SPORTS

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Most Russian athletes want to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang despite a ban on the country’s team, the head of the athletes’ commission at the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) said Monday. “We have talked to all the athletes in all the …

Kitwe, Zambia | COSAFA MEDIA | South Africa and East African guest nation Uganda sealed their places in the semifinals of the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships on Monday as they topped their first round pools on a day of tense action in Zambia. Stephen Mukwala was the …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Tokyo organisers are back on track and will complete their 2020 Olympic venues on schedule, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Monday at the start of a three-day visit. After bungling the rollout of the showpiece Olympic stadium two years ago, local organisers have come under …

Kitwe, Zambia | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Hippos continued their strong showing in the ongoing Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championships by becoming the first team to make it to the semifinals on Monday. A tense first half ended 0-0 in Kitwe, before Malawi took the lead in the 70th minute. …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Antonio Conte said Chelsea’s Premier League title defence is effectively over following his team’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday. The loss at the London Stadium was the champions fourth in their opening 16 league games and left them 11 points behind …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho admitted the Premier League title race is all but over after Manchester City delivered a hammer blow to Manchester United’s challenge with a 2-1 win on Sunday. City moved 11 points clear of second-placed United as Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half strike gave the …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona restored their lead at the top of La Liga to five points as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi struck in the final 20 minutes to edge out 10-man Villarreal 2-0 on Sunday. Daniel Raba’s red card on the hour mark for a wild lunge …

Southampton, United Kingdom | AFP | Olivier Giroud’s last-gasp header salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday as Arsene Wenger’s side avoided a second successive Premier League defeat. Wenger’s team appeared destined to follow last weekend’s home loss to Manchester United with another setback …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United’s defensive deficiencies gifted Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City a 2-1 derby victory on Sunday that allowed them to establish a massive 11-point lead in the Premier League. Romelu Lukaku was United’s fall guy, his failure to clear two set-pieces enabling David Silva and …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Derrick Nsibambi was the hero for Uganda, as the Cecafa Challenge Cup holders came from behind to hold Ethiopia 1-1 and reach the semi-finals in Kakamega on Sunday. Nsibambi rescued the 14-time champions, who were in danger of being knocked out of the tournament after …