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Tottenham Hotspur's push for Champions League football risks being undermined by their failure to bring in a striker in the January transfer window after their only available forward Jermain Defoe was injured on Sunday.

Seydou Keita's sixth Africa Cup of Nations tournament could turn out to be his best yet as the conflict in Mali drives his search for success on the pitch.

Napoli joined Juventus at the top of Serie A on Saturday, their highest position at this stage of the season since the great Diego Maradona led them to their last league title 23 years ago, by beating Catania 2-0.

Mali dashed home hopes at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 penalty shootout win to send South Africa tumbling out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage on Saturday.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised his sides battling qualities as Wayne Rooney's goal earned them a 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday and a 10-point lead in the Premier League title race.

David Bellion scored his first Ligue 1 goal for more than three years to help Girondins Bordeaux climb to fourth with a 2-0 home victory over Valenciennes on Saturday.

Queens Park Rangers new signing Loic Remy could be sidelined for the Premier League basement team's next match against Swansea City after the striker injured his groin in training.

Wayne Rooney's hot scoring streak continued on Saturday as he fired Manchester United 10 points clear in the Premier League title race with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Fulham.

Ghana stayed on course for their fifth Africa Cup of Nations Cup title when substitute Mubarak Wakaso scored twice to sink surprise packages Cape Verde Islands 2-0 in a fiercely contested quarter-final on Saturday.

Italian Serie A club AS Roma sacked manager Zdenek Zeman on Saturday after a 4-2 loss at home to Cagliari on Friday night.

The deadline day sale of Spain defender Nacho Monreal to Arsenal has been a major blow to Malaga and reveals the delicate state of their financial situation, coach Manuel Pellegrini said on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain followed up their headline-grabbing swoop for David Beckham by crushing 10-man Toulouse 4-0 to open up a three-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Friday.

Serie A leaders Juventus are strong enough to win the Champions League this season for the third time in their history, new signing Nicolas Anelka said on Friday.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out for around three weeks with a calf injury, manager Roberto Mancini said on Friday.

Real Madrid players have suffered more racist abuse than those from other clubs, midfielder Jose Callejon said on Friday after Barcelona's Brazilian full-back Daniel Alves complained of monkey chants in Wednesday's King's Cup semi-final at the Bernabeu.

Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben have been left out of the Netherlands squad for next week's friendly against Italy because they have failed to play regularly at club level, coach Louis van Gaal said on Friday.

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans could be available for Saturday's trip to Fulham after a hamstring injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

Malaga's promising playmaker Isco and Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta have been included in Spain's squad for next week's friendly against Uruguay in Doha, coach Vicente del Bosque said on Friday.

Diego Maradona has not been pardoned over tax debts, the Italian revenue agency said on Friday, denying an earlier announcement by the football great's lawyer that his tax bill had been cleared.

Mario Gomez has been recalled to the Germany squad for next week's friendly against France after an injury layoff but there was still no room for Bundesliga leading scorer Stefan Kiessling.

Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a thigh strain, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez plans to stay at the five-times European champions even if they do not qualify for the Champions League this season.

West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie was branded unprofessional by his club but viewed as unlucky by others on Friday after a transfer deadline-day saga that ended in an unsuccessful bid to join Queens Park Rangers.

South American champions Corinthians were beaten 3-1 away by Sao Paulo in their final match on Sunday before heading to Japan to take part in the Club World Cup.

Lionel Messi wants to be remembered as a good friend and colleague to his team-mates rather than as the best player in the world, the unassuming Argentine said in an interview on Monday.