SPORTS

Zimbabwe, dubbed “The Warriors” by home fans, return to the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time hoping to shrug off their minnows tag after failing to make it beyond the group stages in 2004 and 2006. The southern African nation is pinning its dreams on players like Belgium-based striker Knowledge Musona, who is leading scorer at top-flight side ...

Defending champions Ivory Coast have been given extra financial support for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Ivorian government has approved a near €6 million euros (£5.1m) budget for the team’s campaign in Gabon. It is an increase of €600,000 euros (£507,000) from the last finals in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. Ivory Coast kick off their tournament ...

Jermain Defoe scored two penalties as third-bottom Sunderland prevented Liverpool from significantly trimming Chelsea’s lead at the Premier League summit in a 2-2 draw on Monday. Liverpool twice went ahead, through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, but Defoe’s two spot-kicks mean Chelsea will move eight points clear if they win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. “I am not able to ...

Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud’s stunning strike against Crystal Palace as a work of art and one of the top five Arsenal goals in his 20-year reign. Giroud’s mid-air back-flicked volley gave Arsenal the lead at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and set them on course for a 2-0 victory. The France forward’s sumptuous scorpion-kick goal will undoubtedly rate as ...

Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe has pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals to stay with his Premier League team despite recently switching his allegiance from England to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese football federation (Fecofa) on Monday confirmed Afobe’s withdrawal from a 31-man preliminary squad, who have gathered in Yaounde, Cameroon for pre-tournament preparations. “Afobe has ...

Morocco have named their final squad to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon which kicks off on January 14. The Atlas Lions who are in Group C at Afcon 2017 alongside DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo play their opening match on the 16th against the Leopards in what is expected to be a cracker. Morocco ...

Senegal restored experienced defender Cheikh Mbengue and striker Moussa Sow to their 23-man squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon. The pair had missed November’s World Cup qualifier in South Africa but both return to participate at their third Nations Cup tournament. Henri Saviet of St Etienne was also recalled by coach Aliou Cisse for the ...

An injury to influential striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be disastrous for Manchester United, according to manager Jose Mourinho, who is willing to let winger Memphis Depay leave in January for the right price. Ibrahimovic needs one goal against Middlesbrough later on Saturday to equal the 50-goal mark of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and few would rule out the prospect of the ...

Arsene Wenger admits a reunion with old rival Sam Allardyce could pose serious danger to Arsenal’s hopes of rekindling their title challenge when Crystal Palace visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Wenger has traded barbs with Allardyce numerous times in the past and the sight of the Palace boss glowering down the other end of the touchline might give the ...

Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has dropped four players including Sweden-based Ronald Mukiibi, upcoming goalkeeper Ismail Watenga, Vitalis Tabu and Derrick Nsibambi ahead of the Cranes trip to Tunisia on Friday. The exit of the quartet as well as Ethiopian based Yasser Mugerwa leaves 26 players in contention for 23 places as Uganda prepares for her return to Afcon after ...