Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday gave details of the "dramatic" financial problems that persuaded him to release Lionel Messi. "The economic and financial situation of the club is worrying, and the financial situation is dramatic," Laporta told a two-hour press conference at the Camp Nou. Barcelona, he said, have debts of […]

Paris (AFP) – When an English Premier League season kicks off, one of the safest bets is that twice African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Salah will score. His goal for Liverpool in a 3-0 win at promoted Norwich City raised to five the number of consecutive seasons in which he netted on the opening […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane is in Tottenham's squad for their Europa Conference League tie this week as Nuno Espirito Santo admits he cannot wait for the transfer window to close and end speculation over the striker's future. Manchester City are keen to sign England captain Kane and were reported to have tabled a bid […]

Yaounde (AFP) – The Africa Cup of Nations in January and February is a "beacon of hope" for a Cameroonian economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic and two conflicts, businessmen and traders say. A sign of depressing times is that only a few merchants populate the once crowded aisles of a handicraft market in coastal […]

Yaounde (AFP) – "We are the champions" resonates in the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde as Cameroon sports minister Narcisse Mouele Kombi enters the main venue for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, surrounded by journalists. With the January 9 kick-off of the 24-team tournament drawing closer, the government is emphasising that the central African country […]

Marseille (AFP) – Bordeaux striker Samuel Kalu collapsed on the pitch in a French Ligue 1 game at Marseille on Sunday where temperatures hit a sweltering 30 degrees. The 23-year-old Nigerian international fainted and slumped to the Stade Velodrome surface in the early stages of the match. Worried teammates gathered around the stricken Kalu and […]

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux's Remi Oudin said he was happy after his side came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Marseille on the weekend that Lionel Messi was unveiled to the Paris Saint-Germain crowd. The hosts led at half-time thanks to goals from in-form Dimitri Payet and Turkey winger Cengiz Under […]

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Marseille on the weekend that Lionel Messi was unveiled to the Paris Saint-Germain crowd. The hosts led at half-time thanks to goals from in-form Dimitri Payet and Cengiz Under before 18-year-old defender Timothee Pembele and Remi Oudin scored for the visitors. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi by defeating Real Sociedad 4-2 in their La Liga opener at the Camp Nou on Sunday even if fans admitted it felt like "a leap into the unknown". Captain Gerard Pique gave them a 19th minute lead with his 50th goal for the club. Martin Braithwaite […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo told Harry Kane to get fit and be ready to help Spurs after beating defending champions Manchester City 1-0 to open their Premier League season on Sunday. Kane was absent from the Spurs squad with his future at the club still in doubt over interest from City. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Defending champions Atletico Madrid got their Spanish Liga season underway with a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday as Barcelona braced for "a leap into the unknown" without Lionel Messi. Angel Correa gave Atletico the lead after 23 minutes after being set up by Thomas Lemar. Correa added a second goal […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham shrugged off the absence of Harry Kane to give Nuno Espirito Santo a dream start as manager as Son Heung-min's strike beat Premier League champions Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday. Nuno left Kane out his squad with the England captain closely linked with a move to City, who showed why they […]

Paris (AFP) – Seko Fofana clinched a point for Lens after Saint-Etienne's Wahbi Khazri had opened the scoring early on in Sunday's 2-2 draw on the weekend that Lionel Messi was unveiled to the Paris Saint-Germain crowd. A capacity crowd of 38,000 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis were stunned into silence after just 20 seconds as Khazri tapped home […]

Berlin (AFP) – American Jesse Marsch lost his first Bundesliga game as head coach of RB Leipzig on Sunday after his side suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Mainz, whose preparations had been badly hit by an outbreak of Covid-19. After winning back-to-back Austrian league and cup titles with Red Bull Salzburg, Marsch moved to […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – West Ham twice came from behind to get their Premier League season off to a flying start with a 4-2 win at Newcastle in front of over 50,000 fans at St James' Park on Sunday. Roared on by the Magpies' first capacity home crowd for 17 months, Newcastle started brightly […]