is free to leave Liverpool this winter window.
- Niklas Fulkrug is finally set to end his horrid spell at West Ham & as rumours are reported that Ac Milan looks set to sign the German this window
