Sheffield Wednesday have been taken over by a Thai consortium led by businessman Dejphon Chansiri. Chansiri, whose family owns Thai Union Frozen Group, has acquired a 100% stake in the Championship club, BBC reports. Owls chairman Milan Mandaric, who had been in charge since December 2010, confirmed earlier this month the club were in talks with potential investors. “I am very excited at the prospect of taking over control from Milan,” Chansiri told the club website.  “I believe this club has huge potential and I can assure all our supporters that I will be working extremely hard to bring the success that I already sense from my short time in your city our supporters so desperately crave. “My son Att, who was a mascot at the recent Blackpool game, is passionate about football and I know will be my inspiration in this project. “I have made the same promise to him as I do our supporters, he will not let me forget this until we are back in the Premier League.” The deal remains subject to ratification by the Football League. The takeover brings an end to Mandaric’s four-year stint as owner of the club, and although he is set to step down as chairman and as a director, he will remain at Hillsborough in an advisory role.

Arsenal have signed Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista for 15m euros (£11.2m) with forward Joel Campbell joining the Spanish side on loan until the summer, BBC reports. Brazilian Gabriel, 24, was ever-present for Villarreal this term and could face Aston Villa on Sunday. He said: “I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League. “The fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.” Arsenal were granted a work permit for Gabriel, who can play at centre-back or full-back, on Monday, despite the fact he is uncapped and not a European Union citizen. He joined Villarreal from Brazilian club Vitoria in 2013. Gabriel is available for selection for Arsenal’s Premier League home game against Villa. Campbell, 22, has signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners before heading to Villarreal for the rest of the season. He signed for Arsenal in 2011 from Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa SAD but has yet to score the Gunners. He has been loaned out to French club FC Lorient, Spanish side Real Betis and Greek outfit Olympiakos in the past.

Sat 31 Jan 2015:

Congo v Congo DR 5 pm

Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea 8:30 pm 

Sun 1 Feb 2015:

Ghana v Mali or Guinea (awaiting lots) 5 pm

Ivory Coast v Algeria 8:30 pm

*Time = Nigerian.

Yesterdays Results:

Wed 28 Jan 2015:

Cameroon 0 – 1 Ivory Coast

Guinea 1 – 1 Mali

Barcelona overcame nine-man Atletico Madrid in a fiery Copa del Rey quarter-final to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory, BBC reports. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Fernando Torres drove Atletico level inside a minute but Neymar quickly swept home a Barca counter-attack. Atletico led again through Raul Garcia’s penalty but Miranda’s own goal and a second for Neymar left the hosts needing three to progress at the break. Gabi was sent off in the tunnel at half time and Mario Suarez saw red late on. Their dismissals were in keeping with an ill-disciplined Atletico performance and when Neymar argued with home players on his way to the tunnel at the interval, he drew a cursory point of the finger from Gabi, who did not return for the second half. Atletico midfielder Arda Turan threw his boot in a bizarre moment of anger as the game slipped away from his side and the home side’s hope had been extinguished by the time Suarez collected a second yellow card for a foul on Lionel Messi. It was Barca’s third and decisive goal on the night which seemed to ignite tempers as Jordi Alba created a tap-in for Neymar, seconds after appearing to handle a goalbound Antoine Griezmann shot inside the area. From that moment, petty fouls underlined Diego Simeone’s side’s frustration as Barca eased to a last-four meeting against either Getafe or Villarreal, who lead 1-0 from the first leg. The angry end to the night was in stark contrast to the beginning, when Torres pulled down a long ball, flummoxed former Liverpool team-mate Javier Mascherano and drove in off the post inside a minute. It was the striker’s third goal since his return to his boyhood club but Barca looked imperious on the break and when Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar combined, the Brazilian swept a classy leveller across the keeper from 12 yards. Garcia’s penalty – earned when Mascherano appeared to foul Juanfran outside the box – rekindled home hope but Miranda hooked a Sergio Busquets glancing header into his own net to dampen spirits. The breakaway goal, started by Alba’s controversial block, then arrived but little should be taken away from the Barca left-back who ran the length of the field to collect Messi’s pass and deliver a cross for Neymar to finish a blistering counter. Luis Enrique’s side are now one tie away from a fifth Copa del Rey final in seven seasons.

Diego Costa has been charged for violent conduct after an alleged stamp following the Capital One Cup semi-final with Liverpool on Tuesday, BBC reports. The Chelsea striker, 26, faces a three-match ban for his challenge on defender Emre Can during the 1-0 victory. The Spaniard could miss Saturday’s league match with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge if he is found guilty. He has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond to the Football Association’s charge. He is being charged for the first of two alleged stamps that were not seen by referee Michael Oliver. He also appeared to stand on central defender Martin Skrtel in the Liverpool penalty box in the second half. The first-half incident involving Can took place close to the technical area and prompted an angry response from the Liverpool player. Reds manager Brendan Rodgers said at his post-match press conference: “He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could’ve been nasty.” Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said after the game that he feels the Brazil-born Spain international is being targeted unfairly. The Blues, who won 2-1 on aggregate, will face Tottenham in the final at Wembley on Sunday, 1 March.

Lots will decide whether Guinea or Mali reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a draw in Mongomo. Modibo Maiga’s header from Abdoulay Diaby’s cross in the second half left Mali and Guinea with identical records, having drawn each of their games 1-1. The drawing of lots has been postponed until Thursday, having originally been pencilled in for Wednesday evening. Guinea had taken the lead when Kevin Constant coolly dinked home a penalty given for handball by Salif Coulibaly. Mali should have levelled immediately but Seydou Keita’s penalty was saved, after Baissama Sankoh was penalised for handball. However, neither side was able to find a winning goal on an uneven pitch. The all-important draw will now happen in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) hotel in Malobo at 4 pm Nigerian time, during a meeting of the competition’s organising committee. The names of the two teams will be placed into two balls, before an official is invited to pick one ball – inside which will be the name of the team that has qualified for the quarter finals as group runners-up and will face Ghana on Sunday afternoon. The last time lots were drawn to decide a team’s qualification in this tournament was in 1988 when Algeria profited at Ivory Coast’s expense.

Serena Williams will face Maria Sharapova in the final of Women’s Singles of 2015 Australian Open after the pair won their semi-finals in straight sets in Melbourne, BBC reports. World number two Sharapova won an all-Russian contest against Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2. Williams, the top seed, converted her ninth match point to beat fellow American Madison Keys 7-6 (7-5) 6-2. Britain’s Andy Murray takes on Czech Tomas Berdych in the first men’s semi-final at 08:30 GMT. Williams, 33, capped a fine performance with a dramatic ending as she saw seven match points slip by at 5-1, before converting her ninth with an ace and a scream in the following game. Keys, 19, matched Williams for power but not always control as the 18-time Grand Slam champion edged a tight match over one hour and 24 minutes. The world number one, a five-time champion in Australia, recovered from 3-0 down to force a tie-break and clinched it with a big serve. A fired-up Williams bounced up and down in delight at the baseline, and powered on with a break at the start of the second as she began to dominate the Keys second serve. Williams flipped a brilliant forehand winner around the net post on her way to breaking again at 4-1 and eventually closed out after that gripping seventh game. Sharapova, the 2008 champion, had earlier needed one hour and 27 minutes to beat 10th seed Makarova for the sixth time in six meetings. The 27-year-old coped well on serve after saving two break points in a testing 10-minute opening service game, easing into a 4-1 lead. Makarova, 26, hinted at a comeback when she broke for 4-3 but Sharapova responded immediately and served out the set after 48 minutes. When she hammered away a backhand for the double break at 3-0 in the second, there was no way back for Makarova. Sharapova made it six games in a row, saving two more break points at 4-1, to seal a place in her 10th Grand Slam final. The Russian has a 2-16 record against Williams and has not beaten the American since 2004. “I think my confidence should be pretty high going into a final of a Grand Slam, no matter who I’m facing and whether I’ve had a terrible record – to say the least – against someone,” said Sharapova. “It doesn’t matter. I got there for a reason. I belong in that spot. I will do everything I can to get the title.”

Sergey Bubka, the former Olympic pole vault champion from Ukraine, has confirmed he will stand against Sebastian Coe for the presidency of the IAAF, Dailymailuk reports. Bubka is, like Coe, currently a vice-president of athletics’ international governing body and has long coveted the chance to succeed long-standing president Lamine Diack, who steps down in August. The 51-year-old, who made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee in 2013, said: ‘I am seeking the IAAF presidency to give something back to the world of athletics which has given so many opportunities to me throughout my life.’ Bubka, who won Olympic gold in 1988, said encouraging young people’s interest in athletics and ‘clean sport’ would be his priorities. He added: ‘I have been honoured to serve athletics alongside Lamine Diack, with my colleagues and friends. ‘Now that Mr Diack has decided to step down as president, I wish to build upon the progress achieved by the IAAF under his leadership to ensure that the sport of athletics and its governing body are world-class and an example to others with regard to governance, transparency and ethics. ‘We also need to provide greater grassroots support to inspire the next generation of athletes; we need to better engage with young people and build new audiences; and we need to ensure protection of clean sport.’

Real Madrid’s world famous Santiago Bernabéu stadium is set to be renamed the Abu Dhabi Bernabéu, according to the Spanish sports newspaper AS. The report has not been confirmed by Real Madrid but the club’s president Florentino Pérez was reportedly caught on camera admitting to a member of the regional government that the stadium will be called whatever the Abu Dhabi investment group IPIC want it to be called. In October, Real Madrid agreed a “long-term strategic partnership” with Abu Dhabi fund International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) aimed at strengthening the club’s status as the world’s richest, and help fund a planned stadium overhaul. The agreement includes setting up Real museums and expanding their soccer schools around the world, as well as creating content for digital media platforms, said IPIC, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government. Madrid have not said that the stadium will be renamed, although Pérez has admitted that it might be given a “surname”, reports suggest. The European champions last year agreed a five-year shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai-based airline Emirates that Spanish media reported was worth €30 million a season. Real chose a design led by German architects GMP for the remodeling of the Bernabeu, which was opened in the 1950s and holds just over 80,000 spectators. The club hopes the work, which would see a striking new roof and exterior added to the current structure and include a hotel and a shopping centre, can be completed by 2017.

Former Portugal and Real Madrid star, Luis Figo has declared his intention to challenge Sepp Blatter for the Fifa Presidency. “I care about football so what I’m seeing regarding the image of Fifa, not only now but in the past years, I don’t like it. Last year was a World Cup year, I was in Brazil, I saw the reaction of the fans regarding the image of Fifa. “Something has to be changed. Change in leadership, in governance, in transparency, in solidarity. Now is the time for that.” Figo confirmed he has the five required letters of support from National Associations, making him a serious, and confirmed candidate. Figo was a player of the highest calibre for Barcelona and Real Madrid, winning the World Player of the Year in 2000. He told CNN his first priority as President would be to “increase solidarity.” Figo confirmed he was not being paid by anyone to stand for their position. In contrast to David Ginola, whose recent declaration was supported by a bookmaker and did not have the backing of any national associations. Asked if Sepp Blatter was beatable, he said “No one is untouchable in this life.” The deadlines for nominations close tomorrow. Other confirmed candidates are Prince Ali Hussein of Jordan and Michael Van Praag the head of the Dutch FA. Chilean Football Administrator Harold Mayne Nicholls is holding a news conference later today and may also declare his intention to stand.

Men’s Singles:

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] Vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [4]

Tomas Berdych (CZE) [7] Vs Andy Murray (GBR) [6]

Women’s Singles:

Serena Williams (USA) [1] Vs Madison Keys (USA)

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [10] Vs Maria Sharapova (RUS) [2]

Games will start tomorrow morning.

Jose Mourinho has been fined £25,000 for comments claiming there is a “campaign” to influence referees’ decisions against his Chelsea side, BBC reports. Mourinho made his comments after his side were denied a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Southampton on 28 December. The Football Association ruled Mourinho’s quotes were “improper and brought the game into disrepute”. But the Chelsea boss, who was warned about his future conduct, was cleared of implying bias by referees. During the game at St Mary’s, referee Anthony Taylor booked Cesc Fabregas for diving after going down in the box under Matt Targett’s challenge. After the draw, the Stamford Bridge manager told BBC Sport: “The media, commentators, other managers are all doing it [putting pressure on referees].” In his news conference later, he added: “There is a campaign against Chelsea. I don’t know why there is this campaign and I do not care. “Everybody knows it was a penalty.” Mourinho was also issued with a formal warning for comments ahead of Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stoke on 22 December. The Portuguese called on referee Neil Swarbrick to produce a strong performance at the Britannia Stadium.

Hosts Australia will meet South Korea in the Asian Cup final after easing to a 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the second semi-final. Trent Sainsbury gave Ange Postecoglou’s side the lead after just three minutes with a header from a corner. West Brom’s Jason Davidson fired in a second after 14 minutes and UAE couldn’t mount a comeback in Newcastle. Australia will be looking for their maiden Asian Cup title in Saturday’s final at Stadium Australia, Sydney. The UAE had been impressive in beating tournament favourites Japan  in the quarter-final, but never threatened a repeat of that upset. Swindon Town’s Massimo Luongo claimed both assists for the Socceroos. South Korea qualified for the final after beating Iraq 2-0  on Monday. Uli Stielike’s side also defeated Australia 1-0  in the group stages.

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes has been given a four-game ban for grabbing Lazio captain Stefano Mauri by the throat during a Serie A match. France international Mexes, 32, was sent off following Saturday’s incident – the 16th red card of his career. Mexes reacted angrily after being tripped by Mauri and minutes later had to be restrained by team-mates. The former Auxerre and Roma player was sent off but had to be dragged away from Mauri and pushed off the field. Mexes has already apologised, adding: “These things should not happen out on a football pitch. I have children and this is not the sort of example that a father should set.” Milan lost the game 3-1.

Stoke City will be without striker Bojan Krkic for the rest of the season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Monday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Rochdale, BBC reports. The Spaniard, 24, was hurt chasing down the ball during his side’s 4-1 victory, and left the ground on crutches. A scan on Tuesday confirmed the ligament damage in his left knee. “It’s bitterly disappointing for the club but even more so for Bojan,” said Potters manager Mark Hughes. “He was making such a big impact on the Premier League and clearly enjoying his football.” The former Barcelona player, who joined the Potters on a four-year deal in July 2014, opened the scoring at Spotland with his fifth goal of the season.

Tue 27 Jan 2015:

Senegal 0 – 2 Algeria

South Africa 1 – 2 Ghana

*Ghana and Algeria qualify for quarter finals from Group C.

Wed 28 Jan 2015:

Cameroon Vs Ivory Coast 7pm

Guinea Vs Mali 7pm

(NB: Time = Nigerian)

Branislav Ivanovic’s extra-time winner sent Chelsea into the Capital One Cup final at Wembley after a thrilling semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, BBC reports. Ivanovic headed home three minutes into extra time to settle an enthralling encounter in which Liverpool made a full contribution but paid the price for missed opportunities. Chelsea were favourites after a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the first leg – but Liverpool were true to the word of manager Brendan Rodgers and played without fear, seeking their first trophy since winning this competition in 2012. And Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who missed Ivanovic’s decisive goal as he was in a heated debate with fourth official Phil Dowd, showed how much another trip to Wembley meant to him by celebrating wildly with his staff at the final whistle. It was a result that helped banish Chelsea’s embarrassment of losing 4-2 at home to League One Bradford City in the FA Cup fourth round in their previous outing. Liverpool will leave Stamford Bridge with regrets, especially after a horrendous headed miss by Jordan Henderson in front of an open goal that could have taken the game to penalties. There may also be a price to pay for Chelsea as striker Diego Costa may face retrospective punishment for two stamps on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel that were not seen by referee Michael Oliver. Costa, as usual, was involved in all of the action and should have been awarded a penalty when he was brought down by Skrtel in the first half, while the Spain international’s head-to-head clash with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard earned both players yellow cards. Mourinho will set that aside for now as he remains on course for his first piece of silverware since returning to Chelsea at the start of last season. As expected, Liverpool did not risk striker Daniel Sturridge even though he is approaching full fitness after a series of injuries that have sidelined him since August, but Rodgers adopted a bold approach that should have brought dividends in the first half. Keeper Thibaut Courtois was Chelsea’s hero at Anfield and he twice came to the rescue here as Liverpool twice opened up Chelsea for the two best opportunities of the half, first when Gerrard picked out Alberto Moreno and then when Philippe Coutinho broke through after wrong-footing Kurt Zouma. Chelsea, however, had a major grievance of their own as they seemed to be refused a clear penalty when Costa was brought down by Skrtel as he attempted to guide the ball into touch. Mourinho was forced into a change early in the second half when Cesc Fabregas came off second best in a shuddering tackle with his own captain John Terry and was replaced by Ramires. It then needed the outstretched leg of Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet to turn away Costa’s deflected shot before he dived at the feet of the striker as he tried to go around him. Liverpool made their first change with 20 minutes left, sending on Mario Balotelli for Lazar Markovic, who had been quiet and ineffective. It was three minutes into extra time when the deadlock was finally broken and Liverpool were undone by moments of sloppiness that led to their downfall. Lucas conceded a cheap free-kick with a foul on Eden Hazard and when Willian delivered the set piece, Ivanovic arrived unmarked to head in. Liverpool should have responded immediately, only for Henderson to somehow head wide when Raheem Sterling’s cross found him only six yards out. It was to be their final opportunity.

Four time African Player of the Year and Former Cameroon international, Samuel Eto’o, has officially completed his transfer to Sampdoria, as they and Everton confirm the move.  The move has been known for some time now, but could not be finalised as all the necessary paperwork had not been completed.  The Cameroonian striker was presented to the club’s fans on Sunday, and is now officially a Blucerchiato, having signed a three-and-a-half year deal. “Everton manager Roberto Martinez has thanked Samuel Eto’o for his contribution to Everton after the 33-year-old striker’s transfer to Serie A side Sampdoria,” the English club confirmed in a statement. “The Cameroon international joined the Club on a free transfer in August 2014, scoring four goals in 20 appearances. “A four-time African Footballer of the Year and former Champions League winner with Barcelona and Internazionale, Eto’o has returned to Italy on a three-and-a-half year deal with the Genoese club. “On behalf of all Evertonians, we wish him well for the next chapter in his career.” Posting on his official Twitter page Eto’o spoke of his delight at the move, and appeared to contradict the length of his contract. “I have the pleasure to announce that I have signed a contract with U.C. Sampdoria for 3.5 years.”

Former Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, who was also Rayo Vallecano’s goalkeeper between 1990 and 1996, has died from cancer. The Nigerian passed away early on Tuesday morning at the age of 48. Wilfred’s footballing career began at New Nigeria Bank and after a stint at Brentford FC in England, he moved to Rayo Vallecano, where he played for six seasons. In 1996, he signed for Écija Balompie, where he stayed for a year. Wilfred was an international for his home country and in 1994 won the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. In that same year, he also took part in the USA World Cup as Peter Rufai’s substitute. His team, affectionately known as the ‘Super Eagles’, managed to get as far as the group of 16 stage in the tournament. The Nigerian keeper, who was always one of the Rayo fans’ favourites, was being cared for at the Príncipe de Asturias Hospital in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid. Rayo Vallecano did their very best for Wilfred’s children to fly from Nigeria to see their father before he died. To this end, half of the 21,000 euros raised for dona Carmen, the elderly lady who was to be evicted from her home in Vallecas and who insisted that she did not need so much money, was used. The club did all it could to get the ex-keeper’s three children over from Nigeria to see their father for the last time, but all the paperwork and bureaucratic steps to be taken were not completed in time and tragically, Wilfred died before their arrival. His wife died years ago, also from cancer.

Czech, Tomas Berdych ended a 17-match losing streak against Rafael Nadal as he outplayed the Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. The Czech, seeded seventh, won 6-2 6-0 7-6 (7-5) and will face Andy Murray (who beat Nick Kyrgios) in the last four. Berdych, 29, began working with Murray’s former coach Dani Vallverdu at the end of 2014. An 18th successive defeat by third seed Nadal would have set a new record for men’s tennis. “It feels great,” said Berdych. “The really good thing is the plan that we put together was the right one. “Everything was working. I was able to execute it really well. But still, until the last point you can’t think about anything else. “When it’s done, it’s done. It’s great. I might be think about it and enjoy the time until tomorrow morning. When I wake up, I need to get myself ready for another one. There is a still long way to go in this tournament and I need to be ready for it.” Nine years after his last victory against the 14-time Grand Slam champion, Berdych took full advantage of an opponent struggling desperately to find his game. Nadal, 28, was playing only his 12th match since Wimbledon last summer, and his first against a top-10 opponent since he beat Novak Djokovic in the French Open final in June. He insisted there had been no physical issues, saying it was “just not my day”, but added: “You cannot expect to win matches in quarter-finals of a Grand Slam helping the opponent to play well. “That’s what I did the first two sets. From the beginning of the third, I played with more character. “More the way that I have to play to be where I want to be, where I have been for the last lot of years.”