Dakar (AFP) – Egypt will host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations between June 15 and July 13, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad announced in Dakar Tuesday. The CAF executive committee preferred Egypt to South Africa as replacements for original hosts Cameroon, who were dropped due to delays in preparations and […]

London (AFP) – Gary Rowett has been sacked by Stoke City after just eight months as their manager with the club struggling to challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League. The 44-year-old Englishman, who left Championship rivals Derby County to take over Stoke after they were relegated from the Premier League, has overseen […]

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Marcello Lippi said an influx of foreign forwards had decimated China's striking stocks and could damage their Asian Cup campaign after an unconvincing start in the United Arab Emirates. China's threadbare options up front were underlined when makeshift forward Yu Dabao grabbed the winner in Monday's 2-1 win over […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's legendary former manager Alex Ferguson delivered a rousing call to arms to the players, insisting they could make the club successful again, a source close to the Premier League team told The Sun. The 77-year-old Scot — who guided United to numerous trophies including two Champions League titles during his […]

London (AFP) – The FA Cup's two most successful ever sides will meet in the fourth round as Arsenal host Manchester United in the last 32, Monday's draw confirmed. Premier League champions Manchester City are at home to Burnley, while Tottenham face a tough trip to Crystal Palace. Holders Chelsea have an easier task with […]

London (AFP) – Burton Albion will need a "miracle" to overcome the might of Premier League champions Manchester City over two legs in the League Cup semi-final according to manager Nigel Clough, but he is no stranger to producing Cup upsets. Son of legendary manager Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forrest to win two European […]

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes an early injury to defender Dejan Lovren highlighted why he chose to name a second-string side in bowing out of the FA Cup 2-1 to Wolves on Monday. Klopp made nine changes to the side that lost narrowly for the first time in the Premier […]

Milan (AFP) – Tributes were paid to former Italian international footballer Davide Astori who died suddenly last year, on what would have been his 32nd birthday Monday. Fiorentina captain Astori was found dead in his hotel room in the northeastern city of Udine on March 4, 2018 ahead of a Serie A match against Udinese. […]

London (AFP) – The FA Cup's two most successful ever sides will meet in the fourth round as Arsenal host Manchester United in the last 32. Premier League champions Manchester City are at home to Burnley, while Tottenham face a tough trip to Crystal Palace. Holders Chelsea have an easier task with Sheffield Wednesday or […]

Rome (AFP) – Far-right Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday he opposed a knee-jerk reaction of stadium closures and match suspensions to tackle the recent spate of racism and violence in Italian football, calling for at risk matches to be played during the day. Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was targeted by monkey noises and […]

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Monday as Jurgen Klopp paid for naming a second-string side that included three teenagers at Molineux. Goals from Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves either side of half-time sent the hosts into round four despite Divock Origi's […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Mexico presented Argentine manager Gerardo Martino as the new coach of the national team Monday, seeking to reach the football goal that has eluded them for more than three decades: the World Cup quarter-finals. Martino, who has managed Barcelona and Atlanta United as well as the Argentine and Paraguayan national teams, […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz blasted his critics after his side crushed Yemen 5-0 on Monday to fire an ominous warning to their Asian Cup title rivals. The former Real Madrid boss praised his players for "suffocating" the Group D minnows in Abu Dhabi as they ruined the war-torn country's first outing […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders Paris Saint-Germain were drawn at home against either second-tier Grenoble or Ligue 1 Strasbourg in the last 32 of the French Cup on Monday. The tie between Grenoble and Strasbourg will take place on January 16 after it was originally postponed due to a frozen pitch at Grenoble's Alpine stadium. The […]

London (AFP) – Scottish champions Celtic reinforced their striking options on Monday with the signing of USA international Timothy Weah on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the rest of the season. Son of 1995 Ballon d'Or winner and Liberian president George Weah, the 18-year-old has scored two goals in three appearances for PSG this season […]