Burkina Faso forward Jonathan Pitroipa has announced his retirement from international football after 13 years playing for the Stallions. The 33-year-old, who is currently playing French second-tier club Paris FC, was part of the Burkina Faso squad at five Africa Cup of Nations finals tournaments. Pitroipa was named as Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as he helped Burkina Faso finish runners-up in South Africa.
Amr Fahmy, who was removed as general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in April, has entered the race to be the governing body’s next president. His announcement comes despite the next elections for the top position, currently held by Ahmad, are set for 2021.
Football’s world governing body has announced plans to raise $1bn dollars to build at least one stadium meeting FIFA standards in each African country. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was talking in Lubumbashi during the 80th anniversary celebrations of DR Congo side TP Mazembe. He insisted that FIFA wants African football to shine and will work with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other stakeholders to improve refereeing, infrastructure and competitions on the continent.
Leicester City inflicted the cruellest of blows on beleaguered Everton manager Marco Silva as Kelechi Iheanacho’s stoppage-time winner – awarded by the video assistant referee – kept the Foxes on the heels of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Watford have sacked manager Quique Sanchez Flores after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Southampton, saying “ultimately results have dictated our decision”. Chris Hughton is a possible successor and the Hornets said a replacement will be appointed “imminently”. Sanchez Flores, who was in charge for the 2015-16 season, was reappointed on 7 September, replacing Javi Gracia.
Unai Emery has been sacked as Arsenal manager after 18 months in charge. The Spaniard, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French league title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was appointed Gunners boss in May 2018, succeeding Arsene Wenger.
Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he “gave the best” of himself during his five-and-a-half years with the club. The 47-year-old Argentine led Spurs to four successive top-four finishes and last season’s Champions League final. He was replaced by Jose Mourinho last week and in his first statement since, Pochettino said: “There were equally tough challenges as exciting successes.
Former Cameroon forward Pierre Webo has been appointed as assistant coach at Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir. The 37-year-old returns to the club he played for between 2011 and 2013 and also to Istanbul where he also appeared for giants Fenerbahce. The Super Lig outfit confirmed Webo’s appointment to work alongside Ekrem Dag, as assistants to manager Okan Buruk.
Egypt’s two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Hany Said has retired from football with immediate effect at the age of 39. He made his announcement after his side Misr Lel Makkasa’s 2-1 loss to visiting Haras El Hodood in the Egyptian League on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi scored on his 700th Barcelona appearance as they reached the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over Borussia Dortmund. The Argentine, who has now scored 114 goals in the competition, was the catalyst for Barcelona’s best work throughout.
Egyptian club Zamalek confirms it will not travel to Qatar to play Champions League holders Esperance of Tunisia in February’s African Super Cup. The annual match brings together the winners of the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has re-iterated his club’s stance on travelling to play in Qatar. “We are two African teams, why should we play in Asia?” he questioned at a press conference on Tuesday.
Club Bruges celebrated their late equaliser at Galatasaray so much that they had two men sent off. When Krepin Diatta curled home from outside the box deep into injury time to make it 1-1 in Istanbul, you might have expected the drama to be over. He took his shirt off to celebrate, as modern footballers love to do. Unfortunately he appeared to forget he had already been booked so was shown a second yellow card and a red.
Former Netherlands striker Marco van Basten has been suspended by Fox Sports after he made a Nazi remark on-air. The Dutch edition of the sports channel said the “Sieg Heil” comment – a phrase associated with use at Nazi rallies – was “stupid and inappropriate”. In an apology Van Basten, 55, said he had “not intended to shock people”.
Deontay Wilder defended his WBC world heavyweight title for the 10th time with a stunning knockout after being out-boxed by Luis Ortiz for six rounds. The American looked set to see his world-title reign end just short of five years as Ortiz picked him apart for half of their Las Vegas rematch.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has announced he will be sponsoring 100 students at a university in the Nigerian city of Kano. Musa has made the gesture to mark his ambassadorial role for the Skyline University. Despite its size Kano and being the commercial centre of northern Nigeria there is a real lack of opportunity for education, which many simply cannot afford.
An extra-time goal from Ramadan Sobhi helped Egypt beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to lift the 2019 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Friday. The final came soon after a dramatic third place play-off match where South Africa clinched the third African place at the 2020 Olympics with a penalties win over Ghana after the match had ended 2-2.
Argentina legend Diego Maradona has quit as manager of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, less than three months after taking charge of the club. It was the 59-year-old’s first coaching job in his homeland since 2010.
Canada will face either Russia or Serbia in Saturday’s Davis Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 win over Australia. The match came down to a deciding doubles where Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov secured Canada’s passage with a 6-4 6-4 win over John Peers and Jordan Thompson.
New Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has promised to bring “passion” and “happiness” to the club. The Portuguese, 56, was appointed on Wednesday morning, following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday night. Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Mourinho praised the quality of Spurs’s squad and their “world class” stadium and training ground.
The Edo State government in southern Nigeria has announced it will pay its women’s team Edo Queens the same as its men’s side, Bendel Insurance. The state own both teams with the men’s side playing in the Nigerian second tier and the women’s in the Women’s Premier League. “We believe that there should be no discrimination between the male and female teams,” deputy governor Philip Shaibu said.
Naija Sports Crib 