Rome (AFP) – Mario Balotelli has been recalled for an Italy training camp this week so that coach Roberto Mancini, speaking on Wednesday, can see if the striker is able to "help" in the World Cup playoffs in March. "What has he promised me? Absolutely nothing," Mancini said in an online press conference at the […]

London (AFP) – Premier League clubs must have at least four positive coronavirus cases in their squad before a match can be called off under new guidance issued Wednesday following a number of controversial postponements. The change comes after criticism of the way some clubs were perceived to be exploiting the previous rules. If a […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Anthony Martial said on Wednesday he is fit and ready to play immediately for Sevilla after joining on a six-month loan deal from Manchester United. Martial has only started two Premier League games for United this season and the 26-year-old forward has made just one appearance this year, after coming off […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn confirmed Wednesday that Germany centre-back Niklas Suele will leave at the end of the season after turning down a contract extension. "We made him an offer, which he told us he didn't accept. He wants to leave the club at the end of the season," Kahn said […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan can overcome losing half their defence to injury and take a big step towards World Cup qualification this week, their Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino said Wednesday. Captain Maya Yoshida and Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu have both been ruled out of Japan's crunch home qualifiers against China on Thursday and Saudi Arabia […]

Douala (AFP) – Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations last-16 tie between Egypt and the Ivory Coast brings together two of the continent's heavyweight teams who have plenty of history as well as two of the most exciting attacking players in the world just now. Mohamed Salah leads an Egypt side looking to add to their […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States coach Gregg Berhalter believes freezing temperatures can help his team take a giant stride towards a World Cup berth as CONCACAF's qualifying race resumes on Thursday. A pandemic-congested fixture schedule means that for the first time in history, teams battling for three automatic berths from North America, Central America […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has completed a six-month loan move to Sevilla, the clubs announced on Tuesday, as the France international looks to revive his career in La Liga. Martial will join Sevilla's title charge in Spain, with the club in second place and trailing Real Madrid by four points. The […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – Achraf Hakimi scored a brilliant free-kick to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-1 win over Malawi on Tuesday. Gabadinho Mhango gave outsiders Malawi, playing their first ever knockout game at the tournament, a shock early lead with a stunning goal from 40 metres […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian giants Juventus are close to signing Fiorentina's rampaging 21-year-old striker Dusan Vlahovic, Italian media reported widely on Tuesday. Often compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Serb has 17 goals in Serie A this season and Juventus are ready to pay around 70 million euros for the youngster as they seek to fill […]

London (AFP) – Watford appointed former England boss Roy Hodgson as their third manager of the season on Tuesday following the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri. Hodgson arrived at Vicarage Road just 24 hours after Ranieri was sacked on Monday following Watford's slump into the Premier League relegation zone last weekend. "Watford FC is delighted to […]

The Hague (AFP) – Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, who went into cardiac arrest at last year's European Championships, is training with Ajax as he seeks a new club, the Amsterdam side said Tuesday. Eriksen, 29, who has been fitted with a pacemaker, joined Jong Ajax, the reserve team of his former club after terminating his contract […]

Bafoussam (Cameroon) (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane ended a 243-minute Senegal goal drought by scoring in a 2-0 win over nine-man Cape Verde in a fiery Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in Bafoussam on Tuesday. The goal came on 63 minutes after the islanders had goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias and midfielder Patrick Andrade […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – Eight people died and 38 injured as fans attempted to enter the Olembe Stadium where hosts Cameroon were playing the Comoros at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday. AFP Sport picks out some reaction to the tragedy: "That gate was supposed to be open because if it was open they would […]

Yaoundé (AFP) – African football supremo Patrice Motsepe says an "inexplicable" decision to keep an entry gate closed was responsible for the deadly crush which killed eight people before an Africa Cup of Nations match in Cameroonian capital Yaounde on Monday. "That gate was supposed to be open because if it was open they would […]