Lome- Togo (PANA) -- "The victory of Argentina over Nigeria is no surprise", declared Gerson Kodjo Dobou, Vice-president of Agaza Omnisports de Lomé, a first division club. Full text...

Harare- Zimbabwe (PANA) -- The Zimbabwe national rugby team thrashed Madagascar 52-3 in its own backyard Sunday in a World Cup qualifying match, brightening hopes for a first ever qualification for the competition. Full text...

Paris- France (PANA) -- Barbès and Château-Rouge, two popular communities in the 8th district of Paris where thousands of Senegalese and migrant workers live and congregate, celebrated for nearly 24 hours after the Lions of Teranga gave the tri- colour cocks "a slap in the face". Full text...

Ouagadougou- Burkina Faso (PANA) -- Fans in Ouagadougou Saturday were fuming over Cameroon's draw with Ireland 1-1 as the Indomitable Lions were hailed favourites. Full text...

Cotonou- Benin (PANA) -- Though their country is not among those at the football World Cup, Benin's fans have actively mobilised to support Africa's teams. Full text...

Bujumbura- Burundi (PANA) -- The unexpected defeat of defending World champions France to newcomers Senegal (0-1), and the draw between Cameroon and Ireland (1-1), are the first lessons of World Cup 2002 that began Friday in Asia, sports enthusiasts in Bujumbura said. Full text...

Kashima City- Japan (PANA) -- In spite of the setback of an early defeat, the Super Eagles are still very optimistic of advancing in the World Cup. Full text...

Kashima City- Japan (PANA) -- It is very rare for a team to walk tall and gain admiration in defeat. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Saturday inaugurated a square in Dakar named "La Promenade des Lions" (The Lions' Promenade), depicting a panoramic screen and a statue, "Le Lion qui Gagne" (the winning lion). Full text...

Kashima City- Japan (PANA) -- Nigeria's coach, Adegboye Onigbinde said on Sunday that Nigeria must win their two remaining games if they have any ambition of staying on in the ongoing 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup. Full text...

Kampala- Uganda (PANA) -- Worshipers in a suburban Kampala church became rapturous and interrupted a Sunday service when cell phones buzzed with a short message that South Africa had earned a draw with Paraguay. Full text...

Gwangju- South Korea (PANA) -- Spanish superstar Gonzalez Raul struck in the 44th minute to lead Spain's 3-1 victory over newcomers Slovenia in Sunday's World Cup match played in Gwangju, South Korea. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- After England and Sweden drew 1-1 in the second group F World Cup match Sunday, Nigerian fans were hopeful their national team will advance to the second round despite their 1-0 defeat to Argentina. Full text...

Gwangju- South Korea (PANA) -- Spanish superstar Gonzalez Raul struck in the 44th minute to put Spain ahead of Slovenia in their Sunday World Cup match played in Gwangju, South Korea. Full text...

Daegu- South Korea (PANA) -- Senegal's Lions of Teranga have arrived here to start warming up for their second World Cup match on Thursday when they take on Denmark. Full text...

Saitama- Japan (PANA) -- England and Sweden settled for a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought World Cup match played Sunday in Saitama, Japan. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- A highly spirited South African team came from a two-goal deficit in the second half to end with a 2-2 draw with Paraguay Sunday in World Cup match played in Busan, South Korea. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- A Paraguay free-kick from just outside South Africa's goal area earned the South Americans a 1-0 lead in their opening World Cup match against the Bafana Bafana Sunday in Busan, South Korea. Full text...

Busan- South Korea (PANA) -- Quinton Fortune scored a last minute penalty to level the score for South Africa who came from two goals behind to secure a draw in their World Cup opener against Paraguay on Sunday. Full text...

Saitama- Japan (PANA) -- England's pressure on their Swedish counterparts yielded a 1-0 lead after the first half of their World Cup match being played Sunday Saitama, Japan. Full text...

Ibaraki- Japan (PANA) -- Nigerian goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu's heroic performance were not enough to save the Super Eagles from losing 1-0 to determined Argentina when the two sides clashed in a World Cup match in Ibaraki, Japan, Sunday. Full text...

Ibaraki- Japan (PANA) -- Nigeria and Argentina Sunday ended the first half of their World Cup match in the Japanese city of Ibaraki without any scores, a sign of the well-balanced play of the two sides. Full text...

Algiers- Algeria (PANA) -- Algerian newspapers Saturday seized on Senegal's 1-0 victory over defending champions France Friday at the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul, South Korea. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- Cameroonian soccer coach, Winfried Schaffer, said Saturday he remained optimistic about his team despite its 1-1 draw with Ireland in their Group E match at the ongoing World Cup tournament. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyan newspapers Saturday praised Senegal for pipping defending champions France 1-0 in Friday's World Cup opening match in Seoul, South Korea. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- All is not well within the Cameroonian camp at the 2002 World Cup despite the outward semblance of serenity, inside sources said. Full text...

Tunis- Tunisia (PANA) -- Two players in Tunisia's World Cup team are nursing injuries ahead of the team's first match against Russia Wednesday in Kobe, Japan, the local press reported Saturday. Full text...

Dakar- Senegal (PANA) -- John Dahl Tomasson scored the two goals in Denmark's 2-1 win over Uruguay at their World Cup match Saturday. Full text...

Masaka- Uganda (PANA) -- A man in the southern Ugandan district of Masaka has sold his house for 571 US dollars to buy a television set and watch the ongoing World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Full text...

Sapporo- Japan (PANA) -- German striker Miroslav Klose's hat-trick helped Germany to destroy hapless Saudi Arabia 8-0 in a one-sided 2002 World Cup match played in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday. Full text...

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, who stunned the sporting world two years ago when he admitted accepting money from bookmakers, died Saturday in plane crash in the Western Cape. Full text...

Tokyo- Japan (PANA) -- Though the English press have written off Nigeria as being incapable of advancing to the next round from Group F, Irish soccer fans say the Super Eagles will pull through at the expense of England. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- The World's greatest miler, Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj, has set his eyes on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Golden League Jackpot. Full text...

Lome- Togo (PANA) -- Togolese sports commentators Saturday chided the Cameroonian side for being too full of itself, after the African champions drew 1-1 with Ireland in their Group E World Cup tie in Niigata, Japan. Full text...

Lagos- Nigeria (PANA) -- Putting the rivalry between the national soccer teams of Nigeria and Senegal aside, at least for now, Nigerian papers Saturday joined the country's soccer fans in a continuous celebration of Senegal's huge upset of world champion France in their 2002 World Cup opener in Seoul on Friday. Full text...

Sapporo- Japan (PANA) -- With their 2002 World Cup match in Sapporo, Japan currently into the second half, Germany is leading Saudi Arabia 4-0. Full text...

London- UK (PANA) -- Senegal's demolition of reigning world champions France in the opening 2002 World Cup match Friday has won for the squad some very positive comments in the British press. Full text...

Abuja- Nigeria (PANA) -- As Nigeria's Super Eagles prepare for their 2002 World Cup opener against Argentina Sunday, President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked the team to strive to win the much- coveted trophy. Full text...

Sapporo- Japan (PANA) -- With 45 minutes to go, Germany has taken a big 4-0 lead over Saudi Arabia in their 2002 World Cup match being played in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyans have expressed satisfaction with Cameroon's one-all draw with Ireland in Saturday's World Cup match in Niigata, Japan arguing that those who expected the Cameroonians to run over their opponents were expecting too much, as the Irish were no pushovers. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyans have expressed satisfaction with Cameroon's one-all draw with Ireland in Saturday's World Cup match in Niigata, Japan arguing that those who expected the Cameroonians to run over their opponents were expecting too much, as the Irish were no pushovers. Full text...

Ulsan- South Korea (PANA) -- In a fast-paced match, Denmark scored in the 45th and 83rd minutes to beat Uruguay 2-1 during their Group A debut at the 2002 World Cup finals played in the South Korean city of Ulsan. Full text...

Kampala- Uganda (PANA) -- Fans in Kampala expressed disappointment Saturday after Cameroon drew 1-1 with little-rated Ireland in their opening Group E match at the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyans have expressed satisfaction with Cameroon's one-all draw with the Republic of Ireland in Saturday's World Cup match in Niigata, Japan. Full text...

Ulsan- South Korea (PANA) -- In a fast-paced half of their Group A match, Denmark scored in the 45th minute to go ahead of Uruguay Saturday during their first encounter in the South Korean city of Ulsan. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- Cameroon and Ireland Saturday drew 1-1 in their first 2002 World Cup match played in Niigata, Japan. Full text...

Niigata- Japan (PANA) -- Cameroon is leading Ireland 1-0 in their 2002 World Cup match being played in Niigata, Japan Saturday. Full text...

Seoul- South Korea (PANA) -- A few days after making headlines for allegedly shop-lifting a necklace, Senegalese striker Khalilou Fadiga was Friday reported to have received excuses and a gift from the Daegu shop where he is said to have "stolen" the item "in a stupid bet. Full text...

Seoul- South Korea (PANA) -- African Footballer of the Year, El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf of Senegal, was named best player in his country's shock victory over defending champions, France at the World Cup opener in Seoul, South Korea, Friday. Full text...

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- After failing in his bid to capture the Internation Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) presidency, Cameroon's Issa Hayatou should now concentrate on developing soccer in Africa. Full text...