Sport

Sunday, 26 November 2017 02:58

Messi signs new contract with Barca until 2021

Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021, the Liga leaders confirmed, ending speculation that the five-times world player of the year could leave the club where he has spent his entire career for free next June. "FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season," said a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside president Josep Maria Bartomeu. "The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (626.25 million pounds)."Messi, 30, agreed the new contract…

Saturday, 25 November 2017 02:41

Oscar Pistorius jail term for killing Reeva Steenkamp more than doubled

A South African court has increased Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius's jail sentence for killing his girlfriend to 13 years and five months. Prosecutors had argued that the six-year term for murdering Reeva Steenkamp was "shockingly light". Ms Steenkamp's parents were "emotional" as they watched the ruling at home on TV, a spokeswoman said. "They feel there has been justice for Reeva. She can now rest in peace," Tania Koen told Associated Press. "But at the same time, people think this is the end of the road for them... the fact is they still live with Reeva's loss every day," Ms…

Thursday, 23 November 2017 03:36

Nigeria to take exciting crop of young talent to Russia

Nigeria are the only one of Africa's five representatives from the last World Cup who return for the 2018 edition in Russia and will be looking to better their place in the last 16 in Brazil. A crop of exciting youngsters headline a team representing Africa’s most populous nation and who will play at the World Cup for the fifth time, having mostly underachieved in the past. Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon represent a new generation that has emerged since the 2014 finals as Nigeria surprisingly qualified easily from a tough group that included Algeria, who…

Wednesday, 22 November 2017 04:00

FIFA hands down life ban to three

Fifa has given life bans to the former presidents of the Guam, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan football associations for corruption. Guam's Richard Lai, Venezuela's Rafael Esquivel and Nicaragua's Julio Rocha have been banned from all football-related activities for life. Football's world governing body began investigating Lau when he pleaded guilty to fraud in the USA in April.Esquivel and Rocha also pleaded guilty to fraud in May 2015. That was in the relation to the awarding of broadcasting and marketing contracts.Esquivel was a vice-president of the South American confederation Conmebol and Rocha is a former Fifa development officer. Lai is also a…

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 03:35

Wimbledon champion Novotna dies after battle with cancer

Czech tennis player Jana Novotna, who won the 1998 Wimbledon championship after falling short in two previous finals, has died at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said on Monday Novotna died on Sunday surrounded by her family in the Czech Republic.In a career spanning 14 years that included 24 WTA singles titles and 76 doubles titles, Novotna won her only singles grand slam at Wimbledon in 1998 after losing in the 1993 and 1997 finals. She won the hearts of fans around the world when she burst into tears after…

Thursday, 16 November 2017 03:42

Nigeria promises to avoid pay disputes at the World Cup

Nigeria's football federation (NFF) has signed an agreement with its players which it says will avoid the bonus and pay rows that have blighted the team's past World Cup campaigns. In a statement, NFF described it as an "historic and binding agreement that will eliminate all manner of rancour and distractions around Nigeria's preparation and participation" at the World Cup in Russia next year. Nigeria, who have qualified for their sixth World Cup, have reached the round of sixteen three times and been eliminated in the group stage twice. Super Eagles were involved in a protracted dispute ahead of the…

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 03:54

Super Eagles defeat Argentina 4-2 in glamour game

Nigeria’s Super Eagles inspired by captain Mikel John Obi humbled Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina 4-2 inside the new Krasnodar Stadium in Russia on Tuesday night. Arsenal star, Alex Iwobi scored twice as the Eagles fought back from 2-0 down against an Argentina side that was without five time Ballon D’OR winner, Lionel Messi, to secure a stunning victory Sevilla star Ever Banega had beaten a poorly positioned Daniel Akpeyi in goal for Nigeria and who didn’t arrange his wall properly ‎in the 14th minute to give Argentina the lead. Sergio Aguero scored the Albiceleste's second 8 minutes later after he finished…

Monday, 13 November 2017 04:16

Cars burnt, police hurt in Brussels after Morocco World Cup success

Celebrations in Brussels to mark Morocco's return to soccer's World Cup finals for the first time in two decades turned violent late on Saturday, when crowds clashed with police, setting cars on fire and injuring 22 police officers. Images on social media showed overturned, burning cars and broken shop windows in Brussels city centre as well as police trucks firing water cannons at crowds gathered in front of the city's stock exchange. Brussels police said that of some 1,500 people had come to celebrate Morocco's 2-0 win over Ivory Coast, but that around 300 started to behave violently and attacked…

Sunday, 12 November 2017 02:51

Morocco, Tunisia qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup

Tunisia and Morocco have completed the roster of teams that would represent Africa at the Russia 2018 World Cup. Before Saturday, the trio of Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal had booked their tickets before the two North African countries also came on board to Russia. Morocco sealed its place in Russia in style as they went to Abidjan and beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-0. The two goals were scored in the first half through Nabil Dirar and Medhi Benatia. The Atlas Lions are returning to the World Cup for the first time in 20 years after they last made it in 1998.…

Sunday, 12 November 2017 02:49

BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017: The five contenders

The five-man shortlist of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane, Victor Moses and Mohamed Salah has been revealed and voting for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017 is now open.If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote. Here, BBC Sport profiles the men in the running for the honour: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Gabon and Borussia DortmundNot once in the long history of the Bundesliga had an African ever topped the league's scoring charts outright until Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit 31 goals in 2016-17. The tally not only enabled the Gabon international…

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Saturday, 11 November 2017 03:10

Nigeria held away in final qualifier in Algeria

Already-qualified Nigeria failed to finish their preliminary campaign on a winning note but got in some good preparation for next year's World Cup in a feisty 1-1 draw away at Algeria on Friday. Nigeria had already secured qualification last month and without the injured Victor Moses, and John Obi Mikel on the bench, they used the outing to give other players an opportunity to stake their claim for a place at the finals in Russia. Obi Mikel's midfield replacement John Ogu hammered home a left footed strike in the 63rd minute, taking advantage of a poor defensive clearance, to give…

Saturday, 11 November 2017 03:08

Senegal beat South Africa to qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup

Senegal qualified for their second-ever World Cup on Friday after a 2-0 win over South Africa. A goal from Diafra Sakho and an own goal by Thamsanqa Mkhize was all the West African country needed to defeat the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts. Senegal’s qualification is their first since the nation reached the quarterfinal at the 2002 World Cup. Friday’s match was a replay of an earlier World Cup qualifier between the two nations that was characterised by match-fixing allegations. Though Senegal will still host South Africa in their final qualification match on Tuesday in Dakar, it would not reflect…

Thursday, 09 November 2017 04:16

Joshua the target as heavyweight hype packs a new punch

Anthony Joshua woke up on Wednesday to find himself more of a wanted man than ever in boxing's entertaining new era of old-fashioned heavyweight hoopla and intrigue. The Briton is at the heart of a long-overdue heavyweight revival, the money-spinning focus for three other unbeaten champions who, like him, believe they can unify the division and become undisputed owner of the sport's most prestigious title. Joshua, who holds the WBA and IBF versions of the crown, was called out by both America's WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and New Zealand's Joseph Parker, the WBO holder, on Wednesday as the hype…

Thursday, 09 November 2017 04:14

Final three African World Cup slots to be settled

Senegal and Tunisia are on the brink of qualification for next year's World Cup finals but the tussle between the Ivory Coast and Morocco is set for a dramatic finale in Abidjan at the weekend. Egypt and Nigeria have already claimed two of the five African slots for the tournament in Russia and the final set of qualifiers being played over the next week will determine the other three. Senegal could be the first through on Friday if they win away against South Africa to guarantee top spot in Group D. The match in Polokwane is a replay of last…

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