Rabat (AFP) – Sofiane Boufal of English Premier League side Southampton will lead Morocco's Africa Cup of Nations bid after being included in the 23-man squad named by coach Herve Renard on Tuesday. Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia, Monaco's Nabil Dirar and Nordin Amrabat of Watford are some of the other key players for the Atlas […]

London (AFP) – Benin international striker Rudy Gestede signed for Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough on Wednesday from Championship outfit Aston Villa for a reported fee of £6 million (7m euros, $7.4m). The 28-year-old — who began his spell in the English leagues with Cardiff in 2011 — signed a three-year contract with Middlesbrough and his […]

Milan (AFP) – Tianjin Quanjian coach Fabio Cannavaro could continue the Chinese club's impressive European buying spree by snapping up Serie A strikers Nikola Kalinic and Carlos Bacca, according to reports. Tianjin Quanjian on Tuesday beat several top European clubs, including Serie A champions Juventus, to the signature of Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel. The 28-year-old […]

Madrid (AFP) – There was to be no happy New Year for Valencia as their miserable season continued with a 4-1 thrashing at home to Celta Vigo late Tuesday to leave Los Che almost certainly out of the Copa del Rey. Valencia are also in search of a coach after Cesare Prandelli's shock resignation last […]

London (AFP) – Bournemouth have appealed against captain Simon Francis' sending off in the thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw with Arsenal, the club said on Wednesday. Francis was shown a straight red by referee Michael Oliver for his challenge on Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey with Bournemouth leading 3-2. "CAF Bournemouth have appealed against Simon […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte knows Chelsea will face a fierce challenge from fired-up Tottenham as the Premier League leaders bid to set a new record winning streak on Wednesday. Conte's side would become the first team to win 14 successive English top-flight games within the same season if they emerge victorious from what will […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A despairing Arsene Wenger insisted Arsenal were put at a major disadvantage before his side staged an epic escape in their dramatic 3-3 draw at Bournemouth. Charlie Daniels, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser gave Bournemouth a shock 3-0 lead at Dean Court on Tuesday before Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez and […]

Madrid (AFP) – The relentless demands for success at Real Madrid have cost many high-profile and heavily experienced coaches their jobs, but Zinedine Zidane has made the move into senior management look serene as he celebrates a year in charge as a European and world champion. Madrid was a club with a very different feel […]

London (AFP) – New Swansea City manager Paul Clement saw his side score an 88th-minute winner as they triumphed 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Tuesday and climb off the foot of the Premier League. Just hours after the Bayern Munich assistant became Swansea's third manager of a dismal season, Clement was in the stands at […]

In our series ranking the best commentators, co-commentators and studio analysts, we turn now to the best soccer presenters — the talent that host your favorite soccer programs or matches. Both Kartik Krishnaiyer and I have watched thousands of soccer programs and matches in our lifetimes, so we've certainly seen our fair share of the good, […]

London (AFP) – Hull City said on Tuesday they had "parted company" with manager Mike Phelan just as the club slumped to the bottom of the Premier League. The 54-year-old Phelan was only appointed as Hull boss on a permanent basis in October but Monday's 3-1 loss at West Brom left the club with just […]

Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Stoke got back on track with a 2-0 win over Watford on Tuesday that added to the pressure on Hornets manager Walter Mazzarri. Ryan Shawcross scored his first goal for two years in first-half stoppage time before Peter Crouch netted his 98th Premier League goal shortly after the interval at […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal staged a sensational fightback from three goals down as Olivier Giroud's last-gasp equaliser rescued a draw at Bournemouth, while Swansea welcomed new boss Paul Clement with a crucial 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger's side were facing their first defeat — and a major setback to their Premier […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Olivier Giroud scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Arsenal fought back from 3-0 down to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday. First-half efforts from Charlie Daniels and Callum Wilson, followed by a third from Ryan Fraser just after the break, appeared to put Bournemouth on course for their […]

Gammarth (Tunisia) (AFP) – Paris Saint Germain midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa said Tuesday he has a future at the Parc des Princes despite little game time since his summer move from Nice. "I remain confident about my future," the former Newcastle man and French international said after some stunning showings on the Cote d'Azur last […]