Cairo (AFP) – Ahmad Ahmad announced Wednesday that he will seek a second term as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) despite having faced questions over financial irregularities, all of which he has denied. "The @CAF_Online knew a lot of improvements for 4 years. I'm proud of my team's achievements," the 60-year-old tweeted. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Chancellor Angela Merkel's government on Wednesday ordered Bundesliga football and professional sport in Germany back behind closed doors as part of a string of measures to curb record-high numbers of the coronavirus. The latest measures will come into effect from November 2 until the end of the month after Germany announced a […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic always wants to play, AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli said on Wednesday, before their Europa League game against Sparta Prague. "I won't ask Zlatan if he wants to play, because I already know the answer," said Pioli amid a tight schedule of games every three days. "There will be changes, […]

Paris (AFP) – The spectre of a European Super League looms seemingly larger than ever after the remarkable claims made by outgoing Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, but any current manoeuvres could simply all be part of attempts to put pressure on UEFA with a revamp of the Champions League set for 2024. Bartomeu resigned […]

Paris (AFP) – Diego Maradona reveals he has a dream present to mark his 60th birthday on Friday – "to score another goal against England, this time with my right hand". The Argentine legend made the impish suggestion in an interview with France Football in reference to his 'Hand of God' goal against England in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The CAF Champions League semi-final between Zamalek and Raja Casablanca in Egypt this Sunday hangs in the balance because of a coronavirus crisis at the Moroccan club. A Raja official told AFP 14 players are positive with Covid-19 just four days before the second leg at the Cairo International Stadium with his […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United chief operating officer Collette Roche says it is "bemusing" people can gather indoors in restaurants and hotels and watch football and yet the club cannot host spectators in an outdoor setting. United have adapted their Old Trafford stadium so that 23,500 spectators could watch and be socially distanced under the […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Juventus' team for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Barcelona in Turin, two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus. The 35-year-old, the top scorer in the history of the competition with 130 goals, needed to test negative 24 hours before the game against […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – In-form Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi has been included in a 32-strong provisional Cameroon squad for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mozambique during November. Ekambi has scored four goals in his last two Ligue 1 matches — two each against Strasbourg and Monaco — for 2020 Champions League semi-finalists […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said it was vital not to rush players back from injury too soon despite the hectic schedule as he juggles with a lengthening injury list. Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, filling in for the absent Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip in central defence, limped off in the first half […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA has repeated its "strong opposition" to a European Super League after the controversial project received a surprise shot in the arm from Josep Maria Bartomeu as he stood down as Barcelona president. In a resignation bombshell on Tursday night Bartomeu declared that one of his last acts as the Catalan team's […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Wuhan Zall are fighting for survival in the Chinese Super League, desperate to avoid a heartbreaking conclusion to a year that began with them stranded outside their coronavirus-scarred city. The football club from ground zero of the pandemic are embroiled in a relegation dogfight after going eight matches without a victory in […]

Paris (AFP) – English rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are aiming to build on winning starts in the Europa League on Thursday while Zlatan Ibrahimovic will look to transfer his incredible Serie A form to the continental stage. Smarting from a 1-0 loss at home to Leicester at the weekend, the Gunners host Irish side Dundalk in […]

Mönchengladbach (Germany) (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane insisted Real Madrid deserved a point after Casemiro scored a last-gasp equaliser as the Spanish giants fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday and avoid a fourth straight Champions League defeat. Marcus Thuram's double put Gladbach on course for a […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders Bayern Munich continued their perfect start to their Champions League title defence on Tuesday as Real Madrid had Casemiro's late goal to thank for scrambling a 2-2 draw away to Borussia Moenchengladbach. Liverpool and Manchester City also made it six points out of a possible six in Europe this season, after […]