Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Seven-time champions Egypt face Ghana in Port-Gentil on Wednesday looking for the result that will see them join their opponents in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. The Pharaohs need only draw the game, which kicks off at 8pm (1900 GMT), in the Gabonese port city to be certain […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool's formidable home record was meant to provide the platform for a tilt at three trophies this season -– but Saturday's surprise 3-2 Premier League defeat by Swansea spoiled that idea. If Jurgen Klopp's team are to overcome Southampton at Anfield in the second leg of a League Cup semi-final on Wednesday […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic stand on the verge of reaching a historic milestone when they return to league action on Wednesday. The runaway league leaders have been in cold storage for the past three weeks as the Scottish Premiership took a winter break but took a step closer to a domestic treble on Sunday with […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Islam Slimani scored twice but Algeria's Africa Cup of Nations hopes were ended after a 2-2 draw with Senegal in Franceville on Monday. The Leicester City striker put Algeria ahead on two occasions but each time Senegal equalised, first through Papa Diop and then courtesy of Moussa Sow as they finished […]

Libreville (AFP) – Tunisia became the first team to score four goals at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as they beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in Libreville Monday to seal a quarter-finals place. The Carthage Eagles, who led 4-1 at half-time, finished Group B runners-up behind Senegal and play Burkina Faso at the same stadium Saturday. […]

Kingston upon Hull (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Serbian international winger Lazar Markovic has been sent straight back out on loan to Premier League strugglers Hull on Monday by rivals Liverpool after a spell at Sporting Lisbon was cut short. The 22-year-old — who has joined until the end of the season — returned to Liverpool […]

Libreville (AFP) – Sporting agony in the shape of an early elimination from their own Africa Cup of Nations has only added to the other woes facing Gabon, a country already in the midst of a political and economic crisis. "The Africa Cup of Nations is not finished. I encourage all football lovers to enjoy […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has promised to do everything he can to help Anfield great Steven Gerrard realise his ambition of becoming a manager. Former Liverpool captain Gerrard is to rejoin his hometown club in February as an academy coach and Klopp said the 36-year-old ex-England midfielder would be assured of his […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Pedro believes fiery striker Diego Costa is "perfect" for the Premier League leaders after seeing him mark his return to the starting line-up with a goal in Sunday's 2-0 win over Hull City. Spain forward Costa was left out of the Blues side as they beat reigning champions Leicester on January […]

London (AFP) – Sunderland defender Papy Djilobodji has been charged with violent conduct by England's governing Football Association following an incident late in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League loss at West Bromwich Albion. Djilobodji, who could be banned for up to four matches if found guilty, appeared to swing his arms at West Brom midfielder Darren […]

Moscow (AFP) – The draw for the 2018 World Cup finals hosted by Russia will take place in the Kremlin on December 1, the country's Football Union (RFU) chief Vitaly Mutko said Monday. Mutko, Russia's deputy prime minister, said that FIFA had approved the plan, which world football's ruling body later confirmed. "The World Cup […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger apologised after he was sent off and then shoved the fourth official during Arsenal's dramatic 2-1 win over Burnley but could still face a significant ban. Having taken the lead through Shkodran Mustafi's first goal for the club on Sunday, Arsenal saw Granit Xhaka dismissed for a needless foul and […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was charged with misconduct by England's governing Football Association on Monday after an alleged altercation with the fourth official during Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win over Burnley. The veteran French boss was dismissed from his technical area by referee Jon Moss after being angered by the award of […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund on Monday snapped up Swedish teenage prodigy Alexander Isak in the face of intense competition from Real Madrid and other top European clubs. Isak — dubbed the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic — moved from AIK after just 24 games in the Swedish championship for a reported 10 million euros ($10.7m). […]

London (AFP) – Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has been talking in hospital about the incident which left him with a fractured skull, the Premier League club said Monday. The 25-year-old Mason suffered the injury when he accidentally clashed heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill in the 14th minute of Hull's eventual 2-0 loss away to […]