JOHANNESBURG: African Cup leading scorer Samuel Eto’o tops a list of high-profile absentees at this year’s tournament after former winners Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa all surprisingly missed out in qualifying. The 30-year-old Eto’o won’t be able to add to his 18 African Cup of Nations goals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and his …

DOHA: Jonas Oliveira scored once in each half Monday to give Brazil a 2-0 win over Egypt in a friendly in Qatar. The Valencia striker struck in the 39th and 59th minutes at Al Rayyan Stadium in a match held to raise money for famine victims in Somalia. It was Brazil’s second victory in a …

GENEVA: The president of the Swiss-based International Handball Federation is facing bribery and corruption allegations in a scandal over television contracts. Prosecutors in Hamburg, Germany, said Friday that they suspect Hassan Moustafa improperly received €602,000 ($830,000) in apparent consulting fees in 2007. Moustafa is suspected of "bribery and corruption and irregularities in the marketing of …

CAIRO: Atletico Madrid almost spoiled Zamalek’s centennial celebrations with an easy 4-1 victory over the Cairo club. Argentine striker Eduardo Salvio gave his side a two-goal cushion early in the first half before Mido reduced the arrears via a controversial penalty on 24 minutes. The Spanish side compounded their opponents’ woes via another brace from …

CAIRO: Ivory Coast trio Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Gervinho were among 10 footballers nominated for the African Player of the Year award on Wednesday. The three English Premier League players were joined by 2010 winner Samuel Eto’o and Ghanaian internationals Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan and Kevin-Prince Boateng on a list announced by the Confederation …

ZURICH: Former US coach Bob Bradley vaulted over his old team, leading African champion Egypt up seven places to No. 29, while Spain extended its lead at the top of FIFA’s monthly world rankings on Wednesday. The 2012 European Championship qualifying group winners also Greece and Denmark entered the top 10. Spain won its two …

By AP TARRAGONA, Spain: The Spanish city Tarragona says it has edged Egyptian counterpart Alexandria for the right to host the 2017 Mediterranean Games. Tarragona, located on the Mediterranean coast south of Barcelona, says on its town hall website it edged Alexandria in Saturday’s vote held in Mersin, Turkey. Tarragona will be the third Spanish …

CAIRO: The Confederation of African Football says Morocco will replace Egypt as host for the continent’s Olympic football qualifying tournament after an upsurge in violence in Cairo. CAF says on Thursday the cities of Marrakech and Tangiers will be the main venues for the eight-team under-23 competition. Additional stadiums are available in Rabat and Fes. …

CAIRO: Egypt’s football association says it has informed the Confederation of African Football that it cannot host an Olympic qualifying tournament because of a surge in violence in Cairo. EFA official Azmy Mejahed tells The Associated Press on Monday that the federation has apologized to CAF after it was told by Egyptian authorities that it …

CAIRO: Former United States coach Bob Bradley signed a contract to take over the Egypt national team on Saturday, charged with reviving the fortunes of a side that recently failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations. The 53-year-old Bradley agreed a deal worth $37,000 a month until after the 2014 World Cup in …

CAIRO: Playing its first match since the fall of Moammar Qaddafi, Libya’s national team beat Mozambique 1-0 Saturday in an African Cup of Nations qualifying match. The Libyan players wore a new white jersey with the three colors of the pre-Qaddafi flag used by the rebels. Rabie El-Lafi scored in the 30th minute with a …

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone: Defending champion and seven-time winner Egypt failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in more than 30 years after a 2-1 loss in Sierra Leone on Saturday. A goal from Sheriff Suma in the 14th minute and an 89th-minute penalty by Mohamed Bangura made sure of …

JOHANNESBURG: Defending champion Egypt and fellow African powerhouse Cameroon face humiliating eliminations from next year’s Cup of Nations in this weekend’s penultimate round of qualifying. Two of Africa’s three most successful teams, with 11 titles between them, they are not expected to make it to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in five months’ time. Two-time champion …

JOHANNESBURG: The South African Football Association said Thursday it had signed an agreement with Libya’s football federation to host the 2013 African Cup of Nations in place of the troubled north African nation. In its statement, SAFA said the agreement will see Libya stage the 2017 Cup of Nations, which was initially awarded to South …

By Stephen Wade  / AP MEDELLIN, Colombia: Spain will be the favorite to add another World Cup to its trophy case — this time the Under-20 version — when the tournament begins on Friday. Ghana, which upset Brazil two years ago in the final in Egypt, has failed to qualify this time around. But six-time champion …

JOHANNESBURG: Last-minute addition Wydad Casablanca of Morocco held six-time champion Ahly of Egypt to a 3-3 draw as the African Champions League group stage opened with ties in every one of its four games over the weekend. Wydad — which only earned its place in Group B after defending champion TP Mazembe was disqualified — …

CAIRO: Egypt’s U10 Tennis Circuit was held for the first time in Egypt from May 20–June 18 in four different clubs throughout Cairo namely Dokki Shooting Club, Heliopolis Club, Gezira Sporting Club and Palm Club, where the circuit was initiated and concluded for this round with the Masters Championship. The circuit concept was formed a …

LIEPAJA: The United States opened its Under-19 basketball World Championships defense by scoring the first 22 points of a 115-60 victory over Egypt on Thursday. Doug McDermott had 19 points to lead the United States, which had all 12 player score. Joe Jackson and Jeremy Lamb both had 15 points for the Americans, who play …

LAUSANNE: Egypt international footballer Hossam Ghaly and an American female marathon runner were falsely suspected of doping because of a Malaysian laboratory’s mistakes, according to a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. Ghaly was among three Middle East-based players who served suspensions because the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab in Penang wrongly reported positive tests for …

CAIRO: Ismaili explained how they are willing to pull their team out of the Egyptian Premier League without being subjected to any sanctions. The coastal club announced their withdrawal from the domestic competition in protest over refereeing, following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Gaish. Their decision was met with a pinch of salt by the …

CAIRO: Ahly outcast Ahmed Shokri is unfazed by his insignificant role under Manuel Jose, stressing that he has confidence in his manager. The 21-year-old midfielder has yet to make a single appearance under Jose, even though he played some part with the Portuguese’s predecessor Zizo. “I am not being treated unfairly. In fact I’ve been …

CAIRO: Ahly will open talks with Harras Hodoud star Ahmed Eid at the end of the season, out of respect to the Alexandrian club. The league holders declared interest in the 30-year-old winger recently, with his contract running out in January 2012. “We said before that we’re interested in Eid’s services, but we decided to …

  CAIRO: Egyptian FA chairman Samir Zaher admitted that the association is facing difficulties naming a successor for departing manager Hassan Shehata.   Shehata ended a seven-year reign as Egypt manager after failing to take the team for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, following a 0-0 qualifying draw with South Africa. Despite revealing that …

CAIRO: The Egyptian Football Association has parted company with coach Hassan Shehata, a day after a shock 0-0 draw against South Africa all but ended any hope of defending its African Cup of Nations title. "The two parties agreed on ending contract of the coaching staff for Egypt national team under the leadership of Hassan …

CAIRO: Ahmed Hassan says that pressure was the reason behind Egypt’s disappointing draw against South Africa. Egypt’s failure to win for the fourth time in a row virtually ended their hopes of reaching the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever. While the majority of fans are unhappy with the players, captain …

CAIRO: Ahly coach Manuel Jose is unsure over Hassan Shehata’s pre-match approach, but believes that no one should criticize him following the shock exit from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt’s goalless draw by South Africa on Sunday meant that the African champions are virtually out of the qualifying stage for the first time …

  JOHANNESBURG: Egypt’s hopes of defending its title at next year’s African Cup of Nations are all but gone after the seven-time continental champion was held to a damaging 0-0 draw at home by South Africa in qualifying on Sunday.   Egypt — which has won Africa’s top football tournament three times in a row …

JOHANNESBURG: Powerhouses Egypt and Cameroon — with 11 continental titles between them — face critical qualifying matches for the 2012 African Cup of Nations this weekend as both teeter on the brink of shock eliminations. A desperate Egypt effectively needs to beat South Africa in Cairo on Sunday to avoid missing out next year on …

ATHENS: The crowd goes silent as Gary Hunt makes his way across a 27-meter high platform. They then let out a collective gasp as he freefalls into Lake Vouliagmeni – executing his signature front quad with 1.5 twists along the way, ultimately earning himself first place at the third stop of the Red Bull Cliff …