Algeria under severe threat

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Algeria comes under threat on Sunday as they face Ivory Coast in the last of the Afcon quarter-finals.||| Bata, Equatorial Guinea – Algeria’s position as Africa’s top-ranked team comes under severe threat on Sunday as they face a powerful Ivory Coast team in the last of the African Nations Cup quarter-finals.The meeting between the two heavyweights is preceded at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo by Ghana’s game against Guinea, whose path to the last eight was secured after a rare drawing of lots following a dead heat with Mali in their group.Guinea, who overcame severe obstacles in the wake of the Ebola outbreak in their country to get this far, have another major hurdle in Ghana, who rendered a rousing comeback in the first round to dramatically snatch top place in their group.Ivory Coast will have Gervinho back from suspension to enhance an already stellar-looking line-up against Algeria, at 18th the highest placed African side in the Fifa rankings.The Democratic Republic of Congo and...
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News sport : Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wins second NFL MVP award

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PHOENIX – Once again, NFL MVP voters couldn't pass on voting for the best quarterback.Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won his second MVP award. It was announced on Saturday night during the "NFL Honors" show at Phoenix Symphony Hall.[Watch the Super Bowl live on Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports - Sunday at 6 p.m. ET] Rodgers threw for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns and only five interceptions, leading the Packers to an NFC North championship. That was enough to turn away Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who had 20.5 sacks and was vying to be the first defensive player to win MVP since 1986, when Lawrence Taylor won it. Watt was a unanimous choice for NFL defensive player of the year, the first time that award has been decided by a unanimous vote. (Click here for a list of all the major NFL awards given out Saturday night.) Rodgers also won in 2011. He's the ninth player in NFL history to win MVP multiple times, joining an impressive list that includes Peyton Manning,...
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News sport : The NFL hands out its major awards; Odell Beckham wins offensive rookie

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PHOENIX – To the surprise of nobody, New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was named NFL offensive rookie of the year.The dynamic Giants receiver was given the award during the “NFL Honors” show, which the NFL puts on the night before the Super Bowl to honor its players and hand out its major awards. Beckham beat out a very good rookie class, especially at receiver.Beckham had a great year but really exploded into superstardom with an incredible one-handed catch on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 12. Everyone was paying attention after that.Beckham, who missed four games at the start of the season due to a hamstring injury (which he said never totally healed, as he had two tears in it) finished with 91 catches, 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, one of the greatest rookie years in NFL history.We will update the NFL’s awards as they’re handed out during the night at the Phoenix Symphony Hall.- - - - - - - Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have...
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News sport : Louisville rally leads to Rick Pitino's first victory over North Carolina

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Rick Pitino finally added a win over North Carolina to his considerable resume on Saturday and it came in sweet fashion.No. 10 Louisville rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half and won 78-68 in overtime behind a monster effort from forward Montrezl Harrell who scored 22 points and snagged 15 rebounds. Terry Rozier also scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.Harrell's day included an impressive ally-oop slam off a fast break during the Cardinals' rally. He caught the ball with one hand high and in back of him and threw it down.Pitino was 0-6 against the Tar Heels in his career, including a frustrating loss earlier this season in which the Cardinals gave up a 13-point lead to lose in Chapel Hill. Louisville stormed back from 18 down Saturday by grabbing 22 offensive rebounds leading to second-chance points. Harrell provided eight of those offensive rebounds.The Cardinals fell behind by 11 at halftime by allowing the Tar Heels to beat them in transition. They clamped...
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News sport : Le'Veon Bell said he has no hard feelings about LeGarrette Blount

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PHOENIX – It's easy to compare where running backs LeGarrette Blount and Le'Veon Bell are this week.Blount is busy preparing for a Super Bowl. He started the season with Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers, got cut after a tantrum when he walked off the field early due to a lack of playing time, and landed on the New England Patriots. He'll be a key figure in the Patriots' Super Bowl plans.Bell is hawking hats late in the week. He was in the New Era lounge this week, wearing a Steelers hat with his suit, and probably wishing he was practicing for Sunday's game instead. And he and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers were awarded the FedEx Air and Ground Players of the Year at the NFL Honors show on Saturday night, which was nice, but he'd probably trade places with Blount, who was finishing up his Super Bowl preparation.But Bell insisted, "no hard feelings at all" when it came to Blount."I’m happy for him. I’m so happy for him," Bell said. "People might think of LeGarrette...
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News sport : Lydia Ko falls short of win in LPGA opener, but takes No. 1 in the world

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Lydia Ko didn't win the inaugural Coates Golf Championship on Saturday, but she still made a golf first. Ko finished joint runner-up to Na Yeon Choi in the LPGA opener in Ocala, Fla., but the finish was good enough to assure Ko the top spot in the new Rolex Rankings.The 17-year-old Kiwi will become the youngest player in the history of the game to ascend to the spot of either the Official World Golf Ranking or Rolex Rankings.Early in the final round, Ko had a four-shot edge through two holes, but Ha Na Jang and Choi caught up over the course of the round. Nevertheless, Ko was tied for the lead with four holes to play. She then drained a 60-foot birdie putt at the 15th to take the lead when Choi bogeyed the same par 3. However, on the 17th hole, Ko made a double bogey, dropping from one ahead to one behind with a par 5 to play.On the final hole, Ko's second shot wound up short and left of the intended target and left her with a semi-buried lie for her third shot. She expected...
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Balboa double stuns Tunisia

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Javier Balboa scored a controversial penalty and a stunning free kick winner as Guinea knocked Tunisia out of Afcon.||| Bata - Javier Balboa scored a controversial penalty and then a stunning free kick winner as tiny Equatorial Guinea produced one of the greatest African Nations Cup shocks by eliminating Tunisia 2-1 after extra time in Saturday's quarter-final.A soft penalty in stoppage time allowed Equatorial Guinea to level when Tunisia seemed destined for the semi-finals after Ahmed Akaichi put the highly fancied North Africans 1-0 ahead in the 70th minute.Balboa converted the kick to take the game to an additional 30 minutes and curled home a stunning set piece in the 102nd minute to win the game and set off jubilant celebrations across the small country.Equatorial Guinea now take on either Ghana or Guinea, who clash in their quarter-final in Malabo on Sunday.Reuters from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Cm1...
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News sport : Iowa WR Tevaun Smith breaks Odell Beckham's one-handed catch record

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A day after former LSU receiver and current New York Giant Odell Beckham Jr. set the Guinness world record with 33 one-handed catches in 60 seconds, Iowa receiver Tevaun Smith beat it. In a video released on the Iowa football Twitter feed, Smith managed an astounding 41 one-handed catches in 60 seconds, shattering Beckham’s record. Both players set the record while standing 10 yards away from their passer. .@TevaunSmith goes for @OBJ_3's one-handed catch world record and snags 41 in a minute! #GoHawks #Swarm2015 http://t.co/BnLBmRNutP — Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) January 30, 2015 So does that mean his automatically the new Guinness record holder? Well, not exactly. According the Guinness World Records website, in order to officially hold the world record — and get the same fancy certificate Beckham now boasts — Smith would need to apply for the record, wait at least six weeks for a response and then follow a set of guidelines, have witnesses sign that they saw him do...
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DRC survive 6 goal Afcon thriller

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Congo surged back from 2-0 down and into the semi-finals after beating Republic of Congo in an Afcon thriller.||| Bata - Congo surged back from 2-0 down and into the semi-finals after beating Republic of Congo 4-2 in an African Cup of Nations thriller on Saturday.Dieumerci Mbokani scored his second in stoppage time as Congo responded with four goals in the last 25 minutes to deny their neighbours and namesakes.Both Congos reacted to a lackluster first half with a pulsating second 45 minutes at Bata Stadium in the first knockout game.Dore Ferebory gave Republic of Congo the lead in the 55th when he drifted in behind the defense at a free kick and flicked home a right-foot volley.Thievy Bifouma made it 2-0 seven minutes later after some chaotic defending led to him sweeping in a loose ball from close range for his tournament-leading third goal in four games.Congo, which hit the crossbar twice and had a good penalty appeal turned down, then took over as its opponents suddenly folded.Yannick...
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News sport : Mariners prospect arrested for role in Australian League brawl

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The fallout from the recent bench-clearing incident in the Australian Baseball League has gone beyond record-breaking league sanctions and could wind up in a court of law, according to MiLB.com. In the latest development, Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Troy Scott was arrested on Thursday on an assault charge which stemmed from his involvement in the melee.The incident in question took place on Jan. 16, when Scott and his Adelaide Bite teammates took on the Melbourne Aces. During the late innings of Adelaide's 8-2 victory, a beanball war broke out between the rivals, with the bad blood finally boiling over in the final half-inning. During the incident, which was broadcast on Australian television, Scott allegedly punched Melbourne designated hitter Kellin Deglan in the face, leaving him with facial injuries that required dental work.A fan video seems to capture the punch itself. At around the three-second mark, you'll see a player on the right side of the pile go down and...
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News sport : Trevor Lacey saves NC State with buzzer-beating three

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Having already dropped three straight including a maddening home loss against Clemson three days earlier, North Carolina State could not afford to stumble once more against another ACC bottom feeder on Sunday afternoon.The Wolfpack barely avoided that fate thanks to late-game heroics from wing Trevor Lacey.Two missed free throws from Georgia Tech's Quinton Stephens with 4.9 seconds left in overtime gave NC State life entering its final possession. Lacey then pushed the ball up court, pulled up from behind the top of the key and buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wolfpack a much-needed 81-80 victory over the ACC's last-place team.NC State only managed to force overtime when it benefited from a questionable call in the final seconds of regulation. Marcus Georges-Hunt attacked the rim from the left wing and drew contact with the score tied and just a few ticks left on the clock, but referees ruled that NC State's BeeJay Anya had drawn a charge even though he did not appear...
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News sport : Greg Cosell's Super Bowl preview: New England's approach to Seattle's D

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The New England Patriots generally are prepared for anything, and we can boil down their Super Bowl approach to the Seattle Seahawks in two ways: Their attack if Seattle goes to man-to-man coverage, and their attack for the Seahawks’ “Cover 3” zone.When we look at how the Patriots might try to beat Seattle's fantastic “Cover 3," we’ll see ways the Patriots can get tight end Rob Gronkowski open. It’s obvious Gronkowski is a huge part of this game.Seattle’s foundation is the “Cover 3,” in which three defensive backs are responsible for a deep third of the field. But they’ve used a lot of man...
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News sport : Bruce Pearl receives warm reception in return to Tennessee

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On the eve of his first game in Knoxville as the visiting coach, Bruce Pearl offered this prediction to the Knoxville News-Sentinel on how he'd be received by Tennessee fans."Some will be booing and some will be Bru-ing,” he said. “I do not know which one it will be."Turns out Pearl sold himself short because his reception from the Tennessee crowd on Saturday afternoon was almost entirely favorable. Vols fans either chanted "Bruuuuce" or stood and applauded when Pearl was introduced, though those in the building said the cheers current Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall received were louder. Pearl was businesslike on the sideline once the game tipped off, but it was clear the nostalgia factor affected him beforehand.He shook hands with old friends when he arrived at Thompson Boling Arena and high-fived Tennessee students on his way off the floor after warmups. Then as the public address announcer introduced him prior to tip-off, he bowed his head and kneeled in front of the Auburn...
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News sport : Greg Cosell's Super Bowl preview: How New England will defend Seattle

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The No. 1 thing you have to defend against the Seattle Seahawks is the read option. There’s a very strong tendency within that play that we have seen in our film study, and I guarantee you New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick knows it as well.On 42 percent of Seattle's plays they use a 3-by-1 set (three eligible receivers to one side, and one to the other) counting tight ends. If Marshawn Lynch is offset to the side of the tight end, the single-receiver side, he will cut back and not follow the zone blocking 80 percent of the time. He will cut it inside before he crosses the center. That's...
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News sport : Fantasy Baseball Rankings: First Base

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More rankings: Top 250 | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | C | OF | SP | RP [Baseball 2015 from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Join a league today! ]2015 1B Rankings Yahoo! SportsCompositeBrandonFunstonAndyBehrensScottPianowskiDaltonDel DonFantasyProsAll Experts1. Miguel Cabrera (DET) 1121view 2. Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) 2212view 3. Jose Dariel Abreu (CWS) 3333view 4. Jose Bautista (TOR) 4464view 5. Edwin Encarnacion (TOR) 5556view 6. Anthony Rizzo (CHC) 7645view 7. Freddie Freeman (ATL) 11777view 8. Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) 81099view 9. Buster Posey (SF) 981012view 10. Victor Martinez (DET) 612814view 11. Albert Pujols (LAA) 129158view 12. Prince Fielder (TEX) 10131411view 13. David Ortiz (BOS) 13111213view 14. Todd Frazier (CIN) 15141115view 15. Joey Votto (CIN) 14161610view 16. Jonathan Lucroy (MIL) 16171324view 17. Carlos Santana (CLE) 17151921view 18. Chris Carter (HOU) 18181819view 19. Chris Davis (BAL) 20202316view 20. Matt Adams (STL) 19192223view 21. Mark Trumbo (ARI) 23222026view...
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News sport : Buffalo's mop guy nearly gets mowed down by a fast break

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Only at a college basketball game is mopping the floor an act of bravery.You either must possess a keen sense of timing or quick enough reflexes to make up for it.The poor guy in the above video found that out the hard way Friday night when he ventured onto the court to clean up a wet spot and soon found himself in jeopardy of getting trampled. Buffalo guard Rodell Wigginton stole the ball at mid-court from Kent State's Derek Jackson and barrelled down court for an uncontested dunk, sending the mop guy scrambling to avoid getting run over.Thankfully for all involved, a collision was averted. Plus the mop guy got more airtime on ESPNU than he probably had expected.(Thanks for the video, Hustle Belt) - - - - - - - Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!Follow @JeffEisenberg from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1CXx...
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‘Carry on with nutmegs Neymar’

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Barcelona coach Luis Enrique told Neymar to carry on regardless of the criticism he received for provoking players with his “nutmegging”.||| Barcelona - Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has told Neymar to carry on regardless after the Brazilian received criticism for provoking Atletico Madrid players with his “nutmegging and talking”.Juanfran and Fernando Torres argued with two-goal Neymar at halftime in Barca's midweek King's Cup quarter-final victory while opposition captain Gabi Fernandez was red-carded after a fracas in the tunnel.Atletico substitute Ruben Cani said after the game that “one day he will have problems for his style of play, the nutmegging and talking”.Luis Enrique went on the counter attack on Saturday, saying there was nothing wrong.“You have to consider the player and the culture from where he is from,” the Barca coach told reporters ahead of Sunday's La Liga game at home to Villarreal.“Brazilians look to enjoy themselves playing football and it is the same for...
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United look no better than opening day

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Can you say there was much difference in performance between the draw at Cambridge and the opening-day loss at Swansea?||| London - Louis van Gaal has played the role of the professor all season and sometimes he can make us feel like students in the classroom. But, a week on from a goalless draw in Cambridge, one of the great educational centres of the world, he still has a lot learn about his team.There were no signs of enjoyment or self-expression in that game and it looks like the players are weary of Van Gaal’s experimenting.United enjoyed a good unbeaten stretch but there were never any dominant displays in that run. They ground out results and often looked laboured.Can you really say there was much of a difference in the level of performance between the 0-0 last week and the opening-day defeat by Swansea?It’s no secret Van Gaal wants to play with a back three but it’s so obviously flawed that even the fans feel compelled to tell him so. When he changed things at QPR, it...
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News sport : Lydia Ko on the verge of becoming youngest No. 1 in golf history

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Lydia Ko finished the 2014 LPGA season with a win, and if she bookends it on Saturday with a victory to start 2015, she'll become the No. 1 player in the world.The 17-year-old Kiwi made five consecutive birdies on the back nine and nine altogether on Friday at Golden Ocala G&EC to take a one-shot lead over Ha Na Jang heading into the final round of the inaugural Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Fla. The third-round 65 ties the low round of the week with Amy Yang.Ko came out guns blazing on Friday, making four birdies on her opening nine. However, a pair of short par misses on the 10th and 11th holes set her four back of Jang. It also spurred her on to the birdie streak that gave her the outright lead.“It kind of got me fired up," Ko said. "I kind of jammed my putter in my bag, and I said, `OK, you’ve got to start working again.’”If Ko wins on Saturday and earns her sixth LPGA Tour title (fourth as a professional), she will take over the top spot in the Rolex Rankings from...
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What Bafana really need

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Safa must appoint a technical director to assist Shakes in the development of the next Bafana generation, says Rodney Reiners.||| Cape Town - The South African national football squad return home from Equatorial Guineaon Saturday after crashing out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).After a 3-1 loss to Algeria, a 1-1 draw with Senegal and a 2-1 defeat to Ghana, Bafana Bafana finished bottom of Group C. While they showed promise at times, it was evident the national team is still quite a way behind the best sides on the continent.The experience is sure to have been a chastening exercise for Bafana and head coach Shakes Mashaba. There was way too much over-confidence and boasting ahead of their participation and far too little respect for their opponents. It’s a typical South African attitude - and, perhaps, after being humbled at Afcon, there will now be a greater understanding of the tons of work still to do, and an awareness of Bafana’s true position in the African football...
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Guinea seek to continue fairytale run

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Hosts Equatorial Guinea hope to continue their fairytale run at Afcon as they take on Tunisia in the quarter-finals.||| Bata - Hosts Equatorial Guinea bid to continue their fairytale run at the African Nations Cup as they take on Tunisia in Saturday's quarter-final with a passionate support expected to rally behind them.Having upset neighbours Gabon in the group phase in their last game in a snatch and grab win, they have hopes of a similar success against a side who have had an impressive qualifying campaign and finished top of their opening round group.Coach Esteban Becker said, on the eve of the match, victory would be “monstrous” for the small country but they were confident of achieving it.The match at the Estadio de Bata, which will host next weekend's final, is preceded by a derby between Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.The proximity of the two countries, separated by the Congo River, should ensure a spicy edge to the match, heightened by the fact Congo coach...
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