On 22 January, two RPL players made appearances for national teams at Africa Cup of Nations in Cote-d’Ivoire.

Group A
Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria

Pari NN forward Ze Turbo entered as substitute on 68th minute, but his team could not escape third defeat at the tournament. Nigeria scored winner through Opa Sangante own goal on 36th minute. The Guineans did not earn any points in the group finishing bottom. Ze Turbo appeared in all teams’ fixtures in Cote-d’Ivoire and scored against Equatorial Guinea.

Group B
Cape Verde 2-2 Egypt

Krasnodar midfielder Kevin Lenini made Cape Verde starting 11 again but he was replaced after 75 minutes having a yellow card. The Blue Sharks had the lead before half-time, conceded two goals from the Egyptians, coached by former Spartak Moscow manager Rui Vitoria, but equalized, when ninth added minute was on the clock.

Cape Verde won first place in the group in the previous round, and with seven points the Sharks moved to the playoffs. Egypt with Vitoria also clinched Round of 16 directly as second-placed team. Cape Verde fixture in first knockout stage is scheduled to play on 29 January against third-ranked team from group A, C or D.

Whom to follow on 23 January

At Asian Cup the third round of the group stage will affect groups B & C. In group B Uzbekistan alongside Rubin defender Rustam Ashurmatov and CSKA midfielder Abbos Fayzullaev will face group leaders Australia. Parallelly, Syria, who has CSKA youth team keeper Maksim Sarraf, will go against India. Later in group C Iran alongside Rostov midfielder Mohammad Mohebi will finish preliminary round meeting UAE.

At Africa Cup of Nations the group stage will continue with fixtures in groups C & D. Cameroon alongside Dynamo forward Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu will battle for playoffs spot against Gambia in group C. Later leaders of group D will clash, as Burkina-Faso alongside Akhmat striker Mohamed Konate will face Angola.

CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela will present first match of Brazil team, who brought CSKA defender Kellven and Lokomotiv defender Lucas Fasson. The Brazilians, put in group A, will start the competition with the match against Bolivia. In the same group Ecuador alongside Orenburg forward Justin Cuero will play second game, and their opponents are hosts from Venezuela.