SPORTS

Shanghai, China | AFP | Marcello Lippi was back as coach of China on Friday, four months after the World Cup winner quit and following a failed stint by fellow Italian Fabio Cannavaro. The 71-year-old Lippi’s return to the top job in Chinese football had been widely tipped in domestic media …

Paris, France | AFP | Could Kylian Mbappe really be about to play his final game for Paris Saint-Germain? And how are the French champions’ main domestic rivals shaping up for what looks set to be a summer of transition? AFP Sport looks at the main talking points in France ahead …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The Premier League has welcomed Raheem Sterling’s offer to help in the fight against racism after the Manchester City star called on the sport’s authorities to do more to tackle the problem. Sterling told the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival in New York …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  Olympic track and field star Allyson Felix joined a chorus of recent criticism against Nike on Wednesday, accusing the US sporting goods giant of penalizing female athletes who took time off to have a child. Felix, the only female track and field athlete to …

Teresópolis, Brazil | AFP | Copa America hosts Brazil began preparations for the tournament at their training centre in Teresopolis on Wednesday, despite missing most of their team. Only seven players are expected at the Granja Comary football complex near Rio de Janeiro for the first week of training. Neymar, …

Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played with 32 teams after a proposed expansion of the tournament to 48 sides was scrapped, FIFA announced on Wednesday. World football’s governing body said in a statement that “following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the …

  Buenos Aires, Argentina | AFP | Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and the returning Sergio Aguero headed the 23-man Copa America squad announced by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday. Paris Saint Germain winger Angel Di Maria was also included but there was no place for striker Gonzalo Higuain, who …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A Uganda Cranes preliminary squad for the forthcoming AFCON Finals in Egypt heads to Abu Dhabi on May 27 for a preparation camp where they will play two friendly games. Head coach Sebastien Desabre has released a list comprising a mix of local and …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will miss the Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku amid fears over his safety. Mkhitaryan’s well-being was a concern for Arsenal due to the tense political dispute between Armenia and final hosts Azerbaijan. The Premier League club have decided …

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bayern Munich may have wrapped up a seventh successive Bundesliga title on Saturday, but their domestic dominance was severely tested in one of the most exciting German league campaigns in years. Perennial champions Bayern, who have romped to the title every season since 2013, finished just …