Libreville (AFP) – Burkina Faso scored twice in the closing stages to beat Tunisia 2-0 Saturday and become the first qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Substitute Aristide Bance scored on 81 minutes after a controversially awarded free-kick with big-screen replays suggesting the hand-ball decision was wrong. Prejuce Nakoulma doubled the lead three […]

London (AFP) – Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure scored as Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Gabriel Jesus, City's £27 million ($33.9 million, 31.7 million euros) signing from Palmeiras, marked his full debut by setting up Sterling for City's […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship club Wolves as Tottenham Hotspur survived a potential giant-killing of their own by twice coming from behind in a 4-3 win over fourth-tier Wycombe Wanderers at White Hart Lane. Seven-times FA Cup winners Liverpool lost 2-1 at home to second-tier Wolves as […]

Berlin (AFP) – Second-placed RB Leipzig ended 10-man Hoffenheim's unbeaten run this season with a 2-1 comeback win in Saturday's key Bundesliga clash to stay just three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Hoffenheim were the last undefeated team left in Europe's top leagues but Marcel Sabitzer's 77th-minute winner dealt the visitors their first loss of […]

Monaco have the perfect opportunity to cement their status as favorites for the Ligue 1 title on Sunday, as they head to the capital to take on champions Paris Saint-Germain. The visitors, who sit top of the pile in France’s top flight, have evolved into the most exciting team in European football, netting 64 goals […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Second-tier Wolverhampton Wanderers ensured Liverpool's season went from bad to worse as they knocked the seven-times winners out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Anfield on Saturday. Defeat meant Liverpool, 10 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, had been knocked out of two cup competitions in a matter of […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Morocco coach Herve Renard has called on his side to "seize the opportunity" at the Africa Cup of Nations after fulfilling their initial objective of reaching the quarter-finals. "It is already a privilege to be in the last eight but now we need to be much more ambitious than that," Renard […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insisted there is still plenty for the European champions to be positive about on Saturday despite a run of just one win in five games. Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo on Wednesday and have seen their lead at the top […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Egypt and Morocco is set to be a classic battle of managerial minds, bringing together a two-time winner of the trophy in Herve Renard and wily Hector Cuper. While Frenchman Renard has become a fixture on the African scene, and a successful one at […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Herve Renard will be hoping to move a step closer to winning a third Africa Cup of Nations crown when he leads Morocco into a quarter-final against Egypt in Port-Gentil on Sunday evening. The dashing Frenchman eliminated the Ivory Coast, the side he led to the title in 2015, as Morocco […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States coach Bruce Arena will have his eyes firmly fixed on World Cup qualifying Sunday as he launches the first match of his second stint in charge with a friendly against Serbia. Arena, who returned to the helm last November following the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann, has only two friendlies […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Anthony Martial’s Manchester United future has looked to be in severe doubt lately, so Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan carries extra significance for him. United boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the France forward will start the match, having been omitted from the squad for the last […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola insists chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is happy with Manchester City's season — as he promised Sam Allardyce a hug. City go to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with Guardiola aiming to keep his hopes for a first trophy in England alive on two […]

London (AFP) – Anthony Martial can play his way into Manchester United's starting XI with a convincing performance against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday, manager Jose Mourinho has said. Martial was left out of the squad for last weekend's 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke City and Thursday's League Cup game at […]

Marseille (AFP) – Former France striker Bafetimbi Gomis notched a hattrick on Friday as Marseille returned to form with a 5-1 blitzing of Montpellier in Ligue 1. Marseille were coming off defeats against leaders Monaco and Lyon as they moved into the top five thanks to an irresistible attack showing at the Stade Velodrome. Handing […]