Evan Guessand thrived in the 2024/25 campaign during which he netted 12 goals, helping Nice finish fourth in Ligue 1.

In 2024, football's uncertainty reached a height it hasn't scaled in many years.

Atalanta and Nigeria striker Ademola Lookman, who finished 14th in the Ballon d'Or rankings, is the favourite to pick up the award.

Substitute forward Kelechi Iheanacho and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali played key roles as Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties on Wednesday in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final thriller.

Oumar Diakite was the hero as hosts Ivory Coast staged another remarkable salvage operation on Saturday to reach the Africa cup of Nations semi-finals, and South Africa later joined them

The Ivory Coast crushed an abject Algeria 4-1 on Thursday with Nicolas Pepe among the scorers as the reigning champions crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the group stage.

In his final campaign with Manchester City, Yaya Toure's relationship with Pep Guardiola deteriorated and he made only one Premier League start.

Yaya Toure, who plays for Manchester City in the Premier League, made his international debut for Ivory Coast in 2004

Manchester United said the Eric Bailly's move to Old Trafford is contingent on him obtaining a work permit

Throughout the conflict years The Elephants were held up a symbol of unity - but the team's failure to achieve glory, gave the country little cause for celebration.

Ivory Coast's coach Herve Renard became the first coach to win two Afcon titles with different countries, after guiding Zambia to glory in 2012

Skipper Yaya Toure credited part of their success to Renard, saying he pushed the team, including threatening to bench him if he did not work

Shorn of the great Didier Drogba after his retirement from international football last year, the Ivorians are now looking more than ever to Yaya Toure for inspiration as they prepare for Tuesday's Cup of Nations opener against Guinea in Malabo.

Ivory Coast will look to avenge their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations defeat where Zambia won on penalties. The match will be played on Saturday.

Georgios Samaras was adjudged to have been brought down by substitute Giovanni Sio and he calmly slotted in the spot kick for the win that puts Greece through to the knockout stage. Ivory Coast would have advanced with a draw.

England-based brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure remained with the team for the match in Fortaleza despite the death of their brother Ibrahim last week, while major floods in the west African country have added pressure for some good news in Brazil.