Chelsea agree deal with Aston Villa for teenager Chukwuemeka

Esteban Becker hailed a brave display as hosts Equatorial Guinea held off Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup of Nations

Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker hailed his team’s performance in the goalless Africa Cup of Nations draw with Burkina Faso.

As in their opening Group A game against Congo, the host nation produced a battling performance to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

Burkina Faso forward Alain Traore twice hit the post during the first half and the wastefulness in front of goal that was a central factor in their 2-0 loss to Gabon once again afflicted 2013 finalists.

Equatorial Guinea grew in confidence as the match went on, with attackers Emilio Nsue and Iban Edu to the fore.

I am very satisfied, very proud of my team,  said Ar…

After a breakthrough showing in Australia s triumphant Asian Cup campaign, Massimo Luongo is set to be the Socceroos next star.

When did Australia take their first steps on the path to Asian Cup glory?

Was it after leaving the World Cup in Brazil with their heads held high but without a single point to show for their efforts from three matches played?

Perhaps it was when Football Federation Australia fired Holger Osieck and put the call in to Ange Postecoglou, the architect of Brisbane Roar s rise to A-League powerhouse status.

No, those landmarks are too tangible, too obvious a jumping off point.

Finding the start of this story means following the Socceroos newly appointed coach, tasked with the challenge of reinvigorating and restoring pride to …

Bayern Munich have signed striker Mario Mandzukic from Wolfsburg on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The Bavarians have lost Ivica Olic in the off-season, and although they have re-signed Claudio Pizarro, they were also linked with a move for Manchester City s Edin Dzeko.

However they were priced out of a move for the Bosnian, and turned their attention to Croatian Mandzukic, who scored three goals at Euro 2012.

The club s general manager Christian Nerlinger admitted the 26-year-old s performances in the tournament were a factor behind the move, along with his consistent performances at club level.

We are delighted to bring a top Bundesliga striker like Mario Mandzukic, and we have also seen in Euro 2012 matches that he has special skills, Nerli…

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has admitted he considered taking over as England coach after Steve McClaren was sacked.

McClaren was sacked after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and was replaced by Fabio Capello.

Mourinho told Ford s FeelFootball.com: “In a certain moment I considered being England national manager, first of all because I was in love with the football country and with England I was also happy there and secondly because if you have one country where the prestige of the national team manager is huge, it is England.

“But at the same time my passion for the day-by-day work, my passion to train every day, my desire to play every week and if possible more than one game a week, this is my life. That s the life I…

Thomas Meunier will consider becoming a free agent next year if Paris Saint-Germain rebuff the dozen clubs that have made contact since January.

Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly interested in taking the Belgium international to the Premier League for a cut-price fee in the more immediate future.

PSG will have an important decision to make if offers are submitted, with just 12 months left to run on right-back Meunier s contract.

The Ligue 1 champions are already set to lose Adrien Rabiot for nothing and could run into a similar headache at the end of next season.

It s something that could suit me, Meunier told Le Parisien when asked about the prospect of leaving next year.

I don t think the club would make a lot of money from me, actu…

Brazil star Neymar said he is braced for the toughest match of his career due to the circumstances amid a rape allegation.

Neymar s Brazil will host Qatar in an international friendly on Wednesday as they prepare for the upcoming Copa America.

A Sao Paulo state official confirmed to Omnisport on Saturday that a charge has been brought against the Paris Saint-Germain forward following an incident in the French capital on May 15.

Neymar vehemently denies the accusation and posted an Instagram video on Sunday, in which he claimed the allegations are an attempt to extort him.

He is now facing a police investigation in Brazil after publishing intimate pictures of the alleged victim within the social media video.

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The Scottish Football Association has accused Aberdeen winger Peter Pawlett of diving to win the penalty that relegated Dundee on Sunday.

The SFA confirmed on Monday that Pawlett had been issued with a notice of complaint and has until Thursday to respond.
The 22-year-old faces a two-match ban if he accepts the charge or he can take the issue to a judicial panel hearing on May 16.
Dundee needed three points to remain in the Scottish Premier League but had to settle for one after Pawlett went down under a challenge from Lewis Toshney and Niall McGinn converted the resulting spot-kick to earn a 1-1 draw.
Dundee manager John Brown said: It was a blatant dive. He was diving with two feet before he has even come near the player.
However, Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes defended his pla…

Manchester City defender Gael Clichy has signed a new four-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, tying him to the club until 2017.

The 27-year-old Frenchman joined City from Arsenal in July 2011 and has made 56 league appearances to date, helping the team to win the English Premier League title in 2011/12.

I m really happy to have agreed a new deal with City and I m already looking forward to next season, he told the club s official website.

Things didn t go the way we wanted them to this year but we ll come back stronger next season and learn from this experience.

The France international previously spent eight years at Arsenal, making 187 appearances since joining the club in 2003 from Cannes.

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Thomas Tuchel admitted footage of his spat with Antonio Conte was hilarious – but insisted the refereeing blunder that cost Chelsea a win over Tottenham remains no laughing matter.

It was last Sunday when emotions ran so high in the London derby that both bosses were red-carded after the final whistle.

Touchline tensions had been soaring and came to a head when Tuchel refused to immediately let go of Conte in the post-match handshake, affronted that the Italian had avoided eye contact.

This sparked further words being said and several backroom staff from both teams having to separate the two, before referee Anthony Taylor showed both men his red card.

Football Association charges have followed for Tuchel and Conte, but Tuchel accepts there was an ele…

Jules Kounde has not been registered in time by Barcelona for Sunday s LaLiga clash with Real Sociedad, while Sergino Dest has also been overlooked by Xavi once again.

France defender Kounde has yet to feature competitively for Barca since joining from Sevilla in a €55million deal, having also sat out last week s stalemate with Rayo Vallecano.

He is the only new signing yet to be registered by Barca, who have been forced to sell off non-playing assets and activate various levers to meet LaLiga s salary rules.

While Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie are all available to face Sociedad, Kounde is not part of the travelling party.

Dest has also been left off the 23-player list for the second week running, with head coach Xa…