SPORTS

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  Qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Wednesday, just 45 days after Cameroon snatched victory over Egypt in the final of the previous edition. The “Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon and the “Pharaohs” of Egypt will not be involved, however, as they …

Paris, France | AFP | Under-pressure Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed as “fake news” reports that Paris Saint-Germain had offered him a two-year deal at the French champions. The Frenchman is facing a fan backlash at Arsenal after a rotten run of form and British tabloid The Sun said on Monday …

African giants Mazembe and Kabylie paired as KCC drawn to face Jackson Mayanja’s Al Masry Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Multiple CAF title winners TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and JS Kabylie of Algeria were paired Tuesday in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs draw. Mazembe won …

  Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Zambia-based trio Jesse Were, David Owino and Anthony Okumu have been called up to the Kenyan squad for upcoming international friendlies against Uganda and DR Congo. Were and Owino were on target for Zesco United when they scored two vital second-half goals against Burundian …

Zurich, Switzerland | AFP | Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey was on Monday banned for life by world football’s governing body FIFA for match fixing. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had already slapped a three-month ban on Lamptey after he awarded South Africa a controversial penalty in their 2-1 …

Cranes coach Milutin Sredojevic ‘Micho’ has recalled striker Emmanuel Okwi as Uganda starts the post-Nations Cup era with an international friendly against Kenya in Nairobi on Thursday. Omitted from this friendly are South African based Denis Onyango, Geoffrey Massa and Belgium-based Farouk Miya as Micho named only six foreign based players. …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Chelsea maintained their relentless march towards the Premier League title, Arsene Wenger endured another day to forget and Manchester City were frustrated by Liverpool. Here are five things we learned in the Premier League this weekend: Cahill proves title mettle Received wisdom in the …

A Kenyan or Ethiopian has won the top IAAF World Cross Country Championships men’s individual title in 24 of the last 30 years. The two nations’ record in the team event is even more intimidating – won all from 1986 to 2015. The story is increasingly similar in the women and junior events, …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  Goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela was the unexpected two-goal hero as Platinum Stars of South Africa this weekend booked a CAF Confederation Cup play-offs place. The 31-year-old converted two penalties in a 3-1 victory over Vipers of Uganda that overturned a 1-0 away loss in the …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa-based Ghanaian footballer Mohammed Anas was so excited after scoring twice in a top-flight match that he thanked his wife — and his girlfriend. The goals for Free State Stars in an away league draw with Ajax Cape Town this weekend earned striker Anas …