Johannesburg (AFP) – Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidency candidate and South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe vowed Thursday in Johannesburg to unite and develop football on the continent to global competitive levels. One of four candidates for the post, the owner of 2016 African champions Mamelodi Sundowns unveiled a 10-point manifesto at a plush convention […]

Paris (AFP) – Talks with Neymar over a new contract are "on track", while discussions with Kylian Mbappe are still ongoing, Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo said on Thursday. The French champions' two star forwards — the world's two most expensive players — are both out of contract in June 2022. Several media reports have […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has compared "diamond" wonderkid Dane Scarlett to Marcus Rashford after the 16-year-old impressed in Tottenham's 4-0 Europa League win against Wolfsberger. The Spurs boss took the opportunity to blood some youngsters during Wednesday's second leg as they cruised into the last 16 of the competition 8-1 on aggregate. It was […]

Bergamo (Italy) (AFP) – Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini fumed over "football suicide" on Wednesday after his team played more than 70 minutes a man down in their 1-0 loss in the Champions League to Real Madrid. The Italian side had Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler harshly red-carded in the 17th minute for tripping Ferland Mendy […]

Orlando (AFP) – Megan Rapinoe scored twice in the first half and the United States romped to a 6-0 victory over Argentina Wednesday to retain the SheBelieves Cup friendly football title. Led by Rapinoe, the tournament's top scorer with three goals, the United States finished with a maximum nine points with three wins from three […]

Budapest (AFP) – Manchester City moved to the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday but coach Pep Guardiola insisted his team still need to "be more clinical up front". A first half header from Bernardo Silva and a Gabriel Jesus strike in the second period of the […]

Bergamo (Italy) (AFP) – Ferland Mendy scored late as Real Madrid beat 10-man Atalanta 1-0 on Wednesday to close in on the Champions League quarter-finals. The French left-back's strike in Bergamo came four minutes from time in a last 16 first leg game which the hosts played a man down for over 70 minutes as […]

Budapest (AFP) – Premier League leaders Manchester City closed in on the Champions League quarter-finals after cruising past Borussia Moenchengladbach witha comfortable 2-0 win in Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first leg tie in Budapest. A first half header from Bernardo Silva and a Gabriel Jesus strike in the second extended a winning streak by Pep […]

Marseille (AFP) – A man was jailed for three months and eleven more got six-month suspended sentences Wednesday following an astonishing attack by around 300 Marseille fans on the French club's training ground. "I followed the mob and behaved like a donkey," one of those released Wednesday said after three weeks of custodial remand. Hundreds […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho saluted Dele Alli after the Tottenham midfielder ensured his side can still save their troubled season with a virtuoso display in Wednesday's 4-0 rout of Austrian minnows Wolfsberger in the Europa League last 32 second leg. Alli scored a brilliant opener early in the first half and provided the assist […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi soared past Luis Suarez to become La Liga's top scorer on Wednesday by adding his 17th and 18th goals of the season in a much-needed 3-0 victory for Barcelona over Elche. Barca had followed up last week's crushing Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain by drawing at home to Cadiz […]

London (AFP) – Dele Alli and Carlos Vinicius ensured Tottenham can still save their troubled season by winning the Europa League as they inspired a 4-0 rout of Austrian minnows Wolfsberger in the last 32 second leg on Wednesday. Alli scored Tottenham's opener early in the first half and provided the assist when Vinicius doubled […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he is still in contact with former charge Erling Braut Haaland and has not ruled out a future move for the Borussia Dortmund star. The 20-year-old striker has established himself as one of the hottest prospects in world football during goal-laden stints with Austrian […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Al Hilal of Sudan and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo drew 0-0 in Omdurman on Wednesday, leaving Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa top of Group B in the CAF Champions League. Sundowns have three points, Mazembe two and CR Belouizdad and Hilal one each with the South African and […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan's virtuoso soloist Zlatan Ibrahimovic will juggle football and music next week, the Swede having agreed to be one of the star presenters of the annual San Remo music festival. A tailor-made score has been established to allow the footballer to ensure his commitments with the festival, broadcast live for five […]