Liverpool Sack Slot, Iraola in Line to Take Over

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Liverpool Sack Slot, Iraola in Line to Take Over

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)

Liverpool sacked manager Arne Slot on Saturday, saying the club were seeking a "change of direction", after a disastrous defense of their Premier League title.

The Reds finished fifth in the table, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, despite spending a Premier League record of nearly £450 million ($605 million) on new players in one transfer window last year.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is reportedly set to take over at Anfield after leading the Cherries into Europe for the first time in the club's history.

Just over a year ago Slot was heralded as a hero after taking on the daunting role of succeeding Jurgen Klopp and leading Liverpool to a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title in his debut season in charge.

Yet fans turned on the Dutchman this season after a series of lackluster performances.

There was also sign of dressing room disharmony, most notably from Mohamed Salah on his way out of the club.

In an explosive social media post earlier this month, which was liked by multiple members of the Liverpool squad, Salah called for a return to "heavy metal football", referring to Klopp's high energy style of play, in a perceived dig at Slot's more cautious approach.

Liverpool's return of 60 points was their lowest since the 2015/16 season.

Despite their troubles, it had been reported that Slot would be handed a stay of execution after securing Champions League qualification.

- 'Different approach' -

However, the club's owners, the American-based Fenway Sports Group, have succumbed to fan pressure to axe the former Feyenoord boss.

"We have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but," the club said in a statement.

"The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.

"Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield."

Liverpool added that "the process to appoint a successor is under way".

Many fans were keen for the return of Xabi Alonso to Anfield, but the club's former midfielder will instead take charge of Chelsea next season.

Iraola's stock is high after an 18-game unbeaten league run to finish the campaign in sixth, just three points behind Liverpool despite vastly inferior resources.

The Spaniard also worked together with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously held a similar role at Bournemouth.

Slot ultimately paid for failing to get a return on Liverpool's huge investment last summer.

British transfer record signing Alexander Isak was beset by fitness problems, while Florian Wirtz struggled with the transition to the Premier League after a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Slot, though, also had to deal with emotional turmoil caused by the death of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident in July.



Kudus Boost as Desperate Ghana Seek AFCON Redemption

07 November 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus (R) and Leeds United's Ao Tanaka battle for the ball during the English Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road. (dpa)
07 November 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus (R) and Leeds United's Ao Tanaka battle for the ball during the English Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road. (dpa)
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Kudus Boost as Desperate Ghana Seek AFCON Redemption

07 November 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus (R) and Leeds United's Ao Tanaka battle for the ball during the English Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road. (dpa)
07 November 2026, United Kingdom, Leeds: Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus (R) and Leeds United's Ao Tanaka battle for the ball during the English Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road. (dpa)

Troubled Ghana have received a boost with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus available for a must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia on Thursday.

Injuries ruled the 26-year-old out of the 2026 World Cup, and he also missed AFCON losses to the Ivory Coast and the Gambia two months ago.

Veteran captain and striker Jordan Ayew, who plays for English second-tier club Sheffield United, is another returnee as Ghana seek redemption after a dismal start in Group C.

However, the four-time African champions must do without injured Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo when they face opponents 130 places lower in the world rankings.

The loss to the Ivorians in Abidjan was not unexpected, but the 4-2 defeat at home to the Gambians after building a two-goal lead led to Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz resigning.

Matchdays three and four begin on Thursday and conclude on Tuesday. Countries meet each other at home and away, but Ghana will be at "home" twice due to the security situation in Somalia.

Somali preparations at a university stadium in Accra were disrupted when security personnel ordered the squad to move to another location.

While Ghana seek six points in Essipong to get back into contention ahead of the final two matchdays next March, co-leaders Ivory Coast and Gambia also meet twice, in Abidjan and Bakau.

AFP Sport highlights Ghana, Nigeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia -- four teams in trouble after poor starts to qualifying.

GHANA

Swede Kim Lars Bjorkegren, the coach of the Ghana women's national team, has been put in temporary charge of the men's team while the search for a permanent replacement continues.

He had mixed results at the recent women's AFCON in Morocco. They lost to eventual champions Cameroon in the quarter-finals, but are still contenders for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

After losing narrowly in the Gambia, the Ocean Stars of Somalia held three-time African champions Ivory Coast goalless for 88 minutes before conceding twice.

NIGERIA

Having struggled to overcome modest Madagascar at home on matchday one in Group L, lackluster Nigeria crashed to a 3-0 away loss against Guinea-Bissau, a country ranked 124th in the world.

On top of failing to qualify for the last two World Cup tournaments, the humiliating AFCON defeat led to an outcry with former star Segun Odegbami lamenting "a dive to new depths".

Nigeria must face Tanzania -- automatic qualifiers as co-hosts with Kenya and Uganda -- without injured star striker Victor Osimhen, the 2023 African Footballer of the Year.

CAPE VERDE

Football fans at the 2026 World Cup fell in love with the tiny island nation off the west coast of Africa after they held Spain, then took Argentina to extra time in a last-32 tie.

But the Blue Sharks could miss a second successive AFCON after losing away to Mali and at home to Rwanda. They now face fellow Group K strugglers Liberia twice.

Coach Bubista quit after the World Cup to join Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. Former assistant Humberto Bettencourt took charge and needs two wins to restore hope of qualifying.

TUNISIA

Tunisia were the only one of 10 African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup who failed to get past the first round after three defeats under two coaches.

Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after a heavy loss to Sweden, and fellow French coach Herve Renard was unable to turn the tide and left following defeats by Japan and the Netherlands.

The Carthage Eagles turned to Tunisian Mouin Chaabani, a trophy winner with clubs in CAF competitions. They face Libya in Group H after being held at home by Uganda and Botswana.


Recovering Kompany Returns to Bayern Training Center

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany waves as he arrives for the friendly football match between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon in Munich, southern Germany, on August 2, 2025. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany waves as he arrives for the friendly football match between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon in Munich, southern Germany, on August 2, 2025. (AFP)
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Recovering Kompany Returns to Bayern Training Center

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany waves as he arrives for the friendly football match between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon in Munich, southern Germany, on August 2, 2025. (AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany waves as he arrives for the friendly football match between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon in Munich, southern Germany, on August 2, 2025. (AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has returned to the club's training center as he continues his recovery from meningeal irritation, the Bundesliga champions said Tuesday.

The Belgian was rushed to hospital after collapsing on the training pitch in Munich last month, before being diagnosed with the illness.

"Vincent Kompany is on the road to recovery and has been back at the training ground at Sabener Strasse since the start of the week," Bayern said in a brief statement.

"Kompany was under medical care recently, with assistant coach Aaron Danks filling in."

The club also said Kompany was receiving treatment for a shoulder injury at the training center.

Bayern said after his collapse that the 40-year-old would return to take back head coaching duties from Danks in a "matter of weeks, not days".

The Bavarians' next match is not until November 20, against Cologne, due to the international break.

Kompany was visibly sick and walked with a limp during Bayern's 6-1 home win over RB Leipzig in mid-October.

He was in doubt for their home Champions League clash with Arsenal four days later, but took to the dugout for the 2-2 draw, two days before his training-pitch collapse.


FIA Chief Says Qatar, Abu Dhabi GPs to Go Ahead

Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2025. (Reuters)
Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2025. (Reuters)
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FIA Chief Says Qatar, Abu Dhabi GPs to Go Ahead

Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2025. (Reuters)
Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2025. (Reuters)

The final races of the Formula One season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned despite tensions in the Middle East, the president of motorsports' governing body Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on Tuesday.

The last two grands prix of the year are scheduled for November 29 in Qatar and December 6 in Abu Dhabi.

The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix earlier this year was scrapped following the outbreak of the United States and Israel's war with Iran, while the Bahrain race was delayed and moved to Malaysia.

"We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi," FIA chief Ben Sulayem said on social media.

"We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding grands prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the Formula One world championship.

"We look forward to welcoming drivers, teams and fans to two iconic circuits for an unforgettable finish to the season. See you on the grid."

Ben Sulayem's comments echo those made by F1 boss Stefano Domenicali last month.

One of the options discussed was moving the Emirati race to Imola in Italy if the Middle Eastern races could not go ahead, but F1 told media on Tuesday the Italian track had been told to stand down.

"We cannot let Imola wait indefinitely. Therefore, we have informed them today that we will not require them at the end of the season," an F1 official source said.

"Travel advice still allows travel, travel insurance is valid, events are taking place (for example MotoGP last weekend in Qatar) and business has returned to a normal level in both countries," the F1 source added.

Italian youngster Kimi Antonelli has already wrapped up the drivers' world championship title, while his Mercedes team secured the constructors' crown last weekend in Sao Paulo.