Sarcelles (France) (AFP) – Riyad Mahrez chose to play for Algeria rather than France, where he was born, in a tribute to his late father, the African player of the year's brother said. Propelled to global renown by Leicester City's amazing run to Premier League glory, the 25-year-old will be one of the most watched […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Virtually all the pre-2017 Africa Cup of Nations talk about Group B has concerned which two countries from Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia will advance to the quarter-finals. Zimbabwe, who complete the quartet based in southeastern Gabonese city Franceville, have been dismissed as no-hopers in a section featuring three of the top […]

Harare (AFP) – Zimbabwe have endured a troubled run-up to the Africa Cup of Nations, with players refusing to attend a farewell gala and missing scheduled flights to the tournament in a dispute over pay. The "Warriors", who have all now arrived in Gabon, look to overcome their minnows status in their opening Group B game […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United have a golden opportunity to haul themselves into the Premier League title race at the expense of bitter rivals Liverpool this weekend. While all is sweetness and light for the moment with United and manager Jose Mourinho, the storm clouds may be gathering over his former side Chelsea, who had […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Yaya Toure suggests Manchester City can forget about winning the Premier League this season if they fail to beat Everton this weekend. The Ivorian veteran's assertion that City have no more room for error appears to be shared by his team-mates judging by the performances in their first two matches of 2017. […]

London (AFP) – After an unsteady start to his second Manchester United career, Paul Pogba has returned to the level that convinced the club to make him the world's most expensive footballer. Brought back to Old Trafford from Juventus in an £89.3 million ($108.9 million, 102.4 million euros) deal, the 23-year-old was initially derided for […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho's resurgent Manchester United will attempt to reel in arch rivals Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp's faltering side visit Old Trafford in Sunday's Premier League headline clash. United have won their last nine games in all competitions — their best run since an 11-match winning streak in early 2009 — while Liverpool […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Paul Pogba has all the qualities to be a future Manchester United captain, according to Jose Mourinho. The United manager believes the 23-year-old France midfielder’s recent performances show he can be a long-term replacement for Wayne Rooney in the role. Rooney’s future at Old Trafford has been the subject of […]

London (AFP) – New Zealand international Chris Wood's 14th league goal of the season propelled slumbering English football giants Leeds United to a 1-0 win over in-form Derby and into third in the Championship on Friday. Wood's header right on half-time — his 18th in all competitions this season — sees them move above Reading, […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa's future at Premier League leaders Chelsea was plunged into doubt on Friday after their leading scorer was dropped for Saturday's away match with champions Leicester. The 28-year-old Spanish international, who has scored 14 goals in 19 games this season, is believed to have had a bust-up at the club over […]

Kampala (AFP) – Uganda's state owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation will be unable to broadcast Africa Cup of Nations matches live for a lack of funds, a senior official said Friday. "We needed about 600,000 euros ($650,000) to acquire the rights but this has not been possible for now," UBC Managing Director Winston Agaba told AFP. Uganda […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea paid Jose Mourinho and his staff £8.3 million ($10.1 million) following his sacking last season, taking the total severance payments to the Portuguese coach and his assistants to a remarkable £31.4 million since 2007. Mourinho was axed by Blues owner Roman Abramovich in December 2015 after his mutinous team lurched towards […]

Libreville (AFP) – Cameroon coach Hugo Broos on Friday called for the Africa Cup of Nations to be moved to a different time of year and said pressure from European clubs was to blame for the host of withdrawals from his squad. The Indomitable Lions have won the tournament four times but come into this […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was unfazed when an unexpected telephone call interrupted the Manchester United manager's weekly session with the media on Friday. Initially, it was business as usual as Mourinho took questions from journalists at United's training ground ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Arjen Robben will miss Bayern Munich's final warm-up for the restart of the Bundesliga season with a cold keeping the 32-year-old Dutch winger out of Saturday's four-team mini tournament in Duesseldorf. Bayern's opening Bundesliga fixture of 2017 is at mid-table Freiburg next Friday. The German league leaders will also be without Germany […]