Libreville (AFP) – Shock qualifiers Guinea-Bissau face hosts Gabon Saturday in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations opener, hoping to continue a Leicester City-like run in the competition. Traditional underachievers Leicester were the sensational winners of the 2015-2016 English Premier League, giving football minnows across the world belief that nothing is impossible. The west […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil won't base his contract talks with Arsenal solely on the uncertain future of the Gunners manager. Wenger's current deal only runs until the end of the season and he has yet to reveal whether he will extend his 20-year reign at the Premier League club. With Wenger's […]

Libreville (AFP) – New-look Ivory Coast are preparing to defend the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Gabon on Saturday, buoyed by encouraging results and impressive form from new recruit Wilfried Zaha. The Crystal Palace flier hopes to make an impact in a competition that boasts Europe-based stars like Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo returns for Real Madrid as the European champions put their Spanish record 40-game unbeaten run on the line for the second time in four days in a top of the table clash at Sevilla on Sunday. Victory for the hosts would blow the La Liga title race wide open with […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero said he scored "perhaps the best goal of my career" against Fiorentina, and he expects the Old Lady to continue outplaying La Viola when the sides meet on Sunday. For Del Piero, Juventus v Fiorentina is a "derby" and one in which he struck a superb volley […]

Paris (AFP) – With one eye twitching in the direction of Barcelona in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain head into their first taste of 2017 French league action with ground to make up. Saturday's game at a Rennes side with realistic designs on Europe will, PSG hope, reignite their form after an opening half of […]

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 leaders Chelsea will look to steady their nerves at Leicester. United go into the Old Trafford showdown in fine fettle after beating Hull in the League Cup […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Fresh from signing a new contract Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has demanded his team-mates ramp up their performances, beginning with the Premier League game at struggling Swansea on Saturday. Koscielny, who has committed himself to 2020 — which would mean the French defender has been at the Gunners for 10 […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino has challenged his Tottenham Hotspur players to demonstrate their growing maturity when they face West Brom on Saturday in the wake of their impressive victory over Premier League leaders Chelsea. Pochettino's side ended Chelsea's run of 13 successive league victories by extending their own winning run to six games and […]

Milan (AFP) – Juraj Kucka and Giacomo Bonaventura struck in four second-half minutes to fire AC Milan to a thrilling 2-1 Italian Cup win over Torino and a quarter-final tie with Juventus on Thursday. It means one of this season's Cup quarters will be a repeat of the 2015 Cup final, when Juventus beat Milan […]

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema struck deep into stoppage time as Real Madrid set a new Spanish record by extending their unbeaten run to 40 games in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Sevilla to progress to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday. Holding a 3-0 first leg lead, a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Real looked set […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw made in Libreville Thursday pitted Nigeria against South Africa in one of the 12 groups and Tunisia against Egypt in another. Nigeria and South Africa are in Group E with Libya and the Seychelles while Tunisia and Egypt are in Group J with Niger […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is set to receive the Freedom of the City after his outstanding career with the Premier League club. Gerrard, 36, captained Liverpool to Champions League and FA Cup triumphs after emerging from the youth academy to become one of the club's favourite sons. The Merseyside-born midfielder played 710 […]

London (AFP) – Swansea City have signed Dutch international winger Luciano Narsingh from PSV Eindhoven for £4 million ($4.9 million, 4.6 million euros), the Premier League strugglers announced on Thursday. The 26-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and becomes Paul Clement's first signing since he succeeded Bob Bradley as manager earlier this month. Right-footer Narsingh […]

London (AFP) – French holding midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has joined Everton from Manchester United for an initial fee of £20 million, the Merseyside club said on Thursday. The 27-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year contract in a deal that will rise to £24 million (27.5 million euros, $29 million) with bonuses. The move reunites Schneiderlin with Everton […]