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Wilfried Zaha: Crystal Palace winger says Man Utd and Liverpool fans called him 'black monkey'

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  Zaha rejoined Crystal Palace from Manchester United on a permanent deal in 2015 Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has accused Manchester United and Liverpool fans of calling him a "black monkey" in messages on social media. The 24-year-old posted on Instagram: "If Man United and Liverpool fans feel better by calling me a black monkey in my messages .. feel free to carry on if it makes your day better." Ivory Coast international Zaha signed for Manchester United in 2013. Zaha is in Hong Kong with the club for the Premier League Asia Trophy. He posted the message following the 2-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, in which Palace manager Frank de Boer said the winger had been the victim of rough treatment. Diversity campaign group Kick It Out said it had contacted both Zaha and Palace to offer support. "Kick It Out was disgusted to read that online racial abuse has been directed at Zaha," a spokesman said. "It is completely unacceptabl...

Nigeria's Onazi backs changes to Africa Cup of Nations

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  Ogenyi Onazi played in Nigeria's triumphant Africa Cup of Nations side in 2013 Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria, has backed radical changes to African football's showpiece event. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed last week that the tournament will be held in June and July instead of January and February and will be expanded to 24 teams from 16, starting from Cameroon 2019. Onazi, who is now with Trabzonspor in Turkey, was a Lazio player when winning the Nations Cup with Nigeria in South Africa in 2013. Even when we won the Afcon in 2013, my team called me immediately, saying that I should fly from South Africa to the club because we had a Europa League game Ogenyi Onazi Nigeria midfielder He says the new timing will ease the pressure on European clubs and their African stars. "When you finish a [Nations Cup] game and if you finish before the finals, your [club] team has to give you a phone call ...

Uganda coach Micho critical of Nations Cup changes

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  Uganda coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic guided Uganda to their first Africa Cup of Nations finals in 39 years when they played at Gabon 2017 Uganda coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic says Africa has bowed to 'pressure from Europe' following radical changes to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Confederation of African Football confirmed last week that the tournament will be held in June and July instead of January and February. and will be expanded to 24 teams from 16. Sredojevic - whose own future is currently the subject of speculation - was speaking a day after Uganda beat Sudan 5-1 in a 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier. It has been so tough to qualify for Afcon with 16 teams and indeed only deserving teams could make it Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic Uganda coach "Though not directly, Africa succumbed to the pressure of Europe to have this tournament played when it's best for them," Sredojevic told BBC Spo...

Riyad Mahrez: Leicester reject Roma bid for Algeria winger

  Riyad Mahrez scored 10 goals and provided seven assists for Leicester last season Leicester City have rejected a bid from Roma for winger Riyad Mahrez, manager Craig Shakespeare has confirmed. The 26-year-old, who joined the Foxes from French club Le Havre in 2014, announced in May that he wanted to leave the club. "The bid was politely declined because it was a low offer," said Shakespeare. "I don't know what it was and I don't get involved." Mahrez, PFA player of the year in 2016, has reportedly been valued at £50m. Shakespeare, who is with the Foxes in Hong Kong for a pre-season tournament, had said earlier this week there had been no bids for Mahrez. The Algeria player made 48 appearances for Leicester last season. He scored 10 goals and provided seven assists as Leicester recovered from a poor start to finish 12th in the Premier League and reach the Champions League quarter-finals. African players 'more attractive' after Cu...

Caf enlarges executive committee

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  The Confederation of African Football's executive committee has effectively been enlarged to 23 members The size of the Confederation of African Football's executive committee has effectively increased from 15 to 23 following a change in statutes. Caf's highest decision-making body used to be made up of 15 members, plus African members of the Fifa Council. Since the Fifa Council members were co-opted onto the Caf board, they had no voting rights. But a vote to change Caf's statutes at its General Assembly in Morocco has awarded these members voting rights. The previous Caf regime changed the statutes in 2012 in a move that was seen as a bid to prevent Ivory Coast's Jacques Anouma from running against then president Issa Hayatou in elections. In addition, Caf will no longer allow members to hold down two slots on both its executive committee and the Fifa Council. This boosts its own executive - which is now effectively made up of the 15 ...

Cameroon 'ready' to host expanded AFCON in 2019

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  Cameroon says it supports the decision to expand the Africa Cup of Nations to 24 teams The next Africa Cup of Nations hosts can cater for an expanded 24-team finals, says the head of Cameroon's FA. After sweeping changes to the Nations Cup this week, the Central African nation will now have to prepare for eight more teams than expected. "I spoke this morning with our country's hierarchy and the decision is that Cameroon is ready to host," Tombi A Roko Sidiki told BBC Sport. After reports of slow progress in Cameroon, Morocco is keen to step in. There are some countries that who would like to host this competition but they should keep quiet Tombi A Roko Sidiki Cameroon FA president "Morocco will not hesitate for a second to respond favourably to any invitation to host this Nations Cup," said the country's FA president Faouzi Lekjaa. The North African nation was set to host the 2015 Nations Cup until it lost the finals following co...

Ouakam suspended by Senegalese federation after tragedy

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US Ouakam have been suspended by Senegal's Football Federation (FSF) following a stampede which resulted in the deaths of eight fans.  Nearly 100 other spectators were injured as Ouakam fans clashed with those of rivals Stade de Mbour during Saturday's League Cup final. "US Ouakam are temporarily suspended," the FSF said in a statement. The FSF's disciplinary committee will decide on sanctions against Ouakam shortly, it added. The AFP news agency said multiple witnesses reported seeing Ouakam fans throw stones and other objects at the Mbour supporters. This came moments after the visiting side had taken a 2-1 lead in extra-time of the final. Eight fans died and at least 88 were injured in Saturday's stampede in Dakar A wall at the Demba Diop stadium in the capital Dakar collapsed following the fighting between fans. Police responded with tear gas, sparking the stampede. "My thoughts with those who lost loved ones or were injured during ...