Sports

MELBOURNE — Novak Djokovic survived a huge test on Wednesday to stay on track at the Australian Open, but sixth seed Ons Jabeur and former champion Caroline Wozniacki fell victim to exciting young Russians.

The Serbian superstar, playing for an 11th Melbourne Park crown and a record 25th Grand Slam title, was pushed hard in the second round by home hope Alexei Popyrin but prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

Djokovic also dropped a set against unheralded Croat Dino Prizmic and was again under the weather, blowing his nose regularly at the changeovers.

Despite being below par, his never-say-die attitude was on full display, saving four set points in the third set to take it to a tie-breaker that swung the momentum back in his favour.

“I haven’t been playing my best, I’m still trying to find form,” admitted the 36-year-old.

“Both my first and second-round opponents were really quality tennis players. I managed to find a way to win in four, that’s what counts in the end.

“Hopefully I can find a way to build on this as the tournament progresses.”

The hard-earned win put him into a showdown next with Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who ended Andy Murray’s tournament.

Fellow defending champion Aryna Sabalenka had much easier ride, pummelling her second straight teenage qualifier into submission, beating 16-year-old Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-2. 

Sabalenka has yet to be seriously tested as she bids to become the first woman to successfully defend a Melbourne title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

“I’m just trying to play my best. If it goes to two sets, I’m happy to win it in two sets. If it’s going to be three sets, I don’t care,” she said. “I just try to focus on myself and fight for every point.”

Fourth seeds Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner, along with fifth seed Andrey Rublev and World No.11 Barbora Krejcikova, similarly had no trouble progressing.

Last year’s beaten finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas also survived, but needed four tense sets to get past Australian Jordan Thompson in a match in which he said “the adrenaline and the rush was insane”.

Veteran pair Jabeur and Wozniacki were no match for Mirra Andreeva and Maria Timofeeva, who emphatically stamped their mark on the opening Grand Slam of the year.

Andreeva, just 16, was in scintillating form to take down 29-year-old three-time major runner-up Jabeur 6-0, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena in just 54 minutes.

“Probably it was the best match [ever],” said Andreeva, a schoolgirl who burst onto the scene when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year as a qualifier.

“The first set, I didn’t expect that I would play this good. Second set was also not bad. So, yes, for me it was an amazing match.”

Her reward is a third-round clash with France’s Diane Parry.

Timofeeva, a 20-year-old qualifier, was equally impressive against 2018 champion Wozniacki, who flew through the first set and was a break up in the second.

Undeterred, Timofeeva, showing impressive power, hauled herself back into the contest and ultimately prevailed 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.

“It was an honour to play here against Caroline today. I’m just beyond happy and couldn’t ask for more,” she said after setting up a testing meeting next with 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

With play on outside courts starting more than three hours late due to rain, Sinner was one of the fortunate few to be scheduled in one of the three main arenas, which all have roofs.

The Italian wasted no time dispatching Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong for the loss of just six games on Margaret Court Arena.

US Open champion Gauff was equally untroubled in sweeping past fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, while Rublev and Krejcikova had easy straight-sets wins.

LOS ANGELES — Joel Embiid scored 41 points in a dazzling return from injury on Monday as the Philadelphia 76ers romped past the Houston Rockets 124-115.

Kicking off a packed slate of NBA fixtures as the US marked the Martin Luther King Jr. public holiday, the Sixers were always in control as they cruised to victory.

Embiid missed the Sixers’ past three games after twisting his left knee in a January 5 defeat to the New York Knicks.

But the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player showed no sign of rustiness as he posted his seventh 40-point game of the season, adding 10 rebounds and three assists.

Embiid shot 12-of-21 from the field and was near-perfect from the foul line, making 16 of 17 free throws in a comfortable win for the Sixers, who improved to 25-13 to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Embiid’s performance also extended a remarkable scoring streak.

The 29-year-old has now gone 16 consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain is ahead of Embiid and Abdul-Jabbar.

Embiid received scoring support in Monday’s rout from Tyrese Maxey with 27 points while Patrick Beverley added 11 from the bench and Tobias Harris 10.

Jalen Green led Houston’s scoring with 20 points while Alperen Sengun finished with 19.

While Embiid made a successful return from injury, there was less to celebrate for Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green in his first game back since missing 16 games through suspension.

Green, who was given an indefinite ban by the NBA last month after striking Phoenix Suns player Jusuf Nurkic, played 23 minutes off the bench in the Warriors’ 116-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Celtics roll on 

A close game was settled by a late fourth quarter rally by Memphis, who compiled a 10-1 run to open up a 12-point lead with four minutes remaining.

“Draymond played well, played hard — it’s good to have him back,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the loss. “Obviously as a team we didn’t play well, but Draymond competed and it’s good to get him back in the fold.”

In other games on Monday, Kyrie Irving scored 42 points and Tim Hardaway Jr 41 as the Dallas Mavericks staged a fourth quarter rally to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-120.

Irving and Hardaway scored 20 points between them in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks fought back from a double-digit deficit late in the third to snatch victory.

Only one other Dallas player — Josh Green, with 13 points — cracked double figures.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd meanwhile singled out Hardaway for praise after the 31-year-old slipped seamlessly into the starting line-up due to Luka Doncic’s absence through injury.

“He’s the substitute teacher in the starting line-up and he’s being a pro about it,” Kidd said after the win.

“He’s just a pro. This afternoon was a perfect example of that — he took his shots and was aggressive, and we need that no matter if he’s starting or coming off the bench.”

Zion Williamson led the Pels scoring with 30 points while C.J. McCollum added 23.

In Toronto, the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics rolled on with a 105-96 defeat of the Raptors, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday leading the scoring for the visitors with 22 points apiece.

The Celtics lead the Eastern standings with 31 wins against nine defeats, three games clear of the second-placed Milwaukee Bucks (28-12).

In Atlanta, Trae Young’s 36 points helped the Hawks hold off the San Antonio Spurs for a 109-99 victory.

RIYADH — Vinicius Junior admitted he was “no saint” after inspiring Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday with a hat-trick in a 4-1 thrashing of rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian winger, 23, is often criticised by opponents for going down easily, confronting officials and humiliating them with dribbles.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo was sent off for two yellow cards, both for fouls on Vinicius.

Players and staff on Barcelona’s bench, including midfielder Sergi Roberto, appeared to remonstrate with Vinicius in the second half.

“I’m very sad because everyone wants to fight with me because they know it will come out in the media,” Vinicius told reporters after the game.

“I try to focus on the game to do the best for my team-mates [but] I am not a saint, sometimes I talk too much, do dribbles I shouldn’t do, but I am here to improve.

“I want to improve, my teammates and the coach are showing me what I have to do.”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he took Vinicius off in the final stages because he was tired.

“I took off Vinicius for all the effort he’d put in, not to avoid problems,” the Italian told reporters.

“I took him off for the last 10 minutes. Vinicius has to do his job, which is to make people excited and bring trophies to Real Madrid.”

Vinicius was by far the best player on the pitch as Real Madrid crushed their rivals to avenge last year’s Super Cup final defeat by the Catalans.

The Brazilian’s hat-trick doubled his tally of goals against Barcelona, now six in 16 appearances.

Vinicius celebrated his first goal in the style of Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid striker and the club’s all-time top goal scorer, who now plays in Saudi Arabia.

“The celebration was for Cris, because he’s my idol, and now he is playing here,” said Vinicius.

“The people in Saudi Arabia have a special love for me, I am very happy for what we did today.

“To beat Barcelona 4-1 is very hard and today we had an almost perfect game.”

AMMAN — Jordan plays Malaysia on Monday evening in their first match at the  2023 AFC Asian Cup, the 18th edition of the tournament which kicked off in Doha, Qatar on January 12. 

Playing in Group E, Jordan faces South Korea on January 20 and Bahrain on January 25 with the top two teams from the group moving to the next round.

It will be the Kingdom’s fifth time as the Asian Cup since  1972, with the highlight  in 2004, when Jordan lost to Japan in the quarterfinals and jumped to the best ever FIFA rank of 37th. They also reached the quarterfinals in 2011. Jordan qualified in 2015 and 2019 and for the current edition which was delayed from 2023 to January 2024 taking into account the weather in the Arab Gulf.

Japan holds the record as four times champions of the Asian Cup organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Among Arab countries, Saudi Arabia won three times while, Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq won once each. Iran won three times, South Korea twice and Australia and Israel once. The latter was later expelled from the AFC in 1974 and joined UEFA.

The Asian Cup has brought together 24 teams playing in 6 Groups with Qatar the defending champs. The champions will receive $5 million, the runners-up $3 million, and the losing semifinalists $1 million. All 24 participating teams will also receive $200,000.

Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon 

Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India

Group C: Iran, UAE, Hong Kong, Palestine

Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam

Group E: Jordan, Malaysia,  South Korea, Bahrain

Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman

Jordan heads into the tournament with 

Moroccan coach Hussein Amouta who took over the job in summer, having the hard task of advancing the team through Asian and later World Cup qualifiers, while trying to revamp the lineup in an effort to prepare a competitive squad for the future. However, their latest results have raised concerns, after the squad lost 6 matches and only scored one win. 

The team just concluded a training camp in Doha scoring their first win 2-1 over Qatar before going down 6-1 to Japan. Earlier, the lost 2-1 to Lebanon in extra time, 6-0 to Norway, 2-1 to Azerbaijan, 3-1 to Iran and tied Iraq 2-2 before losing on penalties.

Jordan also played Group G qualifiers  for the 23rd World Cup 2026, and had an unimpressive start tying Tajikistan 1-1 before losing 2-0 to Saudi Arabia. They are now 3rd in the group after Saudi beat Pakistan 4-0 while Tajikistan beat Pakistan 6-1. A total of 36 Asian teams are playing in 9 groups, and the top two teams from each group will advance to Round 3. The Kingdom’s third qualifier against Pakistan is set for March 26. The qualifiers also advance teams to the 2027 Asian Cup.

Amouta is hopeful for an advanced spot in the upcoming Asian Cup, as well as qualifying to the 2026 World Cup, with Asia allotted 8 slots in the next edition in additional to a zonal qualifier after expanding the number to include 48 nations.

In World Cup qualifying, Jordan was on the verge of qualifying to the 2014 World Cup for the first time and advanced to play then FIFA 6th ranked Uruguay in an intercontinental qualifying tie before exiting the qualifiers. Jordan had never reached that far in World Cup qualifying since first taking part in qualifiers. Round 3 had been the furthest they reached in the  past seven times since the 1986 qualifiers. 

In an effort to bolster team cohesion, U23 team coach Abdullah Abu Zam’eh, who has trained many of the players on the national squad, was last week enlisted as assistant to Amouta for the Asian Cup, thus adding to  challenges in regrouping and training the U-23 team, after he successfully guided them through the qualifiers as Jordan advanced to the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup set for April 2024, which qualifies the top three teams to the Olympics while the fourth will play a playoff to advance.  The Kingdom was drawn in a tough Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Australia and Indonesia.

During their past participation at the U-23 Asian Cup (previously the Asian Championship), Jordan finished 3rd in 2013, reached the quarterfinals in 2016 and 2020 and were knocked out of the first round in 2018 and 2022.

LONDON — Cole Palmer fired Chelsea to a 1-0 win over west London rivals Fulham on Saturday, as the inconsistent Blues bounced back from their League Cup embarrassment at Middlesbrough.

Palmer converted a penalty late in the first half at Stamford Bridge to erase the bitter taste from Chelsea’s shock 1-0 loss to second-tier Middlesbrough in the semifinal first leg on Tuesday.

That League Cup calamity was just the latest disappointment in a troubled season for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Chelsea were hardly much more dynamic against Fulham, but Pochettino will take heart from the way they ground out a third successive Premier League victory.

After a 10-day winter break, the Blues will have a chance to overturn the League Cup deficit when they return to action against Middlesbrough in the second leg on January 23.

Chelsea are still a work in progress in Pochettino’s first season, with his decision to go with a largely youthful team inevitably producing highs and lows.

“The first half was really tough but we played really well in the second half. We deserved our victory, we were the better team,” Pochettino said.

“People suppose that Chelsea should be in a different position, but we are in a realistic position that we deserve because we weren’t clinical enough.

“We’ll get what we want. We are in a process to build and fighting to do our best.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva claimed Chelsea defender Malo Gusto should have been sent off for a first half foul on Willian that only earned a booking after a VAR check.

“We have to talk about the red card for Gusto, it was clear. In 10 of those moments, nine times it is a red card,” he said.

In the circumstances, Fulham were ideal opponents for Chelsea to lift the gloom, given they are without a win at the Bridge since 1979.

The clubs are separated by just two miles in west London, but they have traditionally been light years apart in success on the pitch.

Chelsea’s recent struggles had allowed Fulham to dream of a rare victory on enemy turf and there was audible frustration among Blues fans as soon as passes started to go astray from their spluttering team.

Palmer keeps cool 

Nicolas Jackson’s absence on Senegal duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and Christopher Nkunku’s latest injury have diminished Pochettino’s attacking options.

Armando Broja was deputising for Jackson, but he wasted a good chance when he headed wide from Enzo Fernandez’s cross.

Looking to capitalise on Chelsea’s woes, Fulham launched an incisive break that ended with Harry Wilson’s close-range effort forcing a good save from Djordje Petrovic.

Despite their lethargic display, Chelsea rallied to take the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Issa Diop conceded a penalty with a rash challenge on Raheem Sterling and Palmer stepped up to smash the spot-kick past Bernd Leno.

It was the 21-year-old’s nerveless fifth successful penalty for Chelsea showed why teammates have nicknamed him “Cold” Palmer.

With nine goals since signing from Manchester City in September, Palmer has been one of the few bright spots in Chelsea’s troubled campaign.

“We believe in him, even when he didn’t score with the three big chances in Middlesbrough. He has the quality to play,” Pochettino said.

Driving forward with intent, Palmer curled just wide early in the second half.

Chelsea lost their way again as the half wore on and Fulham striker Raul Jimenez headed over before testing Petrovic with a dangerous low strike.

Conor Gallagher hit the woodwork with a clever effort using the outside of his foot, but Fulham finished strongly and only some last-ditch defending stopped the Blues suffering fresh indignity.

With Chelsea just about holding on, there was good news in the closing minutes when England left-back Ben Chilwell made his return from four months out with a hamstring injury.

BERLIN — Jadon Sancho rejoined Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season on Thursday, less than three years since Manchester United paid £73 million ($93 million, 85 million euros) for the England winger.

Sancho had been frozen out at United for most of the season after becoming involved in a public spat with manager Erik ten Hag.

The 23-year-old posted on social media in September that he had been made a “scapegoat” at the club for poor performances after being left out of the matchday squad for a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Sancho has not played a minute for the Red Devils since and been forced to train away from the first team.

Even prior to the breakdown of his relationship with the former Ajax boss, Sancho never lived up to his price tag at Old Trafford.

He scored just 12 times in 82 appearances and struggled to hold down a regular first-team place under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag.

But he will hope a return to the club where he made his name as one of Europe’s rising stars can rejuvenate his career.

“Jadon is an absolute difference maker and I’m looking forward to seeing him back in black and yellow soon,” said Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl.

“He knows this city, the stadium, our fans and our club. Even though he hasn’t played any competitive games in the past few months, we are sure that he will quickly settle back in with us, get into top form and use his qualities to help us achieve our goals for the season.”

German media reports the deal will cost Dortmund roughly 4 million euros and that Sancho has agreed to take a significant cut to his reported £300,000-a-week wages.

Homecoming 

After joining from the Manchester City academy aged just 17, Sancho scored 50 goals and provided 64 assists in 137 appearances during his first spell at Dortmund, helping them to win the 2021 German Cup and 2019 German Super Cup.

“When I came into the dressing room today, it felt like ‘coming home’. I know the club inside out, I’ve always been very close with the fans here, and I there was no break in contact with those in charge,” said Sancho.

“I can’t wait to see my teammates again, go out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, assist goals, score goals and help achieve Champions League qualification.”

Dortmund are betting on Sancho rediscovering his form of old to help turn their season around.

They sit fifth in the Bundesliga, six points adrift of the Champions League places after a run of just one win in eight games prior to the German season shutting down for its winter break.

But Dortmund did win the toughest group in the Champions League, knocking out AC Milan and Newcastle to progress to the last 16, where they will face PSV Eindhoven.

United are also hoping that Sancho can show why they splashed out on him to attract a bidding war for his services come the summer.

Ten Hag has been criticised for his failure to reconcile their differences and get the best out of one of his star names as United have struggled during his second campaign in charge.

The English giants have lost 14 times in 29 games this season to crash out of European competition, the League Cup and slip to eighth in the Premier League table.

An upturn in fortunes could even revive Sancho’s chances of appearing for his country in Germany later this year at Euro 2024.

He was part of the England squad that reached the final of the last European Championship in 2021, missing one of the crucial spot-kicks in a penalty shootout defeat to Italy.

But the last of Sancho’s 23 international caps came in October 2021.

MELBOURNE — Novak Djokovic is once again red-hot favourite at the Australian Open as he chases an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, but a wrist problem and the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz puts his all-conquering reign under threat.

The 36-year-old from Serbia defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final for a record-extending 10th Melbourne crown then added the French and US Open titles to his collection in 2023.

But he lost a pulsating Wimbledon final to Alcaraz, who is a different player to the one that last graced the Australian hard courts as an 18-year-old ranked outside the top 30.

The 20-year-old missed last year’s event with a hamstring injury and arrives this time as a two-time major champion, world number two — behind Djokovic — and the brightest young star in tennis.

Rafael Nadal, Djokovic’s long-time rival, on Sunday pulled out of the Australian Open with a muscle tear in a fresh blow to the veteran’s hopes of returning to the top of the sport.

Nadal’s fellow Spaniard Alcaraz opted to skip a warm-up tournament for the opening Grand Slam of the year, making his 2024 form a mystery.

But Djokovic dropped a set to the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka at the United Cup and then crashed to Australian Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.

It snapped a 43-match win streak in Australia and Djokovic will begin his defence with an injury cloud hanging over him, needing treatment on his right wrist through both matches.

“I think I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open and that’s what matters the most at this point,” he said after losing to De Minaur.

“It’s all part of the build-up for the Australian Open. That’s where I want to perform at my best.”

Djokovic’s United Cup troubles followed defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Davis Cup to end his 2023 season, with the burgeoning Italian World No. 4 another young pretender out to dethrone him.

It will be a tall order.

Djokovic has not lost at the Australian Open since 2018 and has a 20-0 record in semifinals and finals at Melbourne Park.

“When I’m fit, when I’m at the peak of my performance, I can win any Slam or any tournament, I know that, I’m not afraid to say that,” said Djokovic.

“It’s not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history in the game.

Djokovic’s haul of Grand Slam titles makes him the most successful player in the history of men’s tennis, ahead of Nadal on 22.

If he wins again in Melbourne he will overtake the Australian Margaret Court, who won 24 majors in the women’s game.

At least he no longer has to worry about Nadal, who has flown back to Spain for treatment.

The 37-year-old only made his comeback last week at the Brisbane International after being out of tennis since injuring his hip at the 2023 Australian Open.

Nadal’s absence could spell the end of his career in Australia, after saying in Brisbane there was a “high percentage” that 2024 would be his farewell to the tour.

Medvedev threat 

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, a Melbourne finalist in 2021 and 2022, will also be a contender.

Like Alcaraz he chose not to play a warm-up event, but enjoyed a resurgent 2023 with 66 wins — more than any other player on tour — to earn five titles.

The 27-year-old, who won the US Open in 2021 for his only Slam crown, said he had never been more motivated.

“At this stage of my life, at least right now — and I hope this can last for a long time — I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits,” he said.

Last year’s losing finalist Tsitsipas will also fancy his chances, while World No. 5 Andrey Rublev will get his campaign under way on the back of winning the Hong Kong Open.

The Australian Open starts on Sunday, becoming a 15-day event for the first time to help spread out the early round action and prevent some late-night finishes.

PARIS — Who is saying what after German football legend Franz Beckenbauer died at the age of 78:

“World champion as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany and for many ‘the Kaiser’ — also because he inspired generations of enthusiasm for German football. We will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

“He was a legend of sport far beyond football. For me personally, he was a good and loyal friend for more than four decades, someone you could always rely on.”

IOC President Thomas Bach

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. His death comes just a few days after that of Mario Zagallo. It was an immense honour for me to join them in 2018 as a World Cup winner as a player and then as coach. My sorrow today is equal to the happiness I felt at being invited to sit at the table of these two giants of international football.

“Franz Beckenbauer was first and foremost a world-class player, a talented and authoritative defender.”

“He exuded a class and self-assurance that many sought to emulate.”

France team coach Didier Deschamps

“I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to have known and experienced Franz Beckenbauer.

“Our time together with the national team was crowned with the 1990 World Cup title in Rome, a title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching performance.

“German football is losing its greatest personality, I am losing a good friend.”

Rudi Voller, World Cup winner 1990 and director of the German national team

“Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time and, above all, one of the greatest men who I have known.”

German Football Federation (DFB) Vice-President Hans-Joachim Watzke

“The Bundesliga family is devastated to learn of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. A true icon, then, now, and always. RIP, Der Kaiser.”

German Bundesliga statement

“When Franz Beckenbauer entered a room, the room lit up, he rightly bore the title of ‘shining light of German football’. Until the end, he was surrounded by an aura that even the health problems and strokes of misfortune that he had to cope with could not shake. I am grateful and proud that I was able to get to know him and will remember him fondly.”

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann

“One of the greatest footballers in FC Bayern’s club history has unfortunately left us. Rest in peace, Kaiser Franz. We will never forget what you have done for football in Germany.”

Thomas Muller, German World Cup winner in 2014

“Franz Beckenbauer, one of European football’s greatest sons, has passed away aged 78. ‘Der Kaiser’ was an extraordinary player, successful coach and popular pundit who shaped German football like no other.”

UEFA statement

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, one of football’s greatest ever players. A World Cup winner as both player and manager, ‘Der Kaiser’ was as elegant as he was dominant. He will forever be remembered.”

English Premier League

“Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.”

Former England

striker and television pundit Gary Lineker

“It fills me with deep sadness to hear about the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game. It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP Der Kaiser.”

Former Scotland player Kenny Dalglish

“Very sad to hear that the great @beckenbauer has sadly passed away he was a fantastic player reaching world class status @FIFAWorldCup RIP #Legend”

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton

ABIDJAN — Sadio Mane’s Senegal are aiming to retain their title and Mohamed Salah is chasing a first trophy with Egypt at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in Ivory Coast on January 13.

A strong field also features 2022 World Cup semifinalists Morocco and a Nigeria team spearheaded by African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, as organisers hope the focus will remain solely on the football at this edition of the continental showpiece.

Ivory Coast is hosting the AFCON for the first time since 1984, when only eight teams participated with Roger Milla’s Cameroon emerging as champions.

This time there are 24 teams at a tournament initially scheduled to be played in June and July last year in order to avoid a clash with Europe’s top leagues.

However, fears over staging it during the rainy season eventually led the Confederation of African Football to push it back to the more traditional January and February slot.

Focus on security 

The last AFCON, two years ago in Cameroon, was overshadowed by the tragedy at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, when eight people died in a crush and stampede.

Security is therefore at the forefront of organisers’ thoughts this time, with 1.5 million fans expected to attend from outside the country.

Matches will be staged in six stadiums across five cities, with two venues in the economic capital, Abidjan.

These include the 60,000-capacity Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, constructed especially for the competition. It will be the venue for the opening game between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, as well as the February 11 final.

Games will also be played in the capital Yamoussoukro and neighbouring Bouake, as well as in San Pedro on the coast and in Korhogo, in the north near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Organisers will also hope the quality of the football is better this time than in 2022, when an average of fewer than two goals were scored per game.

Morocco will be expected to go far, with Africa’s top-ranked nation still riding high from their run to the last four in Qatar just over a year ago.

They have a squad full of players based at leading European sides, with Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi the headline name, but Morocco have not won the AFCON since 1976.

“With each competition that goes by we get further away from the date when we last won it, but that is not a reason for us to put extra pressure on ourselves,” insisted coach Walid Regragui recently.

Can Senegal retain title? 

Morocco is in Group F with DR Congo, Avram Grant’s Zambia and Tanzania, who have never won a game at the AFCON.

Senegal is in a tougher-looking section with neighbours Gambia, the Guinea of Bundesliga hotshot Serhou Guirassy, and Cameroon.

Mane and his team are aiming to become the first nation to retain the title since Egypt’s run of three in a row between 2006 and 2010.

“We have only ever won it once, so we are eager to go there and win, and keep winning,” insisted Senegal coach Aliou Cisse.

Winners in 2019, Algeria are aiming to make up for its woeful showing two years ago, when they exited in the group stage.

Egypt, led by Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria, boast the biggest star of all in Salah as they target a record-extending eighth AFCON title to banish the memory of defeats in the finals of 2017 and 2022.

That is what Egyptians are dreaming of, although Salah’s manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, is hoping for a different outcome given that his team are currently chasing the Premier League title.

“From a personal point of view, I would be happy if they go out in the group stage but that’s probably not possible. They can go on and win it,” Klopp admitted.

Then there is the host nation, no longer the force they were when they last won the title in 2015 with Yaya Toure as captain, but looking to make the most of home advantage.

Nigeria, with Bayer Leverkusen sensation Victor Boniface as well as Osimhen, have an almost unrivalled amount of depth in attack.

South Africa, meanwhile, is back after missing the last edition, and have a team that leans heavily on the country’s leading club side, Mamelodi Sundowns.

The winners of the trophy will receive a record $7 million in prize money, 40 per cent more than what champions Senegal pocketed in 2022.

MILAN — Napoli’s nightmare season continued on Sunday after crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Torino, while AC Milan consolidated their place in Serie A’s Champions League positions with a 3-0 win at Empoli.

Livid Napoli fans launched flares onto the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino during a humiliating loss for the troubled champions, who have sunk down to ninth place.

Last season’s historic Scudetto has now been forgotten as Napoli plunge deeper into crisis with each passing week, their third defeat in four matches in all competitions fully deserved after a shambolic display in Turin.

Without Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Walter Mazzerri’s side failed to score for the fourth straight match and are completely unrecognisable from the team which cruised to title glory last term.

Napoli are a full 20 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and are closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table.

Antonio Sanabria got the ball rolling two minutes before the break when he rolled home from close range, and things went from bad to worse in the 50th minute when debutant Pasquale Mazzocchi was sent off for a wild challenge on Valentino Lazaro.

Mazzocchi, who signed from Salernitana on Friday, had only been on the field since the start of the second half and two minutes later Nikola Vlasic doubled Torino’s lead with a brilliant low strike from outside the area.

Napoli were all over the place and they should have been three down just after the hour mark when Sanabria hit the post and Duvan Zapata somehow didn’t finish on the rebound.

However, Alessandro Buongiorno made sure of an emphatic victory in the 66th minute when he thumped a bullet header past Pierluigi Gollini.

Milan cruise 

A sumptuous early strike from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Olivier Giroud’s 31st minute penalty set third-placed Milan on the way to a win which was sealed by Chaka Traore with two minutes remaining.

Missing a host of players to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, Milan took advantage of their closest rivals for the top four dropping points.

Stefano Pioli’s team are six points ahead of fourth-placed Fiorentina who lost 1-0 at Sassuolo on Saturday, and a further point in front of Bologna in fifth following their draw at Genoa.

Milan have had a bumpy campaign riddled with injuries and questions over Pioli’s future but Sunday’s win was their fifth in six matches in all competitions.

“We went through a bit of a difficult period... We never listened to what other people were saying, we got down to hard work and that’s why we won today,” said Theo Hernandez, who was again deputising at centre-back.

France international Hernandez is a buccaneering left-back by trade but has been forced to move to the centre of defence by an injury crisis, which has left Pioli without Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu.

Empoli stay second-from-bottom after failing to win for the seventh straight match, Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side missing seven first-team starters and no match for the rampant away side.

“It’s in the difficult moments that you learn if people have given up on you, and that wasn’t the case here,” said Pioli.

“When things don’t go well we stay together and we give each other a hand.”

Milan trail city rivals Inter by nine points and are four behind second-placed Juventus, who play Salernitana later on Sunday.

Lazio warmed up for their midweek derby with Roma in the Italian Cup quarter-finals by winning 2-1 at Udinese and moving up to sixth.