Cape Verde coach Bubista is taking nothing for granted when they face fellow underdogs Mauritania in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both countries were surprise qualifiers from the group stage, with Cape Verde beating Ghana and Mozambique and earning a draw with Egypt.

Mauritania, meanwhile, finished third in Group D courtesy of a shock win over Algeria.

Bubista, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: “Mauritania is a difficult opponent. This team showed cohesion and quality.

“Their victory against Algeria was well deserved. They have a solid defence. This is going to be a very tactical encounter and we will have to play our cards well and not falter.”

FULL-TIME!

The Blue Sharks put on a show and defeat Mozambi…

Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea s players to continue proving their quality after watching them run riot against Norwich City.

Shorn of the injured Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, Chelsea made light work of lowly Norwich at Stamford Bridge, with Mason Mount scoring a hat-trick in a 7-0 win.

It was the fourth time Chelsea have won a Premier League game by seven or more goals and the first time since December 2012 against Aston Villa (8-0), with only Manchester United netting seven or more goals in more Premier League games.

Mount opened and rounded off the scoring, with strikes from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and an own goal from Max Aarons wedged in between.

Chelsea s win lifted them four points clear at the top for at least a few hours, a…

Antoine Griezmann has struggled at Barcelona due to the reign of terror presided over by Lionel Messi, according to the France star s former advisor.

Griezmann, a €120million signing from Atletico Madrid last year, has found it difficult to hit top form alongside Messi at Camp Nou.

The forward, who missed a penalty against Real Betis last week before scoring in Barca s 5-2 victory, has just two goals, one assist and four chances created to his name in seven LaLiga appearances this season.

Griezmann has previously insisted there are no problems between him and Messi but Eric Olhats, the player s former representative, feels it is telling that the six-time Ballon d Or winner does not say the same in public.

Speaking to France Football, Olhats even suggest…

Barcelona confirmed that Dani Olmo has been sidelined for up to five weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old appeared to suffer muscle discomfort after scoring in Sunday s 4-1 league win at Girona and was substituted in the 61st minute.

Olmo, who signed from RB Leipzig for €55million, missed the first two games of their season due to registration issues but has played in all three since.

He has netted three goals in those appearances, with only Robert Lewandowski netting more so far (four).

Olmo s injury is a blow to Hansi Flick s side as they begin their Champions League campaign against Monaco on Thursday, having already made a perfect start to LaLiga, with five wins from five.

The Spaniard is set to miss at least six games up to the Oc…

Andreas Christensen has decided to leave Chelsea and join Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to . The Denmark International central defender is out of contract at defending European champions Chelsea at the end of the season, and he will reportedly move to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

Christensen has been on the books of Chelsea since 2012 and is now part of the first team at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old central defender has made 12 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League, and has scored one goal and provided one assist in six Champions League games for Thomas Tuchel’s side so far this season.

Chelsea are third in the Premier League table at the moment with 50 points from 25 matches. Meanwhile, Barcelona a…

Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has said he finds the high levels reached by the Reds and Premier League title rivals Manchester City amazing .

Kuyt played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, winning the EFL Cup in his final season at Anfield.

However, having already secured the same trophy this season, Liverpool have three more titles in their sights as they look to complete an unprecedented quadruple.

Liverpool sealed a place in the FA Cup final against Chelsea after beating City 3-2 at Wembley last week, have a Champions League semi-final against Villarreal on the horizon, and sit just a point behind Pep Guardiola s team in the race for the Premier League title.

Speaking to Stats Perform, Kuyt praised the levels of both title rivals, saying:  …

Antonio Conte acknowledges he has become a pain in the a** as he attempts to guide Inter to their first trophy in a decade.

Ahead of hosting Genoa on Sunday, Inter top Serie A after 23 games – their derby victory over Milan last week moving them four points clear of their city and title rivals.

Inter – who finished second in Serie A behind Juventus in Conte s debut season – last won a trophy in 2010-11, clinching their seventh Coppa Italia trophy.

The Nerazzurri have already seen two opportunities for silverware slip from their grasp this campaign, finishing bottom of their Champions League group and exiting the Coppa Italia in the semi-finals.

With Milan facing a tough trip to Roma and Juve further off the pace, Inter have the chance to consolidate…

Transfers between the Premier League s so-called big six  have become something of a rarity in recent years, but the trend has re-emerged with Raheem Sterling s switch to Chelsea.

The Blues confirmed on Wednesday that Sterling has moved to Stamford Bridge on a five-year contract, with Manchester City accepting a reported £45million offer for the England international.

He made at least 46 appearances in each of his seven seasons at City, yet it was claimed Pep Guardiola was unable to provide assurances over his playing time next term.

That, apparently, is what led to Sterling seeking an exit, and Thomas Tuchel s Chelsea appear a fine fit stylistically.

With that in mind, it s a deal that will perplex many, given how important Sterling has been for C…

Thomas Tuchel accepts the decision for the Premier League season to continue over the festive period and says Chelsea are up for the challenge of competing on multiple fronts.

The Blues had a late request to call off Sunday s league clash with Wolves rejected amid a spate of absentees due to coronavirus and injuries.

Chelsea had just four outfield players on the bench at Molineux for the goalless draw as they dropped points for the third time in four top-flight outings.

That was just one of four Premier League games to go ahead at the weekend, with six others postponed as clubs continue to be hit by COVID-19 cases within their squads.

Tuchel accused league officials of putting the welfare of players at risk by making the game go ahead during the busiest p…

Kieran Trippier considers Jan Oblak the best goalkeeper in the world and would love to see him in the Premier League – perhaps even at Newcastle United.

Oblak has long been regarded among the very best around in his position, although his form for Atletico Madrid has deteriorated this season.

Having won the LaLiga title alongside the 29-year-old in 2020-21, however, ex-Atletico defender Trippier still holds him in high regard.

From my time playing with him, the amount of points he saved us and his shot-stopping, for me, he s the best in the world, for sure, Trippier told 5 Live, speaking ahead of Atletico s game against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Oblak joined Atletico from Benfica in 2014 and has remained in Madrid ever since, but Trippier added h…