Former France international Luis Fernandez is poised to take over as coach of Guinea and replace compatriot Michel Dussuyer. A consultant with France’s RMC radio, Fernandez, 55, is expected in Conakry in the next few days, to sign his contract and conduct his first news conference. The Guinea Football Federation (FGF) has been looking for a replacement since Dussuyer quit as Guinea coach following their quarter-final exit from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Fernandez played 60 times for France and was a member of the side that won the 1984 European Championship title. He also coached Paris Saint-Germain to the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup but his time in charge of Israel’s national team was not so successful. Fernandez was appointed in May 2010 to lead Israel in the Euro 2012 qualifiers but ended with a record of five wins, a draw and four losses in qualifying group F, eight points behind winners Greece. The Frenchman also came in for a barrage of criticism from local media for failing to establish a stable squad and made frequent and unorthodox changes to his line-ups. The much-travelled, vastly-experienced Fernandez has previously managed Spanish clubs Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol and Real Betis. His managerial journey includes stints with Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem, Qatar’s side Al-Rayyan and French club Reims.

Italy coach Antonio Conte received death threats following an injury to Juventus’s Claudio Marchisio, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has revealed. The midfielder was suspected to have ruptured his knee ligaments as he trained for Saturday’s qualifier against Bulgaria, which Italy drew 2-2, BBC reports. Juventus have since confirmed the 29-year-old has not torn his ligament. England play Italy in a friendly in Turin on Tuesday. FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio told Italian radio station Radio Rai: “He received death threats on the internet.” “I saw Conte shaken this morning, I met with him for a long time and he is not calm.” He added: “All these things have been said on social networks and he feels vilified for something that is not his fault. The FIGC stands by him.” Former Juventus player and manager Conte said Marchisio injured himself in a training warm-up.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections are holding today in Nigeria. We urge everyone to choose wisely and remain peaceful.