It was a bout between Lions and Eagles at the Samuel Ahidjo Stadium, Cameroon at the final of the African Nations Championship.

Morocco, playing to defend their title against Mali were held for over an hour by the West Africans before scoring the much deserved opening goal.

The Malians proved their mettle and showed why they came so far with good attacking football, and sometimes resolute defending. The last laugh, however went to the North Africans who have now won their second successive CHAN title.

Two headers headers by Abdelmouna Boutouil and skipper of the side, Ayoub El Kaabi made all the difference for the Atlas Lions.

With the victory, the North Africans became the first team from Africa to win a second successive title in the tournament played by home-based players only.

Four years ago in Casablanca, the Moroccans thrashed Nigeria’s Super Eagles 4-0 to emerge champions but met a stronger opposition in Mali on a night of glamour in Yaounde.

Mali stood toe-to-toe with their more illustrious opponents but could not muster a goal from their impressive spells in the game.

“First of all I will congratulate Mali and coach Diane Nouhoum for their run in the competition. Reacjing the final is a feat. For us, we came here with a changed team by 65% and a new staff. So it was about writing our own story and winning for ourselves,’ Morocco’s coach Houcine Ammouta said after their victory.

Mali’s coach, Nouhoum congratulated the Moroccans and said they are the best team on the continent.

Mo Salah’s solitary goal failed to lift champions Liverpool over visiting Manchester City who went on a rampage in the second half to secure a 4-1 victory at Anfield on Sunday evening.

The Phil Foden-inspired visitors headed to their first win at Anfield since 2003, pushing them five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.

Ilkay Gundogan scored twice after an earlier penalty miss, Raheem Sterling notched a header and the excellent Foden netted a sensational late goal crushed Liverpool’s title defence hopes.

Liverpool – who also lost at Brighton in midweek – stay fourth and are now 10 points off the top after back-to-back defeats and another hammer blow to their title defence.

Speaking after the encounter, Manchester City midfielder Foden, said: “When you beat the champions your confidence is sky high. So it can help us a lot.

“It’s brilliant, every player wants to play in big games like this and we showed that courage from minute one. They made it so difficult for us but we showed our courage to play our football and keep going, and in the end it paid off.”

A disappointed Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, said the team got punished for their mistakes. He said, “Very disappointed with the result of course. I don’t think the end result reflected the performance to be honest but we made mistakes and got punished.

“We competed well, this was more like the performance we are used to but like I say mistakes at the wrong moments cost us.

“It is hard to take now but in football you have to move on quickly. We don’t look at the league table, just concentrate on the next game and try and win every game we can whether you are on top or fourth or fifth.”

Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman have announced the signing of Jamaica defender Alvas Elvis Powell and Senegalese forward Ibrahima Mame N’Diaye.

Powell, 26, who joined from David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami sign a contract until the end of the season, with an option for a one-year extension.

Powell spent most of Inter Miami’s inaugural Major League Soccer season as an unused substitute, playing just four matches in total and only starting two of those.

The Jamaican previously played for Cincinnati FC where he spent the 2019 season. He also played for the Portland Timbers for six years.

Powell was a key member of the Portland Timbers squad that won the 2015 MLS Cup. He made 31 regular season appearances and six playoff appearances en route to the title, starting in each one.

He also has 49 caps for Jamaica including playing at two Gold Cups and two Caribbean Cups, which he won in 2014.

N’Diaye, 26, joined from Serbian side FK Čukarički. The forward played for ASC Linguère in Senegal before Serbian club, Napredak Kruševac, in 2012.

In 2017, N’Diaye joined Danish club Randers on a five-month contract, making seven competitive appearances for the side and scoring one goal in the Danish Cup.

In 2018, N’Diaye returned to Serbia and his former club Napredak Kruševac.

The deal for the players was reportedly organised and financially backed by Al Hilal’s honorary president Turki Al Sheikkh, a wealthy businessman who is also the chairman of Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority and former owner of Egyptian club Pyramids.