Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – Ecuador are looking to emulate the success of Giro d'Italia cycling champion Richard Carapaz and "create surprises" at the Copa America in Brazil, central defender Arturo Mina said on Friday. Carapaz, 26, shocked the cycling world last month by winning the three-week tour of Italy — the second most prestigious […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Youssouf Kone scored a brilliant solo goal for Mali during a 1-1 draw with trophy-holders Cameroon Friday in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations warm-up match in Qatar. The full-back from French top-flight outfit Lille cut in from the wing, leaving several defenders in his wake, before unleashing a thunderbolt shot […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – England and Italy joined Germany and France in the last 16 of the women's World Cup on Friday as Jodie Taylor shot the Lionesses past Argentina and Cristiana Girelli's controversial VAR-assisted hat-trick saw them hammer hapless Jamaica 5-0. Taylor tapped home Beth Mead's inviting low cross just after the hour […]

Le Havre (France) (AFP) – Jodie Taylor booked England's place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Friday after bagging the winner in a tight 1-0 win over dogged Argentina. Taylor tapped home Beth Mead's inviting low cross just after the hour mark to send England to the top of Group D […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Scotland coach Shelley Kerr remained upbeat despite seeing the women's World Cup debutants slump to their second defeat in as many outings at the tournament as they lost 2-1 to Japan on Friday. The circumstances of the defeat in Rennes were almost identical to their loss by the same scoreline against […]

Reims (France) (AFP) – Cristiana Girelli fired Italy into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Friday with a controversial VAR-assisted hat-trick that helped see off hapless Jamaica 5-0 and put them top of Group C. Italy join France and Germany in the knockout stages following the Juventus striker's treble and a late […]

Reims (France) (AFP) – Cristiana Girelli fired Italy into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Friday with a controversial VAR-assisted hat-trick that helped see off hapless Jamaica 5-0 and put them top of Group C. Italy join France and Germany in the knockout stages following the Juventus striker's treble and a late […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo returned to the club in the same position replacing Antero Henrique, the French champions announced on Friday. The former PSG and AC Milan midfielder left the Parisian outfit in 2013 after resigning amid a scandal in which he pushed a referee in a Ligue 1 match. […]

Paris (AFP) – Football agent Mino Raiola, whose high-profile clients include Manchester United's Paul Pogba, had his worldwide ban lifted by FIFA, echoing the action of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) a day earlier, the global governing body announced on Friday. Raiola, 51, was suspended by the FIGC last April with FIFA's disciplinary committee originally […]

Rennes (France) (AFP) – Japan coach Asako Takakura insisted there is more to come from her young team after the Nadeshiko gave their women's World Cup campaign a shot in the arm by beating Scotland 2-1 in Rennes on Friday. Mana Iwabuchi set the 2011 winners on their way and Yuika Sugasawa converted a penalty […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – A nationwide strike called by Brazil's trade unions disrupted public transport and triggered road blocks in parts of the country Friday, ahead of protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's pension reform. Hours before the opening match of the Copa America in Sao Paulo, some metro lines in the country's biggest city […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has said he is "hungry" to a win a second Africa Cup of Nations trophy. Obi Mikel won his first Africa Cup winners' medal six years ago in South Africa after finishing third in 2006 and 2010. In Egypt, he will lead a young team with the […]

Milan (AFP) – Zvonimir Boban left his role as FIFA deputy secretary general on Friday to join his former club and "family" AC Milan, while Paolo Maldini's appointment as technical director was also confirmed by the Italian giants. The 50-year-old Croatian Boban has been working at FIFA since 2016, but will now take a job […]

London (AFP) – West Ham completed the signing of promising Spanish international midfielder Pablo Fornals on Friday from Villarreal for a reported fee of £24 million ($30 million). "Fornals, who becomes the second most-expensive signing in the club's history behind Felipe Anderson, has signed a five-year contract, with an option of a further year," said […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid confirmed the signing of Japanese teenager Takefusa Kubo on Friday. The 18-year-old joins from FC Tokyo and will play for Madrid's B team, Castilla, next season. "Takefusa Kubo will join Castilla next season," a Real Madrid statement read. "He is one of the most promising young players in world football, an […]