Rome (AFP) – Diego Maradona steps into the world of high culture on Monday when epic tales of World Cup glory as well as reflections on his colourful private life are played out at Naples' famed Teatro di San Carlo. Sadly for the Argentine, who was idolised when he starred for Napoli 30 years ago, […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Sadio Mane scored from the penalty spot to send Senegal on their way to a 2-0 victory over Tunisia in their first outing at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. Mane netted from 12 yards with 10 minutes on the clock in Franceville and Kara Mbodj headed home on the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Liverpool had come to Old Trafford with the aim of stifling his side following Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw between the teams. United, chasing a 10th successive win in all competitions, fell behind to James Milner's first-half penalty and needed an 84th-minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic […]

Milan (AFP) – Atalanta coach Gianpiero Gasperini said he fell victim to a "planned" expulsion in a fiery 2-1 defeat at Lazio that saw the hosts' coach, Simone Inzaghi, also given his marching orders on Sunday. Gasperini could be in hot water with Serie A bosses after a foul-mouthed tirade was caught by television pictures […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola suffered the largest league defeat of his managerial career as Manchester City were thrashed 4-0 by Everton, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late equaliser gave Manchester United a 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas put Everton in control at Goodison Park. Teenager Tom Davies scored […]

Madrid (AFP) – Italian international Simone Zaza has bolstered La Liga strugglers Valencia's attacking options as the Spanish club confirmed he had joined on loan from Juventus until the end of the season on Sunday. "Valencia have completed the signing of Simone Zaza on loan from Juventus until the end of the season," Valencia said in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an 84th-minute header as Manchester United prevented Liverpool from recapturing second place in the Premier League table in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Paul Pogba stood to be United's fall guy at Old Trafford after conceding a soft first-half penalty for handball, which James Milner converted, only […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Riyad Mahrez scored twice but Algeria had to settle for a 2-2 draw with rank outsiders Zimbabwe as their Africa Cup of Nations campaign got off to a slow start in Franceville on Sunday. Newly-crowed African player of the year Mahrez gave Algeria an early lead in the Group B match […]

Milan (AFP) – Radja Nainggolan hit a first-half winner as Roma won 1-0 at Udinese to close the gap on leaders Juventus to a single point in Serie A on Sunday. Juventus, bidding for a record sixth straight league title can restore their four-point lead if they beat Fiorentina away in Sunday's late game. But […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Pep Guardiola refused to blame his humiliated Manchester City stars after they crashed to a dismal 4-0 defeat against Everton on Sunday. City's wretched effort at Goodison Park condemned Guardiola to the heaviest league defeat of his glittering managerial career. But, publicly at least, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss wasn't […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Pep Guardiola suffered the biggest league defeat of his managerial career as Manchester City slumped to a 4-0 loss against Everton on Sunday. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas put Everton in control at Goodison Park before teenager Tom Davies scored his first goal for the club and debutant Ademola Lookman completed the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Joel Matip missed Liverpool's Premier League game at Manchester United on Sunday because his club are still awaiting clearance from FIFA following his retirement from international football with Cameroon. Matip, 25, announced he no longer wished to be considered for selection by Cameroon last year and was not named in […]

London (AFP) – New dad Harry Kane admitted his hat-trick in Tottenham's win against West Bromwich Albion completed one of the best weeks of his life. Kane's wife Kate gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Ivy, last weekend and the England striker celebrated the new addition to the family in memorable fashion. After […]

Oyem (Gabon) (AFP) – The only certainty in hard-to-predict Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations before the opening fixtures Monday is that Morocco coach Herve Renard will wear the same white shirt on matchdays. He wore one in every match when outsiders Zambia shredded the form book in 2012 to win the premier […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger lavished praise on Alexis Sanchez after Arsenal brushed aside Swansea 4-0 at the Liberty Stadium, despite the Chilean star's anger at being substituted. Sanchez scored the last of Arsenal's four goals on a day when new manager Paul Clement saw precisely how big the job of keeping Swansea […]