Sport

Egypt's Elmohamady wants to play in Brazil - (59 days ago)

  “Our dream is to play in Brazil in the World Cup,” Elmohamady was quoted as saying on Cafonline Egypt are currently at the top of Group G of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with six points from two games, three ahead of Guinea. Zimbabwe and Mozambique have one point each. “We won our first two games in the qualifiers so far and beating Zimbabwe means we’re on the

FIFA get Costa Rica protest over WCup loss to US - (59 days ago)

FIFA is studying a protest from the Costa Rica soccer federation, which wants a World Cup qualifier against the United States replayed after losing 1-0 in a snowstorm. ''FIFA will now analyze the content of the letter and next steps will be determined in due course,'' the governing body said Monday in a statement. The Costa Rican federation said Sunday that the ''physical integrity'' of players

Barcelona coach Vilanova to return to Spain this week - (59 days ago)

  "Tito Vilanova will this week leave the city of skyscrapers to return to the Catalan capital," Barca said in a statement on their website. The club did not say whether he would be well enough to return to work. The 44-year-old former Barca player needed a second round of surgery in December following an initial operation to remove a tumour from his saliva glands in November 2011. His

Preview: France keep same mindset as Spain fear possible playoff - (59 days ago)

  Les Bleus, who left Euro 2012 with their tails between their legs following a comprehensive 2-0 defeat against Spain in the quarter-finals last June, have dramatically improved under new coach Didier Deschamps. They followed a 1-1 draw in Spain in October with a 3-1 win against Georgia on Friday to take the lead in qualifying Group I with 10 points from four games after Vicente del

INTERVIEW-Olympics-Squash banking on David to wow the IOC - (59 days ago)

Almost unbeatable in the sport she describes as "boxing with rackets" world champion Nicol David is proving a skilled saleswoman too as the face of squashs bid to join the Olympics.   A tough cookie on the court, the 29-year-olds easy-going charm off it is helping propel the sport towards what she believes would be a golden new era. The Malaysian seven-times World Open champion has

Egypt changes every day, but World Cup dream still on: Bradley - (59 days ago)

Ahram OnlineEgypt’s topsy-turvy politics did nothing to dampen Egyptians’ ardour to see their national team play at the World Cup, coach Bob Bradley said ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Zimbabwe.The American boss is under immense pressure to achieve a feat that eluded his highly-successful predecessor Hassan Shehata - qualifying Egypt for the World Cup for the first time since

Football: Turkey prepares for U-20 World Cup, today draw - (59 days ago)

ANSAmedMonday will see the start of 'one of the most important sports events in Turkey's history with the draw of the under 20 World Cup', said the president of the local organization committee Servet Yardimci, presenting the group stage draw at 6 pm local time in Istanbul. 'We are going through a golden moment for Turkish football'.The 24 teams that have qualified for the cup will be divided

Zambia, Morocco suffer World Cup setbacks - (60 days ago)

Zambia and Morocco suffered setbacks in their World Cup qualifying campaigns on Sunday that put their hopes of reaching the finals in jeopardy and undermined previous predictions of a rise in their fortunes.   Zambia extended their winless streak to seven matches as unfancied Lesotho grabbed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Maseru while Morocco crashed to a 3-1 defeat in Tanzania to fall

Tennis: Djokovic wins in Miami, while Azarenka withdraws - (61 days ago)

  Azarenka withdrew from her opening match because of an ankle injury she suffered playing at Indian Wells last week. "I'm very disappointed ... But I have to take my health into consideration," said Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in January but has struggled with injuries since. "I tried everything I could but couldn't make it. It's an unfortunate part of our job." Azarenka's

Egypt youth determined to clinch African football title: Coach - (61 days ago)

  The young Pharaohs finished the group stage on top of Group A with nine points after beating Benin 1-0 on Friday. Egypt had also beaten Ghana 2-1 and hosts Algeria 1-0 to book their place at the World Cup, which will take place in Turkey in the summer, for the third consecutive time. "We are determined to win the African Championship title," Yassin told an Egyptian radio station. "All

Missing luck and X-factor leaves Spain fearing play-offs - (61 days ago)

  Some resolute defending and Teemu Pukki's 79th-minute strike on the counter-attack left Vicente del Bosque's side second in Group I, two points behind France with four games left to play. Only one team from each group earns direct qualification for the finals in Brazil next year, with the eight best runners-up entering a play-off for the last four European berths. "Another big slip-up,"

France's Benzema needs to be more decisive, says Deschamps - (61 days ago)

  The Real Madrid striker has not found the net in his last 11 games for Les Bleus and while three of the offensive quartet - Mathieu Valbuena, Olivier Giroud and Franck Ribery - scored goals, Benzema once again proved too clumsy. He was even booed by the Stade de France crowd, who are not known for their patience and understanding. "Strikers need confidence, and they do not need to be

Bender replaces Schweinsteiger in Germany sqaud for World Cup qualifier - (61 days ago)

  Holding midfielder Schweinsteiger was booked in their 3-0 win against Kazakhstan in Astana on Friday after scoring the opening goal and is suspended for one game. The win saw Germany go five points clear of second-placed Sweden in Group C with 13 points from five matches. Sweden, who drew 0-0 with Ireland, have eight points from four games. Borussia Dortmund's Bender missed Friday's

Argentina wins as Messi chases Maradona record - (62 days ago)

Swaziland win raised Egypt's morale before qualifier: Bradley - (62 days ago)

Argentina wins as Messi chases Maradona record - (62 days ago)

  The duo are the front runners in the nine-nation South American group heading into the final straight of the qualifiers with their coaches looking to ensure there is a good balance of hard work to go with the immense skill. Messi, who stated his World Cup goal once again in midweek, is at the fulcrum of everything that is good about a dynamic team coached by Alejandro Sabella in which

European WCup 2014 qualifiers: Spain stumble as England, Germany and France win - (62 days ago)

The first of this month's two rounds of qualifiers -- with another 20-plus matches scheduled for Tuesday - went according to plan for the big guns apart from Spain who lost top spot in Group I to France after Finland forced a 1-1 draw in Gijon. England scored their biggest victory for 26 years when they triumphed 8-0 in San Marino, Germany won 3-0 in Kazakhstan, France beat Georgia 3-1 in Paris

Germany crush Kazakhstan 3-0 in World Cup qualifiers - (62 days ago)

Two goals in two minutes midway through the first half from midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze, playing in a forward role, quickly put the Germans in control and dashed any faint hopes for the hosts. Thomas Mueller grabbed Germany's third goal in the 74th minute in a lacklustre second half after the home side attempted a brief comeback and even hit the bar. The result lifted

Egypt rout Swaziland 10-0 for their third-biggest victory in history - (62 days ago)

The Pharaohs have finally snapped a four-match losing streak that saw them drop to 75 in the FIFA monthly raking for their worst-ever position, having lost 3-0 to Ghana, 4-2 to Ivory Coast, 2-1 to Chile and 3-1 to Qatar since January. Friday's win is their third-biggest victory ever. Egypt thumped Laos 15-0 in a friendly game in 1963, thumped South Korea 10-0 in the 1964 Olympic Games and

Egypt beat Benin to finish on top of group in U-20 African Championship - (62 days ago)

The young Pharaohs finished on top of Group A with nine points, thanks to a goal from midfielder Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim "Kahraba" midway through the first half. Kahraba scored the winner in the 22nd minute with a simple tap-in on the rebound after a shot was parried by Benin keeper into his path. Egypt had also beaten Ghana 2-1 and hosts Algeria 1-0 to book their place at the World Cup, which

Gedo to remain at Hull City, Fathi set for Ahly return - (62 days ago)

"Gedo performs well with Hull City and he can make a history for himself in English football," El-Badry told reporters after Friday's training session. "I will allow Gedo to join Hull City on a permanent contract after his loan deal expires." The 28-year-old, best known for scoring five goals to steer Egypt to the last of their record seven African Nations Cup titles in 2010, made an instant

Coentrao strikes late as Portugal salvage 3-3 draw with Israel - (62 days ago)

The visitors stunned Israel and silenced the 40,000 capacity crowd with a goal in the second minute, but the home side eventually settled. Israel got back on equal terms in the 24th minute through Tomer Hemed and forged a promising lead with goals by Eden Ben Bassat in the 40th minute and Rami Gershon in the 70th. But a determined effort by Cristiano Ronaldo, who powered into the Israeli area,

Qatar open to winter World Cup in 2022 - (62 days ago)

"Concerning the timing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we have always reiterated that we bid on the parameters that we would host in the summer of 2022," the Qatar 2022 supreme committee said in a statement."Various figures from the world of football have raised preferences for hosting in the winter. We are ready to host the World Cup in summer or winter. Our planning isn't affected either

Germany's only striker Gomez ruled out of Kazakhstan game - (62 days ago)

  Gomez, the only striker left in the squad after Miroslav Klose was ruled out weeks ago with an injury, was hurt during the final training session late on Thursday evening, the German football association said. "The 27-year-old will not be training for about two days," it said in a statement. Germany coach Joachim Loew's dilemma whether to play without an out-and-out striker has

Afghanistan league points the way for football development - (62 days ago)

  Their ability was tested in a number of challenges, including one that involved running through mud and water, with the victors winning places in their local squad. Although a far cry from a conventional European-style league, it was broadcast live on television and radio and matches were played in front of a full house. "It is remarkable," Thierry Regenass, development director at

Brazil offer Neymar a refuge from celebrity lifestyle - (63 days ago)

  Neymar, 21, has so far resisted the move to a European club and is still playing for Santos, where he made his professional debut. He has accumulated around a dozen sponsorship contracts which have helped boost his earnings to something approaching what he would earn in Europe. However, they also make considerable demands on his time. As far as Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is

FIFA rejects Zamalek's transfer request for Shikabala - (63 days ago)

 FIFA has rejected Zamalek's request to register winger Mahmoud Abdel-Razek 'Shikabala' with their squad for the rest of the season, Ahram Sports reported on Thursday.The 27-year-old forward signed a one-year loan deal with UAE side Al-Wasl last summer, but the Gulf team ended his spell amicably on 9 February after the closure of the winter transfer window.The Cairo giants had asked FIFA for

Ismaily beat El-Entag El-Harby 1-0 in Egyptian League - (63 days ago)

 A second-half goal by midfielder Ahmed Khairi gave Ismaily a narrow win over minnows El-Entag El-Harby in the Egyptian League on Thursday.The 26-year-old player capitalised on El-Entag's defensive lapse, which allowed him to easily score at close range in the game's 69th minute.The victory allowed Ismaily to maintain their place as second in Group B with 18 points, three points behind

Ahly's Moawad could play against Gouna after lengthy injury - (63 days ago)

  The talented left winger has been out of action since last November due to a persistant foot injury, depriving Ahly of his rapidity and creativity. "Sayed Moawad will be able to play against Gouna," Ahly's doctor Aly told the club's official website on Thursday. Meanwhile, Aly said that team's skipper Hossam Ghaly will start training on 15 May, after ending his rehabilitation