Alexandria (Egypt) (AFP) – Hosts Egypt swept into the last 16 of an expanded Africa Cup of Nations and were joined by the rest of the continent's elite, while newcomers Madagascar delivered the shock of the tournament by advancing as group winners. AFP Sport takes a look at the standout performers and those who failed […]

Porto Alegre (Brazil) (AFP) – Chile's ageing players are like fine wine, coach Reinaldo Rueda said ahead of their Copa America semi-final against Peru. "As they get older, with more maturity, they get better," the Colombian said about Chilean players. Eleven of the reigning two-time champions' 23-man squad are over 30, including key players such […]

Lyon (AFP) – England coach Phil Neville insisted his team should be proud at having given their "absolute all" at the women's World Cup after their 2-1 defeat against holders the United States in the semi-finals on Tuesday. The Lionesses had been hoping to reach a first major final but instead went out in the […]

Lyon (AFP) – The USA are in pole position to win the women's World Cup for the fourth time after beating England 2-1 to make Sunday's final, while the Lionesses miss out in the last four in their third straight major tournament. Here AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from a dramatic last-four […]

Cairo (AFP) – Tunisia and South Africa filled the final two places in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 draw Tuesday after a tense finish to the group stage in Egypt. Already-qualified Mali defeated Angola 1-0 in Ismailia through an Amadou Haidara thunderbolt to win Group E and eliminate the losers from the competition. Tunisia, […]

Lyon (AFP) – Alex Morgan scored what proved to be the winner but hailed goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher after her late penalty save from Steph Houghton allowed holders the United States to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in their women's World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. On her 30th birthday, USA co-captain Morgan headed home […]

Lima (AFP) – A popular Peruvian soap actress has offered an unusual incentive to encourage her country's footballers to give their all to reach the Copa America final. Unfancied Peru play champions Chile in the second semi-final in Porto Alegre on Wednesday and Stephanie Cayo has promised to kiss the player who wins the match […]

Lyon (AFP) – Alex Morgan scored what proved to be the winning goal as holders the United States returned to the final of the women's World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win over England on Tuesday, but only after Lionesses captain Steph Houghton had a controversial late penalty saved. On her 30th birthday, the US […]

Ismailia (Egypt) (AFP) – Defending Africa Cup of Nations champions Cameroon will meet Nigeria in a clash of continental giants in the last 16 after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Benin allowed Ghana to finish top of Group F. Cameroon stuttered to a second goalless stalemate in succession as Ghana, who drew their opening two games, […]

Lyon (AFP) – Megan Rapinoe has been surprisingly left out of the United States' starting line-up by coach Jill Ellis for their women's World Cup semi-final against England in Lyon on Tuesday. Rapinoe scored both goals in the holders' 2-1 quarter-final win against hosts France, having also netted a brace against Spain in the last […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham smashed their club transfer record on Tuesday signing of French international midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for a fee that could rise to 70 million euros ($79 million, £63 million). Lyon confirmed that the initial fee will be 60 million euros (or £54 million) with 10 million euros more in add-ons. […]

Antananarivo (AFP) – Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina has chartered a special plane to take football fans to Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations after the country unexpectedly qualified for the round of 16. Excitement has been building in the Indian Ocean island nation as the team emerged top of group B after beating three-time […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal have signed 18-year-old Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano Futebol Clube for an undisclosed fee, the Londoners announced on Tuesday. Martinelli scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Sao Paulo-based club Ituano and was called up for a training camp with the senior Brazil squad ahead of the Copa America. "It […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – French midfielder Adrien Rabiot said Tuesday he was ready to forget his "complicated" past at Paris Saint-Germain with Juventus, which he described as a "very prestigious" club. "The last few months were complicated for me on a personal and sporting level. But today, I am ready to leave it all behind […]

London (AFP) – Marcus Rashford wants to put Manchester United "back where they belong" after ending speculation over his future by penning a new four-year contract to remain at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old had attracted interest from Barcelona, among others, with his previous deal running out in 2020. However, Rashford, a product of the United […]