London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side had put on a united front after Diego Costa marked his return with a goal in a 2-0 victory over Hull City. Absent from Chelsea's 3-0 win at Leicester City amid reports he had been unsettled by an offer from China, Costa celebrated his opener […]

Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – He may have found himself alongside Wayne Rooney on the Manchester United's substitutes' bench, but for fellow Old Trafford forward Jesse Lingard the record-breaking goal-scorer remains a role model. Rooney surpassed Bobby Charlton's tally of 249 goals for United when he scored with a superb curling free-kick deep into stoppage-time […]

Libreville (AFP) – Gabon talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted that the Africa Cup of Nations hosts had blown their chance and blamed a poor build-up to the tournament after they were sent packing in the group stage on Sunday. "We had chances. Unfortunately there are days when it doesn't go in," said the Borussia Dortmund striker, […]

London (AFP) – Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason was in a "stable condition" in hospital on Sunday following an operation on a fractured skull, his club said after a sickening clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill, The pair collided 14 minutes into Premier League leaders Chelsea's eventual 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. Medical staff […]

Libreville (AFP) – There was agony for Gabon on Sunday as the Africa Cup of Nations hosts were condemned to a group-stage exit following a goalless draw with Cameroon in Libreville. Star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was guilty of a glaring early miss while Denis Bouanga broke down in tears at the end after hitting the […]

Milan (AFP) – Edin Dzeko's second-half strike kept Serie A title challengers Roma in the hunt with a 1-0 win at home Cagliari that cut the gap on leaders Juventus to one point on Sunday. Fresh life was breathed into the race for the scudetto last week, especially for Roma and Napoli, when Juventus suffered […]

Paris (AFP) – Gabriel Boschilia and Valere Germain both struck twice as a rampant Monaco routed bottom side Lorient 4-0 on Sunday to climb two points clear of Nice at the top of Ligue 1. Brazilian striker Boschilia netted a brace inside the opening half hour as Monaco punished slack Lorient defending in driving rain […]

Libreville (AFP) – Gabon coach Jose Antonio Camacho refused to discuss his own future as he said bad luck was to blame for the hosts' early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. "I am sorry for the fans and for the team. We went out to win the game but football is […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all on target as Barcelona shrugged off the loss of the injured Sergio Busquets to remain just two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday. Sevilla separate the giants of Spanish football in second, just a point […]

Libreville (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations hosts Gabon crashed out of the competition in the group stage on Sunday after a goalless draw with Cameroon, who advance to the last eight. Gabon were left to regret an inability to convert their chances at the Stade de l'Amitie in Libreville, including one spectacular early miss […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets had to be stretchered off just eight minutes into the Catalans' trip to Eibar on Sunday with sprained ligaments in his right ankle. "Busquets has a sprained external lateral ligament in his right ankle. Tomorrow he will have more tests," Barca's official Twitter account confirmed. The Spanish international's […]

Libreville (AFP) – Burkina Faso and Cameroon secured progress to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday as hosts Gabon crashed out. Gabon were held to a 0-0 draw by Cameroon in Libreville, and their opponents went through to the last eight as runners-up in Group A. Burkina Faso won the group […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Algeria coach Georges Leekens admitted on Sunday that his side do not stand much chance of making it to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. "We know that the chances are not great. It does not only depend on us," said the Belgian ahead of Monday's final matches […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa marked his return to Chelsea duty by scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Hull on Sunday that saw the Premier League leaders go eight points clear after Arsenal went second by coming through late penalty drama. Brazil-born Spain forward Costa, who on Sunday took his Chelsea tally […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa marked his comeback with a goal as Chelsea overcame an obdurate Hull City side 2-0 on Sunday to surge eight points clear at the Premier League summit. Costa missed Chelsea's 3-0 win at Leicester City last weekend due to a back problem, amid reports he had rowed with a fitness […]