Kingston upon Hull (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp said faltering Liverpool must take the blame for their performances after a 2-0 defeat at lowly Hull added to their miserable run. The German boss said the Reds have got to turn words into actions after failing to win any of their five league games this […]

Libreville (AFP) – Traditional continental giants who had fallen on hard times, Egypt and Cameroon are looking to cap remarkable revivals when they meet in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. The first winners of the trophy 60 years ago, Egypt have been African champions a record seven times but were making their […]

Berlin (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with Bayern Munich's lack of control in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Schalke before Leipzig's defeat at Dortmund left the Bundesliga leaders four points clear. Robert Lewandowski's deft chip gave Bayern an early lead in Munich before Schalke defender Naldo drilled home a free-kick on 13 minutes to level […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte promised to keep a close eye on his players' concentration levels after they tightened their grip on the Premier League title race by beating Arsenal. Goals from Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas gave Chelsea a 3-1 win on Saturday that left them 12 points clear of […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino is refusing to give up on Tottenham's Premier League title challenge after a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough left them nine points behind leaders Chelsea. Spurs had to work hard for victory on Saturday and needed a Harry Kane second-half penalty to end Middlesbrough's resistance. "Nine points is okay, it's three games […]

Rome (AFP) – Slovakian international Marek Hamsik and Belgian star Dries Martens both hit hat-tricks as Napoli routed Bologna 7-1 on Saturday to go second in Serie A and three points behind leaders Juventus. Napoli have now hit 55 goals in 23 league games this season although Maurizio Sarri's men are still outsiders to pip […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Alain Traore scored with one minute left to give Burkina Faso a 1-0 win over Ghana Saturday and third place in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Turkey-based attacker thumped an angled free-kick over goalkeeper Richard Ofori and into the net in Gabonese coastal city Port-Gentil. It was the second highest […]

Paris (AFP) – Radamel Falcao scored a second-half brace as Monaco defeated Nice 3-0 on Saturday to carve open a three-point lead ahead of their Cote d'Azur rivals at the top of Ligue 1. Valere Germain headed in the opening goal on 47 minutes at the Stade Louis II before Falcao turned in Monaco's second […]

Madrid (AFP) – La Liga leaders Real Madrid's visit to Celta Vigo scheduled for Sunday has been postponed after strong winds and heavy rain caused structural damage to Celta's Balaidos stadium, the Spanish league confirmed. Earlier on Saturday, the mayor of Vigo stated the stadium wasn't in a safe condition to host the game, but […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi struck another trademark free-kick as Barcelona moved to within one point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Madrid have two games in hand, the first of which was supposed to take place on Sunday at Celta Vigo. However, that match has […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard's brilliant goal in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Arsenal further buried the title hopes of their Premier League rivals with even angry Arsene Wenger admitting that his London foes are a class act. Antonio Conte's side shattered Arsenal's hopes while Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool hit a new low in a 2-0 defeat […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Luis Enrique hailed the contribution of his squad's bit-part players as a much-changed side saw off Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Saturday to move to within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid. However, Barca's day was blighted by a groin strain suffered by key central defender Gerard Pique which […]

Libreville (AFP) – Stadiums built in Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations are an "excellent legacy" for the country, the Confederation of African Football's general secretary Hicham El Amrani told AFP on Saturday. Speaking ahead of Sunday's final in Libreville between Egypt and Cameroon, El Amrani insisted the Cup of Nations had been a […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane's penalty ended Middlesbrough's resistance as Tottenham's 1-0 win on Saturday kept their flickering Premier League title challenge alive. Spurs are nine points off runaway leaders Chelsea thanks to Kane's second half spot-kick — the players answering manager Mauricio Pocchetino's demand on Friday to maintain their hold on second place and […]

Berlin (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his 17th Bundesliga goal of the season Saturday as Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win over flu-hit RB Leipzig left Bayern Munich four points clear at the top. Aubameyang remains two goals ahead of Bayern hot-shot Robert Lewandowski in the race to be the German league's top scorer thanks to his […]