Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour announced Monday that he is close to concluding a deal with French tactician Alain Giresse to replace outgoing Zamalek coach Mohamed Helmy in leading the Whites.

Often criticzed and inconsistent, Andre Schürrle put in a timely performance for Germany against Azerbaijan. The BVB winger showed all of his qualities and must now aim to be more consistent.It seems a long time since Andre Schürrle crossed the ball for Mario Götze in the Maracana. The 26-year-old has since swapped London for Dortmund (via Wolfsburg), pushing up the total spent on his services to over 90 million euros. His inconsistency remains, as does his spot in the Germany team – but against Azerbaijan the winger showed why Joachim Löw won’t ever doubt him.

Outgoing Zamalek coach Mohamed Helmi said he will not be part of the new backroom staff after surprisingly handing in his resignation in the early hours of Saturday.

NBA All-Star Joakim Noah faces a 20-game unpaid suspension after failing a doping test. The New York Knicks center, son of French tennis legend Yannick Noah, tested positive for a substance similar to anabolic steroids.Noah’s suspension was announced on Saturday, when the NBA confirmed he’d tested positive for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator LGD-4033, a substance intended to produce effects similar to those of anabolic steroids. The over-the-counter supplement is banned under the current league bargaining agreement with the players union.

The former midfielder has transformed Atletico's fortunes in his five years in charge. But in the aftermath of last season's penalty shoot-out defeat in the San Siro he hinted he was thinking about leaving. At the time, he told a news conference: "I'm thinking I have to start thinking about it."

Contract negotiations with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are on hold until the end of the season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday.

Lukas Podolski was full of his usual charm at his final press conference on international duty ahead of Germany’s friendly against England. The striker will captain the national side on his 130th and last appearance.It was somewhat fitting that the day before Germany bid farewell to Lukas Podolski on the pitch, they did so in the German Football Museum in Dortmund.

Bayern Munich's chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, was in Shanghai on Wednesday to attend the opening ceremony for the Bundesliga club's first office in Asia.

Egyptian clubs Masry and Smouha were drawn Tuesday to play with Uganda's Kampala City Council (KCCA FC) and South Africa's Bidvest respectively in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32.

Currently second in the Bundesliga, RasenBallsport Leipzig are on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League. However, some experts say the Red Bull-backed club could be in breach of UEFA regulations.Article 5 of UEFA’s rules and regulations for the 2016-17 Champions League season, entitled “integrity of the competition,” states that “no individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”

Zamalek president Mortada Mansour said on Monday that South Africa's Sundowns winger Khama Billiat has agreed to join the Cairo giants in the next season, adding he is waiting for coach's decision to finalise the deal.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has pulled out of the upcoming games against England and Azerbaijan because of calf problems.

A shambolic Zamalek side managed to seal progress to the CAF Champions League last-16 with a 5-3 aggregate victory after losing 2-1 to Nigeria's Enugu Rangers at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Sunday.

Ahly's boss Hossam Al-Badri thanked his players for their performance in Sunday's goalless draw with Bidvest of South Africa in the second-leg of the Champions League round of 32.

Winds of change gusted through African soccer on Thursday as Ahmad of Madagascar was voted in as the new Confederation of African Football president, ending the 29-year reign of Issa Hayatou in an election in the Ethiopian capital.

Monaco had it all to do after losing 5-3 in Manchester. But the Ligue 1 side produced a stirring comeback to dump Pep Guardiola out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the first time in his coaching career.Monaco 3-1 Manchester City (6-6 agg., Monaco advances on away goals)

Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare believes his team could become the Champions League's surprise package after they eliminated Sevilla to reach the quarter-finals.

Leroy Sané has gone from being a promising young talent who couldn’t get into the side to the first name on the team sheet at Manchester City. Since this happened, the Citizens have experienced a change in fortunes.Leroy Sané has made it at Manchester City, and in the past few matches, the 21-year-old German international has been one of their best performers. The main reason for his sudden spike in form is the position in which he is being played – out on the left wing, a role where he is able to bring his immense speed and technical ability to bear.

Antonio Conte slammed Manchester United's cynical attempts to intimidate Chelsea in his side's bitter FA Cup quarter-final win, but Jose Mourinho hit back at his rival by insisting he remains the Blues' best ever manager.

Egypt’s Mazen Gamal and Mohamed Reda failed to qualify for the tournament, as the first lost to France’s Lucas Serme, by 3-0 (11-6/11-3/11-5), in the first qualifying round; whilst the second lost in the final qualifying round, to England’s Declan James (11-9/9-11/11-8/15-13). The qualifying rounds take place before the start of the tournament in order to give lower ranked players a chance to take part in the championship.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane hailed goalkeeper Keylor Navas's contribution as the European champions leapfrogged Barcelona into top spot in La Liga despite the latest a series of blunders this season from the Costa Rican on Sunday.