David Luiz today denied publicly criticising Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard in an interview with the Portuguese press.

Ghana made certain of their progress into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations where they will face Tunisia as they held Guinea to a 1-1 draw, a result that also sent Mali through as Group D runners-up.

Another thrilling day’s action at the Africa Cup of Nations culminated with Tunisia and co-hosts Gabon booking their places in the quarter-finals thanks to late winning goals.

JOHN MENSAH scored, then saw red as 10-man Ghana held on to beat Botswana in their African Nations Cup Group D opener.

Morocco 1 Tunisia 2

EQUATORIAL GUINEA is not a football nation. Or at least, that’s what everybody said before the start of the 28th Cup of Nations, which the tiny former Spanish colony is co-hosting with Gabon.

EGYPT, winners of the last three tournaments, will not be there when the African Cup of Nations begins in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in a fortnight. Neither will Cameroon, who won in 2000 and 2002.

NIGERIA’S suspension from FIFA competitions has been provisionally lifted pending a further court hearing on October 25.

The second round of Guinea’s presidential election will be held on September 19.

Guinea’s military junta appointed a veteran opposition leader as the country’s new prime minister, in a crucial step that sets the stage for the military to cede power to civilians in elections within the next six months.

The French ambassador was stopped and his diplomatic car searched as troops loyal to Guinea’s ruling junta continued a manhunt for the renegade soldier who shot and wounded the leader of the military junta.

CHINA’S premier yesterday pledged $10 billion (€6.73bn) in low interest loans to African nations over the next three years and said Beijing would cancel the government debts of some of the poorest of those countries, as the Asian powerhouse looked to deflect criticism that its investments in the continent were motivated purely by greed.

Ivory Coast became the second African nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup tonight after a second-half strike from Chelsea star Didier Drogba earned them the point they needed to secure their place in South Africa.

A truck carrying the coffin of Guinea’s late dictator was paraded through the streets of the capital today.

Guinea’s coup leader solidified his hold over the impoverished West African nation as the prime minister who served under its late dictator surrendered and stepped down, along with dozens of other government leaders.

Coup leaders announced a 32-member interim government for Guinea hours after they said were in control of the mineral-rich West African country following the death of its dictator.

A GROUP of soldiers has launched a coup in the west African state of Guinea, hours after the death of 74-year-old strongman President Lansana Conte.

A military-led group declared a coup in Guinea today after the death of its long-time dictator, but the prime minister insisted he remained in charge.

A group calling itself the National Council for Democracy today announced that Guinea’s government has been dissolved.

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has asked not to be considered for the African Player of the Year award in future years after claiming he was beaten to the 2007 trophy because he was unable to attend the ceremony.

Leicester 1 Crystal Palace 0

GUINEA are back in the hunt for a place in the last eight of the Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic 3-2 win over Morocco yesterday.

Nottingham Forest striker Junior Agogo scored the only goal in the victory against Namibia tonight which put Ghana on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages of the African Nations Cup.

THE future of Chelsea’s England midfielder Frank Lampard has come under the spotlight again after his agent refused to say whether or not the player would be at Stamford Bridge next season.

The future of Chelsea’s England midfielder Frank Lampard has come under the spotlight yet again after his agent refused to say whether the player would be at Stamford Bridge next season.

CELTIC have confirmed defender Bobo Balde suffered a broken leg during the Bank of Scotland Premier League draw with Dundee United on Stephen’s Day.

Four Greenpeace activists were occupying a refrigerated ship in the Canary Islands today, pressuring the Spanish government to seize what the environmental group says is a cargo of illegally transported fish.

Premiership stars Pape Bouba Diop and Henri Camara helped Senegal come from behind to beat Guinea 3-2 and book an African Nations Cup semi-final against hosts Egypt, 4-1 victors over Democratic Republic of Congo.

JOHN OBI MIKEL produced only flashes of the ability which has led to a spat between Chelsea and Man United as Nigeria pulled off an undeserved win over Senegal in the African Nations Cup.

John Obi Mikel produced only flashes of the ability which has led to a spat between Chelsea and Manchester United as Nigeria pulled off an undeserved win over Senegal in the African Nations Cup.

SOUTH AFRICA, who will host the 2010 World Cup, exited the African Nations Cup without a point or even a goal to their name following defeat to Zambia yesterday.

South Africa, who will host the 2010 World Cup, exited the African Nations Cup without a point or even a goal to their name following defeat to Zambia.

GOALS from Franciluedo Santos and Slim Ben Achour saw Tunisia defeat South Africa 2-0 and with it advance to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations yesterday.

IT was a tale of two strikers at the African Nations Cup yesterday one who covered himself in glory and the other in shame.

Roy Keane will make his Celtic debut in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup third-round tie at Clyde on Sunday.

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan welcomed the latest recruit from the club’s youth policy — then joked about the addition of another diminutive player to his squad.

Celtic 2 Livingston 1

GUINEA’S President Lansana Conte has rewarded the national soccer team with gifts of two tractors and land to show his appreciation after they routed Botswana 4-0 to move to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.

Celtic defender Bobo Balde wants to remain at Parkhead for the rest of his career.

Mali coach Henri Stambouli believes Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute could fire his adopted country a long way in the African Nations Cup.

TINY RWANDA upset neighbours Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 yesterday for their first-ever African Nations Cup victory, only to have a quarter-final place snatched from them when Guinea drew 1-1 with Tunisia.

TUNISIA became the first side to qualify for the African Nations Cup quarter-finals with a controversial 3-0 win over Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday as debutants Rwanda scored their first point.

CAMEROON, winners of the last two African Nations Cups, were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by outsiders Algeria as they began the defence of their crown yesterday.

Defending champions Cameroon opened their African Nations Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw with Algeria, but it is Egypt who are looking good at the top of Group C by virtue of a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe.