Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazilian giants Flamengo announced on Wednesday that Paulo Sousa is their new coach, just hours after he paid a release clause to quit his job as coach of Poland's national team. The 51-year-old from Portugal, who began his coaching career in England with Queen's Park Rangers, has signed a two-year […]

London (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick said Wednesday that the upheaval caused by the coronavirus crisis had hindered his efforts to stamp his authority on the under-performing Manchester United squad. United are unbeaten in all four games they have played under the German, who replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on an interim basis late last month. But […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Four more Real Madrid players, and three from Barcelona, have tested positive for Covid-19, the two clubs said Wednesday as new infections hit record highs in Spain. Real Madrid's Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde, French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Brazilian winger Vincius Junior are all infected, the La Liga leaders […]

Cairo (AFP) – Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, the all-time top African goal scorer in the Premier League, headlines Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations squad named on Wednesday. Although the official date for the release of players to join their national teams was December 27, tournament organisers pushed back the deadline until January 3, which allows […]

Cairo (AFP) – Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, the all-time top African goal scorer in the Premier League, headlines Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations squad named on Wednesday. Although the official date for the release of players to join their national teams was December 27, tournament organisers pushed back the deadline until January 3, which allows […]

Singapore (AFP) – Chanathip Songkrasin scored twice as Thailand closed in on a sixth AFF Suzuki Cup title with a 4-0 thumping of Indonesia in the first leg of the final on Wednesday. The Thai captain opened the scoring at the National Stadium in Singapore in the second minute and added another just after the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for Covid-19 for a second time and will miss the Premier League clash with leaders Manchester City on Saturday, the club said. The 39-year-old Spaniard's first positive test was in March 2020 which prompted English football to shut down as the pandemic took hold. He […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says winning the Premier League would be sweeter than ever given the intense schedule faced by top-flight teams this season. Guardiola is one of many Premier League managers who believe the fixture list needs to be reduced during the Christmas period. The festive programme and its implications […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle's Premier League clash at Everton on Thursday has been postponed after a coronavirus outbreak in Eddie Howe's squad. Newcastle held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw on Monday despite several Covid cases and injury absences. Howe was also set to be without Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin against Everton after both […]

Paris (AFP) – Spanish international Ferran Torres signed for cash-strapped Barcelona on Tuesday from Manchester City, the Catalan side announced. Despite their financial struggles, Barcelona have agreed a deal worth an initial 55 million euros ($62 million, £47 million) for the 21-year-old. "FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham dropped two precious points against 10-man Southampton on Tuesday as West Ham hammered Watford 4-1 to turn up the heat in the race for a coveted Premier League top-four spot. Elsewhere on a truncated day of action due to coronavirus postponements, Crystal Palace cruised past bottom side Norwich 3-0 while Liverpool prepared […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Portuguese club Benfica have sacked coach Jorge Jesus amid a series of poor results and a reported rift with some of the team's top players, the club announced on Tuesday. Benfica said the club had reached agreement with Jesus "for the termination of his contract with immediate effect", adding reserves coach Nelson […]

Paris (AFP) – Spanish international Ferran Torres signed for cash-strapped Barcelona on Tuesday from Manchester City, the Catalan side announced. Despite their financial struggles, Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal worth an initial 55 million euros ($62 million, £47 million) for the 22-year-old. "FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African club Orlando Pirates face an exhausting CAF Confederation Cup group schedule after the draw was made in Cairo on Tuesday. The Soweto Buccaneers were placed in Group B with JS Kabylie of Algeria or Royal Leopard of eSwatini, JS Saoura of Algeria and Al Ittihad of Libya. Although trailing 1-0 […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa will meet in the CAF Champions League for the fourth consecutive season after the groups draw was made in Cairo on Tuesday. Record 10-time champions Ahly and one-time winners Sundowns were placed in Group A with Sudanese clubs Al Hilal and […]