Football

Spain's footballers' union, AFE, wants the whole weekend of football called off. The union made the request on Thursday out of respect for Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, SuperSport reported. De Miguel died this week. According to SuperSport, he collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a second division match on Monday. Some games are already off. Tenerife's match at Granada has been postponed, as has Andorra's game against Mallorca. Several midweek cup fixtures were…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dropped its plan to make the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) a four-year tournament. Its executive committee vetoed the 2025 announcement and restored the traditional two-year cycle, Daily Maverick reported on Thursday. Money drove the reversal. When CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the four-year plan last year, he said a new African Nations League would start in 2029. Modelled on the European Nations League, it would have run in the years without an Afcon, ending with a final and a trophy. CAF now says the league would need several years before it could raise the large sums African football needs to stay "globally competitive and self-supporting". Motsepe said the decision protects the interests of African football and CAF's 54 member associations. He said it also protects African players at clubs outside Africa. He added that CAF was worried about how long the new league would take to make a real financial and development contribution. The next Afcon will take…

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, says he will run for Fifa president. He will take on Gianni Infantino in March's election in Rabat. Tashima is the second challenger to declare before the November 18 deadline. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega was the first. Candidates need nominations from five of Fifa's 211 member associations to get on the ballot. The Guardian reported that it is unclear whether Vega has that support. Tashima should have no trouble securing it. According to the Guardian, Tashima is acting with Uefa's blessing. Uefa has led the opposition to Infantino since his failed attempt this summer to sell a 20% stake in Fifa's commercial rights. Tashima, a former Japan international, has many allies in Europe. He held talks with Uefa officials at last month's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress in Tokyo. Tashima told the Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon that he has the full support of his association. "It's not about winning…

South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane has leaned heavily on Mamelodi Sundowns for this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya. The Pretoria club provide 12 players in the 27-man squad, SuperSport reported. That is almost half of the selection. Mosimane kept faith with established internationals despite fitness worries. Captain Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena are both recovering from injuries. It is not yet clear whether they will play in Sundowns' CAF Super Cup match against USM Alger on Sunday. Sundowns winger Siyanda Ndlovu gets a chance at senior international level. Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi returns after missing Mosimane's first window in charge. He joins fellow overseas-based defenders Olwethu Makhanya of Rangers, Ime Okon of Hannover 96 and Samukele Kabini of Molde. Orlando Pirates defender Kamogelo…

Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football. He announced the decision in a long video message on social media on Thursday. "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No 7 shirt of our national team," the 41-year-old said, according to The Guardian. He added that the decision was not easy because "some decisions are not made with the mind alone". Ronaldo leaves with 234 caps and 146 goals. BBC Sport, quoted by Nile Post, said both figures are world records. His international career began in August 2003. Pulse Live Kenya reported that he made his debut against Kazakhstan. The Guardian said his career spanned six World Cups. Ronaldo captained Portugal to their first European Championship title in 2016 and won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. His exit follows a public dispute with coach Jorge Jesus. The Eastleigh Voice reported that the row began on September 27, when Portugal beat Norway 2-1 in Oslo. Ronaldo warmed up but stayed on the bench. He left the camp in Copenhagen on September 30, before the October 1 match against Denmark. In an October 6 statement, he accused Jesus of breaking his word twice. Jesus denied making the agreement Ronaldo described.…

Harry Kane is staying in Munich. The England captain and new Ballon d'Or winner has signed a contract extension with Bayern Munich until 2029, the club announced on Thursday. The 33-year-old had 12 months left on the four-year deal he signed in 2023, BBC Sport reported, as carried by the Nile Post. Bayern did not disclose financial details. The Guardian reported that German media called the extension the most lucrative contract in the club's history. BBC Sport said the new deal keeps Kane at Bayern through Euro 2028, until shortly before his 36th birthday. Kane said he feels "right at home" at the club and that his whole family is happy in Munich. He praised manager Vincent Kompany and said he wants to win many more titles. Sporting director Christoph Freund said the club was "absolutely delighted". He called Kane "the best all-round striker in the world". Kane joined from Tottenham in 2023. The Guardian put the record fee at €100m, while BBC Sport gave it as £86m. He has since scored 156 goals in 161 games, including 12 this season. Last season he scored…

Federico Valverde rescued Real Madrid in Athens on Wednesday. His long-range strike in stoppage time sealed a 3-2 Champions League win over AEK Athens. The Guardian and the Nile Post both reported the result. José Mourinho's side had trailed twice against the Greek champions. Aboubakary Koïta put AEK ahead after 12 minutes with a powerful finish, the Guardian and the Nile Post reported. Jude Bellingham equalised with a back-heeled flick across the face of goal. The Nile Post put that goal in the 32nd minute. At 23 years and 128 days, Bellingham became the youngest player to score in seven successive Champions League seasons. He passed team-mate Kylian Mbappé. AEK went ahead again with 15 minutes left. Stavros Pilios first blocked a goal-bound Mbappé shot, according to the Nile Post. He then raced the length of the pitch to finish an attack at the near post.…

Erling Haaland slid home Elliot Anderson's cross on 77 minutes to settle a five-goal thriller in Leipzig, The Guardian reported. It was his only real chance of the night. Rayan Cherki later hit the post as City held on. City went ahead in the first half. Cherki found Nico O'Reilly with a diagonal ball. O'Reilly's quick cross forced Castello Lukeba to turn it into his own net off his left knee. Ridle Baku levelled after the break with a shot from a tight angle. Gianluigi Donnarumma let it in between himself and his left post. Enzo Fernández headed City back in front from Iliman Ndiaye's cross. Antonio Nusa equalised again from the left before Haaland struck. Donnarumma's mistake was the latest in a series, according to The Guardian. He was also at fault for Nicolas Jackson's winner in the recent defeat at Aston Villa. He was blamed for two goals in last month's loss to Paris Saint-Germain too. Manager Enzo Maresca said…

Real Madrid are close to signing Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. The Spanish club have offered the 16-year-old forward a multi-year contract. Subject to final talks, Madrid hope to bring him to the Bernabeu in January. Gabriel is registered with United's academy until the end of the season. According to The Guardian, United have not yet been contacted by the player's camp or by Madrid about the move. The club will consider legal action if they believe any rules have been broken. Madrid plan to use a Fifa loophole. It allows clubs in the EU to sign young players on professional contracts if the players hold an EU passport. Gabriel is eligible for one through both of his parents. Fifa would have to approve the deal, and United are on alert for any breach of the rules. United would be owed a compensation fee if Gabriel joined Madrid…