Côte d’Ivoire are out to finally do justice to their reputation when they take on Zambia in a compelling Africa Cup of Nations final.

A contender for the goal of the competition from Arsenal forward Gervinho against Mali on Wednesday put Côte d’Ivoire into the Afcon final.

And then there were four — Mali and Ghana have completed the semifinal line-up at the Africa Cup of Nations, after tense wins over Gabon and Tunisia.

Tunisia has taken the Maghreb derby honours, a 2-1 defeat of Morocco putting them alongside Gabon at the top of Group C in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The opening shots of the 2010/11 Champions League campaign are fired this week, with tricky assignment lying in wait for holders Inter Milan.

England take on Slovenia on Wednesday knowing they must raise their game or face crashing out of the World Cup at the group stages.

Sven Goran Eriksson heralded the newfound discipline shown by his Côte d’Ivoire side in their goalless draw with Portugal on Tuesday.

Didier Drogba appears to be winning his race against time to be fit to play in Tuesday’s Soccer World Cup opener against Portugal.

Defending champions Egypt have steamrollered their way into Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final where they must now overcome a youthful Ghana.

Egypt turned up for the Afcon with only one intention, to defend their status as African champions and they seem well on their way to doing just that.

Ghana face neighbours Nigeria in a charged west African derby on Thursday with the prize a ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Algeria and Ghana are one step away from the Africa Cup of Nations final after stunning favourites Côte d’Ivoire and hosts Angola respectively on Sunday.

Zambia derailed highrollers Gabon 2-1 here on Thursday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals for the first time in 14 years.

Egypt maintained their faultless Afcon title defence and Nigeria became the latest team to progress to the quarterfinals in Angola on Wednesday.

Ghana have escaped blushes by squeezing into the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

Angola and World Cup qualifiers Algeria joined holders Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Monday.

Day eight of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday dished up a five-goal thriller in Lubango and a potentially massive injury blow for Ghana.

Egypt extended their Africa Cup of Nations run to 14 games without defeat when securing their quarterfinal berth with a 2-0 win over Mozambique.

Angola registered their first win at the Africa Cup of Nations to edge towards the quarterfinals but Thursday’s victory over Malawi came at a price.

Gabon became the latest underdogs at the Africa Cup of Nations to punch above their weight when they beat continental giants Cameroon on Wednesday.