Johannesburg (AFP) – Cash-strapped Bloemfontein Celtic have prioritised South Africa over Africa by sending reserves to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg this weekend. Celtic will tackle Congolese league leaders AS Maniema Union in the remote central city of Kindu while the first team stay at home […]

Paris (AFP) – The leading European football leagues on Friday provided details of their plans to pay their respects to Diego Maradona at games this weekend. In Italy, where the Argentine led Napoli to two Serie A titles, the competition unveiled detailed plans to commemorate Maradona, who died on Wednesday aged 60. During the minute's […]

London (AFP) – Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident his squad can cope with the loss of France international defender Lucas Digne for up to three months. The 27-year-old left-back is to have surgery on Monday on an ankle injury sustained in training this week, leaving the Toffees boss with only the inexperienced Niels Nkounkou […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea boss Frank Lampard believes Jose Mourinho is as good a manager as he has ever been, insisting he respects his former boss despite recent spats. Mourinho's Tottenham are top of the Premier League ahead of this weekend's fixtures, just two points clear of Chelsea. The Portuguese has enjoyed huge success throughout […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is delighted that limited numbers of fans will soon be back in Premier League stadiums, even if United supporters are not among them. Fans have been shut out of top-level matches in England since March but a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions will allow them back into […]

Madrid (AFP) – The Barcelona squad observed a minute's silence for their former star Diego Maradona before training on Friday and will continue to lead the mourning in Spain when they do the same before they play Osasuna in La Liga. Club captain and fellow Argentine Lionel Messi bowed his head on Friday as the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola believes Sergio Aguero will always retain his predatory instincts in front of goal as Manchester City hope the return of the club's record scorer will end a Premier League goal drought. City are off to their worst league start since the first few months of the club's Abu […]

Berlin (AFP) – World Cup winners Benjamin Pavard and Corentin Tolisso are included in the Bayern Munich squad for Saturday's away match at Stuttgart as the Bundesliga leaders aim to preserve their slender lead. Midfielder Tolisso has recovered from a muscular injury which saw him miss the last two games and gives extra options in […]

Doha (AFP) – Beijing Guoan and Ulsan Hyundai Motors continued their relentless march in the Asian Champions League at the expense of Australian sides who suffered another day of misery on Friday. While Beijing Guoan stormed into the last-16 phase of the tournament with a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory in Group E, Ulsan Hyundai […]

Barcelona (AFP) – The difference between Diego Maradona's difficult spell at Barcelona and Lionel Messi's triumphant reign at the club is largely down to luck, said the man who helped bring both Argentines to the Camp Nou. "They are two very similar players. They are two number 10s. That is a position highly valued historically […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Diego Maradona's life encapsulated the highs and lows of being a world-famous footballer as he lamented that more was not done to help the late Argentine superstar. Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 after a long struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs, sparking […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Huge crowds bade a grief-filled farewell to Argentina's favourite son Diego Maradona before the football legend was buried on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after a chaotic public wake. The 1986 World Cup winner widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history was laid to rest on Thursday after […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that Diego Maradona would call him after defeats, paying a warm tribute to the late Argentine great with a "big, big" heart. The World Cup winner died from a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60. "I spent the day today telling stories to my guys about […]

Paris (AFP) – Erling Braut Haaland is after more goals, Real Sociedad are hoping to maintain their brilliant start in La Liga and the under-pressure Antonio Conte needs his Inter Milan side to get back to winning ways. AFP Sport previews the standout football action on the continent this weekend: – Is there any stopping […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain are in their usual position on top of Ligue 1 but, with their Champions League hopes still in the balance, their coach Thomas Tuchel has been letting the tension get to him. The German appeared particularly agitated as he spoke after PSG's 1-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday, a […]