Congo DR beat Equatorial Guinea 4-2 on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off as the match passed without any crowd trouble. The hosts’ semi-final against Ghana on Thursday was halted after missiles were thrown at players and supporters. Only a small crowd turned out at Malabo stadium, the scene of Thursday’s violence, to see the sides draw 0-0 in normal time. Defender Cedric Mongongu struck the winning penalty for DR Congo. Equatorial Guinea were fined £65,000 for the violence following the semi-final, which saw 36 fans injured. DR Congo defender Gabriel Zakuani had called for his country to pull out of the play-off match following the trouble. Between 3,000 to 4,000 fans attended the 15,200-seater stadium. “The game passed off without any sign of a repeat of the problems that marred Thursday’s semi-final at the same venue,” said Cavell. “Those fans who did come were vociferous in their support of an Equatorial Guinea side who seemed calmer and more composed on the pitch and created more chances. “And even in losing the crowd didn’t show the same anger as on Thursday and instead showed massive appreciation for their heroes who have defied the odds to finish fourth.” DR Congo’s Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie had the best chance of the first-half but he sliced his shot wide. Dieumerci Mbokani, the tournament’s joint top goal scorer on three goals, had a golden opportunity to put DR Congo ahead eights minutes into the second-half. But the striker’s tame shot was straight at Felipe Ovono after a jinking run by Cedric had set him up. Equatorial Guinea’s best chance fell to Emilio Nsue Lopez on 58 minutes, but veteran goalkeeper Kidiaba was quickly out of his area to close down the Middlesbrough striker. Kidiaba, 38, whose ‘bouncing bottom’ celebration became one of the talking points of the tournament, performed a backwards standing somersault in his goalmouth before Javier Balboa took and missed the first penalty. Raul Fabiani missed Equatorial Guinea’s second penalty while DR Congo’s players held their nerve in the shootout as they achieved their country’s best finish in the tournament since 1998.

After meeting with political parties, candidates and stakeholders, INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega has announced the postponement of Nigeria’s general elections citing security reasons. The elections earlier scheduled to hold from February 14, 2015, will now hold on March 28 (presidential) and April 11 (gubernatorial).

Final Match: Sun 8 February 2015:

Ivory Coast Vs Ghana 8 pm

Third Place Match: Sat 7 February 2015:

Congo DR Vs Equatorial Guinea 5 pm

England Women’s leading goalscorer Kelly Smith has ended her international career,BBC reports. The 36-year-old forward won 117 caps and scored 46 goals in an England career that lasted almost 20 years. She made her debut in 1995 and has played in two World Cups and three European Championships, as well as for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Smith, who has played professional football in the United States, will continue to play for Arsenal Ladies in the Women’s Super League.

Anderson’s spell at Manchester United has finally come to an end after Brazilian club Internacional announced they had signed the midfielder on a four-year contract. United paid around £26m for Anderson in 2007, but in recent years he has fallen out of favour and the 20-time English champions have agreed to let the 26-year-old leave on a free transfer. A statement on Internacional’s website read: “Sport Club Internacional concluded on Tuesday the procedures to announce the signing of midfielder Anderson. He signs a four-year contract.” Anderson is back to Porto Alegre, Brazil, his home city.

Harry Redknapp has resigned as QPR manager, saying imminent knee surgery would stop him doing his job, BBC reports. The 67-year-old has left the Loftus Road club second bottom of the Premier League with 19 points from 23 games. “Sadly I need immediate surgery on my knee,” Redknapp said. “If I can’t give 100% I feel it’s better for someone else to take over the reins.” Head of football operations Les Ferdinand and academy coach Chris Ramsey will take temporary charge. Redknapp took over as QPR manager in November 2012. “I have had such a fantastic time at QPR. I would like to thank the board, the players and all my staff, and especially the supporters who have been absolutely fantastic to me since I arrived at the club for their tremendous support,” he said. “My relationship with chairman Tony Fernandes has been one of the highlights of my footballing career and I wish the club every success. “I am confident they will survive in the Premier League this year.”

Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom has rejected interest from Liverpool and several other teams to sign a new contract at the club. According to the Daily Mirror, the 19-year-old has signed up for another four-and-a-half years, despite initially dragging his feet about the deal. In managing to keep hold of the England Under-20 international, Wenger has also fended off big interest in the striker. Akpom, who would have been out of contract in the summer, had been wanted by Liverpool plus Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Salzburg, Feyenoord and FC Twente. Wenger, though, has offered Akpom more game time recently, and he now looks set for a bright future.

Philippe Coutinho has agreed a new long-term Liverpool deal, with Brendan Rodgers predicting he will become world-class. The Brazil midfielder arrived at Anfield from Inter Milan in the January transfer window two years ago and has now signed a contract which takes him through to 2020. The move will be welcomed by supporters, who are also hoping to see Raheem Sterling sign a new deal soon.  Coutinho, speaking after putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal, said: ‘I’m really happy. It’s a dream come true playing for this great club and being part of this squad. ‘Today I’ve committed my future to the club and for this I’m feeling very pleased. ‘This club is great and the fans have always supported me, so I’ve been eager to sign this new deal since conversations started. Today is a very happy day.’ He set up both goals in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday and it has prompted manager Rodgers to liken his qualities to those of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric. Liverpool’s boss recognises that Coutinho needs to improve his goalscoring form — he has scored just twice this season — but believes the 22-year-old has the potential to blossom into one of the top performers in the Barclays Premier League. ‘You see his quality in his two assists at the weekend,’ said Rodgers. ‘They were sublime. The first pass was incredible invention. ‘If you look at Modric, he doesn’t have a big goalscoring record but he is a world-class player. ‘If he can improve his goalscoring, Coutinho will be getting into the bracket of being world-class.’

West Brom have signed Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher on a free transfer from Manchester United, BBC reports. The 31-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Hawthorns with a 12-month option. West Ham were also interested in signing Fletcher, but a move to Upton Park broke down last weekend. Albion failed in deadline day moves to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Norwich defender Martin Olsson, but kept Brown Ideye and Graham Dorrans. Fletcher made 342 appearances for United but started only five times for the club after Louis van Gaal took over as manager in the summer. The Scot, who recovered from chronic bowel disease ulcerative colitis to resume his career in December 2013, had been at Old Trafford since he was a schoolboy and helped the Red Devils win the Premier League title five times. But with his contract set to expire in the summer he was granted a free transfer to help him find a new club in this transfer window. “This is a fantastic new challenge for me in my career,” Fletcher told West Brom’s website. “I’ve spent my career at Manchester United and it’s all I’ve ever known. But I felt it was the right time to move and I’m not sentimental about doing that.” Fletcher is the second player signed by West Brom head coach Tony Pulis following the £4.75m capture of winger Callum McManaman from Wigan. The Scotland captain will wear the number 24 shirt for the Baggies.

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill has joined Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after leaving Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls by mutual agreement, BBC reports. The former Everton and Millwall player said he was attracted by the scale of the potential football market in China. The 35-year-old said: “I’ve done the Premier League, I’ve done America. New York was amazing for me. China is a growing market in football.” Cahill helped his national team win the 2015 Asian Cup title on Saturday. “You see in the [Asian Cup quarter-final] game that we played against China, millions of people watched it and I’m someone who is embracing culture and a different aspect of life,” he added. “I’m at an age where I want to give something back to football and still play at a high level. “I think it’s exciting. To still be in demand and have the offers I’ve had is special but this will be massive for me as a player on and off the park.” Cahill, who scored a memorable goal against the Netherlands for Australia at the 2014 World Cup, moved to the United States in July 2012 after eight years at Goodison Park. Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis said: “We thank Tim for his service to the organisation. “He positively impacted the growth of the beautiful game in the United States, MLS and for the Red Bulls.” Millwall gave Cahill his first professional contract before he joined Everton in 2004, where he scored 56 goals in 226 league games.

Chelsea have signed Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado for an initial fee of £23.3m, which could rise to £26.8m. The 26-year-old, who impressed for Colombia at the World Cup, joined Chelsea after fellow winger Andre Schurrle moved to Wolfsburg for £22m. Cuadrado has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the English league leaders. Chelsea fringe winger Mohamed Salah, 22, is likely to go on loan to Fiorentina as part of the deal. Cuadrado said: “I am very happy and thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given. This is a great club and honestly it is like a dream to join the Chelsea family and to know that the manager believes in me. I’m happy.” It is thought Cuadrado, who has scored five goals in 37 international appearances, had a release clause in his contract of £26.8m. Cuadrado played in Italy for five and a half years, initially joining Udinese from Medellin in his homeland in 2009. After a loan spell at Lecce, he moved to Fiorentina in 2012 and scored 20 goals in 85 Serie A appearances for the Florence side. Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella revealed the deal was imminent on Friday, saying: “It was a sale that had to be done. “Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina – I’m happy for him because he is going to a big club.” Salah has made 19 appearances for Chelsea since joining the club from Basel for a fee in the region of £11m in January 2014.

Wolfsburg have completed the signing of Andre Schurrle from Chelsea for a reported transfer fee in excess of 30 million euros. Schurrle, 24, will return to Bundesliga some 18 months after joining Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported transfer fee of 25 million euros and put pen to paper on a contract until 2019 according to the club website. Only minutes before the closure of the German transfer window at 6 p.m. CET on Monday, the Blues and Wolfsburg finally struck a deal for the international winger. Schurrle won the world cup with Germany in Brazil last year. Jonathan Akpoborie and Obafemi Martins both played for Wolfsburg at different times in the past.

Crystal Palace have re-signed winger Wilfried Zaha from Manchester United on a five-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee. Zaha has been playing on loan for Palace this season – the Eagles having sold him to United for £15m in January 2013. The 22-year-old never started a Premier League game for United, and made just two substitute appearances – in the Community Shield and a League Cup tie against Norwich – in an overall total of four games for the club. Zaha made his debut for Palace in 2010 after playing in the club’s academy sides since the age of 12. In January 2013 he agreed to join Manchester United on a five-and-a-half year deal but was immediately loaned back to Palace for the remainder of the 2012/13 season. Out of favour with United coach David Moyes in last season, Zaha completed a loan move to Cardiff City in January 2014 before his season-long loan return to Selhurst Park last August.

Championship side Wigan Athletic have signed Liverpool academy winger Sheyi Ojo on loan for the rest of the season. The 17-year-old joined the Reds from MK Dons in 2011 and despite being on the bench twice this term, he has yet to make his first-team debut. The England Under-18 international is the fifth signing to arrive at the DW Stadium in January. “I have watched him and was excited by what I saw in terms of his pace, touch and awareness,” said boss Malky Mackay. “I spoke to Brendan Rodgers at length about Sheyi and we both agreed that this is the next stage of his development. “Brendan sees him as a Liverpool player of the future and will take him into his squad in the summer.”

Former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Nigeria striker Yakubu has joined Championship club Reading on a deal until the end of the season. The 32-year-old, who has not played in England since leaving Blackburn in 2012, was a free agent after playing for Qatari club Al Rayyan. He has a total of 114 league goals across spells at five English clubs. “His addition will complement the strikers we’ve already got at Reading,” said boss Steve Clarke. “I know all about him as a player and I have heard very good reports about him as a personality in the dressing room. “He is no-risk signing for us and I look forward to him scoring goals for Reading Football Club.” In his last season in England with then-Premier League side Blackburn he scored 18 goals in 33 appearances.