London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to aim for top spot in their Champions League group as they prepare to face Basel on Wednesday. Wenger's side have made it through the group stage for the past 16 years but have failed to get beyond the last 16 in the previous six attempts. The […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla took a big step towards reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in six years as Wissam Ben Yedder's header ensured a 1-0 win over Lyon on Tuesday. Ben Yedder was left with the simple task of heading into an empty net from Luciano Vietto's […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Title-holders Ivory Coast, hosts Gabon and former champions Algeria and Ghana were named Tuesday as the top seeds for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Ivory Coast defeated four-time champions Ghana after a penalty shootout in Equatorial Guinea last year to win the African football showpiece a second time. Algeria conquered […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce's straight-talking style helped land him the England manager's job, but just 67 days later it has cost him the dream role he coveted for years. Allardyce, known as "Big Sam", was secretly filmed by The Daily Telegraph giving advice on how to circumnavigate transfer rules and mocking the speech impediment […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne is out of Manchester City's Champions League trip to face Celtic in Glasgow, his manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on the eve of the game. "Kevin is not a big injury — in two and a half or three weeks, maybe he will be ready," Guardiola said at Celtic Park […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce's reign as England manager came to a humiliating end on Tuesday as he departed after just 67 days in charge following his controversial comments in a newspaper sting. Allardyce's reign was sensationally brought to a close as he paid the price for indiscreetly talking with undercover Daily Telegraph reporters posing […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sam Allardyce left his post as England manager 67 days after his appointment on Tuesday. Here AFP Sports looks at five other managers whose reigns lasted an even shorter space of time (days in brackets): Steve Bruce – Wigan (55) Ironically the front runner in the betting to fill the […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar said he will be looking to put bad memories of previous visits to the San Paolo behind him when Benfica face Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday. The 37-year-old spent "seven beautiful and successful" years with Serie A giants Inter Milan, helping them to Champions League […]

London (AFP) – Sam Allardyce has left his role as England manager by mutual consent, the Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday. Allardyce and the FA felt his position was untenable after he was caught making a series of controversial comments in an embarrassing newspaper sting. "The FA can confirm that Sam Allardyce has left his […]

Miami (AFP) – Former Argentina coach Gerardo Martino is heading to Major League Soccer after agreeing a deal with new expansion side Atlanta United FC, the club said Tuesday. Martino, who stepped down as Argentina coach this year after his team was beaten in the final of the Copa America Centenario in June, will oversee […]

Madrid (AFP) – Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm insists the German champions must be on guard to stop Antoine Griezmann as they travel to face their Champions League conquerors last season in Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Griezmann ousted two German sides from semi-finals in recent months as his away goal sealed Atletico's path to the […]

Monchengladbach (Germany) (AFP) – Luis Enrique has warned Barcelona to take nothing for granted when the Spanish giants, minus injured Lionel Messi, face Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday in the Champions League. "Above everything else, Gladbach inspire awe at home. They aren't just dangerous with the ball, they also attack early and high up the pitch," […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Napoli midfielder Jorginho insists his team have moved on from Gonzalo Higuain's shock departure to Juventus as they prepare to face Portuguese giants Benfica in the Champions League. Napoli, runners-up to Juventus in Serie A last season, host Benfica at the San Paolo in Group B on Wednesday looking to continue […]

London (AFP) – Nigel Pearson has been suspended as manager of Derby County, the English second-tier club announced on Tuesday, without providing an explanation. The move came following a meeting between Pearson and club chairman Mel Morris, with Derby releasing a statement a matter of hours before their Championship game at Cardiff City. "Derby County […]

London (AFP) – The issue of third-party ownership (TPO) of top footballers hit the headlines on Tuesday after England manager Sam Allardyce was apparently caught explaining how to dodge the rules imposed by his employer, the Football Association (FA). The practice is shrouded by complicated contracts and secrecy, but has been blamed for some of […]