Sports

15 April 2011 The UEFA Europa League quarterfinals wrap up on Thursday evening with second leg fixtures, though only one tie is still in the balance. The Iberian trio of Porto, Benfica and Villareal all look to have one foot already in the last four after comprehensive first leg victories over Spartak Moscow (5-1), PSV Eindhoven (4-1) and FC Twente…

14 April 2011 Harry Redknapp has told his Tottenham stars to make amends for their Champions League quarter-final exit against Real Madrid by booking a return to Europe's elite club competition. Redknapp's side have enjoyed a memorable first campaign among Europe's superpowers, but that fairytale run came to an end at White Hart Lane on Wednesday as Madrid won 1-0…

14 April 2011 With four West African teams in Group B of the 2011 African Youth Championship, emotions are sure to run high as the regional rivalry amongst Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Gambia takes centre stage. And with nine titles between three former winners Nigeria (5 titles), Ghana (3) and Cameroon (1) there can be little argument that, on…

13 April 2011 Algeria were Africas biggest climbers in the latest release of the FIFA World Rankings, with the Desert Foxes moving up 15 places to 40th overall and sixth in the CAF region. Ghanas Black Stars are still Africas top ranked side (15th overall, up 1 place), with Cote dIvoire (21st, up 4), Egypt (36th, down 1), Nigeria (38th,…

13 April 2011 Defensive midfielder-turned right fullback Terna Suswan has tipped Nigerias Flying Eagles to top the 2011 African Youth Championship (AYC). The Flying Eagles star was a whisker away from making the 2010 World Cup final squad, but now says his own World Cup will be with the U20s, also in South Africa, beginning from Sunday. Excerpts: Suswan, you…

11 April 2011 Record signing Andy Carroll delivered a blow to Manchester City's Champions League ambitions as Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 victory over Roberto Mancini's side at Anfield on Monday. Carroll helped himself to his first two goals in a Liverpool shirt since joining from Newcastle for 35 million in the January transfer window. Dirk Kuyt also netted on…

11 April 2011 African players' review following weekend matches in Europe: ENGLAND EMMANUEL EBOUE (Arsenal) The Ivory Coast defender scored his first goal this season to help Arsenal beat Blackpool 3-1 at Bloomfield Road on Sunday. Eboue ran onto Andrei Arshavin's pass and smashed in a powerful strike that gave Richard Kingson no chance. It was his first Premier League…

12 April 2011 GHANA Ghana have been dealt a blow with the news that Jordan Ayew will miss the African Youth Championships after his French club Olympique Marseille refused to release him for the tournament. Ayew is the son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, and the younger brother of Black Stars regular Andre Ayew. The 19 year old has already…

12 April 2011 This week sees the kick off of the 2011 African Youth Championships to be hosted in South Africa. Our specialist reporter Samm Audu takes a closer look at the Flying Eagles team and profiles the young, up and coming stars of Nigerian football. GOALKEEPERS Danjuma Paul Club: Nasarawa United Birth date:  18/12/1992 Jersey No. 1 A naturally-gifted shot stopper,…

10 April 2011 Nigeria had no troubles reaching the next round of the 2012 London Olympics qualifying tournament after a hat-trick by Warri Wolves striker Ekigho Ehiosun earned Dream Team V a comfortable 4-1 win at Malabo. Nigeria thus qualified for the next stage of the qualifiers slated for June on a 9-1 aggregate. On a weekend that big guns…

9 April 2011 Sir Alex Ferguson faces a striking dilemma as Manchester United seek to turn the screw in the Premier League title race against Fulham on Saturday without the banned Wayne Rooney. Rooney's superb hat-trick against West Ham last week and the winning goal in the midweek Champions League victory over Chelsea provided hard evidence that the England striker…

7 April 2011 Spanish side Villarreal and Portuguese giants FC Porto put their Europa League-winning credentials on show with 5-1 wins apiece in the first leg of the quarter-finals on Thursday. Three Portuguese sides -- Porto, Benfica and Sporting Braga -- are among the last eight of Europe's second tier club competition, boosting the chances of an all-Portuguese final at…

8 April 2011 Ghana legend Abedi Pele wants CAF president Issa Hayatou to quit the post for younger people to better run the affairs of Africas football. Abedi issued a scathing rebuke against the Cameroonian administrator accusing him of hijacking CAF. The three-time African Footballer of the Year questioned the way CAFs sponsorship money is used insisting it is worthless…

7 April 2011 Italian giants AC Milan have joined the hot chase for Nigeria international striker Emmanuel Emenike. Emenike, who made his Super Eagles debut against Sierra Leone in February, has attracted the interest of Milan after netting 13 goals thus far for his modest Turkish club Karabukspor. According to a report by Lig TV, Milan have kept tabs on…

7 April 2011 Video: Saturday, 2 April highlightsVideo: Sunday, 3 April highlightsThe Nedbank Cup Last 16 round of fixtures will be completed this weekend, with plenty to look forward to in terms of eye-catching match-ups. Free State Stars host SuperSport United at Goble Park on Saturday (15h00 kick-off) in a fixture that has been dominated by SuperSport in recent seasons.…