Ambroise Oyongo netted a late equaliser to secure Cameroon a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D match against Mali in Malabo on Tuesday evening. . After a goalless first half, the Eagles broke the deadlock through Sambou Yatabare with just under 20 minutes to play, but the Indomitable Lions equalised in the 84th minute to secure a share of the spoils. . The result leaves all four teams level on one point in Group D, as the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea also ended in a 1-1 draw. . Mali looked the stronger team…
Author: David F.
Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks but the Argentina captain showed again on Sunday he is not letting it distract him from what he does best. . Messi followed up a brilliant showing in last weekend’s 3-1 La Liga win at home to champions Atletico Madrid with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna which kept Barca hard on the heels of leaders Real Madrid. . Reports have been swirling about a rift between Messi and Luis Enrique, with the four-times World Player of the Year apparently unhappy…
Real Madrid should have Croatia midfielder Luka Modric back from injury in a month’s time, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Sunday, suggesting he could be available for the holders’ Champions League last 16, first leg at Schalke 04. . Modric damaged a thigh muscle in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy in November and his place in the Real starting line-up has been filled by Spain playmaker Isco. . While Isco has performed admirably and is a favourite with the Real fans, Modric’s return will be a welcome boost and his reliable presence adds an extra level of control. .…
Fifa President Sepp Blatter said on Friday he has received personal assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that the country’s economic problems will not affect its ability to host the 2018 World Cup. . Blatter said he was “vigilant” about Russia’s economic situation after the ruble lost almost half of its value last year under pressure from the sinking world oil price and international sanctions. . Blatter said he had spoken with Putin during a visit to Russia on Friday and was assured “there is no intention to ask Fifa to change anything in the pattern and the program of…
Former France winger David Ginola will announce on Friday that he is entering the race to become president of world soccer’s governing body Fifa, The Sun reported on Thursday. . But the ex-Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur player has no chance of winning the election and is unlikely to get the required number of nominations to officially enter the race. . Ginola, who turns 48 later this month, will become the third candidate to announce he is standing after fellow Frenchman Jerome Champagne and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, according to The Sun newspaper’s website (www.thesun.co.uk). . Swiss…
European hopefuls West Ham United moved closer to the Champions League places on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Hull City at Upton Park. . The result sent the Hammers up to seventh with 36 points from 22 games, just four behind fourth-placed Manchester United. . After the visitors had battled manfully in the opening period, in-form Andy Carroll opened the scoring for West Ham with a simple finish in the 49th minute. . Substitute Morgan Amalfitano and the impressive Stuart Downing then applied neat finishes within three minutes of each other as West Ham reignited their top-four challenge…
Manchester City coped admirably when leading striker Sergio Aguero was on the treatment table earlier this season but take midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure out of the engine room and the machine starts grinding to a halt. . After a sluggish start to the season Ivory Coast’s Toure was at his marauding best in the final weeks of 2014, scoring six goals in eight games as champions City closed an eight-point gap to Chelsea in the Premier League. . Since he departed for the African Cup of Nations, however, City have lost momentum, drawing 1-1 with Everton last week and on…
A change of tactics reaped rewards as a new, more subdued but more solid Arsenal arrived at Manchester City on Sunday, saw less of the ball than usual yet still masterfully outplayed the champions. . Arsenal registered just 35 percent possession – their lowest total since these statistics were first compiled 11 years ago – yet produced perhaps their finest performance in recent seasons to end their away-day woes against the Premier League elite with a 2-0 win. . At the same Etihad venue last season, Arsenal commanded 48 percent of the ball but in attempting to go toe-to-toe with…
Real Madrid ensured they will top La Liga at the midway point of the season when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a 3-0 win at Getafe on Sunday before Lionel Messi’s hat-trick helped Barcelona win 4-0 at Deportivo La Coruna. . The world’s two best players were once again in scintillating form but champions Atletico Madrid ensured they stayed in the hunt with a 2-0 success at home to bottom club Granada that lifted them back into third place. . Real, who have a game in hand, have 45 points from 18 of 38 matches, with Barca on 44 and…
Arsenal ended their away hoodoo against Premier League title challengers with a 2-0 victory at Manchester City on Sunday that left Chelsea five points clear at the top. . Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal the lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute, after returning City skipper Vincent Kompany felled Nacho Monreal, and Olivier Giroud doubled the lead in the 67th minute with a deft header from Cazorla’s free kick. . City included fit-again Sergio Aguero in their starting line-up for the first time since early December but the Argentine was largely anonymous against a vastly-improved Arsenal defence. . The…
DR Congo came from a goal behind on Sunday to snatch a 1-1 draw with Zambia in the two sides’ opening Group B match at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Ebebiyin. . The Leopards were the better side throughout despite Zambia taking the early lead through Given Singuluma before Yannick Bolasie equalised after the break. . Singuluma put Zambia ahead in the second minute to give Honour Janza’s side a 1-0 lead going into the break. . The TP Mazembe striker whipped in a rebound after his club-mate Robert Kidiaba parried Rainford Kalaba’s shot that fell at Singuluma’s…
Cape Verde equalised from the penalty-spot to hold fancied Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B clash at the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. . Cape Verde had the better of the opening period, but having rode their luck to go into the break goalless, the north Africans took the lead with a neat move finished by Mohamed Moncer at the back-post. . But the lead lasted just seven minutes as Heldon won and then converted a penalty to earn his side a very good point. . Tunisia enjoyed most of the possession in…
The 26-year-old, who scored 20 goals in the 2014 calendar year, more than any other Premier League player, joined Swansea from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for 12 million pounds in 2013. . “As a player it’s always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now – I’m really proud, Bony, who is preparing for the African Cup of Nations, told City’s website. . “I felt excited to wait for this moment and now it’s come, it’s fantastic.” . Bony signed a one-year…
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian converted the decisive spot-kick in a penalty shootout against 10-man Everton to send the Londoners into the FA Cup fourth round after a pulsating replay at Upton Park on Tuesday. . Adrian fired past opposite number and Spanish compatriot Joel Robles immediately after the Everton keeper had crashed his spot kick against the crossbar as West Ham won 9-8 on penalties. . The match had finished 2-2 after extra time following a highly entertaining 120 minutes at Upton Park. . “What a game. It’s a long time since I’ve experienced so many highs and lows…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini will trawl the January transfer market in search of a striker tasked with helping the Premier League champions to successfully defend their title. . City, who sit level on 46 points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, have lacked attacking options in recent weeks after injuries to strikers Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic. . Despite the injured trio being well on the road to recovery, Pellegrini hopes to sign a striker to fill the void left by Alvaro Negredo who was sold to Valencia in September. . “We are…
Reports have emerged that English club, West Bromwich Albion, are ready to part ways with their record signing, Brown Ideye. . The West Midlands club are prepared to listen to offers for the Nigerian striker in the ongoing transfer window following a disappointing start to his time in England. . West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, is reportedly hoping to overhaul his playing personnel with Ideye among the players facing the exit door at The Hawthorns. . However reports in England now suggest that West Brom could farm out Ideye on loan at first and then allow the Nigerian to leave…
Dolphins attacking winger, Emem Eduok, can now return to international football after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lifted his suspension. . Eduok was expelled from the Super Eagles on Tuesday following a transfer confusion over him after it emerged that he signed for Sarpsborg 08 in Norway and Tunisian club, Esperance. This suspension came just days before this Sunday’s international friendly against Ivory Coast in Abu Dhabi. . “We are not happy with the cloud of controvery over his transfer issue and it is a terrible distraction to the team and Nigeria football generally. Telling him to leave the camp…
Neymar’s double helped Barcelona cruise to a 5-0 victory in the first leg of their King’s Cup last 16 tie against Elche on Thursday to ease the pressure on coach Luis Enrique. . The Brazilian put the Catalan club ahead after 34 minutes when he fired home following a well worked move and after that the flood gates opened against the bottom side in La Liga. . Six minutes later Luis Suarez slotted past Przemyslaw Tyton after creating the chance with a delightful dummy as he allowed the ball to run through his legs before bearing down on goal. .…
With just one player left on Manchester United’s injury list and a new goalkeeper signed, manager Louis van Gaal is starting to enjoy life at Old Trafford as he tries to assemble the “best team in the world”. . Third-placed United, unbeaten in their last 11 matches in all competitions, host fourth-placed Southampton at Old Trafford on Sunday with just a point separating the sides after 20 matches. . United were plagued by injuries at the start of the season but the treatment room has an emptier feel now as a number of first-team players close in on returns. .…
Level at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea and Manchester City know neither can afford to slip up this weekend. . Joint Premier League leaders Chelsea and Manchester City go into the weekend’s round of fixtures with a dual purpose of maintaining form and avoiding mistakes. . Chelsea host managerless Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge while City are away to out of form Everton. . The leaders have 45 points each and an identical goal difference of 44-19. . Chelsea are likely to start with Diego Costa after he was a substitute in the FA Cup win over Watford…