SPORTS

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Somalia and Sudan have pulled out of next month’s CECAFA Challenge Cup in Kenya, reducing the field to only 10 teams from the central, northern and southern African zones. Organisers of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) tournament said Somalia, which has …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain’s La Liga will use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season, the country’s football federation (RFEF) confirmed on Wednesday. “The president of the referee’s technical commission, Victoriano Sanchez Arminio, has informed all first division referees and assistant referees that video refereeing will be introduced …

Milan, Italy | AFP | Gian Piero Ventura’s reign as Italy coach ended on Wednesday after a World Cup qualifying fiasco during which the four-time champions failed to reach next year’s finals in Russia. The 69-year-old’s fate was sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Rome, …

Washington, United States | AFP | Tennis superstar Serena Williams is used to hoisting trophies, but on Thursday, it looks like she’ll be carrying a wedding bouquet. Music royalty Beyonce and Jay Z, along with actress Eva Longoria are among the A-listers reportedly convening in New Orleans for Williams’ wedding to …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s Mo Farah says he could compete in the marathon at the 2020 Olympics if he feels confident of winning a medal. Farah retired from the track in August to focus on road racing and has been coy about his Olympic future. Congratulations Sir …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reached an agreement with the national team over earnings for the World Cup in Russia on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a pay strike similar to the one in Brazil in 2014. It did not disclose the various fees agreed with the …

New York, United States | AFP | Three South American former soccer officials were blinded by greed and accepted millions of dollars in bribes, US prosecutors told the FIFA corruption trial Monday as defense lawyers insisted their wealthy clients were innocent. Forty-two officials and marketing executives, and three companies were indicted …

Milan, Italy | AFP |  A tearful Gianluigi Buffon quit international football as four-time champions Italy sensationally missed out on their first World Cup finals in 60 years after a playoff defeat to Sweden on Monday. Coach Gian Piero Ventura also said he would consider his future after the Azzuri …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Rwanda filled the final place at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) Sunday despite only drawing 0-0 in Kigali against Ethiopia in the second leg of a play-off. The Rwandans qualified 3-2 on aggregate having won the first leg by that score in Addis Ababa …

Paris, France | AFP | Kylian Mbappe insisted his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar is “human like everyone else” after the Brazilian was reduced to tears on Friday by the controversy that has followed him since his arrival from Barcelona. A tearful Neymar pleaded with the media to stop the “false …