TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 2 - 4 JANUARY 2026

GRAND ENTERTAINMENT AND THREE CASH-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS

It’s the first weekend of 2026 and TAB soccer customers are in for a treat, both in terms of entertainment and chances to land a big win. There’s a full round of English Premier League matches this Saturday and Sunday, and closer to home the Africa Cup of Nations is gathering momentum with South Africa through to the last 16 in which they face a tough encounter against Cameroon on Sunday evening. TAB is celebrating the New Year with cash add-ins to three Soccer 10 pools totalling R450,000 Friday through Sunday and a R150,000 carryover Any 13 Xtra. Plus there’s a guaranteed R18-million jackpot in the event of a single outright winner of Sunday’s Soccer 13.

ARSENAL ON TOP OF THE WORLD HEADING INTO 2026

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side are riding the crest of a wave into 2026 after demolishing Aston Villa 4-1 on Tuesday night and moving a step closer to that elusive English Premier League title, which they have not won since going unbeaten in the 2003-04 season.

Everything seems to be going right for the Arsenal manager, who saw two key players recently returned from injury - Brazilian pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus - make the difference and guide his side to an important win.

And that victory became even sweeter on New Year’s Day when second-placed Manchester City were held to a goalless draw in an away clash with Sunderland. Arsenal are now four points ahead of City with Villa two points further back in third after their surge up the table was rather brutally halted at the Emirates.

This is the time of year in the English campaign, however, when there is little time for reflection. The fixtures come thick and fast and Arsenal now turn their focus to Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth and the need to keep their momentum going.

On paper, it would seem a winnable clash, but the Cherries are not to be underestimated as was demonstrated on Tuesday night away at Chelsea, where they twice came from behind to share the spoils in what proved the home side’s last game under Italian manager Enzo Maresca.

For Bournemouth, however, it might be their last game with Ghanaian international striker Antoine Semenyo, who seems likely to move to Manchester City in a 65-million Pound deal after the weekend. Semenyo was a major influence in the Chelsea game as he contributed to both Bournemouth goals, as well as conceding a penalty.

City’s six-match EPL winning streak came to a halt against newly promoted Sunderland, but they will want to regain the winning thread at home to Chelsea in the late game on Sunday. Acquiring Semenyo, who has scored 11 goals in 16 games this season, will be a big plus for City and give their attack on the right flank a huge boost, as well as lessening their dependence on Erling Haaland. It’s also likely to see City try and offload Savinho and Oscar Bobb during the January transfer window.

LIVERPOOL MUST DO WITHOUT TWO BIG NAMES

Sunday will also see reigning champions Liverpool try and regain winning form in a London clash with Fulham after a disappointing draw at home to Leeds on New Year’s Day. They will be without Alexander Izak, who has undergone surgery and will be out for months, and Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt should have little problem in their last-16 tie on Monday against Benin. There is another banker bet on Sunday, when hosts Morocco take on Tanzania.

Competitive clashes to look forward include Mali against Tunisia on Saturday and Algeria against DR Congo on Tuesday.

Algeria are a good bet for tournament success, while Mali were a strong outsider before the tournament kicked off but they have not impressed with three draws in the first round. Bafana Bafana are also in the last 16 and, like two years ago at the last Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, did not impress in the group phase. But it must be remembered that they were then able to go on and reach the semi-finals, so let’s hope they can put Cameroon to the sword on Sunday night.