Andy Murray will face world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the Miami Open on Sunday. Third seed Murray beat Czech eighth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 to reach the final for a fourth time. The 27-year-old Scot, who reached 500 career wins this week, won the title in 2009 and 2013. Defending champion Djokovic overcame USA’s John Isner 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to set up a meeting with Murray, whom he beat in Indian Wells last week.
Four-time winner Tiger Woods has confirmed he will play in the Masters at Augusta, which starts on Thursday. Woods, a former world number one, has not played in a tournament since 5 February. The world number 104, withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after just 11 holes with a back injury. “I’m playing in the Masters,” said Woods, 39. “It’s obviously very important to me, and I want to be there.” Woods played a practice round at Augusta before making the announcement on his website.He added: “I’ve worked a lot on my game and I’m looking forward to competing. I’m excited to get to Augusta and I appreciate everyone’s support.” Woods, a 14-time major winner, has missed the cut in the only two tournaments he has played this season. He posted the worst score of his professional career earlier this year, with an 11-over-par 82 at the Phoenix Open.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says “every player has a price” after being asked about Raheem Sterling’s contract wrangle at Liverpool. The Portuguese said he understood the stance of Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who said Sterling would not be sold. But Mourinho said: “I don’t like players that don’t want to play for me and my club, clearly.” Chelsea are among the clubs linked with the England forward, 20, after he rejected a £100,000-a-week contract.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for March and Olivier Giroud has made it a double for the Gunners by winning the Player of the Month award. Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco in March but won all four for their Premier League matches against Everton, QPR, West Ham and Newcastle. Giroud bounced back from being substituted just an hour into Arsenal’s Champions League first-leg defeat against Monaco by scoring six goals in all competitions, averaging a goal every 78 minutes from 17 shots.
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is in such good form that he cannot be dropped, says manager Louis van Gaal. The 27-year-old, a £27.5m signing from Everton in 2013, was jeered by some United fans during pre-season. He has started the last four games, and scored three goals in two matches for Belgium during the recent international break. “When he is playing like he is now, I cannot change him,” said Van Gaal. Fellaini did not score in 21 matches in an injury-interrupted first season at Old Trafford and said he felt like a scapegoat for the club’s struggles under then manager David Moyes. Since Van Gaal took charge, Fellaini has scored five goals in 23 games for United in all competitions this term and was given a standing ovation after the 3-0 victory over Tottenham in March. “From the first training session, he did what I asked of him,” said Van Gaal, who said he is “not surprised” by Fellaini’s form. “I said, ‘you have to do this, or do this differently’ and he was open and wanted to perform that. “He’s had an unlucky season because he was injured and ill a lot of times, but when he’s been fit he’s always played for me, more or less. “I was looking for balance in the team and he can bring that.”
All four Nigerian and South African contenders are in danger of being eliminated from the African Champions League this weekend at the last-32 stage. Nigerians Enyimba defend a precarious 1-0 lead over Egyptians Smouha on Sunday in Mediterranean city Alexandria. And Kano Pillars must stage a miraculous comeback in northern Nigeria on Saturday to survive having crumbled 4-0 away to Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan. South Africans Mamelodi Sundowns are in a similar position to Enyimba after establishing only a 1-0 lead over Democratic Republic of Congo visitors TP Mazembe. Soweto side Kaizer Chiefs are much worse off as careless defending at a free-kick led to a 1-0 home defeat by Moroccans Raja Casablanca three weeks ago. Sundowns play on Sunday afternoon in mining hub Lubumbashi and Chiefs go into action five hours later in the Moroccan commercial capital. Nigeria and South Africa are the economic giants of Africa and boast two of the most competitive domestic leagues on the continent. But both nations have struggled to make their mark in the premier Confederation of African Football club competition with back-to-back victories by Enyimba a decade ago the only Nigerian triumphs. South Africa have been even less successful with a lone Champions League – then called the African Champions Cup – triumph coming through Orlando Pirates 20 years ago. While Enyimba, Pillars, Sundowns and Chiefs face tasks of varying difficulty, the quartet were speaking optimistically this week. Kadiri Ikhana, who coached Enyimba to 2003 Champions League glory, said he had a plan to combat the cold evening weather expected in Alexandria. “Our preparations will include lots of running and I do not envisage the cold having a negative effect on us,” he said.
The Confederation of African Football has refused to confirm whether Morocco will play in the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. On Thursday the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned CAF’s ban on Morocco from the 2017 and 2019 events. But on Friday CAF’s director of communications Junior Binyam told BBC Sport: “There are many meetings to be held before the way forward is known. “Let’s see what will happen. The draw is supposed to take place on 8 April.” CAF is set to hold its annual general congress next week in Cairo and Binyam said the matter will be discussed there by its executive committee. Morocco were suspended from the next two editions of the Nations Cup after they did not host the 2015 event because of their fears over the outbreak of Ebola on the continent. The Royal Federation of Moroccan Football (FRMF) asked for the finals to be postponed but CAF refused. The tournament was relocated to Equatorial Guinea, only two months before it began, and Morocco were excluded. In addition Morocco were fined US$1m (£675,000) and ordered to pay 8m euros (US$8.7m, £5.85m) in compensation. CAS reduced the fine to US$50,000 (£34,000) and said the separate claim for damages “may be examined by another jurisdiction”. When asked about the decision by CAS relating to the financial penalties, Binyam insisted Morocco “still have to pay the compensation”.
Saturday 4 April 2015:
Arsenal vs Liverpool 12:45 pm
Everton vs Southampton 3 pm
Leicester vs West Ham 3 pm
Man Utd vs Aston Villa 3 pm
Swansea vs Hull 3 pm
West Brom vs QPR 3 pm
Chelsea vs Stoke 5:30 pm
Sunday 5 April 2015:
Burnley vs Tottenham 1:30 pm
Sunderland vs Newcastle 4 pm
Monday 6 April 2015:
Crystal Palace vs Man City
Tuesday 7 April 2015:
Aston Villa vs QPR 7:45 pm
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala scored her first goal in English football to help defending Women’s Super League One champions Liverpool overcome Birmingham City. Oshoala was lively before meeting a Gemma Bonner cross to volley home just before the break. Oshoala cut the ball back for Fara Williams to make it 2-0 before Aoife Mannion gave Birmingham late hope. The match ended 2 – 1 in favour of Liverpool Ladies. Oshoala said: “I feel very happy and excited about the goal and the victory for the team. “It’s very nice for me hearing them singing my name. It’s a crazy atmosphere. I have never seen supporters like this and I have been playing football for quite a long time now. The supporters here are awesome, they are great people. “It’s been a difficult start to the season but I believed we would bounce back. We showed the spirit here is very high, and we are really giving everything.”
Spain were beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands last night, failing to gain any revenge for the 5-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of the same opponents in the 2014 World Cup group stages. Guus Hiddink’s men were firmly on top on Tuesday, going ahead through Stefan de Vrij’s header before Davy Klaassen struck a second to condemn Vicente del Bosque somewhat experimental side to defeat. It leaves Del Bosque wondering what he can do to return Spain to the force that won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, and the 2010 World Cup.
Portugal rested Cristiano Ronaldo, had Andre Pinto sent off and suffered a 2-0 home defeat to the Cape Verde Islands. Portugal are top of their qualifying group for Euro 2016 but went down to goals from Odair Fortes and Admilson Gege.
Luis Suarez received a rapturous reception as he made his first return to Anfield since joining Barcelona, playing the second half of a charity game between sides captained by Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, ESPN reports. The match ended 2 -2. Suarez was cheered on and off the pitch and formed a strike partnership with fellow ex-Liverpool player Fernando Torres in a match that raised at least £1 million for the Liverpool FC Foundation.
Newcastle United Football Company Limited announces a record £18.7m profit after tax, up from £9.9m in 2013. It is the fourth consecutive year of recorded profit. Operational losses of £600,000 in 2013 have been turned into an operating profit of £4.7m as they continue to outperform UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations. Their turnover rose to £129.7m, up from £95.9m the previous year. Matchday revenue, which includes ticket sales and hospitality, dropped slightly to £25.9m from £27.8m in 2013, while season ticket renewal figures held steady, as did average Premier League attendances, which were 50,395 compared to 50,517 the previous season. The club’s debt remains at £129m in the form of an interest-free loan from owner Mike Ashley.
Tiger Woods has dropped out of the top 100 players in golf’s world rankings for the first time since 1996. Woods has slipped from 96 to 104, taking him beneath the likes of Romain Wattel, Emiliano Grillo and Daniel Summerhays. Nope, me neither. The 39-year-old American has not played since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open on 6 February.
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.
Stoke have announced that manager Mark Hughes has signed a new deal with the club through to the summer of 2018. Welshman Hughes, who previously managed Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR, has been in charge at the Britannia since May 2013. Hughes told the club website: “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract. I think it’s exciting times for Stoke City; everyone can see there’s more progress to be made and we want to see how far we can take the club. “I believe we can do even better next season with a little bit more investment. Let’s see how far we can go.”
UEFA has ordered Dynamo Kiev to play its Europa League quarterfinal against Fiorentina with a partially closed stadium as punishment for fan racism against Everton. Two sections of the Olimpiisky Stadium will be shut for the first leg against Fiorentina next month, after UEFA ruled there was “racist behavior” during the 5-2 home win over Everton last week. Dynamo was also fined 15,000 euros (£11,000) because of fans setting off fireworks.
Sticking with the theme of football clubs doing things they shouldn’t, Hull have been fined £30,000 by the Football Association for failing to control their players against Leicester on March 14. City initially denied the charge but were on Friday found guilty of “failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion”. The incident was brought about by the reaction of a number of Hull players after Alex Bruce was booked by referee Jon Moss following a tackle on Riyad Mahrez.
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