London (AFP) – Former Arsenal midfielder Edu returned to the club on Tuesday to take up the role of technical director with the Gunners. "Edu will coordinate the work of our first-team coaching group, the academy and player scouting and recruitment," Arsenal said in a statement. Edu will leave his role as general coordinator for […]

London (AFP) – Burnley completed the signing of forward Jay Rodriguez from West Brom on a two-year deal on Tuesday. The 29-year-old returns to his hometown club after spells at Southampton and the Baggies. Rodriguez came through the Clarets youth system and made 129 first-team appearances before joining Southampton in 2012. He went on to […]

Cairo (AFP) – Senegal boss Aliou Cisse said the surprise exit of hosts Egypt and Morocco and the elimination of defending champions Cameroon has fuelled hopes of a first Africa Cup of Nations title. Cisse was captain of the team that reached the 2002 final, losing to Cameroon on penalties, and is now coach of a […]

Cairo (AFP) – Odion Ighalo insisted on Tuesday that team success is far more important than personal accolades with his goals the driving Nigeria's run to the quarter-finals in Egypt. The China-based forward finished as the leading scorer in qualifying for this year's Africa Cup of Nations, and Ighalo is level alongside Senegal star Sadio […]

London (AFP) – Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola hopes that a breakthrough in negotiations that benefits "all parties" will soon be made regarding the Manchester United midfielder's future. The French World Cup winner has stated his desire for a "new challenge", whilst Raiola said in an interview at the weekend that "everyone knows the willingness […]

Paris (AFP) – French club Paris Saint-Germain said they would take "appropriate action" after Neymar failed to show up for pre-season training with the French champions. Neymar, the world's most expensive player after moving to PSG for 222 million euros ($252 million) two years ago, had watched his country win the Copa America in Rio […]

Cairo (AFP) – South Africa coach Stuart Baxter dismissed the assertion from his Nigeria counterpart Gernot Rohr that Bafana Bafana are the favourites heading into Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final showdown. Baxter's side shocked tournament hosts Egypt in the last 16 having only scraped through the group stage, but he was quick to temper […]

Cairo (AFP) – Stuart Baxter's days as South Africa coach appeared numbered after a limp group stage display left Bafana Bafana up against Africa Cup of Nations hosts Egypt, but a famous defeat of the title favourites has quietened his mounting detractors. Despite scrabbling through in the final qualifying spot for the last 16, on […]

Cairo (AFP) – Former English Premier League forward Odion Ighalo could be the Nigerian who bursts the South African bubble when the countries clash Wednesday in an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. The 30-year-old, who played for Watford before moving to China two years ago, has scored three goals at the African football showpiece in […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – As Brazil geared up for the Copa America last month, a Neymar-induced pall of doom and gloom threatened to scupper the host nation's chances before a ball had even been kicked. The unrelenting circus surrounding the captain and talisman of the Selecao had included lurid rape revelations before an ankle […]

Newark (United States) (AFP) – The United States' Women's World Cup-winning team arrived back on American soil Monday, a day after clinching a record fourth title in the football showpiece. The jubilant US women, who defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday's final in France to seal back-to-back World Cup victories, touched down at Newark Liberty […]

Ismailia (Egypt) (AFP) – Tunisia defeated Ghana 5-4 on penalties Monday with Ferjani Sassi converting the decisive spot-kick to end a 54-year Africa Cup of Nations losing streak against the Black Stars. After a 1-1 draw following extra time in Ismailia, Tunisia scored from all five penalties while Ghana substitute Caleb Ekusan had his […]

Washington (AFP) – The US women's soccer team's 2019 World Cup victory is an especially huge win for the line-up's gay players, who have spoken proudly of their sexual orientation in a sport where homosexuality is still a taboo. "Go gays!" cheered Megan Rapinoe, the US team's star striker, who was awarded the Golden Boot […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar failed to show up for pre-season training with Paris Saint-Germain on Monday with the club announcing they would take "appropriate action". In a terse statement, the French champions noted: "On Monday 8 July Neymar da Silva Santos Junior was due to return to pre-season activities with the Paris Saint-Germain senior squad. […]

Suez (Egypt) (AFP) – Wilfried Zaha grabbed the only goal to settle a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash as Ivory Coast beat Mali 1-0 in Suez on Monday. Crystal Palace winger Zaha ensured the Ivorians remained unbeaten against Mali at the tournament as he squeezed home on 76 minutes to book a quarter-final […]