Sports — International

Buffalo takes division crown while Ravens book NFL playoff spot

Washington, United States (AFP) Buffalo clinched a third consecutive division title and the Baltimore Ravens secured an NFL playoff berth on a Saturday where most games were played in severely cold conditions. The New York Giants, however, were denied a place in the post-season for now thanks to a last-play loss at Minnesota. Buffalo’s Josh Allen threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns while Devin Singletary ran for 106 yards and a touchdown and James […]

Curry will be out at least two more weeks for NBA Warriors

San Francisco, United States (AFP)     Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, sidelined since suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder, will be out for at least another two weeks, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors said Saturday. Curry, who suffered the injury December 14 at Indiana while trying to make a steal, has missed the team’s past four games. The Warriors said Curry was recently reevaluated and the exam indicated Curry is “making good progress” in his […]

Men to make splash in 2024 Olympics artistic swimming ‘milestone’

PARIS, France (AFP) – Men will take part in Olympic Games artistic swimming for the first time at the 2024 Paris Games with the decision hailed on Thursday as a “milestone” for the sport. Male swimmers will be eligible to compete in the eight-person team event with a maximum of two men in each team, officials said. “This announcement marks a milestone in artistic swimming history,” said Italy’s Giorgio Minisini, a world champion in 2017 and […]

Cavs beat Bucks, Raptors end Knicks winning streak

MIAMI, United States (AFP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season high 45 points and grabbed 14 rebounds but couldn’t stop his Eastern Conference leading Milwaukee Bucks from falling to a 114-106 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Cleveland had lost their previous two meetings with the Bucks this season but with Donovan Mitchell scoring 36 points they delivered a strong fourth quarter to ensure victory. Mitchell was 15 of 16 at the free throw line, […]

World Cup winner Messi agrees to stay at PSG – reports

PARIS, France (AFP) – Lionel Messi will celebrate his World Cup triumph by agreeing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, local media claimed Wednesday, as he attempts to steer the French side to an elusive Champions League title. The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup final against France in Qatar last weekend, will pen a one-season extension to his current deal in the French capital which expires in the summer. Le Parisian and […]

World Cup winners Argentina return ahead of welcome home party

by Barnaby CHESTERMAN Agence France-Presse Buenos Aires, Argentina (AFP) — Argentina’s World Cup winners led by captain Lionel Messi returned home from Qatar in the early hours of Tuesday morning ahead of a welcome home party in the nation’s capital. Having beaten France in Sunday’s thrilling final, the players will now spend the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex near the Ezeiza airport where they arrived in Buenos Aires and where thousands […]

Antetokounmpo’s 42 points propel Bucks past Pelicans

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-119 NBA victory Monday over Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Two-time Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint, making 12 of his 17 shots from the floor and 17 of his 22 free throws. Meanwhile the Bucks effectively limited Williamson, the New Orleans star forward who finished with 18 points, […]

Olympics chief Bach ‘faces dilemma over Russian athletes’

by Pirate IRWIN Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Olympics chief Thomas Bach faces “the toughest decision of his presidency” as he weighs whether Russian and Belarus athletes should be allowed to compete in the 2024 Games, a senior former IOC executive has told AFP. The signs coming from bodies such as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in the past fortnight suggest athletes from Russia and […]

Argentina prepares for World Cup winners’ welcome home party

by Barnaby CHESTERMAN Agence France-Presse BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Argentines waited eagerly to welcome home their World Cup heroes on Monday as France’s beaten stars arrived back in Paris following the remarkable final drama in Qatar. The South American capital is preparing for a massive street party with the new world champions due to arrive late on Monday night. “Crowned with glory,” read a banner on a newspaper kiosk in Buenos Aires, while Clarin […]

Lionel Messi: The Greatest?

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – For his legions of admirers, the debate about Lionel Messi’s right to be regarded as the greatest footballer in history is officially over. The absence of a World Cup winners’ medal has long been Exhibit A in the argument about why Messi does not rank above Pele and Diego Maradona in football’s pantheon. But with Argentina’s victory over France in Sunday’s jaw-dropping World Cup final in Doha, the case against the 35-year-old […]

Argentina beat France on penalties to win World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – Argentina defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out to win the World Cup for the third time on Sunday. Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored twice and France striker Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick as a thrilling World Cup final finished 3-3 after extra time at the Lusail Stadium. In an extraordinary night of high drama, Argentinian substitute Gonzalo Montiel stroked home the winning spot-kick to seal an agonizing shoot-out loss for defending […]

Morant’s triple double, Herro’s 41 points spark NBA wins

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Memphis star Ja Morant and Miami’s Tyler Herro, two of the NBA’s top young guards, delivered dazzling performances on Thursday in impressive triumphs. Morant had a triple double for the host Grizzlies, who stretched their NBA win streak to seven games, while Herro unleashed a historic career-best effort for the Heat. Morant managed his third triple double of the season and the seventh of his career with 25 points, 10 […]