Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Scotland's Oliver Burke plans to fly his mum over to Germany to supply a taste of home cooking as he seeks to cement his future at RB Leipzig. A Scotland international at just 19, the pacy teenage winger was told to forget everything he had learned tactically at Nottingham Forest after […]

London (AFP) – Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahmovic says the pressure on him that comes from outside is like a kindergarten compared to the pressure he places on himself every time he trains or plays for Manchester United. The 35-year-old striker — who has defied the sceptics who thought he was too old to flourish at […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Torino on Monday keeping their bid for Europe alive by moving fifth in the Serie A table. Andrea Belotti had put Torino ahead after 21 minutes with his 14th league goal of the season and Marco Benassi adding a second […]

Oyem (Gabon) (AFP) – Junior Kabananga pounced on a goalkeeping error to give the Democratic Republic of Congo a 1-0 win over Morocco in an Africa Cup of Nations upset on Monday in Gabon. Success came two days after the central Africans refused to train over a bonuses row and a red card and an […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA warned Liverpool on Monday they cannot play Joel Matip unless Africa Cup of Nations participants Cameroon give the Premier League title-chasers permission. The key central defender missed Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday amid a disagreement over his international status and he could be unavailable for the next month. […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – If he plays in Egypt's opening Africa Cup of Nations fixture against Mali in Port-Gentil on Tuesday, goalkeeper Essam El Hadary will smash the record for the oldest player ever at the tournament. El Hadary turned 44 on Sunday, leaving him poised to beat the previous mark set by his fellow […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League table-toppers Spartak Moscow have signed Brazilian international forward Luiz Adriano from AC Milan, the Moscow club said on Monday. No financial details of the deal were disclosed but Russian media reported a fee of one million euros ($1.06 million) for the 29-year-old striker. "I'm very happy with a move […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez on Monday admitted defrauding Spanish tax authorities of 983,443 euros ($1 million) while playing for Barcelona. The 28-year-old Chile international's confession could see him receive a fine and possibly a non-custodial prison sentence. Giving evidence via video link from London, Sanchez "recognised a tax error which he has […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Uganda coach Milutin Sredojevic says it was Uganda's destiny to make their long-awaited return to the Africa Cup of Nations against Ghana as the teams prepare to meet on Tuesday. The Cranes have not appeared at the tournament finals since losing 2-0 to hosts Ghana in the final in Accra in […]

Oyem (Gabon) (AFP) – Ivory Coast made a disappointing start to their Africa Cup of Nations title defence Monday when held 0-0 by lowest Group C seeds Togo in Gabonese town Oyem. Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier came close to breaking the deadlock with two minutes remaining, heading a cross narrowly wide. The result maintained […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea striker Diego Costa trained alone for the second day in a row on Monday at the club's training base, British media reported, as he recovers from an apparent back injury. The Spain forward's Chelsea future was called into question after he was left out of the Premier League leaders' win at […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – It is 35 years since Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations but coach Avram Grant is looking to use the pressure to end that long drought as a positive. "I don't think you can achieve anything without pressure. We like to use pressure as a negative word but I think […]

London (AFP) – Yaya Toure is adamant Manchester City can still end the season as Premier League champions even after a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Everton left them 10 points behind leaders Chelsea. Sunday's reverse at Goodison Park prompted City manager Pep Guardiola to put an end to his side's title hopes by saying top […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Runners-up two years ago, Ghana start their latest bid to recapture the Africa Cup of Nations crown when they face Uganda in Port-Gentil in Group D on Tuesday. The Black Stars are in Gabon looking to win a fifth Cup of Nations but a first since 1982, and Israeli Avram Grant […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane urged his side to put their disappointment of a first defeat in 40 games behind them as Sevilla produced a remarkable late turnaround to breathe new life into the Spanish title race with a 2-1 win on Sunday. Zidane's men looked set to extend their commanding lead […]