SPORTS

Messi wary of wounded Real

Lionel Messi insists Barcelona are staying cautious ahead of the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona progressed to the quarter-final of the Champions League with a 3-1 aggregate win over Manchester City on Wednesday, and could go four points clear of Real Madrid with a Clasico win on Sunday. But Messi, who has scored 20 goals in 18 games ...

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Man City knocked out by Barca

Lionel Messi’s masterclass dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League as the Premier League failed to provide a team in the last eight for the second time in three seasons. Already leading 2-1 from the first leg of the last-16 tie, Barca tore through City as Neymar hit the post early on. Messi set up Ivan Rakitic, who lobbed ...

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Kampamba joins Zambia U23 camp

Zambia’s countdown to their 2015 All-Africa Games qualifier against Nigeria has received a boost with the arrival of Egyptian-based striker Ronald Kampamba. The 21-year-old striker from Wadi Degla arrived in Zambia on Monday from his Cairo base and joined the team at training on Tuesday in Lusaka. Coach Fighton Simukonda said it was a big relief to have one of ...

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Mancini: Pellegrini ‘got lucky’

Roberto Mancini says his Manchester City successor Manuel Pellegrini should be winning a trophy every year. Mancini thinks Pellegrini was “really lucky” to inherit a strong side from him and he should be delivering continual success at the Etihad Stadium. Pellegrini did win two trophies last season, but the Chilean is now under heavy pressure with City faltering in their ...

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Valiant Arsenal out on away goals

Arsenal failed to make the Champions League last eight for the fifth straight season despite beating Monaco in the second leg of their last-16 tie. Needing to score at least three unanswered away goals after a 3-1 defeat at home, they went ahead through Olivier Giroud’s close-range finish. A lively Danny Welbeck went close to doubling the lead before half-time. ...

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Iniesta: City game most important

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta believes the Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City is more important than Sunday’s El Clasico. The Catalans come into the most important week of their season to date in fine form having won 16 of their last 17 games to move a point clear of Madrid at the top of La Liga and progress ...

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Chambeshi hurt by Nkana defeat

Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi says he is very disappointed to have stated the 2015 Faz Super League season with a defeat. The record twelve-time Zambian champions lost 1-0 at home to Red Arrows on Sunday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. Sunday’s defeat was also Nkana’s second successive league loss to Arrows who beat them 2-0 at the same venue towards ...

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Reading set up Cup semi with Arsenal

Bradford’s fairytale run was brought to an end as Reading sealed their first FA Cup semi-final appearance for 88 years. A Hal Robson-Kanu header and deflected Garath McCleary shot in the opening nine minutes set the Championship side on the way to a sixth-round replay win. Bradford’s Filipe Morais was sent off for a high challenge on 63 minutes and ...

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Ramos: It’s hard being Ronaldo

Sergio Ramos has backed Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of criticism of the Portuguese forwards reaction to Gareth Bales goals in Real Madrids win over Levante. The Madrid number seven seemed more concerned that his effort had been cleared off the line than the fact that Bale had tucked away the rebound for the opener and was equally frustrated when ...

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Chilombo rues Amajita loss

Zambia U20 men’s national team coach Hector Chilombo shared his disappointment over the nature of his side’s 5-2 loss to South Africa at the 2015 African Youth Championships on Sunday. “We took time to settle and perhaps we gave to much respect and room for South Africa to capitalise on our shortcomings,” Chilombo told fazfootball.com. “When we went to the ...

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