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 […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla produced another late fightback to remain just one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid after twice coming from behind to edge out rock bottom Osasuna 4-3 on Sunday. However, Atletico Madrid lost further ground on the top three as they needed a spectacular Antoine Griezmann equaliser 10 minutes from time […]

London (AFP) – Ten-man Arsenal went second in the Premier League with a stunning 2-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday that saw both sides score penalties in stoppage-time. Shkodran Mustafi's first Arsenal goal put the Gunners 1-0 up in the 59th minute and that was how the score looked like it […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hakan Calhanoglu finally broke Bayer Leverkusen's penalty curse this season with the first of his two goals in Sunday's 3-1 Bundesliga win at home to Hertha Berlin. The Turkish international winger drilled home from the spot on 36 minutes to put his side 2-0 up — holding his nerve after Leverkusen had […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger apologised for his behaviour after the Arsenal manager was sent off for rowing with fourth official Anthony Taylor during his team's explosive 2-1 win against Burnley on Sunday. With the Gunners already down to 10 men following referee Jon Moss's decision to send off Granit Xhaka for a reckless lunge, […]

London (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez kept his nerve to haul 10-man Arsenal into second place in the Premier League as the Chilean's last-gasp penalty sealed a dramatic 2-1 home win over Burnley on Sunday. Arsene Wenger's side appeared to have blown their chance to get back in the title race when Burnley's Andre Gray scored […]

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 […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa returned to Chelsea's starting XI for the Premier League leaders' home game against Hull City on Sunday. The Brazil-born Spain striker, Chelsea's top scorer with 14 goals, missed last weekend's 3-0 win at Leicester City due to a back complaint. But he was reported to have had a furious training-ground […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla produced another late fightback to remain just one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid after twice coming from behind to edge out rock bottom Osasuna 4-3 on Sunday. Sergio Leon and a Vicente Iborra own goal put the hosts in front early in each half. But Iborra twice levelled before […]

Milan (AFP) – Paulo Dybala hit a fifth-minute opener and Gonzalo Higuain added a quick second as Juventus humbled Lazio 2-0 on Sunday to restore their four-point lead over Roma. Despite a poor record against the Turin giants in recent years, Lazio travelled to Turin looking to end the Serie A champions' 26-match unbeaten league […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Southampton put the row over former captain Jose Fonte's departure to one side as they beat struggling champions Leicester 3-0 in the Premier League at St Mary's on Sunday. Fonte joined top-flight rivals West Ham in an £8 million ($9.9 million, 9.2 million euros) move on Friday, with the Portugal […]

Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Star-packed Algeria came to the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as one of the title favourites, but they need a miracle in Franceville Monday to reach the quarter-finals. A team including African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez must defeat Group B winners Senegal, and hope fellow strugglers Zimbabwe beat […]