SPORTS

Morocco has launched its campaign to host the 2026 World Cup in Casablanca. The North African nation, making its fifth bid to host the finals, faces competition from a joint bid proposed by Canada, Mexico and the USA. “Morocco 2026 will showcase the best of football, at the heart of the world,” bid chairman Moulay Hafid Elalamy said at Tuesday’s ...

The Ghana Olympic Committee is calling on corporate bodies to help them raise $57,000 to support Ghana’s first skeleton athlete Akwesi Frimpong’s participation at this year’s Winter Olympics games in South Korea. The competition which comes off from February 9 to 25 will see Ghana’s Frimpong who qualified for the multi-sports event by competing in 5 races on different ice ...

Ligue One leaders Paris Saint-Germain have signed former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra on an 18-month deal. Diarra, who last played for Abu Dhabi side Al-Jazira, with whom he spent eight months before leaving in December, is also who has also played for PSG’s French rivals Marseille, expressed happiness at the signing. He said: “I am very ...

Libya scored three minutes into stoppage time to edge Rwanda 1-0 Tuesday and snatch an African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals place behind Group C winners Nigeria. Relentless Libyan pressure in northern Moroccan city Tangiers finally paid off when substitute Elmutasem Abushnaf swept a low cross into the roof of the net. Nigeria topped the table with seven points, Libya had ...

With an ambitious target of becoming one of the greatest coaches in the world, former Black Stars defender John Pantsil has revealed his readiness to work under Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah. The former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach says he is ready to understudy the Black Stars manager in order to fulfil his career ambition. Pantsil who hanged his boots in ...

ANTONIO CONTE has admitted Chelsea can no longer compete with the Manchester clubs in terms of their spending power. The Chelsea manager believes United’s spectacular signing of Alexis Sanchez this week on a deal that makes him the best-paid player in England on a mammoth £350,000 a week, and City’s £124miillion summer outlay, only underlines they are out of reach ...

MANCHESTER UNITED are eyeing three more signings after the sensational capture of Alexis Sanchez. The Chile ace finally completed his move to Old Trafford yesterday with Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other way. Manchester United were after a winger, forward and a marquee signing, but the Independentsay Sanchez ticks all three boxes meaning they will now focus on midfield. It is claimed they ...

English Premier League leaders Manchester City received a boost on Monday with the news that influential midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has agreed to sign a new five-year contract with the club. The Belgian joined Manchester City from Wolfsburg in 2015, initially agreeing a six-year contract to stay in Manchester. However, his performances since, including 38 Premier League assists for City, ...

ARSENAL have agreed a contract package with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – but the deal is stalling over Borussia Dortmund’s search for a replacement. Arsenal have made their move for the Gabon star and want him to lead the club forward after selling Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. Gunners chiefs have been in Germany this week trying to thrash out a deal ...

Mischa Zverev has received a record Grand Slam fine for retiring from an Australian Open first-round match. The German 32nd seed was punished for “a poor first-round performance” under new rules aimed at curbing early withdrawals through injury. Zverev, 30, was fined $45,000 (£32,200) after pulling out during the second set of his match against South Korea’s Hyeon Chung on ...