London (AFP) – Gareth Bale said he wants to round off "an incredible journey" by taking Wales to a first World Cup since 1958 as he prepares to win his 100th cap against Belarus on Saturday. The Real Madrid forward became the then youngest player to appear for his country in May 2006 when making […]

Nairobi (AFP) – Kenyan police said they had arrested the head of the national football federation on Friday after the body was dissolved over corruption allegations. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa was picked up by police at a Nairobi hotel the day after the government set up a caretaker committee to run the […]

Paris (AFP) – French police sought new leads on Friday to identify the attackers of French women's football star Kheira Hamraoui after releasing her PSG teammate and rival Aminata Diallo from custody after nearly 35 hours of questioning. Diallo, who was arrested on Wednesday at her home near Paris, was driving Hamraoui home last week […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Lucas Paqueta's instinctive strike gave Brazil a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Colombia on Thursday to book their place at Qatar 2022. The five-time world champions join the hosts and Europeans Germany and Denmark as early qualifiers for next year's finals. The have produced a near perfect qualifying campaign, winning […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane suffered an injury that forced him to be substituted by Senegal 27 minutes into a World Cup qualifier against Togo that finished 1-1 on Thursday. The 29-year-old forward fell awkwardly after colliding with a defender as he sought to head the ball and had to be replaced […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hansi Flick became the first coach to win his first six games in charge of Germany on Thursday as his side crushed ten-man Liechtenstein 9-0 in a low-stakes World Cup qualifier. Having already secured qualification for next year's tournament in Qatar, Germany smashed nine past Group J's bottom side to hand Flick […]

London (AFP) – Spain took a huge step towards next year's World Cup in Qatar as a 1-0 win in Greece coupled with Sweden's shock 2-0 defeat to Georgia on Thursday put Luis Enrique's men in pole position to qualify. Pablo Sarabia's penalty proved enough for La Roja to take all three points in Athens […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years. Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming rain. Saudi Arabia could […]

London (AFP) – Sweden slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat in Georgia on Thursday handing Spain a lifeline in their bid to secure qualification for next year's World Cup in Qatar. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck twice in the second half for the hosts in Tblisi as a Sweden side boasting Zlatan Ibrahimovic and rising star Alexander […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is set to make his return from injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, his coach Lionel Scaloni said on Thursday. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner missed the last two matches with his club Paris Saint-Germain due to knee and hamstring issues. He had been expected […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley says the struggling Premier League club will back new boss Eddie Howe in the January transfer window as they battle to avoid relegation. Howe was hired earlier this week as Newcastle's wealthly new Saudi owners seek to transform their club after years in the wilderness. Staveley, the public […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane admits he has struggled to cope with the mental and physical strain of returning to Tottenham duty in the aftermath of England's agonising Euro 2020 final defeat. England were denied their first major trophy in 55 years when they lost to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate says Mason Mount and Luke Shaw could miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino, but Jack Grealish is fit for the crucial fixtures on the road to Qatar. Southgate's side host Albania at Wembley on Friday and travel to San Marino on Monday as they look to […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain women's footballer Aminata Diallo faced further questioning from police on Thursday during a second day of detention over the assault of a teammate. Diallo was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a vicious attack on fellow midfielder and rival Kheira Hamraoui last week who was pulled from a car […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years. Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming evening rain. Saudi Arabia […]