Nairobi (AFP) – A weekend fire at a Kenyan high school dormitory that killed nine teenaged girls was started deliberately, Kenya's education minister said Monday. Fred Matiangi said arson was to blame while announcing the death toll had risen to nine. "Most of the investigations are done and I can tell you unequivocally — I […]

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) – Muslim-majority Kyrgyzstan on Monday cancelled an international football match with Myanmar over "a potential terror act", as fears grow for the Southeast Asian country's Rohingya Muslims. At least 87,000 Muslims have arrived in Bangladesh after fleeing clashes in Myanmar's Rakhine state, according to the UN. Social media users in Kyrgyzstan […]

Hong Kong (AFP) – War-torn Syria as well as China, the ultimate sleeping giants, are both aiming to pull off a near-miracle as Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup heads into a final showdown on Tuesday. Among Asia's heavyweights, Australia's progress is far from assured and South Korea are in danger of missing out […]

Melbourne (AFP) – English Premier League playmaker Aaron Mooy is set to return as Australia chase a big win over Thailand on Tuesday to qualify for next year's World Cup. The Huddersfield Town ace was missing through illness as Australia crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Japan last week to leave their Russia 2018 finals […]

Seoul (AFP) – Under-fire coach Shin Tae-Yong has promised South Korea will "beef up their mental strength" and go all out for the victory against Uzbekistan Tuesday that would secure World Cup qualification for a ninth successive time. "We'll return home with victory no matter what," vowed Shin ahead of the final Asian zone Group […]

Dublin (AFP) – Martin O'Neill has told the Republic of Ireland they must significantly improve upon their performance in Georgia if they are to beat Serbia in Tuesday's crunch World Cup qualifier in Dublin. O'Neill's men drew 1-1 with Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday, despite taking the lead just four minutes into the game through Shane […]

San Pedro Sula (Honduras) (AFP) – United States coach Bruce Arena faces the most demanding test of his second spell in charge on Tuesday as his chastened team heads to Honduras for a crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier. Humbled 2-0 by Costa Rica in New Jersey on Friday, the United States face a resurgent Honduras […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Lionel Messi and Argentina will seek to maintain the pressure on Chile with a victory over Venezuela on Tuesday as South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying race enters the home stretch. A faltering campaign has left Argentina fifth in the standings with three games remaining, just outside the top four spots which […]

Reggio Emilia (Italy) (AFP) – A bruised Italy will look to turn the page on a morale-sapping World Cup qualifying defeat to Spain when they host Israel in Reggio Emilia on Tuesday. The Azzurri need three points to consolidate second place in Group G behind Spain and stay safely clear of third-placed Albania as they […]

Madrid (AFP) – Following a demolition job on Italy, Spain look to cement their status as one of the favourites for next year's World Cup with another thrashing of Liechtenstein on Tuesday. Inspired by Isco's array of silky skills and clinical finishing, La Roja swept aside Italy 3-0 on Saturday night to take a commanding […]

Enfield (United Kingdom) (AFP) – It is "outrageous" to suggest England's players do not care about representing their country, manager Gareth Southgate said ahead of Monday's pivotal World Cup qualifier against Slovakia. England were jeered by their own fans during Friday's laboured 4-0 win in Malta and critics on social media claimed the players were […]

Paris (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku's goal allowed Belgium to become the first European nation to clinch qualification for the 2018 World Cup on Sunday as much-fancied France were held to an embarrassing goalless draw by Luxembourg. Manchester United striker Lukaku headed in a Thomas Meunier cross in the 74th minute in Piraeus for the decisive […]

Paris (AFP) – The president of French club Nice has said the collapse of midfielder Jean Michael Seri's mooted move to Barcelona was entirely down to the Spanish giants. Speaking to French television station Canal Plus on Sunday, Jean-Pierre Rivere said he received a phonecall from Nice's director general on Wednesday, August 23 to tell […]

London (AFP) – Slovakia manager Jan Kozak has praised the rising stars in England's side as the "future of football" ahead of the teams' World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Monday. England are two points clear of Slovakia at the top of European qualifying Group F and victory in London would leave them within touching […]

Paris (AFP) – Davy Propper was on target twice as the Netherlands boosted their hopes of making it to next year's World Cup with a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in Amsterdam on Sunday. Propper's goals came either side of an Arjen Robben effort and Dick Advocaat's side move back above the Bulgarians into third place […]