Max Gradel reflected on Sunday s Africa Cup of Nations success as an overdue win for Ivory Coast, who lost on penalties in 2006 and 2012.

Max Gradel described Sunday s dramatic Africa Cup of Nations triumph as a reward the Ivory Coast s  golden generation .

Ivory Coast claimed their first AFCON title since 1992 by beating Ghana 9-8 on penalties at Estadio de Bata after a drab final was goalless after extra-time.

Having lost on penalties in 2006 and 2012, midfielder Gradel felt it was high time Ivory Coast avoided more heartbreak and gave credit to Ghana for the manner in which they frustrated Herve Renard s side.

Gradel told SuperSport: The Black Stars of Ghana stunned us. They resisted us and could have even opened the scoring.

As the game…

Lazio star Ciro Immobile is the best striker in Europe at the moment, according to his agent.

The 29-year-old Italy international scored twice in the 5-1 thrashing of SPAL last Sunday to take his tally to 25 Serie A goals for the season.

Immobile has accounted for almost half of Lazio s 52 league goals in 2019-20 and leads the race for the European Golden Shoe ahead of Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski and RB Leipzig s Timo Werner.

He is six goals clear of Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the Serie A scoring charts and is the first player since former Inter, Roma and Milan attacker Antonio Valentin Angelillo back in 1959 to reach 25 goals in the first 21 league games of the season in Italy s top flight.

Such has been Immobile s ruthless form that his r…

The 25-year-old made 101 appearances for Sunderland after joining the Wearside club from Sint Truiden in 2010, but will now look to compete with Pepe Reina for the number one jersey at Anfield.

Liverpool have been busy in the market already in the off-season, signing Spanish duo Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, as well as Kolo Toure, with manager Brendan Rodgers enthused by the shape his squad is taking.

I am delighted that we have been able to sign one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, said Rodgers.

Simon will join a club that will give him an opportunity to demonstrate and improve his huge talent.

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio lamented the departure of his first-choice goalkeeper, but insists he is immediately on the hunt for a replacement.

He sai…

Gelson Martins has agreed a five-year deal at Atletico Madrid, arriving at the Wanda Metropolitano on a free transfer after opting to walk away from crisis club Sporting CP.

The Portugal international was one of nine players to rescind their contracts after Sporting s turbulent end to the 2017-18 season, which descended into chaos after the club s then president Bruno de Carvalho publicly criticised players on social media following a Europa League defeat to Atletico.

In response, a group of radical supporters interrupted training, smashed up the changing rooms and attacked players, which led to the likes of Gelson tearing up his deal, which had four years left to run.

Earlier this week, Sporting insisted the club would not give up hope of keeping hold of Ge…

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With all eyes falling on Abidjan this weekend, host nation Ivory Coast will meet Nigeria on Sunday night for the 2024 AFCON Final.

Nigeria

Starting with Nigeria, after watching a host of African heavyweights crash out at the group stage last month, the Super Eagles have really been fancying their chance of making history this year. Eventually edging their way past South Africa on Wednesday night after what was a remarkable showdown in Bouake, Jose Peseiro’s men have received plenty of praise over the past few weeks. Although the three-time AFCON champions might have opened their adventure with a 1-1 stalemate against Equatorial Guinea on January 14th, Nigeria have come roaring back. Including a quarter-final statement as they lande…

Marko Grujic has confirmed that he has spoken with Liverpool about a possible switch from Red Star Belgrade to the Premier League.

The midfielder has been a big factor in his current side s Super Liga title push and reports on Merseyside have suggested that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is keen to land the Serbia Under-21 international in a £5million deal.

Grujic admitted that a move away from Red Star is a possibility but the 19-year-old, who scored in Belgrade s 7-2 demolition of Cukaricki on Sunday, wants to see out the remainder of the season.

I ll try to respect the club, the fans and the general public, but again I think that for myself I have to choose the best environment where I get the chance to play and where I work with good coaches in good conditio…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested players should cut out social media use to minimise the impact of would-be online abusers.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita were all sent racist comments after Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

The club condemned the abuse as abhorrent and utterly unacceptable and called on platforms to introduce the strongest possible preventative measures .

Rangers, managed by former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, joined Swansea City and Birmingham City this week in boycotting social media as part of a challenge to companies to do more to prevent abuse.

Klopp is not active on social media but believes the best way to deprive abusers of the foru…

World Cup and Euro winning defender Laurent Blanc quit as Bordeaux coach on Sunday after informing his players of his decision, one of them revealed under condition of anonymity.

The 44-year-old, who guided Bordeaux to the 2009 league title but saw this season end trophyless whilst blowing a large lead in the league, is favoured to replace Raymond Domenech as coach of the French national team when he steps down after France s World Cup finals campaign is over.

…

Two-time NBA all-star Luol Deng believes Arsenal are a player away from becoming dominant in the Premier League.

Miami Heat forward Deng represented the United Kingdom at the 2012 Olympic Games, having spent part of his youth in the country after fleeing what is now South Sudan, and is well known as an Arsenal fan.

Arsene Wenger s side have made an inconsistent start to the new season, taking four points from their first three league games, and Deng feels the club need to dip back into the transfer market in order to challenge for the Premier League title.

I m hearing mixed reviews. I really think we [Arsenal] have a great team, I really do, Deng told Omnisport.

I think we re a player away from really being dominant. I think each game we go in with the …

Barcelona may have suffered disappointment in La Liga, but the Spanish giants kept their Champions League dream alive on Saturday evening. The Blaugrana got the better of Napoli over two legs in the Round of 16 to book their place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.

The first leg in Naples had ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning that Barcelona needed just a goalless draw to go through. The way the Catalan outfit play meant that they were always going to score, and they did just that at Camp Nou on Saturday evening. In fact, they found the back of the net as many as three times.

Clement Lenglet put Barca 1-0 up after just 10 minutes, and Lionel Messi doubled the advantage midway through the second half. The Argentina superstar earned a penalty in first…