National Teams

ROME — Mario Balotelli was named in the Italy squad for the first time since 2018 on Monday, as the Adana Demirspor striker joined seven uncapped players in Roberto Mancini's 35-man training camp selection.

Balotelli, who worked under Azzurri coach Mancini earlier in his career at Inter Milan and Manchester City, has not featured for the national team since September 2018.

But the 31-year-old earned a recall for this week's three-day training camp after scoring eight goals in 18 league games to fire Adana Demirspor to fourth place in the Turkish Super Lig.

Looking for a favorite at the Africa Cup of Nations after the group stage, no team stood out quite like Nigeria — which won all three of its matches with Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze all shining in attack. 

Burkina Faso is the first nation through to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals after a wild victory over Gabon that included a missed penalty in regular time, a red card, a 91st-minute equalizer for 10-man Gabon and a dramatic penalty shootout.

YAOUNDÉ - The Comoros Islands will have to use one of their outfield players in goal against Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon on Monday after being hit by COVID-19 infections.

The Comoros Football Federation reported 12 cases in their camp on Saturday including their only two fit goalkeepers and coach Amir Abdou on Sunday said they would go into the last-16 tie in Yaoundé with a makeshift goalkeeper.

The Women's Asian Cup was thrown into turmoil when hosts India were kicked out of the tournament after a COVID-19 outbreak meant they were unable to field a team for their Group A match against Taiwan on Sunday.

Regulations require coaches to name a minimum 13-player matchday squad for each game and India's inability to do so caused the game at Navi Mumbai's D.Y. Patil Stadium to be cancelled.

Thomas Dennerby's side have been kicked out of the competition with all their results nullified.

The Yunus Musah goal vs Atlético Madrid on Saturday was the 19-year-old’s first LaLiga goal of the season and the second of his career. Musah was given the start against the Spanish giants and silenced the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano when he opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

Yunus Musah Goal vs Atlético Madrid

Yunus Musah gives Valencia the lead over Atletico!

That's his first LaLiga goal since November 2020. pic.twitter.com/Dyi2LhSPFB

Ghana and the United States men’s national team have a rich history of meeting at the World Cup. The African nation knocked out the USMNT of the world’s biggest tournament in 2010 and 2006 and the Americans got revenge in 2014. Both teams failed to make the 2018 edition and now the question of will Ghana make the World Cup looms after the latest World Cup qualifying draw.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter released the latest national-team roster that has, as always, caused controversy. Before we get into the roster, let’s see who Berhalter thinks has what it takes to qualify the USMNT for Qatar.

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The number of USMNT winter transfers to Europe continues to grow by the day. With Major League Soccer not beginning until Feb. 26, some of the brighter stars are skipping out on next season with their respective MLS clubs and looking for minutes in Europe.