Reims (France) (AFP) – The United States will take on France in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup after two Megan Rapinoe penalties squeezed them past Spain 2-1 on Monday. The reigning world champions will face the hosts in Paris on Friday in a match that could well decide the destiny of the tournament […]

Cairo (AFP) – Jonathan Kodjia struck the only goal as Ivory Coast defeated South Africa 1-0 in the steamy Cairo heat on Monday in a meeting of former Africa Cup of Nations champions. Ivory Coast won the title for the second time in 2015 but crashed out in the group stage two years ago without […]

London (AFP) – After a turbulent spell in England resulting in relegation with two different clubs, former Ghana prodigy Jordan Ayew will attempt to relaunch his stuttering career at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Since leaving France in 2015, little has gone to plan for the son of Marseille great Abedi Pele, the […]

Paris (AFP) – England captain Steph Houghton brushed off concerns about the manner of her team's win over Cameroon at the women's World Cup as Phil Neville's side prepare for a testing quarter-final tie against Norway. A 3-0 victory for England in Valenciennes on Sunday was largely overshadowed by Neville's post-match tirade saying he was […]

London (AFP) – Rafael Benitez's three-year reign as Newcastle manager will come to an end next week after failing to agree terms on a new contract, the club confirmed on Monday. Benitez was a hugely popular figure among the Newcastle support after stabilising the Magpies in the Premier League and the news is likely to […]

Rome (AFP) – The goalkeeper, the captain, the playmaker, the centre-forward — Juventus are the beating heart of Italy's Women's World Cup team. In Italy, it has been coined the "Juve Block" and on Tuesday in Montpellier eight players from the Turin club will face China for a place in the quarter-finals. It would have […]

London (AFP) – Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United after three years as manager when his contract expires next week, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday. "It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019," Newcastle said in a […]

Charlotte (AFP) – Mexico beat Martinique 3-2 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as winners of Group A ahead of Canada. The Canadians advanced with a 7-0 romp over winless Cuba, fueled by hat-tricks from Lucas Cavallini and 19-year-old forward Jonathan David in the first match of the day's double-header […]

Ismailia (Egypt) (AFP) – Dutch superstar Clarence Seedorf won the Champions League four times with Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid and AC Milan during an illustrious career spanning two decades. But as a club manager in Italy, China and Spain he flopped, winning just 17 of 52 matches and being sacked three times after short spells […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – Brazil star Marta issued an emotional appeal to her heirs on Sunday, telling them they are responsible for the survival of the women's game in her football-obsessed country. The 33-year-old Marta, nicknamed 'Pele in a skirt' by the Brazil great, is widely considered to be the best female player of […]

Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Sunday he is considering recalling teenage star Takefusa Kubo for Monday's must-win Copa America clash with Ecuador. Kubo played in Japan's humbling 4-0 thrashing by Chile in their Group C opener in Brazil before coming off the bench in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Uruguay. […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda faces a Copa America dilemma on Monday: either rest star forward Alexis Sanchez, or go all-out for top spot in Group C. Sanchez aggravated an old ankle injury in Friday's 2-1 win over Ecuador that secured the reigning champions' place in the quarter-finals. If they avoid […]

Porto Alegre (Brazil) (AFP) – Argentina will start from afresh in the Copa America after averting disaster with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Qatar that sent them into the knock-out stages, star Lionel Messi said. Goals from the Barcelona icon's forward partners Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero were enough to propel Argentina from bottom of Group […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – France captain Amandine Henry said she needed a "little luck" to score the 107th-minute winner which fired the hosts into the women's World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Brazil. The 29-year-old defensive midfielder slid to meet Amel Majri's free-kick early in the second period of extra […]

Valenciennes (France) (AFP) – Hosts France won through to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup on Sunday as Amandine Henry's extra-time strike secured a tense victory over Brazil to see them progress alongside England, who defeated Cameroon in a bad-tempered affair earlier. France are desperate to follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts […]