World Sports News in Brief

Sevilla miss chance to catch Real with draw against Bilbao

Sevilla squandered the chance to go level on points with second-placed Real Madrid in La Liga as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao on Friday in their first game back after a two-week winter break.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Sevilla v Atletico Madrid - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - November 2, 2019 Sevilla's Ever Banega looks dejected. (Reuters)
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Sevilla v Atletico Madrid - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - November 2, 2019 Sevilla's Ever Banega looks dejected. (Reuters)

* Wayne Rooney enjoyed a winning debut with Derby as the former Manchester United star helped his Championship side to a 2-1 win against Barnsley on Thursday (Jan 2). Rooney was named Derby captain for his first appearance since agreeing to join the second tier club back in August.

* Ghana's Football Association (GFA) has sacked the coaches of all their men's and women's national teams, the country's governing body has said. The GFA did not give a reason for the move but its president Kurt Okraku, who was appointed in October, promised to "build a new association" following allegations of bribery and corruption in a documentary filmed by an investigative journalist.

* Chilean Joaquin Niemann, fresh from mixing it with the best in last month's Presidents Cup, fired a seven-under-par 66 on Thursday to grab the first-round lead at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii. The 21-year-old enjoyed a bogey-free round to grab a one-stroke advantage over world No. 4 Justin Thomas.

* Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton and striker Wesley will miss the rest of the season after sustaining knee ligament injuries in Wednesday's 2-1 win at Burnley, the Premier League club said on Friday.

* Eden Hazard's injury-plagued start at Real Madrid will continue this month after Zinedine Zidane said on Friday (Jan 3) the Belgian will not play in the Spanish Super Cup next week. Hazard suffered an ankle fracture during Madrid's draw against Paris Saint-Germain on November 26 and was expected to be out for around four to six weeks.

* Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has joined the Premier League club's long injury list with a hamstring problem that could keep him out for a "considerable" period, manager Roy Hodgson said on Friday.

* Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is training with the first team again after knee surgery in September, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday (Jan 3) without setting a date for the Frenchman's match return.

* Real Sociedad have handed coach Imanol Alguacil a one-year contract extension as a reward for transforming the team from a side fighting relegation to one with serious ambitions of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

* Denis Shapovalov beat Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(6) 7-6(4) victory to clinch Canada's opening tie in the inaugural ATP Cup men's team event in Brisbane on Friday (Jan 3).

Reuters, CNA