Johannesburg (AFP) – Karl Namnganda, who plays in the French fourth division, scored in the 90th minute to give the Central African Republic a stunning 1-0 away win over Nigeria on Wednesday in World Cup qualifying. The goal by the 25-year-old unknown from the Vendee les Herbiers Football club came against opponents boasting globally-known forwards […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Theo Hernandez shot France into a Nations League final with Spain on Thursday with a last-gasp strike which earned Les Bleus a thrilling 3-2 win from two goals down against Belgium. AC Milan full-back Hernandez netted his first France goal in the 90th minute of his second international appearance after France […]

Doha (AFP) – Super-sub Firas al-Buraikan struck the only goal in the 71st minute as Saudi Arabia handed Japan a 1-0 defeat in their World Cup qualifying tie on Thursday. It was the third straight win for the Saudis in the third and final round of the Asian qualifiers in Group B, while Japan – […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – The Hernandez brothers will start in France's Nations League semi-final against Belgium on Thursday after coach Didier Deschamps picked both Lucas and Theo for the match in Turin. Bayern Munich's Lucas Hernandez will play in the French defence for the clash at Juventus' Allianz Stadium, while AC Milan full-back Theo will […]

London (AFP) – A Saudi-led consortium completed its takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United on Thursday despite warnings from Amnesty International that the deal represented "sportswashing" of the Gulf kingdom's human rights record. The English top flight said it had settled legal disputes that had initially stalled the £300 million ($408 million) takeover and […]

Algiers (AFP) – Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said Andy Delort was "no longer selectable" on Thursday after the Nice striker told him he was putting club before country. Belmadi said the two had had a "very heated" exchange after the player sent a message announcing his decision. "Four or five days ago, the player sent […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Amnesty International has condemned the Premier League's test to assess the suitability of owners and directors as unfit for purpose as a Saudi-led consortium completed its takeover of struggling Newcastle on Thursday. The human rights group has lobbied English football chiefs for more than a year to reject the takeover, […]

London (AFP) – A Saudi-led consortium completed its takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United on Thursday despite warnings from Amnesty International that the deal represented "sportswashing" of the Gulf kingdom's human rights record. The English top-flight said it had settled legal disputes that had initially stalled the takeover process, and received "legally binding assurances" […]

London (AFP) – The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United has been approved, the Premier League announced on Thursday. "The Premier League, Newcastle United Football Club and St James Holdings Limited have today settled the dispute over the takeover of the club by the consortium of PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media," the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Amnesty International has condemned the Premier League's owners' and directors' test as unfit for purpose as a Saudi-led consortium closes in on a deal to buy struggling Newcastle. The human rights group has lobbied English football chiefs for more than a year to reject a proposed takeover, warning it is […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United's sale to a Saudi-backed consortium appears to be close to completion — a deal that could turn the long-time underachievers into a major Premier League power. AFP Sport looks at other clubs who enjoyed a meteoric rise after takeovers by rich owners: PSG dine at Europe's top table Paris Saint-Germain […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United fans have long dreamed of ridding the club of owner Mike Ashley, but a potential £300 million takeover backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund presents fans on Tyneside with a different dilemma. Retail tycoon Ashley has been deeply unpopular in his 14 years in charge of Newcastle, during which […]

Algiers (AFP) – Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said Andy Delort was "no longer selectable" on Thursday after the Nice striker told him he was putting club before country. Belmadi said the two had had a "very heated" exchange after the player sent a message announcing his decision. "Four or five days ago, the player sent […]

Ansan (South Korea) (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min scored an 89th-minute winner to give South Korea a nervy 2-1 home win over Syria in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. The talisman forward saved the Koreans from what would have been a deeply disappointing draw and means they top Asian qualifying Group A after […]

London (AFP) – Kateryna Monzul will become the first woman to referee an England men's international when Gareth Southgate's team face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The Ukrainian will be joined by assistant referees Maryna Striletska and Svitlana Grushko, both also from Ukraine, in an all-female on-pitch officiating team at the Estadi […]