Gianni Infantino spent his 46th birthday inaugurating the headquarters of FIFA s newest member association South Sudan, but the celebrations off the pitch were not matched on it as the hosts fell to a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat to Benin.
New FIFA president Infantino was making his first trip to a member nation since being elected last month and is set to visit Ethiopia, Djibouti and Gabon over the coming days.
And he witnessed Benin clinch three points that left them top of Group C, West Brom forward Stephane Sessegnon and Steve Mounie scoring the goals for the visitors in Juba.
President Infantino attended Qualifier today which ended South Sudan 1-2 Benin. Great support from the fans.
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia)
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Brazil legend Cafu has urged Neymar to stay at Barcelona as he feels the Camp Nou side are the ideal club for his compatriot.
Neymar has been in scintillating form for La Liga leaders Barca this season but talks over a contract extension remain on-going.
The Brazil captain has subsequently been linked with fierce rivals Real Madrid, and more recently Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Cafu a two-time World Cup winner with Brazil believes Barca is the perfect club for Neymar at this stage of his career.
I hope that he can continue at Barcelona, Cafu told Laureus.com.
Barcelona are a team that supports him, a team that provide him with structure to help him continue to shine.
Neymar was beaten to the 2015 FIFA Ballon d Or by …
Gary Cahill has been sent off for Chelsea just 14 minutes into their Premier League title defence.
The Blues captain was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Burnley midfielder Steven Defour in their opener at Stamford Bridge after he had lost possession with a heavy touch.
It is the third consecutive match in which the Blues have received a red card, having had Victor Moses sent off in May s FA Cup final and Pedro removed in last week s Community Shield, both matches against Arsenal.
However, it is the first red card Chelsea have received in league action for 40 matches.
1 Chelsea had gone 40 successive Premier League matches without a red card (since May 2015) before Gary Cahill s dismissal today. Off.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
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Competition: Dutch Eredivisie
Market: PSV to win against Breda
Odds:
PSV Eindhoven travel to the Rat Verlegh Stadion to face NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday afternoon, and are big favourites to pick up all three points with how the two sides have started the new season. PSV could go top with a win this weekend, while Breda risk dropping to the foot of the table if they come unstuck.
As for the hosts, Stijn Vreven’s NAC Breda side find themselves just one place above the relegation zone after suffering defeat to Vitesse in their first game of the campaign. Breda lost 4-1 on the day and could well struggle to keep a side like PSV quiet as a result. Defeat could even see them end the weekend 18th.
Phillip Cocu’s PSV Eindhoven side are cu…
Roberto Firmino scored twice as Brazil eased past Bolivia 5-0 in a dominant display to kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Brazil barely raised a sweat in their opening CONMEBOL qualifier on Friday, outclassing Bolivia thanks to Firmino s brace, while Marquinhos and Philippe Coutinho were also on target, to go with a Jose Carrasco own goal.
Tite s Brazil had not played since their 3-0 win over South Korea in a November friendly after the coronavirus pandemic forced World Cup qualifying to be postponed in March, but the Selecao did not look like a team featuring for the first time in 2020.
Brazil dominated from the outset and they should have scored two goals inside three minutes, however, Everton and Marquinhos wasted golden opportunities in the po…
Bayern Munich have confirmed defender Lucas Hernandez has had successful surgery on a knee injury.
Hernandez tore the medial meniscus of his left knee during France s 2-2 draw with Portugal at Euro 2020 on June 23.
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said in a statement on Sunday: We wish Lucas a full and speedy recovery. Our doctors are very pleased with the course of the operation. He will be available again in a few weeks.
Hernandez has made 62 appearances for Bayern in all competitions since joining from Atletico Madrid two years ago.
The 25-year-old has suffered only one defeat in his 42 Bundesliga games, while he did not lose a single one of the 25 league matches he played in his first season at the Allianz Arena as Bayern won the treble …
Nuri Sahin set for Borussia return
Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin could return to Borussia Dortmund, German daily Bild reveals.
Sahin joined Real Madrid from Borussia in the summer, but has so far played just over 20 minutes in La Liga.
After missing the first part of the season through injury, the Turkish midfielder looks unable to break into the starting line-up.
He has mostly been used in Cup competitions this season, and Jose Mourinho could decide to cash in on the player come end of the season.
Borussia Dortmund chiefs are very interested in re-signing the Turkish midfielder and they could make an official bid next summer.
After agreeing to sign Marco Reus, the German giants believe that Nuri Sahin would be the last piece of the p…
Tottenham s defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday was unfair , their coach Antonio Conte claimed.
A first-half brace from Mohamed Salah put Jurgen Klopp s side in control, with Spurs attacking play limited in the opening 45 minutes, although Ivan Perisic did hit the frame of the goal.
The hosts possessed a greater threat in the second period, and Perisic was again denied by the woodwork before Harry Kane found the net in a sixth consecutive home league game – a Tottenham first in the Premier League era.
However, Spurs could not find an equaliser, and the 2-1 loss leaves them without a win in 10 league meetings with Liverpool.
That sequence matches Tottenham s worst in this fixture, but Conte felt the scoreline was not a fair reflection of this encounter…
Inter Milan have decided not to sign Lazio loanee Mauro Zarate on a permanent deal, according to reports.
The Serie A giants spent 2.7 million euros to bring the Argentine striker to the San Siro, but they are reportedly not satisfied with his performances to date and will not pay the agreed price of 15.5 million euros to retain him, Sportmediaset reported.
Zarate, 24, is halfway through his loan spell with Inter, but has failed to score in 12 Serie A appearances this season.
He has netted just once in all competitions the winner against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League group stage on September 27.
However, another reason for Inter s decision not to pursue Zarate in the long-term is because of their interest in Sao Paulo starlet Lucas Moura, who has b…
Brazilian defender Maxwell is set to leave Barcelona in the January transfer window, with Paris Saint-Germain his reported destination.
Le Parisien claims the Ligue 1 table-toppers are keen to strengthen their defence in the mid-season transfer window and had initially set their sights on Palermo s Federico Balzaretti.
But new manager Carlo Ancelotti has now turned his attention elsewhere and have made 30-year-old Maxwell their primary defensive target.
The former Inter and Ajax star had previously been linked with Benfica, but it is believed that he prefers a move to PSG and could complete his transfer in the upcoming days.
Maxwell moved to Camp Nou in July 2009 and made over 70 competitive appearances for La Liga heavyweights Barca in his first two sea…