London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri admits Chelsea's nightmare run has given him sleepless nights, but the Blues boss insists he will not crack under the pressure. Sarri has found it hard to get any rest since Wednesday's humiliating 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth as he works late into the night to find answers to Chelsea's problems. […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Coming from nowhere to win the Asian Cup is just part of the process for Qatar as they look ahead to this year's Copa America and then the big one — a home World Cup in 2022. Felix Sanchez's team are keeping their expectations in check for the South American championship […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Japan captain Maya Yoshida promised the Blue Samurai would come back stronger after suffering a shock 3-1 defeat by Qatar in the Asian Cup final. A moment of magic from Qatar striker Almoez Ali after just 12 minutes stunned Japan in Abu Dhabi on Friday, before a brilliant second from Abdelaziz […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola needs a quick response from his side against Arsenal on Sunday to show that Manchester City's challenge for the Premier League title remains intact. Guardiola can be thankful City will go into the match at the Etihad Stadium only five points behind leaders Liverpool. It could well have […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may yet end up wishing he had been able to strengthen Manchester United's defence should their challenge for the Premier League's top four fall short. Sunday's trip to Leicester will see United face Harry Maguire, a centre-back Jose Mourinho wanted to sign before the start of this […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Patrice Carteron on Sunday begins a quest to become only the third coach to win the CAF Champions League and the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup. Tunisian Faouzi Benzarti and Ghanaian Cecil Jones Attuquayefio achieved the feat and Frenchman Carteron led Congolese club TP Mazembe to the 2015 Champions League title. The 48-year-old […]

Villeneuve-d'Ascq (France) (AFP) – Lille continued their perfect start to the new year by thrashing Nice, 4-0, in Ligue 1 on Friday for a sixth straight victory in 2019 that tightened their grip on second. Lille took the lead with a goal by Rafael Leao in the seventh minute. Nicolas Pepe rolled the ball into […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Leaders Bidvest Wits ground out a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in a top-versus-bottom South African Premiership match Friday to move five points clear of their nearest rivals. Substitute Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the only goal after 79 minutes at the 5,000-seat Milpark Stadium inside a Johannesburg university campus. Majoro outsprinted two […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig stayed in touch with the Bundesliga's top three on Friday with a 3-0 win at strugglers Hanover 96 as Thomas Doll lost his first game in charge. After a decade away from the Bundesliga, following stints in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Hungary, ex-Dortmund coach Doll replaced Andre Breitenreiter last Sunday, […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf. Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar stunned Japan 3-1 to win their first Asian Cup title on Friday sparked by a moment of jaw-dropping brilliance from record-breaker Almoez Ali and after a controversial late twist. Sudan-born striker Ali scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick after just 12 minutes and Abdelaziz Hatim curled in a superb second […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar stunned Japan 3-1 to capture their first Asian Cup title on Friday sparked by a moment of jaw-dropping brilliance from record-breaker Almoez Ali and after a controversial late twist. Sudan-born striker Ali scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick after just 12 minutes and Abdelaziz Hatim curled in a superb second […]

Doha (AFP) – Celebrations were set to go on all weekend in Doha as thousands of jubilant Qataris took to the streets within minutes of the country's astonishing Asian Cup final victory Friday. Huge crowds had gathered at several specially-built giant screens in Doha to watch the match against Japan, then converged on to the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Morocco will launch their defence of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) title away to neighbours Algeria after the 2020 qualifying draw was confirmed Friday. Hosts Morocco were impressive winners last year of a competition restricted to footballers playing in their country of birth, trouncing Nigeria 4-0 in the final. Although third […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is ready to throw new signing Denis Suarez in at the deep end by handing him his club debut at Premier League champions Manchester City. The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium for Sunday's match after a quiet transfer window saw them recruit Suarez on loan from […]