We are down to the final eight teams in the Africa Cup of Nations 2015, with one of the most open tournaments in recent memory.

The competition is beautifully poised with all the sides in the knockouts feeling they have a shot at glory.

The Ivory Coast leapfrogged their way into the quarter-finals after their slim 1-0 win against a disappointing Cameroon.

Algeria placed second in Group C after a fabulous strike from Nabil Bentaleb helped his side beat Senegal by 2-0.

Here is how you can watch this exciting quarter-final match, with TV and streaming information:

When: Sunday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. GMT/ 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

TV Info: British Eurosport (UK only) BeIN Sports (U.S. only)

Live Stream: Eurosport Player (UK only) BeIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)

Yaya Toure Problems For Ivory Coast

By watching Manchester City’s talismanic midfielder in recent times, you would think Yaya Toure had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The former Barcelona player has been largely anonymous during AFCON 2015 for the Ivory Coast as rumours swirl around about his future with his club, per Sky Sports.

Toure has been linked with a move to Inter Milan to rejoin former boss Roberto Mancini and it is difficult to know whether the player has had his head turned or not.

City have themselves been making odd statements about the player, with coach Manuel Pellegrini professing his side can cope without his presence, as tweeted by the club’s official feed:

But in the tournament, we have not seen the Yaya of old—or even the one from last season who recovered his form to drive City to another EPL crown.

However, despite the strange body language, Yaya has performed this season to a good standard.

He has hit seven goals in his 18 Premier League appearances this term, per WhoScored.com, but he has failed to register a strike or assist for his country during the Africa Cup of Nations.

This has led football writer Jonathan Wilson to surmise the player has had a less productive tournament than his more unfashionable brother, Kolo:

Wilson further elaborated in his piece in The Guardian, questioning Yaya‘s state of mind and contentment: 

The one major concern for Ivory Coast is the form of Yaya Toure, who has lolloped about without great success, trying to link the front of midfield to the two strikers and has been substituted twice.

Max Gradel has been rather more successful than him in that linking role, scoring the equaliser against Mali before hitting the winner against Cameroon with a vicious swerving shot.

The official line is that all is well, but Toure, who is usually extremely approachable, has marched through the mixed zone after each of Ivory Coast’s last two games without stopping. After the Cameroon game he made a point of shouting there was no problem as he walked through, which of course rather suggested there was.

And now the player is a doubt for the Elephants battle with the Warriors of the Desert after sustaining a hamstring injury during his side’s 1-0 over Cameroon, per Goal.com.

On his day, Yaya is the best midfielder of his type in the world. No one can drive through the centre of the park with the ball attached to his feet with the sheer power he possesses.

He has been key for City and his country for many years but there is a feeling he might be on the slide, in terms of his impact.

At 31 years old, you would expect Yaya to still have plenty in the tank but the current conception of the player seems to suggest his best days might be passing him by.

Match Preview

Algeria have no fresh injury concerns in their ranks after their impressive 2-0 win against Senegal, per WhoScored.

The statistics website says the Warriors are likely to line up with an unchanged 4-2-3-1, with star man Nabil Bentaleb once again patrolling the midfield after his beautiful strike in the previous match.

The Tottenham player has been in top form during the Africa Cup of Nations and he has not let his opportunity to impress go amiss.

But it has been striker Islam Slimani who has shined the most in the Algerian side, with WhoScored ranking him as his country’s best player of the tournament so far.

The Sporting Lisbon player was in fine form in the opening match against South Africa, scoring once in a 3-1 win but has suffered a muscle injury which has limited his minutes on the pitch, per Sport24.

Besides the knock to Yaya Toure as previous mentioned, Ivory Coast’s main concern revolves around Eric Bailly who was injured and substituted in the match against Cameroon, per WhoScored.

This game is very difficult to call but if the Elephants hit their top form, they will be difficult to beat.

Wilfried Bony is yet to score in the tournament—after his multi-million pound move to Manchester City—and it can only be a matter of time before he finds the net.

But much depends on Yaya. He is the leader of this Ivory Coast team, and without his full involvement they will find it difficult to progress.

Algeria are a plucky side and will feel they can take care of business on Sunday night.

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If Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure still doesn’t feel wanted at Etihad Stadium in the summer, he could end up bolting for an Italian club that seems to really, really want him.

Late last week La Gazzetta dello Sport, as per Football Italia, reported that Inter Milan were keen to sign Toure ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, with the Ivory Coast international already having sanctioned a wage reduction in order to expedite the move.

Nerazzurri manager Roberto Mancini confirmed his interest to il Giornale on Thursday, according to Goal, remarking that he was “working on” a swoop for the midfielder he initially purchased from Barcelona in 2010 while in charge of City.

“He played for many teams, in many leagues like Belgium, Spain, Russia, England. He only misses Italy, this may be a good chance for him,” Mancini said.

He added: “[Toure is] one of the best players in the world. He can still have his say.”

He certainly can, and just last spring he and his agent had plenty to say about a perceived lack of appreciation at City that came to a head when the club didn’t satisfactorily recognise his birthday.

“None of them shook hands on his birthday. It’s really sick,” Dimitri Seluk, Toure’s representative, told the BBC in May. “The most important thing is a human relationship and maybe this is his opportunity for Yaya to find that. If City don’t respect him, then, easy Yaya will leave.”

Seluk went on to say that his client had “enough money” and would prefer to play at a club “that respects him” rather than having “a few thousand pounds added to his salary.”

Incidentally, Toure is on £220,000 a week at City and is contracted through the completion of the 2016-17 season.

According to The Guardian, the reigning Premier League champions won’t offer him a new contract, and given that he’ll turn 32 years old before the completion of the current campaign—nevermind his wildly inconsistent performances this term—they may opt to make a little money off him while they still have a chance.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Football Italia, have quoted a price of €9 million, and while such a fee would hardly make a difference in City’s account books, it would help in their efforts to comply with Financial Fair Play, as would the stroking off of his wages.

At Inter, should the transfer be completed, Toure would join a fascinating project that has already seen Lukas Podolski, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marcelo Brozovic arrive at San Siro this month. Club owner Erick Thohir has shown a willingness to spend since Mancini’s arrival, and the plan is to challenge Juventus for the Scudetto next season.

“We just need three champions to close the gap,” commented Mancini in his il Giornale interview.

Toure could well be one of them, and if the desire to reach an agreement is mutual, it will almost certainly transpire before pre-season training begins—a sort of late birthday present for a player who seems desperate to celebrate himself.

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Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has hinted at a potential summer move for Manchester City star Yaya Toure, praising the Ivory Coast international who he previously signed when in charge of the Citizens in 2010.

As reported by talkSPORT, the Italian spoke about Toure to Il Giornale, saying the 31-year-old is exactly the kind of player he wants for his new squad:

Yaya is one of the strongest players in the world.

He has played in so many teams. He has been in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Spain and England. Italy is the one missing. This could be the right opportunity for him to come and try.

We are building a team. There are players that change the look of a team, and Yaya is one of them.

Next year we could try. We need to bring three champions, and we will see that we will be ready to fight for the Scudetto.

Toure’s future at the Etihad Stadium has been uncertain for some time now, per talkSPORT, and the summer of 2015 might be the perfect opportunity to strike for Mancini. The star midfielder turns 32 in May, and the Citizens could decide it’s time to cash in on one of their best players before his play starts to decline.

Whether the Nerazzurri will be willing to pay big money for Toure is another matter, however. As reported by Football Italia, club president Erick Thohir seems less open to the idea of bringing him into the fold.

“He is a great player, but we have to ask ourselves if he is right for our team,” Thohir told Mediaset Premium. “We want to sign players for at least three years, not two.”

Inter have been one of the most active teams in the January transfer window, determined to give Mancini every opportunity to turn the disastrous 2014-15 campaign around. Sitting in 10th place in the Serie A standings, the Nerazzurri have already strengthened the squad with Xherdan Shaqiri, Lukas Podolski and Marcelo Brozovic.

Not afraid to spend big, adding a veteran contributor like Toure to the mix would make sense. The powerful midfielder is one of the very best around, and his impact on City is perhaps best illustrated by the club’s pedestrian record when he hasn’t been able to play, per Squawka Football:

Toure is a fantastic scorer—he has nine goals already this season, per WhoScored.com—and provides the club with a calming, physical presence in midfield, allowing the likes of David Silva and Samir Nasri to play without having to worry too much about their defensive duties.

Writing for Bleacher Report UK, Jonathan Wilson believes the Ivorian is one of the most uniquely gifted players in the Premier League, not understating how much his absence will hurt City’s chances against Premier League leaders Chelsea:

Selling a player with such a large impact on the squad seems absurd unless an adequate replacement can be found, and given Toure’s unique skills, finding such a replacement is easier said than done.

In any case, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the player himself is keen on a reunion with his former manager in the Italian fashion capital (h/t FourFourTwo‘s Adam Digby):

Ultimately, a potential transfer will likely come down to how City officials feel about Toure moving forward. The Ivorian is on the wrong side of 30 and currently reportedly earns around £210,000 per week, per The Independent’s Simon Rice.

If Inter can provide City with a fair offer, the chance to clear that much money off the wage bill for an aging player could simply be too good to pass up. Toure still has plenty to offer, but football is a business. With UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules in full effect, clubs are sometimes forced to make difficult decisions like this one.

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Roma’s Mattia Destro agreed to a loan move to AC Milan—with an option to buy—on Thursday, spurning reported interest from Arsenal and Chelsea to stay in Serie A, according to the Daily Star‘s Alex Harris.

As shared by BT Sport’s James Horncastle, the news was confirmed by Milan Channel, the club’s official TV network:

According to beIN Sports’ Tancredi Palmeri, Milan will pay Roma €700,000 for the initial loan deal with an option to make the move permanent included at €12 million. Those numbers favour the buying club, according to Palmeri:

Destro posted a message on his official Facebook (in Italian) to thank Roma fans for their support.

The Italy international rose to fame during the 2011-12 season with Sienna, catching the eye of a multitude of big clubs with a series of sterling performances and his tantalising potential.

The Giallorossi won the race for his signature and took a patient approach with his development, opting to sit the youngster on the bench and continue to start veteran Francesco Totti.

Destro quickly became an afterthought under new manager Rudi Garcia. He made just eight Serie A starts in the 2014-15 campaign, in which he scored five goals, according to WhoScored.com. That’s not a bad return for a player deemed unfit to be a regular starter, and GianlucaDiMarzio.com’s David Amoyal thinks Roma are making a mistake by parting with the forward:

He also noted Destro has an interesting link to his new club, as he used to play for city rivals Inter Milan, just like former star striker Mario Balotelli:

The Rossoneri have underperformed so far this season, and manager Filippo Inzaghi is desperate to add some quality to a squad filled with aging veterans and stars not living up to their potential.

The injury to Stephan El Shaarawy likely made the decision to chase another forward a lot easier, per Football Italia.

The club’s recent struggles—perhaps best illustrated by the controversial clash against Lazio that saw defender Philippe Mexes grab an opponent by the throat, per beIN Sports—suggest the San Siro might not be the best surroundings for Destro, according to StatsBomb’s Ted Knutson:

However, his talent is undeniable. With Milan desperate to improve their current run of form, Destro will likely receive every opportunity to start immediately.

Consistent minutes could finally unlock the potential that had Roma buzzing when they brought him in from Sienna, which in turn would aid Milan’s push for a top-five finish and a ticket for the Europa League. 

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Dear Frank,

First things first, hopefully all is going well with you and your family.

Ahead of your impending west London arrival this Saturday, I have to admit I’m conflicted about you; half of me wants to smile, the other is utterly confused.

Returning Chelsea legends are nothing new at Stamford Bridge, something you know well. When Jose Mourinho came to London with Inter Milan and Didier Drogba last season with Galatasaray, their names were shouted and chants were sung, but your situation has given many Blues’ supporters something of a headache—myself included.

I had little clue Norwich City was going to be your last game in a Chelsea shirt; Ashley Cole’s departure felt imminent, but yours came as a relative shock. The club’s policy with over 30-year-olds has always bothered me, but I never thought you would be a casualty—especially considering John Terry was given a new contract.

Fourth all-time in appearances, the club’s top goalscorer, and I don’t have the assist numbers at hand, but I would wager you are near the top of that as well: Your service to Chelsea Football Club was impeccable, so I was under the assumption, after the World Cup, you would return to west London as ever.

But that wasn’t the case.

I would love to know the particulars—whether Chelsea did or did not offer you a contract.

There has been speculation both ways concerning the matter. I have always assumed you were not offered a deal; I can’t imagine you turning one down, as your devotion to the club was never in question; we do live in a capitalistic society, however, so the notion Chelsea did not offer you what you wanted/deserved is possible.

In any event, the split felt unceremonious to say the least.

When it was announced you were headed to America, I can’t say I was surprised. David Beckham, Thierry Henry and other stars have seen/see the MLS as an option later in their respective careers; so I accepted the idea, but had a thought in the back of my mind—knowing New York City FC are owned by the City Football Group—the move could potentially turn sour for myself and other Chelsea supporters.

And indeed it has.

I’m not sure I can be too mad at Manchester City for taking advantage of “loopholes”—as Chelsea would have probably done something similar under the circumstances—but there is something off-putting about seeing you in a sky-blue shirt. Not only because you said you “couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else” in England, but you’ve kept your new club in the 2014/15 Premier League title race.

Were you to have gone to America, Australia or even trained with Chelsea, the Blues would be 12 points clear of Manchester City—as you’ve given the Citizens seven points. Getting mad at you scoring goals is like getting mad at the sun coming up, because that is what you’ve done your whole career, but you scoring them at the Etihad was beyond my wildest imaginations.

All that said, understanding football is a business, I’m more disappointed than anything.

Disappointed my club, seemingly, didn’t do its utmost to keep you around. Disappointed in rules that shocked not only Blues supporters but NYCFC fans (probably even more so). Lastly, disappointed your Chelsea legacy has come into question.

Being of a certain age (24), you are one of my footballing heroes; I never thought there would come a time when people would be placing you on a level with Sol Campbell as some sort of traitor.

I will forever consider you a Blues legend and arguably the greatest Chelsea player of all time, but as you return to Stamford Bridge wearing a different shade of blue, I can’t help but questioning myself a little.

All the best (except on Saturday),

A Chelsea Fan

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.

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Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan star Luis Figo has announced his intention to stand for FIFA president.

In the above clip, from our friends at CNN, Figo explains his motivations and talks about what he’d do first if he was elected. 

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Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan star Luis Figo has confirmed he will stand against Sepp Blatter in the running for FIFA’s presidency.

CNN Football Club revealed the Portuguese legend’s intentions:

The player himself also made an announcement on Twitter:

Figo’s full interview with CNN’s Alex Thomas can be viewed here.

Martyn Ziegler of the Press Association provided quotes from the 42-year-old’s discussion:

Vitally, Figo has confirmed he possesses the five nominations of support needed by Thursday to be considered a legitimate candidate, per football writer Ben Lyttleton:

The retired winger spoke about the moments in which he realised change needs to happen, as reported by Chris Murphy and Chris Eldergill of CNN:

Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed. Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it’s the moment for that.

He also suggested Michael Garcia’s report into the controversial bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups—which FIFA failed to publish—helped him make a decision, per Murphy and Eldergill:

After that report was not published I think that was the moment of change and the moment I thought that something had to be done.  If you are transparent and if you ask for an investigation, a report, which you have nothing to hide, why don’t you make public that report? If you have nothing to hide about that, you have to do it.

Figo remains a favourite for many supporters who grew up watching his Galactico-era success with Madrid. He is due to stand against other candidates including Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and even ex-Tottenham Hotspur star David Ginola.

It already seems Figo’s potential campaign is of a more serious standing than Ginola’s. For one, Figo’s attempts to oust Blatter aren’t backed by gambling site Paddy Power, as reported by Nick Harris of the MailOnline.

Figo’s immediate confirmation that he has the necessary weight behind his candidacy also ensures he won’t be accused of simply trying a publicity stunt, claims Ginola recently had to battle against, per Sky Sports.

On Blatter’s presidency since 1998, Figo suggested “no-one is untouchable,” per Murphy and Eldergill. His willingness to stand against the controversial Swiss leader is likely to take many by surprise, particularly as Figo made little indication he would run for president before Wednesday’s announcement.

It will certainly be interesting to hear which new and interesting ideas he would install. Blatter’s FIFA presidency has often been accused of taking football back to the “dark ages,” with suggestions the sport needs a younger, more in touch overseer to make the major decisions. 

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Veteran striker Samuel Eto’o completed his transfer from Everton to Sampdoria on Tuesday, confirmed by the Toffees, bringing an end to a marriage that lasted only six months:

The former Cameroon international joined Everton in the summer of 2014 as a free agent, staying in the Premier League after his contract with Chelsea ran out.

Eto’o showed glimpses of his old self in his first few starts for his new club, but his performances soon started to drop. According to WhoScored.com, the forward hasn’t scored a goal since October.

Rumours started to surface there was some kind of disagreement between the player and Roberto Martinez, leading to the transfer speculation. As shared by The Times‘ Tony Barrett, Martinez refuted that notion:

Martinez commented in a statement on Everton’s official website, upon announcement of Eto’o’s departure:

We thank Samuel for his efforts and for bringing his know-how to the team and to Finch Farm where he passed on some of his terrific experience to all of the young players in particular.

The memory of his performances in Europe stand out especially. On behalf of all Evertonians, we wish him well for the next chapter in his career.

Eto’o’s greatest successes came with Inter Milan, winning the treble in the 2009-10 season and establishing himself as one of the world’s best forwards. His family remained in Italy after he completed a move to Anzhi Makhachkala, and they still live in Milan to this day, per Gianlucadimarzio.com’s David Amoyal.

A move back to Serie A will allow him to spend more time with them in the twilight of his career, and a club of Sampdoria’s stature will gladly accommodate the veteran, who is still hugely popular in Italy. According to Sport Witness, fans started to arrange a massive welcome party as soon as rumours of his arrival emerged:

Eto’o no longer possesses the raw pace and power that made him one of the most feared strikers in the world, but he’s still an excellent finisher with great instincts and the experience to be effective in virtually any system.

It never hurts to add a veteran, effective scorer for a minimal investment, and Eto’o will now have the chance to prove he still has a lot to offer.

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