London (AFP) – Manchester United are closing on a deal worth up to £50 million ($64 million) for Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to media reports on Wednesday. The 21-year-old has made just 42 Premier League appearances for the Eagles, but was an outstanding performer last season. An initial fee of £45 million with […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egypt's football federation on Wednesday banned midfielder Amr Warda from playing in any further matches at the African Cup of Nations over mounting sexual harrasment allegations. "Amr Warda is banned from the national squad after discussions with the team's technical and administrative bodies. This is to maintain the discipline and focus of […]

Paris (AFP) – Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg admitted Wednesday that she fears for her side's place in the 2020 Olympic Games due to the overwhelming success of European teams at the Women's World Cup. Voss-Tecklenburg, 51, watched on from the stands in Rennes on Tuesday night as the Netherlands beat Japan to become the seventh […]

Manama (AFP) – The head of FIFA promised Wednesday to build more football pitches in the Palestinian territories as he joined a US-led economic workshop in Bahrain on drawing investment. Gianni Infantino, president of world football's governing body, took part in the "Peace to Prosperity" conference led by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner despite […]

Cairo (AFP) – Senegal coach Aliou Cisse insisted there is no particular plan to counter Algeria star Riyad Mahrez in Thursday's blockbuster Africa Cup of Nations group clash. Algeria, like highly-fancied Senegal, won their opening game in Group C with captain Mahrez on target in a 2-0 victory over Kenya in Cairo. "There's no anti-Mahrez […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich will consider a move for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele if they fail to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City, Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday. With veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery leaving the club, Bayern had targeted Germany international Sane as they look to bolster their attack ahead of […]

London (AFP) – Spanish midfielder David Silva has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of next season when his contract expires. Silva is one of City's most decorated players of all-time having won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups since joining from Valencia in 2010. He scored […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Jurien Gaari rifled an equalizer from 28 yards out in the third minute of stoppage time to give Curacao a 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Tuesday as both teams reached the Gold Cup quarter-finals. The Reggae Boyz, runners-up in the past two editions of the regional championship for North and Central […]

Paris (AFP) – The last time England met Norway at the women's World Cup, it was captain Steph Houghton who headed in the equaliser to set them on the way to victory four years ago in Canada. That 2-1 win in Ottawa came in the last 16, and now the sides clash again in the […]

Cairo (AFP) – Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane resume an English Premier League rivalry Thursday on a different stage when Algeria and Senegal clash at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Algerian winger Mahrez was part of the Manchester City team that pipped Senegalese forward Mane and his Liverpool team-mates in a thrilling title […]

Salvador (Brazil) (AFP) – Boasting the only 100 percent record and yet to concede a goal, Colombia have seduced at the Copa America so far under the wily stewardship of Portuguese Carlos Queiroz. In the country famed for the world's best coffee, belief is growing that the football team can conquer South America this year. […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – A last-minute Lieke Martens penalty took the Netherlands through to the women's World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as they joined Italy in the last eight, confirming Europe's supremacy at the tournament and ending Asian interest already. The Dutch scraped past Japan 2-1 to set up a quarter-final on Saturday in Valenciennes […]

Ismailia (Egypt) (AFP) – Veteran Benin forward Mickael Pote scored after 104 seconds and again in the second half as 10-man Ghana were held to a 2-2 draw Tuesday in a lively Africa Cup of Nations match. Between the Pote goals, brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew netted in the opening half for Ghana, who had […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Lieke Martens converted a 90th-minute penalty to break Japanese hearts and take the Netherlands through to the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup with a 2-1 win in Rennes on Tuesday. Barcelona star Martens had earlier given the Dutch the lead at Roazhon Park with a brilliant backheel flick, but that […]

Ismailia (Egypt) (AFP) – Stephane Bahoken scored two minutes after coming off the bench to seal a 2-0 win for defending champions Cameroon over Guinea-Bissau Tuesday in the Africa Cup of Nations. There was little to excite the small crowd in Egyptian city Ismailia until the five-time trophy-holders struck twice within three minutes midway through […]