Cairo (AFP) – Madagascar will become the first Africa Cup of Nations debutants in 23 years to reach the semi-finals if they defeat Tunisia in a last-eight match in Cairo Thursday. The last team to achieve the feat, South Africa, went on to win the 1996 tournament by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final in […]

London (AFP) – FIFA promised to enhance child safeguarding standards across its 211 member associations as world football's governing body launched a new programme on Wednesday. The FIFA Guardians toolkit has been put together after consultation with experts in the field from UNICEF and the Council of Europe, as well as campaigners who themselves were […]

Cairo (AFP) – Madagascar coach Nicolas Dupuis wants the Indian Ocean islanders to "keep dreaming together" as the surprise team of this Africa Cup of Nations face Tunisia on Thursday for a spot in the semi-finals. Competition debutants Madagascar, who were ranked so low they had to come through a preliminary round just to take […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's Gerard Pique will be forced to pay 2.1 million euros ($2.36 million) to Spain's tax authorities after his conviction for rights-image fraud was confirmed, a legal source told AFP on Wednesday. According to a May 13 decision the country's National Court rejected Pique's appeal against the 2016 sentence which required the […]

Cotonou (AFP) – The sound of drum beats, hand claps and women singing fills the air at a shrine in Cotonou in the West African nation of Benin, homeland of voodoo. But these days the ceremonies are a little bit different, as people pray for the country's football team to make further historic progress at […]

Perth (Australia) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Wednesday dismissed speculation that Paul Pogba is to leave Old Trafford, saying there had been "no bids" for the midfielder and "agents talk all the time". The 26-year-old World Cup-winner's future has overshadowed United's pre-season tour since they arrived in Perth on Monday, with […]

New York (AFP) – Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 […]

Washington (AFP) – Star striker Megan Rapinoe said Tuesday she does not think the United States' Women's World Cup-winning team would accept an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House. "I would not go and every teammate that I've talked to explicitly about it would not go," Rapinoe said on CNN's "Anderson […]

Cairo (AFP) – Before the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Egypt last month, Madagascar were best known for the tongue-twisting surnames of players such as Anicet Andrianantenaina and Charles Andriamahitsinoro. Now, 20 days into the biennial tournament, the Indian Ocean islanders have stunned three-time champions Nigeria and are preparing to face Tunisia on […]

Cairo (AFP) – Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen apologised Tuesday for his furious reaction to being substituted ahead of a penalty shootout against Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations. Hassen, 24, was replaced by Farouk Ben Mustapha right at the end of extra time in Monday's last 16 clash that Tunisia won 5-4 on penalties […]

London (AFP) – Celtic's quest to reach the Champions League group stages got off to a good start on Tuesday as Neil Lennon's men recovered from a goal down to beat FK Sarajevo 3-1 in Bosnia. The Scottish champions struggled in sodden conditions early on as Mirko Oremus slotted home after a goalmouth scramble to […]

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Australia coach Justin Langer revealed on Tuesday that Peter Handscomb will be picked to face hosts England in their Cricket World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston. Handscomb was left out of Australia's initial 15-man squad after the return of Steve Smith and David Warner from year-long ball-tampering bans. But the 28-year-old […]

Brussels (AFP) – Former France midfielder Samir Nasri said on Tuesday he is joining former Manchester City teammate Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht to "be an example to the younger generation". The 32-year-old was a free agent after his short-term contract with West Ham expired. He joined the London club in January, at the end of […]

Cairo (AFP) – VAR, the video review system that sparked chaotic scenes at the CAF Champions League final two months ago, will make its Africa Cup of Nations debut on Wednesday for Benin's last four clash with Senegal in Egypt. The technology is being used from the quarter-finals of Africa's premier football competition, with officials […]

Cairo (AFP) – Like many Egyptian football fans, Mahmoud Hashem sees "no reason to be excited" by the Africa Cup of Nations which continues in the country until July 19 without the host nation's involvement. "As a fan, I am deprived of everything that made me love football", he despondently told AFP after the lacklustre […]