Hosts Ivory Coast are favourites for AFCON glory

Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Djamel Belmadi of Algeria says hosts Ivory Coast are the team to beat at the 2024 tournament, which kicks off on Saturday. Host nations have often struggled to turn home advantage into success with only 11 of the previous 33 AFCONs won by the home side. But 2019 winning coach Belmadi believes the Ivorian Elephants can go all the way and win the flagship […]

January 8, 2024 4

Sport

Falcons sack Arthur Smith

The Atlanta Falcons sacked head coach Arthur Smith after the NFL team's third straight losing season concluded with a 48-17 defeat to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Smith took charge in January of 2021 and they finished 7-10 in each of his three seasons, failing to make the playoffs in each. "Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in […]

January 8, 2024 7

Sport

Nadal pulls out of Australian Open

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal on Sunday pulled out of the Australian Open with a "micro tear on a muscle" barely a week after making his comeback from a year-long injury absence, but said he remained positive.The 37-year-old had been out of the game since injuring his hip at the 2023 Australian Open, undergoing surgery before making his return at the Brisbane International.He won his opening two matches in straight […]

January 8, 2024 5

Sport

Rybakina, Dimitrov win Brisbane International

Elena Rybakina will head to the Australian Open full of confidence after demolishing Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final Sunday, while Grigor Dimitrov upset Holger Rune to win his first title since 2017.Rybakina, who will now become world number three, won the first eight games in a row on her way to a 6-0, 6-3 win in just 73 minutes over the Australian Open champion in a repeat […]

January 8, 2024 1

Sport

Germany wins maiden United Cup

Alexander Zverev saved two match points in a gruelling three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz to help Germany upset top seeds Poland and clinch a maiden United Cup title in Sydney on Sunday.The world number seven kept the tie alive with his never-say-die 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 victory after top-ranked Iga Swiatek had swept past Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-0.Zverev returned to partner Laura Siegemund and seal the title with […]

January 8, 2024 1

Sport

Peterhansel wins 50th Dakar stage

Audi veteran Stephane Peterhansel left his rivals trailing in the dust on stage two of the Dakar Rally on Sunday in a treacherous 463km race through the winding dunes of the Saudi desert.Only nine-time rally world champion Sebastien Loeb got anywhere near Peterhansel at 29sec as American rookie Seth Quintero came home third at 3min 11sec.The 58-year-old Peterhansel scooped his 50th Dakar Rally stage win to become joint record […]

January 8, 2024 4

Sport

Arsenal “needs a reset” – Arteta

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal need a psychological "reset" after missing a host of chances in their 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round. Arteta's side should have been in complete control of Sunday's clash after a dominant first half at the Emirates Stadium. A combination of poor finishing and good keeping from Alisson Becker frustrated the Gunners, who paid for their profligacy with a late collapse. […]

January 8, 2024 2

Sport

Detroit Pistons approach NBA record after losing 25th straight game

The Detroit Pistons inched closer to NBA ignominy on Thursday as they dropped a 119-111 decision to the Utah Jazz on their home floor for a 25th straight defeat. The Pistons are now one loss away from matching the NBA's longest single-season losing streak of 26 games -- by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers. The longest losing streak ever was the 28-game slide of the 76ers […]

December 22, 2023 4

Sport

Mouth-watering Premier League Christmas weekend ahead

Liverpool and Arsenal will battle for the Christmas number one spot when they meet on Saturday, each with a golden chance to open up a significant lead over absent champions Manchester City. If there is not a winner at Anfield, third-placed Aston Villa could be top at Christmas for the first time since 1999 should their phenomenal home form continue against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United. The festive Premier League programme also […]

December 22, 2023 13