Football

Soccer-CAF president rejects accusation of FIFA influence

RABAT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Confederation of ‌African Football could have done a better job of explaining its decision to ‌move the Africa Cup of Nations from every two to four years but ‌was standing by it, the organisation's president Patrice Motsepe said on Saturday.

Football

Soccer-Mbappe and Asencio strike as Real Madrid calm storm with 2-0 win over Levante

MADRID, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Real Madrid ended a ‌turbulent week with a 2-0 LaLiga win over lowly Levante on Saturday courtesy of second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe ‌and Raul Asencio, after being met with boos from a restless Bernabeu crowd before the breakthrough arrived.

Football

Soccer-Man Utd sweep past Man City as Carrick enjoys perfect start

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A transformed Manchester United kicked off ‌interim manager Michael Carrick's second stint in charge with an exhilarating 2-0 derby day defeat of Manchester City in the Premier League at a ‌vibrant Old Trafford on Saturday.

Football

Soccer-Diaz could be the key for Morocco in Afcon final against Senegal

RABAT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Morocco coach Walid ‌Regragui is predicting that Brahim Diaz could be the catalyst for his side as ‌they bid to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ‌in half a century on Sunday.

Other Sports

Olympics-Monobob champion Humphries back in form as Nolte wins overall World Cup title

Jan 17 (Reuters) - American ‌Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries marked a ‌return to form three weeks before defending ‌her gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games, clinching her first win in nearly three years, while ‍Germany's Laura Nolte took the ‍overall monobob title at ‌the IBSF World Cup final on Saturday.

Football

Soccer-Raphinha in doubt for Sociedad game as Barca look to stretch LaLiga lead

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Barcelona winger ‌Raphinha is a doubt for Sunday's LaLiga trip to Real ‌Sociedad after sustaining a knock, manager Hansi Flick said on ‌Saturday as his side look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Other Sports

Alpine skiing-Odermatt wins Wengen downhill for fourth time in a row

WENGEN, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - ‌Swiss Olympic Alpine skiing favourite Marco Odermatt delighted the ‌home fans by winning a men's World Cup downhill ‌on Wengen's famed Lauberhorn piste for the fourth time in a row on Saturday.

Badminton

Aaron-Wooi Yik bow out of Indian Open in semis

PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's hopes of making it into back-to-back finals were dashed after they went down to Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita in the Indian Open semi-finals.

Football

Soccer-Senegal criticises Cup organisers as pre-final tensions mount

RABAT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Tensions ‌mounted on the eve of the Africa Cup of ‌Nations final as Senegal's coach Pape Bouna Thiaw criticised ‌a lack of security for his players when they arrived in Rabat ahead of Sunday's decider and were mobbed at the city's train station.

Other Sports

Olympics-Alpine skier Vlhova sets sights on Winter Games return after injury

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Olympic slalom ‌champion Petra Vlhova said on Saturday that she had been ‌cleared to return to training at full intensity after ‌an extended spell on the sidelines and was hoping to compete at next month's Milano Cortina Winter Games.

Football

Soccer-Pique's Kings League aims for US launch, licensing amid global expansion

SAO PAULO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Gerard ‌Pique-founded Kings League is planning a U.S. launch in 2026 but its fast expansion will ‌not stop there as it expects to enter more global markets and potentially licence ‌the format, the former Spain and Barcelona player has told Reuters.

Football

Soccer-Pique sees France as World Cup favourites, hopes US hype will last

SAO PAULO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former ‌Spain defender Gerard Pique believes France may be the team to beat at this year's World Cup but he ‌is curious to see whether co-hosts the United States can sustain the surge of interest around the ‌sport once the event ends.

Other Sports

Sailing-Newcomers Artemis surge to the front at 2026 Perth SailGP opener

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Artemis SailGP signalled ‌their intent early, mastering a chaotic opening day at the Perth Sail Grand Prix ‌to lead the field at Saturday's 2026 season opener.

Other Sports

Alpine skiing-Nicol Delago wins Tarvisio downhill as Vonn takes another podium

TARVISIO, Italy, Jan 17 (Reuters) - ‌Italy's Nicol Delago won a foggy women's World Cup ‌downhill on home snow in Tarvisio on Saturday as ‌age-defying U.S. Alpine ski great Lindsey Vonn powered to her fifth podium in five races.

Cricket

Cricket-Former Australia batter Martyn awake after being placed in coma due to meningitis

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former Australia ‌batter Damien Martyn is up and walking again after being put ‌into an induced coma last month to fight a serious ‌case of meningitis with only a 50% chance of survival.

Badminton

Malaysia unlikely to take over as host of World C'ships, says Kenny

PETALING JAYA: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Datuk Kenny Goh has played down Malaysia's chances of hosting the World Championships this year.

Other Sports

Rallying-Sixth Dakar win for Al-Attiyah as Benavides triumphs on two wheels

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah won the ‌Dakar Rally for the sixth time in the car category on Saturday as Argentina's Luciano Benavides ‌won by two seconds on two wheels, the narrowest margin ever.

Football

Soccer-Fiorentina President Commisso dies at 76

Jan 17 (Reuters) - ‌Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso ‌has died at the ‌age of 76 after a prolonged period of treatment, the Serie ‍A club said on ‍Saturday.

Tennis

Tennis-Djokovic likes his chances at Melbourne Park but not focusing on Grand Slam record

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A defiant Novak ‌Djokovic is adamant he can still beat any player on his day but at 38 the Serb is no ‌longer focusing on the Grand Slam record, saying he does not need the pressure it brings.

Badminton

Pearly-Thinaah's run in India ends in semis

PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's run in the Indian Open ended in the semi-finals after they lost to Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto