More criticisms hit CAF Awards

Mohammed Saleh…set to win the CAF African player of the world award

For many football fans across the continent, there was more to the Confederation of African Football Awards ceremony held in Accra, Ghana on Thursday than meets the eyes. Some have tagged it “CAF’s Awards Night of Confusion.”

In particular, a majority of the fans are yet to come to terms with CAF on its choice of African Best 11 players. “Are there other qualities CAF see in a player than we do not see?” Coach Godfrey Esu queried in a chat with The Guardian yesterday.

“I am asking this question because some of us don’t really understand how CAF came about the choice of African Best 11 players without the likes of Sadio Mane of Senegal, Victor Moses of Nigeria and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon on the list. I am not impressed with the choice of players made by CAF and I think some people somewhere are just playing high-level politics with African football.

“If a Victor Moses, who won the English Premier League title with Chelsea in the 2016/2017 season, and contributed so much to Super Eagles’ qualification to the World Cup in Russia is not considered good enough to be part of CAF Best 11, it means something is wrong somewhere. CAF should make things clearer to us,” Esu, a veteran coach in the Nigerian Professional League stated.

Mane and Aubameyang, who ply their soccer trades with Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund made the top three of the African Player of the Year. While Mane came second behind Mohammed Salah, Aubameyang was third. Yet, the duo was ignored by CAF in its selection of the Best 11 Players for the continent. Those who made the list include Ayman Mathlouthi, Ali Maaloul, Eric Baily, Ahmed Fathy, Achraf Karim Bencharki, Karim Ilahmandi, Junior Ajayi, Mohammed Ounnajem and Khald Bo.

Even the choice of Salah as African Best Player of the Year ahead of Gabonese Aubamenyang is not going down well with some football enthusiasts. To them, Aubamenyang, who scored 31 goals in Bundesliga should have been given the award instead of Salah. The Egyptian polled 625 points, against 507 from Mane whilst Aubameyang finished a distant third with 311 points.


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Wenger gets three-match ban, fined £40,000

Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger. PAUL ELLIS / AFP

• Invited To Weah's Inauguration As Liberia's President
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has received a three-match touchline ban and has been fined £40,000 for his behaviour in the referee's changing room following last Sunday's draw at West Bromwich.

Wenger was furious after referee Mike Dean awarded the Baggies a late penalty for handball when a cross by Kieran Gibbs struck Calum Chambers at close range.He confronted Dean after the match, launching a foul-mouthed tirade after Jay Rodriguez converted the penalty to nick a 1-1 draw.

Wenger was charged by the Football Association earlier in the week and will now be absent from the Arsenal dug-out for their FA Cup third-round tie at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg against Chelsea and the following Sunday's trip to Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

A statement from the FA yesterday evening read: 'Arsene Wenger will serve a touchline ban for Arsenal's next three matches after he was charged with misconduct.

'It follows an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today at which the Arsenal manager admitted that his language and behaviour in the match officials' changing room after the West Brom game on Sunday was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee. He was also fined £40,000.'

But that could merely be the start of Wenger's trouble with the FA also having requested his observations over comments he made about officials before and after the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Wenger says he has been invited to former footballer George Weah's inauguration as Liberia's president. But Wenger expects to be too busy to make the trip from London for the Jan. 22 ceremony.

Wenger signed Weah for the Ligue 1 side in 1988, the striker winning the African Footballer of the Year award before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 1992.

Although Weah left Wenger and Monaco, he often credited the coach with having a significant influence on his career.Weah went on to play for AC Milan in 1995, becoming the first non-European to win the Ballon d'Or and establishing himself as one of the finest African footballers in history.

"I have been invited by George to come the day when he will be made president," Wenger told reporters yesterday."When you look at his life, the life of this guy is a real film. It can make a fantastic film."I remember seeing him for first time in Monaco, looking a bit lost, knowing no one, not being rated by anyone, but then becoming the best player in the world and today becoming president of his country.

"It's unbelievable. He was always strong mentally, convinced he was on a mission. I saw how much he suffered for his country during the war when he was at Monaco.

"He had such love and care for his people. I didn't think during that time that he'd become president, but I've seen him crying when there was war in Liberia.

"It's a happy story and I hope he does well, he is an example to every footballer."Wenger is doubtful that he will be able to attend the inauguration, though he did make a cheeky dig at the Football Association, as he has until 18:00 GMT today to answer a charge of improper conduct, which could result in a touchline ban."Maybe if I'm suspended I will have time to go," Wenger said to a chorus of laughter.

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….Mikel, Rohr, other National Team coaches voted Moses ahead of Salah

Victor Moses

It has been revealed that Super Eagles team captain, John Obi Mikel voted for his teammate and Chelsea star, Victor Moses ahead of Egypt and Liverpool striker, Mohammed Salah in the race for the African Footballer of the Year.

According to allnigeriansoccer.com, Moses, who could not make it to the top three on the CAF shortlisted players, was Mikel’s first choice, with Gabonese and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (second), Mohamed Salah (third), Naby Keita (fourth) and Sadio Mane (fifth).

The manager and captain of each national team were given the opportunity to nominate a first, second, third, fourth and fifth choice for the award; independent media and TV consultants also had a say in the voting.Salah was crowned African Player of the Year 2017 at the CAF Awards Gala 2017 on Thursday at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana.

In the same way, Super Eagles Franco-German coach Gernot Rohr, also opted for Victor Moses, Denis Onyango, Vincent Aboubakar, Keita Baldé and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He did not see Egypt and Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah as better choice than Moses.

Moses also picked up nominations from the coaches of Swaziland, Namibia and South Sudan, and the captain of South Sudan.The Super Eagles striker, who played a key role in Chelsea’s emergence as English Premier Leagues title winner in the 2016/2017 season finished fourth in the overall votes with 215 points, 410 less than the winner Mohamed Salah.

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Van Dijk scores winner on Liverpool debut

Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (C) celebrates with Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (2R) at the end of the English FA Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 5, 2018.Paul ELLIS / AFP

Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic late winner on his debut as Liverpool clinched a 2-1 victory over Everton in a heated Merseyside derby FA Cup tie at Anfield.

Liverpool had led 1-0 at the break after James Milner converted from the penalty spot but Everton looked to have secured a replay when Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised midway through the second half.

But Van Dijk, who became the world's most expensive defender when he joined the Reds from Southampton, headed home six minutes from time in the 230th meeting between the sides.

"What a night," said the Dutch defender. "It was thoroughly deserved, it felt amazing to be out there, the goal is very special for me and my family."Playing at Anfield for Liverpool is a dream for every player. To score a goal is even more special."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp handed a debut to record £75 million ($102 million, 85 million euros)signing Van Dijk as he selected arguably his strongest available starting line-up, in contrast to the 1-1 draw in the Premier League played out by the sides in December.

Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho was again ruled out with a thigh injury as speculation continues to mount over his future amid interest from Barcelona, while top-scorer Mohamed Salah was missing with a groin problem.

Everton, who confirmed the sale of midfielder Ross Barkley to Chelsea in the hours leading up to the match, were also at full strength.

The atmosphere in the stands crackled and on the pitch it was equally feisty. Wayne Rooney scythed down Joe Gomez early on and was shown a yellow card.

Chances, though, were at premium in the first half as Liverpool dominated possession.

Liverpool penalty
The breakthrough came five minutes after the half-hour mark when Liverpool were awarded a penalty by referee Bobby Madley.

Everton defender Mason Holgate used his arms on Adam Lallana, who had his back to goal inside the area, and the Liverpool midfielder went to ground.

Milner made no mistake with the spot-kick as he dispatched the ball past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with confidence.

Klopp felt it was not a spot-kick.

"It was a similar situation (to the penalty against Liverpool for Everton last month), the first one was no penalty in my opinion and this one wasn't also," he said. "It's the same. There is contact and the referee used his whistle. Exactly the same situation."

Tempers flared when Roberto Firmino was pushed into the advertising hoardings by Holgate before referee Madley stepped in to prevent the incident escalating further following an angry exchange of words.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce was more positive with his approach than the fixture last month, although the visitors found Liverpool’s defence, marshalled by Van Dijk, resilient and were unable to register a shot on target in the first half.

Rooney wrestled with Emre Can shortly after the break and perhaps fearing a red card was in the offing, Allardyce withdrew the experienced forward.

Liverpool continued to carve out chances but were unable to provide the decisive touch and Everton hit them with an equaliser on the counter attack.

Yannick Bolasie won possession and found Rooney's replacement Ademola Lookman, who showed superb awareness to break forward before he found Phil Jagielka on the edge of the box.

Rather than shoot himself the defender laid the ball off for Sigurdsson, who calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner of the net past the flat-footed Loris Karius.

However, Liverpool sealed passage to the fourth round -- and their first win in five attempts on home turf against the Toffees in the competition with a dramatic goal in the dying minutes.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's curling delivery was met by Van Dijk, who towered above Jagielka and powerfully headed home in front of the Kop with Everton goalkeeper Pickford partially at fault as he failed to punch clear.

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Lingard stunner propels Man Utd to FA Cup win

Manchester United's English midfielder Jesse Lingard (L) has a shot but doesn't score during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Derby County at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 5, 2018.Lindsey PARNABY / AFP

Jesse Lingard's latest wonder strike and substitute Romelu Lukaku's late effort secured Manchester United a 2-0 victory over Championship high-fliers Derby in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Both attempts, which came in the final six minutes, were worthy of a highlights package in the first FA Cup tie involving Premier League giants United in 13 years not to be televised live.

United had lost just one of their previous 35 FA Cup games against lower-league sides but were heading for a replay until one-time Rams loanee Lingard, with his eighth goal in 10 games, smashed home a swerving volley, with Lukaku then adding a second having broken from the halfway line.

"I was feeling that we were close to scoring and we never stopped trying," said United boss Jose Mourinho, who said the Championship was approaching Premier League quality.

"But when you get past 80 minutes and the goal hasn't come, you fear the second match. But the team kept trying so I knew the goal could arrive.

“It was a great shot by Jesse Lingard in the top corner, he's in a moment of confidence where things go well for him. He’s a good professional and a fantastic kid in the dressing room."

Last month's League Cup exit and a 15-point deficit to Manchester City in the Premier League had placed extra importance on this competition, and that was evident with the strong line-up Mourinho deployed.

Lingard, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford could all have scored inside an entertaining 19 minutes that suggested the television executives might have been wrong to snub the match.

Derby were encouraged by a couple of runs from former United youngster Tom Lawrence, while Marcus Olsson forced Sergio Romero to tip his header over the crossbar, with Alex Pearce heading the resulting corner into the Stretford End.

That was a good opening but nothing like the one Rashford spurned 10 minutes before the break.

For once Henrikh Mkhitaryan's delivery was perfect and an unmarked Rashford glanced a header onto a post from six yards out.

It was the type of miss that epitomised why Mourinho is reluctant to consider him as a central-striking alternative to Lukaku, whose arrival for the disappointing Mkhitaryan would soon come.

Before the interval there was still time for Rams stopper Scott Carson to make two saves, one a routine stop from another Rashford header and the other a palm over the top from a Pogba free-kick destined for the top corner.

- Lukaku on -
Half-time substitute Lukaku's first significant act was to close down Tom Huddlestone as the midfielder struck an effort that flew wide via an unsuspecting Luke Shaw.

Rashford's confidence, like Mkhitaryan's, looked shot and a free-kick that failed to get beyond a one-man wall was proof of that.

Pogba and Lawrence traded shots from distance that Carson and Romero pushed out before Mourinho sent for Anthony Martial.

After Pogba had placed an attempt just wide, Rashford was once again denied by the woodwork.

Martial's introduction had seen Rashford shift to the right and the England international collected a pass from Lingard and unleashed a well-struck attempt that beat Carson but came back off the base of a post.

There was a growing sense it was not going to be United's night. A Lukaku header came back of the other post, albeit after the offside flag had been raised, and Pogba scuffed a rebound wide after Carson repelled Lingard's attempt.

Yet Lingard would finally break the visitors' resistance, collecting a lay-off from Lukaku, teeing himself up and dispatching a swerving attempt into the corner of the net.

His 11th of the season was every bit as special as the efforts against Watford, Burnley and Everton.

Lukaku got in the act in the 90th minute, controlling Pogba's long clearance on his chest in midfield before playing a one-two with Martial and beating Carson with a powerful strike to wrap it up.

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AC Milan coach Gattuso looking at frugal January

Gennaro Gattuso PHOTO:AFP

AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said on Friday that the under-pressure club were looking at a frugal January transfer window after their summer spending spree failed to turn their ailing fortunes around.

"No player has asked to leave, the owners know that I'm okay," said Gattuso on the eve of Saturday's Serie A game against Crotone before the two-week winter break in Italy.

"The best gift would be not to lose players to injuries, I don't expect anything except to put my players in the best physical and mental condition."

Milan have fallen foul of UEFA's financial fair play regulations, with questions about the stability of the Chinese-led consortium that purchased the club from Silvio Berlusconi for 740 million euros in April.

Milan took a loan from US private equity fund Elliott worth more than 300 million euros.

New owner Li Yonghong then funded a 230-million-euro spending spree last summer but it has failed to produce immediate results.

Milan have slipped to 11th in the Italian league, 23 points behind leaders Napoli and some way back from the European aspirations of their new owners.

"The transfer window can't be a distraction," continued Gattuso who took over from Vincenzo Montella in November.

"We don't need to sign anyone because we have really good players and I want to work with these boys."

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Conte questions Mourinho's sanity after 'clown' barbs

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures during a UEFA Champions League Group C football match between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London on December 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte suggested on Friday that Jose Mourinho has "senile dementia" and that the Manchester United manager is still focused on events at Stamford Bridge two years after he was sacked.

Mourinho, who had two spells as Chelsea boss and is Conte's immediate predecessor, appeared to take a swipe at the Italian -- and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp -- for their antics in the technical area on Thursday, when he said he did not feel the need to behave like "a clown" on the touchline.

Asked about Mourinho's comments on Friday, Conte used the Italian phrase "demenza senile" in relation to the Portuguese, which translates as senile dementia.

"I think he has to see himself in the past -- maybe he was speaking about himself in the past," said Conte. "Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what's said in the past, which is his behaviour.

"Sometimes I think there is, I don't know the name, but demenza senile... when you forget what you do in the past."

Conte is in his second season as Chelsea head coach, as Mourinho is at United.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December 2015 and the Blues finished 10th, after which Conte guided them to the title in his first season as boss.

Conte added of the Portuguese: "There is a person that continues to look here. You understand? He went away, but he continued to look here."

The Italian, whose side play at Norwich in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, described the verbal sparring between Premier League bosses as "very strange" but he also responded to comments from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Wenger accused Eden Hazard of diving to earn a penalty in Wednesday's 2-2 Premier League draw, but Conte believes other decisions went the Gunners' way and referred to previous meetings.

"I think if Arsene Wenger watched the game again, (he would) understand he was very lucky during the game with the referee's decisions," said the Chelsea boss.

"Don't forget, in the last few games (with Arsenal) we finished the game with 10 men, when they won the FA Cup, the Community Shield. I think the referee's decision(s) were a bit strange.

"If I want I can talk about refereeing decisions for one month. But I don't want to do this. I think we must have respect for referees' decisions.

"I think Wenger has to accept the decisions. He's an old coach, he has a lot of experience, he won a lot. He has to continue to do what he did in the past."

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Sergio Ramos could miss two to three weeks

Sergio Ramos PHOTO:AFP

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos could miss two to three weeks, Spanish media estimated, after the club said on Friday that he has a calf injury.

"He has been diagnosed with a muscular tear of the left soleus muscle," Real Madrid said in a statement, adding that "his recovery will continue to be assessed."

Spanish sports daily Marca said Ramos could be out for between two and three weeks. That could mean he would miss the second legs of a Copa Del Rey tie against Numancia and four games in La Liga, but should have time to regain match fitness before the first leg of the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain on February 14.

Marca said that Ramos suffered the injury on Thursday in a training session for players who were not selected for the first leg against second-division Numancia which Real won 3-0.

The injury adds to Zinedine Zidane's problems for the league game in Vigo on Sunday. The Real coach is already without another defender Dani Carvajal, suspended for a red card in El Clasico in December.

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Wantaway Tevez poised to end miserable China spell

Carlos Tevez looks poised to end his miserable 12-month spell in China with the Argentine former international in talks with his club Shanghai Shenhua to terminate his mammoth contract.

It would allow the forward to seal a rumoured return to Boca Juniors, the club he left to join Shenhua in January 2017 on an estimated 730,000 euros a week, some of the highest wages in football.

A Shenhua spokesman told AFP on Friday that the club were in discussions with the former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus striker to end his contract.

The spokesman declined to give further details, but Tevez is thought to be on a two-year deal.

The 33-year-old scored just four times in the Chinese Super League (CSL), missed half the matches injured or out of shape and was a notable absentee when Shenhua won the FA Cup in November.

Tevez was not in the squad for either leg of the cup final against Shanghai SIPG and flew back to Argentina just as his side lifted the trophy.

Tevez, who has often found it difficult to settle anywhere, saw his time in China unravel quickly.

He arrived in Shanghai a year ago to a hero's welcome and was touted as a symbol of football's fast rise in the country.

But he soon fell out of favour with Shenhua fans who questioned his fitness and commitment.

He earned the unflattering nickname "Very Homesick Boy", a nod to past antics of jetting home to Argentina in times of strife, and he was accused of being overweight when new coach Wu Jingui took over at struggling Shenhua in September.

Wu later said that Tevez was working hard of his own volition to get fit and shed the bulk, but that did nothing to earn him a recall for the FA Cup final.

Tevez has been strongly linked by Argentine media with a return to Boca, where he made his name early in his career in his first stint at the club.

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Shocking: Messi could leave Barcelona for free

Lionel Messi has included a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave Barcelona on a free if Catalonia gains independence, according to reports.


Messi finally signed a new lucrative contract in November to make him the world’s highest-paid footballer.

His new deal will see him play at the Nou Camp through to 2021 and with a reported £623million release clause it is highly unlikely anybody will be able to prise him away from the La Liga side.

However, Messi took a long time before committing his long-term future at Barcelona.

According to UK Express, there are reports that the Argentina international wanted assurances he would be able to leave on a free if Catalonia achieved independence.

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Police confirm footballer’s death during soccer fracas in Ebonyi

The Police command in Ebonyi on Friday confirmed the death of a footballer during a football match in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

ASP Loveth Odaa, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the situation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying that several people were injured during the fracas on Thursday.

Odaa said that four police officers were critically injured during the fracas when police officers tried to stop angry fans from assaulting the officiating referee.

“The Ikwo Police Division received a distress call that the fans were assaulting the referee and our officers led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) rushed to the match venue.

“When they tried to rescue the referee from the fans’ onslaught, the fans left the referee and started attacking our officers.

“They started struggling with officers’ rifles and when they collected one, the DPO fired into the air to scare them and save his officers.

“One person was incidentally shot during the melee as the fans thoroughly prepared to attack us by arming themselves with dangerous weapons,” she said.

She added that the council’s chairman and the state governor’s aide on internal security, have met with the commissioner of police and promised to discuss with the Ikwo stakeholders to restore normalcy.

“One of the wounded police officers is an inspector and he just regained consciousness while other officers are still in critical condition.

“All we receive every time these government officials intervene are apologies as we have certainly been attacked by people of Ikwo LGA.

“The people should inform the police to withdraw its services if they don’t need us again, to enable us re-post our officers to areas where we are needed,” she said.

A source, however, revealed that the deceased, Obinna Igwe, was shot by a police officer during the fracas.

“The football match was between Ndufu Alike and Ndufu Echara teams, competing in the final of a Unity Cup competition, organised by the council’s boss, Mr John Nnabo, at Urban Secondary School Ndufu Echara.

“Trouble started when the centre referee issued a red card to an Ndufu Alike player, which eventually resulted in his team conceding a goal in the second half.

“The Ndufu Alike team and its fans were displeased with the development as the dismissed player surged towards the referee and attacked him, joined by his team-mates and fans,” NAN was told.

Efforts made by NAN to speak with the council boss proved abortive, but a stakeholder from the area, Mr Ephraim Nwancho, condemned the use of live ammunition by the police during the fracas.

“The police’s action was against the rules of engagement as they were dealing with unarmed citizens,” he said.

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Messi can quit Barca, if Catalonia leaves Spain

Barcelona's forward from Argentina Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match FC Barcelona vs Juventus at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE

Lionel Messi has ensured he could become a free agent if Barcelona no longer plays in a major European league as a result of Catalan independence, Spanish media wrote on Friday.

According to a report in Madrid daily El Mundo, the contract Messi signed last November includes a clause that he must remain a Barcelona player only as long as the club is playing in "a top-level European league."

A source at Barcelona told AFP that "for reasons of confidentiality the club never comments on contractual relations with players."

Catalonian nationalists proclaimed independence from Spain after a referendum on October 1, precipitating a crisis which is still unresolved.

The Spanish civil and football authorities have said repeatedly that Catalan secession would end the participation of the region's clubs in the Spanish League.

If Catalonia becomes independent and Barcelona are booted out of La Liga and cannot persuade another major league (France, Italy, Germany or England) to give them a home, Messi could leave without having to pay his 700 million euro ($843 million) buyout clause, said El Mundo.

The newspaper said that leaving La Liga would have the same impact on the rest of the Barcelona squad, whether they have specific clauses or not, because it would represent a substantial change to the circumstances under which they signed their contracts.

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Wenger sticking to his guns in penalty row

Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger gesturing on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England.Under fire from furious fans and unable to placate his unsettled stars, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger finds himself assailed by familiar problems just weeks into the new season as he battles to salvage his tarnished reputation. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony Devlin 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains unrepentant over recent comments about penalty decisions against the Gunners after the FA asked the Frenchman to clarify his position.

"I maintain what I said in the press conference -- 100 per cent," Wenger said.

"I try to serve this game with honesty and integrity and when I have something to say I will say it."

Wenger said referees were living in the dark ages and even siding against his team after a series of refereeing decisions -- including against West Brom on Sunday and Chelsea on Wednesday -- cost Arsenal dearly.

Before the game against Chelsea Wenger said: "What is frustrating for me is that it happened many times this season -- at Stoke, at Watford, at Manchester City, at West Brom. That is a concerning coincidence for me."

And Wenger was swift to raise the stakes again after the draw with top-four rivals Chelsea, saying the penalty count against Arsenal was "not coincidence."

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Serena Williams pulls out of Australian Open

Tennis star Serena Williams pulled out of this year’s Australian Open on Friday.


The mother of one said she needed more time to be ready to defend her title after regaining full fitness. This came after she gave birth to her first child in September.

The 36-year-old was eight weeks pregnant last year when she triumphed for a seventh time at Melbourne Park to claim an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam title.

“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’.

“I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time,” Williams said in a statement.

Williams noted that she was disappointed to withdraw but looked forward to returning in the future.

“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that although I am super close, I‘m not where I personally want to be,” Williams added.

“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.”

Tournament director Craig Tiley called Williams’ efforts to try and be ready for a title defence at the Australian Open “Herculean” and said she transcended the sport.

“It was never going to be good enough for her to just compete, she wants to give herself the best chance to win.

“I’ve been in constant contact with Serena and her team and know this is why she has pushed it and pushed it until the eleventh hour to make her final decision,” Tiley said.

Williams is the latest tennis star to withdraw from the year’s opening Grand Slam, which will be played from Jan. 15 to Jan. 28.

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Costa's sizzling return reignites Atletico

Diego Costa PHOTO:AFP

Diego Costa's return to Atletico Madrid began in typically explosive fashion on Wednesday night, and his second spell in La Liga has raised hopes that his new team might challenge runaway leaders Barcelona.

Costa swept home his first Atletico goal since leaving the club for Chelsea in 2014 just five minutes into his first appearance since May, scoring Atletico's third in a 4-0 hammering of third-tier Lleida Esportiu in the Copa Del Rey and showing the goalscoring prowess that Diego Simeone's side have lacked all season.

Costa came on as a 64th minute sub on Wednesday and almost immediately put his foot where it hurts to score, beating Lleida centre-back Marc Trilles to Juanfran's drilled cross and having his shin stamped on by the defending in the process.

“He’d put his foot into the blades of a fan," said teammate Vitolo.

Costa showed the other, darker side to his game soon after deciding that the knock to the shin was nothing serious, charging back onto the pitch and getting embroiled in a row with Jorge Felix for which he was lucky not to be booked.

"In a way he never left, despite having a very good spell at Chelsea," said goalkeeper Miguel Anguel Moya, who stood in for Jan Oblak at Lleida.

Atletico, who host Getafe on Saturday, are second in La Liga having lost only once all season but are nine points behind Ernesto Valverde's team, on 36 points after drawing six of their 17 league fixtures, more than any team in the top half of the table.

They remain as dogged and as hard to beat as ever -- just eight goals conceded and one defeat in 17 league games is a testament to that -- but they have scored only 25.

That's 20 fewer than Barca and a paltry total compared to third-placed Valencia, who have rattled in 36 and are two points behind Atletico.

Their top scorer is Antoine Griezmann, who has improved after a slow start to the season and scored the fourth with a deflected free-kick on Wednesday but has only scored five times in the league.

Sunday's match is just the sort of match Atletico have faltered at throughout this season.

As well as the six league draws against the middling likes of Girona and Leganes, four in the Champions League -- including two with Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag -- cost them qualification from a group many expected them to comfortably get through ahead of eventual group winners Roma.

Their first league defeat of the season came at Espanyol before the Christmas break, a 1-0 loss that came thanks to shot shy striker Sergio Garcia's first goal of the season two minutes before the end and highlighted the how blunt Atletico can look going forward against weak opposition.

Atletico haven't won La Liga since Costa left for London, where he won two Premier League titles in three years straight after rifling the Madrid club to their tenth league championship with 27 goals.

Real Madrid are way back in fourth, five behind Atletico as they prepare to travel to Celta Vigo, who have held Barca to two recent draws -- 2-2 at the Camp Nou in the league last month and 1-1 in the cup on Thursday.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday

Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1200), Valencia v Girona (1515), Las Palmas v Eibar (1730), Sevilla v Real Betis (1945)

Sunday

Leganes v Real Sociedad (1100), Barcelona v Levante (1515), Athletic Bilbao v Alaves (1730), Villareal v Deportivo (1730), Celta Vigo v Real Madrid (1945)

Monday

Malaga v Espanyol (2000)

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Cup kings PSG wait for January transfer moves



Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender Dani Alves (L) celebrates a goal with Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's Italian midfielder Marco Verratti during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Nice (OGC Nice) on October 27, 2017, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.<br />Martin BUREAU / AFP

Paris Saint-Germain play their first game in 2018 as they begin their quest to win the French Cup for the fourth year running with a trip to Rennes on Sunday.

PSG may have missed out to Monaco for the Ligue 1 title last season but they won both domestic cups. Indeed, they have won 33 consecutive domestic cup ties going back four years.

Extending that sequence is the priority at the start of the new year, with the game in Brittany being followed by a League Cup quarter-final at Amiens on Wednesday before Ligue 1 resumes next weekend.

The Cups are "very important objectives", coach Unai Emery insisted in an interview with AFP this week, as his side returned to training after the winter break.

In the back of their minds will be the Champions League last-16 showdown with Real Madrid in February, with the chase for European success the main reason they committed to the two biggest transfer deals in history to sign Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at the start of the season.

Emery, whose team are nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1, added: "The league shows how consistent a team is, and our start to the season has been close to excellent.

"We want to maintain our consistency, and the league helps you for other competitions, ensuring that you are better prepared for the Champions League club."

While PSG could give some fringe players a run-out in the upcoming Cup games, they are hoping to move on the likes of Lucas Moura and Hatem Ben Arfa this month.

Javier Pastore reportedly wants out too, hoping that more regular game time elsewhere will help him clinch a place in Argentina's World Cup squad.

And with Emery hoping to strengthen his midfield, France midfielder Lassana Diarra has been heavily linked with a move to the club.

"I know him well. When he was at Real Madrid he put in some great performances. Last year he played well for Marseille," said Emery.

Diarra, 32, has been playing for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.

Lagging behind PSG in the league and already out of Europe, the French Cup takes on added importance for Monaco, who visit fourth-tier minnows Yzeure.

Radamel Falcao will miss the opening game of the year, ahead of which coach Leonardo Jardim spent more time batting away questions about possible departures in the January window.

"Monaco are not used to making big sales in winter. It is our strategy. The players understand and know how it works here," said Jardim.

Speculation continues to link Thomas Lemar with a move away after Liverpool and Arsenal failed with big offers in August.

Fabinho is more likely to leave in the summer, while Terence Kongolo and Soualiho Meite have already moved on loan to Huddersfield Town and Bordeaux respectively.

French Cup last-64 fixtures (only games involving Ligue 1 clubs)

Saturday

Toulouse v Nice, Pontarlier (5th tier) v Montpellier, Le Mans (4th tier) v Lille (all 1400GMT), Yzeure (4th tier) v Monaco, Guingamp v Niort (Ligue 2), Hazebrouck (6th tier) v Caen (all 1700GMT), Nancy (Ligue 2) v Lyon (2000GMT)

Sunday

Marseille v Valenciennes (Ligue 2), Granville (4th tier) v Bordeaux, Strasbourg v Dijon, Saint-Etienne v Nimes (Ligue 2), Angers v Lorient (Ligue 2) (all 1315GMT), Senlis (5th tier) v Nantes, Sochaux (Ligue 2) v Amiens, Dunkerque (3rd tier) v Metz, Still (8th tier) v Troyes (all 1630GMT), Rennes v Paris Saint-Germain (2000GMT)

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City players unfazed by fixture pile-up

Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (centre R) is mobbed by teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Manchester City at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on November 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY 

Manchester City's players do not appear to share manager Pep Guardiola's concern about a congested fixture list as they prepare to host Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Guardiola is worried that City have more matches than they can cope with as they compete for success in four competitions.

His side played nine matches during December and face at least seven during January -- if they reach the finals of the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, they will have played a minimum of 63 games by the end of the season.

Guardiola said after Tuesday's 3-1 win over Watford, a result that maintained City's 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League, that English football’s busy Christmas and New Year schedule was "going to kill the players".

Yet midfielder Fernandinho and goalkeeper Ederson have both said they are happy to be playing so many games, and would gladly face Burnley this weekend, even though their manager is considering changes to keep senior players fresh.

"I spent New Year’s Day at home with my child and my wife and I was fresh," said Fernandinho. "We will see what Pep is going to do but, for sure, every player is going to be ready if he needs them to play.

"We are here, we are professional, and I don't like to rest."

Ederson is likely to be replaced by Claudio Bravo, who has featured in all of City's League Cup ties this season, but the Brazil goalkeeper indicated that he is ready to play too.

"All the players like to play games, so it is great we have so many matches," he said. "Also, the team are playing really well.

"We had an amazing month in December. We are playing great football and we are getting good results so we are really happy."

City have not lost a domestic game since they were knocked out of last season's FA Cup by Arsenal at the semi-final stage in April.

They did, though, find it tough against Burnley in the Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium in October, needing two quick goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane in the final 20 minutes to ensure a flattering 3-0 victory.

Jesus injury
City remain without striker Gabriel Jesus, who will be absent until February with medial knee ligament damage suffered during the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday, while right-back Kyle Walker is a doubt after limping off against Watford with a groin problem.

Midfielder David Silva has missed several recent matches to be with his young son Mateo, who is seriously ill after being born prematurely.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has indicated that he will rest several players after seeing their form slip over Christmas and New Year.

Leading scorer Chris Wood and left-back Stephen Ward will be assessed to see if they are over the knee injuries that have kept them out of recent fixtures.

Dyche's side are without a win in five Premier League matches, although they remain seventh in the table.

Burnley fell victim to arguably the greatest upset of last season's FA Cup, losing at home to Lincoln City, then a non-league club, in the fifth round in February.

"We have to rotate," Dyche said. "We have no choice. The players have played two games in three days, the bulk of them.

"They are, as much as I work them hard and their will to work hard, humans and I don't forget that."

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Spurs won't lose top four battle vows Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino insists he isn't concerned about Tottenham missing out on a top four finish in the Premier League despite their damaging 1-1 draw against West Ham.

Pochettino's side had to settle for a point in Thursday's London derby at Wembley after missing a host of chances as they failed to turn their domination into goals.

Tottenham needed a superb long-range strike from South Korea's Son Heung-Min with just six minutes remaining to avoid defeat after Pedro Obiang's stunning 30-yard blast had given West Ham a shock second half lead.

The north Londoners are now three points behind fourth placed Liverpool in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.

But Tottenham boss Pochettino is still confident his team will book a return to Europe's elite club competition.

"I'm not worried, we are in the middle of the season. We missed an opportunity today but I think we are close," he said.

Pochettino was adamant Tottenham were unlucky after West Ham sat back so deep that Obiang's 70th minute goal was their first shot of the entire match.

But he conceded Tottenham must improve their finishing after England striker Harry Kane couldn't convert several chances on a rare off-night.

"I'm very pleased with the effort but very unhappy with the result," Pochettino said.

"We deserved to win but football is like this and we have to accept that.

"To play and run like that after two games in 48 hours deserves credit. But we had to score and be effective in front of goal.

"Normally we would finish 3-1, 4-1, 5-1 but it wasn't like this."

- Resilient Hammers -
Pochettino refused to condemn West Ham manager David Moyes for adopting such a defensive game-plan, but he must be privately concerned that when Kane doesn't score his team suddenly look far less threatening.

"It was an amazing goal from Obiang, their first shot, it's difficult to accept," he said.

"West Ham defended properly. We have different options to score.

"We tried different ways, we dominated but sometimes you don't get what you deserve. You need luck to score."

Moyes' side are two points above the relegation zone as they maintained their impressive revival since the former Manchester United boss replaced the sacked Slaven Bilic.

While Moyes acknowledged West Ham hadn't produced an entertaining display, he refused to apologise for grinding out a valuable point in the battle against relegation.

"I'm thrilled to come away with a point. Spurs have some really exciting young talent. I have seen them beat Real Madrid here, beat teams by four or five," Moyes said.

"We have scored a goal and so have they, so they can have as many shots as they like.

"We're miles away from how I want us to play but we are doing some things right.

"We are defending well which gives us a chance against the top teams. I thought we showed fantastic resilience.

"Because of the gulf between the top four and the rest, football is played in different ways. We had to come here and get our blocks in."

West Ham striker Andy Carroll was only named among the substitutes, but Moyes insisted he knew nothing about reports that Chelsea are keen to sign the former Liverpool player.

"I've no idea about it. I couldn't tell you one way or the other," he said.

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Niger Tornadoes sack coaches ahead of NPFL 2017/2018 Season

Niger Tornadoes Football Team.

The newly-inaugurated management committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, on Thursday disbanded the technical crew of the team.

A club management source who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity, however, said that any of the sacked members of the technical crew could reapply for their previous positions.

“The management committee which was inaugurated on Thursday to pilot the affairs of the club commenced its official functions by inspecting the ongoing renovation work at the Late Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna.

“Later in the day, the committee announced the sack of the technical crew of the club after an evening training session.

“The coaches in both the senior and feeder teams were, however, told that they could reapply for their jobs, if they so wished,’’ the source said.

The Technical Adviser of the team, Abubakar Bala, confirmed to NAN that he had been sacked.

“Alhamdulilah, Alhamdulilah, Alhamdulilah. I have just been sacked from my position of Technical Adviser to Niger Tornadoes. I’m indeed grateful to God for the opportunity, blessings and successes,’’ Bala said.

NAN reports that Bala led the team to the final of the 2017 Aiteo Federation Cup, where they lost on penalties to Akwa United.

The coach took charge the club in 2016, following the termination of the appointment of Abdullahi Biffo.

Tornadoes are scheduled to host Kwara United in the NPFL 2017/2018 season at the Bako Kontagora Stadium on Jan. 14.

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Real spot on while Barcelona held to cup draw

Real Madrid players celebrate a goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 16 first leg football match CD Numancia vs Real Madrid CF at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos stadium in Soria on January 4, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / CESAR MANSO

Two penalties helped Real Madrid to a healthy 3-0 win in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey tie with second-tier Numancia on Thursday, while Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw as the La Liga giants rested their stars.

Gareth Bale was one of a handful of Real first-team regulars on display at the Estadio Los Pajaritos, and was on hand to slot home the first from the penalty spot ten minutes before the break after Lucas Vazques was clumsily brought down in the box by Carlos Gutierrez.

They survived a serious scare in the 76th minute when Inigo Perez snatched the ball from Marcos Llorente and launched a 40-yard shot over the head of keeper Kiko Cassila that thumped the crossbar and came agonisingly close to crossing the line.

Real sealed the win with another spot kick a minute from the end, again won by Vasquez but this time slammed home by substitute Isco, and Baroja Mayoral completed the rout a minute later with a close range header.

"We had a few problems in the second half but it's the result that counts," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. "It's a good result for us."

Shorn of attacking stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde also left out captain Andres Iniesta and others including goalkeeper Ter Stegen, centre-back Samuel Umtiti and midfielder Ivan Rakitic from the starting line-up for their match at Celta.

However striker Ousmane Dembele made his first appearance, as a 71st-minute substitute, since tearing his hamstring at Getafe on September 16, just three games into his Barca career following a 105-million-euro ($124 million) move from Borussia Dortmund.

Despite the raft of absences Barca took the lead after 15 minutes through a neat Jose Arnaiz finish, but after a bright start they ceded control to the hosts.

Celta hit back 16 minutes later through Pione Sisto, who reacted quickest after Iago Aspas hit the bar from close range and rifled a shot past Barca keeper Jasper Cillessen from a tight angle to give his side a chance in the return leg at the Camp Nou next Thursday.

In Thursday's other matches, Leganes beat Villareal 1-0 thanks to an Nordin Amrabat goal while strikes from José Luis Morales and Ivan Lopez Álvarez saw Levante come back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Espanyol.

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