Roberto Mancini - players.bio

Hosts Ivory Coast to face Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations group stage play

ABIDJAN: Hosts Ivory Coast were joined in Group A by Nigeria in the draw for the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan on Thursday.

Premier League players Tonali and Zaniolo leave Italy’s training camp amid betting inquiry

FLORENCE, Italy: Premier League players Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo were sent back to their clubs from Italy’s training camp on Thursday after being notified by police of involvement in a betting investigation. The move comes a day after Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli acknowledged that he is being investigated by Turin prosecutors in the same case for alleged betting online via unauthorized websites. After police were seen at the national team’s Coverciano training center to question the players, the Italian soccer federation announced that Tonali and Zaniolo had been handed official notifications of their involvement in the Turin inquiry. "Regardless of the nature of the events, considering that the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the matches scheduled for the next few days, the federation has decided, also for their protection, to allow them to return to their respective clubs,” the federation said in a statement. Tonali is a midfielder with Newcastle — having transferred from AC Milan in July — and Zaniolo is an attacking midfielder-forward at Aston Villa on loan from Galatasaray. Italy host Malta on Saturday and then visit England three days later in European Championship qualifying.

No Israeli, Palestinian flags allowed at Wembley for England games — FA

LONDON: Flags and shirts showing support for victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be allowed for England’s games against Australia and Italy at Wembley, the FA said on Thursday. England host Australia in a friendly on Friday before taking on Italy in a European Championship qualifier on Tuesday. “On Friday evening, we will remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine,” the FA said in a statement. “We will only permit flags, replica kits and other representations of nationality for the competing nations inside Wembley Stadium for the upcoming matches against Australia and Italy.” England and Australia players will wear black armbands, the FA added, and there will be a period of silence before kick off. Hamas killed over 1,300 people after gunmen from the Gaza Strip on Saturday rampaged through parts of southern Israel in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel’s history.

Ex-PSG boss Galtier takes job in Qatar

PARIS: Former Paris Saint-Germain coach Christopher Galtier has returned to management three months after leaving the French champions, taking over at Qatari side Al Duhail. Galtier, 57, won the Ligue 1 title with PSG but lasted just one season at the club after a poor second half of the campaign. The final weeks of his reign were marred by accusations of racism during his previous job at Nice. He has vehemently denied the accusations but will stand trial in December. At Al Duhail he will inherit a squad including former Liverpool and Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Galtier succeeds Hernan Crespo after the club parted ways with the ex-Argentina international who won the league with Al Duhail last season. The Frenchman will face an Al Nassr side spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane in the Asian Champions League group stage later this month.